Xia Chichi sat clutching her chest, teary-eyed and utterly defeated. She had been singled out by Ye Jiuyou as the weak point of the Four Idols Formation and had thus taken a serious beating. However, what truly hurt her was not the physical damage that she had suffered during the spar but the glance Ye Jiuyou cast at her chest before breaking the formation. The profound disdain that Ye Jiuyou’s gaze had contained as she stared at her chest was etched into her mind. And before breaking out of the formation, Ye Jiuyou had even dropped a verbal nuke. “Emperors are said to possess great magnanimity[1]. Who would have thought the Empress of Han would even be outdone by a little Cui Yuanyang?” Part of the reason the formation failed might have actually been that line. Hearing that line, Chichi’s focus was broken and she got emotionally rattled. Thankfully, no one blamed her. The Four Idols acted as one. No matter who had been the breach point, the fault could not lie on any single person. Had Ye Jiuyou targeted anyone else, they likely would not have fared better. Lady Three, of course, was the most smug. She was pretty sure Ye Jiuyou’s glance toward her was filled with envy. If Ye Jiuyou had tried to break through from her quadrant, things might have gone quite differently, and it might have been someone else who ended up emotionally breaking down instead. Hmph, what’s so special about being a primordial demon god anyway? Born of heaven and earth? Pft. Her figure isn’t much different from that dumb bird’s. What’s so special about that? Yue Hongling and Huangfu Qing could not help but smile at their expressions. Ye Jiuyou had just given them a serious sparring session, and this was where their minds had gone? Still, what felt even worse was that Lady Three, who seemed to have porridge sloshing around in her head most days, was actually managing to keep pace with everyone in cultivation. She was truly a model of effortless cultivation. Zhao Changhe squatted in front of the miserable Xia Chichi, teasingly scratching her nose. “Your Majesty, where are you hurt?” Sniffling, she grabbed his hand and pressed it to her chest. “Here.” “I happen to quite size,” Zhao Changhe said, pulling her into his arms. Xia Chichi immediately latched on, hugging him tight around the neck and refusing to let go. As the other women cast him daggered glances, Piaomiao finally understood that Xia Chichi had been putting on an act the whole time. She had simply been waiting for her man to come comfort her. The subtleties of human court intrigue truly ran deep. There was still so much she had to learn. Huangfu Qing, watching her disciple’s antics, was thoroughly unimpressed. “You and Jiuyou must have found or learned something quite serious, huh?” Zhao Changhe replied with a smile, “What makes you say that?” She huffed. “If the situation weren’t severe, would you really be here smoothing over inter-party coordination instead of seizing your moment? You’ve already won her heart, yet this is how you capitalize on it? It’s clear that the road ahead is no joke. But as we reviewed things, whether it be the Sword Emperor or White Tiger... none of them seem like threats to warrant this urgency. Even Ye Wuming doesn’t quite account for it.” Yue Hongling added, “You seemed distracted when you were watching the formation earlier... your thoughts were heavy.” Zhao Changhe gave a small smile. “It’s fine. Come what may, doesn’t it all ultimately just go back to us having to cultivate hard and keep up? When have we ever fought easy battles?” Lady Three suddenly asked, “You... broke through, didn’t you?” “I did. I’ll need to enter seclusion again soon,” Zhao Changhe admitted. Then, he turned to the group and said, “The Four Idols Formation is, ultimately, a temporary joint technique. You won’t always be together. The real purpose of practicing it is to deepen your understanding of each other’s power, so that you can use that to strengthen your own cultivation. You aren’t practicing the formation so that you can rely on the formation to fight. So where’s each one of you now?” Everyone shook their heads. It seemed that they had not made any significant progress as of yet. Lady Three and Huangfu Qing, at least, both sensed their bottlenecks beginning to loosen. This was expected as they were among the strongest, so it made sense they would feel it first. But deep down, there was more to it. They had once stood at the heart of Zhao Changhe’s world, the backbone of his strength. But ever since the arrival of the ancient demon gods, ever since Piaomiao and Jiuyou came, they had been quietly overshadowed. They did not voice it, but they clearly felt this way in their hearts. “This sort of thing is often better advanced through combat,” Huangfu Qing said thoughtfully. “Endless sitting in meditation rarely bears fruit. Honestly, I gained a lot from sparring against Big Sister Piaomiao and Jiuyou, especially against Jiuyou. We... even resonated, and strongly at that. So, what exactly is going on between you and her? If I were to seek her out for a solo duel, what kind of reception should I expect?” Zhao Changhe turned to look at her. He could feel it. There was a fire in her eyes; she was unwilling to be outdone. She was ready to challenge Jiuyou directly. He sighed. “There’s no need to go that far... Honestly, there is a lot of karma that all of you need to confront and resolve. It’s not my part to be deciding things there. But if you want to know what I think and what I believe, then I’ll say this: the reason a man cultivates and strives to get stronger... is so his women no longer have to face risks. I don’t want you to fight.” Huangfu Qing eyed him and the clingy Xia Chichi in his arms with a crooked smirk. “Two months ago, you were out in Kunlun fighting alone. Have you already forgotten that it was our coordinated effort that secured the campaign in Saibei? Do you want to raise us into caged birds? Forget it. I was already roaming the jianghu when you and that little scamp in your lap were still suckling milk.” “Fine, fine.” Zhao Changhe chuckled. Huangfu Qing’s pride—her unyielding spirit—was part of what made her the Vermillion Bird, and that was undeniably a part of her that he liked. “You can go find Jiuyou yourself. If you don’t know where she is, Piaomiao can lead you. I think there’s plenty the two of you could learn from each other. Don’t worry, she won’t shut the door on you.” Huangfu Qing looked visibly pleased. “And what about you?” “I’ll be entering seclusion for three to five days, give or take.” Zhao Changhe lifted his head, eyes scanning the sky as if measuring time itself. He murmured, “When I emerge... it should be just about time.” Xia Chichi let out a small, regretful sigh. She had assumed that now Zhao Changhe was done with Ye Jiuyou, he would spend a few leisurely days rotating through the “favor list,” taking his time with each of them. Yet he returned only to head straight into seclusion, and it appeared that he planned to head straight to battle upon emerging. Still, regret was just that. No one here was so love-struck as to be unable to function without a man. The earlier battle had left everyone with their own insights to digest. Lady Three had already flopped to the side, but whether she was asleep or in deep comprehension was anyone’s guess. Yue Hongling sat cross-legged, eyes shut, calm and upright like a drawn sword. Xia Chichi herself had much to reflect on. So, instead of clinging to Zhao Changhe, she slipped out of his arms and sat to one side. She had barely moved when Zhao Changhe grabbed her and swept her into his arms, stepping directly into the Heavenly River. “H-Hey! What are you doing?” Xia Chichi clutched his collar, nervously glancing toward the other women. “Didn’t you say you were going into seclusion? Now it looks like you’re flipping my plaque[2] I’m going to get laughed at.” “Since when did you worry about something like that?” Zhao Changhe murmured into her ear. “The qi veins of the mountains and rivers and the power of life I sensed with Piaomiao the other day... all of it was tied to you. You started cultivation later than the others. If I don’t take this chance to give you a little extra help, are we just going to let you be the one the enemy kicks down again next time?” Xia Chichi’s eyes sparkled, her gaze sultry. “And how exactly do you plan to help me?” “Well, I’m sure it will come as a surprise to you...” As the two of them disappeared into the river, Xia Chichi tossed a meaningful look toward Piaomiao. Piaomiao crossed her arms with an irritated huff. Seeking an heir is indeed the kind of thing that emperors do to stabilize their empires, so why do I feel so frustrated? You haven’t even performed the proper rites, yet you want my blessing? With a snort, she grabbed Huangfu Qing’s hand and turned away. “Come. Let’s go find Jiuyou.” When they went to look for Ye Jiuyou, they did not find her in her abyss. Instead, she stood alone at the mountaintop, gazing silently toward the distant sky. Her back still radiated loneliness, but the dead stillness Piaomiao had once sensed in her was gone. Now, she felt like a solitary blossom blooming amid snow and ice—fragile yet defiant. “What sort of honeyed words has he been feeding you?” Piaomiao asked, half in disbelief. “Even your aura has changed. Now that I look at you, I find it hard to believe you are the same Jiuyou.” “Whether I’m Jiuyou or not doesn’t matter, so long as I’m me,” Ye Jiuyou said quietly, still facing the distant sky. “What about you? Are you still the same Piaomiao?” “My body and soul were both reforged alongside his. It wouldn’t be wrong to say I’ve become someone new.” “Then can we say that Piaomiao and Jiuyou are both dead?” Ye Jiuyou was silent for a moment. Then, slowly, she asked, “Do you still hate Ye Wuming?” Piaomiao replied, “The hatred has dulled, but it hasn’t vanished. What she did to me is something I can’t forgive.” Ye Jiuyou nodded. “Good. At least you’re not so kind to have turned into a fool.” Piaomiao smiled faintly, saying nothing more. Ye Jiuyou continued, “Once the primordial demon gods have all fallen, the Heavenly Dao’s influence over this world will reach its weakest point. That’s what Ye Wuming is waiting for. And now we must ask ourselves, when that moment comes, will we seek to take revenge... or do something else?” Ye Jiuyou said coldly, “There are many ways to take revenge. Killing her is one, but thwarting her plans—turning two eras’ worth of schemes to ash—is another. Which do you think would hurt more?” Piaomiao finally answered, “The latter. If her designs are ruined, it would hurt her deeper than death.” “So are you prepared to do just that?” Ye Jiuyou asked softly. “You should know that if you stop her, someone else you hate might benefit.” Piaomiao had already read the translated document Zhao Changhe had given her. She knew exactly what Ye Jiuyou was referring to. And yet she remained silent. The thought of having once been sculpted by another, molded like clay for their narrative... still rubbed her the wrong way. Fortunately, she had already remade herself, body and soul, before learning the truth. The sting was there, but it had lessened. At the same time, she understood Ye Jiuyou’s bitterness all too well. That kind of hatred was not just due to the pain of betrayal; it was the kind that made you want to rip someone apart and burn the pieces. However, if Ye Wuming was rebelling against the Heavenly Dao, then did it really make sense for them to sabotage her? Would it not make more sense to join forces and settle the score later? At the same time, Ye Wuming’s grand ambition spanned two eras. If she succeeded, her cultivation would soar to an unimaginable height. By then... who would be settling the score with whom? Piaomiao had no answer. From behind them came Huangfu Qing’s voice, “I don’t really understand what you two are talking about, but if you’re this conflicted, why not leave it to Changhe to decide? Or do you still not trust him?” Ye Jiuyou finally turned and looked at her. “Changhe would raise his blade against Ye Wuming for my sake. I trust him. However, being willing to raise his blade, and being willing to kill her... are two different things. Even he may not know his own heart. I won’t force him to make a choice that extreme.” Huangfu Qing was stunned. You won’t force him to make a choice that extreme? That kind of thought only comes from someone who really loves him. Piaomiao thinking that way is one thing, but for you to say something like that? Her worldview was, for who-knew-how-manyeth-time, shattered. Huangfu Qing hesitated for a moment before cautiously asking, “So the two of you discuss these matters in private without involving Changhe? What if your decision ends up being something he doesn’t agree with?” Ye Jiuyou shook her head. “It’s more that I have a bit of an aversion to discussing Ye Wuming with him directly.” “Because Changhe can see inside my abyss. Even Piaomiao might not be as at ease there as he is,” Ye Jiuyou said evenly. “Ye Wuming can’t enter my domain at will, yet something happened recently. And apart from Changhe, no other force was present. I don’t suspect him, but I do suspect Ye Wuming may have done something to him—something even he’s unaware of. If that’s the case, then anything we say in front of him could be heard by her. Even warning him would be like speaking to her face.” Huangfu Qing let out a long breath, then chuckled. “If that’s what’s bothering you, you can rest easy. Changhe knows.” Ye Jiuyou frowned. “He does?” “Mm-hm. He’s never said so outright, but we’ve been with him long enough to sense it. He’s been quietly preparing for a while now, always trying to sever Ye Wuming’s influence.” Ye Jiuyou’s lips curved in a faint smile. “In that case, I look forward to Ye Wuming’s downfall.” Huangfu Qing said, “Why do you seem so confident that he’ll succeed?” “That little man’s actually quite petty and vindictive,” Ye Jiuyou replied coolly. She did not elaborate further but gave Huangfu Qing a thoughtful look. “So... you’ve come to test your power of life and death against mine?” “That’s right. If you would be so kind, Senior—” She did not get to finish before Ye Jiuyou cut her off. “Senior? Are you saying I’m old?” Huangfu Qing kept a straight face, choosing not to respond. Piaomiao turned her head away, too. If you’re not old, then who is? Judging from the translated documents Piaomiao had read, there was literally no one in this world older than Ye Jiuyou. Ye Jiuyou crossed her arms. “Well then, if you’re calling me senior, don’t expect to get a single word out of me.” You and he are in the same generation, but you want to stick me in the senior tier? Dream on. Huangfu Qing held her breath for a beat, then finally could not resist. “If you’d rather be my little sister, I don’t mind letting you serve me tea.” Ye Jiuyou had never been so offended in her entire life. So that’s how it is? You want to fight dirty, huh? Good thing I came prepared. She ground her teeth, then said, “If it’s insights into life and death you want, you don’t need to fight me. Just go take a look at the lotus pool your man and your dear Big Sister Piaomiao created. You might find your concept of rebirth right there.” Piaomiao’s expression froze for half a second, then her eyes sparkled with amusement. Ye Jiuyou had just planted Piaomiao as the “Big Sister,” subtly aligning herself alongside her and placing them both on the higher tier. And if Piaomiao was the older sister, that hierarchy was not about who came first but about power and seniority. Which meant Ye Jiuyou was also a big sister. Now, Huangfu Qing faced a dilemma. Should she go and see the lotus pool? If she did, then she was accepting the hierarchy. If she wanted to keep arguing, she may not get to see it at all. Who would have thought that aloof Ye Jiuyou had such a flair for these undercurrents? It must be from sparring with Ye Wuming for too long... However, Huangfu Qing’s skills in this particular arena were demon-god-tier in their own right. She barely paused before letting out a sigh and saying smoothly, “Calling you Big Sister isn’t an issue. After all, you are older than me by quite a bit. But I wonder... Now that the Li Clan’s young lady has married into the Great Han, won’t she need the empress dowager’s approval to officiate the wedding?” Ye Jiuyou’s expression shifted instantly. Shit, I completely forgot that she’s the empress dowager! Right now, Huangfu Qing was technically the only senior member of the Great Han’s imperial household. In other words, she was, by all rights, the one who had the authority to approve Zhao Changhe and Ye Jiuyou’s relationship. Ye Jiuyou desperately wished she could rewind time a year or so and sever her karma with the Li Clan once and for all. What kind of twisted trap have I gotten myself in? Piaomiao held her head in her hands and wisely refrained from commenting. And you thought you could stir up our little harem drama? Your social maneuvering skills are nowhere near the level required. Maybe come with me and learn from Yangyang? That girl’s schemes are top-tier. Oh, right. Xia Chichi’s probably already collapsed... and considering this recent “dual cultivation” centered on the power of life, I’d say the next dragon heir is already in the works. They probably didn’t even need my divine power to pull it off... “What are you spacing out for?” Ye Jiuyou indignantly transmitted into Piaomiao’s head. “Are we really going to just let ourselves get pushed around by one mortal woman?” “She’s hardly mortal. She’s the very embodiment of the Vermillion Bird’s laws. She’s top-tier within the second layer of the Profound Control Realm. Even the ancient Vermillion Bird wasn’t much beyond that.” Piaomiao sighed. “Don’t be upset. I already got revenge for you.” “Oh?” Ye Jiuyou perked up. “How?” “At the very least, her daughter will give birth before she does.” What does that even mean? Piaomiao’s only been mingling with humans for a few days. How has she already learned to speak in riddles I don’t understand? 1. What was translated here as “great magnanimity” can also be translated as “big chest,” but the phrase itself is generally used while referring to magnanimity. ☜ 2. In imperial harem culture, the emperor’s consorts typically had plaques with their names laid out each night, and the emperor would then flip the plaque of the consort they wanted to sleep with. In other words, Xia Chichi is basically saying that it’s as if she’s being given special treatment or something along those lines. ☜