Misha raised her face from his shoulder, her golden eyes sparkling. "It’s been a while since I heard you say that. I’m proud of you." She cupped his cheeks tenderly. "But don’t send away next ti—I’ll beco strong enough so you won’t have to."
A mischievous grin curved on Adam’s lips as he nodded. "We have all the ti and resources in the realm to beco the strongest. Forget about the sect." He raised his clenched fist. "This is our new ho!"
Misha pulled back. She spun on herself in delight, the noise of her clapping hands enlivening the library. "Finally. No more hiding or waiting! You repaid i Lan and Shen Wu, so nothing holds us back." She glanced at the forest of shelves, raising her thumb. "And we have all the battle and cultivation techniques we could hope for. Great job!"
As they shared their delight, Xie Lian’s eyes couldn’t help but widen. That sibling relationship seed off—too much tenderness and contact, almost like a shy couple... She recoiled in horror. She had to stop them before they committed a grave sin.
With a cough, she stepped back and gazed the two children in the eyes. "Listen, there are so things that siblings can’t do. You know what I an? Things reserved for your dao partner like kissing or sleeping together."
Adam and Misha glanced at each other, rolling their eyes.
"You should have understood we’re not from this realm in the first place. We forged our identities to blend with the others. I’m from the original magic world, while Misha cos from one with advanced science." He raised a mocking brow. "How do you want us to be siblings if we’re not from the sa place? Also, I’m actually twenty-three. I reincarnated when I turned fifteen, so don’t lecture ."
Xie Lian almost choked on her saliva. She had noticed Adam’s maturity, but reincarnation? Was that even possible? The original magic world! The mages were indeed foreigners who claid the western island in their realms!
Her legs buckled as the influx of unexpected information pounded at her mind. Yet, a question overwheld them all.
"Why am I still inside the blessed land, then?" There were no benefits in keeping her around, so why didn’t Adam expel her like the others?
Adam shrugged. "Why would I? Didn’t you say we were friends?"
Her hands blurred over her quivering lips, the words striking her like thunderclaps. Despite his monopoly over the blessed land’s wealth, he chose friendship over greed.
But did she deserve it after bothering him with questions?
As if reading her mind, Adam patted her shoulder and answered. "Why do you think so much? You showed your care, I’m showing you mine. Even if you don’t want to stay, wait for a few years. I’ll find a way to fix your poisonous body."
Raw emotions swirled in her tightening chest as Misha patted her other shoulder. "That was what it feels like to have genuine friends..." She sobbed, warm tears trailing down her violet eyes as she placed her hands over theirs. "Thank you."
Misha nodded yet threw her a aningful glance: hands off, thieving cat. Adam was hers.
Xie Lian chuckled between her sobs and made a circle with her thumb and index. ’Noted.’
"Alright, ladies. How about you go on an exploration mission and uncover this palace’s secrets? Have fun today. Tomorrow, I’ll give you the best cultivation techniques."
"Let’s go! I’m sick of this sect uniform, so let’s find those princess clothes." She gripped Xie Lian’s hand, already walking to the door before rembering sothing. "Oh!"
Returning to Adam, she handed him dozens of spatial rings, then waved her hand. "We retrieved everything the disciples stole. See you later!"
Adam smiled, put them away, and stepped to the exit, too. With a last glance at the library, he walked out, eager to discover the training grounds, imperial rooms, and the late emperor’s belongings. After all, today had been ntally tiring, and even if he got the cultivation technique he desired, he wanted to start studying it with a fresh mind.
As he learned more about the palace’s ancient culture with each room he discovered, Tian Long and the other sect leaders suppressed their enraged voices before the sealed blessed land.
Yan Fei couldn’t help but clench her jaw as her nails dug into her palms each ti she looked at Ye Feng’s missing arm.
"I don’t believe you." She spat, her nose scrunched in a hateful grimace as she observed the unwounded disciples. "Tell the truth, Ye Feng! Those bastards ambushed you. Good, very good. They even went as far as to bewitch you and hide their spoils to look innocent."
Wu Seng groaned, his direct disciple version, the sa as Ye Feng. "They really returned empty-handed. We shouldn’t have trusted those brats and went in ourselves!"
Di Zang remained silent, but Duan Jian stepped before Yan Fei, his voice as sharp as his blade. "Who are you to accuse us when no one benefited? Do you want to humiliate yourself that much? Very well! Search my disciples and lose the little esteem we have for you."
Yan Fei snorted, but Tianlong interrupted them. "Out of seventy-five disciples, only forty returned." He pointed at the six standing behind him and glared at Yan Fei. "Everyone died but my core and direct disciples. Do you still believe we banded together when our losses were this devastating?"
She snorted. "What the hell happened, then? Among our direct disciples, Ye Feng is by far the strongest."
Tianlong t her fiery gaze, his voice cold. "We would have known without your outburst. Let’s make it this way since you believe soone bewitched Ye Feng. Xian Yunxu will explain. He can shake his head if she lies."
The other sect leaders nodded, trusting Xian Yunxu’s reputation as the righteous sects’ mad dog who never let go of her prey once she started investigating.
She stepped forward, her eyes locked with Ye Feng’s and her expression a mask of solemness. "The blessed land was indeed filled with natural resources, but also sothing more terrifying."
Tianlong frowned as shadows danced on Xian Yunxu’s face. Yan Fei had cut Ye Feng off when he spoke about the trials, so he had no idea about the catastrophe they had avoided. "What was it?"
An icy shudder made Xian Yunxu’s voice crack. "It was a trap. This is not a blessed land but the lair of evil, sothing we should never interact with again. We unsealed... a demonic artifact stronger than each one of you, esteed sect leaders."
"Bullshit!" Duan Jian roared, his face distorted in horror. "We’ve never heard about demonic artifacts for tens of thousands of years!"
However, Xian Yunxu ignored him and continued. "With that horrible demon’s relentless pursuit, we only thought about surviving, not collecting resources. But we noticed sothing: it focused on those who had stolen from the land first. That’s why we ordered everyone to throw their spatial rings. But Ye Feng didn’t believe us. I’ll let you guess the rest since it’s as obvious as his wound."
Lips parting to denounce the lie, Yan Fei glared at her before a palm t her shoulder. She looked at Ye Feng’s twisted lips and headshake, her pupils constricting.
"Everything she says is true. I’ve been greedy, master, and I paid for it."
A tense silence settled as the leaders watched their core disciples nod unanimously.
Yet, hurried footsteps and a worried voice shattered the silence.
Breaking decorum, Xu Fei rushed at Xian Yunxu, his old face pale. "Please forgive my offence, lady Xian Yunxu, sect leaders, but I must know." He cupped his fists and bowed, his back trembling like an old branch battered by a storm. "Two children—one blue-haired boy and blond girl—went inside, but I can’t see them."
Surprisingly, a soft smile curved most of the disciples’ faces as they answered in unison. "We’ve seen these two die."
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