A single immortal-grade spiritual plant would be enough to cause a stir in the cultivation world, let alone two.
For a moment, every disciple of the Taiqing Sect could sense the aura of the immortal-grade spiritual plants.
Excitement burned in their eyes—uncontainable.
An immortal-grade spiritual plant!
With their cultivation levels, they might never even lay eyes on one in their entire lives.
Even if they couldn’t obtain it, just seeing it would be a blessing.
Many disciples craned their necks toward the source of the spiritual energy, wondering what kind of plant the sect had discovered this time and what miraculous effects it might possess.
Unfortunately, their gazes were blocked by a barrier, leaving only a haze of white mist in their vision.
On Ruoxu Peak, Chu Qingchuan also sensed the presence of the Mystic Cloud Orchids.
He recalled Ning Menglan’s hurried departure earlier, his gaze darkening with unreadable emotions.
Xu Wanci.
Not only had she returned alive from the demon realm, but she had also brought back immortal-grade spiritual plants.
He lowered his head, shadows veiling the storm in his eyes.
Breaking through to the Divine Transformation stage in the demon realm and obtaining such fortune—
Her luck might even surpass his own.
Chu Qingchuan had always prided himself on his exceptional fortune, the very foundation of his cultivation and status.
But now, there was Xu Wanci—always competing with him, always challenging him.
Now, with her overwhelming luck laid bare before the entire Taiqing Sect, even the sect master and all the elders and peak masters had witnessed it.
If it came down to a choice between him and Xu Wanci, would the Taiqing Sect truly pick him?
The memory of how the sect had mobilized half its treasures and rallied the entire cultivation world to rescue her after her abduction resurfaced, twisting his expression into something cold and envious.
Mystic Cloud Orchids—immortal-grade plants that could double a cultivator’s cultivation speed.
Who in this world wouldn’t covet them?
Contrary to Chu Qingchuan’s assumptions, Ning Menglan and the others, though awed by the orchids, harbored no greed.
As the pinnacle figures of the cultivation world, they had seen countless treasures.
They had held their ground against the temptation of the Formless Divine Stone, and even Chu Qingchuan’s many treasures—any one of which could shake the cultivation world—had never stirred their envy.
These two Mystic Cloud Orchids were no exception.
After the initial shock, most quickly regained their composure.
Ning Menglan, standing closest to Xu Wanci, watched as the orchids in her palm continued to grow, buds already forming. A trace of wonder flickered in his eyes.
At this moment, he truly grasped the extent of her fortune.
These were Mystic Cloud Orchids—extinct in the cultivation world for centuries!
Even as the sect master of the Taiqing Sect, he had never seen one before.
Yet Xu Wanci held two in her hands.
When she had formed her Nascent Soul and triggered celestial phenomena, he had guessed that the Heavenly Dao favored her due to the Immortal Venerable’s influence.
But afterward, she had repeatedly plunged into peril, leading him to assume the Heavenly Dao’s protection was limited.
Now, however, he realized—her dangers had either been self-inflicted or forced upon her by external circumstances, hardly a reflection of her fortune.
Despite facing near-certain death multiple times, she had always returned alive, her wounds healed by serendipitous encounters. How could that not be extraordinary luck?
This journey was no exception. Not only had Xu Wanci survived the demon realm and ascended to Divine Transformation, but she had also returned with these priceless orchids.
The thought eased the tension in Ning Menglan’s heart.
With such fortune, as long as she remained cautious, Xu Wanci would surely walk a blessed path from now on.
The Grand Elder and Third Elder shared his sentiments.
Though severely injured during their mission to the demon realm, they had never thought to leverage their sacrifices in front of Xu Wanci. Instead, they carefully concealed their wounds, not wanting to burden her with worry.
After marveling at the orchids, their gazes inevitably returned to Xu Wanci.
Having faced Yan Shuo in the demon realm, they knew firsthand how ruthless and dangerous he was.
Enduring so long by his side, Xu Wanci must have suffered greatly.
Yet, to spare them concern, she had said nothing—just as she always did after every injury, insisting she was fine.
Gu Yunqi’s eyes softened with helpless affection.
Further back, Jiang Qiuning finally exhaled in relief upon seeing Xu Wanci unharmed.
Knowing the orchids involved sect secrets, she remained where she stood, quietly watching the figure in blue from a distance.
Bai Zhou, though surprised by the orchids’ appearance, observed their growth with a knowing glint in his eyes.
Born with a Buddha’s aura, he was the most attuned to the Heavenly Dao’s will in the entire cultivation world.
Thus, he alone noticed the divine energy swirling around the orchids as they flourished.
Perhaps the seeds had been a stroke of fate, but their growth? That was the Heavenly Dao’s deliberate favor.
A favor bestowed upon Xu Wanci.
At last, Xu Wanci lifted her head under everyone’s gaze.
Meeting Bai Zhou’s eyes, she spoke earnestly,
"Thanks to the Buddha’s aid, I escaped the demon realm."
"Though the Mystic Cloud Orchids cannot restore the three centuries of cultivation you lost, they can at least hasten your recovery. I hope you won’t refuse them."
With gentle but firm hands, she offered the orchid in her palm.
She meant every word.
Bai Zhou had been gravely injured, secluded in recovery. Even if he had ignored the Taiqing Sect’s plea for help, none would have blamed him.
Yet he had emerged to save her.
And in doing so, his cultivation had regressed to the Mahayana stage.
Such kindness demanded repayment.
Coincidentally, the orchids could aid his recovery.
Bai Zhou smiled, stepping back.
"Benefactor Xu’s fortune is boundless. Even without this humble monk, you would have returned safely. There is no debt to repay."
"Such treasures are beyond my worth to accept."
"Moreover, I’ve already bathed in your sect’s Heart-Cleansing Spring for a day. The karma is settled. Please, think no more of it."
Everything he did, he had chosen without expectation of reward.
The moment he acted, he had been ready to bear all consequences—regardless of outcome.
Xu Wanci’s long lashes fluttered slightly at his refusal, but she didn’t press further.
She had never been good at facing others’ kindness—even kind rejections.
Pursing her lips, she turned to Ning Menglan and extended the orchid once more.
"Sect Master."
"Due to my affairs, the Taiqing Sect has expended considerable resources. This Xuan Yun Orchid is a token of my gratitude. I hope the Sect Leader will accept it."
Even if she hadn’t witnessed the Taiqing Sect’s efforts during this period, she could guess the extent of their sacrifices.
To summon the Buddhist Sage and open a passage between the immortal and demon realms—such endeavors would have cost the Taiqing Sect dearly.
She couldn’t take any of this for granted.
In this world, no one was obligated to save another.
Most of the spiritual treasures she possessed had been gifts from her sect or others. Only these two Xuan Yun Orchids truly belonged to her.
Though the orchids were rare, treasures that enhanced cultivation speed were not impossible to find in the future.
Pausing for a moment, she continued, "As for the second Xuan Yun Orchid, I’d like to ask the Sect Leader to deliver it to the Buddhist Sage on my behalf."
"Otherwise, given his current injuries, I wouldn’t be able to rest easy."
Ning Menglan listened to Xu Wanci’s words, feeling both exasperated and amused.
She must have noticed the Buddhist Sage’s refusal and was now pinning her hopes on him to persuade the man.
Her eagerness to give away such a priceless treasure was truly relentless.
Before he could even voice his refusal, she lowered her head and spoke softly, as if afraid of being rejected again:
"Sect Leader, my storage pouch… is lost."
"These two Xuan Yun Orchids are all I have left. Please don’t disdain them, alright?"
A pang of sorrow welled up in Ning Menglan’s heart.
Back then, they had filled Xu Wanci’s storage pouch to the brim—countless spirit stones and treasures, ensuring she never faced such dire straits.
But then it struck him—
Dire straits?
These two Xuan Yun Orchids alone were worth more than all the treasures in that storage pouch!
Snapping back to reality, Ning Menglan hurriedly declined:
"Wanci, take the orchids back."
His expression turned stern.
"You are a disciple of the Taiqing Sect. Protecting our disciples is the sect’s duty."
"There’s no need for you to feel indebted. Just return and focus on your recovery."
"As for these two Xuan Yun Orchids, since they are your fortune, you should keep them safely."
Xu Wanci raised her head, meeting Ning Menglan’s unwavering gaze. She knew he wouldn’t relent.
After hesitating for a few seconds, she turned to Gu Yunqi instead.
Gu Yunqi recoiled as if startled, taking two steps back:
"Don’t look at me—I don’t want them either!"
Despite being celestial-grade spiritual herbs, rarities in this world, they now seemed like hot potatoes—unwanted by anyone.
Xu Wanci stood still, her expression calm, yet an inexplicable air of dejection seemed to cling to her.
Holding the two orchids in her right hand, she stood alone, looking somewhat forlorn.
Not far away, Xie Tingbai watched the scene, the corners of his lips curling into a smile before fading into melancholy.
Xu Wanci was just as she had always been.
Her kindness was heartwarming, yet her insistence on drawing boundaries was frustratingly rational.
If she had any other treasures left, she would have surely given them all away without hesitation.
Because they had helped her.
Even without their aid, she would have returned safely from the demon realm.
With a soft sigh, he approached her, his voice gentle:
"Two Xuan Yun Orchids might seem insufficient. I imagine Wanci is troubled because there are many who could benefit from them."
Xu Wanci lifted her head, a glimmer of anticipation in her eyes as she looked at him.
She blinked, waiting quietly for his next words.
Meeting her clear, guileless gaze, Xie Tingbai chuckled lightly:
"Qi Yun Pills, refined using Xuan Yun Orchids as the primary ingredient, may not match the efficacy of absorbing the orchids directly, but they should still double the rate of spiritual energy recovery."
"Coincidentally, I possess the recipe for Qi Yun Pills, as well as the other required herbs."
Glancing at the two orchids, his voice carried the confidence of a top-tier alchemist in the cultivation world:
"With these two Xuan Yun Orchids, we should be able to produce at least eight pills."
"If Wanci trusts me—"
Before he could finish, Xu Wanci nodded vigorously.
The unreserved trust in her gesture stirred something in Xie Tingbai’s heart.
Suppressing his emotions, he turned to Bai Zhou and cupped his hands in salute:
"With so many Qi Yun Pills to distribute, surely the Buddhist Sage won’t refuse now?"
Xu Wanci also turned her hopeful gaze toward Bai Zhou.
Faced with her expectant look, Bai Zhou no longer declined. He returned the salute and accepted.
"In that case, Bai Zhou thanks Benefactor Xu and Elder Xie."
After all, he was only human. To claim he felt no desire for such pills would be a lie.
Hearing his agreement, Xu Wanci finally relaxed. Without hesitation, she handed the orchids to Xie Tingbai, a faint smile gracing her lips:
"Then I’ll trouble Elder Xie with this."
Ten days later, the Qi Yun Pills were completed.
By then, the aura of the Xuan Yun Orchids had already spread throughout the Taiqing Sect, noticed by many disciples.
So Ning Menglan made no attempt to conceal it. Instead, he openly dispatched envoys to deliver the pills to Jiang Ze and Ji Wang.
Soon, news of the Qi Yun Pills spread across the entire cultivation world.
Many who learned of the backstory—especially the venerable Paragon cultivators—clutched their chests in regret, wishing they could turn back time.
Back then, they should have rushed into the demon realm without hesitation to rescue Xu Wanci!
Who would have thought that such a perilous journey would result in Jiang Ze and the others returning with only minor injuries—and even obtaining the legendary Qi Yun Pills?
Those were Qi Yun Pills!
They could nearly double one’s cultivation speed and, in battle, recover spiritual energy twice as fast. Even against a stronger opponent, one could potentially outlast them through sheer endurance.
The more they dwelled on it, the more their hearts ached.
Just a few injuries, and they gained such an opportunity!
Xu Wanci truly carried the fate of the cultivation world on her shoulders—and such incredible luck to boot.
Now, no one dared question her identity as the beloved of the Immortal Venerable. All they wanted was to cling to her side, dignity be damned.
Alas, now that she was back, Ning Menglan would undoubtedly guard her even more closely than before.
Some Paragons consoled themselves—though their contributions paled in comparison to Jiang Ze’s, they had still lent a hand that day.
Perhaps they, too, might receive something in return.
Even if not, the matter of karma was already settled. Their actions had resolved part of the debt.
Given how little they had actually done, resolving even a fraction of the karma was cause for celebration.
But if anyone was truly seething with regret, it had to be the Bai Clan.
Due to the incident involving the Formless Divine Stone, the Bai Clan’s patriarch had nursed a grudge. When the Taiqing Sect’s leader came calling, he shut his doors without meeting him.
Rumors even circulated that the Bai Clan’s head had sneered, "If Xu Wanci truly carries the fate of the cultivation world, her luck must be extraordinary. If that’s the case, she’d return safely even without rescue. If it’s false, then she wasn’t worth saving in the first place."
At this thought, a certain venerable master clicked his tongue twice:
"The Bai family must be regretting their decisions so much their intestines are turning green."
Other sect leaders and elders, well-versed in the art of indirect salvation, humbly reached out to Taiqing Sect disciples who were on good terms with Xu Wanci.
What use is pride when fate and opportunity are at stake?
In the Taiqing Sect, Shen Wenxin stared at the spiritual treasure before her, her hands trembling uncontrollably.
She looked up, her voice quivering:
"Master... have you sold me off?"
Her words shook with fear: "Master, I’ve played the qin for you, served you tea, massaged your shoulders—and when you argued with Peak Master Qi next door, it was your disciple who mediated!"
"You can’t abandon me now!"
The Peak Master of Listening Sound Peak sighed deeply:
Shen Wenxin’s so-called "mediation" had been nothing more than a single remark that left both parties too exasperated to continue arguing.
Rubbing her temples, she said:
"My dear disciple... just stop talking."
