Bai Shuo awoke feeling refreshed, stretching lazily. As she looked at her raised right arm, she paused, touching her spiritual core in wonder.
What was going on?
A year ago, her right arm had been fractured, leaving her shoulder with a lingering injury that would ache whenever she moved too much. Yet, after just one night’s sleep, not only had the injury healed, but her spiritual energy felt incredibly full, nearly reaching the Middle Upper Lord level!
Oh my, this is like something out of a ghost story! Is it possible to cultivate just by sleeping? At this rate, if she slept a few more nights, wouldn’t she become a deity?
Confused, Bai Shuo looked up and remembered that she’d fallen asleep in Fan Yue’s bedchamber the previous night.
Wait, where was the great demon?
Excited by her newfound strength and eager to show off to Fan Yue, Bai Shuo jumped off the bed, dashed out of the hall, and pushed the doors open in a gust.
“Great Demon!”
In the courtyard, Fan Yue stood under a tree, turning his head just as Bai Shuo ran toward him with such enthusiasm that she nearly slipped into his arms.
Fan Yue reacted quickly, steadying her. “Why are you so clumsy? What’s gotten into you? Slow down.”
“Great Demon, my injury is healed!” Bai Shuo twirled her arm in front of him. “Look, look!”
Fan Yue said nothing, his face a little paler than usual, though there was a faint hint of amusement in his gaze, and he gave a soft “hmm.”
“And also, I’m now at the Middle Upper Lord level!”
Too caught up in her excitement, Bai Shuo didn’t notice Fan Yue’s unusual pallor. Giggling, she leapt back, releasing a surge of her now powerful spiritual energy from her palm. Overnight, the heavy snow had turned everything pure white, and her energy stirred it up, creating a massive snowball in mid-air.
“Hahaha! I’m in the Middle Upper Lord level now!”
From the moment Bai Shuo had started cultivating in the immortal arts, she’d been considered the lowest of the low with broken meridians. In a world where strength was everything, she’d had no choice but to play the fool to survive. Over time, she’d even forgotten the carefree spirit she once had in the mortal world. But now, with her spiritual core brimming with energy, she felt as though she’d glimpsed a whole new world.
Holding the giant snowball, Bai Shuo began jumping around the hall rooftop, her laughter echoing through Hao Yue Hall.
Fan Yue looked up at her, a subtle smile forming at the corner of his lips, his gaze unknowingly softening with affection.
“Hey! Great Demon! Catch this!”
From the rooftop, Bai Shuo, her cheeks rosy, lifted the giant snowball and leapt, sending it hurtling toward Fan Yue.
Long Yi, just flying into the courtyard with a bag of spiritual elixirs clamped in his mouth, froze as he saw the scene before him.
“Piggy, piggy—watch out!”
With a plop, the medicine bag fell to the ground as Long Yi let out a distressed cry.
With a resounding thud, the massive snowball smashed into Fan Yue. As Bai Shuo landed, she stared at the snow-covered Hao Yue Hall Master, stunned.
The great demon, a noble semi-divine being—why didn’t he dodge? Oh no, she’s doomed!
“Ha-Hall Master, I-I didn’t mean to…”
Bai Shuo hurried forward, frantically brushing the snow off Fan Yue. Around him, her usually quick-witted mouth fumbled over her words.
But no familiar scolding came from above her, and Bai Shuo found herself strangely unsettled. She looked up to find Fan Yue’s gaze unfocused, his face flushed unnaturally. It was then she realized something was wrong.
“Great Demon, are you all right?”
Fan Yue didn’t reply, merely looking down at her. Suddenly, he coughed up a mouthful of blood, his eyes closed, and he collapsed to the ground.
“Fan Yue!” Bai Shuo’s face turned pale as she clumsily gathered him into her arms.
“P-p-piggy, what’s wrong with him?”
Fan Yue lay unconscious on the bed, his forehead hot to the touch, unresponsive no matter how much Bai Shuo called him.
Long Yi, lounging on a wooden mule like an old master, responded lazily, “No idea… oww!”
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