Luanyang City’s lights burned through the night. Cultivators who’d finished the day’s matches wandered the inner city, buying spirit pills, repairing weapons, and sharing insights. A disciple leaving an apothecary spotted a familiar face and hurried to catch up. “Senior Brother Wen! Where have you been?” Wen Chunsheng turned in surprise, greeting “Junior Brother Zhao” as they walked together. Wen Chunsheng sighed: “I bought some rice, flour, and earthenware for Junior Sister Gu. Now that she’s become mortal, she’ll spend her remaining years tending spirit grain in the outer sect. Her mistakes were partly due to my lax supervision. All I can do now is provide these material comforts.” “Gu Yuqing?” The other disciple frowned. “Tsk. She always acted superior because of her talent, looking down on everyone. Only you were patient enough to indulge her, Senior Brother. Who else in the other peaks would bother with her?” “And she was bold enough to spread wild rumors in the palace! Whether from ignorance or manipulation, truly foolish!” Wen Chunsheng sighed heavily. “I still remember how innocent she was as a child, following behind me. These past years I’ve been too focused on cultivation to notice her growing so arrogant……” Seeing his disappointed expression, Junior Brother Zhao shrugged and patted his shoulder. “You’re too good-natured. I can’t be the same—I need to deliver pills to the outer city apothecary. Business has been excellent these past few days. I’ll go ahead.” Wen Chunsheng stopped and bid farewell: “Safe travels, Junior Brother.” He watched the hurried figure disappear, then continued walking unhurriedly through the crowds. Voices around him discussed which disciples had excelled in today’s matches and speculated about future rankings. But the names mentioned most frequently were still those two currently leading the qualifiers. Xi Lingren, Seraphine Velka. Seraphine Velka, Xi Lingren. Wen Chunsheng paused, glancing at the animated tea house discussions before heading in a different direction. At Luanyang Palace’s outer sect, golden rice fields rustled in the wind, creating a harmonious scene. Yet amid this pastoral beauty, one figure sat on a field ridge with a pallid face and vacant eyes. Wen Chunsheng approached along the path and called out: “Junior Sister Gu.” Gu Yuqing turned with tears streaming down her face. The lingering agony from her destroyed consciousness sea prevented her from running to him as before—she could only weep pitifully. “Senior Brother, please tell Master I was wrong! I’ll never dare again! Let her save me—I don’t want to waste away in this place!” For original chapters go to novel[f]ire.net “Junior Sister.” Wen Chunsheng set down the supplies he’d bought for her. “I told you to leave that day. Why didn’t you listen? Why did you provoke Senior Sister Xi?” At the mention of that name, Gu Yuqing trembled violently, her face going ashen. Her spirit was completely broken—gone was any trace of her former arrogance, replaced only by tears. Wen Chunsheng sighed and asked gently: “Junior Sister, where is the jade pendant I gave you?” Gu Yuqing sobbed: “My storage ring was confiscated by Siyi for the Enforcement Hall. That jade pendant…… was taken by Xi Lingren.” Wen Chunsheng froze, something dark flickering in his eyes. He slowly stood, looking over the rice fields. “Alright. I’ll visit you again. If you need anything, I’ll provide it.” It served his purpose while thanking her for this unintentional assistance. Wen Chunsheng smiled at Gu Yuqing, then departed under her confused, lifeless gaze. On Phoenix Roost Peak’s side mountain, Xue Mengtao stood before Siyi respectfully. “I’ve asked Sister Mu Rong and other senior brothers and sisters about Senior Brother Wen. He was brought to Virtue Central Peak by Elder Zhao at age three. His personality is steady and courteous—everyone in the inner sect knows his good nature. He helps anyone in trouble, though they say he’s somewhat wooden. Many disciples have feelings for him, but Senior Brother Wen remains devoted to the Dao and keeps his distance from others.” Siyi sipped her tea and murmured: “Peak Master Yan and Elder Zhao of Virtue Central Peak have good relations—they’ve faced life and death together. So Gu Yuqing and Wen Chunsheng’s friendship isn’t surprising.” Her finger tapped the tea cup as she gazed past Xue Mengtao toward the night beyond the window. “What do you think, Little Tao?” Xue Mengtao hesitated: “I don’t see anything suspicious……” She’d questioned many palace disciples, and everyone praised Wen Chunsheng. His overly good nature had even led to bullying in the past. Suspecting him merely for caring about Gu Yuqing seemed excessive. But why had Wen Chunsheng used a barrier when delivering supplies to Gu Yuqing? Did he want to avoid being seen associating with her? Xue Mengtao shook her head in uncertainty. Siyi nodded and set down her cup with a smile. “Good, hard work, I still need you to do something during the competition period.” Xue Mengtao’s face lit up shyly: “I’m willing to do it! And just as Master taught, everyone’s focused on the matches, so a little guidance drew out much information.” Siyi laughed and rose to ruffle her disciple’s hair affectionately. “My disciple is naturally gifted. I won’t be outdone—watch me claim a qualifying spot in tomorrow’s match!” Xue Mengtao’s eyes shone with admiration and longing. In the secluded cultivation chamber, spiritual mist filled the air so thickly you couldn’t see your own hand. Perhaps fearing trouble from Seraphine, the spirit heart that pretended to lack consciousness worked extremely hard to emit spiritual energy. Just sitting here for a short while was enough to soak their clothes through with spiritual liquid. Even Insight Academy Palace never had such abundant spiritual energy. How many people in the world were lucky enough to encounter two spirit hearts—even if one was consumed—and cultivate so extravagantly using their direct energy output? This fortunate system unit opened one eye. From the ceiling, condensed spiritual liquid dripped down in a gentle spiritual rain, pattering against my head and leaving me momentarily dazed. I looked up through the misty vapor as another drop fell perfectly onto the silver phoenix blossom on my forehead. The silver phoenix bud, touched with gold by Seraphine, now held the spiritual liquid like morning dew. Flower emojis appeared above my head as I smiled and looked across the chamber. Seraphine sat opposite me in perfect meditation posture, fingers forming cultivation seals. Spiritual energy flowed around her like a cocoon while her power fluctuated on the edge of breakthrough. She was suppressing the advancement, absorbing as much energy as possible to cleanse her spiritual veins and expand her spiritual sea. She wanted the most perfect breakthrough possible! I opened my hands, manifesting the flower emojis from my thought bubble in my palms, spinning them toward Seraphine. Between them, a silver orb continued absorbing spiritual energy without pause, glowing brilliantly in the mist. My eyes lit up with understanding. I closed my eyes and opened my consciousness sea. Thirty seconds later, a small system avatar sprouted eyes. It spun in a circle, making a “pop” sound as two thin matchstick arms emerged from its sides. After stretching with a yawn, it performed a series of radio calisthenics. The system ball, crowned with flowers, flew around the cultivation chamber while trailing air currents. On the floor, a diamond-shaped stone submerged in the spiritual liquid couldn’t help but twitch. At that tiny movement, the flower-crowned orb suddenly dove down, drifting to a stop at water level with its black circular eyes fixed on the stone. Pretend I’m not here. Emit energy frantically. The flowers above my avatar vanished with a “poof” as I slowly sank into the water. I extended a matchstick arm to poke the spirit heart. “Hello, friend. Can you speak?” The spirit heart remained motionless as this orb lifted its matchstick arm to its body and somehow removed its black eye circles—they actually came off! The spirit heart released a drop of spiritual liquid that dissolved into the water. I held up the black circles, comparing them against the spirit heart’s diamond body, laughing in delight. The spirit heart trembled. Two more drops of spiritual liquid emerged. Just as I was enjoying my “play,” I sensed the sudden surge of spiritual energy around us. I turned to see Seraphineopening her eyes. The system ball quickly floated over: “Hello, Seraphine.” Seraphine blinked in surprise at the silver orb pressed against her nose tip, glowing brilliantly as if ensuring she could see it properly. She lifted it into her palm with a smile. “Why did you become an orb again?” “I heard humans occasionally need nostalgia. I’m being nostalgic.” Being a orb was quite nice, actually. I raised my matchstick arms to hug Seraphine’s finger. Seraphine’s lips curved as she looked toward Echo’s human body. The woman sat with eyes closed, silver hair cascading wetly against her face, long lashes and pink lips providing the only vivid colors. In this state, she seemed like something unreachable in deep mountains, untouchable snow on high peaks. Spiritual energy drifted peacefully toward her body. Thinking Seraphine was curious, I explained happily: “I’ve written code within the consciousness sea of my human body too, so when I’m in my original orb form—mmph?” When I’m in my original orb form, the human body can continue cultivating. And because the human body has spiritual veins and consciousness sea, the coding is much more efficient! Having grown accustomed to this, I completed the thought internally while sticking a matchstick arm through Seraphine’sfingers, sprouting a thumbs-up emoji above my head. “I’m about to break through.” Seraphine announced. So SHUT UP. I don’t want to listen. I raised both matchstick arms, each holding glow sticks, and waved them enthusiastically while maintaining the thumbs-up expression. Seraphine chuckled and looked up. Thunder clouds gathered beyond the mountains, darkening the heavens. Seraphine took a deep breath, cradling Echo as she pressed her forehead to Echo’s and closed her eyes. My glow stick waving paused as I looked at her uncertainly. “Seraphine, are you afraid?” She opened her eyes and stood with a smile: “No.” With breakthrough imminent, excitement filled her heart. Let her battle the Heavenly Dao! Question marks appeared above my head, transforming into a lightbulb as understanding dawned. I retracted my matchstick arms and eye circles, becoming a pure silver orb. “Please take me with you. I want to accompany you through the tribulation lightning!” As a manifestation of high-dimensional being data, the system ball wouldn’t be judged as a cultivator of this world by the tribulation. Seraphine raised an eyebrow with a mocking laugh: “First time I’ve seen someone volunteer to be struck by lightning. If I become disheartened and panic during the tribulation, what if I just throw you out to block the lightning for me?” The system ball spun in her palm, sprouting a flower. “That would be wonderful!” “You have awareness to avoid danger rather than accepting harm—this makes me very happy as someone who wants to protect you! I would be honored to be thrown out!” A flower bloomed above me as I continued joyfully: “Please remember our agreement. When you can no longer cope, just call my name. I’ll do anything for you.” Who needs fireworks when you have a cultivation breakthrough? Seraphine's about to light up the sky, and I'm her lucky charm. See what happens next and get ahead on the story at Pxtreon➡️LoveisLove520!