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  • The Vicious Female Lead Doesn’t Want to Do It Anymore 80

    Chapter 80: More Please – A Sweet Trip

    Dong Ling considered the type of variety show for a while.

    Since it was mainly for her and her girlfriend, no competitive shows, no adventure shows, no drama or intrigue, after thinking it over, Dong Ling decided on a slow-paced travel variety show, it didn’t need to be hugely popular, this type of show had a stable audience, it wouldn’t be completely unnoticed.

    And with a slow-paced travel variety show, they could travel on the company’s dime, which sounded quite nice.

    To increase the fun and interaction, the travel destination would be decided by netizens.

    Dong Ling told Song Mingzhi about this plan and received her approval.

    “Let’s release a pilot episode first, and as for the other guests, let the netizens vote, we’ll consider their suggestions, and then make the final decision.”

    Song Mingzhi didn’t really want anyone to disturb their alone time, but a variety show couldn’t just be her and Dong Ling, they could choose some popular choices among the audience.

    “Okay, it’s decided, I’ll have them start the project.”

    In the world of capital, there was nothing that couldn’t be solved with money and connections, so the project quickly got underway.

    So, on a beautiful day, netizens browsing online found that Canghai Entertainment had posted a new update and even bought a trending topic.

    @CanghaiEntertainment: Our boss wants to go on a trip, but doesn’t have a destination in mind. How long has it been since you traveled? Where do you want to go most? Our boss is interested in any destination.

    The slow-paced travel variety show “Cloud Travels” is officially launched, with regular guests @CanghaiEntertainmentDongLing and rising actress @SongMingzhi, who else do you want to see on the show? Leave your suggestions in the comments, we’ll seriously consider them.

    [Click the link to watch the pilot episode of “Cloud Travels”]

    The announcement was concise and clear, the purpose was clear, but the destination and guests were unknown. Besides knowing that Dong Ling and Song Mingzhi would be participating, netizens also saw the long list of tagged investors.

    @ForeverAlone: Damn, is this what it means to be rich and carefree? The investors include real estate, media, food, education… and what are gaming and animal husbandry doing here?! Are they going to raise pigs on this show???

    @IgnoranceIsBliss: Hahahahahahaha, I’m dying of laughter, CEO Dong is power, is this what it means to be a domineering CEO? I’m simping for my wife!

    @PleaseSendMeOffToMyGrave: If this isn’t a marriage proposal disguised as a variety show, then what is it? I officially declare them locked together! My beautiful women are one!

    @MayAllThingsGoWell: I’m suddenly interested in this variety show, I watched the pilot episode, netizens can send their suggested destinations to an email address, and the program team will randomly choose a destination, if this is true, it might even boost the local economy of certain places.

    @ItIsSpring: Wow, it’s been so long since I traveled, I want to go to so many places, but because of time and financial constraints, I can only watch other people’s vlogs, I’ll go send an email now, please choose mine!

    @WhoPlaysBigQiao: CEO Dong, please notice me! I highly recommend my Jiejie, her personality is both steady and playful, gentle and easygoing, please take her!

    Dong Ling was also helpless about the investors.

    Hearing that she was creating her own variety show, they all insisted on supporting her, saying they didn’t take care of her when she first started her business, and had to do it this time.

    Dong was a common surname in Beihai, covering a wide range of industries, which was why even the animal husbandry industry was involved, because her second uncle was in the feed business.

    As for gaming, Wen Han insisted on investing, Dong Ling considered it compensation for her taking over the male lead’s script and happily accepted.

    Song Mingzhi also wanted to invest, but was strongly opposed by her girlfriend.

    “I have money, and you’ve seen my support, there’s no need for you to contribute.”

    Dong Ling still thought Song Mingzhi was just moderately well-off, that Song Mingzhi’s company was small to medium-sized, otherwise, why wasn’t Song Mingzhi involved in any business activities? She felt sorry for her wife’s hard-earned money and didn’t want her to spend it.

    Song Mingzhi could only comply. She didn’t know that Dong Ling was underestimating her wealth, she just assumed Dong Ling felt it was unnecessary, and besides, her family matters hadn’t been completely resolved yet, it wouldn’t be too late to discuss it after everything was settled, Dong Ling wouldn’t care whether she had money or not, her attitude had always been the same.

    Song Mingzhi’s lips curved upwards, and she kissed her girlfriend’s pink cheek.

    Dong Ling kissed her back, it was originally just a quick peck, but then it escalated.

    Fortunately, she had been successfully desensitized, and her various indicators had significantly improved, she didn’t even need to drink two glasses of water during breaks anymore, just one was enough, this was a sign of progress.

    As for the variety show guests, Dong Ling asked the planning team and director to carefully select, prioritizing artists under her company who were suitable for this type of show, her own show naturally had to take care of her own children, and then choose others.

    Dong Ling didn’t want too many people, so besides her and Song Mingzhi, there would only be two regular guests and two to four rotating guest stars per episode, depending on the situation.

    In the end, the two regular guests they chose were Yun Jie, a variety show regular with a background in journalism, known for her high EQ and gentle personality, and Long Ji, a singer-songwriter known for her quiet and calm demeanor.

    But Long Ji was difficult to invite, not because she was arrogant, but because she was reclusive, sometimes even her agent couldn’t reach her.

    “It seems we’ll have to find someone else.”

    Dong Ling said with some regret after hanging up the phone, she quite liked Long Ji’s songs and her outlook on life.

    “Find someone else for what?”

    Song Mingzhi came out of the bathroom, drying her hair, and asked.

    Dong Ling explained the situation, and seeing Song Mingzhi’s expression, she said: “It’s fine, she’ll come.”

    Dong Ling was quite surprised: “Mingzhi, do you know her?”

    “I helped her once, she’s very grateful.”

    Song Mingzhi had supported Long Ji when she was struggling, funding the production of her album, which was the album that made Long Ji famous.

    Song Mingzhi had long forgotten about this, after all, she didn’t help out of compassion, but because she saw Long Ji’s talent and potential, she was a businesswoman with a keen sense for such things, Long Ji brought her profit, it was a win-win situation.

    But just like Song Mingzhi said, Long Ji was very grateful, sending her holiday greetings and handmade gifts every year, a kind and grateful person. Song Mingzhi always reciprocated, so she remembered when Dong Ling mentioned her.

    “Yay, that shouldn’t be a problem.” Dong Ling cheered slightly, took the towel from Song Mingzhi, and helped her dry her hair, “Mingzhi, you’re so amazing.”

    “Let’s try something different tonight.”

    “…Jiejie, you’re so amazing?”

    Dong Ling said hesitantly, no longer as shy as before.

    “Not that, Ling Ling, you know.”

    Song Mingzhi rested her head on Dong Ling’s shoulder, the dampness from her hair spreading to Dong Ling.

    Her fox-like eyes were gentle and affectionate, like a deep spring, wanting to drown her in them.

    There weren’t many terms of endearment more captivating than “Jiejie,” and the one Dong Ling cried out last night was one of them, but Dong Ling was easily embarrassed, the more she teased her, the more she retreated, closing her shell tightly, not letting her touch the soft interior.

    “Know what? I don’t know anything.”

    Dong Ling deliberately avoided Song Mingzhi’s gaze, playing dumb, she could call her that in her mind, but couldn’t say it out loud when Song Mingzhi used it so intimately, it was too embarrassing.

    Song Mingzhi cupped Dong Ling’s face, looked at her wandering eyes, and asked with suppressed laughter: “Really?”

    Dong Ling’s voice was as soft as a mosquito: “Maybe a little.”

    Song Mingzhi laughed heartily, burying her face in Dong Ling’s soft embrace, and only stopped laughing after a while.

    She rested her head on Dong Ling’s shoulder and said with a smile: “Wife, you’re so cute.”

    Dong Ling’s mind screamed, this is cheating, she felt dizzy and lay down.

    Damn it, why did someone like Song Mingzhi, beautiful, elegant, even exist? Born just to captivate her soul!

    When the official Weibo account released the list of guests, netizens once again marveled at the efficiency and power of capital.

    @RuWoYiYi: It’s actually Long Ji, she’s never been on any variety show before, super excited!

    @LingXiIsSoCool: Looking forward to “Cloud Travels,” looking forward to CEO Dong and Mingzhi!

    @BaiYiShanJin: My Jiejie is one of the guest stars! I was so surprised when the official account replied to me, because my comment was way down there, not many likes, after all, she’s just the visual of a small, unpopular group, but they actually considered it! I almost cried when they replied, and I wasn’t even expecting much, because they only said they would consider it, but it actually happened!

    Because of this last comment, “Cloud Travels” became popular before it even aired, even trending on Weibo, jokingly referred to as “Where is CEO Dong Going?” and “Boss, Please Look at My Baby.”

    After all, who wouldn’t want their idol to have more exposure and resources, to be seen and loved by more people? The strong financial backing of “Cloud Travels” was enough to make people talk, not to mention the highly anticipated destination and guest selection process.

    For the first episode, the program team specifically held a live stream to ensure transparency in the destination selection process.

    Dong Ling wore light makeup, sat in front of the computer, the process was very simple, randomly selecting a number, then locating the corresponding email.

    Dong Ling said “start” and pressed the button, after the number stopped, she located and opened the email, showed the destination, and ended the live stream immediately, the entire process less than three minutes.

    The screen went black, the chat filled with question marks and confusion.

    @BeautiesStickTogether: Beautiful lady, can you please not be so arrogant? Just announcing the destination and leaving, no two-minute chat?

    @TheReason: Don’t you want views? Why so decisive?! No introduction to the program’s content or purpose or anything?

    The official account replied to this comment: Watch the show and find out yourself.

    Okay, quite unique, it immediately attracted netizens’ attention, and a new topic trended on Weibo.

    Where is Yunxi Village?

    Dong Ling was also searching for this place, the destination randomly selected during her live stream just now. The netizen who suggested it said it was her hometown, a place she couldn’t return to due to time and work constraints, the road there wasn’t easy, but it was very beautiful.

    Dong Ling found some pictures, the village was very small, located in the mountains, the terrain steep, some houses built on cliffs, but it was indeed very beautiful, a good place for a romantic getaway with her girlfriend.

  • I’m Surrounded by My Own Pets! 208

    Chapter 208: Ancient and Shining Rabbits Join Forces, The Era of the Four Great Calamities Ends!!!

    Ancient Species Moonlight Rabbit, Back-Tailed Moon-Chasing Demon Rabbit!!!

    Shining Species Moonlight Rabbit, Starlight Never Diminishes, Moon Eternal!!

    In this moment, within Cold Moon Palace, the despair brought by Drought, the Fallen Emperor, one of the Four Great Calamities, was instantly dispelled.

    Two Moonlight Rabbits, each having reached the pinnacle of their respective evolutionary paths, stood on either side of the golden-haired, starry-eyed girl, their combined power forming an impenetrable barrier against Drought’s aura.

    Everyone present—Drought, Heavenly Maiden in her semi-evasive state, even the Guardians outside Cold Moon Palace—felt the breathtaking power radiating from them.

    This unprecedented spectacle was like pulling two SSRs in a single gacha pull.

    But the most astonished were Lian Xing’s companions from the Bubble Pet Beast World.

    From Lian Xing leaving Baiyue Province with Moon-Embracing Jade Hammer to this confrontation with the Four Great Calamities…

    It had only been a year…!!!

    On this day, Lian Xing, just seventeen years old, stood at the pinnacle of evolution.

    “Come, Drought!!!”

    “Let me witness the talent of Star Goddess from millions of years ago—”

    “…”

    “…”

    As Lian Xing’s arrogant words echoed, the black scorpion woman’s expression hardened, a black, destructive aura erupting from her body, condensed Pet Essence swirling around her like a cannonball about to be fired.

    The Ancient Moonlight Rabbit’s white hair flowed wildly behind her as she assumed a leaping stance, her expression impassive.

    “BOOM!!!!!”

    A deafening roar.

    Drought’s body shot forward like a projectile, obliterating the landscape in her path, leaving behind a desolate wasteland of burnt Pet Essence.

    Facing the approaching Drought, the Ancient Moonlight Rabbit transformed into a streak of white light.

    The next second, black and white collided.

    White rabbit paw met black scorpion pincer.

    “BANG!!!!!”

    The ground for billions of miles sank as the space between Drought and the Moonlight Rabbit shattered.

    Seconds later, all Pet Essence vanished, leaving behind a vast expanse of nothingness.

    But the two remained locked in combat, neither yielding an inch.

    The void continued to expand, threatening to engulf everything around them. Even Heavenly Maiden’s Shining white fox, sprinting at full speed, couldn’t escape its pull.

    However, with a snap of Lian Xing’s fingers, the mechanical halo above her head shimmered, teleporting Heavenly Maiden to her side.

    The expanding void, upon contact with Starlight Never Diminishes, Moon Eternal’s Shining aura, vanished as if vaporized.

    Heavenly Maiden hid behind Lian Xing, clutching her skirt, too afraid to even look.

    Silver Dragon and Tear Heavenly Maiden on Cold Moon’s warship gritted their teeth, their expressions complex.

    Thunder Fly and Jade Maiden were less affected.

    After all, while Lian Xing had shown some affection towards Silver Dragon and Tear Heavenly Maiden, she treated Thunder Fly like a little sister.

    And Jade Maiden was purely a tool, not even worthy of being part of the… rotation…

    “Bang!!!”

    “Bang, bang, bang!!!!”

    At the center of the void, Drought and the Moonlight Rabbit exchanged blows, each collision between scorpion pincer and rabbit paw obliterating their surroundings.

    But after just a few exchanges, Drought was drenched in sweat.

    What kind of strength was this?

    She felt like her entire arm was about to explode…

    After dozens of futile clashes, Drought’s tail lashed out, piercing the Ancient Moonlight Rabbit’s red eye like a venomous stinger.

    But in that instant…

    Time and Pet Essence froze…

    “Clang!”

    Under the disbelieving gazes of all who watched, the tip of Drought’s scorpion tail shattered the moment it touched the Ancient Moonlight Rabbit’s eye.

    As Drought stared in bewilderment, the Ancient Moonlight Rabbit slowly raised a paw.

    “Don’t you understand yet?”

    “We’re not on the same level…”

    “Swish!!!!!”

    The Back-Tailed Moon-Chasing Demon Rabbit punched again.

    The black scorpion woman’s armor cracked, swirling vortexes appearing all over her body.

    Even the stars and sky behind her shattered into fragments.

    It was as if the single punch had transformed into countless falling raindrops.

    The scattered projectiles not only pierced through Drought but also obliterated everything behind her.

    [Ancient Talent · Starry Sky]

    [Upon attacking, randomly splits the attack into 46-101 projectiles, each inheriting 68-142% of the original power (both minimum and maximum values increase with level).]

    “BOOM!!!!!”

    The sky above Cold Moon Palace and its barrier shattered.

    Mountains, rivers, and clouds vanished, both high in the sky and on the ground.

    Even Cold Moon’s warship was nearly capsized by the explosive shockwave.

    The Guardians watched in awe.

    With just this single punch…

    Cracks had appeared on Drought’s Life Crystal.

    “Transcendent Transformation!!!!!”

    Without hesitation, Drought activated her ultimate technique, Transcendent Transformation.

    A unique evolution method for Fallen Species!

    Like the Ancient Species’ ancestral true form and the Shining Species’ multiple awakenings…

    Fallen Species, before truly falling, had to undergo a period of transcendence.

    And the more times they transcended, the greater the power boost they received after Transcendent Transformation!

    “Whoosh—”

    A terrifying, black, destructive aura erupted.

    Drought’s revealing black outfit transformed into a full-body suit of heavy scorpion armor, covering every inch of her body, even her swirling tail now clad in menacing, metallic chains.

    “Swish, swish, swish, swish—”

    Before the Ancient Moonlight Rabbit could react, Drought’s tail pierced her body countless times.

    However, the Ancient Moonlight Rabbit stubbornly regenerated, refusing to enter her next stage and fight Drought directly.

    Drought, clad in black scorpion armor, ignored the Ancient Moonlight Rabbit, teleporting into Starlight Never Diminishes, Moon Eternal’s aura.

    Her black, scorpion-like eyes stared at the golden-haired girl.

    Sensing the Fallen Species’ despair-inducing aura—

    Lian Xing, instead of showing fear, covered her face with her hand and asked with amusement, “Not one, but two…?”

    “Fine, I’ll grant your wish.”

    “In exchange, I’ll take all your combat skills—”

    “…”

    “…”

    “Boom!!!”

    Without a word, Drought lashed out with her tail again.

    But the moment it reached the golden Moonlight Rabbit, it was stopped.

    Starlight Never Diminishes, Moon Eternal had been in her Triple Awakening form since the beginning of the battle against the molted Drought.

    Triple Shining Full Moon Star Pole Awakening. Her current Pet Essence density was vastly different from before!

    Drought’s black tail was suppressed by her expanding aura.

    Facing the terrifying scorpion woman, the Shining Moonlight Rabbit simply flicked her ears.

    [Lunar Path 0°]

    “Boom, boom!!!!!”

    The next second, Drought’s body was sent flying like a ragdoll.

    As the black scorpion woman flew backwards, Starlight Never Diminishes, Moon Eternal raised her hands, golden bubbles rising around her.

    Then, under the disbelieving gazes of the Guardians and spectators, the entire Cold Moon Palace landscape began to rise.

    Affected by Lunar Path 0°’s trajectory and gravity, the entire Cold Moon Palace, with a diameter of hundreds of billions of kilometers, began to float into the air, carrying all beings within it.

    Rivers, mountains, the sky, the earth’s core—everything within the Shining Rabbit’s aura was lifted.

    What… what the… what the hell…

    What kind of bullshit ability was this…!?

    Everyone was stunned.

    Within Lunar Path 0°’s aura, Drought could barely maintain her balance, let alone stand still.

    They watched helplessly as Cold Moon Palace floated into the starry sky, its mountains, rivers, lakes, nations, deserts, islands, and plains all distorted.

    The Shining Moonlight Rabbit, like a god, had lifted the entire world single-handedly!

    Drought, I’ll take your Fallen evolution!

    “…”

    “…”

    “BOOM!!!”

    As Lian Xing gave the command, the Ancient Moonlight Rabbit descended upon the unbalanced, breathless black scorpion woman like a missile.

    Her ears twisted and deformed, her eyes turning crimson.

    Fleshy rabbit ears, like boxing gloves, sprouted from her head, pulled by her white hair, lining her ears before punching outwards in unison.

    [Bloodline Combat Skill · Six Ears]

    [Bloodline Combat Skill · Moon Crushing]

    [Shining Combat Skill · Divine Duel]

    [Ancient Talent · Starry Sky]

    “Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!!!!!”

    Billions of punches exploded outwards.

    Countless holes appeared on the black scorpion woman’s body, her indestructible armor shattering.

    Thousands of rabbit paws lined the Moonlight Rabbit’s ears.

    And as each one triggered Starry Sky…

    The countless rabbit paws punched through the terrain of Cold Moon Palace, bombarding and shattering the planet’s core, sending Drought plummeting from the sky.

    Moonwalker, Inverse Time, and Cold Moon, the three Guardians, watched Drought’s descent without intervening.

    Inverse Time clenched her fists.

    Finally…

    After dozens of seconds of deafening explosions, the Ancient Moonlight Rabbit stopped punching, her beautiful white body floating in the air, her cold gaze fixed on Drought’s mangled Life Crystal as it fell.

    Below, billions of golden crescent moons orbiting Starlight Never Diminishes, Moon Eternal began to rise, intercepting Drought’s descent.

    “Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!!!!!”

    A blinding, dazzling white light obliterated the surrounding space for hundreds of billions of miles.

    The devastating white light bombarded Drought for several minutes before finally subsiding.

    If Starlight Never Diminishes, Moon Eternal hadn’t lifted Cold Moon Palace into the sky, no one would have survived that attack.

    As the blinding light and dust settled, Drought, once the embodiment of despair, lay exhausted amidst the ruins.

    Her Pet Essence depleted, her body covered in wounds, her Life Crystal vaporized, her black armor turning to smoke.

    Seeing the golden-haired girl approaching, the black scorpion woman smiled faintly.

    It seemed she had overestimated herself…

    This lineup… wasn’t afraid of the First Emperor!

    But that was good…

    Under everyone’s gaze, Lian Xing knelt down, gently closing Drought’s eyes.

    Drought’s remaining body turned to smoke and vanished.

    The era of the Four Great Calamities had ended.

    Drought, defeated…

  • Shion’s Notes 130

    Chapter 130: Well-Deserved

    Inside the venue, everyone held their breath, anticipating the final results. For the aspiring authors, this was their chance to make a name for themselves. Only three awards were given each year, and though there were honorable mentions, the top three spots held the most weight, representing the highest honor, more than just a publishing contract.

    It was about recognition.

    “Before we announce the winners, we’ve invited last year’s champion, Air, to give a speech.”

    Sparse applause rippled through the audience. Air was a well-known figure at Wenqing, the undisputed champion of the previous year, having surpassed even established authors with her impressive sales figures. If Wenqing had a roster of star authors, Air would undoubtedly be among them, even as a newcomer.

    Zhao Yuyan felt a headache coming on. She hadn’t wanted to come, but Chen Xi had insisted. This appearance was just a formality.

    Despite her reluctance, she walked onto the stage with a smile, accepting the microphone from the host. Looking at the sea of faces below, she thought, I hate crowds.

    “Hello, everyone. I’m your friendly neighborhood Air. First, congratulations to all the newcomers for making it this far. Reaching this stage means you’ve demonstrated considerable talent. Whether you win or not, you now have a ticket to a professional writing career. I won last year, and it’s hard to believe a year has already passed. I have a few pieces of advice for you, the most important of which is: persevere. This job isn’t easy; it’s not as glamorous as it seems. You have to endure the loneliness, the struggles, to find success. That’s all I have to say. Also, don’t ask about Volume Four of The Rich Man’s Game. It’s not done yet. Haha.”

    She ended with a lighthearted joke, eliciting laughter from the audience.

    Zhao Yuyan’s slow writing pace was well-known. Readers constantly urged her to write more, to publish faster. However, a year later, The Rich Man’s Game had only reached its third volume, a glacial pace, even though she had published several collections of short stories in the meantime.

    She seemed to prefer writing short stories over novels, much to the frustration of her readers.

    Qian Jiaxuan took the microphone, ready to announce the awards.

    “Thank you, Air, for your insightful words. Now, it’s time to reveal the winners. First, the Honorable Mentions. These authors will receive publishing contracts and a prize of ten thousand yuan. The winners are: What’s Wrong with Falling in Love with a Fujoshi? by Fujoshi Loves Uncle, Tracks of Life and Death by Empty Trace, 180 Ways to Train a Witch by Ako, and I Don’t Want to Cultivate Immortality! by Zero…”

    As the honorable mentions were announced, the tension in the room thickened.

    Some would win, some would lose; it was inevitable. Everyone here was talented, but only a few could emerge victorious. Though the honorable mentions received publishing contracts, the true recognition lay in the top three awards. That was the battle of the titans.

    Ye Zhiyun sat in the audience, an invited guest, but she had a feeling about the final results. If things went as she hoped, it would be perfect.

    She closed her eyes, silently praying for the absent author.

    She hoped Shion’s work would win.

    “Next, the winner of the Bronze Award, third place, is… My Online Boyfriend is Actually My Younger Brother! by Dom Anlia.”

    Applause erupted, a mixture of joy and disappointment.

    The winner of the third-place award, initially assumed to be female, turned out to be a man in his thirties. Who would have thought such a seemingly rugged man could write such a girly story?

    After the customary acceptance speech, the ceremony proceeded.

    “The winner of the Silver Award, second place, is… The Cross-dressing Young Master Doesn’t Want to be Served! by Bai Chen.”

    The second-place winner took the stage. Dressed in a suit with long hair, he initially appeared to be female, but Ye Zhiyun noticed his broad shoulders and Adam’s apple. He was a man. Why was he so androgynous?

    With the second-place award announced, it was finally time for the grand prize.

    If Yu Linna were here, she would be on edge. After so many rounds of eliminations, her name still hadn’t been called. She would be starting to doubt her chances. Moreover, her story was different from the others, which were mostly lighthearted and entertaining, while hers was filled with angst and sorrow.

    Winning was uncertain.

    But it wasn’t Yu Linna waiting for the results; it was Ye Zhiyun. She clenched her fists, a rare display of nervousness for someone accustomed to high-pressure situations. She desperately wanted Nana to win.

    If it were for herself, she wouldn’t be so anxious. But this was about Yu Linna, and she couldn’t help but pray for her success.

    Yu Linna had worked so hard, endured so much. From the singing competition to now, she had constantly strived for success, only to be met with rejection and disappointment. She always gave her all, yet she never achieved the results she desired.

    Each time, she swallowed her tears, her pain, and persevered. She yearned for a chance to succeed. Yu Linna’s heart, too, held a dream.

    She had once chased Nangong Ying’s shadow, now she was fighting for herself, and in the future, she hoped to soar even higher.

    Perhaps it was this refusal to be ordinary that destined her for greatness.

    “The next award, the first-place award, has been a subject of much debate. We’ve had numerous discussions, countless meetings, unable to decide on its categorization, whether it was suitable for commercial publication. But one day, our chief editor said that a good novel shouldn’t be confined by labels. As long as it’s a good story, it deserves to be appreciated.”

    Qian Jiaxuan shared the behind-the-scenes story with a smile.

    This novel had been incredibly controversial, dividing the editorial department. But it was undoubtedly a well-written story, deserving of recognition. And for that reason, it was a well-deserved winner.

    “The winner of the Gold Award, first place, is… Ballad of the Enchantress by Shion!”

    A hush fell over the audience, the world seeming to pause as the words hung in the air.

    Then, applause erupted, a tribute to the victor.

    If only Yu Linna were here.

    She would be so happy, perhaps even crying tears of joy.

    Yu Linna had worked tirelessly, persevering through failures and hardships. Faced with setbacks, she always picked herself up and moved forward, even when bruised and battered. Though the Chenghe incident had dealt her a devastating blow, leaving her unable to stand for a while, she had eventually overcome it, choosing to rise, to bravely face her challenges, to find her place in the world. If she couldn’t be a singer, she would become a celebrity. If not a celebrity, then an actress. If not an actress, then a writer.

    The world was vast, the paths endless; there was bound to be one suited for her.

    And Yu Linna, after so many trials and tribulations, had finally found her calling.

    Ye Zhiyun, sitting in the audience, smiled. Nana, you did it. You actually did it. You’re amazing. Through so many failures and setbacks, you persevered, even after being betrayed, never forgetting your dream. Nana, you’re truly remarkable.

    To have navigated such a difficult path, her resilience was extraordinary.

    Adversity will eventually give way to prosperity; set sail and ride the waves.

    It had all been worth it.

    “Is Shion here? Please come on stage to accept your award.”

    Qian Jiaxuan called out the name, but the author was nowhere to be found.

    Chen Xi walked onto the stage, whispering something to Qian Jiaxuan, who looked surprised but quickly regained her composure, addressing the audience.

    “We’ve just received news that Shion, the winner of the Gold Award, is unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances. Therefore, we’ve asked someone to accept the award on their behalf. Please welcome Miss Ye.”

    Miss Ye?

    The audience gasped, their attention now focused on Ye Zhiyun. Miss Ye was a well-known businesswoman, especially active in the past year, often seen at Wenqing, discussing film and television adaptations with authors. Projects she invested in often became successful, contributing to her growing reputation.

    Of course, that was also due to her keen eye for promising works.

    While not entirely accurate, most of it was based on rumors.

    But her reputation was undeniable.

    Everyone speculated about her relationship with Shion. Who was this person, connected to the winner of the Gold Award, able to accept the award on their behalf?

    “I’d like to thank everyone on Shion’s behalf. They couldn’t be here today, so I’m accepting this award in their place. Thank you.”

    She accepted the award, along with a check for three million yuan, the grand prize. Who would have thought Yu Linna could actually achieve this, proving to the world that she wasn’t worthless, that her time would come.

    New sails replace the sinking ship; withered trees give way to a vibrant spring.

    Perseverance brought light.

    Though she wasn’t present, she had achieved her greatest victory.

    Her time had finally come. Shion, this name, would soon take the world by storm.

  • Reincarnated as a Holy Nun, I Refuse to Lose! v2c23

    Volume 2: Witch Kingdom Arc

    Chapter 23: Information Exchange

    The morning sun shone into the room, illuminating Luo Yuxi’s body beneath a thin sheet. Her skin was flushed, and faint, peach-colored marks adorned her body, evidence of the previous night’s “intense battle.”

    “She said she wouldn’t be too rough…”

    Luo Yuxi stiffly moved her body, still feeling the effects of the witch’s boundless stamina. Doris, already dressed, entered the room, pushing a breakfast cart. Her neat tailcoat and silver hair, tied back in a ponytail, gave her a surprisingly gentle appearance.

    “What time did we finish last night? I think I fainted again…”

    “My dear Master, your voice was so lovely last night, I couldn’t help but be a little rough. Please forgive me~”

    Doris knelt beside the bed and gently lifted Luo Yuxi’s foot, caressing it softly. Luo Yuxi blushed, remembering the events of last night. The potion had worn off halfway through, and she had returned to her normal form, but Doris’s magic power had continued to flow into her, making her beg for mercy. Doris had finally stopped, after all, Luo Yuxi had no experience with endurance battles, always fainting halfway through.

    “So I’ve paid you, now give me the information.”

    Luo Yuxi whispered. Doris nodded, seemingly reliving the previous night’s “feast,” the sweet taste of cherry cake still lingering in her mouth, the image of the cherry being gently bitten off particularly vivid. Like a true butler, she helped Luo Yuxi get dressed before kneeling again.

    “About the information, allow me to serve Master first, and then you can enjoy your breakfast while listening to my report~”

    “Really, why do you always do these unnecessary things…?”

    “Doesn’t Master like it? Or do you prefer me to be more forceful in bed~?”

    “Being served is nice, but the bed is unnecessary…”

    Luo Yuxi looked away, flustered. She couldn’t handle Doris in bed. Doris, the strongest 2nd Order witch, with her full-body vibration magic, was beyond Luo Yuxi’s capabilities. As she was still blushing, she felt a strange sensation on her foot.

    Doris was putting a white sock on her foot, her gentle touch making Luo Yuxi feel like she was being held captive. Doris spoke as she worked.

    “The Legion Witch, she’s quite reclusive. I don’t interact with her much, but I dislike her personality~”

    “I’m not interested in that. I just want to know, the Witch Kingdom doesn’t have an army, right…?”

    “An army? You think we witches need an army~?”

    Doris held Luo Yuxi’s foot in her hand, carefully putting on her shoe, as if afraid to hurt her. Luo Yuxi, recalling the game’s plot, had never encountered any army-related CGs or events, even during conflicts within the Witch Kingdom. Doris, after putting on her shoes, pushed the breakfast cart closer.

    “So you’re going to war with the Church…?”

    “Well, I participate in any battle, but now, my dear Master, today’s breakfast is Yeram beast milk, Rams meat pie, bacon, and fried eggs~”

    “I’m asking you a serious question! Stop talking about breakfast!”

    “Alright, alright~”

    Doris cut the meat pie into bite-sized pieces. Luo Yuxi decided not to ask about the Legion Witch anymore. Just from the name, she could probably summon an army.

    “If I remember correctly, the Church has a First Order powerhouse. Can you defeat her…?”

    Luo Yuxi took the cutlery from Doris and began to eat, marveling at Doris’s unexpected cooking skills. The food, whatever it was made of, was delicious.

    “A First Order? I would probably be killed instantly~”

    “Hmm? You seem strong, don’t you even have a 10% chance of winning? Shouldn’t it be higher?”

    “A chance? Impossible. The difference in Order level is absolute. The only one who can ignore that is Greed…”

    Luo Yuxi, hearing the familiar name, recalled Herolise’s empty, black eyes, neither good nor evil, neither black nor white, a witch who only saw the world from her own perspective. She couldn’t like her, but she couldn’t hate her either.

    “Why bring her up suddenly…?”

    “Well, she’s only 6th Order, but with her two inherent magics, she can even hold her own against a 2nd Order. I don’t know about First Order, though~”

    “Then where is your First Order witch…?”

    Luo Yuxi’s casual question made Doris freeze. Luo Yuxi waited, then, seeing no response, looked up at Doris, confused.

    “What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you don’t want to tell me. We made a deal, you can’t just… not give me the information after I’ve paid you!”

    “About the First Order witch, why don’t you ask the person behind you…?”

    “Eh?”

    Doris’s words confused Luo Yuxi. She turned and saw Lislia, who was supposed to have left, standing there expressionlessly. Although the black mist was gone, her sudden appearance still startled Luo Yuxi.

    “Mother-in-law! Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be…?”

    “Is this why you didn’t go back…?”

    “Huh? What reason? I… I don’t know what you’re talking about…?”

    “The upcoming war between the Witch Kingdom and the Church. The Saintess only informed me a few days ago, how did you know…?”

    “Mother-in-law, what are you talking about? I… I really…”

    Luo Yuxi’s gaze darted around, her excuses dying on her lips. She didn’t know how long Lislia had been listening. And Doris must have known but hadn’t said anything, probably to enjoy this scene.

    “Stop pretending. I’ve been here since she entered with the breakfast cart…”

    “Oh my, Envy, how can you accuse me like that~?”

    “I’m not talking to you. How much do you know about this…?”

    Lislia approached slowly, the click of her high heels like a death knell. Luo Yuxi didn’t know where to look.

    “I just guessed, do you believe me…?”

  • Reincarnated as a Holy Nun, I Refuse to Lose! v2c22

    Volume 2: Witch Kingdom Arc

    Chapter 22: Appraisal Time (¦3[▓▓])

    Luo Yuxi sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for the potion to take effect. Doris pulled out a pair of white gloves and a monocle, looking like a professional appraiser. Luo Yuxi was taken aback.

    “What are you doing? Why the gloves…?”

    “This is my way of showing respect. Treasures must be examined carefully, like precious gems. My previous rough treatment only damaged the treasure~”

    “What nonsense are you talking about? What treasure? I don’t have any trea—”

    Luo Yuxi felt the potion working. Her ample bosom deflated, her limbs shrinking, her oversized nun’s habit becoming loose, revealing her alluring shoulders.

    “This potion is working faster than usual…”

    “The gem is now unveiled, its beautiful form revealed before me~”

    “What are you talking about? Just get it over with! I don’t want Yun Keke and Yu Keke to see, if all three of you come at me, I won’t be able to—”

    Luo Yuxi was pushed onto the bed. She closed her eyes, bracing herself for Doris’s usual rough treatment, but after a while, she opened her eyes and saw Doris carefully unbuttoning her clothes.

    “What!!! What are you doing?!”

    “Undressing you? What’s wrong with that?”

    “It’s not about whether it’s ‘wrong,’ it’s about why you’re doing it so slowly! One button at a time?!”

    Luo Yuxi jumped off the bed, looking at the unfamiliar Doris in bewilderment. Doris, a loli-lover, seeing her alluring body, should have ripped off her nun’s habit by now.

    “How could I treat such a beautiful gem so roughly? I must savor it~”

    “You’re acting strange. Did someone replace you…?”

    This Doris was nothing like the Wrath Witch who had leveled a forest with a wave of her hand. She was more like a cultured villain from a manga. Ever since returning to the castle, Doris had been strangely quiet.

    “My cute Master~ I’ve pledged my loyalty to you, and you doubt me? You’re breaking my heart~”

    “But you’re acting so strange!”

    Luo Yuxi was scared. When someone suddenly changed their behavior, it was never a good sign. Before she could say anything more, she was lifted into the air, a figure pressing against her, silencing her with a kiss.

    “Mmm…!”

    Luo Yuxi’s breath hitched. Doris, seizing the opportunity for “revenge,” poured all her affection into the kiss. Luo Yuxi, unable to resist, gradually succumbed, falling into Doris’s rhythm until, breathless, she tapped Doris’s shoulder. Doris lifted her head, licking her lips.

    “If Master prefers my previous forceful approach, I can always revert~”

    “H-How can you… just kiss me like that…?”

    Luo Yuxi was dizzy from the skillful kiss. Doris gently laid her on the bed and removed her shoes, revealing a delicate foot.

    “Wh-What are you doing…?”

    Luo Yuxi whispered, her foot tingling as Doris caressed it. She sat up with effort and saw Doris tracing her fingers along her leg and foot, like admiring a precious treasure.

    “So lovely~”

    Chu~

    “Eh?!”

    Doris kissed her foot, a gesture of fealty, sending a blush creeping up Luo Yuxi’s face. Being called “Master” hadn’t felt real, but seeing a powerful 2nd Order witch act like a servant, kissing her foot, was a strange and exciting feeling.

    “What is she planning…?”

    Luo Yuxi whispered, her face red. Doris, feigning ignorance, nuzzled against Luo Yuxi’s leg, looking up at her with a puzzled expression.

    “Which aspect, Master? This one, or this one~?”

    Doris pressed her thumb against the sole of Luo Yuxi’s foot while her other hand moved towards her inner thigh. The mixed sensation of pain and pleasure spread through Luo Yuxi’s body. She tried to resist, but the feeling was strangely pleasant. On impulse, she placed her other foot on Doris’s shoulder.

    “Master, are you~?”

    Luo Yuxi realized what she had done. She had placed her foot on the shoulder of a powerful 2nd Order witch. Looking at Doris’s amused expression, she panicked. She had only been curious about Doris’s reaction, but she had actually done it.

    “W-What…? I’m your master, I can step on you if I want…”

    Luo Yuxi’s voice trailed off, her gaze averted. She had only seduced Doris with her beauty, and now she had gone this far. What if Doris stopped playing along?

    Luo Yuxi imagined Doris snapping her ankle in anger, throwing her by the fireplace, picking up a red-hot poker, and asking her which one she wanted.

    “D-Don’t do anything rash!”

    “Rash? But Master is seducing me, how can I not be rash~?”

    Doris grabbed Luo Yuxi’s ankle and pulled, pinning her beneath her. Feeling Doris’s unrestrained desire, Luo Yuxi realized Doris’s previous gentle demeanor had been an act. She closed her eyes, turned her head, and unbuttoned her collar.

    “Don’t hurt me too much…”

    “As you wish~”

    Author:

    (The cute and reliable Yu Keke)

    (The bratty Yun Keke)

  • Miss Luo Yan’s Feet Are Buried With Corpses v3c10

    Witch’s Night: Chapter 10 God’s Chosen – Cecilia

    After the Calamity Tide swept across civilization, humanity barely survived this unimaginable disaster.

    But this was wrong.

    Humanity shouldn’t struggle but should embrace this destruction.

    A wrong continuation would only lead to wrong results, and wrong results would truly endanger the entire world.

    After destruction, there is rebirth. All hope should be left to the next civilization, waiting for the dawn of victory tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of years later, to finally end this cycle.

    This was the oracle issued by the Gods together, but ignorant humanity couldn’t understand and was unwilling to make the great sacrifice.

    The emergence of the Church of the End Gods was to guide humanity towards proper destruction, to end the wrong continuation.

    “Most humans are unwilling to wake up from this beautiful dream, and we are the few who have awakened.”

    An old man dressed as a farmer said in a low, hoarse voice,

    “The Gods let us witness this false starry sky with our own eyes, and the truth hidden behind it.

    “When the Gods slumbered in the past, we never gave up. Now the Gods have returned, it’s time for our great and tragic civilization to meet its destined destruction.

    “This is our mission, for… the Gods.”

    He paused, “And for humanity itself.”

    “Praise the Gods.”

    Low voices echoed in unison, yet deliberately suppressed.

    The followers of the Church of the End Gods, who had exhausted Norian recently, were gathered here.

    Right under Lannister’s nose, they had escaped its gaze.

    It was simple.

    Because among these followers was an Elder, an Elder of the Council of Elders.

    “Bishop, I have seen the Errant ni xing zhe (one who goes against the proper course) with my own eyes,” this high-ranking Elder, however, appeared respectful before the old man dressed as a farmer. “From her attitude, it can be seen that the ‘God of Hope’ has indeed descended upon Lannister.

    “To avoid further complications, she has asked ‘Luo Yan,’ the only one who has come into contact with the ‘God of Hope,’ to temporarily stay in Lannister, and she will personally take Luo Yan away.”

    The Errant in the Elder’s mouth referred to Elise, or rather, the Fourth Saint, “Illusion.”

    “…A few days ago, I glimpsed the oracle of ‘Hope.’ She asked us to stay here and await Her return.”

    The old man’s tone was somewhat strange, like he was chanting. “This is correct. We should move forward and welcome Her back to Her divine seat.”

    “But… Norian has confined Her and designated the area as Restricted Zone Seven. No one is allowed to approach.”

    The Elder seemed troubled. “Apologies, Bishop, even I have no way. Norian’s influence in the Council of Elders is already absolute, let alone the fact that the other Elders remain silent on this matter concerning Her.”

    The old man, called Bishop, was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice,

    “No, She will always return.

    “As long as She awakens, everything will be set on the right track.

    “The benevolent Lord doesn’t need us to save Her; it is we who need the Gods’ salvation.”

    The Bishop glanced at everyone present, lowered his eyes, and said softly,

    “The return of the Gods requires a grand celebration. Let us offer a little insignificant destruction for Their hopes, starting with Lannister.”

    “Praise the Gods.”

    The followers chanted in low voices again.

    Afterwards, these followers quickly dispersed and left the place, blending back into the city called Lannister in inconspicuous ways.

    Only the Bishop remained in the room, silent for a long time.

    …Almost everyone had misjudged the Church of the End Gods. They hadn’t been declining over the millennia, but growing.

    More and more people, after witnessing the truth above the starry sky, chose to side with the Malice of All Worlds.

    The world thought that Devil’s Apostles and Devil’s Minions were keen on causing aimless destruction in major mega-cities to please their masters and pursue greater power.

    However, in the eyes of the Church of the End Gods, this was a ritual, a ritual to awaken the Gods from their slumber.

    After the War of the Witch of Absolute Death hundreds of years ago, these large-scale destructive actions were stopped because the Church of the End Gods had realized that this ritual couldn’t revive the Gods.

    And now…

    Another “miracle” had descended upon Lannister, sounding the horn of the Gods’ return.

    “Hundreds of years, for the arrival of that day, we have waited for hundreds of years, and this waiting continues.”

    The Bishop walked towards the window with his hands behind his back. Outside the window was a bustling market, the crowds coming and going like a tide, surging with the various aspects of life in the mortal world.

    Such a prosperous civilization…

    Yet, because it had taken the wrong path, it had to come to an end.

    The Bishop looked up at the sky.

    Even during the day, under the sun, the beautiful starry sky could still be vaguely glimpsed through the clouds.

    If it were night, this starry sky would be even more dazzling, unchanged for tens of thousands of years.

    The human civilization of the Old Era had touched the stars. Just one step further, and they could have crossed the heavens and entered a wider world.

    …Would it really have been like that?

    The Bishop closed his eyes.

    Only a few in the Church of the End Gods had been taken to the stars by the Gods to witness the truth. The other followers learned about this truth indirectly through them.

    But even these few had only glimpsed a small part of the truth; they couldn’t touch, and mustn’t touch, the more terrifying parts.

    Looking up, one could see a beautiful and dazzling starry sky, but it was fake.

    Created by the Gods to conceal the truth.

    The human civilization of the Old Era broke through the false starry sky. They ecstatically glimpsed the truth, and also glimpsed despair…

    They struggled, they tried, but in the end, they all failed.

    The price of failure was the necessary demise of civilization, becoming part of this eternal cycle.

    However, a traitor had appeared among the Gods back then, allowing these remaining humans to continue, and this mistake still hadn’t been completely eliminated, the hidden danger still existed.

    “Gods… when will you respond to us again?” The Bishop sighed deeply. “Hundreds of years, how many devout followers can no longer bear the madness brought by the truth of that time, gradually fading away…”

    Although the Gods hadn’t issued a clear oracle, from the brief descent and the small part of the truth revealed back then, the Bishop had already deduced many things.

    The Gods had an enemy, an enemy they couldn’t defeat themselves, and could only rely on humanity’s hand.

    But what was even more terrifying was that this enemy would gradually grow stronger with humanity’s growth. Once human civilization reached a whole new level, this enemy would also become so powerful that even the Gods would despair.

    Therefore, humanity had to strike and defeat this enemy when their strength reached a balance point.

    Clearly, this season of civilization had failed. They had witnessed the truth, making this enemy invincible.

    The only way was to extinguish all the legacies of this civilization and completely start anew.

    This was the result of the Bishop’s hundreds of years of dedicated research. He didn’t know if it was accurate enough, but at least it gave him the belief to persevere on the verge of madness.

    “Bishop… Grandpa…”

    Just then, a timid, childish voice came from behind the Bishop,

    “Have those strange uncles and aunts all left…?”

    A small pink figure peeked out from behind the Bishop, curiously looking at the world outside the window.

    It was a little girl who looked about seven or eight years old. Her light pink, slightly curly short hair was a bit messy, and her gloomy bangs almost covered half of her face. A pair of amber eyes seemed to be flickering slightly.

    “Cecilia, those aren’t strange uncles and aunts, they are your elders.”

    The worry on the Bishop’s face dissipated slightly. He turned and tremblingly rubbed Cecilia’s hair. “You will also be like them in the future, taking on the important task of destroying civilization. You can do it.”

    “Can I help Grandpa Bishop?”

    “Yes.”

    “Then Cecilia will do her best.”

    The little pink Lolita clenched her fists, her childish expression extremely serious.

    The Bishop smiled, the wrinkles on his face relaxing a little.

    But just then, an unnatural blush suddenly appeared on Cecilia’s small face, and then she coughed violently.

    At the same time, her amber eyes faintly emitted a golden light, and an indescribable power emanated from her body.

    The Bishop’s pupils constricted, but he didn’t panic too much, clearly having witnessed this scene many times before.

    He stood up, took a small bottle of potion from his pocket, carefully approached Cecilia, and gently fed it to her.

    “Grandpa Bishop… cough… Cecilia, feels so bad…”

    Cecilia coughed even harder after taking the potion, her frail body seemingly on the verge of collapse.

    “It’s okay, it’s okay, good Cecilia, everything will be alright.”

    The Bishop comforted Cecilia in a gentle voice, while his other hand pressed on her throat, pushing back the potion she was about to cough up.

    From his actions, it was clear he had done this countless times before.

    Finally, when all the potion was swallowed, and Cecilia coughed until her voice was hoarse, the strange power around her and the faint light in her eyes gradually dimmed.

    “Have a good rest, Cecilia,” the Bishop patted Cecilia’s hair and said gently. “After taking the potion, you need to sleep.”

    “Mm-hmm,” Cecilia nodded listlessly, her eyelids already drooping. “Grandpa Bishop, is Cecilia useless… Cecilia also wants… to destroy the world with everyone…”

    “It’s destroying civilization, Cecilia.” The Bishop said in a low voice. “Our goal is to save this world, and before that, we must end the continuation of this civilization.”

    “Mm… destroy civilization…”

    Cecilia murmured the last few slurred words and swayed before collapsing.

    The Bishop gently supported her small body and carried her to the bed in the room.

    Soon, slight childish snores came from under the covers.

    The Bishop looked at the sleeping Cecilia, his eyes gradually dimming.

    He looked at the empty potion bottle in his hand and sighed deeply.

    “Is this the destined fate of a God’s Chosen… How did Mister Nine of Dawn survive those long years spanning two eras? Unimaginable…”

    Cecilia was a born demonically infected, or what could be called a God’s Chosen.

    She had been able to control demonic power from birth. The moment she awakened, she killed nearly a hundred people in the entire settlement, including her parents.

    Even she herself was in critical condition. The demonic power was eroding her young life. A human body could hardly bear this power, let alone a newborn baby?

    If it weren’t for the Bishop accidentally discovering this “miracle bestowed by the Gods,” personally coming to the settlement and finding Cecilia, and rescuing her, Cecilia might not exist, leaving only another strange and abnormal Calamity phenomenon in the Endless Wasteland.

    But even so, Cecilia’s life was still in danger, fortunately, she was saved by the Bishop, who understood the “Gods” the most.

    Based on his understanding, the Bishop had prolonged Cecilia’s life for seven or eight years, but now, this prolongation was gradually coming to an end.

    “If you can’t continue, Cecilia… then sleep peacefully on the ruins of Lannister’s civilization.”

    The Bishop reached out, wanting to touch Cecilia’s face, but ultimately withdrew his hand.

    He was still human, still possessing human emotions and feelings.

    But he also knew very clearly that his identity was one of the three Bishops of the Church of the End Gods, shouldering the heavy responsibility of destroying the erroneous civilization.

    In fact, the potion the Bishop gave Cecilia didn’t actually suppress the erosion of the demonic power, but rather enhanced it.

    That was why Cecilia’s reaction had been so violent when she drank it.

    But on the other hand, this enhancement was within the Bishop’s control, able to form a weak balance with the demonic power within Cecilia, ensuring she wouldn’t die from excessive erosion.

    However, this method only treated the symptoms, not the root cause… No, it should be said that it made things worse.

    After a period of time, when the potion’s effects were completely absorbed by Cecilia, the demonic power within her would reach a higher level.

    The next time it acted up, only a stronger potion could maintain the balance.

    This cycle repeated itself, and within Cecilia’s small body now resided terrifying power capable of severely damaging an ordinary mega-city.

    Even Lannister would struggle to withstand the consequences of this demonic power erupting in the core area.

    The current Cecilia was practically an “Ice Coffin Weapon” without the ice coffin’s restraints.

    Was this the Bishop’s original intention?

    Did he save Cecilia just to turn her into such a terrifying weapon of destruction?

    Even the Bishop himself wasn’t sure.

    “Perhaps, this is your destiny, Cecilia.”

    The Bishop stood up and turned to walk towards the door of the room.

    Before leaving, he looked at Cecilia again with some reluctance,

    “This is also humanity’s destiny.”

    “A destiny we cannot escape, and must never escape.”

  • Devilish Disciple [Transmigration] 61

    Chapter 61: “It’s Fine, I Won’t Ask Again”

    Although the passage between the human and demon realms was a one-way street, news could still travel between the two worlds.

    There were always those who risked their lives for profit, those capable of navigating the treacherous passage and surviving in the Demon Realm.

    They were familiar with the demons, conducting illicit cross-realm trades for immense profits.

    Ever since the Demon Bone escaped to the Demon Realm, cultivators from various sects had been using these traders to gather information.

    Si Qinglan, having traveled the human realm for millennia, even after founding Mount Chao Yao, still occasionally visited the human world.

    She naturally knew a few of these traders.

    To stay informed, she had given them tokens allowing access to the mountain, tokens that hadn’t been used in a long time.

    But since Mu Tao went to the Demon Realm, these connections became useful again.

    “Such a big event, if I can hear about it, then the other immortal sects surely can too.” Si Qinglan said, her gaze distant, lost in thought.

    Li Yu had initially thought it would take at least three years for the main storyline to progress.

    But she never expected Mu Tao to advance the plot so quickly on her own.

    The system had mentioned the butterfly effect, how even small changes could have significant consequences.

    So now, what was influencing Mu Tao, allowing her to accomplish in such a short time what took three years in the original story?

    Was it…her?

    Li Yu lowered her gaze.

    That 99% blackening value hadn’t changed.

    It was because of her, because she had changed so many details.

    If the little protagonist in the original story also had a blackening value, it would have stemmed partly from the male protagonist, partly from her master, and partly from the world’s malice.

    Her hatred, her obsession, her resentment, were all scattered.

    So, it took her a long time to gather them, to piece together a hateful self amidst her confusion and loneliness.

    But this time was different.

    Li Yu thought, it was her arrival, her giving Mu Tao that cultivation manual, that changed everything.

    She had thought that treating Mu Tao well would prevent her from blackening, from becoming the ruthless killer in the latter half of the novel.

    But she had become too close, fostering a dependence in Mu Tao even stronger than the protagonist’s dependence on the male protagonist in the original story.

    She hadn’t seen this dependence as a problem, believing she would always be with Mu Tao, never letting her go.

    Yet, she had abandoned Mu Tao at the entrance to the Demon Realm.

    Just like in the original story, without any explanation, severing the Harmony Bells, turning away without looking back, indifferent to her cries and pleas.

    All those promises and vows had become thorns in Mu Tao’s heart.

    Mu Tao didn’t need to hate the world or anyone else.

    Just her.

    Because this time, she was the one who pushed the blackening value to its peak.

    Fueled by this focused hatred, Mu Tao no longer hesitated, simply striving for power, to return and demand an explanation.

    Perhaps she would see Mu Tao soon.

    Should she be happy?

    When they met again, how would she explain, how would she quell that hatred?

    Li Yu’s heart was in turmoil, her mind racing with chaotic thoughts.

    Fragmented memories from the novel, her experiences with Mu Tao, her eagerness to see her again, and the uncertainty of their future, all crowded her mind.

    “Li Yu?”

    “…”

    “What are you spacing out about?”

    “…”

    “Are you even listening to me?!” Si Qinglan slapped the table again.

    Li Yu looked up at her, worry in her eyes.

    Si Qinglan, seeing her like this, hesitated to continue.

    After a moment of thought, she sighed softly. “I know you’re sad, but…our paths and that girl’s…they’re destined to diverge.”

    “Are they…”

    “The Demon Realm respects strength. She killed the Demon Lord, so she will become the Demon Lord. All the demons will obey her. I don’t know if, at her age and with her temperament, she can handle such power.” Si Qinglan’s worry deepened. “We were the ones who let her go. If one day, she leads the demons to wreak havoc on the human realm, we will be held accountable…”

    Li Yu: “It was me, it has nothing to do with you or Mount Chao Yao.”

    Si Qinglan: “…”

    Li Yu: “I’ll bear the responsibility myself.”

    Si Qinglan: “What are you talking about?”

    A flicker of sympathy appeared in Si Qinglan’s eyes. “I was the one who brought her here, and I didn’t stop you when you decided to take her away.”

    Not only did she not stop her, but she even helped.

    This wasn’t Li Yu’s responsibility alone.

    Si Qinglan sighed. “I hope she just wants to protect herself… If she can stay in the Demon Realm peacefully, then there won’t be any problems.”

    Li Yu couldn’t say for sure. With so many changes to the plot, Mu Tao’s current mindset must be drastically different from the original story.

    She shouldn’t harbor much resentment towards the human realm or Mount Chao Yao.

    How much of the original plot would unfold, and what ending the protagonist would ultimately have, was uncertain.

    But one thing was certain; Mu Tao wouldn’t stay peacefully in the Demon Realm.

    They still had to meet again.

    Mu Tao’s blackening value hadn’t reached 100% yet; there was still hope.

    How and where they would meet, and whether she could reduce that blackening value, would likely depend on the subsequent main storyline.

    The system had only said that severing the Harmony Bells and abandoning Mu Tao, allowing her to become the Demon Lord, was a crucial plot point.

    But it hadn’t said that Mu Tao leading the demons to invade the human realm and attack Mount Chao Yao was also part of the main storyline.

    Li Yu paused, and seeing that the system didn’t object, felt slightly reassured.

    After Si Qinglan left, Li Yu sat by the window, lost in thought.

    Her thoughts were chaotic, but gradually, they became clearer.

    She shouldn’t stay on Mount Chao Yao and wait for Mu Tao to return.

    Mu Tao had become the Demon Lord, fulfilling the system’s initial requirement, so the restrictions on her should be lifted.

    If she waited here for Mu Tao to find her, it would only fuel Mu Tao’s resentment and inevitably lead to conflict with Mount Chao Yao and the human realm.

    But what if she took the initiative?

    She could go to the Demon Realm and find Mu Tao, avoiding potential conflicts!

    She could explain everything to Mu Tao. Even if the system muted some of her words, with enough time, she could surely make her understand!

    Li Yu asked the system inwardly, “The crucial plot point has passed. I want to go to the Demon Realm and find Mu Tao. Will you stop me?”

    【The protagonist has become the Demon Lord, fulfilling the prerequisite for the subsequent main storyline. The host is free to act as you see fit.】

    Hearing this, Li Yu almost cried with relief.

    It felt like she had finally reached the end of a long and arduous journey.

    She had been waiting for this day!

    She stood up excitedly.

    Then, she hesitated.

    Should she leave now? Should she inform Si Qinglan?

    If she did, would Si Qinglan try to stop her?

    Things were different now; Mu Tao was the Demon Lord. Si Qinglan probably wouldn’t let her go to the Demon Realm.

    After much deliberation, Li Yu decided to leave secretly.

    Knowing that leaving without saying goodbye was rude, she decided to write a letter.

    Driven by a clear goal, she immediately sat down at the desk.

    The brush, ink, paper, and inkstone here were purely decorative. Not only did she not know how to use them, but the original owner probably hadn’t used them either. They were practically antiques. If she hadn’t been routinely cleaning them with spiritual energy, they might not even be usable now.

    Grinding ink was something she had seen in TV dramas; just add water and grind, easily done with spiritual energy.

    But writing with a brush was more difficult.

    She considered her handwriting decent, not beautiful, but not ugly either.

    But this time, her letter to Si Qinglan was messy, the strokes uneven, with inkblots from shaky hands and corrections, quite embarrassing.

    Looking at the finished letter, she had the urge to destroy it.

    Should Li Yu, the Exalted Immortal, have such terrible handwriting?

    This was a difficult question…

    Perhaps…it was acceptable?

    As an immortal, communication was usually done through spells. Having barely written anything for millennia, her handwriting being rusty was understandable, right?

    It was just a letter for Si Qinglan; she was the only one who would see it!

    And Si Qinglan wasn’t close to the original owner; surely she hadn’t seen her handwriting?

    Even if she had, it didn’t matter; she had already revealed many flaws before Si Qinglan.

    Thinking this, Li Yu folded the letter, placed it in an envelope, and weighed it down with the inkstone.

    She stood up to leave, then, worried that Si Qinglan might not notice the letter, added a faint spiritual aura to it. Reassured, she lifted her skirts and walked to the door.

    She paused at the doorway, lost in thought.

    After a moment, she returned, retrieved the ice flower from the window, and carefully placed it in her spatial pouch.

    Then, taking a deep breath, she stepped out of the room, unsure if she would ever return.

    She was going to find Mu Tao!

    Mu Tao must have been waiting for a long time.

    She had so much to say, although Mu Tao might not be willing to listen, but it didn’t matter; she would take her time.

    Li Yu formed a hand seal, concealing her spiritual aura.

    “System, directions!” she said inwardly, unable to contain her excitement.

    A faint golden line appeared, guiding her, further lifting her spirits.

    Just as she was about to activate her flying spell, a voice echoed beside her, startling her.

    “Where are you going, Cangming Revered One?”

    The voice was close, yet there was no one in sight.

    The voice was cold, devoid of emotion.

    Only one person on Mount Chao Yao spoke like this: Weisheng Xuanzhu.

    Weisheng Xuanzhu never came to Chaoxi Pond, why was he here now?

    This wasn’t normal…

    Li Yu frowned, confused.

    A wisp of icy blue light appeared beside her, solidifying into a familiar form.

    She took a deep breath, calmed herself, dispelled the concealment spell, and replied casually, “Nowhere in particular, just feeling restless, wanted to take a walk.”

    “Is that so?” Weisheng Xuanzhu stared at her.

    His gaze, though cold, made her uneasy.

    Li Yu: “Why are you here today, Lingyao Revered One?”

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “I have something to discuss with you.”

    What could they possibly have to discuss…?

    Even if there was, it probably wouldn’t be pleasant.

    This was a headache. Couldn’t he have come at a different time?

    She would have been gone by now!

    She should have written a shorter letter…

    Li Yu sighed.

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “It seems you’re still not happy to see me.”

    Li Yu: “Come back another day, I’m not in the mood today.”

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “Even if it’s about Mu Tao?”

    Li Yu frowned.

    After a moment of thought, she invited him inside.

    Going to the Demon Realm could wait; since he had seen through her attempt to leave, and he clearly had something to discuss, she might as well listen.

    As she sat down at the table, she poured two cups of tea.

    The tea was cold, but the autumn air wasn’t chilly yet, so there was no need to reheat it.

    Weisheng Xuanzhu took the teacup and said calmly, “Your little disciple…is probably the new Demon Lord now.”

    She already knew that.

    But somehow, hearing it from Si Qinglan and hearing it from Weisheng Xuanzhu felt different.

    Li Yu thought for a moment and said softly, “She’s not inherently evil, perhaps she’s just trying to protect herself…”

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “There’s no need to explain. Whether that child is good or evil…I don’t care.”

    Li Yu: “Then what do you care about?”

    “I’ve never actually met her, not once in over two hundred years.” His voice was flat, like still water. “If there’s a chance, I would like to meet her.”

    What was going on?

    Why would he suddenly say this?

    He had never shown any interest in Mu Tao before. Now that she was the Demon Lord, someone the immortal sects feared and avoided, why did he want to meet her?

    This was strange—

    Both his sudden visit and this topic made Li Yu uneasy.

    Unable to decipher his intentions, she remained silent.

    Weisheng Xuanzhu, seeing her silence, continued, “I heard…that child is very attached to you, that you mean more to her than anything.”

    Li Yu: “Is that why you’re here, Lingyao Revered One? Just to tell me this?”

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “Of course not.”

    Li Yu: “Then get to the point.”

    With a flick of his wrist, the envelope weighed down by the inkstone flew into his hand.

    Li Yu panicked. “That wasn’t for you!”

    As soon as she spoke, the envelope disintegrated, leaving only the letter floating in the air.

    She instinctively tried to destroy it with a spell but was blocked by a spiritual light barrier.

    “Weisheng Xuanzhu!!!”

    This was infuriating! How could he be so rude, reading her letter without permission?!

    As she fumed, she noticed a strange look in his eyes.

    He frowned, staring at the messy handwriting, lost in thought.

    Li Yu’s heart skipped a beat, a sudden wave of panic washing over her.

    This iceberg seemed to have known the original owner for a long time. Could he…recognize her handwriting?

    Her compatibility was full after months of recuperation, but a single, undeniable flaw could cost her dearly.

    She glanced at her compatibility, relieved to see it hadn’t changed, then felt confused.

    What was going on…?

    The atmosphere was strange, unsettling.

    After a long silence, Weisheng Xuanzhu spoke again. “If you want to go to the Demon Realm, I won’t stop you.”

    For a moment, Li Yu saw a flicker of sadness in his dark eyes.

    …Was it her imagination?

    No, that wasn’t important!

    What mattered was that her compatibility hadn’t decreased, and Weisheng Xuanzhu hadn’t questioned her identity.

    Not only that, but he also didn’t seem to object to her going to the Demon Realm to find Mu Tao.

    Li Yu: “You…you won’t stop me?”

    The light in Weisheng Xuanzhu’s hand dissipated, and the letter fluttered to the ground.

    He looked up at Li Yu and said in a low voice, “I said, I can choose not to stop you.”

    It wasn’t her imagination; he emphasized the word “can.”

    So, he could choose not to stop her, but there were conditions, right?

    Li Yu: “What are the conditions?”

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “I want the truth from you.”

    Ah, the familiar keywords.

    That “matter from the past,” the “truth” again!

    She wasn’t surprised at all.

    This inexplicable question was starting to haunt her.

    Li Yu: “I’ve already told you, I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

    As she spoke, a spiritual barrier appeared around the windows and doors, trapping her.

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “Mu Tao is the Demon Lord now. If you try to find her, and I catch you…do you think Si Qinglan will object to me keeping you here?”

    Li Yu: “…”

    Seriously, did it have to be like this?

    She really didn’t know anything!

    What was the truth he wanted? Where was this so-called truth?

    Would she ever be able to leave this mountain?!

    “I don’t understand, is this the first time you’re asking this question?” Li Yu said, exasperated. “If you’re not satisfied with my answer, then ask someone else! Why are you so fixated on me?”

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “You know the truth, why won’t you tell me?”

    Li Yu took a deep breath, frustrated. “Weisheng Xuanzhu, I’m seriously at my wit’s end! What truth do you want?! Why are you so sure I lied to you?!”

    “Don’t try to change the subject.”

    “I’m not…” Li Yu was so frustrated she couldn’t even speak properly.

    She took a deep breath and calmed herself. “Weisheng Xuanzhu, let me ask you, sincerely, earnestly, from the bottom of my heart, what kind of answer do you want? I swear, I’m not trying to dismiss you, I’m just genuinely curious, what do you want to hear? Can you tell me?”

    “…”

    “Can you tell me?” Li Yu repeated.

    “…”

    “Or let’s try a different question. Regarding that matter from the past, what is the part that bothers you the most, the part you can’t let go of? Can you tell me?”

    As she asked, she noticed his breathing deepen slightly.

    He was silent for a long time, lost in thought.

    Li Yu didn’t urge him, just waited patiently.

    Suddenly, she saw a flicker of…pleading in his dark eyes.

    Weisheng Xuanzhu asked her, “Four thousand years ago… after I entered hibernation, what happened in the North Sea?”

    Four thousand years ago, the North Sea…

    Wasn’t that his hometown?

    The original story mentioned that he lived in the North Sea Abyss.

    Why bring up four thousand years ago? Nothing good happened then…

    【Friendly reminder: The North Sea, according to legends, is a sea shrouded in eternal night, located at the northernmost point of the world, untouched by sunlight, moonlight, or starlight!】

    A land of eternal night, a lightless sea!

    In human legends, that fallen ancient god perished in a lightless sea!

    Was the North Sea four thousand years ago the place where the gods and immortals defeated the Heavenly Demon?

    Was that what he was asking?

    Why?

    “Four thousand years ago, the Heavenly Demon was revived…The North Sea was the battlefield of that war…” Li Yu said tentatively, “Were…you affected?”

    After a few seconds of silence, the light in Weisheng Xuanzhu’s eyes dimmed.

    He let out a faint chuckle. “Li Yu, you still don’t want to tell me.”

    Li Yu: “It’s not that…”

    Damn it, wrong password!

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “It’s fine, I won’t ask again.”

    What did he mean?

    Had she reached the maximum number of incorrect attempts?

    “I will find out myself…” He said softly, his voice filled with weariness. “But before that…I need a favor from you.”

    Li Yu, feeling a pang of guilt, asked softly, “…What is it?”

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “Bring back the Demon Bone for me.”

    Li Yu’s eyes widened. “What are you talking about?!”

    A torrent of thoughts flooded her mind.

    Before she could process them, she found herself amidst a vast, starry sky.

  • Qin Auntie, Save Me [Rebirth] 73

    Chapter 73

    Shen Yiqiu’s face was still pale, and recounting the dream hadn’t improved her mood. Qin Qianrou, surprised by the dream, after a moment of contemplation, pulled Shen Yiqiu, who was still trembling slightly, into a comforting embrace.

    The soft silk of their pajamas against their skin, their body heat mingling, Shen Yiqiu gradually calmed down in Qin Qianrou’s arms, her racing heart slowing down.

    Qin Qianrou, seeing that she had calmed down, said, “Dreams are often the opposite of reality. If this was a premonition, I’ll try my best to avoid such a situation.” She paused, then added, “And if this was just a worry, I won’t let such a thing happen.”

    Shen Yiqiu understood; Jiejie was not only comforting her but also reassuring her.

    She looked up from Qin Qianrou’s embrace, her clear eyes reflecting Qin Qianrou’s face. She stared, mesmerized, then suddenly smiled, “I believe you, Jiejie.”

    Qin Qianrou, seeing her smile, knew she was feeling better, and she relaxed.

    “Then go back to sleep, or you’ll be tired tomorrow, and also have dark circles under your eyes.”

    Shen Yiqiu continued staring at her, thinking how wonderful it was to wake up and see the person you loved by your side.

    Qin Qianrou, thinking she was still afraid of having another nightmare, gently caressed her forehead, the cold sweat had stopped, and her temperature was normal. It seemed it was just psychological now. She held Shen Yiqiu closer and gently kissed her forehead.

    “Now, will you be a good girl and go to sleep?”

    Qin Qianrou’s tenderness, her gentle voice, her gentle touch, her gentle scent, enveloped Shen Yiqiu in a comforting warmth.

    Shen Yiqiu’s ears burned at her words, barely visible in the dim light, but she could feel it.

    No, no, I can’t be so passive, I promised to be the one taking care of Jiejie, how can I let her coax me like this?

    Shen Yiqiu shifted slightly, pulling away a little from Qin Qianrou’s embrace, but not completely. Qin Qianrou didn’t quite understand her actions, thinking she was getting ready to sleep, she was about to suggest they sleep like this, then realized they probably wouldn’t be able to sleep comfortably.

    After all, they were holding each other too tightly, too closely, how could they possibly sleep well like this?

    Qin Qianrou wasn’t optimistic.

    Before she could think further, Shen Yiqiu shifted their positions, switching places.

    Shen Yiqiu nuzzled her cheek against Qin Qianrou’s forehead, kissing her gently between her eyebrows.

    “Sleep well.”

    Qin Qianrou chuckled at her insistence on taking the lead and obediently nestled against Shen Yiqiu, closing her eyes.

    The weather in Hai City was good this weekend, cold but sunny.

    Last night’s nightmare had disrupted both their sleep, and they didn’t wake up until well past their usual time. Qin Qianrou’s phone suddenly rang, and she reluctantly opened her eyes to answer it.

    “Qianrou, still asleep?”

    It was Wen Shao Ze, and Qin Qianrou, her eyes still closed, let her mind slowly awaken.

    “I went to bed late last night, what is it?”

    Qin Qianrou’s voice was slightly hoarse, with a hint of morning drowsiness and laziness, clearly still tired.

    Wen Shao Ze glanced at the time, it was almost 10 am, not Qin Qianrou’s usual schedule.

    “Did I wake you?”

    As Wen Shao Ze continued his pointless chatter, Qin Qianrou felt a surge of annoyance, which was quickly dispelled by the soft warmth beside her.

    Shen Yiqiu had also woken up when she answered the phone. Even more disoriented than Qin Qianrou, her eyes still closed, she instinctively nuzzled closer to the warm, fragrant body beside her.

    They had fallen asleep in each other’s arms last night, and their sleep had been relatively peaceful. However, their positions had shifted at some point, and now they were sharing the same pillow.

    “Jiejie, who is it?” Shen Yiqiu’s voice was soft and slightly slurred.

    But with her so close to Qin Qianrou, and the quietness of the room, her voice was clearly audible to Wen Shao Ze on the other end of the line.

    What’s going on?

    Wen Shao Ze had been feeling uneasy since yesterday, although he had been mentally prepared, actually facing it was still a shock.

    “Shao Ze, what is it?” Qin Qianrou’s usual calm demeanor returned, and her voice jolted Wen Shao Ze back to reality.

    “Aunt called, she wants me to persuade you to visit home more often. She also said Grandfather hasn’t been doing well lately and hopes we can come home for dinner more often.”

    Qin Qianrou knew about her grandfather’s recent health issues; she had visited him a while ago. He had been happy to see her, but their conversations always inevitably turned towards marriage and children.

    Qin Qianrou disliked arguing, especially with her elders, but her grandfather’s words hadn’t just been advice, but almost a demand, which she couldn’t tolerate, and she hadn’t visited him since.

    Wen Shao Ze also knew her current predicament, and now, aware that Shen Yiqiu was sleeping beside her, he didn’t dare to mention the Cheng family.

    “Okay, I understand, I’ll go back tomorrow.”

    After hanging up, Wen Shao Ze breathed a sigh of relief. Qin Qianrou saying she would go back tomorrow meant she wanted him to adjust his schedule and accompany her.

    He had been nervous earlier, but now he felt a twinge of regret; he should have asked what had happened between them last night.

    Putting down his phone, Qin Qianrou’s drowsiness had vanished, but she wasn’t in a hurry to get up.

    It had been a long time since she had woken up like this, with nothing to do and nowhere to go, just quietly lying there, a rare sense of peace settling over her.

    “Jiejie, are you going home tomorrow?”

    “Mm, after you leave, I’ll go back.”

    Shen Yiqiu hugged Qin Qianrou tighter. “I don’t want to go back, I don’t want to leave.”

    Qin Qianrou sighed inwardly, who would willingly be apart?

    She also wanted to spend more time with her, even just like today, waking up with someone by her side, not facing another lonely day. This warmth, to her, was a treasure.

    “I’ll be back soon.”

    Shen Yiqiu, just having woken up, was more unrestrained than usual, and hearing this, she couldn’t help but pout. “It’s only been half the time, there’s still so long to go.”

    She emphasized the word “so,” perfectly expressing her longing.

    Qin Qianrou was momentarily stunned, if it weren’t for wanting to avoid Shen Yiqiu, she wouldn’t have applied for this training program. Although the training content was indeed beneficial for her career, it still felt… not worth it.

    “It was my mistake, I’ll be more mindful in the future.”

    Shen Yiqiu blinked, why was Jiejie apologizing? She hadn’t meant to blame her.

    “I don’t blame you, I just blame time, it’s so heartless.”

    Shen Yiqiu hadn’t moved, they were still sharing the same pillow, their faces very close.

    Love was an invisible bond, binding two hearts together, eliminating the distance between them.

    Shen Yiqiu couldn’t help but lean closer. Qin Qianrou sensed her intention, and although feeling slightly shy, her body, soft and languid, didn’t resist.

    She closed her eyes as Shen Yiqiu approached.

    A few moments later, a soft kiss landed on her eyelids.

    Then, her cheek, her earlobe, the tip of her nose, finally settling on her lips.

    Shen Yiqiu paused, as if hesitant. Qin Qianrou’s hand, under the covers, was resting on Shen Yiqiu’s waist, and seeing her hesitation, she gently pinched her.

    As if receiving a signal, Shen Yiqiu’s kiss deepened, a passionate start to their weekend morning.

    After a long while, they reluctantly parted, slightly breathless.

    “Jiejie, let me be with you.”

    Shen Yiqiu, seeing Qin Qianrou’s puzzled look, explained, “Let me accompany you to work. If you have any special assignments or interviews, I can be there with you, I can protect you.”

    Qin Qianrou didn’t agree, Shen Yiqiu was still a student, and even after graduation, she should have her own career and her own life.

    “Don’t worry, I’ve already said I can take care of myself.”

    Qin Qianrou didn’t reject her coldly like before, but gently caressed Shen Yiqiu’s face, her voice soft and soothing.

    “But…” But that premonition, which had disappeared for a while, has returned, I’m truly worried!

    Shen Yiqiu’s brow furrowed in concern, and Qin Qianrou’s slender fingers gently smoothed it out.

    “You don’t have faith in me?” Qin Qianrou raised an eyebrow slightly.

    Shen Yiqiu’s worry instantly vanished. “Of course I do.”

    “Then why are you like this?” Her tone carried a hint of playfulness, sending shivers down Shen Yiqiu’s spine.

    Seeing her lean in again, Qin Qianrou gently placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her.

    If they continued kissing, they wouldn’t get out of bed today, and more importantly, she was losing control.

    “No more kisses, you little rascal.”

    Shen Yiqiu blinked, her eyes questioning, How am I being a rascal?

    “I told you yesterday, my lips are getting swollen.” And you’re still kissing me! Still kissing me!

    Shen Yiqiu’s gaze lingered on those alluring lips, the intoxicating sensation unforgettable. From now on, this beautiful treasure belonged only to her, and she felt a sense of complete and utter happiness.

    “Then I’ll be gentler next time.”

    After showering and getting ready, they decided to go out for lunch and then do some shopping.

    “Shen Yiqiu, didn’t you say you wanted to watch a movie?”

    “But it’s crowded on weekends, you don’t like that.”

    Qin Qianrou was taken aback, she hadn’t explicitly stated this, yet Shen Yiqiu seemed to know.

    She simply didn’t like the crowded cinemas on weekends, but it wasn’t a complete dealbreaker. If it were before, she would have prioritized the other person’s preference, maintaining her composure as the older one, and said it was fine.

    But things were different now, Shen Yiqiu was her girlfriend, regardless of their age gap, they were equals in this relationship.

    So, Qin Qianrou followed her heart and admitted, “I don’t like going on weekends, it’s too crowded.”

    Shen Yiqiu, holding her hand as they strolled along the street, simply smiled at her complaint. “If you don’t like it, then we won’t go, we’ll only do things that make you happy.”

    Qin Qianrou bit her lip, thought for a moment, then asked, “Then what makes you happy?”

    Shen Yiqiu tilted her head and looked at her, “Me? As long as I’m with you, anything makes me happy.”

    Qin Qianrou’s cheeks flushed again, she looked away, and didn’t continue the conversation. But her heart was racing, Shen Yiqiu’s words always managed to stir her emotions.

    Where do young people learn such sweet talk these days?

    **

    They had initially planned to visit several places, then realized that instead of wasting time in traffic, it would be better to buy some food and watch a movie at the hotel.

    Qin Qianrou deliberately hid the He Chao case files on her computer; she didn’t want to tell Shen Yiqiu about this yet. News of He Chao’s death had been reported, there were some discussions online, but it hadn’t gained much traction. Shen Yiqiu probably knew, but she hadn’t mentioned it.

    A few colleagues from the training program came to ask Qin Qianrou some questions, and Shen Yiqiu obediently stayed in the room, quietly, not wanting to cause any distractions.

    She wasn’t sure if Qin Qianrou wanted others to know about her presence, but she didn’t want herself, or their relationship, to interfere with Jiejie’s work.

    After seeing Shen Yiqiu off, Qin Qianrou took a taxi straight to her family home on Qiyang Road. Wen Shao Ze was already waiting for her at the intersection and immediately approached her when he saw her arrive.

    “Qianrou, you’ve sent her off?”

    Qin Qianrou glanced at Wen Shao Ze, who was trying to suppress his curiosity, and ignored him.

    “Don’t hide it from me, you’ve been inseparable all weekend, and you’re still saying nothing happened?”

    Qin Qianrou stopped and looked at him calmly.

    Wen Shao Ze rubbed the back of his neck, “That day, when I gave you those photos, you were so calm, lecturing me and everything. I thought I was the only one being petty, but it seems you’re no better.”

    Qin Qianrou’s gaze turned icy, almost sharp enough to cut.

    Wen Shao Ze cowered slightly and said with a forced smile, “I shouldn’t have said anything, as long as you’re happy.”

    After a moment, Qin Qianrou finally spoke softly, “We’ve just started, I don’t want to involve her in my family matters yet.”

    “Don’t worry, I understand.”

    Before Qin Qianrou entered the house, Wen Shao Ze reminded her, “The Cheng family will be here today as well.”

    Qin Qianrou raised an eyebrow; she hadn’t heard about this, but she had promised to visit her grandfather today, and the Cheng family’s presence wouldn’t change her decision.

    “The Cheng father and son, they said they were just here to see Grandfather, they’re not even staying for dinner.”

    “They’re already here?”

    Wen Shao Ze shrugged and gestured towards the main house. “They arrived a while ago.”

    Qin Qianrou went straight to her grandfather’s room upon returning, Wen Shao Ze following behind her. Wen Yirong told them that the Cheng father and son were here specifically to visit Grandfather Qin and asked Qianrou to be a good host.

    The Cheng and Qin families had a long history, their grandfathers having been close friends, but with the changing times and their different career paths, the connection had faded during her father’s generation.

    By Qin Qianrou’s generation, they had barely interacted after reaching adulthood. Her memories of Cheng Yan were limited to a few encounters during family gatherings for Chinese New Year when they were children.

    If not for the few phone calls they had exchanged recently, Qin Qianrou would have probably treated him like a stranger.

    Grandfather Qin was delighted to see his long-awaited granddaughter.

    He introduced them, “Xiao Rou, come greet Uncle Cheng and Cheng Yan.”

    Qin Qianrou walked over, but her gaze was drawn not to the Cheng father and son, but to the tie Cheng Yan was wearing.

    “Hello, Uncle Cheng, hello, Cheng Yan, thank you for visiting Grandfather today.”

    Qin Qianrou’s tone was polite, but distant.

    Cheng Yan knew a little about Qin Qianrou, but this was their first close encounter, and he was captivated by the beautiful woman before him.

    Grandfather Qin waved his hand, dismissing them. “Xiao Rou, take Cheng Yan for a walk around the house. You young people should enjoy yourselves, no need to stay here with us old folks, Uncle Cheng and I have some things to discuss.”

    Wen Shao Ze was about to follow them when Grandfather Qin stopped him, saying he had some business matters to discuss with him.

    It was obvious they were creating an opportunity for Qin Qianrou and Cheng Yan to be alone, and thankfully, having discussed this beforehand, they both tacitly accepted the elders’ arrangement.

    Grandfather Qin, looking at their seemingly harmonious figures, smiled contentedly.

    Wen Shao Ze sighed inwardly, Old people and their matchmaking schemes.

    **

    Shen Yiqiu didn’t want to trouble Li Wan, but Qin Qianrou had specifically called and asked Li Wan to pick her up from the airport, so she obediently agreed.

    Only after getting in the car did she feel a wave of warmth.

    “Thank you for coming to pick me up so late, Sister Li Wan.”

    Li Wan seemed to be wearing a different perfume today, a scent Shen Yiqiu wasn’t familiar with, yet it seemed vaguely familiar.

    “Don’t thank me, thank your girlfriend. She said your flight arrives late, it would be difficult to get a taxi, and she didn’t want you going home alone.”

    Shen Yiqiu blushed slightly. Although Qin Qianrou had indeed said this, hearing it from someone else felt different.

    “Jiejie is so thoughtful.” Shen Yiqiu smiled contentedly.

    Li Wan’s teeth ached from the sweetness. She had wanted to say something, but seeing Shen Yiqiu’s blissful expression, she couldn’t bring herself to.

    Compared to herself, Shen Yiqiu was undoubtedly happy.

    Sigh, why am I suddenly feeling envious?

    Shen Yiqiu sensed something strange about the atmosphere in the car today, Sister Li Wan was unusually quiet.

    “Has work been very tiring lately?” Shen Yiqiu wondered if, with Jiejie away for training, all the work pressure had fallen on Sister Li Wan.

    Li Wan’s expression darkened at the mention of work.

    “Work is always tiring, there’s no ‘very tiring,’ only ‘even more tiring!’” Her tone was filled with frustration, her words almost spat through gritted teeth.

    Shen Yiqiu thought, So working at the television station is that tiring. Jiejie always seemed calm and composed, despite her exhaustion, I hadn’t realized she was under so much pressure.

    She would have to take even better care of Jiejie in the future.

    Realizing her outburst, Li Wan quickly changed the subject. “You seem to have had a fruitful trip to Hai City, any plans now that you’re back?”

    “Yes.”

    “Tell me about them.”

    Shen Yiqiu paused, then said seriously, “I want to graduate as soon as possible.”

    Li Wan chuckled, “No need to rush, Qianrou will definitely wait for you.”

    Shen Yiqiu, however, shook her head. “It’s not about making her wait for me, I want to start working with her sooner.”

    “What, are you interested in working at the television station? Want to be a reporter?”

    “No, I just want to protect Jiejie.”

    Shen Yiqiu didn’t tell her about that night’s dream, and Li Wan simply assumed she was lovestruck, her only thought to be with Qin Qianrou.

    “Focus on your studies, take care of yourself first, only then can you protect her.”

    After dropping Shen Yiqiu off, it was quite late when Li Wan finally got home. She took a bath, taking her time, finally drying her hair around 11 pm. Still no messages from the person she longed to hear from, she felt a mix of anxiety and frustration. Thinking about seeing Lin Shuangzhi at work tomorrow, she even considered calling in sick.

    This wasn’t like her; she never avoided difficult situations. Yet, now, she lacked the courage, probably because waking up in Lin Shuangzhi’s bed that morning, everything had changed.

    Alcohol clouded judgment, and falling in love even more so. Even now, Li Wan didn’t quite dare to recall the details of that night, yet every moment was vividly etched in her memory.

    Lin Shuangzhi’s kisses, her words, her scent, had disrupted Li Wan’s carefully constructed composure. She had stopped thinking, following her heart, and they had spent almost the entire night entangled.

    That night, Lin Shuangzhi had revealed a side Li Wan had never seen before, tender and passionate, a little awkward, yet also a little… unrestrained. And every aspect of it had made Li Wan’s heart race, her body burn.

    She had initially resisted, then, at some point, she had started responding, even more eagerly than Lin Shuangzhi, she wasn’t a casual person, for so many years, she had guarded her heart, her body.

    Her eagerness stemmed solely from the fact that it was Lin Shuangzhi.

    She had been yearning for her for so long.

    Yet, the most vivid memory of that night was… pain!

    Just thinking about it made Li Wan instinctively cross her legs, her emotions even more difficult to decipher. She clicked on Lin Shuangzhi’s profile picture, staring at it for a long time, her anger eventually turning into a soft sigh.

  • The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration] 73

    Chapter 73: Disciple and Wife

    “Where is Elder Chang Xiang?”

    The Heavenly Heart Sect elder in charge of the disciples looked around, then called for Elder Chang Xiang.

    Before leaving, Elder Chang Xiang handed Pang Xueting several talismans. “It’s crowded here. Keep these safe. Don’t be ostentatious.”

    Pang Xueting accepted them obediently. “Yes, Master. I won’t use them unless absolutely necessary.”

    Elder Chang Xiang patted her head, smiling faintly. “Good.”

    The Hanshan Sect was bustling with visitors. Pang Xueting, heeding her master’s instructions, stayed with her fellow disciples.

    Seeing Pang Xueting, Tu Shimei and a few others approached.

    Besides Pang Xueting, Tu Shimei and Zhuang Shimei, who had barely made the cut, had also qualified for the competition.

    Zhuang Shimei wasn’t interested in winning. He was simply there for the experience, having trained relentlessly just to make it onto the list.

    Tu Shimei: “Where have you been? I was looking for you.”

    Pang Xueting smiled, but before she could answer, another voice interrupted. “Weren’t you going to try and cozy up to Elder Cen? Back so soon? Did she throw you out?”

    The Heavenly Heart Sect disciples surrounding the young man in yellow laughed.

    Pang Xueting frowned. “When did I say I was going to ‘cozy up’ to anyone?”

    The young man, their sect’s Young Master, shrugged, his arms crossed. “Fine, you didn’t say it. I won’t argue with a woman.”

    Pang Xueting’s frown deepened. “But we did argue. And you lost.”

    The mention of their previous encounter brought a wave of awkward silence.

    The Young Master’s face flushed, a mix of anger, embarrassment, and… fear.

    He sneered. “You dare bring that up?”

    Pang Xueting, her voice calm, replied, “I have nothing to be ashamed of. Why wouldn’t I bring it up?”

    The Heavenly Heart Sect specialized in sword cultivation, but the Young Master preferred beast taming, having become the disciple of a reclusive Grand Elder specializing in that field. His talent, however, had inflated his ego, his behavior becoming increasingly arrogant and unrestrained.

    His father’s reprimands had no effect, so he had been left to his own devices, until he encountered Pang Xueting.

    During the sect’s annual competition, where all disciples were assessed, the Young Master, eager to prove his superiority, had manipulated the draw to face Elder Chang Xiang’s first disciple.

    He had assumed Talisman Cultivators were weak and ineffectual, their days spent drawing symbols and contemplating nature.

    But Pang Xueting, facing a giant tiger about to bite her in half, had calmly drawn a high-level Explosive Talisman, its power exceeding her current realm, obliterating the spirit beast.

    While his defeat in the competition hadn’t been a major issue, his arrogant attempt to assert his dominance, followed by the backlash from the exploding spirit beast, which had sent him tumbling headfirst off the stage, covered in dirt, two teeth knocked out, had been humiliating.

    He had known he would lose, but not so spectacularly.

    The incident had created a lasting resentment.

    Zhuang Shimei, remembering the scene, chuckled, covering his mouth with his sleeve. “Sorry, I just remembered something funny. Someone… falling face-first into the dirt.”

    Tu Shimei, also struggling to contain her amusement, giggled. “Sorry, I was also thinking about something funny.”

    “You… you dare mock me?!” The Young Master pointed at them, his face red with anger.

    A loud explosion, followed by a beast’s roar and the clang of swords, echoed from nearby.

    The commotion drew the attention of a passing group of cultivators.

    The woman leading the group, dressed in a red inner robe and a blue outer robe, turned, her brow furrowing slightly. “What was that?”

    Another female cultivator, glancing towards the source of the noise, said, “Senior Sister Jin, that’s the Hanhai Courtyard. The Heavenly Heart Sect’s lodgings.”

    “Heavenly Heart Sect? Sounds familiar.” The woman, addressed as Senior Sister Jin, bowed politely to the other cultivators. “Excuse me, fellow cultivators.”

    She adjusted her grip on her sword hilt, walking towards the commotion, her companion hurrying after her, her voice low and urgent. “Senior Sister Jin, please don’t be impulsive.”

    Senior Sister Jin smiled, her expression calm and polite. “Don’t worry. I won’t embarrass Qianqi Peak.”

    Then, her jaw tightening, she muttered, “I just want to see who’s destroying the house I just repaired.”

    Repairing buildings wasn’t normally Qianqi Peak’s responsibility. It was handled by the outer sect disciples under the Affairs Hall. But with the increased number of visitors this year, the usual accommodations weren’t enough, requiring another peak to be prepared.

    The Affairs Hall, overwhelmed, had requested assistance from Qianqi Peak. And this particular courtyard had been Jin Jiamu’s project.

    As long as she’s not planning to set it on fire… The younger disciple’s relief was short-lived as she watched Senior Sister Jin kick open the door.

    “Who’s demolishing the house Qianqi Peak just repaired?!”

    The chaotic scene within froze, a single sentence hanging in the air: “See? No one’s coming to save you! Why don’t you call for your Senior Tao?”

    All eyes turned to the woman standing in the doorway. Seeing her Hanshan Sect disciple uniform, their faces paled.

    “You know Tao Ning?” Jin Jiamu’s gaze fixed on a young, female Talisman Cultivator holding a brush, who, startled by the sudden attention, nodded hesitantly.

    Jin Jiamu sneered. “I’m not a scholar. I prefer hammers. But I remember what my master always says: treat your guests with respect, and they’ll respect you in return.” She pointed at the damaged roof. “The competition starts tomorrow. I expect to see this roof repaired by sunset. Understood?”

    The Heavenly Heart Sect disciples, realizing they were in the wrong, nodded quickly.

    Jin Jiamu nodded back, her voice now calm and pleasant. “Good. Let’s all be civilized. If you want to spar, we have designated training grounds. We even provide waivers. I’ll write them myself.”

    The Heavenly Heart Sect disciples: …That’s… not necessary.

    Jin Jiamu, her smile still unnervingly pleasant, beckoned to Pang Xueting. “May I have your name, fellow cultivator?”

    Pang Xueting, putting away her brush, approached hesitantly. “Pang Xueting, disciple of True Person Chang Xiang.”

    Jin Jiamu: “Jin Jiamu, disciple of True Person Qianlian of Qianqi Peak. I haven’t chosen a title yet. Call me whatever you like.”

    Not only a Hanshan Sect disciple, but a direct disciple of Qianqi Peak… Even more formidable than I thought.

    Pang Xueting bowed respectfully. “Senior Jin.”

    Jin Jiamu smiled, gesturing towards the door. “Let’s go.”

    As Pang Xueting was led away, the Heavenly Heart Sect Young Master sneered, “Let’s see how long you can maintain that smug look!”

    He followed them, forgetting to ask why. Pang Xueting, realizing this on the way, asked, “Why did you call for me, Senior Jin?”

    Jin Jiamu: “You’re looking for Tao Ning, right? I’m also looking for her. I want to ask her why she abandoned me.”

    After emerging from seclusion, having achieved Golden Core, she had been subjected to a relentless interrogation by both her master and the Sect Leader, a terrifying experience for a newly minted Golden Core cultivator.

    Her mind reeling, she had confessed everything, admitting her inadequacy, her inability to craft divine artifacts.

    Please stop asking! I’m just… unskilled. She had learned the term “unskilled” from Tao Ning.

    But what had truly stung was Tao Ning’s calm, dismissive, “Unskilled? Then practice more.”

    Those four words had become her new mantra, surprisingly effective in silencing her fellow disciples. It had spread quickly, becoming a common refrain throughout the Hanshan Sect.

    Even the Shuhan Peak sword fanatics had adopted it. Hopefully, they wouldn’t use it on the visiting disciples during the competition.

    I’ll deal with her later. After I find her, I’ll make her pay for leaving me alone for forty years! Jin Jiamu’s fists clenched.

    Pang Xueting, however, was struggling to process the information.

    Outwardly calm, her mind was screaming, the words echoing in her ears.

    What did I just hear?

    Are all Hanshan Sect disciples so… unconventional?

    I hope I survive this visit.

    Jin Jiamu, turning back, beckoned to Pang Xueting. “Are you coming?”

    With a sense of impending doom, Pang Xueting followed.

    They found Tao Ning easily, studying the competition brackets.

    Jin Jiamu approached, reaching out to pat Tao Ning’s shoulder. Pang Xueting, her heart pounding, wasn’t sure if she should intervene.

    “Senior J…”

    Tao Ning, without turning, grabbed Jin Jiamu’s wrist, then, seeing who it was, her frown relaxing slightly. “It’s you.”

    Jin Jiamu smiled brightly. “Your furnace tender.”

    Tao Ning: “…”

    Tao Ning’s face paled slightly, sensing a… debt collection… in the making. A thousand years of scheming, and I’m finally caught.

    She forced a smile. “What a coincidence. Are you also here for the brackets?”

    Seeing her like this, Jin Jiamu couldn’t bring herself to be angry.

    Tao Ning’s guidance had helped her achieve Golden Core. She was practically her teacher, deserving of respect.

    Her initial anger dissipated. Shaking her head, she said, “You left so suddenly. I didn’t get to thank you properly for helping me reach Golden Core.”

    Tao Ning waved a hand dismissively. “No need for thanks. I’m just checking the brackets. I’m facing a disciple from the Asking Gods Sect tomorrow. Who’s your opponent?”

    Jin Jiamu’s face fell. “I’m so unlucky. I’m facing someone from the Long Blade Sect. They’re all… battle-crazed, like Shuhan Peak. We artifact refiners have it rough. Not only do we have to fight, but we also have to repair our own equipment afterwards.”

    Tao Ning: “Your cultivation seems stable. You must be confident. I believe in you.”

    Too much encouragement, however, could be… unsettling. Jin Jiamu now dreaded hearing those words from Tao Ning.

    It wasn’t “I believe in you,” but “I’m about to set you up.”

    She waved her hands frantically. “No, no, you don’t have to believe in me.”

    Tao Ning, knowing this meant the issue was settled, noticed Pang Xueting’s anxious, then confused, expression.

    Smiling politely, she said, “It’s good to see you again, Miss Pang.”

    Pang Xueting’s gaze, darting between Tao Ning and Jin Jiamu, settled on Tao Ning, her cheeks flushing slightly. “S-Senior Tao… Yes…”

    This wasn’t what she had expected.

    She had overthought the situation, misunderstanding the Hanshan Sect’s… unique… approach to relationships.

    A question mark slowly formed above Tao Ning’s head as she looked at Jin Jiamu, her eyes asking, What did you do to her?

    Jin Jiamu’s eyes widened innocently. Nothing!

    Their silent exchange was inconclusive.

    Jin Jiamu, suddenly remembered, was dragged away to assist with the competition preparations. Even Elder Cen was called away, leaving Tao Ning, fresh from seclusion, with nothing to do.

    Once they were alone, Tao Ning turned to Pang Xueting. “Miss Pang, is there something you wanted to tell me?”

    Her hesitation exposed, Pang Xueting admitted, “Yes, there is.”

    As a mere disciple, her master, True Person Chang Xiang, only a guest elder, her knowledge was limited, but she shared everything she knew.

    Tao Ning listened, her expression unreadable.

    “Thank you for telling me. But don’t worry about me. Focus on protecting yourself.”

    Pang Xueting, though reassured, still seemed troubled. “I don’t understand these rumors. They say whoever possesses the Wanhun Cauldron will control the three realms, that it contains the life essence of some ancient ancestor, granting instant ascension. That’s… absurd.”

    “Indeed, they are,” Tao Ning replied, not surprised by the rumors, having a general idea of their source.

    They were similar to the events described in the original storyline.

    However, back then, the person who obtained the cauldron had been from the Hanshan Sect. And with the disciple competition being hosted by the Hanshan Sect, most of the influential cultivators were present, leading to accusations and scrutiny, threatening the sect’s reputation.

    The world was driven by greed.

    Only a divine artifact, or the downfall of the leading sect, could unite them.

    If they couldn’t obtain the treasure, weakening the Hanshan Sect was the next best thing.

    After bidding farewell to Pang Xueting, Tao Ning intended to find Cen Dianshuang, but learned she was busy with the competition preparations.

    Tao Ning sighed in disappointment, thanking the Shuhan Peak disciple who had relayed the message.

    “No need for thanks,” the disciple replied, returning to his work.

    With the Sect Leader away, the disciples had to manage the sect’s affairs.

    520, seeing its host staring wistfully at the sky, her hopeless romantic tendencies intensifying, decided to offer some comfort.

    【What are you thinking about?】

    Tao Ning, her voice calm, replied, “Praying.”

    The Wanhun Cauldron’s spirit was constantly whining, demanding to be released. It wasn’t having fun.

    She knew where Cen Dianshuang was, but it was a place she couldn’t go… yet.

    520, surprised by this unexpected piety, was intrigued. 【Praying for what?】

    Tao Ning, after a moment of thought, replied, “For love.”

    If she revealed her true identity now, claiming her rightful place as their ancestor, it would create… complications.

    520: 【Oh! I get it! You want to listen to music! I’ll spend some points and play a song for you.】

    A sweet, melodious female voice echoed in Tao Ning’s mind.

    “Because of love… we don’t easily grieve…”

    Tao Ning: “…”

    520, after the song ended, asked eagerly, 【How was it?】

  • On How to Conquer System Fairies and Make Them Your Wives 199

    Chapter 199: A Clever Scheme

    Southern Region, Zhaonan Province.

    Zhaonan Province, located outside the Ten Thousand Mountains, was one of the few large and prosperous provinces in the Southern Region.

    Due to its proximity to the Central Plains, it was the richest province in the Southern Region.

    There were three cultivation sects near Zhaonan Province:

    The Chiyu Sect, the Lingyu Sect, and the Huanxi Sect.

    Although not top-tier sects, they were still influential, each with Supreme Clarity Realm cultivators among their ranks.

    Since the Wu Xuan Cave was the only top-tier sect in the entire Southern Region, and they were reclusive and uninvolved in worldly affairs, these three sects were more active outside the Ten Thousand Mountains.

    The Ten Thousand Mountains and Zhaonan Province were like two separate worlds, rarely interacting.

    Inside a secret meeting room in the Lingyu Sect…

    The white-haired and robust Sect Master of the Chiyu Sect, the cold and aloof Sect Master of the Lingyu Sect, and the portly Sect Master of the Huanxi Sect sat together.

    The leaders of the three sects.

    Before them stood a masked figure, motionless and silent.

    “Is what you say true?”

    The Chiyu Sect Master asked, stroking his beard. “Such a significant matter… how did Shen Li come to know of this?”

    “There’s nothing we don’t know.”

    The masked figure sneered. “If we wanted to, we could even tell you about the time you wet the bed as a child.”

    The Chiyu Sect Master’s face darkened, but he didn’t dare retaliate.

    This person’s background was too powerful. His entire sect was no match for them.

    “You jest, Divine Messenger.” The Lingyu Sect Master intervened, her voice calm. “But this is a serious matter. We must be certain before taking action.”

    “Fortune favors the bold.”

    The Divine Messenger said calmly, “If you lack the courage, you can pretend I was never here.”

    A thoughtful expression appeared in the Lingyu Sect Master’s eyes.

    “In that case, please enlighten us, Divine Messenger.” The Huanxi Sect Master, a portly man, said with a fawning smile.

    “I’ve made myself clear.”

    The Divine Messenger snorted. “The Grand Witch of the Wu Xuan Cave has obtained a great treasure and is currently vulnerable, in the midst of fusing with it. The Wu Xuan Cave has no defenses besides its miasma. Any sect that obtains this treasure will instantly rise to the top, rivaling the Heavenly Net Sect and the Mist Spirit Sect. This is your last chance. Once the Grand Witch fully controls the treasure, it will be too late.”

    The three Sect Masters exchanged glances, hesitation evident in their eyes.

    “But… why would you offer us such a valuable opportunity, Divine Messenger?”

    “Consider it an honor. Hmph.” The Divine Messenger scoffed. “We at Shen Li have no interest in the treasure itself. But if any of you obtain it, we’re willing to form an alliance with you. That offer is perhaps even more valuable than the treasure itself.”

    The three Sect Masters looked at each other, their eyes gleaming with greed.

    “But the Wu Xuan Cave is a powerful sect.”

    The Chiyu Sect Master hesitated. “Even with our combined strength, we might not be able to defeat them.”

    “Cowards! The Wu Xuan Cave is weak and vulnerable now. Their elders are in seclusion, and most of their disciples are gone. The Grand Witch, their strongest fighter, is busy fusing with the treasure. Conquering them would be a trivial matter.”

    The Divine Messenger’s tone was impatient. “If you’re so hesitant, you might as well go home.”

    The three Sect Masters seemed to have a silent discussion through voice transmission, then the Lingyu Sect Master, a middle-aged woman, stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

    “Very well. We accept your offer, Divine Messenger.”

    “We’ll make some preparations and then attack the Wu Xuan Cave.”

    The Divine Messenger nodded with satisfaction.

    “Don’t worry. I’ll be there with you.”

    “If you encounter any trouble, I’ll assist you.”

    The three Sect Masters’ eyes lit up with excitement. “Thank you, Divine Messenger!”

    They had witnessed his power firsthand.

    With a single glance, he had neutralized the cultivation of three Supreme Clarity Realm cultivators, rendering them as helpless as mortals.

    Such power was akin to that of the gods in their eyes.

    With the Divine Messenger’s backing, the three Sect Masters were filled with confidence and returned to their sects to gather their disciples.

    The Divine Messenger left the meeting room, entered a secluded area, summoned his System, and bowed respectfully.

    “Divine Son, the trap has been set.”

    “Excellent.” The Divine Son’s image appeared in the air, nodding in satisfaction. “Since our new recruit isn’t capable of handling the Grand Witch, we’ll have to lend a hand. After all, we’re family in Shen Li. And we don’t have time to wait for him to mature.”

    The Divine Messenger bowed. “I’ll handle this personally.”

    “Fu Zhe, I trust you.”

    The Divine Son’s eyes narrowed slightly, then he said, “The Ten Thousand Fragrance Pavilion seems to be making some moves lately. Be discreet. Keep the conflict contained within the Ten Thousand Mountains. Don’t attract Yu Ling’s attention. The next Triennial Day is approaching. She’ll be eager to eliminate us before then.”

    Fu Zhe bowed respectfully. “Understood.”

    “Go now. Work with our new recruit, use both soft and hard tactics, and bring the Grand Witch into our fold as soon as possible. With pressure from those three sects, it shouldn’t be difficult for you and our new recruit to convince her.”

    “I wish you success.” With that, the Divine Son’s image disappeared.

    Fu Zhe lowered his head, then looked up after the Divine Son was gone.

    “The Divine Son only said to recruit the Grand Witch.”

    “As for the rest… I can do as I please, right?”

    “Are you planning something again?” The System’s voice was filled with a weary resignation.

    Fu Zhe giggled, a chilling sound.

    “I’ve been cooped up in the mountains for too long, thanks to that damned Ten Thousand Fragrance Pavilion and Yu Ling. I’m dying for some action.”

    “I’m not letting this opportunity go to waste.”

    The System paused, then asked softly, “What are you planning?”

    “Those three sects will attack the Wu Xuan Cave without mercy.”

    “The Grand Witch, under pressure, will have no choice but to ask us for help. Then I’ll intervene and eliminate those three Sect Masters.”

    “With both soft and hard tactics, I can kill those Wu Xuan Cave pests and those three fools while completing the Divine Son’s mission.”

    “It’s perfect.” A sinister smile appeared on his lips.

    The System was silent for a moment, then sighed.

    “As you wish…”

    Deep within the earth, the passage was dark and silent.

    The miasma was thinner here. As they descended, the air became fresher, and the concentration of spiritual energy increased.

    It was almost as rich as that of an immortal mountain.

    But the passage was deeper than they had expected.

    As they went further down, the temperature rose steadily, as if they were approaching the earth’s core.

    “In this environment… can anything even survive here?”

    Chen Yin asked curiously, “Is the Phantasmal Harmony Ganoderma that powerful?”

    “How would I know?”

    The Grand Witch rolled her eyes. “It’s a legendary herb. I’ve never seen it before. I’m just following the scriptures. But this is the only path. We can’t be wrong.”

    Chen Yin was speechless. This Grand Witch was incredibly unreliable.

    The masked man had been silent since they entered the secret realm, as if preoccupied with something.

    Whenever Chen Yin tried to start a conversation, he would either be met with a cold indifference or be completely ignored.

    …Was he still mad about being carried earlier?

    Chen Yin decided not to bother him.

    They continued their descent.

    Finally, a faint light appeared at the end of the passage.

    They emerged into a vast, open chamber.

    A lake of molten lava surrounded the platform, its heat intense and suffocating.

    And in the center of the platform, a large, lush tree stood tall, its branches reaching towards the ceiling, radiating a potent spiritual energy.

    “A tree can survive in this place?”

    Chen Yin stared at it in disbelief.

    The Grand Witch, however, immediately noticed the small, glowing leaves at the base of the tree.

    Her eyes lit up with excitement.

    “That’s it!”

    “The Phantasmal Harmony Ganoderma! Just like in the scriptures!”

    They approached the tree and looked at the glowing leaves.

    The Ganoderma was small, about the size of a hand, with three translucent yellow leaves, each radiating pure spiritual energy.

    “Such potent energy… it truly is a treasure.”

    The Grand Witch reached out to pluck the leaves, then suddenly frowned.

    “Wait… something’s not right. It doesn’t look exactly like the one described in the scriptures.”

    “What’s different?”

    “It’s supposed to have four leaves, and they should be orange.”

    The Grand Witch examined the plant carefully. “There’s a small, withered leaf beneath these three. Could it be—”

    Before she could finish her sentence,

    A raspy voice suddenly echoed through the chamber.

    “You’re right.”

    They instantly jumped back, their eyes wary.

    Chen Yin gripped his sword tightly, his gaze sharp.

    …Here it comes.

    This was the source of his unease.

    The branches of the tree parted, revealing an old man’s face, his body withered and decayed, only his head remaining, attached to the tree trunk.

    A terrifying aura enveloped them.

    “This Phantasmal Harmony Ganoderma… isn’t ripe yet.”