After Changing Her Fate, the Vicious Female Villain and the Protagonist Got an HE! - Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Advancement

Qin Niyun reached out to take the Fire Spirit Pearl. In that instant, the flowing magma and the fire phoenix vanished simultaneously, as if they had never existed at all.

At the same time, a new scene gradually revealed itself before their eyes.

Inside a palace built of bluestone, two rows of stone pillars each held a lotus jade lamp. They emitted a spiritual glow, illuminating the entire hall. The surrounding walls were covered in numerous murals.

Wen Shurong’s mind was drawn to them, and she studied them one by one. After a long time, she withdrew her gaze, feeling a deep sense of emotion in her heart.

“These murals depict the lives of the palace owner and her Dao companion. They went through many hardships, but in the end, the lovers finally found their happy ending.”

Qin Niyun walked to her junior sister’s side and picked up the thread of conversation: “The era those two seniors lived in followed the harmony of Yin and Yang; same-sex love was not accepted. Most of their suffering came from a world that would not tolerate them. Compared to them, we are much luckier. We should cherish the time we have now even more.”

Wen Shurong leaned into her senior sister’s embrace, her nose catching that familiar, clear fragrance.

“In this life, we are lucky. But in our past life, there were too many regrets. If the Great Sea Realm hadn’t been destroyed, with our talent, we might have had the chance to become immortals even then.”

A look of reminiscence appeared on Qin Niyun’s face.

“In my past life, I was slow to react to emotions. You dropped several hints, Junior Sister, but I noticed nothing. I wasted the time we could have spent together for nothing. I only came to my senses at the very last moment of my life. By then, it was too late.”

Wen Shurong wrapped her arms around her senior sister’s slender waist and responded softly:

“If not for that great heavenly tribulation in our past life, perhaps we would have continued living simply as fellow sisters. After all, I wasn’t brave enough then either. If I had confessed directly, how could there have been any regrets? Fortunately, neither you nor I ever liked anyone else. Even if we didn’t clarify our feelings, our eyes only ever held each other.”

Qin Niyun nodded silently. After a moment, as if discovering something, she pointed to the front right.

“Junior Sister, look. On the sixteenth mural, the lotus jade lamp in the palace owner’s hand protrudes slightly. It looks like there’s a hidden mechanism.”

Wen Shurong looked where she pointed and nodded after a moment. “It looks like a button for a mechanism. Shall we go try it?”

“Alright.”

Qin Niyun agreed happily. The two walked together, slowly approaching the mural.

As they drew near, Wen Shurong reached out to press it, but the moment her hand was about to touch the wall, her wrist was caught by her senior sister. Qin Niyun worried about unknown dangers. “Junior Sister, let me do it.”

She took half a step forward, quietly shielding the girl in green behind her.

Wen Shurong, being perceptive, immediately realized her sister’s intention. While moved, she also secretly prepared herself: if anything went wrong, she would immediately retreat with her sister.

Soon, a click sounded in their ears.

The wall split in two, opening a secret door. After sensing with her divine consciousness and confirming there was no danger, Qin Niyun led her sister into the secret chamber.

Inside were rows of wooden shelves. Because of a special restriction, there was no dust or signs of wear; time seemed to have stopped here.

There were jade slips on the shelves. Qin Niyun picked one up and scanned it with her consciousness. After a moment, a smile appeared on her face, and she handed it to the girl in green.

Curious, Wen Shurong took the slip and checked it as well.

“This is… a secret method for Spiritual Cultivation (Língxiū) between Dao companions. It allows both parties to advance their cultivation together.”

So-called Spiritual Cultivation involved the interaction of divine consciousness, entering the other person’s sea of consciousness. Unless both parties trusted each other completely, any hint of resistance during the process would cause a backlash for both. Among Dao companions in the cultivation world, very few could achieve this.

Qin Niyun’s gaze was tender as she looked at the girl beside her. “Now that I have the Fire Spirit Pearl, is Junior Sister willing to cultivate this secret method with me?”

Wen Shurong’s face turned a deep crimson as she gave a soft “Mm.”

She possessed Gold and Wood dual spiritual roots. The Fire Spirit Pearl was originally useless to her, but by practicing this secret method with her sister, she could convert a portion of the fire-element spiritual energy into gold and wood energy.

The two memorized the technique and prepared themselves. They sat cross-legged on meditation cushions, facing each other with palms pressed together.

The Fire Spirit Pearl hovered in the air. Pure fire spiritual energy poured into Qin Niyun and was then transmitted through their palms. Following the secret technique, it transformed into gold and wood energy, surging through Wen Shurong’s meridians.

In that moment, their seas of consciousness merged, handing over their most vulnerable parts to the other…

The cultivation lasted for an entire month.

During this time, their cultivation rose in sync. In less than three days, they advanced from the Early-stage Nascent Soul to the Mid-stage. Five days later, they broke through to the Late-stage. In exactly seven days, they reached the Great Circle (Peak).

After another half-month of accumulation, they successfully advanced to the Deity Transformation (Huashan) Stage!

The Fire Spirit Pearl, once glowing red, was now nearly transparent. Its spiritual energy had become incredibly thin—the result of excessive consumption. This treasure was innate, generated by heaven and earth. Once its energy was depleted, it would enter a dormant state to slowly recover.

Sensing the pearl’s condition, Qin Niyun sent a mental message to her sister to pause their cultivation. They meditated briefly, stood up, and continued browsing the remaining slips in the chamber.

Wen Shurong found that half of them recorded various heavenly treasures that had appeared in the Xuanyuan Realm, with detailed notes on their effects. Sadly, many of them no longer existed in this era. Others recorded methods for alchemy and smithing, with detailed steps and unique insights.

Nearby, Qin Niyun found a neatly folded map made of multi-layered celestial silk, resistant to both fire and water. It depicted the distribution of powers and geography of the ancient world.

She looked at it for a long time, feeling deeply moved. “The world changes as the seas turn into mulberry fields; nothing is more evident than this.”

Hearing this, Wen Shurong set down her jade slip and walked over to see the ancient map. She sighed softly: “None of the powers marked here remain in today’s Xuanyuan Realm.”

Qin Niyun nodded. “The ancient era has no specific dates in modern records, but based on the few ruins that have appeared, we can estimate it was at least nine million years ago.”

Wen Shurong leaned her head against her sister’s shoulder. “There are no remains of the two seniors in the palace. They must have successfully ascended to the Immortal Realm.”

Qin Niyun wrapped an arm around her waist and smiled. “That’s for certain. The final mural shows many auspicious clouds and golden light shining from the heavens—that is the sign of ascension.”

Wen Shurong voiced her deepest hope: “I hope that in the future, I can achieve the Great Path and become an immortal together with you, Senior Sister.”

Qin Niyun’s eyes shone like stars, brimming with confidence. “That day will come. We will work for it together!”

The lotus jade lamps they had carried when they entered had vanished. Being in the secret chamber, they hadn’t found a way out yet. However, knowing enemies were waiting outside, they felt safer staying here for the time being. They continued to read the remaining slips.

After a long while, Wen Shurong reached the last row of shelves and pulled out a golden jade plate from the very back. Curious, she scanned it. A moment later, she picked up her skirt and ran over to the girl in white.

“Sister, look at this.”

Qin Niyun took the plate. “This… is also a secret method. It can be used to save lives at a critical moment. Once cast, the two parties will share life and death. The records say the palace owner created this to save her dying companion. Due to its restrictions, only those in the Deity Transformation or Great Enlightenment stages can successfully learn it.”

Wen Shurong whispered, “We can keep this method, though I hope we never have to use it.”

Their enemy had once devoured the origin power of an entire world and was incredibly strong; such a worry was only natural.

Qin Niyun put the plate away and hugged the girl, comforting her: “Since ancient times, good has always triumphed over evil. No matter what danger we face, I believe we will eventually turn peril into safety.”

Hearing this, Wen Shurong thought back to the years when she was plagued by cold poison. Compared to then, she was much happier now; she shouldn’t dwell on gains and losses. In that instant, her mind cleared, and her negative emotions vanished.

A clear state of mind is the best time to cultivate. Qin Niyun suggested they practice the Spiritual Cultivation method again. They sat on their cushions, palms joined, and quickly entered a meditative state.

Mornings rose and evenings set; half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

Because the Fire Spirit Pearl was overextended and could no longer be used, their progress was slower this time. It took half a year to break through one minor stage, advancing from the Early-stage Deity Transformation to the Mid-stage. Of course, in the outside world, such a speed would be considered peerless.

After the breakthrough, Wen Shurong paused and brought up a concern.

“Sister, over the past six months, I’ve noticed the spiritual energy density in the palace decreasing daily. If we stay, I fear we won’t be able to advance again.”

Qin Niyun had noticed this too. “We have been here a long time; it is time to leave. However, the entrance was sealed long ago. We need to find a way out.”

Wen Shurong mused, “The palace is in a different dimension. When I searched for the Spirit-Restoring God Flower, I had a similar experience. In the end, I used an object belonging to that space to return to the Kunlun Mountains.”

Hearing this, Qin Niyun remembered something. With a wave of her sleeve, the golden jade plate containing the “Life and Death” secret method appeared.

“Look, Junior Sister. Both sides of this plate are engraved with a lotus jade lamp. Perhaps the key to leaving is on this object.”

Wen Shurong nodded. “It’s definitely possible!”

Qin Niyun tried injecting spiritual power into the plate, but there was no reaction. She suggested, “Junior Sister, let’s try together.”

“Alright.”

Wen Shurong agreed without hesitation. She reached out her right hand, palm against the other side of the plate. Moving in sync with her sister, she slowly injected her spiritual power.

In the next instant, the two engraved lotus lamps on the plate erupted with a dazzling golden light, instantly enveloping them and causing them to vanish from the room…

Support After Changing Her Fate, the Vicious Female Villain and the Protagonist Got an HE!