"Not exactly a cultivation partner," Ye Chuan said.
"More like a mascot."
"..." Bai Qianshuang didn't respond further, silently continuing to eat her breakfast.
She ate quickly—small bites, but finished in no time. "I'm done."
Ye Chuan glanced over. Bai Qianshuang had only eaten one bowl, far less than usual.
"Eating so little?"
"Mm." With a cold reply, she gathered her dishes and retreated to her room.
A moment later, Lan Xiaoke emerged, still wearing Ye Chuan's oversized T-shirt, the fabric straining against her figure. Noticing only Ye Chuan at the table, she tilted her head. "Where's Qianshuang?"
"In her room."
"Already ate?"
"Probably not." Ye Chuan sighed. "Why don’t you go ask?"
"Me?" Lan Xiaoke trotted to Bai Qianshuang’s door and knocked. "Qianshuang, can I come in?"
"..." No answer.
"Hehe, then I’m coming in~" She pushed the door open—only to be flung out seconds later by a surge of spiritual energy, landing unceremoniously on the floor.
Rubbing her head, Lan Xiaoke blinked. "Is Qianshuang mad?"
"Seems like it," Ye Chuan agreed.
"What’d I do?"
Watching the clueless silver-haired girl, Ye Chuan shook his head. "Never mind. Just come eat."
"Okay..."
———
Inside the room, Bai Qianshuang sat cross-legged on her bed, cycling cultivation techniques. Her aura fluctuated wildly—spiritual energy swirling around her in erratic bursts, absorbed recklessly, heedless of her body’s limits.
"I can’t focus," she murmured, opening her eyes. A suffocating frustration lodged in her chest.
Her inky hair floated faintly under the energy’s influence, her spiritual sword humming beside her.
"I can’t focus."
"I can’t focus."
For the first time, her usually tranquil mind was riddled with cracks.
"I was here first..."
"What’s wrong with me?"
"Relationships are mutual consent..."
"So why can’t I—"
Amid the spiraling energy, a breakthrough surged through her. Her power ascended to the next realm.
Staring at her jade-white fingers, she frowned. "I... broke through?"
The tension eased slightly, but her restlessness remained.
For the first time ever, she flickered out of the house alone.
"..." No word to Ye Chuan. Bai Qianshuang rarely ventured out solo. Pausing at the gate, she glanced at the guard dog Xiao Hei before striding down the path.
Soon, she reached the outskirts of the urban village.
Hesitating near the bus stop, a familiar voice called out: "Qianshuang? What’s up?"
She turned. Luo Xi stood there, a woven grocery basket in hand, her high ponytail swaying.
"Luo Xi," Bai Qianshuang acknowledged softly.
Running into Luo Xi wasn’t odd—she lived nearby, and morning jogs were her habit.
"Groceries?"
"Yep! Farm-raised chicken for Chuan." Luo Xi beamed, pulling a clucking chicken head from the basket. "See? Rode my bike 30 miles to get it!"
"Bok bok!"
"Since cultivating, I don’t even get tired biking!" She proudly added ginger. "This’ll make the best ginger chicken stew later."
Her sunshine demeanor lifted Bai Qianshuang’s mood slightly. Eyeing the plump chicken, she remarked, "Very fat."
"Right?" Luo Xi grinned—then paused. "You’re upset?"
"..." Bai Qianshuang shook her head. "No."
"No?" Luo Xi studied her face. Though impassive as ever, something felt off.
After a beat, Luo Xi asked, "Is it about Ye Chuan?"
Silence.
"Did he bully you?"
"No."
"I see~" Luo Xi drew out the words, mischief glinting. "Well! Since you’re out, wanna stroll with me?"
"Stroll...?"
"Fresh air’s good!" She thumbed up.
"Okay." Bai Qianshuang agreed but eyed the chicken. "It..."
Luo Xi swung the basket. "Let it enjoy the breeze! Tastier that way."
"Bok?"
"Fine."
They wandered to a small park Bai Qianshuang recognized.
"Lots of greenery here—so refreshing!" Luo Xi chirped. Noticing Bai Qianshuang’s lingering gloom, she fished out a candy. "Here."
"..." Bai Qianshuang took it. "Candy?"
"Yup! Sit with me." On the bench, Luo Xi kicked her legs. "Sweet things help."
Bai Qianshuang unwrapped it—then offered it back.
"Hehe, I’ve got my own."
The sugar soothed her slightly, but words stuck in her throat.
"I..."
"Relax! No need to talk." Luo Xi stretched, smiling. "Just breathe. Feels nice, right?"
"Yes."
Watching children play and elders exercise, Bai Qianshuang’s tension ebbed.
"Luo Xi."
"Hm?"
"You’re always happy."
"Me?" Luo Xi leaned on her knees, gazing at the leaves. "Not really. But..."
"Why frown when you can smile?"
She winked.
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
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)
saw a female celebrity tied up and stuffed in the trunk! Little did he know, countless cameras were aimed at him at this moment - this was a new type of reality show. The first randomly selected passerby was caught in less than an hour. But when Xu Moru was selected, things started to take an unexpected turn. "Damn, this isn't how the script goes. This Xu Moru is too bold, he's not following the rules at all." "Crap, is this guy taking it seriously?" "The female celebrity has been scared to tears!"
ver to a world of cultivation and returned invincible. Modern medicine is child's play compared to elixirs; technological might crumbles before true cultivation. My name is Qin Ning, Earth's sole cultivator!
