Xu Xuan stood at the edge of the back mountain, staring out at the endless range before him. As the night wind blew, his overheated mind gradually cooled.
The forbidden area in the back mountain was filled with countless restrictions, and guarded by sect elders. How could he possibly sneak in without being noticed? Even if he got in, how could he carefully avoid so many restrictions and find the treasure? Even someone as powerful as Chu Mingwei had been severely injured inside and confined to Reflection Peak for ten years. He was just a registered disciple at the Qi Refining stage—could he really do it?
Xu Xuan hesitated.
“You can.” The voice in his heart sounded again, carrying a hint of urgency.
Xu Xuan pressed his lips together, still unable to decide.
“Are you going to accept this fate? Poor talent, weak cultivation, being stopped and humiliated in public, even the person you love unwilling to acknowledge your relationship in front of others? Are you going to spend your whole life as a mere registered disciple in Cloud Sky Sect?”
The voice grew more anxious, as if his hesitation had provoked it.
Xu Xuan seemed to be persuaded. The hesitation on his face hardened into resolve. Just as he lifted his foot to step forward, a gentle call sounded beside his ear.
“Xuan’er.”
Startled, Xu Xuan turned around. Under the moonlight, Leng Hanyuan was walking toward him step by step.
Leng Hanyuan didn’t seem to notice Xu Xuan’s surprise. His expression was indulgent, almost tender. “Xuan’er, what brings you to the back mountain so late?”
Xu Xuan hesitated, unsure how to answer.
Leng Hanyuan didn’t mind. Smiling faintly, he approached. Xu Xuan instinctively stepped back, avoiding the hand reaching toward him. Something felt wrong.
Leng Hanyuan paused, a slight frown crossing his face, but the smile quickly returned—deeper this time, almost enchanting under the moonlight.
He reached out again. This time, Xu Xuan didn’t dodge.
Leng Hanyuan’s hand gently cupped Xu Xuan’s face. His voice softened. “Xuan’er, tell me—what are you doing here so late?”
Xu Xuan looked into his eyes—and suddenly couldn’t look away.
His mind blurred. He vaguely sensed something was off, but those eyes… they felt like the gaze of someone closest to him, someone he could tell anything to.
Seeing Xu Xuan’s dazed expression, Leng Hanyuan smiled more deeply. “Xuan’er, tell me—what are you doing here?”
“There’s a treasure in the forbidden area. I came to find it,” Xu Xuan answered clearly.
Leng Hanyuan froze for a moment, then quickly asked, “How did you learn about this treasure?”
“There’s a voice in my heart that told me.”
Leng Hanyuan’s expression changed. He grabbed Xu Xuan’s arm tightly. “When did this voice appear? Was it after you returned from the Wu City ruins?”
“Don’t say it! Don’t say it!” The voice in Xu Xuan’s mind suddenly screamed sharply.
Pain stabbed through his head like needles. His mind began to clear.
Misinterpreting his reaction, Leng Hanyuan assumed Xu Xuan was resisting. He made a swift decision—biting his fingertip, forming a seal with his blood, and pressing it onto Xu Xuan’s forehead.
Xu Xuan froze again, falling back into a dazed state.
But this time, he was completely awake inside.
His heart turned cold.
Leng Hanyuan, unaware, continued softly, “Did that voice appear after the ruins? Did it say what it is? Is it… a small cauldron?”
At those words, the voice in Xu Xuan’s mind shrieked, “How does he know about the Nine Yi Cauldron?!”
Everything suddenly connected.
Why had Leng Hanyuan treated him so well after the ruins? Why had he kept probing about what happened there?
It was all for that so-called Nine Yi Cauldron.
Xu Xuan’s heart ached.
The voice in his mind sneered, “Now you understand? In the cultivation world, there’s no such thing as true feelings. Strength is everything.”
Xu Xuan said nothing.
He had believed he found love—but it was all lies.
Leng Hanyuan saw only use in him.
No affection at all.
Meanwhile, Leng Hanyuan, convinced his spell worked, continued gently, “Xuan’er, tell me—what happened in the ruins? You saw that cauldron, didn’t you?”
Xu Xuan steadied himself and answered in a daze, “Not a small cauldron… it’s the Nine Yi Cauldron.”
Leng Hanyuan’s eyes lit up instantly. “Yes, yes—the Nine Yi Cauldron! Do you know where it is?”
“The Nine Yi Cauldron… back mountain forbidden area…”
No matter how much he pressed, Xu Xuan only repeated the same line.
Finally, Leng Hanyuan let go, deep in thought.
So Xu Xuan had indeed encountered the Nine Yi Cauldron—and perhaps it was even attached to him.
A spirit had already formed within it.
But why was it attached to Xu Xuan? And why lure him here?
Then it hit him.
Could it be… the cauldron sensed the ancestor sealed here, and wanted to use his body to reform itself?
The thought ignited his ambition.
Originally reluctant, Leng Hanyuan now couldn’t wait to enter the forbidden area.
If he could use the Nine Yi Cauldron to free the ancestor, his achievement would be unmatched.
Still… what if things went wrong?
After a moment’s hesitation, greed won.
He would go.
Xu Xuan, pretending to be dazed, was just as calculating.
With Leng Hanyuan around, he would be protected.
Once they found the treasure…
Maybe even Leng Hanyuan would have to rely on him.
Each with their own schemes, they stepped forward together.
Leng Hanyuan suddenly sealed Xu Xuan’s spiritual energy, rendering him powerless.
Then he dragged him toward the restrictions.
Just as they were about to enter—
A faint sound came from behind.
Leng Hanyuan’s expression turned cold. With a flick of his sleeve, a streak of white sword light shot out.
“Bang!”
A green light flared, revealing Wen Shaohua’s pale face.
“Senior Brother Leng… you’re breaking into the forbidden area?”
His voice trembled.
Then he rushed forward anxiously. “That’s a grave crime! Don’t go—I won’t tell anyone, I swear!”
Leng Hanyuan looked at him steadily. “You’re sure?”
“Yes! I promise!”
Leng Hanyuan smiled—gentle, almost tender.
“I believe you.”
Wen Shaohua smiled in relief—
And the next moment, a white sword pierced straight through his chest.
Blood sprayed.
His eyes filled with disbelief as he collapsed.
Leng Hanyuan retrieved his weapon, expression indifferent.
“As long as the ancestor is freed… what does Cloud Sky Sect matter?”
Without another glance, he stepped into the forbidden area with Xu Xuan.
The moment the restriction was triggered, a beam of light shot into the sky.
Across the sect, countless figures flew toward the forbidden mountain.
The night erupted into chaos.