Miao Xiaomiao said, "All I know is that after that, my father's fate completely turned upside down. He went from being trash looked down upon by everyone to someone everyone scrambled to flatter. Moreover, his own physical constitution improved drastically, allowing him to finally marry my mother, and to this day, my father remains completely grateful to the Sacred Tree. He always believes that without that tree, our family wouldn't exist today... and naturally, neither would I." Miao Xiaomiao offered a slight smile.

"Your esteemed father is truly blessed," Jun Moxie mused, a guess already forming in his mind: the Seven-Colored Sacred Tree, due to the passage of long years, had likely matured. But this old entity possessed a temper that was utterly simple and genuine, especially in its clear demarcation of love and hate, existing in a mindset of 'good people are good people, bad people are bad people.' Coupled with a complete lack of guidance, it developed a way of life that bordered on the fanatical...

As for Miao Xiaomiao's father, Jun Moxie conjectured that perhaps it was merely the tree expressing sympathy for the weak.

"The Spirit Medicine Garden will open again, and the Illusionary Mansion will regain the privilege of collecting spirit medicine. However, because of the thousand-and-four-hundred-year gap, everyone is now afraid to step even slightly over the boundary; naturally, they dare not allow too many suitable candidates into the garden! Thus, the idea of two people entering simultaneously is absolutely unworkable!" Miao Xiaomiao sighed.

"It needn't be so final. Nothing in this world is absolute. I feel the Sacred Tree might not reject multiple people entering together. The previous sealing was simply because there were individuals among those who entered that it disliked. We could perhaps try sending a few more people in, and then, each time we approach the Sacred Tree's domain, only let one person attempt the attunement? If that person fails, the next one steps forward. Wouldn't that multiply our chances several times over!" Jun Moxie proposed.

"What you say has merit..." Miao Xiaomiao hesitated, "However, this requires the consent of the Illusionary Mansion's higher echelon! In my estimation, the higher-ups might be unwilling to risk it!"

"That is what the Zhan family needs to worry about!" Jun Moxie said with confidence, "And my acceptance of this challenge is precisely to seize that opportunity!"

He looked at Miao Xiaomiao, "If I refuse to fight, it will ultimately be seen as weakness. Since they have gone to great lengths to set a difficult challenge for me, why shouldn't I set one for them? They want to humiliate me and compete with me; I can give them that chance! But while giving them a chance, they must also agree to my condition before I consent to even spar with them. Opportunities are mutual; how can I simply let their wishes be fulfilled so easily!"

"If I ultimately win, you can naturally proceed to the Spirit Medicine Garden as planned; and I will have the Zhan family fight for my slot. Given that the Zhan family is arguably the foremost family in the Illusionary Mansion now, this condition should not be unobtainable!"

Jun Moxie chuckled, "Wouldn't that make everyone happy?"

"Why do you only consider the scenario where you win?" Miao Xiaomiao rolled her eyes at him. That expression was indescribably charming, and Jun Moxie, seeing it, couldn't help but be stirred, suddenly remembering Dugu Xiaoyi. He thought, even this girl's eye-roll is so lovely, almost the same as my little Yi.

"If I lose... I will naturally be insulted by them; and also, according to the prior agreement, my defeat means you also lose. We both forfeit the chance to enter the Spirit Medicine Garden!" Jun Moxie grinned, "If things really go that badly, it can only mean I burdened you once."

His expression suddenly turned extremely grave, and he asked slowly, "Miss Miao, are... you willing to be burdened by me once? Or rather... are you willing to trust me?"

Miao Xiaomiao's face flushed. "The way you phrase that is too lighthearted. If you win, naturally everything is settled, and everyone is happy! But if you unfortunately lose... it will cost me my qualification too... this is equivalent to destroying my lifelong happiness! This wager is staking my entire life, yet you yourself stand to lose very little..."

"Staking your whole life? How could it be staking your whole life? That seems an exaggeration!" Jun Moxie exclaimed, surprised.

"We have met by fate, and you will eventually learn some things. I might as well lay it all out plainly. Currently, the influence of our Miao family in the Illusionary Mansion is waning day by day. For several generations, we haven't produced a single outstanding talent! Although there are still many senior members of the Miao family serving as contributors in the Mansion, they are all quite old... Therefore, the position of the next Mansion Lord of the Illusionary Mansion will likely not fall to my family. In fact, if my father hadn't had a fortuitous encounter with the Sacred Tree's favor over a century ago and become the steward of the Spirit Medicine Garden, my family would likely have declined long ago," Miao Xiaomiao sighed softly, a faint worry clouding her eyes. "If the position of the Illusionary Mansion Lord is truly taken by another family, then, to maintain the balance of power within the Mansion, especially to prevent the reputation of our Miao family from falling, the elders of my clan will decree that I be married off to the most promising heir of that family! This is to achieve a situation of mutual restraint yet mutual benefit... quietly waiting for the opportunity for our Miao family to rise again..."

"Though I seem to enjoy immense favor now, if it comes to that step... I will only become a sacrifice for the family."

"To avoid the worst outcome for me, the only path is for me to succeed my father as the next Garden Master of the Spirit Medicine Garden. Only by relying on this extremely unique status can I escape this fate! I will gain a completely free and independent status. While I still might not marry, I will be able to do whatever I wish. That is certainly better than living a lifetime of misery married to someone I do not care for!"

Miao Xiaomiao sighed deeply, her eyes filled with melancholy.

"I do not wish to become a sacrifice for my family," Miao Xiaomiao said quietly. "But I also do not want to watch the Miao family decline like this... I am, after all, a daughter of the Miao family. The only way to achieve the best of both worlds is... to become the Spirit Medicine Garden Master! At that time, even the entire Illusionary Mansion would not dare to touch me or the Miao family! While my father nominally controls the Spirit Medicine Garden now, his original starting point was too low, and his foundation is severely lacking. His achievement in this lifetime will be limited to just above the level of Supreme Being, at best. And this limit means that, optimistically, my father's lifespan is only two to three hundred years," Miao Xiaomiao's voice was heavy. "As a daughter, I shouldn't speak this way of my father. It is undoubtedly highly unfilial! How... but this is fact, an undeniable fact! My aptitude, I can say without reservation, is the most outstanding among the Miao descendants in a thousand years. Our Miao family cannot afford to wait another thousand years... If... then, without even waiting a thousand years, the Miao family might vanish from the Illusionary Mansion... Once I marry into another family, the hope of the Miao family will be cut off! Even if we manage to maintain a semblance of glory for a few hundred years through marriage alliances... it is not a long-term solution! After all, the other party will not wish to see our Miao family rise again!"

"But if I become the new Spirit Medicine Garden Master, with my aptitude—I already possess strength nearing the Venerable level—coupled with the unique nourishment of the Spirit Medicine Garden, breaking through to Saint, Saint Emperor, will not be a problem. This means my own lifespan will be at least a thousand years, perhaps two thousand! Three thousand! Meaning, I myself can preserve our Miao family's prosperity for several millennia! And I won't have to sacrifice my own life."

Jun Moxie let out a long sigh.

"Now, your demand is equivalent to gambling with my life! It's also gambling with the future of our Miao family, the fate of several thousand people!" Miao Xiaomiao looked at Jun Moxie, her eyes unreadable, her teeth gently biting her lip, her gaze flickering constantly—appearing worried, happy, angry, and flirtatious...

Jun Moxie was momentarily speechless.

His decision, as he saw it, was merely a game, perhaps even an utterly unexciting and tedious one. But for Miao Xiaomiao, it involved far-reaching and profound consequences. Although Young Master Jun was absolutely certain—with his skill and experience, he was confident that no matter how these people designed their difficulties or plotted their schemes, he could easily prevail! No matter how outstanding the people of the Illusionary Mansion were, even if he were dull-witted, they could never overcome the splendid civilization of five thousand years of glorious China!

Jun Moxie was sure to win!

But right now, his identity as 'Mo Junye' genuinely offered no sense of security! Even if he stated confidently that he was sure, others would only think he was bragging! Even if you possess the Ethereal Body and transcendent talent, without your actual strength reaching a level that commands attention, what right do you have to ask someone to gamble their entire life, even the fate of their entire family, alongside you?

Jun Moxie chuckled, "Indeed, I was being too wishful in my thinking. Please forgive me, Miss, just ignore what I said. Actually, thinking it over, there are always people better than oneself, skies beyond the sky; perhaps those noble young masters have truly devised an insurmountable situation. If I were to lose, wouldn't it be more embarrassing! I should just go home and sleep," he said with a dry laugh, preparing to take his leave.

As Jun Moxie uttered those words, he felt no regret whatsoever in his heart.

This whole thing was merely a flight of fancy he indulged in on a whim. If he truly risked a young lady's lifelong happiness and the fate of her entire clan as a stake, even if he won the wager, and even secured the Seven-Colored Sacred Fruit because of it, the subsequent consequences would be unacceptable to anyone! Because in that gamble, Miao Xiaomiao’s position would be that of his accomplice! This could never be denied!

At that time, what would Miao Xiaomiao do? It would still be equivalent to ruining Miao Xiaomiao!

Could his conscience feel at ease for the rest of his life? He had always acted decisively and honorably, with a clear conscience! But at this moment, he truly could not say he was free of guilt!

"Wait a moment!" Miao Xiaomiao took a deep breath and commanded abruptly.

"Miss! What are you doing?" Little Sprout cried out in alarm. (To be continued)