Baisui You!

It was Baisui You again!

Why did villains always want to be Baisui You?!

At that moment, Qin Wanwan felt she had developed Baisui You PTSD. She instinctively used her spiritual consciousness to probe Baisui You’s cultivation level. The moment her consciousness touched him, she felt a sharp pain. Qin Wanwan gasped, and heard Baisui You warning her like he would a child: “Fellow Daoist Qin, though your spiritual consciousness is quite strong, your magical power is ultimately weak. Places you shouldn’t go, don’t go there, okay?”

Qin Wanwan didn’t speak. Her spiritual consciousness had been tempered for two hundred years in the upper realm. In the immortal world, she wasn’t a powerhouse, but compared to many cultivators who had ascended from small worlds, she was quite good. Yet this person had discovered her probing in the first instant. This showed his spiritual consciousness must be far superior to hers.

For someone of his caliber, if he wanted to seize the Exquisite Jade, it wouldn’t be difficult. Why had he been following her all along?

She pondered, probing: “Fellow Daoist Bai, with your profound cultivation, if you wanted the Exquisite Jade, you could just take it directly. Why make things difficult for a small fry like me? Unless, you have other designs on me?”

“You’re quite clever.” Baisui You leaned close to her ear, his voice gentle: “You ate the Azure Dragon I worked so hard to raise. Tell me, shouldn’t you compensate me?”

“Hey!”

Seeing Baisui You with his measly 25 favorability hovering by Qin Wanwan’s ear, Jian Xingzhi warned him: “You old lecher, stay away from my girl!”

“Who’s your girl!”

Wanting to divert Baisui You’s attention, Qin Wanwan turned back and scolded: “Stop spouting nonsense.”

“Don’t flirt in front of me,” Baisui You pressed the blade tighter against Qin Wanwan’s neck, and blood seeped out. “The woman or the Exquisite Jade—choose.”

Qin Wanwan didn’t speak. Her mind raced.

Baisui You raised an Azure Dragon and wanted the Exquisite Jade—his goal must be to use the Ascension Gate to ascend. But now the dragon pill was in her body. He couldn’t possibly let her go.

Moreover, since she had obtained the dragon pill, the system couldn’t possibly let this opportunity slip by. The Exquisite Jade must also be part of her mission, though she didn’t know why the task hadn’t been issued yet.

So she couldn’t give the Exquisite Jade to Baisui You. Once he got it, he would probably take her away immediately.

She pondered, blinking at Jian Xingzhi, hoping he would understand her meaning and not hand over the Exquisite Jade.

Watching Qin Wanwan blink frantically, Jian Xingzhi thought she was frightened into losing composure. He tossed the Exquisite Jade up and down in his hand, comforting her: “Don’t be afraid. The worst is just death. I’ll avenge you.”

Qin Wanwan: “…”

Hearing his words made her even more afraid.

While speaking, Jian Xingzhi observed Baisui You.

This person was the first whose cultivation level he couldn’t discern since arriving in this world. He must truly be a significant figure.

Some small worlds occasionally produced heaven-defying individuals who, despite profound cultivation, couldn’t ascend. Meeting one here didn’t surprise him.

However, such people were generally ruthless and thoroughly evil. If he truly encountered such a character who had 25 favorability toward Qin Wan, he probably wanted more than just the Exquisite Jade.

The treasure and the woman—he might take both.

Then he’d lose both the Exquisite Jade and his girl. What a huge loss.

He juggled the Exquisite Jade, and everyone’s hearts rose and fell with it.

Seeing Jian Xingzhi seemed to waver, Xie Gutang couldn’t help speaking: “Senior, the Exquisite Jade concerns the future of millions of cultivators in this realm. It absolutely cannot be given to someone of unknown background.”

“You dare speak?!”

Hearing Xie Gutang, Jian Xingzhi whipped around and directly cursed: “I told you to protect her properly. Where is she now?!”

His easily obtained fifty points—Xie Gutang had just thrown them away!

Xie Gutang froze. Baisui You smiled.

“Young Daoist Xie speaks of millions of cultivators and the great Dao, but in the end, still lets this young lady sacrifice herself. You righteous cultivators—you’re not even as good as this young lady. She risked her life in the secret realm to save you all, never abandoning you, yet this is how you treat her?”

Hearing this, Xie Gutang’s face paled. He clenched his fists: “Release Fellow Daoist Qin. Besides the Exquisite Jade, you may do with me as you please.”

“What would I want with a stinking Daoist like you?” Baisui You sneered coldly, raising his eyes to Jian Xingzhi. “Fellow Daoist Long, have you decided? Don’t waste this venerable one’s time.”

Jian Xingzhi thought for a moment and nodded: “Fine, I’ll give you the jade.”

As he spoke, he jumped down from the sword mountain. Jun Shu and the others immediately rushed forward to seize it. In that instant, the ground suddenly sprouted countless flower vines, forcibly separating Jun Shu, Xie Gutang, and the others.

Seeing Baisui You make his move, Jian Xingzhi raised his hand and tossed the Exquisite Jade in the opposite direction while instantly appearing before the two, grabbing for Qin Wanwan.

But Baisui You seemed to have anticipated this. Flower vines burst from the earth, catching the Exquisite Jade in midair while he pulled Qin Wanwan aside. Countless flower vines instantly entangled Jian Xingzhi.

However, Jian Xingzhi moved faster. Dozens of blades from the sword mountain shot down, viciously shredding the flower vines. In this exchange of attack and defense, Qin Wanwan felt Baisui You’s spiritual power flowing.

Wrong!

This wasn’t a living person’s spiritual power!

Qin Wanwan immediately realized—the one behind her wasn’t the original body at all, just a puppet. If she could break the formation on this puppet, it would immediately lose its ability to act.

But at this moment, he stood behind her. Given their vast difference in strength, if she wanted to strike without alerting him, there was only one method.

Watching Jian Xingzhi charge forward with his sword, Qin Wanwan bit her lip. Without hesitation, she raised her hand and thrust her sword. The sword tip carried Jishan’s unique formation technique, piercing through her own body and fiercely stabbing into Baisui You’s body. The formation quickly found the formation controlling the puppet, domineeringly pursuing it along Baisui You’s meridians!

Baisui You’s movements froze. In that brief moment, Jian Xingzhi severed the hand holding the mourning staff with one sword stroke and tightly grasped Qin Wanwan’s hand.

But Baisui You only hesitated for an instant. The moment Jian Xingzhi grabbed Qin Wanwan, blood from his severed arm suddenly transformed into luminous butterflies, surging toward Jian Xingzhi. Spiritual power above the Tribulation Crossing stage came crashing down. Jian Xingzhi was forced to retreat. Qin Wanwan was pulled by Baisui You and fell into a vortex. Jian Xingzhi slashed through the butterflies with one sword stroke and leaped down after them.

In the violent wind, Baisui You spun lightly like a butterfly before Qin Wanwan. Missing one hand, his entire form seemed submerged in water. Blood stained his robes, his hair scattered softly, his long garments like butterfly wings. A pair of eyes deep and gentle as the sea clashed completely with his scholarly face. He raised his hand to cup Qin Wanwan’s face, his voice gentle yet carrying a ghostly quality.

“Good girl, is Qin Wanwan your real name?”

Qin Wanwan was in so much pain she nearly cried. Through gritted teeth: “None of your damn business.”

Baisui You laughed softly: “It doesn’t matter.”

As he spoke, he raised his hand and pointed his index finger at her forehead. In that instant, Jian Xingzhi’s sword energy arrived. Seeing that head with 40 favorability, he roared and slashed diagonally upward from below, directly cutting through both the hand pointing at Qin Wanwan’s head and his rigid neck. Before his blood could splash onto Qin Wanwan, Jian Xingzhi kicked his body away, flicked aside the head with his sword, wrapped an arm around Qin Wanwan’s waist, and steadied her as they landed.

Countless butterflies instantly materialized in the air, carrying away a wisp of Baisui You’s spiritual consciousness. Baisui You’s voice echoed through the sky: “The mountains are high and the waters long, Miss Qin. Until we meet again.”

As the words fell, in a distant palace, a handsome young man slowly opened his eyes and raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth.

A boy kneeling on the ground respectfully offered a plain handkerchief: “Ancestor, shall we kill them?”

“Kill them?”

The young man tilted his head: “Even I can’t kill them—how could you?”

The boy froze, quickly prostrating himself on the ground, trembling: “Ancestor, forgive me.”

“The dragon pill is in her body. Only she knows where the Exquisite Jade is. Keep her alive.”

The young man wiped his hands clean and stood up. In that moment, the boy’s head instantly exploded.

The young man rose and leisurely departed from the blood-soaked ground, sighing softly: “How filthy.”

The butterflies had just vanished when Qin Wanwan could no longer hold on. Clutching the wound on her abdomen, her legs weakened and she collapsed into Jian Xingzhi’s arms.

Jian Xingzhi raised his hand to cover Qin Wanwan’s wound, activating healing techniques while letting her lean on his shoulder. His tone grew inevitably anxious: “When I told you to stab yourself before, you refused no matter what. Now you stab so decisively? Would waiting a moment longer kill you?”

“Before… before it was useless to stab… I… I helped you too…” As soon as Qin Wanwan spoke, blood surged out. Her blood fell on Jian Xingzhi’s collar. Jian Xingzhi felt somewhat panicked. His expression remained unchanged, but he frantically layered every healing technique he knew.

He understood that ‘Qin Wan’ was different from him. This girl claimed to practice the Phoenix Blade, but was actually cowardly and lazy—a pampered young miss who had never suffered much.

He’d been fighting since childhood, able to take and dish out punishment. Even after taking a blade, he could leap up full of vigor and fight again. But if this girl took a blade, she might die.

She was like a kitten he’d raised as a child. A heavy rain, a fright—any could cause death at any moment.

Qin Wanwan’s wound slowly closed. Her entire state stabilized, and she leaned on his shoulder, exhaustedly closing her eyes.

Sensing Qin Wanwan’s improvement, Jian Xingzhi breathed a sigh of relief.

He looked around and discovered they seemed to be in a desert. They appeared to be in a desert with yellow sand stretching endlessly, completely empty of people. Only Baisui You’s corpse lay not far away. In just this short time, it was already covered with a thin layer of sand.

Jian Xingzhi picked up Qin Wanwan and walked to Baisui You’s side. With a cursory examination, he could tell this corpse had been decaying for a long time—it hadn’t just died.

“Old lecher…”

Jian Xingzhi ground his teeth, wanting to viciously kick Baisui You. But feeling it would be misplaced anger at an innocent corpse, he bit his lip, withdrew his kicking foot, and carried Qin Wanwan off in a random direction.

He had just taken a step when he heard 666’s voice in his mind, excited yet restrained:

【Congratulations on perfectly completing ‘Task Five: Assist female lead in obtaining natal sword,’ points +1000, current total points 650. The points exchange shop has been opened for you. Please continue working hard, earn points diligently, and strive to return to the immortal realm soon~】

【Congratulations on completing the subplot task ‘Hero Saves Beauty’ marginally, points +25, total points 675】

【Task Six: Within one month, train female lead’s martial proficiency to 100,000. Current female lead proficiency: 30,000】

Having received the new task, Jian Xingzhi briefly reviewed it, confirmed this martial proficiency was just basic training, and felt reassured. Just as he was about to think of other things, he suddenly realized something was wrong.

Wait?!

Jian Xingzhi was momentarily dazed: “Why does this hero-saving-beauty count as complete, and only marginally complete?”

“Master,” 666 reminded him, “you are also a male with looks above 90 points. But because this type of task violates your character role, character points are deducted. Generally, you can only get half the points.”

So he could do romance mission tasks too?!

In an instant, Jian Xingzhi felt like he’d discovered a wealth code.

Romance tasks were best done by others, but if they couldn’t do them, he could—points were points!

“Are there any more romance task points recently?!”

Jian Xingzhi excitedly inquired. 666 scanned: “There are, Master. Please review them.”

As the words fell, Jian Xingzhi received a string of tasks.

【Carefully care for female lead +5】

【Feed female lead water +1, daily limit 2 points, mouth feeding +10, no limit】

【Feed female lead food +2, daily limit 4 points】

【Dress female lead +5, starting from complete nudity +15】

【Call female lead by pet name +1, daily limit 2 points】

…

“Master, these all conform to your character. Completing them all earns full points~”

What kind of messy tasks were these!

Looking at these tasks, Jian Xingzhi’s expression changed. But thinking of the points, he still nodded.

“Alright! I’ll definitely work hard!”

He wouldn’t do such indecent things as mouth feeding, but feeding water and putting on an outer robe—he could do that!

But thinking further, Jian Xingzhi suddenly felt a trace of worry: “What if being so good to her makes her fall in love with me?”

666 remained silent, not daring to speak. From her perspective as a female system, she wanted to advise him not to overthink, but then felt that since he was just thinking, it wasn’t illegal. Let him be.

Jian Xingzhi pondered all the way and finally made a decision.

Points were points, love was love. He couldn’t be a scumbag.

He needed to give these actions a reasonable explanation to block ‘Qin Wan’ from having inappropriate thoughts about him!

Originally, seeing her character, he’d thought about taking on a successor, depending on whether ‘Qin Wan’ was willing.

But now, regardless of what ‘Qin Wan’ thought, if the two of them were going to continue traveling together, they needed a proper relationship status.

He carried Qin Wanwan through the desert for a day. Injured, Qin Wanwan remained in a daze the entire way. When she groggily woke in the night, she found herself sleeping on a pile of dry grass with a fire burning beside her. Jian Xingzhi sat on a nearby dead tree drinking water. Seeing Qin Wanwan wake, he turned to look: “Awake?”

As he spoke, he half-crouched before Qin Wanwan with his water pouch: “Want water?”

Qin Wanwan weakly propped herself up, about to take the water, when Jian Xingzhi held her hand: “I’ll feed you.”

Before Qin Wanwan could react, Jian Xingzhi wiped the water pouch and fed her two mouthfuls.

After feeding her, he looked at her excitedly: “Want to eat something?”

“No,” Qin Wanwan snapped back to reality and shook her head, “I’m not hungry.”

As she spoke, she looked around and discovered this seemed to be an oasis in the desert. Not far away was yellow sand—only here had some grass and a water source.

The moon hung high in the sky, stars shining brilliantly. A pile of system notifications filled Qin Wanwan’s mind.

【Congratulations on perfectly completing Task Two ‘Sword Tomb Sword Search, Initial Display of Prowess.’ Obtained natal sword ‘Yuanning,’ points reward +2000, current total points: 2535. The points exchange shop has been opened for you. Please continue working hard and contribute to my return to see my wife!】

【Transition task: Within one month, accumulate 100,000 martial proficiency, proceed to Ghost City. Points +1000. Accept?】

【Task Three: Ghost City Past Events, obtain the Exquisite Jade, points +2000. Accept?】

Again with no option to refuse, Qin Wanwan resignedly pressed “Yes” and slowly regained full consciousness: “Where are we now?”

“Don’t know.”

Jian Xingzhi draped an outer robe over Qin Wanwan and sat back by the fire, roasting the fish he’d just caught.

Feeling much better, Qin Wanwan began organizing her thoughts from before losing consciousness: “What about Baisui You?”

“He escaped,” Jian Xingzhi said, “Oh, the real Baisui You died long ago. He’s probably an old monster who attached his primordial spirit to Baisui You’s body when we entered Qianliu’s lair.”

Qin Wanwan nodded: “Then he was coming for me.”

“What are they after?”

Jian Xingzhi looked at Qin Wanwan. Her expression thoughtful, she placed her hand on her abdomen.

Jian Xingzhi’s movements paused. Qin Wanwan looked up at him: “This.”

“You…” Jian Xingzhi’s face showed shock and uncertainty, “You’re pregnant with his child?!”

“It’s the dragon pill!”

Qin Wanwan instantly broke down. Jian Xingzhi realized and sighed in relief: “Oh, I remember now. You have a dragon pill in your belly.”

“The Azure Dragon that Qin Wan encountered in the secret realm was raised by this Baisui You. Something must have happened—the dragon escaped. At the time, the dragon was severely injured. To heal, either it ate Qin Wan, or Qin Wan ate it. In the end, they fought to the death, and Qin Wan picked up this dragon pill.”

Hearing this, Jian Xingzhi needed a moment to digest. He organized his thoughts: “I have several questions.”

“Go ahead.”

“First, why did he raise an Azure Dragon? What’s the dragon pill used for?”

Knowing Jian Xingzhi wasn’t aware of the Ascension Gate matter, since he’d been busy excavating mountains, Qin Wanwan repeated what Xie Gutang had told her. Jian Xingzhi understood and speculated: “So Baisui You must be an old monster who can’t ascend and wants to use the Ascension Gate. To prevent his ascension, the Heavenly Dao probably gave hints to sects like the Heavenly Sword Sect. If they let someone the Heavenly Dao cannot tolerate ascend by chance, the Heavenly Dao will punish this small world by completely cutting off the path to ascension. So the Heavenly Sword Sect and other sects want to work together to seize the Exquisite Jade and completely destroy the Ascension Gate.”

“Should be,” Qin Wanwan nodded. “As for Jun Shu and the others, they probably just heard the Ascension Gate had reappeared in the world and want to seize this opportunity.”

“The conditions for ascending through the Ascension Gate are: first, one needs the Azure Dragon constitution, so Baisui You raised an Azure Dragon. Now that you’ve eaten the dragon pill, he won’t let you go. Second is the Exquisite Jade. Your fastest ascension method now is this Ascension Gate. We can’t give him the Exquisite Jade, and we won’t let him go either.”

As Jian Xingzhi spoke, he nodded: “I understand…”

“He can’t be killed right now.” Qin Wanwan immediately reminded him, afraid he’d propose some outlandish idea, like going directly to find and kill this boss.

Jian Xingzhi looked at Qin Wanwan with an expression for idiots.

“Don’t I know my own level? How could I go kill him now? I’m not stupid.”

Qin Wanwan: “…”

“What I wanted to say,” Jian Xingzhi’s expression was solemn, “is this romance plot won’t work.”

Qin Wanwan: “…”

Sorry, I overlooked your evolution.

“Ahem,” Qin Wanwan coughed lightly, feeling this topic was somewhat awkward. She changed the subject: “What else did you want to ask earlier?”

“Oh, I just wanted to ask why you know so many Heaven-grade techniques?”

“This…” Qin Wanwan raised an eyebrow, indicating to him, “Didn’t you say you knew?”

“I know, I know,” Jian Xingzhi frowned, “but if Little Cat knew so many Heaven-grade techniques before, how could she end up in such a state?”

“What state?” Qin Wanwan didn’t understand. Jian Xingzhi gestured: “Like, starting over as a person.”

Hearing Jian Xingzhi’s words, Qin Wanwan froze. She suddenly realized: “You think Little Cat is…” She hesitated, struggling for a long time before finding the right description, “a cat from this world?”

“Isn’t she?”

Jian Xingzhi was surprised. Qin Wanwan nodded: “She and Little Dog might be from the same world.”

Hearing this, Jian Xingzhi gasped: “Already ascended and still at this level? What kind of useless cat?!”

Hearing this, Qin Wanwan clenched her fists. She controlled her emotions, telling herself to use her brain and not her fists—otherwise, wouldn’t she be just like Jian Xingzhi?

“Fine.” Jian Xingzhi thought about it—they were from the same world, and they’d meet again in the heavenly realm in the future. If he incurred romantic debts, he couldn’t repay them.

“You still have a long way before ascending. I’ll help you along this journey. First, because I see you have good talent and excellent character. Second, to prevent you from developing inappropriate feelings for me over time, I meant what I said before. Have you thought it through?”

“What did you say?” Qin Wanwan looked completely confused. Jian Xingzhi stood up, one hand forward, one behind, quite the master’s bearing: “Acknowledge me as adoptive father or master—you must choose one.”

“Must… must I acknowledge you?”

Qin Wanwan stared at him blankly. Jian Xingzhi nodded: “To help you advance quickly, I’ll pass on techniques to you in the future. Non-disciples and non-family cannot receive transmission. Moreover, you and I are male and female traveling together like this. Without a proper relationship, I fear it will ruin your reputation.”

Qin Wanwan didn’t care much about reputation. But since this Long Aotian brought it up voluntarily, he probably valued rules.

Plus, though this person seemed unreliable and always caused trouble, he had indeed helped her greatly along the way. There was no reason to keep taking advantage just because he had a system installed.

“Alright.” Qin Wanwan made her decision. “Though Little Cat’s status is somewhat high, she’s not one to despise poverty or forget gratitude. I’ll acknowledge you as master. Though it may humble you now, in the future, whether here or in the immortal realm, Little Cat will properly honor you.”

“Having your sincerity is enough. Being my disciple, you won’t suffer loss,” Jian Xingzhi smiled. “In the future, as your master, I’ll ensure you can walk sideways through the immortal realm.”

Qin Wanwan: “…”

Already revealed identities, yet still boasting like this—she was beginning to admire this Long Aotian’s psychological fortitude.

Seeing Qin Wanwan’s disbelief, Jian Xingzhi sneered inwardly.

Wait until he told her who he was—she’d be scared to death.

“Let’s perform the master-disciple ceremony first.”

Jian Xingzhi sat properly on the dead tree, beckoning Qin Wanwan.

At the same time, he asked 666: “For today’s master-disciple ceremony, can I tell her some truth?”

“100 points,” 666 sighed. “I’ll apply for you. Anyway… you’ve already said most of what needed saying.”

Jian Xingzhi spent 100 points to obtain the right to speak truth, feeling very pleased.

He raised his head, looking at Qin Wanwan kindly, waiting for her to come forward.

Though Qin Wanwan felt uneasy, after hesitating briefly, she still walked forward and knelt properly before Jian Xingzhi, kowtowing three times and clearly announcing: “Master, please accept this disciple’s bow.”

“Good,” Jian Xingzhi thought—having nothing to give Qin Wanwan, he took a roasted fish from nearby and handed it to her. “It’s simple out here. This is your initiation gift. I’ll make it up to you with something bigger later.”

Qin Wanwan had no expectations for an initiation gift anyway. Holding the fish, expressionless: “Disciple thanks Master.”

“My sect originally existed in another small world, called ‘Supreme Extreme Sect,'” Jian Xingzhi looked at Qin Wanwan kneeling on the ground and began introducing his sect. “The sect has few disciples and is rarely known. Our sect’s core technique is supremely strong and unyielding—practicing the Dao through battle, stopping killing with killing.”

Hearing this technique description, Qin Wanwan’s heart trembled.

Why did this sound so familiar…

“Entering my Supreme Extreme Sect, you must remember several things.”

“Listening to Master’s instructions.”

Qin Wanwan respectfully responded.

Jian Xingzhi suddenly felt the pleasure of having a filial disciple and was quite satisfied.

“First, righteous heart, righteous sword—supreme purity is strength. You’ve done very well on this point. What you said before about the strong protecting the weak is precisely our sect’s first principle. So,” Jian Xingzhi emphasized, “when fighting in the future, if there’s no karmic fault, don’t kill.”

Qin Wanwan: “…”

These values sounded somewhat off.

“Second, focus on the sword, less entanglement with the mortal world. However, since Little Cat is the female lead in the book with many romance lines, treat them as tribulations. After ascending, you’ll naturally see through them.”

“What if I can’t see through them?” Qin Wanwan asked curiously.

Jian Xingzhi thought: “Then get married.”

This sect has morals after all…

Qin Wanwan felt somewhat reassured, but Jian Xingzhi finished answering and remembered: “This clause isn’t the most important part.”

“Then what is?”

“I’m warning you,” Jian Xingzhi said seriously, “don’t fall in love with me. My heart belongs only to the sword.”

“I understand.”

Qin Wanwan suppressed the urge to commit treason and murder her master, forcing a smile through gritted teeth: “Rest assured, I have absolutely no interest in you. Please don’t develop feelings for me either.”

“That’s good,” Jian Xingzhi felt relieved and sighed. “Previously, too many female cultivators were terrible—not properly practicing swordsmanship, blocking my way daily to give me things and wanting to marry me. I crippled several before they finally stopped.”

As he spoke, Jian Xingzhi remembered something and his expression turned solemn: “Also, the most important thing about entering my sect is remembering my enemies. If you encounter them in the immortal realm,” Jian Xingzhi raised his hand and drew it across his neck, “kill without mercy.”

“Who?”

Hearing this, Qin Wanwan straightened up with a gossipy mood and spoke solemnly: “Master’s enemies are my enemies.”

These words pleased Jian Xingzhi greatly. He nodded and took out a portrait from his sleeve.

The portrait was crooked and messy. One could vaguely tell it depicted a woman. Qin Wanwan frowned, pondering who this could be—someone so strangely drawn, with one eye large and one small, a crooked nose. She looked up at Jian Xingzhi, hoping for more information. Jian Xingzhi ground his teeth: “I drew this portrait from memory. This demoness is the one who framed me.”

“Master, this…” Qin Wanwan tactfully reminded, “This portrait is a bit… hard to make out…”

“No matter. You must have heard her name.”

Jian Xingzhi turned to look at Qin Wanwan: “She has the same face you have now.”

Hearing this, Qin Wanwan’s heart dropped: “May I ask her name?”

“The number one beauty of the immortal realm, ranked twenty-first on the combat power rankings, Jishan’s Nujun,” Jian Xingzhi spoke solemnly, “Qin Wanwan.”

Qin Wanwan fell silent. Looking at this portrait before her, she struggled to maintain her smile: “May I ask… what did this Nujun do to Master? I’ve heard she’s beautiful, gentle, and kind—she shouldn’t be a bad person, right?”

“Don’t speak for her!” Jian Xingzhi shouted. “She’s a demoness! If not for her, why would I be here? I merely wanted to have an honorable duel with her, yet she ambushed me like this, sending me here to cultivate from the beginning. What vicious intentions! Qin Wan,” the more Jian Xingzhi spoke, the angrier he became. He turned to look at Qin Wanwan, speaking emotionally, “When you ascend in the future, you’ll become the strongest female immortal in the heavenly realm. Then our master-disciple duo will join forces and attack her Jishan. This time, I’ll definitely flatten her mountain, demolish her palace, and leave her Jishan utterly destroyed—not even chickens or dogs will remain!”

Kneeling on the ground hearing these words, Qin Wanwan’s expression was blank.

Jian Xingzhi frowned: “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“Master,” Qin Wanwan’s face was cold, “Is Long Aotian really your real name? What are you actually called in the immortal realm? What do you do?”

Hearing this, Jian Xingzhi stiffened. But thinking that since they were now master and disciple and would inevitably meet again in the future, he wouldn’t hide it. He’d spent 100 points—wasn’t it for this moment of showing off?

“You must have heard my name. After learning it, don’t be too excited. Stay calm.”

As he spoke, he straightened his sleeves, stood up, and raised his head to look at the moon.

Like his master had done in the past, he assumed an immortal bearing.

“My Dao name is Suiheng, surname Jian, given name Xingzhi. I focus solely on sword cultivation, unconcerned with worldly affairs. The jianghu calls me Long Aotian.”

Hearing this, Qin Wanwan smiled.

She clenched her fists, completely unable to control her excited heart and trembling hands.

Very good.

She understood now.

She understood very clearly who this idiot was.

—