(1/5)
(ㅅ´ ˘ `)
Xiao Mo often read storybooks of various genres—not just romantic tales but also those filled with vengeance and justice. In some stories, loyal brothers who were forced to part ways, especially when one couldn’t explain much, always left quietly. Years later, when they met again, it was always with a smile, a fist bump, or an embrace.
When parting ways, the one who left behind a letter was often portrayed as both melancholic and carefree—melancholic because of sentimentality, and carefree because their purpose was clear and their departure resolute.
But stepping out of the pages of those stories and facing his own reality, Xiao Mo realized that while he had reasons he couldn’t avoid and the determination to act, he lacked even a shred of that carefree resolve.
He couldn’t untangle himself; he couldn’t let go.
Xiao Mo blinked discreetly to ease the dryness and discomfort in his eyes. His mind revised the farewell message he had planned yet again—editing and trimming it down further.
He would tell Chu Jinglan that he was fine but would never say something like “Wait for me.” Giving someone unnecessary hope would only lead to torment. After all, even though the system said dealing with the old Heaven’s Will should be relatively easy this time, no one knew exactly how long it would take.
Once everything was settled and done, Xiao Mo would return. Whether Chu Jinglan welcomed him with a hug or threw a punch at him—it didn’t matter. Either would be fine.
Xiao Mo already knew how deeply he wanted to stay by Chu Jinglan’s side. He couldn’t bear to let go of this bond. Human connections were rare; finding someone you could truly trust and confide in was rarer still. Those who walked alone could endure loneliness—but once they experienced warmth, it became almost impossible to return to cold isolation.
Amidst the sound of cracking fruit shells, Xiao Mo gradually pressed down on the turmoil in his heart. Sometimes he managed to suppress it only for it to surge back up again. After several cycles of this struggle, he finally managed to force himself into a semblance of composure—enough to keep his emotions from being too obvious.
He savored the warmth in his palm for a moment longer before reluctantly withdrawing his hand slowly.
Chu Jinglan continued peeling fruit shells without looking up. “Are you alright now?”
Xiao Mo replied softly: “Mm.”
He reached into the food box for an unpeeled fruit and carefully removed its shell before blowing away the fragments and placing it in Chu Jinglan’s palm. “Don’t just peel them—you should have some too.”
Chu Jinglan ate the fruit Xiao Mo had prepared for him. Its texture was soft yet rich with a subtle sweetness and a unique fragrance—it tasted excellent.
Yingyue Sect still had disciples who hadn’t emerged from their trials yet, so everyone had to wait. Yue Ming initially wanted to come over and snag some snacks but stopped abruptly when he saw Xiao Mo placing fruit into Chu Jinglan’s hand. He quickly halted his steps and backed away discreetly.
Judging by the atmosphere between Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan, Yue Ming decided now wasn’t the right time for him to approach.
His gaze lingered on the snacks for a moment before he told himself it was just a passing craving—he wasn’t a glutton, after all. Better not to go over and make himself unwelcome.
…Maybe I should just buy some snacks for myself later and keep them in my storage device, he thought.
Meanwhile, Fenxiu’s gaze briefly swept over Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan as well.
He had tried entering the trial earlier but wasn’t allowed in. Instead of leaving immediately, Fenxiu stayed nearby, observing the outstanding disciples from various sects.
His purpose in coming here was clear: to feed his blade with blood.
In the demonic domain, he had already used some of his own kind to nourish his weapon. But since the human-demon war hadn’t started yet, he couldn’t very well kill off all the demons himself. The Nine Secret Treasure Tower, opened by the Wang family, was filled with cultivators of decent aptitude—perfect for providing fresh blood.
By feeding his blade, it would refine itself and return power to him, aiding in his recovery.
The injuries inflicted on him by Yingyue Sect hadn’t been light. Fenxiu’s gaze swept subtly over the Yingyue Sect disciples, a cold sneer forming in his heart. These brats better pray they don’t get separated from their Divided Spirit leaders. Otherwise…
Especially those two—Chu Jinglan and Mo Lan.
Fenxiu had never encountered someone like Mo Lan among the demons. Could it be that he had practiced some rare secret technique? And Chu Jinglan—after just a short time apart, this kid had already reached mid-stage Nascent Soul.
His growth rate was truly terrifying. Fenxiu had assumed that even with his talent, it would take Chu Jinglan several years to reach mid-stage Nascent Soul. He had clearly underestimated Chu Jinglan’s aptitude—this was no fleeting brilliance but an unstoppable ascent that pierced through the heavens.
Fenxiu narrowed his eyes: For both personal reasons and practical ones, I need to deal with this kid soon.
As he contemplated this, he felt another gaze on him. Turning to look, he saw that it was Su Baimo.
Fenxiu paused briefly before giving Su Baimo a fake smile.
Su Baimo seemed flustered; his face reddened slightly as he smiled back shyly before lowering his head bashfully.
Oh, Fenxiu thought with amusement. This one will be easy to manipulate.
Chu Jinglan occasionally swept his spiritual sense across their surroundings, keeping an eye out for Fenxiu without making it too obvious. As he ate the fruit Xiao Mo had peeled for him, Xiao Mo—strangely enough—didn’t seem interested in eating any snacks himself. Instead, he quietly joined Chu Jinglan in peeling fruit.
One by one, the peeled fruits fell into the food box. By the time they finished peeling all of them, Yingyue Sect’s remaining disciples had finally emerged from their trials.
However, two of them looked dejected and bore minor injuries—it was clear their results hadn’t been ideal.
Chang Daozi called Chu Jinglan over as well and asked each disciple about their experiences in the trial. After offering some advice to the two who had failed, they took a brief rest before leaving the area together.
There wasn’t much else worth exploring on the third floor. Wasting no time, Chang Daozi led everyone toward the fourth floor.
From the desolate desert of the fourth floor to the poisonous marshes of the fifth floor, through the treacherous mountains and cliffs of the sixth floor, and finally to the profound trials of Xuánqīng[mfn]”Xuánqīng” (玄清) can be translated as “Profound Clarity” or “Mystic Purity,” depending on the context.[/mfn] on the seventh floor—Xiao Mo stood by Chu Jinglan’s side through it all. He watched as each unique landscape unfolded before them and witnessed how each trial honed Chu Jinglan further, causing his aura to grow stronger bit by bit.
Chu Jinglan had promised that if he reached the ninth floor, he would use its time dilation to double his cultivation efforts. But Xiao Mo already knew—Chu Jinglan would undoubtedly be chosen for it.
After all, it was Chu Jinglan who would find the Golden Thread Diagram, not anyone else.
As Xiao Mo observed Chu Jinglan’s cultivation steadily improve, he silently counted their days together.
By the time Chu Jinglan emerged first from the seventh-floor trial, his aura had become incredibly robust—a clear sign of significant progress in his cultivation.
Yue Ming followed closely behind Chu Jinglan. He had thought he was doing well, but the moment he saw Chu Jinglan, his gaze froze in disbelief. “How has your aura climbed so much again? No way—are you planning to reach peak Nascent Soul before leaving the tower this time?”
Chu Jinglan didn’t mention his true goal. If Yue Ming knew he was aiming for Divided Spirit stage, who knows if he’d jump three feet into the air in shock.
Even now, Yue Ming was already struggling to keep his composure, exclaiming, “Are you even human!?”
Chu Jinglan wisely refrained from responding, which was the best comfort he could offer Yue Ming at this moment. Instead, he walked over to Xiao Mo. Xiao Mo smiled at him and said, “Mm, coming here to train is indeed beneficial for you.”
Chu Jinglan’s mood was also good. “Mm.”
If he could reach Divided Spirit stage within the tower, he would only need to consolidate his cultivation after leaving. At that point, he could return to the Lower Realm and take revenge on the Chu family.
Once his vengeance was complete and the heavy burden on his shoulders lifted, he would have more time to spend with Xiao Mo—doing things Xiao Mo enjoyed and seeing the sights he liked.
—
After completing the seventh-floor trial, Chang Daozi gathered everyone together. His gaze swept over the group as he spoke solemnly: “The eighth floor is a large-scale heart-tempering realm. Everyone who enters will be placed into a story within the heart-tempering realm. Each story is different, but it always begins with someone in need of your help. You’ll need to act accordingly.”
On the eighth floor, refusing to help or participate would guarantee no rewards. However, even participating didn’t necessarily ensure success. The eighth floor seemed like a screening checkpoint for the ninth floor. Yet even those who had reached the ninth floor before couldn’t explain how they were chosen—their experiences were always bizarre and unique.
Another critical point was that after passing through the entrance to the eighth floor, everyone would be randomly teleported apart, and communication jade tablets would no longer work.
This meant long periods of solo trials unless one was lucky enough to encounter someone from their own sect.
Since each heart-tempering story and its setting were different every time, there were no maps or prearranged meeting points.
The Divided Spirit cultivators had protected them through seven floors already, but cultivators couldn’t rely solely on others forever. Chang Daozi reminded them: “From here on out, be cautious in everything you do. If you’re fortunate enough to meet fellow disciples, I hope you’ll help each other. Even if you don’t make it to the ninth floor, the unique heart-tempering experience of the eighth floor will still benefit you greatly. Don’t slack off.”
The disciples responded loudly: “Understood!”
Once everyone had adjusted their breathing and prepared themselves, they approached the entrance to the eighth floor. Disciples from other major sects began arriving as well. This time, there was no competition over who entered first—everyone maintained a polite demeanor and took turns entering one by one.
Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan weren’t worried in the slightest. After all, no matter where they were teleported, Xiao Mo could return to Chu Jinglan’s side in an instant. As for their assigned roles within the storylines of the heart-tempering realm, Xiao Mo didn’t even need to participate—he only needed Chu Jinglan to complete them successfully.
After the flash of white light, Xiao Mo turned his head to look—and surprisingly, Chu Jinglan was right beside him.
Chu Jinglan also glanced at him, and Xiao Mo curved his lips into a smile. “Looks like we’re lucky this time.”
Chu Jinglan’s expression softened. “Mm.”
The two surveyed their surroundings and found themselves in a grand palace-like room. It was magnificently decorated, spacious, and imposing, with coiled dragon pillars and nine-curved golden lamps burning brightly. They were seated on the highest throne in the main hall.
However, aside from the two of them, the hall was completely empty. According to the rules of the eighth floor, they were supposed to help the phantom inhabitants of the heart-tempering realm with their tasks. Since there was no one here, it seemed they would have to venture outside to find them.
Just as they stood up, the palace doors slowly opened.
Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan immediately became alert as a man hurried in, calling out: “Report—”
“City Lord! Madam! A celestial phenomenon has occurred. The astrologer predicts that Jiang City may attack our city in three days. I urge the City Lord and Madam to prepare in advance to protect the citizens!”
The man’s voice was drawn out dramatically. He had no cultivation and was clearly not a cultivator. With a badge on his waist indicating his role as the chief steward, it was evident that he was one of the “phantoms” within this heart-tempering realm. Their task this time seemed to be helping the citizens of Qin City survive an impending war.
But…
Xiao Mo blinked. “City Lord? Madam?”
The steward kept his head bowed respectfully. Xiao Mo hesitated before saying: “You… raise your head.”
The messenger obediently lifted his head.
Xiao Mo asked him: “Who am I?”
Without missing a beat, the steward replied: “You are naturally the chosen one with divine power equal to that of the City Lord—a person of extraordinary talent! You are our Qin City’s Madam!”
Xiao Mo: “…”
Couldn’t they have given me a general or strategist or literally any other role? What kind of nonsense is ‘Madam’?
Speechless at his own luck in drawing such an identity, Xiao Mo resigned himself to his fate. In this heart-tempering realm, he was indeed Madam—and it wasn’t something he could change.
With no choice but to accept it, Xiao Mo tapped his flute against his palm in defeat and reluctantly acknowledged the title: “Alright then. Tell us more about the situation.”
Judging by how things were presented, it seemed that the relationship between Madam and City Lord was one of equals. After Xiao Mo spoke, the steward didn’t even glance at Chu Jinglan’s expression but instead began reporting directly.
“Just now, Jiang City experienced a celestial phenomenon. Our city’s most accurate astrologer has divined that Jiang City’s army is targeting Qin City.”
Chu Jinglan asked calmly: “How many people are currently in Qin City? How many soldiers? What is the structure of the City Lord’s manor?”
Asking such questions as a City Lord might have seemed odd under normal circumstances—but the steward didn’t bat an eye, as if this lack of knowledge were perfectly natural. He clapped his hands briskly, summoning two attendants who carried trays piled high with booklets.
The steward gestured first to the taller stack on his left: “These contain information on Qin City’s population, troops, supplies, and official positions within the City Lord’s manor. Please review them.”
Then he motioned toward the shorter stack on his right: “These detail Jiang City’s situation.”
Very thorough—worthy of a chief steward.
Chu Jinglan and Xiao Mo divided their tasks evenly—one reviewing information on Qin City while the other examined Jiang City’s details. When Xiao Mo opened Jiang City’s booklet, he noticed that its first line read Jiang City’s City Lord.
The space beneath it was blank.
But soon enough, words began appearing slowly in the blank space as if written by an invisible hand.
Jiang City’s City Lord: Lie Ying.
Lie Ying—the same Lie Ying from Tian Ge Sect?
So this eighth floor trial wasn’t just for individual participants—it seemed like everyone would be collectively engaging in a large-scale city defense and attack scenario!
It seemed highly likely.
Who would have thought that the task they needed to help with would turn out like this? The heart-tempering realm was about to become a battlefield, and as the fighting intensified, it was unclear whether losing the war would still leave them a chance to reach the ninth floor. But everyone’s first thought would undoubtedly be: We can’t lose.
Having gained a general understanding of the situation, Xiao Mo continued reading.
Jiang City didn’t have a City Lord’s Madam.
…So why did Qin City have one!?
—
Author’s Note:
Mini Theater:
Xiao Mo: If having a City Lord and Madam is standard protocol, fine. Madam it is—just acting the role, no big deal.
Neighboring City: We don’t have one, though~
Xiao Mo: …
1 Kofi = 1 Extra Chapter
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lmaoooo
thanks for the chapter!