After My Rebirth, I Ended Up Happily Ever After with the Saintess - Chapter 94

The finalization of the core quota, like a giant rock thrown into a seemingly calm lake, created ripples far exceeding expectations. Within the Mysterious Cloud Sect, the latent factional conflict was brought into the open due to Ye Li’s forceful selection and the clear setback of the Battle Maniac Peak faction. The air was thick with the oppressive feeling of an impending storm.

In the Cloud Elixir Peak’s small courtyard, Ye Li did not relax even slightly after securing the spot. She knew that the Situ Kuang faction would never let the matter rest. The competition on the surface had ended, but the true, hidden struggle was just beginning. These five days of preparation were destined to be anything but peaceful.

Sure enough, that very afternoon, Sun Xiaohou, through the most secret channel of the Shadow Pavilion, delivered the first urgent intelligence report:

“Pavilion Master, Battle Maniac Peak Elder Tu Li (the one who spoke in the hall) secretly met with several unfamiliar external cultivators. Their aura was cold and sinister, suspected to be from the Demonic Path. Following this, Shi Long and several of his confidants frequently visited the Sect’s Secret Vault and the War Preparation Hall, exchanging a large quantity of single-use attack talismans and several defensive spirit artifacts of no low grade, far exceeding what is required for regular exploration.”

Ye Li’s eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at the information in the jade slip. Exchanging excessive offensive and defensive materials could be explained as caution; however, secretly meeting with external figures of unknown identity was highly suspicious. This Situ Kuang was clearly deeply involved with external forces. She feared that inside the ruins, she would face not only the dangers of the site and competition from other sects, but also a fatal plot from her “own people.”

“Continue monitoring, but be extremely careful. It’s better to lose the trail than to be exposed,” Ye Li replied, reminding Sun Xiaohou to prioritize safety. The opponent was an old fox who had lived for countless years and was extremely vigilant.

Immediately after, Lin Feng also sent news. Using Ye Li’s currently higher authority, he reviewed some seemingly unrelated sect mission records and material flow accounts. He discovered several large contributions point expenditures under the Battle Maniac Peak’s name over the past six months, with vague usage descriptions and handled by Situ Kuang’s absolute confidants. These contribution points were enough to support a small-scale war.

“They are hoarding resources and have a greater scheme,” Lin Feng analyzed. “Besides targeting you, Pavilion Master, they probably have an even larger plot in mind.”

Ye Li pondered for a moment, then replied: “Organize these suspicious points into a booklet and anonymously send a copy to Elder Yan of the Law Enforcement Hall. Don’t expect to overthrow Situ Kuang, but at least it can cause him some trouble and make the sect’s high-level officials more vigilant.” This was an overt strategy. Even if no substantial evidence could be found, it could, to a certain extent, tie up Situ Kuang’s actions.

After dealing with these miscellaneous pieces of information, Ye Li began to prepare for the exploration. She first visited the Sect’s treasury, and using her core disciple quota and a large amount of contribution points, exchanged for a sufficient quantity of high-grade Qi Replenishment Pills, the healing sacred medicine “Life Creation Pill,” and several powerful Tier 4 talismans, such as the “Geng Metal Armor Breaking Talisman” and the “Profound Ice Thousands of Miles Talisman.” At the same time, she also received a standard set of exploration equipment, including a formation breaking cone, a poison avoiding bead, and a spirit-sensing compass.

Back in her small courtyard, she began to reinforce her own gear. The Profound Ice Sword, having gone through consecutive major battles and her cultivation level increasing, was starting to lag behind. She took out the Star Essence Gold obtained from the Meteorite Ruins and some of the Cold Iron Elite acquired from the Northern Territory, ignited the earth fire, and re-forged the sword body. During the process, she attempted to integrate a trace of the original cold energy refined by the Reincarnation Mirror and a faint spatial fluctuation into it. This resulted in the newly formed Profound Ice Sword not only becoming sharper and harder, with faint star patterns appearing on its body, but also carrying a subtle, elusive spirituality. Its quality was secretly touching the edge of a spirit artifact.

The Minor Cosmos Star Formation Plate was further optimized by embedding several high-grade spirit stones as backup energy, significantly increasing its sustained combat capability. The Profound Ice Shield secret art was repeatedly practiced, striving for the shield to appear the moment a thought crossed her mind.

Just as she was immersed in her preparations, a ripple appeared in the formation outside the courtyard. A communication talisman flew in, its aura clean, cold, and familiar—it was Qin Yixuan.

Ye Li slightly raised an eyebrow and activated the formation. A white-clad figure quietly appeared in the courtyard, it was indeed Qin Yixuan. She seemed to have just finished cultivating or preparing as well. Her aura was more complete and profound, clearly indicating that she had not wasted the past six months either.

“Senior Sister Qin,” Ye Li stood up to greet her, her tone calm. After fighting side-by-side in Black Water City and the skirmishes in the Northern Territory Grand Competition, the hostility between them had largely dissipated, replaced by a subtle peace based on mutual recognition.

Qin Yixuan nodded slightly, her cold gaze sweeping across the uncollected refinement traces and the talisman materials on the table. She said directly: “It seems Junior Sister Ye is quite well prepared.”

“The ruins are dangerous; it’s best to be prepared,” Ye Li invited her to sit and poured a cup of clear tea. “Senior Sister Qin, are you visiting now regarding the matter of the ruins?”

Qin Yixuan took the teacup but did not drink. Her slender fingers gently rubbed the cup, and after a moment of thought, she said: “That’s right. The Ice Soul Mystic Palace is extraordinary. According to the ancient records of my Azure Water Pavilion, its core area has an extreme cold restriction that cannot be broken by ordinary means. My Pavilion’s cultivation method aligns with the attributes of this place, so we may have a slight advantage.”

She paused, looked at Ye Li, her gaze clear and candid: “However, opportunity often coexists with risk. As far as I know, besides the disciples from the various sects on the surface, there might also be some… uninvited guests mixed in. Demonic Path forces like the Heaven Fiend Sect and the Black Evil Valley will absolutely not miss this opportunity. There might even be more hidden presences.”

Ye Li’s heart stirred. Did the “more hidden presences” Qin Yixuan referred to relate to the “reincarnation-related matters” warned by her master and the “Shadow Demon” that Situ Kuang was colluding with? She calmly said: “Senior Sister is well-informed. May I ask, what are your plans?”

This was a test and also a search for the possibility of cooperation.

Qin Yixuan seemed to see through her thoughts and said plainly: “My Azure Water Pavilion will naturally do its best to seize opportunities. However, if we encounter certain dangers or… common enemies that are beyond the ordinary within the ruins, a temporary alliance is not out of the question.”

She did not give a clear promise, but the four words “temporary alliance” already showed her attitude. This was an intention for cooperation based on rational judgment and recognition of strength, unrelated to sect stance, only concerning personal safety and the maximization of benefits.

Ye Li smiled slightly and raised her teacup: “Senior Sister speaks wisely. If such a situation truly arises, an alliance is indeed the best choice. At that time, I hope Senior Sister can look out for me.” She also did not make a full commitment, but she accepted this potential alliance.

The two teacups gently clinked in the air, making a crisp sound. There were no oaths, no contracts, but an invisible understanding was reached between the two. This might be one of their most important guarantees in the crisis-ridden ruins.

“In addition,” Qin Yixuan put down the teacup and added seemingly casually, “I observe that Junior Sister Ye’s cultivation method is extremely yin and cold, quite compatible with the environment of this Mystic Palace. My Azure Water Pavilion has a Profound Water to Ice Transformation Art. Although it is not a core inheritance, it is quite effective for guiding and utilizing the extreme cold environment and might be helpful to Junior Sister.”

With that, she took out a light blue jade slip and placed it on the table.

Ye Li was slightly stunned. She hadn’t expected Qin Yixuan to actively gift a cultivation method. This Profound Water to Ice Transformation Art might not be of high grade, but its concepts and techniques were exactly what she currently needed. This favor was significant.

“Thank you deeply for the generous gift, Senior Sister,” Ye Li accepted it openly without false modesty. This gift, to a certain extent, also represented Qin Yixuan’s sincerity toward this potential cooperation.

“No need to be polite. It’s mutually beneficial,” Qin Yixuan stood up. “See you at the entrance of the ruins in five days. I wish Junior Sister Ye… all the best.”

With that, she did not stay any longer and left as quietly as she arrived, her white clothes fluttering.

After seeing Qin Yixuan off, Ye Li held the still slightly cool jade slip, her mind filled with complicated thoughts. Her relationship with Qin Yixuan was evolving in a peculiar way. From initial rival to potential ally, there was a mixture of unsaid admiration and understanding in between. She could not predict where this relationship would lead, but for now, it was more beneficial than harmful.

She collected her thoughts and began to study the Profound Water to Ice Transformation Art. Sure enough, some of the methods for transforming and guiding extreme cold spiritual energy gave her new insights into the application of the Ethereal Universe Emperor Scripture. She gained a bit more confidence for the upcoming trip to the Mystic Palace.

While Ye Li was actively preparing for battle, the atmosphere in the secret chamber of Battle Maniac Peak was gloomy.

Elder Tu Li reported to Situ Kuang, who was still weak and lying on the cold jade bed, with a grim expression: “Sect Master, that little wretch Ye Li is extremely vigilant, and our people cannot get close. Moreover, she seems to have had contact with that girl from the Azure Water Pavilion…”

Although heavily injured, Situ Kuang’s eyes remained dark and venomous. He said in a hoarse voice: “It doesn’t matter… inside the ruins is the best place to make a move… The ‘Shadow Prison’ envoys have been arranged… as long as she enters the core area… she won’t be able to escape… and that item… must be acquired…”

A trace of awe and fanaticism flashed in Tu Li’s eyes: “Sect Master, rest assured, everything has been arranged. Shi Long knows what to do.”

“Hmph… Xuan Chengzi, Mu Yun… you want to nurture her? I’ll make sure she’s buried in an ice cave!” Situ Kuang’s eyes were filled with malicious resentment.

On the other side of Profound Heaven Peak, in the Law Enforcement Hall, Elder Yan looked at the anonymously delivered records regarding the abnormal flow of Battle Maniac Peak’s resources, frowning deeply. He finally sighed and sealed the record: “A time of trouble… I hope no great disaster is created.”

Five days passed in a flash.

When dawn returned, fifty energized disciples had gathered at the Mysterious Cloud Sect’s mountain gate plaza. Resident Mu Yun, clad in a simple daoist robe, stood at the front of the team, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, especially lingering on core disciples like Ye Li and Leng Ning.

“Depart!”

With Resident Mu Yun’s command, a sect warship, larger and with more dense runes than an ordinary flying boat, slowly ascended. Carrying the hopes and ambitions of the Mysterious Cloud Sect, it transformed into a streak of light, rushing towards the Northern Territory Ice Field, towards the mysterious and dangerous ancient ruins—the Ice Soul Mystic Palace.

Inside the cabin, Ye Li stood by the window, watching the rapidly receding mountains and rivers below, her eyes calm and resolute.

Ice Soul Mystic Palace, I am coming. Regardless of whether what lies ahead is opportunity or trap, friend or foe, I shall step over them one by one!