The moment Xu Wanci heard the voice of the person before her, her mind uncontrollably wavered for an instant.
‘I’ve missed you.’
This was a phrase she had heard countless times in her dreams.
And every time, her response had been, ‘What a coincidence.’
How could it be such a coincidence?
By the time she regained her composure, her eyes fell upon a vast desert blooming with Huayu Ephemerals.
The blue Huayu Ephemerals swayed proudly in full bloom, transforming everything around them into an ocean of azure.
Xu Wanci gazed at the sight, her fingertips trembling faintly.
Suddenly, she recalled her first encounter with that person in her dreams:
He had asked her what she desired.
She had answered that she only wished to see the legendary Huayu Ephemerals.
The actions of the person before her now were so eerily similar to those of the man in her dreams that an almost absurd thought rose in her heart.
But just as quickly, she suppressed it ruthlessly:
She dared not entertain any hope, for even a single misstep could lead to an ending far more terrifying than death.
It was common knowledge in the cultivation world that she adored Huayu Ephemerals, so it wasn’t surprising that the person before her knew of it.
As for those words…
After such a long separation, what else could two people say to each other besides ‘I’ve missed you’ and her own ‘Long time no see’?
Xu Wanci pressed her lips together, forcing herself to steady her slightly shaky breath as she reasoned coldly:
At present, Immortal Venerable Qingyan likely bore no killing intent toward her.
Given the aloof nature of the Venerable as described in the original records, if he knew the truth, he would have slain her without hesitation—never would he toy with her or seek revenge.
Therefore, the most plausible explanation was that the resurrected Immortal Venerable’s memories were also muddled.
After all, by now, scarcely anyone in the cultivation world remained unaware of the relationship between her and the Venerable.
As long as he stayed within this realm, he would inevitably hear rumors about the two of them.
With this thought, Xu Wanci lifted her head—only to meet a pair of transcendentally clear eyes, ones that reflected all of creation yet softened with near docility when they landed on her.
She instinctively held her breath before finally speaking after a pause:
“Who am I?”
Her voice was soft, as if she merely sought an answer—one that would confirm the person before her wasn’t an illusion.
Xiao Yuyan heard her question and forcibly restrained the spiritual energy that threatened to surge toward her, enunciating each word carefully:
“You are Wanwan.”
“The most important person in this world.”
Even though she had anticipated his answer, Xu Wanci’s heartbeat still quickened for a fleeting moment.
But only a moment.
She took a step back and glanced at the crowd kneeling on the ground, masking the probing in her eyes as she murmured,
“Then who are they?”
At Xu Wanci’s question, the gathered Transcendent Realm experts—who had been relieved to escape the Venerable’s notice—froze in unison.
Though they couldn’t feel the Venerable’s gaze, the suffocating pressure clinging to them was unmistakable.
Every one of them stared despairingly at the Huayu Ephemerals blooming beneath them, each flower infused with the Venerable’s spiritual energy, draining the color from their faces.
The Bai family, in particular, was drowning in dread.
To them, Xu Wanci was no different from a god of slaughter.
Yet Xiao Yuyan merely swept an indifferent glance over the prostrate figures before turning back to focus entirely on the woman before him.
To him, nothing in this world mattered except Xu Wanci.
Recalling her earlier question, he pressed his lips together and answered earnestly:
“They are… people.”
Despite her preparations, Xu Wanci hadn’t expected this response.
She couldn’t help but look up at him.
Meeting her gaze, Xiao Yuyan seemed to realize his answer hadn’t satisfied her, his eyes flickering with cautious hesitation:
“They are… cultivators?”
Hearing this, Xu Wanci lowered her lashes, concealing the faint amusement and the slight acceleration of her pulse.
For a moment, she recalled the words of the man from her dreams:
‘Before meeting you, my eyes never saw anyone else.’
‘Only you.’
‘It’s always been you.’
She exhaled slowly, her gaze clearing once more:
It seemed Immortal Venerable Qingyan’s memories were indeed damaged.
Otherwise, he would have recognized the elders of the Taiqing Sect.
With this realization, the tension in her heart eased slightly.
Turning away, she gazed at the endless field of Huayu Ephemerals, her voice distant yet carrying a trace of hidden warmth:
“We’ve been away for too long. It’s time to return to the sect.”
Xiao Yuyan caught the subtle shift in her tone, and a faint smile finally touched his eyes.
At this moment, he felt a flicker of long-awaited relief:
He had truly found her again.
After a century apart.
They could now have an eternity ahead.
Aboard the Jade Zenith Flying Vessel.
Ning Menglan and several elders huddled in a corner, each as silent as a mute.
The Second and Third Elders jostled against each other, exchanging glances before promptly looking away—studying the sky, the floor, anything but the front of the vessel.
If not for Xu Wanci’s presence—and their awareness of her importance to the Venerable—they would have long since risked their lives to flee this flying ship.
Even a hundred years ago, they had rarely gotten the chance to lay eyes on the Venerable, let alone share a vessel with him.
Though their cultivation placed them among the world’s most powerful, they couldn’t even sense the Venerable’s presence, catching only glimpses of his moon-white robes from the corners of their eyes.
This level of strength surpassed their understanding—it was as if he could merge with the world itself.
Had the Venerable wished it, not a soul in the cultivation world would have been able to detect him.
The thought only deepened their reverence and caution.
At the vessel’s prow.
Xiao Yuyan sensed the subtle distance in the woman beside him, the light in his eyes dimming bit by bit.
He tightly restrained the spiritual energy that instinctively sought to curl around her, his lowered head carrying an air of quiet docility and faint grievance.
He knew too much time had passed between them—her wariness was only natural.
But…
Remembering how Xu Wanci had once trusted and leaned on him, his expression still clouded with quiet sorrow, his aura tinged with loneliness.
Xiao Yuyan retrieved a celestial-grade Sweet Spirit Fruit and offered it to her, his voice tender and tentative:
“Wanwan, would you like to try one?”
Now that her cultivation had progressed enough to absorb the fruit’s spiritual energy, he no longer needed to refine it for her—he could finally present all such treasures directly to her.
Xu Wanci looked at the small, round fruit before her, her long lashes fluttering slightly:
She wondered if it would taste as delicately sweet as it had in her dreams.
No matter what she was thinking inside, Xu Wanci maintained a calm exterior as she gently shook her head:
"No need, thank you."
The disciples of the Taiqing Sect behind her couldn’t sense Immortal Venerable Qingyan’s presence, but they could hear his voice—soft and gentle, like the whisper of snow.
Hearing it, they almost forgot the immortal’s demeanor from a century ago—aloof and formidable, capable of annihilating mountains and seas with a mere wave of his hand.
Before they could even process their surprise at his special treatment of Xu Wanci, they were overwhelmed by the rich spiritual energy emanating from the celestial-grade Sweet Spirit Fruit.
A single bite of such a fruit could greatly enhance one’s cultivation.
Yet Xu Wanci had refused it so easily.
Her blunt rejection didn’t evoke pity in them—only worry.
Even knowing of the immortal’s fondness for her, they feared her reaction might… displease him.
But Xiao Yuyan wasn’t displeased. He only blamed himself for offering a fruit that didn’t suit her taste.
Without hesitation, he withdrew the Sweet Spirit Fruit and replaced it with a Linglong Fruit.
Xu Wanci stared at the fruit reappearing before her. The tension in her heart had unwittingly eased, and for a moment, she was distracted:
Why were all the fruits he offered her favorites?
But she knew—the more she spoke, the more mistakes she’d make. The more she moved, the more she’d reveal.
The best course now was to maintain the delicate balance between them.
After all, showing excessive enthusiasm for the fruits would only raise suspicion.
Xiao Yuyan then presented several more rare, celestial-grade spirit fruits.
The Taiqing Sect disciples in the distance were numb with shock.
Xu Wanci remained indifferent.
Seeing her apparent disinterest, Xiao Yuyan’s hand holding the fruit paused slightly.
She had never explicitly stated her preferences, yet he had memorized them.
These were the fruits she had always eaten more of.
Stubbornly, he offered another fruit—this time with his left hand.
His slender, powerful fingers held a pale-green Jade Spirit Fruit, a sight pleasing to the eye.
But what truly drew attention was the small red mole on his wrist.
At the sight of it, Xu Wanci’s fingers twitched instinctively—a habit from her dreams. Before she could stop herself, her hand had already reached out.
Realizing her mistake, she diverted her movement at the last moment, plucking the fruit from his fingertips instead.
Surrounded by his familiar spiritual energy, she gazed at the Jade Spirit Fruit in her hand with quiet resignation.
Was the influence of those dreams too strong?
Even in such a precarious moment, she had let her guard down—a mistake she had never made before.
Clutching the fruit tightly, as if steeling herself, she glanced at the Three-Leaf Lotus at her waist.
The Three-Leaf Lotus had been forged by Immortal Venerable Qingyan. If he retained memories of the past, he would recognize it—and know its true purpose.
Fortunately, she hadn’t experienced too many illusions. Even if he knew of the lotus’s function, he wouldn’t easily suspect her.
This was a necessary test, now that she sensed the surroundings were safe.
Just as she braced for the worst, he extended his left hand again—another Jade Spirit Fruit.
This time, his movement deliberately blocked her view of the Three-Leaf Lotus.
Xiao Yuyan disliked anything that captured her attention—especially relics tied to him from a century ago.
Even though he knew that in the past, there had only been the two of them.
He knelt on one knee before her.
"Wanwan, won’t you try it?"
Meeting his hopeful gaze, Xu Wanci had her answer:
He didn’t remember this Three-Leaf Lotus from a century ago.
Relieved, she took a small bite of the Jade Spirit Fruit—only to freeze at the taste.
It was identical to the one from her dreams.
But she had never eaten a Jade Spirit Fruit before.
Countless thoughts flashed through her mind, finally dissolving into a shaky exhale.
Seeing her finally accept his offering, Xiao Yuyan smiled—genuine warmth in his eyes.
His spiritual energy gently brushed against her hair, tentative and tender.
But then—
Sensing the others behind them, he spoke softly:
"Wanwan, would you like to visit the Qiyun Secret Realm?"
"There are many Jade Spirit Fruits there."
At his words, Xu Wanci closed her eyes.
The Qiyun Secret Realm—where they had last met before his sacrifice to the heavens.
The final place they had seen each other.
Her voice was hoarse.
"But it’s not the time for the Qiyun Secret Realm to open."
Xiao Yuyan’s lips curved, his eyes brimming with tenderness.
"If Wanwan wishes it, any time is possible."
A century ago, it had been so. And now, it still was.
Xu Wanci refused, her voice rough.
"...No."
"I want to return to the sect."
She needed to sort through her thoughts.
His spiritual energy caressed her cheek in response.
"Alright."
But as his gaze swept over the others on the flying vessel, a coldness flickered in his eyes.
Once, it had been just the two of them.
Now…
Xiao Yuyan, who cared for no one but Xu Wanci, finally noticed the others’ existence.
The disciples on the vessel shuddered under the sudden pressure of his shattered-void-level aura, their faces pale with dread:
When would they reach the Taiqing Sect?!
They couldn’t take much more of this!
