I Play

At the base of Tianyan Peak, within a secluded chamber.

Two Tribulation Transcendence cultivators stood on either side of a ritual formation, their gazes fixed on Bai Xuanling, who had just stepped into its center. Their eyes held both admiration and sorrow.

"Though I’ve told you before, I doubt you truly listened last time."

Lv Xuan wore a gentle smile as he watched Bai Xuanling settle into the formation, sitting cross-legged.

Bai Xuanling remained still, her calm eyes fixed on Lv Xuan, who had waited until she entered before launching into his lecture.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, the unspoken threat clear:

"I heard you. Skip the nonsense and begin."

Lv Xuan stood firmly at the formation’s main position as Yanyun carefully handed him a pale golden talisman.

"Oh? Then repeat what I told you last time to prove it."

With a slight wave of his hand, the golden talisman floated before him, its radiant light seeping into the formation. He chuckled,

"See? You can’t even recall."

Noticing Bai Xuanling’s irritated expression, his smile widened.

"I clearly warned you—once your cultivation is unsealed, resealing it will be far harder, and the backlash will be worse."

"Is early-stage Tribulation Transcendence not enough? Must you shatter the seal?"

"How many times must I remind you? Think before you act. Couldn’t we have handled it later?"

"The Dream-Shattering Barrier Talisman isn’t something our ancestors left in abundance. Each use is irreplaceable."

"Elder Chen and Elder Lin, the Grand Elders, were in seclusion. Yet they dropped everything the moment they heard of your plight."

"It seems we’re the only ones who value your life—you certainly don’t."

Bai Xuanling sighed softly.

Had it been an ordinary demon, she would never have broken the seal.

But it was likely one of the Eight Great Heavenly Demons.

Slaying those two on the spot might have eased the coming calamity.

Even if killing them was impossible, severely wounding them would have been worthwhile.

If she hesitated over gains outweighing losses, she’d never have reached Tribulation Transcendence.

Bai Xuanling had no interest in arguing. Lv Xuan’s words came from concern, so she conceded:

"My mistake."

Satisfied, Lv Xuan pressed the golden talisman into the formation.

The moment it merged, golden chains erupted from the formation, coiling around Bai Xuanling’s body. Several lashed directly toward her divine sea.

Yanyun pursed her lips. She saw clearly—the chains bound not flesh, but meridians and spirit.

Bai Xuanling’s eyes remained shut, her head slightly raised. Not a flicker of pain crossed her face.

The two Tribulation Transcendence cultivators channeled vast spiritual energy into the formation.

Lv Xuan activated the talisman’s power:

"It’ll hurt more than last time."

"Understand—there may not be a third chance."

"The malice within you has grown. One more slip, and you might lose yourself entirely."

"You’ve hidden it well these days. Didn’t tear apart Tianyan Sect’s peaks—was it to spare Xie Lingyu’s worry or keep Chu Xingchen in the dark?"

Bai Xuanling’s eyes snapped open. Crimson killing intent materialized, swirling like faint red mist around her gaze. Her voice was hoarse and furious:

"Shut your mouth. What’s it to you?"

Lv Xuan remained unshaken, still smiling:

"Your killing intent taints your mind. I won’t argue."

"What comes next will hurt more, but rest assured—it’s the price of a second sealing, not my vengeance."

Bai Xuanling opened her mouth to retort, but her eyes shut before a word escaped.

Yanyun watched her master’s triumphant expression and could only think—hard to judge.

In the following moments, Bai Xuanling clearly lacked the strength to speak.

Once the talisman fully merged, Lv Xuan exhaled in relief.

He turned to the two Grand Elders maintaining the formation and bowed respectfully:

"My gratitude for your aid."

"We know you’re busy. Go. We’ll handle Bai Xuanling."

"Three to five days, and she’ll be lively enough to force-feed you another ‘perfect tonic.’"

"Weren’t you in seclusion? Where did you hear such rumors?"

"A rare break. I asked disciples for recent news—this was the first thing mentioned."

"Who told you?! That’s nonsense! Give me their name—I’ll educate them properly!"

Elder Chen chuckled as he infused spiritual energy:

"You’re the sect master now. Why fuss over juniors? The whole Tianyan Sect knows. We’re old—what does it matter? Focus on avoiding Bai Xuanling’s tonics instead."

Lv Xuan’s expression soured. He muttered,

"All rumors," before hastily departing.

Yanyun sighed, bowed to the elders, and followed.

As she left, she glanced back at the white figure bound by golden chains within the formation.

Lv Xuan walked toward the main hall, hands clasped behind his back. Before arriving, he sensed a presence waiting.

He hesitated, recognizing the visitor, but didn’t evade them.

"Sect Master Lv, it’s been too long. You’ve been unusually busy lately."

Lv Xuan studied Chu Xingchen, who stood at the hall’s center with a polite smile.

"Didn’t your disciple just reach Golden Core? What brings you here today?"

A disciple? A few perfunctory words suffice.

"Shouldn’t you understand this better than I?"

Lv Xuan glanced at Yanyun, then replied sternly:

"Don’t spout nonsense. You never visit without reason. State your purpose—I’m busy."

Chu Xingchen’s smile faded. His tone turned calm:

"Senior Bai’s cultivation sealing has begun, hasn’t it?"

Lv Xuan remained silent, watching him steadily.

Chu Xingchen continued:

"I came to ask about her condition."

"Why now? Why not earlier?"

"Timing matters. If Senior Bai were present, she’d ensure I never learned. So I had to choose the right moment."

"Now you ask, but you're not wrong, nor am I, and even she might not know the answer."

Lv Xuan's expression was solemn. "Bai Xuanling didn’t want to tell you, so why should I?"

Chu Xingchen replied calmly:

"My reason might not be what you wish to hear, so let’s try another way. Why don’t you perform a divination right here?"

Lv Xuan narrowed his eyes, as if trying to see through Chu Xingchen.

"Divining me might be troublesome? Since you specialize in reading the will of heaven..." Chu Xingchen said as he retrieved a silver coin from the Xuanwu Kingdom from his spatial ring. "Why not leave it to fate? If it lands on heads, you tell me. If it’s tails, you keep it to yourself."

Lv Xuan asked, "Who will toss it?"

Chu Xingchen didn’t answer. Instead, he flicked the coin into the air.

His gaze didn’t follow the spinning coin but remained fixed on Lv Xuan.

Lv Xuan stared into Chu Xingchen’s eyes, as if hearing an unspoken declaration:

I am the will of heaven—I’ll be the one to toss it!