This night in Winter City was unexpectedly very lively.
The City Guard raided many taverns, claiming they were hunting Demonic Cultivators who had infiltrated, but many Outer City residents suspected the City Guard was more likely conducting a vice sweep.
Those more in the know understood something deeper—for example, that the City Guard was indeed capturing Demonic Cultivators, and that one of those Demonic Cultivators had said something quite astonishing while fleeing.
The Wanhua Saintess is also here!
That inevitably sparked wild speculation.
Why would the Wanhua Valley Saintess appear at this particular moment, arriving neither early nor late, just as the Saintess of Yaochi arrived?
Could Wanhua Valley’s target be Linglong?
“From a theoretical standpoint, their guess isn’t wrong.”
Having changed clothes and opened a room in another inn within the city, Hua Jian said this to her two little followers.
Her presence was not a secret to the high echelons of Frozen Winter City, but the low-level cultivators who actually did the work were unaware of these hidden details.
Thus, she genuinely had to avoid their pursuit. If she were actually caught, fighting back would be quite troublesome.
“That bastard actually dared to betray Miss Hua Jian like this! Next time I see her, I’ll definitely kill her!” Huā Xīn Ruǐ clenched her fists and said viciously.
Leaving aside the fact that Hua Jian had reported her first—didn’t Youye have no fault at all!
How dare she use Miss Hua Jian’s own tricks against Miss Hua Jian? That person truly deserves to die ten thousand times!
“Xia Jing, don’t you think so?”
“Only if we could beat her,” Xia Jing said, hands tucked into her sleeves, indicating they should stop making threats they couldn’t back up.
Hua Jian could slam the table against Youye because Hua Jian’s extraordinary talent meant she wasn’t afraid of Youye making a move.
The two of them didn’t have such good talent.
Youye was at the peak of Ling King mid-stage, while they had just entered the Ling King realm, still hovering at the early stage of Ling King.
The other party’s age, strength, and even talent all surpassed theirs. It was very difficult for them to defeat her.
“We can’t beat her… even if we can’t beat her, we can still make trouble for her!”
“Enough, both of you calm down a bit. Her causing trouble isn’t entirely a bad thing for me.”
Hua Jian raised her hand and pressed down slightly, telling Huā Xīn Ruǐ that things weren’t that bad.
After all, her goal was achieved. Now that she didn’t need to stay at the Red Flower Building, her movements would become much more convenient.
“Hehe, I’ll try tomorrow to see if I can mooch off the Qian family’s room…”
Originally, her act had made things insecure, so she had to take initiative.
For example, she could seek refuge with her close friend, the lovely and charming Miss Qian Feixu!
“How dare they make Miss Hua Jian live under someone else’s roof…”
“Sigh, enough, enough. I’ll go find Qian Feixue tomorrow to chat. You two continue searching outside the city and keep an eye on Youye. Report to me immediately as soon as you find her.”
When the two approached, Hua Jian handed them two small green objects that resembled earphones.
These were new tools she had recently tinkered with.
“Put them in your ears. They will automatically connect to your Soulforce. Then, when you talk to me, you won’t need Communication Jade Talismans or such.”
In the past, Hua Jian was weak and had poor control over Vines, unable to achieve this level.
But now it was different. At least within the entire Frozen Winter City, she could ensure continuous communication with Huā Xīn Ruǐ and Xia Jing.
Once she reached Ling Emperor or even Spirit Lord, the communication range would become even larger.
Perhaps one day, she could perceive all branches scattered across the world.
However, as impressive as this thing was, it wasn’t something ordinary people dared to use.
After all, the first step to using it was accepting its Soul Connection—a unique ability of Hua Jian’s.
It was an ability combining Illusory Dream Flower and other plants, resulting in… a very eerie form of expression.
In simpler terms, this earphone would directly take root inside the brain.
Although it would be very careful not to damage the cultivator’s brain, the sight of it would make anyone shudder.
Low-level cultivators’ brains were very important—this was the dwelling place of the Soulforce.
Without the brain, the Soulforce would dissipate in a short time.
Unless a high-level figure forcibly protected the Soulforce, that cultivator would surely die.
“It’s so itchy…”
Before Hua Jian could finish explaining the effects of the device, Huā Xīn Ruǐ had already stuffed the earphone into her ear.
As tiny roots sprouted from the earphone, Huā Xīn Ruǐ couldn’t help but let out a soft moan.
“Wait until I finish explaining before putting it in! It will take root in your brain. If you fall into enemy hands, it will use its final measure.”
“What measure?”
“Destroy your brain, crush your Soulforce, and make you die without any pain.”
Huā Xīn Ruǐ didn’t react much to this. On the contrary, she actually rather liked this effect.
Those who could join the demonic path—even girls as young as Huā Xīn Ruǐ—were not afraid of death.
If this earphone really had the effect Hua Jian described, then that was quite good.
Euthanasia was better than being tortured to death.
“But this is only the final measure. Once I become stronger in the future, I might find a way to preserve your Soulforce and then create a new body for you.”
This was also a development path Hua Jian was currently considering.
If she could have a few subordinates who were not afraid of death and could be resurrected infinitely, many things would become much easier.
However, this was still just her current idea, not something she could put into practice.
After all, the spells she currently knew for creating bodies consumed far too much.
Take the body of Bai Hua Zun Zhe, for example. Creating it had consumed a terrifying amount of Blood Energy.
Externally, that was at least the amount produced from a single city-wide massacre.
If Hua Jian had to do this every time, she would truly become a Demon Path Saintess.
Every time a subordinate died, she would have to burn an entire city’s people as resurrection coins.
Even the demonic path might call her a pervert.
“In short, when you encounter danger, you must put your own lives first. My orders are not that important. Understand?”
She didn’t want to see Huā Xīn Ruǐ and Xia Jing become her first guinea pigs.
“Mm-hmm!” Huā Xīn Ruǐ quickly nodded.
“I understand.” Xia Jing also put on the earphone Hua Jian had given her.
After squinting to get used to the feeling of her Soulforce being connected, she tried sending a message to Hua Jian using her Soulforce.
Not only did Hua Jian hear this message, but Huā Xīn Ruǐ also heard it clearly.
“The sound directly rang in my head! So amazing!” she exclaimed, her mouth wide open, also using her Soulforce to express her surprise.
Seeing that the two girls had more or less mastered the technique of Soulforce communication, Hua Jian clapped her hands and cheerfully told them that the little device had more uses than just this.
It wasn’t just a public channel. It could also allow Hua Jian to pull their Soulforce into the Godsoul Space for special training, enhancing their Soulforce’s resistance to pressure.
Of course, the experience for Huā Xīn Ruǐ and Xia Jing might not be very pleasant.
……
The next day, the three set out according to their agreed-upon assignments.
Huā Xīn Ruǐ and Xia Jing went together to search for Youye’s whereabouts, throwing heavy obstacles in the way of Youye’s investigation.
Meanwhile, Hua Jian went to the Inner City to seek refuge with Qian Feixue and ask how she planned to handle the matter.
Incidentally, she could also take this opportunity to sneak into the Qian family and see what the real Qian family was like.
Because she had contacted Qian Feixue beforehand, when Hua Jian entered the Inner City and walked all the way to the actual Qian family territory, a neatly dressed woman was already waiting for Hua Jian there.
“Miss Hua Jian, please follow me. Miss Feixue is waiting in the study.”
Unlike the Inner and Outer City of Frozen Winter City, the Qian family’s area was indeed separated from the Inner City by an Array Formation.
If someone entered without permission, the formation would sound an alarm, and cultivators on duty nearby would immediately rush over.
This array was actually quite conspicuous.
On every road, there were very clear boundaries telling passersby that the area ahead was off-limits.
If someone couldn’t even see such a blatant warning, then it was reasonable for the Qian family to suspect ulterior motives.
“Many important figures of Frozen Winter City live here, but most are still members of the Qian clan,” the capable woman said as she led Hua Jian, introducing this core area of Frozen Winter City.
They were currently at the periphery of the Core Zone, which was the living area for many Qian clan members. The atmosphere of daily life was very strong.
As they advanced deeper into the rear area of the Core Zone, this sense of daily life gradually disappeared.
The people coming and going had serious expressions.
Here, various specialties of the Qian family were continuously produced—Spirit Tool dharma robes, as well as various Lingdan Miaoyao.
These products were eventually sold through various channels, turning into Spirit Stones and resources that supported the Qian family’s operations.
After passing through this area, the two finally arrived at the core of Frozen Winter City—the Ice Palace that Hua Jian had once seen from afar.
Only those who could live in this palace were the true direct-line descendants of the Qian family. Qian Feixue and Qian Feixu usually lived here.
Compared to the vibrant atmosphere outside, this place was more serious and oppressive. Perhaps this was the so-called weight of history?
Even Hua Jian put away her playful thoughts and followed the woman silently through the Ice Palace, turning left and right like walking through a maze, until they arrived outside the study where Qian Feixue was.
This place, though called a study, was more like a Sacred Library Pavilion. Hua Jian followed the woman inside, weaving through numerous books encased in ice, and came to the second floor, finally reaching the actual study.
At this moment, Qian Feixue was holding a very new scroll, reading it while marking something with a brush in her hand.
Upon hearing the sound at the door, she raised her eyelids and glanced, then pointed with the brush at an empty cushion nearby. “Sit. Bing Ye, you may go.”
The woman nodded and silently turned to leave.
Hua Jian obediently sat on the cushion.
At this point, Qian Feixue truly made her feel a sense of pressure from a super young mistress—the overbearing aura of a superior, where every word and movement made her feel no desire to defy.
This was what a young mistress should be like. The Qian Feixue before had been more like a steward than the Miss of Qian Clan. The real Qian Feixue…
As Hua Jian watched Qian Feixue, she saw the young mistress’s expression change from a calm demeanor to one of fidgeting over a few minutes, and finally, she directly threw the book onto the table, cursed, and revealed her true nature.
Well, it seemed the one just now was the real Qian Feixue.
“Damnit! This kind of thing has to be reported to me? Do they really think I know everything inside out!”
After venting for a while, Qian Feixue put away her annoyed expression and smiled at Hua Jian.
“Sister Hua Jian, what business do you have with me? If you’re looking for Sister Linglong, you’ve come at a bad time. She won’t be coming down from the sky today.”
She pointed a finger at the sky, indicating that Linglong wasn’t here but was staying on the Jade Pool Celestial Ship above.
“No, that’s not it. I just wanted to ask how you plan to handle that Tianmomen person.”
At this, Qian Feixue’s gaze became even more resentful. She had been busy with this matter for quite a while yesterday.
It was bad enough that Hua Jian had directly reported to her, but she had also brought the matter to the City Guard.
To cover for Wanhuagu, she had to put in a lot of effort.
But Hua Jian, on the other hand, after reporting, just left without a trace, making her incredibly frustrated.
“Don’t you, as the Saintess, know how to handle her?”
“I really don’t know. You’re all gathered here. How would I know what you’re plotting?” Hua Jian rested her chin on her hand and clicked her tongue. “But I can roughly guess—you must be fishing.”
Yesterday’s pursuit of Youye seemed grand in scale, but in reality, the Qian family had let a sea of water pass.
If the Qian family really wanted to catch Youye, she would have had no way to escape—no path to heaven, no door to earth.
No matter how strong and talented she was, she was only a mid-stage Ling King, while the Ling Emperor-level experts in Frozen Winter City were too many to count on both hands.
And last night, not a single Ling Emperor from the Qian family appeared, nor did any from the Jade Pool.
If that wasn’t letting water through, what was?
“I’m an outsider, don’t you know that? Tell me what you’re planning.” Hua Jian propped her chin on both hands, looking very interested.
A plan that could make Wanhuagu and Jade Pool work together must be very impressive, right?
Qian Feixue helplessly rolled her eyes.
She didn’t intend to hide anything from Hua Jian.
She didn’t care about the internal scheming within Wanhuagu.
Since Hua Jian was the Wanhua Valley Saintess, it was perfectly fine for her to tell Hua Jian the whole story.
As for worrying about the plan being ruined… Qian Feixue felt she had no reason to worry at all.
Seeing Hua Jian’s attitude toward Tianmomen, it was clear that Hua Jian had as much enmity with Tianmomen as anyone.
And since Wanhuagu and Jade Pool stood together in this plan, Hua Jian wouldn’t even go as far as to sabotage Linglong.
“It’s just about using a Secret Realm to lure out Tianmomen, and taking the opportunity to severely wound them.”
“Oh, I see. So you’re fishing. Then how big of a fish do you plan to catch?”
“The bigger, the better.” Qian Feixue’s lips curled.
Everything was left unsaid.
Seeing the smile on her face, Hua Jian knew this matter involved even higher-level games.
Even if Tianmomen dispatched a Venerable or a Saint, they would likely fall for this trap.
Three forces waiting on a single Tianmomen—Tianmomen would not be wronged if they fell.
But Hua Jian had been excluded from this plan.
Before this, she had no idea that the Secret Realm was being used for this purpose.
“Sigh. If you had told me earlier, I wouldn’t have reported her. Now I’ve scared the snake away.”
“Not necessarily. What you did now might actually make Tianmomen believe the intelligence is real.” Qian Feixue shook her head and told Hua Jian not to think too negatively.
The people of Tianmomen weren’t fools. If Hua Jian had told them all the information, that would have been suspicious.
The Wanhua Valley Saintess was not the kind of person to easily obey and hand over such important intelligence.
If Wanhua Valley didn’t tear open a big gash and take a large chunk out of Tianmomen, then it would be suspicious.
Additionally, Hua Jian and Youye already had old grudges, so it was even more impossible for her to directly give correct intelligence.
Acting like this by directly reporting Youye and going for a mutual destruction was actually the most in-character behavior for Hua Jian as the Wanhua Saintess.
Directly reporting Youye like this—this kind of operation suited Hua Jian’s character as the Wanhua Valley Saintess: petty, and ready to flip the table at the slightest disagreement.