The night was gentle, soft and misty, and the sky was scattered with stars.
Beneath the night sky, the fairy-like woman played her zither. Yun Wangshu turned her starlike gaze toward Qi Qi and offered a faint smile. “Little girl, I bestow upon you a fortuitous opportunity. Once you reach Central Province, take good care of my disciple.”
As her words fell, her slender, jade-like fingers danced across the strings.
Under her skillful touch, the zither produced a flowing melody—graceful like a spring stream, soothing and melodious.
Then, she lightly parted her lips and sang with ancient rhythm and tone.
“Broken halberds sunk in sand, the rise and fall of ages past, the Milky Way rolls on without end.”
“At the end of the immortal path, dreams linger. Where does the Great Dao lead?”
“All paths return to simplicity, only the Dao of Heaven is boundless…”
…
Her voice was soft and pure, like music from the heavens, intoxicating to the bone, just like the beauty of this night.
Her long black hair cascaded down to her waist. Under the silver moon, it shimmered like crystal, making her seem like a fairy stepping out from a painting—poetic and ethereal.
Her curved brows, starlike eyes, serene yet lively and mysterious, gave her the grace of moonlight reflected in a well.
Her skin was flawless, her complexion like frozen jade. Her fingers, as delicate as sheep-fat jade, gently stroked the ancient zither before her.
The divine music from her voice and zither intertwined. Her fluttering robes, her otherworldly beauty—everything felt like a dream beyond this world.
These melodies were infused with Dao resonance, deeply profound, capable of enlightening one’s heart.
Lin Luochen sat with eyes closed, quietly listening. Within his sea of consciousness, countless Dao runes emerged—rare and precious—each one priceless and enough to drive Saints mad.
Because these were the Dao and techniques left behind by a female Emperor before her passing.
Lin Luochen unknowingly sank into them, unable to pull himself out, yet he used them only as reference—to clarify his future path.
After all, this was not his Dao, so he could not walk it.
As the melody ended, Qi Qi opened her violet eyes. They shimmered faintly.
“Thank you, Sage Guizhong, for bestowing this Dao!” Qi Qi cupped her hands respectfully, her beautiful face filled with emotion.
Through the melody, her cultivation had improved, her mind was clearer, and the confusion about her future path was gone.
This was no small opportunity—far more valuable than any treasure or hidden vault.
Yun Wangshu nodded slightly, silently watching the enlightened Lin Luochen. Her eyes sparkled. Under the moonlight, her beauty was divine and breath-stealing.
Qi Qi’s violet eyes glinted with wonder as she looked at the meditating Lin Luochen, sensing his aura rising rapidly. She couldn’t help but be astonished.
He just broke through not long ago, and he’s already preparing for another?
This guy’s a monster. His cultivation speed is insane, and his aura is unbelievably deep.
She considered herself a peerless genius, destined to stand out in future battles of the Great Dao. But facing someone like him, even she found it hard to believe.
Three breakthroughs in a single month—this would become a legendary tale!
Lin Luochen’s aura continued rising. The spiritual energy within a hundred kilometers was nearly drained. He still had his eyes closed, showing no sign of waking.
“The spiritual energy he’s absorbed… it’s enough to burst a late-stage Four Extremities Realm cultivator, right?” Qi Qi exclaimed softly, her beautiful eyes shimmering.
Maybe… maybe she really could bring him into the Moon God Hall. Her master would definitely like him!
Qi Qi began scheming. Partly because of Lin Luochen’s talent and good looks, and partly because… he cooked delicious food.
It wasn’t until late into the night that Lin Luochen slowly opened his eyes. His cultivation had reached the peak of the Dao Palace Realm and could break into the Four Extremities Realm at any moment.
But he didn’t.
Due to his special physique, he needed a proper catalyst.
“Why didn’t you break through?” Yun Wangshu’s slender hand paused on the zither.
“This is enough. I’m not planning to break through just yet,” Lin Luochen shook his head slightly, looking calmly at the white-robed fairy.
Yun Wangshu gently pursed her lips. “You still have some resentment toward me.”
“No, your kindness is too great. I’m afraid I can’t repay it.” Lin Luochen cupped his fists and bowed slightly. “If I let you help me break through again, I fear it would be inappropriate.”
Yun Wangshu’s eyes dimmed slightly at his deliberate distance.
She looked deeply at him, then turned to Qi Qi. “Take good care of him.”
“Rest assured, Senior. I’ll take great care of him!” Qi Qi cupped her hands and smiled enchantingly.
Actually, this master wasn’t that bad.
The real problem was those senior sisters!
What kind of master would travel a great distance for a disciple trying to cut ties?
What kind of master, after being rejected, would still bestow such a rare opportunity and repeatedly ask someone else to care for that disciple?
Well… her own master certainly wouldn’t.
Yun Wangshu nodded faintly, her starlike eyes giving Lin Luochen one last deep look.
But the way he looked back—like she was a stranger.
She softly said, “Take care of yourself.”
Then, she disappeared into the moonlight.
After she left, a fine drizzle began to fall, pattering softly in the forest.
Lin Luochen raised his hand, catching a few raindrops. His robe was soon soaked, his mood heavy and a little lost.
He didn’t know if what he did was right or wrong. In his past life, he always made clean, decisive cuts. But in front of Yun Wangshu, he always hesitated.
“The heavens truly aren’t on my side…” Lin Luochen sighed.
Qi Qi seemed to sense his thoughts. She gently patted his shoulder and said, “Well then, my little lucky star, it’s time we set off!”
She looked at him with a playful smile, charming as ever.
Tonight had been fruitful for her. She’d skipped hundreds of years’ worth of detours. This opportunity was nothing short of extraordinary.
And it was all thanks to this boy.
Because of that, her affection for Lin Luochen had grown.
[Detected Qi Qi’s favorability toward host has increased to 80%. Mysterious Grand Roulette obtained.]
[Would host like to activate it?]
“Don’t activate it.”
[Alright then.]
…
Elsewhere.
A desolate land.
“Hahahaha! Heaven never seals all paths!”
Ye Chen laughed wildly to the sky. “As long as I keep walking, the road will always appear before me!”
“I am the child of destiny—how could I die so easily!?”
Inside the ring, Old Li rolled his eyes. Who was it again, that cried like a ghost and almost pissed himself when Yun Wangshu exploded in fury?
This brat dares to call himself the child of destiny? Bah!
“Old Li, that damned woman dared to treat me like that!” Ye Chen roared angrily, unaware of Old Li’s inner ridicule.
“Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west. Don’t bully the poor youth!”
“When I step into the Saint Realm, that b*tch will bow her head before me!” Ye Chen said with a lewd grin, slipping into a disgusting daydream.
Old Li felt hopeless. Wasn’t the child of destiny supposed to cultivate the Dao? What the hell was this?
“I’ve calculated it. We can’t stay in the Eastern Wasteland anymore—we must go to Central Province,” he sighed, utterly exhausted.
This was the hardest disciple he’d ever had to guide!
“What!? Leave the Eastern Wasteland?” Ye Chen exclaimed, then hesitated with a conflicted expression. “But I haven’t conquered my three senior sisters yet! I still haven’t taken my master!”
Old Li had already expected this. He said helplessly, “The Moon God of Central Province—she’s like a fairy, cold and untouchable, like moonlight on water.”
“She’s as stunning as Sage Guizhong, maybe even more so.”
“And her two disciples—astonishing talents with the aura of future Emperors. Their beauty could shame the flowers and dim the moon.”
Ye Chen’s eyes lit up instantly. “More beautiful than Sage Guizhong? Her disciples have Emperor potential?”
Old Li nodded.
Ye Chen’s eyes gleamed green. “I am the child of destiny. Cultivation is my life…”
“Let’s go! To Central Province!”