An Alpha’s estrus period is incredibly troublesome.
They lose the most basic human rationality, becoming almost like wild beasts, developing hostility toward their own kind and instinctively suppressing others with their pheromones. Simultaneously, their craving for Omegas intensifies, desiring constant comfort from them.
If she were in her own world, Jiang Xuezhi would have already injected herself with a suppressant.
But here, there were no suppressants.
No Omegas either.
Only someone she judged to be of the same kind.
Dressed in robes red as blood, Jiang Xuezhi stared intensely at Yun Cangming, her voice hoarse as she repeated, “Come here.”
Her blood boiled, her mind was in chaos, her entire body felt feverish, and sweat poured down like rain.
Her breathing was ragged, her gaze locked on Yun Cangming, unable to move an inch.
Truthfully, she had never deeply experienced an estrus period before; most of her understanding came from textbooks.
As a soldier and the most promising future star of the Imperial Military Academy, she had long relied on suppressants. Except for the first time, she had never felt the troubles brought on by estrus.
She wasn’t quite sure what she was feeling now, only that she desperately wished for Yun Cangming to come to her side.
Very, very desperately.
Probably to beat him up.
Definitely.
After all, they were the same kind. The textbooks said that during estrus, one would feel hostility toward their own kind and release pheromones to suppress them, didn’t that perfectly match her current situation?
Her pheromones were pouring out uncontrollably, and Yun Cangming probably sensed something was wrong.
But it was unlikely he understood the physiology of someone from another world, so he simply attributed the metallic scent to Jiang Xuezhi’s body malfunctioning.
He truly was a good person, cold on the outside but warm on the inside.
In a few quick steps, he approached her and leaned down to assess her condition.
Since he had decided to help, he would see it through to the end. Having started aiding Jiang Xuezhi, he didn’t want her to come to harm after all.
His hand rested on her, gently tracing from the crown of her head, behind her ears, to her carotid artery.
Though he was an icy person, his fingers were warm, almost scalding to Jiang Xue Zhi, who had just thawed.
She shivered, her mind growing even more chaotic.
The clarity brought by the elixir was fleeting; she couldn’t help but half-close her eyes, gazing at his face as if intoxicated and disoriented.
If there was one gain from transmigrating into this book that her original world lacked, it was Yun Cangming’s face.
Perhaps this was what it meant to be an “immortal”, endowed with a unique buff, making one’s appearance dreamlike.
Yun Cangming was extraordinarily handsome.
His eyes were the most captivating feature of his face.
Their pupils were an intense, deep ink-black, yet hidden within was a hint of silver-blue, like stars sealed beneath millennia of ice.
Every time she had seen him, he remained unruffled, his beauty so sharp it felt almost intimidating, making one hesitant to look directly.
Shen Qingxian had also touched her body.
That was back in the Desolate Abyss Prison.
She had feigned unconsciousness to lure him closer and had even taken the opportunity to steal his jade pendant.
At that time, she had restrained herself, suppressing her emotions, enduring immense discomfort.
But now was different.
Jiang Xuezhi had thought calling him over was to start a fight.
She had mistaken the restlessness in her heart for malice, but that wasn’t the case.
She didn’t understand what was happening to her, it was as if she were possessed by a demonic bird, like a newborn chick seeing its mother. As Yun Cangming checked the vital point at her neck, she couldn’t help but nuzzle against his palm.
Her cheek brushed against his warm palm, the slight friction creating an unusual sensation that made both of them aware something was amiss.
Yun Cangming abruptly withdrew his hand, a barely perceptible crack appearing in his icy composure.
He should have been angry, the aura around him turned corrosive, an instinctive reaction when rules were violated.
Yet his anger didn’t manifest as increased coldness or intimidation. Instead, he grew eerily calm, not even a hint of a frown creasing his brow. He simply lifted his gaze, fixing it intently on her.
The surrounding temperature plummeted, tiny ice crystals beginning to form in the air. A faint silver-blue light glowed in the depths of his eyes, his gaze so sharp it seemed capable of piercing her very soul.
Without uttering a single word, he could make any offender feel as though they were teetering on the edge of an abyss, their bones chilled to the marrow.
Jiang Xuezhi was the exception here.
She felt none of the instinctive fear or reverence others in this world held for Yun Cangming, and her judgment was further clouded by her sensitive period.
Her emotions grew increasingly volatile, as if she were in the throes of a mental breakdown. Under Yun Cangming’s intense stare, instead of retreating, her agitation only intensified.
“Damn bird egg,” she cursed under her breath.
Abandoning her thunder tribulation, she rose swiftly and strode toward Yun Cangming.
Truth be told, judging by her current demeanor, one would never guess her true intentions.
Her face was expressionless, her long hair flowing behind her. Her fists were clenched, teeth gritted.
Her cold, piercing eyes locked onto Yun Cangming as if he were a formidable foe, her determination laced with a bone-deep killing intent.
It had to be killing intent.
Was she insane?
Yun Cangming quickly deduced something from her muttered curse.
The bird egg had shattered, splattering its contents, and she had been drenched in it.
The demon birds in this realm were known for their lustful nature; it was understandable that their egg fluid could drive someone to lose rationality and act erratically.
Coupled with the fact that she was undergoing a tribulation, her defenses were at their weakest. Anything could happen under such circumstances.
Once he understood her condition, her earlier behavior became less unforgivable.
Yun Cangming still couldn’t conceive of anyone daring to harbor improper thoughts toward him while in their right mind. He had held a lofty position for too long, dwelling among the clouds for so many years that he had shed all mortal desires, making it difficult for others to entertain any lustful notions toward an existence like his.
He was too pure, too sacred, more like a faith, utterly inviolable.
Jiang Xuezhi, despite her youth and uniqueness, couldn’t possibly be that unique.
Given her current state, she likely realized something was wrong. The way she was approaching him now couldn’t mean she intended to do anything untoward, she was probably either trying to avoid him or vent her frustration by confronting him.
Her fierce demeanor showed no trace of ambiguity, making it impossible for Yun Cangming to entertain any other notion.
Instinctively, he shifted aside, believing she was more likely to pass by, and thus made way for her.
But once again, things did not go as he expected.
Jiang Xuezhi wasn’t leaving.
Nor was she planning to fight him.
She strode up to him, brimming with aggressive energy, and hooked her arm around his neck. Their heights weren’t vastly different, Jiang Xuezhi was just half a head shorter than Yun Cangming. Caught off guard, he was pulled into her embrace.
A sharp pain shot through his neck as Yun Cangming clearly felt teeth piercing his skin.
Blood seeped out, and a woman’s tongue licked at his blood and wound, bringing with it a strange, stimulating sensation of tingling numbness.
He snapped back to reality, shoving her away abruptly. The punitive spell was about to descend, but when he saw her crimson lips and dazed eyes, it ultimately failed to strike.
It was just the effect of the demon bird’s egg fluid.
This wasn’t something she would normally do.
She would never dare to act like this.
Yun Cangming’s temples throbbed with fury. Watching her approach him again, yet unable to hold a grudge against someone afflicted by “demon poison,” he could only keep his distance.
This small nest couldn’t hold him in the slightest, if he wanted to leave, he could do so immediately.
As the space before her became empty, with no one to soothe her restlessness, Jiang Xuezhi’s condition worsened.
Inhibitor, inhibitor, inhibitor…
She shook her head, instinctively searching the pockets of her uniform, only to realize she wasn’t wearing her uniform but a robe, and there were no pockets.
In an instant, she grew furious. Every emotion during her sensitive period was amplified, and Jiang Xuezhi was now a powder keg, ready to explode at the slightest spark.
The rolling thunder tribulation no longer mattered. Jiang Xuezhi’s spiritual power surged violently. With a sweep of her arms, she repelled the thunder tribulation.
In that moment, the secret realm shook once again, and it was then that Lin Wanwan found her way here.
She barely managed to find a foothold and immediately spotted Jiang Xuezhi emerging from the base of the Nest Mountain.
She had changed her clothes, now wearing a red cross-collared robe, her black hair adorned with a golden crown, strikingly dazzling and utterly different from the person she had first met at Xuantian Sect.
There was no one else at the base of the Nest Mountain. Lin Wanwan’s presence here caught Jiang Xuezhi’s attention instantly. Their eyes met, and invisible sparks seemed to fly between them.
For some inexplicable reason, Lin Wanwan recalled that night when she returned to the sect.
Jiang Xuezhi’s cold fingers had touched her face, telling her that would cost extra.
A shiver ran down her spine. She forced her gaze away from the other’s overly solemn face and unintentionally landed on the Qiankun pouch at her waist.
It was an utterly ordinary Qiankun pouch, embroidered with simple joy grass on the outside, its grade was so low it was almost shoddy.
Jiang Xuezhi must have collected many treasures during this time; she ought to be wearing a better Qiankun pouch.
But she wasn’t.
There was only one pouch at her waist, the inferior one embroidered with joy grass.
Why keep this inferior pouch?
Did she still remember all the Qiankun pouches she had snatched and who each one belonged to?
If she knew, why not keep her master’s or senior brother’s? Why keep hers?
Was she so addicted to impersonating her? Was she deliberately trying to disgust her?
Lin Wanwan’s head suddenly ached. She didn’t know why she was obsessing over this, her emotions a tangled mess, but she hadn’t forgotten her mission.
The thunder tribulation was about to pass. Any cultivator would know that Jiang Xuezhi was on the verge of success.
Her purple lightning was so powerful, if she truly succeeded in building her foundation, there would be no chance for Lin Wanwan to prevail.
Lin Wanwan bit her lip until it bled, forcing herself to stay alert.
Just as she was about to charge at Jiang Xuezhi with her sword, she realized Jiang Xuezhi was coming toward her.
Fine, if she was coming willingly. There was no one else here, just the two of them. Victory or defeat, life or death, their true reckoning would be decided today.
Lin Wanwan stood ready, raising her sword to strike, but her vision blurred. The last thing she remembered was Jiang Xuezhi’s icy eyes and indifferent expression.
Her shoulders and neck tensed, and she collapsed in a daze. Her lifebound sword clattered to the ground with a harsh sound. The next moment, a tickle at her neck made her eyes snap open, and she instinctively slapped out.
Her wrist was caught before her slap could land on the other’s face. Lin Wanwan’s vision cleared, and she saw Jiang Xuezhi frowning, staring intently at her smooth, fair neck for a long while as if deeply annoyed.
Not only did she stare, but her other hand also lightly traced the skin.
“How dare you!!!”
Lin Wanwan’s voice was hoarse as she scolded. Jiang Xuezhi seemed irritated by the noise, covering the other’s mouth and shoving her aside.
“Here to kill me?” She looked down at the fallen girl. “With just you?”
Yes.
With just her.
Lin Wanwan lay on the ground in despair, staring at the sword that had slipped from her grasp, her entire being lost in confusion.
Kill Jiang Xuezhi?
How ridiculous.
She hadn’t even lasted a single move against her.
She was, after all, at the peak of Foundation Establishment, while Jiang Xuezhi had only just completed her Foundation Establishment. Even if there was a gap, shouldn’t she be the stronger one?
Lin Wanwan stared at Jiang Xuezhi in disbelief. Jiang Xuezhi indifferently withdrew her gaze and turned toward another direction in Nest Mountain.
“How many more are there?” she said coolly. “Why not come at me together instead of hiding and watching?”
Come at her together?
Lin Wanwan froze for a moment, then realized there were others nearby as Jiang Xuezhi dashed toward the other side.
She had come alone, without any backup. Those weren’t her people.
She couldn’t help but shout, “I’m alone! I didn’t bring anyone else!”
Jiang Xuezhi didn’t even glance at her, her speed never faltering.
Lin Wanwan felt inexplicably frustrated and gritted her teeth, yelling, “Jiang Xuezhi, stop right there!”
She wanted to chase after her, but by the time she picked up her sword and stood, there wasn’t a trace of Jiang Xuezhi left.
Too fast.
The gap was too wide.
It was practically cheating.
Lin Wanwan found her Soul Lamp and steeled herself to press on.
But deep down, she didn’t know what she could do even if she found Jiang Xuezhi again.
She was no match for her. Killing her was impossible, and the worst outcome might even be Jiang Xuezhi eliminating her instead.
She believed Jiang Xuezhi could kill her as easily as swatting a fly.
Lin Wanwan had been filled with righteous fury and urgency, but at this thought, she slowed down entirely, clutching the Soul Lamp dejectedly.
Meanwhile, Jiang Xuezhi had already caught someone else.
Nests had fallen from broken walls, piling up into Nest Mountain. On the other side, four attendants and their young master huddled together, hiding clumsily and pathetically.
“Protect the Young City Lord!”
The four attendants seemed to be some kind of death warriors, standing in unison before Jiang Xuezhi to shield a young boy.
They were indeed somewhat capable, managing to hold her back for a moment.
Jiang Xuezhi’s sensitive period had reached its peak.
Restless energy, intense pheromones, fluctuating emotions, she was losing control.
Jiang Xuezhi reached out, and Po Jun flew from afar into her grasp.
As a life-bound magical artifact fused with her very being, it had long sensed something was wrong with her.
When she had dared to act so disrespectfully toward the Snow-Soothing Sword Venerable, Pojun had been utterly stunned.
Seeing her emerge unscathed and now wreaking havoc on others with such arrogance, Pojun couldn’t quite describe what it felt.
Since it wasn’t the one suffering, watching from the sidelines felt strangely satisfying.
Held firmly in her grasp, Pojun watched as she elegantly and casually swept past the four cultivators.
The weakest among them was at the mid-Golden Core stage, and they all used their ultimate skills against Jiang Xuezhi, managing to delay her for a brief moment.
It was clear at a glance who the mastermind among them was. Jiang Xuezhi had no interest in the underlings.
She was most interested in the one who had given the order to ambush her.
O, everywhere were O’s, each one an O. No matter how imposing their presence, it couldn’t change their O nature, but she was rather particular about O’s.
She couldn’t quite accept the drop in quality from someone like Yun Cangming to this level.
However…
Jiang Xuezhi stared at the young man being protected.
He looked to be around seventeen or eighteen, his actual age, not a preserved youthful appearance.
Seeing her effortlessly bypass his attendants, he appeared somewhat flustered. That unique adolescent innocence, paired with his panic and his slender, delicate frame, unexpectedly gave her a sense of serene, virginal beauty.
It’ll do.
Jiang Xuezhi tilted her head, slung the gun over her shoulder, grabbed the young man, and left.
“Young City Lord!”
The attendants scrambled to their feet and gave chase.
Captured, the young man struggled fiercely, but still managed to roar his determination to his followers.
“She’s advanced, and her lightning tribulation was abnormal! Go back and call for reinforcements!”
The young man shouted, “Tell my mother!! I’m not a coward!!!”