Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

Spring goes and autumn comes, the old peach tree in front of the Broken Heart Residence blooms and fades again.

Three years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Life in the Supreme Forgetfulness Sect passes by faster than flowing water.

In the courtyard of Duanqing Residence, Su Chang'an lay on a specially made sandalwood rocking chair, covered with Chen Xuan's fox fur cloak embroidered with cloud patterns.

Holding a hand warmer in her hands, with freshly peeled grapes and a pot of warm peach blossom wine on a small table beside her.

This life is so good, I wouldn't trade it for even a god.

"To the left, that's too much force."

Su Chang'an squinted and hummed softly.

Chen Xuan squatted beside the rocking chair, holding an ivory comb in his hand, patiently combing her hair.

Hearing this, he softened his movements, his fingertips brushing against her scalp, sending a tingling sensation through her.

"Is this force enough?"

The boy's voice was deep, having lost some of its youthful naiveté and gained a more mature and magnetic quality.

Chen Xuan has grown much taller, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, and his black outfit accentuates his upright figure.

His face had matured, with sharp features and sword-like eyebrows. But those eyes, which usually looked at everyone as if they were dead, were now filled with helplessness and indulgence.

"It'll have to do."

Su Chang'an opened his mouth to take a grape that Chen Xuan handed him, and said indistinctly.

In the past three years, she has been very successful in the Supreme Forgetfulness Sect.

From the sect leader to the janitor, everyone knows that the Broken Heart Residence has a living ancestor.

You can't hit them, you can't scold them.

If someone suffers even the slightest injustice, Chief Chen, who is known as the leader of the younger generation of swordsmen in the Northern Region, can take his sword and demolish their cave.

Two years ago, an ignorant steward from the outer sect, annoyed that Su Chang'an was blocking his way, casually cursed him as a "demon pet".

That very night, the steward was hung on the gate's archway, left to bask in the cold wind all night.

It is said that Chen Xuan only said one sentence at the time: "She is my life. If you insult her, you are trying to kill me."

From then on, Su Chang'an acted with impunity in the sect, and even dogs on the street would give her a wide berth.

"Chen Xuan".

"Um."

"I want to eat the roast chicken from Li Ji in Chengnan."

"I just ate yesterday."

"That was yesterday; my stomach is rumbling again today."

Chen Xuan sighed, put the comb away, and casually brushed her nose.

"Wait, we'll go buy it after I finish practicing swordsmanship."

He stood up and walked to the center of the courtyard.

The broken sword was drawn from its sheath.

There was no earth-shattering display, nor any sword energy flying everywhere.

It was just a simple stab, a flick.

The movements were so slow, it was like drawing.

However, upon closer inspection, one can see that as the sword blade slices through, fine ripples appear in the surrounding air.

That was space itself trembling.

Mid-stage of the Casting Tripod Realm.

In the past three years, Chen Xuan's cultivation progress has not been rapid, but his foundation has become frighteningly solid.

The natal cauldron within his body was neither an ordinary bronze cauldron nor a jade cauldron.

Instead, it was a black and red killing cauldron.

The carvings on the cauldron are not of flowers, birds, fish, or insects, but of a nine-tailed fox curled up asleep.

Su Chang'an looked at the faintly visible Dao cauldron and couldn't help but twitch his lips.

That unfilial son.

She even had her true form engraved on her personal belongings, as if she was afraid others wouldn't know she was raised by a fox?

[Ding! Target Chen Xuan detected; the Ruthless Dao Foundation is 90% broken.]

[Congratulations, host! You're just one step away from completely crippling this kid's ruthless path.]

Suddenly, the system's voice rang in my mind.

Su Chang'an was stunned for a moment.

Ninety percent complete?

She looked at the figure practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

The foundation of the Taishang Wangqing Sect is the book "Taishang Wangqing Lu".

To practice this skill, one must first sever all emotional ties.

But Chen Xuan did the exact opposite.

He not only didn't sever his feelings, but instead engraved them into his very bones and integrated them into his Dao cauldron.

For the past three years, he has spoiled her rotten.

Even if she's being unreasonable, even if she squanders all his spirit stones, even if she points her finger at the sect leader and curses him.

He would just stand behind her, handing her a knife or a handkerchief.

This isn't cultivating immortality; it's clearly nurturing ancestors.

"Ninety percent complete..."

Su Chang'an muttered to himself.

That remaining ten percent is probably the final layer of mystery.

Once this is exposed, the most brilliant and talented disciple of the Supreme Forgetfulness Sect in thousands of years will be completely reduced to a "love-struck fool".

I wonder if that old ancestor who treats Chen Xuan like a precious treasure would be so angry that he would jump down from the Sutra Pavilion if he knew.

"when--"

"when--"

"when--"

Just then, a melodious and deep bell sound suddenly came from the direction of the main peak.

Nine shots in a row.

It shook the heavens.

Chen Xuan sheathed his sword, stood with a slight frown, and looked towards the main peak.

Nine bells rang.

This is the highest-level order to summon all inner disciples.

Unless the sect faces a major calamity or something extraordinary happens, the bell will never be rung lightly.

"Something happened?"

Su Chang'an sat up from the rocking chair and threw the heater aside.

Chen Xuan walked over, straightened her slightly disheveled clothes, and wrapped her cloak tighter around her.

"It shouldn't be an invasion by foreign enemies, the sect's protective formation hasn't moved."

His voice was calm, without a trace of panic.

"Let's go take a look."

Su Chang'an became interested.

She had been living too comfortably for the past three years, and her inherent love for joining in the fun had long been unable to be contained.

Chen Xuan nodded, reached out and put his arm around her waist, then tiptoed.

He transformed into a streak of light and sped towards the main hall of the peak.

……

The Supreme Palace.

This is the main hall where the Supreme Forgetfulness Sect holds its meetings; normally, only elders are allowed to enter.

At this moment, hundreds of inner disciples had gathered in the square in front of the main hall.

They were all dressed in white, carrying long swords, and with solemn expressions.

But at the very front stood an oddball.

Chen Xuan was dressed in black, and he was holding a silver-haired girl who was wrapped up tightly in his arms.

The girl was cracking sunflower seeds with a handful of them, oblivious to everyone around her, spitting the shells all over the ground.

The surrounding disciples were already used to this, and some of them even secretly winked at Su Chang'an.

"Uncle Su, you look great today."

"That's right, I just ate two roast chickens yesterday."

Su Chang'an replied with a smile, and casually handed over a handful of melon seeds.

"Want to try some? Chen Xuan cooked it perfectly."

The disciple was flattered and quickly accepted the gift with both hands, as if he were holding some rare treasure.

Chen Xuan stood there expressionless, ignoring the gazes around him, only occasionally bending down to brush the sunflower seed shells that had fallen on Su Chang'an's collar.

"quiet!"

An old, low shout came from inside the hall.

Immediately afterwards, several powerful auras descended.

The elder, dressed in a gray robe and holding a whisk, slowly walked out.

Behind him followed several peak masters, each with a profound aura, all of whom were experts at the Cave Profound Realm.

The once noisy square instantly fell silent.

The Grand Elder's gaze swept across the entire room, lingering on Chen Xuan for a moment. His eye twitched slightly, but he ultimately said nothing.

Over the past three years, he has become quite indifferent to his chief disciple.

They can't beat him in a fight, they can't be scolded, and they have their ancestor backing them up.

Let him go.

"I have summoned you all today for only one matter."

The Grand Elder cleared his throat, and his voice echoed throughout the hall.

"The once-in-a-century 'Golden Pride Competition' of the Northern Region is about to begin."

Upon hearing this, a suppressed murmur immediately rose from the square.

The Grand Competition of the Elites

That was the grandest event in the entire Northern Region cultivation world.

It is not only related to the sect's fortune and ranking, but also the best stage for the younger generation to make a name for themselves.

"The venue for this grand competition is set at the 'Ruins of the Fallen God'."

The elder continued.

"Besides my Supreme Forgetfulness Sect, the other three top forces in the Northern Region—Blood Fiend Sect, Listening Snow Tower, and Ten Thousand Beasts Sect—will all send their strongest disciples to participate."

"In addition, there are countless small and medium-sized sects and rogue cultivators who are also vying for opportunities."

Su Chang'an kept yawning as he listened.

She was all too familiar with this tactic.

It's just changing the map to fight monsters and level up.

What Blood Fiend Sect? Just hearing the name makes it sound like a concentration camp for villains who practice evil arts.

What is this Listening Snow Tower? It's probably just a bunch of aloof assassins.

As for the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect...

Su Chang'an stroked his chin.

I wonder what the quality of the monster meat is like there, and whether it can be roasted.

"This competition is not only about rankings, but also about vying for a great opportunity deep within the ruins of the Fallen God."

The elder's expression became more solemn.

"It is said that deep within those ruins, an ancient palace left behind by a great emperor has been revealed."

The Emperor's Palace!

Upon hearing those four words, everyone's breathing became heavier.

That was an emperor, after all.

Even a tiny bit of food leaking from under their fingernails would be enough to sustain them for a lifetime.

Even Chen Xuan slightly raised his eyelids.

The Emperor's Palace?

I wonder if there are any treasures inside that can completely break the seal.

He looked down at Su Chang'an in his arms.

Su Chang'an was staring blankly at the elder's beard, seemingly studying whether it could be plucked off and used as a calligraphy brush.

"This competition is extremely dangerous."

The Grand Elder said in a deep voice.

"Those lunatics from the Blood Fiend Sect cultivate the path of slaughter and have a particular fondness for torturing and killing geniuses."

"The Ten Thousand Beasts Sect uses demonic beasts in unpredictable ways."

"Tingxuelou is even more deadly, killing people without them even realizing it."

"Therefore, our sect must select the strongest disciple to lead the team in order to protect our fellow disciples and uphold the prestige of our sect."

At this point, the elder paused, his gaze sharp as he looked directly at the young man in black standing at the very front.

"Chen Xuan".

"Disciple is here."

Chen Xuan responded lightly, without bowing, but simply nodded slightly.

Such an arrogant attitude would have been enough to have anyone else dragged away and had their legs broken by the Enforcement Hall long ago.

But in him, it seemed perfectly natural.

Because he has the capital to do so.

"You will be the team leader for this competition."

The Grand Elder took out a token that was neither gold nor jade from his sleeve and tossed it casually.

The token traced an arc and landed steadily in Chen Xuan's hand.

"All inner disciples will obey your orders."

"If anyone disobeys, he may be executed first and reported later."

The square fell silent as soon as he said that.

Cut first and then play.

This is giving away too much power.

He practically handed over the power of life and death over this generation of disciples to Chen Xuan.

But no one dared to object.

In the past three years, Chen Xuan's sword has long since subdued all those who were unconvinced.

Even Luo Qingxue, the once proud and favored daughter of heaven, stood quietly in the crowd, looking at that figure with a complicated expression.

She is now at the early stage of the Casting Cauldron Realm, and is one of the top experts in the inner sect.

But in front of Chen Xuan, she felt she didn't even have the courage to draw her sword.

That boy had reached a height she could only look up to.

"Disciple obeys."

Chen Xuan put away the token, his expression remaining calm and composed.

It was as if the task I had been given was not some important mission, but rather a simple task of going to the market to buy groceries.

"in addition."

The elder's gaze shifted and landed on Luo Qingxue and two other disciples with powerful auras.

"Luo Qingxue, Zhao Tiezhu, Wang Teng."

"The three of you will be deputy leaders, assisting Chen Xuan."

"yes!"

The three responded in unison.

Zhao Tiezhu is now also at the Casting Cauldron Realm, and he is skilled in hammer techniques. In the past three years, he has followed Chen Xuan around, eating and drinking for free, and has long become Chen Xuan's loyal follower.

Wang Teng is a newly emerging genius who is said to possess a special physique. He is usually very arrogant, but in front of Chen Xuan, he obediently lowers his head.

"We will depart in three days."

The Grand Elder waved his whisk.

"Everyone, disperse and go back to prepare properly."

The crowd dispersed.

Chen Xuan carried Su Chang'an and turned to walk towards Duanqing Residence.

"Chen Xuan".

Su Chang'an poked his chest.

"Um?"

"That imperial palace sounds quite interesting."

Su Chang'an's eyes sparkled.

"Do you think there might be some kind of elixir that grants immortality if you eat it? Or some kind of magical artifact that can tear a hole in the sky with a wave of its hand?"

Chen Xuan looked down at her, a doting smile on his face.

"have no idea."

"But if it really exists, I'll get it back for you."

Su Chang'an pursed his lips.

"Who cares if you steal it? I'm afraid you'll get beaten to death."

"Oh, right."

Su Chang'an suddenly remembered something.

"Remember to bring plenty of cumin and chili powder this time you go out."

"What if the demonic beasts from the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect are edible?"

Chen Xuan: "..."

"it is good."

The wind blew past the mountain gate of the Supreme Forgetfulness Sect.

The boy's clothes and the girl's long hair became tangled together.

The road ahead is fraught with danger and unpredictable events.

But as long as he's there.

The blizzard couldn't touch her at all.