In the vast sky.
Amidst the swirling black light, Xiao Yuyan’s heartbeat faltered for a moment as he saw the tiny figure standing before the hidden realm, shielding it. Then, his pulse raced uncontrollably.
This heartbeat was awe, worry, helplessness, and melancholy all at once.
At this moment, all veils fell away, and he saw her heart with absolute clarity—a dazzling, radiant heart that had only ever belonged to the ‘him’ of the past.
He finally realized:
In this world, no one could ever replace that ‘him.’
Not even himself.
All his attempts to surpass the past…
Now, he couldn’t even deceive himself anymore.
The power of the Heavenly Dao surrounding Xiao Yuyan wrapped gently yet sorrowfully around Xu Wanci, shielding her from the slightest trace of demonic energy.
Within the tribulation grounds, Xu Wanci had already braced herself for severe injuries.
Yet she felt no pain, not even the slightest discomfort.
With no time to ponder why, she immediately channeled her spiritual energy and divine sense, resonating with the hidden realm behind her.
Whatever the reason, as long as she entered that realm, she would be safe.
And she would obtain the opportunity she sought—the key to ascension.
Not far away, Yan Shuo watched her desperate, unwavering stance before the hidden realm, his gaze turning frenzied:
Did she not know that the chance of Xiao Yuyan’s soul being in that faint ripple was less than one in ten thousand?
Of course she knew.
She was simply willing to die for that sliver of hope.
Yan Shuo’s skeletal right hand slowly pressed against his chest, where an unfamiliar pain made him grimace, as if he could hardly bear it.
Feeling the sting, he lowered his hand and smiled—softly, yet with madness:
Xu Wanci carried the aura of his demonic domain. The Destruction Demon Stone couldn’t kill her; at most, it would leave her gravely wounded.
But those outside wouldn’t be so fortunate.
Watching Xu Wanci vanish into the hidden realm, Yan Shuo waved his hand amidst the black light, triggering the Destruction Demon Stone within the tribulation grounds.
He wanted her to witness, upon her return, how those people would perish—souls obliterated without a trace.
If he had to suffer, so would they.
Let them drown together in endless agony.
Yan Shuo’s figure dimmed, vanishing from the tribulation grounds within moments.
His injuries were too severe. It would take at least another century for him to fully recover.
Xu Wanci had no idea what was happening outside.
The moment she stepped into the hidden realm, before she could even survey her surroundings, spiritual energy infused with immortal essence surged into her body.
Even a Tribulation Transcendent would struggle to absorb such potent energy, let alone her, a mere Nascent Soul cultivator.
Gritting her teeth against the pain, Xu Wanci forced herself to stay conscious, desperately circulating the energy within her.
She had prepared to leave before her body ruptured from the overload—just a trace of immortal-infused energy would grant her a chance at ascension.
The more she absorbed, the greater her odds—but only if she survived.
Yet, to her surprise…
Within moments, the unbearable agony faded, replaced by a soothing warmth.
This warmth flowed through her meridians, mending her spiritual roots. The comfort was too much to resist, and she succumbed to unconsciousness, her awareness slipping away entirely.
As she fell from midair, a figure emerged from the void.
Xiao Yuyan stepped forward, cloaked in the Heavenly Dao’s serene yet icy aura.
Where he walked, all things bowed, and spiritual energy retreated.
His gaze held the detachment of cosmic law—until it settled on Xu Wanci, softening into quiet focus.
Threads of Heavenly Dao wove into a gentle bed of energy, cradling her midair.
This was the first time Xiao Yuyan had truly seen Xu Wanci.
No vast distances, no barriers of space.
Just an arm’s length apart—close enough to touch.
She lay there, eyes shut, long lashes casting delicate shadows. For once, she looked almost docile, nothing like the resolute figure who had stood defiant before the hidden realm.
Her frame seemed even slighter than he remembered, her wrists fragile beneath her sleeves.
Too many injuries, too little rest. Even with elixirs, her body had never fully healed.
Xiao Yuyan’s hand hovered near her pale cheek, his silence heavy with unspoken thoughts.
The influx of energy, though gentle, still strained her. A faint crease formed between her brows, her lips pressing tight.
Noticing her discomfort, Xiao Yuyan touched her forehead.
Heavenly Dao energy flowed from his fingertips, expanding her meridians and guiding the chaotic energy within her.
Even after her body reached its limit, he didn’t stop. Instead, he sealed the excess energy within her dantian, where it would wait—ready to nourish her spirit and meridians when she advanced further, ensuring her path to Tribulation and beyond would be unhindered.
Perhaps sensing the immortal essence within her, or soothed by the warmth in her veins, Xu Wanci’s lips curled slightly in her sleep.
Xiao Yuyan watched her peaceful expression, the Heavenly Dao energy fading from his touch.
He stood there, his gaze tinged with helpless sorrow:
She was barely a century old.
Yet she had already risked her life, time and again, for ‘him.’
Too exhausting. Too cruel.
He would rather she forgot. Rather she lived only for herself.
Even if that ‘him’ was himself.
A violent tremor shook the distant tribulation grounds. Xiao Yuyan lifted his eyes, his detached gaze sweeping over the chaos outside.
There, the disciples of the Taiqing Sect strained their energy and treasures to the brink, moments from being devoured by demonic fury.
To him, all things were fleeting—meaningless, save for Xu Wanci.
He had never cared for the birth or demise of any being.
But…
His eyes softened as they returned to her.
Remembering her bond with those people, he flicked a finger. A wisp of Heavenly Dao energy silently shielded every last one of them.
Because she cared, he would protect everything she held dear.
Half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
The spiritual energy of the secret realm had now completely merged into Xu Wanci’s body.
With nothing left to sustain it, the realm began to dissipate.
Xiao Yuyan watched the faint tremble of Xu Wanci’s eyelashes before withdrawing his hand. The power of the Heavenly Dao gently laid her on the ground.
His figure vanished just as she was about to wake.
When Xu Wanci opened her eyes, the first thing she did was assess her condition. Sensing the abundance of spiritual energy within her, the tension in her heart eased slightly.
It wasn’t just her spiritual energy—her innate talent had also been refined, her spiritual roots now nearly reaching the legendary Heavenly Spirit Root.
And then there was her dantian.
Staring at the swirling mass of immortal essence within it, she took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in her eyes.
Was her fortune truly this great?
Great enough to absorb all the spiritual energy of the secret realm without her meridians or dantian suffering the slightest damage?
Xu Wanci glanced at the crumbling tribulation grounds around her, shattered by the Destroyer Stone, and frowned. It seemed the secret realm had expelled her.
Once she confirmed her surroundings were safe, exhaustion from the overwhelming immortal essence washed over her again. Fighting back drowsiness, she forced herself up, wanting to check if the Taiqing Sect disciples were unharmed.
Just then, she spotted several disheveled figures rushing toward her, their eyes filled with urgency.
She finally let out a relieved breath. Instinctively, her hand tightened around the Three-Leaf Lotus at her waist before she succumbed to unconsciousness once more.
High above in the sky.
Xiao Yuyan watched Xu Wanci collapse again and instinctively took a step forward.
But as if realizing something, he stopped, his gaze lingering on her hand clutching the Three-Leaf Lotus.
A hundred years stood between them.
A hundred years he had no memory of.
Now, after seeing her with his own eyes, he could no longer ignore the longing that had surged within him long ago—
He wanted to see her, to stay by her side, to ensure she was always happy, always fulfilled.
This desire burned through him like wildfire.
Xiao Yuyan lifted his head, the power of the Heavenly Dao rippling through his eyes, distorting time and space.
By the rules of the world, he was the same as the "him" in her memories.
He was him.
All he needed was to witness their past together, to "reclaim" those memories.
Then, he could stand beside her.
Stay with her, never to part again.
Closing his eyes, Xiao Yuyan drained the Heavenly Dao energy from the void around him, his face paling slightly.
Before him, a misty portal of time and space materialized. When he opened his eyes again, they seemed to hold the flow of a hundred years in the cultivation world.
Calmly, he stepped into the mist—and vanished in the next instant.
At the foot of Luoyu Peak, a translucent barrier of pale spiritual energy shimmered.
Within the barrier, amidst a grove of green fir trees, a figure slowly materialized.
On the other side of the barrier, Xu Wanci surveyed the unfamiliar surroundings, forcing herself to steady her breathing and remain composed.
She was certain she had gripped the Three-Leaf Lotus before losing consciousness.
Yet now, she sensed nothing amiss—the artifact gave no warning.
This was no illusion, nor was it an array.
Moreover, her cultivation had been suppressed to the third level of Qi Refining, and her spiritual sense was completely sealed.
Not even the Demon Lord’s domain could achieve such an effect.
Was there someone in the cultivation world stronger than the Demon Lord, capable of interfering with an artifact forged by an Immortal Venerable and even regressing her cultivation?
Impossible.
Xu Wanci exhaled slowly.
Having ruled out all other possibilities, only one explanation remained—
Was this… her dream?
With the Three-Leaf Lotus, it wasn’t impossible for her to retain lucidity even in a dream.
As unfamiliar yet oddly familiar memories surfaced in her mind, her fingers twitched.
"She" was still Xu Wanci—but unlike the peaceful, solitary life of the original Xu Wanci in the novel, this version endured the scorn and exclusion of her fellow outer sect disciples. Now, framed and sent to complete a task at Luoyu Peak, where the Immortal Venerable resided.
Xu Wanci pressed her lips together.
Even in her dreams, she couldn’t catch a break.
The "her" in this dream fared worse than the original character in the novel.
But…
Even knowing this was likely just a dream, she remained wary. Just as she turned to leave and search for anything unusual, the misty barrier before her faded away.
At its edge stood a figure clad in pale blue, bathed in moonlight.
His lowered gaze carried the chill of frost, his aura restrained yet undeniably formidable.
Peerless, transcendent—as if the world itself existed only to accentuate his presence.
Xu Wanci stared at this familiar yet unfamiliar figure, momentarily stunned.
A strange mix of tension and relief tangled in her chest.
Of course it was a dream.
Who in the cultivation world would dare weave the Qingyan Immortal Venerable into an illusion?
Even as a mere shadow.
