Chapter 13

She was as breathtaking as ice and snow, distant and untouchable, like a goddess standing beyond the clouds.
A long strip of white gauze covered her eyes, obscuring their true form. Yet even with only the lower half of her face visible, her beauty was already unparalleled. The contrast of delicate features against the veil lent her an air of ethereal fragility, so stunning it was almost unbearable.
Even Ling Zhongyu, a man accustomed to the sight of beauties, felt his breath hitch. His mind had yet to recover from the sheer impact of her presence, but his body reacted instinctively, stepping back.
Just as he moved, a sword light flashed past his hand, embedding itself into the snow-covered ground. In an instant, the earth beneath was sealed in unyielding ice.
As Ling Zhongyu stumbled back, he instinctively released the veil in his hand. Before it could even flutter to the ground, a slender, pale hand caught it firmly.
Ling Qingxiao’s eyes had turned chillingly cold, filled with enough killing intent to freeze a soul. Without uttering a single word, he carefully adjusted the veil back onto Luo Han’s head. Even amidst overwhelming fury, he meticulously ensured that the veil fell precisely straight, not an inch off-center.
Ye Zinan froze, unable to react until Luo Han’s face was safely hidden again. “Heavens, Luo Han, you…”
She’s definitely the secret daughter of some hidden expert, right? Otherwise, how can someone be this shockingly beautiful?
The others gradually came back to their senses. Ling Zhongyu flexed his hand slightly, using spiritual energy to melt away the ice covering it. He raised an eyebrow at Luo Han, smiling playfully, “A face so beautiful shouldn’t be hidden behind veils.”
Seeing her silent glare, he laughed and continued, “Come now, don’t be angry. I was just playing around.”
“Playing around?” Luo Han was utterly infuriated. Her voice was icy cold, emphasizing every syllable, “Who wants to play around with you? Didn’t you understand what I said? I clearly told you I didn't want this. Who would joke around with a shameless fool like you?”
Luo Han felt her anger rising; this arrogant, self-centered male protagonist was exactly the type who deserved a beating. He probably thought any woman’s indifference towards him was just a playful act to attract his attention. Did he really think lifting a woman’s veil would make her swoon and fall hopelessly in love with him?
Dream on! Couldn't this overbearing fool learn even a tiny bit about respect?
Without hesitation, Ling Qingxiao drew his sword, his usually calm, crystal-clear eyes now glittering with an icy wrath. He quickly cast a protective barrier around Luo Han and turned slightly to instruct Ye Zinan, “Keep her safe.”
Ye Zinan hastily nodded and pulled Luo Han back a safe distance away. Ling Qingxiao then turned fully towards Ling Zhongyu, pointing his sword straight at the man who had stolen his identity, brought him endless torment, and now dared to offend someone he cared about: “Draw your sword.”
Ling Zhongyu snorted contemptuously, a dangerous fire igniting in his eyes as he summoned his own blade, “You want to fight me? Know your place.”
The tension erupted instantly. Neither of them hesitated, charging forward as soon as their blades met their hands. Ling Qingxiao’s sword was slender and razor-sharp, so thin that it appeared translucent under the daylight. In stark contrast, Ling Zhongyu wielded a heavy, broad sword decorated extravagantly in red and black, its hilt adorned with dazzling jewels, as arrogant and flashy as its master.
The two swords collided fiercely, instantly sending a whirlwind of snow spiraling into the air. Everyone around was forced back by the fierce spiritual shockwave. Su Yinyue and Yun Menghan attempted to shout at Ling Zhongyu to stop, but before their words could leave their mouths, both women were thrown to the ground by the force.
Yun Menghan was relatively unharmed; her body, after all, was a spirit herb with remarkable healing capabilities. Su Yinyue was less fortunate—her weak constitution and superficial cultivation couldn’t withstand the backlash. Her blood surged violently, and she immediately coughed out a mouthful of crimson.
Protected by Ling Qingxiao’s barrier, Luo Han and Ye Zinan were somewhat better off but still badly shaken. Ye Zinan frantically brushed snow from his robes, gaping in shock: “Wait, so this whole time inside the secret realm, Ling Qingxiao was holding back?”
“Yes.” Luo Han, dusting snow off herself as well, felt utterly exhausted by this revelation. “I didn’t expect it either.”
She had known the Celestial Emperor Ling Qingxiao would eventually grow powerful enough to shake the heavens and earth—but who would have guessed that at just a thousand years old, he was already terrifyingly powerful?
Ling Qingxiao, now deadly serious, fought without restraint, every strike aimed lethally. Luo Han and Ye Zinan watched from behind the barrier as Ling Qingxiao swung his blade horizontally, instantly slicing through an entire line of towering trees, which crashed down with an earth-shaking roar moments later.
Everywhere Ling Qingxiao’s blade pointed, nothing survived. This was true devastation, leaving no life in its path.
Ye Zinan stared blankly at the devastating scene, muttering in awe, “I’ve always heard dragons were fierce fighters, but thought the stories exaggerated. Now I understand—dragons only truly fight when they battle their own kind. Against anyone else, it’s just a lesson.”
Luo Han thought grimly of the future, recalling how all six realms would suffer under Ling Qingxiao’s unstoppable strength, and sighed alongside Ye Zinan.
Suddenly, the fight changed again. Ling Qingxiao broke through Ling Zhongyu’s defense, his blade swiftly aimed at Ling Zhongyu’s outstretched hand. Yun Menghan and Su Yinyue screamed in horror, and Ye Zinan cried out in shock, “He’s really going for it?!”
Indeed, Ling Qingxiao’s eyes didn’t even flicker as he mercilessly slashed down, cleanly severing Ling Zhongyu’s right hand.
It was precisely the same hand Ling Zhongyu had used moments ago to lift Luo Han’s veil.
Even Luo Han couldn’t help silently gasping in astonishment.
The pain of losing a hand was excruciating, even for a dragon whose body was naturally robust. Ling Zhongyu never expected Ling Qingxiao to strike so decisively. In agony, he collapsed onto the bloodstained snow. Yun Menghan and Su Yinyue rushed desperately to his side.
But Ling Qingxiao didn’t stop there; he advanced relentlessly, aiming his blade directly at Ling Zhongyu’s throat. Yun Menghan and Su Yinyue, without a second thought, threw themselves between them, staring defiantly at Ling Qingxiao, clearly ready to die protecting Ling Zhongyu.
One was his own cousin; the other, his martial sister. What could Ling Qingxiao do? Seeing their determination, he hesitated only briefly before finally withdrawing his sword.
Ling Zhongyu struggled up, blood still pouring from his severed wrist, staining the snow scarlet. His hateful eyes glared venomously at Ling Qingxiao:
“Ling Qingxiao, I swear I’ll repay this grudge tenfold!”
Ling Qingxiao only laughed softly, cold and disdainful: “Ling Zhongyu, among dragons, only strength matters. The defeated have no right to cry injustice.”
“Besides,” Ling Qingxiao continued, pointing at Ling Zhongyu’s severed limb with his now-sheathed sword, eyes glinting coldly, “Today, your hand was merely compensation.”
With those words, he turned gracefully and walked back toward Luo Han, his white robes gently swirling in the fierce snowy winds. Luo Han, still safely hidden behind the barrier, quietly watched as the bitter wind whipped the snow around them, sending flurries spiraling into the darkening sky, before gently settling down again.
Between heaven and earth, everything was cloaked in an endless expanse of white. Only Ling Qingxiao walked calmly forward, his powerful spiritual aura repelling the swirling snow and howling wind. Like a peerless blade cleaving through chaos, he stood alone between sky and earth.
Ye Zinan quietly tugged at Luo Han’s sleeve, whispering nervously, “I’m a bit scared.”
With Ling Qingxiao looking like this, it seemed he might draw his sword again at any moment.
Luo Han elbowed Ye Zinan sharply, hissing quietly back, “If you keep quiet, you might live a little longer.”
Ye Zinan promptly shut his mouth. He knew better than to provoke these terrifying new-generation monsters—he could afford to retreat, even if he couldn't compete.
Ling Qingxiao approached calmly, casually waving his hand to dispel the protective barrier. His face was utterly serene, as if he’d merely chopped a vegetable for dinner rather than severed a hand moments ago. Even his white robes remained immaculate, cleaner than the snowflakes drifting around them.
“Let’s go,” he said quietly, “To the west.”
Luo Han nodded obediently, following behind him. After taking a few steps, she glanced back to see Ling Zhongyu already helped to his feet by the two young women. The severed hand was nowhere to be seen—likely already stowed away. For immortals, losing a hand was hardly fatal; with the proper treasures, it could be reattached. Still, the agony was inevitable, and even if reattached, it would never be quite as strong as before.
Su Yinyue was sobbing dramatically, nearly fainting, while Yun Menghan quickly sliced off a few leaves from her true body, using them to stop Ling Zhongyu's bleeding. Ling Zhongyu’s spilled blood had already turned the snow crimson, and now Yun Menghan’s own blood mingled gruesomely with it, painting an even more shocking scene.
Yun Menghan’s true form was the rare Purple Immortal Grass growing by the Celestial River, which had cultivated consciousness and eventually transformed into human shape. Her astonishing healing ability made her coveted in the immortal realm as a rare medicinal treasure. Before being accepted into Zhongshan, she'd narrowly escaped being captured and refined into pills multiple times.
Precisely because of her extraordinary regenerative ability, Yun Menghan later endured many tragic fates—having her heart and vital energy taken, and even suffering miscarriage. Luo Han remembered vividly from the story how Yun Menghan’s powerful healing capabilities led to several horrifyingly bloody scenes between her and Ling Zhongyu.
Ye Zinan called softly, pulling Luo Han back from her thoughts. She turned quickly and noticed Ling Qingxiao had stopped and was patiently waiting for her. Luo Han hurried to catch up.
After the dramatic encounter with the main couple, their remaining journey proceeded quite smoothly. Heading westward and eventually into the depths of the ocean, they retrieved the remaining six He Linglan plants. A few treasure hunters attempted to ambush them along the way, but all were swiftly dispatched by Ling Qingxiao.
In the blink of an eye, a month had passed. Today, the trio finally reached their last destination. Ling Qingxiao effortlessly slew the guardian sea beast, and Ye Zinan dutifully stepped forward, once again serving as their manual laborer, carefully excavating the last stalk of He Linglan from the seabed.
By now, Ye Zinan had fully accepted his role as the team’s official handyman. He cleaned up the battlefield, tidied the surroundings, and finally handed the jade box containing He Linglan respectfully to Luo Han.
Their group had long since settled into their routine: Ling Qingxiao handled all fighting and technical details, Ye Zinan managed chores, while Luo Han kept their valuables safe, contributing mostly just by talking.
Floating gently in the ocean depths within the protective barrier of a Water-Repelling Pearl, Luo Han counted the jade boxes and sighed contentedly, “Ten stalks of Crane Orchid, perfect. We got them all, mission accomplished!”
Yet after thinking for a moment, Luo Han felt a pang of guilt. “We've taken all the orchids in the secret realm. Is it too cruel to leave nothing for others?”
Ye Zinan paused, briefly conflicted, before hesitantly responding, “I mean...it's probably okay?”
“Then it’s settled,” Luo Han immediately replied, discarding her hesitation entirely. “Life can’t always be easy. We’re just teaching them valuable life lessons: treasure hunting shouldn’t come effortlessly. They'll thank us when they realize that.”
Ye Zinan readily nodded along, completely convinced. Ling QingXiaolistened silently, feeling somewhat speechless. These two had already taken everything yet shamelessly pretended they were acting in the others’ best interests. However, seeing Luo Han’s earnest facade, he could only smile helplessly.
Given Ye Zinan’s limited contribution, he only received two stalks, while Luo Han kept the remaining eight. Yet even those two stalks were more than enough to make him ecstatic. Enthusiastically, Ye Zinan approached Luo Han, asking with sincerity, “Are you two planning another adventure soon? Which secret realm are you targeting next time? Mind if you bring me along again?”
Ye Zinan had lived for tens of thousands of years but only today discovered the joy of effortlessly coasting through treasure hunting. Ling Qingxiao’s overwhelming strength paired with Luo Han’s unbelievable luck made their team unstoppable. With teammates like these, Ye Zinan would gladly accept even a smaller share of the spoils.
He had no interest in learning harsh life lessons, he simply wanted to stick close to Luo Han and Ling Qingxiao and continue to enjoy effortless victories.