My Mood Today is Like a Rollercoaster

As Xia Wantang was from a collateral branch of the Xia Family and exceptionally beautiful, Xia Renhe and Liu Wan'er had doted on and protected her since childhood. Most of the Xia Family members were unaware of the original owner's true cultivation level.

Although the Xia Family Head was greedy, he wasn't foolish enough to reveal Xia Wantang's situation to everyone.

Therefore, in the eyes of most Xia Family members, Xia Wantang was a "secret weapon" deeply hidden by the Xia Family. They had no idea she was actually a fraud.

As for the verbal spat between Xia Wantang and Xia Ba at the beginning, they hadn't taken it too seriously.

Seeing Xia Wantang now beating Xia Ba, they found it perfectly normal:

It's only natural that the second young master can't defeat the Saintess, right?

The second young master even provoked the Saintess. Someone as heavenly as her, beating him to death is what he deserves!

Some servants, sensing something was amiss, immediately sneaked away to report the matter to Xia Yingwu.

When Xia Yingwu arrived, he saw his youngest son being held down and severely beaten by Xia Wantang.

Xia Ba's back was a bloody mess, and he could barely cry out from the pain.

"Stop!"

"Xia Wantang, how dare you! Who gave you permission to lay a hand on Ba'er!"

Xia Wantang raised an eyebrow:

"Dad? I'm your great-grandma!"

Upon hearing this, Xia Yingwu was furious and attacked Xia Wantang with his sword.

But in the next instant, his sword was knocked to the ground by an Ice Blade.

It moved so fast that no one could clearly see it.

Sensing the abundant and powerful spiritual power emanating from Xia Wantang, Xia Yingwu's eyes widened, his expression a mixture of shock and joy:

"You—?!"

"Your cultivation is higher than before??"

This little girl, wasn't she only at the early stage of the Human Martial Realm before?

Xia Yingwu's cultivation was at the middle stage of the Mystic Martial Realm. There was no way Xia Wantang could disarm him with a simple Ice Blade.

Or perhaps... did the Azure Cloud Palace Lord give her some magic treasure?

With this thought, Xia Yingwu's gaze turned somewhat greedy:

"Wantang, dear, since you've finally returned to the Xia Family, why don't we... talk in private for a moment?"

Eager to know what had happened to Xia Wantang, Xia Yingwu didn't even bother with Xia Ba, who was still lying on the ground.

After all, cultivators can endure some physical injuries; it won't kill them.

"You few, clean up the courtyard and send the second young master and that maid to get treatment."

"Yes!"

Xia Renhe wanted to say something more to his daughter.

Xia Yingwu was not someone to be trifled with, and he really didn't want his daughter to be alone with him.

Seeing this, Xia Wantang gave her father a look, signaling him to relax.

As soon as they entered the reception room, Xia Yingwu said impatiently:

"Wantang, it seems you're doing well in the Azure Cloud Palace. Has your cultivation improved?"

Xia Yingwu wasn't stupid. Even if he wanted to covet treasures, he first needed to confirm if she was still as easy to manipulate as before.

Besides, her current identity was the Saintess of the Azure Cloud Palace. He couldn't just act recklessly, or he wouldn't be able to explain himself to the Azure Cloud Palace.

Xia Wantang chuckled:

"My current cultivation has reached the peak of the Mystic Martial Realm."

This was the cultivation level she declared publicly, and there was no need to hide it specifically from the Xia Family.

Xia Wantang's return this time also had a purpose: to notify all those who knew to properly keep her secrets.

Of course, with her strength, even if someone tried to provoke her, she could simply deny it.

Upon hearing this, Xia Yingwu's eyes widened so much that the wrinkles on his forehead almost disappeared:

"W-what?! Peak M-Mystic Martial Realm!?"

"How did you achieve this!?"

"Did the Azure Cloud Palace Lord give you some magic treasure?!"

Xia Wantang knew what he was thinking and snorted:

"Family Head, are you perhaps getting old and muddled? If I didn't have some real ability, the Palace Lord would have killed me long ago instead of giving me treasures for protection."

"There's only one reason—I truly have the cultivation of the peak Mystic Martial Realm."

Hearing this, Xia Yingwu dared not speak despite his anger.

In fact, from Xia Wantang's movements earlier, he already knew that her cultivation was definitely not weaker than his own.

Xia Wantang's condescending look made her seem worlds apart from her past self, as if she had truly undergone a miraculous comeback.

However, the other party's words were too unbelievable, and Xia Yingwu still couldn't understand.

"But your cultivation half a year ago was only at the early stage of the Human Martial Realm. I tested your cultivation back then."

On the way here, Xia Wantang had already prepared her explanation.

"Half a year ago, I was indeed only at the early stage of the Human Martial Realm. But the day after I joined the Azure Cloud Palace, I suddenly dreamt of an old man who claimed to be an ancestor of our Xia Family."

"He told me that my cultivation talent was actually very good, which is why I possess a mutated Ice Spirit Root. This is unique within the entire Xia Family."

"It's just that my talent was sealed before, which is why I hadn't made any progress."

Xia Yingwu was somewhat taken aback but still found it incredible. He said with a mixture of belief and doubt, "Is that really true? How can you be sure it was an ancestor of the Xia Family?"

Xia Wantang raised her eyelids and went straight for the kill.

"Patriarch, do you know what would happen to the Xia Family if the Azure Cloud Palace discovered that I, a fake Saintess, was deceiving them because the seal wasn't broken?"

Seeing her serious expression, Xia Yingwu swallowed.

"...What would happen?"

Xia Wantang's expression froze.

"We would be annihilated!"

"The ancestor said that the Azure Cloud Palace choosing a Saintess is no small matter. If they were deceived by a mere Xia Family, how could the Azure Cloud Palace save face? Do you think the Xia Family has the capacity to withstand the wrath of the Azure Cloud Palace?"

Hearing this, Xia Yingwu's face changed drastically.

After Xia Wantang left the Xia Family, he had also regretted it.

How could he have been so foolish to send Xia Wantang away?

The main reason was that he hadn't expected it to succeed at first. Who would have thought it actually worked out? He didn't know if it was luck or misfortune.

The following six months were calm, and he thought the Xia Family had truly pulled the wool over everyone's eyes. He hadn't expected there to be hidden reasons behind it.

Seeing that Xia Yingwu was starting to believe her, Xia Wantang continued.

"So, the ancestor specially helped me break the seal on my body, which consumed his remaining soul. In the end, he dissipated into a wisp of smoke in my dream."

"Before the ancestor left, he said this was the last thing he could do for the Xia Family."

As she spoke, Xia Wantang symbolically wiped away nonexistent tears.

After hearing the story, Xia Yingwu's emotions were complex, filled with envy, jealousy, and a sense of fortunate escape.

With the facts laid out before him, he had no choice but to believe.

"So that's how it is... the Xia Family has indeed benefited from misfortune."

Then, his expression became excited again.

"In that case, we no longer have to worry about the Azure Cloud Palace finding out! The Xia Family can continue to enjoy the benefits brought by the Azure Cloud Palace and live without a care in the world!"

Xia Wantang: ...This ungrateful wretch actually doesn't care at all about the deceased ancestor.

Even though she made it up.

Clearing her throat twice, she continued.

"For the past half year, I've been cultivating day and night just to catch up and not be discovered by others."

"Patriarch, do you know that during these past six months, there were rumors within the sect that my strength was faked!"

Hearing this, Xia Yingwu's heart tightened again.

"And then? Did you manage to handle it?"

Xia Wantang said proudly.

"Of course. Since the seal was broken, my cultivation progress has been astonishingly fast. It was precisely because I dealt with those inner disciples who came to cause trouble that the Palace Lord granted me leave."

Xia Yingwu finally felt relieved.

"That's good, that's good. As long as you handled it, no one will doubt you anymore."

His mood today had been like riding a roller coaster, full of ups and downs.

Speaking of which, Xia Wantang's face was filled with sorrow.

"Alas, Patriarch, you have no idea. For the past half year, I've endured humiliation and dared not let anyone know that I've been diligently cultivating. All my spirit herbs, pills, and spirit stones were used up just to protect our Xia Family!"

"Look, don't you think I deserve some compensation?"

Xia Yingwu: