Chapter 36: The Beauty Has Passed

Upon hearing these words, Zhang Tiezhui was overcome with excitement.

“What makes Linxian so extraordinary?”

Compared to Li Jian, Dong Jiangling, and Zhao Shuyao, Zhu Linxian and Zhang Tiezhui were the youngest in the group, and moreover, their spiritual roots were the best among them.

Dong Jiangling lifted his head slightly, recalling, “Ten years ago, the three of us went to the marketplace. Sister Zhao was the first to recognize her own shortcomings and decided to focus on survival—so she went to work at a shop. Linxian, after understanding the potential of lower-grade spiritual roots, resolutely chose to join the Azure Cloud Sect!”

“The Azure Cloud Sect! She… was qualified to join the Azure Cloud Sect?” Zhang Tiezhui exclaimed in astonishment.

A decade had passed, and none of them were novices in the cultivation world anymore. Their understanding of this realm had become much clearer.

The place where they now resided lay at the southernmost edge of the Celestial Domain’s cultivation world, in Cangyun Prefecture. The Azure Cloud Sect was the largest sect in this region—its head was the only Core Formation master in the prefecture.

In this world, who didn’t dream of entering the Azure Cloud Sect? With a legacy spanning over a thousand years, countless techniques and spells, vast resources accumulated through numerous enterprises, and the guidance of masters to dispel doubts and teach the Way.

It stood for supreme authority in Cangyun Prefecture. Once admitted to the Azure Cloud Sect, one could traverse the entire prefecture unchallenged.

Yet the sect’s requirements for disciples were exceedingly high. Under fifteen years old, possessing mid-grade spiritual roots, and passing stringent tests for temperament and comprehension—they selected only the best of the best.

Of the five, none passed even the age requirement.

Dong Jiangling shook his head. “She didn’t go to participate in the sect’s entrance examination; she went to be a test subject for medicinal trials.”

“A test subject!”

Zhang Tiezhui recalled that when they first arrived in this settlement ten years ago, the Azure Cloud Sect had posted notices at the local market’s branch recruiting trial subjects.

“That’s right. Linxian’s longing for immortality was urgent. Upon learning that the conventional path’s potential was uncertain and would require much time, she chose to become a medicine subject. She discovered from the branch that the Azure Cloud Sect’s main Spiritual Medicine Pavilion was seeking test subjects for pills that could forcibly enhance spiritual roots, devised by the sect’s alchemists,” Dong Jiangling explained.

“And the result?”

“Later, I learned that the Spiritual Medicine Pavilion’s trials—especially those concocted by that elder—were nearly always fatal, a one-in-ten chance of survival… Such uncontrollable risks made me withdraw back then.

I thought Linxian was doomed.

Yet, three years later, during an expedition to some ruins, I glimpsed her from afar, accompanied by disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect,” Dong Jiangling recalled.

“What? Did she succeed in the trials? Did she join the Azure Cloud Sect?” Zhang Tiezhui was beside himself with excitement.

Dong Jiangling shook his head. “I don’t know whether she succeeded, or if she joined the sect.”

“You didn’t go to see her?” Zhang Tiezhui pressed.

Dong Jiangling shook his head, slightly ashamed. “Ah, at the time… Let’s just say I was young and proud, unwilling to let an old acquaintance see me in such a sorry state.”

“She must have joined the Azure Cloud Sect! After eighteen years in the Spiritless Wastes, she can still sense nine strands of spiritual resonance in her roots—her foundation must be excellent. Surely there’s a way to restore her roots! She must have made it—she might even be Foundation Establishment by now!” Zhang Tiezhui was so elated, it was as if he glimpsed his own hope.

He promptly rose and hurried outside the tavern, eager to see Zhu Linxian and confirm it for himself!

“Zhao Sister…”

But as he stepped out the door, he didn’t see Zhu Linxian. Instead, he saw Zhao Shuyao standing alone by the roadside, staring directly at their table.

In fact, Li Jian had already noticed Zhao Shuyao watching him silently when Dong Jiangling mentioned Zhu Linxian.

She had been there for some time but never entered, simply gazing from afar.

Li Jian, however, pretended not to notice.

He didn’t wish to reveal his spiritual sense, which far surpassed Dong Jiangling and Zhang Tiezhui. More than that, he felt disappointed in Zhao Shuyao.

“Sister Zhao!” Dong Jiangling also rose and saluted Zhao Shuyao.

At this moment, he realized he could finally look Zhao Shuyao in the eye with calm composure.

Once, because of his secret admiration and her lofty status as a princess of the imperial clan, he had never dared to meet her gaze so directly.

And in that instant, he discovered that the Zhao Shuyao he once thought dazzlingly beautiful was not as extraordinary as he remembered… In fact, she seemed little different from Cuiniang.

Li Jian was the last to rise, nodding slightly toward Zhao Shuyao.

Under Li Jian’s gaze, Zhao Shuyao sensed a subtle hint of retreat and unease.

“Ah.”

Li Jian sighed quietly in his heart. His powerful spiritual sense already detected that Zhao Shuyao’s body possessed no trace of magical energy.

Not a shred!

This was evident from her current appearance. At thirty-eight, without the nourishment of magical power, her skin had grown dull, crow’s feet appeared at her eyes, and the light in her gaze had faded.

Truthfully, even in the Celestial Dynasty, Zhao Shuyao’s appearance was not particularly outstanding; her popularity back then was mostly due to her status.

Now, in the cultivation world, she was merely an ordinary mortal with exceptionally poor spiritual roots—only her martial foundation was a bit better.

Her vitality surprised Li Jian; it was even stronger than his own.

Just as she had written in her letter to Zhang Tiezhui five years ago, she’d abandoned the path of magic and devoted herself to body cultivation, supported by her employer.

“It seems this employer is wealthy and generous!” Li Jian nodded inwardly.

To his knowledge, the resources needed to forge a late-stage first-tier body cultivator’s physique and blood were several times greater than those for the mid-stage. The Thunderflame Crystal he’d once received from Yan Hongsheng was worth at least two hundred spirit stones.

Now Li Jian was curious—could Zhao Shuyao break through to second-tier body cultivation?

To do so, she’d need a special second-tier demon core!

Second-tier demon beasts rival the Foundation Establishment cultivators, and some rare ones are even stronger, for they may awaken second-tier talents upon breaking through.

Thus, second-tier demon cores were highly prized here.

“Brother Li! Jiangling, Tiezhui.” After a moment’s silence, Zhao Shuyao bowed to the three.

“Sister Zhao, please sit!” Dong Jiangling greeted her warmly, no longer as attentive as before.

“Sister Zhao, have you seen Linxian? Have you received any letters from her in recent years?” Zhang Tiezhui was more concerned about Zhu Linxian.

Years ago, Zhao Shuyao often corresponded with him, so he already knew she’d given up the path of magical cultivation.

“Sit, please,” Li Jian said, nodding with a smile.

After taking her seat, Zhao Shuyao answered Zhang Tiezhui’s question; she hadn’t received any letters from Zhu Linxian since their second year.

She had no news of Zhu Linxian.

She then asked about Dong Jiangling’s lost arm.

The atmosphere grew a bit livelier.

Yet, after a while in close conversation, a fleeting look of avoidance and inferiority crossed Zhao Shuyao’s face.

Though Li Jian, Dong Jiangling, and Zhang Tiezhui weren’t highly cultivated, they hadn’t reached the stage of eternal youth, the years had left marks upon them, but the nourishment of magical energy kept their skin healthy.

At the very least, Li Jian, who was her age, appeared as a man in his thirties, but his skin was smooth and clean, unmarked by wrinkles, and carried only a certain mature charm.

If anything, it had made him more attractive.

She, on the other hand, was truly old.

Her beauty had faded, youth was gone!

“Aunt Yao, which one is your Prince Charming? Come, introduce him to me!”

Just as Zhao Shuyao grew increasingly uneasy, a clear, mischievous voice like an oriole’s rang out.

Her face changed instantly, and she sprang up in panic.

“Yaoyao, don’t talk nonsense, I… I don’t have a Prince Charming!”

“Aunt Yao, you’re lying! You taught me never to lie, hmmph, I’ll tell my mother and have her dock your wages.” A clever girl, thirteen or fourteen, dressed in exquisite robes, darted in. Her bright eyes swept over the three men, quickly settling on Li Jian.

“It’s you, isn’t it!”

“Yaoyao…” Zhao Shuyao’s heart fluttered like a cat’s paw, wishing she could sink into the earth!