Chapter 12: The Trial of Fate

At this moment, Ji Kun’s eyes blazed with fury, his toes curling as if he could gouge out an entire house. Overwhelmed with shame, he wished to crawl into a mouse hole and never come out for the rest of his life.

Ji Kun roared, “You fool, shut your mouth! She is the reigning emperor—are you seeking death?!”

In that instant, Xuan Ningyue radiated the terrifying aura of an emperor, cold and merciless as she fixed her gaze on Ji’s mother.

It was as if she were staring down a mad dog.

At that moment, Xuan Ningyue was ready to kill. Suddenly, a long sword appeared in her hand, exuding a dreadful sword energy.

The air was thick with an overwhelming chill, and a mocking smile played across Xuan Ningyue’s face.

Feeling the bone-chilling pressure, Ji’s mother immediately fell silent, trembling all over, her face pale with fear. She hid behind Ji Kun and quivered, uncertain, “That… dirty, no, little girl Yueyue—is she really the current emperor?”

Ji Kun shut his eyes tightly in anger, then fell to his knees with a thud, terrified. “Your Majesty, please spare my wife’s life. I, Cheng, will discipline her properly. I beg your forgiveness!”

Xuan Ningyue snorted coldly and said calmly, “If not for the fact that she once showed some kindness to Bai Ling, she would have been dead by now…”

She then turned her gaze to Ji Jiu’er, who stood stunned and dazed. Her jade-like finger pointed at the marriage contract on the table as she said icily, “Don’t think that stepping into the Shengyuan Immortal Palace means you’ve lost your true self. Three days from now, I believe you will regret your decision for the rest of your life!”

“Three days later, you two will be completely unrelated, but I believe on that day, you will lose!”

With that, Xuan Ningyue turned and left. The moonlight bathed her cold figure, casting a solitary, graceful shadow.

The room fell silent once more. Bai Zhentian looked at the three people expressionlessly, then noticed Ji Kun kneeling on the floor, his face full of terror.

He quickly helped Ji Kun to his feet. “Brother Kun, I just learned of Yueyue’s identity too. Sigh, this little girl’s background is astonishing!”

Ji Kun’s face darkened. Then, sensing Bai Zhentian’s aura of spiritual strength, he exclaimed in surprise, “Your cultivation has recovered?”

Bai Zhentian smiled and nodded.

Suddenly, Ji Kun threw his arms around Bai Zhentian in a bear hug, squeezing him tightly until Bai Zhentian found it hard to breathe. Yet joy shone on Ji Kun’s face.

After a moment, Ji Kun picked up the blood-stained divorce contract on the table. His chest felt as if pierced by needles, pain stabbing deep. After a pause, he said, “Brother Zhentian, I… sigh, I never imagined these two children would come to this point. Not after three years or thirty, but just three days!”

Ji Kun’s mind was in turmoil. First, the Empress herself had come to Liuyue City—and it was the little girl Yueyue who once scavenged scraps.

The vast disparity in identity was hard for him to accept.

And three days from now, his own daughter and the nephew he regarded as a brother would challenge each other.

As for Bai Ling, he had watched the boy grow up and liked him very much, which made Ji Kun’s heart ache even more.

After a moment of sorrow, Ji Kun furrowed his brows deeply, puzzled. He knew his daughter’s strength well—she was a disciple of the Shengyuan Immortal Palace—yet Bai Ling had been mortal just three days ago. How could he possibly win?

Bai Zhentian met Ji Kun’s questioning gaze and smiled, shaking his head. “I don’t know either. Let’s wait and see after three days.”

Ji Kun looked deeply at his daughter, noticing that her complexion was not good.

Casting a cold snort at Ji’s mother, the three then left.

Only Ji Jiu’er remained in the room.

She stared blankly at the blood-stained divorce contract, beneath which Bai Ling’s declaration of challenge was written.

Her lips parted in a dreamy whisper, “Three days…”

At that moment, a female figure stepped through the air from the horizon. She wore a flowing gown edged in purple and gold, her face bearing a cold and stunning beauty. A delicate, intricate emblem of the Shengyuan Immortal Palace was embroidered on her chest. She was breathtakingly beautiful, like a fairy descended to the mortal realm.

Seconds later, the woman appeared before Ji Jiu’er, floating in midair.

Ji Jiu’er respectfully lowered her posture. “Senior Sister Zili.”

“Jiu’er, after this matter, come back with me to the Shengyuan Immortal Palace,” Zili said softly.

Ji Jiu’er nodded.

“Sister, you possess the sacred immortal body that has not appeared for thousands of years. It is your destiny to come to our Shengyuan Immortal Palace and become the next palace master. Even without Bai Ling and Xuan Ningyue, you would have arrived by other means. Don’t dwell on this matter.”

“This is the tribulation of your fate—the severance of cause and effect. I thought it would take many years, but it only takes three days. Well, so be it.” A smile appeared on the woman’s face.

Ji Jiu’er closed her eyes, her mind lost in thought. After a moment, she slowly opened them, shining with determination.

“Bai Ling has awakened his bloodline and entered the initial stage of the First Yuan Realm. He has already learned the Shengyuan Immortal Palace’s inherited technique, the Nine Heavens Shengyuan Art. Use these days to train well.”

In Zili’s mind, the image of the youth on the hillside behind Liuyue City appeared: drenched in sweat yet resolute, his steps steady. Her voice was gentle.

Ji Jiu’er’s expression turned to shock. “He… has awakened.”

***

The next day, at dawn.

Bai Ling was already awake. With a sack slung on his back, he descended the mountain, then turned back to climb to the summit again.

Thud thud thud—the sound echoed atop the mountain.

Bai Ling’s fists struck the wooden post repeatedly, his heart pounding wildly.

“Still not enough!” Bai Ling planted his feet firmly and sensed the energy veins throughout his body. After yesterday’s grueling training, the spiritual energy in the core of his left chest was growing denser, but it was still not what he desired.

“Again!!!” he roared, lifting two sacks onto his back and sprinting down the mountain.

Images of the Wind Shadow Technique filled his mind. As he pushed his limits, he leapt back and forth among the cliffside boulders.

While carrying two hundred pounds of weight, he practiced the Wind Shadow Technique.

If the people of Liuyue City saw this, they would surely think he was mad!

An hour later, Bai Ling returned to the mountain top. This round trip was three times faster than yesterday.

At the foot of the mountain, Bai Zhentian watched Bai Ling’s fists flying atop the peak, his expression filled with concern.

Xuan Ningyue stood beside him, expressionless, still cold and detached.

“Ahem, I treated you well when you were young, didn’t I? Could you treat me like Bai Ling does—stop being so cold, like this chilly wind?” Bai Zhentian suddenly spoke, his mind puzzled. What had this girl experienced to make her personality so strange?

She was obedient before Bai Ling, but cold as frost before anyone else.

Xuan Ningyue: “……”

“Forget I said anything!” Bai Zhentian looked at the icy expression on Xuan Ningyue’s face, puffed out his cheeks and glared.

“I’m really curious. How does this brat have the confidence to defeat Ji Jiu’er, who is at the peak Ninth Yuan Realm? Sigh…” Bai Zhentian muttered in confusion.

“His agility—did you give it to him?” Bai Zhentian turned to look at Xuan Ningyue and asked.

Xuan Ningyue said nothing. Bai Zhentian smiled, already guessing the answer.

“Xiao Kuangyun from the Xiao family—why did you try to kill him?” Bai Zhentian suddenly asked.

Xuan Ningyue’s expression remained cold. After staring at Bai Zhentian for a few seconds, she asked coldly, “What’s the difference between what you did to me that night and what I did to Xiao Kuangyun?”

Bai Zhentian stroked his beard, an embarrassed look on his face.

Then he recalled the strange figures who had appeared near his home in the last two days, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.

After a moment, Xuan Ningyue coldly spat out three words: “He will win.”

Upon hearing this, Bai Zhentian’s face softened into a gentle smile as he nodded.

***

Inside the Xiao family’s grand hall.

The Grand Elder looked up at Xiao Li, who was resting with eyes closed.

He shuddered involuntarily and asked in confusion, “Family head, we have secretly surrounded the Bai family for two days, but Bai Ling seems to have disappeared. He hasn’t returned home since yesterday, nor has anyone spotted him in Liuyue City.”