In the third-floor superior room of Misty Rain Pavilion, Xia Xinyan slowly awoke.

Her eyes, clear as lake water, were filled with bewilderment. She scanned the chamber, her gaze finally settling on the large bed covered in a crimson quilt.

A sharp intake of breath made Xia Xinyan sit bolt upright from the plush carpet, staring at the large bed with a hint of panic.

There, Yun and Rou’er, the two girls from Misty Rain Pavilion, lay sprawled out, their modesty momentarily revealed, the room permeated with a strange scent.

Xia Xinyan’s expression shifted rapidly; she immediately checked her own body. Only when she confirmed that she was completely unharmed did she secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

Her battle with Bei Mingshang had left her seriously injured. When she fell into Azure Moon Lake, she had barely managed to swallow a single Heaven Mending Pill.

Because the pill’s medicinal power hadn't fully dispersed immediately, she had suddenly collapsed upon reaching the shore.

The memories preceding her collapse began to clarify, and she slowly recalled Shi Yan, standing on the bank…

—That was the last memory she possessed before passing out.

The next moment, Xia Xinyan felt something against her face. Reaching up, she pulled away a strip of cloth that Shi Yan had used to cover her exquisite features.

Gazing at the cloth, tainted with the smell of sweat, Xia Xinyan couldn't help but frown, her confusion deepening.

What exactly happened?

Xia Xinyan rose and, after a moment of contemplation while gazing at the two deeply sleeping girls on the large bed, drew a plain white handkerchief from her sleeve and covered her face again. Only then did she approach the door and call out sharply, "Is anyone there?"

"Coming!" The madam's voice responded timely.

Soon after, the madam who had brought Shi Yan into this superior room trotted over with a simpering smile.

Upon entering, the madam darted a nervous glance toward the large bed, then suddenly exclaimed, "Eh? Where is that young master?"

"Young master?" Xia Xinyan’s delicate eyebrows furrowed, a strange light flashing in her eyes. "Where is this place? Who brought me here?"

"Miss, you don’t remember anything?"

The madam froze, her heavily rouged face displaying a bizarre expression. She sized up Xia Xinyan, then suddenly giggled coquettishly, "Miss, that young master didn't just pay up and skip town, did he? Ha, I don't know who that young master was; you'd best not cause me trouble."

Xia Xinyan’s expression turned cold, and she lightly tapped the table in the chamber with her slender hand.

CRASH!

The solid wooden square table instantly shattered into pieces scattered across the floor.

The madam’s face changed dramatically; she was on the verge of tears, crying out in terror, "It has nothing to do with me! I didn't do anything! Miss, please spare me!"

"I ask you, what is this place? And who brought me here?" Xia Xinyan’s eyes showed extreme impatience.

"This is what happened…"

The madam wept sorrowfully, recounting the events in terror, constantly shaking her head and denying involvement. "Miss, it truly has nothing to do with me! I beg you to forgive me!"

She assumed Xia Xinyan had been defiled by Shi Yan and, fearing what Xia Xinyan might do in her anger, she kept crying and pleading.

After hearing the madam's words, Xia Xinyan stood stunned, her gaze utterly peculiar.

Who was that person?

To bring me to a brothel, and then, disregarding my presence right next to him, to boldly seek pleasure—truly a devil obsessed with lust!

Xia Xinyan was one hundred percent confident in her own beauty!

In all her years, she had seen countless men drool over her looks. She knew precisely the fatal allure her appearance held over men.

It was precisely because of this that she always kept her face veiled, wishing to avoid unnecessary trouble.

That person was clearly extremely lustful, evident from the fact that he brought her into a brothel. Yet, such a fiend only satisfied himself with two common courtesans and did not touch her?

Why?

Amidst her confusion, a faint spark of anger flickered in Xia Xinyan's heart.

Am I not even as appealing as two women of the pleasure quarter? Was he blind?

"It wasn't me! It really wasn't my doing!" The madam continued her bitter pleas, glancing stealthily at Xia Xinyan while whining, tentatively asking, "Miss, how was that lad?"

Xia Xinyan’s eyes chilled, and she swept a glance over the madam.

The madam felt as if she had plunged into an ice cave, trembling uncontrollably, daring not to ask anything further.

Xia Xinyan paused for a moment, then, seeing the sky growing lighter, she flew out through the window opening that Shi Yan had used for his leap.

On the early morning street, her figure flickered a few times, and she vanished without a trace.

The madam watched her retreating silhouette blankly, secretly breathing a sigh of relief. After a long moment, she muttered to herself, "In all my years as a madam, I have never seen a woman with such a beautiful figure. That young master must have accumulated great merit in his past life to enjoy such ecstasy with such a peerless woman."

...

The Shi Family, Stone Stead Hall.

Shi Jian was exploding with rage, roaring, "Search! Search thoroughly! Everyone temporarily ignores the Mo Family; you must find Shi Yan first! If you don't find Shi Yan, do not come before me!"

Shi Tie, Shi Dang, Han Feng, and the other Shi Family experts stood with their heads bowed, looking dejected.

"Family Head, this is all my fault; I failed to protect Young Master Yan." Han Feng kept his head low, his eyes filled with grim intensity. "Blood Hand’s medicine only lasted for one hour; its effects should have worn off by now. I will bring you Blood Hand’s severed head."

"Blood Hand definitely cannot leave Skyfall City alive!"

Shi Jian’s eyes were blood-red, his killing intent surging. "But ignore Blood Hand for now; Shi Yan is the priority! Everyone, go to that area. Even if you have to turn Skyfall City upside down three feet deep, you must find Shi Yan for me! Shi Yan possesses another Martial Spirit; he wouldn't die so easily. Search with all your might!"

"Another Martial Spirit?"

Shi Tie and Shi Dang were stunned, their faces pale with shock. Only at this moment did they understand why Shi Jian was so furiously enraged.

A dual Martial Spirit inheritor was a once-in-a-million anomaly; almost every martial artist with dual Martial Spirits would become a leading figure in the future!

—This was precisely why Bei Mingshang had assigned Yin Kui and Jiushan to Bei Mingshu.

A family disciple with dual Martial Spirits, without any accident, was destined to be the future leader of the clan, capable of driving the family much further.

Such a figure, if he were to suddenly perish, would be the most agonizing blow to a family!

"Big Brother, I'll go look myself!" Shi Tie also realized the gravity of the situation, his face darkening as he prepared to leave Stone Stead Hall.

"Family Head, Young Master Yan has returned."

Just then, Han Zhong suddenly appeared, exclaiming excitedly, "Young Master Yan is completely fine and is about to arrive at Stone Stead Hall."

"Hahaha!"

Shi Jian threw his head back and laughed heartily, his expression shifting from a raging storm to clear skies. "I knew that kid wouldn't be harmed! Look, hasn't he returned safely?"

Shi Tie and the others exchanged strange glances, thinking: I wonder who was just beside himself with anxiety, looking more distraught than if their parents had died.

Before long, Shi Yan arrived at Stone Stead Hall with an unconcerned demeanor. Upon entering, he stated directly, "Mo Qi and Li Han are dead."

"You killed those two?" Shi Tie stared at Shi Yan in disbelief. "Li Han was a martial artist at the Human Rank Realm! You could kill him?"

"Mid-battle, I suddenly advanced to the Human Rank Realm, and then things became simple," Shi Yan chuckled calmly.

At this declaration, the many Shi Family experts within Stone Stead Hall stood frozen like statues, mouths agape, looking at Shi Yan with extreme oddity.

Shi Jian paused, then suddenly flew to Shi Yan’s side, grabbing his arm to check his condition. He then burst into triumphant laughter again. "Heaven has truly not been cruel to my Shi Family this time! I knew this boy was good material! Very good, very good! Seventeen years old, Human Rank Realm! It hasn't been in vain that I cultivated you with such care! You will surely be a leader in the generation to come!"

"What about Mo Tuo?" Shi Yan asked with a frown.

"Gravely wounded! But he escaped back to the Mo Family using the Blood Evasion technique. He won't recover for three years! He’s probably hiding like a tortoise in the Mo Family right now, likely not daring to leave for a long time," Shi Tie snorted, still somewhat indignant. "If those two from Ethereal Cloud Pavilion hadn't stopped chasing, Mo Tuo wouldn't have escaped. What a pity we couldn't eliminate Mo Tuo directly."

"That’s good enough. With Mo Tuo severely injured this time, and Mo Qi and Mo Han both dead, along with many other Mo Family experts killed, the Mo Family will no longer have the qualification to contend with our Shi Family from this day forward! Hmph, now is the time for us to expand our gains! Father, should we launch a full assault?" Shi Dang suggested.

"Relay my orders: the experts from all major outer cities are to immediately attack Mo Family strongholds, starting now! In Skyfall City, strike immediately as well. Except for the Mo Family headquarters, which remains untouched for the moment, attack every other location ferociously!" Shi Jian roared.

...

The Zuo Family.

In a secret chamber, Chi Xiao looked utterly defeated, a bitter smile playing on his lips.

Zuo Xu sipped his tea, also looking helpless, and sighed, "Forget it; who knew that girl possessed the strength of the Heaven Rank Realm? It seems we need to devise another plan."

"That girl's true realm should be the Third Heaven of the Hundred Tribulations. However, her Martial Spirit is extremely bizarre; it seems she can borrow the power of her past life to instantly elevate her realm to the Heaven Rank Realm for a short time—terrifyingly potent! This kind of Martial Spirit hasn't appeared in our region. I suppose the Endless Sea truly is wondrous."

Chi Xiao's face was grim as he sighed again with frustration. "Since that girl can boost her strength to the Heaven Rank in an instant, practically no one in Skyfall City can easily take the fragmented map from her now. While I don't fear her, I don't want to end up mutually destroyed with her either. If that happens, my identity will certainly be exposed, and that old fox Bei Mingshang will surely notice."

"Let's hope the Ethereal Cloud Pavilion doesn't discover it was us; otherwise, things could become genuinely troublesome," Zuo Xu sighed.

"What about the Shi Family side?" Chi Xiao pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked.

"I will communicate properly with Shi Jian. Once this current turbulence subsides, I will send someone to the Ethereal Cloud Pavilion, hoping for cooperation. Alas, the fact that the girl can instantly advance to the Heaven Rank Realm means this is the only path."

"Mm, it has to be this way. I hope that girl doesn't hold a grudge against me. Hmph, moving against a mere girl, I truly feel a sense of guilt and unease."

...

: Apologies, Chapter Three will be uploaded just after midnight. Next week is the final week before the book goes on sale, so I must push hard on the rankings. However, the next chapter will still count towards today's quota, and if I hit the double rankings tomorrow, I will still deliver a strong triple update!