April 18, 2018

Zhao Lingbo’s active engagement successfully made the hall tense with a sword-drawn atmosphere. Although the maid’s smile was still as bright as a flower, the Cyan Cloud Party members led by Li Chaolu had already recognized the venom hidden in that smile.

Among them, Li Chaolu boldly speculated, "This guy...could it be Zhao Chenlu herself in disguise?"

Shen Qingming was enlightened, "It’s certainly possible!"

Given Zhao Chenlu’s infatuation with Wang Jiu, she would definitely stoop to disguising herself as a maid to strike at her competitor!

In response, Zhao Lingbo just giggled nonstop, "Such endearingly imaginative guests. If Lord City Lord herself were here, you all would have scrambled into the escape pods to flee back to Shen City by now, instead of chatting happily with me here. But since my pre-class preparation wasn’t to your liking, let’s stop here. I’ve taught almost everything I should. When you meet Lord City Lord, you’d better pray for yourselves. There’s more than half of the journey left, so feel free to call on me if you have any questions—I’ll be there in a jiffy."

Having said that, Zhao Lingbo turned into a torrent and returned to the fountain, where the clear spring water completely dissolved her form, leaving no trace.

Shen Qingming and the others looked at each other. On one hand, they finally felt the temperature in the hall rising, but on the other hand, they couldn’t help feeling a bit pressured about the impending meeting.

Zhao Chenlu, City Lord Golden Jade, was one of the top figures on the continent, even more formidable than Shen Ruoshi, whether in cultivation or dominant personality. If she really intended to harm them...the outcome could be several times worse than the absurd commotion Shen Ruoshi caused in Shen City.

Reflecting on this, their sudden visit to Golden Jade City seemed quite unwise. Yet, returning to Shen City in the escape pods and leaving Wang Jiu to head to Golden Jade City alone was something they were unwilling to do. It felt like letting a pet they had raised for years be lured away for breeding by a flamboyant little vixen from the neighbor...

Thus, in such an atmosphere of hesitation, the Golden Jade Immortal Platform silently flew in the calming layers of the Nine Heavens Gang Wind.

About half a day later, the hall suddenly trembled, and in the corner’s spring, Zhao Chenlu transformed back into human form, wearing an infuriatingly smug smile as she said, "We’re about to arrive at Golden Jade City. Would you esteemed guests please prepare yourselves? This is your last chance to supplement your nutrition and complete the Five Grains Reincarnation. Ensure your personal belongings are secured, check if your Rapid-acting Life-saving Pill is ready, and refresh your memory on the classic phrases for communicating with Lord City Lord...because this time, Lord City Lord will personally be welcoming you."

No sooner had she finished speaking than another woman’s voice was heard outside the hall.

"Mm, I’m here."

A simple four-syllable utterance, yet it seemed to transcend the limits of sound and light, causing the entire hall to burst into brilliance.

Everyone’s gaze involuntarily turned toward the source, facing the dazzling radiance, even if it defied instinct.

Then they beheld an unforgettable beauty that reached deep into their souls.

It was completely different from the fragmented shadows in the Southern City Mountains or the projections used for mere conversation in the Shen City Inner City—more vibrant, more vivid, a hundred times more beautiful.

—

In general human society, beauty is a subjective concept, where aesthetic standards vary greatly in different social contexts. In some places, thinness is beautiful; elsewhere, plumpness is prized. The first beauty of one country might be scorned as unattractive in another—a phenomenon seen time and again. And that old saying that lovers see their beloved as a *Xi Shi* vividly illustrates this idea.

But that’s only for ordinary humans.

In the world of cultivators, beauty can transcend subjective limits and affect objective reality.

A powerful cultivator can deeply comprehend the truths of the universe, influencing the motion of the great Tao, causing mountains to crumble and stars to shift with just a gesture.

Such people are like stars in the heavens, their mere existence distorting space and time.

Naturally, they can also distort people’s hearts.

When a cultivator possesses an incredibly strong and unwavering recognition and belief in their own beauty, this sense of beauty naturally affects everyone around them, making all resonate with it. And if her belief is stronger than everyone else’s, then all will lose the ability to resist this resonance.

The so-called most beautiful woman in the world is the supreme power capable of expanding this resonance across the entire continent, unmatched by anyone.

For example, Zhao Yuming of the Jiuzhou Era.

Or Zhao Chenlu of the Xiangzhou Era.

Objectively, Zhao Chenlu’s current cultivation hasn’t reached the level of the Jiuzhou Era, so in terms of beauty, she falls short of her past life.

However, for the locals of Xiangzhou, her beauty is already heart-shaking.

Upon witnessing Zhao Chenlu’s true form for the first time, Shen Qingming, Li Wanqing, and others were unresistingly overwhelmed, their souls and bodies frozen, completely unable to move.

Beside them, Zhao Lingbo adjusted the Ink Jade Lens she had just put on, shaking her head with a sigh, "I warned you to take the Rapid-acting Life-saving Pill, but you just wouldn’t listen... Well, luckily, these kids have strong foundations and haven’t embarrassed themselves by losing control, or I would have had to throw them out."

No sooner had she finished speaking than the radiant voice echoed again, "Naughty, you know saying it like that wouldn’t make them listen."

Zhao Lingbo stuck out her tongue: "It’s just right to give them a lesson. With this positive and negative contrast, they can deepen their memory and won’t have those foolish thoughts common to young people."

"Hmm, your words seem to have excluded us from the ranks of the young?"

Zhao Lingbo’s tongue instantly froze, and her whole body began to sweat coldly.

"Hmph, I’m in a good mood today, so I won’t bother with your foolish words. Go on, and take those youngsters along, find a hotel on the outskirts of the city for them to rest a few days, and then send them back to Cyan Cloud City."

"Yes, my lord!"

"Good girl, go on."

Zhao Lingbo, as if granted amnesty, let out a gentle sigh and began to move her fingers, drawing out the spring water from the corner of the hall. The water was like a soft carpet, wrapping around the four stunned young boys and girls, pulling them out of the hall.

However, just as they were about to reach the door, a petite girl suddenly shuddered, then began to struggle vehemently.

"I won’t go anywhere!"

Shen Qingming said, struggling free from the constraints of the spring water, her feet pounding hard on the ground, shattering a crisp jade stone.

"Dream on, trying to use such... tricks on me! Your Charm Technique is meaningless against me!"

As she spoke, Shen Qingming gradually regained control of her body, step by step, painstakingly walking towards the center of the light.

Though dazzling, though each step forward felt like a battle with heaven and earth, Shen Qingming felt her blood boil, her vitality growing increasingly abundant.

On the other side, Zhao Chenlu saw this, shook her head: "As expected of that muscle-brained descendant, such poor aesthetic taste."

She paused, then watching the girl move forward steadily and resolutely, Zhao Chenlu smiled: "However, I quite like this lively lass."

As the words "like" were spoken, a heart-shaped wave of light gently blossomed, like a spring breeze brushing over the girl’s cheeks.

Shen Qingming’s advance instantly halted, her entire body frozen as if turned to stone, unable to move a muscle.

——

When the Golden Jade Immortal Platform finally landed on the soil of Golden Jade City, several young cultivators from Cyan Cloud City were still in a rigid state. Meanwhile, Zhao Lingbo used the spring water as a rope to bind them together and transport them outside the city.

On the other side, Zhao Chenlu walked lightly beside Wang Jiu, using both her gaze and footsteps to guide their direction without ever overstepping or walking ahead of Wang Jiu.

"You won’t blame me, right? For playing a little prank on those youngsters." Zhao Chenlu said, with a hint of pity in her voice, "But I really wanted to have some time alone with you, the last time we were alone was ten thousand years ago."

At this, Wang Jiu finally spoke: "Indeed, it’s been a long time."

Upon hearing Wang Jiu’s response, Zhao Chenlu’s face lit up with a radiant smile: "Do you remember where we were last alone together?"

Wang Jiu said: "The Sword Pool."

Zhao Chenlu’s smile was about to overflow, her steps becoming lighter: "Yes, it was at the Sword Pool. So, do you remember what I did back then?"

Wang Jiu frowned and said: "You did a strange imitation performance."

"Haha, you really remember!"

"Of course, my memory is very good." Wang Jiu said, "But to this day, I still don’t understand, during that critical war period, why you wasted precious time dragging me to the Sword Pool to imitate how I looked when I was born?"

"Then, do you remember how I imitated it?"

"Of course, I have a good memory." Wang Jiu said, "Though I still don’t understand the significance of the imitation."

"Hmm, do you want to know?"

"Of course, I want to know."

"Then, follow me, and I will explain it to you bit by bit, seriously."