Xuanyuan Yunfei was deeply embarrassed. He had thought that once he broke off his engagement with the Mu family’s young lady, he could openly and peacefully be with the one he truly loved. Who would have expected that a simple errand would turn him into the center of gossip?
The news of his broken engagement hadn’t yet spread, and he had no idea how this scene would be twisted once rumors flew.
The Xuanyuan and Mu families had been allied for over a hundred years, and the Mu clan even had a Nascent Soul ancestor presiding. Xuanyuan Yunfei had insisted on breaking the betrothal, but he had promised his elders that he would not let relations between the two families sour. He tugged lightly at Su Xuening’s sleeve and whispered, “It’s just a low-grade flame. Let’s give it to Miss Mu. We can go look at higher-grade ones.”
Su Xuening’s face turned pale, likely realizing from the crowd’s whispers who the female cultivator opposite her was. Hearing Xuanyuan Yunfei’s persuasion, she said nothing, stepping aside to show she was giving up—though her expression betrayed even greater unwillingness.
Mu Li couldn’t care less about the two of them, nor did she want to linger as fodder for gossip. Maintaining her cold expression, she said to the attendant, “Lead the way.”
But someone clearly didn’t want the scene to end. Just as Mu Li was about to follow the attendant to pay, a lazy voice rang out: “Friend Xuanyuan, that’s not right. Miss Mu was here first. How can you say you’re giving it to her?”
Mu Li turned toward the speaker. It was a young male cultivator, his cultivation on par with Xuanyuan Yunfei’s. He descended slowly from the wooden staircase on the second floor, his dark-red robes shimmering faintly with spiritual light—clearly extraordinary. And his looks were no less striking: long brows, starry eyes, a high nose, thin lips, and a faintly upturned smile that drew attention irresistibly. More important was his bearing—casual yet noble, radiating a presence that made him stand out like a crane among chickens.
Mu Li couldn’t immediately recall which supporting character he was, but she couldn’t help comparing him to Xuanyuan Yunfei. In terms of appearance, each had his strengths. But in her personal taste, she preferred this red-robed man—mysterious and aristocratic—far better than Yunfei, who constantly exuded coldness and warned strangers away.
The man came to stand beside them, and Mu Li noticed the crowd of onlookers growing even larger.
Su Xuening had already smoothed her expression into calm serenity. Hearing his words, she wasn’t angry and instead greeted him warmly:
“Friend Fu, what a coincidence.”
Xuanyuan Yunfei’s aura grew colder. He gave only a curt nod before saying icily, “Friend Fu, what brings you here? The Fu clan is tens of thousands of miles from Ling City.”
At last, Mu Li realized who he was.
Fu Qingzhou—Xuanyuan Yunfei’s greatest rival in the early stages. Equally talented, already at late Foundation Establishment before the age of twenty, preparing to advance to Golden Core.
But Ling City was at the southern edge of the continent, while the Fu clan resided in the central lands where spiritual energy was richest. What was Fu Qingzhou doing here?
Ah, right—the secret realm on the southern islands was about to open. All three of them were Foundation cultivators, so they would surely seek treasures there to aid their advancement.
Should she go too? She was still only at Qi Refining. Could she possibly reach Foundation before the realm opened?
Lost in thought, Mu Li didn’t even hear Fu Qingzhou’s reply. When she came back to herself, she realized the gossiping crowd had grown again.
“Whoa, what’s going on? Who’s this new young cultivator?”
“His cultivation looks solid, on par with Xuanyuan Yunfei. When did another genius appear? Which family?”
“Who cares which family—he seems close to Su Xuening. Could this be a love quadrangle?”
“Too bad the Mu girl’s cultivation is lower. Otherwise, if the four of them fought, it’d be spectacular.”
Mu Li nearly collapsed in exasperation. She had already broken off the engagement—what did these three have to do with her anymore?
Still, the crowd wasn’t wrong. Her cultivation was indeed a tier lower. If not for her past engagement with Yunfei, she wouldn’t even be included in their gossip.
Tch. This world judged everything by cultivation and strength.
Mu Li tried again to leave the gossip circle, but was interrupted once more.
“This Miss Mu, fate has brought us together. I am Fu Qingzhou. In a while, I plan to sit with Friend Xuanyuan and Friend Su at the teahouse. Would Miss Mu honor us by joining?”
This supporting male really went forward, wasn’t he? And inviting the male lead’s former fiancée to join the male and female leads—what was he thinking? No, correction: she was now the *ex*-fiancée. Didn’t he see the burning stares of the crowd?
Mu Li resisted the urge to roll her eyes and forced a polite smile. “I have other matters. I won’t intrude on the three of you catching up.”
Subtext: I don’t know you three at all.
Fu Qingzhou’s smile faltered for a moment, clearly surprised at being refused.
The crowd fell silent briefly, then erupted in whispers again:
“A late Foundation cultivator’s invitation, and she dared refuse? Miss Mu is bold.”
“A Qi Refining cultivator—one of a kind.”
“Wow, this Miss Mu has real personality. She’ll definitely rise in the future. From today, I’m her loyal fan!”
Brain-dead fans—not good.
Mu Li wanted nothing more than to escape. Without waiting for the attendant, she strode quickly toward the counter.
The attendant, relieved, hurried after her.
Fu Qingzhou’s voice drifted lazily from behind: “This Miss Mu is truly cold.”
Mu Li paid the spirit stones quickly and fled the place, away from countless curious eyes. Back home, she stared at the box in her hands, troubled. She knew she had to fuse the flame with her spiritual power before it could be used. But she had only been in this world for a single day. Though she possessed spiritual energy, she had no idea how to wield it. How was she supposed to fuse this seemingly small flame?
Start over like a novice, from Qi Refining stage one, then two, then three, all the way up to nine? How long would that take?