Jiang Zhaoxue slept soundly through the night. When she woke the next morning, Pei Zichen had already left, leaving a note saying he’d gone to buy her crispy guokui pastries.

She had mentioned them yesterday, and today he had indeed gone.

Jiang Zhaoxue looked at the note, tossed it aside, and got up to wash.

A’Nan made a “tsk” sound and couldn’t help but say, “What strong mental fortitude—acting as if last night’s business wasn’t his doing at all.”

“He wants to stay here and maintain the status quo. Without being certain whether I’ve discovered he killed someone, doesn’t he have to keep pretending?”

After washing up, Jiang Zhaoxue took out the Mind-Awakening Pill and sent a message to Ye Tianjiao.

A’Nan didn’t understand. “Why does he keep pretending? When exactly did he wake up?”

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t speak. She also couldn’t determine exactly when he had awakened—at the beginning? When killing Yin Zhulong? On their wedding night? Or did he gradually awaken later?

“When he woke up doesn’t matter.” She pondered. “What matters is that he’s now been completely assimilated by the illusory realm. He’s treating this illusion as something he needs to protect. He won’t let me leave anymore.”

“Why is it like this?” A’Nan sighed. “Everyone entered together. Why is he the only one like this?”

“Because he’s the person chosen by the Lingxu Fan for testing.” Jiang Zhaoxue contemplated. “Actually, this illusory realm wasn’t set up for Qian Sisi—it’s more for him. To obtain the Lingxu Fan, one must pass layers of trials. Perhaps this illusory realm itself is meant to test Pei Zichen.”

“How so?”

“Look, this illusory realm’s timeline starts from six years ago,” Jiang Zhaoxue tapped the table, thinking aloud. “Looking at it now, Qian Sisi’s wish should be to prevent the great calamity in Shu. That calamity should occur at this current point in time. Judging from the results, Shu’s great calamity is most likely related to the Lingxu Fan’s appearance. For Shu’s immortal path, the Lingxu Fan’s appearance has two key nodes. The first was four years ago when Yin Zhulong appeared—it brought forth Yin Zhulong’s secret realm, where the Lingxu Fan is very likely located. The second is now. But why wouldn’t the Lingxu Fan let us come directly to the present?”

“Because it needs time.”

A’Nan suddenly understood. “It needs time to make Pei Zichen completely sink in, to be completely devoured!”

“Pei Zichen is the male lead. His willpower is extremely firm. To truly trap him in the illusory realm isn’t easy. It must weave a world that’s both real and false.”

Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyes to look at the scenery outside the window. “So… perhaps this requirement that Pei Zichen would only awaken if his wish was fulfilled was set up by the Lingxu Fan itself. It made me part of the layout it created for Pei Zichen.”

“I fulfilled Pei Zichen’s wish. In this false illusory realm, Pei Zichen gained completeness given by a real person. Plus, he’s been secretly cultivating Jiuyou Realm methods for four years—this technique inherently disturbs the mind, making it worse. Layer upon layer accumulated over four years—even if he knows this is an illusory realm, it’s enough for him to abandon reality.”

“So the Lingxu Fan’s test for him is whether he’s willing to give up the illusion?”

“False completeness versus painful reality,” Jiang Zhaoxue caressed the Mind-Awakening Pill, saying calmly. “This is the test the Lingxu Fan gave Pei Zichen. Getting out isn’t difficult—just crush the Lingxu Fan. But the difficulty is… Pei Zichen.”

Now he was the one concealing information, and he might be the one constantly obstructing them later.

More troublesome was that Yin Zhulong’s secret realm was in his hands. If he was determined to obstruct everyone, it would truly be a major problem.

“He… how could he do this?”

A’Nan sensed Jiang Zhaoxue’s emotions and became angry too. “He has nothing left, but you still have family. To fulfill his dream by forcibly keeping you here—how could he do such a thing?”

“How couldn’t he?”

Jiang Zhaoxue’s tone was bland. “Have you forgotten who he is?”

He was the Jiuyou Realm Lord, a demon lord who alone led millions of Yin Paper Immortals to flatten Central Continent, destroy Penglai, with a million corpses at his feet yet wouldn’t raise an eye.

He was a beast in human clothing who could treat his master’s wife as a concubine to humiliate his master.

He was the enemy who strangled her neck and knelt to respectfully send her to heaven.

She had spent too long with his younger self and almost forgotten his original appearance. This illusory realm finally completely exposed him.

He was no gentleman.

A gentleman, even sinking into illusion, wouldn’t lose their character. How could they do such things for selfish desires, disregarding others?

Her father’s spiritual power was obstructed, his future unknown.

She and Ye Tianjiao had families, had futures. Why should they stay here to fulfill his beautiful dream?

Selfish and unscrupulous.

Jiang Zhaoxue cursed inwardly, yet involuntarily recalled Pei Zichen from these years.

She remembered in their second year training in the secret realm, they once encountered an ant nest while sheltering from rain. Above the nest, river silt was blocking the channel. The water was about to burst through. At that moment, Pei Zichen turned and saw, then walked forward and with bare hands dug out the silt, changing the river’s course.

That day she stood quietly in the rain, watching him in white robes stained with mud, protecting that ant nest. For an instant, she felt dazed.

When he washed his hands clean and turned back to pull her along, she gripped that palm washed by rainwater, caressing his clear, distinct knuckles, feeling warmth slowly dry the rain, seeping into their clasped hands.

It felt different from the hand that had strangled her neck.

That was what she thought in that moment.

But thinking back now, that hand that strangled her neck just had thicker sword calluses. It was just because practicing Jiuyou Realm methods for long would cause one to lose human warmth.

The Jiuyou Realm Lord Pei Zichen and the current Pei Zichen were only separated by time—there wasn’t really any difference.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

A’Nan felt somewhat uneasy. She hopped onto the table, looking up at her, hesitating. “So… what do you plan to do now?”

“He can’t leave this illusory realm, so I’ll leave it for him.” Jiang Zhaoxue said calmly. “After breaking the Lingxu Fan, if it can recognize me as master, that would be best. If not…”

Jiang Zhaoxue sneered. “Then it will definitely recognize him.”

“What good fortune.” A’Nan sighed. “We’re making wedding clothes for him again.”

“I’ve made wedding clothes many times. This isn’t one more,” Jiang Zhaoxue’s tone was cold as she consoled herself. “Anyway, with the Spirit-Locking Array in place, everything will ultimately be mine. Since I’m seizing these divine artifacts for him, getting these things back later won’t count as owing him anything.”

“Alright then. So how do you plan to act?”

Just as she finished speaking, Ye Tianjiao’s voice came from outside. He looked around, sneaking into the room, saying in a low voice, “Sister, where’s Pei Zichen?”

“He killed Shen Yuqing last night.”

Jiang Zhaoxue spoke directly. Ye Tianjiao was startled, his eyes widening. “What?”

“He’s awake, but he doesn’t want to leave the illusory realm. He wants to keep us here. Yesterday when I was going to get the Mind-Awakening Pill from Shen Yuqing, he killed him.”

Jiang Zhaoxue’s few words carried huge amounts of information. Ye Tianjiao was so shocked he couldn’t speak for a long while, stammering before finally saying, “Then… what do we do now?”

“But I got the Mind-Awakening Pill.”

Jiang Zhaoxue raised her hand, saying calmly, “Now I need to feed this medicine to Song Wuya. After that, we’ll confirm our plan to get out. As for Pei Zichen—”

Jiang Zhaoxue pondered. “Let’s treat him as a villain for now. Do you have concealment talismans and teleportation arrays?”

“I do.”

Ye Tianjiao nodded.

Jiang Zhaoxue stood up, leading him out. “Right now we can’t trust anyone. While Pei Zichen is still out, let’s quickly take Song Wuya away.”

Ye Tianjiao didn’t speak for a moment. Jiang Zhaoxue looked up at him. “Why are you hesitating?”

“Nothing.”

Ye Tianjiao bit his teeth. “What’s real is the future.”

“You have some wisdom after all.”

Jiang Zhaoxue smiled, asking him for the concealment talisman and beginning preparations. “In a moment, I’ll open an instant invincibility array to take you to Song Wuya’s room. But as soon as I open the array, Pei Zichen, Qian Sisi, and others will immediately sense my spiritual power fluctuations. They’ll rush over at the first opportunity. In close combat, neither of us has a chance. You need to immediately carry Song Wuya. I’ll open a teleportation array. We’ll leave together, then use concealment talismans to hide for a while, giving me a chance to open a second concealment array.”

“Can’t you open two arrays at once?” Hearing this, Ye Tianjiao gestured. “Last time when killing Yin Zhulong…”

“That consumes original spirit,” Jiang Zhaoxue glared at him. “If it were that easy, wouldn’t I do it every day?”

“Fair point…”

Ye Tianjiao laughed dryly.

Then he coughed lightly. “Alright, go ahead. I’m ready.”

Getting the words, Jiang Zhaoxue nodded and began drawing the array.

As she drew the array, Pei Zichen was on the street buying what she wanted. Sensing the spiritual power fluctuation, Pei Zichen, carrying crispy guokui, turned and rushed urgently toward the inn!

But dealing with Pei Xueyi and the others wasn’t difficult. She didn’t need to draw an overly complex array. After a few strokes, she pulled the Qiankun divination sticks and flipped the hand seal. “The Heavenly Dao is impermanent, gambling fortune on heaven. Supreme great fortune,御array to seize people—go!”

The supreme fortune stick flew out. Jiang Zhaoxue crushed the jade stick. A golden array lit up beneath her and Ye Tianjiao’s feet. The two instantly appeared with the array in Song Wuya’s room!

The moment they appeared, everyone guarding Song Wuya’s side was simultaneously blown away. Ye Tianjiao hoisted Song Wuya from the bed. As Pei Zichen broke through the window, he carried Song Wuya and jumped with Jiang Zhaoxue into the teleportation array.

Just as the three leaped into the teleportation array, Jiang Zhaoxue slapped a concealment talisman on Song Wuya. Song Wuya coughed urgently, struggling. “You… you…”

Before he finished speaking, the three landed in a forest.

The moment they landed, Jiang Zhaoxue immediately sensed Pei Zichen’s spiritual power approaching from far to near. Ye Tianjiao exclaimed, “Spirit-Seeking Array!”

Good heavens, he was difficult.

At a glance, Jiang Zhaoxue knew—Pei Zichen had actually given up chasing them at the first opportunity and opened a Spirit-Seeking Array!

Although the Spirit-Seeking Array couldn’t determine their exact location, it could detect all spiritual power fluctuations. As long as she dared to open an array, such large spiritual power fluctuations would immediately be sensed by Pei Zichen.

But if she didn’t open an array to conceal them, relying just on Ye Tianjiao’s concealment talisman with Pei Xueyi and Qian Sisi searching, they fundamentally couldn’t hold out long.

All talisman magic had a peak value—strongest when first used, gradually weakening over time.

Pei Zichen’s method was the most effective.

Good idea, but unfortunately, Pei Zichen’s current realm still differed too much from hers. Jiang Zhaoxue quickly opened an array. Watching Pei Zichen’s Spirit-Seeking Array rushing toward them, at the very last moment before reaching them, Jiang Zhaoxue crushed the fortune stick she had just drawn!

As the jade stick shattered, all their auras and spiritual power fluctuations vanished. The array passed over them flatly without any ripples, as if the three of them didn’t exist at all.

Even so, when it ended, both Jiang Zhaoxue and Ye Tianjiao exhaled a long-held turbid breath.

“That scared me to death.”

Ye Tianjiao sat on the ground, patting his chest. “Pei Zichen is so fierce!”

“Thank goodness Shen Yuqing didn’t have this brain…”

Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help but feel fortunate.

If Shen Yuqing could have done this before, could she and Pei Zichen have escaped?

One pounded their chest while the other collected themselves. Only Song Wuya beside them, missing half his heart, tremblingly reached out for the medicine that had fallen on the ground, gasping, “Medicine… medicine…”

“There’s still one more person here!”

Ye Tianjiao suddenly reacted. Seeing this, Jiang Zhaoxue quickly picked up the medicine from the ground and patted it into Song Wuya.

After taking the medicine, Song Wuya’s complexion improved slightly. Gasping, he said, “Two immortals…”

As he spoke, Jiang Zhaoxue immediately slapped the Mind-Awakening Pill into him as well.

As soon as the Mind-Awakening Pill entered, Song Wuya’s expression changed. He looked up coldly. “You fed me…”

Before he finished, Song Wuya froze. He seemed to see countless images flashing before his eyes. Ye Tianjiao glanced at him, then looked back at Jiang Zhaoxue. “He’s okay, right?”

“Jiang…” Song Wuya looked at Jiang Zhaoxue, murmuring in disbelief, “Immortal Jiang?”

“You remember?” Jiang Zhaoxue observed his expression, slowly smiling.

Ye Tianjiao hurriedly said, “Third Prince, and me, Ye Tianjiao!”

“Ye Tianjiao?”

Song Wuya turned back, looking at the two. He was uncertain and suspicious. After exchanging looks for a long while, he suddenly remembered. “We’re in the Lingxu Fan’s illusory realm?!”

Ye Tianjiao immediately spoke. “Correct.”

“What time is it now?”

“Year seventeen of Chongming.”

“Year seventeen…” Song Wuya murmured, reacting. “Two years ago?”

“Correct. It’s two years before we met, currently in Furong City in Shu.”

Jiang Zhaoxue reminded him. Song Wuya had some headache, but obviously slowly remembered. He only said, “The Lingxu Fan is about to appear…”

“So our only way out now is to obtain the Lingxu Fan and destroy it?” Jiang Zhaoxue asked directly.

Song Wuya thought and nodded. “Yes.”

“Where is it?”

“The secret realm left by Yin Zhulong,” Song Wuya said with certainty. “But it’s currently dormant. Other means are needed to make it appear.”

“How?”

At this question, Song Wuya paused. After a moment of silence, he said slowly, “I’ll handle this matter.”

Getting the words, Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyes.

A’Nan immediately said, “Something’s off about him. How exactly did he open the secret realm?”

“Fine.” Jiang Zhaoxue smiled. “Then what do we need to do?”

“Open Yin Zhulong’s secret realm.” Song Wuya recalled, then said, “Pei Zichen has a sect master’s seal that can open the secret realm, right?”

“Yes.”

Jiang Zhaoxue knew Song Wuya had memories even from within the secret realm. She looked at him coldly and continued, “And then?”

“You and he are Dao companions. You share fortune. As long as you take his heart’s blood and wipe it on the sect master’s seal, you can open the secret realm.” Song Wuya thought. “I’ll go prepare first. Once ready, you use the sect master’s seal to open Yin Zhulong’s secret realm. I’ll urge the Lingxu Fan to appear.”

Jiang Zhaoxue listened, staring coldly at Song Wuya.

Seeing her not respond, Song Wuya asked puzzled, “Immortal Jiang?”

“Alright.” Jiang Zhaoxue nodded, then thought and asked directly, “Is the Lingxu Fan changing masters?”

Song Wuya’s movements stiffened slightly. Jiang Zhaoxue grabbed his hair and instantly pressed a dagger against Song Wuya’s throat.

Song Wuya’s face showed alarm. “Immortal Jiang?!”

“I advise you to tell me the truth,” Jiang Zhaoxue said coldly. “You can’t keep the Lingxu Fan. Don’t die here for nothing with no one to collect your corpse. Answer me—is the Lingxu Fan changing masters?”

“It… it never recognized a master.” Song Wuya knew Jiang Zhaoxue wasn’t joking. This wasn’t worth concealing. He swallowed and only said, “From the beginning, it only agreed to be used by me. But it’s waiting for the master it wants.”

“This illusory realm is its test?”

“Yes.” Song Wuya gasped. “The person it chose—as long as they actively destroy it and leave, they can obtain it.”

“What if someone else destroys it?”

“The Lingxu Fan will go to the person who destroyed it.” Song Wuya continued, “But if that person is willing to return it to the chosen one, even if the chosen one didn’t break the realm themselves, they can still recognize the master through blood. Being chosen already establishes an artifact connection. As long as they can leave, they can be recognized.”

“Understood.”

Jiang Zhaoxue nodded, then said, “How many days does Your Highness need to handle matters?”

After a moment of silence, Song Wuya responded, “Two days.”

Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyes. Song Wuya met Jiang Zhaoxue’s gaze. “One day to prepare, one day to act.”

“Good.”

Jiang Zhaoxue withdrew her dagger and pushed him forcefully away. Then she said to Ye Tianjiao, “Beat him up.”

“Huh?”

Ye Tianjiao was shocked. Jiang Zhaoxue said calmly, “Beat him! After beating him, the Third Prince will recover on his own. He’s at least half a master of the Lingxu Fan. He still needs to open the secret realm later. He should have this capability, right?”

Hearing this, Song Wuya’s face paled slightly, but he didn’t say much.

Ye Tianjiao hesitated for a moment, coughed lightly and said, “Um, Third Prince, I’m going to act now, okay?”

“You dare?” Song Wuya immediately turned back.

Ye Tianjiao raised an eyebrow. “When you say it like that, I dare even more.”

Just as he finished speaking, Ye Tianjiao kicked hard. Jiang Zhaoxue was too lazy to watch. She turned away, listening to the punching and kicking behind her while contemplating how to get the sect master’s seal from Pei Zichen.

Before long, Ye Tianjiao hurried back, saying to Jiang Zhaoxue, “Sister, I’m done beating him.”

“Mm.”

Jiang Zhaoxue stood up and led Ye Tianjiao away. “Let’s go.”

As they left, she turned to glance at the barely alive Song Wuya on the ground and said blandly, “Third Prince, how to safely return—someone like you should know without me teaching you, right?”

“Immortal Jiang…” Song Wuya lay on the ground, gasping. “Rest assured.”

“This is a communication talisman.”

Jiang Zhaoxue sent a talisman from her hand with a cold glance at him. After confirming there were no major issues, she said calmly, “I await your message.”

Jiang Zhaoxue stepped away. Ye Tianjiao followed Jiang Zhaoxue, asking curiously, “Sister, beating him like that won’t kill him, will it?”

“Don’t worry. Although he’s only half a master of the Lingxu Fan, as long as he regains consciousness, he can use the Lingxu Fan’s power. He won’t die here.”

“I knew you had it figured out.”

Ye Tianjiao nodded, then remembered, “Why beat him?”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue glanced in Song Wuya’s direction and only said, “Although I’m not certain what specifically happened, you’ll thank me later.”

“Huh? Why?”

Ye Tianjiao was puzzled. Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t speak, continuing forward. “Let’s go.”

“Oh.” Ye Tianjiao followed Jiang Zhaoxue. After walking a while, he suddenly reacted. “Wait, where are we going?”

“To find a place with good feng shui,” Jiang Zhaoxue pondered, “and wait for Pei Zichen.”

As Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, she led Ye Tianjiao calculating directions. After wandering for a day, they found an abandoned warehouse.

This place seemed to have been empty for a long time. Jiang Zhaoxue calculated left and right, quite satisfied. Then she directed Ye Tianjiao. “Come, help me set things up. Write me a thousand each of离fire Fire Talismans, Earth Dragon Talismans, and Evil-Expelling Charms.”

“Three thousand?”

Ye Tianjiao was incredulous. “Why write three thousand?”

Generally, a cultivator only needed one type of talisman for restraint. Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue sighed, somewhat envious. “Normal cultivators from metal, wood, water, fire, and earth systems only need to use mutually generating and restraining talismans. But Pei Zichen is ice-based. Ice must first be restrained by fire to become water, then earth restrains water—it’s two processes.”

“What about the evil-expelling ones?”

Ye Tianjiao was puzzled. Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t say Pei Zichen practiced Jiuyou Realm methods.

After all, saying she knew Pei Zichen practiced Jiuyou Realm methods and didn’t intervene would make it seem like she supported it.

She was, after all, a True Immortal Realm immortal. She really didn’t support it much. It was just that Pei Zichen didn’t mention it, so she didn’t interfere.

If he really said it… she’d have to give some attitude to stop it.

So she could only say, “This place has too much yin energy. Need to suppress it a bit. But the feng shui is good, suitable for setting arrays.”

“Understood.” Ye Tianjiao nodded, then still couldn’t figure it out. “But he’s just Nascent Soul. Sister, you plus me shouldn’t need all this, right?”

“Ordinary people wouldn’t need it. But he’s my natural enemy.”

Jiang Zhaoxue’s tone was bland.

She hated this type with exceptional fortune, favored children of the Heavenly Dao!

Moreover, Nascent Soul?

Thinking of the level of his Jiuyou Realm methods, even though he hadn’t passed the Heaven Stage yet, killing a Divine Transformation cultivator across levels would be no problem at all.

But Jiang Zhaoxue also couldn’t tell Ye Tianjiao this. She only fanned away dust and said blandly, “Alright, let’s start drawing.”

The two busily worked for a whole day.

Ye Tianjiao’s hand was nearly worn out before they finally covered the entire warehouse with talismans.

Jiang Zhaoxue set up a spatial array. Within this space, all positions were determined by her. She could move locations at will while also setting up many mirrored small spaces. The entire space seemed full of mirrors everywhere, making it completely impossible to guess her location.

After everything was set up, Jiang Zhaoxue and Ye Tianjiao sat together on the second-floor railing, looking at everything they’d arranged. Jiang Zhaoxue pondered, “Which reason do you think would work better to trick him here?”

“Say you’re in distress?”

Ye Tianjiao blurted out. Jiang Zhaoxue frowned. “Can’t you say something auspicious?”

“We’re both Dharma cultivators. Although our magic is strong, our bodies are weak. Compared to ordinary people, we have some skills, but we can’t compare to proper sword or body cultivators. Walking on the road, any random person could pin us down. Saying you were kidnapped by a great demon because you’re too beautiful is most suitable.”

“Alright then…”

Jiang Zhaoxue pondered. “But with his brain, he probably won’t fall for it, right?”

“Not necessarily.”

Ye Tianjiao took out the communication talisman and quickly sent Pei Zichen a location, writing only: “Sister kidnapped, save her.”

After sending it, Ye Tianjiao pretended to lose contact, no longer responding to any of Pei Zichen’s messages.

The two sat on the long railing, looking into the distance. After a moment of silence, Jiang Zhaoxue suddenly said, “Have you thought about what will happen after we get out?”

“What?” Ye Tianjiao was curious.

Jiang Zhaoxue thought for a moment and said calmly, “When did you start liking Qian Sisi?”

Hearing this, Ye Tianjiao coughed lightly. “Where’s this coming from?”

“You don’t?” Jiang Zhaoxue smiled, reminding him, “Don’t be shy. We’ll forget everything when we get out anyway. Was it that time in the carriage…”

“Absolutely not that time!”

Ye Tianjiao said immediately, “I was so angry that time, so when I got back, I went to give her trouble. But then…”

Ye Tianjiao spoke vaguely, “She asked me what I wanted. I said she’d molested me. She just stuck her face over and forced me to kiss her…”

“Oh!” Jiang Zhaoxue understood. “Then your heart was moved.”

“That… you can’t really call it being moved.” Ye Tianjiao thought slowly, “I just started noticing her. At first, I wanted to drive her out, but later… gradually I discovered she was actually a good person. She always teased me, saying all sorts of ridiculous things. Though I didn’t say it, I was actually quite happy inside. Originally, I thought maybe she liked me for my Ye family’s money, but then she turned and ran away.”

As Ye Tianjiao spoke, his expression gradually became serious. “After entering the illusory realm, seeing her at sixteen or seventeen, thinking about future events, my heart felt somewhat sad. Staying with her, the more I accompanied her, the more I discovered her good qualities.”

“Like what?”

Jiang Zhaoxue was curious. Ye Tianjiao thought and said seriously, “Smart and hardworking. Now there’s Senior Brother Pei Zichen suppressing her, but actually, if there were no Pei Zichen, she’d be Wenjian Manor’s most outstanding disciple. She seems unreliable, but she’s really good. These four years while you were in the secret realm, I followed her everywhere. Wherever she went, she’d do good deeds—today saving a child, tomorrow saving a woman. Not a scheming bone in her body. She often spent all her money saving people, then discovered she had no money for wine and would borrow from me, saying ‘wealth scattered will return again.'”

Ye Tianjiao smiled, his expression dimming slightly. “She was so wonderful at this time, but I didn’t meet her then. When we get out, I’ll have to forget.”

“Then do you want to stay here?” Jiang Zhaoxue teased him.

Ye Tianjiao immediately became serious. “Of course not. This place is fake. I know she didn’t have it good, so I’ll take her out and show her how good the real world is.”

Jiang Zhaoxue listened and said casually, “Have you told her this?”

“I have.” Ye Tianjiao sighed. “But she couldn’t understand. The illusory realm wouldn’t let her understand either.”

Just as he finished speaking, all the talismans in the room trembled. Ye Tianjiao’s face changed as he said urgently, “How did he get here so fast!”

Jiang Zhaoxue was also stunned.

Pei Zichen came? Such an obvious trap, and he actually came?

But she had no time to think more. She quickly suppressed her emotions and urged, “Hide quickly!”

As soon as Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, Ye Tianjiao immediately scrambled to hide under a straw basket covered with talismans.

He had just covered himself when Pei Zichen blasted open the door with a single sword strike, his feet on a Spirit-Seeking Array, rushing in swiftly!

The moment he charged into the warehouse, ropes came from all directions.

Pei Zichen moved like a dragon, darting urgently through the array formation, calling out loudly, “Wife? Ye Tianjiao?!”

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t respond. She hid herself in the shadows and began secretly drawing arrays.

But the moment her array formation started, spiritual power instantly fluctuated. The Spirit-Seeking Array keenly sensed it. Pei Zichen shot like an arrow from a bow, instantly reaching the location of the spiritual power fluctuation!

Upon arrival, no one was there. Pei Zichen immediately sensed a second location. His sword array urgently flew there, then he realized this was an array set up by Jiang Zhaoxue.

He stood with his sword at the center of the formation, using his sword array to block the surroundings, saying calmly, “Wife, I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Call me Female Lord!”

Jiang Zhaoxue’s voice came from all directions. Iron chains rushed down from above!

Pei Zichen’s expression turned stern. Over a dozen light swords instantly returned, spinning around him, rapidly colliding with the iron chains in a constant clatter.

He looked up toward Jiang Zhaoxue’s direction, saying calmly, “Wife, although you’re a senior, within this range, even if you’ve set up spatial and mirror arrays, you have no chance of winning against me.”

“Is that so?” Jiang Zhaoxue laughed. Her figure was everywhere around them, each image shuttling through the corridors. “Let me see your skills then.”

Pei Zichen didn’t speak. He raised his eyes, staring at his surroundings, watching the direction each rope flew from, saying calmly, “All these images of you are mirror arrays you’ve set up. But mirror angles are all light refractions, so as long as I find the light source for each angle…”

As Pei Zichen spoke, he looked toward Jiang Zhaoxue’s direction. Jiang Zhaoxue’s array had just finished forming. Seeing him look over, she couldn’t help but smile.

Their gazes met in the air. Pei Zichen suddenly drew his sword from his waist!

That sword seemed to carry raging waves. The surrounding iron chains shattered inch by inch. Countless mirrors exploded violently. Pei Zichen broke through layers of space, instantly appearing before Jiang Zhaoxue!

Wide sleeves carrying mirror shards, sword reflecting beauty—despite such astonishing speed, his jade pendant always moved with him, his crown jewels not disordered in the slightest.

Jiang Zhaoxue’s Qiankun divination sticks spun rapidly in her hand. Seeing him arrive before her, she revealed a smile.

Pei Zichen sensed something wrong, but it was too late. Flames rose from beneath his feet, then earth dragons frantically covered him. Pei Zichen’s flying swords frantically slashed at his surroundings, completely unaware of the array lighting up beneath his feet. Then he heard Jiang Zhaoxue cry, “Bind!”

In that instant, ropes from eight positions of the array beneath his feet surged up simultaneously, binding his limbs, neck, and waist, forcefully pulling him to kneel on the ground!

His sword was seized by a chain and flung toward Jiang Zhaoxue. Jiang Zhaoxue caught his sword, sitting in position, looking at him sideways with a smile. “Did you think a fate master who lived to my realm could be killed by a little brat like you?”

Pei Zichen panted lowly, looking up at her.

Jiang Zhaoxue leisurely stood up, coming before him, smiling. “Let your master’s wife teach you a lesson. The goal you most want is often the bait others give you. Did you really think I was so stupid not to know mirrors can calculate the real position? I knew. I deliberately let you calculate. The time you spent calculating was the time I used to set up my array.”

As she spoke, she raised her hand to grip his jaw. Her other hand raised his sword, aiming it at his brow, her smile unwavering but her eyes exceptionally cold as she commanded, “Give me the sect master’s seal.”

“You want to open the secret realm.”

Pei Zichen spoke with certainty, staring fixedly at Jiang Zhaoxue. “What do you want to do? Avenge Shen Yuqing?”

“Revenge?”

Jiang Zhaoxue laughed. She leaned forward slightly. “This is an illusory realm, Zichen. Haven’t you awakened yet?”

Pei Zichen’s eyes moved slightly. Jiang Zhaoxue said gently, “How could I possibly seek revenge for an illusion? The person you killed wasn’t real. Everything is fake.”

“But you’re real.”

Fear buried in Pei Zichen’s eyes as he insisted stubbornly, “You’re my wife. That’s real.”

Jiang Zhaoxue looked at him with pity. After a long while, she finally said, “That’s also fake.”

Pei Zichen didn’t speak, trembling lightly. Jiang Zhaoxue said gently, “I know you can’t accept this, but it doesn’t matter. Just give me the sect master’s seal, and I’ll take you out.”

“You deceived me for the sect master’s seal?” Pei Zichen spoke hoarsely, understanding. “Last night, you already discovered it, didn’t you?”

“Correct.”

Seeing he wouldn’t give it, Jiang Zhaoxue’s sword gradually pierced into his brow.

The sect master’s seal was in the consciousness sea. For others to retrieve it would be somewhat troublesome.

But she was all too familiar with Pei Zichen’s consciousness sea.

Their relationship was intricate and complex. She and he had a Spirit-Locking Array. She was his master; he was her divine artifact.

She was his fate master; she was his sword attendant.

Even more…

Here, she was his wife.

During their spiritual union, she had entered his consciousness sea countless times. He had completely surrendered his consciousness sea to her without reservation, so that now she could enter unobstructed, digging in precisely with the sword.

He trembled lightly in pain but still refused to actively hand over the sect master’s seal. Jiang Zhaoxue watched coldly, gripping the sword hilt tightly, piercing inch by inch.

Pei Zichen looked at her cold eyes, gasping as he continued asking, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“What?”

“You want to leave, you have to leave.” Pei Zichen breathed heavily from the pain, tilting his head back. “You wanted to open Yin Zhulong’s secret realm. Why were you so certain I wouldn’t open it? Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you have to deceive and trick me like this?!”

“Because I know what kind of person you are.”

Jiang Zhaoxue precisely dug to the sect master’s seal. Her movements paused slightly as she looked up at Pei Zichen, saying calmly, “You wouldn’t let me leave.”

“What kind of person am I?” Hearing this, Pei Zichen laughed, his moisture-laden eyes looking at her. “What kind of person do you think I am?”

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t speak.

In that instant, she thought of many things—seventeen-year-old Pei Zichen who’d rather die seeking innocence; twenty-one-year-old Pei Zichen leading her when she was blind; Pei Zichen who always appeared before her at the first opportunity, letting her know her fate attendant always followed by her side; Pei Zichen who changed the river course for an ant nest…

But in the end, she still froze on that moment in the book before her death.

The sword lightly pried at a corner of the sect master’s seal. Pei Zichen shuddered violently in pain. Though her movements were precise, the pain of having one’s consciousness sea pierced was more than ordinary people could endure.

Jiang Zhaoxue looked at his pale face and said calmly, “I once thought perhaps you were also a gentleman. But now, I think someone like you who would forcibly keep others in an illusory realm for selfish desires can be considered selfish and unscrupulous. Your will is extraordinary—if not for great good,” the sect master’s seal slowly emerged from his brow, tears appearing at the corners of his eyes, “then it will bring great disaster.”

Jiang Zhaoxue pressed down with the sword. The final burst of intense pain came. Pei Zichen gasped heavily. The sect master’s seal emerged from his brow. Jiang Zhaoxue raised her hand to grip the seal stained with his heart’s blood, turning. “Wait here for me.”

“So these four years!” Pei Zichen called out to her loudly. “Was I the only one forcing this?”

Jiang Zhaoxue’s movements paused. She heard the person behind her press on, “These four years, you never had your heart moved, never cared about me, never liked me, never had a moment’s thought of being with me long-term—is that right?!”

Jiang Zhaoxue remained silent. Pei Zichen couldn’t help but say, “I can let you go…”

“No.”

Jiang Zhaoxue spoke. Pei Zichen froze.

Then he watched Jiang Zhaoxue turn back. He rarely saw her like this.

Jiang Zhaoxue was always carefree and laughing. Except for that time saving him from the cliff, she had almost no divine bearing. It was hard to imagine she was a deity worshipped in the mortal realm.

But in this moment when she looked back, he saw detachment and nobility from her, as if separated from him by countless ages, countless distances, looking down from on high at all living beings.

She said calmly, “This is an illusory realm. Your will is impaired. If you remember even a fraction of human ethics, you should know how I could possibly have feelings for you.”

Pei Zichen froze, his heart seemingly gripped tight, breathing bringing the intense pain of ice shards entering his throat.

He stared at her blankly, hearing her say blandly, “You and I have a vast age difference, different statuses. Although I don’t follow rules rigidly and enjoy joking, I’m absolutely not without principles. I am Penglai’s Female Lord.” Jiang Zhaoxue lowered her lashes, not knowing if she was persuading him or herself. “I would absolutely never disregard Penglai for temporary love. Pei Zichen, I know this tribulation is difficult for you to cross. I will help you break this realm. Just wait obediently.”

“Help me?”

Pei Zichen looked at her, somewhat wanting to laugh. “Why help me?”

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t speak, but Pei Zichen understood. “You pity me? Pity me enough to marry me, to…”

Pei Zichen couldn’t continue, but he understood.

She did it only to leave here, only because she thought this was an illusory realm where everything would be forgotten upon leaving.

He could say many things, many actions showing she cared about him, possibilities that she loved him.

But he couldn’t speak them.

He feared too sharp words would cut her.

Feared too base language would insult her.

He only looked at her quietly, his eyes full of pleading.

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t dare look at him, suppressing all the turmoil in her heart, turning away. “Wait then.”

With that, she stepped outside. After just two steps, she heard his resigned voice. “Master’s wife.”

Jiang Zhaoxue stopped again. Pei Zichen’s tone was weary. “Take me with you. With no one by your side, it’s too dangerous.”

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t speak. She faced away from him. After a long while, she finally said, “I won’t believe a single word you say right now.”

With that, she stepped outside, calling loudly, “Tianjiao!”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen raised his eyes to see Ye Tianjiao crawl out from the basket, looking at him somewhat at a loss, apologizing, “Sorry, brother. You’re too dangerous right now. I have to follow Sister to have a way out. I’ll apologize when we get out!”

Pei Zichen remained silent. He watched Ye Tianjiao follow Jiang Zhaoxue out. He closed his eyes and collected himself.

A moment later, he took a deep breath.

Love or not, caring or even hating—all were fine.

But she couldn’t be in danger.

Pei Zichen shattered the consciousness sea in his mind and began figuring out the array formation Jiang Zhaoxue had left behind.

The just-awakened Yuan Luo saw the dense talismans and array formations all around and instantly gasped.

“I told you long ago not to mess with beautiful women,” Yuan Luo said with disappointment. “You’re courting death!!”

While Pei Zichen desperately tried to solve her array formation, Jiang Zhaoxue led Ye Tianjiao with the sect master’s seal and immediately rushed to Emei Xu.

It was already midnight when they reached Emei Xu. Jiang Zhaoxue immediately messaged Song Wuya, saying calmly, “I’ve arrived at Emei Xu with the sect master’s seal. You prepare…”

“What are you doing?!”

Before Jiang Zhaoxue finished speaking, she looked up to see Qian Sisi standing to the side.

Qian Sisi instantly saw the sect master’s seal in Jiang Zhaoxue’s hand. Her face turned cold. Without a word, she charged straight toward Jiang Zhaoxue!

Jiang Zhaoxue slapped on strength and agility talismans and quickly retreated. Ye Tianjiao simultaneously blocked Qian Sisi, saying urgently, “Sisi, this is an illusory realm. We’ll take you out…”

“This isn’t an illusory realm!”

Qian Sisi kicked Ye Tianjiao away and frantically slashed at Jiang Zhaoxue, angrily shouting, “Give me Senior Brother’s sect master’s seal!”

“Sisi!”

Ye Tianjiao threw talismans to block Qian Sisi. Jiang Zhaoxue dodged her while setting up an array.

Seeing Jiang Zhaoxue’s movements, Qian Sisi’s sword momentum became increasingly urgent. Her eyes couldn’t help but turn scarlet as she raged, “Give it to me!”

Seeing the red eyes, Jiang Zhaoxue’s expression turned stern. She instantly raised her hand and pulled, urgently saying, “The Heavenly Dao is impermanent, gambling fortune on heaven, supreme great fortune, spirit binding—go!”

The jade stick fell. Qian Sisi slashed down with her sword. Jiang Zhaoxue blocked with the jade stick.

The sword blade shattered the jade stick. A tremendous force seemed to descend from heaven, instantly pressing Qian Sisi down with a “bang” to kneel. Then vines came from all directions, instantly binding her tightly.

“You sword cultivators all think you can kill me in close combat?”

Jiang Zhaoxue quickly distanced herself from Qian Sisi, saying with some disdain, “I’ve been chased for two hundred years. Would I dare appear before you without some escape skills?”

“Jiang Zhaoxue,” Qian Sisi stared at her fixedly, “don’t open Yin Zhulong’s secret realm.”

Hearing Qian Sisi call out her correct name, Jiang Zhaoxue looked at Qian Sisi calmly and said with certainty, “You’re awake.”

“Don’t open it…” Qian Sisi pleaded. “Jiang Zhaoxue, you and I are friends…”

“It’s already been opened.”

Jiang Zhaoxue spoke calmly. Qian Sisi froze.

Jiang Zhaoxue looked at her with some pity and stated the facts. “Two years ago, Yin Zhulong’s secret realm was already opened. The Lingxu Fan appeared then. All your fellow disciples are already dead.”

At these words, tears involuntarily poured from Qian Sisi’s eyes. Yet she seemed completely unaware, only saying, “But they’re alive now, aren’t they?”

“This is an illusory realm.”

“This is your illusory realm!” Qian Sisi shouted loudly. “This is my reality.”

Getting the words, Jiang Zhaoxue froze. Ye Tianjiao reacted and hurriedly said, “Sisi, fake is fake.”

“It can become real!” Qian Sisi called out loudly. “As long as they survive today, as long as Yin Zhulong’s secret realm is never opened, it will become real! Don’t open it. You don’t know what Song Wuya will do. Don’t…”

Before she finished speaking, the ground began to shake. A familiar malicious energy surged. Jiang Zhaoxue instantly realized something was wrong. The moment she turned back, she saw spiritual power in Furong City suddenly explode. Then resentful evil energy shot skyward. Evil laughter instantly erupted, enveloping all of Furong City.

“What is this?!”

Ye Tianjiao blurted out. Qian Sisi looked in shock at the rapidly gathering evil energy beginning to block out the sky, hearing people screaming in the distance.

Evil energy continuously flew out from Furong City. Jiang Zhaoxue spoke blankly, “Resentful evil…”

A resentful evil growing at tremendous speed!

Jiang Zhaoxue had never seen a resentful evil growing so rapidly. She looked at the sky in shock, watching immortal path distress signals shoot up one after another. Then she saw that resentful energy form a ghostly face in the air, looking toward Emei Xu’s direction, revealing a smile.

“Open Yin Zhulong’s secret realm!” Song Wuya’s urgent voice rang out, calling loudly, “Quickly!”

“What did you do?”

Jiang Zhaoxue spoke in disbelief. After a moment of silence, Song Wuya said calmly, “This is an illusory realm.”

This was everything that had already happened. Whether Jiang Zhaoxue opened it or not had no effect on reality.

Yet Jiang Zhaoxue still couldn’t help but shout angrily, “Where did this resentful evil come from?!”

“He cultivated it.”

Qian Sisi gasped, constantly struggling as if wanting to rush forward and tear Song Wuya apart, raging, “It’s two hundred thousand people! He used Furong City’s two hundred thousand as sacrifices to cultivate the resentful evil!”

Hearing this, both Jiang Zhaoxue and Ye Tianjiao froze simultaneously.

Jiang Zhaoxue quickly looked at Ye Tianjiao. “How did he do it? How could he kill two hundred thousand people in such a short time?”

Ye Tianjiao listened, his hands trembling slightly. He didn’t dare speak. Jiang Zhaoxue shouted, “Speak!”

“He and I…” Ye Tianjiao realized something, his whole body trembling. “Asked for talismans.”

Jiang Zhaoxue’s eyes instantly widened. Though she knew this was an illusory realm, after being here four years—

Every blade of grass and tree here—who dared say it was only an illusion?

Ye Tianjiao was afraid to look up, tears in his eyes. “Sister…”

“This is an illusory realm.” Seeing his tears, Jiang Zhaoxue knew they couldn’t lose their composure. She turned her head away, not daring to meet his eyes, saying calmly, “They’re already dead. Your talismans don’t matter.”

Ye Tianjiao knew this. Ye Tianjiao wanted to agree.

But he had lived here for four years. Even today during the day, he had been drinking in Furong City.

Two hundred thousand people…

Both of them forced themselves not to think too much, watching the resentful energy gather in the heights. Then the resentful evil slowly opened its eyes and smiled greedily. Its voice echoed throughout Shu: “Since you have summoned, I shall grant your wish.”

With that, it rushed toward Emei Xu. Shu’s hundred-year-old ancient bell rang loudly. Wang Xuanzhi’s Dharma form broke through heaven and earth, calling out urgently, “Shu’s great calamity has arrived! Disciples of Shu, follow me to Emei Xu to subdue the demon!”

“Open Yin Zhulong’s secret realm!” Song Wuya shouted sternly again. “Jiang Zhaoxue, don’t hesitate! What’s happened can’t be changed!”

“Don’t!”

The ground shook violently around them. Qian Sisi begged Jiang Zhaoxue, starting to frantically kowtow. “Don’t open it… I was wrong, Jiang Zhaoxue… I was wrong. Don’t let me be wrong a second time. Let them live, please…”

“What did you do wrong?”

Ye Tianjiao listened. He rushed before Qian Sisi, pressing her down. “You don’t need to kowtow. This has nothing to do with you. Song Wuya killed those people!”

“I killed them!”

Qian Sisi shouted. Ye Tianjiao didn’t understand. “How could…”

“I was the one who inherited the secret realm,” Qian Sisi looked at Ye Tianjiao, trembling. “I was supposed to… prevent Shu’s great calamity, but I met Song Wuya…”

As she spoke, tears fell.

Ye Tianjiao stared blankly at Qian Sisi. She thought of the past, her whole body shaking. “I… I saved him to repay a debt. But he was injured and nearly died for me. I liked him… I… I opened Yin Zhulong’s secret realm.”

Back then, it was Qian Sisi in Pei Zichen’s position.

Jiang Zhaoxue understood instantly. She looked at Qian Sisi with compassion.

The spirited Senior Sister of Wenjian Manor, the heaven’s favored daughter who killed Yin Zhulong with her sword at Emei Xu and inherited the secret realm.

She should have prevented Shu’s great calamity, was the disciple everyone watched with expectation. Yet because she fell in love with someone, because of guilt, to save Song Wuya, she let him into the secret realm to heal.

But what kind of person was Song Wuya?

A prince cultivated through palace struggles. He was identified as a false dragon. His mother was killed. He carried a blood feud. He was pressed at every step, potentially facing death at any moment. A person like him—seeing even a thread of hope, how could he possibly let go?

“He deceived me,” Qian Sisi spoke painfully. “He learned of the Lingxu Fan’s existence from me, knew it was a divine artifact. He even thought the Lingxu Fan could make him a true dragon, bring national fortune to Great Xia. Then he tricked me into marriage, tricked me into becoming Dao companions, tricked me out of my sect master’s seal, saying he needed to go down the mountain to handle trivial matters…”

Qian Sisi’s voice stopped. She endured for a long while before saying tremulously, “But once he left… he never came back. The southwestern border was breached. Three cities massacred in succession. Lives in Shu were devastated everywhere—lonely souls and wild ghosts. At the time, no one thought it was him. Not until the resentful evil appeared in Furong City did the immortal path realize—those massacres were deliberately condoned by him.”

Qian Sisi looked up, laughing. “He used the lives of people from the first two cities to cultivate that resentful evil. Finally, in the name of massacre, he sacrificed all of Furong City, completely raising a monster. Then he used the sect master’s seal to open Yin Zhulong’s secret realm. After this resentful evil’s power entered the secret realm, it nourished the Lingxu Fan, allowing it to appear in the world.”

“This…” Ye Tianjiao listened, trying to comfort her. “But you didn’t kill them…”

“It was me.”

Qian Sisi looked at Ye Tianjiao, crying and laughing. “I’m the master of the Lingxu Fan. The resentful evil’s power… all entered my body.”

Ye Tianjiao froze. Jiang Zhaoxue looked at her with compassion. Qian Sisi tried to laugh but couldn’t maintain it. Large tears fell as she trembled, “I couldn’t control myself. I had no consciousness… When I regained awareness… when I regained awareness… Shu’s immortal path…”

Was gone.

She alone had slaughtered all of Shu. When she awoke, corpses covered the ground. She herself was exhausted.

She saw her master, Zhuang Wen, Sun Xin…

The closer the person, the more wounds on their body, the closer they were to her.

Because until the very last moment, they were all trying to awaken her.

None could bear to hurt her.

“That’s when Song Wuya came.”

Qian Sisi smiled. She raised her chain-covered hand and gently pointed at her forehead.

“He used his sword to pierce into my consciousness sea, forcibly extracting the Lingxu Fan. It hurt so much.”

Jiang Zhaoxue’s fingertips trembled. Ye Tianjiao’s eyes widened in fury as he listened to Qian Sisi describe, “The pain of a sword entering the consciousness sea—I’ll never forget it my whole life. He destroyed my consciousness sea, destroyed all my life’s efforts, then told me everything was his plan. He heard I had a divine artifact. He planned to save me, planned to love me, planned to be good to me, then destroy me.”

Jiang Zhaoxue silently watched her, her heartstrings pulled tight.

Qian Sisi laughed mockingly. “This resentful evil was summoned by him to help him retrieve the Lingxu Fan. He knew it was an evil thing, but he also knew Shu’s immortal path would spare no effort to kill this evil. So he waited for us to mutually destroy each other while he reaped the benefits. He used the cover of defeat and city massacre to conceal the fact he sacrificed civilians. He used the civilians’ hatred and the Lingxu Fan to take revenge, achieving military merit in the southwest. Then he returned to the capital, transformed into a prince with a virtuous reputation, even tricking you into changing his fate. Does he deserve it?”

Qian Sisi laughed loudly. “A person like him—does he deserve to be a ruler? Bah! He deserves to die!”

“You’re right.”

Listening, Jiang Zhaoxue said calmly, “He deserves to die.”

“Then you…” Qian Sisi’s eyes lit up.

But Jiang Zhaoxue raised her hand to release the sect master’s seal, saying calmly, “You should kill him in reality, not dream here.”

Hearing this, Qian Sisi froze. A moment later, she watched Jiang Zhaoxue channel spiritual power into the sect master’s seal. Yin Zhulong’s secret realm barrier instantly shattered. Dense forest spread across all of Emei Xu in an instant. The resentful evil dove down in wild joy!

In that instant, the ground shook and trembled. After a moment of shock, Qian Sisi suddenly reacted. The array ropes she had been secretly breaking were instantly severed. She flew urgently on her sword toward the secret realm!

“Sisi!”

Ye Tianjiao instantly used a flying talisman to chase Qian Sisi. Jiang Zhaoxue also followed closely, simultaneously messaging Song Wuya: “What is she going to the Lingxu Fan for?”

“If we touch the Lingxu Fan, we leave. If she touches it, she can use it. Her power won’t be limited here.” Hearing this, Song Wuya immediately said, “As long as she kills the resentful evil here and fulfills her wish, the illusory realm will become completely real!”

“You’re all so devious!”

Jiang Zhaoxue gritted her teeth, chasing Qian Sisi all the way to the secret realm’s depths. From afar, she saw a large tree, then felt vast spiritual power rippling outward.

Seeing this, Qian Sisi rushed down swiftly. Jiang Zhaoxue maintained distance while setting up an array. “The Heavenly Dao is impermanent, gambling fortune on heaven, supreme great fortune…”

Before Jiang Zhaoxue finished, she saw a figure in crimson robes shooting toward the Lingxu Fan like an arrow!

Jiang Zhaoxue’s eyes instantly widened. She shouted, “Strike Pei Xueyi!”

The moment the words fell, a medium fortune stick flew out. Thunder descended from heaven. Pei Xueyi’s hand didn’t touch the fan before he immediately flashed away, simultaneously forcing Qian Sisi back with a sword strike. Ye Tianjiao instantly held talismans before Qian Sisi, saying seriously, “Sisi, let’s go out. I’ll help you kill him. Don’t indulge here.”

Qian Sisi looked at Ye Tianjiao coldly, saying through gritted teeth, “Get lost!”

Ye Tianjiao’s eyes trembled lightly, but he said seriously, “Sisi, I’ll take you to see the real world.”

“Get out of the way!”

Qian Sisi slashed down with her sword. The talismans in Ye Tianjiao’s hand instantly lit up.

Ye Tianjiao blocked Qian Sisi while Jiang Zhaoxue kept her eyes on Pei Xueyi being chased relentlessly by thunder, rapidly forming arrays. Before the first thunder ended, she opened another array: “Strike Pei Xueyi!”

Pei Xueyi dodged the thunder rapidly, diving toward Jiang Zhaoxue. The two groups fought inseparably. The sky above also became chaotic.

Jiang Zhaoxue stared at Pei Xueyi, who clearly wasn’t an ordinary disciple, realizing something was wrong.

Why did Pei Xueyi want to seize the Lingxu Fan?

Or rather, why was Pei Xueyi so singularly focused, recklessly finding the location and seizing the Lingxu Fan just like them?

He wasn’t someone from the illusory realm. Jiang Zhaoxue confirmed this instantly.

Remembering their initial encounter, Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help but wonder—

At the beginning when interacting with her, eating plum blossom cakes while blushing, was it Pei Xueyi or Yin Zhulong?

“What are you thinking about?”

Pei Xueyi attacked suddenly. Jiang Zhaoxue brought down thunder again, retreating swiftly.

Pei Xueyi came too fast. She didn’t have time to set up a large array. Without a large array, small fortune-gambling formations fundamentally couldn’t kill him.

Jiang Zhaoxue looked at him coldly. Though thunder had struck him several times and he was injured, his expression grew increasingly excited.

Jiang Zhaoxue’s intuition sensed something wrong. She asked directly, “Who are you?”

“Forgot me?”

Pei Xueyi advanced again. Jiang Zhaoxue flew back to evade. Then she saw him smile. “But I think you should remember her?”

Just as he finished speaking, Pei Xueyi instantly raised his hand to press against the ground, shouting sternly, “Xinluo Yi!”

Hearing this name, Ye Tianjiao and Qian Sisi both looked over. Black energy shot skyward from the ground, then transformed into a black dragon rushing toward Jiang Zhaoxue!

This black dragon came fast, too fast!

Jiang Zhaoxue had no time to react at all. Her eyes only stared at the black dragon charging out. At the same time, her heart trembled. The fate attendant contract suddenly shook. The space behind her violently trembled. A hand broke through space from behind her, fiercely pulling her back, protecting her in an embrace while simultaneously drawing his sword with the other hand. With a loud “clang,” Xinluo Yi heavily collided with the sword. Jiang Zhaoxue crashed heavily into Pei Zichen’s embrace.

He wrapped around her waist, spinning to slash, protecting her behind him in that instant. Jiang Zhaoxue quickly opened another array. Thunder crashed down, perfectly coordinating to smash onto Xinluo Yi.

Pei Zichen held Jiang Zhaoxue and spun back, retreating swiftly. Xinluo Yi also quickly withdrew before “Pei Xueyi.” When both sides stopped, Jiang Zhaoxue held hand seals while protected in Pei Zichen’s embrace. Pei Zichen held his sword horizontally before them. Opposite them, “Pei Xueyi” in crimson robes held a fan. Xinluo Yi in red robes held an umbrella, standing before him.

Both sides faced off quietly. Pei Zichen seemed to have come too urgently, his breathing completely unstable. Jiang Zhaoxue stiffly sensed the warmth of the person behind her. A moment later, she saw “Pei Xueyi” tilt his head with a smile. “Well, I thought you wouldn’t make it.”

“Song Wulan.”

Jiang Zhaoxue reacted. “Pei Xueyi’s” eyes showed joy, his tone exceptionally lingering. “I didn’t expect Immortal Jiang would still remember me.”

“I remember.”

Jiang Zhaoxue recalled that gambling match, unable to help saying, “I’ve truly never seen anyone harder to kill than you. What exactly are you?”

“Me?”

Song Wulan tapped his small fan against his lips, smiling slightly. “I am fate.”

The moment the words fell, Xinluo Yi instantly erupted, transforming again into a mass of black energy rushing straight forward. Pei Zichen’s sword array urgently flew out, slashing toward Xinluo Yi!

Jiang Zhaoxue looked at Pei Zichen suspiciously, momentarily unable to determine his intentions.

Pei Zichen not coming would have been fine. With his arrival, the situation instantly became complex. Jiang Zhaoxue not only had to watch Qian Sisi, Pei Xueyi, and Xinluo Yi, but now had an additional Pei Zichen!

Impossible to guard against everything!

The more Jiang Zhaoxue thought, the angrier she became, grinding her teeth.

But currently, there was completely no solution. Only Pei Zichen could suppress Xinluo Yi. Qian Sisi was barely held back by Ye Tianjiao, but Ye Tianjiao was also being beaten black and blue by her.

With the surrounding people held back, she and Song Wulan, two fate masters, could officially battle.

But they both probably knew each other’s strength. After opening several array formations that were evenly matched and mutually canceled each other out.

Ye Tianjiao had already been stomped by Qian Sisi into a stone crevice. Qian Sisi ran wildly toward the Lingxu Fan. Just as she was about to grab it, a tremendous force suddenly struck, forcefully pulling her backward!

Qian Sisi flipped in midair to see Song Wuya had arrived, blocking before her, calmly ordering Ye Tianjiao, “Ye Tianjiao, go get the Lingxu Fan!”

Ye Tianjiao immediately climbed out with his swollen face. Seeing this, Song Wulan threw copper coins. Thunder rumbled down, shocking Ye Tianjiao back again.

From that moment, the surroundings completely became a chaotic mess.

Everyone fundamentally couldn’t distinguish friend from foe. Anyway, whoever touched the Lingxu Fan, everyone would pull them away.

Song Wulan directly set up a barrier around the Lingxu Fan. Jiang Zhaoxue reinforced it again. No one could touch the Lingxu Fan. Both sides fought chaotically and inseparably. Watching spiritual power being consumed, Jiang Zhaoxue clearly knew—continuing this stalemate had no meaning.

After brief contemplation, she had a plan. She began moving closer to Song Wulan’s direction each time she opened an array.

Song Wulan didn’t mind. A fate master getting close had no killing power, so no one paid attention to her approach.

Until the final moment—

When Jiang Zhaoxue was less than half a zhang from Song Wulan, the instant Song Wulan opened an array again, she suddenly grabbed a large rock and forcefully smashed it toward Song Wulan’s head!

If fortune gambling didn’t work, she was also somewhat skilled in combat!

Song Wulan was knocked to the ground by this rock. Jiang Zhaoxue quickly moved forward, pressing his head and wanting to continue smashing!

Seeing this, Xinluo Yi rushed forward swiftly. Pei Zichen forced her back with a sword, coldly shouting, “Get lost!”

Jiang Zhaoxue pressed his head, smashing out brains rock by rock.

Song Wulan finally reacted, flipping her over in one motion, pinning the hand holding the rock, punching toward her face.

Two fate masters wrestled on the ground. Fists smashed into faces. Feet kicked at private parts. You strangled my neck, I pulled your hair—fighting without any dignity, inseparable.

Three-way melee, impossible to resolve.

Watching the resentful evil above pierce through Zhuang Wen, Zhuang Wen’s body covered in blood as he fell from the sky, Qian Sisi finally erupted, rushing toward Song Wuya’s sword tip!

At that moment, Song Wuya actually withdrew his sword.

Even he hadn’t anticipated it!

The instant he withdrew his sword, Qian Sisi lunged toward the Lingxu Fan. Jiang Zhaoxue looked back in alarm, urgently calling, “Ye Tianjiao!”

But Ye Tianjiao couldn’t get up anymore. No one stopped her. No one could stop her.

As long as she obtained the Lingxu Fan and killed the resentful evil, fulfilling her wish, all of them would remain here!

Jiang Zhaoxue watched in terror as Qian Sisi grabbed the Lingxu Fan, turning back to fan toward the resentful evil in the sky. In that moment, an arrow broke through space, with a “ding,” fiercely shattering the Lingxu Fan in Qian Sisi’s hand!

The Lingxu Fan shattered like a mirror. Jiang Zhaoxue realized something, shocked as she turned back to see Pei Zichen standing in the moonlight, covered in blood, holding a longbow. His long hair danced with space’s light-carrying fragments, reflecting his handsome, cold face—like a magnificent dream stained with blood and bright moon, mixed with wind and snow, standing not far away.

“Master had two plans back then to deal with Shu’s great calamity,” he looked at Qian Sisi, saying calmly. “First was ordering me to prevent the Lingxu Fan’s appearance. Second, he had already found a feng shui treasure land to place souls. If disciples unfortunately met with disaster, he’d have you take the Lingxu Fan to find disciples’ souls, send them into reincarnation, and rebuild Wenjian Manor.”

Hearing this, Qian Sisi smiled bitterly, hoarsely saying, “But I don’t know where they are. Master didn’t have time to tell me…”

“Yicheng Jinbao Pavilion.”

Pei Zichen spoke. Qian Sisi’s eyes widened.

Cracks slowly appeared around them. Ye Tianjiao immediately said, “Sisi, I’ll take you there!”

Qian Sisi turned back to see Ye Tianjiao stand up, urgently saying, “Go to reality! I’ll accompany you to find them!”

Qian Sisi stared blankly at Ye Tianjiao, unable to speak. Song Wulan and Xinluo Yi exchanged glances, instantly transforming into black energy, drilling into the cracks and disappearing.

Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart surged. She looked at Pei Zichen in disbelief.

How could he possibly actively break the illusory realm?

He was so deeply immersed—how could he bear to leave this illusion?

Someone like him, who would use any means to achieve his goals—how could he let her leave?

As she thought this, Pei Zichen seemed to sense her thoughts, turning his eyes to look at her.

His purple-black, clear eyes suppressed countless emotions. The surroundings slowly cracked. Finally, he only said, “Four years ago, I never intended to keep you here forever.”

Jiang Zhaoxue listened, completely unable to believe it.

Pei Zichen smiled. “I don’t know what I look like in your heart. But I deceived you merely for these four years. A gentleman loves properly. Even if I can’t be called a gentleman, in this lifetime, I will never place my desires above yours. I only thought you liked me.”

His voice hadn’t dried when bitterness appeared in his eyes. He emphasized and explained, “I thought.”

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t dare speak. Her heart raced. She looked at the blood mark on his brow, vaguely feeling a hidden pain trembling in her heart’s depths.

She didn’t dare make a sound, didn’t dare open her mouth. She only watched Pei Zichen gaze at her, just like these four years, with gentle yet persistent eyes.

“Yaoyao,” he spoke hoarsely, carrying several parts hope and pleading, “Say you like me once. Give this illusory realm of mine a complete ending.”

Jiang Zhaoxue’s lips trembled lightly. She didn’t dare speak. The surrounding space shattered. He knew her meaning. Quietly gazing at her, he said softly, “Don’t be afraid. Everything will be forgotten.”

“I…” Jiang Zhaoxue trembled as she spoke. She thought—she was only deceiving him.

She consoled him. As he said, giving completion.

“I like you.”

At these words, water rippled in Pei Zichen’s eyes. He seemed already satisfied, slowly smiling.

“I heard it, Yaoyao.”

As he spoke, the surroundings violently trembled. Everything shattered like mirror fragments. A feeling of weightlessness suddenly came. He greedily looked at her, reluctantly murmuring, “Goodbye… Master’s wife.”

Goodbye—she would only be his master’s wife.

Hearing this farewell, Jiang Zhaoxue completely lost control. She instinctively reached forward, urgently calling, “Pei Zichen!”

But everything was only like golden powder and flowing sand, drifting past between them. She instantly fell into infinite, endless darkness.

She would forget.

She watched the light before her slowly disappear, her heart tight, yet somewhat relieved.

She needed to quickly record everything she needed to do on paper, clutching it tightly in her hand.

Everything would be forgotten.

She thought.

So she began to indulge herself, letting this illusory realm pass before her like a revolving lantern. When it fell to the final moment, it was him kneeling on one knee before her, looking up at her.

“I want Axue to like me the way I like you.”

On the other side, Pei Zichen watched the brightness gradually appear before him. He looked around dazedly, gradually seeing a figure walking from the distance.

He wore blue robes and a jade crown, holding a folding fan, looking romantic and unrestrained.

“I really didn’t expect,” the other spoke with a light laugh, “that you could break the realm yourself. The illusory realm I spent four years creating—from beginning to end, you never wanted to stay?”

“Lingxu Fan?”

Pei Zichen’s form stopped. He raised his eyes.

Getting the words, the Lingxu Fan raised his hand in salute. “Lingxu Fan greets its master.”