His act of substituting in the reincarnation cycle unexpectedly led to infinite variables in future generations. After the Haoli Empire, the mortal world would face an unprecedented catastrophe, once again causing widespread suffering.

It’s worth noting that three hundred years of chaos had already led to widespread destitution. Whether humanity could endure such suffering again was questionable. That’s why heaven and earth imposed such severe punishment.

Approaching his end, he harbored no resentment, only reflecting that all worldly matters ultimately amount to nothing. Yet Cao Budao still left this final letter because having calculated all of heaven’s secrets, he found one remaining thread of hope that could alleviate boundless suffering and save humanity from peril—

Eliminate the Celestial Demon.

This matter began with the Celestial Demon and must end with the Celestial Demon. Mending the fold after the sheep were lost was not too late.

Why the Celestial Demon had approached him initially, what it had done afterward, where it had gone—Cao Budao had no time to figure out. He could only entrust these matters to those who came after him.

Reading to this point, Feng Miaojun let out a long breath.

What a lengthy letter.

So this master had caused trouble himself and wanted others to clean up his mess. But what did it mean to give this letter to her? Did Cao Budao believe she could turn the tide of this calamity?

Did he know who she was, know her background?

Thinking about it this way, she felt a chill in her heart. Her arrival in this world was an extremely low-probability random event. If Cao Budao could predict even this, he would truly be incredible.

After reading the contents, Feng Miaojun didn’t take it to heart.

Celestial Demons, grand schemes, catastrophes—all these matters were too distant from her. She was just a powerless princess of a fallen country serving as someone’s attendant. This S-class mission to save the world should be left to capable people, such as… Yun Ya?

So the next morning when Yun Ya returned from a meeting in the main tent, Feng Miaojun handed the letter to him.

He read it thoroughly from beginning to end without missing a word, then casually burned the letter.

Cao Budao’s final message left in the mortal world turned to ash in an instant, never to be seen by a third person.

Feng Miaojun asked him, “What do you plan to do?”

“What do you mean?” He was slightly startled, then smiled. “Cao Budao didn’t offer any benefits, so why should I abandon state affairs to hunt down a Celestial Demon for him?”

How reasonable! “So his letter to you was written in vain?”

Yun Ya glanced at her sideways. “How do you know it wasn’t meant for you?”

“Me?” What connection did she have to this?

“You were the first to see the invisible text,” Yun Ya shrugged. “How do you know the letter wasn’t meant to be given to you? I’m just benefiting secondhand.”

They looked at each other and simultaneously burst into laughter.

If Cao Budao could see his earnest plea being passed back and forth like this, what would he think?

Finally, Yun Ya shook his head. “These spiritual charlatans love to make mountains out of molehills. Don’t believe everything.”

“Oh.” His lack of curiosity was quite unlike the real Yun Ya.

He glanced at her and suddenly asked, “Where are the earrings?”

The earrings transformed from the liquid metal monster—she hadn’t put them on.

Feng Miaojun didn’t bat an eye. “It was too severely injured and has fallen into slumber.”

He had only mentioned it in passing and didn’t take it to heart. “Anyway, it’s not of much use right now.” With her by his side, there was temporarily no need for such things.

Feng Miaojun could only smile. After consuming the metal fragment, the liquid metal monster had fallen into a deep sleep and couldn’t be awakened. This situation would continue for a short while. However, she and the liquid metal monster had reached an understanding not to mention this to Yun Ya. After all, she had kept that fragment in secret, and Yun Ya knew nothing about it.

This was also why the liquid metal monster had shrewdly negotiated terms with her only when she was alone.

The journey to Huanggang and Cao Budao’s final letter were just minor interludes. As part of the army, Feng Miaojun’s days passed quickly.

In the blink of an eye, ten days had passed. The royal army advanced like a hot knife through butter, stopping to rest only after reaching Xiao Pass.

There had been two small-scale battles along the way, but they hadn’t encountered strong resistance. Feng Miaojun experienced the rhythm of war without tasting the hardships of marching because Yun Ya had shown his protective intentions toward her when rejoining the army. Those in the know all restrained their subordinates and treated her with extra courtesy.

The State Preceptor had always been high-profile, and others had grown accustomed to it. But his temperament was peculiar, and everyone was curious about what kind of woman could earn his special regard. Whenever Feng Miaojun moved about the camp, people would give her scrutinizing looks—some out of pure curiosity and inquiry, some full of deeper meaning, and some downright unfriendly.

In a large forest, you find all kinds of birds.

That day, the army was stationed in a village. She went to the well to wash strawberries and inadvertently overheard two women talking.

It was now February. The Yao region was humid and warm, and the ice and snow melted quickly. The locally grown strawberries weren’t large, but they were beautifully bright red. Besides being sweet and plump, they had a subtle vanilla fragrance. Taking a bite was like eating a snowball but with a fruity aroma. She alone could finish five jin.

The army had allocated only ten jin.

This wasn’t outright plunder—the logistics officer had purchased them from local fruit farmers to be distributed among the army’s upper echelons. The State Preceptor’s quota was ten jin, but Yun Ya had few attendants in the army, only her and Liu Ming, so it was quite generous.

Turning past a low wall, she reached the well. Feng Miaojun, having practiced cultivation for many years, had footsteps as light as a cat’s and didn’t disturb the people by the well.

Whether she wanted to hear or not, the voices from ahead reached her: “…looks alluring, everyone who’s seen her says she’s beautiful. Who knows if she’s even human? I’ve heard some spirits are especially skilled at using their appearance to bewitch hearts.”

Another woman replied, “Can’t the State Preceptor tell the difference? Since he keeps her by his side, he must have the ability to subdue spirits. Ah, the General will be upset if she finds out. I just don’t understand why men always favor these fox spirits?”

Feng Miaojun had no intention of eavesdropping. Hearing this, her elegant eyebrows rose as she walked forward.

The two women were drawing water from the well into basins, washing strawberries while chatting. When they looked up, they saw a beautiful woman in white approaching, with a graceful figure and a face…

How to describe it? The words “alluring beauty” seemed custom-made for her. Even as women themselves, they couldn’t help but stare.

“Living in the army without concern for national affairs, eyes only for handsome men, hearts filled with jealousy toward other women—huh!” Feng Miaojun was merciless. “What kind of superior officer could have trained such useless subordinates?”

The guard stationed by the well saw her approach and quickly took a bucket to draw water for her, his face beaming with a smile so eager it was almost offensive.

Feng Miaojun could now clearly see that these two women wore military uniforms—they were female soldiers with quite a valiant demeanor. Unfortunately, when women gossip, they’re all the same.

The two female soldiers caught red-handed speaking ill of someone behind her back, were initially somewhat embarrassed. Now, hearing her cold mockery and seeing the guard being at least ten times more attentive to her than to themselves, they couldn’t help but retort, “Who do you think you are, daring to criticize General Mei Ji…!”

Before the rest of the words could leave her mouth, she suddenly screamed and dropped the wooden basin with a clatter. Yet not a drop of water spilled out—