A Heavy Heart, A Grand Competition, and a Hidden Secret

Despite easily defeating Zhen Aoyu, Xia Yi’s mood grew heavier.

According to the current plot development, Zhen Aoyu had been apprehended by the Law Enforcement Hall, thereby losing his eligibility to enter the secret realm.

Logically, this should have severed a significant portion of Fei Miaoyun’s path of ruin, yet the Book of World Cleansing remained utterly unresponsive.

It still displayed Fei Miaoyun’s purification value as 20%, utterly unchanged.

As the Book of World Cleansing was his cheat, Xia Yi naturally placed his trust in it.

Therefore, eliminating one incorrect answer…

Only one possibility remained: Fei Miaoyun was still ensnared within a ruinous ending.

How Zhen Aoyu, imprisoned by the Law Enforcement Hall, managed to pull Fei Miaoyun back to his side remained unknown to Xia Yi for now.

Watching Fei Miaoyun’s swaying figure depart, Xia Yi sighed inwardly.

‘Since things had come to this, it was best to first complete the Grand Competition.’

After Zhen Aoyu was dragged away by the Law Enforcement Hall, Xia Yi found himself without an opponent.

No matter who they were, not a single contestant could withstand two moves from his sword.

“Hiss… I originally thought Zhen Aoyu was simply too weak to lose so quickly, but it turns out Senior Brother Xia Yi is just too powerful!”

“Such terrifying swordsmanship! No matter the move, it was shattered with a single strike. Even Senior Brother Kunkun’s Iron Mountain Lean (TL Note: A martial arts move where one leans into an opponent like a mountain) was no match; he’s truly incredible!”

“Hey, hey, have you noticed how handsome Xia Yi is? Those indifferent eyes, that formidable swordsmanship, and his ethereal demeanor. Could Senior Brother truly be a Sword Immortal reborn?!”

“Sisters, does anyone know where Senior Brother Xia Yi lives? This junior sister wishes to invite Senior Brother Xia Yi for some ‘in-depth guidance’.”

Xia Yi’s dominant victory and the strength he displayed left countless disciples of the Star-Moon Sect in awe.

Ordinarily, Xia Yi was a low-key individual, appearing no different from an ordinary disciple compared to senior brothers like Kunkun.

Who would have thought Xia Yi had hidden his true capabilities so deeply?

After Xia Yi claimed the championship, it was once again time for the sect’s high-ranking officials to display their ‘traditional artistry’ (TL Note: A humorous term for formal, often lengthy, speeches or ceremonies).

Yet, all this clamor held no relevance for Fei Miaoyun.

The moment she caught sight of the affection for Xia Yi in her senior sister’s anxious eyes, she froze, as if struck by lightning.

She no longer cared how Zhen Aoyu would be dealt with.

Fei Miaoyun’s chest felt as though an invisible hand had clenched it tightly, each breath accompanied by a faint ache.

The surrounding clamor blurred, and the world narrowed to the hollow echo of her own heart.

Fei Miaoyun had no idea when or how she had returned to Spirit Sword Peak.

By the time she came to her senses, she was already there.

“Martial Aunt, Martial Aunt Fei?”

Xia Yi’s voice brought a flicker of color back to Fei Miaoyun’s eyes.

“Hm… hm? Xia Yi?!”

Upon clearly seeing the person before her, Fei Miaoyun sprang up like a startled rabbit.

“Cough, cough, does Junior Nephew Xia Yi need something from me?”

Realizing her impropriety, Fei Miaoyun hastily straightened her posture under Xia Yi’s nuanced gaze.

“It’s like this, I wish to invite Martial Aunt to accompany me into the Starlight Secret Realm.”

“Hm… hm?!”

Hearing Xia Yi’s invitation, hope once again ignited in Fei Miaoyun’s heart.

‘So Xia Yi hadn’t chosen Pei Yunxiang, but her instead?’

The sudden, immense surprise left Fei Miaoyun unsure what expression to make.

With fireworks already exploding in her heart, Fei Miaoyun felt the world regain its vibrant colors, the moonlight appearing exceptionally bright.

“Is Martial Aunt unwilling?”

Receiving no reply from Fei Miaoyun, Xia Yi tried asking again.

“Willing, willing! However, Junior Nephew, why did you not invite Senior Sister Pei to accompany you to the secret realm?”

“I did invite her, of course, but Master instructed me to invite Martial Aunt instead.”

“Senior Sister Pei sent you?”

“Yes.”

Hearing Xia Yi’s reply, the bright beauty in Fei Miaoyun’s eyes dimmed slightly.

“Did Senior Sister Pei not give a reason?”

“Master did not inform me of the reason.”

In the original plot, Pei Yunxiang and Guang Pengyi perished together.

Xia Yi was unclear why Pei Yunxiang was unwilling to accompany him to the Starlight Secret Realm to enhance her aptitude.

Instead, she had him seek out Fei Miaoyun, a scenario identical to Fei Miaoyun’s entry into the secret realm in the original work.

This further confirmed Xia Yi’s earlier suspicions.

“So that’s how it is…”

As an older woman herself, Fei Miaoyun saw things clearly.

The affection in Pei Yunxiang’s eyes for Xia Yi was undeniable.

Though deeply hidden, it was undeniably present.

As for why Pei Yunxiang would cede the opportunity to be alone with her beloved to Fei Miaoyun, Fei Miaoyun couldn’t fathom it.

Perhaps, constrained by her identity as Xia Yi’s Master, she wished to avoid their relationship growing too intimate.

Regardless, with such an excellent opportunity presenting itself, Fei Miaoyun naturally had to seize it.

‘What if little Xia Yi preferred her ‘model’?’

Fei Miaoyun completely forgot her own identity as Xia Yi’s Martial Aunt.

She immediately accepted Xia Yi’s invitation, agreeing to journey to the Starlight Secret Realm together three days later.

After seeing Xia Yi off, Fei Miaoyun flashed back to her bed, pulling the door shut behind her.

Fei Miaoyun rolled around, clutching the tattered clothes Xia Yi had worn that day.

“Ehehehe, Xia Yi chose me, he chose me…”

At that moment, Fei Miaoyun, giggling foolishly on her bed, had completely immersed herself in her own world.

She had utterly forgotten that her ‘beloved disciple’ was currently in jail, his fate unknown.

****

Inside the Law Enforcement Hall’s prison.

“You may withdraw for now…”

“Understood.”

A plump, short figure, clad in the robes of a Star-Moon Sect elder, arrived outside Zhen Aoyu’s cell.

“Click.”

As the chains on his body unlocked, Zhen Aoyu stood up, stretching his stiff shoulders.

“I thought someone would claim first place. How did you get defeated in just a few sword strikes?”

“Shut up! My affairs are none of your concern!”

“Heh heh, I naturally couldn’t care less about your affairs. Just don’t forget our deal.”

“Hmph! Of course, I remember. But before that, I must make Xia Yi pay! To think he wasted my only puppet.”

Subsequently, a black shadow emerged from the plump, short Star-Moon Sect elder’s body, retreating into a ring on Zhen Aoyu’s neck.

Zhen Aoyu released a black mist, transforming himself into the plump elder’s likeness, before tossing the elder, who now resembled him, into the cell.

Thus, Zhen Aoyu sauntered out, grandly escorted by the Law Enforcement Hall disciples.

****

Spirit Sword Peak.

Inside Pei Yunxiang’s room.

Separated by a gauze curtain, Xia Yi reported the outcome of his invitation to the graceful figure lying on the bed.

“Master, Martial Aunt Fei has already accepted this disciple’s invitation.”

“Mm, that is excellent. Yi’er, you may withdraw for now…”

“Master… I…”

“Yi’er, Master is weary…”

“…Yes… this disciple takes his leave…”

Interrupted in his questioning, Xia Yi could only reluctantly withdraw from Pei Yunxiang’s room.

Ever since he returned victorious from the Grand Competition, Pei Yunxiang had been unwilling to see him.

She had even transferred the opportunity to enter the Starlight Secret Realm and receive the Starlight Baptism to Fei Miaoyun.

All signs indicated that Pei Yunxiang was definitely hiding something from him.

However, in the original plot, descriptions of his Master, Pei Yunxiang, were exceedingly scarce.

It merely stated that she and Guang Pengyi perished together, and nothing more.

‘Hmph… Regardless, the most important matter now is to undergo the Starlight Baptism.’

Although he didn’t know what was wrong with Pei Yunxiang, her aura felt stable and strong, and her tone revealed no impropriety; it seemed nothing serious was amiss.

He needn’t worry for the time being.

Moreover, the Starlight Baptism within the Starlight Secret Realm was a tremendous stroke of fortune in the original work.

It could not only purify bloodlines and enhance aptitude but also nourish spirit roots, elevating their grade.

In the original work, Zhen Aoyu, who initially possessed only an Earth Spirit Root, relied on this Starlight Baptism to elevate his spirit root to the Heavenly Spirit Root, just like Xia Yi’s.

As Xia Yi himself already possessed a Heavenly Spirit Root, obtaining the Starlight Baptism might even allow him to ascend to the legendary Immortal Spirit Root!

After Xia Yi departed, a sigh emanated from behind the gauze curtain.

“Yi’er…”

There, Pei Yunxiang was revealed to have two dragon horns growing from her head; one was severely damaged, while the other was even broken off.

The already exquisitely beautiful and noble Pei Yunxiang appeared even more regal and sorrowfully stunning with this partial, damaged draconic transformation.

Her jade-like hand, adorned with shattered dragon scales, gently caressed a tattered, mended piece of clothing, and the usual coolness in Pei Yunxiang’s beautiful eyes was gone.

Had Xia Yi been there, he would surely have recognized it as the very garment he had used to keep her warm after rescuing her.