The white-robed youth yawned.
“Thank you, Your Highness, but there’s no need. I was only making an analogy just now—I still have some self-awareness.”
The Little Princess put her hands on her hips, her elegant nose almost pointing to the sky.
“Hmm, no need for formalities! Next time we have a holiday, we’ll go home together and pick an auspicious day to officially confirm our relationship. The ceremony doesn’t have to be extravagant, just casually set up seven or eight hundred tables and invite the citizens of the Royal Capital to parade and watch… eh?”
Rejected!
He rejected it again!?
“The duties of a Royal Consultant are weighty and arduous. As a mere commoner, I am ill-suited for such responsibilities.”
Jing Tan’er’s expression was flustered.
She kicked the ground with her long legs, stomping anxiously.
She just happened to speak her mind where this princess could hear it—that’s all. No need to be shy, I’m not going to look down on you!
“It’s not that serious, really. You have to believe in yourself!”
“?”
“You usually don’t need to appear in public; just accompany me. Occasionally at important events, you’ll hold my hand for a formality and wave casually before heading back to the palace. After all, I’m the Long Princess of the Dynasty, so some duties must be fulfilled.”
Wait, are we talking about a part-time job here?
Just casually setting up seven or eight hundred tables and parading through the streets—such a grand ceremony—is that a Rite of Virtue or a Public Execution?
Yun Liu scratched his head, puzzled.
Anyway, being a Royal Consultant or running the Pharmacy Hall is about the same—neither is a pleasant task.
“Thanks for the invitation, but I think I’ll just lie down for now.”
The Little Princess counted off the tasks of the marriage ceremony with a serious tone, lost in the beautiful dream she wove for herself.
Her father intended to pass on the throne, and the thought of possibly becoming the Sage Empress Zhu made Jing Tan’er a little melancholic.
Would that Prince Consort become a Prince “Consort,” the Heavenly Father of the Realm? Official duties would be heavy.
One would strategize at the front, the other would manage the harem and teach the children.
They’d have even less time together.
Then she looked back at the would-be Prince Consort, already lying flat on his back, breathing evenly, having no idea how long he’d been asleep, his schedule perfectly regular.
Jing Tan’er rolled her eyes, grumbling that one can’t expect much help from men during the most important occasions of a lifetime.
On the way down the mountain, the Little Princess kicked stones, walking while thinking.
Continuing the bloodline is the royal family’s innate duty.
After marriage, she probably won’t be able to live freely for long before ascending the throne.
There would be no more getting away.
But she had so many places she wanted to see.
No honeymoon, no training in the Sea of Clouds.
By this calculation, graduation would mean marriage.
Time was tight, no time for romance—might as well jump straight into preparing for pregnancy.
Even pregnant, she’d cultivate!
The strange adventures in the mind of the villainous noble daughter grew more and more bizarre…
For everyone, time is never enough, but this was especially true for Xiao Xinran.
The Shenhua Sect wasn’t without warmth.
Most disciples would choose to relax on weekends—wandering the city or, with instructor permission, visiting nearby markets.
Yet one black-haired, straight-haired girl was already deep in the library early in the morning, gathering spirit and Qi while immersing herself in the sea of knowledge.
She studied sword canons from ancient to modern times and had begun exploring the interplay of the Five Elements arts.
Having been constantly exposed to Yun Liu’s presence, Xiao Xinran’s understanding of the Shenhua Nine Forms was far quicker than her peers.
Starting with a blank slate, she soon mastered them thoroughly.
At fourteen, she reached the peak of Qi Sea stage five.
When she first entered, she was at stage four; now, she was already approaching stage six.
Such an astonishing speed made the Xiao Family Little Princess’s reputation in the Outer Four Academies nearly rival that of Huangmao.
But Xiao Xinran was still unsatisfied.
A blazing fire seemed to burn endlessly in her chest, tireless.
After all, her opponents only grew stronger…
Ji Shiyu—the scheming green tea pig wall—had been coming and going early and late recently, waking earlier than the Strong Practitioners of Xixu Peak and sleeping even later.
No one knew whose home she was plotting to steal next.
Huangmao was one thing, having just been born a year earlier and enjoying a bit of luck.
But even Jing Tan’er, once a negligible pest, was becoming a little arrogant.
Her swordsmanship was progressing by leaps and bounds, her Sweeping Sword Form nearly flawless. It seemed she was preparing to wait until her Qi Sea and Divine Sense reached Great Circle synchronization to form the Jade Manor Spirit Foundation and break through in one leap.
Xiao Xinran felt the pressure mount and threw herself wholeheartedly into her studies.
She wanted to become quietly invincible and astonish everyone!
Rumor had it that promotion selection was imminent.
The Inner Five Peaks disciples would all come out to watch, and Yun Liu, as Chief of Tianxiang Peak, wouldn’t be absent.
Ordinarily, newcomers just entering the sect had no qualification to participate, as their academic scores and cultivation weren’t up to par, making it impossible to compete with senior disciples.
However, two newcomers from the Heaven Courtyard were exceptional.
Xiao Xinran and Ji Shiyu had earned merit defending against the Demon Sect’s invasion, leaving a deep impression on the Inner and Outer Sect Elders.
Coupled with their outstanding cultivation and talent, the Great Elder of the First Peak made an exception and allowed them to participate.
They didn’t expect to be promoted directly to the Inner Sect, but even just gaining experience would be good.
This was the best opportunity to change Yun Liu’s opinion of her!
Now, with the selection approaching, the Inner Sect test and promotion selection would happen simultaneously.
The Inner Sect disciples would serve as examiners.
If they lost to Outer Sect disciples, they’d be eliminated and sent back to Xixu Peak for cultivation.
Such cases were rare since promotion to the Five Peaks granted access to the Sword Canon, significantly improving both swordsmanship and cultivation.
But for the Tianxiang Peak’s chief disciple with a flawed Qi Sea, the situation was uncertain.
Whether he could pass was a question mark.
Many were waiting to see the weakest chief disciple in history make a fool of himself.
The Tianxiang lineage was already sparse in manpower; now one was crippled.
Wouldn’t the Martial Aunt be furious when she returned?
Xiao Xinran’s thoughts were simpler.
Yun Liu was still recovering from serious injuries, and that troublemaking Jing Tan’er would definitely deliberately challenge him and cause trouble.
She trained diligently every day, just waiting to take revenge!
How boring can a person be?
Her goal was modest: to defeat Jing Tan’er and absolutely not let that foul woman succeed.
Promotion?
No way!
Because of this, some of the usually obedient Huangmao could be put on hold for now.
A gentleman’s revenge is never late.
Xiao Xinran put down her book, thoughtful, about to stand and pull out another volume on the Cloud Rising explanations from the shelf.
Suddenly, her vision spun wildly, plunging into darkness.
“Who turned off the lights?”
The girl blinked, looking around.
The Illusion Pavilion was utterly silent.
Xiao Xinran followed her memory and groped forward for a long time—about the length of a tea break—but still couldn’t find a wall. This was rather terrifying.
Was this a ghost?
Or a nightmare?
She hadn’t woken up at all last night.
She wasn’t even really in the Illusion Pavilion.
Cold sweat dripped down Xiao Xinran’s forehead.
She ran back, but her sword hanging at her waist had disappeared.
The darkness was boundless.
No matter which direction she looked, there was no end.
She felt trapped in a cage.
She had heard of Divine Sense attacks before.
Some powerful Divine Soul cultivators could kill without moving, using Divine Sense as their weapon.
“Who exactly is toying with me!”
Xiao Xinran snapped sharply, then suddenly a light appeared above her head.
Boom!
A celestial fire fell from the sky, and she screamed, dodging hastily with rolls.
When she got up, her left shoulder was badly burned.
The real pain and injury only heightened her fear.
She hurriedly fled the fire’s range, but more blazing meteors fell from the sky.
The flames spread rapidly, consuming the darkness in moments, turning the dark world into a sea of fire.
The burnt hair’s acrid smell reminded the girl that the celestial fire was close behind her.
If she was a moment slower, she would be engulfed in the heat waves!
Despite her extreme Flame God Spirit Root, she had never feared fire so much.
Usually, even boiling water or candle flames wouldn’t affect her.
Damn it, what kind of place is this!?
Not knowing how long she ran, gasping and trembling, she suddenly heard a rhythmic sound behind her.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Who’s there?
Xiao Xinran forced down her fear and looked back curiously, only to find she had stepped away from the celestial fire but was otherwise pacing in place.
A figure emerged from the center of the blazing fire, raising a hand to snap fingers slowly, as if pointing out a path.
That aura was so familiar, so warm—constantly drawing her like a guiding beacon.
“Xia…n Yun?”
The girl froze, sharp pain wrapping her entire body, the heat making it hard to breathe.
Her cloud robe turned to ash; she felt as if she would melt completely.
But Xiao Xinran did not retreat again.
Instead, she gritted her teeth and took a step forward, flames blooming in her eyes.
The scorched earth rose beneath her feet as she advanced step by step toward the fire’s center.
Even if only white bones remained of her feet, she would not stop.
An overwhelming aura burst from her body.
The Flame God’s power instantly surpassed the celestial fire.
She no longer resisted the dark Burning Silence but swallowed it to become its master!
“No one can take you away from me!”
Xiao Xinran opened her arms, struggling forward until she finally reached the figure and collapsed into his embrace.
At the same time, the exhausted girl gradually regained her senses.
There was no fire, no heat.
The Bamboo Grove of the Sea of Clouds, birds chirping—still inside the Illusion Pavilion.
Yun Liu gently released his hold and stepped back.
He had come to the Illusion Pavilion to return a book but saw Xiao Xinran asleep at the desk.
The longer he looked, the more something seemed wrong.
The little girl’s whole body convulsed, face twisted in pain, twitching uncontrollably like having an epileptic seizure.
The Burning Silence side mission!?
The scene felt familiar.
Yun Liu suddenly remembered something and was dumbfounded.
He never expected Xiao Xinran to have independently awakened her exclusive cultivation method and entered the Soul Domain.
Had the Flame God awakened early?
Or had she earned recognition from the smiling old Gatekeeper Elder?
Whatever the case, this little sister truly expanded big brother’s understanding.
That once lazy young miss had transformed into a tenacious true cultivator, impressing everyone.
“What… happened? Did I fall asleep in the Illusion Pavilion?”
The dazed girl shook her head, waking from a dream.
She held her forehead, looked up, and saw the pale-faced white-robed youth.
Her heart skipped a beat.
It wasn’t a dream.
At the moment she needed help most, he really came to save her!
“Xiao Yun, you came to save me!”
Xiao Xinran cheered, smiling sweetly like a puppy as she jumped up, ready to dive into her master’s arms.