When she learned that Wei Yunxi had thrown herself into her master's Divine Transformation tribulation, taking the lightning strikes head-on, nearly reduced to ashes by the Divine Transformation Lightning but ultimately rescued by the sect's elders—only to fall into a deep coma from the grievous wounds—her heart had soared.
At first, she had returned to her dwelling on Spirit Beast Peak with tears streaming down her face. But the moment the restriction seals shut behind her, she broke into wild laughter. Her laughter rang so loud it shook her shoulders, her eyes still wet. The heavens themselves had aided her. The person she hated most had ruined her own immortal path. From now on, no one would compare her to Wei Yunxi ever again.
That very day, she sent word back to the Wei family in Haoran City, feigning sorrow as she passed on the news. Let them know, she thought smugly, who they should curry favor with, who they should shower with cultivation resources.
Unfortunately for her, Wei Chenyin had just returned to the clan. She announced her gains from the secret realm, declared she would go into seclusion to form a Yuányīng, handed affairs of the clan to Wei Lingtao and the elders, left behind a trove of resources, and retreated to Fa Peak.
She hadn't even bothered to contact Wei Yunqing, the so-called rising star of the Wei clan, and her decisive actions quickly calmed the undercurrents within the family. Wei Yunqing fumed with frustration. She had hoped to reach out to her father to push him toward claiming the Patriarch's seat, but Wei Lingyue was still in seclusion. The only one who truly celebrated with her was her mother, Du Ruolan, yet her mother held no influence in the clan.
She had strutted about the Wei estate, flaunting her new status, but though the clan members treated her with courtesy, their respect was hollow. Eager to stabilize her cultivation and improve her combat ability, she stayed only five days before returning to the sect.
Within Haoran Sect, the other Wei disciples sought a chance to visit Lingxue Peak after hearing of Yun Xi's injury. None were allowed to see her. The disciples stationed there, acting on Yu Ling Zūnzhě's orders, turned them away, assuring them that Yun Xi's awakening would be announced and urging them to focus on their own cultivation.
Led by Wei Yunting, the Wei juniors reluctantly left. They had heard from those who had witnessed Yu Ling Zūnzhě's tribulation that Yun Xi had successfully formed a Yuányīng. Meanwhile, they were still struggling at the Foundation Establishment stage. The gap was overwhelming. For all their envy, it became motivation to train harder, unwilling to be left too far behind.
Zong Hao, Yun Xi's closest friend, was still out on training, while her Martial Uncle remained in seclusion healing. They sent messages to both, sure that when Zong Hao returned and Martial Uncle emerged, they would come to visit Yun Xi.
The only one who acted out was Wei Yunqing. She blocked her cousins at the foot of Lingxue Peak and mocked them mercilessly. She sneered that they had clung shamelessly to Yun Xi's coattails, and now that Yun Xi was gravely injured and unconscious, she could no longer help them at all.
Wei Yunting and Wei Zonghan looked at her with dark faces, finding her unbearable. This was her own sister. Instead of concern, she openly gloated. Was she so eager to show outsiders that their sibling bond was rotten?
At last, Wei Yunying curled her lip and said, "Yun Qing, Yun Xi is injured, not dead. Have you forgotten her master is already a Divine Transformation Zūnzhě? Do you really think standing here at the foot of Lingxue Peak and spouting such words will go unnoticed by Yu Ling Zhenzhě?"
Wei Yunqing's eyes flickered. She sniffed coldly. "Hmph! My master has also reached Divine Transformation, and earlier than Yu Ling Zhenzhě besides. Why should I be afraid?"
Wei Zongyu, usually silent, finally spoke. "Zuo Qiu Zhenzhě may be in seclusion, but Yu Ling Zhenzhě is not."
That silenced her instantly.
The two sides parted in displeasure.
As they walked away, Wei Yunying muttered, "Sister Yun Ting, look at her. Is that how you treat your own blood? To outsiders, it looks like she and Yun Xi are sworn enemies. Even we came to check on Yun Xi, but all she does is gloat. Before she had a master she wore a mask, but now her fox tail shows in full."
Her blunt words echoed everyone's thoughts.
Wei Zongjin shook his head. "Ever since she became disciple to Zuo Qiu Zhenzhě, she stopped pretending before us. It's just as well. At least we won't be unwittingly used by her. Yun Ying is right: Yun Xi is injured, but she's alive. And don't forget, the one in charge of the Wei clan is still Ancestor Chen Yin. She has always favored Yun Xi. Now that she is preparing to form her Yuányīng, let's not trouble her with petty squabbles.
As for Yun Qing, let her bask in her own arrogance. My father told me plainly: the Wei clan cannot do without Yun Xi. Yun Qing, however, is not indispensable. Do you understand what that means?"
The implication was clear. Everyone nodded and dispersed, agreeing to maintain contact, share news, and throw themselves fully into their cultivation. Some entered seclusion, some formed teams to train in the back mountains, others took sect missions.
From the peak, Yu Ling Zhenzhě watched the scene unfold with cold eyes. He did not waste a thought on Wei Yunqing. This was a whetstone meant for Yun Xi alone. One day, she would deal with it herself. He would not interfere.
His spiritual sense swept across Lingxue Peak to the courtyard halfway up. Yun Xi was still wrapped in healing aura. He disappeared from the peak top without a word, other matters requiring his attention.
Inside, Yun Xi sat immersed in dense spiritual energy, cocooned in its glow. The one directing that energy was Xiao Xian. Throughout Yun Xi's coma, she had tirelessly maintained the flow of spiritual qi in her body. Now that she was awake and could absorb qi herself, she only channeled faster, anxious because her dantian still bore that gaping wound.
Yun Xi was like a house riddled with holes, letting the cold wind whistle through. To keep warm, the leaks had to be patched, and a fire built within. Only then would the whole house hold warmth. But patching a house was easier than repairing meridians and a dantian. This was work of extreme care, not something solved overnight.
Yet Yun Xi was not the only one impatient. In the Central Domain's Medicine King Valley, Ye Yirui was in even greater distress. In the secret realm she had slain Elder Wang, who had been puppeted by evil cultivators, and secured several rare spiritual plants scarce in Weiyu Realm. But she had failed to find a single herb capable of repairing her younger brother's dantian.
When the realm closed, she had even detoured to Haoran Sect, only to learn that Wei Yunxi, struck by lightning in her master's tribulation, was unconscious and unable to travel with her to Medicine King Valley.
Reluctantly, Ye Yirui left a jade slip with her message and returned alone to the valley. After all, the secret realm's revelations demanded a thorough internal purge. As the Valley's heir, she could not linger in Haoran Sect.
The ones most humiliated by this secret realm expedition were Huaxian Gate. They had seized no glory, lost numerous disciples, and even Hua Bai Zūnzhě's only junior perished inside.
Though he longed for vengeance, Hua Bai Zūnzhě had no grounds. The Mystic Thunder Violet Flame had already acknowledged Wei Yunxi of Haoran Sect as its master.
Worse still, he could not erase the divine sense brand etched upon the flame. To his shock, the girl's spiritual sense surpassed his own. Only when he later heard that her master had ascended to Divine Transformation, while she herself had nearly died, did he feel somewhat consoled.
Meanwhile, Xian Yao and Xian Xu returned and carefully reviewed the events of the secret realm. Every trail of suspicion pointed back to one man—Feng Xiyun of Haoran Sect.