Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: Ji Heng’s Purpose

The crowd in the square was instantly shocked, but by then it was too late to flee.

With a deafening boom, an earth-shattering explosion tore a deep crater in the ground. A tremendous and overwhelming force surged toward everyone. In an instant, the people in the square were lifted off their feet, their bodies uncontrollably thrown backward before crashing heavily onto the ground.

Chaos erupted—cries of anguish filled the air, with many dead and wounded.

As the dust settled, a tall, dark figure stood solemnly within the crater, looking down at a man sprawled on the ground. Surrounding the man were countless blades and swords, suspended in midair, ready to strike without hesitation should he move.

Ji Heng coughed up several mouthfuls of blood, his fierce eyes glinting with ruthless determination and defiance.

“Ji Heng, a hundred years have passed, and you still haven’t given up on the Nine-Tailed Phoenix Formation.”

Hearing this, Ji Heng’s expression darkened. It seemed Mo Chenlan knew something. He sneered coldly, “Give up? Mo Chenlan, whether it’s your life or the Nine-Tailed Phoenix Formation, I believe I have every right to claim both.”

“Today I fell into your hands through my own carelessness. But if you kill me, you’ll never find out where that old man is.”

Mo Chenlan’s face turned grim, his murderous intent radiating fiercely. In a flash, he appeared before Ji Heng, grabbing his collar and delivering a punch to his face.

“Bastard! He’s your grandfather too!”

Ji Heng collapsed to the ground, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. Disdain and a cold sneer flickered in his eyes as he looked at Mo Chenlan. “That’s your grandfather, not mine.”

“Where is grandfather?!” Mo Chenlan’s face darkened, his voice barely squeezed out through clenched teeth.

Ji Heng laughed loudly, suddenly gathering a surge of killing intent and striking at Mo Chenlan. Mo Chenlan dodged several steps back, then when he looked again, Ji Heng’s figure had vanished. After glancing at Zhaoyan, he transformed into a streak of light in pursuit.

The fact that the National Master was a sorcerer quickly spread throughout the Four Stars.

Those who once revered him suddenly turned to trample him in the mud. Many had fallen under his influence, and now every faction was searching for his whereabouts.

Because of the blood exchange, Zhaoyan chose not to stay with the Yun family and instead went to the Feng family.

Before leaving, she announced to all that from today onward, she was severing ties with the Yun family and would be known as Zhaoyan, bearing no relation to them.

Night fell.

A heavy atmosphere enveloped the entire Yun household.

Everyone was consumed by endless regret and guilt. Madam Yun, unable to face the mistakes she had made, chose to enter seclusion. Yet her heart remained pierced by an eternal thorn, impossible to free herself from.

---

In an unnoticed corner, a tendril of black mist slowly took root and began to grow.

Yun Zhaojun sat on the windowsill, holding a purple spirit jade pendant, her gaze vacant as she stared into the endless darkness.

In the shadows, a streak of light descended swiftly and landed with a muffled grunt, a sharp scent of blood filling the air.

Yun Zhaojun’s heart jolted as she turned sharply, only to see Ji Heng lying on the ground, drenched in blood, his body stiffening. In his clear eyes were both love and an unrelenting hatred—a contradiction that tormented her as if she were walking on a blade’s edge.

After a brief struggle, she hurried forward to support him. A gentle green healing energy flowed from her hands, slowly transferring to Ji Heng.

His once pale face gradually regained color. The man slowly opened his eyes, his lowered gaze unreadable.

No one knew how much time had passed.

“Why? Why did you do this? Why did you lie to me?” Yun Zhaojun’s eyes were bloodshot as she stared intently at the man before her. Tears streamed down her cheeks, her delicate face etched with sorrow and rain-like tears that broke hearts.

Ji Heng turned to look at Yun Zhaojun, a rare tenderness flickering in his eyes. He reached out as if to wipe away her tears.

But seeing his outstretched hand, Yun Zhaojun stepped back repeatedly, freezing Ji Heng in place with her reaction.

“Ji Heng, all along, was I just a pawn to you? You deceived me, used me, and even tried to kill my own sister… was it all a lie, all false?”

Ji Heng opened his mouth, wanting to explain but finding no words.

“Jun’er, I admit I used you, but I did it all for you, for our future. I couldn’t stand by and watch you die, I…”

As he spoke, he moved forward, but Yun Zhaojun drew a sword and pointed it at him. “Don’t come any closer.”

Ji Heng looked at the sword aimed at him and laughed bitterly. He had never imagined the sword he gave her would one day be turned against him.

Tears streamed down Yun Zhaojun’s cheeks as grief and hatred warred in her eyes. Her hand gripping the sword trembled uncontrollably.

“Go. I never want to see you again.”

Ji Heng froze in shock. In that moment, the sword in her hand clattered to the ground. He swiftly appeared before her. Before she could react, he struck her unconscious, and she collapsed into his arms.

He caught her with both hands, holding her close. One hand wiped away the tears from her face, a pang of pain flashing through his brooding eyes.

“I’m sorry. For our future, this is the last time I will use you…”

The man sighed softly, gazing out the window as a flicker of killing intent passed through his eyes.

---

At the Feng Mansion.

“Is this all you found out?”

Zhaoyan’s lips twitched slightly as she heard from Mo Chenlan that Ji Heng’s actions were motivated by the Nine-Tailed Phoenix Formation in Snowy City. But how did that concern her?

Though she had learned the truth about the blood exchange and that the Yun family had been manipulated, she still didn’t understand why Ji Heng branded her with the curse of the Death Star, forcing her to live in the countryside for eighteen years.

“Bringing me back just to exchange blood with my sister? That doesn’t add up!”

Mo Chenlan glanced at her. “Could it be that the blood exchange was just incidental?”

Zhaoyan was taken aback. “What do you mean?”

“Didn’t you notice the way Miss Yun looked at Ji Heng? Something was off.”

Zhaoyan fell silent. The events of the day had unfolded too suddenly, and she hadn’t paid attention to her sister’s expression toward Ji Heng. Could there be something they didn’t know?

At the same time, she recalled the manipulations Ji Heng made during the blood exchange. So, his true target was her!

The blood exchange was merely to keep her sister alive, serving also as a distraction.

Suddenly, a realization struck her.

Wait!

Since the seal on the original body was placed by Ji Heng, he must know that the spiritual bone she carried was a divine spirit bone. Every cultivator’s spiritual bone emerges when they turn five. If his goal had been the divine spirit bone, he could have taken it over ten years ago. Why wait until now?

So perhaps he wasn’t after the divine spirit bone?

However, the fact that he had Yun Wuhen give her a Spirit Devouring Pill showed he knew she could cultivate. Coupled with the tampering in the formation, he wanted her to become a mindless puppet after the blood exchange.

But if the exchange succeeded and she became a puppet, she wouldn’t survive long in that state. Why would that be?

Zhaoyan was utterly baffled, especially since Mo Chenlan had been unable to capture him.