By the time Ji Sui'an returned to Misty Peak, it was nearing dusk. After greeting the two, she shut herself inside her small courtyard.
Sitting on her bed, Ji Sui'an stared intently at the faintly glowing jade bracelet on her wrist. Ji Yun'er's behavior today was off—she would likely make her move sooner than expected.
She retrieved a Dragon Jasmine Flower from her spatial ring, a Spirit Plant essential for refining the Spirit Gathering Pill. Consumed untreated, it would invade one’s life channels but not prove fatal.
Clutching the Dragon Jasmine Flower tightly, Ji Sui'an thought to herself: No, this isn’t enough. If Ji Yun'er has other tricks up her sleeve, I won’t be able to counter them immediately.
She slowly raised her eyes, her gaze sharp. She needed to prepare thoroughly—to ensure that even if the Exotic Fire was taken from her again, Ji Yun'er would gain nothing from it.
Time passed slowly as night gradually fell.
Gazing at the darkness outside her window, Ji Sui'an knew that after today’s events, someone like Ji Yun'er wouldn’t just sit idle.
As midnight approached, the jade bracelet on her wrist stirred once more. Without hesitation, Ji Sui'an shoved the Dragon Jasmine Flower into her mouth.
The flower’s toxicity struck violently, sending waves of excruciating pain throughout her body.
Staring at the crack deep within the jade bracelet, Ji Sui'an felt no relief—only a growing sense of unease.
In the next moment, the long-dormant Exotic Fire within her suddenly erupted, rampaging wildly through her body.
Pain identical to her past life’s memories erupted violently. Ji Sui'an curled up in agony, yet her mind remained crystal clear.
This time, the transfer of her Exotic Fire had nothing to do with the jade bracelet. Why, then?
She fought to ignore the searing pain of the Exotic Fire’s rampage, carefully observing her own body.
The jade bracelet was connected to her life channels, yet even after deliberately damaging it, why couldn’t she stop this?
She gritted her teeth. No—stay calm, stay calm.
Forcing herself to remain composed, she focused her mind inward to observe the Exotic Fire. It seemed as though an invisible hand was violently stirring it, causing it to crash chaotically within her, as if deliberately torturing her.
Sweat dripped from Ji Sui'an’s forehead. Ji Yun'er was doing this on purpose. In her past life, seizing the Exotic Fire had been painful, but it was over in mere breaths.
Just as she desperately searched for any anomaly, the Exotic Fire crashed directly into her spiritual root.
"Ah—!"
Overwhelmed by the extreme pain, Ji Sui'an’s vision went dark, and she fainted from the agony.
Qinghua Peak.
"Host, after obtaining the Exotic Fire from Ji Sui'an this time, you only have one use left of the Heart’s Blood previously taken from her," a cold, mechanical voice echoed in the room.
"I know. I’ll find a way to extract more from Ji Sui'an," Ji Yun'er replied, watching the Exotic Fire dance at her fingertips, a smile curling her lips.
Her eyes gleamed with greed as she admired the deep blue flames. "Heh, Ji Sui'an deserves this. If she had remained as submissive as before, I might have spared her some suffering."
Misty Peak.
Xie Qingchen sat in the courtyard, frowning slightly at the faint sounds coming from nearby.
What is this little disciple up to?
After a moment’s thought, he stood up and walked toward Ji Sui'an’s courtyard.
Entering her room unobstructed, Xie Qingchen approached the bed where Ji Sui'an lay unconscious.
Her face was as pale as paper, drenched as if pulled from water.
The young man leaned in slowly, his handsome lips moving slightly. "Fainted?"
He raised his hand and formed a Dust-Removal Spell, then placed his palm on her forehead.
"No injuries…"
His beautiful eyes gazed at her for a moment, then a flash of light appeared at his fingertip, from which a drop of blood welled up.
He pressed his fingertip against the girl's lips, watching as her face regained its rosy hue. Xie Qingchen stood up, a trace of annoyance appearing on his face.
Within him, an irritable child's voice exploded: "Xie Qingchen! You gave your blood to this little girl but not to me—what do you mean by that!"
Xie Qingchen resumed his aloof demeanor. "My blood, I give it to whomever I wish."
With that, he turned and left.
The wind passed without a trace, as if he had never been there.
The next day, early morning.
Ji Sui'an slowly opened her eyes, a flicker of confusion passing through them.
She lay flat on the bed, sensing the Exotic Fire that had vanished from within her body, her face showing no particular expression.
It seemed Ji Yun'er had more than one method of transferring it. Although she had gained some clues last night, she couldn't be entirely certain.
She sat up, but unexpectedly found no discomfort in her body. She shook her arm and spoke in puzzlement: "Could it be that after being reborn, even my recovery ability has improved?"
In her previous life, after her Exotic Fire was stolen, she had been weak for a full half-month before barely recovering.
Ji Sui'an didn't dwell on it further and got up to leave the room.
Today's sky was exceptionally clear, and Ji Sui'an's mood was the same.
Wasn't Ji Yun'er probably eagerly showing off the Exotic Fire she had stolen from her right now?
Ji Sui'an curled a faint smile. She hoped that later, Ji Yun'er would still be able to smile.
Just as she stepped out of the courtyard gate, she saw Ji Qingya approaching.
Behind him followed a tall young man in white robes and a woman dressed in an ice-blue gown.
Seeing Ji Sui'an, Ji Qingya waved his hand. "My good disciple!"
Ji Sui'an was taken aback, then stepped forward to greet him, raising her hand in salute. "Master."
Ji Qingya waved dismissively. "No need for such formalities."
He pointed to the man and woman beside him. "This is your Eldest Senior Brother Jiang Wangzhou, and this is your Eldest Senior Sister Yu Tanshu. They've just returned from their training journey."
Ji Sui'an looked at the exceptionally striking man and woman and spoke obediently: "Eldest Senior Brother, Eldest Senior Sister."
"Little Junior Sister." The young man, dressed in a moon-white robe, stood with his hands behind his back, a perfectly appropriate smile on his lips.
The female cultivator with an ethereal aura took out a Mustard Seed Bag, her voice cool and clear: "We returned in haste and didn't have time to prepare properly. Please accept this as a gift for your entry into the sect. I hope you won't find it lacking."
Ji Sui'an reached out to take it. "Thank you, Senior Brother and Senior Sister."
"Just keep it," Ji Qingya patted his little disciple's shoulder, then looked at his three disciples and spoke: "There's also something strange. That Ji Yun'er from Qinghua Peak refined a sixth-grade Alchemy Pill today. It's quite odd."
Ji Sui'an's fingertips slowly tightened. Just as in her previous life, as soon as she got her hands on the Exotic Fire, she couldn't wait to show off.
However, the higher one climbs, the harder they fall.
"Ji Yun'er?" Yu Tanshu frowned slightly. "Who is that?"
Jiang Wangzhou spoke gently: "What's so strange about that? The sect leader's daughter, Ji Sui'an, also refined a sixth-grade Alchemy Pill at the age of fourteen."
Hearing her own name, Ji Sui'an looked up. "I am Ji Sui'an."
"?"
Jiang Wangzhou's gentle, jade-like face cracked slightly. "What?"
Yu Tanshu, however, quickly regained her composure. "So Little Junior Sister is the renowned Ji Sui'an of Central Continent. Seeing you in person is indeed better than hearing your name a hundred times—truly graceful and elegant."
As for why such a rare genius would come to their Misty Peak, the two had no interest in exploring the reasons.
"By the way," Ji Qingya suddenly remembered, "just now, news came from Qinghua Peak that an ancient secret realm has appeared in the Central Continent. The various sects have decided to use the secret realm as a minor trial before the Central Continent Grand Competition. Our sect will hold a tournament to select the main peak that will participate in the secret realm trial. Are any of you interested?"
Yu Tanshu shook his head indifferently. "Not interested."
Jiang Wangzhou smiled gently. "I don’t want to go."
"Alright." Ji Qingya hadn’t expected these disciples to participate in the sect’s tournament in the first place; his intention was merely to inform them.
Ji Sui'an, however, suddenly raised her hand. "Master, I’d like to go."
She remembered that in her previous life, a spiritual tree had been discovered in this secret realm, bearing spirit fruits known as Celestial Spirit Fruits, which could temper the Divine Soul. In her past life, the entire Celestial Spirit Fruit tree had been claimed by Ji Yun'er. This time, she intended to compete with Ji Yun'er for it.
"?"
Three pairs of eyes turned toward her simultaneously.