Ancestor Sui Bian, furious, hitched up his sleeves, lifted the gourd, and rapped it on the woman’s head again and again. The force was light, but the humiliation was heavy. With each tap he snorted: “Still acting tough at a time like this? Let’s see whose head is harder—you, or my gourd.”

The woman clenched her teeth and said nothing.

Yu Zhao spoke up: “You’re from the Auspicious Palace, aren’t you?”

A flash of surprise flickered through the woman’s eyes, but she quickly masked it with cool indifference as she said: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Yu Zhao had expected as much. She turned to Senior Ling Long and held out her hand: “Senior, lend me a little Spiritual Power.”

Senior Ling Long nodded and clasped Yu Zhao’s hand. Yu Zhao closed her eyes, focused, and cast Illusion Arts. In short order she coaxed out the woman’s origins. As Yu Zhao had suspected, the pair were from the Auspicious Palace and had come on the Palace Master’s orders to seize Yu Zhao. They had failed to recognize the shrunken Yu Zhao, but they had recognized Ancestor Sui Bian and Senior Xiu Yu, who were always with her, and planned to capture them first to get to Yu Zhao. Knowing their targets would not be easy to handle, they had waited patiently until the underground black market’s forces set an ambush outside the Myriad Realms Treasure Fair; then they used the momentum to lay a trap and lure them to Peach Blossom Island. The island was secluded and little known; even the strongest cultivator would be affected by its miasma. Unless one entered during its “safe window,” the island would treat any arrival as an intruder and eliminate them. They thought their plan flawless, never imagining Yu Zhao would be immune to the miasma, refine an antidote from peach stamens, and turn the tables.

After hearing the account, Senior Ling Long asked the most pressing question: “Why does the Auspicious Palace want Yu Zhao?”

The woman claimed ignorance; the Palace Master had ordered a capture without giving any reason.

Yu Zhao exchanged a look with Ancestor Sui Bian. The two of them knew perfectly well why. Through the Jade Ruyi, the Auspicious Palace could monitor Yu Zhao’s situation; she had surely entered their sights long ago. Between the Auspicious Palace, the Earth Clan, and the underground black market, Yu Zhao had provoked three powers already. She sighed, a touch helpless, and her resolve to participate in the Great Thousand Alliance selection only firmed. Trouble would keep coming so long as she remained in the Middle Thousand World; better to go to the Great Thousand World and see if Dao Lord Tai Wei might reveal the exact coordinates of the cultivation world.

Knowing full well they could not face the Auspicious Palace head-on for now—the forces behind it were deep-rooted, intertwined with several great clans, perhaps even part of a larger web—Yu Zhao conferred with Ancestor Sui Bian and Senior Ling Long and chose to sidestep their edge for the time being and move step by cautious step.

She cast Illusion Arts again and drew from the woman both the Auspicious Palace’s precise location and the method to leave Peach Blossom Island. When the woman surfaced from the illusion she was livid, opening her mouth to speak, but Ancestor Sui Bian had no intention of giving her the chance. He flicked a finger; a thread of Spiritual Power pierced the space between her brows. Her body went slack and she collapsed, lifeless.

“Let’s go. We shouldn’t linger.”

There were two ways to leave Peach Blossom Island: wait for the monthly safe window, or dismantle the formation by breaking its array nodes. Unwilling to tempt fate by staying, they chose the latter. Following the locations the woman had revealed, they found several array nodes of the peach-blossom formation. Ancestor Sui Bian and Senior Ling Long struck in unison; the peach trees serving as nodes toppled together. In an instant the whole island trembled and petals fell like rain. A moment later the invisible barrier overhead tore with a crisp crack; even the daylight brightened.

Someone exclaimed: “The array is broken!”

“Back to the Starship,” Yu Zhao said.

The three returned at speed. Old Black Daoist and the others had been waiting in mounting anxiety; seeing the trio safe, they finally let out the breaths they had been holding.

Senior Xiu Yu asked, taut with concern: “Well? Did you crack it?”

Yu Zhao nodded: “The Formation Arts have been broken. We can leave.”

“Then what are we waiting for—go.”

The Starship shot skyward. Peach Blossom Island dwindled and vanished from sight.

…

Nangong Clan.

Fang Cheng Lang stood quietly behind Nangong Yu with a calm smile and steady bearing. He listened as Nangong Yu and the Nangong Clan Head reminisced, occasionally nodding along with composed ease.

The Clan Head turned his gaze to Fang Cheng Lang and praised: “Steady and magnanimous—he has the air of a great house. Your eye is still as sharp as ever.”

Nangong Yu smiled faintly and said: “You flatter me. But Fang Cheng Lang truly is a rare talent; with him around, I’ve saved no small effort.”

Seated at the head, Nangong Yin wore no expression at all, as if none of this concerned her. Only when Nangong Yu inquired after her cultivation progress did she answer in earnest.

When the conversation ended, Nangong Yu and the Clan Head rose and left together. Before departing, the Clan Head instructed Nangong Yin and Nangong Jie to see to Fang Cheng Lang’s hospitality. Nangong Yin, however, showed no interest; she spared Fang Cheng Lang not so much as a glance, tossed a cool look at Nangong Jie, and said: “He’s yours.”

With that, she walked straight out of the hall, leaving Nangong Jie and Fang Cheng Lang behind.

Fang Cheng Lang showed no displeasure; he had long grown used to such dismissiveness. Even though he had spent three years to break through to the Divine Transformation Stage and could now stand openly at Nangong Yu’s side, others might be polite to his face but still dismissed him in their hearts. Nangong Yin’s attitude merely made that scorn more direct.

What surprised Fang Cheng Lang was that Nangong Jie did not treat him with the same cold eye. On the contrary, Nangong Jie was gracious—almost warmly so. Smiling at Fang Cheng Lang, he said: “I am Nangong Jie; I look forward to your guidance.”

Fang Cheng Lang hastened to demur that the words were too heavy. The two traded a few lines and gradually grew familiar. To be honest, Nangong Jie’s enthusiasm left Fang Cheng Lang a little flattered. Since leaving the cultivation world, it had been a long time since anyone treated him as an equal. Even in the Middle Thousand World, his realm was nothing special among the heaven-chosen; and in this world, strength ruled. Nangong Yin’s manner was the norm. Nangong Jie, by contrast, was an outlier.

Perhaps sensing Fang Cheng Lang’s thoughts, Nangong Jie smiled and said: “I’m not like Nangong Yin. I judge more by first impressions. I trust my eye; your future will not be limited to this.”

Fang Cheng Lang’s eyes softened as he said: “Thank you.”

Clapping him on the shoulder, Nangong Jie laughed and said: “Come on. I’ll show you around.”

Fang Cheng Lang agreed readily and followed Nangong Jie out of the hall.