Premonition of Turmoil

Zhu Yaoyao arrived at the Profound Heaven Sect at daybreak with only one thought in her heart—she had come at a truly terrible time.

In the faint morning light, this towering immortal sect had already fully awakened. The mountain gate was brightly lit, and the sharp whistles of something cutting through the air mingled faintly with the shouts of disciples during morning practice. The entire sect was shrouded in a taut, battle-ready atmosphere.

This only added a few more measures of ill-timed unease to her already disordered thoughts.

During the journey to the Sunken Sea Secret Realm, when Zhu Yaoyao had nervously made that almost presumptuous request of Shen Yuxi in the depths of the secret realm, she had already prepared herself to be rejected—or even mocked.

After all, Shen Yuxi had no obligation to do so. In a secret realm treasure hunt, everyone relied on their own abilities, and monopolizing one's opportunities was only natural. Sharing a secret art as precious as the Heavenly Fragrance Soul-Calling Art with a disciple from another sect whom he barely knew would bring him a hundred harms and not a single benefit.

Yet after hearing her request, that young man who always carried an air of distance had merely watched her in silence for a moment. No emotion could be read in those clear, cold eyes. Just as she was nearly ready to give up, she heard his indifferent response:

"Fine."

He had not named any conditions or demanded any repayment. The moment they successfully obtained the Heavenly Fragrance Soul-Calling Art, he had even expended his divine sense to completely copy the technique into a jade slip, then casually handed it to her.

This seemingly casual gift carried extraordinary significance for Zhu Yaoyao and for the entire Hehuan Sect.

On a smaller scale,