Ji Chan’er stared at the innocent smile plastered on Qi Yuan’s face. Her expression was grim, but inside, her mind was a chaotic mess, buzzing like a kicked hornet’s nest.

She was the legitimate daughter of the Ji Clan, a figure of supreme status within the Nether Fiend Sect who crushed all her peers underfoot. Yet, by some twisted stroke of fate, she had been… handled… by a pseudo-righteous disciple who was merely at the Qi Refining stage!

The memory of her own behavior in the illusion—submissive, flattering, and eager to please—filled her with a mix of unbearable shame and indignation.

Under the influence of the illusion, she had genuinely admired the man before her. She had been willing to give him everything.

That forbidden, fiery, intoxicating sensation… like floating on clouds… it was truly… marvelous!

That bastard is so young. Where on earth did he learn so many wicked tricks?

Realizing her thoughts were drifting into dangerous territory again, Ji Chan’er bit down hard on the tip of her tongue. The sharp pain barely managed to steady her mind, dragging her out of those dizzying, pink-tinted memories.

“Qi Da.”

In the next instant, a layer of frost coated Ji Chan’er’s exquisite porcelain face. Her tone was colder than a winter storm.

“What happened between us was nothing more than an absurd fever dream. You had better let the memory rot in your stomach.”

“If you dare let a single soul know, I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth and ensure you die without a grave!”

Realizing Ji Chan’er had no intention of killing him to silence the witness, Qi Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and nodded frantically.

“Pan… cough, Fairy Ji, rest assured. What happened today will remain between the two of us. It will never see the light of day.”

Although he wasn’t exactly afraid of Ji Chan’er turning hostile, she had, after all, just become his first woman. If they became sworn enemies immediately after the act, it would be a bit too tragic.

What gave Qi Yuan a headache was the awkwardness of their true identities. One was the Holy Scion of a Sacred Sanctuary, the other a True Disciple of the Nether Fiend Sect and a candidate for Saintess. They were not people who walked the same path.

This was the real reason he hadn’t revealed his identity. She was currently an emotional wreck; if he shocked her again, who knew what kind of terrifying thing she might do?

I’ll have to find a chance to resolve this mess later…

“Remember your words.”

Seeing Qi Yuan agree, Ji Chan’er’s expression softened slightly, though her voice remained indifferent.

“This time, I was careless and fell into a trap. But don’t think there will be a next time. If you ever dare to humiliate me again, I will kill you!”

Her words were forceful, but they carried an unmistakable undertone of bluster—fierce on the outside, brittle on the inside.

Though she hailed from a Demonic Sect, she had always maintained her purity, devoting herself solely to cultivation. She had never imagined she would give herself to another.

Now, not only had she lost the ten-thousand-year Phantom Star Herb she was determined to obtain, but she had also inexplicably lost her chastity.

She had lost both the bait and the fish. A total disaster.

“Fairy Ji, what are you saying? I, Qi Yuan, have always been a man of purity and integrity. My conduct is upright. naturally, I would never do anything to humiliate a Fairy.”

Qi Yuan smiled slightly, his face radiating righteous assurance.

“Next time we meet, I will be perfectly proper. Unless I have your explicit consent, I will not overstep the boundaries by even half a step.”

As he spoke, he looked like the picture of moral rectitude.

“Hmph. I hope so!”

Flustered and eager to leave, Ji Chan’er didn’t catch the nuances in Qi Yuan’s words. With a light snort, she soared into the air as if fleeing the scene, leaving only a lingering wisp of fragrance behind.

The events of the day had been too shocking. She needed to find a quiet place to stabilize her state of mind, lest her Dao Heart suffer permanent damage.

After all that… who would have thought the yang energy I’ve saved up for two lifetimes would end up with this enchantress…

Watching Ji Chan’er’s departing figure, Qi Yuan rubbed his somewhat sore lower back, a trace of reminiscence appearing on his face.

Forget it. Who told me to get tricked by that damn brat? But putting that aside, this enchantress isn’t just beautiful; her figure is truly world-class…

Just then, his expression shifted.

The Golden Core within his body began to spin rapidly. The true essence in his dantian started to boil, and wisps of lively, uncontrolled energy began to leak out.

The time has come!

Qi Yuan’s heart skipped a beat. This meant his accumulation had reached the absolute limit of the Golden Core realm. He needed to find a place to condense his Nascent Soul immediately.

If he delayed, his spiritual power would run wild, risking a Qi Deviation!

Without hesitation, he retrieved a jade talisman covered in complex golden patterns from his personal space.

Upon activation, the top-grade teleportation talisman instantly transformed into a sphere of dazzling golden light, enveloping Qi Yuan. An immense spatial force erupted, pulling his form into the void and vanishing silently from the spot.

Flash.

In the next instant, Qi Yuan appeared ten thousand miles away.

Before his eyes lay a vast, primordial wilderness of towering ancient trees and coiling vines.

This location was nestled deep within a majestic mountain range, rich in spiritual energy and devoid of human presence for a thousand miles—a perfect sanctuary for a breakthrough.

He had scouted this spot before entering Falling Cloud Valley, designating it as his site for Nascent Soul condensation. He had even set up numerous restrictions and defensive formations in advance to prevent any accidents.

Upon landing, Qi Yuan immediately expanded his spiritual sense, sweeping the surroundings.

After confirming that none of his warning wards had been triggered, he sat down cross-legged. He swallowed the pills and heavenly treasures he had prepared, readying himself to assault the Nascent Soul realm.

“Phew…”

Exhaling a breath of turbid air, Qi Yuan half-closed his eyes. His aura surged, his essence, energy, and spirit peaking in unison.

“System, begin epiphany mode for the Jade Record of Supreme Mystery.”

He had hoarded a significant amount of Payback Points precisely for this moment—to breakthrough while in a state of enlightened comprehension.

As the command settled, the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary’s foundational scripture, the Jade Record of Supreme Mystery, began to circulate automatically within his body. Each cycle was flawless, carrying a faint, resonant rhythm of the Great Dao.

At this moment, the Golden Core in his dantian seemed to transform into a black hole, madly devouring the spiritual energy of heaven and earth from a hundred miles around.

Simultaneously, dark clouds began to gather in the clear sky above. Centered on his position, ink-black storm clouds spread outward like a tide…