Xi Youran POV
The morning sunlight cut through the cave's entrance, but Xi Youran felt no warmth. Her body still weak from the mysterious golden scroll incident, her soul unstable, and her Qi fragmented. Yet, she could feel the whisper of Hui's essence lingering inside her—a flicker of power, a heartbeat of protection, and a promise that she was not truly alone.
"Alright… I can't stay here crying forever," she muttered, her fingers brushing over the spatial ring Mu Fei had entrusted her. The first ring pulsed faintly with energy, reminding her that knowledge and power could still be grasped, even without her Qi fully restored.
Xi Youran arranged the scattered scrolls and began reading through the alchemy techniques. Though her Qi was unstable, her mind was sharp. Every formula she committed to memory, every essence ratio she experimented with, brought her closer to stabilizing her own powers.
The First Clash
A sudden shift in the wind alerted her senses. Shadows moved unnaturally among the trees, and she instinctively crouched, her body tensing.
A figure leapt from the treeline—a Soul Clan scout, black-hooded, his Qi dark and suffocating.
Xi Youran's heart raced, but she steadied herself. "So… this is what training under Grandpa Yan has prepared me for."
The scout struck first, Qi forming a jagged whip of shadow. Xi Youran dodged instinctively, channeling Hui's residual power. The beast core's energy manifested—her hands glowed faintly as she attempted a high-level alchemy technique mid-combat, creating a small explosive of concentrated essence that forced the scout back.
"Huh… Hui… it's you, isn't it?" Xi Youran whispered, feeling the divine energy pulse through her veins. The scout recovered, eyes widening at the unexpected counterattack.
The battle was intense, each movement sharp and precise. Xi Youran had never fought before with real stakes, and the Soul Clan scout tested her agility, her intellect, and her control over her essence.
Finally, using a combination of alchemy explosives and Qi-infused strikes, she forced the scout to retreat. Exhausted but exhilarated, Xi Youran realized the truth: Hui's core was not only her lifeline—it was a key to techniques she could never have accessed alone.
Hui's Legacy Emerges
That night, Xi Youran meditated, tracing Hui's energy within her. His essence revealed secrets: techniques for controlling multiple Qi streams simultaneously, methods to stabilize unstable energy, and a hidden combat form Hui had never fully used.
"This… this could change everything," Xi Youran whispered. Tears streamed down her face—not from grief, but from a newfound determination.
Her training intensified. Each day she balanced alchemy and combat, learning to incorporate Hui's energy into her movements, turning her unstable Qi into a weapon instead of a liability.
JianZi's Investigation
Meanwhile, in the capital, JianZi had begun actively tracking Soul Clan movements and TianZi's interference.
Cai Xiao, still recovering from previous battles, returned with reports of unusual assassins and strange Qi traces. JianZi's brows tightened as he pieced together the patterns.
"Someone is orchestrating everything… TianZi's recklessness, the Soul Clan's sudden activity, and the Yuan Princess," he murmured. "I need to find the root before it's too late."
He began dispatching spies, cross-checking TianZi's movements, and quietly investigating the Yuan Princess's unusual behavior. Reports hinted at her subtle manipulation of palace affairs, but her true identity remained a mystery—until one careless act exposed a minor slip.
JianZi's eyes narrowed. "She's not who she claims to be… I need confirmation."
Yuan Princess's Intrigue
The false Yuan Princess continued her elegant game at court, maintaining appearances while secretly consolidating power. Her blue ocean eyes hid cunning calculations, watching Xi Youran's absence as an opportunity to influence TianZi and the capital's political landscape.
Unbeknownst to her, every action sent ripples that JianZi noticed, and every mistake was a thread waiting to unravel.
Closing Tension
Back in the mountains, Xi Youran stood beside the small river where she had first stabilized herself. Her reflection shimmered in the water—stronger, sharper, yet tempered by loss. The weight of her master and Hui's sacrifice pressed on her, but it also forged an unshakable resolve.
A new scroll lay open beside her, golden edges glowing faintly. Something about it called to her, promising knowledge she could not yet comprehend.
Xi Youran clenched her fists. "I will not fail… I will master alchemy, I will reclaim my Qi, and I will survive. For Master. For Hui. For myself."
And somewhere in the distance, the Soul Clan stirred again, preparing for their next move. The storm was far from over.