Standing outside the door, Fuhuan thought of the past events involving Empress Qingzhi, and listening to the words coming from inside, she felt extremely troubled. But since it wasn’t appropriate for her to stay too long, she had to hide to the side first.

After waiting for more than half an hour, the door opened, and the Heavenly Emperor walked out from the house with a gloomy face, then swept his sleeves and left.

Only after the Heavenly Emperor had left the forbidden area did Fuhuan finally breathe a sigh of relief and slip into the room.

…

Inside the room lingered an ambiguous atmosphere.

Upon entering, Fuhuan saw a woman lying motionless on the bed with disheveled hair, her face haggard and pale, yet unable to conceal her stunning beauty.

At this moment, Chunmeng was staring at the ceiling, her eyes vacant, with tears occasionally running down her cheeks.

At a glance, she was filled with despair.

Seeing this scene, Fuhuan pressed her lips together, waved her hand to reveal herself, and then raised her wrist to set up a barrier at the door.

…

…

After completing this series of actions, the woman on the bed had already noticed Fuhuan, her gaze fixed on her.

“Are you called Chunmeng?” Fuhuan recalled that when eavesdropping earlier, the Heavenly Emperor had called her by this name.

Chunmeng sat up in bed, casually took a light robe, draped it over herself, and then looked at Fuhuan. “Phoenix Lady.”

Chunmeng’s tone was very certain.

At this, Fuhuan was somewhat surprised. Although she came here occasionally to modify the spell, she had never met Chunmeng before, yet Chunmeng knew who she was.

“The aura on your body is identical to the spell outside the door,” Chunmeng explained, and then added, “How did you come here?”

Hearing this, Fuhuan stepped forward, sat down at the edge of Chunmeng’s bed, her expression resolute, and slowly said, “Do you want to leave this place?”

“What difference does it make whether I want to or not…” Chunmeng laughed self-mockingly, hugging her knees, looking pitifully thin.

Fuhuan bit her lip, her phoenix eyes revealing a hint of profoundness. “If you want to leave, I have a way to take you away.”

Chunmeng froze, her gaze locked on Fuhuan, her expression tinged with wariness. “Why would you do this?”

“Because this is Siqing’s wish.”

…

“Siqing…” Hearing this name, Chunmeng murmured and then fell silent for a long time.

After a while, just as Fuhuan was about to speak to inquire about Chunmeng’s thoughts, she heard Chunmeng give a light laugh and speak with resignation, “So, that day was because of you.”

It was because of this woman before her that Siqing had sent her back here, to continue suffering the Heavenly Emperor’s humiliation.

And now, this woman suddenly appeared before her, to save her for Siqing’s sake. There must be an unusual relationship between them.

Since she was Siqing’s beloved, Chunmeng couldn’t let her take such a risk.

“Because of me?” Fuhuan frowned slightly, not fully understanding Chunmeng’s words.

Chunmeng smiled faintly. “It’s nothing. It’s getting late, you should leave quickly. Don’t come here without reason in the future.”

“You’re not leaving?” Fuhuan’s beautiful eyebrows furrowed even tighter.

She then stood up, activated her phoenix divine power, and from her fingertips emanated a red spiritual light aimed at Chunmeng’s forehead.

Chunmeng tried to escape but found herself enveloped by the spiritual light, unable to move.

“What are you doing?” Chunmeng widened her eyes, looking at Fuhuan.

Fuhuan didn’t speak, silently reciting incantations in her mouth. Fine beads of sweat gradually seeped from her forehead, her face growing increasingly pale, and her entire body beginning to tremble slightly.

Chunmeng noticed Fuhuan’s abnormality and discomfort, but despite this, Fuhuan still enveloped her with that red light.

After a long while, Chunmeng suddenly discovered that on the bed beside her, a figure gradually appeared, from a transparent outline becoming increasingly clear, until features emerged…

“Puh…”

Fuhuan suddenly withdrew her spiritual energy, blood surged upward, and she spat out a mouthful of blood, her face as white as paper.

“This is a false spirit created using one of the forbidden techniques of my phoenix divine power, formed using half of your soul. Therefore, it has flesh and blood, is filled with your aura, and is familiar with your temperament and habits.” After speaking, Fuhuan’s legs gave way, and she collapsed to the ground.

Chunmeng looked at this scene in disbelief, touched the woman next to her who was identical to herself, frowned deeply, and looked at Fuhuan. “Such a forbidden technique would consume a lifetime of cultivation. Have you gone mad?”

They were neither kin nor friends, yet for Siqing, she depleted her cultivation and used a forbidden technique to create an identical human form.

“I know what I’m doing. This forbidden technique is known to no one in the world except me, so you can safely leave with me.” Fuhuan endured the pain and discomfort in her chest, speaking in a lowered voice.

She had already thought it through. Since the Ziwei Emperor had said she would face a great calamity, losing her cultivation at this critical juncture would allow her to successfully conceal this matter.

Besides, with time, her cultivation would gradually recover somewhat.

“It’s not advisable to stay here for long. Let’s leave first.” After adjusting for a moment, Fuhuan stood up and grabbed Chunmeng’s arm.

Chunmeng still couldn’t believe what was happening before her eyes, but seeing the human form identical to herself, her concerns lessened somewhat, and she nodded to Fuhuan.

Fuhuan used her last bit of spiritual power to put Chunmeng into the jade bottle given by the Qinghua Emperor, then concealed her presence and left.

On the bed, the half-soul human form slowly opened its eyes, indistinguishable from the previous Chunmeng.

…

With her body in discomfort, Fuhuan brought Chunmeng to the mortal realm and settled her in a quiet cave, instructing Chunmeng not to wander off and to wait for Siqing to come for her.

After leaving the cave, Fuhuan summoned the Five-colored Divine Phoenix.

“Luaner, do you sacred beasts have a secret incantation between you that can summon each other?” Fuhuan asked the Five-colored Divine Phoenix.

The Five-colored Divine Phoenix nodded.

“Good, help me summon the Ink Qilin and have it bring Siqing to this place. Remember to be discreet.” Fuhuan instructed.

As she finished speaking, golden halos emanated from the Five-colored Divine Phoenix’s body.

In an instant, the Ink Qilin’s figure suddenly appeared.

Fuhuan marveled at the rapport between the sacred beasts. After the Five-colored Divine Phoenix and the Ink Qilin communicated, she followed the Five-colored Divine Phoenix back to Phoenix Feather Pavilion.

Upon returning to Phoenix Feather Pavilion and just entering her bedchamber, Fuhuan’s vision went black, and she completely lost consciousness.

…

This unconscious state lasted a full half month before she awoke.

When Fuhuan woke up, the Ziwei Emperor was sitting beside her bed with a grave expression. Seeing her open her eyes, his face showed delight, and he quickly stood up. “Fuhuan, Fuhuan.”

Fuhuan opened her eyes in a daze, raised her hand, and felt that there wasn’t a bit of strength in her entire body.

“How long have I been asleep?” Fuhuan asked in a low voice.

“A full fifteen days.” The Ziwei Emperor sighed.

Hearing this, Fuhuan’s body slightly stiffened. Recalling what had happened before, her hands involuntarily clasped together, and her heart began to beat violently.

She had taken away Chunmeng’s true form, expending her lifetime of cultivation.

She wondered what the situation outside was like now.

“Why did I faint?” At this point, she had to play her part fully.

The Ziwei Emperor sighed helplessly. “This fainting spell has also drained all the cultivation you’ve accumulated in your lifetime.”

“What?” Fuhuan expressed surprise, extending her hands and examining them carefully for a long time. “Could it be related to the anomaly in my star chart?”

“My lifetime of cultivation is exhausted, so that’s why there’s the great calamity half a year later?” Fuhuan continued along this line of thought.

Perhaps also thinking of this point, the Ziwei Emperor’s expression grew even more troubled. But in order not to worry Fuhuan, he slightly softened his expression and smiled. “You’ve just awakened, don’t think too much about it. Rest well, and I’ll find a solution for the rest.”

“Mm.” Fuhuan nodded, licked her lips, and asked, “Has anything happened during this time?”

“Nothing major. Regarding your unconscious state, I’ve already informed your master, the Qinghua Emperor. I’ve also truthfully reported the situation to the Heavenly Emperor, who didn’t say much, just told you to rest well. This matter hasn’t been widely publicized. Outsiders only know that you’re ill, not that you’ve been unconscious all this time.” The Ziwei Emperor said.

Hearing this, Fuhuan was completely reassured.

Now the only thing she didn’t know was how things were with Siqing.

However, she couldn’t ask in front of the Ziwei Emperor. She would wait until she had recovered her strength.

After Fuhuan woke up, the Ziwei Emperor stayed for a while and then returned to Ziwei Palace. Ziyu came in from outside, carrying a steaming bowl of soup.

“Young Mistress, you haven’t eaten for half a month. Are you hungry?” Ziyu approached Fuhuan and handed her the soup.

Fuhuan had just awakened and didn’t have much appetite. She gestured for Ziyu to place the soup aside, then sat up and lowered her voice. “Have there been any news of Siqing recently?”

“Lord Nether God?” Ziyu was surprised.

Fuhuan nodded.

“I haven’t heard any news, but while you were unconscious, Lord Nether God and Wuji Tianzun came to visit you,” Ziyu said.

“What? Siqing came?” Fuhuan exclaimed in surprise.

Ziyu nodded. “It was when Wuji Tianzun heard about your unconscious state that he came to visit. Lord Nether God happened to be at Wuji Palace that day, so he came along with Wuji Tianzun.”

“But don’t worry, Young Mistress, others don’t know about your unconscious state,” Ziyu added, fearing that Fuhuan would worry about her condition being disclosed.

Fuhuan pressed her lips together, now urgently wanting to see Siqing.

Just as she was thinking this, there came a knock at the door from outside.

“What is it?” Ziyu inquired.

“Wuji Tianzun and Lord Nether God heard that the Young Mistress has awakened. They are outside now and wish to see her.”

Hearing this, Fuhuan’s eyes brightened. “Quickly let them in.”

Ziyu nodded and went out.

Soon after, Fuhuan’s door was opened, but the visitor was only Siqing.

Siqing wore a black robe, his thin lips tightly pressed together, his cold eyes filled with darkness and sharpness, his gaze as cold as water, now fixed directly on Fuhuan.

Fuhuan felt a chill run through her entire body as she was observed by this gaze.

In a daze, she wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but she seemed to see a hint of heartache in Siqing’s eyes.

Then, her gaze fixed on Siqing’s robe.

It seemed that ever since Lengyuan had started wearing charming purple robes, Siqing had never worn purple clothes again.

“Fuhuan, you have such great audacity!” Siqing looked at Fuhuan with a calm gaze, quietly uttering a sentence.

Hearing this, Fuhuan lowered her head with grievance. “I…”

Before the words could leave her mouth, she was already enveloped in an embrace.