In two lifetimes, this was the first time Xue Yu had heard someone use the word “coax” in front of her.

From the moment she could remember, heavy shackles had been fastened upon her. The identities of Yedu Princess, future female ruler, and Sacred Land inheritor piled one upon another on her shoulders. With exceptional natural talent, she also demanded the utmost strictness from herself.

Walking this path to today, she was aloof, resilient, powerful, and nearly omnipotent.

Outsiders respected her, subjects loved her, and her father trusted her. Even Song Heng in her previous life would always tread carefully around her, wanting to get close yet fearing to offend.

Xue Yu lowered her eyes to look down, seeing him half-crouched before the boulder, his robes spreading out piece by piece like a flower blooming in spring rain on a long street, carefully tended by someone.

Very beautiful.

She couldn’t help but develop a touch of curiosity about that word “coax.”

Three or two threads of varying lengths hung from her fingertips, looking crystalline like ice formations, carrying the temperature of frost yet with the texture of cotton threads – this was one of her rare ways of expressing emotional fluctuations.

Su You slowly gathered those threads into his palm, gently pulling them around in a circle before meticulously hanging them back on her fingertips.

Some said that Spirit Array Masters’ hands gathered spiritual energy within them, and to call them exquisitely carved and flawlessly perfect would not be excessive. When Su You touched them, that kind of delicate beauty of slender joints bloomed compellingly before one’s eyes.

The two were close together, one looking down, one looking up. As he leaned forward, their breaths intertwined.

“Your Highness need not be angry.”

At this moment, the strategizing Master Su disappeared again. He was like a pool of spring water, gentle and quiet when ripples arose, that completely innocent and pure appearance almost wrote the four characters “at anyone’s disposal.”

His voice carried laughter, each word distinct: “This subject is the blade in Your Highness’s hand, and can also become the brush on Your Highness’s paper.”

From childhood to adulthood, from previous life to this one, Xue Yu had never heard a man speak with such tender tones, one voice after another, carried to her ears by the clear breeze.

His actions and words crossed every boundary.

At this moment, if it were anyone else half-crouched before her, even Song Heng from her previous life, Xue Yu would not listen to or look at even half a word more.

But Su You—

He had helped her countless times, handled numerous headache-inducing problems. Just two days ago, he had finished reviewing those mountain-high stacks of documents.

Xue Yu looked down at him with a taut face from her high position. After a long while, her lips moved slightly: “Get up. I’ll speak, you draw.”

Shortly after, on a flat boulder, Su You bent slightly forward, holding a brush he’d temporarily found from his storage ring. A piece of paper was spread on the stone surface. As Xue Yu spoke a sentence, he would make several strokes. This time, when she said mountain, it was mountain, when she said water, it was water – clear, straightforward, understood at a glance.

“When drawing mountains, the peaks should be higher. If they’re high overall but not prominent, they lose their shape.” He was meticulous and patient, teaching her the simplest drawing methods: “Temples and city gates only need simple outlines – four or five strokes will do.”

Xue Yu stood beside him with her hands hanging down, watching seriously. After a while, she rubbed her brow and called out to him with particular seriousness while keeping a cold face: “Why are my lines always crooked?”

How were his lines drawn in one smooth stroke without the slightest deviation?

Su You paused. After a long moment, he pulled out another clean sheet of white paper from the side, suspended the brush tip, and drew a straight line from top to bottom, saying: “When Your Highness draws lines, you needn’t think they must be straight. Looking at the line’s endpoint will make it easier—”

Xue Yu expressionlessly hummed in acknowledgment. Somehow, when his voice trailed off, she glanced at his profile.

His serious appearance had a different kind of elegance.

Xue Yu seemed to squint as if blown by the wind, unconsciously dropping several snow threads between her fingers.

After becoming aware of this, she focused her attention to look, then pressed her lips together and matter-of-factly wound those threads back around her fingers. In the next instant, she simply converted them all into spiritual power and drew them back into her body.

By the time Chao Nian led the group, followed by Chao Hua and Chou Li, who had been dawdling behind, the latest map of ten cities, nine mountains, and six waters had been drawn completely. Xue Yu pointed to one spot and said, “I looked it over. Among the ten cities in the outer regions, there are countless ancient temples and monasteries, but the largest and most famous is Zhoudao Temple in Linshuang City, and it is indeed built on seaside reefs.”

“That’s it.” This time, Chao Hua could understand the map. She said with complete certainty: “When father entered back then and inadvertently took Chao Nian away, he didn’t pay attention to the temple’s name, but remembered extremely clearly that outside the temple was the sea, and the sea was full of dangers. Many nameless fierce beasts and spirits would rush out unexpectedly – every step was perilous.”

Xue Yu nodded.

So in the previous life, Chao Hua had been uneasy about leaving Chao Nian there alone. She gritted her teeth and stayed to protect him, never even making it to the Secret Realm Abyss. Fortunately, Chao Nian belonged to that place. After awakening his spiritual aperture and relying on vague impressions, he led Chao Hua in various explorations, successfully obtaining quite impressive inheritances for both of them before their lives were endangered.

Thinking of this, Xue Yu glanced around and said seriously: “After sending Chao Nian to Zhoudao Temple, we’ll go to Milu Mountain in the east, then head south all the way—” Her finger traced a circle on the map, “passing through Little South Mountain and Ningshui City. When the half-year period arrives, we’ll be just in time to reach the gates of the Secret Realm Abyss.”

One of the few benefits of starting over was that, having experienced Feiyun Heights once, she still had impressions of the specific locations of some notable spirit treasures and small secret realms.

For instance, Milu Mountain produced a clear jade bracelet, a Heaven-tier spirit treasure very suitable for Chou Li. In the underground palace of Little South Mountain, there was an ancient sword of great renown that could perfectly replace the one Su You currently carried.

After that, they could visit Ningshui City, where there was a large tomb. The tomb’s owner had a strange temperament and was quite displeased when dug up, injuring many people. Her cultivation method had similarities with Chao Hua’s, so they could try their luck – if it didn’t work, they wouldn’t lose anything.

Conveniently, the Secret Realm Abyss was right in that area.

As for herself, if her expectations were correct, the Sacred Land inheritors’ opportunities all lay within the Secret Realm Abyss.

No one objected to her decisions. When the sun hung at midpoint, they took to the air and flew rapidly toward Linshuang City.

Meanwhile, Chi Shui’s team had split into two groups – one led by Lu Chengze, the other surrounding Yin Ling. Though one unit, the atmosphere was strangely divided into two distinct sides.

Different paths in the Ten-Color Mountains led to different directions. They were lucky – upon entering, they were immediately transported to a small world.

Merciless strong winds cut across their faces, sharp as blades. The sky pressed down darkly without a trace of sunlight, and the weather was unbearably cold.

One could not act rashly in secret realms – this was advice passed down through the ages. Especially in special existences like Feiyun Heights, who knew what kind of untouchable beings the Fusang Tree had brought in.

This was no joke. Others might give you some face for the Sacred Lands’ sake, but even Sacred Land inheritors only carried a few more life-saving talismans. Whether they would be useful or could withstand any power in truly critical moments was unknown.

Yin Ling and Lu Chengze had each tried probing once, but it seemed to trigger some switch. The sky turned black as if about to pour ink, winds raged violently, and frost and snow pressed down harshly. Helplessly, both decided to wait and lit a fire beside a huge pill furnace statue.

Lu Chengze and Song Heng sat facing each other. The former broke a withered branch with a crisp snap, looked up at Song Heng, and after a long while, seemed unable to bear it any longer: “Song Heng, can you act normal? What’s wrong with you?”

Ever since learning that Su You had been promoted to Young Master, he had kept a dark face with furrowed brows, showing no interest in Feiyun Heights’ opportunities, instead remaining fixated on finding Xue Yu to explain and question her.

“I’ve told you many times.” Lu Chengze repeated tirelessly, biting down hard on each word: “You and Xue Yu ended long ago. Ended, understand?”

Song Heng suddenly raised his eyes, his usually refined and gentle face almost flashing with a layer of gloomy hostility.

Just as he was about to stand, Lu Chengze pressed down heavily on his shoulder bone. Thinking this person wouldn’t give up until hearing the brutal truth, he spoke mercilessly through gritted teeth: “Do you think if you go find Xue Yu now, she’ll listen to your explanations and reconcile with you? Song Heng, stop dreaming. If she truly wanted to change men, forget the Heavenly Emperor – even if you merged the Sacred Lands, demon capital, and imperial court, she’d still change without hesitation.”

“Or do you want to question her?” Lu Chengze stared at him intently. “Let me put it this way – what gives you the right? No matter how domineering or cold as ice she may be, it was she who saved you, supported you, cultivated you, and accompanied you in establishing the Heavenly Court. These are her kindnesses. She was willing to do this – no one could control that. But if she’s unwilling now, what can you do?”

Moreover, he had betrayed her first.

Song Heng looked at him with slightly contracted pupils. Lu Chengze continued: “Fine, if you insist on being stubborn and throwing your life before her, I have nothing to say. But why didn’t you tell me from the start that you didn’t want to live and that no one should save you? I went to great lengths to save and protect you, getting scolded bloody by the elders. What was I doing it for? For fun?”

By the end, Lu Chengze, who had originally only meant to scold him awake, couldn’t help feeling truly disappointed.

His acquaintance with Song Heng came about because of Xue Yu. Because Xue Yu brought him on missions, and after experiencing many things together, they discovered this person had a sincere heart. He worried about what the people worried about, rejoiced in what the people rejoiced in. He was both diligent and honest, without any scheming thoughts. When it came to helping others, he would do it a hundred times without growing weary.

Those from Chi Shui liked dealing with such people.

Later, Song Heng saved him once, and the two progressed from acquaintances to mutual understanding, becoming close friends.

“Lu Chengze, stop talking.” Song Heng swept away his palm, his chest heaving violently. He paused to collect himself, arranging his expression with particular coldness: “You’ve been troubled during this time.”

“So we’re going separate ways now, right?” Lu Chengze ground his teeth and nodded, pointing behind them: “Fine. I specifically chose this direction to enter. Don’t go to the Secret Realm Abyss either – your opportunity is back there.”

How could Song Heng, who had spent ten years here in his previous life, not recognize where his opportunity lay? But once he entered, it would be ten years.

Not long, not short. Hard to say what would happen, but enough time for two people to develop feelings for each other.

Seeing the struggle still in his eyes, Lu Chengze said angrily: “What are you going to do now? What use would going be? You can’t get opportunities, your strength won’t improve – forget Xue Yu, just consider Su You.”

“Since he appeared, have you seen Xue Yu take action herself? Even we few can’t gauge her current strength.”

He delivered the killing blow: “If you truly want to win her back, in ten years, when you emerge, it will be the Three Lands Grand Assembly. Then, talented individuals from all corners will gather. You can stand there, defeat that Young Master she newly promoted, show decent results, and stand before her with dignity and honor.”

As if suddenly awakened from a dream, Song Heng’s obsessive thoughts snapped back to focus. He took a deep breath, looked at Lu Chengze, and said with particular sincerity: “Chengze, I’m sorry. Just now I—”

Whenever Xue Yu was involved, he seemed to fall into a vicious cycle of struggling with himself, unable to extricate himself.

Lu Chengze wearily pulled at his lips, waved his hand, his voice softening: “Words are useless. You should enter first. This secret realm was left by your ancestor, who voluntarily gave up his royal status and restored his spiritual meridians. Besides you, probably no one else in the world can obtain it.”

After hearing this, Song Heng glanced at Yin Ling sitting by the fire and said quietly: “Good. After I enter, this place will return to normal, and you’ll have enough time to leave.”

He hesitated no more and stepped into the deep night.

Lu Chengze sat back by the fire somewhat wearily. Seeing no one beside him, Yin Ling slowly walked over, first exclaiming “Oh!” then giggling as she added insult to injury: “What did Song Heng do to make you so angry?”

“Don’t mention it.” Lu Chengze pressed his throbbing temples quite gloomily: “How is he so unreasonable?”

“I find him unpleasant anyway.” Yin Ling curled her lips, not wanting to dwell on this topic. She paused, patted his shoulder, and asked: “Did you go to the last Three Lands Grand Assembly?”

“No.” Lu Chengze answered quickly: “I was in seclusion then. Besides, why would I need to go every time?”

Yin Ling nodded: “Then this time will be quite lively. Once Feiyun Heights closes, everyone will want to test their skills. If nothing unexpected happens, all six Sacred Land inheritors and the orthodox bloodlines from the demon capital’s five families should attend.”

“Your condition hasn’t been good these recent years. Don’t fall below the top forty-five and embarrass yourself.”

Lu Chengze knew she never had anything good to say when she came over. He fell silent, then asked: “You went last time – what position did you rank?”

Yin Ling pulled her cloak closer: “Second. First place went to the Wen family. But ours wasn’t an official ranking. I was the only Sacred Land inheritor who went, and other notable figures didn’t show up either. Extremely boring.”

“Anyway, I’m just giving you a heads up.” She warned carelessly: “Don’t lose face for Chi Shui because of an outsider.”

“Of course, if you don’t want the position of Chi Shui’s future lord, I’d be quite happy to take it without bloodshed. Don’t worry, we’ll still follow the old clan rules – whoever loses becomes the Sacred Land’s Grand Elder. Acceptable?”

Lu Chengze’s face immediately darkened by half, having thought he could have a proper conversation with her.

When Xue Yu’s group reached Linshuang City, it was already evening of the ninth day. During this time, they had experienced two waves of minor barrier entrapments, three sudden shattered illusions, and obtained dozens of decent spirit plants and half a bottle of spirit marrow.

Evening clouds filled the remaining space in their vision. Linshuang City wasn’t large – it was a small city.

Walking along, the streets and taverns were complete, even the plaques hanging in front of residences on both sides looked brand new, as if freshly written. Everything was no different from the outside world.

Except there were no people.

Without people, it seemed particularly quiet. Once quiet, Chao Nian couldn’t stand it.

He had to talk.

“These past few days I’ve had a premonition that my true form should be some ancient spiritual weapon – perhaps a sword, maybe the Azure Dragon Sword or Phoenix Song Sword.”

Chao Hua jumped up and smacked the back of his head with a “pa,” rolling her eyes: “Azure Dragon Phoenix Song indeed. Looking at your ignorant appearance, I think you might be a piece of scrap metal.”

Chao Nian behaved for a while after being hit, but seeing the blue butterfly hanging from Xue Yu’s temple, he found another topic: “If we stumble upon a small secret realm by chance, could Xuanji be restored? If she woke up, she could testify against the Human Emperor. Then that Human Emperor could never succeed. When the Fusang Tree selects another sensible person who can do real work, the mortal realm would improve, and we’d be comfortable too.”

Hearing his innocent words, Chao Hua opened her mouth helplessly: “I take back what I just said. You’re not scrap metal – you’re a wooden fish.”

As they spoke, they were crossing a north-south running long street. Very far away came the sound of waves.

Perhaps finding such an environment truly too quiet, or perhaps in a decent mood, Xue Yu spoke unhurriedly to shatter his fantasy: “The three lands of the world are balanced. Sacred Lands have divine powers, the demon capital has abilities, and only the imperial court and the Human Emperor are powerless? Do you think this three-way balance came from nowhere? The Qiu imperial family has passed down from ancient times to now, their kingdom never falling to other surnames. Why?”

Chou Li supplemented good-naturedly: “Even Sacred Land masters must speak politely and as equals before Qiu Tong. Why?”

Chao Nian belatedly scratched his head and asked: “Why?”

“The key is in the imperial court, in the imperial palace.” Chao Hua sighed helplessly.

Xue Yu was silent for a moment, then said: “In ancient times, after the great chaos ended, the Fusang Tree designated Sacred Lands, the imperial court, and the demon capital. The three sides each performed their duties, coexisting peacefully. Sacred Lands and the demon capital each had their support. What about the mortal realm? Some humans cultivated and joined sects, but more lived ordinary lives.”

“Relatively speaking, the human race and Human Emperor were the weakest party among the three.”

“So there was a saying that the Fusang Tree placed something capable of overturning heaven and earth in the imperial palace, in the hands of the imperial bloodline. At that time, the imperial lineage was still divided into two branches, but because of this, thereafter, the imperial family would forever have sealed spiritual meridians, possessing only short lifespans of mere decades. The other branch then refused to compete further, and the throne fell to the Qiu family.”

“Don’t ask why.” Chao Hua looked at Chao Nian, speaking before he could: “They govern the mortal realm. If they had lofty status, long lifespans spanning eons, could they still understand the birth, aging, sickness, and death of countless subjects, their helplessness?”

“The Fusang Tree’s intentions often represent the intentions of most living beings in this world.”

“But since this is just a rumor, and so many years have passed, if this were true, why haven’t all these emperors used it?” Chao Nian muttered, “It can’t be as mysterious as claimed.”

Xue Yu glanced at him: “The world has no major disputes, nor has it encountered any life-or-death situations for the human race – that’s reason one. Once released, it might very well awaken the Fusang Tree’s main consciousness. Then the three lands’ power structure would be redistributed, and whether the Qiu family could maintain their imperial position is uncertain – that’s reason two.”

So this move by the Fusang Tree made Sacred Lands and the demon capital wary while constraining the Human Emperor himself.

Thus, the world has achieved peace until today.

Unfortunately, time had been too long, and all trajectories had reached a point of deviation.

They swept past a mountain range spanning dozens of li and saw an ancient temple standing among huge reef clusters. Xue Yu raised an eyebrow, looked at the map again, and, after confirming beyond doubt, landed on the ground. As she pushed open the temple’s back door, she completed her final statement: “Whether this is true or not, I’m also unclear.

“But officials of third rank and above who have received imperial appointment can be protected from any soul-searching techniques, even if they’re ordinary people without spiritual power. This is a fact.”

Just like the Luozhou Prefect that day, they couldn’t interrogate him. Everyone knew souls couldn’t be searched, but no one knew why.

The temple was large, with front and back doors open and spider webs on all four sides. Looking around, fifty or sixty golden Buddha statues sat solemnly. The fruits and incense offerings below were unrecognizable, showing only some eye-catching golden color on the Buddha statues.

Xue Yu entered through the back door, walked to the front entrance. She seemed to sense something and stopped, then pushed open the final small door.

The moment she raised her eyes, she found herself looking directly at Feng Shangyu and Chen Longzhi, leading several people who stood on the reefs staring intently at the sea surface, gazing over with hesitation and uncertainty.