Patriarch Meng sighed in relief. “It’s good that you remember.”

“Time is short. Hurry.” Jing Ran flicked his finger, sending the fish bone needle that had been suspended in mid-air flying toward Xiang Tianqing.

Kneeling on the ground, Xiang Tianqing raised her head, refusing to take it for a long while.

Patriarch Meng transmitted a message: “Daughter, one of your brothers has suffered severe injuries, and the other has already been driven to his death by Xiang Haikui…”

Upon learning of Meng Nanting’s death, Xiang Tianqing collapsed to the ground.

She shook her head in agony, still refusing to take the fish bone needle.

Who was she?

Was she human or of the Heavenly Race?

Xiang Tianqing was confused. Why did her father say her brother had been driven to death by Xiang Haikui?

Wasn’t it he who had killed her brother with his own hands?

And wasn’t it Di Jun who had truly forced them into this situation?

Her father showed not the slightest guilt or self-reflection, nor any resentment toward Di Jun, only fear.

What would Father Xiang Heng have done in this situation?

No, Father Xiang Heng would never have agreed to such a method of accumulating merit from the beginning.

It was unimaginable now how she had ever agreed to such an approach.

Why had she thought humans were as worthless as weeds beneath her feet?

“This sovereign understands to some extent your confusion about your ‘true self’ at this moment.” When Jing Ran first awakened, he too had experienced similar bewilderment.

The human race and the Heavenly Race embraced two vastly different civilizations, opposing each other in certain aspects.

But it took only a moment for his mind to clear. “Xiang Tianqing, let this sovereign tell you: who your father is doesn’t matter, whether you’re of the Heavenly Race or human race doesn’t matter. You only need to identify the strongest version of yourself—that is your ‘true self.'”

As his words fell, Jing Ran’s fingertip released a golden light.

Within the golden flame was the innate powerful spiritual intuition of the Heavenly Race, stirring the latent power hidden within Xiang Tianqing’s body. Her hands suddenly burst into flames.

This fire of spiritual intuition gradually illuminated Xiang Tianqing’s clouded eyes.

She finally stood up and grasped the fishbone needle.

Jing Ran frowned slightly, not expecting Xiang Tianqing’s innate spiritual intuition to be so pure.

“So that’s how it is.” He glanced at Patriarch Meng.

Patriarch Meng lowered his head anxiously, though a glimmer of hope arose in his heart. He transmitted: “Daughter, failure is not an option. The future of our Meng family rests entirely on your shoulders…”

Han Qi learned of every movement in the Heavenly Race the moment it happened.

The ten-day deadline arrived in the blink of an eye. Han Qi had been standing at the cliff’s edge for days, not uttering a word.

Knowing her master’s choice was critically important and required extreme caution, Xing Nǚ stood silently behind him, not daring to disturb him.

After receiving the latest news, she couldn’t help asking, “Master, why do you think Di Jun took Miss Xiang to the Meng family…?”

Han Qi turned and pointed at her: “Quickly send a message to Bai Xingxian.”

“Yes, Master.” Xing Nǚ nodded hurriedly, understanding that Master had chosen a side, but since Lord Changli’s chances of winning were too slim, Master couldn’t directly oppose Di Jun for now.

One question remained: “Will Bai Xingxian trust us?”

“That depends on his abilities,” Han Qi indicated that Xing Nǚ needn’t explain too much to Bai Xingxian. “If he lacks even this much judgment, he deserves to lose.”

“Master speaks the truth.” Then she asked, “But can Bai Xingxian and Lu Xiqiao receive Miss Xiang? Aren’t they going to the Upper Realm?”

“Not to the Upper Realm—tell them to go quickly to Jin Ling to find Xiang Heng.” Han Qi handed over a flying treasure.

Xing Nǚ was stunned: “Will Di Jun make a move against Xiang Heng? Xiang Heng is no ordinary person—wouldn’t that be unwise?”

Humans who had stayed too long in the Upper Realm struggled to withstand the impure qi of the mortal world when they returned, let alone native-born Heavenly Race members.

Besides Di Jun, only Dugu He had such capability, but he disdained to do so.

And with Di Jun guarding Xiang Haikui and watching for Lord Changli, sending an avatar to the mortal realm would risk injuring his true body if the avatar were damaged.

“Don’t forget about Xiang Tianqing.”

A swift gust of wind rushed toward them, and Bai Xingxian, who was traveling, quickly turned and pushed out a palm.

The two forces collided in mid-air with an ear-splitting explosion.

The gust had carried a storage bracelet with it. After the bracelet shattered, a message jade slip and two black and white chess pieces fell from the air.

Bai Xingxian drew the two objects into his hand. Having appraised countless treasures since childhood, he immediately recognized the black and white chess pieces as a set of rare flying treasures, no less valuable than his uncle’s small black sphere.

“It should be Senior Han Qi’s ‘Star Shift’.” Baffled, Bai Xingxian projected his consciousness into the jade slip for a look, then promptly handed it to Lu Xiqiao. “This is bad.”

After reading it, Lu Xiqiao remained calm: “Can Han Qi’s words be trusted? Probably a trick to deceive us.”

“But I’ve heard Uncle mention that Star Shift is Senior Han Qi’s most treasured possession…” Bai Xingxian recalled that it was a consumable treasure—each use depleted its power. “He usually can’t bear to use it himself, so to trick us with it seems…”

He was embarrassed to continue, but Lu Xiqiao finished for him: “We’re not worthy?”

Bai Xingxian nodded: “In his eyes, we truly aren’t worthy.”

Lu Xiqiao thought this made sense, then suddenly jumped up like a grasshopper: “Damn! What did I say earlier? Something has happened to Sister Kui!”

The message hadn’t mentioned Yin Changli. Bai Xingxian had been too focused on figuring out Han Qi’s intentions, but Lu Xiqiao’s reminder made him recall the earlier sharp pain in his Sea of Consciousness.

“Uncle…” Bai Xingxian panicked, realizing Han Qi’s advice was credible. He made a swift decision: “Let’s go! To Jin Ling!”

Perhaps due to the stuffy weather, Xiang Heng felt restless and had spent the night sitting in the courtyard.

Near dawn, a light rain began to fall, finally easing his discomfort.

Just as Xiang Heng was about to return to his room to rest, Xiang Tianqing unexpectedly came back.

Soaked by the rain, her expression seemed even more gloomy than before.

“Xiao Qing?” Xiang Heng had no suspicions, only concern for her condition.

Xiang Tianqing slowly walked toward him, her hand concealed in her sleeve, tightly gripping the fish bone needle. “Father…”

The more Xiang Heng looked at her, the more worried he became: “What’s wrong?”

“I…” The fish bone needle was almost broken in two by her grip. She shook her head, “Nothing. I just suddenly realized I haven’t shared breakfast with you for many years.”

In truth, it had been Xiang Heng who had eaten with her.

When Xiang Tianqing was young, the demon poison in her body made her weak. She often ate medicinal food, and Xiang Heng would try all sorts of ways to coax her into eating.

“Let’s have breakfast together. I’ll go prepare it.” Xiang Tianqing turned away as if fleeing.

Later, father and daughter sat beneath the eaves drinking porridge.

Listening to the “drip-drop” of rainwater hitting the eaves, Xiang Heng sighed: “Jin Ling has so much rain, unlike our Yin Sha, where it never rains. No wonder Jin Ling nurtures people, while Yin Sha is full of monsters and demons.”

Xiang Tianqing replied quietly: “But you still prefer Yin Sha, with its lack of worldly affairs and scheming. It’s all about who has the stronger fist.”

Xiang Heng sighed: “I have no choice. Your father can’t compete with others in cleverness. A person must understand where their strengths lie…”

Xiang Tianqing wanted to say it was because she was a burden that he had to consider where they could safely establish themselves.

But she couldn’t say more, couldn’t continue the casual conversation with Xiang Heng.

The more they talked, the harder it would be to take action.

Memories of the past surfaced, triggering another round of inner conflict between heaven and humanity, causing her immense suffering.

“Father, I’m sorry…” After finishing the meal, tears welled in Xiang Tianqing’s eyes as she steeled her heart and made her decision.

Just as she was about to act, she heard Xiang Heng say: “Silly child, your father has never blamed you.”

Xiang Heng thought her return and apology meant she was finally less stubborn and willing to accept the future dream that Xiang Haikui had seen. “I can’t be sure about your senior martial brothers, but I know you well. You couldn’t possibly strike me down for fame and fortune. It must be that you want to give me release.”

As he spoke, he pressed her arm. “Fate has changed, and none of it has happened. Don’t take it to heart. Just believe that Little Kui was merely stating facts, never intending to target you. Little Kui has a cheerful nature and won’t blame you. If you two can reconcile later, I…”

Xiang Heng’s words struck Xiang Tianqing’s mind like a bolt from the blue!

Stating facts?

Only Di Jun had the power to make her awaken. In the future dream that Xiang Haikui had seen, Di Jun hadn’t interfered—she had simply been Xiang Tianqing.

And Xiang Tianqing would never kill her father!

She had stolen the paternal love that should have belonged to Xiang Haikui. She couldn’t believe Xiang Haikui could truly accept this selflessly, without wanting to take it back.

This was Xiang Haikui’s scheme to fight for her father’s heart.

Xiang Tianqing suddenly realized she couldn’t harm Xiang Heng. She couldn’t!

If she did, wouldn’t Xiang Haikui’s accusation that she would commit patricide be completely validated?

Wouldn’t her persistence over these past dozen years truly become a joke?

How could she ever face Xiang Haikui again?

Di Jun had said the “true self” was the strongest version of oneself.

That must be a self that would not lose to Xiang Haikui!

“Father, do you believe this matter without doubt?” Xiang Tianqing wiped the tears from the corner of her eye, her voice suddenly cold and resolute.

As Xiang Heng was about to speak, she continued: “Then I’ll prove to you that she’s lying, deliberately trying to leave a knot in your heart about me!”

“Tianqing!” Xiang Heng grew angry, slapping the table.

Xiang Tianqing triumphantly took out the fish bone needle, displaying it before him: “Do you know what this is? It was given to me by Di Jun of our Heavenly Race. Di Jun and my father from the Upper Realm have come…”

Xiang Heng glanced at the fish bone needle in her hand, utterly shocked.

After hearing her out, he rose in fury, sweeping his sleeve: “Where are they?!”

He had some understanding of the Heavenly Race. If he couldn’t defeat their true forms, what were their avatars doing strutting about in the mortal realm?

Though he had yet to achieve Dao unity and couldn’t enter the Heavenly Well to reach the Upper Realm to save Little Kui, suppressing Di Jun’s avatar would still be helpful.

Xiang Tianqing grabbed his sleeve: “Please calm down first…”

How could Xiang Heng calm down?

“Think about me.” Xiang Tianqing grew anxious. “They can’t harm you, but they can easily deal with me. Can you stop them? What if they use my life to threaten you?”

Xiang Heng stopped: “Isn’t one of them your birth father?”

Xiang Tianqing responded with a bitter smile: “Father, Jin Ling City is full of humans, with mixed impure qi. The Heavenly Race faces stronger restrictions here. Nearby, we have the Jin Ling King, the Sword Academy, and my master is also here. We only need to set up a formation to seal this courtyard, and they won’t dare act rashly. If we hide for a few days, avoiding this calamity, it would help Xiang Haikui have no worries…”

After calming down, Xiang Heng recalled that when Yin Changli had accompanied Little Kui before, he had given him several treasures.

He took out two items from his storage bracelet: one was a cicada-wing-thin garment, and the other was a square copper formation plate.

Yin Changli had instructed him that Little Kui now had many enemies, and the Heavenly Race might target him. Though extremely stupid, he couldn’t rule out someone desperate taking drastic measures.

The “dog” referred to was Di Jun of the Heavenly Race.

This formation plate created an isolation array with excellent effects. Defense wasn’t a problem, but it would only last three days before disappearing on its own.

Three days would be enough.

As for the cicada garment, it was said to be specially crafted to resist the Heavenly Race.

Though Yin Changli hadn’t specified, Xiang Heng knew it was meant to guard against Xiang Tianqing, suggesting he should remain vigilant.

But Xiang Heng had thought it unnecessary and had set it aside after receiving it.

Now thinking about it, Yin Changli’s detailed instructions and generous gifts of various protective treasures were all for Little Kui’s sake, yet he hadn’t taken them seriously.

As a parent, he had truly failed.

After putting on the cicada garment, Xiang Heng tossed out the copper formation plate.

A hum sounded as a layer of fluorescent light traced an arc in the air, establishing a barrier that sealed off the entire courtyard.

On the tenth day, just past noon, Xiang Haikui, who was meditating, heard a faint “whistling” sound.

Growing closer, was it the sound of an arrow?

Had the Phoenix Lord arrived?!

Indeed, that half arrowhead carried the Phoenix Lord’s divine sense and dove straight into her spiritual platform without hesitation.

Scorching hot, like molten lava flowing in.

“Senior Phoenix?”

“Little Kui has waited long.” This was a female phoenix, her voice like jade beads falling on a plate. “From the Mountain Sea Phoenix Tribe, Phoenix…”

She seemed to forget her name. “Your master calls me Sister. You can call me Aunt Zhu.”

“Aunt Zhu.” Xiang Haikui addressed her directly. “Didn’t you say you would come when the sun set?”

In her heart, she also wanted to ask why she had to wait ten days.

Yet she feared hearing an answer that would make her vomit blood, affecting her mood for the upcoming battle.

“Haven’t you noticed how heavy the moisture is in heaven and earth today?” The phoenix had plucked a few feathers to test if they would self-ignite, and finding they wouldn’t, had left early. “It seems even the Heavenly Dao is helping our Mountain Sea Tribe.”

Xiang Haikui finally understood why they had to wait ten days. Not bad—this great lord was quite reliable.

Her confidence surged: “Unfortunately, I made a bet with Di Jun, so we have to act after sunset…”

After hearing her explain the situation, the phoenix asked: “Little Changli hasn’t appeared at all?”

Xiang Haikui: “No.”

The phoenix was silent for a moment: “It seems Little Changli is in a bad situation.”

For the past ten days, Xiang Haikui had tried not to think about this. Now that the phoenix mentioned it, her mood sank again.

“You needn’t worry. He won’t be in danger, at most he’s just trapped and unable to get out for the time being.”

Xiang Haikui placed her hand on the sword case beside her, pressing it firmly. “If he can’t come out, I’ll do his work.”

There were too many reasons—she had to manage to take these formation plates and treasures away intact.

The phoenix laughed: “You sound certain that Little Changli is safe, but why do you speak as if you’re ready to inherit Changli’s will?”

Xiang Haikui was stunned: “I don’t.”

The phoenix teased: “Where don’t you? When you carved characters on the arrowhead and introduced yourself, you only said you were my old brother Qi’s disciple. You didn’t mention your relationship with our Mountain Sea Tribe’s chief. Should I call you little niece or the chief’s wife?”

Xiang Haikui was about to retort, “It’s your chief who clings to me; I never agreed,” but swallowed the words.

His safe return was more important than anything else. “Aunt Zhu, let’s get back to the matter at hand.”

There was still time to learn how to borrow the flying divine ability.

And perhaps she had good suggestions about escape routes for later?

“Oh~” The phoenix dragged out the syllable, deliberately affected.

“Aunt Zhu, do you still want your freedom?” Xiang Haikui threatened.

“Alright, alright.” The phoenix spoke as if helpless against her and adopted a serious tone. “Choose a color and style.”

Xiang Haikui was puzzled.

The phoenix explained: “Later, when you borrow my divine ability, a pair of wing phantoms will appear when you use it. In half my life, I’ve developed one hundred and ninety-six wing forms and two hundred and twenty-eight color combinations. Choose one you like.”

Xiang Haikui’s eyelid twitched: “Please don’t joke.”

“Hmm? Are you doubting my ability?”

As the phoenix finished speaking, a catalog suddenly flashed through Xiang Haikui’s consciousness sea.

There were all kinds of magnificently beautiful wing designs and unique color combinations.

Originally, Xiang Haikui’s emotions had been quite complex—a mix of sadness and excitement, with a touch of embarrassment. Now she could only laugh helplessly.

She had overthought it. The Mountain Sea lords could never be too dependable.

But still…

“How beautiful!” Xiang Haikui was sincerely praised.

“Choose one.” The phoenix was satisfied with the compliment.

“Is there any difference in effect?” From the situation, Xiang Haikui had to choose now, or else some unexpected problem might arise when borrowing the wings later.

The phoenix: “The effects are all the same.”

Reassured, Xiang Haikui carefully selected a set that appealed to her.

The phoenix approved: “Your aesthetic taste is good. This combination suits Tian Kuang’s black flood dragon body best after transformation.”

“Really?” Xiang Haikui was flattered. “This junior has never been praised for her aesthetic taste before.”

What aesthetic taste did she have?

When it came to choosing men, she’d picked the worst one.

Xiang Haikui opened her eyes and looked toward Jing Ran, who was meditating cross-legged in the distance.

Something wasn’t right. Earlier in the secret chamber, when she had released the arrowhead, he should have sensed something.

Now, with nothing to block it, he hadn’t detected anything?

Jing Ran also opened his eyes: “What are you looking at?”

Xiang Haikui didn’t evade or hide, saying directly: “My condition is better than ten days ago, but you seem weaker.”

“You can perceive that?” Jing Ran frowned slightly. “Yes, I am weaker than before because I’ve sent out an avatar to the mortal realm.”

Xiang Haikui was stunned: “To capture my father in exchange for the formation plates?”

Her tone was calm, not particularly worried about her father.

This task had an extremely high difficulty level. Jing Ran didn’t dare allocate too much power to his avatar now. In a confrontation with her father, he might be killed.

The boss had given her father many treasures to counter the Heavenly Race—she knew this.

Unless Xiang Tianqing…?

She frowned. Some things she couldn’t bring herself to say, but the boss was far-sighted and had surely given all necessary instructions.

Now that she was at odds with the highest authority of the Heavenly Race, her father, even if not considering himself, would surely be concerned about her having no worries while acting outside. Wouldn’t he at least be somewhat wary of Xiang Tianqing?

Jing Ran knew what she was thinking: “You’ve guessed wrong. Your father is completely unguarded toward Xiang Tianqing.”

Xiang Haikui’s heart sank.

“However, your father’s lack of caution isn’t carelessness—it’s confidence and absolute trust in Xiang Tianqing.” Jing Ran stared into Xiang Haikui’s eyes. “Facts prove he was right. Xiang Tianqing didn’t strike. For her mortal ‘foster father,’ she betrayed her birth father and also betrayed our Heavenly Race.”

Xiang Haikui’s anxious heart calmed: “Trying to provoke me? As long as my father is safe, that’s good.”

“Of course he’ll be fine. I knew from the start that capturing him wouldn’t work.” Jing Ran bent a finger, projecting a ball of golden light.

The light ball floated in the air between them, like a wizard’s crystal ball, with images appearing inside.

The angle was an “overhead view,” encompassing the entire Jin Ling courtyard.

Xiang Haikui saw a protective barrier, knowing it was a treasure given by the boss.

She was increasingly confused: “You knew it wouldn’t work, yet still did it?”

Creating an avatar consumed enormous energy. Shouldn’t he preserve all his strength for dealing with her?

Did he look down on her that much?

“I never intended to deal with your father.” Jing Ran’s lips curled up, though the emotion in his eyes was hard to discern. “That fish bone needle…”

The phoenix in Xiang Haikui’s spiritual platform interjected: “That fish bone needle is a treasure from our Mountain Sea Mermaid Tribe, useless against humans, specifically designed to counter the Heavenly Race.”

As sunset approached, Xiang Tianqing, sitting alone in the courtyard, suddenly felt a pain in her wrist where she wore the storage bracelet, as if pricked by a needle.

Raising her arm to look, there was a needle mark near the bracelet.

She frowned at first, then her expression changed to one of horror.

Earlier, she had put the fish bone needle into the storage bracelet, but now it had escaped on its own and pierced her skin.

Xiang Heng heard her agonized cry and rushed to the courtyard, startled by what he saw.

She held her head in both hands, her skin covered in cracks, like an eggshell about to shatter.

“Xiao Qing?!” Xiang Heng rushed toward her.

“Don’t come closer!” Xiang Tianqing backed away. For some reason, Xiang Heng’s approach felt like a tidal wave crashing over her, causing immense suffering.

At that moment, Jing Ran’s avatar appeared outside the barrier.

Though he couldn’t break through, he created another barrier outside, isolating the courtyard from the city.

Ordinary people could not perceive anything happening here.

“Xiang Heng.” Jing Ran’s voice penetrated inside. “The Return to Sea Spirit Transformation Array you’re using and the Phoenix Feather Mystic Garment you’re wearing are both Mountain Sea Tribe treasures. They will resonate with the Mermaid Needle in Xiang Tianqing’s body. When the three powers intersect, she will neither live nor die.”

Nearby, Patriarch Meng’s heart trembled with fear, but he dared not speak.

Xiang Heng had no time to deal with them. He quickly removed the cicada garment, then teleported to Xiang Tianqing’s side, striking her spiritual platform with his palm to locate the fish bone needle moving through her meridians.

He couldn’t extract it immediately, but managed to immobilize it.

Just as Xiang Tianqing’s suffering eased slightly, a purple lightning bolt crashed down from the barrier above!

Xiang Heng raised his arm to block it, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

It seemed Jing Ran spoke the truth. With a thought, the formation plate given by Yin Changli flew before his eyes.

He was about to destroy it, but forced himself to stop.

If the barrier disappeared with her in this state, he would be at their mercy.

What would happen to Little Kui?

Xiang Heng found himself in the most dilemma of his life.

“Jing Ran!”

Watching this, Xiang Haikui jumped up with her sword case, slung it over her back, with Tian Kuang already in hand.

She wanted to say he had broken the rules, forcing her to draw her sword, so he couldn’t blame her.

Then she noticed the sun had already set—their delayed ten-day confrontation had begun!

But with the light orb still above, showing Xiang Heng’s predicament clearly, how could she attack?

Xiang Haikui’s eyes flashed with a spark of red light: “Using me to threaten Yin Changli, using my father to threaten me, using Xiang Tianqing to threaten my father—you’re already a figure standing in the clouds. Besides these chain-reaction hostage tactics, what else can you do?”

“Don’t rush.” Jing Ran also stood up. With the entire Heavenly Race watching, he wanted to win elegantly. This battle was inevitable. “I never intended to exchange your father for the formation plates. I won’t harm him, rest assured.”

Xiang Haikui would believe him when pigs flew.

Jing Ran: “I’ve just been dwelling on something you said… that you don’t fail to understand my lack of choice, but rather that there aren’t really that many situations without choice in this world.”

Xiang Haikui stared coldly without a word.

Jing Ran looked up at the light orb in the air: “Look, your father must now choose between you and Xiang Tianqing. Wouldn’t you call that having no choice?”

Then looking at her, “If he chooses to protect Xiang Tianqing and falls into my hands, all your efforts will be in vain. Can you understand his lack of choice then?”

Xiang Haikui’s eyes bulged with rage: “Don’t tell me you went to all this trouble merely to slap me in the face.”

Jing Ran met her gaze: “If your father chooses Xiang Tianqing and you can still understand him, then I demand you take back every accusation you’ve made against me!”

Xiang Haikui raised her sword at him: “How can the two situations possibly be compared?”

“Of course they can. At their core, your father and I are the same.” Jing Ran’s eyes grew cold, his tone cruel. “In our situations where we have no choice, you are never the most important one. No matter how reluctant we are, we must let you go!”

“Shut up!”

Xiang Haikui could no longer restrain herself. Gripping her sword with both hands, she leaped into the air and slashed downward!

The violent sword energy struck where Jing Ran had been standing, but he had vanished.

He reappeared in the air, half a body length above Xiang Haikui, looking down at her: “What’s the hurry? Don’t you want to see your father’s choice? Or are you afraid to look?”

“Enough talk!” Xiang Haikui twisted her wrist, drawing a line of fire with her sword tip. The sword energy swept out horizontally!

Jing Ran disappeared again. Tian Kuang’s sword energy crashed against the golden lotus petals with a tremendous “clang.”

Like a bell ringing in an ancient mountain temple, the reverberating echoes spread outward.

It was like a signal, alerting the palace’s defenses in all directions.

“Why don’t you transform?” Jing Ran suddenly appeared atop the golden lotus petal tip, bathed in golden light like a divine being.

With a “crack,” the Dragon-Taming Whip reappeared in his hand.

Assuming a stance ready to subdue a dragon, he sneered, “Is it because transformation would make this seem more like a cornered beast’s struggle, making yourself appear more pitiful?”

“Shuluohe is still Shuluohe after all.” The phoenix in Xiang Haikui’s spiritual platform remembered the Mountain Sea Tribe’s devastating defeat years ago and couldn’t help but sigh.

Each imprisoned tribe member had been captured by him, targeting their weaknesses, striking with precision, defeating them one by one.

Including herself.

He had also precisely locked onto Xiang Haikui’s weakness.

Everything in the world, no matter how indestructible, has a weakness. Or rather, the stronger something is, the more easily it can be defeated by small, soft things.

For instance, a hard boulder can directly resist a sharp axe but has no defense against wind erosion or water penetration.

The phoenix wasn’t clear on all the details, but could sense that under his psychological attacks, Xiang Haikui couldn’t maintain her “wildness” anymore.

Even though she still appeared fierce and her sword energy remained powerful, her wild spirit was rapidly diminishing.

The situation had taken a sharp turn for the worse.

This battle was now precarious.

“Transform! Go ahead and transform!” Jing Ran cracked his whip, his brows cold and severe, his demeanor arrogant. “You tasted a bit of sweetness before and thought you were qualified to be this sovereign’s opponent?!”

In the end, he simply hadn’t been willing to truly harm her before!

After hearing Han Qi’s explanation, Xing Nǚ couldn’t help but shiver: “Di Jun is truly terrifying…”

“That’s why I said Brother Changli’s idea was good but extremely difficult to implement.” Han Qi shook his head.

Xing Nǚ felt regretful. If this battle could be won, perhaps Master wouldn’t have to struggle so much in the future.

She thought to ask: “Since Di Jun had no intention of targeting Xiang Heng, why did you instruct Bai Xingxian to find him?”

And with such precise timing.

“They would have little use rushing to the Upper Realm, as it would be difficult to reach the palace quickly.” Han Qi certainly had his considerations.

First, arriving at Jin Ling to see Xiang Heng surrounded, the two would fight to the death against Di Jun’s avatar.

Restraining the avatar would reduce the pressure on Xiang Haikui as she faced the true body.

If they could destroy the avatar, Di Jun’s true body would suffer irreversible damage.

Regardless of whose side Han Qi was on, this would be beneficial.

“Second, Di Jun is playing a game of attacking the heart. He will certainly make Xiang Haikui witness Xiang Heng’s situation firsthand. With Bai Xingxian and his companion fighting there, she would fight even harder to reduce their pressure against the avatar.

As for the third point.

“Di Jun may not intend to harm Xiang Heng for now, but that doesn’t mean he won’t desperately change his mind if he can’t subdue Miss Xiang and finds himself at a disadvantage. This provides some insurance.”

Last time Han Qi had used Xiang Haikui to outwit Qi Yin, he had felt guilty ever since.

Rarely did he find a young woman worthy of his special regard. This was his way of compensating her.

Xing Nǚ wasn’t so optimistic: “But Miss Xiang’s mental state has already been damaged…”

“Di Jun has underestimated her.” A mocking smile gradually appeared at the corner of Han Qi’s mouth. “Brother Changli and I both recognized reality after being humiliated, yet only Di Jun, who has suffered great losses, still underestimates her.”

Perhaps Di Jun thought he was being extremely cautious this time, not knowing that when a man harbors thoughts of conquering a woman, he has already underestimated her.

“Send someone to…”

Just as Han Qi was about to instruct Xing Nǚ to handle another matter, he suddenly paused.

He raised his eyes to the sky, observing the cloud layers.

Xing Nǚ also looked up following him. The sun had set, the clouds were thick, the sky dim.

Beyond that, she saw nothing special: “Master, what do you need your disciple to do?”

“Nothing now.”

Bai Xingxian and Lu Xiqiao rushed anxiously to Jin Ling City.

Arriving at the back door of the courtyard, from a distance, everything seemed normal, but as they approached, they immediately noticed something wrong.

“There’s an isolation barrier.” Bai Xingxian reached out to sense it. “The entire compound has been isolated.”

He tried to break it but couldn’t.

“Move aside, move aside, let me try!” Lu Xiqiao pushed him away, raised his arm, and transformed poison gas into an axe. He struck more than a dozen times but couldn’t break through.

“Forget it, let me try again. There’s Di Jun’s spiritual intuition force inside the barrier, I’ll give it another attempt.”

Bai Xingxian stepped back, imitating Lu Xiqiao, trying to transform his spiritual intuition into an axe.

Within the isolation barrier but outside the protective barrier, Patriarch Meng sensed Bai Xingxian’s spiritual intuition and hurriedly transmitted: “Di Jun, that… that child seems to have arrived.”

He also didn’t know how to address Bai Xingxian.

“No matter.” Jing Ran had already noticed but didn’t think the two could be of much use.

However, he did realize something: Yin Changli’s continued absence likely meant he had encountered some mishap.

“Xiang Heng, haven’t you decided yet?” Having achieved his purpose, Jing Ran wasn’t in a hurry, merely offering a casual prompt.

Inwardly, he was quite curious about how Xiang Heng would choose.

…

Xiang Haikui held her sword, standing opposite Jing Ran atop the golden lotus petal tip, responding to his mockery with silence.

As she remained quiet, Jing Ran also held back from attacking.

“Little Kui?” The phoenix, fearing her resolve would continue to weaken, called out to her.

Xiang Haikui adjusted the strap of her sword case: “Aunt Zhu, prepare to lend me your divine ability!”

The phoenix: “You can do it?”

“Why not?”

With Yin Changli’s situation unclear, she carried thirty-seven formation plates and over eighteen hundred treasures on her back. She had become the ‘hope of the entire village,’ what reason was there to say “I can’t”?

Xiang Haikui raised her head to look at the light orb.

Xiang Heng was still struggling, one hand covering the spiritual platform of Xiang Tianqing, who lay curled on the ground, helping her immobilize the fish bone needle.

His other hand held back the purple lightning striking down from the barrier above.

It looked like he could hold out for a while longer.

She had figured it out. Setting everything else aside, this time she had implicated Xiang Tianqing.

Even if her father chose Xiang Tianqing, so what? Just the fact that Xiang Tianqing hadn’t harmed her father left nothing to criticize.

Especially when comparing Xiang Tianqing’s father to her own, it was no wonder she was so determined to compete with her.

“Enough, stop this.” Xiang Haikui raised Tian Kuang again, pointing it at Jing Ran: “You said you wouldn’t coerce him, so please keep your word.”

Jing Ran was slightly surprised—had her state recovered so quickly?

Before he could snap out of his surprise, Xiang Haikui suddenly called out: “Senior.”

Jing Ran was startled again.

Xiang Haikui: “With this comparison you’ve made, I’ve been thinking carefully—why am I so harsh only toward you?”

She had a personality that remembered kindness rather than grudges.

Usually she would settle scores immediately, and if she couldn’t, she would constantly warn herself not to take things too seriously.

She could get revenge another time if the opportunity arose, but never dwell on it.

She had suffered too much since childhood and had long witnessed the cold realities of human relationships.

If someone smashed her head with a beer bottle and she kept fixating on it, it would be like the enemy had already left while she kept walking barefoot on broken glass.

It would only torture her—wasn’t that foolish?

“I can’t even be bothered to think about those who have tried to kill me, so why do I harbor such hatred toward you, wanting to cut you into a thousand pieces?”

Betrayal?

She had only had a one-sided love before—what betrayal was there?

Theoretically, “Senior” wasn’t a person but a symbol, a lighthouse she had established for her drifting, unsupported life.

She had relied on this lighthouse to reach shore.

Later she discovered the lighthouse wasn’t a lighthouse at all, but rather a shark’s glowing dorsal fin.

But so what? She had already reached shore.

And the shark had only inadvertently served as a lighthouse, with no malicious intentions at the time.

That period was genuine and beautiful, without the slightest dilution.

“‘Senior’ showed me great kindness, while ‘Di Jun’ has grievously wronged me.” Xiang Haikui now clearly distinguished between the two, feeling considerably relieved, her gaze clear. “To be honest, I have no interest in your world. This time, after taking the formation plates and treasures, damaging your reputation, the past kindness and grudges between us will be settled.”

Jing Ran was astonished for a moment, then followed her train of thought: “How does that count as settling our accounts? After taking the formation plates and damaging my reputation, wouldn’t that still count as revenge?”

How was that different from killing him?

“I’m not avenging my grievance!”

Sword energy surged around Xiang Haikui’s body, and the black flood dragon coiled around her sword stirred restlessly. “It’s for that ‘child’ you calculated into your plans… I have the right to decide whether it exists, but no right to ‘forgive’ on its behalf!”

“If it could successfully merge, I would be its mother. I must avenge its grievance!”

As she spoke, Tian Kuang’s sword energy flowed back frantically.

Her wild spirit surged, and she instantly transformed into a flood dragon.

With whiskers flying, the flood dragon, emanating piercing sword energy, stretched its body in mid-air, reaching an even higher level than before!

Jing Ran was forced to stagger by her suddenly erupting sword intent.

She didn’t attack immediately, but instead shouted at him: “Quickly recall your avatar and bring out your full power to fight me, or you absolutely won’t be able to seize the formation plates and will certainly be defeated!”

…

Between Jing Ran and his avatar, consciousness was connected.

Seeing that his psychological attack had failed, the avatar was indeed considering returning to the main body.

As he pondered, he looked up toward the sky above Jin Ling.

What was happening? Had Bai Xingxian’s power become so formidable?

Merely gathering power could already influence the natural energy of heaven and earth?

…

“Brother Bai?” Lu Xiqiao looked at Bai Xingxian, who was condensing his spiritual intuition into a great axe, then raised his head to the suddenly changing clouds and winds in the sky.

Something wasn’t right. Usually, thunder and lightning would only come after he had drawn his sword. “You didn’t take the Ten Thousand Calamities Pill, did you?”

A pill that could rapidly increase cultivation in a short time, but would damage one’s foundation, preventing any further cultivation progress.

“What?” Bai Xingxian was concentrating hard, struggling to gather his power, and didn’t understand what Lu Xiqiao meant.

Glancing up distractedly, his eyes widened.

The clouds in the sky formed a vortex that continuously expanded, spinning faster and faster, covering an increasingly wider area.

Gradually, pedestrians in Jin Ling stopped to watch.

News spread quickly, and residents indoors also came out to the streets.

Before long, the streets of Jin Ling City, both large and small, were crowded with people.

“It wasn’t me.” Bai Xingxian said.

“No need to explain.” Lu Xiqiao took a deep breath.

Just as everyone was bewildered, a terrifying explosion was heard, scattering the surging clouds and shaking the ground violently.

People often speak of “heaven collapsing and earth shattering.” Earth-shattering isn’t rare, but heaven collapsing seems more like a metaphor.

Yet the scene now resembled heaven collapsing.

Soon after, a rainbow light descended from the sky at an unimaginable speed.

Its target was Jin Ling City!

Jin Ling had recently suffered the devastation of the Small Jianmu Tree roots. Having just been rebuilt, the people were already anxious, and screams erupted one after another.

The city lord reacted extremely quickly, activating the city barrier as soon as the rainbow light appeared.

“That’s…”

“It’s an arrow!”

The arrow had created a tremendous disturbance high in the clouds, but as it approached the ground, it became increasingly inconspicuous.

Like thunder with little rain, it passed through the city barrier with a “pop” and then vanished.

Everyone:?

“Where did it fall?”

“Let’s search for it.”

Seeing that nothing had happened, the city residents set aside their fear and became excited, searching with treasure-hunting enthusiasm.

Bai Xingxian and Lu Xiqiao were close enough to see clearly that the “arrow from the heavens” had fallen into the courtyard.

Jing Ran’s barrier, thin as paper, had been effortlessly penetrated by the arrow.

The two of them took advantage of the fluctuating barrier to slip inside.

Xiang Heng was completely unaware of the situation outside. Immobilizing the fish bone needle and resisting the barrier already occupied all his mental energy.

Though exhausted, he could still hold on for a while.

Even he didn’t know he had such potential.

Or perhaps he simply couldn’t make a choice, didn’t want to make a choice, and could only instinctively persevere.

Amidst the “buzzing” in his ears, Xiang Heng seemed to hear a slight extraneous sound.

Thinking it was Jing Ran attacking, he had to divert his divine sense, only to see an arrow light shooting straight toward his forehead!

He didn’t even have time to make any resistance before being struck by the sharp arrow!

Like the fierce sun tearing through dark clouds, his body erupted with intense light.

Though painful, he could feel powerful energy filling his limbs and organs.

With a grab of his five fingers and an upward pull, he extracted the fish bone needle from Xiang Tianqing’s meridians!

…

The sudden change came too quickly for either the avatar or the main body of Jing Ran to react.

Xiang Haikui, who watched this through the light orb, was also stunned.

Jing Ran didn’t know what this was, but she guessed.

It was the “Heaven-Slaying Divine Weapon,” the Tianwu Divine Arrow, that Jing Ran had been seeking all along.

No, it was the power of the divine arrow.

Had Yin Changli found it in the Nightmare Prison?

Was the companion spirit the arrow thief?

Xiang Haikui’s head was buzzing. Hadn’t he said that after the divine arrow’s power left the body and her father changed physical forms, her father had become an ordinary person? Even if the divine arrow’s power was recovered, it would have nothing to do with her father?

How could it seem like her father had absorbed this power…

Just as she thought of this, she stopped.

The flood dragon’s two round eyes had pupils that became vertical like a cat’s.

She saw a black snake shadow emerge from her father’s spiritual platform, fall to the ground, and transform into human form…

…

“Uncle!” Bai Xingxian had just entered and saw this scene, overjoyed.

He wanted to go to his side but was blocked by a protective barrier.

After landing, Yin Changli still clutched an arrow in his palm.

Jing Ran’s pupils contracted sharply: “You…”

It appeared to be just a strand of divine sense hidden within the arrow, flying here.

Looking down at the arrow, it was a treasure made of an unfathomable material.

“Sorry.” Yin Changli ignored him, turning first to Xiang Heng, concerned that Xiang Heng might have been injured by the arrow’s power. He transmitted an explanation: “I was trapped in a secret place, temporarily unable to escape. Fearing I wouldn’t make it in time, I had no choice but to use you as an arrow target, hitching a ride on a favorable wind arrow.”

He had greatly weakened the arrow’s power while covering the arrowhead with his divine sense to minimize the divine arrow’s impact on Xiang Heng.

With a breath, the arrow in his palm transformed into specks of fluorescent light and dissipated.

All the years of effort he and Shuluoye had invested had been wasted.

At least it had served a purpose in the end—not a total loss.

“I’m fine.” Xiang Heng was exhausted and unsteady on his feet. After checking the condition of the unconscious Xiang Tianqing, he cupped his fists and said, “Senior, you arrived just in time.”

Truly just in time.

He finally didn’t have to make a choice.

He briefly explained what had happened.

Upon hearing this, Yin Changli immediately guessed Jing Ran’s intentions.

His first reaction was to look up at the sky, knowing that a “celestial eye” must be positioned somewhere.

“Little Kui, you need not consider anything else now. Fight with all your might.” Without wasting a single word, he quickly said before Jing Ran could recall his celestial eye, “After I destroy his avatar, I’ll come for you immediately.”

Jing Ran indeed withdrew his celestial eye, preventing the last five words, “I’ll come for you immediately,” from being transmitted.

In his avatar state, he had remained calm and composed. Even after Yin Changli appeared, he had merely tensed his nerves somewhat.

It wasn’t until Yin Changli finished speaking these words to Xiang Haikui that his inner fire was ignited.

Take her away?

By what right?!

“With merely a strand of divine sense, you think you can destroy this sovereign’s avatar? Where does your confidence come from?!”

Though his avatar had little cultivation, it was still stronger than divine sense.

Divine sense was extremely fragile.

Jing Ran scanned the courtyard.

Xiang Heng was too depleted to be of any help.

“Relying on those two little fellows?”

“Hey, who are you calling little?” Lu Xiqiao rolled up his sleeves. “Shall we take them out and compare?”

Jing Ran gave him a disgusted glance.

Bai Xingxian’s expression revealed his confusion, but the atmosphere wasn’t suitable for questions.

Yin Changli smiled: “Has Di Jun grown old, with failing eyesight? What makes you think I’m merely a strand of divine sense?”

Why would he hastily waste the divine arrow to send out a fragile divine sense? What could that accomplish?

…

Xiang Haikui watched as the light orb disappeared.

If he could split off divine sense like Senior Phoenix, it seemed he wasn’t in danger, at least not life-threatening.

“That’s not divine sense.” The phoenix said.

“Hmm?”

Phoenix: “It’s a demon core.”

“Demon core?” Xiang Haikui was stunned, then exclaimed loudly, “Demon core?!”

She was still far from the Tribulation Crossing stage and couldn’t understand exactly how avatars and divine sense worked.

But she understood demon cores—they were the wellspring of a demon cultivator’s power.

Highly nourishing, they could be eaten or used to refine pills.

The problem was, she had never heard of anyone’s demon core leaving their body independently to fight others.

“Is that possible?”

“Of course it is.” The phoenix replied calmly. “After all, it’s the source of power, much stronger than avatars or divine sense. However, it’s too fragile, and once damaged…”

The consequences were predictable.

“What the hell!” Xiang Haikui’s emotions surged, filled with anger. “He thinks I need him to take care of my ‘worries’? Who does he think he’s looking down on?!”

“Stay calm.” The phoenix said. “You’re carrying our tribe’s formation plates. It’s appropriate for him to ensure your safety now. Aunt Zhu has seen countless men, and here’s a piece of sincere advice: never think too highly of men, they’re just self-indulgent. They are the most mercenary creatures in the world, never doing anything without profit.”

“I’m angry, not touched!” The flood dragon’s nostrils began spewing fire.

The phoenix didn’t argue: “Don’t worry, he’s very shrewd and won’t suffer any loss.”

Xiang Haikui felt somewhat reassured.

Phoenix: “Look at how weak he appears after his inner core transformed. His true body must have suffered severe damage, with the inner core on the verge of shattering. Since it wouldn’t be very useful after being patched together anyway, why not smash it and cultivate anew? Before smashing it, sending it out to play around, kill Di Jun’s avatar, help steal the formation plates—all the better to win a young girl’s heart. Tsk, tsk, Little Changli has scored big this time…”

Xiang Haikui nearly choked, almost falling from the sky.

Whenever she thought her heart was big enough, the Mountain Sea lords always gave her a sobering reminder.

When it came to having a big heart, they were the professionals.

Shaking her flood dragon head, Xiang Haikui forced herself to stop overthinking.

Though Jing Ran had promised not to target her father, who knew if he had other tricks up his sleeve?

Now with the boss, Little Bai, and Lu Xiqiao all gathered together, she felt as if she had taken a concentrated reassurance pill.

There truly were no more worries, and she could fight with complete abandon.

So, was there a better opportunity than this moment?

Her goal was to escape safely with the formation plates, not to duel with Jing Ran.

The boss’s appearance had diverted Jing Ran’s attention.

As he controlled two bodies simultaneously, his focus was likely concentrated on his avatar. His true body floated motionlessly in the air like a dummy.

“Aunt Zhu, divine ability!”

“Here it comes.”

…

Jing Ran’s attention had been largely diverted by Yin Changli.

His heart trembled—it was a demon core!

“Uncle…” Bai Xingxian was alarmed but dared not show it.

Jing Ran sneered: “Yin Changli, this sovereign guessed correctly. You’ve indeed met with trouble, even forced to release your inner core.”

“The wheel of fortune turns. The next one to face trouble will be you, Di Jun.” Yin Changli shattered the protective barrier above his head with a palm strike, then gave Bai Xingxian a meaningful look.

Bai Xingxian understood and gave Lu Xiqiao a similar look.

The two moved behind Yin Changli, simultaneously guarding in front of Xiang Heng, who sat cross-legged, regulating his breath.

So it’s a demon core transformation, thought Patriarch Meng behind Jing Ran, feeling his avatar was already doomed.

There was no escape. Yin Changli would certainly do his utmost through the avatar to strike at Di Jun’s true body, reducing the pressure on Xiang Haikui.

“So what?” Jing Ran not only showed no concern but even relaxed somewhat.

Even if Xiang Haikui smashed all the formation plates, the consequences wouldn’t be too severe now.

His lips curled with mockery: “Does this sovereign fear Qi Yin? Fear those brainless fools of your Mountain Sea Tribe?”

Those fools, even at their peak, had been subdued by him. What more now, after years of imprisonment?

What Jing Ran truly feared was the divine weapon.

He feared the Mountain Sea prisoners after Yin Changli marshaled them.

From the current situation, the divine weapon was likely ruined.

And Yin Changli also…

Bai Xingxian asked worriedly: “Without his inner core, will it affect my uncle’s mind?”

Jing Ran was stunned by the question.