Come on, let's step into hell with both feet.

The next day, before the break of dawn.

The sun had yet to rise, but the sky above the Holy City was already dyed an emerald green.

The vibrant green flames illuminated half the city, making it sparkle.

That was the light of the Green Lotus Heavenly Flame.

The Heavenly Flame Ceremony had begun.

In the courtyard, the dancers who had gone to bed early yesterday were already gathered. They had changed into brand-new feathered dresses, their hair neatly combed, and light makeup adorned their faces.

Xiao Qingli stood among them, stifling a yawn.

How strange.

Even though she had slept a bit late last night, she felt incredibly comfortable upon waking up. She wasn't sleepy at all, and her whole body felt warm.

It must be her mother watching over her from heaven.

She thought to herself.

Last night, she had seen her mother in her dreams. Her mother's hands were so soft, patting her back and humming a song just like when she was little.

Today, everyone had woken up very early.

Even Bingxuanzi, who had been as elusive as a phantom for the past two months, had returned to the courtyard in the middle of the night. At this moment, he stood beside Ye Shu, as solemn as a statue.

Ye Shu stood before the door, his hands clasped behind his back.

"Is everyone ready?"

His voice was a bit cold, carrying a rare seriousness.

Hearing his voice, the girls immediately lined up in neat rows, their eyes conveying that they were fully prepared.

Xiao Qingli stood in the crowd, her brows slightly furrowed.

She couldn't help but feel that... the Director was different today. He seemed so serious. Was it because he was afraid the performance would fail, angering those important figures and leading to his punishment?

Wait!

Xiao Qingli suddenly widened her eyes.

If the Director was punished—or even killed—for a failed performance, did that mean they would be free?

No, no, they would probably be killed too, right?

She nodded one moment and shook her head the next.

Just then, Ye Shu suddenly stepped forward and walked toward her. The surrounding dancers consciously made way for him.

Xiao Qingli looked up at Ye Shu as he approached. Thinking her secret thoughts had been discovered, she couldn't help but feel a little afraid.

"D-Director..."

Ye Shu's right hand twitched, but he forced himself to hold back.

"You will lead today's performance."

"...Perform well."

With that, he turned and left.

Leaving behind a bewildered Xiao Qingli and the other girls who were looking at each other in dismay.

"L-Lead? Me?"

Xiao Qingli stood frozen, her face full of confusion.

Qingyuan walked over and gently rubbed her little head. "Don't be afraid. Didn't you want to let everyone stay here? This is a great opportunity."

"Let everyone see how amazing our Qingli is!"

"Mhm!"

Having reached the door, Ye Shu turned back and said coldly, "Hurry up and follow. There's a performance during the day as well."

There were two performances today.

One was in the morning, held in the plaza for everyone to see. It was an impromptu addition decided by Queen Medusa herself.

The other was in the afternoon.

It would take place inside the Holy Temple of the Holy City, performed exclusively for the Snake Clan's elders, the royal guards, and Queen Medusa. At that time, all the core forces of the Snake Clan would be present.

The morning performance was more like a rehearsal, a warm-up.

Nevertheless.

Xiao Qingli was still very serious. Every turn, every tip-toe, and every glance back was executed meticulously, without the slightest error.

Thunderous applause erupted from the audience, but she couldn't hear it.

Her eyes were focused only on the tips of her toes, only on that seemingly real illusion.

Beside her, Qingyuan silently played the flute to accompany her.

"This little girl... is very earnest."

Bingxuanzi commented flatly, though he shook his head. "It's a pity. By pursuing perfection too much, she has lost her natural agility."

"It is like seeking the Dao."

"The more you try to chase it, the further the Dao strays from you. But when you finally stop in your tracks, it is right beside you."

Ye Shu didn't speak; he just watched.

After a long time, he finally spoke.

"It's beautiful. More beautiful than anyone or any dance I have ever seen."

Bingxuanzi was taken aback for a moment before he chuckled.

"Then you should protect her even better."

"I will."

Ye Shu looked at Xiao Qingli's little face, dripping with sweat, and enunciated each word seriously, "I will."

Meanwhile, offstage.

"It's so beautiful!"

Qin Ke'er, who was mingling among the Snake Clan, couldn't help but let out a gasp of admiration. "That girl is amazing. If it were me, I definitely wouldn't be able to dance like that."

"And the one playing the flute sounds so good too."

"Idiot!"

Lu Qinghuan, who was beside her, knocked her on the head. "That's little sister Qingli, didn't you even recognize her?"

"Eh?" Qin Ke'er looked closer and was stunned.

"It really is! But shouldn't she have already been taken by that heartless scoundrel... How could she be performing here?"

"It doesn't matter, this is actually a good thing."

Zheng Yunshu waved her hand. "After we snatch the Heavenly Flame, we'll take her away with us. Is that alright, Master?"

She looked at another young woman standing nearby.

The woman had a cold and detached temperament, her gaze never leaving the high stage.

This was Mu Yunxi, the Peak Master of the Azure Profound Sect's Purple Cloud Peak, and also their master. With her Soul Formation cultivation base, there was no way anything would go wrong with this operation.

"Yes," Mu Yunxi replied calmly.

"During the Heavenly Flame Ceremony this afternoon, all the core members of the Snake Clan will go to the Queen's Holy Temple to observe. At that time, the guards at the Snake Clan's treasury will be empty, making it the best opportunity for us to strike and seize the Heavenly Flame."

"As for that little thief..."

"If we run into him, we'll just kill him in passing."

"Master is mighty!"

Qin Ke'er cheered in a low voice.

Not far from them, Su Xiao looked completely bewildered.

What were these girls whispering about? Why were they always keeping secrets from him?

...Time quietly slipped away.

Finally, noon had passed.

On the high stage, Ye Shu and Bingxuanzi quietly made their exit.

As the Director and the guard, the two of them naturally didn't need to participate in the afternoon performance. For one, they couldn't dance, so going would be meaningless and they'd just be eyesores standing there. Secondly, two nobodies like them had no right to step foot into the Holy Temple anyway.

"Are you afraid?"

Ye Shu astutely noticed that Bingxuanzi's body beside him was constantly trembling, his hands shaking as if he had Parkinson's.

"This is the martial artist's tremor," Bingxuanzi said with a calm gaze.

"A resonance that can only occur between powerhouses. This means that countless experts have already gathered in this Holy City, and they are all in an extremely excited state."

"If you're scared, it's not too late to back out now."

"Is that so?"

Ye Shu's eyes flickered. Going against the flow of the crowd, he took large strides toward the Snake Clan's treasury.

"Then let us step into this hell with our own two feet."