Although Feng Xiu vanished, he didn’t leave immediately but instead hid in the void, watching Qi Qian have people clear out those things and then order them to be sent to Qingping Temple. Only then did he return to Jiuxuan and summoned the shopkeeper for instructions.

With mundane affairs in the mortal world settled, it was time for him to retreat into spiritual seclusion.

He took everything he could use, stepping into the void without the slightest reluctance.

With her in the mortal world, it was truly a place of mortal affairs, filled with vibrant life and worth staying in.

Without her, it would just be a place of solitude, not worth staying.

In June at Kunlun Mountain, deep within a hidden, uninhabited valley, amidst the mountain’s spiritual plants, the ruins of the once-ruined Qingping Sect had somehow set up a simple wooden hut. The statue of The Three Pure Ones had been refurbished, and the damaged divine statues had been roughly repaired. Vermillion pen had drawn brows and offered a spiritual awakening. In front of them burned a thick incense, surrounded by an unknown array, making the area rich with Spiritual Energy, attracting many small creatures quietly to the site.

Qin Liuxi sat cross-legged before The Three Pure Ones, hands placed above her knees, forming a skill, eyes slightly closed. Behind her appeared a Tai Chi Eight Diagram with two clusters of golden light hovering upon her hands like two golden Dan Pearls, connected to the Tai Chi Eight Diagram, mutually nourishing each other.

When Feng Xiu emerged from the void, this was the scene he witnessed, feeling assured, a smile appeared, transforming into his true form, and he leaped down to lie nearby, closing his eyes.

A Demon Core floated from its body, deep red but if closely examined, one could see it seemed to have a missing corner, making its demonic power far less than before.

Feng Xiu hadn’t intended to disturb her, but strands of Spiritual Power and golden light wrapped around him and the Demon Core alike, soaking into his Divine Mansion and Divine Sense.

"Tsk." Feng Xiu clicked his tongue, with a hint of reprimand, yet filled with more warmth and delight. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Without being overly sentimental, he began to cultivate using his Demon Core.

The pair entered meditation during cultivation, and Qin Liuxi first emerged from her epiphany, turning to look at Feng Xiu and noticing his Demon Core was missing a corner, her brows furrowed.

Seeing him still in epiphany, she didn’t disturb him, but noticing items placed beside, her brow arched.

How come, did he rob the Imperial Family’s inner treasury?

Qin Liuxi picked up the Dunjia Plate, studied it carefully, and had some ideas, then took it to the wooden hut.

The entire hut was empty, except for papers everywhere, documenting array steps she calculated, and on a stone-made table was a nearly perfected, intricate drawing.

Qin Liuxi summoned the Dunjia Plate, her Divine Sense extended as the layers of steps from the plate entered her mind. She took a deep breath, attempting to integrate her near-completed array into it, and in another hand, used the talisman pen to sketch on paper.

Simultaneously focused, exhausting both energy and Spiritual Power.

Once immersed in the task, Qin Liuxi seemed enchanted, unaware of time passing.

Until her Spiritual Power was drained, and her Divine Mansion ached.

She collapsed backward onto the papers scattered everywhere, barely able to exhale.

A long while passed, before faint animal footsteps edged in.

Without opening her eyes, Qin Liuxi spoke, "You think, maybe in my previous life, I lived in the era of immortal cultivation and was a remarkably powerful Taoist Sect adept? Otherwise, how could I be so adept at arrays?"

Feng Xiu stuffed a Spirit Fruit into her mouth and scoffed, "Might not know if you were adept, but you sure learned Wang Po’s self-praising antics well."

"I’m being honest here, look how impressive I am." Qin Liuxi raised a hand, intending to snap her fingers to manifest the drawn array using Spiritual Power.

Unfortunately, she was utterly devoid of Spiritual Power.

Feeling somewhat awkward, Qin Liuxi changed subjects, "The Gods are not too fair, if they’re going to punish me to save the world, they should’ve granted me a major advantage, allowing memory retention through reincarnation, and endless Spiritual Power, right? Otherwise, how to deal with Si Luo?"

Feng Xiu softly snorted, "Had you been given everything, how would you experience life’s hardships? Already bestowed upon you is a clever Spirit Root that learns instantly and comprehends thoroughly, which is the greatest advantage. In this world, besides Si Luo, who can oppose you?"

Even powerful cultivators from the immortal eras sometimes face Spiritual Power exhaustion in magic fighting, where is the endlessly renewable source?

"True, Gods sometimes act like they don’t meddle. Since I’m terrifyingly strong now, I won’t nitpick." Qin Liuxi turned to him and returned to the main issue, asking, "What happened to your Demon Core? Why is a corner missing?"

Feng Xiu replied, "There’s a goddess statue by the East Sea with a Dragon King Stone Lion entwined around it, which was once a Guardian Beast there."

Qin Liuxi understood, saying, "Is it that evil?"

Feng Xiu nodded, "That Dragon Beast in the shallow sea tried to destroy it with your last talisman, using much effort, but nearly caused a tsunami; I had to take a bit of the Demon Core to replace it as Guardian Beast."

"I’ve said, if indeed couldn’t destroy, leave it for now to preserve strength."

"Words are easy, but if that thing isn’t destroyed when it does strike, I fear it’ll trigger a tsunami. You know that water inherently possesses yin, that Stone Lion’s yin energy is even more sinister in water. Left unattended, catastrophe is certain."

Qin Liuxi’s expression grew grim, sitting up, "Hence, I don’t plan to wait anymore."

"What do you mean?"

Qin Liuxi pointed at the array map, "These days I’ve considered that the strategy of responding only when the enemy acts doesn’t suit our current situation, and it’s too passive. Since he hasn’t acted due to readiness not being complete, why should I wait for him? Taking the proactive role can disrupt his plans, at least breaking that opportune timing."

For anything to succeed, alignment of timing, location, and harmony with people is crucial. Si Luo, despite having the strength, remains patient and inactive, awaiting that perfect wind to fill his sails.

Once everything is aligned, his chance of success greatly increases.

Why should I grant him the opportunity to wait for that wind?

Feng Xiu listened to her analysis and agreed somewhat, but thought further, saying, "But if you act first without knowing the impact on all living things, what if you get entangled with the consequences?"

"He’s mentioned before, I’ve already borne the grave sin of destructive apocalypse, adding a little more doesn’t matter, as the saying goes, more lice don’t itch, more debt doesn’t burden." Qin Liuxi shrugged indifferently, adding, "Anyway, payment must be made, so let it be, isn’t it just reincarnating?"

Feng Xiu opened his mouth, then closed it, lowering his gaze in discomfort.

Reincarnation as atonement—isn’t she worried how each lifetime ends for her?

Would it not be a tragic fate?

Feng Xiu clenched his fist, said, "Then what is your plan?"

Qin Liuxi picked up the Dunjia Plate, saying, "Time to refine the God Trapping Array."

Sharpening the knife does not delay the woodcutter, and battle requires equipment; once the Array Plate is refined, it marks the start of her divine conquest!