Chapter 216: Saving the Daughter, Not the Son

Chu Chuyan knew he was deliberately voicing everyone's doubts, saving others from speaking out and causing more trouble. "That's because the Shi family crafted a life-saving artifact for Shi Kun," she explained. "It's a ring that seals the soul of an ancient mythical beast, the 'Kun Devourer'."

"The Kun Devourer?"

Hearing the name, the crowd immediately erupted in a buzz of conversation. Students unfamiliar with it eagerly questioned those who knew. Already, some knowledgeable individuals seized the chance to show off: "The Kun Devourer is an ancient mythical beast, roughly a hundred *zhang* long and massive, that floats in the air. It evolves by continuously devouring enemies, eventually becoming immensely powerful, starting at least from the ninth rank..."

Upon hearing the explanation, others couldn't help but gasp, discussing how such an immense creature could possibly float in the air.

The students who had previously entered the secret realm paled slightly, recalling a powerful aura they had felt, and a colossal figure they had glimpsed from afar, which had quickly vanished. Though startled, they hadn't given it much thought at the time, reasoning that anything could appear within a secret realm.

They had never imagined it was Shi Kun who released it. The Shi family's power was truly astonishing, to be able to refine such a terrifying creature into a weapon.

However, they were even more curious about something else: how Chu Chuyan had managed to escape from such a formidable beast.

When someone questioned her, Chu Chuyan replied, "The Kun Devourer's original power was at the ninth rank. Unfortunately, because it was only a remnant soul, its strength was diminished by a level. Regardless, it was far beyond what I could contend with. Faced with no other choice, I had to resort to a forbidden technique. While it destroyed the Kun Devourer's remnant soul, it also severed all my primordial meridians, leaving me a completely crippled person clinging to life."

Her words immediately caused an uproar throughout the hall.

Some were stunned that Chu Chuyan could even destroy a ninth-rank mythical beast, truly living up to her reputation as the academy's top genius.

Others, however, were curious about the forbidden technique she had kept hidden, which enabled her, a fifth-rank cultivator, to defeat such a powerful adversary. Yet, such matters are a cultivator's most closely guarded secrets, often tied to their future survival. No one was so tactless as to dig for details, only able to speculate in secret.

But even more people's expressions drastically changed upon hearing that she had become crippled with severed primordial meridians after activating the forbidden technique. Chu Chuyan had always been an incredibly popular goddess; even after her marriage, her allure remained undiminished.

After all, rumors circulated that the couple had not yet consummated their marriage. Furthermore, Zu An had always been perceived as a good-for-nothing, and people didn't believe the Chu family would truly accept him as a son-in-law.

However, after the previous family grand competition and this expedition to the secret realm—especially the scene many men witnessed firsthand—these preconceived notions slowly began to waver.

But despite the shifts in perception, Chu Chuyan remained their "white moonlight"—an unattainable ideal—for now.

Therefore, hearing that she had been forced to the point of completely severed primordial meridians, everyone was filled with righteous indignation. Many even disregarded the Shi family's power and began to openly condemn Shi Kun.

Jiang Luofu's expression also changed dramatically. Upon hearing the news, she immediately appeared beside Chu Chuyan, grabbing her wrist to check her pulse. She only breathed a sigh of relief when she found Chu Chuyan's pulse stable, even more resilient than before.

At this moment, Shi Lezhi sneered, "What a joke! You can run and jump now, and your cultivation is even stronger than before. Everyone saw how you fought just now; where is there any sign of damaged primordial meridians?"

Jiang Luofu looked at her with a hint of doubt. Chu Chuyan calmly replied, "That's because A'Zu risked his life to save me. Later, he also found a Traceless Illusory Lotus for me to consume, and only then did I recover."

Too embarrassed to recount the true circumstances of Zu An's rescue, she vaguely attributed her recovery to the Traceless Illusory Lotus. Even with this vague explanation, she felt her cheeks flush.

"The Traceless Illusory Lotus!"

Everyone gasped in astonishment. It was a heaven-defying item, capable of raising one's cultivation by a minor rank with just a single petal!

Indeed, a legend had circulated that a Traceless Illusory Lotus might be found in the secret realm, which was why countless people had sought it during this expedition.

Unfortunately, a large group had scoured nearly every corner of the secret realm and failed to find it, believing it to be mere rumor. Little did they know, it truly existed.

People around began pointing and whispering, looking at Zu An with complex expressions:

"Zu An, this guy's luck is just too incredible, isn't it? Why did *he* get to find such a heaven-defying item?"

"I'm actually surprised Zu An was willing to give such a precious item to someone else. This guy certainly spares no expense when it comes to wooing women."

"No wonder so many women are devoted to him. It seems he truly possesses some extraordinary qualities; I certainly couldn't be that generous."

"I, however, think he's too impulsive. Giving such a thing to someone else will only move them temporarily, and the disparity between the two will only grow. Ultimately, they'll be unable to avoid a breakup."

"Exactly! Wouldn't it be better if he used it himself? Once his strength increases, he could choose any beautiful woman he desires, and even Miss Chu would hold him in higher regard. In this world, ultimately, one's own strength speaks the loudest."

In contrast to the men's cynical rationality, the women in the hall had eyes shining brightly. Isn't dedicating everything for the one you love precisely the kind of love they yearn for throughout their lives?

Pei Mianman secretly lamented her great loss. If she had known this, she should have stuck with Zu An from the start; at least she could have gotten a share. Now, Zu An had surely won Chu Chuyan's heart with this, and likely no longer needed an alliance with her.

That was secondary. The key was that while she was nominally a close friend of Chu Chuyan, she had always secretly compared herself to her. Before this incident, she didn't believe she was inferior in any way, even confident that her actual cultivation was slightly higher than Chu Chuyan's.

But now that Chu Chuyan had consumed the Traceless Illusory Lotus, her rank had increased by at least one major realm. This was evident from her recent exchange of blows with the eighth-rank Shi Lezhi.

As a result, her own strength had been surpassed. The key was that she was well aware their innate talents were similar, and without another fortuitous encounter, she might never catch up to her in this lifetime.

The thought of being outmatched by Chu Chuyan for the rest of her life filled her with unbearable frustration. She shot a resentful glare at the culprit, thinking, *It's all this guy's fault!*

Rage value from Pei Mianman: 666!

Zheng Dan, standing nearby, also wore a complex expression. She had long been curious about how Zu An had escaped Shi Kun's meticulously planned death trap. Now, she finally understood the reason.

She never expected this man to be such a profoundly passionate and sincere individual.

Unlike others, from her very first interaction with him, she had sensed that he wasn't the good-for-nothing the rumors portrayed. Instead, he possessed an intriguing air of mystery, a quality that held a fatal allure for her.

Now, learning that he treated Chu Chuyan with such devotion, she felt momentarily lost in thought. If her fiancé, Sang Qian, were to obtain a Traceless Illusory Lotus, would he use it to save her?

After a moment of thought, she slightly shook her head, a self-mocking, bitter smile playing on her lips.

Even Wu Qing looked at Zu An with a touch of admiration, thinking, *I certainly misunderstood him before.*

Only Jiang Luofu cast several strange glances at Zu An. She was one of the few who knew the full story, understanding what the Traceless Illusory Lotus truly meant to him. This man had actually made such an enormous sacrifice just to save a wife who was only his in name.

Noticing the gazes and murmurs from the crowd, Shi Kun's expression subtly shifted. He looked to Shi Lezhi, seeking assistance.

Shi Lezhi, being older and more experienced, quickly formulated a plan. "Nonsense!" he scoffed. "Throughout the world, has anyone ever heard of severed primordial meridians being fully restored? At best, one might regain a bit of mobility, but they'd be worse off than an ordinary person, let alone as vibrant as she is now!"

"What's more, the Traceless Illusory Lotus's effect is to aid cultivation advancement; I've never heard of it having the power to re-connect primordial meridians. If you don't believe me, you can consult the divine physician, Dr. Ji, in the city."

Those affiliated with the Shi family promptly spoke up in agreement.

Jiang Luofu frowned, as she also recalled that the Traceless Illusory Lotus shouldn't possess the ability to re-connect primordial meridians.

At this moment, Shi Kun, clearly inspired, called out, "Although the divine physician, Dr. Ji, isn't here, his daughter Ji Xiaoxi is. It's well-known that Miss Ji has profoundly inherited her father's true medical teachings. She can offer an impartial judgment."

At his words, all eyes immediately turned to Ji Xiaoxi.

Ji Xiaoxi, already somewhat shy, became even more flustered under the scrutiny of so many eyes. She opened her mouth several times but couldn't think of what to say.

Shi Kun said in a deep voice, "Miss Ji, everyone knows you don't lie, and your opinion carries the authority of your esteemed father's medical expertise. You should consider your words carefully before speaking."

Zu An immediately retorted, "Shi, are you threatening a witness?"

Shi Kun snorted. "There's no threat. I'm merely reminding her, lest her judgment be clouded by certain deceitful individuals."

He racked his brain but couldn't fathom why he had ever considered this guy a friend in the secret realm. Now, the mere thought made him feel nauseous.

He wasn't the only one feeling nauseous. Zu An, too, was bothered by the 100,000 taels of silver he had spent, which had proven utterly useless.

And the 100,000 taels used to win over Zhang Han, while having some effect, wasn't significant enough to justify such an expenditure.

It seemed he would have to seriously reconsider how to utilize his "Wealthy Proximity" skill, which currently felt like a 'chicken rib'—having some value but not enough to be truly useful.

At this moment, Ji Xiaoxi suddenly calmed. Perhaps the opponent's words made her realize this was her professional domain, for her demeanor instantly changed. "To my knowledge," she stated, "no medical text or precedent indicates that the Traceless Illusory Lotus has the effect of re-connecting primordial meridians."

Shi Kun laughed heartily, looking triumphantly at Chu Chuyan. "Did you hear that? Even Miss Ji said so. So you're completely slandering us!"

Chu Chuyan frowned slightly. She had indeed lied about this matter, but how could she reveal the truth in front of so many people?

Just then, Ji Xiaoxi spoke up. "I haven't finished," she said. "While there's no precedent of the Traceless Illusory Lotus healing primordial meridian damage, such a miraculous natural treasure might indeed possess this function. It's simply too rare, and no one has ever given it to a crippled person with completely severed primordial meridians before, so its efficacy naturally couldn't be proven. If Miss Chu's words are true, then in the medical field, it would be a monumental discovery. Those in the world with severed primordial meridians would finally have hope of recovery."

Chu Chuyan's face flushed. If she were to truly mislead the understanding of medical knowledge, her culpability would be immense.

She subconsciously glanced at Zu An, thinking that she would tell Ji Xiaoxi privately later that the Traceless Illusory Lotus wouldn't help re-connect meridians; only he could.

Zu An seemed to grasp the meaning in her gaze, thinking to himself, *I wouldn't save men. But if it's a woman, and she's pretty, it's not out of the question...*