In the vast and open plaza, a woman’s voice echoed from all directions into Yan Zhen’s ears, snapping him to attention.
The line was all too familiar. Even from this distance, where he couldn’t clearly make out the figure at the plaza’s center, Yan Zhen was certain it was his Beautiful Master.
With that thought, he proceeded exactly as the script dictated, advancing cautiously while scrutinizing the grid squares beneath his feet.
According to the script, this enormous plaza was actually a Saint-rank array disk that controlled the entire space.
His Beautiful Master had fused with the Crystal Stone Space upon her near-death, becoming its boundary spirit in a half-dead, half-alive limbo. As a result, she was confined to the altar at the array disk’s center and couldn’t leave.
The Crystal Stone Space was completely isolated from the outside world, with no means of communication.
Only Yan Zhen’s mystic power could seep into the Crystal Stone Space.
Through absorbing the peculiar mystic power he’d cultivated over three years, his Beautiful Master had finally broken free of a sliver of her restraints. She’d projected herself through the Crystal Stone Space to appear in the outside world.
Yet for some reason, she hadn’t projected herself this time. Instead, Yan Zhen had entered this Crystal Stone Space called the Fire Refining Starry Sky.
The plaza was immense, its area rivaling that of all of Martial Tang City. Traversing it on foot alone would take who knew how long.
Fortunately, with every step Yan Zhen took, the grid square underfoot lit up, automatically propelling him forward a considerable distance—as if shrinking the ground to inches beneath his feet. He found the sensation utterly magical.
This was his Beautiful Master’s way of aiding him via control of the array disk.
Moments later, Yan Zhen reached the steps leading up to the altar and ascended them steadily.
Only when he stepped onto the final stair did he finally get a clear view of his Beautiful Master’s appearance.
Just as the script described—stunningly beautiful, enough to make one’s heart drunk.
She wore an inky black dress, her snow-white hair tied in a simple knot. Her exquisite face was frosty and aloof, her sharp eyes as Mystic as the starry sky.
The dress’s corseted design perfectly accentuated her alluring curves, especially the exaggerated swell of her chest, which gave the illusion it might burst free from the fabric at any moment.
However, seated in meditation as she was, the dress’s wide skirt draped fully over her hips and below, concealing the rest from view.
Yan Zhen stared fixedly at the woman who was about to become his master, as if mesmerized. His heart thumped wildly in his chest.
Half of it was an act, half genuine.
After all, she was just too breathtaking!
“—Have you looked your fill?”
The cold question, laced with sternness, yanked Yan Zhen back to reality. He immediately adopted a vigilant expression.
“You—who are you? And where is this place?”
His Beautiful Master didn’t play coy. She answered straightforwardly.
“This is an independent space carved out by a Mystic Saint expert, also known as the Fire Refining Starry Sky—the very crystal pendant hanging around your neck.”
“What? A space created by a Mystic Saint expert?”
Yan Zhen feigned shock befitting a novice cultivator. After all, Mystic Saints were the pinnacle existence on the Mystic Heaven Continent; anything tied to the word “Saint” was extraordinary.
“So the pendant I’m wearing is something that powerful?”
After a pause, he asked, “Then what about you, big sis—”
“Big sis?” His Beautiful Master shot Yan Zhen a sidelong glance. “You needn’t know This Seat’s identity. For convenience, you may address This Seat as ‘Chen Xi’—the ‘Chen’ from the mortal dust, and the ‘Xi’ from morning light.”
“Chen… Xi. What a beautiful name… So can I call you Big Sis Chen Xi?”
“Suit yourself.” Chen Xi replied indifferently. “This Seat has a question for you: Do you want to grow stronger?”
Yan Zhen paused, then said with a hint of dejection, “Who wouldn’t want to grow stronger? It’s just that my body… for some reason, it was fine before, but suddenly—”
He clenched his fist, his young face etched with unwillingness.
“You needn’t worry about that. This Seat won’t absorb your mystic power anymore.”
“What do you mean? Wait—does that mean my inexplicable realm drop was because you… you stole my mystic power? You’re the culprit!?”
Yan Zhen bombarded her with shock, fear, and finally furious outrage.
Of course, it was all an act.
Under the pressure of Yan Zhen’s flawless performance, a flicker of embarrassment crossed Chen Xi’s flawless face. She maintained her composure, however.
“This Seat had no choice but to target your mystic power, little one.”
“Is ‘no choice’ supposed to make it all better!?” Yan Zhen glared, flying into a rage as if he wanted to devour Chen Xi whole. “Three years—you have any idea what those three years were like for me? Huh? How much ridicule, how much mockery I endured, even—”
Even his childhood sweetheart distanced herself, and his fiancée wanted to call off the engagement… Yan Zhen started to follow the script, but then remembered Yan Meng’er had come around and become his slave. Huangfu Wenqing hadn’t called it off either—she’d become his slave too. He choked on his words.
The chain reaction from the plot changes was finally causing trouble.
Fine, if he couldn’t say it, he wouldn’t.
Yan Zhen turned the pause into a manifestation of rage too overwhelming for words. His chest heaved dramatically as he bellowed,
“—You stinking woman, how are you going to make up for what you owe me!?”
His voice crackled with raw emotion!
“You… calm down first.” Chen Xi composed herself. “This Seat won’t take advantage of you for nothing. That’s why This Seat called you here.”
“Hmph! As if I’d believe a thief who stole three years of my mystic power!”
Brat’s got some nerve… Chen Xi muttered softly to herself, the corners of her mouth curving in a faint, barely perceptible smile. Beneath her seemingly indifferent gaze lurked a touch of indulgent affection.
She quickly reined in her emotions, resuming her expressionless demeanor, just like in her previous life.
Back then, the term “female thief” would have irked her enough to want to spank him black and blue on the spot. Now, though? Not only was she unperturbed—she found it amusing.
First things first: reforge their master-disciple bond.
“Believe it or not, This Seat can make you stronger.”
“I don’t need your help. Without you, the female thief, siphoning my mystic power, I could grow strong on my own.”
“Naive.” Chen Xi said coolly. “Your talent is indeed exceptional, but the Mystic Heaven Continent never lacks Heaven’s Proud Sons. To surpass others, talent alone isn’t enough. External factors matter too—Mystic arts, Mystic techniques, Mystic pills, Mystic artifacts… Especially Mystic arts and Mystic techniques. A superior Mystic art or Mystic technique can boost your strength immensely, letting you battle foes one or two levels above. As for Mystic pills and artifacts—heh, little one, do you know what a Pill Refiner is?”
“Pill Refiner?” Yan Zhen blinked, then huffed. “Who doesn’t know the esteemed Pill Refiners? They cultivate the mystic path while mastering the Art Refining Path, refining pills, artifacts, and spirits with astonishing skill. Every major power vies for them. Are you a Pill Refiner?”
“What do you think? With sufficient materials, This Seat can refine any Mystic pill or Mystic artifact you desire.”
Yan Zhen’s eyes lit up, half-doubting. “R-Really?”
“Why would This Seat deceive you?” Chen Xi struck a magnanimous pose. “Take This Seat as your master, and high-grade Mystic arts and Mystic techniques will be yours to choose. Mystic pills and artifacts won’t be lacking either. This Seat can even teach you the Art Refining Path. Well?”
