Zhang Xian stepped into the hallway, only to spot a head popping out from the room next door. Lin Yinyin was eavesdropping.

Seeing Zhang Xian storm out with a face full of unreleased frustration, she froze for a split second. Then, a look of pure, malicious glee lit up her features.

“Hehe! Suffer!”

She stuck out her tongue, made a grotesque face, and—SLAM!—shut her door right in his face.

Zhang Xian stood alone in the empty corridor, the silence ringing in his ears. He looked at the closed door, then down at himself.

The well was right there. The water was sweet. He was dying of thirst. And someone had just welded the lid shut.

He sighed, shaking his head with a bitter smile, and shuffled back into his own room.

He plopped onto the cold meditation cushion, but the frustration wouldn’t settle. The more he thought about it, the more shortchanged he felt. In a fit of pique, he pulled out a bottle of [Yellow Court Spirit Cleansing Pills] from his inventory.

“Fine! You won’t let me release energy? I’ll stuff more in!”

He dumped a handful of the legendary pills into his mouth like they were cheap peanuts.

“Eat! Eat! Let’s see if I can’t break through too!”

He chewed aggressively, swallowing the priceless medicine with pure spite. It took a long time for his temper to cool enough for him to actually circulate his Qi and refine the medicinal power.

By evening, Zhang Xian opened his eyes.

He hadn’t broken through a realm, but the results were terrifying. His Wood Spirit Root had evolved to Supreme Grade. His Metal and Water roots, boosted by both the pills and his [Prodigious Disciple Halo], were now High Grade. Even his neglected Fire and Earth roots had climbed to Mid Grade.

In terms of raw talent, he was now a peerless genius.

He walked out of his room, feeling refreshed. He glanced at Li Fuxi’s door—still tightly shut. She had just broken through to the eighth stage of the Golden Core; she would likely be stabilizing her foundation for days.

You escaped this time, Master, he thought with a grin. But you won’t be so lucky next time.

Then, he heard a soft creak.

Lin Yinyin’s door opened just a crack.

A smile touched Zhang Xian’s lips. Yinyin is still the most considerate, thoughtful girl.

He straightened his sleeves and strode toward the crack in the door.

A moment later, Lin Yinyin’s “scandalized” cry echoed from inside.

“How dare you! You audacious, rebellious disciple! What are you doing to your Master? Mmmph—”

BANG! The door slammed shut again.

The next morning, Zhang Xian was vibrated awake by his jade slip.

He groggily scanned the messages with his spiritual sense and chuckled. They were all from Perfected Being Wang Ya, sent with increasing desperation.

[Last Night]: Zhang Xian? You’re back? I heard you met the Founder. Come to the Palace Hall when you can. Urgent matters.

[One Hour Later]: Did you get this? The Sect Master is here too. She is asking for you by name.

[Just Now]: Are you awake?! The Sect Master’s face is green. She looks like she’s going to explode.

Zhang Xian laughed. Last night’s “battle” had been intense; checking messages was the last thing on his mind.

He typed a quick reply: [On my way.]

He looked down. Lin Yinyin was curled up in his arms, a satisfied smile still lingering on her lips. His heart melted a little. He carefully extracted his arm, dressed silently, and slipped out of the room.

The moment the door clicked shut, the “sleeping” Lin Yinyin snapped her eyes open. There was no drowsiness in them—only cunning triumph.

“Heh. Still wrapped around my finger.”

She clenched a small fist, her expression hardening.

“No, I can’t get complacent. Brother is shining too bright now. The moths and vixens will only multiply. I have to cultivate harder. I cannot fall behind. I will not lose to some random fox spirit!”

She sat up, threw a handful of spirit stones into a formation array, and immediately dropped into a deep cultivation trance.

When Zhang Xian strolled into the Imperial Palace Hall, looking refreshed and annoyingly cheerful, the room was already packed.

Emperor Xia Xuanyin stood before a massive tactical map, muttering low instructions to Perfected Being Shouheng. When he saw Zhang Xian, his face brightened. “Zhang Xian! Good timing. Come, join us.”

Zhang Xian scanned the room. Aside from Wang Ya and Inspector Zhiyin, there were new heavyweights present.

Long Zhi stood near the front, her white robes pristine, her dragon aura sharper than a blade. Beside her was an ancient man with skin like weathered bark—Perfected Being Qingshi, the Supreme Elder of the Spirit Ruins Sword Sect.

Two elderly monks in golden kasayas sat in meditation—guardians from the Mountain Zen Monastery.

It was a gathering of titans. Excluding the Penglai forces, the Southern Region’s entire Nascent Soul lineup was here: The Emperor, Qingshi, Long Zhi, the two Monks, and Zhiyin. Six against the enemy’s two known entities.

On paper, they had the advantage. In reality, everyone knew the enemy was a ghost in the fog.

Zhang Xian’s gaze finally landed on Sect Master Xing Jie. Her face was frosted over with enough ice to freeze a lake.

He ignored her completely. He walked past her without even a nod and took the empty seat next to Wang Ya.

“Zhang Xian!” Xing Jie’s voice snapped like a whip. “You returned yesterday. I summoned you multiple times. Why are you late?”

Zhang Xian picked at his ear. “Travel fatigue. I slept in.”

“You—!” Xing Jie choked.

Wang Ya jumped in to play peacemaker. “Zhang Xian! Good to see you. Did you meet Elder Su and the Founder? Are they well?”

“I met them,” Zhang Xian said, leaning back. “They’re busy saving the world, so they can’t come. But they sent their regards and expressed confidence that we can handle a few stray demons.”

“Saving the world?” Perfected Being Qingshi frowned. “What could be more important than a demonic invasion? Is Yunmiao Sect trying to avoid the war?”

Emperor Xia raised a hand. “Peace. Supreme Elder Su messaged me yesterday. Penglai is currently suppressing two ancient entities…”

He quickly briefed the room on the “Seven Emotions” calamity.

The hall fell silent. The air grew heavy.

“So,” the Emperor concluded grimly. “According to Su Yunmiao, the [Entity of Desire] grows stronger with time. I fought its shadow puppet; its power is already Nascent Soul level. The second entity is likely Nascent Soul Second Stage. If we let them feed, if they break through to the Mid-Stage… the Southern Region is finished.”

Nearby, General Han Yichen slammed his fist onto the table. “The worst part is Baoqing Workshop! The moment they smelled trouble, they pulled all their core forces back to the Central Continent. They left nothing but low-level clerks and demanded we protect their assets! Cowardly profiteers!”