Falling Cloud Valley.

The Library Pavilion.

“So that’s how it is…”

Bai Xirou glanced around guiltily. After confirming no one was paying attention to her, she quickly placed the book in her hand, Thirty-Six Bedchamber Arts, back on the shelf, two blushes blooming on her fair cheeks.

She never imagined that one day she would be flipping through such an embarrassing book in the Library Pavilion. It was simply too thrilling!

Fortunately, this time she had successfully confirmed a very important matter: kissing a man does not lead to pregnancy…

After a brief moment of relief, Bai Xirou placed a hand over her chest to calm her intensely flustered emotions, then hurriedly left the Library Pavilion. Her steps were slightly unsteady, as if fleeing from some ferocious beast.

However, what Bai Xirou didn’t know was that the moment she left, the previously silent Library Pavilion erupted into chaos. Many Falling Cloud Valley disciples who had been secretly watching her revealed expressions of disbelief, tinged with barely suppressed excitement.

“Heavens! Am I seeing things? Did Senior Sister really just look at that kind of book?”

“Exactly! It was Thirty-Six Bedchamber Arts. The contents are quite… vivid. I secretly borrowed it just a few days ago…”

“Don’t talk nonsense! Senior Sister has always been pure as ice and jade, a fairy-like figure. How could she possibly be interested in… spring palace illustrations? You must have seen wrong!”

At that moment, a young disciple suddenly interjected.

“Haven’t you all heard? Senior Sister personally confirmed that she and Big Qi, who just won first place in the Outer Sect Competition, are mutually attracted. They’ve already secretly become cultivation partners.”

“It’s said Senior Sister has even moved into Junior Brother Qi’s cave dwelling. Now that Senior Sister has a partner, isn’t it perfectly reasonable for her to occasionally study some techniques from those illustrations to… spice things up?”

Upon hearing this, many male cultivators who were learning of this rumor for the first time sighed deeply and wailed in despair, their expressions one of utter heartbreak.

“I refuse to accept this! That kid Big Qi isn’t even half as handsome as me. How does he deserve Senior Sister’s favor?”

“My heart aches… I’ve waited all these years. To think this unrequited love was just a flower in a mirror, the moon reflected in water… sob…”

“For such a peerless beauty like Senior Sister to marry such an utterly ordinary fellow… Heaven is unjust!!!”

“Ah! This news is truly heartbreaking. Without Senior Sister, from now on my heart will only have room for Senior Sister Jiang, Junior Sister Lu, Junior Sister Wei, and Junior Sister Pan left. I hope their taste is normal…”

“Damn you! You still have designs on Junior Sister Pan? Do you believe I’ll beat you up?”

…

While the Library Pavilion was in an uproar, Bai Xirou was riding her magical tool toward the main hall of Falling Cloud Valley.

“Little beauty, where are you off to?”

Suddenly, a somewhat lecherous laugh sounded from afar. Immediately after, a streak of light shot over and blocked her path.

Bai Xirou’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. She looked warily at the young man who had suddenly appeared before her and asked in a serious tone:

“Who are you?”

The other party was dressed lavishly and had an air of wickedness about his face. He was clearly not a disciple of Falling Cloud Valley.

“To think I’d encounter a top-tier beauty in such a backwater place. It seems this Holy Scion’s luck isn’t bad.”

The man scrutinized her brazenly, a trace of greed flashing imperceptibly in his eyes. “I am Piao Genshuo, Holy Scion of the Celestial Zenith Sanctuary. Are you also a disciple of Falling Cloud Valley? What is your name?”

Holy Scion of the Celestial Zenith Sanctuary?

Bai Xirou was momentarily stunned before quickly collecting herself. She performed a formal salute and said:

“Bai Xirou, Legacy Disciple of Falling Cloud Valley, greets the Holy Scion of Celestial Zenith.”

Although the heated gaze he directed at her made her feel extremely uncomfortable, she could only endure it and step forward to pay her respects.

The Celestial Zenith Sanctuary was one of the most powerful forces in this realm. Falling Cloud Valley was as insignificant as an ant before it. This Celestial Zenith Holy Scion before her was not someone a mere Legacy Disciple from a minor sect could afford to offend lightly.

“No need for such formality,” Shen Wuji chuckled with a grin. “Junior Sister Bai needn’t stand on ceremony. In my life, I have always cherished delicate beauties. Since we’ve met by fate, why don’t we find a place to have some tea and chat? It would be good to foster camaraderie among fellow cultivators. What do you say?”

Hearing this, Bai Xirou immediately shook her head and politely declined.

“My apologies, Senior Brother Piao. I have urgent business to attend to right now and likely have no time to reminisce with you.”

Shen Wuji narrowed his eyes slightly; his tone began to turn unfriendly.

“It’s your good fortune that I’ve taken a liking to you. Don’t be ungrateful.”

Bai Xirou gritted her teeth and was about to continue refusing when Yin Qingyuan’s reprimand sounded from nearby.

“Junior Niece Bai! Do not be rude! Holy Scion Piao is an honored guest of our Falling Cloud Valley! If you dare show disrespect, even if your father Bai Qingwu were here, he probably couldn’t protect you!”

“You are the daughter of Falling Cloud Valley’s Sect Leader?”

Upon learning this information, Shen Wuji became even more interested. “To think that Bai Qingwu, with his wretched appearance, could father such an exquisite and moving daughter.”

Seeing he held no respect for her father in his words, Bai Xirou no longer wished to stay and engage in hollow pleasantries. She said coldly:

“I have pressing matters to attend to and must beg your leave. Please allow Elder Yin to accompany you for tea and conversation instead. Farewell!”

With that, she gracefully turned and began to detour around them in another direction.

“How dare you!”

Yin Qingyuan’s face darkened as he moved to intercept her but was stopped by Shen Wuji’s outstretched hand.

“No need to chase her. I have plenty of charming and submissive women. It’s more interesting to tame one with character like this! Haha!”

“You are absolutely right, Master. This old servant overstepped.”

Yin Qingyuan hurriedly nodded in agreement before shifting the topic and speaking in a low voice.

“As per your instructions, this old servant has already contacted those elders within the valley who are dissatisfied with the Bai family in your name beforehand. They have been led to believe that Bai Qingwu is a traitor colluding with evil sects.”

“As long as you can find a way to assassinate Bai Qingwu afterward, your status as Holy Scion of the Celestial Zenith Sanctuary will be enough to suppress all dissent and install this old servant as the Sect Leader of Falling Cloud Valley.”

“When that time comes, everything in Falling Cloud Valley will be within your grasp.”

After listening to this conspiracy, Shen Wuji revealed a sinister smile on his face.

“A mere Falling Cloud Valley is nothing.”

“Junior Sister Ji… This time your Senior Brother will not only take you but also obtain that precious item you so diligently guard!”

…

At the same time.

The Illusion Realm.

Thud!

The bamboo pole fell to the ground. Qi Yuan instinctively looked up and saw a woman leaning out from an upper window, looking down at him with an apologetic expression on her face.

What an exquisitely charming beauty!

Though dressed in simple cloth garments with wooden hairpins, they could not conceal her heavenly grace and stunning beauty—especially those deep green eyes: lively yet elusive enough to captivate one’s soul.

After meeting her gaze, Qi Yuan stood frozen on the spot, momentarily stunned by such celestial beauty.

On the other side, looking down at the handsome youth below, Ji Chan’er also couldn’t help but feel flustered, her heartbeat quickening, cheeks warming up.

Under the influence of the Illusion Realm’s power, both found themselves in the same situation; seemingly, a mysterious call drew them unconsciously closer to each other…