After transforming into a fairy, I, in my simulation, wreaked havoc in the cultivation world.

Three seconds later, Shi Ying quietly fell asleep on the arena. You looked towards the Jade Maiden Sect elder at the sidelines.

Old Deng paused for a moment, then announced loudly:

["Zhou Xiaonuan of the Heavenly Profound Sword Sect has advanced!"]

After receiving the advancement token, you grabbed the soundly sleeping Shi Ying and swaggered out of the plaza, leaving everyone staring in disbelief.

On that day, various means of communication emerged from Jade Annihilation City.

[The Wuxiang Tower was the fastest, updating the Prodigy Ranking on the same day, and the number one spot was none other than—Zhou Xiaonuan (Tianxuan Sword Sect).]

They were clearly just looking for trouble and wanted to provoke Nangong Jie into making a move.

Meanwhile, inside a magnificent palace of the Zixiao Dynasty.

The air in the hall was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood. A young girl in red sat casually on a jade couch, swinging her legs listlessly, a jade slip in her hand.

"Grandmother, who exactly is Zhou Xiaonuan?"

She suddenly looked up, her bright eyes full of curiosity.

"To manipulate the spiritual energy of heaven and earth with only a Foundation Establishment stage cultivation—what kind of special physique is that? Or has she already broken through to the Golden Core stage? And that strange cat..."

"Li'er, some things cannot be explained by physical constitution or talent."

The woman sitting opposite me put down her teacup. She smiled slightly, her expression radiating a calm composure honed by the passage of time.

"As for the cat you described..."

The woman paused for a moment, then slowly shook her head.

"The Zixiao Dynasty's archives are vast and numerous, yet there has never been any record of this. I have lived this long and have never encountered it, nor even heard of it."

"Can I ask her to help me fight in the ring?"

The woman was taken aback at first, then let out a helpless chuckle.

"You must always remember your place, and once you've made up your mind about something, never doubt it."

She reached out and gently ruffled the red-clad girl's hair, her gesture tender and affectionate.

"Li'er, this world is vast and boundless. Don't lower your expectations too much, but don't completely ignore the scenery right beneath your feet either."

"Oops~"

The girl quickly jumped into the woman's arms, her eyes filled with adoration as she looked up at her.

"As long as Grandmother is around, how could the Zixiao Dynasty possibly fall into chaos?"

"You!"

The woman shook her head helplessly, but gently raised her eyes to look at the azure sky outside the palace gates...

Night is falling.

【Hiss~】

Shi Ying gasped, a sharp, tearing pain shooting through her neck.

【"woke up?"】

A clear, cold voice came from the darkness.

Shi Ying suddenly sat up, her gaze quickly sweeping across her surroundings.

In the dim candlelight, the young girl sat upright at the table, one hand supporting her chin, casually observing her.

She was taken aback at first, then her eyes lit up slightly, and she blurted out:

"You're very strong!"

【"......"

People's interests don't always align; you only want to know about the secret realm.

"Tell me about the body cultivation secret realm you mentioned during the day."

You lifted your eyelids, your tone completely indifferent, as if you didn't care at all.

"Furthermore, why would a cultivator from the Tianheng Sect join the Hehuan Sect?"

Shi Ying's pupils suddenly contracted.

"How did you know I'm a cultivator from the Tianheng Sect?"

[As soon as she finished speaking, she abruptly covered her mouth, a flash of annoyance in her eyes.]

"Tell me or I'm leaving."

You suppressed your burning curiosity and calmly stood up.

【"etc!"】

Shi Ying panicked and quickly jumped out of bed.

Hearing your footsteps stop, she took a deep breath and lowered her voice:

"I came to the Hehuan Sect to find my birth mother, she..."

【"stop!"】

You raised your hand to interrupt.

She'd only just begun, but you'd already filled in the entire story in your mind.

[It's nothing more than a tragic love story between a disciple of the Tianheng Sect and a demoness from the Hehuan Sect. The two sects cannot tolerate them, forcing them apart, and before parting, they leave behind a child.]

Now that these children have grown up, they travel thousands of miles just to find their mother.

But that's not what you're asking at all.

"I'm asking you about the secret realm, so don't give me any irrelevant nonsense."

Hearing this, Shi Ying gave an awkward smile, her toes curling slightly on the floor. Seeing your impatience, she quickly said:

"That secret realm is located within the territory of my Tianheng Sect, but it requires the essence blood of a third-tier body cultivator to break the seal."

"Your Tianheng Sect doesn't have any third-tier body cultivators?"

This girl looks honest with her thick eyebrows and big eyes. Could she be trying to kidnap me?

"No, no, no! It requires the essence and blood of a third-tier female body cultivator to open."

Shi Ying quickly waved her hand.

"Our Tianheng Sect does indeed have one, but my father's lineage is entirely male. He discovered the secret realm, so of course we can't let it go to someone else."

"Aren't you afraid I'll take the things and run away?"

You look at her with a puzzled expression.

"Then why can't you cultivate to the third level?"

"Don't worry, my father will be going with us. He's a fourth-tier body cultivator."

Shi Ying smiled broadly.

"As for why they didn't wait for me... of course, it's because I wasn't confident I could cultivate to the third level!"

What she said makes so much sense; you're speechless.

"Add... no, leave a contact method. I'll come find you after I break through to the third tier."

【"OK."】

Moments later, you received the token and immediately transformed into a streak of light, soaring into the sky.

[Shi Ying: "Huh?"]

"They're leaving already...?"

【...】

"Teacher, there are so many geniuses in this world!"

Inside an abandoned courtyard, Lin Bufan stared blankly at the bonfire before him, looking utterly dejected.

[The Heavenly Profound Sword Sect alone produces a plethora of prodigies, not to mention the established talents. Among those of similar age, there was first the exceptionally talented Senior Sister Lin, and now Zhou Xiaonuan has appeared out of nowhere.]

"Do you think I can still make it to the other side?"

His voice was very soft, as if it were about to break.

【"Bang!"】

A resounding slam dunk echoed through the silent courtyard.

"Aww!!!"

Lin Bufan jumped three zhang high in the air, clutching his head tightly, tears streaming uncontrollably down his face.

"Teacher, what are you doing?"

A phantom figure slowly floated out of the ring, hovering in front of the young man, staring at him with a serious expression.

Seeing this, Lin Bufan quickly lowered his hands from his head and stood obediently at attention.

"Little Fan, when you were rebuilding your foundation, I told you that a cultivator must first cultivate their mind."

The old man with the ring stood with his hands behind his back and spoke earnestly:

"If one's resolve to seek the truth is not firm..."

"Teacher...I understand!"

Lin Bufan suddenly looked up, his eyes bright, as if he had truly understood something in that instant.

"You've already figured it out? What have you figured out?"

"My disciple, I was just as clever as you back in the day..."

However, the old man with the ring nodded calmly in satisfaction, and just as he was about to say something more, his expression changed slightly, and he quickly returned to the ring.

"The newcomer is a Golden Core cultivator; proceed with caution."

Upon hearing this, Lin Bufan's expression hardened. He looked up, but the moment he saw who it was, he froze on the spot.

【"Buzz~!"】

A white streak of light hung in mid-air, its residual spiritual energy whipping up all the withered leaves in the courtyard.

A moment later, the light faded, and the newcomer's figure was fully revealed.

She looked down at the young man in the courtyard, her demeanor icy and aloof in the moonlight...

...