“If Senior Sister wants it, this one is even better!”
Bai Muyao urgently reached out to grab the jade pendant Xu Qing had gifted her, intending to give it back to its original owner. She wanted to give Xu Qing the superior one.
Xu Qing, however, shook her head. “No, I prefer this one.” She held the other jade pendant in her hand, appearing to genuinely like it.
“Can you gift it to me?” Xu Qing asked once more.
Bai Muyao agreed immediately. “Of course, as long as Senior Sister likes it!”
“Thank you.”
Xu Qing accepted the spirit pendant and fastened it to her waist. The two stood at the entrance of the cave, their gazes meeting. A trace of complex emotion flashed in Xu Qing’s eyes, but she eventually said, “You leave first. I still wish to be alone for a while.”
Bai Muyao lowered her head, bidding farewell with deep respect. “Senior Sister Xu Qing, then I shall depart. Please take care of yourself.”
Xu Qing nodded. “Fine.”
Bai Muyao turned to walk down the mountain, while Xu Qing remained in place, her thoughts a tangled mess as if she were deep in contemplation. Suddenly, Bai Muyao stopped her pace and looked back. A brilliant smile bloomed on her face as she waved goodbye. “Senior Sister, may we meet again if fate permits!”
Xu Qing was stunned by this sudden, radiant smile. Slowly, she raised her hand and waved back. This was the first time she had seen Bai Muyao smile so brightly at her, and it stirred a ripple deep within her heart.
She stood there for a long time, until Bai Muyao’s silhouette was no longer visible, finally confirming that the other woman had truly gone. Xu Qing clenched her fists, a hint of gloominess flashing in her eyes that even she failed to notice, before she too turned and left.
Bai Muyao was in no hurry to leave the sect; instead, she returned to her residence. She wasn’t there to pick up belongings everything she needed was already in her storage ring—but to find a certain person.
She saw Duan Yi waiting there. She had come specifically for her. Of course, had Duan Yi not been there, she would have turned and left without hesitation.
Seeing Bai Muyao return, Duan Yi’s emotions were beyond words, a mix of joy and undeniable unease. She forced a smile, trying to approach Bai Muyao as she used to. “Xiao Bai, you’re back. I thought you…”
Before she could finish, Bai Muyao’s cold voice cut her off: “Halt. Do not move.”
The warning made Duan Yi tremble. She had held onto a shred of luck, hoping Bai Muyao wouldn’t know of her actions. But at this moment, Bai Muyao’s icy gaze shattered her illusions. She never expected that the Bai Muyao who once smiled and spoke gently to her would now examine her with such cold eyes.
“Xiao Bai…” Duan Yi’s voice shook.
Bai Muyao took a deep breath, her voice steady and aloof. “I only came today to say goodbye.”
“No! It’s not like that!” Duan Yi cried out. “Xiao Bai, listen to my explanation. I never intended to harm you!”
She tried to get closer to defend herself, but as soon as she took a step, she felt a sharp, piercing sword qi rushing toward her. Bai Muyao had already unsheathed her sword. The longsword, etched with blue-green patterns, gleamed under the morning sun, its tip pointed directly at Duan Yi.
Bai Muyao spoke coldly, “I warned you. If you take one more step, do not blame my blade for being heartless!”
Duan Yi did not dare to move further and could only plead, “Then let me explain, okay? I did it because—”
“No need,” Bai Muyao interrupted her again. After saying goodbye, they would go their separate ways with no further intersection. Neither should pester the other; that was how it should be.
“Why!” Duan Yi shouted excitedly. “I didn’t actually do anything to you! I just want to explain the reason!”
Bai Muyao: “From the moment you drugged me, there was nothing left to say.”
“I didn’t want to hurt you…” In her desperation, Duan Yi subconsciously took another step forward.
It was just that one step. The surrounding spiritual energy fluctuated. Duan Yi watched in shock as a flow of water erupted around Bai Muyao, accompanied by pale blue flames that burned within the water without being extinguished.
Bai Muyao was ready for battle. This time, if Duan Yi made any sudden move, she would not show mercy again. Duan Yi fell powerlessly to her knees, her heart filled with despair. She had thought Bai Muyao would give her a chance to explain, that there was still room for reconciliation.
But she hadn’t expected this. “You are truly so heartless!” Duan Yi screamed with all her might.
Seeing that Duan Yi could no longer resist, Bai Muyao withdrew her spiritual energy and said faintly, “Let us part here.” With that, she turned to leave.
“Then tell me, what exactly is your relationship with Xu Qing!” Duan Yi roared, as if it were her final outburst.
Bai Muyao stiffened for a moment, surprised that Duan Yi had discovered Xu Qing’s existence. “Simply… someone I respect,” she murmured softly, only for herself to hear. She was unwilling to say more and resolutely left the place.
Duan Yi truly never expected her and Bai Muyao to end this way. She never thought Bai Muyao could be so heartless as to not even give her a single chance to explain. In this moment, Duan Yi realized deeply that perhaps she had never truly known Bai Muyao.
As Duan Yi knelt there alone, weeping incessantly, a long-haired woman watched intently from the shadows, her lower lip bitten so hard it nearly bled. If anyone saw her, they would recognize her as Shi Hua.
Years ago, she was the “Daughter of Heaven” within the sect who had publicly pursued Xu Qing, only to be harshly rejected. Last night, she sensed Xu Qing using spiritual energy and immediately rushed here. She had seen Bai Muyao being carried away by Xu Qing. She had spent the night investigating Bai Muyao’s information.
“Bai Muyao? A disciple with mediocre, even abysmal talent… so it was you who has been approaching Xu Qing all these years!”
She knew Xu Qing had been secretly in contact with someone over the years but never knew who. It turned out to be this girl. A plan formed in Shi Hua’s heart as she began to follow Bai Muyao.
In the main hall of the Qingfeng Pavilion, the Master finally saw Xu Qing arrive. The Master said helplessly, “Why are you also so late today?”
Xu Qing apologized, “This disciple had some matters to handle.”
The Master chuckled bitterly. “Forget it. I can no longer control you anyway.” In reality, the rule of visiting the Master was a mere formality; even if Xu Qing was occasionally absent, the Master would not scold her. Xu Qing’s strength had already surpassed her own; she had nothing left to teach.
Then, Xu Qing spoke with a solemn expression: “Master, this disciple wishes to enter secluded meditation for a period of time.”
Is it finally time to leave? Will I have a chance to return? Will I see Senior Sister Xu Qing again?
Bai Muyao didn’t have the answers to any of these three questions. Forget it. She gathered her spiritual energy and sped away toward the sect’s exit. She didn’t notice that in the sect plaza, Xu Qing was watching her departure.
Clutching the spirit pendant, Xu Qing watched as Bai Muyao gradually disappeared, her heart feeling as if thorns were scratching at it. She never thought there would be a day when she would be so firmly rejected. Since she had been rejected once, she would absolutely not propose a second time!
Since the other girl insisted on leaving, she would absolutely not try to make her stay! She stopped looking at Bai Muyao and resolutely turned back into her pavilion to begin her secluded cultivation.
Fifteen days later.
Bai Muyao sat in a carriage, traveling through dense forests. The sect was far from any towns; if she relied solely on flying with spiritual energy, she would be exhausted halfway. She chose to use runes to drive the carriage to save her strength.
During this time, Bai Muyao had not been idle; she was constantly studying various talismans for use in emergencies. Along the way, she also looked for the “opportunities” she wanted. Most of them appeared exceptionally difficult.
For instance: [Finding the lost divine artifact ‘Star Stone’]. She would have to go deep into the Demon Realm and brave the peril-filled Demon Realm Canyon. That place was a death trap even for experts in the Mahayana realm, let alone someone with her Golden Core cultivation!
Below the mission was a progress bar: Complete this opportunity to increase tribulation survival rate by 10%; Difficulty: Epic
Bai Muyao was confused by the percentage, but the System informed her that once the number accumulated to 100, she would safely survive the tribulation a hundred years from now. Currently, her probability of survival was 0.6647%.
Many opportunities could greatly increase her chances, but they were all beyond her current capabilities. Thus, she first picked a short-term opportunity she could achieve:
Collect fragments to summon the residual soul of an Ancient Emperor] [Complete this opportunity to greatly increase cultivation level and increase tribulation survival rate by 3.7%; Difficulty: Intermediate