Chapter Ninety-Three: Torment

After obtaining the fourth-grade formation jade slip, Zhou Xuanhong immediately immersed himself in its study. With the formation protecting him outside, no one would disturb his peace.

A month slipped by in contemplation. Yuan Winter City remained unchanged, with nothing of significance occurring. However, Shangguan Yixin managed to break through a minor realm, advancing to the eighth level of the Golden Core stage, further enhancing her strength and fortifying her physical body.

Thus, Shangguan Yixin once again arrived at the foot of the small mountain, pointedly demanding to see Zhou Xuanhong by name.

Quite a few cultivators gathered around, all showing expressions of understanding—this was Shangguan Yixin’s true nature: vindictive and never forgetting a slight. Having been beaten so badly by Zhou Xuanhong’s formation last time, how could she not seek revenge?

Seeing Zhou Xuanhong ignore her, Shangguan Yixin snorted coquettishly, drew her greatsword once more, and prepared to attack the formation—but a massive hand of spiritual power stopped her.

“Yixin, enough of this nonsense. This man is an honored guest of the Shangguan family, and you will not act recklessly again!” Shangguan Ba’s stern voice rang out, his presence felt though he did not appear.

Shangguan Yixin pouted, her words laced with resentment: “I don’t care! Last time he bullied me so terribly and you did nothing. Now I don’t need your help—I’ll avenge myself! And you’re stopping me? Are you even my father?”

Though Shangguan Ba was the head of the family, he often found himself at a loss with this willful daughter. If not, he would not have let Zhou Xuanhong curb her arrogance—a fact made clear by her fighting in the formation until the very end.

With even Shangguan Ba intervening, Zhou Xuanhong, sensing the situation, had no choice but to emerge—such is the life of a guest under another’s roof, always requiring compromise.

Facing Shangguan Yixin, Zhou Xuanhong cupped his hands. “I apologize for what happened last time, young miss. Please don’t take it to heart. Consider this my formal admission of fault.”

But Shangguan Yixin was not mollified. She swung her sword and said, “Hmph! That won’t do. I suffered greatly in your formation before. Now that I’ve made progress, I’m here to reclaim my dignity. Come, let’s spar properly!”

Zhou Xuanhong spread his hands. “Miss, I’m poor and have no spirit stones. It takes a lot of them to run the formation—will you provide them?”

Shangguan Yixin thought seriously for a moment, then nodded. “Fine, I’ll give them to you!”

She took a large sum of spirit stones from her storage ring, put them in a pouch, and tossed it to Zhou Xuanhong, her eyes blazing with fighting spirit. “There, that’s settled. Start the formation!”

Zhou Xuanhong took the pouch and found it filled with over two thousand middle-grade spirit stones, making his mouth twitch involuntarily.

“Isn’t this a bit much?”

Shangguan Yixin replied, “I’m not unreasonable. These stones are all I have—some for operating the formation, the rest as an apology for bothering you.”

Zhou Xuanhong glanced at her, then smiled. “Very well. I’ll start the formation now. Be careful, young miss.”

Shangguan Yixin gripped her greatsword eagerly, anticipation shining in her eyes.

As Zhou Xuanhong entered the cave, he activated only the defensive formation, leaving the offensive, trapping, and illusion arrays untouched. He had figured her out—she was here to strengthen herself. As a body cultivator, every battle was a means of tempering her body, growing stronger each time. Moreover, under his full control of the formation, the injuries would be within her capacity to withstand—making it the perfect training ground.

Thus, he relied solely on the defensive array, not trapping her inside, dooming her hopes of cornering him.

Shangguan Ba, seeing Zhou Xuanhong’s intent, chuckled quietly and left, leaving Shangguan Yixin to attack the formation as she pleased.

Shangguan Yixin struck down with her sword, but the familiar fireballs did not appear, nor did the misty trapping array activate—only a barrier blocked her attack.

Her eyes flashed with anger, and she shouted, “Zhuge Jiangniao, you turtle! If you have any guts, come out and face your grandmother!”

“You cowardly turtle! You take my money and do nothing—when you come out, I’ll tear you to pieces!”

“You’re the disgrace of the cultivation world, a spineless wretch! You only hide behind your formation!”

“Are you even a man? Let a woman chase you to your doorstep and you don’t dare make a sound—are you a rat in disguise?”

…

Shangguan Yixin exploded in fury, no longer attacking, but pointing her sword at the cave and hurling insults, her demeanor nothing like that of the Shangguan family’s young mistress.

A few cultivators nearby struggled to contain their laughter.

“Pfft!”

A young cultivator finally let out a laugh. Shangguan Yixin’s gaze snapped to him, sword pointed his way, her voice cold: “What are you laughing at?”

“Misunderstanding! I was laughing at how cowardly that guy is—useless!”

With a mocking tone, Shangguan Yixin replied, “Even I was beaten so badly by him before, and you laugh at his cowardice? At his uselessness? You’re really laughing at me, aren’t you?”

With that, she chased him down and gave him a severe beating. The sight sent chills down the spines of the onlookers, who quickly dispersed—no one wanted to be collateral damage.

Shangguan Yixin couldn’t do anything to Zhou Xuanhong, but she could certainly deal with them.

And so, ten days quickly passed. Zhou Xuanhong extended his spiritual sense to find Shangguan Yixin still outside the formation, this time earnestly attempting to break it, knowing insults were futile.

Zhou Xuanhong’s eyes gleamed with mischief. He activated the Three Talents Master Array, manifesting a phantom before her.

“Fellow Daoist, I’ve grown a bit weary from my studies. Come in—I’ll thrash you for three days to relax. Dare to enter?”

Though Zhou Xuanhong’s words were arrogant, for Shangguan Yixin, they were the most welcome, heartening thing he could have said.

“Hmph! You? Who thrashes whom is yet to be seen! Bring it on!”

Zhou Xuanhong triggered the formation, instantly enveloping Shangguan Yixin. Familiar fireballs and poisonous mists surged forth, but Shangguan Yixin showed no fear—on the contrary, she was exhilarated, reveling in the challenge.

It was evident she truly regarded Zhou Xuanhong’s formation as the best place to temper her body. With his meticulous control, the formation’s power was wielded to perfection, refining her physique without causing lasting harm.

Three days flew by. Zhou Xuanhong studied the jade slip while controlling the formation with part of his mind.

Inside, Shangguan Yixin lasted even longer than before, her recent breakthrough clearly boosting her strength.

Yet, three days of relentless, high-intensity combat left her physically and mentally exhausted, barely holding on.

As Zhou Xuanhong’s apparition appeared, Shangguan Yixin braced herself to faint once more—but contrary to her expectations, Zhou Xuanhong opened a passage into the cave’s inner sanctum.

“Fellow Daoist Shangguan Yixin, come in and have a chat.”

Unsure of Zhou Xuanhong’s intentions but unafraid, Shangguan Yixin strode into the cave and met him in person.

“Hmph! What do you want?”

Zhou Xuanhong invited her to sit opposite him, poured the tea he’d long since prepared, and smiled. “No need to be so fiery—we’re not enemies. As your family’s guest, shouldn’t we treat each other with courtesy?”

Shangguan Yixin rolled her eyes. “Courtesy? Like when you knocked me out cold in front of everyone?”

Though her words were sharp, she sat down and drained her tea in one gulp, curious about Zhou Xuanhong’s intentions.

Zhou Xuanhong smiled. “I can tell—once you recover, you’ll reach new heights. I admire your tenacity. Without it, your cultivation would never have progressed so swiftly.”

Pleased by the praise, Shangguan Yixin lifted her chin proudly. “Of course!”

But then Zhou Xuanhong shook his head. “But soon my formation will no longer be of use to you. At the eighth level of the Golden Core stage, your body has already developed resistance to these arrays. At most, one more session, and you won’t see any further improvement.”

Shangguan Yixin understood this—she never expected Zhou Xuanhong’s formation to provide endless rapid progress.

Growing impatient, she asked, “So what are you getting at?”

Zhou Xuanhong chuckled. “I told you, just a chat. If I’m satisfied, perhaps we can make a deal—but we’ll have to swear on the Dao not to reveal anything discussed.”

Suspicious, Shangguan Yixin eyed him. “You’re not plotting against my family, are you? I may not be as clever as my brother, but I’m not stupid. I warn you—don’t do anything to harm the Shangguan family!”

Zhou Xuanhong laughed. “How could I? My soulblood’s in your father’s hands. We’re just having a conversation—matters that concern us juniors below the Nascent Soul stage.”

Still uneasy, Shangguan Yixin pressed, “So what do you want to talk about?”

Pouring her another cup of tea, Zhou Xuanhong smiled. “It’s simple. I want to discuss the younger generation of the Nameless Region. I’m from the Left Hand Region and don’t know much about the Nameless Region. They say the number one true disciple of the Taiyin Corpse Sect is exceptionally gifted, and you seem to know her well. What can you tell me about her?”

Relieved that it wasn’t some family secret, Shangguan Yixin realized Zhou Xuanhong was just another admirer of Xiaona. Her opinion of him dropped a notch.

“How would I be close to her? I get along better with Bai Youxuan. I’ve fought her once—she’s absurdly strong, far beyond me in both spellcraft and battle experience.”

Zhou Xuanhong thought for a moment, then asked, “What about her personality?”

Now convinced he was courting Xiaona, Shangguan Yixin replied offhandedly, “Her personality? Cold. Always seems like she’s owed a million spirit stones by everyone.”

Zhou Xuanhong pressed, “Does she have any oddities?”

Shangguan Yixin shot him a contemptuous look. “What are you, a pervert? Are you going to ask what color undergarments she wears next?”

A little embarrassed, Zhou Xuanhong sipped his tea. “You misunderstand, fellow Daoist. I was just asking.”

“Hah! I know what men are like—all pious on the outside, but who knows what filth runs through their minds!”

Zhou Xuanhong tapped the table and smiled with narrowed eyes. “If you insult me again, I won’t let you enter the formation next time.”

“Don’t! I was wrong!”