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Shi Luoyi stepped out of the bamboo house and into the bamboo forest, where a bright moon hung in the sky.
Fireflies flitted about. Barefoot, as she had no shoes, she walked forward. Shi Luoyi didn’t see anyone along the way. Yuewu was also absent, perhaps off training somewhere. Relying on the bits and pieces Yuewu had mentioned, she headed towards the other side of the illusion.
Yuewu had said that all the Chifeng clan members were gathered there, and the key to leaving the illusion likely lay on that side as well.
No one realized she had awakened, and there were no guards within the illusion.
Upon reaching the edge of the bamboo forest, Shi Luoyi indeed spotted a high wall. Perhaps they underestimated her, a sleeper, and Yuewu, whom they derisively called a “mud monster,” for the wall was constructed in a rather perfunctory manner. No wonder Yuewu could always climb it easily.
Lifting her skirt, Shi Luoyi scaled the wall and descended on the other side.
The scenery on this side was completely different from the bamboo forest.
Had she not known beforehand that this was an illusion, Shi Luoyi would have been utterly astonished.
On the other side of the wall, demonic energy pervaded the air. The sky was thick with purple mist, and the ground was littered with gnawed limbs, the stench of blood so heavy it made one want to retch.
However, one detail differed from Yuewu’s description—Shi Luoyi didn’t see any of the Chifeng clansmen who were supposed to be in the training grounds, nor did she see any guards.
Hesitant, she climbed down from the wall, unwilling to venture directly into the dense demonic energy. Instead, she cautiously followed the edge of the illusion.
Not far along, she finally heard voices. Quickly holding her breath, she hid herself.
The speakers sounded young, their voices tinged with worry.
“Lord Zhonghao has returned gravely injured. After the Divine Lord finishes choosing his empress, will he truly attack the Northern Realm? Will our Young Master be able to hold this place when that time comes?”
“Don’t worry, our Young Master is very capable.”
“But no matter how strong, he can’t possibly match the Divine Lord.”
For a moment, both fell silent.
“In fact… isn’t the Divine Lord choosing an empress? Elder Houmi said that all women of good character and beauty in the divine realm are eligible to participate. Our clan also has many beauties. Why doesn’t the Young Master offer one…?”
“Shh!” The girl interrupted sharply, her gaze piercing as she turned towards where Shi Luoyi was hiding. “Who’s there?”
Shi Luoyi hadn’t expected them to be so perceptive despite their apparent youth. She had concealed herself carefully, yet they discovered her in no time.
She was soon found. Alert and wary, Shi Luoyi prepared to summon the Divine Meteor Blade at any moment.
But the two girls showed no intention of fighting. They exclaimed in surprise, “It’s you—the girl from the bamboo forest.”
Shi Luoyi asked, “You know me?”
The girls nodded, then shook their heads. They had only seen her outside the illusion and didn’t know her origins.
One of the Chifeng girls smiled joyfully, “You’ve finally awakened! Now our Young Master won’t have to risk his life every three months to fetch spirit dew from the other side. This is wonderful!”
The other added, “Yes, when the Young Master returns and sees you awake, he’ll surely be delighted.”
Silently, Shi Luoyi thought, Not at all. He wants to chop me up and feed me to Bian Lingyu.
She had to find Yuewu and leave this dreadful place before he returned.
The two girls bore her no ill will. Sensing the hardships endured by the women of the Chifeng clan, Shi Luoyi decided against conflict if possible. Retreating to the wall, she said politely, “Then I’ll go back first. When your Young Master returns, don’t trouble yourselves with me.”
With a courteous smile, she scaled the wall again, planning to evade them and change direction.
The girls were easy to deceive and didn’t anticipate her attempt to escape. They simply nodded.
Just as Shi Luoyi reached the other side of the wall and was about to jump down, a cold hand grasped her ankle.
From the side shrouded in demonic energy, a low chuckle sounded: “No need to wait. I’m already here.”
Her heart sank as she turned around.
Before her stood an unfamiliar man.
His jet-black hair was tied high, his complexion pale and streaked with blood. Clad in fiery red robes beneath cold black armor, he exuded an intimidating presence.
Though she had never met him, Shi Luoyi recognized his voice from her dreams. This was Qingxuan, the Young Master of the Chifeng clan.
Despite never having seen him, she felt an odd sense of familiarity in his gaze through the flickering firelight.
Recalling the tales of the divine realm shared with Bian Lingyu, she hesitantly asked, “Bian Qingxuan?”
He gazed at her but neither confirmed nor denied it. Instead, he ordered the two girls behind him, “Tie her up.”
Moments later, Shi Luoyi was tightly bound and seated beside the firelight, forced to watch as he cleaned his sword.
Not long after, another girl was brought in, kicking and cursing loudly. Shi Luoyi guessed immediately—it was Yuewu.
Seeing her, Yuewu exclaimed in delight, “Yi’er, you’re finally awake?”
Shi Luoyi nodded, grateful for the care Yuewu had given her, and smiled softly, “Miss Yuewu.”
Compared to them, the atmosphere among the Chifeng clan was much heavier. Upon Qingxuan’s return to the illusion, all those who had emerged from the trial grounds gathered around.
After a century of trials within the illusion, many had transformed from their previous emaciated and timid selves into resolute warriors-in-training. Most were now eyeing Shi Luoyi curiously, unaware of her identity.
Their gazes shifted to the golden jade vial hanging from Qingxuan’s waist, which contained the spirit dew. Today marked another three-month cycle.
But since Shi Luoyi had awakened, Qingxuan made no mention of it.
Following their line of sight, Shi Luoyi noticed the vial as well. Qingxuan paused momentarily in his sword-cleaning and tossed it to A Yao, who stood nearby.
A Yao, once a toddler just learning to walk, now resembled a girl of seven or eight. An orphan like many others in the Chifeng clan, she knew hunger and cruelty. Though young, A Yao understood the value of the spirit dew. Trembling slightly, she held the vial uncertainly, “Young Master, isn’t this for Sister…”
“Be quiet and take it,” he snapped.
A Yao murmured an obedient “Oh,” her large eyes blinking as she looked at Shi Luoyi, too afraid to drink from the vial.
Periodically, people reported to Qingxuan about their progress in the trial grounds. Most of the time, he responded indifferently. However, upon hearing of someone too weak to survive being killed within the illusion, his brows furrowed slightly.
Shi Luoyi didn’t understand the significance, but Yuewu, having been there for so long, understood. She often cast a sympathetic glance at the unfortunate clansman.
Those unable to survive in the illusion would likely fare even worse in the true demon-fallen lands ahead.
Aware of their fates, these individuals turned without hesitation, rushing back into the trial grounds to make the most of their remaining time.
Shi Luoyi remained silent, quietly observing them.
Qingxuan tended to clan matters until the latter half of the night within the illusion. Gradually, the clansmen dispersed in small groups. By that time, A Yao had fallen asleep leaning against him. Exhausted himself, Qingxuan hadn’t yet sent A Yao back into the trial grounds, nor had he tended to his wounds. Closing his eyes briefly to recover his strength, he paid no heed to Yuewu or Shi Luoyi.
Shi Luoyi glanced at Yuewu, who winked and subtly shook her head. As the weaker party, it was best to remain inconspicuous.
The illusion featured cycles of day and night.
As dawn approached, the illusion grew lively once more. Clansmen, their bodies bruised and discolored, were carried back into the realm.
One person anxiously addressed Qingxuan: “Zhonghao has already returned to the Divine Temple to plead his case. He has failed to conquer for two years, and now that he is returning to atone, it is likely the Divine Lord will take matters into his own hands. Young Master, what are we to do?”
Upon hearing this news, the clansmen were filled with dread, unsure of what lay ahead.
They needed a place to grow stronger through trials. If they were forced into the demon-slaying lands now, volunteering as guards, none of them—save for Qingxuan—would survive. Children like A Yao wouldn’t even have time to grow up.
Yet, they had no power to stop the Divine Lord from launching an attack.
Everyone knew that even if Qingxuan fought, he wouldn’t last long.
After listening, Qingxuan simply replied indifferently, “I understand. Go about your tasks. The illusion won’t be broken; I’ll find a way.”
He sneered coldly: “Isn’t Houmi still busy choosing an empress for him? Until all preparations are complete, why would he bother attacking our Northern Realm?”
With that, he glanced at Shi Luoyi.
The crowd wore expressions of concern, but since Qingxuan had spoken, they could only trust their Young Master and disperse.
Qingxuan sheathed his sword, tossing the drowsy A Yao back into the trial grounds before approaching Shi Luoyi.
Before Shi Luoyi could react, Yuewu shouted, “Hey, don’t you dare touch my Yi’er!”
Only after yelling did she realize that she had already resigned herself to being a mud spirit, and her Yi’er, now awake, was no longer a vessel she could inhabit.
She awkwardly fell silent, though curiosity lingered in her heart. What Qingxuan intended to do remained unclear to Yuewu.
If he meant to harm Shi Luoyi, the three-month supply of spirit dew alone was tempting enough. But if he meant well, then taking away the divine pearl in the first place made no sense. Had Shi Luoyi not possessed a strong will to survive, she might never have awakened…
Shi Luoyi’s heart tightened as she watched him approach.
Ignoring Yuewu, Qingxuan took her back to the bamboo house. Shi Luoyi kept guessing what Qingxuan might be planning. She was pulled along, while the man in front didn’t look back. Realizing Qingxuan was Bian Qingxuan, she couldn’t help but ask, “Do you intend to trade me and Bian Lingyu for another divine pearl to save your people?”
The man stopped in his tracks.
In the bamboo grove, the morning sun had just risen. Qingxuan turned around and sneered, “You dare to guess correctly. So, do you think he’d agree?”
Shi Luoyi was utterly enraged. She had risked everything by plunging into the Wandering Sea to give Bian Lingyu a normal life. Of course, he would agree—but that wasn’t what she wanted.
Her expression turned icy.
She didn’t believe the story about choosing an empress—it had to be a lie fabricated by this deceiver.
The ropes binding Shi Luoyi were divine artifacts meant to restrain gods. Despite Qingxuan’s attempts to drag her, she refused to budge.
Qingxuan coldly warned, “Move, or I’ll kill you.”
Shi Luoyi retorted, “Go ahead.”
The slanting sunlight filtered through the bamboo grove. Suddenly, she smiled—a smile tinged with malice. “What makes you think you can control everything? Even if I die, I won’t let you off easily. Kill me, and when Bian Lingyu breaks the illusion, countless gods will perish alongside me. Doesn’t sound like such a bad deal, does it?”
Qingxuan stared at her, the mischievous glint in the girl’s smile catching him off guard.
Long ago, Qingxuan had known that despite her gentle and bright appearance, Shi Luoyi was never weak.
Had he not restrained her, she would have drawn her blade against him by now. Whether she could win or not, Shi Luoyi would never learn fear, nor retreat without a fight.
She always had to try—to save Yuewu, to save herself, to save Bian Lingyu… Qingxuan’s inherent arrogance treated everyone as insignificant, yet from the start, he had repeatedly failed against her.
Qingxuan said nothing more, stepping forward to grab Shi Luoyi.
Unable to move, she remained silent. But the moment he reached out, she sank her teeth into his wrist.
A century of drinking spirit dew hadn’t been wasted—Shi Luoyi was far stronger now than during her time in the Wandering Sea. This bite truly broke the skin on Qingxuan’s wrist.
Qingxuan watched her expressionlessly. She had bitten down hard, causing blood to drip onto the ground.
Qingxuan felt a faint pain, unable to pinpoint its source.
He had to grip her jaw to pull his wrist free.
Blood continued to drip from his wound. After a glance, he said nothing, but this time, he proceeded more cautiously, bringing her to the bamboo house.
Shi Luoyi now understood why Yuewu felt the urge to curse. She shared the sentiment, anger boiling within her as she contemplated how she could resist.
But upon seeing the figure lying in the bamboo grove, all her curses died in her throat: “Father!”
On the bamboo bed, Shi Huan lay quietly. Shi Luoyi had never expected to see her father here!
While her soul was nurtured within the illusion after being placed there from the Wandering Sea to the divine realm, Shi Huan had been sealed away by Qingxuan.
Shi Luoyi asked, “What have you done to my father?”
Qingxuan glanced at her and sneered, “Not so eager for mutual destruction now, are you? With Shi Huan here, we’ve got a full set. He’s quite the devoted father—his soul shattered in the Wandering Sea, yet he still protected you. Otherwise, he would have awakened long ago.”
“…”
He gestured to his bleeding wrist: “Finished looking? Your father is alive. Hurry up and leave. If Bian Lingyu attacks the Northern Realm and breaks the illusion soon, your father will be the first to die. Without the array or divine pearl in the Wandering Sea, the only place left for your father to recover his soul is here. How long my clansmen can train determines how long he stays. Understand?”
Though Shi Luoyi listened, she remained silent, her expression cold as she glanced at Qingxuan.
Years ago, Qingxuan would have scoffed at her defiance. But now, he had lost count of how many times she had bested him.
Even back when she was little Junior Sister, she had frequently given him headaches.
Qingxuan gritted his teeth, nearly muttering a curse.
She was Shi Luoyi, so nothing she did should surprise him—even threatening him with her father’s life.
But just as Shi Huan feared death least, Shi Luoyi was equally stubborn. They wouldn’t sacrifice the last of the gods for their own survival.
Fearing the girl might suddenly resort to mutual destruction, he paused briefly before saying, “Fine. I never intended to take his divine pearl. What power do you really have? Who would trade you for a pearl? All I need is two more years—or even one—from the divine realm. Bian Lingyu won’t miss that year, and neither will Shi Huan. One year from now, I’ll enter the demon-slaying lands myself. I once sought to harm him, but not anymore. My going will benefit Bian Lingyu. If you want revenge, come then.”
Shi Luoyi pursed her lips, momentarily stunned. She had indeed been plotting Qingxuan’s demise.
Qingxuan averted his gaze, speaking coldly: “The rumors outside aren’t false—Bian Lingyu is choosing an empress. However, it’s Houmi orchestrating this. Your marriage contract from the lower realms was never recognized in the divine domain. He hasn’t sought you out this past year, likely due to interference from Houmi and others. I’ll send you back to the Northern Realm. Whether he remembers you, how long you can protect the Northern Realm, and whether your father can recover his soul—all depend on your abilities.”
“You’re sending me to Bian Lingyu?”
“How? Can’t bear to part with the Northern Realm?” he mocked. “We don’t shelter idlers here.”
Shi Luoyi always felt Qingxuan’s words carried thorns.
Leaning against the doorframe, Qingxuan said indifferently, “Tomorrow, I’ll send you back to him.”
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