The purple-robed elder finished reading the final name on the list and swept his sleeve through the air.

“Ten days from now, at dawn. All qualified disciples will assemble here to depart for the Ancient Ruins!”

The crowd began to disperse, but many curious gazes still lingered on Shen Xian.

At that moment, Wei Zhaoli, clad in a moon-white gown, approached with a graceful, unhurried step. Her cool, aloof aura caused the surrounding disciples to part instinctively, creating a wide path for her.

“Shen Lang,” she called softly. Her voice was light, yet it carried clearly in the sudden silence.

Her usually frosty eyes held a trace of softness as she looked at him, the corner of her lips lifting slightly. “Congratulations.”

A smile touched Shen Xian’s lips. “Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Care to join me for some tea?”

“Mm.” Wei Zhaoli gave a slight nod.

The two walked side by side, heading towards the Rainfall Pavilion.

This brief exchange sent the surrounding disciples into an uproar.

“Senior Sister Wei actually called him ‘Shen Lang’ in public…”

“That’s Wei Zhaoli! She’s never shown the slightest warmth to anyone!”

Several disciples who had long admired Wei Zhaoli from afar turned ashen, their fists clenching until their knuckles cracked.

One late-stage Foundation Establishment disciple gnashed his teeth. “He’s just relying on his family background…”

“Shut your mouth.”

Before the disciple could finish, Wang Yu, covered in dried blood, limped over. “They’re a match made in heaven. Who are you to gossip?”

Though injured, the imposing aura of his half-step Golden Core cultivation left no room for defiance. The gossiping disciples lowered their heads in silence.

“Hmph. If I hear such talk again, don’t blame me for being impolite.” Wang Yu snorted and limped away.

Elsewhere, Wei Zhaoli was intensely curious about what had happened in the secret realm, especially how Shen Xian had managed to secure first place. But Shen Xian offered no detailed explanation, merely attributing it to good luck.

Naturally, Wei Zhaoli didn’t believe him, but she tactfully refrained from pressing further.

Back at the Rainfall Pavilion, Shen Xian gestured for Wei Zhaoli to take a seat at the stone table in the courtyard. A gentle breeze rustled through the spiritual bamboo, adding an elegant touch to the tranquil afternoon.

“Zhaoli.”

Shen Xian’s sudden address caused Wei Zhaoli to tremble slightly, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. It was the first time he had used such an intimate address since they met.

Shen Xian retrieved an exquisite jade box from his sleeve. “This is for you.”

Wei Zhaoli was momentarily taken aback. She accepted the box and gently opened it.

Inside lay a bead of pure azure. Within its depths, something like tides seemed to surge, emitting a gentle, watery spiritual aura.

“Is this… the Mystic Water Bead?” Wei Zhaoli’s typically cool voice wavered.

Her slender fingers hovered over the bead. The Frostwater Sword within her storage bag trembled in response, emitting a clear, melodious hum.

Shen Xian smiled. “I obtained it in Sea Spirit City. I thought it would complement your Mystic Water True Art.”

It was a reward from killing the Guijiao. He hadn’t found the right moment to give it until now.

A cool, refreshing energy transmitted from her fingertips, making her cultivation technique flow with unprecedented smoothness. This bead, containing a thousand years of refined water essence, was a holy artifact for water-attribute cultivators.

“It’s too valuable…” She looked up, only to see a teasing glint in Shen Xian’s eyes.

“What, being formal with me again?” Shen Xian drawled.

The tips of Wei Zhaoli’s ears turned red, but she didn’t refuse. She carefully stored the bead away. This perfectly timed gift sent ripples through her usually placid heart.

[Host has gifted mid-grade spiritual treasure ‘Mystic Water Bead’ to Dao Companion. Triggering 50x Blessing Return. Reward: Top-grade spiritual treasure ‘Grand One Mirror’. Claim?]

A system prompt appeared, but Shen Xian ignored it, his attention fixed on the moved expression on Wei Zhaoli’s face.

“Shen Lang…” Wei Zhaoli began, then hesitated.

Her lowered eyelashes cast butterfly-wing shadows on her cheeks. Her eyes were as clear as spring water.

“Hmm?” Shen Xian paused while pouring tea.

“I…” She pressed her lips together, then looked up, her gaze holding a rare stubbornness. “I will use it well.”

“I know you will.” Shen Xian pushed a teacup towards her.

As if remembering something, Wei Zhaoli retrieved a peace talisman embroidered with a green bamboo pattern from her sleeve. “Consider this a token of my gratitude.”

Always accepting such fine gifts made her feel somewhat embarrassed. She planned to find something truly valuable in the Godfiend Battlefield to repay him, but for now, she had asked her father to craft this.

Shen Xian took it and immediately sensed the hidden spiritual energy fluctuations—it was a defensive formation array at the half-step Nascent Soul level.

He looked at Wei Zhaoli. She had lowered her eyes again, her cool profile softening under the bamboo shadows. It must have taken considerable effort to obtain this.

Wei Zhaoli’s fingertips unconsciously caressed the pocket where she kept the Mystic Water Bead. Her father had sent the talisman with a letter containing meaningful words that made her ears burn just thinking about them.

“I will carry it with me at all times,” Shen Xian said, tucking it into his robes.

Wei Zhaoli’s breath hitched. “Mm.”

On the main peak, within a mist-shrouded cave abode.

Lin Lang reclined lazily on a jade couch, his slender fingers tapping the armrest. He wore a robe of ink-black with dark golden cloud patterns. He exuded a restrained, dangerous aura.

A disciple kneeling below pressed his forehead to the ground, voice trembling. “Reporting to the Young Master… the results are out. Shen Xian… obtained first place.”

Lin Lang’s tapping fingers paused. He chuckled softly. “Interesting.”

He had expected Shen Xian to qualify, but first place? Was it because of his elder brother?

“However…” The disciple hesitated.

“Hmm?” Lin Lang’s brow lifted.

“Zhao Ming… has perished.”

“Oh?” A cold glint flashed in Lin Lang’s eyes. “How?”

“I… I don’t know.” Cold sweat beaded on the disciple’s forehead. “There were too many casualties. It’s impossible to determine…”

The temperature in the cave plummeted.

“Useless!”

The word was spoken lightly, yet the kneeling disciple felt as if he had fallen into an icy abyss.

Lin Lang rose, his black robe flowing like water. He walked to the window, gazing toward Green Bamboo Peak.

He had expended considerable effort to plant Zhao Ming as a pawn to watch that spirit cat.

“Truly incompetent,” Lin Lang murmured. “It seems I must find another way…”

Thinking of the Thunder Pattern Spirit Cat, a look of absolute determination filled his eyes. That creature was key to the evolution of his spiritual body.

In another cave abode, Shen Xing stood with his hands behind his back before a window, his plain white robe spotless. His features were handsome, his brow carrying an air of transcendent detachment.

“Saint Son, the results are out,” a green-robed disciple reported respectfully.

“Mm,” Shen Xing responded, his voice clear as a mountain spring.

“Young Master Shen Xian… obtained first place.”

Shen Xing’s expression shifted slightly. A trace of genuine surprise flashed in his eyes.

He turned, a faint, almost imperceptible smile curving his lips. “I underestimated him.”

Although he knew Shen Xian had talent, overpowering so many prodigies to take first place was unexpected. It seemed his younger brother was hiding depths greater than he had imagined.

“Take these to him.” Shen Xing tossed a storage ring to the disciple. “It contains protective treasures suitable for a new Foundation Establishment cultivator, and a talisman to contact me directly.”

For the journey to the ruins, he had more important matters to attend to. These treasures were insurance.

“As you command!” The disciple bowed and retreated.

Shen Xing turned back to the window. The last rays of the setting sun bathed his handsome profile in a golden glow.

“Third Brother…” he murmured. “I hope you won’t disappoint me.”

He genuinely hoped the boy would find something valuable in the ruins. A tool needed to be sharp to be useful, after all.