When Xu Wanci uttered the name "Lingxiao," she sensed it—the laws of this world acknowledging her title.
From this day forth, she would be known as Honorable Lingxiao.
In the past, she had buried her desire for strength deep within her heart, attributing her relentless cultivation to the sake of others.
Only then could she survive.
But now, she could finally reveal her true self before the world.
What she had always wanted was to take control of her own life—to live freely and unrestrained.
Without cultivation, all her hopes would vanish like smoke.
Even without the life-or-death perils she faced upon first arriving in the cultivation world, she could still perish at any moment to an unforeseen calamity.
Xu Wanci glanced at Xiao Yuyan, whose eyes shone with admiration and praise, and her smile brightened.
She darted to his side, tilting her head up to meet his gaze as if seeking approval, her voice brimming with barely contained pride:
"Xiao Yuyan, how was that strike just now?"
Xiao Yuyan looked at her radiant, unyielding face, his heartbeat loud in his ears.
He would always be moved by her strength and resilience.
Once, he could only watch her from afar in the void.
But now, he could finally touch her, hold her.
He wrapped his arms around her, his spiritual energy surging like a tide—gentle yet overwhelming, leaving no gap between them.
Feeling her warmth in his embrace, he let out a contented sigh:
"My Honorable Lingxiao, that strike was truly breathtaking."
"It could pierce the heavens and soar above them."
Hearing his praise, Xu Wanci couldn’t suppress her grin. She patted his back and mimicked his tone in playful reciprocity:
"My Immortal Venerable Qingyan, you truly have excellent taste."
Then, as if remembering something, she cautiously peeked out from his arms:
"Ah-Yan, that beast I just slew…"
She batted her eyes innocently. "Surely it doesn’t count toward our daily quota, right?"
The creatures in the outer regions posed no threat to her and did nothing to hone her skills.
She hadn’t even needed to expend much spiritual energy.
With this thought, her hands slid down from his waist, intertwining with his fingers. She gave them a coaxing shake:
"Ah-Yan, Ah-Yan, Ah-Yan~"
Xiao Yuyan had never been able to refuse her. Hearing her call his name so sweetly, any remaining resistance crumbled.
He clasped her hand, resting his chin atop her head with a soft nuzzle:
"Then, Wanwan, if you pick a beast, you must tell me first."
Xu Wanci immediately slipped free from his embrace, tugging his hand as she headed toward the chaotic heart of the riotous lands.
"Absolutely!"
Unlike the outer layers, the deeper they ventured, the more turbulent the spiritual energy became.
Many cultivators came to the Western Extremities to slay beasts, and as the two pressed inward, the strength of those they encountered grew.
By the time they reached the innermost circle, only those at the Tribulation Transcendence realm remained.
Here, the beasts were formidable, their power amplified by the riotous energy—capable of rivaling mid-stage Tribulation cultivators.
Xu Wanci’s steps slowed as she spotted a venerable locked in combat with one such beast. A spark of eager battle intent lit her eyes.
Flame Venerable remained oblivious to the gaze behind him. Having barely defeated the beast before him, his dantian was nearly drained of spiritual energy.
Before he could ponder why these riotous beasts were far stronger than those thirty years prior, he sensed an unfamiliar presence—spiritual energy as cool and silent as falling snow, weightless yet sending a chill down his spine.
An Immortal Venerable… Why would one come to the Western Extremities?
Nearby, the other venerables wore expressions of similar shock and dread:
A century ago, an Immortal Venerable would never deign to involve themselves in something as trivial as a beast riot.
Even as Tribulation venerables, they had only glimpsed an Immortal Venerable a handful of times in their lives.
Yet now, within a single month of his revival, they had encountered him twice…
Before they could dwell on it, a voice cut through the solemn atmosphere—bright and out of place.
"These beasts do seem a bit troublesome."
Xu Wanci clung to Xiao Yuyan’s hand, her tone light despite her words, her gaze alight with anticipation:
Only creatures of this caliber could truly test her.
Xiao Yuyan looked into her vibrant, determined eyes and forced himself to release her hand.
He smiled, offering no caution, no plea for restraint—only a quiet assurance:
"Wanwan."
"I will always be right behind you."
Hone yourself. Grow stronger.
Leave the rest to him.
He would be her unshakable shield.
Xu Wanci caught the underlying meaning in his words. Standing on her tiptoes, she pressed a light kiss to the corner of his lips.
"Ah-Yan, don’t worry," she said softly, her voice firm. "I’ll absolutely protect myself."
"There won’t be any need for you to step in."
At that moment, a bestial roar erupted from the very heart of the chaotic battlefield.
Sensing the surging, overwhelming spiritual energy behind her, Xu Wanci took a step back and turned to Xiao Yuyan with a bright yet determined expression.
"Wait for me."
Then, in a swift motion, she spun around, the Nine Heavens Sword already gripped tightly in her hand.
All the surrounding Venerables had overheard the exchange between Xu Wanci and the Immortal Venerable, and their eyes widened in shock.
No one had ever imagined that the relationship between the Immortal Venerable and Xu Wanci would be like this.
Before her, the Immortal Venerable seemed like nothing more than an ordinary cultivator—none of his usual overwhelming power or aloofness remained. Instead, his demeanor carried a hint of cautious reverence, as if he were the one in a lower position, cherishing her with utmost care.
What stunned them even more was that despite his deep concern for Xu Wanci, he still did not stop her from acting.
Even though everyone knew how fearsome the beast was.
The Immortal Venerable’s treatment of Xu Wanci was not just about protection and indulgence—it was about treating her as an equal, with genuine respect.
He wanted her to grow stronger, to be able to defend herself, even if it meant expending more of his own energy, willingly becoming the stepping stone for her ascent.
At this realization, they couldn’t help but reflect inwardly:
If they loved someone, would they ever go to such lengths?
The answer came to them in an instant.
If they loved someone, at most, they would shelter them under their wings. How could they ever exhaust themselves so thoroughly for their sake?
While the others were lost in their thoughts, Xu Wanci had already engaged the Deathscorpion Beast in battle.
The Deathscorpion Beast’s body was incredibly resilient—even a Transcendent Realm cultivator would find it nearly impossible to leave a mark on its armored exoskeleton, let alone inflict any real damage.
Among the surrounding Venerables, this was one of the last beasts they ever wanted to face.
Xu Wanci dodged the lashing scorpion tail, her Nine Heavens Sword scraping against it with a piercing metallic shriek.
A sword intent capable of tearing through space itself only left a faint scratch on the beast’s tail.
Her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly as she observed the violent fluctuations of spiritual energy around the Deathscorpion Beast.
She had always been highly sensitive to spiritual energy, able to discern the weakest points of a spirit beast by sensing the flow of its energy before delivering a fatal strike.
But with this Deathscorpion Beast, she couldn’t detect any variation in its energy at all.
Every part of its body radiated the same chaotic, evenly distributed power.
As she continued exchanging blows with the beast, the Deathscorpion Beast absorbed more of the rampaging spiritual energy from its surroundings, growing even stronger.
Its attacks became faster, deadlier.
Xu Wanci barely evaded the snapping pincers by leaping off the whipping tail.
Then, as she felt the flow of energy beneath her feet, her eyes suddenly brightened with realization.
Though the Deathscorpion Beast appeared to have no weak point, the circulation of its spiritual energy followed a fixed pattern—flowing from tail to head, then back again.
If she could just seize the precise moment when its energy shifted…
When the scorpion tail lashed toward her again, she twisted slightly, not fully dodging, but instead countering with a swift slash of her sword as it grazed past her.
The venomous stinger halted abruptly, mere inches from her chest.
The massive beast collapsed with a thunderous crash, lifeless.
The Venerables witnessing this scene could no longer conceal their astonishment.
Even for them, subduing such a formidable Deathscorpion Beast would have required great effort, let alone killing it.
Yet Xu Wanci had identified its weakness within mere exchanges and slain it with a single decisive strike.
Their gazes turned solemn.
It seemed the cultivation world now had one more person they dared not offend.
And this time, it had nothing to do with the Immortal Venerable—it was solely because of Xu Wanci herself.
In the world of cultivation, strength commanded reverence.
Those who relied solely on another’s power might inspire fear, but never true respect.
In the past, they might have harbored some competitive spirit toward Xu Wanci.
If they chanced upon a great opportunity, perhaps they could surpass her, becoming the one to ascend.
But now…
Flame Venerable let out a quiet sigh and shook his head.
Better to focus on hunting more beasts here.
When Xu Wanci had brushed past the scorpion tail, Xiao Yuyan’s spiritual energy had coiled tighter than ever before—the power of a Void-Shattering Supreme surged uncontrollably, only to be forcibly restrained by his own will.
It wasn’t until he saw her slay the Deathscorpion Beast that his clenched fists finally loosened, his rigid posture relaxing.
Watching her triumphant, radiant confidence, the frantic pounding of his heart gradually steadied.
Xu Wanci strode back to Xiao Yuyan’s side, her steps light and buoyant.
Though she felt her current spiritual energy could still take down a few more fierce beasts, remembering her promise with him, she obediently stood before him.
She instinctively reached for his left hand, but the icy touch against her palm made her pause abruptly.
Xu Wanci pressed her lips together and led him step by step toward the outskirts of the chaotic lands.
She spoke as if it were nothing:
"Actually, hunting one fierce beast a day is indeed a bit too frequent."
"If I spend one day hunting, another consolidating my cultivation, and then a day strolling through the scenery with someone…"
"A balanced pace would probably be more beneficial for cultivation."
At this, she lifted her head, her eyes sparkling with amusement:
"Though I wonder what that someone might think?"
Someone had to compromise—and it shouldn’t always be him.
She wouldn’t give up improving her cultivation, but she could try to find a balance.
Three days—that was the most suitable arrangement she had settled on after careful thought.
Besides, she had been moving too fast all this time. It was about time she slowed down.
That way, she wouldn’t miss the beauty along the way.
Xiao Yuyan suddenly tightened his grip on her hand, his turbulent emotions churning before finally settling into unwavering devotion:
"That someone thinks… it’s perfect."
Every moment with her, he could sense how much she cared.
His love deepened with each passing second, until it became an endless ocean no one could fathom.
Hearing Xiao Yuyan’s reply, Xu Wanci squeezed his hand in return:
"Ah-Yan, come with me."
Before arriving in the Far West, she had read about a breathtaking spectacle that occurred at sunset.
Beneath the crimson sky, Xu Wanci led Xiao Yuyan to the plains at the edge of the Far West.
A blazing sun slowly descended before them, setting the distant river aflame in fiery hues.
The water shimmered with dazzling red light.
Xu Wanci admired the view, but while her eyes held appreciation, they were also clouded with doubt:
The books said that at sunset in the Far West, the plains would be covered in sunset orchids.
These orchids bloomed for only half an hour at dusk before withering away.
The vivid scarlet flowers against the dying light were said to be one of the most magnificent sights in the cultivation world.
Xu Wanci blinked slowly.
Was it because of the chaotic spiritual energy?
Even though they were far from the epicenter, the disturbance must have reached here.
She gazed ahead, sending a wisp of spiritual energy into the earth.
Sensing the dormant orchids beneath, she made up her mind, a faint smile curving her lips.
In the next instant, the spiritual energy of a mid-stage Transcendent cultivator swept across the plains.
Beneath the nourishing surge, the seeds of the sunset orchids sprouted, grew, and burst into radiant scarlet blossoms.
Xiao Yuyan’s eyes reflected the endless sea of red, his gaze toward Xu Wanci filled with terrifying tenderness and obsession.
His voice was rough with emotion:
"Wanwan, didn’t you think this would be a waste of spiritual energy?"
Xu Wanci coughed lightly, avoiding his eyes:
"Well… wasting a little now and then isn’t so bad."
Feeling the spiritual energy pulsing at his fingertips, she reached out and brushed hers against his:
"Ah-Yan."
"There’s no need to preserve them."
"We only need to enjoy the view."
She looked up at him, her expression solemn as if making a vow:
"We’ll see many more sights together in the future."
"So don’t cling to this moment as an obsession."
"We still have a long, long road ahead."
