“Hu!”
Ji Shiyu exhaled a scorching breath, then opened her eyes again.
Starlight flickered in her pupils as a mysterious power poured into the Jade Palace.
The stardust faded, sparks flying everywhere.
In the sky, the girl’s golden-red hair ignited, turning the surrounding area into scorched earth just like Xiao Xinran, contending equally with the Ice Seal Restriction.
“So—it was really you meddling behind the scenes!!”
Yan Bingling’s pupils contracted sharply, blue light icy cold, instantly sensing an ominous aura.
She could tell at a glance that the two yellow-hairs, one big and one small, weren’t “human”!
Aunt Master wasn’t a three-year-old child.
Her long-standing tolerance of Xiao Xinran’s willfulness was all due to motherly love, and Yun Liu, too, was bathing in Extreme Destiny, walking the path of cultivation unimpeded.
Now that Liu’er was disheartened, it was probably because of interference from outsiders, leading to chaotic Fortune.
This debt naturally had to be settled with that good daughter of Ji Xingshu who invaded the East Pole Province!
At first, Yan Bingling only suspected, having heard from Gelan about the existence of a certain golden-haired girl.
Now the evidence was solid—her heart deserved to be punished!
“Ah?”
Ji Shiyu looked up in confusion, unable to understand much, just lost in her new form as she muddled through the breakthrough of Xuantian Nine Transformations.
Such a scorching power, as if she was carrying a little Xun Ran in her belly, warm and cozy…
The yellow-hair’s strange metaphor hadn’t even formed before she saw Yan Bingling forming a Sword Formula with her hand, the Ice Crystal Sword Case floating and launching.
Nine colored Flying Swords swirled behind, murderous intent clear, cold light howling.
“Celestial Phenomena Peak’s ice has been sealed for a thousand years, and now melts after just a hundred. Has the noble clan of the heights already forgotten my sword? It was one thing for you to act arrogantly while I was away, but now you dare steal Liu’er’s Extreme Destiny right in front of me? Are you seeking your own doom?”
***
“She’s—she’s—what is she saying? She wouldn’t really kill me, would she? Silly Wu, hurry and think of something!”
Ji Shiyu wailed miserably, darting around to dodge the deadly Flying Swords, not wanting to become enemies with Great Grandmother.
Luckily, Yan Bingling’s spiritual energy was unstable, so she could only use a small portion of her cultivation, gasping for breath while also struggling to resist the invasion of Demonic Energy.
Ao Tian cursed, “Damn! I knew we’d be exposed. An old monster who’s lived for who knows how long would obviously know about the power of Fortune. But it doesn’t matter—it’s only Foundation Establishment, what’s there to fear!”
The Phoenix Hatchling was fearless, having obviously reached some kind of agreement with the money-grubbing brat.
Between father and daughter, can it really be called theft?
“Ha? Easy for you to say!”
Ji Shiyu, fleeing in panic, only wanted to escape back to the boss lady for protection, but several ice walls rose instantly, sealing off all retreat from the palace.
If Great Grandmother got hurt, wouldn’t this promising future part-time job be over on the spot, fired by the foreman, with no more easy money?
Little Yellow Hair was still hoping to get a promotion and a raise to become a little secretary one day!
“Dare to act but not to admit it? If you have the guts to steal someone, why not fight back? Let me see what else Ji Xingshu taught you besides stealing men!”
“You! Your words are so crude!”
Ji Shiyu ran about frantically, Extreme Destiny burning, quick to anger.
Scolding her was one thing, but dragging in family was unforgivable!
The girl’s body erupted in wild flames, stirring up waves of energy, starbursts igniting, descending like a flaming meteor, sword cleaving the cold wind!
Yan Bingling’s right hand shifted through Sword Formulas, the Nine Sword Array Reflow forming a defensive wall ahead.
Clang!
The Seven Star Sword slammed into the Sword Net, force reverberating.
“What the heck?”
As the sounds echoed through the inner courtyard, a figure flashed in like lightning, blocking between the two.
Yun Liu pressed Ji Shiyu’s wrist with his left hand, right foot shattering the icy Sword Qi, the Flying Sword embedding deep into the wall, still trembling.
The suddenly awakened youth frowned, glancing around.
He stopped them without even drawing his sword, unscathed by ice, frost, or hellfire—his body’s resilience was terrifying.
“When did you recover?!”
Ji Shiyu and Yan Bingling spoke in unison, both overjoyed.
At that moment, the annoying other party seemed not so important.
Not only had he recovered, but he seemed even stronger?
The spiritual aura erupted for an instant, then faded quickly.
Looking again, Yun Liu’s body was lifeless, as if the earlier scene was just an illusion.
“Escaped by luck, not worth mentioning.”
Yun Liu brushed off his sleeve.
The path of the Heavenly Laws differed from the orthodox Great Dao.
Spiritual energy was no longer stored in the Dantian or Jade Palace but flowed throughout the body’s acupoints.
In other words, every part of the body was both Qi Sea and Jade Palace, with no more weaknesses.
Dissolution didn’t mean collapse, just becoming invisible and untraceable.
The hidden in the wild, the hidden in the city, the great hidden in the court—ethereal recluse, self-contained within.
When still, nothing happens; when stirred, the whole body reacts.
“Can someone tell me what’s going on this time?”
The boy’s tone was calm as he rubbed his brow.
He was more concerned about how, after Xiao Xinran and Ji Shiyu, these two unrelated folks had gotten into it again.
For a moment, fire feathers extinguished, ice and snow melted, and Ji Shiyu turned her head, feeling guilty as the teacher held her small hand.
“Liu’er, move aside. Let me kill her, and all problems will be solved!”
The only wish Yan Bingling had left was to restore everything to normal, returning Celestial Phenomena Peak to a peaceful, happy life.
Ji Shiyu’s appearance had disrupted the balance of East Pole Province; since it began with her, it should end with her.
“No way!”
Yun Liu paled, hurriedly blocking in front of Ji Shiyu.
Such thoughts from Master were too dangerous.
Not to mention, the most broken thing about Yellow Hair was the ability to be reborn again and again with Ao Tian’s help—practically infinite save points.
Even if you really killed her, who would deal with that calamity-inducing demoness?
Yan Bingling’s eyes were full of disbelief, trembling with rage.
“She made you like this, and you…still protect her?”
What a passionate bond, sharing life and death.
So the extra…was me?
Ji Shiyu froze, starry eyes shimmering.
So the teacher cared about her that much, though not in the self-obsessed way she’d imagined.
“Though this matter began because of her, it wasn’t her will, nor is it as you think. Please, Master, see clearly.”
Yun Liu bowed deeply, earnestly advising.
This time was different from the last farce.
If Master truly became a ‘villain’ and allowed Demonic Energy to overtake her and return to the peak, no one in East Pole Province could stop her.
Then, one would be endlessly resurrected, the other eternally chasing as a demon—everyone would be trapped in Volume One forever!
Wouldn’t that throw everything into chaos?
“You’re still speaking for her….”
What do you mean it’s not? Clearly, you just like her!
So everything began because of this girl.
Qin Xing, Xiao Xinran—they were all just excuses.
Ever since the Ji girl arrived, everything changed.
The obedient eldest disciple rebelled again and again, even thinking of leaving the sect—just like Liu Ru.
Yan Bingling was filled with grievances and pain.
In the end, she was only a foster mother, an outsider to both the Yun and Liu Clans.
Master turned away in sorrow, closing her eyes, sleeves billowing as she slammed the door with a bang.
No matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t understand what was so good about silly Yellow Hair.
Yun Liu sighed, wanting to speak but stopping.
Maybe he really needed to have a serious talk with Aunt Master about career planning.
Master was different from these little girls.
She could comprehend the universe, understand the Great Dao, and knew the weight of Fortune, and the irreversibility of Heaven-defying Fate.
Why act so unwise, bearing the burden of karma just to kill Yellow Hair here?
On the other hand, Ji Shiyu was silent, like a child who’d made a mistake, clutching her ear and stammering.
“Sorry, sorry, I didn’t mean to make Aunt Master angry!”
Yun Liu shook his head, surprised but not blaming her.
The foolish girl’s lack of a filter was within expectations.
Even without Xiao Xinran’s help, Ji Shiyu had somehow awakened a second form, copying the Flame God Spiritual Root by interacting with Extreme Destiny and Formless Body.
“It’s not your fault, don’t worry about it.
From now on, you don’t need to come anymore.
Our employment contract ends here.”
“Why!”
Ji Shiyu panicked, stomping her feet and grabbing Yun Liu’s sleeve.
She’d been fired on the spot after all!
“It’s all my fault! I’ll go apologize to Aunt Master!
I messed up, but I’ll learn, I’ll change, just don’t drive me away!”
“…”
Yun Liu stared in disbelief, then smiled helplessly, unable to resist patting her silly hair.
That self-obsessed fool had really grown a lot these days, maybe even faster than Xiao Xinran, her awakening surpassing the original work.
Normally, Xiao Xinran and Ji Shiyu were just roommates and friends through most of the academy arc, only forging a formal pact after many hardships.
“You misunderstood.
It’s not anyone’s fault.
It’s just that I’m leaving here soon, and I’ll take the Herb garden with me.
You took good care of the Spirit garden while I was away—now you’re a mature apprentice.
The sisters of Rosy Fragrance Pavilion won’t treat you unfairly.
If fate allows, we’ll meet again.”
“You’re—you’re really leaving!”
Ji Shiyu grew even more flustered after hearing this.
Ao Tian had been right—the pitiful chief senior brother of Celestial Phenomena Peak had resigned!
Ever since coming to East Pole Province, nothing good happened, and everyone seemed to reject her.
Finally, things had started to look up, and now her only friend was about to leave too…
Yun Liu nodded, gently pulling free from the girl’s hand, then walked toward Mirror Lake, preparing to pack up.
Ji Shiyu reached out, pouting.
Though the teacher said it wasn’t her fault, she still felt like she’d messed up somehow.
After all the chaos, though nothing terrible had happened, the yellow-haired girl was left dejected, spending the afternoon slumped in Rosy Fragrance Pavilion, doodling circles and sighing.
Qin Xing noticed and came over to comfort her, softly asking if Junior Brother Yun had scolded her again.
Strict teachers make outstanding students.
Everyone’s been disciplined by elders—pain is how you learn, so it’s perfectly normal and nothing to worry about.
That’s not it!
Now, the oily brat doesn’t know how much he likes me.
He’s even learned to talk back to Aunt Master!
Ji Shiyu opened her mouth, wanting to speak but hesitated, worried the boss lady would get sad too.
Maybe, deep down, she also felt Yun Liu didn’t belong here, just like herself, unwelcome and unable to find a reason to persuade him to stay.
That night, Ji Shiyu tossed and turned again.
The promotion exam was right around the corner, but she couldn’t care less, not even about Xinran’s Three-Year Promise.
“So noisy!”
In the middle of the night, Yellow Hair was mumbling again, talking to the scruffy little chick.
Xiao Xinran’s pillow flew over but was caught by Ji Shiyu and thrown back, her eyes firm.
“I’ve decided!”
Without a trace of hesitation, before Ao Tian could interrupt, Ji Shiyu decisively made her choice between Xiao Xinran and Yun Liu.
Parting with love!
Little Xun Ran was cute, but after all the grievances the bro had suffered, she couldn’t just stand by.
She couldn’t take all the benefits for herself, could she?
The worldly calculation of the Xiao Clan, the sneers from her peers, and the cold indifference of Great Grandmother—all this silent suffering had been seen by Yellow Hair while following the teacher.
Even after recovering, it was natural not to want to stay.
This time, the girl wasn’t acting for Fortune, but for the injustice suffered by the boy.
From fighting side by side to misunderstandings, mistaken apprenticeship and cultivation, their journey had been a series of laugh-and-cry mishaps.
There had been plenty of sorrow, but even more joy.
The oily brat always spoke harshly, but helped her in his own way.
Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach him to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.
Unknowingly, when Yellow Hair looked back, she realized she’d profited greatly: her Xuantian Nine Transformations had advanced a level, her Sword Dao had deepened, her financial crisis resolved, she’d learned a new skill, and even gained a Heaven-grade Foundation Establishment Pill.
Thinking about it, maybe it wasn’t unreasonable for Little Xun Ran to dislike her—those things were supposed to belong to her anyway.
Yun Senior Brother’s… special favor.
A strange feeling rose in Ji Shiyu’s chest—not self-obsession, but something difficult to describe.
To her, Yun Liu had long since become more than just Fortune (destiny) or a benefactor (mentor), but also a very, very good friend—the first person to treat her ‘unconditionally’ like a mother.
More reliable than Silly Wu, closer than her own mother.
If only he weren’t a man…
Thinking that, Yellow Hair blushed at her own weird thoughts.
“What have you decided? To surrender?”
Xiao Xinran murmured in her sleep, “It’s not too late to admit defeat now.
In the future, if I’m the big one, you’re the small one.
When Little Yun and I are standing, you can’t sit.
When we sleep, you have to cover us with blankets, and at the table, you only eat after we’ve finished.
Do you understand?”
This was the most vicious form of revenge a fourteen-year-old girl could imagine—innocent and cute, and a promise for Green Tea Yellow Hair to fulfill after the main heroine’s victory.
Go be a concubine and serve your master!
Ji Shiyu didn’t catch it all, only muttering to herself.
“If he leaves, I leave too!
Might as well take him back to Star Island to relax, see my mother, and ask for some money!”
The last part was most important.
Ao Tian tilted her head, eyes wide with surprise.
Whoa, when did the silly girl wise up?
***
At the same time, the Ice-Sealed Sword Demon of Celestial Phenomena Peak from a thousand years ago made a decision.
After endless torment and mental exhaustion, Yan Bingling—on the edge of reality and illusion—decided to strike first!
If she delayed any longer, not only would Liu’er escape, he’d fall into Yellow Hair’s hands, letting Ji Xingshu’s sword take advantage.
As the famous internal tyrant of the Shenhua Sect, Aunt Master’s anger surged.
Why should the illegitimate daughter Ji Xingshu, who got pregnant before marriage, get to steal away the foster (old) son (husband) she’d raised for sixteen years without lifting a finger!?
At night, as the demon within stirred, the inner Master reappeared.
The habitual offender Aunt Master restrained her spiritual aura, tiptoed out the door, and little hearts flickered in her eyes.
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