Jiang Zhaoxue found herself momentarily unable to speak.

Though Pei Zichen hadn’t said much, she understood clearly that in Pei Zichen’s eyes, Shen Yuqing had never protected her properly, so his concern wasn’t strange at all.

In truth, she also understood Pei Zichen’s thinking. Although they had now broken through the array formation, with Song Wulan behind them, there was no way Ming could be his only move.

In fact, perhaps Ming’s very existence was meant to weaken them, and Song Wulan had succeeded in doing so.

Needless to say, Pei Zichen was in his current state, and while Shen Yuqing’s injuries weren’t severe, he was still wounded. She would now exhaust all her spiritual power to heal Pei Zichen.

If they continued onward like this, they would inevitably fall into danger.

Storing spiritual power in the Yin-Yang Yiyi Lantern to catch the enemy off guard was their only chance at survival.

After calculating everything, Jiang Zhaoxue decided to confirm one final matter. Though it was somewhat embarrassing to ask, she had to.

She raised her eyes to look at Pei Zichen and probed carefully, “Have you had any strange dreams recently?”

This question made Pei Zichen freeze—he knew Jiang Zhaoxue was asking about the dream intrusion from last night.

He lowered his head and said softly, “Yes, this disciple had a dream.”

Hearing him bring up this matter, Jiang Zhaoxue felt somewhat nervous, but still feigned calmness as she asked, “This dream—do you feel you were controlled by someone, or was it born from your heart’s desires?”

If it was desires from within one’s heart being magnified, that was one thing.

If there were no such desires and someone forcibly controlled him, that was another matter entirely.

She had to ask clearly.

Listening to this, Pei Zichen felt extremely awkward, but knowing that Jiang Zhaoxue was confirming their current situation, he dared not hide anything. He could only keep his head lowered and say, “What this disciple dreamed was born from heart’s desires. However, this disciple was raised with propriety and etiquette from childhood. If not for this accident, I would not dare harbor such presumptuous thoughts.”

“Understood.”

Jiang Zhaoxue nodded, pretending not to know what specifically he had dreamed about, and responded, “Alright, I’m clear now.”

With that, she calmed herself, suppressed this matter as if unaware, and sat cross-legged across from Pei Zichen.

For what came next, she didn’t want anyone else to know, so on the foundation of the Mountain River Bell, she set up another layer of barrier.

Once the barrier was established, she raised her hand and summoned the Yin-Yang Yiyi Lantern.

The Yin-Yang Yiyi Lantern stopped between them, with her and Shen Yuqing’s spiritual power flowing over it.

Jiang Zhaoxue briefly explained how to use the Yin-Yang Yiyi Lantern, then raised her eyes to look at Pei Zichen. “Do you have any unclear points?”

Pei Zichen didn’t speak, only quietly gazed at this lamp that carried both her and Shen Yuqing’s spiritual power. Seeing him not respond for so long, Jiang Zhaoxue reminded him aloud, “Are you listening to me?”

“Oh.”

Pei Zichen was called back to his senses by her question and quickly collected himself. “No, Master’s Wife, please begin.”

Jiang Zhaoxue nodded and called to him, “Then give me your hand.”

Pei Zichen’s words paused slightly, but he still responded, “Yes.”

With that, he extended his hand. Jiang Zhaoxue curled her fingers, interlocking and clasping his hand inversely, then closed her eyes and sent her spiritual power probing into his body.

The spiritual power in his body had been completely frozen by the toxin and couldn’t circulate. It wasn’t until Jiang Zhaoxue’s spiritual power entered that she used it to drive away the poison and wrap around it with her spiritual power.

Erosion Heart Powder absolutely countered water-element spiritual roots, but had no effect on wood element. After Jiang Zhaoxue’s spiritual power wrapped around his spiritual power, Pei Zichen’s spiritual power followed Jiang Zhaoxue’s spiritual power in circulation, flowing into her body. After circulating through a full cycle in Jiang Zhaoxue’s body, the spiritual power completely dispersed into a substance that could be independently expelled from the body, then followed the spiritual power out of the body and was sent into the Yin-Yang Yiyi Lantern.

Shen Yuqing’s spiritual power still remained in the Yin-Yang Yiyi Lantern. A cultivator’s spiritual power was like lingering eyes—she didn’t want to cause herself trouble by letting Shen Yuqing detect this matter now, so she first used her own spiritual power to set up a barrier before leading Pei Zichen’s spiritual power into the lantern.

This sneaky appearance made A’Nan sigh and couldn’t help but say, “Just look at what you’re doing here…”

Jiang Zhaoxue also felt it was somewhat delicate. She subconsciously raised her eyes and saw Pei Zichen with his eyes lowered. As he grew older, his emotions became harder to read, but she could clearly sense his displeasure at this moment.

However, since he said nothing, Jiang Zhaoxue had no intention of stirring up trouble either. She simply closed her eyes and first circulated the toxin into the lantern.

As their spiritual power flowed in circles, although Shen Yuqing didn’t know exactly what they were doing, he could feel the spiritual aura he’d left in Jiang Zhaoxue’s body slowly disappearing. He could even vaguely sense the diffusing spiritual power of the two people on the barrier behind him.

The sword lying across his knees kept humming and resonating uncontrollably. Yet at this moment, he was inexplicably reminded of those past years.

He remembered when Mu Jinyue had just come up the mountain—he actually wanted to have a proper talk with her.

One evening, he had already discussed it with her, and she understood his taking this disciple. She asked him to stay and rest, and he had originally agreed.

But just before sleeping, thunder and rain fell from the sky. The maid serving Mu Jinyue rushed to Yunfu Mountain, saying Mu Jinyue had been frightened by the thunder and suddenly coughed up blood.

At that time, Mu Jinyue was only fourteen years old. Her family had just been slaughtered by enemies, and she herself was severely injured. Moreover, the night her family died had also been a stormy night with thunder—she had witnessed her family’s death with her own eyes. He feared her mental trauma was too severe, so he rushed to save her.

At that time, Mu Jinyue was delirious and wouldn’t let anyone near her except him. He could only stay in her room, have her drink medicine, and guard outside the screen, using his spiritual power to protect her heart meridian until she recovered.

But how could Jiang Zhaoxue tolerate such improper conduct?

Even if it was to save someone, Jiang Zhaoxue still followed all the way to Luo Xia Feng. Fearing she would cause trouble, he set up a barrier to force her to stay outside the door.

So she stood outside the door, first losing composure and cursing in anger, then falling silent.

He watched her shadow on the window lattice. Back then, he thought this was a show of force, a form of coercion.

However, at this moment, feeling a piercing pain in his chest, he realized that the bitter wait through that night, that solitary shadow, wasn’t a show of force or reminder—it was fear.

The fear of standing at the cliff’s edge, afraid that one step back would leave no way to return.

So she had to stand guard there.

Guard until he completely saved Mu Jinyue and opened the door. Dawn fell upon her drenched figure, and only then did she turn her head to look at him and say lightly, “What a good master.”

What a good master indeed.

In front of his wife, disregarding the proper boundaries between men and women, wholeheartedly treating a female disciple.

What a good master indeed.

That one sentence was like a sharp blade, piercing his heart many years later.

Feeling the flowing spiritual power breath behind him and the illusion of gradually disappearing from Jiang Zhaoxue’s life bit by bit, he couldn’t even distinguish whether it was the pain from Erosion Heart Powder or some other source of suffering. Only the image of Jiang Zhaoxue blocking the way outside Luo Xia Feng appeared over and over in his memories.

It was as if he had also returned to that moment, but he was standing in Jiang Zhaoxue’s position. For the first time, he experienced this pain of being slowly driven mad by righteousness yet powerless to do anything about it.

He waited quietly, watching the sky gradually brighten.

When he felt the spiritual power on the barrier dissipate, he knew it was over.

He couldn’t control himself at all and immediately stood up, hurrying toward the cave.

After Jiang Zhaoxue thoroughly cleared the toxin from Pei Zichen’s body, she sealed the Yin-Yang Yiyi Lantern. Immediately, she heard Shen Yuqing’s hurried footsteps, followed by Shen Yuqing’s restrained urgent call: “A’Xue!”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue quickly put away the Yin-Yang Yiyi Lantern and rose to placate Shen Yuqing. But just as she moved, Pei Zichen grabbed her.

Jiang Zhaoxue looked back in confusion and saw Pei Zichen restraining himself as he looked at her. It seemed he had thought for a long while before finally asking, “Did Master’s Wife dream the night before last?”

Jiang Zhaoxue’s movement froze. Pei Zichen gazed at her quietly. Hearing Shen Yuqing arrive at the barrier, he suppressed his voice and asked, “If you also dreamed, then what was Master’s Wife’s heart’s desire?”

“Jiang Zhaoxue,” Shen Yuqing, unable to see clearly inside the barrier, inquired from outside, “Are you alright?”

Hearing his question, Jiang Zhaoxue’s stirred emotions were abruptly halted again, and then she realized something was wrong.

Last night they must have been influenced, which led to such improper behavior.

But wasn’t Pei Zichen’s current action of holding her also improper?

Jiang Zhaoxue’s mind sharpened, immediately calming down. Hearing Shen Yuqing’s sounds at the entrance, she quickly crouched down and lowered her voice. “Something is wrong here. Promise me one thing.”

Pei Zichen, knowing Jiang Zhaoxue must have detected something, immediately said, “Please instruct me, Master’s Wife.”

“No matter what, you cannot harm your master.”

Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, and Pei Zichen froze.

He stared blankly at Jiang Zhaoxue. Not noticing his emotions, Jiang Zhaoxue withdrew her hand from his, patted his shoulder, and instructed, “Rest and meditate for now. I’ll go check on your master.”

With that, she rose and headed outside. Just as she reached the entrance, she saw Shen Yuqing standing outside the barrier. His emotions seemed to have calmed down, and seeing her emerge, he didn’t immediately speak.

Jiang Zhaoxue’s steps paused slightly. Her gaze fell from his face to his hand, which clearly hadn’t fully healed. After hesitating for a moment, she finally said, “Let’s sit outside. I’ll heal your injury.”

Shen Yuqing’s words halted. All that suppressed, sharp aura instantly vanished, as if he was somewhat at a loss.

He could only numbly follow Jiang Zhaoxue outside.

Dawn had not yet broken. Mu Jinyue and Pei Shulan were both resting. Jiang Zhaoxue led Shen Yuqing to sit outside the cave, watching the moon set in the western mountains.

After the two sat down, Jiang Zhaoxue extended her hand toward him, saying somewhat wearily, “Give me your hand.”

“It’s just a small injury.” Shen Yuqing looked at her complexion and lowered his eyes. “I’m fine for now. You should rest first.”

“It’s alright.” Jiang Zhaoxue said lightly, “I still have some spiritual power. The sooner you recover, the better for the road ahead.”

With that, Jiang Zhaoxue took out a white handkerchief from her sleeve and placed it on Shen Yuqing’s wrist.

Seeing that white handkerchief, Shen Yuqing found it painfully glaring. After a long silence, he finally said, “I’m sorry.”

Jiang Zhaoxue froze and looked up at him. “What?”

Shen Yuqing didn’t open his mouth.

How could he?

How could he explain that his apology was to the Jiang Zhaoxue who had stood waiting at the door, who had waited outside Luo Xia Feng?

After eight and a half years, he finally realized belatedly that not all feelings in this world could be measured by reason.

He wasn’t wrong to save people, but her suffering was also real.

Just as she wasn’t wrong to save people now, but his night of standing guard at the cave, like slow torture, was also real.

Because she had suffered, he now dared not speak. After saying these words, he could only fall into endless silence.

Seeing him remain silent, Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t want to say more either. After expelling the toxin, she stood up and said, “Rest.”

With that, she returned to the inner side of the cave, found a place, and lay down.

After saving two people in succession, she was extremely exhausted. A’Nan couldn’t help but feel sorry for her and sighed. “That little injury was deliberately shown to you by Shen Yuqing. Nothing will happen. You’re forcing yourself to heal him, and now he’s probably feeling all pleased inside thinking, ‘Ah, A’Xue has me in her heart~'”

“He’s very sensitive to Jiuyou Realm matters.”

Jiang Zhaoxue said coldly with her eyes closed, “Healing Pei Zichen ultimately required using Jiuyou Realm techniques. I needed to give him time to occupy his mind, or Pei Zichen’s risk would have increased.”

“Oh.” A’Nan understood and couldn’t help but say, “So you were thinking of Pei Zichen. Then why didn’t you give him another warning?”

“Warn him about what?”

“Just like you told Pei Zichen—tell him not to touch a single hair on our Zichen’s head!”

This made Jiang Zhaoxue laugh. She couldn’t help but say, “What kind of enchanting potion did Pei Zichen give you to make you speak up for him like this?”

“After all, I watched him grow up. Between Shen Yuqing and him, I’m definitely on his side!” A’Nan spoke truthfully, somewhat resentfully. “You warned him but not Shen Yuqing. I’m not satisfied!”

“Shen Yuqing and Pei Zichen have different temperaments,” Jiang Zhaoxue explained patiently. “With his high cultivation, he’s probably long detected something wrong here. Even if he harbors murderous intent, he won’t settle scores with Pei Zichen in this place. If I spoke up for Pei Zichen, it would instead disturb his state of mind and add fuel to the fire.”

“Then aren’t you afraid of adding fuel to Pei Zichen’s fire?”

A’Nan found this strange. Jiang Zhaoxue remained silent.

She found Pei Zichen’s temperament increasingly difficult to fathom. She also didn’t know why she had taken the initiative to instruct Pei Zichen.

But the moment she spoke, she seemed to truly believe that once she spoke, Pei Zichen wouldn’t act.

However, this kind of baseless, unfounded trust was too absurd. Speaking of it would invite ridicule, and if Pei Zichen didn’t listen to her, it would be even more embarrassing.

So she simply said nothing more and closed her eyes to sleep.

Her spiritual power was too depleted, and she quickly fell asleep. By the time she woke, the sun was already high in the sky. Mu Jinyue and Pei Shulan were making a fire to cook. Jiang Zhaoxue rose yawning, and heard Pei Shulan laugh, quickly saying, “Immortal Jiang, you’re awake?”

“Mm.”

Jiang Zhaoxue nodded, yawning as she walked to the fire. She turned to glance at the cave. “Pei Zichen hasn’t come out yet?”

“Master’s Wife.”

Just as the words fell, Pei Zichen’s voice rang out.

Everyone turned to look and saw Pei Zichen standing not far away. He had changed into fresh robes and tidied his hair crown, looking as elegant and neat as usual, as if last night’s great battle had never happened at all.

After bowing to Jiang Zhaoxue, he then successively greeted Shen Yuqing and the others.

Seeing him unharmed, Jiang Zhaoxue breathed a sigh of relief, nodded, and said, “Since you’re alright, come sit.”

Pei Zichen came forward and approached the fire.

He found a seat farthest from Jiang Zhaoxue and sat down. Pei Shulan cooked breakfast for everyone. No one had much appetite, only eating two bites casually. Though Pei Shulan also seemed listless, she still forced herself to eat more. Then, as if remembering something, she opened her mouth with some difficulty and asked Pei Zichen, “Young Dao Lord Pei, what about Young Master Ming?”

Everyone paused. Pei Shulan’s face showed sorrow. “Is he…”

“Last night’s events should have been Ming’s doing.”

Pei Zichen spoke honestly. Last night had been too rushed—he hadn’t explained in detail to Jiang Zhaoxue, so he elaborated: “After Ming and I went outside last night, I discovered the life-devouring beasts outside were endless, and those vines couldn’t be killed at all. I originally planned to exhaust all my spiritual power trying to fight these things to mutual destruction, but before taking action, I told him that Master’s Wife, because she couldn’t save Li back then…”

Pei Zichen’s words paused. Thinking of Pei Shulan’s presence and that she still didn’t know of Li Xiuji’s death, he suppressed the name. But Jiang Zhaoxue instantly knew who he meant and nodded. “I know. Because I couldn’t save that child back then, I actually transferred those feelings to him.”

“I told him you felt guilty and would definitely help him now,” Pei Zichen continued, seeing she understood. “Once we complete everything in the future, we’ll take him away. So before I acted, he suddenly stopped me, saying everything here was an illusion just meant to deplete our spiritual power. Then he told me this was the Thirteen Crossbow Formation and had me quickly return to save people.”

“So you came.” Shen Yuqing raised his eyes to look at him.

Pei Zichen met Shen Yuqing’s gaze, neither servile nor overbearing, calmly saying, “Yes.”

The two men’s gazes met, neither retreating. The implications of this “came” became particularly subtle.

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t notice, only holding her bowl and thinking aloud, “He said everything here was an illusion. That should refer to the situation within the array formation these two nights. Now that we’ve broken through the formation, the illusions no longer exist, and this should be Snow Cang Mountain’s true appearance. So where is he?”

Jiang Zhaoxue looked curiously at Pei Zichen. “You came back, but he didn’t follow?”

“Since he committed betrayal, naturally he wouldn’t dare follow.” Pei Shulan spoke with some regret. “I thought he seemed upright and should be a good child. I didn’t expect…”

“I also don’t know where he went,” Pei Zichen only responded to Jiang Zhaoxue, recalling, “At the time, this disciple was hurrying back and had no time to attend to him, but at that moment, he indeed didn’t follow this disciple.”

So he hadn’t returned.

Jiang Zhaoxue reached this conclusion. She thought for a moment, then said, “After all, he’s an enemy, not a friend. Going forward, we’ll probably see him again. No need to worry about him now. Time is pressing… Are you all feeling well?”

Jiang Zhaoxue glanced at everyone curiously, mainly at Pei Zichen and Shen Yuqing. Pei Zichen knew what Jiang Zhaoxue was worried about and immediately bowed. “This disciple is fine.”

Jiang Zhaoxue turned to look at Shen Yuqing. Shen Yuqing also said, “I’m alright.”

Jiang Zhaoxue felt relieved and nodded. “If there are no major issues, clean up now and let’s set off. According to the original plan, after walking halfway, we should get the map for the second half of the route. Since no one guards Snow Cang Mountain Range, this map must be placed somewhere we’ll definitely pass. Let’s continue forward and explore any unusual places we see. Once we get the map, we’ll advance quickly. What do you all think?”

No one present had any objections. Jiang Zhaoxue was quite satisfied, then remembered the most important matter. “Oh, there’s one more thing.”

Everyone looked over. Jiang Zhaoxue took out the qiankun pouch containing the dark azure stones and weighed it in her hand experimentally. “This journey is arduous. I want to free up a qiankun pouch to carry things. How about we leave the dark azure stones behind? Just a pile of broken rocks…”

“How can that be?”

Hearing this, Pei Shulan instinctively spoke up. Everyone looked over, and Pei Shulan’s momentum lessened. She quickly said, “Immortal Jiang, going forward to the underground palace, someone will definitely check these dark azure stones. If we throw them away on the road and can’t enter the underground palace, how will we reach the Sacred Pool?”

“That’s true.”

Listening, Jiang Zhaoxue nodded with some regret. “Then we can only carry these big rocks on our journey.”

“After all, this is our cargo.”

Pei Shulan smiled. “What merchant caravan throws away their goods?”

“Madam Pei is right.”

Jiang Zhaoxue nodded, put away the qiankun pouch, placed her bowl aside, and stood up. “Then I’ll go change clothes first. Everyone clean up for a moment, and we’ll depart immediately.”

Jiang Zhaoxue walked back to the inner side of the cave and changed into fresh clothes alone. Everyone else also began packing their belongings, getting busy. Only Shen Yuqing sat in place, watching Pei Zichen clean up the traces they’d left behind.

Pei Zichen had changed into fresh robes and re-tied his jade pendant, but his knotting method was identical to Jiang Zhaoxue’s.

He couldn’t distinguish whether that jade pendant had been tied by Jiang Zhaoxue or by Pei Zichen himself.

But whichever it was, seeing that jade pendant hanging at Pei Zichen’s waist, he found it an eyesore.

After watching coldly for a long while, he pointed a finger, quietly opened a barrier, and finally spoke: “Give me the jade pendant at your waist.”

Pei Zichen’s movement paused. He said nothing.

Shen Yuqing lowered his eyes to look at the ground, seeming casual as he said, “The first time she gave a gift to a man, it was a jade pendant—to me.”

Pei Zichen turned his gaze and saw Shen Yuqing sitting to the side.

Several strands of his hair had fallen loose, and his tone seemed somewhat weary, yet he still described their past in detail: “She didn’t know how to tie jade pendants for others, so she found a way to learn. But I was young and combative. Ordinary jade pendant tying methods would easily slip off during battle, so she came up with a solution herself. After tying the jade pendant properly, she would tie another knot through the middle. So the first time this jade pendant appeared, I knew she gave it to you.”

With that, Shen Yuqing raised his eyes. Through the slightly loose strands of hair, he stared at this disciple who had completely become a grown man, feeling the aura of Jiang Zhaoxue on him. With calmness tinged with suppressed killing intent, he said lightly, “She is your master’s wife. You should observe proper human relationships and ethics. You shouldn’t take such things.”

These words couldn’t be more transparent.

By rights, he should return this jade pendant.

But how could he return it?

Jiang Zhaoxue hadn’t given him many things. This was the only gift she’d ever given him.

Yet even this, Shen Yuqing wanted to take.

How could he return it?

His hand rested on his sword as he lowered his eyes, feigning calmness. “What an elder bestows cannot be refused. This item is a gift from Master’s Wife. This disciple absolutely cannot re-gift it to others.”

Hearing the phrase “re-gift to others,” Shen Yuqing’s aura instantly turned cold. Pei Zichen acted as if completely unaware, standing neither servile nor overbearing, frozen in stalemate.

The two men faced off without words. Jiang Zhaoxue finished packing and walked out from the cave. Looking left and right, seeing both men’s expressions weren’t good, she couldn’t help but say, “What are you doing? Did you quarrel?”

Both men immediately averted their gazes imperceptibly.

Pei Shulan and Mu Jinyue walked out from the cave. After Jiang Zhaoxue inquired briefly and confirmed everyone was ready, they set off together.

Now that the confusion array was broken, they could see the snow mountain’s location. They headed toward the snow mountain direction all the way forward. After walking for less than half a shichen, they saw a small house. Going inside to search, they found the map for the second half of the route.

This map was clearly drawn. With the map, they didn’t need to slowly search on the ground. Jiang Zhaoxue summoned her white crane, carrying Pei Shulan and Mu Jinyue. Shen Yuqing and Pei Zichen flew on their swords. The group rushed along following the map and arrived at the underground palace before sunset.

They were delivering dark azure stones and taking the underground palace’s back entrance. Upon reaching the back entrance marked on the map, they discovered there was nothing there—only a cliff face shooting straight up into the sky like a man-made city wall, blocking their path.

Jiang Zhaoxue took the dark azure stones from the qiankun pouch, donned the black robe, disguised herself as an attendant escorting the stones, and followed Pei Shulan forward. According to the map’s instructions, she knocked on the cliff face six times—three light taps, then three heavy ones.

After the knocking, the cliff face showed no change. Pei Shulan turned around somewhat hesitantly, saying awkwardly, “This seems…”

Before she could finish, the cliff face suddenly shook violently.

Everyone immediately became alert. Pei Shulan screamed in fright and ran away. They watched as the cliff face slowly moved aside, rubble falling and dust flying. When the dust settled, a massive black iron gate three zhang high appeared before them.

“This… what is this?”

Pei Shulan was filled with uncertainty. A moment later, a voice came from behind the gate: “Who goes there?”

Hearing this, Pei Shulan and Jiang Zhaoxue exchanged glances. Jiang Zhaoxue used her eyes to signal Pei Shulan to respond. Pei Shulan reacted and quickly said, “This woman is of the Pei clan from Cang City, ordered to transport dark azure stones.”

“The Pei clan…”

Inside, it seemed like the sound of pages turning could be heard. A moment later, the other party asked, “You run a silk fabric shop. What was the most expensive material you sold five days ago?”

Pei Shulan froze, then realized the other party was interrogating her identity. She quickly recalled: “It was Shu brocade.”

The other party was clearly very cautious and asked several more questions. These questions were extremely detailed and tricky—unless one was the person in question, it would be impossible to prepare answers in advance.

After the two exchanged questions and answers for a while, the other party said, “Wait a moment, we’ll open the gate now.”

With that, the black iron gate slowly opened, revealing the figures of the guards inside.

These were two Daoist youths who looked about fifteen or sixteen years old. They had gentle features and pure gazes, held whisks in their hands, wore blue Daoist robes, and smiled at everyone with squinted eyes.

If not for the row of corpses holding knives standing behind them, one would never understand why they were guarding the gate here.

With corpses behind and smiles in front, these two appeared all the more sinister. Pei Shulan’s face paled slightly and she unconsciously took a step back.

This retreat finally seemed to put the two at ease. They breathed a sigh of relief and bowed: “Madam Pei, we two are the guards here. He is called Liubai, and I am called Liuhei. We heard Madam wishes to personally escort the dark azure stones into the Sacred Pool?”

“Yes… yes.”

Madam Pei’s voice trembled slightly, then she gradually calmed down and bowed: “Honorable sirs, this woman has served in the sect for a long time and has long heard the Sacred Pool’s great name. Therefore, having found this opportunity, I wish to enter the Sacred Pool and sacrifice myself to the Dao. Please grant me this chance.”

“The Sacred Pool is the final destination of our Blissful Eternal Life Sect—a place of no return. Has Madam Pei thought this through?”

Liuhei asked with a smile. Madam Pei showed a resolute expression and nodded: “Being able to enter the Sacred Pool is this woman’s blessing.”

“Very well.”

Liuhei flicked his whisk and smiled: “We’ll inspect the goods first. Once everything checks out, we’ll lead you into the Sacred Pool.”

As he spoke, Liubai, who had been silent the whole time, stepped forward to the cart and carefully inspected the dark azure stones.

Jiang Zhaoxue stood to the side watching them inspect. The dark azure stones were dark in color and somewhat oily, but otherwise didn’t differ much from ordinary stones.

After Liubai’s inspection, he nodded to Liuhei. Liuhei immediately smiled and bowed: “Madam Pei, please.”

Pei Shulan gathered her courage and followed Liuhei.

Jiang Zhaoxue quietly affixed a strength talisman and, together with Pei Zichen, Shen Yuqing, and Mu Jinyue, the four each pushed a cart, following Liuhei and Madam Pei inside.

Liubai stood by the gate, scrutinizing them as they entered through the door.

After entering the gate, they seemed to have arrived inside the mountain’s belly. It was as if they had hollowed out the mountain’s interior and built a massive chamber.

Liuhei walked ahead, chatting idly with Madam Pei. He seemed to have lived in the mountain for a long time without anyone to talk to, appearing particularly attentive.

“My junior brother and I are disciples of the Sect Leader. Since our sect was established five years ago, my junior brother and I have been stationed here. This route was specially opened for transporting dark azure stones into the Sacred Pool and is still some distance from the underground palace. If you take the route for holy seeds entering the underground palace, reaching the Sacred Pool would require considerable effort. But transporting dark azure stones? That’s much faster.”

“Why does he speak so strangely?”

A’Nan listened in Jiang Zhaoxue’s mind and couldn’t help but say, “Why do I feel like he’s hinting at us? If he’s hinting at us, that’s way too arrogant.”

“Rest for now and prepare yourself.”

Jiang Zhaoxue said. A’Nan was somewhat surprised: “Prepare? What do I need to prepare for?”

Jiang Zhaoxue said nothing more, only focused on listening to Liuhei speak. After he told them about the Blissful Eternal Life Sect’s founding history, they arrived at a door. Liuhei stopped and smiled: “Near the Sacred Pool are formations that test one’s heart. Idle persons cannot approach. I can only escort you all to here.”

“Then the road ahead…” Pei Shulan probed. Liuhei smiled slightly.

He flicked his whisk, and the door ahead instantly opened, revealing a wide platform. Before the platform was a solitary bridge that could only accommodate one person and had no railings whatsoever. Below the solitary bridge seemed to be a bottomless abyss, while ahead was a copper door stained with blood.

Seeing this bridge, A’Nan immediately screamed: “A bridge! It’s a bridge! The second time Shen Yuqing was injured for Mu Jinyue was on a bridge!!”

Jiang Zhaoxue said nothing, carefully observing that solitary bridge.

In the distance, Liuhei raised his hand and pointed toward the copper door: “Go forward, cross the bridge, and the Sacred Pool’s door will open by itself. You just need to enter.”

Listening, Jiang Zhaoxue turned to look at him, feeling the smiling Daoist youth before her was somewhat familiar.

Liuhei clearly sensed her gaze and turned to look at her.

Their eyes met, and Liuhei smiled kindly.

Pei Shulan came to her senses and quickly bowed: “Thank you, Daoist Master.”

Liuhei raised his hand in a Daoist salute, then his figure faded into the candlelight.

Once Liuhei completely disappeared, everyone looked toward Jiang Zhaoxue.

Jiang Zhaoxue pondered for a moment, then raised her eyes to Shen Yuqing: “Go check the situation first.”

His cultivation was the highest. If something happened to him, they would turn and run.

Shen Yuqing saw through Jiang Zhaoxue’s thoughts at a glance. He looked at her coldly and reminded her: “If something happens to me or him, you choose.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue paused, only then remembering that with the Mutual Heart Contract in place, if something happened to Shen Yuqing, it meant something happened to both of them. Naturally, it was more worthwhile to send Pei Zichen.

Seeing her hesitate, Pei Zichen immediately stood up and bowed: “This disciple will scout ahead first.”

His face showed no expression, but Jiang Zhaoxue instinctively felt something was wrong and felt slightly awkward.

Shen Yuqing stood to the side, turned his face away, and couldn’t help but clench his sword tightly.

She had nearly forgotten even the existence of the Mutual Heart Contract.

Pei Zichen walked quickly, reaching the bridge in just a few steps.

Walking near the cliff, Pei Zichen’s steps clearly paused. Jiang Zhaoxue frowned, holding a talisman between her fingers, ready to save him at any moment.

Fortunately, after Pei Zichen paused briefly, he began moving again. After checking, he turned back and reported calmly: “There’s something wrong with the water below. It seems to attack the divine soul, but the surroundings are sealed with barriers. The open ground poses no great danger.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue tentatively walked out.

As soon as she stepped out the door, she clearly felt several images flash through her mind.

Shen Yuqing taking her spiritual root, Pei Zichen strangling her to death, Mu Jinyue crying and hiding in Shen Yuqing’s embrace…

Those memories she had only read about in books or had suppressed many years ago suddenly surged up. She immediately formed a Heart-Clearing Seal and approached the cliff edge together with Shen Yuqing.

Near the cliff edge, the sound of the river water suddenly became enormous. Jiang Zhaoxue stood to the side and, after observing for a moment, could vaguely sense through the river water that there seemed to be a formation aura below.

She frowned slightly and calculated again. Pei Zichen held his sword the entire time, standing guard nearby, watching everyone closely.

Jiuyou Realm techniques were much more sensitive to the surroundings. He had long sensed something was wrong below, but he couldn’t speak up—he had to wait for Jiang Zhaoxue.

Jiang Zhaoxue was proficient in the way of techniques. After calculating for a long while, she had a fairly good idea. Shen Yuqing turned to look at her and asked: “What do you think?”

“The river water is just a smokescreen,” Jiang Zhaoxue said. “Below the water is a large formation that confuses people’s hearts. If I’m not mistaken, below… there should be a formation made from Xuanyang Stones, while the bridge above is a manifestation of one’s heart境. If one’s heart境 is peaceful and unaffected, they can cross this bridge smoothly. But if their state of mind changes and they make some uncontrolled action, this bridge will immediately break and send those with unstable minds into the formation’s center, completely devouring their sanity and driving them mad until death.”

Xuanyang Stones were the type of stone in the True Immortal Realm most likely to cause hallucinations. They were said to be meteorites from beyond the heavens, completely snow-white. Those with weak willpower would go mad upon approaching them. Many years ago, they had all been destroyed by the True Immortal Realm.

But just because the True Immortal Realm didn’t have them didn’t mean the Human Realm didn’t. This type of stone targeting cultivators covered the riverbed, combined with a large formation…

“Even if Ancestor Gujun came, he might not be unaffected…” Jiang Zhaoxue murmured thoughtfully, and everyone’s hearts sank.

“Then what do we do?” Mu Jinyue was quite worried. “Should we take a different route?”

“How do we change routes?” Jiang Zhaoxue turned to look at her. “If changing routes were that easy, why would we go through all this trouble? The only way now is to set up a restraining formation.”

As Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, she rummaged through her qiankun pouch. Seeing her talisman papers, she couldn’t help but say: “It’s a pity Tianjiao isn’t here.”

Shen Yuqing and Pei Zichen looked over. Jiang Zhaoxue said nothing more and drew a formation on the ground. She then took out the qiankun divination sticks and, after gambling for luck to enhance the formation, took out a silver hairpin from her sleeve. Standing in the formation, she beckoned to Pei Shulan: “Madam Pei, please come here.”

Hearing this, Pei Shulan carefully walked into the formation. Jiang Zhaoxue handed her the hairpin and said seriously: “Madam Pei, this is the Ice Heart Hairpin, a treasure that guards Penglai Mountain, used for clearing the heart and calming the spirit. This formation is the Supreme Clarity Spirit-Calming Formation. The Sacred Pool ahead is likely dangerous. If you hold this object and stand in the center of the formation, this formation can display its maximum effectiveness and keep us safe as we cross this bridge.”

“Oh…” Pei Shulan took the hairpin, somewhat anxiously saying, “I just stand here, but what about after? Where do I go after?”

“I’ll leave it to you.”

Jiang Zhaoxue raised her hand in a gesture, and a white crane stopped beside Pei Shulan. The white crane held a black robe in its beak.

Jiang Zhaoxue looked at Pei Shulan gently, with slight apology: “After we enter the Sacred Pool, you can put on this black robe, and ordinary people won’t be able to see you. Then you’ll ride this crane, and it will take you away.”

Listening, though Pei Shulan was somewhat afraid, having traveled the jianghu for many years, she still nodded: “Alright.”

“This journey has frightened Madam Pei, which is my fault. In the future, if there’s an opportunity, I will certainly see Madam Pei again and express my thanks.”

Jiang Zhaoxue bowed. Pei Shulan smiled. Looking at her, emotions indiscernible in her eyes, she only said: “I should be the one apologizing. I’ve been a burden all along and haven’t helped much.”

With that, Pei Shulan solemnly returned the bow. Jiang Zhaoxue quickly stepped forward to support her.

Supported by her, Pei Shulan paused for a moment, then both of them smiled.

Jiang Zhaoxue patted her and said warmly: “Let’s not worry about these formalities now. Madam Pei, hold the Ice Heart Hairpin well and guard the formation. We’ll go ahead first.”

Pei Shulan nodded without saying more.

Jiang Zhaoxue turned and returned to the bridge entrance. Everyone had been watching her.

Shen Yuqing’s gaze fell on Jiang Zhaoxue. She met his eyes briefly, and Shen Yuqing understood her meaning.

Jiang Zhaoxue took the initiative: “Yuqing will lead, Zichen will guard the rear.”

Hearing this, Shen Yuqing, unusually, didn’t argue and took the lead toward the bridge.

After he went forward, Jiang Zhaoxue gestured to Mu Jinyue. Mu Jinyue cautiously followed. Jiang Zhaoxue suggestively touched her sleeve—her Yin-Yang Yiyi Lantern was in her sleeve. Pei Zichen understood her meaning and nodded: “Master’s Wife, please.”

The group, like grasshoppers on a string, walked onto the solitary bridge.

As soon as they stepped on the bridge, the water sound previously suppressed by the barrier came like a deluge, roaring in the ears of the four. Jiang Zhaoxue instantly felt a severe headache, and the most unwilling and unjust memories surged up in her heart, real and false echoing in her mind.

The instant the memories surged, A’Nan immediately shouted: “Your formation isn’t working? Isn’t it a Penglai divine artifact?!”

“If it wasn’t working, we’d be experiencing worse effects than this by now.”

Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyes to look around. Shen Yuqing and Pei Zichen showed nothing unusual, but Mu Jinyue in front of her was frowning deeply, covered in cold sweat, clutching her sleeve tightly—clearly the most deeply affected.

Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help but give her another glance. A’Nan quickly said: “Something’s wrong with her. You need to be careful.”

“You think I don’t know?”

Jiang Zhaoxue checked on Shen Yuqing’s condition, then turned back to look at Pei Zichen.

Pei Zichen’s face showed no change. Seeing Jiang Zhaoxue turn around, he only rested his gaze on her face, quietly watching her, and nodded to indicate he was fine.

But his hand hidden in his sleeve kept forming Heart-Clearing Seals and was already covered in cold sweat.

The four anxiously made their way to the center of the stone bridge. The sound of rushing water was deafening. Just as they were about to cross safely, a loud call suddenly came from behind them: “Immortal Jiang!”

Everyone turned at the sound to see Pei Shulan standing in the center of the formation, holding the silver hairpin Jiang Zhaoxue had given her, quietly watching Jiang Zhaoxue.

Jiang Zhaoxue instinctively felt something was wrong, then heard Pei Shulan suddenly ask: “Answer me one more time.”

“What?” Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t understand.

Pei Zichen gripped his sword, frowning alertly. Pei Shulan shouted loudly: “If it’s a person destined by fate to die, would you change their destiny?”

Jiang Zhaoxue paused. This similar question had been asked by Ming, and asked by her.

She didn’t speak. Behind her, Shen Yuqing said: “Since it’s decreed by heaven, why change it? Life and death are determined by heaven and fate. If one cannot change it themselves, why seek help from others?”

“Determined by heaven and fate… if one cannot change it themselves, why seek help from others?”

Hearing this, Pei Shulan laughed and murmured: “Yes, if one doesn’t change it themselves, how can they seek help from others? Then, Immortal Jiang—”

Pei Shulan raised her eyes to look at Jiang Zhaoxue, her eyes filled with both apology and hatred. She suddenly pulled a black qi-wreathed dagger from her sleeve. The moment she produced the dagger, Pei Zichen moved like lightning, but Pei Shulan had clearly used a talisman to speed her movements. The instant Pei Zichen struck, she viciously stabbed the dagger into the formation, accompanied by her fierce shout: “Use your lives to seek ours!”

With that, black qi instantly penetrated the formation. Streams of black qi like swimming dragons, along with all the dark memories, shot up from the river!

Pei Zichen instantly retreated to stand before Jiang Zhaoxue, his sword formation fully deployed. Jiang Zhaoxue brought out her qiankun divination sticks and was about to speak when she heard Shen Yuqing shout loudly: “A’Xue!!”

Jiang Zhaoxue turned in surprise to see Mu Jinyue striking at her from behind with a sword!

Mu Jinyue’s eyes were blood-red, like a mindless beast charging forward. The bloody aura mixed with killing intent came overwhelming. Jiang Zhaoxue had never felt such intense bloody aura and was shocked in place.

In a split second, at this critical moment, just as the sword tip reached her eyes, Shen Yuqing arrived in time, violently yanking Mu Jinyue backward and separating the two.

At the same time, the entire bridge collapsed with a thunderous crash, and all of them fell together. All air-control techniques were sealed in that instant, and the four fell together in free fall.

The sound of river water was deafening. She couldn’t hear anything clearly for a moment, only seeing Shen Yuqing and Pei Zichen both lunging toward her from left and right. She instinctively reached toward Pei Zichen. At the same time, Mu Jinyue grabbed Shen Yuqing’s sleeve and cried out in shock: “Master, save me!!”

The weight pulled Shen Yuqing back for a moment. He clearly felt Jiang Zhaoxue’s fingertips pass by his fingertips, like a section of snow gauze he couldn’t grasp, snatched away from his hand by Pei Zichen.

He could go forward.

In that moment, he knew clearly—he could go forward, reach one inch further, advance one more step, and he could catch her.

But that would mean Mu Jinyue had to die.

Pei Zichen would save Jiang Zhaoxue, but no one would save Mu Jinyue except him.

In just a moment’s hesitation, Jiang Zhaoxue had already grabbed Pei Zichen. Pei Zichen forcefully pushed Jiang Zhaoxue toward the shore. Shen Yuqing also had no time to hesitate—he could only grit his teeth, grab Mu Jinyue, and simultaneously push her toward the shore!

The moment he grasped Mu Jinyue, his palm burned with severe pain. The red mark seemed to ignite, like a rapidly burning fuse, jumping and aching in his palm.

Shen Yuqing and Pei Zichen both fell in free fall. His gaze was entirely on Jiang Zhaoxue above. All the light in the world seemed to be on that person. For an instant, he seemed to return to that battle at Cangming Sea two hundred years ago.

That was the most desperate battle of his life. His meridians completely severed, he fell heavily into the sea. The seawater roared in his ears as he desperately sank into the deep sea. It was at that moment that Jiang Zhaoxue appeared like light splitting through the darkness. Across countless injured and dying disciples, through surging torrents, she came surging toward him without hesitation, with absolute determination.

When did he start to believe that no matter what, Jiang Zhaoxue would never leave?

Probably at that very moment.

He had clearly told her to separate, refused to see her, yet she would still arrive at the first moment of his danger.

No matter how he rejected her, how he drove her away, she still wouldn’t give up on him.

That white silk ribbon in her sleeve would cross myriad waters and mountains, would cross the vast ocean, forever, forever, pulling him back.

A’Xue…

Shen Yuqing reached out in a daze. Jiang Zhaoxue looked back from above and saw Pei Zichen and Shen Yuqing falling together. She hastily sent her white ribbon out.

The moment the white ribbon dropped down, she seemed to merge with the woman who had sent out the white ribbon in the seawater two hundred years ago. Shen Yuqing looked at that white ribbon and instinctively reached out urgently!

“A’Xue…”

“Pei Zichen!!”

The white ribbon swept past his eyes and suddenly wrapped around Pei Zichen beside him. Jiang Zhaoxue’s voice suddenly exploded from above, pulling Pei Zichen toward the heights.

Shen Yuqing’s entire body froze. All the surrounding sounds were stretched, distorted, and woven into muffled water sounds, rumbling and filling his ears.

He stared blankly as Jiang Zhaoxue pulled Pei Zichen upward, feeling time suddenly become extraordinarily long.

He fell toward the abyss, endlessly, without end.

He watched Jiang Zhaoxue fall onto the cliff, lying on the cliff tightly gripping her white ribbon.

Watched Pei Zichen grasp the white ribbon and instantly pour his spiritual power into Jiang Zhaoxue’s body, and then the Yin-Yang Yiyi Lantern in Jiang Zhaoxue’s sleeve lit up.

He watched Pei Zichen’s skin crack inch by inch because he channeled his spiritual power too quickly for the spell, blood dripping down from his fingertips. On Jiang Zhaoxue’s ring finger gripping the white ribbon, another marriage bond string lit up.

With a “boom,” he crashed into the water. Through the water and the blood dispersing from Pei Zichen, he looked at the figures above.

Why did Jiang Zhaoxue’s Yin-Yang Yiyi Lantern light up?

Why did Jiang Zhaoxue have another marriage bond string that lit up simultaneously with Pei Zichen when Pei Zichen was injured?

“Pei Zichen, if you die once I’ll save you once, if you die thousands upon thousands of times I’ll save you thousands upon thousands of times. You want to die?! It’s not that easy!”

“I want A’Xue to like me the way I like you.”

“The universe is vast, the sun and moon shine down, all things receive grace, blessed with this auspicious time, I pray heaven witness, may this marriage be fulfilled…”

Pei Zichen’s memories, accompanied by his blood, rapidly dispersed in the river water, instantly enveloping him.

Young Pei Zichen, both flustered and entranced, picked up that handkerchief with the white tiger and butterfly;

As a youth, when he desperately searched for Jiang Zhaoxue, he deceived her into the capping ceremony and bed;

In the illusion they held a wedding ceremony, the wedding night; even last night…

“If you’re willing…”

“You’re willing.”

Kill him!

Killing intent surged instantly. Through the rippling bloody water, Shen Yuqing stared deadly at the person above. Black qi burst violently from around his body. The river water instantly transformed into a black flood dragon soaring upward, shooting directly toward the heights, instantly enveloping Pei Zichen.

Pei Zichen simply let go and shouted urgently: “Lady, go!”

The instant the sound fell, Pei Zichen seemed to be swallowed by the black flood dragon in one gulp, dragged straight down. Jiang Zhaoxue’s eyes widened in shock, involuntarily crying out: “Pei Zichen!”

Hearing that cry of alarm, Pei Zichen fell heavily into the river water.

The moment he was swallowed by the river water, he was instantly devoured by Shen Yuqing’s killing intent and memories.

He watched Jiang Zhaoxue begging bitterly again and again in Shen Yuqing’s memories, watched him repeatedly admonishing and humiliating Jiang Zhaoxue, until finally, Shen Yuqing was kneeling before Ancestor Gujun. Gujun sat above playing chess, his tone indifferent: “If Jinyue’s spiritual root cannot be healed, then take Jiang Zhaoxue’s spiritual root to make up for it. A demon cultivator shouldn’t ruin the future of a Lingjian Immortal Pavilion disciple.”

Kill him.

The thought arose. Someone roared in fury: “He wants to harm Jiang Zhaoxue, kill him!”

“Kill him.” Someone emerged from behind him, laughing seductively like a temptation, “Jiang Zhaoxue will be yours.”

Kill him.

Kill! Kill! Kill!

Killing intent filled the river water. The river water churned and shook. The moment the two landed, they almost simultaneously struck.

Shen Yuqing’s sword formation fully deployed. Pei Zichen drew his bow and nocked an arrow.

In that instant, master and disciple were indistinguishable, hierarchy and status irrelevant. They looked at each other, only one thought in their minds.

Kill!!!!

On the other side, Jiang Zhaoxue watched Pei Zichen being dragged down into the river by the black flood dragon, then heard A’Nan shout: “Behind you!!”

Jiang Zhaoxue instantly sharpened her mind. Without thinking, as she turned around, she pulled out the dagger Pei Zichen had given her and stabbed toward Mu Jinyue!

The surroundings immediately began to tremble. Behind Mu Jinyue, a vortex seemed to appear. Jiang Zhaoxue’s gaze locked on that vortex in alarm as she charged toward Mu Jinyue.

Mu Jinyue caught sight of the dagger in Jiang Zhaoxue’s hand and instantly snapped awake, hastily retreating backward.

But Jiang Zhaoxue was relentless. She reached Mu Jinyue first, grabbed her hand and flung it behind herself, then raised her hand to meet the vortex.

A rather slender, somewhat effeminate hand reached out from the vortex and simultaneously collided with Jiang Zhaoxue’s hand. Jiang Zhaoxue firmly grasped the other party, who violently yanked her forward!

“The Heavenly Dao is inconstant, gambling luck with heaven—” The Yin-Yang Yiyi Lantern in her sleeve lit up simultaneously as she was pulled by Song Wulan, flying out from the vortex.

Her ornate robes swayed as if in water. Seeing who had come, Song Wulan was so shocked he hastily released his grip and retreated. Jiang Zhaoxue raised her hand in a sweep, and sixty-four jade divination sticks pursued Song Wulan like swords. The Yin-Yang Yiyi Lantern flew up with magnificent brilliance. Jiang Zhaoxue formed a seal with her hands, stepped on the formation, and shouted: “Supreme Great Fortune, heaven and earth have no gates, I forge my own universe—Seal!”

The instant the sound fell, the Supreme Fortune divination stick flew out. Jiang Zhaoxue pressed one palm to the ground, and light chains appeared from all directions out of nowhere. Song Wulan turned to flee, but the Supreme Fortune divination stick seemed to have a heavenly eye. The instant he turned, it transformed into a light cage that crashed down!

The light cage inverted over Song Wulan. Light chains immediately bound his limbs, pulling upward, and his entire body was hoisted up, locked and suspended within the light cage.

Seeing him captured and the surroundings safe, Jiang Zhaoxue finally slowly stood up.

As she moved, the formation beneath her feet rippled like water. Jiang Zhaoxue raised her hand and gathered back the qiankun divination sticks. Holding the lantern, she stood coldly in the distance, like Guanyin raising her eyes, looking at the youth in green ornate robes before her, smiling slightly.

“We meet again,” Jiang Zhaoxue’s tone carried slight annoyance, “Your Highness the Crown Prince.”