Weak Strength, Besieged on All Sides

The cicadas' noise makes the woods seem quieter, the birds' songs make the mountains more serene.

The morning in Wanli Holy Land was exceptionally quiet and exceptionally beautiful.

The morning sunlight, veiled by mist and Spiritual Qi, didn't feel scorching.

After Yun Qingxuan left, Su Li felt quite dejected.

When Yun Qingxuan asked how to resolve the worst-case scenario, Su Li had already realized that no matter how confidently she spoke, or how much the system's records showed her unwavering trust in him, he could no longer truly trust her without reservation.

As she was securing her own escape route, she didn't realize she had already stripped him of his right to choose an escape route for himself.

But he still hoped that this time, Yun Qingxuan wouldn't disappoint him.

Placing his hope in someone else again, Su Li knew in his heart that this was far from a wise move.

If Yun Qingxuan were to scheme against him again, he would be truly doomed!

However, what other choice did he have?

After transmigrating into this world, from the ambition that resurfaced from his past life memories, to fifteen years of aimless mediocrity, melancholy, and frustration, he had actually just wanted to muddle along and wait for death.

Even when he first met Mu Yuxi, he hadn't thought about truly winning her favor, let alone dual cultivation with her.

These things were clearly unrealistic!

His thoughts were actually very simple—impersonate a Heavenly Secrets master, latch onto someone powerful, gain a bit of status and benefits, even gain a bit of a backer, just to make his life a little easier.

After being beaten several times by his scoundrel of a father, and after testing ordinary Cultivators in Lihe Village and finding out he had no cultivation talent or physique, he had already resigned himself to his fate.

In his past life, he wasn't a top student; he couldn't make glass or soap, nor could he invent gunpowder.

Of course, even if he could, these things would be useless in a world where people could fly, earth could be moved, and spells reigned supreme.

His thoughts were actually very simple: it would be great to have three wives and four concubines, but if not, finding two ordinary women as wives, having them by his side, and living an ordinary life would suffice.

Although he couldn't achieve anything great, living a life as an ordinary person, with modest wealth and peace, wasn't difficult.

But then the system awakened, his expectations slightly increased, and he developed some thoughts about entering the path of cultivation.

However, it was only a slight thought; if the other party treated him with sincerity, he would definitely repay them tenfold.

Alas...

"Are these life-saving favors not enough sincerity?"

"Is my deduction ability not strong enough to make you want to befriend me with sincerity?"

"What great righteousness, what cataclysm, those are just fig leaves to cover the ugliness in your hearts! You've never had true compassion, never cared about others' lives!"

"You've always lived only for yourselves!"

"Your so-called concerns are merely fear of karmic entanglement and inner demons from not repaying kindness!"

"I was wrong after all!"

"Want to muddle along and wait for death? In this world, you can't muddle along; you can only wait for death!"

"As an ant, if you have some special abilities, that is a sin, a crime of possessing a treasure!"

"Weakness is ultimately the original sin; others trample on your life, and they don't even need a reason."

"Today, I, Su Li, shamelessly, with a smile, offer you guidance, willing to be your dog, just for a shred of respect, for a lifetime of peace and prosperity, yet you want to exterminate me!"

"Very well, let's see who can laugh last!"

"I might die, but your intended goals will also inevitably fail!"

"People are all forced to do things!"

Su Li paced back and forth in the courtyard of Yunxiu Peak, his emotions surging and fluctuating, before finally settling into calmness and composure.

Then, he stopped blaming heaven and earth, stopped dwelling on the past.

He began to silently recall the past, meticulously replaying his experiences of the past few days.

And then, he discovered some clues.

Initially, when he deduced for Fang Yueheng, the result he saw was that Yaolan failed to transform into an Infant Soul, the Nine Desolations Altar mutated, and then Fang Yueheng's dormant second soul, the Soul of Demise, revived, transforming into a peerless ferocious demon that rampaged and slaughtered everywhere.

And the result he deduced for Yun Qingxuan was that Yaolan successfully transformed into an Infant Soul but was suppressed by Yun Qingxuan!

In other words, the peerless ferocious demon that was supposed to emerge from the revival of the Soul of Demise did not appear this time.

Besides that, the cause of this incident was simple—Fang Yueheng and Liu Songquan were assassinated by Fang Yueyu, which led to the final outbreak.

And the final outcome was that only Gongcheng Tiansheng laughed to the end; everyone else was annihilated.

However, the results for the people from the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion and Hua Yunxiao's ancestor, Hua Lingshang, were not shown.

Even in Yun Qingxuan's future records, these people had never appeared.

Yun Qingxuan's future changes began at 16:13 on the afternoon of three days later; before this, Yun Qingxuan's record information was blank—meaning, nothing significant happened to Yun Qingxuan during this period.

So where did Yun Qingxuan go during these three days?

And what did she do?

"Master Su."

"Master Su."

As Su Li was deep in thought, two streams of light flew from the sky.

After two incredibly pleasant voices were heard, Hua Ziyan and Mu Yuxi had already landed within the courtyard.

Today, Hua Ziyan wore a purple dress and gauze skirt, making her look exceptionally refined and elegant.

A hint of contentment played at the corners of her eyes; she was in a very good mood.

Mu Yuxi, on the other hand, wore a light pink gauze skirt and stood prettily, looking exceptionally charming and delicate.

When Su Li looked at her, he happened to meet her clear, spirited gaze, which held a hint of admiration.

She paused slightly, then a blush of shyness bloomed on her pretty face. At the same time, she lowered her head shyly, avoiding Su Li's gaze.

"You came so early in the morning. What, do you miss this Master?"

Su Li, his emotions unreadable, teased them casually instead.

Soon, he would face eternal damnation and could hardly escape death no matter what. He had already let go and was acting on impulse.

"Master Su is indeed Master Heavenly Secrets; you knew already. Sister Yuxi is probably about to catch lovesickness."

Hua Ziyan teased.

When she looked at Mu Yuxi, she felt a strange sense of envy in her heart.

"Sister Li, you're… bullying me again. Master Su, please don't, don't misunderstand."

Mu Yuxi, hearing this, was overcome with shame. Her pretty face turned even redder, and she seemed utterly flustered.

Su Li chuckled, "But I already have misunderstood. What should we do then?"

Mu Yuxi's heart trembled upon hearing this, her heart pounding like a deer's.

Her lips parted slightly, her expression blank and dazed, as if she wanted to say something but didn't know how to start.

"Master Su, if you tease Yuxi any further, she'll truly catch lovesickness."

Hua Ziyan smiled and took the opportunity to help Mu Yuxi out of her predicament.

Su Li nodded slightly and said, "Alright, it was this Master who was presumptuous towards the lady. Fairy Li, have you come regarding Master Su successfully helping you transform into a Nascent Soul yesterday?"

Hua Ziyan nodded gently, then bowed respectfully and said softly, "Yesterday, during my cultivation and transformation, I was at a critical juncture and didn't have time to thank you. Today, I specifically came to thank you for your guidance, Master Su. If not for you, I, Ziyan, would likely not have lived for many more days. Master Su, this is the third time you've saved me. For such great kindness, I, Ziyan, have no way to repay you—"

"Sister Li, if you have no way to repay him, you can offer yourself to him."

Mu Yuxi seized the opportunity and directly retorted.

Hmph, serves you right for bullying me earlier!

Hua Ziyan's breath hitched, and her pretty face immediately turned red.

Sensing Master Su Li's gaze on her face, her eyes became flustered.

"Yuxi, don't talk nonsense! I think you're projecting your own thoughts onto me, aren't you? Coincidentally, the Holy Lord said that starting today, you are Master Su's 'personal' maid."

Hua Ziyan was somewhat flustered, so she emphasized the words 'personal'.

Then, as if thinking of something, she added, "Coincidentally, Master Su has saved you several times too. You should offer yourself to him. This way, with the Yin Yang Harmony Method, you can achieve chaotic perfection. Perhaps Master Su can then solve his… his friend's problem of being unable to cultivate!!!"

Seeing the friendship between these two sisters crumble so easily, Su Li couldn't help but feel a touch of emotion.

Youth is truly wonderful. Living in ignorance is even better.

Normally, their playful banter would be a beautiful sight.

But now, he was on the verge of being devoured, his soul taken, or even being refined to death. Was it really okay for them to be fooling around like this?

"Esteemed fairies, let's discuss matters of gratitude, maids, or offering yourselves another time. Right now, there's really… no need, because a major event is about to happen today, and it's very important."

Su Li didn't want to dwell on it further and immediately changed the subject.

"Master Su, something major is about to happen again?"

Hua Ziyan immediately stopped her playful banter with Mu Yuxi, her expression turning solemn.

"Master Su, do you need us to do anything?"

Mu Yuxi also asked respectfully.

She vaguely sensed that when she and Sister Li were joking around, Master Su seemed to have shown a moment of profound loneliness.

However, when she tried to sense it carefully, she couldn't feel anything, as if it were just an illusion.

But now, with Master Su speaking, she realized that things might not be simple.

"Fairy Li, please go and call the Holy Lord Yun Wanchu and his true disciple Fang Yueheng over. Tell them that I have some matters to discuss with them in detail."

Su Li thought for a moment and said.

He then looked at Mu Yuxi and said, "Fairy Yuxi, you wait here. Coincidentally, there are some things I want to discuss with you in detail as well."

Hua Ziyan didn't suspect anything and bowed slightly, saying, "Master Su, please wait a moment. Ziyan will be back shortly. Yuxi, I'll leave Master Su to you."

"Sister Li, you go ahead."

After Mu Yuxi bid Hua Ziyan farewell and watched her figure disappear, she looked back at Su Li with a hint of shyness and said softly, "Master Su, you... what did you want to talk to Yuxi about?"

Seeing Mu Yuxi's shy demeanor, brimming with youthful innocence, and recalling her tragic end, Su Li felt a pang of melancholy.

"Six days ago, when I first divined your destiny, the results were actually fine. But, perhaps because I kept interfering with fate, your destiny has undergone some changes.

Just now, I divined it again, and I uncovered some new things...

By the way, are you interested in knowing the karma behind your Mu family's annihilation?"

Su Li didn't deliberately lower his voice or use any shielding techniques.

This was because he himself was a special existence that could not be divined.

And there were no formations like surveillance in this place for the time being, so he wasn't worried about being overheard.

Upon hearing this, Mu Yuxi's delicate body trembled, and her face turned pale.

After a moment of quiet contemplation, she looked up, her eyes still faintly glistening with unshed tears.

"Master Su, does the Heavenly Secrets you divine become more significant, the greater the backlash becomes, thus leading to many dangers and misfortunes befalling you personally?"

Mu Yuxi's sudden question caught Su Li off guard.

Instantly, as if struck by lightning, he perceived a connection – why had he suddenly been drawn into such a complex crisis?

He suspected it was indeed greatly related to everything Mu Yuxi had just said!

It was because his involvement was too, too high! In almost every fated death, he had directly participated and interfered!

However, that wasn't the main point. The main point was, what did Mu Yuxi mean by saying that?

Su Li accessed Mu Yuxi's Life Archive System and took a look.

Then, he fell silent.

In Mu Yuxi's Life Archive, her Destiny had once again changed to imminent demise.

And her current thoughts – Mu Yuxi wasn't thinking about herself. Instead, she thought that if the divination results were terrifying, she didn't want to know. That way, Master Su wouldn't be entangled in karma.

This pure intention, however, suddenly felt like a ray of sunshine, piercing the depths of Su Li's heart, bringing a sliver of light to his soul, which was on the verge of being completely consumed by darkness.

"Actually, it's not that bad."

Su Li spoke after a long silence.

"Master Su, then... Yuxi isn't interested in knowing. In Yuxi's memory, the Mu family was very powerful. If even the Mu family was annihilated, Yuxi currently has no ability to deal with it and would easily expose herself.

If there's a chance, and Yuxi grows stronger in the future, she will naturally investigate the past karma herself...

The key is, if Master Su speaks of such matters, you will surely be implicated.

And Yuxi doesn't possess the abilities of Senior Hua or Holy Lord Yun to protect you from harm.

Therefore, Yuxi doesn't want Master Su to bear too much karmic tribulation."

Mu Yuxi's words were filled with sincerity.

Su Li's heart was touched once again.

He took a deep breath, moved a little closer to Mu Yuxi, and took her hand.

Mu Yuxi instinctively wanted to pull away, but she hesitated as she retracted her hand. She suddenly recalled the loneliness hidden behind Master Su Li's bright smile from before and felt a pang of heartache.

Then, she stopped resisting and let Su Li hold her hand.

Mu Yuxi's hand was soft and cold.

As he held it, Su Li could even sense wisps of indescribable, chilling, and sharp energy flowing through his hands, into his arms, and throughout his entire body.

The sensation was somewhat uncomfortable, yet strangely captivating—a feeling that was hard to describe.

"Originally, I had no intention of hiding anything from you. Whether you want to know or not, I will tell you some things.

As for whether you believe it or not, that will be your own choice.

If you believe me, then later, when Holy Lord Yun opens the forbidden grounds for training, you will outwardly agree to him. Then, after he leaves, conceal your aura to the maximum extent possible, quietly depart, and head to the Blazing Wasteland!

There lies an ancient Soul Suppressing Stele.

The Soul Suppressing Stele is a celestial anomaly, but it also harbors certain special dangers.

These dangers coexist with opportunities—although you might perish there, it is far better than remaining in the Wanli Holy Land.

Because your constitution has been chosen as a 'cauldron,' you will be betrayed and subjected to all sorts of humiliation and abuse, leading to a very tragic end..."

"Master Su, then... then will you stay?"

Mu Yuxi's beautiful eyes fixed directly on Su Li's face.

"I... will indeed stay."

Su Li did not deny it.

"Then, Yuxi won't leave. Master Su, Yuxi will stay to protect Master Su, or, Yuxi can take Master Su and leave secretly right now!"

Mu Yuxi was merely innocent, not foolish.

She had clearly thought of a series of crises through Su Li's words.

"It's useless. Although I'm not being monitored, the area outside this mountain peak is likely already a tightly woven net. It's impossible for me to leave."

As Su Li spoke, he released Mu Yuxi's hand, patted her fragrant shoulder, and said, "You are one of the core factors. If you leave, many things won't be able to proceed as planned."

Mu Yuxi shook her head upon hearing this and replied, "If Yu Xi is one of the core factors, then Yu Xi, like Master Su, probably can't leave either. Whether that's true or not, we'll know with one try."

As Mu Yuxi spoke, she gave Su Li a deep look, then immediately produced a Heavenly Escape Talisman on the spot and vanished in a streak of light.

However, the void in the distance suddenly trembled violently, and then the talisman exploded, sending Mu Yuxi's figure rebounding back.

At the same time, a smear of crimson blood appeared at the corner of her mouth.

Su Li's pupils contracted—wasn't Mu Yuxi's action like beating the grass to startle the snake?

Mu Yuxi seemed to sense Su Li's concern and gently comforted him, "Master Su, there's no need to worry. Normally, when we go out, we also use Heavenly Escape Talismans. At this moment, if I want to go out and am blocked, or even suffer some backlash, it won't arouse suspicion.

Besides, if it has truly reached this point, whether they suspect anything or not is largely irrelevant."

Just as Su Li was about to speak, his heart suddenly stirred. He looked up in the direction Mu Yuxi had just left and said gravely, "They're here."

Mu Yuxi nodded gently and said, "Master Su, please rest assured. If it weren't for you, Yu Xi would have died that afternoon five days ago. Therefore, Yu Xi will absolutely not let Master Su be wronged. Although Yu Xi's strength is meager, she is not someone to be bullied at will!"

Thanks to the book friend '9 Flying Cloud Jian' for their support with an 8001 Qidian coin tip, thank you very, very much~