This time, she was not so lucky. Instead… she fainted.
Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, three hours went by. Yan Wuxin, clutching her bruised forehead, had just finished tending to it and was about to complain when she was captivated by the sight beneath her—a face of unparalleled beauty.
Was… this even human?
The exquisitely sculpted face was flawless: a tall, straight nose, crimson lips, and a smooth, fair complexion that exuded a sharp, cold handsomeness. His deep, dark eyes shimmered with an enchanting allure, and his silver-white hair carried a hint of bewitching charm. If he were to open his eyes, how breathtakingly divine would he appear?
Hiss…
A sharp pain shot through her arm. Yan Wuxin’s eyes widened, her mouth slightly agape.
“What is this?” On her fair arm, a spider lily had unmistakably appeared.
The spider lily, a flower that blooms without leaves and grows leaves without flowers—the two never meet, forever separated. Thus, it is often regarded as an ominous flower.
What exactly was this man’s identity?
Before she could ponder further, Yan Wuxin quickly jumped off the ice coffin. Men held no interest for her, no matter how handsome. The most important thing now was to return. Yan Qingyu, Yan Jia—if she couldn’t go back, how would she witness their “delightful” reactions?
Yan Wuxin swiftly followed the shimmering light and left. Not long after her departure, a pair of cold purple eyes opened within the ice coffin.
“Ten thousand years… I have finally emerged.”
The mountains trembled incessantly, and all living things prostrated themselves. On Donghua Mountain, a master shook his head helplessly. “She… has finally appeared.”
The tragedy of ten thousand years ago, the calamity from millennia past—could it be destined to repeat itself?
“Master.” A man dressed in white appeared, bowing respectfully.
“Ye’er, go. Find her. If possible…” The master closed his eyes briefly. “Kill her before she matures.”
The man lowered his head. “Yes.”
Whether it was fate’s favor or heaven granting her a chance for revenge, Yan Wuxin encountered no obstacles along the way—so smooth that even she began to suspect it was a trap. If not for the blood-red spider lily on her arm, she would have doubted whether she was dreaming.
Drip, drip… The sound of water droplets echoed through the cave, reaching Yan Wuxin’s ears.
If she were truly heading out, there should be no sound of dripping water. She had wondered why it was so easy.
She tried another path, but the dripping sound persisted. Yan Wuxin frowned, realizing she was walking in circles. She marked her spot and set off again, only to wander aimlessly and eventually return to the same place.
“Let me see what’s going on here.” She followed the sound of the dripping water.
“This is…”
Before her eyes lay a pool of water, but unlike any ordinary pool. The water here shimmered with a silvery glow—crystal clear yet unfathomably deep. It was utterly bizarre.
“Since you’ve come this far, why not give it a try?” A deep, resonant voice echoed, and Yan Wuxin immediately grew alert.
“Who’s there?”
“To think that the one who broke this venerable one’s seal would be a little girl with a sealed Dantian.”
As the words fell, Yan Wuxin saw a man dressed in red, with silver hair and purple eyes, appear before her.
She took two steps back, gripping her dagger tightly, her gaze fixed warily on the man. Dangerous—that was the impression he gave her. In the ice coffin, his appearance had been cold but devoid of any sharp edges. Now, with his eyes open, an invisible pressure relentlessly bore down on her, making it hard to breathe.
“Who are you?”
“Rest assured, this venerable one will not kill you. I have no interest in the old, weak, sick, or disabled.”
Old, weak, sick, or disabled? Referring to her?
Yan Wuxin was furious. Having lived two lifetimes, no one had ever dared to describe her with those four words. She was the Midnight Queen, a harvesting machine. This was the first time she had been evaluated in such a manner, and it enraged her.
“Little girl, you are too weak. You are no match for this venerable one.”
“Then let’s test that.”
Yan Wuxin’s ghostly figure swiftly lunged toward the man, only to find herself grasping at air as he watched with amusement. A game of cat and mouse ensued, with her unable to gain any advantage despite repeated attempts.
“You…”
“This venerable one said, you are too weak.”
“So what? Fortunes change with time. One day, I will stand at the very top.”
The man glanced at her with appreciation. Although the little girl before him had a face marred by burns, it was not difficult to see that she was a great beauty. Moreover, her willpower was exceptionally strong; she was bound to achieve great things in the future.
What was important was that he felt a strange sense of familiarity toward her.
Having been sealed away for tens of thousands of years and just awakened, his memories were chaotic. Yet, he could still have such a peculiar feeling—truly bizarre.
“Little girl, that is Xisui Ye. It will help you. Remember, this venerable one is called Xuanyuan Mei.”
With that, Xuanyuan Mei vanished in a flash. A voice echoed through the air, “This venerable one will come looking for you again. Remember, protect yourself and stay away from men. Otherwise, I will kill.”
Yan Wuxin paid no heed to Xuanyuan Mei’s words. Her mind automatically filtered them, leaving only three words: Xisui Ye.
Xisui Ye was said to be capable of Xijing Fasui, helping one cultivate anew. Success meant rebirth and transformation, like a phoenix rising from ashes; failure meant shattered meridians and a broken body. Moreover, Xisui Ye was one of the most crucial materials for refining Xisui Dan, making it exceedingly rare. Yet here, there was an entire pool of it.
Strength was all she desired. Regardless of Xuanyuan Mei’s intentions, for the sake of power, she would risk everything.
Yan Wuxin submerged herself entirely in the pool, striving to steady her breathing as she slowly crouched down. She could clearly feel the Xisui Ye seeping into her skin, gradually expanding her pores.
The stinging pain on her skin felt magnified a thousand, ten thousand times. Immediately after, her body felt as if it were on fire—red-hot and scalding. As the Xisui Ye penetrated deeper, her skin secreted a black substance.
She gritted her teeth fiercely, but the excruciating pain from her meridians and bones forced a muffled groan from her lips. Her petite body nearly collapsed under the impact of the Xisui Ye.
Time flew by. The pool water instantly turned pitch black, and an indescribable foul odor permeated the cave, lingering without dissipating. The eerily calm pool water suddenly rippled with a circle of waves.
Splash!
Yan Wuxin emerged from the water. The previously burned skin had peeled away, revealing flawless, delicate skin. Her complexion was as fair as snow, her eyes like clear pools of water. With every glance, she exuded an aura of elegance and nobility, captivating all who beheld her, making them feel unworthy and daring not to defile her.
“What a foolish woman.”
A childish voice echoed in her mind, instantly putting Yan Wuxin on alert.
“Who is it?”
“Foolish woman, this treasure is the Kongjian Qiling. What unfortunate timing—how did I end up with a foolish woman like you?”
Foolish woman?
Yan Wuxin narrowed her eyes, a flash of killing intent emanating from her beautiful gaze.
A gulp was heard, followed by a fawning tone, “Beautiful sister, I am the Kongjian Qiling. Just move your Shenshi, and you’ll be able to see me.”