Yang Jin let out a soft sigh, his expression complex—when his friend suddenly spoke.

“Is it over?”

“Over.”

Only then did Zuo Tian open his profound, shadowed eyes.

*Phew.*

He dared not look.

Dared not meet Su Yingsnow’s sword light.

Or that fear would deepen.

Yet now… Su Yingsnow had actually defeated a Foundation Establishment Realm teacher, leaping cultivation tiers?!

Doubt coiled in Zuo Tian’s chest: Could he ever beat her?

“Child,” the Ancestor’s remnant soul murmured within him, “keep this up, and you’ll fall further behind. Once Su Yingsnow reaches Foundation Establishment… hope vanishes.”

“Ancestor… if I lose to her again, I might never rise.”

Zuo Tian sighed inwardly. The more he worried, the more fear gripped him; the deeper the fear, the harder to cleanse his Dao heart, to reclaim himself.

“Perhaps one path remains,” the Ancestor mused. “‘Mortal dreams shatter easily; hearts drown in feeling’—Truthseer’s verdict on Su Yingsnow’s temperament. To defeat her? Many ways exist.”

“Your meaning?”

“Erase Luo Qingchuan from this world. Shatter Su Yingsnow’s dream. Her Dao heart will break far worse than yours. Then… victory becomes simple.”

Zuo Tian froze.

“I dislike this path,” the Ancestor added calmly, “but circumstances leave no choice.”

Zuo Tian’s breath hitched. A cold, violent glint flashed in his eyes.

Qi Refining Ninth Layer. Spirit artifacts. Secret techniques. Killing Luo Qingchuan—Qi Refining Second Layer, utterly ordinary—without a trace? Simple.

So…

It always came back to killing Luo Qingchuan. Mediocre talent. Barely Qi Refining Second Layer. No chance of survival.

Like a lion pouncing on a rabbit.

Too logical. So logical it felt inevitable.

“Child, heaven entrusted you. Should calamity threaten all life, should human order crumble—you alone must stand. But with a fractured Dao heart? How bear that weight? To sacrifice one and save ten thousand—is that not supreme virtue? Who else is fit to ascend above all as deity? You *must* act.”

Zuo Tian bowed his head, wrestling inwardly:

“No…”

“No?”

“Ancestor… let me think. Just… let me think again.”

… … …

Beneath the academy’s shaded path, plane tree leaves spiraled past the twin-tailed girl. Autumn blooms lined the walkway, framing Lu Chuning like a mythical sprite.

She turned to Luo Qingchuan and Su Yingsnow, lips curving faintly.

Noting Su Yingsnow’s softened gaze, she smiled. “Fair warning: I’m not great with swords.”

Su Yingsnow shook her head. “I don’t care.”

“Well, you can’t beat me—so I’m at least *a little* better than whoever you *can* beat. No regrets needed.”

Her eyes shifted to Luo Qingchuan, pinning him until he forced calm.

“Just say it,” he offered with a wry smile. “Why would a senior seek someone utterly ordinary like me?”

“Hmm… you’re pretty?”

A chill brushed Su Yingsnow’s side.

*She’s nervous.*

Luo Qingchuan suspected: appearance *absolutely* shaped personality!

Lu Chuning was a mischievous little demon—teasing Su Yingsnow on purpose!

Her laugh chimed sweetly, but as Su Yingsnow’s gaze sharpened, Lu Chuning cleared her throat lightly, eyes crinkling.

“Straight to the point, then.”

Her youthful voice turned earnest. “Two matters. First: I invite you both—Su and Luo—to join Evilbane.”

Luo Qingchuan frowned. “No. We’re students.”

Su Yingsnow glanced at him, then nodded.

“Oh? You’ll join?” Lu Chuning’s eyes lit slightly.

Su Yingsnow shook her head quickly, voice low. “I agree with Luo Qingchuan.”

“I expected that.” Lu Chuning continued smoothly, “Evilbane offers superior cultivation resources, insider cultivation-world intel, even chances to attend lectures by true masters. Enlightenment could bring immense gains.”

Luo Qingchuan sighed. “But it’s dangerous. We’re still young.”

“Many Evilbane members are young—and join willingly. If you refuse… become Wayfarers.”

*Wayfarer…*

Luo Qingchuan’s mind flashed to every Chinese child’s childhood hero—

The Heaven-defying, Earth-fearing Great Sage Equaling Heaven.

Su Yingsnow tilted her head. “What’s a Wayfarer?”

“Like an external consultant,” Lu Chuning explained crisply. “Receive wanted notices, claim bounties. Complete missions for rich rewards. Full anonymity. No other perks.”

“So action is our choice?” Luo Qingchuan confirmed.

“Yes.”

“I accept.”

He nodded without hesitation.

All upside, no downside—only a fool would refuse. Plus… maybe spot some “fish” to earn Sage Points.

“Add me.”

A phone materialized in Lu Chuning’s palm. She smiled. “Sending Evilbane’s internal app and registration code.”

Moments later, a new app glowed on Luo Qingchuan’s screen.

Icon: a blood-red ancient sword in darkness.

*Evilbane.*

Beside it, the Path Seeking app—simple black-and-white Taiji diagram.

“Wayfarers may post intel on the internal forum,” Lu Chuning added. “False reports deduct Credibility Stars. Zero stars? Permanent ban.”

She tucked her phone away.

“Thank you,” Luo Qingchuan said, pocketing his own. “Teacher Lu… the second matter?”

Autumn breeze carried faint floral scent. A petal danced skyward. Lu Chuning gazed upward, smiling softly.

“Lightning struck the heavens. News spread fast. Someone recognized it…”

Luo Qingchuan kept his face neutral, playing curious. “Recognized?”

“The Dragon Clan’s lightning art.”

Lu Chuning’s eerie eyes flicked to him.

The boy felt boundless darkness swallow him.

Her delicate eyeliner burned crimson—two blood-moon arcs against night.

Her voice, clear as silver bells, dropped like ice:

“The Dragon Clan hid for ages, appearing human. But in true form? Every part a treasure. Horns forged to peerless blades. Core accelerating cultivation beyond measure. Scales forming armor no spirit artifact can pierce. Tendons. Blood. Flesh…”

“Stop!”

A cold sweat beaded Luo Qingchuan’s brow. Heart hammering, he forced calm, feigning disinterest. “I don’t understand.”

Lu Chuning paused, studying him closely, then smiled faintly.

“One question: Would *you* be tempted by a dragon? Countless cultivators dream of flaying a divine dragon—bone by bone, devouring every scrap.”

“Teacher Lu,” Luo Qingchuan replied with a gentle smile, “I’m not interested. Speak of something else.”