Yunxi's words struck true, and Xun Yue immediately lowered her gaze to hide the flicker of shock in her eyes.
Yunxi's spiritual sense, however, had already captured every nuance of that reaction. The curve of her lips deepened as she pressed on:
"Xun Yue Daoyou, you are a Yuányīng Zhēnjūn. Ascending to the Spirit Realm is not beyond your reach. So why risk offending a Divine Transformation Zūnzhě just to kill me? Was it all to fulfill your Dao companion's wish?"
Xun Yue remained silent now, her head bowed as she sat stiffly on the ground.
Yunxi smirked, confident she had guessed correctly. "Love… what a hollow thing. You've placed your trust in the wrong person. No one's life is worth more than their own, especially not for some fragile, illusory love."
Her voice carried a biting chill as she continued, "I'll bet you this: if you die, he'll find a new woman to keep him company. You'll become his so-called 'true love,' but not the Dao companion who ascends with him to the Spirit Realm. You'll be nothing but a regret he tells stories about."
"Enough!"
Xun Yue clutched her ears, her face twisted with pain.
Yunxi's smile turned sharp and wicked as she switched to voice transmission. "Don't worry. I'm not a bloodthirsty killer. I plan to let you go. But I'm curious. Don't you wonder how Bao Jun would react if he thought you were dead? Aren't you the least bit curious?"
The woman's hands fell from her ears. She stared blankly at Yunxi, caught off guard by this sudden twist.
"Here. This is my communication talisman."
Yunxi tossed her a stack of talismans, then took out her own communication jade slip. "Leave your aura on mine, and give me yours in return. I'd like to see how this plays out."
Xun Yue numbly handed over her jade slip. Yunxi imprinted it with her aura before tossing it back.
"You're sowing discord," Xun Yue said flatly.
Yunxi's tone was light, almost teasing. "Yes. You don't have to accept it, of course. I'll find my answers regardless."
With that, she recalled Zi Yan, the purple flame in her palm, and added casually, "Oh, and you should know—there are others following you as well. You were pawns from the start."
Xun Yue's face went pale. If even she and Bao Jun hadn't sensed these pursuers, they had to be stronger than both of them combined. Without hesitation, she pulled a teleportation talisman from her storage ring and gave Yunxi a nod.
Yunxi dispelled her "Wind and Snow Domain," and in the next moment, Xun Yue vanished.
Dian Dian's voice sounded in Yunxi's mind, curious. "Master, you figured there were two groups tailing you, didn't you? That's why you didn't just kill those two loose cultivators outright?"
"Yes. Killing two Nascent Soul cultivators is possible for me, but it would take effort, and I'd risk injuries. That would make me an easy target for the others to wear down in a battle of attrition. In the end, I'd lose more than I gained."
Dian Dian twitched his black ears thoughtfully. "So Master scared them first, shaking their confidence before a fight even started, then openly drove a wedge between the couple. That way, they'll be too busy to bother you again."
"Exactly. This is called strategy—defeating the enemy without fighting."
The little beast twitched his whiskers proudly, as if he had learned something valuable.
When the surroundings grew quiet, Yunxi finally lifted her gaze to a point in the sky and smiled playfully. She flicked her fingers, releasing an ice spike.
In an instant, the clouds above froze solid. A figure hidden in midair was forced to reveal himself. He wore black robes adorned with dark patterns—the mark of a demonic cultivator.
No explanation was needed. Dian Dian's voice came rapid and urgent: "Master! Master! That's the demon cultivator who sneaked into the Su family's secret realm at night!"
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely! You told me to memorize his aura. I wouldn't dare forget it."
Yunxi's gaze sharpened as her thoughts clicked into place. So he had come for her after all—more precisely, for the black token in Liu Mo Yan's hand.
They'd gone in a wide circle only to end up face-to-face. Yunxi took her time sizing him up, her tone light and mocking. "Daoyou, enjoying the show?"
The man's voice was calm, almost bored. "You misunderstand. I simply noticed two people sneaking after you and followed to see if you needed help."
Yunxi laughed coldly, not believing a word. She spoke bluntly, "Oh? You weren't just waiting to swoop in once we'd injured each other, hoping to reap the spoils?"
The man's brow creased slightly, clearly not expecting her straightforwardness. "You overthink things. I merely watched from afar. I've done nothing to harm you. There's no need for hostility."
Yunxi smiled faintly. "Out training, are you? May I have your name? I'd like to get acquainted."
"My name is Xin Qiujian, from Kunmo Sect of the Southern Region."
"Oh, Kunmo Sect. No mask? Isn't that against your sect's rules?" Yunxi said casually, as though she were well-versed in their customs.
Xin Qiujian replied coolly, "On training journeys, formalities aren't necessary."
"Is Xun Kun Daoyou out of seclusion yet?"
"I'm not sure—"
Before he could finish, Yunxi struck.
The delicate snowflakes swirling in the air hardened into razor-sharp blades, slicing toward Xin Qiujian, propelled by fierce wind energy.
He raised his protective shield, expression dark. "Daoyou, what is the meaning of this? Even if I meddled, you don't have to go this far!"
Yunxi silently expanded her "Wind and Snow Domain," using the surprise attack as a distraction."You've done far more than meddle. You work for evil cultivators. I was there, watching, when you investigated the Su family's secret realm. That den you used as a base? I destroyed it."
Her voice sharpened, carrying unrestrained fury. "The token in Liu Moyan's hand—your gift, wasn't it? Another key to one of your lairs? You set up evil arrays to kill me, used venomous Gu worms to turn my clan against each other. Did you think I'd let you live?"
Xin Qiujian froze, stunned that she knew so much.
That moment of hesitation was all Yunxi needed. She closed the Wind and Snow Domain around him, locking him inside her domain.
Seven Stars Soul-Shattering Staff in hand, Yunxi flashed above him and brought it crashing down, wrapped in thunderous energy.
The deafening blow reverberated through his ears, sending his blood surging violently. Xin Qiujian hastily summoned his heavy sword to block the second strike.
At last, Yunxi's pent-up fury found an outlet. Her expression was icy, her movements merciless. One strike followed another, each heavier than the last.
As her rage climbed, so did the destructive power of her staff. By the fourth strike, she shattered Xin Qiujian's protective barrier entirely.