Like Sisters

Cao Xueyan ran all the way out of the Daoist temple.

Then she pulled a movement talisman from her storage bag and slapped it onto herself.

This talisman was one of the most basic first-grade types.

Simple to draw, but the finished effect depended entirely on the skill of the talisman master.

Every talisman she had now was something Lu Qianyun had casually rewarded her with back in the Hehuan Sect.

Once she attached the talisman, her entire body immediately felt lighter.

It was as if a gust of wind was pushing her from behind.

Though she had never practiced such movement techniques, she now moved like a martial arts lightness-skill master.

A tap of her toes and she leapt two to three zhang into the air, crossing more than ten zhang in a step.

Her speed increased drastically.

After all, the one who casually rewarded her was a demonic Saintess—of course the talisman wasn’t ordinary.

Though only first-grade, its quality was excellent.

But Cao Xueyan had no time to admire it.

Raising her head, she saw the tribulation cloud far away.

It seemed to move slowly, but that was only because of its overwhelming size—making its motion nearly impossible to observe.

She dared not linger and fled rapidly from this dangerous place.

After about half an hour, having used three movement talismans, Cao Xueyan finally reached a place where she could run no further.

Ahead lay the jade steps they had ascended earlier—the passage they called the Heavenly Road.

Cao Xueyan tried to run down the steps, but—

They were gone.

Completely vanished.

Could it be that without Lu Qianyun, the jade steps would not reveal themselves?

She now stood under the jade gate and turned back.

The dark sea of tribulation clouds had already drifted over the Daoist temple.

It was less than fifteen li away from her.

This was bad.

Far too close.

The shockwaves alone could destroy everything within several li.

If the tribulation cloud continued moving, the spot where she now stood would not be safe at all.

Her cultivation was only Qi-Refining ninth layer.

Even if the Nascent Soul Heavenly Tribulation did not even notice an ant like her, she could not withstand even a stray breeze of its force.

Qin Ximo had left her many life-saving artifacts.

But facing something like this, she had no confidence those items could keep her alive.

But—forget it.

Forget it.

Cao Xueyan simply sat cross-legged on the spot.

Wasn’t this exactly the ending she had wished for?

The past few days she had wondered how to find a perfect reason to leave this real simulation.

Ideally, she would die somewhere no one knew her, quietly bringing an end to the life of “Shen Yuemian.”

There was nothing to regret.

She had already done all she could—
she had helped Qin Ximo find her chance to break through Nascent Soul.

Although the simulator deserved much of the credit.

Without the Qingqiu Fox bloodline reward, Qin Ximo—without the luck—might have gained nothing in this cave heaven.

Even if they found the stone chamber, they might never have discovered the stone slabs containing the cultivation technique.

But she could exit the simulation and return to her real body at any time.

What about Qin Ximo?

Cao Xueyan grew anxious again.

She had held onto a sliver of hope.

Until she reached this place and discovered the Heavenly Road had vanished.

It poured an icy bucket of water over her.

Even if Qin Ximo survived the heavenly tribulation and became a Nascent Soul Dao Lord—

Would she be trapped forever in this cave heaven?

She grew more restless.

Her heart felt like it was being fried in oil, bubbling with anxiety.

She looked toward the Daoist temple she had fled from.

Lu Qianyun was still inside.

Originally, Cao Xueyan thought if the heavenly tribulation was strong enough, it might be best to let the temple and that demonic woman be destroyed together.

But Lu Qianyun knew this place better than anyone.

Only she knew how to leave the cave heaven.

Cao Xueyan nearly slapped herself.

How could she have been so careless?

The fate of “Shen Yuemian” did not matter at all.

Even if their appearances were similar, she was not truly that person.

Her real name was Cao Xueyan.

Her real body was still in Qingyun Sword Sect.

That was the unchangeable truth.

More importantly—
Lu Qianyun’s final words days ago had frightened her terribly.

Lu Qianyun had almost guessed everything—
almost revealed the existence of the simulator
and her true identity.

In the ten-plus years since she transmigrated, this was the first time she had felt such fear.

Not even when she first met Lu Jiansheng in the Yaoyue Palace.

She had been scared then, but not like this—
because she knew Xiao Menglan was beside her.

No matter what happened, she would be safe.

But here—
Qin Ximo was undergoing a Nascent Soul heavenly tribulation.

Success or failure, life or death, all were unknown.

No one could protect her.

Facing the now-hostile Lu Qianyun, she trembled from the bottom of her heart.

But—
she had no other choice.

She must try.

Go find Lu Qianyun.

If anything happened, she could end the simulation instantly.

Nothing else would happen.

She had done everything she could.

Resolute, Cao Xueyan pulled out the remaining movement talismans and slapped them all onto herself.

Then she ran as fast as she could back toward the Daoist temple.

She prayed silently—
hoping her legs could move just a little faster.

At least fast enough to reach the temple before the tribulation descended.

Looking up, the sky had already changed dramatically.

Terrifying gale winds roared like dragons through the tribulation clouds.

Thunderous roars echoed endlessly.

Every surge of wind felt powerful enough to tear open the heavens.

Just one glance made Cao Xueyan’s eyes sting, her vision blurring.

It was coming.

The tribulation was nearly here.

Despair washed over her, but she gritted her teeth and ran toward the temple.

The once serene immortal mountain now echoed only with the raging sky’s roars.

At last—
breathless—
she reached the temple gates.

She did not stop.

She shoved the doors open, rushing toward the Transmission Hall.

Lu Qianyun was inside.

Just as she prepared herself mentally to enter, a massive wind pressure dropped from the sky.

Caught off guard, it hit her like a colossal hammer.

The protective artifact Qin Ximo left her shattered instantly.

Cao Xueyan’s face turned pale.

Her legs buckled against her will—
and she fell to her knees.

A sharp crack sounded.

Blood seeped beneath her knees.

She cried out in pain.

Then suddenly—
the space before her widened.

The door opened.

She had not touched it.

Someone else opened it.

But who else besides Lu Qianyun could be inside?

Sure enough—
Cao Xueyan saw her.

Seductive posture.

Smiling eyes.

Lu Qianyun.

Not the cold, terrifying woman of that day—
but looking exactly like when they first met.

As if she had not noticed the storm outside at all.

Covering her mouth in mock surprise, she said:

“Isn’t this my dear Yue’er?”

“No need for such a grand salute.”

She smiled and reached toward Cao Xueyan as if to help her up.

“You are my personal maid.

Like a sister.”

“But…”

“Earlier, when I watched you leave me alone in this temple and run off by yourself…”

“I was really heartbroken.”

She pressed a hand to her chest, looking pitiful and resentful.

“So—
how do you plan to make it up to me?”