In the pool, dense spiritual energy swirled like mist above the water's surface.
Amid the hazy mist, a figure stood within the pool.
The water was shallow, only reaching her waist.
Her smooth, slender back revealed a near-perfect silhouette through the hazy smoke.
Lin Xian'er!
Even without seeing her face, Wang Jianqiang recognized her identity instantly.
His heart skipped a beat, and his first instinct was to flee.
Just as he subconsciously turned to descend the stairs, he noticed something was off about Lin Xian'er.
His gaze then shifted to the edge of the pool, where the corpse of a palm-sized snake lay.
A thought suddenly struck him.
"Could she be... poisoned?"
"If so, this must be her weakest moment."
As this idea took hold, Wang Jianqiang's eyes gleamed with calculation.
Since Lin Xian'er had received Song Qiuyue's orders, she would undoubtedly target disciples of the Joy Union Sect.
She would likely become his enemy in the future.
Now, while she was severely poisoned, wasn’t this the perfect opportunity to eliminate her?
With this in mind, Wang Jianqiang gritted his teeth and cautiously approached the pool.
Lin Xian'er was wholly focused on suppressing the fiery poison within her body. Combined with the fact that Wang Jianqiang’s aura was concealed by the Wooden Sword Array, she remained completely unaware of his presence—even as he reached the pool’s edge.
At this moment, Wang Jianqiang confirmed his earlier suspicion.
She must be deeply poisoned.
Otherwise, even if she couldn’t sense his aura, how could she miss the sound of footsteps so close?
Emboldened, his gaze grew bolder.
As he neared the spiritual pool, the scene within became clearer.
Unfortunately, he could only see her back—her front remained hidden, and everything below her waist was submerged in the spiritual water.
After a brief pause, Wang Jianqiang snapped back to reality, a cold glint flashing across his face.
He raised his hand, spiritual energy gathering at his fingertips.
He was about to strike.
But his attention was entirely fixed on Lin Xian'er, so he failed to notice a wisp of greenish-red energy silently drifting from the pool.
Mingling with the spiritual mist, it settled on him, seeping into his pores.
This energy was a trace of the fiery poison Lin Xian'er had unknowingly expelled earlier.
It had lingered in the spiritual water until now, finally rising to the surface.
Compared to the poison within Lin Xian'er, this wisp was less than one percent as potent.
Such a minuscule amount posed no lethal threat to Wang Jianqiang, but its ability to amplify emotions silently took hold.
Initially, Wang Jianqiang had no ulterior thoughts—only the intent to swiftly eliminate this potential threat.
Yet, as the poison seeped into him, his mind began to wander.
"She’s so beautiful... What if I..."
The moment this thought surfaced, Wang Jianqiang himself was startled.
This was a powerful enemy who could end his life at any moment!
He shook his head violently, trying to dispel the reckless notion.
But instead of fading, the idea grew stronger, as if a second personality had emerged, whispering temptations.
"Why hesitate? She’s the number one goddess of the Profound Clear Palace’s outer sect."
"She’s helpless right now, poisoned and weak."
Meanwhile, his rationality fought back with another voice.
"No, absolutely not."
"One misstep could cost me my life."
"It’s too risky."
Yet his resolve didn’t last long before it began to waver.
"Maybe... just watch her a little longer before killing her?"
"Should I... try?"
In the end, his rationality lost the battle.
He cautiously stepped into the pool, reaching out.
Lin Xian'er jolted in alarm.
Wang Jianqiang panicked, thinking quickly, and blurted, "Xian'er, don’t turn around. It’s me, Wuya."
After prolonged detoxification, most of the fiery poison in Lin Xian'er’s body had been purified.
However, the ordeal had left her consciousness muddled.
Yet, upon hearing Wang Jianqiang’s voice, she snapped awake instantly.
She and Xiao Wuya had grown up together.
How could she not recognize his voice?
This voice was wrong—it wasn’t Wuya at all.
Moreover, Xiao Wuya had always respected her. When had he ever acted so shamelessly?
Her eyes flew open.
Sensing the presence behind her, an intense killing intent erupted from her body.
"Damn it!"
Wang Jianqiang shuddered as the murderous aura hit him, snapping back to his senses.
He leaped to the shore in a flash.
At that moment, Lin Xian'er whirled around, her stunning eyes blazing with icy fury.
"It’s you!"
She recognized him immediately.
Wasn’t this the decrepit old fool from the Joy Union Sect’s team?
Her expression darkened.
She was the top genius and goddess of the Profound Clear Palace’s outer sect—noble, pure, and untouchable.
Yet this lowly old man had dared to take such liberties with her.
If word got out, her reputation would be ruined.
How could she ever hold her head high again? How could she face Wuya?
Her killing intent reached its peak.
Wang Jianqiang’s blood ran cold. Suddenly, his eyes widened as he stared past Lin Xian'er.
"Xiao Wuya? What are you doing here?"
Lin Xian'er’s heart lurched. Instinctively, she turned to look.
Seizing the moment, Wang Jianqiang bolted from the pool.
"Ah—!"
By the time Lin Xian'er realized the deception, it was too late.
"You vile old bastard, I’ll kill you!"
She flicked a finger, sending a jade talisman shooting forward.
In a flash of light, it transformed into a pristine white flying sword.
"That talisman treasure!"
Wang Jianqiang’s scalp prickled at the sight.
He’d seen its power before—it had sliced through a Foundation Establishment-stage black-feathered bird like tofu.
If it hit him...
He’d be diced into pieces!
Without hesitation, he activated his Perfect Gale Boots. A gust of wind surged around him as he shot up the stairs to the third floor at terrifying speed.
Clink!
The razor-sharp white sword missed him by a hair’s breadth, striking the stairwell’s corner instead.
The ancient building appeared dilapidated, its walls riddled with cracks as if on the verge of collapse.
Yet when the sword struck, not a single mark was left.
Instead, the jade-white sword shattered like an egg hitting stone, reverting to a talisman that clattered to the ground—now marred by a long crack.
Lin Xian'er soared from the pool, a radiant glow enveloping her as she donned a fresh white robe.
Without sparing a glance for the damaged talisman, she stormed toward the stairs, murder in her eyes.
grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)
with countless casualties. As a top-tier gamer, Liu Xuan volunteered to join the fight, intending to dominate with his skills, but instead he obtained the hidden class: [Pacifist]. Unable to attack. Unable to use active skills. Fortunately, with each level gained, he acquired a new passive skill. And so, armed with a body full of passives, Liu Xuan slaughtered his way through the battlefield of ten thousand races! [You attacked Liu Xuan] [You gained the debuffs: 'Poison', 'Fear', 'Burning', 'Bleeding', 'Freeze', 'Silence', etc.] [Your attack speed has been reduced by 99%] [Your armor and magic resistance have been reduced by 99%] Warriors of the Ten Thousand Races: How the hell am I supposed to fight this?!
spital. Good news: I've bound a system. Bad news: I'm still a baby. "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, do not bully the middle-aged for being poor — Divorce Comeback System." "Your marriage may have failed, but your luck in love has never run dry. Your childhood sweetheart, out of contact for twenty years, reappears. Her beauty remains, yet her eyes are brimming with tears." [Listen to the childhood sweetheart's sorrowful story.] Chen Zhi looked down at the diaper he was wearing, then at the little childhood sweetheart crying her heart out beside him, and fell into deep thought. Can anyone relate? I'm having a midlife crisis at an age where even rolling over is a struggle.
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
