In the Ye Family, the dead of night enveloped the household in silence, save for the flickering candlelight in one room. A handsome boy, Ye Yu, slowly opened his dark eyes, adjusting the spiritual energy within his body. With a deep breath and a slow exhale, joy sparkled in his eyes as he whispered to himself, "Peak of Refining Essence!" In less than a few months, he had transformed from a waste into a peak practitioner of refining essence. His remarkable talent astonished everyone in the clan—cousins, parents, and elders alike—all looked at him with newfound respect. Yet, this time, Ye Yu was determined to remain calm and composed, a stark contrast to his previous impetuousness. The period of being labeled a "waste" had instilled a sense of tranquility in him.
However, thoughts of Mu Zhian ignited a flicker of violence within his once-calm heart. "I must defeat Mu Zhian... Only then can my future be limitless..." Ye Yu clenched his fists, his eyes burning with determination. "While reaching the Foundation Establishment in just two days is unlikely, my current trump card will allow me to face him even at a higher level." Though Mu Zhian had attained the foundation Establishment Realm, Ye Yu believed that his long-term indulgence in beauty had left him hollow. "Wait and see, Ruoxi," he thought, imagining the regret that would wash over Bai Ruoxi after he triumphed over Mu Zhian in the Dragon Head Forest. The memory of her rejection at the Bai Mansion, the way she looked at Mu Zhian, and the coldness she showed after his long pursuit stoked the flames of jealousy within him. Though Ye Yu wore a mask of calmness in front of others, the sight of his beloved fiancée leaning towards that "evil young man" was unbearable.
This chapter of his life was about to close, but it was merely the beginning for him in Tianxuan City. Ye Yu gazed at the "Heavenly Qi" he had condensed in his hand, confidence radiating from him. According to the elder residing within him, the Heavenly Qi was a remnant of a powerful being who had descended to immortality. Each fragment possessed unique abilities, and the one in his hand could refine external spiritual energy, constantly integrating it into his body. If used correctly, it could accelerate the absorption of surrounding spiritual energy. This Heavenly Qi was pivotal in restoring Ye Yu to the ranks of "geniuses" within the Ye family. Unfortunately, the elder within him remained dormant, only awakening once when Ye Yu entered the Foundation Establishment Realm. If the elder were awake, defeating Mu Zhian would be a trivial matter. Ye Yu suppressed his thoughts, sitting cross-legged at the head of his bed, drawing upon the Qi of Heaven, and entering a meditative state.
Meanwhile, at the Mu Mansion, Mu Zhian returned late at night, having entrusted the Beast King Vine to Wei Mengrou for safekeeping until Mr. Ren could collect it the following day. As he walked through the corridor, he noticed Bai Ruoxi standing in the yard. Bathed in moonlight, her snow-white skin glowed with a silver sheen against her beautiful visage, but the sadness in her eyes was palpable. The Bai family had recently endured a series of misfortunes: her mother was suspected of betrayal, her father was gravely injured, and she now found herself unable to return home. This weight bore heavily on her, leaving her exhausted and sleepless in an unfamiliar bed.
Once, the Bai family had basked in glory, with Miss Bai admired like a star surrounded by the moon. Although she still attracted attention, whispers of jealousy from other women now tainted her reputation. In times of prosperity, they praised her coldness as noble, but now they derided her as pretentious. Such jealousy was timeless; seeing others succeed often stung more than personal loss. As she gazed at the hazy moonlight, contemplating recent events, Bai Ruoxi sighed softly. Suddenly, she felt warmth envelop her shoulders. Turning, she saw a light blue fur coat draped over her.
"Master Mu?" she exclaimed, surprised. Mu Zhian stood behind her, his smile gentle. "It's cold. You should keep warm when you're out." Bai Ruoxi regarded him with a mix of emotions, softly replying, "Thank you…" She hesitated, adding, "But once you reach the Foundation Establishment, the wind and cold can easily be expelled from the body—"
Before she could finish, Mu Zhian placed a finger on her lips, grinning at her wide eyes. "Let's not discuss that now; it might spoil the moment." Bai Ruoxi fell silent. Normally, she would engage in light-hearted banter with him, but the weight of recent events left her too somber for such exchanges.
"I found the Beast King Vine," Mu Zhian suddenly announced. Bai Ruoxi's expression froze as she slowly turned to him, her eyes widening. "Master Mu, what did you just say?!" The Beast King Vine was a rare medicinal material found near the Liangyi Sect's mountain gate. She knew Mu Zhian had gone out, but she hadn't expected him to actually find it.
"I've handed it to Sister Meng Rou. Tomorrow, I'll go to the auction house to prepare the medicinal materials, and then I can refine the elixir to heal Uncle Bai," he explained. Bai Ruoxi blinked, processing the information. After a moment, she looked up, her previously dull eyes now sparkling with hope. "Master Mu… is this true?"
Mu Zhian sighed, observing her delicate features. "Do you think I'd lie to you?" After a long pause, Bai Ruoxi smiled softly. "You're right… I'm sorry for losing my temper." It was clear to her that Mu Zhian had no reason to deceive her, as any falsehood would be revealed by tomorrow.
"Go back and rest. I need to prepare more materials for the auction house in the morning," he said gently, placing his hand on her shoulder. Bai Ruoxi suppressed her joy, nodding before slowly walking toward a room at the front of the yard. Just before reaching the door, she paused, turning back to Mu Zhian. "Thank you. Ruoxi will definitely repay you in the future. Please believe me, Master Mu."
Mu Zhian smiled and nodded, trusting her sincerity. The previous encounter in the carriage had felt somewhat insincere, but this time, her earnestness was evident, shaped by the trials she had faced recently. From this moment on, the outcome of the competition with Ye Yu in two days felt inconsequential. Regardless of the outcome, Ye Yu had already lost. While Ye Yu might still be the protagonist, Bai Ruoxi was no longer the heroine.
The real focus now shifted from Ye Yu to the pressing matter of "suppressing bandits," particularly the threat posed by the mysterious black-robed man. After watching Bai Ruoxi leave, Mu Zhian turned to head back to his room. Just then, a shadow emerged from the darkness—a spy from the Mu family.
"Master, the elder requests your presence in the secret room,"the spy said respectfully.