In the bone-chilling depths of the dungeon.
Ye Chen and his mysterious master were discussing how they might escape from the cold dungeon.
“This matter requires careful planning. Gu Changge’s background is terrifying—beyond imagination. Furthermore, he has powerful guardians hidden in the shadows. In your current state, you cannot confront him head-on…”
“Speaking of which… you should not have been so reckless in the Great Hall.”
Ye Chen’s Master spoke softly.
Her name was Yan Ji. Her spiritual form was faint and translucent, yet her eyes remained a striking, bewitching shade of crimson. Her expression was grave. Though she was merely a wisp of a remnant soul, traces of her former peerless elegance and world-shaking power were still visible.
“I understand, Master. I’m sorry.”
Now that the adrenaline had faded, Ye Chen felt a pang of regret.
He shouldn’t have lost his temper with his beautiful Master, nor should he have directed his anger at her. Fortunately, she didn’t seem offended; instead, she offered gentle counsel, which moved him deeply.
However, as for being “reckless”…
Ye Chen refused to admit fault in his heart. He believed he had a perfect counter-strategy ready at the time. It was simply that at the critical moment, his Master had dropped the ball.
“I understand, Master. From today onward, I will lie low. I will bide my time, and once I am strong enough, I will slaughter Gu Changge with my own hands.”
Ye Chen gritted his teeth and vowed.
He had thought about giving up, but in the end, his pride wouldn’t allow it. He convinced himself that Su Qingge wasn’t acting voluntarily—she must have difficulties he didn’t understand.
Or perhaps… Gu Changge was forcing her.
Watching him, Yan Ji frowned slightly, sighing inwardly.
In her eyes, Ye Chen’s mentality was far too immature. For the sake of a woman, he had offended an existence he had no business provoking.
And in truth, Gu Changge had done nothing wrong in this matter. The Taixuan Holy Land had chosen to curry favor with the powerful. Could Gu Changge be blamed for that?
But Ye Chen was the disciple she had personally accepted, and it was the Spiritual Qi he had painstakingly cultivated that had awakened her. Thus, Yan Ji kept these thoughts to herself.
There are quite a few powerful prisoners in this dungeon. Perhaps that could offer a way out, Ye Chen thought.
He refused to sit idly and await death. Since the Taixuan Holy Land was unrighteous, they couldn’t blame him for being ruthless!
The conversation between master and disciple was conducted in secrecy, but they were completely unaware that a pair of indifferent eyes was watching them from the void.
Elder Ming had concealed his presence perfectly.
Although Ye Chen’s Master had been a powerhouse in her prime, in her current state as a fragmented soul, detecting Elder Ming was nearly impossible.
“Is the ‘Fated Chance’ the Young Lord mentioned related to this woman?”
“A remnant soul of an ancient expert?”
Elder Ming frowned in the shadows.
No matter how he looked, Elder Ming could not see anything unusual about Ye Chen.
The ring on his hand was peculiar, with faint fluctuations of soul energy. That, along with their exchange through spiritual sense, showed that Ye Chen had an expert supporting him.
But Gu Changge’s orders were strict: Observe Ye Chen’s every move, but do not interfere.
So, Elder Ming remained a silent spectator.
…
In the blink of an eye, three days passed.
Ye Chen’s imprisonment seemed to have been erased from the collective memory of the Taixuan Holy Land.
If Gu Changge didn’t mention him, who dared to ask?
A mere inner disciple offending such a supreme existence—even if he rotted in that cell until old age, no one would dare claim it was excessive.
Gu Changge, meanwhile, was in a pleasant mood.
For the past three days, Elder Ming had reported every detail from the dungeon. Gu Changge had essentially figured out the dynamic between Ye Chen and his so-called Master.
The trope remained the same; only the actors had changed.
For Ye Chen to rise from mediocrity, aside from his heaven-defying luck, he relied almost entirely on this mysterious Master. Without the “Grandpa in the Ring,” he was nothing.
Gu Changge had considered simply snatching the ring.
But his mysterious master would very likely unleash a burst of power to protect Ye Chen and help him escape, even at the risk of her remnant soul being destroyed. With providence protecting him as well, the approach was dangerous.
If things went wrong, both he and Elder Ming might die here.
“Sowing discord and driving a wedge between them… that sounds much more elegant.”
“Though, for a Villain like me, isn’t that a bit too wicked?”
“No, no, no. I’m doing this for Destiny Points. For the sake of my cultivation.”
Gu Changge justified his schemes with righteous solemnity.
Sitting in the grand hall, he felt the time was right to advance his plan.
Just then, a guard entered and bowed.
“My Lord, the Holy Maiden requests an audience.”
Hearing this, Gu Changge snapped out of his thoughts. The playful smile on his lips vanished instantly, replaced by a mask of aloof indifference.
“Let her in.”
Regardless of his inner thoughts, a Great Villain had to maintain his persona.
He had left Su Qingge hanging for three days. It was time to reel her in.
In his previous life, Gu Changge had consumed thousands of web novels. Dealing with a clever, calculating heroine like Su Qingge was simple once you understood her weakness.
The strategy was classic: Play hard to get.
First, grind down her composure. He wasn’t some love-struck simp who lost his mind at the sight of a pretty face. He needed to show her that.
Then, just as she teetered on the edge of despair, he would offer a glimmer of hope.
For the past three days, the Taixuan Holy Lord had been a wreck, sighing constantly and wearing a face full of gloom. The reason? He feared his daughter had offended Young Lord Gu, causing the sudden cold treatment. Yet, he was too terrified to ask Gu Changge directly.
Su Qingge was a filial daughter. Seeing her father in such distress tortured her.
This filial piety was the lever Gu Changge would use to control her.
“Qingge pays her respects to Young Lord Gu.”
Speaking in a pleasant voice, Su Qingge slowly entered the hall.
Her face held a trace of undisguised anxiety. She could no longer maintain the calm, transcendent demeanor she had worn three days ago.