"Big bro, stop hesitating already!"
"The cold energy inside her has been accumulating for over a century, and now it’s erupting uncontrollably."
"Ordinary methods won’t be able to suppress it anymore."
"A life is at stake—stop being so stubborn, alright?"
"Just do it!" Da Huang urged anxiously from the side.
"Piss off!"
"I won’t take advantage of someone in distress," Chen Chang'an said coldly.
"This is about saving a life. Taking advantage is just part of the method."
"Back in the Chaotic Zone, you seemed pretty happy—didn’t hear you complaining about taking advantage then," Da Huang retorted disdainfully.
"The circumstances were different."
"In the Chaotic Zone, it was mutual consent."
"But if I do something to Qingluan while she’s suffering from this cold energy eruption, how am I any different from that old bastard from the Blazing Heaven Immortal Sect?"
"Cold energy… suppressing the cold energy…"
"Got it!"
Suddenly, Chen Chang'an had an idea and quickly took out the Dragon Origin.
The moment Da Huang saw it, he understood Chen Chang'an’s plan.
"Damn, how could I forget about this thing?"
"The Dragon Origin contains immense yang energy—it might actually balance out the cold energy inside her."
"But, bro, this was a gift from City Lord Yun. Are you really gonna use it?"
Hearing this, Chen Chang'an sighed. "This time, I’m really taking a loss—getting nothing in return."
"Whatever. Saving a life comes first. This thing originally belonged to the Yun family anyway."
Without further hesitation, Chen Chang'an fed the Dragon Origin to Qingluan.
As the energy of the Dragon Origin slowly seeped into her body, the cold energy wreathing her began to recede.
The opposing forces of yin and yang clashed violently within her.
"Elder, has she stabilized now?" Xiao Yao asked curiously.
"For now, it seems so."
"Whether she fully recovers depends on her own fate."
"Let’s go. We’re taking her back to the Blazing Heaven Immortal Sect."
Chen Chang'an had returned because he was worried about potential complications—and sure enough, something had gone wrong.
"Why go back?" Da Huang asked, puzzled.
"The supreme-grade immortal spirit vein!"
"If I miss out on that too, then this whole trip would’ve been for nothing."
"Besides, she needs a proper place to rest and recover."
"Let’s move."
"Got it!"
The group returned to the Blazing Heaven Immortal Sect, where the atmosphere was still festive—but the sight of corpses strewn everywhere sent chills down one’s spine.
"Xiao Yao, keep an eye on her while I go into seclusion to cultivate."
"Da Huang, clean up the corpses outside."
"And don’t hold back—the Blazing Heaven Immortal Sect must have plenty of treasures. Take what you two can use and split the rest."
After giving his orders, Chen Chang'an found a quiet spot within the sect to begin his closed-door cultivation.
"Am… am I dead?"
Qingluan had been unconscious for an entire month before finally waking. The moment she opened her eyes, she thought she had passed into the afterlife.
"Don’t worry, you’re very much alive," Xiao Yao said with a smile.
"Who are you?"
"The one who disguised herself as me?"
Qingluan had never seen Xiao Yao’s true appearance before—their first meeting had only been through voice.
"That’s right," Xiao Yao nodded.
"Oh, you’re awake?"
"You really lucked out this time. My bro used the reward your father gave him just to save you."
"Total loss."
Huh?
At Da Huang’s words, Qingluan froze. Chen Chang'an had used the compensation her father gave him… on her?
Had he been the one to save her?
"Where… where is Young Master Chen?" Qingluan glanced around but didn’t see him, her confusion evident.
"In seclusion. Do not disturb."
"Then I won’t bother him for now. I’ll properly thank him once he finishes cultivating."
With that, Qingluan tried to sit up and stretch—but the simple motion sent her flying.
Boom!
What just happened?
Did I move too fast?
Why did I just go flying?
Qingluan was utterly stunned. How could a simple movement send her soaring?
"She seems a bit uncoordinated."
"Well, she’s never cultivated before. Controlling the energy inside her now won’t be easy."
Da Huang wasn’t surprised. Qingluan had never trained in cultivation, but the fusion of the cold energy eruption and the Dragon Origin had directly elevated her strength to the peak of the True Immortal Realm.
He couldn’t help but feel envious—never cultivating a day in her life, yet ascending to such heights in an instant.
Though Qingluan’s start was late, she had already surpassed countless others. A True Immortal at just over a hundred years old? Even in the Ancient Immortal Domain, that was terrifying.
"What… what’s happening to me?" Qingluan asked nervously.
"What’s happening?"
"You hit the jackpot!"
"Your cultivation directly reached the peak of the True Immortal Realm. Your father’s only at the Golden Immortal level."
"You’ve never cultivated, but you must know something about it, right?" Da Huang said, his face full of envy.
Peak True Immortal Realm?
Her strength had reached such a level?
Qingluan was overwhelmed. She could still feel the cold energy within her, but now it was controllable.
Still, fully mastering it would require further cultivation.
"Since my bro’s not here, I can’t teach you much."
"Let Xiao Yao guide you first on how to control the power in your body."
"I… I’ll trouble you both, then."
"Don’t mention it. I charge for this—remember to tell your father when we send you back."
"Of course."
While Xiao Yao instructed Qingluan on controlling her newfound power, the Madam of the Meng Family Head arrived near the Blazing Heaven Immortal Sect with her entourage.
"Madam, though the Blazing Heaven Immortal Sect’s ancestor is your close relative, we could have handled this matter ourselves. Why did you insist on coming?"
"Yes, the journey has been hard on you."
The Madam’s expression remained calm as she gazed toward the sect’s direction.
"The ancestor is taking a bride. Naturally, I must see for myself what kind of woman could move him to marry."
"No more talk. Let’s hurry."
"Yes, Madam!"