The major sects and noble clans of the cultivation world had all received news of an Immortal Venerable's divine artifact emerging in Luolong City.
For any cultivator, the words "divine artifact" carried an irresistible allure. Possessing such a treasure—even a half-step divine artifact—would be enough to defeat opponents whose cultivation surpassed their own.
On the ancient battlefield, Xu Wanci, merely at the Nascent Soul stage, had wielded the divine artifact "Refinement God Tome" to instantly devour a demonic soul whose power rivaled that of a Tribulation Transcension expert.
Imagine, in a life-or-death moment, having a divine artifact as a trump card—it would be akin to holding an unshakable advantage, enough to stand against the mightiest of the era.
No one could remain unmoved by such power.
Yet, the addition of "Immortal Venerable" before "divine artifact" was enough to deter many.
Most cultivators knew Chu Qingchuan possessed the Refinement God Tome, yet none dared to act against him. Even those who had entertained the thought and attempted once would inevitably give up.
Not because of the Taiqing Sect behind him, but because of Immortal Venerable Qingyan.
Any treasure left behind by an Immortal Venerable, no matter how coveted, remained untouchable.
Obtaining such an artifact might not be the hardest part—the true challenge lay in wielding it. Unless fate willed it, even a late-stage Tribulation Transcension expert who forcibly tried to use an Immortal Venerable's artifact would suffer severe injuries.
As for who could be considered a "fated one" for a divine artifact…
It might be a cultivator with extraordinary fortune, like Chu Qingchuan.
Or, more likely, someone uniquely significant to the Immortal Venerable—Xu Wanci.
Xu Wanci, who could wield even the Refinement God Tome after it had already recognized another master.
Thus, though the major sects stirred with ambition upon hearing the news, most restrained themselves.
They would undoubtedly go—what if they were the fated ones?
Even if they couldn’t wield the artifact, they could witness its power and see who ultimately claimed it.
Moreover, Xu Wanci would surely be there.
After the incident with the Formless Divine Stone, Ning Menglan had shielded Xu Wanci under the pretext of her recovery. Even when numerous elders personally visited, none had managed to see her.
Settling karmic ties couldn’t be rushed, but first, they needed to meet Xu Wanci to even have a chance.
Most importantly, they were curious—if both Xu Wanci and Chu Qingchuan could wield this divine artifact, which one would the Taiqing Sect favor?
One was the Child of Destiny, most likely to ascend.
The other was Xu Wanci, whom the entire cultivation world owed a karmic debt.
How intriguing.
Thus, cultivators from major sects and noble clans poured into Luolong City from all corners of the realm.
The usually quiet Luolong City, nestled at the edge of the demon realm, suddenly buzzed with activity.
In the Taiqing Sect…
Ning Menglan and several elders sat in the Hall of Returning Origins, exchanging uneasy glances. After a long silence, he sighed deeply.
He didn’t wish to restrict Xu Wanci’s freedom, yet every time she left the sect, her experiences were nothing short of harrowing.
Now, whenever she returned, he felt relieved as long as her soul remained unharmed and her injuries didn’t hinder her cultivation.
This trip to Luolong City was unavoidable, and they had no grounds to stop her.
Luolong City was where the Immortal Venerable had once visited centuries ago, and now it might hold a divine artifact he left behind…
Recalling how Xu Wanci had once risked her life for a Three-Leaf Lotus during the sect competition, Ning Menglan’s expression darkened further.
With Luolong City now teeming with mixed forces, what if something went wrong again…
At this moment, Elder Second Master spoke hesitantly, "An Immortal Venerable’s divine artifact cannot be bound by ordinary cultivators. Others know this well, so… this trip shouldn’t be too dangerous."
Her voice trailed off as she suddenly remembered—she had thought the same before the ancient battlefield expedition.
The demonic souls in the outer regions of the battlefield were weak, and with elders from the Ten Great Sects overseeing the operation, she had assumed Xu Wanci would be perfectly safe under such protection.
Yet the result…
Xu Wanci’s spiritual sense had only recently recovered from that ordeal.
Ning Menglan shared her thoughts. Thinking of the Fifth Elder, who was still in seclusion, he frowned.
"The Fifth Elder exhausted himself divining the location of the Formless Divine Stone. He cannot perform another divination so soon."
Pausing, his voice turned stern.
"Regardless of the danger, we must prepare thoroughly."
Gu Yunqi, observing their solemn expressions, arched a brow and crossed her arms.
"My fellow elders and I have mostly recovered, and with the spirit vein’s support, the Taiqing Sect is now the wealthiest in the cultivation world. Why not buy dozens of defensive artifacts for Wanci? With several Tribulation Transcension experts guarding her, what could possibly go wrong?"
Elder Grandmaster replied gravely, "Junior Sister, nothing in the cultivation world is ever foolproof."
Gu Yunqi leaned back in her chair, unfazed.
"Unless another Formless Divine Stone appears, what else could threaten her?"
"The Demon Sovereign has been in seclusion for over thirty years since that battle—his injuries probably haven’t healed."
"Beyond these two possibilities, I can’t imagine anything else bypassing us to harm Xu Wanci."
Ning Menglan’s lips twitched.
"Third Elder, perhaps you should rest more."
If another Formless Divine Stone emerged, the cultivation world would be turned upside down.
As for the Demon Sovereign, the demon realm had been quiet for years, so there shouldn’t be any issues.
Relaxing slightly, he mused,
"I’ve heard the Nine Stars Sect recently crafted many high-grade artifacts…"
"I’ll pay their sect leader a visit tonight for a drink."
Though the Taiqing Sect now possessed a spirit vein, expenses were high—it was best to save where they could.
Lately, for some reason, defensive artifacts—once rarely sought after—had skyrocketed in price. Top-tier defensive artifacts were now priceless and scarce.
Many artifact forgers amassed fortunes overnight, and even talisman masters specializing in defensive seals profited handsomely.
The cultivation world’s trade flourished like never before.
Xu Wanci remained oblivious to this.
Aboard the Jade Extreme Flying Vessel, she stared at her storage pouch, crammed full of defensive artifacts and talismans, then glanced at Ning Menglan nearby.
Noticing her gaze, he smiled.
"Thanks to your reminder that day, the Taiqing Sect is now the richest in the cultivation world."
"These defensive artifacts are but a drop in the ocean compared to the spiritual veins, so Xu Wanci mustn’t refuse them."
Beside them, the Elder Grandmaster also softened his voice as much as possible:
"Given your contributions, it wouldn’t be excessive for the Taiqing Sect to gift you half its treasury of spiritual treasures. These defensive artifacts are nothing—please accept them with ease."
After speaking, he instinctively glanced at the Elder Second Master, who was usually quick to offer comforting words:
"Junior Sister…"
But when he saw the Elder Second Master holding a romance novel with a faint smile on her lips, his voice abruptly trailed off.
Hearing him, the Elder Second Master calmly closed the book in her hands, the words "Obsessive Love" faintly visible on its cover.
Months ago, she had already changed her preferences, no longer reading those tragic love stories.
If she wanted to experience heart-wrenching romance, why seek it in books? A single glance at Xu Wanci was enough to evoke the same ache she once felt only at the endings of such tales.
Life was bitter enough—she couldn’t bear any more suffering.
Now, every novel she read was sweet from start to finish. If the protagonists faced even the slightest hardship, she would abandon it and pick up another.
Lost in thought, the Elder Second Master raised her eyes to look at Xu Wanci in the distance. Then, as if remembering something, she turned belatedly to her side:
"Elder Brother, what were you saying earlier?"
"Nothing." The Elder Grandmaster glanced at her before turning back to Xu Wanci and clearing his throat. "Wanci, please accept these artifacts without hesitation. To the Taiqing Sect today, they are truly insignificant."
Xu Wanci watched the Elder Grandmaster’s earnest expression and slowly blinked.
She took the storage pouch and bowed to Ning Menglan and the elders. "Thank you, Sect Leader, and all Elders."
For the rest of the journey, she stood at the edge of the Jade Extreme Flying Vessel, quietly observing the scenery rushing past below.
In the original story, Chu Qingchuan’s ordeal to obtain the Heavenly Blossom Ginseng was already more perilous than his quests for other treasures.
First, he was lured into danger by the ginseng’s guardian spirit plant. Barely escaping, he then stumbled into a killing array set up by his rivals.
Only after narrowly surviving did he, by sheer luck, encounter the true Heavenly Blossom Ginseng.
Now that Chu Qingchuan had reached the Divine Transformation realm, the ginseng no longer held the same importance for him. The trials he faced in the original story likely wouldn’t happen.
But…
If even the fated protagonist Chu Qingchuan had to pay such a steep price for the ginseng, then the injuries she might sustain could be far worse.
Xu Wanci’s long lashes trembled slightly, yet her eyes showed not a trace of hesitation.
Opportunities always came hand in hand with danger.
The greater the peril, the greater the reward. As long as she lived, no matter how dire the situation, she would find a sliver of hope—fighting with everything she had to survive and grow stronger.
In the future, she would face even greater crises. She couldn’t rely on the Taiqing Sect forever, nor could she always wait for others to save her.
The only one who could save her was herself.
The Heavenly Blossom Ginseng—she would claim it without fail.
Moreover—
Her gaze flickered to the Three-Leaf Lotus silently nourishing her divine sense, her fingers twitching imperceptibly.
In the original story, without the Three-Leaf Lotus, how could Chu Qingchuan have reached the guardian spirit plant before countless other powerhouses?
Compared to others, she, whose soul now carried a trace of an Immortal Venerable’s aura, held an overwhelming advantage.
Xu Wanci stretched out her hand, letting the wind brush gently past her fingertips.
Three hours later.
Gu Yunqi, who had been meditating, opened her eyes with a frown.
"Now I understand why rumors of an Immortal Venerable’s divine artifact appearing in Luolong City spread so widely."
The Elder Grandmaster and Elder Second Master also sensed the oppressive spiritual energy around them, their expressions turning grave.
"We’re still far from Luolong City, yet the divine artifact’s pressure has reached this far," the Elder Grandmaster said solemnly.
Ning Menglan, whose cultivation was slightly weaker than the elders’, felt the artifact’s influence even more intensely. As he regulated his qi, he frowned.
"If the pressure is this strong here, I can’t imagine what Luolong City itself must be like."
It wasn’t just the artifact’s pressure—it was the faint trace of an Immortal Venerable’s spiritual energy within it.
Even the slightest wisp of that power was enough to tighten one’s nerves, making even the flow of spiritual energy sluggish.
The higher one’s cultivation, the more keenly they understood the terror of an Immortal Venerable’s might—and the more cautious they became.
Before fully stabilizing his qi, Ning Menglan turned worriedly toward Xu Wanci.
"Wanci, your condition—"
His words died as he saw her standing serenely, gazing at the horizon with tranquil eyes.
She showed no sign of discomfort. In fact, her spiritual energy circulated more smoothly than before, as if she were even more at ease.
Ning Menglan fell silent.
Of course. Given Xu Wanci’s identity, how could an Immortal Venerable’s pressure or spiritual energy possibly affect her?
What was fear and danger to them was likely nothing more than nostalgia to her.
Hearing his voice, Xu Wanci finally turned away from the sky. "Sect Leader, is something wrong?"
Ning Menglan exhaled slowly, shaking his head. "It’s nothing."
As they neared Luolong City, the divine artifact’s oppressive force grew stronger.
By the time they arrived, Ning Menglan and the three elders were pale, their spiritual energy and divine sense suppressed as if they’d suffered severe injuries.
Only Xu Wanci remained composed, her spiritual energy abundant, standing out starkly among the others.
As they disembarked, she steadied Ning Menglan when he stumbled slightly. "Sect Leader, are you all right?"
Though her face showed concern, a flicker of doubt crossed her mind.
In the original story, while the Heavenly Blossom Ginseng’s guardian spirit plant had mimicked an Immortal Venerable’s pressure, it hadn’t caused such widespread effects.
But now…
Xu Wanci subtly flexed her fingers, sensing the spiritual energy around her—gentle and familiar, almost tender.
Ning Menglan steadied himself with her support and forced a calm smile. "This Sect Leader is fine."
The Immortal Venerable’s spiritual energy in Luolong City was unexpectedly potent, reminding him of the awe he’d once felt standing beneath an Immortal Venerable’s mountain.
Just the memory made his spiritual energy churn.
But it was only a divine artifact.
Ning Menglan took a deep breath, continuously soothing herself.
At that moment, the flying boats of the Zhiqin Sect and Pingyang Sect arrived.
The sect leader of Zhiqin, whose eyes were usually brimming with tenderness, now wore a rare stiffness in his gaze. Deep within those eyes lay a reverence—and fear—so profound it seemed etched into his very soul.
The elders of Zhiqin beside him were equally pale-faced, their bodies rigid with tension.
As for the leader of Pingyang Sect, he stumbled upon disembarking, nearly falling to the ground.
Before they could steady their spiritual energy or exchange pleasantries, their eyes landed on Xu Wanci, standing calmly in the distance.
Amidst the oppressive aura that left everyone else trembling in fear, she stood serene, her spiritual energy gentle and undisturbed. The strands of her long hair swayed softly in the breeze, painting a scene so tranquil it resembled an exquisite scroll.
She extended a hand, catching a falling leaf in her palm—only for it to drift away again with the wind.
She smiled, softly, wistfully.
What others fled from in terror, she embraced as salvation.
