In the dark depths of the underground river, Shen Xian gripped Ye Qingxian’s jade-like wrist, speeding through the water like a phantom.

Behind them, the maze formation had only held for a few breaths.

Several powerful Golden Core cultivators were already in hot pursuit. The spiritual light of their magical treasures tore through the gloomy air, radiating biting killing intent.

“Put her down!”

A cultivator in purple robes roared. A flying sword shot from his sleeve, transforming into a hundred-foot streak of cold light that slashed directly toward them.

Shen Xian did not look back.

His left hand formed a seal. The Void Rope abruptly split, cascading like a river of stars to weave an impenetrable net behind them.

Clang!

The flying sword struck the rope net and was instantly entangled. Like a clay ox entering the sea, its momentum vanished, and it was shredded into fragments.

“What?!” The purple-robed cultivator’s face paled in shock.

Shen Xian’s movements did not pause. The Traceless Sword materialized in his left hand, and he slashed backward into the void.

A brilliant, snow-bright sword light surged forth.

It carried a terrifying aura of frost. Wherever the light passed, even the rushing underground river froze instantly into jagged ice.

BOOM!

The sword intent rampaged, filling the cavern. The pursuers’ expressions changed drastically as they hurriedly summoned their defensive treasures.

Yet, the impact of the Heavenly Abyss Snow Illumination sword energy was too great. They were forced back, stumbling in the air.

Beside him, a flicker of light passed through Ye Qingxian’s eyes.

Though weakened, she clearly sensed the surging spiritual power within Shen Xian.

Golden Core Perfection.

His energy was as profound and vast as an abyss, far surpassing others of the same realm. It seemed that in the years they had been apart, he had encountered significant opportunities.

“Go!”

Shen Xian’s spiritual power erupted once more. He tightened his grip on her wrist and charged toward the exit.

moments later, they burst out of the underground altar.

But the pursuers were relentless.

Several powerful auras closed in from the front. The leader, a scion of a noble family, summoned a massive purple broadsword covered in lightning patterns.

“Die!”

He brought it down with a thunderous slash, his Golden Core Perfection aura fully unleashed.

A cold glint flashed in Shen Xian’s eyes.

He summoned the newly acquired Burning Heaven Cauldron.

The palm-sized cauldron suddenly expanded, spewing an endless torrent of flames. The inferno rose to blot out the sky, engulfing the lightning broadsword and stalling the opponent’s assault.

At that moment, another Golden Core cultivator attacked from the flank.

Skilled in stealth, this cultivator closed the distance in the blink of an eye. A black dagger flew from his hand, transforming into a dark dragon that shot straight for Shen Xian’s face.

It was a lethal, unexpected strike.

Ye Qingxian’s brows furrowed slightly. Such power was formidable.

Yet, Shen Xian neither dodged nor evaded.

The Li Fire True Seal appeared between his brows, glowing with intense heat. He threw a simple punch.

Scorching energy erupted from his fist, transforming into a sky-full of roaring flames that smashed the black dagger aside.

The attacker grunted, his momentum halted by the brute force.

More and more Golden Core cultivators arrived, summoning their treasures and unleashing terrifying waves of power.

Shen Xian’s eyes turned cold.

Facing the overwhelming barrage of magical lights, his right hand formed an enigmatic sword seal.

The Traceless Sword trembled in mid-air. It split into five sword phantoms, their reality impossible to discern.

The Fifth Level of the Heavenly Abyss Snow Illumination Sword Scripture: “Five Traces.”

The five sword phantoms erupted with icy light, each containing a different profound mystery.

The first sword pierced through the protective spiritual light of three cultivators.

The second deflected three incoming magical treasures.

The third froze a ten-zhang area solid…

“Now!”

Seizing the moment of their shock, Shen Xian’s left hand jerked.

The Void Rope contracted sharply, pulling the two of them like phantoms into a sharp left turn. The Burning Heaven Cauldron inverted above their heads, its spewing flames scorching a narrow passage through the rock wall.

Ye Qingxian felt a sudden tightness around her waist.

Caught off guard, she was pulled into a rocky crevice. Lifting her gaze, she slammed into Shen Xian’s eyes, now startlingly close.

The faint light of the Gilded Forest filtered through the cracks, casting dappled shadows across his sharply defined profile.

Those eyes, usually holding a trace of lazy amusement, were now focused and profound as an abyss. They reflected the dancing flames outside.

For a moment, she forgot to look away.

They passed through the crevice, temporarily evading the pursuit.

Shen Xian scanned the area and immediately chose to fly east. His Soul Transformation-level Divine Sense spread out like a tide, finally locating a hidden cave concealed within thick shrubbery.

Without his level of Divine Sense, it would have been nearly impossible to find.

“They won’t find us here,” he noted.

Without hesitation, he led Ye Qingxian inside.

Once within, Shen Xian formed another seal. Nine formation flags flew from his sleeve, embedding themselves precisely into the surrounding rock walls.

A cyan jade formation disc hovered mid-air, emitting a hazy glow that enveloped an area of ten zhang.

His hands moved in a blur of seals. Formation patterns spread like a spiderweb, merging perfectly with the environment.

Ye Qingxian stood to the side, keeping watch. She gazed at the flowing formation patterns, lost in thought.

To think he had even learned to set up formations.

As she pondered, her peripheral vision caught Shen Xian’s slightly furrowed brow as he focused on the array. That perpetually ramrod-straight spine of his seemed to unconsciously relax a fraction as the safety of the formation took hold.

This small detail sent a tremor through her heart. Her fingertips dug into her palms.

She inwardly chided herself.

I am a reincarnated Empress. How can I allow myself to grow lax just because of another’s protection?

By then, the concealment formation was active, masking their auras completely.

Shen Xian turned. That familiar, lazy look returned to his eyes, inexplicably easing the tension in Ye Qingxian’s nerves.

She immediately sat cross-legged on the dry grass, closing her eyes. Deliberately ignoring the strange sense of peace in her heart, she focused her attention on regulating her breathing.

Shen Xian’s gaze swept over her.

Even now, her shoulders were tense, her spine straight as a plum blossom defying the winter snow. Even the strands of hair falling around her face seemed to maintain a perfect, precise arc.

It was a nobility etched into her very bones.

The corner of his lips lifted slightly as he watched the golden light swirling within the cinnabar dot between her brows.

Even while fleeing for her life, she maintained a flawless, impeccable poise. This innate, peerless elegance was truly one of a kind.

A long time passed with no sign of discovery.

Ye Qingxian recovered a portion of her spiritual power before slowly opening her eyes.

“It seems you have encountered significant opportunities these past years.”

She looked at Shen Xian, speaking slowly. Her tone remained cool and clear, yet it held a fraction less distance than before.

Years had passed, but shared experiences inevitably left their mark.

Shen Xian’s gaze lingered for a moment on the gold-and-red necklace at her throat before he chuckled lightly.

“Just a knack for copying what I see. Nothing worth mentioning.”

The light in Ye Qingxian’s eyes shifted. She didn’t press further.

“Why are you here?” she asked.

This reunion had stirred ripples in the Empress’s heart. She was genuinely curious about what he had experienced to bring about such changes. But on the surface, she maintained her aloof demeanor, tinged with a hint of reserve.

“If I said I just happened to be passing by…” Shen Xian looked at her with a playful smile. “Would you believe me?”

Compared to her, Shen Xian was much more casual. To him, the person before him was not just a lofty Empress, but his Dao Companion.

“I believe you.”

Ye Qingxian gave a slight nod, uttering words he hadn’t expected.

Shen Xian raised an eyebrow. He knew her temperament well. If she said she believed, then she truly did.

Since when did I earn such trust?

He didn’t dwell on it. Remembering the main purpose of this detour, he retrieved the Thunder Pattern Spirit Cat from his spirit beast pouch.

The little creature touched the ground, its tail held high and proud.

Then it saw Ye Qingxian.

Its tail instantly went limp. Amber eyes fixed unblinkingly on the hem of her skirt, and it cautiously, stealthily, began to rub against her boot.

“After you left…” Shen Xian watched the traitorous beast fawn over her and chuckled. “This little ancestor gave me no end of attitude.”

Ye Qingxian’s eyelashes trembled faintly, but she didn’t look down. Her gaze remained fixed on Shen Xian’s face. A flicker of something almost imperceptible passed through her crimson-gold pupils.

“The situation was urgent,” she said, her voice softer than usual. “That… was the best choice.”

A trace of surprise flashed in Shen Xian’s eyes. This Empress, who usually disdained explanations, was actually offering him a reason.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said lightly. “You did well. Besides…”

He paused, retrieving a crimson-gold letter from his robes. “You left this life-saving item.”

Ye Qingxian stared at the familiar crimson-gold patterns. Her fingertips trembled.

The lingering aura of Divine Phoenix True Fire on the letter stirred a strange ripple in her heart.

Did he use this to find his way here?

As the thought crossed her mind, her heart gave another faint tremor.

Did he barge into the Godfiend Battlefield… just to find me?

The wind outside the cave seemed to still.

“Back at the Shen Family…” Ye Qingxian began, her voice low. The halo of the gilded leaf cast a soft glow, obscuring the emotions in her eyes. “The promise I made you… I failed to keep it. Consider this… compensation.”

Her voice dropped to a whisper on the word compensation.

She remembered the words she had written on that letter. “Karma is settled.”

Yet, meeting again and receiving his aid… it seemed karma could never truly be settled.

Shen Xian didn’t overthink it. He had brought up the past simply to segue into his gift.

He retrieved an exquisite jade box from his storage pouch.

“Reciprocity is a virtue. Since we’ve met by chance, I have something for you.”