Han Huijun was dumbstruck as he stared at the two Azure Lotuses.
At the center of each lotus floated a trapped soul: one was Ancestor Yuchi, the other the former sect master of Miaoyun Sect.
"What happened? Jia Ling… where did Jia Ling go?"
The chaotic miasma had been blasted out of the plaza. Yuan Kong, bathed in golden light, flew out, staring at the two lotuses in astonishment.
"This Azure Lotus… Ancestor Yuchi and the former Miaoyun Sect sect master… their bodies have been destroyed?"
Yuan Kong seemed confused, as if asking and answering himself at the same time.
Because he already had the answer in his heart.
Shen Yuefu stepped past Mu Xin, staring blankly at the two Azure Lotuses in the air.
"Has everything… been resolved?"
Mu Xin appeared silently at his side.
"Shocking, isn't it? I couldn't believe it either at first. But to you, she isn't an opponent. She is total domination."
Shen Yuefu remained motionless, as if he had not heard.
Mu Xin tilted slightly, his gaze falling on Shen Yuefu's cheek, noticing the trembling of his eyelashes.
Yao Ranran descended on an Azure Lotus, scattering thousands of petals that cleared the remaining miasma from the plaza, restoring Wuxiang Sect to clarity.
"Just these two?"
She looked at Han Huijun.
Han Huijun blinked, trying to comprehend, then rubbed his eyes with both hands.
"Why do I feel like I just saw an immortal? When did I become as ordinary as a mortal?"
He rubbed his eyes hard, trying to make sense of the scene.
Yao Ranran flicked a lotus petal toward him; it entered his forehead.
"Sect Master Han, the miasma's poison caused the hallucination."
The cool lotus petal sank into his body. Han Huijun shook his head and lifted it in realization.
"So the miasma was causing chaos in my body… but… Immortal, please accept my bow!"
Yao Ranran faced him from the Azure Lotus. Han Huijun suddenly collapsed, bowing deeply, his forehead striking the ground with a crisp sound.
Everyone present fell silent.
Shen Yuefu parted his lips slightly, swallowing hard.
Mu Xin suddenly laughed.
"Xiānzhǔ, if you take back this Azure Lotus, he won't be lost in the illusion anymore."
Yao Ranran lightly furrowed her brows and casually retrieved the lotus.
"Is that so? Sect Master Han, I've already captured the spirit realm cultivators who threatened Wuxiang Sect. How you handle them next is up to you. I only want what belongs to me."
Her clear voice echoed in Han Huijun's mind. He got to his feet, looking up at Yao Ranran, feeling a holy light seeming to surround her entire being.
"Thank you for saving us, Xiānzhǔ. Wuxiang Sect is yours. Please take it!"
Yao Ranran scattered petals calmly. They flew in all directions, dissipating the miasma that had covered the peaks of Wuxiang Sect.
The two people in Qingsu Hall opened their eyes, staring at the palace in shock.
"Qiao Qiao, the miasma… it's gone!"
Yue Qingsu reached forward. He could now see everything clearly. Even the woman on the bed was no longer shrouded in thin mist.
Pei Xianqiao extended her hands as well. A faint white light appeared in her palms. The little chubby figure in her hands opened its eyes.
"Master, she cleared the miasma. I saw everything…"
Yue Qingsu pointed in surprise at the tiny figure.
"Qiao Qiao, what is this?"
Pei Xianqiao pressed her lips together, gently rubbing its head with one hand.
"Master, this is the Mirror Spirit I obtained in the Eastern Wilderness secret realm. When the sect's protective formation was breached, I released it to observe the situation outside."
"So it knows how the miasma disappeared? What did it just say? Who is she?"
Yue Qingsu gripped the edge of his bed, his pupils tightening.
Pei Xianqiao lowered her eyes slightly, staring at the Jing Spirit with a bitter smile.
"Master, haven't you seen her before in Qingshui Domain? She saved the people there, not me."
"Nonsense!"
Yue Qingsu shouted angrily.
"She was the one who ruined you, who cut off your path to cultivation. How can she be the savior of Qingshui Domain?"
"She doesn't deserve it!"
Seeing Yue Qingsu so emotional, Pei Xianqiao placed her hand on his.
"Master, I've realized something. The one who harmed me wasn't her—it was me."
Yue Qingsu looked at her in astonishment.
"Qiao Qiao, do you know what you are saying?"
Pei Xianqiao released the Mirror Spirit and looked at the sunlight outside. She murmured,
"Master, compared to Yao Ranran's life, I want to see these spirit realm cultivators fall. They slaughtered my people. They killed my parents."
She struck the bedpost with rage, blood seeping from her fingers, yet her lower body did not move an inch.
Yue Qingsu panicked and protected her hands.
"You're insane! These are the hands I worked so hard to recover for you! Don't worry. These spirit realm cultivators will die. I'll help restore your body too. You don't need to worry. Just stay by my side and everything will be fine."
Yue Qingsu gently patted her back, calming her.
Pei Xianqiao shed two silent tears and closed her eyes.
"As long as they die, my people can return home…"
"Yes." Yue Qingsu comforted her softly.
The usually lively Qingsu Hall now held only the two of them.
As the miasma dissipated, Yue Qingsu's disciples gradually left him, realizing this hall was no longer their place. Their master's focus was solely on the Junior Sister.
The clearing of the miasma brought more changes to Wuxiang Sect.
Yuan Kong found Mu Jialing inside the cocoon of miasma.
The cocoon was broken. Mu Jialing's eyes remained tightly closed, showing no sign of awakening.
Yuan Kong placed his hand on his chest, probing his organs.
"In such a short time, the miasma has infiltrated every acupuncture point and blocked his meridians. What is this spirit realm miasma?"
Yuan Kong's expression was heavy.
The miasma inside Mu Jialing's body was denser than ever, a poison he could not force out.
A serene lotus floated into Mu Jialing's chest.
Yuan Kong watched in astonishment as Mu Jialing awoke, then turned his gaze to Yao Ranran.
"It was Fairy Yao Ranran who saved him?"
Yao Ranran blinked.
"He didn't die, so it's not really a rescue. I just happen to know him from before, so I helped a little and cleared the miasma from his body."
Yuan Kong stared at her in surprise, then joined his hands in reverence.
"Amitabha, thank you, Fairy. Sect Master Han must have extraordinary fortune to invite a Fairy. May this poor monk have the chance to invite the Fairy to Guan Fan Temple for a visit?"
"Money would help!"
Yao Ranran bared her teeth playfully.
Yuan Kong suddenly became full of energy. He raised one hand in a vertical palm.
"Guan Fan Temple keeps many spirit stones for the living. If the Fairy does not mind, we can go see them together."