Chapter 3: Life is Like the First Meeting

Seven years ago...

To the east of Penghai City, mountains towered high. Looking up from the foot of the mountains, one could see a single peak situated at the far left. This peak was shrouded in clouds and mist year-round; from a distance, the Nuoda Villa could be seen faintly standing atop the summit.

However, everyone in Penghai City knew that this seemingly ethereal, immortal mountain was the location of the Spirit Control Sect. The mountain was incredibly treacherous; one wrong move could result in death.

And this place, which appeared celestial yet was actually perilous, happened to mirror the impression the Spirit Control Sect gave the martial world: neither purely righteous nor purely evil, making it difficult to discern good from bad. Much like the disciples of the Spirit Control Sect, who mostly gave the impression of being seemingly kind, but were actually not so easy to deal with.

Setting aside the fact that the martial cultivation of the Spirit Control Sect's disciples was significantly higher than that of their peers in other sects, their unconventional way of thinking alone was enough to make them difficult to accept.

The Spirit Control Sect's ruthless way of handling affairs and their infuriatingly protective nature toward their own were well-known throughout the martial world, which was why many dared not offend them.

But...

A flying arrow shot through the air with extreme speed, its sharp momentum piercing straight through the pearwood doors of the Spirit Control Sect's main hall and pinning a letter into the pillar to the left of the main seat.

The sudden flying arrow disrupted the tranquility of the assembly in the hall.

Jun Liuyi frowned deeply as she stared at the arrow that had swept past her. She rose gracefully and walked forward, only to see that the arrowhead had sunk more than an inch into the pillar; the tip had disappeared, leaving only the arrow shaft and the silk cloth attached to the end.

Just as she reached out to pluck the arrow out, a Spirit Control Sect disciple standing behind the Sixth Elder near the right entrance cried out urgently, "Holy Maiden, beware, it might explode!"

Following this sudden shout, the hand touching the arrow shaft jerked to a halt, and she subsequently gave a faint, playful smile.

On the other hand, Yu Xin'er, the Hall Master of the Vermilion Bird Hall, who was seated to the right below the main seat, raised an eyebrow. Her sharp gaze swept toward the person standing at the far end of the entrance as she said, "Poison is nothing more than a petty trick to the Fourth Elder, let alone to the Holy Maiden."

The Fourth Elder, seated directly in front of Xin'er, stroked his beard and glanced at the Sixth Elder before nodding approvingly at Xin'er. "If this arrow truly contained poison and could harm the Holy Maiden, wouldn't the Ghost Doctor's reputation be ruined? I would actually like to see the sight of the fame-filled Ghost Doctor destroying his own reputation."

"Such impetuousness is unbecoming! How can you find a place to speak while everyone is discussing sect affairs? Do we not know the Holy Maiden's capabilities? Withdraw!" Hearing the Fourth Elder's words, the Sixth Elder's face also felt somewhat embarrassed, and he repeatedly scolded his tactless junior grand-disciple.

Jun Liuyi, however, seemed unaffected. She firmly grasped the arrow shaft and pulled with force, only to find that the arrowhead was wedged tightly inside.

Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly. She resolutely let go, stared at the arrow before her, and then suddenly opened her palm, striking the pillar. The arrow shaft, loosened by the force of her internal energy, merely wobbled slightly before falling straight down.

*Such profound internal energy!* Jun Liuyi thought to herself. Had the newcomer's cultivation not been deep enough, her strike just now would surely have caused the arrow shaft to react to the force and fly off in the opposite direction.

Looking at the situation before them, the expressions of everyone present turned solemn.

Although the Holy Maiden Jun Liuyi's martial arts were not considered top-tier, her internal energy was so profound that few could match it. Although that recent palm strike seemed gentle, it was impossible for the arrow to fall straight down without a significant disturbance.

This person's martial cultivation could not be underestimated!

Xia He, who was attending her side, hurriedly knelt down to pick up the white silk from the ground and handed it to her young mistress.

Taking the silk, her brows furrowed again at the words written upon it.

*Having long heard of the Spirit Control Sect's Cold Jade Pillow, I shall come to claim it tomorrow at the Hour of the Rat—identity unknown.*

"Who is sending this challenge?" The First Elder, who had been silent in the first seat on the left, finally spoke up to ask.

"Which sect?" The Second Elder, sitting opposite the First Elder, asked with a hint of excitement.

The people in the hall began to grow anxious, but Jun Liuyi remained silent.

After a long while, she finally spoke slowly, "The Phantom Thief Elder."

Jun Liuyi handed the white silk to the First Elder and then slowly sat back in her seat, her eyes growing increasingly heavy with gravity.

"What!" The First Elder's voice couldn't help but rise significantly. "The Phantom Thief Elder has actually set his sights on the Sect Leader's Cold Jade Pillow!"

With his outburst, the hall erupted into chaos once again.

The Phantom Thief Elder's fame in the martial world went without saying. His behavior was eccentric, yet he was like a phoenix—no treasure escaped him. Anything he set his eyes on could never remain safely with its original owner. Because he had never failed, the martial world had increasingly mythologized him.

And today, his target was the Spirit Control Sect!

The members of the Spirit Control Sect were not those who belittled themselves, nor were they arrogant fools; they all became cautious regarding the Phantom Thief Elder's actions. Since he had never failed, the people of the Spirit Control Sect would not be overly confident in viewing this matter, for there is always a heaven above the heavens and a person above a person.

Although the Cold Jade Pillow was rare, it was not unique. However, given the current situation of the Spirit Control Sect, this Cold Jade Pillow absolutely could not be lost.

"We should prepare for the worst. If the unthinkable happens, we can go and retrieve another Cold Jade Pillow."

"Or perhaps the Phantom Thief Elder isn't as mythologized as they say. If we are careful and cautious, could we not catch him red-handed?"

"Regardless, we must prevent trouble before it happens to ensure nothing goes wrong."

Everyone began to discuss the matter one after another.

Shangguan Jun sat in the main seat, leaning lazily against the back of his chair. He tapped the armrest lightly with his finger, a wicked smile playing on his lips as he remained silent. However, the look in his eyes as he watched Liuyi held a trace of tenderness. After a long while, he spoke, "Liuyi, what do you think?"

With his voice, the clamor in the hall ceased instantly.

Everyone knew that the Young Master, Shangguan Jun, most detested it when noisy people interrupted him while he was trying to quietly listen to another's answer. It was precisely because they knew how disastrous the consequences of being tactless would be that everyone had developed the ability to go from loud arguing to sudden, controlled silence in a split second.

Jun Liuyi looked up to meet his gaze. Those beautiful phoenix eyes seemed capable of ensnaring one's soul, displaying their owner's handsome charm in a wild and unrestrained manner as they stared at her unblinkingly.

"It is somewhat troublesome."

She let out a sigh and said, "Based on the current situation, the Sect Leader absolutely cannot be separated from the Cold Jade Pillow during these final forty-seven days. If even a slight accident occurs, all previous efforts will be in vain, and even..."

Jun Liuyi bit her lip, hesitating for a long time before letting out a long sigh. "...even it might cause the toxins that have been so difficult to suppress over these years, and which are about to be fully expelled, to suddenly flow back, ultimately leading to death by bleeding from the seven orifices."

Her words caused everyone present to gasp.

Everyone knew that the Sect Leader, Shangguan Keng, relied on the Cold Jade Pillow to expel toxins and heal his injuries, but no one expected this final stage to be so perilous. The expressions on everyone's faces became much more solemn than before.