Chapter 1107: Zi Xi

That was the figure of an extremely beautiful woman. Her youthful innocence had faded, like an epiphyllum blooming for the first time or the clear, ethereal glow of the bright moon. She appeared serene and ethereal, yet possessed a powerful, captivating beauty that stirred the soul.

To most high-level cultivators, beauty was easily attainable and hardly worth mentioning.

Countless things in the world held more value than mere beauty.

Cultivation, Dao methods, fame, power, status—all were far more captivating than appearance.

But that was only because people had never witnessed true beauty.

A pure beauty that transcended reason, capable of shattering one's emotional defenses, devouring hearts, and captivating souls.

A single glance was enough to completely overwhelm the mind.

It even made people feel a sense of inadequacy.

Inside the grand hall, the highly cultivated sect masters and elders exchanged startled glances, their eyes wide with astonishment.

Despite their profound cultivation, they couldn't help but feel a sudden jolt in their hearts.

It was true for men, and even more so for women.

It was a primal instinct, as if from their very bloodline, utterly irresistible.

Duanmu Qing gazed at the figure, with skin like ice and bones like jade, graceful as a celestial being, as stunningly beautiful as the clear moon. She felt an overwhelming yearning, a sense of anxious loss, and a desire as intoxicating as fine wine, filling every drop of her blood and marrow, flowing through her meridians, pervading her entire body.

She couldn't help but think that if such a celestial beauty were to spend a night with her—no, even just kiss her, or simply glance at her—she would gladly die for her in this life and beyond.

That extreme yearning, that intense desire, pushed her Dao heart to the brink of self-immolation.

It wasn't just Duanmu Qing; even Elder Gu Hong, a Feathered Ascension realm cultivator, momentarily blanched.

She, too, faintly felt a stirring within her bloodline.

It seemed she would do anything for the exquisite young woman before her.

Elder Gu Hong quickly bit her tongue, steadied her mind, and forced herself to look away, daring not to gaze upon that ethereal and peerless figure again.

At the same time, her heart was filled with shock.

"Is this a bloodline power?!" she thought. "How can this bloodline possess such astonishing power, even crossing two major cultivation realms to forcefully stir the desires of a true Feathered Ascension cultivator like myself? And this appearance—it's simply too astounding."

Elder Gu Hong was a renowned matchmaker in the Qianxue State Realm. In her lifetime, she had seen countless beautiful women—some plump, some slender, some intelligent and graceful, some with faces like flowers and moons—but she had never witnessed beauty so utterly breathtaking.

This was an absolute, oppressive beauty.

It left no room for reaction; a single glance, in an instant, would shatter one's mental defenses and crush their rationality.

It was particularly lethal for women who appreciated beauty.

Elder Gu Hong was startled for a moment, then suddenly realized something even more astonishing: The celestial-like young woman had a snow-colored veil covering her face. She hadn't even seen her true appearance, yet her heart had already been profoundly stirred.

How much more beautiful, then, must her true appearance be?

Elder Gu Hong wanted to catch a glimpse, but she also didn't quite dare to turn her head.

After a moment of silence, the grand hall gradually regained its usual murmurs.

All the cultivators present held high positions, possessed great power, and had profound cultivation. Even a momentary lapse in focus wouldn't lead to significant loss of composure.

Furthermore, the identity of this woman could be roughly inferred from the group of Daoist Court dignitaries surrounding her.

"The Bai family, a prosperous sixth-rank clan from the Ancestral Dragon Land in Qianzhou."

To be so revered and surrounded, astonishingly beautiful, with such a terrifying bloodline, and that naturally awe-inspiring noble aura, it was almost certain she was a direct descendant of the Bai family.

And perhaps even the most direct of the direct lineage.

An extremely powerful bloodline, exquisite beauty, immense talent, coupled with being a core direct descendant of a prosperous sixth-rank clan.

Possessing two or three of these, or even just one, would be extraordinary.

But with all of them combined in one person, it was simply terrifying.

Most sect masters, family heads, and elders kept their gazes down, maintaining self-control and discipline, not daring to look more than once.

Among the crowd, only the Supreme Void Sect Master frowned and sighed softly.

The meeting then commenced, with the Feathered cultivators from the Central Daoist Court and several Rectifiers from the Seven Pavilions beginning the "accountability" process for the various sects and families of the Qianxue State Realm, according to the Daoist Court's laws and the Tianquan Pavilion's righteous grading protocols.

The Daoist Court's words were stern, demanding that the Qianxue families relinquish a significant portion of their interests.

One-seventh of the dominion over the Qianlong Spirit Mine was to be transferred to the Central Daoist Court.

Furthermore, any Qianxue sect named or renamed hereafter was forbidden from including characters such as 'Heaven,' 'Dao,' 'Qian,' 'Sky,' or 'Dome' in their names.

Finally, a Rectifier from the Tianquan Pavilion, with a solemn face, sternly reprimanded the four—including Shen Linshu—saying: "As Qianxue's chosen prodigies, you deliberately broke the law, violating the Daoist Court's decrees. Your crimes are unforgivable. The four major sects of Qianxue are irresponsible in their teachings, focusing solely on cultivation and neglecting character, leading to lax discipline and this disaster. Their culpability is undeniable. However..."

He paused, then continued, "Considering your youthful ignorance and that this is your first offense, there is some room for leniency. To prevent you four from continuing down a misguided path, you must be sent to the Central Daoist Court to reshape your cultivation paths, to learn reverence for the Heavenly Dao, understand human nature, thoroughly reform yourselves, and become righteous prodigies of both virtue and talent, capable of assisting the world. This is the Daoist Court's benevolence—"

After the Tianquan Pavilion Rectifier finished speaking, the high-level figures from the various Qianxue sects and forces all frowned.

The words were grand and impressive, but the core intention was to "extort" the Qianxue State Realm.

Dividing interests was "cutting flesh." Demanding the prodigies was "digging up people."

And this was the baseline established by the Daoist Court for the various forces of Qianxue.

The subsequent negotiations would use this as the guideline. If the Qianxue side wished to avoid losing more "flesh," they would have to send these four rare bloodline prodigies to the Daoist Court. If they wanted to avoid losing their people, then the Daoist Court would cut off another piece of "flesh."

Naturally, the Qianxue side could not agree to such terms.

What followed was prolonged negotiation and tug-of-war among the high-level representatives from all sides.

However, Duanmu Qing didn't hear a single word of it. Her entire attention was captivated by that exquisite figure, like a crescent moon and an epiphyllum in bloom.

She didn't care at all how the Daoist Court would deal with her, because she didn't need to care.

For matters like this, her parents' respective ancestral lines had already communicated with the Daoist Court beforehand. The current "joint trial" was merely a formality.

But that ethereal, aloof, and independent figure, untainted by worldly desires—she couldn't possibly not care about that.

Desire gradually consumed Duanmu Qing's rationality.

She felt she could do anything for her: kneel to her, surrender to her, bare her heart and offer her sincerity, even sacrifice her life.

And a woman like that—her heart must be hers, and only hers.

It was as if she imagined a future day when she could hold her hand, kiss her cheek, or even hear her soft whispers...

Duanmu Qing's inner fire intensified. A faint, almost sickly flush appeared on her originally serene face.

It was in this state—her Dao heart ablaze, lost in infatuation, barely able to breathe, oscillating between extreme delight, intense longing, and the profound agony of an unattainable desire—that Duanmu Qing dazedly concluded the Daoist Court's "joint trial."

That figure, surrounded by a group of high-ranking Bai family members, glided gracefully as if walking on water, with every step seemingly producing lotus flowers, elegantly and dignifiedly returning to the Nine Heavens Gilded Palace.

As the exquisite figure departed, the captivating aura also dissipated.

For some reason, everyone collectively let out a sigh of relief.

Duanmu Qing, however, felt a painful emptiness in her heart, as if a part of it had been taken away.

Elder Gu Hong also stared, startled, at the retreating back, her brow furrowed, a strange sense of apprehension rising in her heart.

"This young woman—is she from the Bai family? And her bloodline, could it be—The Bai family—could they intend for her to marry into—" Elder Gu Hong repeatedly paused, her brow furrowed in thought. A moment later, she suddenly noticed something trembling and radiating heat inside her storage pouch.

Elder Gu Hong's expression changed. She lowered her gaze to her red storage pouch, embroidered with mandarin ducks and lilies, and slowly withdrew a piece of red string from within.

The red string was broken and showed scorch marks.

"Which red string is this?" Elder Gu Hong frowned and, after a long moment of recollection, slowly remembered: This was the red string she had used for Mo Hua!

She had once thought Mo Hua was a good child and wondered if she could arrange a match for him, calculating his destiny.

The outcome, however, was peculiar. When she matched others, at most, the match simply wouldn't form.

But for Mo Hua, every red string she tried to tie broke.

So much so that she had to make an exception, using the highest-grade "Golden Jade Matchmaking" string, woven with gold threads and inlaid with red jade, to divine his fate.

Initially, there was indeed some reaction. The Golden Jade Matchmaking string faintly responded when connected to a young direct descendant of the Gu family.

Then, instantly, the fate backlash occurred.

A crimson, ethereal flame ignited, directly incinerating the red string.

Not only was the red string burned, but the gold threads on it snapped into pieces, and the embedded red jade turned to dust.

Elder Gu Hong was shocked then, realizing that Mo Hua's fate was certainly tied to immense karma, and the person he was destined to marry was likely formidable.

She then gave up trying to matchmake for Mo Hua, but the half-burned red string remained.

Now, this half-burned red string was suddenly trembling and growing hot for some unknown reason.

Elder Gu Hong hadn't paid much attention at first, but after a moment of contemplation, she seemed to realize something, and her body began to tremble. She looked up towards the exquisite figure that had already disappeared into the Nine Heavens Gilded Palace, her heart filled with incredulous horror.

"Mo Hua's fate—it couldn't possibly be—linked to her, could it—"

In that instant, Elder Gu Hong nearly had a heart attack from fright.

How could this be possible?!

While she indeed thought Mo Hua was an excellent child—good-natured, talented, and ambitious, worthy of any young woman in the world—this wasn't the kind of match she envisioned. This young woman from the Bai family, with that bloodline, she was—

Moreover, these two—one a Supreme Void Sect disciple from a rogue cultivator background, the other a direct bloodline descendant of the prosperous sixth-rank Bai family—were completely unrelated, with no connection whatsoever. How could they possibly be linked by fate?

Elder Gu Hong was stunned and disbelieving.

Yet, the red string in her hand continued to tremble slightly, glowing red and hot.

For the next few days, the Daoist Court and the Qianxue side continued to gather in the Great Hall of Mount Lundao, discussing the accountability for the blood sacrifice incident and the disposition of the four Qianxue prodigies.

But that exquisite figure, like an epiphyllum, appeared only once and was not seen again.

Supreme Void Sect, Rear Mountain.

Inside an ancient, tranquil, and grand hall.

The sect master of the Supreme Void Sect, nominally the foremost major sect in Qianxue, was currently pouring tea for a young woman before him, who wore a snow-white elegant gown embroidered with faint gold phoenix patterns and a blizzard jade-petal glass veil.

After pouring the tea, the Supreme Void Sect Master sighed softly and said, "It's been a long time, Zixi."

This young woman, clad in white, ethereal and transcendentally beautiful, seemed both real and illusory, capable of captivating souls and devouring hearts. She was none other than Bai Zixi, the direct descendant of the Bai family lineage, the most outstandingly beautiful true woman of the Bai family, and the sole daughter of Bai Qingcheng.

Bai Zixi bowed to the Supreme Void Sect Master, politely and elegantly saying, "Uncle."

The Supreme Void Sect Master nodded slightly, sighing internally, then asked, "Why did the Old Matriarch let you come out?"

Bai Zixi replied with quiet elegance, "By the Old Matriarch's command, I went to visit an elder, and passing through the Qianxue State Realm, I specifically came to see Uncle."

Her voice was gentle and melodious, as clear and transparent as ice and snow, yet imbued with a hint of spring's bright languor. Simply listening to it was enough to stir one's soul.

The Supreme Void Sect Master felt an increasing headache.

His title of "uncle" was, of course, not a biological one.

Large aristocratic families were populous; the larger the family, the more members and blood relatives there were, making kinship ties increasingly complex.

However, his lineage had a rather close relationship with the main Bai family, so he could indeed bear the title of "uncle."

And in her childhood, he had indeed met Zixi.

At that time, Zixi was just a little girl. Because her mother was exceptionally beautiful, and her unmentionable biological father was also an extraordinary talent, she inherited the beauty of both parents. Even in her childhood, it was evident she was destined to be a peerless beauty.

Not to mention, she had also awakened her bloodline.

This ancient bloodline, coupled with her devastatingly beautiful appearance, and that noble temperament inherited from her exceptional parents, endowed her beauty with an inherent "aggressiveness," capable of instantly captivating others' souls.

What's more, her heaven-defying bloodline was even more terrifyingly alluring to women than to men.

Thus, she was practically a natural-born "calamity."

Wherever she went, it was immense trouble.

Even the Supreme Void Sect Master felt tremendous pressure.

However, since she had come to the Supreme Void Sect, he, as her "uncle," naturally had to fulfill his duties as a host and treat her well.

"The Supreme Void Sect is also an ancient and venerable major sect with profound foundations. Although it is only fifth-rank, not comparable to the Bai family or those sixth-rank major sects and clans in the Ancestral Dragon State Realm, it is still a considerably remarkable sect," he said with a hint of pride beneath his humility. "Furthermore, the Supreme Void Sect has now united its three mountains and one lineage, its disciples working together to achieve first place in the Qianxue Dao Discussions. Given time, it is bound to present another magnificent spectacle—"

Then he added, "Since you're here, it's a rare opportunity. I'll take you around to see the sights—"

Bai Zixi said, "Thank you, Uncle."

Afterward, the Supreme Void Sect Master personally led Bai Zixi on a tour of the Supreme Void Sect.

The previous batch of disciples had left the sect, and the next batch hadn't yet been admitted, so Mount Taixu was exceptionally quiet.

Along the long mountain path, only clouds and mist lingered.

Along the way, the Supreme Void Sect Master, acting as her "uncle," continuously introduced the scenic spots of Mount Taixu and the history of the Supreme Void Sect.

Bai Zixi remained mostly silent, only occasionally nodding faintly and offering polite, appropriate, and gracious remarks.

The Supreme Void Sect Master sighed inwardly, feeling a sudden melancholy.

When she was young, his little niece, though cold in temperament and diligent in cultivation, still possessed some "human" qualities, and would occasionally smile.

Now, every word she uttered, apart from conveying "beauty," seemed to be indistinctly veiled.

Although her words were proper and her demeanor courteous, there was a distant coldness about her.

Everything on Mount Taixu, in her eyes, seemed like insignificant "external objects" and "dead things," leaving no trace in her heart.

It wasn't like this before. After she left the Bai family, endured hardships, and painstakingly took on a master, she experienced unknown trials, even shattering her Longevity Talisman. When she returned, she almost never smiled, and her disposition grew colder and colder, eventually becoming what it is today.

Of course, another Bai family ancestor replaced her shattered Longevity Talisman.

To have a shattered Longevity Talisman and still be qualified to receive another was unprecedented, even within the entire Bai family.

This clearly showed the Old Matriarch's doting affection for her and the family's immense regard for her.

Since then, Zixi had been taken under the Old Matriarch's wing, meticulously nurtured, almost living in seclusion from the world.

However, at the Old Matriarch's status and position, compared to ordinary cultivators, it was already equivalent to existing in two different worlds.

Whether she was secluded from the world or not, it no longer mattered.

The two walked on for a while longer. The Supreme Void Sect Master continued speaking, and Bai Zixi listened impassively.

It wasn't until they entered the small library south of the disciples' residences that Bai Zixi saw the large white dog in front of it, and her tone finally showed a slight tremor: "This is—"

The Supreme Void Sect Master nodded, "It's the smallest one born from our family's White Marsh strange beast. Earlier, there were evil spirits causing trouble in the sect, so I brought it here to suppress them for a while."

At this moment, the little White Marsh beast was lying on the ground, gnawing on a bone, looking forlorn and reluctant to part with it.

Bai Zixi stared at the bone and said faintly, "A White Marsh beast... chewing on a bone?"

The Supreme Void Sect Master chuckled, feeling a little helpless. "Mo Hua gave it to him. Even after finishing it, he can't bear to throw it away—"

Bai Zixi trembled, her body completely stiff, and she exclaimed, "Mo... Hua?"

The Supreme Void Sect Master nodded and said, "Mo Hua was our Supreme Void Sect's senior apprentice-brother from the previous generation, the top array master in Qianxue. He's an exceptionally kind, intelligent, and talented array master. Speaking of which, the Supreme Void Sect's current standing is all thanks to him—" As the Supreme Void Sect Master spoke, he suddenly realized something was amiss. Bai Zixi's aura had distinctly changed, as if her emotions had been greatly shaken.

The Supreme Void Sect Master's heart tightened. He turned to look but found that Bai Zixi had already reined in all her aura; her demeanor and presence were as usual, with no apparent change.

The Supreme Void Sect Master frowned, then felt relieved, thinking, "It must have been an illusion."

The name Mo Hua held significant meaning only for the Supreme Void Sect.

But for Zixi, a direct descendant of the sixth-rank Bai family, raised under the Old Matriarch's care, it meant nothing. Furthermore, their backgrounds, spiritual roots, aptitudes, bloodlines, and personal destinies were entirely different, with no overlap whatsoever.

Even their "styles" were different.

Zixi was exquisitely beautiful, serene, and inherently aloof, possessing an unreachable kind of beauty.

Mo Hua was warm, easygoing, and friendly, inherently righteous and kind-hearted, capable of getting along with anyone—he even treated a White Marsh strange beast like a "dog" and fed it.

The two were simply not the same kind of people.

And it was almost impossible for them to have any interaction.

The Supreme Void Sect Master continued to lead Zixi forward, along the same path as before. The surrounding scenery remained unchanged: every mountain and stone, every blade of grass and tree, every building and pavilion, all as they had always been.

This time, however, Zixi walked very slowly and observed very carefully.

For some reason, in her eyes, the previously unfamiliar scenery of Mount Taixu suddenly came alive, gaining a hint of familiarity.

Over these years, her junior apprentice-brother had lived, cultivated, learned spells, and drawn arrays in these mountains, in these pavilions and chambers, progressing in his cultivation and growing up alongside his fellow disciples. Her previously indifferent heart was suddenly intertwined with warmth and a touch of sorrow.

"My—junior apprentice-brother—"

Bai Zixi was startled and lost in thought.

Negotiations between the Daoist Court and Qianxue continued, but after much wrangling, a resolution gradually emerged.

The four Qianxue prodigies would be sent to the Daoist Court.

The Daoist Court would be responsible for their education, ensuring they recognized their mistakes, reformed, and once again served the Daoist Court and the common people of the world.

This matter was thus finally decided.

Wanxiao City, Duanmu Residence.

In a pale purple, lavish boudoir, Duanmu Qing sat at her dressing table, deep in thought.

A gentle-faced Elder of the Duanmu family beside her whispered, "Miss, you depart today. In two months, you will reach Daozhou. The Ancestor has arranged everything. Once you arrive, you need not worry about anything else; just focus on your cultivation. You can consider other matters after forming your bloodline Golden Core—"

Duanmu Qing hummed in acknowledgment, but as soon as she closed her eyes, her mind was filled with that stunning, ephemeral figure that haunted her dreams, burned her heart, and remained untainted by worldly dust.

"She—is mine—"

Duanmu Qing murmured to herself, and then her previously despondent gaze gradually became resolute.

Her shattered Dao heart was reshaped by her desires.

She faced her mirror, wiped off her rouge, coiled her long hair, inserted a jade hairpin, and styled it into a neat, free-spirited bun.

Then, she donned a young man's Daoist robe.

With a face like polished jade and a graceful posture, she looked just like a noble young lord wandering the mundane world.

As a woman, Duanmu Qing was tall and slender. However, when dressed in men's clothing, she appeared rather delicate, her height nearly identical to Mo Hua's, and their silhouettes bore a certain resemblance. This identity, which she had once somewhat resisted, was now truly accepted by her.

"Let's go," Duanmu Qing said.

"Yes, Miss."

"No," Duanmu Qing's gaze was cold. "From now on, call me—'Young Master.'"

Duanmu Qing departed for Daozhou.

As for Bai Zixi, she was headed to Kunzhou.

Bai Zixi bid farewell to the Supreme Void Sect Master, then cast a final glance at Mount Taixu, at the disciples' residences, the grand training ground, and the cultivation chambers, before departing with a complex mix of emotions.

The journey from Qianzhou to Kunzhou was long, requiring passage through many different state realms of varying sizes.

Flying was forbidden in state realms below the fourth rank, and the Nine Heavens Gilded Palace could not be ridden. Therefore, one could only travel by cloud ferry.

The Bai family had its own custom-made cloud ferry.

It was a large vessel with a skeleton of white jade and phoenix-like feathers for sails, not only exquisitely beautiful but also exceedingly fast.

Bai Zixi boarded the cloud ferry.

After a brief rest, the Bai family's cloud ferry broke through the air, soaring forward like a cloud dragon, weaving through the cloud currents.

At this moment, tens of thousands of miles ahead, within the cloud currents, a somewhat old cloud ferry was slowly making its way.

Mo Hua lay on the deck, sighing, and couldn't help but mutter, "Why do I have to suffer like this?"

The food was poor, sleep was difficult, and the ship moved slowly.

To pass the time, he had used up all the array paper he used for drawing arrays.

Moreover, there had been nothing unusual along the way.

Aside from the long stretches of dullness and boredom, and the noise of the cloud ferry riding the wind, there were no other dangers.

"Karma can sometimes be misleading—" Mo Hua thought silently to himself.

For the next ten days or so, Mo Hua lived this kind of life.

It wasn't until the twelfth day, just as they were about to reach the branching point of the cloud currents where the ferry would change course, that Mo Hua's heart suddenly began to pound fiercely for some unknown reason, as if something he deeply cared about was about to happen.

Mo Hua was somewhat perplexed.

Yet, the restlessness in his heart grew stronger, unquelled even by meditation.

Mo Hua frowned. He performed a quick divination. His heart suddenly leaped, and a thoughtful expression appeared on his face. He then stood on the deck, gazing at the distant cloud currents for a long time, but saw nothing but vast expanses of clouds.

But Mo Hua remained standing there, motionless.

Until noon, when the sunlight was bright.

Suddenly, in the distance, a dragon-like cloud flute sound rang out, interspersed with the whistling of wind breaking through the air. Amidst the churning cloud sea, an exquisite cloud ferry made of white jade burst forth from the clouds, revealing its form.

This cloud ferry was of extremely high grade and moved at an astonishing speed, making it originally difficult to discern clearly.

However, because the branching point of the cloud currents, where the ferry would change course, was directly ahead, even this fast cloud ferry had to pause here.

In that instant, Mo Hua clearly saw the cloud ferry's appearance, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

Then he swept his divine sense, his gaze moving to the top of the cloud ferry, and saw a white, ethereal, almost illusory female figure standing on the deck.

And that figure also saw Mo Hua.

In an unexpected intersection, their gazes met.

One's eyes were clear and profound, the other's like ethereal, beautiful glass. In each other's eyes, their reflections shimmered.

One had a face like a painting, eyes like stars. It was the grown-up junior apprentice-brother.

One was ethereal, exquisitely beautiful, beyond compare. It was the grown-up senior apprentice-sister.

Separated by the cloud sea, they exchanged that one glance, and only that one glance.

Within the vast, unknowable Heavenly Dao, only this fleeting moment of karmic intersection occurred.

Then the cloud sea surged, the cloud currents diverged, and the cloud ferries set sail on their separate paths, carrying the two towards their respective destinies.

And so, in the sea of clouds, they drifted further and further apart, leaving behind only an unforgettable figure in each other's eyes.

(End of Qianxue Arc)