The space completely closed. Pei Zichen watched the black fog disappear and frantically lunged forward, but couldn’t grasp anything.

“Master’s Wife…”

Pei Zichen panicked helplessly. He drew his sword and began madly hacking at the ground: “Master’s Wife! Master’s Wife! Master’s Wife…”

“Calm down!”

Ye Tianjiao, Chen Zhao and others rushed up, urgently pulling back Pei Zichen. “Randomly slashing won’t help! Calm down—what happened?!”

What happened?

Pei Zichen froze for an instant. He coldly turned back, looking toward the Yuan Luogong floating nearby.

“Where is my Master’s Wife?”

He asked coldly. The Yuan Luogong replied with extraordinary calm: “She went to another space-time. Each time the Su Guangji is used, there’s a space-time change. Each space-time transition requires power. The Su Guangji fragment can’t bring two people—therefore only she, the user, can go.”

“How do I find her?”

“Wait.”

“Wait how long?”

“Don’t know.”

At these words, Pei Zichen closed his eyes, somewhat afraid in his heart.

Don’t know how long to wait… She’s alone, having lost her five senses. Will something happen to her? Will she…

“You don’t need to worry too much.”

The Yuan Luogong sensed his state of mind and consoled: “She used the Su Guangji for space-time transition—she’s just walking a path through the space-time gaps. No matter how many years pass, for her it’s only a stretch of road. The only danger is that in the space-time gaps there are turbulent flows and strange beasts that devour human souls. But that arrow you shot… will protect her.”

“My arrow?” Pei Zichen didn’t understand. “Why can my arrow protect her?”

The Yuan Luogong didn’t answer directly, only saying: “You formed a soul contract with her. You can sense whether she’s safe.”

Listening, Pei Zichen finally reacted—he had just formed the Life Attendant contract.

He immediately sensed and confirmed Jiang Zhaoxue’s safety, finally relaxing.

“Rather than worry about her, you should worry about yourself.”

Seeing him wholly focused on Jiang Zhaoxue, the Yuan Luogong reminded: “She’s just walking a path, but you must wait in real time. Who knows when she’ll appear? Perhaps when she appears—”

The Yuan Luogong smiled: “You might even change your mind, marry and have children, forget her.”

“I won’t.”

Pei Zichen murmured softly. On his heart, he felt Jiang Zhaoxue’s existence.

Though he didn’t know where she was, he knew—she lived, she existed in this world.

“I can wait.”

He said softly: “I have enough time. I can become better, stronger. When she meets me again—”

I can let her be the bright moon, let her sit on high.

He remembered how in his youth he looked up at her again and again in the crowd—golden carriage, jade garments, looking down on all living beings.

What his master could give, he would give her too.

Everything in this world she wanted, he would offer to her.

He closed his eyes. After calming for a moment, knowing where his path led, his heart finally slowly settled.

He finally had time to deal with the Yuan Luogong. He turned back to look at it: “You now…” He sensed the connection between his body and the Yuan Luogong, frowning. “Acknowledged me as master?”

“That’s right.” Pride and amusement filled the Yuan Luogong’s tone.

Pei Zichen was extraordinarily cold: “I chose to let Master’s Wife go back. Why acknowledge me as master?”

“Because what I need is someone who doesn’t covet me.” The Yuan Luogong explained: “I am formed from the divine bones of Haocang Shenjun. My power is immense. The master I want must have a great benevolent heart, not someone who enjoys killing.”

“Then you’re wrong.” Pei Zichen said calmly. “I chose Master’s Wife only because I wanted to die, not because I sacrificed myself for others.”

“But now you’re willing to live.” The Yuan Luogong pointed out: “Living for her is harder than dying for her.”

“Then you’re wrong again.” Pei Zichen raised his hand to grip it, saying indifferently: “I’m not living for her. I’m only greedy for this world because of her. This is for myself, not for her.”

“To me it’s all the same.”

“So earlier, it was just a test?” Pei Zichen understood. “What I fell into—was that the space-time gap?”

“Yes.”

“If she hadn’t come in to save me, would I have stayed inside?”

“No. After confirming you had no regrets, you would have passed the test. I would naturally bring you out—I’m not an evil thing. Unfortunately, she came too hastily. After she used the Su Guangji, the real space-time gap opened, so she had to leave.”

Listening, Pei Zichen closed his eyes and calmed himself.

Just a little bit…

At this moment, he even had the heart to shatter this bow.

The Yuan Luogong sensed his state of mind and hastily said: “It’s… it’s all a misunderstanding! I’m a divine artifact—having me makes you stronger. And she’s just walking a path without suffering. The one suffering is you. But I’ll share this suffering with you!”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen slowly calmed down.

Everything was already decided. Even if he regretted it, it wouldn’t help. As long as Jiang Zhaoxue was safe, that was the greatest fortune.

Right now, the most important thing was to handle everything remaining, then wait for Jiang Zhaoxue.

He thought for a moment, then turned to look at the little girl crying beside Daniang’s body.

He walked before the little girl, looking down at this child, saying softly: “Miss Zhuang.”

Hearing this, Zhuang Yan looked up in confusion to see Pei Zichen speaking gently: “Could you tell me why you encountered Ye Wenzhi back then, and how you became a Ghost Immortal?”

Zhuang Yan was stunned, seemingly somewhat confused.

She now had the mentality of a five-year-old, yet possessed all the memories of these past years.

She had been attached to by resentment energy for fifteen years, clearly seeing all her own actions. After thinking for a long time, she said somewhat blankly: “It was… a woman.”

“A woman?”

Pei Zichen found it strange. Zhuang Yan recalled, frowning slightly: “A big sister in red clothes… carrying an umbrella.”

“Isn’t that just Zhuang Yan?” Ye Tianjiao didn’t understand.

Chen Zhao shook his head: “Zhuang Yan was imitating this person. Or this person possessed Zhuang Yan’s body.”

“She said she could take me home, have Mother braid my hair.” Zhuang Yan said blankly. “She asked if I could give her my body, so I agreed…”

“This… she doesn’t even have a soul?” Ye Tianjiao was shocked. “She needs to borrow a body from a soul?”

“Then she used your ghost body to do everything?” Pei Zichen understood.

Zhuang Yan wasn’t certain, only saying: “I don’t know. I just felt like I slept for a long time. Later I heard Mother calling me. I suddenly woke up and saw her about to harm Mother, so I ran out.”

These words made everyone look at each other. Zhuang Yan turned back to look at Daniang’s corpse, murmuring: “What do we do? Being a ghost is so cold. Will Mother have to be a ghost with me too?”

“No.” Pei Zichen said gently. “Are you willing to go to reincarnation?”

Zhuang Yan looked up in confusion. Pei Zichen explained: “You and your mother, go together.”

“That would be wonderful.” Zhuang Yan smiled. “Mother and I go together, always together.”

Pei Zichen raised his hand, softly reciting scriptures.

Seeing this scene, Chen Zhao, Ye Wenzhen and others also raised hands to form seals.

Daniang’s soul slowly awakened. She rose from her body, raised her head to see Zhuang Yan smile and take her hand, happily saying: “Mother, we’re going to reincarnation.”

Daniang looked at her five-year-old daughter. After a moment of confusion, she said hoarsely: “Alright.”

Mother and daughter stood up, following the great path laid out by the scriptures, walking all the way toward the light.

After they disappeared, Ye Tianjiao said in confusion: “She… Zhuang Yan’er doesn’t hold grudges at all.”

“She doesn’t remember how she died.” Pei Zichen explained. “She only remembers what her final obsession was before death.”

“Then…” Ye Tianjiao grew more confused. “How did she become a Ghost Immortal? What exactly was that thing possessing her?”

“A Wraith Fiend.”

Pei Zichen recalled what he had learned: “Neither ghost nor human, neither immortal nor demon—formed from heaven and earth’s resentful thoughts, thus having no body. Cultivation is extremely difficult. Once successful, it inevitably becomes a great calamity.”

And the last recorded Wraith Fiend was one thousand two hundred fifty years ago.

In the Mortal Realm, the Wraith Fiend Xinluoyi appeared, harming a million people before being slain by an immortal.

Now it was year one thousand two hundred sixty-seven, about seventeen years since Xinluoyi’s emergence.

Pei Zichen thought silently, then turned back to walk before the coffin. Ye Wenzhi lay in the coffin, still holding the Evil-Slaying Blade. His neck was shattered, but his soul hadn’t left his body. A power from the Evil-Slaying Blade protected his entire being. Pei Zichen glanced once, retrieved the Evil-Slaying Blade, then took the pill Jiang Zhaoxue had given him and placed it in Ye Wenzhi’s mouth. He raised his hand using spiritual power to repair Ye Wenzhi’s neck.

This was a Soul-Stabilizing Pill. With this pill, Ye Wenzhi would be fine.

Ye Tianjiao nervously watched this scene. Within moments, Ye Wenzhi suddenly coughed.

Seeing his soul stabilized, Pei Zichen withdrew his hand.

Ye Wenzhi coughed, sitting up from the coffin. Ye Tianjiao, Chen Zhao and others rushed up, supporting Ye Wenzhi: “Brother, are you alright?”

Ye Wenzhi couldn’t speak. After recovering for a while, he raised his head to look at the surrounding devastation.

He suddenly felt an unprecedented clarity. His mind was muddled, as if many years had passed.

“This is…”

“The Wraith Fiend has the ability to bewitch hearts and minds. For these past years, the Young Master has been influenced by the Wraith Fiend.”

Pei Zichen explained. Ye Wenzhi froze, then remembered the little girl he met under the bridge. His hand trembled slightly—he couldn’t speak.

Seeing Ye Wenzhi stunned, Pei Zichen thought for a moment, then said softly: “A Ghost Immortal formed by a Wraith Fiend is extremely difficult to deal with. This time, Master’s Wife and I expended considerable effort. Although Second Young Master has already paid one Jade Lingzhi, if Young Master Ye is willing to form a good karmic connection, please build a temple for my Master’s Wife.”

“Oh.”

Hearing this, Ye Wenzhi quickly said: “Of course. But what is Immortal Master Jiang’s honorific title?”

“Penglai True Martial Primordial Sovereign.”

As Pei Zichen spoke, he felt spiritual power震動 in the sky.

“Oh my,” the Yuan Luogong spoke in surprise, “How did the Time-Seeking Mirror also come?”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen knew Shen Yuqing was coming.

If Shen Yuqing saw him, he would definitely kill him. But now he had to live.

He turned back to everyone, raised his hand in greeting, only saying: “Everyone, my enemy approaches. In the future, may the mountains be high and waters long. If fated, we’ll meet again.”

Everyone froze as Pei Zichen drew the Yuan Luogong and nocked an arrow.

The arrow body shot forward. A space appeared before everyone. Pei Zichen stepped inside. Seeing this, Ye Tianjiao frantically called out: “Hey!”

Pei Zichen turned back to see Ye Tianjiao somewhat at a loss: “In the future… will I meet you all again?”

“If there is fate.”

Pei Zichen smiled, nodded slightly, performed a Dao greeting and bid farewell to everyone.

Then he stepped into the black energy and vanished before everyone.

Not long after Pei Zichen disappeared, brilliant light suddenly appeared in the sky. Two people descended from heaven.

Great Ascension stage pressure spread overwhelmingly. Everyone present instantly knelt. Shen Yuqing swept over the surroundings, clearly sensing Jiang Zhaoxue’s aura. His gaze fell on Ye Tianjiao, where Jiang Zhaoxue’s aura lingered most. Ye Tianjiao instantly felt an enormous force drag him forward. Then before him appeared an illusion of Jiang Zhaoxue’s form. He heard this white-robed cultivator say coldly: “Have you seen my wife?”

Ye Tianjiao stared blankly at Jiang Zhaoxue, then looked back at him, looked at Jiang Zhaoxue again, looked at Shen Yuqing again. He raised his hand pointing at Jiang Zhaoxue, couldn’t help saying: “You’re her husband?”

Hearing this, Shen Yuqing felt inexplicably comfortable and said coldly: “Yes.”

“Pei Zichen is your disciple?”

“Correct.”

“Didn’t you die?” Ye Tianjiao blurted out. The pressure instantly dropped. Everyone present was shocked.

Chen Zhao painfully closed his eyes, frantically kowtowing: “Immortal Sovereign, please calm your anger! My young master is still young and speaks without restraint. Please calm your anger, Immortal Sovereign!”

Shen Yuqing didn’t speak. He only stared coldly at Ye Tianjiao: “She told you this?”

“Yes,” Ye Tianjiao sensed the wrong atmosphere and swallowed, saying carefully: “She said when Pei Zichen was very young you died. She raised Pei Zichen alone—it was very difficult. For this she wanted extra compensation to help raise the child.”

She was really short on money.

Shen Yuqing closed his eyes. After calming for a long time, he finally said: “Where are they?”

“Gone.”

“Do you know where they went?”

“I don’t—” Chen Zhao urgently tried to interrupt.

But Ye Tianjiao immediately answered: “I know!”

“Where?”

“They said they plan to first go to Jiang Zhou, then to Mobei, afterward to Lingnan, then to the northwest.”

Ye Tianjiao spoke with utter conviction. Everyone was shocked and uncertain.

Hearing this, Shen Yuqing’s anger rose. He said coldly: “Do you know why they’re going to so many places?”

“That goes without saying—tourism.” Ye Tianjiao looked at Shen Yuqing like looking at an idiot. “They already ran out. Not playing around together would be such a waste.”

“Second Young Master…”

Chen Zhao quietly moved beside Ye Tianjiao, tugging his sleeve: “Stop talking!”

Even if you couldn’t read the situation, you should know—Master’s Wife running away with a young, hot-blooded male disciple, the master chasing closely behind, the male disciple saying the master was an enemy. This kind of drama looked green through and through. Stop talking nonsense!

Hearing this, Shen Yuqing’s breath became slightly chaotic.

But he knew this was something Jiang Zhaoxue could do.

He took a breath, swept his sleeve and left, saying coldly: “Jinyue, let’s go.”

“Master, where to?” Mu Jinyue quickly followed.

Shen Yuqing said calmly: “Jiang Zhou.”

After the two left, Ye Tianjiao frowned: “What’s with these two? One has a male disciple following, one has a female disciple following. Aren’t they husband and wife? Why aren’t they together?”

Hearing this, Ye Wenzhi closed his eyes in despair and sighed.

He still had to live a few more years.

Otherwise the Ye Family was finished.

“Senior?”

Jiang Zhaoxue’s voice asked, but the other party didn’t respond.

Only spiritual power trickled into her body, slowly repairing her exhausted state.

At the same time, her clothes slowly dried. Even the material became extraordinarily soft, smoothly clinging to her body.

Jiang Zhaoxue sensed he had no ill intent and confirmed again: “Are you the senior who ferried Zichen and me together to the snow mountain by boat at the seaside?”

The other didn’t speak, only gently patted her, indicating she should relax.

Then he held her hand, guiding her to rise.

She couldn’t see the surroundings, only felt the ground beneath her feet was soft—she didn’t know what kind of place this was.

After pulling her hand, the other didn’t let go. He only quietly held her hand, guiding her forward.

This was an adult male’s hand, obviously much larger than hers, able to completely envelop her entire hand.

His body temperature was slightly lower than ordinary people. This point was somewhat similar to Pei Zichen. Only Pei Zichen’s was due to his ice spiritual root. As for this person before her, she didn’t know if it was because of his cultivation method.

He was clearly a person from Jiuyou Realm, not using spiritual power. So the spiritual power he transmitted to her was converted spiritual power—impossible to distinguish spiritual root attributes.

A person from Jiuyou Realm—why help her again and again?

And each time, so precisely appearing when space-time switched?

“Senior, you know Pei Zichen, don’t you?” Jiang Zhaoxue speculated.

She couldn’t possibly have entanglements with people from Jiuyou Realm.

But Pei Zichen and Jiuyou Realm seemed to have countless connections.

In Wuyue Forest, the Jiuyou Realm barrier opened. At the Life-Judging Platform, demonic cultivators helped him snatch the Su Guangji. All the way to now, Jiuyou Realm followed like a shadow.

So this person must also have come for Pei Zichen.

“Senior, you’re helping me because you hope I’ll help Pei Zichen, right? I wonder—Jiuyou Realm constantly following Pei Zichen, what do they want to do?”

Jiang Zhaoxue inquired. The other party still didn’t respond.

Jiang Zhaoxue only heard rustling sounds around her. She couldn’t help feeling somewhat nervous.

In the time gaps, there were many strange beasts that devoured people. They had been hungry in the gaps for many years. Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart was alert. The other sensed this and gently patted her hand.

Jiang Zhaoxue froze, knowing the other was consoling her.

After sensing this extra gentleness, those questioning words somehow couldn’t come out. She could only say vaguely: “Well… we’ve met twice now. Senior still hasn’t said his name.”

The other still didn’t speak. Jiang Zhaoxue knew he planned to stay silent to the end.

She alone couldn’t perform a one-person show. She could only let him pull her forward.

Anyway, he had no malicious intent. Moreover, the cultivation gap was too high—resistance would be meaningless. Better to see what he ultimately wanted.

She fell silent. A’Nan finally spoke, asking carefully: “What do you think he wants to do?”

“Probably wants to save me to help Pei Zichen.” Jiang Zhaoxue rolled her eyes. Remembering what Pei Zichen did today, she couldn’t help being sarcastically bitter: “Pei Zichen is this world’s little princess. The whole world loves him. Jiuyou Realm goes through fire and water for him. The Tianji Lingyu goes roundabout ways to bind with him. The Yuan Luogong cries and begs to acknowledge him as master, but he refuses—’I just want to die~~'”

“Um…” Hearing this, A’Nan couldn’t help saying: “You’ve gone crazy with anger, right? These words are too harsh… None of this was what he wanted either.”

“Unwilling? Give them to me.” Jiang Zhaoxue was both resentful and jealous. “If only I could have gotten the Yuan Luogong today, it wouldn’t be his turn!”

“Then… are you willing to have your whole family die?”

At this question, Jiang Zhaoxue fell silent.

“Family dead, friends dead, even a pet dog dead. The beloved master only wants to kill him. The sect he considered home is dedicated to hunting him down. He’s only seventeen.” The more A’Nan spoke, the more she felt Jiang Zhaoxue was excessive. “You’re the one who wanted him to live. Your purpose was still to fatten him up, use his spiritual power to nourish the Tianji Lingyu, then beat him back to being a mortal. Every day he lives is torment. To send you back, he’s endured until now—that’s already good. He has no obligation to live for you.”

“Whose spirit beast are you?” Hearing A’Nan’s chatter, Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help saying: “How come you speak on his behalf? What, you’re betraying me too?”

“I’m not betraying…” A’Nan felt somewhat guilty, saying in a low voice: “I’m advising you to think more openly, stop being angry.”

“The more you talk, the angrier I get!”

At Jiang Zhaoxue’s words, A’Nan didn’t dare speak anymore either.

One person and one bird fell silent for a while. A’Nan sighed and was first to say: “Alright, alright. I spoke up for him. I’ll unconditionally support you forever, okay?”

Jiang Zhaoxue ignored her. A’Nan thought for a moment and changed the subject: “Speaking of which, didn’t you lose your five senses? How come it feels like you’re just blind?”

“I was just scaring him from the start.” Jiang Zhaoxue kept a straight face. “The five senses won’t all disappear—at most blindness for a while.”

“Why?”

“This is the Continuation Spider’s price. The Continuation Spider itself contains severe poison. This kind of poison is fatal to small weaklings with low spiritual power like Pei Zichen. For me it’s tolerable.”

“So when you drew the Continuation Spider into your own body, it was to digest the Continuation Spider’s poison in your body?”

“What else?” Jiang Zhaoxue patiently explained: “I couldn’t let the poison-filled Continuation Spider remain in Pei Zichen’s body. He couldn’t survive. And the Continuation Spider is essentially a type of parasitic insect. If there’s no other body for it to parasitize, it won’t come out. So I could only use my body to feed it. After all, I’m a Fusion stage cultivator. Diluting its poison in my spiritual power, after a while it would be expelled with my spiritual breath. Who knew that in less than a month, I’d be forced to use spiritual power.”

“Then why didn’t you say so before?”

“What use would saying it do? Let him feel guilty for a while and that’s it? Not saying it then was to wait for today.”

“Huh?” A’Nan didn’t understand.

Jiang Zhaoxue’s tone was bland: “If he keeps harboring thoughts of death, he won’t even pass the Golden Core heavenly tribulation. On the cultivation path, with even half a death wish, the lightning tribulation can kill him. I don’t have time to play the slow healing approach with him. I need him to grow quickly. Not telling him was to wait for the day he made a mistake because of it. When he makes a mistake and I tell him then, this information has value. At least before separating from me, he won’t think about dying anymore.”

Listening, A’Nan silently digested this for a long time before murmuring: “So… you foresaw today?”

“I’m not stupid. With his half-dead appearance, something would happen sooner or later. I just didn’t expect him to play this big.”

As Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, she consoled herself: “But it’s also good. When I get out, maybe he’ll already be very strong? As long as he’s nourished enough, I’ll directly open the Spirit-Locking Array and absorb all his spiritual power. Then the Tianji Lingyu will be mine, the Yuan Luogong, Lingxu Fan, and Zhan Shen Sword will all be mine. I won’t need to worry about anything—just pick up what’s ready-made!”

“Um…” A’Nan pondered: “Stop having such dreams. Look at the Su Guangji’s state—it doesn’t seem like it’s randomly going to a space-time. Probably the next space-time, either the Lingxu Fan or Zhan Shen Sword will be waiting for you.”

Listening, Jiang Zhaoxue also knew this was correct.

The Su Guangji fragment was clearly guiding toward divine artifacts, so it couldn’t randomly transition. The next place it appeared should be a space-time where the next divine artifact existed. Pei Zichen would still need to wait for divine artifacts to grow stronger—she couldn’t possibly see the strongest Pei Zichen all at once.

According to the book, when Pei Zichen returned to Central Continent, he had obtained the Yuan Luogong, Lingxu Fan, and Zhan Shen Sword in total.

That meant she still had to obtain at least the Lingxu Fan and Zhan Shen Sword.

“Why can the Su Guangji contact these divine artifacts?” A’Nan couldn’t understand.

But Jiang Zhaoxue vaguely had some guesses.

“Perhaps because these divine artifacts all belong to Haocang Shenjun.”

“Haocang Shenjun?”

“The Su Guangji, Time-Seeking Mirror, Yuan Luogong, Lingxu Fan, Zhan Shen Sword, and even the Tianji Lingyu—they’re all actually transformed from Haocang Shenjun’s body.”

Jiang Zhaoxue contemplated.

Heaven and earth’s spiritual energy was the remaining aura of Haocang Shenjun. So the Tianji Lingyu nurtured by heaven and earth’s spiritual energy was, strictly speaking, the condensation of the deity’s vital essence.

The Su Guangji and Time-Seeking Mirror were the deity’s two eyes.

The Yuan Luogong was forged from tendons and bones, the Lingxu Fan written in blood as ink, and the Zhan Shen Sword was even formed from the deity’s spine.

The Su Guangji and Time-Seeking Mirror could contact and find each other. Similarly, the other divine artifacts that were body parts could naturally also produce connections.

“Oh, so when you held the Su Guangji, even without the Time-Seeking Mirror, you could still open space-time passages!” A’Nan instantly understood. “Because opening the past with the Su Guangji doesn’t necessarily require the Time-Seeking Mirror—it requires divine artifacts transformed from the deity’s body. You formed the Spirit-Locking Array with Pei Zichen. Pei Zichen having the Tianji Lingyu equals you having it. So when you opened the Su Guangji, it was equivalent to the Su Guangji cooperating with the Tianji Lingyu. Both are the deity’s body, so they opened the space-time passage!”

“So we came back to the past just to obtain divine artifacts and make Pei Zichen stronger?” Jiang Zhaoxue was puzzled.

She thought about the abnormalities she had seen after coming here.

Lingjian Immortal Pavilion had established their pavilion in the True Immortal Realm for three thousand years—when did they go to the lower realm to establish Tianji Institute?

And in the Mortal Realm, why was the destiny they saw different from hers?

Li Xiuji, a person of great fortune, was determined from infancy to be a lone evil star harming six relatives, fated to die at seventeen.

Ye Wenzhi, a man with seven lifetimes of merit, was bewitched by ghosts and committed the great sin of helping to kill mortals, destined to die at twenty-four.

Why was this? Was it related to her return?

Jiang Zhaoxue pondered as she was quietly pulled forward by the other party.

She was completely unaware of how many strange beasts prostrated around her, pressed to the ground by countless light swords, either kneeling or dead.

Unable to figure it out after thinking for a long time, she simply tried chatting with this silent senior again, rambling aimlessly: “Senior, we’re in the space-time gap now, right? Why are you here? Have you always been here? Or are you specifically waiting for me?”

The other didn’t speak—only the sound of fabric rustling.

Jiang Zhaoxue sighed: “Senior, why won’t you speak? Actually, you can conceal your appearance, so naturally you can conceal your voice too. Even if you speak, I won’t recognize you. I know very few people from Jiuyou Realm. I only know—mm…”

Jiang Zhaoxue thought for a moment and came up with a name: “Jiuyou Xuanming Emperor.”

Actually, she didn’t really know him either.

It was just during the battle at Cangming Sea. She heard Shen Yuqing was at the front lines. As a Destiny Master, she didn’t need to go to the very front, but she still rushed over.

Then she saw that lofty Imperial Sovereign—dressed in black-purple robes flowing with sun, moon, mountains and rivers, wearing a silver mask, commanding ocean waves as he stood on high. With a wave of his hand, tens of thousands of Yin Paper Immortals densely rushed toward the True Immortal Realm.

Disciples like Shen Yuqing were like ants before him.

The Yin Paper Immortals he controlled covered the sky. When Shen Yuqing was heavily struck by Yin Paper Immortals and fell, she unhesitatingly leaped into the sea.

When she fished Shen Yuqing out, countless Yin Paper Immortals slashed down. She had been holding Shen Yuqing, planning to die together with him.

Unexpectedly, the instant the blade light fell, heaven and earth suddenly became quiet. She vaguely sensed a gaze stopping from above. That gaze carried heavenly pressure. She knew it was the Xuanming Emperor looking over. She held Shen Yuqing floating in the sea, unable to help trembling.

However, moments later, this Imperial Sovereign raised a finger and all the Yin Paper Immortals hurriedly withdrew.

That day’s battle inexplicably and abruptly stopped like this. When this Imperial Sovereign left, the Cangming Sea water that always restricted True Immortal Realm cultivators’ spiritual power became extraordinarily gentle, wave after wave pushing toward shore. She single-handedly dragged Shen Yuqing, with the seawater’s help, swimming all the way back to shore.

She didn’t know why the Xuanming Emperor suddenly left that day, but it had nothing to do with her anyway.

However, this was indeed the only high-ranking person from Jiuyou Realm she had ever seen.

Later, when Gujun Ancestor gathered all Great Ascension stage cultivators from Central Continent to risk their lives and jointly seal him, she had felt some melancholy.

But thinking of their positions, her melancholy was immediately swallowed back.

She tentatively threw out the Xuanming Emperor’s name. The other party showed no reaction.

Jiang Zhaoxue secretly made an assessment. If this person didn’t have extraordinarily good psychological quality, then he must be someone in Jiuyou Realm who didn’t need to fear the Xuanming Emperor’s existence, which was why he could be so composed hearing this title.

Jiang Zhaoxue thought and continued probing: “Moreover, I didn’t even see this one’s face clearly, let alone hear his voice. You should speak. Otherwise I’m really bored to death. How long is this road anyway? Do you know how many years will have passed when we get out?”

“Senior, will you go with me? Do you know why I came back? What exactly is your relationship with Pei Zichen? If you don’t speak, when I get out I’ll just kill him, okay?”

The other party’s determination was too firm. No matter what Jiang Zhaoxue said, he didn’t respond.

Even when Jiang Zhaoxue spoke until she was thirsty, he still handed her a cup of water.

This water was very sweet. After Jiang Zhaoxue took a sip, she felt somewhat hungry.

The other seemed to have anticipated she would be hungry and handed her a pastry.

“Honestly, aside from being mute, he’s really quite nice.”

A’Nan couldn’t help commenting. Jiang Zhaoxue ate the rose cake that was sweet but not cloying, expressing agreement.

The water and pastry he gave clearly had spiritual power added. After eating, Jiang Zhaoxue’s body felt much more comfortable.

He led the way while feeding her all along. Jiang Zhaoxue knew she probably couldn’t force a single word out and simply gave up, steadily following the other party.

This road wasn’t very long. Before long, Jiang Zhaoxue felt the surrounding spiritual power change. Faintly, some bird calls began coming through. Jiang Zhaoxue immediately became alert: “Senior, are we almost there? Am I about to walk out of the space-time gap?”

The other party stopped, finally releasing her and speaking his first sentence: “Walk forward.”

This voice was very pleasant—cool and cold, carrying magical power that made one forget upon hearing. She couldn’t tell who it was, only knowing it should be an extremely melodious male voice.

She knew she was about to leave here and part with this person.

Perhaps because of her blindness, her heart suddenly felt somewhat nervous. She coughed lightly: “Well… Senior, thank you for this journey. Rest assured, I’ll take good care of Pei Zichen. Though I don’t know what you want to use him for, and I don’t know what Jiuyou Realm wants to do, at least at this moment, I accept Senior’s favor. In the future, if there’s an opportunity for us to meet again, as long as Senior gives the password, I will definitely repay this favor.”

The other party remained silent. Jiang Zhaoxue vaguely felt he was looking at her.

Clearly she couldn’t see either, yet she intuitively felt that gaze seemed very gentle, even carrying some reluctance to let go.

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t know why, but being looked at like this made her somewhat nervous. She mumbled: “Then… if Senior has no instructions, I’ll leave.”

The other didn’t speak. Jiang Zhaoxue turned forward.

She clearly felt the other’s cool, soft robe hem brush across the back of her hand. The instant they passed each other, the other suddenly grasped her hand.

Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart jumped. Feigning composure, she looked up in confusion to hear the other seem unable to restrain himself, finally speaking: “Jiang Zhaoxue, remember what you said.”

“What I said…”

Before the word “what” could come out, a cool kiss abruptly fell on her lips. Jiang Zhaoxue’s eyes flew wide in shock.

That kiss was as soft as falling snowflakes, carrying restraint and tenderness, softly imprinting on her lips.

“Save him.”

Before Jiang Zhaoxue could react, a breeze swept by. The person before her seemed to be blown away by wind, dissipating, his aura scattering, leaving only that low murmur—

“Ten thousand times.”

What did he say?

Jiang Zhaoxue stood blankly in place, her heart racing, her whole body rigid as if cast in iron. Only her rapidly beating heart reminded her she was alive.

Moments later, A’Nan screamed: “Ahhhhh!!! This rogue!!! He’s not interested in Pei Zichen—he’s interested in you, Master!!”

“Um…”

Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t quite react. She didn’t know why, but for such a brazen act, she actually didn’t feel it was inappropriate.

Perhaps…

“He’s too handsome?”

Jiang Zhaoxue remembered that figure on the solitary boat.

People in the cultivation world all had their appearances improve with increasing cultivation. Someone infinitely close to deity level like this—though she couldn’t see his face clearly, he definitely wasn’t ugly.

Actually, from the first time he helped her, she hadn’t felt much physical resistance. Now being suddenly taken advantage of, aside from her racing heartbeat and the embarrassment of being discovered by A’Nan, she didn’t know what to do.

“Ha… So even though I’m two hundred years old, I still have a bit of a maiden’s heart.”

Jiang Zhaoxue feigned composure, concealing her emotions, and quickly said: “Let’s still focus on business. Can I still use spiritual power?”

Jiang Zhaoxue frantically changed the subject. Just as she was about to try using spiritual power, she suddenly felt something different.

Fortune flew from all directions. Jiang Zhaoxue was stunned by this sudden tremendous fortune, momentarily confused.

Where did this fortune come from?

But soon she realized the familiar aura on this fortune—Ye Wenzhi!

It was actually Ye Wenzhi?

How did Ye Wenzhi’s fortune get to her?

Unable to figure it out immediately, she instinctively turned back, wanting to find an answer: “Senior!”

However, no one answered. Only vast wilderness stretched out. Spiritual power surged around her, slowly transforming into a breeze brushing across her cheek.

She seemed to have arrived at an open field. Bird calls and cicada songs intertwined into one.

Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t see. She immediately tried using spiritual power and was then delighted to discover her spiritual power had been partially unsealed.

Though only Foundation Establishment level spiritual power, it was enough for her to release A’Nan to help her see the way.

She quickly released A’Nan. Foundation Establishment spiritual power wasn’t enough for A’Nan to transform into human form. She flapped her wings, looking around: “This is a grassland. Behind you is a forest. As for exactly where—can’t tell. Can only sense it’s summer.”

Listening, though Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t know where this was, she immediately began transmitting messages to Pei Zichen: “Zichen? Zichen, can you hear me? Can you sense me?”

Her spiritual power was too weak to transmit far.

Pei Zichen should be very far away—there was no response at all.

Jiang Zhaoxue felt helpless. Just then, urgent footsteps came from the distance. Jiang Zhaoxue looked back in confusion.

A’Nan immediately said: “There’s a little boy about four or five years old running toward you. Oh, there’s a group of people behind him. I must say, this little boy is really quite good-looking.”

With that, Jiang Zhaoxue heard shouting and chasing sounds: “Stop! Stop right there!”

Seeing this situation, Jiang Zhaoxue quickly moved aside.

However, the instant the little boy saw her, he lunged toward her, shouting loudly: “Save me! Sister, save me!”

As soon as he spoke, the boy had already fallen at her feet. People behind closely pursued, surrounding her.

Jiang Zhaoxue looked around, coughed lightly, folded her hands in her sleeves, and said alertly: “Well, everyone, I have no relationship with him. I don’t know him either. If you want to take him away, go ahead. I won’t stop you.”

The circle of people didn’t speak. Everyone stared blankly at Jiang Zhaoxue.

Jiang Zhaoxue wore no veil, dressed in snow-white clothes with outstanding refined bearing. Everyone was stunned for a moment. An older woman was first to react, pinching the man beside her and scolding angrily: “What are you looking at? Never seen a beautiful woman?!”

At these words, everyone came to their senses. The scarred man at the front showed no expression. After looking her up and down, his tone carried some ambiguity: “Little sister, all alone?”

“How could that be?” Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue smiled. “I’m waiting here for my parents, brothers, and husband.”

“Is that so?” The scarred man walked forward. Jiang Zhaoxue silently slipped her hand into her sleeve, letting him examine her as she heard him say: “Can’t you see? Your parents, brothers, and husband left you, a blind woman, here. They’re not very decent either. How about this—” The scarred man placed his hand on Jiang Zhaoxue’s arm, smiling extremely brazenly. “Come with big brother. Big brother will dote on you, hm?”

“Big brother really has courage.”

As Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, her heart jumped once. She sensed Pei Zichen was sensing her. She smiled: “Really not afraid of death.”

Hearing this, the scarred man laughed: “How does little sister want me to die?”

“Mm…”

As Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, she pulled out a Strength Talisman Ye Tianjiao had written for her and stuck it on her hand. She raised her hand and delivered a slap, then grabbed the little boy on the ground and flung him toward the forest, shouting loudly: “Run!”

The scarred man was sent flying several zhang by her slap. Jiang Zhaoxue ran madly toward the forest.

Ye Tianjiao’s Strength Talisman could only be used a few times—just for show. And the other party clearly wasn’t scared by her. After being stunned for a moment, they immediately chased after her with shouts.

Under A’Nan’s guidance, Jiang Zhaoxue ran madly forward while drawing arrays. People behind closely pursued. The entire forest was filled with shouts: “Stop! That woman, stop!”

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t dare say more, frantically running and drawing arrays. At the same time, her heart began beating again and again.

The first beat was Pei Zichen. Pei Zichen was sensing her through the Life Attendant contract. She was immediately overjoyed—saved!

Then another beat made Jiang Zhaoxue’s soul nearly scatter in fright.

Shen Yuqing!

Shen Yuqing had actually arrived in this space-time!

When it rains, it pours. The Tianji Lingyu could only conceal the Soul-Sharing Contract within a certain range. In different space-times, Shen Yuqing couldn’t find her. But with such clear sensing now, Shen Yuqing was definitely in this space!

Sure enough, after sensing for a moment, both parties confirmed her existence.

Pei Zichen and Shen Yuqing’s voices rang out simultaneously:

“Jiang Zhaoxue.”

“Master’s Wife.”

“Jiang Zhaoxue, did something happen to you? Speak!”

“Master’s Wife, I’ll be there in five breaths.”

“Jiang Zhaoxue!”

“Master’s Wife!”

…

Their voices almost synchronously switched back and forth repeatedly.

Jiang Zhaoxue had no time to respond. Responding required expending spiritual power, and she only wanted to draw arrays!

So the two of them went back and forth, heartbeats vibrating one after another, frequently switching. Jiang Zhaoxue felt her heart was about to explode.

They sensed her location. Jiang Zhaoxue could also sense their locations. So with each sensing, Jiang Zhaoxue could feel the two approaching. Watching them get closer and closer, Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t even know whether this array she was drawing should kill the batch of people behind her or hide herself.

Jiang Zhaoxue was running to the point of near collapse. The little boy beside her still closely followed, his stamina surprisingly good, running with her: “Sister, where are we going?”

“Go wherever you want—don’t follow me!!”

“But I don’t know where to go,” the boy said urgently. “They want to catch me and sell me. I got separated from my parents!”

“None of my business!”

Jiang Zhaoxue simply wanted to fly up and kick him, but she was busy fleeing for her life with no leg to spare to kick him.

Just as the array was about to form, in that instant, two waves of sword light descended from heaven. Jiang Zhaoxue quickly opened the array: “The Heavenly Dao is inconstant—”

Before she finished, a hand from behind suddenly grabbed her waist, pulled her into an embrace, covered her mouth, and held her tightly.

Two waves of sword light thundered down. The people chasing her in the forest wailed.

Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart raced. After running intensely, her body couldn’t help trembling slightly.

She pressed tightly against the chest of the person behind her. This was an already mature, tall man who easily embraced her entire being. He held her so tightly she couldn’t move at all.

The scent of bamboo leaves mixed with pine and cypress drilled into her nose—strange yet familiar.

The person’s heartbeat pressed against her back, rapidly striking her again and again.

The other was clearly extremely agitated yet couldn’t speak. He could only hold her tighter, then tighter still in the narrow space.

This was Jiang Zhaoxue’s first time being embraced so intimately by an adult male. Even knowing it was unavoidable and uncontrollable, she still sensed something unusual.

She uncomfortably tried to pull away some distance, but the other only held her tighter.

Fortunately, she had no time to overthink. She heard Mu Jinyue’s voice from behind.

“Master, where are they?”

Good grief.

Hearing Mu Jinyue’s voice, Jiang Zhaoxue laughed in anger.

Crossing space-time to catch someone and still bringing Mu Jinyue along—truly deep affection, unable to bear separation for even a moment.

She remained coldly silent, listening to Shen Yuqing speak: “Jiang Zhaoxue.”

He gripped his sword, looking around, restraining his emotions: “I know you’re here. Come out. There’s a misunderstanding between us. Let’s talk properly once.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue clearly felt the person behind her was even more nervous than her. He unconsciously tightened his arms, as if wanting to embed the person in his embrace into his own body.

He didn’t even seem to realize he was still covering her mouth, not even giving her a choice.

Of course, Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t possibly choose to go out either.

Seeing Jiang Zhaoxue remain silent, Shen Yuqing looked around and said coldly: “Three.”

As he spoke, Pei Zichen freed one hand and quietly drew his sword.

“Two.” Shen Yuqing unsheathed his sword.

“One!”

The instant his voice fell, Shen Yuqing struck with his sword. Countless sword lights slashed toward the surrounding forest, cutting off tree crowns. Strange sounds arose in the forest. As Shen Yuqing urgently attacked, Pei Zichen backhanded his sword, splitting open a space with one strike, and leaped forward while holding Jiang Zhaoxue!

Shen Yuqing realized he’d been tricked and instantly turned back, only catching sight of two figures.

His pupils contracted sharply. Countless light swords rushed forward. Pei Zichen simultaneously closed the space. Only a few light swords followed into the space Pei Zichen had split open, closely pursuing and viciously stabbing into Pei Zichen’s body.

Pei Zichen gave a muffled groan. Hearing the sound, Jiang Zhaoxue frantically said: “Pei Zichen?”

Hearing her voice, the other person trembled, as if too agitated to speak, only holding her tighter.

As soon as they landed, Pei Zichen stumbled. Jiang Zhaoxue immediately supported him, frowning: “Are you injured?”

Pei Zichen didn’t speak. Jiang Zhaoxue became somewhat impatient: “What? Before you wanted to die. Now you’ve fallen in love with self-harm?”

“Master’s Wife…”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen finally spoke.

It was a timbre different from the youth—clear and bright with some hoarseness, extraordinarily pleasant.

Listening, Jiang Zhaoxue’s brow relaxed somewhat: “Still alive? Where are you hurt?”

“External injuries. Master’s Wife needn’t worry.”

“Mm.” Hearing him say it wasn’t serious, Jiang Zhaoxue relaxed.

She thought for a moment, hesitated, then finally asked: “You… how many years have you waited?”

“Not long.”

Pei Zichen spoke, his tone seemingly carrying relief: “Only four years.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue froze. This was indeed shorter than she’d expected. But somehow, when she clearly realized his height was much greater than hers, that his embrace was much broader, hearing this timbre completely different from his youth, standing before him, feeling the wind blow his warmth and scent toward her, she couldn’t help raising her hand to tentatively touch his brow and eyes.

She used her fingertips to feel his features. Pei Zichen’s muscles tensed. He stood in place, letting her fingertips, as if carrying scorching fire, burn across every inch of his skin.

She carefully, meticulously used feeling to trace his face.

He seemed thinner, with sharper features and a more prominent nose.

He should be more handsome now.

They stood in the night wind, under lamplight. She gently touched this youth who had obviously changed yet still carried his young bone structure, murmuring: “Then you… you’re twenty-one now?”

Twenty-one years old.

Four years.

He grew from a youth to a young man. He walked through nine provinces and mountains and rivers. He helped many people, saw many things. He built thirty-one temples for her, devoutly kneeling before her divine statue at each temple.

Four years.

At that moment, Pei Zichen held his sword, looking down at the woman before him who raised her head touching him, suddenly feeling his eyes sting.

In that instant, they both simultaneously realized—

Even having prepared for a thousand or ten thousand years, at the moment of reunion, four years was still somewhat too long.