Ming Li supported herself on the edge of the bed as she stood up. Just as she was about to walk forward, Zhou Zixi snapped his fingers, and dense starlight lines instantly crisscrossed the room, immediately trapping her within an Eight Meridians formation.

Zhou Zixi lifted his head in delight, but before he could enjoy the moment, he saw his formation broken in an instant, with Ming Li reappearing in the room.

“…”

Ming Li grabbed the star line that had broken the formation and looked up at him, slightly puzzled: “This is what I taught you.”

Zhou Zixi mysteriously gestured, shattering the star line Ming Li was holding, and slowly lifted his eyelids to gaze in her direction.

Only then did Ming Li realize that his body could be penetrated by light and shadow. A pale grayish-white glow surrounded him in the dimness, passing through his clothes, hair, and bones, making him appear like an empty shell in the radiance.

He was a shadow, accepting the piercing of light, an inextinguishable darkness.

He was a being not permitted on this continent, hunted and pursued for extermination.

He was a ground ghost—the very beings she had once drawn her bow to kill from thousands of miles away.

Realizing this, Ming Li froze momentarily, her outstretched hand suspended in the void. In that brief instant, the star power impact burst open the door outside, and the person leaning against the doorframe disappeared like scattered light and shadow.

“Zixi…”

Ming Li had no time to grasp the dissipating light, as if everything just now had been an illusion, but she understood this was not an illusion or fantasy.

She stood at the doorway, her clothes and hair lifted by the rippling aftermath of the star power. Ming Li withdrew her hand and looked outside.

Xu Bin and Qiu Hong were still fighting, their colliding star power affecting many areas, dispersing the rarely manifested shadow of the ground ghost. Ming Li came to the railing, lightly tapped on it with her raised hand, and gazed down at Qiu Hong and Xu Bin before gently flicking her finger.

She didn’t even recite the circulation qi incantation, relying solely on star power for this strike. The pilgrim’s fire blazed fiercely, yet it couldn’t withstand the surging double star power she released at this moment. Like a massive mountain pressing down, it predictably subdued the two people below.

The crowd, which had been cheerfully watching and shouting encouragement, was stunned by this reversal.

Unlike Qiu Hong and Xu Bin’s star power fists that brutally swept the surroundings affecting innocents, her strike was precisely controlled, targeting only these two people. The others didn’t even sense Ming Li’s star power; they only saw the two who had been fighting fiercely suddenly collapse to the ground as if deflated.

In that split second, Dou Lanmin and Cheng Jingbai quickly stepped forward to grab Qiu Hong and help him stand, shouting to the watching crowd: “He won!”

The crowd responded with sighs and exclamations, while some laughed heartily at their windfall.

Xu Bin, after falling, was stunned for a moment. He never expected someone could penetrate his star power defense and take him down with one strike. Though unharmed, it was an absolute humiliation to him. He angrily got up and shouted: “Who?!”

Cheng Jingbai and Dou Lanmin also quietly asked Qiu Hong, “What happened?”

Qiu Hong scratched his head and said, “Suddenly, someone knocked us both down with one strike of star power. Must be someone who’s mastered the Circulation Qi Meridian.”

Hearing this, the two simultaneously turned to look for Ming Li, but couldn’t see her.

Just then, the bell rang in the new dormitory, notifying some disciples that class time had arrived. The administrator also poked his head out and shouted to everyone: “There’s an academy examination today! Those who were demoted earlier should hurry up, and new students, this week’s introductory class is with the Star Constellation Academy Master, known as the strictest in Nan Que. Don’t be late!”

At these words, wails rose from the crowd as spectators quickly dispersed and began gathering their things to rush out.

Some passing by reminded the three—Qiu Hong and his companions: “Don’t underestimate the introductory class. The Star Constellation Academy Master looks gentle, but has the worst temper. Good luck to you!”

Qiu Hong responded with a couple of acknowledgments and was about to leave when Xu Bin stopped him: “Where are you going?!”

“You’re not the strongest after all,” Qiu Hong said impassively as he walked past him.

Xu Bin: “…”

I was just sleeping peacefully in my room, not bothering anyone, and now I have to deal with all this!

Xu Bin was so angry that he rolled his eyes.

Dou Lanmin spotted Ming Li standing on the fifth floor and waved at her, shouting: “Let’s go to the introductory class together!”

*

New students at Nan Que had to attend one month of introductory courses, personally taught by the seven academy masters. The course content included sect-related knowledge, Eight Meridians-related information, and Ancient Passage Continent details.

Bei Dou had similar courses, and Ming Li already knew what would be covered, so she attended without paying much attention, lost in thought throughout.

The Star Constellation Academy Master, standing at the lectern, had a refined and elegant demeanor. Although male, his features were excessively feminine—if dressed as a woman, his gender would be hard to distinguish. He spoke with gentle softness, causing many female disciples to stare at his face.

Fang Hui didn’t pay much attention to what was being said about his academy master, but instead glanced at where Ming Li was sitting, then looked forward without seeing Qian Li.

Today, the Star Constellation Academy Master was lecturing on the Ancient Passage Continent, covering everything from the Great Qin Dynasty to super sects and pilgrims.

As he circled locations on the map, he said, “Regarding pilgrims, everyone knows each of the four major sects has one. Now that Bei Dou and East Yang have fallen, only our Nan Que and West Sky Tai Yi remain.”

Bei Dou’s Ming Li and East Yang’s Song Tianjiu both died in the Northern Border Ghost Plains.

Now only Nan Que’s Cui Yaocen and Tai Yi’s Ye Yuanqing remained.

“Shu Sheng, as the Chief Master of the Martial Monitoring Alliance, is dedicated to protecting Great Qin.”

“Each pilgrim has their affiliated camp. After breaking through, Xiang An’ge announced the establishment of his own country, called Wufang. In Wufang, he is the only person—it’s a place where the living cannot tread.”

Even the most powerful Great Qin army in the current Ancient Passage dared not enter this Wufang country at will. This pilgrim had a bad temper and didn’t much care for others. If any unfortunate soul mistakenly entered his domain, they could only go without return, their fate uncertain.

Unlike Xiang An’ge, who claimed territory and established a country after breaking through, the most mysterious pilgrim, Yuan Lu, declared after breaking through that he had no territory and would never have one. Therefore, among the five remaining pilgrims, only he is unaffiliated.”

People said Yuan Lu’s whereabouts were unpredictable and most difficult to find, but what they didn’t know was that the pilgrims of the Ancient Passage Continent regularly met at certain points in time.

Because of certain powers from heaven and earth that only they could comprehend.

After circling the positions of the various pilgrims, the Star Constellation Academy Master said: “All generations of pilgrims share a common characteristic, or rather, this is a characteristic of the Ancient Passage Continent, because this involves a certain existence on the continent that people find both detestable and frightening.”

He circled a black ring in the center of the Ancient Passage Continent map, and black mist silently spread out from it, covering the continental landmass. This action caught the attention of the disciples, and those who hadn’t been paying serious attention came back to their senses.

Ming Li raised her eyes to look forward, seeing the Ancient Passage Continent now completely enveloped in black mist.

The Star Constellation Academy Master smiled and said, “Ground ghosts, immortal monsters.”

“Though they appear no different from humans, they are not human. Ground ghosts possess the ability of immortality, and cannot be killed even with star power. Apart from being slain by their kind, they can only be thoroughly killed by pilgrims.”

With a sweep of his sleeve, most of the black mist on the map disappeared. Over thousands of years, the number of ground ghosts has greatly decreased, with only a small portion remaining. Given time, they will completely vanish from the Ancient Passage Continent, and this is basically all thanks to the generations of pilgrims on the continent.”

A female disciple raised her hand and timidly asked: “Are they hunted and killed only because ground ghosts possess immortality?”

This question was met with hisses and suppressed laughter from other disciples, who turned to see which ignorant newcomer didn’t know how terrifying and disgusting ground ghosts were.

Faced with this female disciple’s question, the Star Constellation Academy Master showed no annoyance, but instead asked: “What is your name?”

The female disciple anxiously replied: “Disciple Zhou Xiang.”

Ming Li glanced at her.

The Star Constellation Academy Master nodded, still smiling: “Do you have parents, siblings, or close friends at home?”

Perhaps due to nervousness, Zhou Xiang stuttered in her response: “Y-yes, my parents are still alive, but I’m their only child… I also have quite a few friends…”

The Star Constellation Academy Master asked: “Are your parents affectionate with each other?”

Zhou Xiang was momentarily stunned, then nodded, saying: “They have a very good relationship.”

The Star Constellation Academy Master smiled: “No offense intended, but what if one day your father, who deeply loves you all, brought your friends home bound, killed them, then attacked you and your mother, and perhaps even killed relatives and friends in your clan before leaving…”

Zhou Xiang listened in shock, her face pale as she asked: “W-why would he do that?”

The Star Constellation Academy Master sighed and said softly, “Many people who died at the hands of ground ghosts wanted an answer, asking why they did such things, but the answer is: there is no reason.”

“They might be husbands who deeply love their wives and daughters, or vice versa, wives who deeply love their husbands and children; or they could be friends you consider soulmates, heroes in the eyes of the world. Ground ghosts are most skilled at disguise, presenting an image of goodness.”

“But their essence is evil, pure evil.”

“Ground ghosts commit evil and kill without needing a reason—they are evil itself.”

The Star Constellation Academy Master looked directly at Zhou Xiang, his gentle gaze fixed on this naive disciple: “A ground ghost’s evil can suddenly erupt on a certain day, in a certain moment, difficult to detect or predict, because before this moment, they are just like their disguise—an impeccable good person.”

“When they release their evil side, they become ghosts.”

Ground ghosts are to be killed in the sunlight.

Zhou Xiang listened in stunned silence.

The Star Constellation Academy Master continued: “Ground ghosts’ evil ranges from ordinary people killing their wives and exterminating their clans, to cultivators massacring cities and destroying countries. Their actions are completely inhuman. As long as they don’t die, this evil won’t be extinguished. Their existence in the world can only bring endless disasters, bringing misfortune and death to people. Therefore, the Ancient Passage Continent views them as the most dangerous existence, and they must be exterminated without exception.”

Ming Li had killed many ground ghosts.

Each one, before death, remained unmoved by their “heinous and inhuman crimes in human eyes,” showing no repentance, no pain, no regret.

Even though they could sense human emotions and even exploit them, they would never respond with the same emotional feedback, because committing evil was their instinct, their nature; it was the meaning of their existence.

People hated them: hated that ground ghosts couldn’t give a reason for their actions; hated that they couldn’t be reformed; hated that they could never become human.

As the Star Constellation Academy Master described the ground ghosts, Ming Li lowered her eyes, her gaze flickering as she recalled past events.

*

That day, heavy snow fell outside. She opened the doors and windows to enjoy the fresh air and snow, remembering that her elder brother had returned from his travels, bringing her much gold, silver, jade, and cosmetics. On impulse, she brought them out, opening the boxes one by one to try them.

Before Zhou Zixi came, it was just an ordinary winter day.

In the mirror, a woman with red makeup and loose black hair that fell to the ground, intertwining with the red hem of her dress. Ming Li sat casually half-lying on the floor, facing the mirror, swinging an eyebrow pencil, unaware that her robe had slipped off her shoulder. This relaxed posture caught the eye of Zhou Zixi, who had come to find her. He stopped under the eaves, the words “Senior Sister” unable to leave his lips.

Few people could come to Ming Li’s small courtyard, so she was very comfortable here, unconstrained.

Somehow, Zhou Zixi had also become one who could freely come and go in her small courtyard.

The accumulated snow on the branches fell with a sound. When Ming Li turned to look, Zhou Zixi also moved forward, meeting those beautiful almond eyes with a smile: “Senior Sister, are you going somewhere today?”

“Nowhere.” Ming Li said, “Outside is all white with snow, so I wanted to see some other colors. I remembered these things my brother gave me earlier, so I brought them out to play with.”

She looked back at the mirror: “But these are all for girls, I can’t give them to you.”

Zhou Zixi sat down beside her and laughed helplessly: “I wouldn’t use them anyway.”

Ming Li said naturally, “I don’t know why, but lately I just like giving you things. When I see something interesting or useful, I want to give it to you.”

Hearing this, the smile in Zhou Zixi’s eyes deepened as he reached out to fix her slipped robe: “If Senior Sister likes to give, I also like to receive.”

Ming Li twirled the eyebrow pencil and said, “I can’t draw this well. Where’s Qing Ying? Call her to come too…”

Before she could finish, Zhou Zixi took the eyebrow pencil from her hand. She looked up to see him say seriously, “Senior Sister, I can do it.”

Ming Li blinked and asked again: “You can?”

Zhou Zixi nodded.

Ming Li was puzzled: “Why do you know how? I don’t see you drawing eyebrows.”

“I’ve seen others do it before. I learn things quickly; I can do it after seeing it once,” Zhou Zixi said.

Ming Li trusted her junior brother’s talent, so she confidently handed the eyebrow pencil to him and obediently sat up, allowing him to work on her.

Zhou Zixi carefully drew her eyebrows. After a few strokes, he said: “Senior Sister.”

Ming Li blinked: “Hmm?”

Zhou Zixi said, “You’re very beautiful. You look beautiful even without drawn eyebrows.”

Ming Li nodded: “You’re not the first to say so.”

Zhou Zixi raised an eyebrow: “Who was the first?”

Ming Li laughed: “My father, of course.”

Zhou Zixi: “…”

After he finished, Ming Li turned to look in the mirror. Moving closer to it, she said curiously: “I feel like you didn’t take that long, yet it’s completely different from when I do it myself.”

Hearing this, Zhou Zixi smiled with narrowed eyes, like the winter sun, bright and brilliant.

The two of them rummaged through the little trinkets her brother had sent, with exquisite and beautiful small boxes spread all over the floor. The makeup on Ming Li’s face gradually took shape under Zhou Zixi’s hands. With a golden flower mark on her brow, she turned her head to look at the mirror and said, “Just need lip rouge now, right?”

Zhou Zixi handed her a lip rouge box. Ming Li looked at it and shook her head: “I don’t like this color.”

She searched through several boxes herself but couldn’t find one she liked. Fortunately, lip rouge was what her brother had bought the most of.

Zhou Zixi selected another one and opened it for her: “How about this one?”

Ming Li leaned in to smell it. Zhou Zixi watched and chuckled: “Senior Sister, this isn’t meant to be smelled.”

“But it smells good,” Ming Li also laughed. “Let’s use this one.”

Because he had been looking for the lip rouge box, Zhou Zixi was now standing while Ming Li knelt on the ground. She looked up at Zhou Zixi and suddenly realized he was no longer the youth she had first met.

Ming Li’s gaze moved from the man’s Adam’s apple to stop on those distinctly knuckled hands. His index finger made a circle in the lip rouge, and the hooked rouge was gently placed on her lips.

The warm fingertip spread the paste-like rouge, smoothing it over her soft lips.

Perhaps to see if the application was even, Zhou Zixi unconsciously bent down, holding his breath without realizing it. As he drew closer, Ming Li felt a momentary, indescribable pressure on her heart, so she slightly parted her lips. The seemingly steady hand trembled at this, touching not just the red lips but also the teeth behind them.

Both of them stopped their movements.

Outside, the wind and snow howled, blowing Ming Li’s hair strands to lightly touch Zhou Zixi’s cheeks, making them suddenly aware of how close they had become.

The reason Zhou Zixi dared to lower his head at that time was only because Ming Li had smiled at him.