After Infusing Love Poison to the Cold Sword Sovereign - Chapter 34

Unlike the perpetually silent and elegant Snowfall Peak, the surroundings here were not blanketed in heavy snow but rather dominated by jagged, steep cliffs. The air was thick with swirling mist, creating an ethereal landscape of floating haze and warm greenery.

When Wu Ruo first opened her eyes, she didn’t immediately recognize where she was. Yet, a voice in her mind told her that this place belonged to the Zhiyuan Immortal Sect.

Was this another main peak of the sect, or perhaps a public area she had never visited, like the Sword Debate Pavilion or the Hidden Blade Armory?

Suddenly, a voice reached her ears, it sounded like an elderly man speaking: “Little Qingbei is truly a martial arts prodigy, worthy of her innate spiritual physique. She will undoubtedly become the first witness of the Great Dao in our sect.”

“Indeed, Qingbei’s talent is no less than Qingyi’s, perhaps even surpassing it. With proper nurturing, she will surely shine brilliantly!”

Qingbei? Qingyi? Could they mean,

Wu Ruo swiftly turned her head and saw a delicate, doll-like child beside her, barely reaching her waist in height. The little girl was gripping a sword, practicing with enthusiastic shouts, her face flushed with exertion but her eyes bright with energy.

“Hmph! Three Forms of the Long Wind begin!”

Sword energy erupted from the platform, instantly spreading across a radius of five zhang. Wu Ruo hurriedly dodged, but it was too late.

Yet, the sword energy passed right through her body without any resistance, and the little girl didn’t even glance her way clearly, she couldn’t see Wu Ruo at all.

So, she was merely an illusion here, not physically present.

Since she had entered this world through the Wishing Temple by touching Jiang Qingbei, then the rules of this realm must be entirely dictated by Jiang Qingbei’s consciousness.

“Jiang Qingbei!” she called out, but there was no response. She attempted to gather sword energy, but it, too, was intangible.

Well, she would have to wait for the right moment.

The elders’ praises continued from the viewing platform: “Little Jiang is truly a blessing to our sect!”

Though the child was engrossed in her sword practice, her ears perked up, absorbing every word from the elders. She puffed out her chest even more proudly and redoubled her efforts.

“As expected of Elder Jiang’s daughter, this child is destined for greatness! In the future, she may even surpass her senior sister, who follows the Path of Heartlessness!”

“How enviable Elder Jiang is after consuming the Primordial Spirit Birth Elixir, not only did her cultivation not regress, but she also gave birth to such a radiant, prodigious daughter! Truly, she is favored by the heavens!”

“At this rate, Elder Jiang will surely succeed as the next sect leader, won’t she?”

The clamor of voices buzzed incessantly. Little Jiang Qingbei stood atop the platform, performing sword flourishes as if putting on a show. Seated nearby were several elders clad in gray-gold robes, commenting on the young figure before them, their discussions centering on one woman in particular.

That woman no longer looked young her hair was streaked with white, and deep wrinkles lined her face. It was hard to connect her with the identity of the child’s mother.

Elder Jiang chatted and laughed with the surrounding elders, her gaze fixed on Jiang Qingbei on the platform. The little girl, her face alight with excitement, finished her sword form with a flourish and leaped down with a whoosh, landing right in front of Elder Jiang.

The child’s face was brimming with exhilaration, her head tilted up high, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. “Mother! How was I? Tell me!”

The woman gently patted Jiang Qingbei’s little head and said tenderly, “Wonderful, Xiao Bei, you’re the most outstanding child! Mother is so proud of you.”

Jiang Qingbei let out an excited “Wow!” and jumped up high. Children are the easiest to please with praise, and she was absolutely thrilled, her face beaming with uncontainable joy.

Elder Jiang looked at her with kindness, just like any ordinary mother doting on her beloved daughter, her smile brimming with warmth and happiness.

Wait a minute something felt off?

Wu Ruo’s gaze was also drawn downward, following little Jiang Qingbei, but in her heart, a sudden sense of unease flickered.

Not long ago, when she and Jiang Qingbei had gotten drunk together, the latter had seemingly muttered something like: “I hate my mother the most. In my next life, I swear I won’t be her daughter again.”

And another time, Jiang Qingbei had blurted out unintentionally: “I cut ties with my mother a long time ago.”

If Elder Jiang truly doted on her daughter this much and was so proud of her, would someone like Jiang Qingbei, who thrived on even the slightest praise really sever ties with her mother?

Wu Ruo grew suspicious, but the world before her eyes rapidly shifted, as if pages of a book were flipping forward, settling on another scene.

Snowfall Peak. Feather-like snowflakes swirled through the sky, blanketing everything in silver, creating a serene and tranquil landscape.

Jiang Qingbei stood halfway up the mountain, seemingly looking at someone: “Shijie, shijie, is that you? Oh heavens, you’re back? I thought you were lost! Do you have any idea how scared you made me.”

The other person appeared to have grown considerably, now a young woman, though her speech remained as unrestrained as ever. She hurried over to Luo Qingyi and grabbed her arm.

Wu Ruo widened her eyes in disbelief at the woman in the scene. Her face was strikingly familiar, but those clothes.

Why was Luo Qingyi dressed in Miao attire?

“Yes, though I nearly succumbed to qi deviation before, the Miao village’s Holy Maiden saved me after I fell off the cliff. I recovered there and then returned.”

Wait, wait, wait since when did this happen? Who was this Holy Maiden? Their tribe had never had a Holy Maiden, only a Witch Envoy. Only those chosen by the Gu God could ascend to the position of Holy Maiden!

Who on earth could possibly be the Holy Maiden? Who, who, who, who?! She hadn’t even gotten the chance to be one yet!

“People always say the Miao are cunning and vicious, but it turns out they’re good people too. Next time, invite her to visit Zhiyuan Immortal Sect! Oh, what’s her name?”

“Indeed, the Miao are simply different in their customs, but they are pure and unblemished people. We were the ones being narrow-minded before. The Holy Maiden’s name is Wu Ruo you met her back in Wushan.”

“Oh! That really pretty girl,” Jiang Qingbei exclaimed in realization, lifting her hand and shaking the silver bracelet on her wrist. “She’s really nice. If she comes, I’m sure we’ll become friends!”

What?

Wu Ruo was utterly stunned. The sheer volume of information left her overwhelmed, but a tiny flicker of excitement stirred in her heart. So, she was the Holy Maiden? Well, that settled it. If she had saved Luo Qingyi, then it made sense, the kindness Luo Qingyi had shown her recently wasn’t without reason. If this was the cause and effect, then she could accept it.

As for when she had supposedly met Jiang Qingbei, she had no memory of it. And the bracelet meant for A-Xiang had ended up with Jiang Qingbei. Whatever, maybe the young lady had taken a liking to it and bought it for a hefty sum.

Her mood had relaxed considerably as she listened to Jiang and Luo exchange a few more words. Jiang Qingbei rambled on about this and that before suddenly slapping her forehead. “Senior Sister, I completely forgot to ask! You haven’t missed recognizing your destined partner while away from the sect, have you? That would affect your cultivation and ascension.”

“No,” Luo Qingyi replied coolly. “The Great Path is the only true way for me.”

“That’s good. Senior Sister, our Path of Severing Emotions really speeds up cultivation! I read a book recently that said once the Path of Severing Emotions is broken, it’s nearly impossible to return. Heavens, I absolutely can’t let a partner disrupt my Dao heart!”

Luo Qingyi seemed to respond, but Wu Ruo didn’t catch it.

She only felt an instinctive sense of eerie dissonance in the scene but couldn’t pinpoint its source.

The scene shifted again, time flying past in a blur page after page, year after year.

Finally, the world before her gradually stabilized. Jiang Qingbei had grown taller, now fully an adult, her face not much different from the present, just younger.

A vast complex of buildings suddenly appeared before them. At the forefront, three large characters were inscribed on the gate plaque: Celestial Pivot Hall.

“Mother!” Jiang Qingbei strode to the hall’s entrance and called out loudly. “Did you know? I’ve been chosen by the sect’s Prime Spirit! I’m a rare innate spiritual body, the prophesied constitution destined to save the cultivation world from peril!”

“Xiao Bei..” Jiang Yurong wore a black-and-gold robe with cloud patterns, the distinctive attire of the Supreme Origin Sect’s leader. The woman’s face was lined with wrinkles, but her expression was full of concern and reluctance. “My child, you and your senior sister are both. I can’t bear to part with you.”

“Then let me go! You’ve always said I’m a genius, and geniuses are meant to save the world! Only a genius can shoulder this responsibility and deserve this honor! Mother, I’ve always been your pride let me bring you glory one last time!”

The expression on Jiang Qingbei’s face was familiar, the arrogance of talent, the excitement of eagerness, the solemnity of responsibility. There was no hesitation, no trace of fear. She clearly knew the consequences of being chosen by the Prime Spirit, yet she showed no dread, only lifted her head high and resolutely reaffirmed her stance.

“Mother, you said it yourself, I’m even more outstanding than Senior Sister. So this responsibility should be mine, shouldn’t it?”

Time passed minute by minute. Jiang Qingbei’s head remained proudly raised, while Sect Leader Jiang’s worried, reluctant expression began to crack.

The woman covered her face, hiding a low sigh. Her voice was hoarse, carrying a barely detectable sob, yet each word was deliberate and weighted.

“Very well. Child, your mother is proud of you.”

What followed unfolded like a slow-developing image, revealing itself bit by bit.

Jiang Qingbei bid farewell to her sectmates, underwent the Prime Spirit’s trial, and as the Heavenly Dao teetered on collapse, stepped into a grand formation alongside five other cultivators. She stood serenely at the formation’s center, at peace and unburdened.

Wu Ruo’s gaze remained fixed on Jiang Qingbei, watching as the usually spoiled young mistress wore a satisfied smile and murmured to herself, “In this lifetime, I’ve gotten my wish.”

Satisfied? No, this didn’t quite align with what she knew.

The other person slowly closed their eyes. At the moment their eyelids were about to touch, Wu Ruo decisively reached out and, with all her strength, grasped Jiang Qingbei’s arm breaking through the barrier between her world and Jiang Qingbei’s!

“Jiang Qingbei! Wake up! You’re not dead, you won’t die!”

Jiang Qingbei’s sluggish eyelids slowly lifted, and she muttered impatiently, “I already said I was willing. Who are you? Don’t disrupt my Dao heart, or the Heavenly Dao will collapse, and we’ll all die!”

“This isn’t your fate!” Wu Ruo’s mind was crystal clear. She recalled the historical records she had seen in the Zhiyuan Immortal Sect’s library without exception, they all stated that the savior of the world was not Jiang Qingbei before her, but Luo Qingyi.

Yet in this world, Jiang Qingbei.

Her hands clenched in fear, nails digging into her palms. “You won’t die. You’re still alive. The one who saved the cultivation world was Luo Qingyi, not—”

BOOM!

The entire world crumbled before her eyes. A vast black mist surged like a tide, swallowing everything. The scene shattered into countless tiny fragments, scattering like dust in the wind.

Wu Ruo’s heart pounded violently. The images she had just witnessed flashed through her mind before plunging into new contemplation.

If the final scene was fake Jiang Qingbei had looked so satisfied, and the other had mentioned two words: as wished.

The Wishing Temple. Wishes fulfilled.

She didn’t dare think further. If she hadn’t realized, would Jiang Qingbei have quietly sacrificed herself in the dream of saving the world, just as she had wished?

The collapsing world fell like boulders from the sky, smashing around her before disintegrating into dust. Wu Ruo shivered, but another thought slowly surfaced in her mind about herself, about the “Miaojiang Holy Maiden” Wu Ruo who had saved Luo Qingyi.

If the last scene was fake then every scene before it was also Jiang Qingbei’s wish, all false, all meaningless.

And for Jiang Qingbei, that person’s wish must have revolved around herself she would never have granted Wu Ruo the title of “Miaojiang Holy Maiden.” Which meant that in reality, Wu Ruo had always been the Holy Maiden, but her acquaintance with Jiang Qingbei and the others had not been as the illusion had shown.

In the illusion, Jiang Qingbei had worried that her senior sister would break her Dao because of her cultivation partner likely a subconscious fear. In other words.

Wu Ruo released Jiang Qingbei’s arm and took a step back, narrowing her eyes.

If she wasn’t mistaken.

The drowsy Jiang Qingbei opened her eyes and hesitated, “Wu Ruo? Didn’t I not know you. No, wait, I remember, you’re Senior Sister’s cultivation partner. I hate you, Ah!!”

The scene shifted once more, returning to the Zhiyuan Immortal Sect. In that instant, Wu Ruo suddenly felt the solid sensation of standing on solid ground.

This time, she seemed to have a physical form.

She appeared to be walking along a mountain path, accompanied by someone raven-black hair, snow-pale skin, eyes and tresses as dark as ink, dressed in Miaojiang attire just like her.

The other person held her hand tightly, their palm slightly cooler than normal, yet their heartbeat was strong and steady.

“Ah Ruo, we’re here.”

The man raised his hand and pointed forward. Following his gesture, Wu Ruo saw a towering boulder standing before the mountain gate, inscribed with four bold and powerful characters: Zhiyuan Immortal Sect.

It seemed she could no longer speak. Nor could she move or act as she pleased.

Stiffly adjusting to the body, she now inhabited, Wu Ruo’s gaze followed the predetermined motions, slowly shifting to the face of the person beside her.

It was Luo Qingyi.

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