Ch 136: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

Xuan Qing knew that Ling Zhi had been killed at Idle Cloud Temple and that his soul had escaped. SAD had been tracking him, but he hadn’t expected Ling Zhi to call him—using Zhou Yunxuan’s body.

Xuan Qing immediately rushed to the Xie family’s old mansion. He was indeed intrigued by the idea of “rebirth,” and he was also deeply interested in Ling Zhi’s attempt at soul possession. If he could master both the techniques of rebirth and soul possession, wouldn’t that mean he could achieve eternal life? His reputation was already in ruins, and Xuantian Sect was nearing its end. But if he could possess Mao Ximing, he would become the most promising cultivator of this generation, with an unlimited future. This was an immense temptation.

Ling Zhi remained in a state of deep sleep while Zhou Yunxuan contacted Shaolin Temple, hoping to stay there for a few days to see if daily prayers and scripture recitations could suppress Ling Zhi and weaken his power. If it worked, she planned to wait in the temple until Ling Zhi completely faded away. She also wanted to light an eternal lamp to pray for her own safety.

She had gone through so much to acquire good fortune in this life. Though she had encountered many hardships, they were now behind her. As long as she got rid of Ling Zhi, she could finally live freely and enjoy life to the fullest.

After making arrangements, Zhou Yunxuan called the butler and instructed him to list the house for sale. The mansion was grand in every way, but it was full of memories of the Xie family. Now that she no longer had Yin-Yang eyes, she couldn’t help but wonder if the spirits of the Xie family might still haunt the place, lurking around her.

And then there was the underground room where she had been imprisoned—just thinking about it filled her with hatred. She decided to sell the house, cash out, and buy a new villa she truly liked.

As she prepared to leave, Zhou Yunxuan suddenly felt a bit reluctant. This was the home she had desired for two lifetimes. When she had first moved in, she had been so happy. But now, everything had changed.

She slowly walked through the mansion, taking one last look at every corner. Because of her recent erratic moods, the servants had all learned to avoid her.

When Zhou Yunxuan stepped into the conservatory, the door suddenly shut behind her. The floor-to-ceiling windows were instantly covered by blackout curtains, plunging the room into darkness. Panicking, she grabbed a potted plant and tried to smash the glass door. But just as she was about to swing, the pot inexplicably shifted direction—smashing heavily onto her own knee.

“Ah—!” Zhou Yunxuan let out a scream, collapsing to the ground, clutching her leg as cold sweat poured down her face. “Help! Someone, help me—”

“Ling Zhi, come out.” Xuan Qing’s voice echoed in the darkness. When there was no response, he called again, “Ling Zhi?”

Zhou Yunxuan recognized Xuan Qing’s voice, and every hair on her body stood on end. “Did Ling Zhi call you here? What do you want? My body can’t cultivate, I can’t enter the Taoist path. Possessing me would mean being a normal person for a lifetime—it’s not worth it! You just want Ling Zhi to possess someone, right? I can help you find a better host! My house has plenty of people—what about the driver? He’s young and strong, he’ll definitely live for a long time.

“Or I can lure Shen Yunxuan’s disciple here! If you possess them, you’ll be able to spy on Shen Yunxuan and steal her techniques. Or better yet, why not take over a Xuantian Sect disciple? Find the one with the highest talent—then you can cultivate again and return to Xuantian Sect with legitimacy. Whatever you want, I can do it! Just let me live in peace. Isn’t that the best outcome for everyone?”

Xuan Qing let out a cold snort and stepped in front of her. “Your petty schemes won’t work on me. Tell me—how did you reincarnate?”

Zhou Yunxuan desperately explained, “I really don’t know! In my past life, I was cursed with bad luck. I died a miserable death! I always suspected that my fate was too tragic, that my resentment was too strong, which is why I was able to reincarnate. I don’t even know if this world is real or just my imagination! If I had control over reincarnation, do you think I would’ve let myself get imprisoned and drained by the Xie family? I wouldn’t have married into the Xie family at all! And look at me now—my soul is damaged, I can’t cultivate, I’ll probably die before I reach fifty! If I knew how to reincarnate, I’d be doing it right now!”

Her words made some sense. Xuan Qing frowned. “Where is Ling Zhi? What did you do to him?”

Zhou Yunxuan replied quickly, “He knocked me out to call you. He must have overexerted himself—he’s been unconscious ever since. Master Xuan Qing, take him with you! Bring him back to Xuantian Sect and heal his soul. I’m sure he can be saved.”

“I don’t need you to tell me what to do!” Xuan Qing wasn’t convinced. Suddenly, he reached out, grabbing Zhou Yunxuan by the throat and lifting her off the ground. His other hand formed a claw over her head, beginning a soul-searching technique.

“Soul-Searching Technique?!” Zhou Yunxuan’s eyes widened in horror, and she let out a piercing scream. But the scream quickly distorted, turning into a desperate, agonized wail. “I’m not—I’m not lying…!”

She wasn’t lying. She truly didn’t know how she had been reborn.

But she had concealed one thing— in her past life, she had killed Ling Zhi.

Humans were strange creatures. Xuan Qing had never treated Ling Zhi well; he had always considered him a disgrace, never acknowledging him. But now, learning that Ling Zhi had been killed by Zhou Yunxuan, a surge of fury ignited within him. With a single palm strike, he sent Zhou Yunxuan flying. She coughed up a mouthful of blood, her internal organs shifting painfully.

At the same time, Xuan Qing himself staggered backward, reeling from an unexpected backlash. Meanwhile, the protective talisman Zhou Yunxuan carried heated up before instantly turning to ash.

Xuan Qing narrowed his eyes. “A protective talisman? Everyone says you and Shen Yunxuan are at odds, so how do you have her protective talisman? Are you colluding with her to harm Ling Zhi?”

“I’m not!” Zhou Yunxuan immediately denied it. “You already searched my soul and saw my memories—I only have resentment toward Shen Yunxuan, I’ve never cooperated with her.”

Xuan Qing let out a cold snort, grabbed Zhou Yunxuan, and swiftly returned to Xuantian Sect. Using the soul-searching technique had been extremely taxing on his body, nearly draining him, and the backlash from the protective talisman had further injured him. He needed to return and heal. Since he couldn’t wake Ling Zhi and couldn’t kill Zhou Yunxuan outright, he decided to imprison her in Xuantian Sect’s forbidden grounds while he retreated into seclusion to recover.

Zhou Yunxuan, already gravely injured, lay weakly on the ground in the forbidden area—until she suddenly realized that Ling Zhi was controlling her body.

She gasped in shock. “You weren’t unconscious?”

Ling Zhi chuckled. “If even you didn’t pass out for long, how could a cultivator like me be weaker than you?”

Zhou Yunxuan frantically tried to wrest back control of her body, but it was futile. “You did this on purpose! You even tricked Xuan Qing? Wait… did you use this as a way to return to Xuantian Sect? What exactly are you planning?!”

“You’ll find out soon enough. In this, at least, we think alike. Since taking over your body is useless, why wouldn’t I go for someone stronger? Thanks for bringing me back to the sect and away from the watchful eyes of SAD, my dear disciple. And don’t worry—I won’t let you go to waste.” Despite his words, Ling Zhi clearly had no regard for Zhou Yunxuan’s body.

She was already severely injured and needed rest, but Ling Zhi forced the body to stand up. Staggering, he walked forward, completely ignoring the pain. Even when he tripped and rolled down a flight of stairs, cutting his face open, he remained unfazed.

Inside her consciousness, Zhou Yunxuan shrieked and cursed at him with the vilest insults, but Ling Zhi paid her no mind. He avoided other people and headed straight to his former room. There, he pulled out a hidden compartment under the bed and retrieved a vial of medicine, drinking it in one go. The pain in his body vanished instantly.

Zhou Yunxuan was horrified. “You used a tiger-wolf potion on me?! My body is ruined! Damn you!”

This was a potent medicine that suppressed pain at the cost of permanently damaging the body. It temporarily restored the body to peak condition, but the long-term effects were devastating. Ling Zhi had once crafted such potions but had never planned to use them himself. Now, he was using them recklessly.

Next, he searched the rooms of his two senior brothers and Xuan Yang, rifling through their belongings. Having grown up in Xuantian Sect, Ling Zhi was well aware of the hiding places they used for their valuables. Now that they were dead, everything belonged to him.

He collected several powerful artifacts and donned a highly protective robe before heading toward Xuan Qing’s meditation chamber.

Zhou Yunxuan panicked. “What are you doing?! You want to take on Xuan Qing? Are you insane? Even if you have artifacts, you can’t use them—you forget that my body has no cultivation and can’t channel spiritual energy!”

Ling Zhi laughed freely. “You always see only the surface, never the truth. The fate-exchange technique swapped your fate with Shen Yunxuan’s, meaning everything tied to your soul is now mine. And since my soul is in this body, of course, I can use spiritual energy.”

Zhou Yunxuan was stunned. She had never considered this. She had always assumed this body was incapable of cultivation, and no one had corrected her. But now, Ling Zhi was manipulating her body and using spiritual energy? The realization shattered her. Did this mean she had no chance of escape? Had she been reborn just to die in such a humiliating way? She would have rather died outright in her past life!

But Ling Zhi didn’t head directly for Xuan Qing. Instead, he made his way to the bamboo forest behind the mountain and unearthed a hidden stone slab. As soon as he lifted it, a chilling aura surged forth. Even without Yin-Yang eyes, Zhou Yunxuan could tell—something sinister had emerged!

She had completely forgotten—Ling Zhi was an expert at commanding ghost servants. He had grown up in Xuantian Sect, and all the strange things he had collected had been retrieved by his ghost servants. This particular ghost must have been one of them.

Ling Zhi smirked. “You refused to submit to me, so I won’t imprison you anymore. Just do one thing for me, and I’ll let you go. Kill Xuan Qing. Here, take these artifacts. If you succeed, Xuantian Sect is yours—kill whoever you want, take whatever you like. Now, go.”

The artifacts vanished, a clear sign that the vengeful spirit had accepted the deal. Ling Zhi must have had some means of controlling it, preventing it from escaping. The ghost had been locked away for years, filled with endless resentment. Now, given a chance at freedom and armed with powerful artifacts, it had nothing to lose.

Inside the meditation chamber, a violent surge of spiritual energy erupted. The vengeful spirit, on the verge of losing all reason after years of captivity, lashed out with overwhelming fury. Xuan Qing, caught completely off guard and still drained from his injuries, could only dodge frantically, summoning his own artifact to counter the attack.

He attempted to flee and call for help, but as he reached the chamber’s entrance, he saw Zhou Yunxuan step inside—and activate the sealing formation.

Xuan Qing’s expression darkened. “Ling Zhi? What are you doing?”

Then, realization struck him, and his face contorted with rage. “You plan to take over my body?! You’re delusional! This is madness!”

Ling Zhi cackled wildly. “You owe me! You owe me and my mother! Tonight, you’ll pay it all back!”

In an instant, Zhou Yunxuan understood everything. Ling Zhi’s initial attempt to take over her body had been real—at that time, he was weak, on the run, and had no other escape. The only way he could quickly find a host was through the restriction he had placed on her, leading him to attempt possession. But after their mutual destruction left them both severely weakened, Ling Zhi had begun to scheme.

First, he pretended to be powerless, making Zhou Yunxuan believe he was no longer capable of seizing control. Then, at her most relaxed moment, he used the temptation of reincarnation and possession to lure Xuan Qing into the trap. When Xuan Qing arrived, Ling Zhi feigned unconsciousness to lower both their guards. He knew full well that Xuan Qing’s curiosity would drive him to use the soul-searching technique, exhausting himself in the process. He also knew about the protective talisman Shen Yunxian had given Zhou Yunxuan and anticipated that Xuan Qing would be enraged, further depleting his strength. Unable to wake Ling Zhi, Xuan Qing would have no choice but to take Zhou Yunxuan back to Xuantian Sect.

Once there, with Zhou Yunxuan too weak to resist, Ling Zhi could easily take full control of the body. He would then leverage his deep knowledge of Xuantian Sect and the hidden resources he had stashed away. By using the vengeful spirit to exhaust Xuan Qing, he would finally make his move. If the spirit could critically wound Xuan Qing, Ling Zhi would be able to successfully seize his body—becoming a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator and the new leader of Xuantian Sect.

As for Xuan Qing, his own father who had refused to acknowledge him, he would be obliterated, his soul scattered. And Zhou Yunxuan? She had killed Ling Zhi in her previous life—he would certainly make her pay for that. She could already foresee how miserable her end would be.

Ling Zhi was completely focused on the battle before him, unaware that Zhou Yunxuan had gone silent, eerily still.

Xuan Qing, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, had fought the vengeful spirit to the brink of death. But the spirit, empowered by the artifacts Ling Zhi had given it, fought with reckless abandon. Though Xuan Qing remained alive, he was in terrible shape, unable to even activate his own artifacts. Ling Zhi seized the moment—as soon as Xuan Qing collapsed, he shot out from Zhou Yunxuan’s body, rushing into Xuan Qing’s consciousness.

Xuan Qing was not yet dead, but Ling Zhi couldn’t risk him recovering. He launched an all-out assault on Xuan Qing’s mind, forcing the older cultivator into a desperate struggle. Externally, Xuan Qing’s body lay motionless on the ground, his face shifting between pale and flushed.

At that moment, Zhou Yunxuan regained full control of her body. Thanks to that potion, she felt no pain—on the contrary, she was bursting with strength. She turned to the unseen vengeful spirit and said, “Aren’t you going to take your revenge? Ling Zhi imprisoned you for years—don’t you hate him? Now’s your best chance. Let out all of your resentment!”

A gust of cold wind howled through the chamber. Without hesitation, Zhou Yunxuan dashed out, activated the hidden mechanism, and sealed them inside. Then, following the same path they had taken to enter, she evaded detection and ran down the mountain, hopping into a car.

The driver asked, “Where to?”

At that moment, an explosion erupted from Xuantian Sect. Even from the base of the mountain, they could see the dark smoke billowing into the sky. The driver quickly started the car and called emergency services to report the disaster.

Zhou Yunxuan turned back, pressing her face against the window, watching the black smoke rise over the mountaintop. A triumphant smile spread across her lips. Ling Zhi had schemed so meticulously, yet in the end, it was still her who killed him. So what if he was smarter than her? So what if he looked down on her intelligence? He had still died before her—not just once, but twice.

When the driver asked again where she wanted to go, she suddenly felt lost.

Where could she go? Her body was ruined. That potion had burned through all her potential, trading her lifespan for fleeting strength. Right now, she was stronger than ever—she could probably kill a cow with a single punch. But by the time the day ended, she would be dead.

She was going to die.

She had been reborn unexpectedly, immediately stolen Shen Yunxuan’s destined fate with Xie Hengchen, and taken the fortune that was never meant for her. Despite all the tribulations, she had refused to give up—she had eliminated the Xie family, killed Ling Zhi, and inherited a fortune that she could never spend in a lifetime. She had been just moments away from embarking on her dream of traveling the world.

And now she was dying.

“Can I borrow your phone?” Zhou Yunxuan asked weakly. “I just want to check where my friend is.”

The driver, seeing how lost she looked, handed over his phone. Zhou Yunxuan opened Shen Yunxuan’s live stream—it just so happened that she was still streaming, giving her third fortune reading of the day. She was probably about to end the session soon. The background was unmistakable—Idle Cloud Temple.

“Take me to Idle Cloud Temple,” Zhou Yunxuan murmured, almost absently.

For two lifetimes, Shen Yunxuan had been her obsession—the person she envied, resented, and whose very existence had stirred the darkest thoughts in her. Now that she was about to die, she realized she wanted to see Shen Yunxuan one last time.

The driver responded cheerfully, “Got it! Idle Cloud Temple is a bit far, but I know the way well. Ever since Xuantian Sect’s reputation went bad, everyone around here goes there for prayers instead. You wouldn’t believe it—the temple is still under construction, but they’ve already finished the incense area, so people still flock there. I’ve been there myself! Here, see this safety charm? Ever since I got it, my night drives have been so much smoother. This thing is legit!”

He continued enthusiastically, “Are you going to pray? You made the right choice! Ever since I got this charm from the temple, my driving’s been luckier than ever. But you have to make sure to buy a charm that was personally drawn by Master Shen—she’s a living deity!”

The driver went on and on, his voice filled with excitement. It was clear he was a devoted believer in Idle Cloud Temple, especially in Shen Yunxuan.

Zhou Yunxuan curled her lips into a bitter smile. Look at that—she had stolen Shen Yunxuan’s fate, yet Shen Yunxuan had still managed to turn what should have been a losing hand into a perfect victory.

She didn’t understand. She refused to accept it.

Before she died, she had to ask Shen Yunxuan—what had she done wrong?

Why was she never enough? Why could she never succeed?

---

As the car arrived at Idle Cloud Temple, Shen Yunxuan had just finished her live stream. Xu Wei handed her a cup of tea and asked, “Master, should we go eat? Qianqian said a new restaurant opened, and she thinks you’ll love it.”

Shen Yunxuan took a sip of tea and smiled. “No rush, a guest is coming.”

“Who is it?” Xu Wei curiously looked outside.

“It’s an ending karmic entanglement.” As soon as Shen Yunxuan finished speaking, Xu Wei spotted Zhou Yunxuan approaching. Her expression darkened, and she immediately stood up to confront her. “What are you doing here? You’re not welcome!”

All of Shen Yunxuan’s disciples knew how Zhou Yunxuan had schemed against her and tried to harm her. They despised Zhou Yunxuan. Watching Xu Wei standing in front of Shen Yunxuan, Zhou Yunxuan suddenly realized how out of place she was. She and Shen Yunxuan were no longer equals. Now, even speaking to Shen Yunxuan required going through her disciples. If Idle Cloud Temple were fully rebuilt, she probably wouldn’t even be able to see Shen Yunxuan—only her disciples.

Should she be grateful that Ling Zhi and his brothers had destroyed Idle Cloud Temple? Otherwise, would she have never had this chance to meet Shen Yunxuan face to face?

Zhou Yunxuan stared directly at Shen Yunxuan. “I have something to say to you—only to you. It’s about a secret between us.”

Xu Wei tensed up, blocking Shen Yunxuan. “Master, she’s full of tricks. We can’t trust her.”

Shen Yunxuan patted Xu Wei’s hand reassuringly. “It’s fine. A dying person can’t cause much trouble.” Then she turned to Zhou Yunxuan. “Go call Mao Ximing. Tell him to watch from a distance, not to eavesdrop, but to witness everything. I don’t want there to be any misunderstanding—I won’t be accused of harming you.”

Xu Wei, sharp-eyed, noticed Zhou Yunxuan’s expression stiffen for a moment. She immediately realized that Zhou Yunxuan had intended to set Shen Yunxuan up, but Shen Yunxuan had already seen through her. Xu Wei snorted coldly and quickly ran off to find Mao Ximing.

Now that there was no one else around, Zhou Yunxuan stared at Shen Yunxuan and demanded, “Can you really see everything? Did you see it just now, or did you always know I was going to die? Why didn’t you warn me?”

Shen Yunxuan leisurely poured herself another cup of tea and replied slowly, “I knew you would die the moment Ling Zhi escaped. As for the exact manner of your death, I figured it out when I saw you at the recording. And just now, when I saw your face, I knew you intended to die at Idle Cloud Temple to frame me. As for why I didn’t warn you…” Shen Yunxuan looked up at her with a hint of amusement. “Why would I warn someone who has repeatedly tried to harm me?”

“Aren’t you supposed to be kind and virtuous? Aren’t you a cultivator working with the government? How could you stand by and watch me die? Even if I am guilty, you should have me arrested, not let me walk to my death without saying a word! What kind of ‘righteous path’ is that?” Zhou Yunxuan was unraveling, her voice rising in hysteria. It was as if she had finally found evidence of Shen Yunxuan’s hypocrisy and was determined to expose it.

But Shen Yunxuan was completely unfazed. “I’m a Taoist. You once entered a sect yourself—don’t you know that Taoism values following one’s heart? My heart is righteous, but I only help good people. Look at all the people I’ve helped in my live streams, solving their problems and saving them from disasters. And what happened to the people who wanted to harm them? Didn’t they all meet misfortune? Did you ever see me warning those evildoers? You’re just like them. That’s why I only watched you dig your own grave—and, when necessary, gave you a little push.”

“You pushed me? What did you do?” Zhou Yunxuan’s expression changed. She suddenly realized she had no idea what Shen Yunxuan had done to her.

Shen Yunxuan had no intention of explaining. Instead, she simply said, “You don’t have much time left, do you? It’s already dark. By sunrise tomorrow, you’ll be dead. Are you sure you want to waste your last few hours on pointless questions?”

Zhou Yunxuan knew she was dying, but she hadn’t expected it to be so soon. She had only a few hours left. The thought sent chills down her spine. Her breathing became erratic, her body stiffened, and overwhelming panic surged through her. She felt nauseous, barely holding herself together. Fighting against the nausea, she suddenly asked, “Why did you mention my past life? You know? How do you know? Did you see it in my face?”

Shen Yunxian only smiled in response.

Zhou Yunxuan’s eyes widened in shock. She understood everything in an instant. Her voice trembled. “You—you’re a reincarnator too?!”

“No… Impossible… Impossible!” Zhou Yunxuan clutched her head, breaking down. “If you’re also reincarnated… Then… That means you already knew the Xie family would try to steal your fortune, that they would imprison you! So when I stole your savior’s identity, you didn’t care at all. When I took your fate, you were indifferent—no, you were even happy! Because even though my fate was cursed with misfortune, at least it was free. At least I wouldn’t be imprisoned.”

The more she spoke, the more she felt everything made sense. “So, you really were reborn.”

She looked at Shen Yunxuan with burning desperation. “How did you reincarnate? You’re so knowledgeable about Taoist techniques—did you study this in your past life? You must know the secret to reincarnation, don’t you? Tell me! You have to tell me! I’m about to die, you can’t just let me go like this!”

Shen Yunxuan calmly gave her an answer. “I spent over ten years tirelessly studying Taoist methods, day and night. My senior brother once told me that I was both fated and unfated for Taoism—I had extraordinary talent, but I was unable to cultivate. I endured the most unbearable suffering, sacrificed my entire fortune, and only then did I earn a chance for rebirth.

“Would you like to try?”

Zhou Yunxuan was stunned. “You… you’re really willing to tell me? No, wait, I can’t cultivate…”

“You figured it out?” Shen Yunxuan raised an eyebrow. “That’s right, you can’t cultivate. I didn’t use spiritual power either. I simply sacrificed myself. I’ll tell you how to do it—if you dare, try it.”

Zhou Yunxuan clenched her teeth, a crazed determination rising within her. She was about to die—what was there to be afraid of?

She had studied Taoist arts before. Just now, when she watched the battle between the vengeful spirit and Xuan Qing, she could tell what techniques they were using. But this sacrificial method Shen Yunxuan had just explained to her—she couldn’t understand it! She couldn’t understand it at all!

Her expression changed. “Are you playing me?”

Shen Yunxuan looked at her calmly. “This is exactly what I used.”

Zhou Yunxuan mulled over the method again. The more she thought about it, the more it seemed legitimate. But she simply couldn’t grasp it. It was like asking someone who only understood middle school math to solve an advanced scientific theorem—it was impossible!

Ling Zhi, as her master, had ridiculed her intelligence in both lives, mocking her inability to see the essence of things. There were many techniques Ling Zhi tried to teach her in the past life that she simply couldn’t learn. But she had always refused to admit it—because in both lives, she had outsmarted him and led him to his death. She thought that was proof enough of her intelligence.

But now, she realized that while she had some petty cunning, her talent for cultivation was only slightly above average—nothing close to Ling Zhi’s level, and completely incomparable to Shen Yunxuan’s.

This realization broke her. “Wasn’t your cultivation talent supposed to be mine? We switched fates—you’re using my life’s fortune!”

Shen Yunxuan replied, “What you switched was destiny. Your life contained Yin-Yang vision, a lone-star fate, misfortune, and the ability to cultivate. My life contained continuous good luck, miraculous escapes, and an inability to cultivate. That’s what was exchanged. But how far someone can go depends on their soul.

“In my past life, had I been able to cultivate, I would have still reached this height. But unfortunately, I was incapable of it—no matter how talented I was, I couldn’t even step through the threshold. This life, once I could cultivate, everything I had learned became usable, as if I finally had a stage to showcase my abilities.

“As for you, because your perspective was different from mine, you lived an entirely different life in the Xie family, didn’t you?”

Zhou Yunxuan had always believed that Shen Yunxuan was simply lucky, turning a terrible hand into a winning streak with her stolen talent. But now, she realized that the most crucial talent had always belonged to Shen Yunxuan. She completely broke down.

“Why is fate so unfair to me?! Everything good falls upon you, and I get nothing! I’ve lived in fear since childhood, lost everyone close to me, and spent every day tormented by vengeful spirits forcing me to do their bidding. Yet you were born lucky, sailing through life without lifting a finger—why?! Fate is too cruel! Too unfair!”

Shen Yunxuan’s calm demeanor was in stark contrast to her hysteria. She said lightly, “You only see my miraculous escapes, but not my trials. Over a decade of imprisonment, beatings, despair—no one could save me. I had no choice but to study Taoist arts that I couldn’t even use. My final ‘miraculous escape’ was after years of suffering. That ‘escape’ lasted over a decade. Do you envy that? I don’t.

But I have no complaints. Heaven gave me hardships, but it also gave me opportunities. As long as I seized those rare chances, I could be reborn and turn my fate around.

And weren’t you the same? Your lone-star fate and constant misfortune were your trials. But your Yin-Yang vision, allowing you to see the flow of fortune, was your opportunity. That vision let you find me and steal my fate, dispelling your own misfortune. It was your gift. As for everything else—that was your own doing.

You say vengeful spirits controlled you? Spirits cannot manipulate humans unless a deal is made. You were the one who struck bargains—having them scare people for you, steal money, and even help you cheat on exams. In exchange, they made you do their bidding.

You took their help but found them terrifying, so you rejected them in disgust. All they needed was for you to listen to their grievances, to help them seek justice or fulfill their last wishes, and they would have moved on to the underworld. But you never listened. You ignored them, resented them, and then blamed them for haunting you.

You were lucky enough to enter a Taoist sect. Ling Zhi, for all his selfishness and twisted morals, was genuinely intrigued by your fate. He sought ways to change it for you. But you suspected him, guarded against him, and refused to trust his teachings. He saw through your paranoia and scoffed at you. That was when he truly started thinking about turning you into a vengeful spirit for his own use. That’s how you became enemies.

He underestimated you, didn’t guard against you enough, and you seized the opportunity to kill him—just like you did in this life.

You stole my fate after being reborn. If you had simply lived your life, that would have been the end of it. But you couldn’t help yourself—you had to suppress me, sabotage me, try to trample me underfoot. Did you really think I wouldn’t fight back? When you came to me, I told you I had joined the government’s supernatural division. That was fate offering you a way out.

If you had called the authorities for help, they would have intervened, dismantled the Xie family’s formation, and rescued you.

You had the opportunity to call the authorities when you encountered Ling Zhi—that was your chance at salvation. If you had left them and let the supernatural regulatory department handle the situation, you could have escaped your fate and started a new life truly your own. But instead, your greed was insatiable. You orchestrated the massacre of the Xie family for their fortune! The more sins you committed, the deeper your karmic entanglement with Ling Zhi became, which is why he eventually turned on you and nearly killed you.

Even when Ling Zhi attempted to seize your body, you still went to record the show. If you had truly repented and sincerely asked me for help, if you had genuinely changed, I would have helped you. But you didn’t. Instead, you resented me for outshining you. Even now, you still blame me. You fail to understand that everything that happened to you had nothing to do with me—it was all your own doing.

What do you want from me? Do you expect me to be grateful that you stole my fate?”

Shen Yunxuan laughed. “Even if I were still my past self, I would have carved out a better life for myself. Because I never waste time lamenting my disadvantages—I only seize opportunities.”

Shen Yunxuan’s current status and position were the best proof of her words. Only someone like Zhou Yunxuan, who had personally experienced how terrible this fate was, could truly understand just how bad a hand Shen Yunxuan had been dealt at the start. When Shen Yunxian was first reborn, she was so unlucky she could trip on flat ground and injure herself just pulling up a zipper. And yet, she still managed to turn it all around.

Suddenly, Zhou Yunxuan spotted a flaw in the logic and exclaimed, “No! This doesn’t make sense! You weren’t unlucky at all later on!”

“How was I not?” Shen Yunxuan countered. “Ling Xiao and Ling Yun ambushed me and severely wounded me—is that not misfortune? Ling Zhi capturing my disciple and forcing me to hand over my cultivation techniques—was that not misfortune? Facing off against Xuan Yang, being threatened and coerced—was that not misfortune? Even after the last episode of the show, you personally saw a flowerpot nearly fall on me—is that not misfortune?”

Zhou Yunxuan’s face turned pale. “Then why did nothing bad actually happen to you? Do you still have your miraculous luck?”

Shen Yunxuan shook her head. “I already told you the answer long ago—because good deeds are rewarded. I even explained it in my livestreams: karma exists. Only by accumulating virtue and doing good can one receive blessings. That is how I counteracted my misfortune and my fated calamities. And you? You had a promising fate, but you continuously committed evil and suffered retribution after retribution until today, when your lifespan has run out. This isn’t the heavens being unfair—it’s your own doing.”

“No! No! Shut up! That’s not true! I want you dead!” Zhou Yunxuan’s eyes turned bloodshot as she charged at Shen Yunxuan in a frenzy, her face twisted with hatred. Even in her final moments, she harbored no remorse.

Shen Yunxuan leaped onto the rooftop, her hands folded behind her back, looking down on her from above.

Zhou Yunxuan lifted her head, and in that moment, she felt as if she were looking up at a celestial being. She was just an ordinary person, while Shen Yunxuan was now a powerful cultivator, the master of a temple, and the recipient of countless people’s faith. She gazed up at Shen Yunxuan and finally realized—she would never, ever catch up to her. They had never been on the same level.

In desperation, Zhou Yunxuan began chanting the sacrificial spell Shen Yunxuan had taught her earlier. “I want to be reborn… I want to be reborn!” She suddenly dropped to her knees, pressing her hands together in fervent prayer. “Give me another chance! I won’t switch fates again! I’ll seize my own opportunities, I’ll use my Yin-Yang vision properly, I’ll cultivate, I’ll help the spirits, I… I won’t harm anyone ever again! Please, heaven, grant me one more chance! Let me be reborn through the sacrificial spell!”

She desperately tried to activate the spell, but just like an unsolvable math problem, something beyond her understanding would always remain beyond her grasp. No matter how much she chanted, nothing happened.

That’s right—when had the heavens ever responded to anyone? The heavens simply placed opportunities and hardships before people, and it was up to them to choose their path. Heaven never intervened.

Gradually, despair settled over her. She had been given a second life, yet every step she took had been a mistake. And now, she was about to die. The sheer hopelessness and pressure crushed down on her, making her dizzy and nauseous. She could do nothing but cry in agony.

Suddenly, she lunged forward and slammed her head into a pile of stone slabs by the wall. Blood splattered as her vision blurred. With her last breath, she curled her lips into a bitter smile. “I… I will… be reborn…”

In her daze, she saw Shen Yunxuan lighting three sticks of incense. Was she really about to be reborn? Was Shen Yunxuan sending her off?

In the next second, she felt her soul being forcibly pulled from her body. Before she could even react, a chain wrapped tightly around her, rendering her completely immobile.

Zhou Yunxuan’s eyes widened in horror as she saw Shen Yunxuan bowing slightly while holding the incense. “Thank you for your hard work, sir.”

Shen Yunxuan really was sending her off—but not to be reborn. The incense was not for her, but the payment for the underworld officials who had come to collect her soul!

She was being taken to the underworld for reincarnation!

Zhou Yunxuan struggled frantically. “No! I don’t want to be reincarnated! I want to be reborn! I want to stay here! Don’t touch me!”

Shen Yunxuan chuckled. “Reincarnation? You’re overestimating yourself. With the level of evil you’ve committed in two lifetimes, you’ll be going through at least a dozen layers of hell first. Hopefully, you’ll reflect on your sins and earn the right to reincarnate someday. By then, I think you’ll be grateful for Meng Po’s soup at the Bridge of Forgetfulness.”

Zhou Yunxuan screamed, “I hate you! I curse you to die a horrible death!”

Shen Yunxuan remained unfazed. “One’s nature determines one’s fate. Judging by your attitude, I doubt you’ll behave yourself even in the underworld. In that case… perhaps your sentence will be extended?”

The ghost official nodded at Shen Yunxuan and vanished, taking the enraged and terrified Zhou Yunxuan with him.

Zhou Yunxuan wanted to argue one last time, but she would never get the chance. Shen Yunxuan had spoken with her for so long just to see if, after knowing everything, she would change her perspective. The truth proved that Zhou Yunxuan was still the same as ever—if she were capable of change, she would have done so in her previous life; there was no need to wait until this one.

This confirmed that personality indeed determines fate. A person’s nature dictates the path they will take, just like Zhou Yunxuan—no matter how many opportunities the heavens gave her, she was blind to them.

Mao Ximing and Xu Wei ran over, looking anxious. “Are you okay?”

Shen Yunxuan chuckled. “What could possibly happen to me? You both saw it, right? She took her own life. It had nothing to do with me.”

Both of them nodded repeatedly. Mao Ximing shuddered. “She was completely insane! When I was younger and naïve, I was actually a casual fan of hers. But after learning about everything she did, I stopped following her. I never expected her to be this extreme. Was she trying to die here just to create a public backlash against you? Don’t worry, I’ll handle this—no one will find out.”

Shen Yunxuan patted his shoulder. “Alright, I’ll leave it to you. Xu Wei and I are heading to the restaurant first. Once you’re done taking care of the body, come find us.”

Mao Ximing was speechless. Could she not talk about food and corpses in the same breath? Was this what it meant to be on another level? He doubted he could ever reach that level himself. After seeing Zhou Yunxuan’s bloodied and mangled corpse, he had completely lost his appetite.

Shen Yunxuan wasn’t concerned. She simply told him he was missing out before taking Xu Wei out for a good meal.

With one less person constantly scheming against her, Shen Yunxuan felt lighter. In truth, she could have killed Zhou Yunxuan long ago, but because they had exchanged fates and the fate-switching ritual was incomplete, she was worried about potential lingering ties between them. However, once Zhou Yunxuan and Ling Zhi became completely entangled, she realized their karmic connection was severed. Only then did she allow Zhou Yunxuan to meet her end.

She felt an immense sense of relief—because now, she was the only reborn person left in this world.

Zhou Yunxuan had taken care of the Xie family, killed Xuan Qing, and destroyed Ling Zhi. With Xuantian Sect’s leader gone, the entire sect would inevitably collapse. Her major and minor grudges were all settled. As she browsed the menu at the restaurant, Shen Yunxuan even hummed a tune with a bright smile.

A waiter recognized her and excitedly asked for an autograph and a photo. “Master Shen, my wife is a huge fan of yours! She’s followed you since your debut! You seem to be in a great mood today—did something good happen?”

“Yes,” Shen Yunxuan said, glancing at his face before grinning. “I foresee a long period of peace and prosperity in my future, so of course, I’m happy.” Then, she looked at him more carefully and added, “Does your workplace prohibit checking phones during shifts? Take a break and check yours—you have good news.”

The waiter was stunned for a moment before he suddenly remembered something. He quickly bowed, thanked her, and rushed off. When he checked his phone, he saw multiple missed calls and dozens of messages. His family had been trying to reach him—his wife had gone into labor early! Without a moment’s hesitation, he took emergency leave and ran straight to the hospital, not even bothering to change out of his uniform. He arrived just in time to witness the birth of his child.

Overcome with joy, he wept tears of happiness—this was the child he and his wife had prayed for over many years. Without Shen Yunxuan’s reminder, he wouldn’t have known and might have missed this once-in-a-lifetime moment.

After ensuring his wife was safe, he excitedly showed her the autograph. She pulled him into a kiss, then clutched the signed paper and drifted off to sleep with a blissful smile.

Zhou Yunxuan’s death was never announced, nor did any news of it leak. Naturally, the public remained unaware. Only SAD knew what had transpired. Since Zhou Yunxuan had no family, her wealth was confiscated and transferred to the national treasury—an unexpected contribution to the country.

To the outside world, people simply believed that Zhou Yunxuan had retired from the entertainment industry after inheriting her wealth. Over time, she faded from memory, and whenever she was mentioned, it was only in reference to her past as Shen Yunxuan’s former teammate during their debut.

Meanwhile, after single-handedly creating a legendary moment in reality dating shows, Shen Yunxuan received an influx of invitations to variety programs. She carefully selected only the most suitable ones, favoring adventure shows and observational reality series. At first, she frequently pointed out problematic guests, leading to multiple scandals and several guests getting exposed.

Eventually, production teams got wise and started consulting her in advance to screen participants. Some questioned whether a show where every guest was morally upstanding would still be interesting, but it turned out that when only good people interacted, their chemistry was even more compelling and enjoyable to watch. Every variety show Shen Yunxuan joined became an instant hit—she had essentially become a lucky charm for the industry.

She continued livestreaming fortune-telling sessions, offering three readings per stream, helping countless people along the way. With her accumulated virtue and ever-growing influence, she gained more and more spiritual faith energy—and, of course, her wealth multiplied as well. The costs of building her temple were effortlessly covered, and the construction was completed smoothly.

Shen Yunxuan specifically selected an auspicious date to officially open Idle Cloud Temple to the public. On the grand opening day, Lin Zixiao and others sent flower baskets, lion dance teams performed, and the festivities were lively. Auntie Li even livestreamed the event, giving netizens a full tour.

“This temple is stunning!” one viewer commented. “It really has that profound, mysterious aura!”

“Of course! What do you expect? This is Idle Cloud Temple, built by our very own Master Shen!”

“Believing in Master Shen means no failing grades! Finals are coming up, I’m heading there tomorrow to pray for good luck!”

“The person above, you should buy some Focus Incense and study harder. Just praying to Master Shen won’t help, haha.”

“Master Shen, please send out a blessing red envelope! I need some good luck and positive energy!”

Auntie Li saw this comment and relayed it to Shen Yunxuan. Shen Yunxuan wanted everyone to share in her joy, so she generously sent out a few large red envelopes—only those who truly believed in her could claim them. Whoever received them would naturally be blessed by her.

Meanwhile, Idle Wanderer strolled leisurely through the newly built temple, hands clasped behind his back. As he admired the grand and refreshed look of the temple, his eyes crinkled with joy.

Shen Yunxuan asked, “How do you feel? Happy?”

“Happy! Absolutely happy!” Idle Wanderer nodded enthusiastically. “Junior sister, you’re truly incredible. I never imagined in just under two years, you’d rebuild Idle Cloud Temple into something this magnificent. It’s amazing!”

Shen Yunxuan smiled. Idle Wanderer was not only her benefactor but also like family to her. Seeing him happy made her happy as well. She reminded him, “You’re still recovering. Don’t overwork yourself. Once the ceremony is nearly done, go back to your room and rest.”

Idle Wanderer waved her off. “I’m fine, I feel great! The spiritual herbs you found worked wonders—I’ve never felt this good before, and even my cultivation has improved. You said you wanted to take in more disciples, right? I’m going over there to check things out. That kid Mao Ximing—who knows if he’s up to the task? I need to keep an eye on him.”

Seeing him so full of energy, Shen Yunxuan could only shake her head helplessly. Xianglan chuckled. “Master, let Senior Uncle go. He’s happy. Mao Ximing will take care of him and won’t let him overwork himself. Oh, by the way, Master, a group of ghosts has gathered at the back mountain to congratulate you. Since they can’t come directly, they asked me to bring their gifts.”

Ghosts were practical with their gifts, offering unclaimed treasures and rare herbs they had found. Shen Yunxuan accepted them without hesitation and reminded Xianglan, “You interact with them every day, so always be cautious. If anything happens, tell me immediately.”

“I understand, Master. I can’t help much here, so I’ll head to the back mountain.” Xianglan’s smile was pure and lighthearted. After saying goodbye, she drifted away.

Xianglan had spent an entire year cultivating after consuming the spirits from the Hundred Ghost Banner. Her strength had increased exponentially, elevating her to the level of a Ghost General. In this era of thin spiritual energy, she could now stand at the top among all ghosts. Because of this, Shen Yunxuan assigned her to locate and assist wandering spirits, helping them fulfill their wishes or resolve their lingering grievances before being guided to the underworld. By doing so, the world’s yin energy would decrease, ensuring fewer humans were harmed.

Shen Yunxuan didn’t know if the current lack of spiritual energy could ever be reversed, but at the very least, guiding lost souls to their rightful place would bring balance. It was a task perfectly suited for Xianglan. Additionally, every time she helped a spirit, she accumulated merit. With enough accumulated virtue, the curses lingering over her fate would gradually dissipate, allowing her the possibility of a true rebirth.

---

As Lin Zixiao wandered through the temple, he suddenly spotted his own name engraved on a plaque. He was taken aback. “Wait… Is this because I donated to the temple? My name got carved here? What is this place? A Hall of Merit?”

Beside him, Xu Wei explained, “A lot of people want to do good deeds but worry that their donations will be misused. So, I suggested that Idle Cloud Temple organize charity initiatives, providing a trustworthy place for people to contribute. Every month, I publish detailed records of how donations are used. Once people saw that everything was accounted for, even more started donating.”

“Master says all these are acts of merit. People might not feel the direct impact themselves, so she created the Hall of Merit to give them a sense of ceremony. Everyone who has performed good deeds for the temple has their names engraved here. This way, it encourages more people to do good.”

Lin Zixiao was impressed by their ingenuity. “The Hall of Merit… Standing here, I actually feel a sense of peace and purification.”

Xu Wei smiled. “That’s because Master set up a Spirit Gathering Array here to show respect and gratitude to all who do good deeds. If you ever feel troubled, sitting here for a while will help you feel at ease.”

Others who overheard were also amazed. Idle Cloud Temple was truly unique in every way. It was rumored that the temple also had a Grand Protective Array, making it impossible for outsiders to enter uninvited. After marveling at the temple’s brilliance, visitors eagerly searched for their own names in the Hall of Merit.

Lawyer Liang was also present. As he spotted Qi Yue and Nan Nan’s names on the plaque, a realization struck him. He suddenly understood the mystery behind Qi Yue’s last will. Given Shen Yunxuan’s near-divine abilities, that will was probably written by Qi Yue’s ghost.

With a knowing smile, Liang decided to keep this realization to himself. The past was the past. No matter how the money was obtained, Shen Yunxuan had ultimately donated it for good causes. That was all that mattered.

With the temple’s completion, various sects from the cultivation world also sent their congratulatory gifts. At the same time, through Minister Zhou, they formally invited Shen Yunxuan to give lectures, hoping she would share her knowledge and insights with the younger generation of cultivators.

Shen Yunxuan was very generous and directly started lectures at Idle Cloud Temple. It was a great way to bring in more people and boost the temple’s energy. Seeing so many cultivators entering and leaving Idle Cloud Temple, and even listening to Shen Yunxuan’s lectures, others became even more convinced of her power and flocked to the temple to offer incense and seek divinations.

Not long after, Shen Yunxuan noticed a faint golden light appearing above Idle Cloud Temple—it was the glow of accumulated merit. She believed that in the future, both she and Idle Cloud Temple would gather more and more of this golden light, and one day, her fate would completely change.

Just as she saw the golden light, Elder Chengying snd his wife suddenly visited her. This was the first time Shen Yunxuan met Chengying’s wife, a kind and gentle woman, who turned out to be Mao Tianqi, a former head of the Mao family. Chengying, on the other hand, was the legendary ancient sword spirit, Feng Chengying.

The couple had once lived through a legendary tale of their own, but later they chose to fade out of the cultivation world and erased their stories from history. Instead of living in seclusion, they dedicated themselves to guarding the National Guardian Formation, protecting the country’s fortune.

With the world’s spiritual energy thinning and fewer people possessing talent, reversing this situation was almost impossible. The only way to maintain stability was to ensure the nation’s prosperity. Even this was not an easy task, which was why the couple had withdrawn from the world and focused solely on guarding the formation.

This time, they had come because they discovered Shen Yunxuan’s remarkable talent in formations, as well as her many unique abilities.

She had cultivated for such a short time yet was already approaching the Golden Core stage. Idle Cloud Temple, after its reconstruction, had quickly gathered merit golden light—things that other cultivators could not achieve. Because of this, they invited Shen Yunxuan to join them in guarding the National Guardian Formation and protecting the country’s fortune.

Shen Yunxuan didn’t expect such an amazing opportunity!

She had been feeling that her fame had reached its peak, making it difficult for her to gain more followers or accumulate merit as quickly. She wasn’t sure when she would be able to change her fate, and now she was invited to protect the country’s destiny.

This was national fortune! If she contributed so greatly to the country, how could the heavens not grant her an immense reward of merit? That would surely be enough to change her fate! Her blessings were yet to come!

Shen Yunxuan suddenly felt like she was Heaven’s favored daughter. Though her past had been filled with hardship, everything that came after was sweet.

She gladly accepted the Chengying couple’s invitation and was taken to meet the highest authorities. However, her thoughts differed from theirs—she believed that merely guarding the formation wasn’t enough. It was like managing finances; one couldn’t just save money without increasing income. She had to find a way to revive the declining cultivation world.

During a live broadcast, a viewer expressed regret about not being able to visit Idle Cloud Temple to study under her. Shen Yunxuan then said, “I can teach basic entry-level Taoist techniques in my livestreams. Those who are naturally aligned with Taoism will be able to understand it intuitively and can continue learning at a deeper level. Those who are not shouldn’t feel discouraged—practicing these techniques can still improve health and extend lifespan.”

“What? There’s actually such a good opportunity? I have to learn this, no one can stop me!”

“Ahhh, I want to learn! I live in the far north, and I catch a cold every winter. I need to strengthen my body and stop getting sick!”

“I’m not interested in much, but the chance to extend my lifespan? That got me hooked. I have to study this carefully and see if I can live to 100.”

“If I learn this, does that make me an outer disciple of Idle Cloud Temple? From now on, I have a connection with Xuan jie!”

“Nobody mess with me—I belong to Master Shen now!”

The viewers joked and teased, acting playful, but when Shen Yunxuan actually began teaching punching techniques, meditation, and foundational breathing exercises in her livestreams, they took it incredibly seriously. A sense of competition even arose among them.

The earliest batch of learners started feeling the benefits just two months later. They no longer got sick when the seasons changed, their bodies felt strong, and they had great appetites. Their health had genuinely improved. Especially among families with children in sports training—after practicing this technique, their kids could jump over three meters in long jump! Their one-minute jump rope record easily surpassed 220!

With these results, more and more people joined in, unexpectedly ushering in an era of nationwide fitness. As more individuals among the general population had occasional enlightenment moments and successfully entered Taoist cultivation, the nation’s fortune also continued to strengthen.

Standing atop a mountain peak, Shen Yunxuan faced the lightning tribulation of her Golden Core breakthrough. Feeling the vast ocean of accumulated merit and faith, she knew that before long, she would completely alter her fate. And this world, too, would change—spiritual energy would no longer be in decline.

Was this what true satisfaction felt like?

In this life, she had truly achieved the happy and fulfilling life she had always longed for.

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆