Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Only Daughter of the Hidden Clan

Suddenly, the earth trembled and mountains shook. Everyone was seized with fear at the sight of the palace rising from the barren forest.

“Could this be the legendary site of an ancient hall?!”

“The treasure must be hidden inside! Hahaha, the treasure is mine!”

“Ah!”

“Ahhh...!”

No sooner had one man shouted than, eyes reddened, he charged inside, followed by more and more people, who ultimately found themselves trapped by the palace’s mechanisms.

Outside the withered woods, Gu Hua, Ning Xue’er, and a few others who had merely glimpsed each other stood back, still observing. The place was too strange—those who rush ahead never return.

When the screams faded, the group chose different forks in the path. Ning Xue’er had barely taken two steps when someone grabbed her by the hair and yanked her close.

Rubbing her scalp, she looked up at the figure beside her. “Brother Xuan?”

Jun Muxuan glanced to the side. “Your cultivation is weak. If my fiancée dies here, I’ll be known as a wife-killer!”

Though his excuse was feeble, Ning Xue’er knew her Brother Xuan was finally showing concern for her—and had acknowledged her as his fiancée. Her heart found reason for hope.

Gu Hua’s path had been carefully chosen by Little Rascal, who avoided most traps and found the quickest shortcut to the palace.

[Master, turn left up ahead by that tree, you—wait! No, don’t—]

“What?” Gu Hua hadn’t finished listening before her hand, beyond her control, pressed into a groove in the trunk. A crisp click, and a cloud of black mist rose around her!

[Master! Cover your mouth! That’s a thousand-year toxic miasma! Here—Breakthrough Pill, take it to ease the effects!]

Cursing inwardly, Gu Hua quickly crushed the Breakthrough Pill, scattering its powder. Within moments, the miasma thinned, though some lingered.

Having already taken Breakthrough Pills before, Gu Hua knew this concentration was too low to cause her real harm.

Following Little Rascal’s guidance, she escaped. Those who came after weren’t so lucky—some managed to avoid the area, others were trapped in the choking gas.

The miasma would slowly settle in the dantian, breeding inner demons. The strong-willed might break free; the weak-minded could be devoured by their demons, or worse, fall into madness.

The Breakthrough Pill’s effect lasted only briefly; soon, the miasma would return to its original density, dispersing only when no one passed by, waiting for its next prey.

[Master, you were too reckless! If you’d let an inner demon take root, the consequences would be unimaginable!]

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t careful enough.” Gu Hua admitted her carelessness.

[Sigh, it’s my fault too. I should’ve just led you around it—I talk too much. Let’s keep moving; there are already two people ahead of us!]

“Mm.” Little Rascal continued to guide Gu Hua along the shortcut.

Now, before Gu Hua stood a towering palace. The carvings on the stone pillars were vivid and lifelike, but there was no plaque above the door—perhaps it had fallen off.

[Master, there don’t seem to be any traps inside.]

Gu Hua gently pressed her hand to the heavy palace doors. With a clang, they swung open effortlessly, without warning.

Inside the vast hall stood a single statue. Time had claimed its head, but from the figure’s attire and form, it seemed to be a woman—perhaps even a goddess.

Nothing flanked the statue; the great hall was utterly empty.

Suddenly!

The candlesticks before the statue flared to life. A beam of light shone upon Gu Hua, and in her sea of consciousness, the lotus petal hovered, drawn to the chest of the headless statue.

Gu Hua felt a wave of sorrow wash over her, and a single crystal tear slipped from the corner of her eye.

At the same time, those hurrying through the withered forest saw the pillar of light above the ancient palace and quickened their pace. Such a scene could only mean an inheritance was being bestowed!

The lotus mark on Gu Hua’s chest burned hotter, as if her whole body was being tempered in a blazing forge.

Within her portable space, Little Rascal and Mirage Sprite bickered endlessly. Fortunately, Bonegrass was more composed. The two troublemakers could only wait anxiously for their master to complete her inheritance.

“Divine Lady, you have finally arrived...”

A voice ancient and profound sounded from all directions.

Gu Hua closed her eyes tightly. “Who are you?”

“We are your faithful followers, guarding this inheritance, your mission and your true form...”

In a blink, Gu Hua found herself alternately scorched by desert sun and enveloped by snowy peaks.

With her last shred of consciousness, Gu Hua understood: this was the legacy left by her past self, Zhong Lian. Only by accepting it could she gain the right to save the myriad realms.

She let go of doubt, steadied her heart, and entered the inheritance. In the haze, she saw Zhong Lian, a lotus mark at her brow, smiling at her...

The Withered Woods.

Ning Xue’er and Jun Muxuan had traveled most of the way, with only a short distance left to the ancient palace.

“Second Prince... Brother Xuan,”

The words ‘Second Prince’ were cut off by Jun Muxuan’s sidelong glance, so she corrected herself. “I feel uneasy, as if something’s following us...”

Jun Muxuan’s face was calm, but inwardly he was already on edge. He’d sensed something was off earlier, but dismissed it as nerves. Now that Ning Xue’er felt it too, it could only mean something unclean was trailing them.

“What dares to follow me? You’re too sensitive.”

Jun Muxuan opted to remain steadfast—whatever creature lurked, if it didn’t show itself, he would ignore it.

Ning Xue’er still felt uneasy, but since Jun Muxuan dismissed her worries, she quietly put some distance between them.

She knew her cultivation was weak, and that she shouldn’t have come here. But who doesn’t survive by pushing their limits and seeking opportunities? Rather than train aimlessly at home, she’d rather come here to seek her own fortune.

Still, she was afraid she’d drag Jun Muxuan down if she stayed too close. Since she’d insisted on coming, she’d be happy as long as she didn’t hold her Brother Xuan back.

Suddenly, Jun Muxuan noticed the warmth at his side vanish. He frowned. “Why are you suddenly so far away?”

Ning Xue’er stammered for an excuse. “I... I just felt a bit hot...”

She thought the matter would pass, but then a sharply defined hand suddenly encircled her arm, slipping around to her belly.

Startled, Ning Xue’er’s face flushed and her heart raced. “Xuan... Brother Xuan!”

But Jun Muxuan had no time for embarrassment. He sensed the thing behind them was drawing closer. “Stay near me! If something happens, how can I protect you? Do you want me to tie you to my side with a rope?”

Ning Xue’er edged closer. Still dissatisfied, Jun Muxuan simply pulled her by the waist, and caught off guard, Ning Xue’er tumbled into his chest.

For a moment, both of them froze, as if time itself had stopped. Pressed to his chest, Ning Xue’er could hear his heartbeat, strong and rapid.

In that moment, she realized she could be this close to Brother Xuan—his heart was beating so fast...

Jun Muxuan’s mind was blank. He had only applied the lightest force, never expecting Ning Xue’er to be so light.

Suddenly, a sharp cry sounded at their ears: “Watch out!”