Long Night, Deep Exchange

Yun Qingxuan's heart skipped a beat. She subconsciously thought Su Li had discovered her.

Only when she suddenly realized her own state was 'ethereal' did she feel slightly relieved.

At the same time, a thought crossed her mind. She continued to gaze into Su Li's eyes but couldn't find a focal point.

She also sensed that Master Su Li's current demeanor was one of vigilance and apprehension, sharp and indifferent.

This clearly indicated that the other party hadn't truly seen her, but merely sensed an anomaly and instinctively perceived someone 'spying'!

Yun Qingxuan realized that she had spied on Hua Yunxiao and that old ancestor before without being discovered. Yet this time, Su Li had discovered and "locked onto" her position. This was enough to prove that this person was a true master of Heavenly Secrets. In fact, as Yun Wanchu had said before, this person, in some aspects, even surpassed legendary masters like Zhuge Wuwei!

Yun Qingxuan breathed a slight sigh of relief. At the same time, she made a bold decision in her heart!

"Return."

Yun Qingxuan focused her thoughts, and then the world before her eyes, like a dream or illusion, instantly disintegrated.

The next moment, Yun Qingxuan saw tea boiling before her, with bubbles rising from the tea can.

Wafts of faint, wispy smoke gently rose and billowed, like exotic beasts joyfully leaping and frolicking.

Yun Qingxuan silently watched the Soul Perishing Tea Can before her, observing the Soul Locking Tower within, which emitted a faint glow and had shrunk to the size of her thumb. Her heart suddenly became very peaceful.

It felt as though no matter how great the matter, it wouldn't cause her the slightest disturbance.

Yun Qingxuan moved her mind, withdrew her Cloud Thunder Spiritual Fire, and directly stored the Soul Perishing Tea Can into her Universe Ring.

Then, she opened the door and stepped out into the night.

The Sunset Wasteland, the Silent Ancient Temple.

Zheng Tianyin and Wang Wenyuan were intently watching the constantly trembling crystal coffin, waiting for the final step of the refinement to be completed.

Just then.

"Boom--"

The crystal coffin suddenly trembled violently.

Then, the dense runes on the coffin, which had been wriggling like tadpoles, suddenly froze in place.

"Crack, crack, crack--"

Sounds like shattered porcelain exploded, and the tadpole runes on the surface of the crystal coffin all developed spiderweb-like cracks.

The cracks rapidly expanded and, in an instant, shattered, turning into black mist and powder, which gradually dissipated from the crystal coffin's surface and seeped into the bright red blood.

The blood, which had been boiling and bubbling profusely, seemed to be stained with ink. The bright red immediately turned dark red, then purplish-black.

"Hmm?"

Zheng Tianyin and Wang Wenyuan's breathing hitched, and their expressions immediately became uncertain.

Then, the two exchanged glances, their expressions growing more solemn.

"Someone interfered? That old scoundrel Hua Yunxiao? Could it be that he somehow detected our methods?"

Yun Yifan's face also immediately turned cold. It was just one step away, and now there was a problem?

"Imperial Lord, this situation, being forcibly interrupted and even backfiring on Mu Qingya's body, is definitely not something an ordinary cultivator can achieve. Although Hua Yunxiao's strength is extraordinary, he wouldn't have this kind of ability!" Zheng Tianyin snorted coldly.

Wang Wenyuan stroked his beard and pondered, "That young man definitely wouldn't have the power to resist. In that case, only that old man Zhuge interfered in secret. I'm afraid it has something to do with the Heavenly Secrets Jade he possesses."

Yun Yifan's pupils contracted. "The Heavenly Secrets Jade? Then isn't this troublesome? The key is, they also sensed something. This... could he deduce it even with our journey being so secretive?"

Yun Yifan's expression grew even more grim. If even a sliver of this was deduced, their chances of success on this trip would be slim.

He had endured for hundreds of years for this matter!

This time, he had finally seized such an incredible opportunity. If he missed it, he would truly be unwilling!

"Imperial Lord Yun need not worry. That old man Zhuge can't calculate anything from this. Most likely, they were just being cautious and secretly protected that young man. If they had truly sensed something, how could the Hua Clan and the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion be in their current state?

Therefore, this matter won't alert the enemy at all.

Now, we are just slightly inconvenienced and have to act personally."

Zheng Tianyin's expression calmed considerably, and in his words, he clearly didn't hold Zhuge Wuwei in high regard.

Wang Wenyuan confidently said, "Indeed. No matter how capable they are, can they reverse the void and break our 'Yin-Yang Celestial Pivot' innate secret technique?"

Yun Yifan nodded slightly, his expression gradually calming. However, his eyes became even more sinister.

Su Li withdrew his gaze and let out a breath of stale air.

This situation looked like it was about to be a funeral march, burying himself.

The feeling of being spied on had disappeared.

The unknown terror was also gradually fading.

But Su Li knew that the real danger had just begun.

At this moment, he even considered leaving something behind in this world, perhaps a suicide note, or a wish.

But, in the end, all of that turned into a desolate sigh.

Who would read a suicide note?

Who would fulfill a wish?

It would merely be a joke.

Su Li brought up the system and took another look. Immediately, his pupils constricted slightly.

The Heavenly Secrets Value had inexplicably increased from 74361 to 92361!

An increase of a full 18000 points!

Su Li opened the detailed section of the system panel and saw a very strange message.

[Yun Qingxuan's Life Archive has undergone drastic changes, gaining 18000 Heavenly Secrets Value (Causal Connection - Defying Fate, Destiny Tribulation befalls.)]

Upon seeing this, Su Li's mind was filled with a thousand thoughts.

99000 Heavenly Secrets Value would soon be accumulated.

But, was there still a chance?

"Knock, knock, knock--"

While lost in thought, suddenly, there was a soft knock on the room door from outside.

In the dark night, these three knocks were exceptionally clear, like the tolling of a death knell, striking hard into Su Li's heart.

"Come in."

Su Li regained his composure and said calmly.

"Creak--"

The door opened.

In the gentle moonlight, a maiden as fair as snow, with an icy demeanor, stood quietly.

A gentle breeze blew, causing her snow-white gauze dress to flutter, rustling in the wind.

"Master Su, I apologize for the late-night visit. Is it convenient for us to have an in-depth discussion?"

Yun Qingxuan's face was somewhat pale, but her large, bright eyes stared directly at Su Li.

As she spoke, she did not wait for Su Li's reply but walked directly in, stopping less than a meter away from him.

A faint, delicate fragrance, carrying a hint of spirituality and the cold aroma of the Heart-Questioning Tea, wafted directly into Su Li's nostrils.

"If I say it's inconvenient, will you not have an in-depth discussion with me?"

Su Li looked at Yun Qingxuan with a calm expression and retorted.

At the same time, Su Li directly said in his heart, "Qian Lan, lock onto this person and open her Life Archive for the next seven days!"