The Library Pavilion.

No wonder a ten-thousand-year spirit herb could appear within Falling Cloud Valley!

Qi Yuan closed the thick Annals of Falling Cloud Valley in his hand, a look of realization dawning on his face.

This book detailed a classic encounter scenario that all cultivators would delight in hearing about.

It turned out that the location of Falling Cloud Valley was once the secluded residence of a Saint-rank alchemist before the sect was established there.

Over three thousand years ago, Bai Yanju, the founding ancestor of Falling Cloud Valley, discovered this place by chance. By that time, the Saint-rank alchemist had long since perished, leaving behind a substantial inheritance with no one to claim it.

Later, this entire inheritance conveniently fell into the hands of the first discoverer—the founding ancestor of Falling Cloud Valley—becoming part of the original capital for establishing his sect.

Cultivating high-grade spirit herbs requires consuming vast amounts of Earth Qi. Powerful alchemists are often skilled in observing Qi flows and locating Earth Veins. The fact that Falling Cloud Valley was chosen by that Saint-rank alchemist indeed suggests a high-quality Earth Vein likely exists deep underground…

Having reached this understanding, Qi Yuan had no further doubts. He directly returned the book to its place, then pretended to copy down a few techniques before standing up and heading toward the exit of the Library Pavilion.

“Junior Brother Qi, please wait.”

Before he could leave, he was stopped by an attendant disciple of the Scripture Repository.

“What is it?”

Qi Yuan frowned slightly. “I don’t believe I’ve violated any Library Pavilion rules, have I?”

“No, no, you misunderstand.”

The attendant disciple quickly waved his hands, his tone full of ingratiation. “This Senior Brother… uh, no, this little brother has a question he’d like to ask. If Brother Qi could offer some guidance to clear up my confusion, I’d be immensely grateful.”

Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow as he looked him over. “What question?”

The other man forced out an awkward smile and said sheepishly,

“To be honest, little brother has been deeply infatuated with Junior Sister Pan from the Inner Sect for a long time, but every time I confess my feelings to her, she gently rejects me.”

“Little brother would like to ask for your advice on how to win Junior Sister Pan’s favor…”

As soon as these words were spoken, several male cultivators nearby who were reading books visibly perked up, pricking up their ears to eavesdrop.

Damn it, do they really take me for some love guru?

Qi Yuan felt speechless upon hearing this and casually asked,

“How exactly does she reject you?”

The man hurriedly replied,

“Junior Sister Pan tells me to take a good piss and look at my reflection… You tell me, does her saying that have some deeper meaning?”

Is that what you call a gentle rejection?

Black lines practically appeared on Qi Yuan’s forehead. He said expressionlessly,

“Perhaps that Junior Sister Pan is quite concerned about future marital… fun and wants to check your size in advance to see if it’s suitable.”

“If she says that again next time, you should immediately drop your pants and take a piss right then and there. If you are indeed exceptionally gifted and impressively endowed, you might just win the beauty’s heart very soon.”

“Pfft! Cough cough cough—!”

As soon as these words were uttered, a male cultivator nearby who was reading seemed to choke and began coughing violently.

“So that’s how it is! I never imagined Junior Sister Pan was considering our future so thoughtfully. It seems I misunderstood her before.” The man wore an expression of sudden enlightenment and said gratefully, “Thank you, Brother Qi, for not hesitating to enlighten me. I will definitely repay you generously another day.”

This guy is hopeless. Bury him!

Qi Yuan couldn’t be bothered with further nonsense. He quickly extricated himself from the other’s pestering and hastened his steps to leave the Library Pavilion.

Bai Xirou’s condition earlier had clearly been off. He needed to return to his residence quickly to figure out what exactly had happened to her…

At the same time.

Outer Sect Herb Garden.

Bamboo Tower.

Why would Shen Wuji appear here?

Looking at the young man who had suddenly appeared before her, Ji Chan’er was first stunned, then turned a gaze full of killing intent toward Yin Qingyuan standing beside the man. She transmitted her voice hatefully,

“You old dog! How dare you betray me!”

Yin Qingyuan acted as if he hadn’t heard. He merely said indifferently,

“This elder is acting under the Sect Leader’s orders to guide the Holy Scion of Celestial Zenith Sanctuary on a tour of the valley’s sights. In the presence of the Holy Scion, all elders and disciples of the valley must show proper respect. Violators will be dealt with according to sect rules.”

“Enough!”

“Piao Genshuo” smiled slightly. “You may leave now. Ensure no one approaches. I have some words I wish to discuss privately with Junior Sister Ji.”

“This old servant obeys.”

Yin Qingyuan spoke with humble deference, bowed slightly, and quietly withdrew.

“Shen Wuji! Since when did you become the Holy Scion of Celestial Zenith Sanctuary?”

After Yin Qingyuan left, Ji Chan’er frowned delicately, glaring coldly at Shen Wuji before her with undisguised disgust in her expression.

“Of course, it’s thanks to this Five-Color Celestial Token.” Shen Wuji smiled as he retrieved a jade token shimmering with five-colored mist from his sleeve and waved it before Ji Chan’er. “This token is genuine beyond doubt. Even the one in Piao Genshuo’s hands isn’t as real as mine.”

Seemingly out of boastfulness, Shen Wuji played with the jade token in his hand triumphantly. “That fellow Piao Genshuo has always fancied himself a romantic philanderer. He loves chasing skirts outside and spends all his time either visiting brothels or on his way to visit brothels.”

“A few months ago, he was playing games with a group of girls and accidentally lost his personal token. That brothel happened to be an establishment owned by our Shen family… Hahahaha! So now, holding this token, I’ve become the Holy Scion of Celestial Zenith Sanctuary.”

“What’s even more laughable is that afterward, afraid of losing face if word got out, that kid made himself a fake one. To this day, the Celestial Zenith Sanctuary doesn’t even know their Holy Scion lost his token.”

“Heretical sects are just heretical sects; they’re full of filthy and despicable people. Disgusting.” Ji Chan’er listened with an expression of utter contempt. Immediately after, she looked at Shen Wuji with an unfriendly gaze. “What is your purpose in coming here?”

Shen Wuji put away the token and said with a meaningful smile,

“Using this token these past days, I’ve extorted quite a bit from several heretical sects—a rather fruitful harvest. Hearing that Junior Sister has been wasting three years in this backwater place, I specially came to help relieve your loneliness.”

“Cut the crap.”

Ji Chan’er snorted coldly, her voice carrying a murderous aura. “Leave this place immediately! Otherwise, don’t blame me for being impolite!”

“Junior Sister Ji.” Shen Wuji wasn’t offended in the slightest; instead, his gaze toward Ji Chan’er held a trace of fervor. “I’ve told you long ago: as long as you agree to become my cultivation partner, with the influence of our Shen family within The Saint Sect, securing the position of Holy Maiden would be as easy as turning over your hand for you.”

“And before long, I will defeat Situ Yi and ascend to the position of Holy Son. When that time comes, with our Ji and Shen families joining forces, The Saint Sect will be entirely within our grasp!”

“Stop dreaming!”

Ji Chan’er’s face was icy cold as she rebuked sharply, “I would rather never sit on the Holy Maiden’s throne than marry a beast like you who isn’t even fit to be compared to pigs or dogs!”

Hearing this, Shen Wuji’s eyes narrowed sharply; his tone suddenly turned bone-chillingly cold. “Fine. Then let’s see about that.”

“Whatever it is you’re scheming for here… I can guarantee you will never obtain it!”

“You’re seeking death!”

Ji Chan’er could endure no more. With a flick of her slender hand, dark winds swirled around her body as an ink-black streak of sinister light containing a terrifying aura shot forth with a howl directly toward Shen Wuji.

“Junior Sister… right now you’re only at the early Nascent Soul stage; how do you plan to fight me?” A cruel smile curled at Shen Wuji’s lips as he reached out and made a grasping motion in mid-air.

In an instant!

Black mist churned in the void, condensing into a massive ghostly visage.

Whoosh!

The ghost face suddenly opened its maw wide, swallowing up the incoming sinister light completely before dissolving back into nothingness within the void, vanishing without a trace.

The entire process happened in a flash, like lightning striking flint. Moreover, shielded by the formations outside the Bamboo Tower, not even the slightest ripple of mana fluctuation leaked from their exchange.

After receiving one attack, Shen Wuji did not press the pursuit, instead revealing a mocking smile.

“Since you’re unwilling to become my cultivation partner, in the future, don’t blame me for treating you like a cauldron I can freely plunder.”

“I forgot to tell you earlier. I’ve already demanded Falling Cloud Valley hand over twenty virgin cauldrons within three days. I’ll include your name on the list.”

“Of course, you can also report my identity to Falling Cloud Valley. See if they dare believe your words and risk sect annihilation by attacking a ‘Holy Scion’ like me.”

Finished speaking, he gave a triumphant laugh, flicked his sleeves, and departed.

Ji Chan’er’s face turned livid, the killing intent in her heart reaching its peak.

Damned bastard.

Ji Chan’er understood perfectly well that the other appearing was precisely to ruin her plans.

His ultimate goal was to make her lose the competition for the Holy Maiden position. After all, a direct daughter of the Shen family was also determined to secure the Holy Maiden position.

The reason the other did not directly expose her identity to Falling Cloud Valley was to give her the illusion she could still possibly succeed, thus pushing her under anxiety to create a flaw and expose the existence of the ten-thousand-year Phantom Star Herb.

Ultimately, Shen Wuji also coveted the thing worth a True Inheritor of the Demon Sect guarding it for three years, rather than creating a mutually assured destruction scenario.

Thinking here, Ji Chan’er took a deep breath, calmed down, and murmured in a low voice.

“No, I must find a way to resolve this trouble.”