Si Shuo said softly, "It’s not just you. The same thing happened to Meng Yun. The Thousand-faced Saintess stole part of her life force as well. But for her, it was from her muscles, bones, and blood. For you, it was your skin."

Tang Qian and her family were shocked. They truly couldn’t understand what she had done to deserve the attention of the Thousand-faced Saintess.

"What was your skin like before, Tang Qian?" Si Shuo asked with a smile.

Tang Qian blushed. It was Dong Chen, standing beside her, who answered, "Qian’er is a Sea Bird Beastman. We live by the sea year-round. Nourished by the seawater and bathed in sunlight, her skin was naturally a fine, healthy, sun-kissed tone."

Si Shuo clicked her tongue. ’Her mother, Miao Juan, used to have fair, smooth, and tender skin. But Miao Juan isn’t young anymore. She’s pushing forty, and fine lines have started to appear on her face.’

’When I saw her again, I was surprised to see her skin had darkened a shade. It had become a beautiful, even, sun-kissed tone that looked firm and healthy, making her features stand out even more exquisitely.’

’I had to admit, it was as if the sun had gilded her skin, making her look much more vibrant and youthful. I can’t believe Miao Juan stole that from Tang Qian.’

Si Shuo was just about to reclaim the life force for Tang Qian when she remembered that the one who needed to do it, Ali, had wandered off to play... With a slight shift of her eyes, she asked for a room. She took out a pen and paper, wrote a message, and then silently willed a portal to Ali. A vortex quickly appeared beside her.

Si Shuo didn’t step into it. Instead, she pushed the note through.

Ali sensed the fluctuation of Spiritual Power and quickly told Zhong Ling to stop, having him hover in place by flapping his wings. Soon, the Spiritual Power vortex, which was only about the size of a fist, caught up to her and slowly spat out a note.

She quickly pinched one end of the note and pulled it free, reading the message her Mother had written.

Ali’s face grew hot. ’All I could think about was having Zhong Ling take me out to have fun. I completely forgot about something so important.’

She quickly put her hands together and chanted in a tiny voice, "The female Tang Qian is pure of heart and dutiful... She has contributed to the proliferation of the Beast World Continent and has never wished harm upon another. The life force of her skin should not have been stolen. Every injustice has a perpetrator, every debt a debtor. Whoever stole the life force from the female Tang Qian’s skin, return it now..."

When she finished her chant, she felt Spiritual Power gather within her body before it was suddenly drawn out, transforming into a transparent halo that shot away with a WHOOSH.

After finishing, Ali took out a pen and drew a checkmark on the note. Copying her Mother’s method, she opened a Teleportation channel and, without entering, simply pushed the note back through.

With the confirmation received, Si Shuo came out smiling and handed over a Bone Marrow Cleansing and Vein Cutting Pill. "Tang Qian, go inside and take this elixir. Your body will recover after you’ve fully absorbed its effects."

Tang Qian looked at the elixir in her palm. "Divine Female Si Shuo, my body can’t absorb Spiritual Energy. Will taking an elixir really work?"

"I just prayed to the Beast God. I believe he received the message and has already returned the life force the Thousand-faced Saintess stole from you. However, because your skin lacked vitality, your body was drawing on other areas to maintain a minimum of energy. This elixir will recondition your system and restore you from the inside out," Si Shuo explained with a smiling nod.

Dubiously, Tang Qian went into the room to take the elixir.

Si Shuo gave Xiao Cheng a meaningful look. He took out a common Dust Cleaning Talisman, handed it to Dong Chen, and explained how to use it. He then added, "Now that Tang Qian’s life force has been returned, the person who stole it will certainly revert to her original appearance. You two should keep an eye out for anyone in a peculiar state. It might just be the Thousand-faced Saintess."

Bird Beastmen were more thorough and timely in gathering information. Perhaps the fact that Miao Juan was the Thousand-faced Saintess would be exposed even without their guidance.

After saying this, they left.

Miao Juan had been feeling weak recently, as if she were recovering from a major illness. She was completely drained of energy, panting for breath after just a few steps. A sense of panic began to creep into her heart.

Soon, she heard the news that Meng Yun had made a full recovery. Everyone was singing the praises of Si Shuo’s medical skills. Many people wanted to visit for treatment, but they were turned away by the males of Si Shuo’s house.

The reason given was that Si Shuo’s medical skills were quite ordinary; Meng Yun’s recovery was thanks to an elixir acquired from Ji Liang.

Miao Juan connected this to her own condition and understood. ’Meng Yun has broken free from my superpower’s control. I’m suffering from the backlash again! And this is all because of my meddlesome, troublesome daughter, Si Shuo.’

’She hated that she hadn’t just tossed Si Shuo into a snow cave right after she was born. Just let her live or die on her own, instead of growing up to ruin all my plans.’

’Being bedridden felt awful. I have to find a young female quickly and transfer this suffering to her. Then, I’ll go settle the score with Si Shuo!’

As the saying goes, "Don’t foul your own nest." This time, Miao Juan didn’t plan on searching for a victim around her own tribe. Instead, she would use the arena tournament as a chance to find a suitable target among the bustling crowds.

’The target must be willing to make the exchange. Of course, if their close relatives—parents, children, or a spouse—agreed to it, the transaction could still be completed!’

’Right now, seventy to eighty percent of all the exceptional males from the Southern Continent are gathered in Golden Lion City. Knowing how much they dote on their females and cubs, they probably brought them along.’

’The more people, the easier it is to find what I need.’ But before Miao Juan could make a move, she woke up from her nap. When she lifted her arm, she saw that all her exposed skin was dry, wrinkled, and sallow—like that of a withered old crone who baked under the harsh sun every day!

It wasn’t just her skin. Even her breasts, once like proud peaks, now sagged like cloth sacks slung over her shoulders, swinging with every little movement.

She also caught a flicker of shock and disgust in the eyes of the Beast Husband who came in to help her wash up.

Miao Juan couldn’t help but scream. It wasn’t the pleasant, girlish cry of before, but a coarse, hoarse sound like the roar of a Wild Beast. It was so awful it disgusted even herself.

As she covered her face, she caught a glimpse of her hair falling forward—thin and half-gray. This was the very appearance she had always mocked in the widowed and childless females her own age, those who had to toil just to survive.

Everyone in the house was drawn over by the sound. Seeing her, they stared in disbelief. "What in the world happened?" 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Miao Juan was seething with hatred. ’It goes without saying,’ she thought, ’another female took her life force back. And I didn’t just revert to my original state—I’ve suffered an even worse backlash.’

"What are you looking at? Get out! All of you!" Not daring to raise her head, she shooed them all out in a fit of shame and anger.

Meanwhile, after Tang Qian took the Bone Marrow Cleansing and Vein Cutting Pill, her entire body was thoroughly purged. It was as if she were reborn, breaking free from a thick shell of mud.

Dong Chen, who had been waiting nearby, saw her move and quickly tore the Dust Cleaning Talisman. A powerful yet gentle, flower-scented wind enveloped all the filth in the room and swept it out the window.

Tang Qian now sat by the window, the dappled light of the late afternoon sun falling on her smooth face. Even her silver-white hair was sleek and thick once more. Her features were relaxed, her eyes clear and bright. The serene, beautiful Tang Qian had returned!