Li Ruowang and Ye Nian’s forms flickered as they sped to Feng Yingzhi’s laboratory door, anxiously peering inside.
After a few breaths, the garden’s radiant glow faded, and Feng Yingzhi emerged from the research chamber holding a nearly transparent amber orb in both hands. Though only the size of a fist, it exuded an inexplicable weight.
Standing at the front, Zhu Die Zhen whispered, “How is it? Did it work?”
No one else spoke, but the heated anticipation in their eyes showed they were all eager for the answer.
“It still needs testing to be sure!” Feng Yingzhi replied. She poured Celestial Realm energy into the orb; it quickly dispersed into sparkling motes that vanished completely. Yet outside the Wu Wei Tower’s outer wall, an amber layer had formed.
At that sight, a relieved smile unconsciously touched Feng Yingzhi’s lips—but fate did not favor her.
“Kah!” came a crisp crack. A deep fissure appeared across the amber, rapidly spidering outward. Within moments it shattered into nothingness. Soon, Feng Yingzhi’s hands were filled with shards of amber. Clearly, this artifact could not fully envelop the Wu Wei Tower, let alone transport it.
The joy on every sister’s face froze. Had they failed, after all?
Ban Xia stepped forward with a smile. “It’s all right. Keep trying—we believe in you!”
Zheng Nuanxiu nodded earnestly, clenching her fist and murmuring words of encouragement. One by one, the sisters offered their blessings.
Feng Yingzhi exhaled and discarded the amber fragments. “Don’t worry. For the sake of everyone’s happiness, I’ll keep at it. Just give me more time!” With that, she turned and returned to her lab to begin another round of experiments.
Watching her undaunted resolve, the sisters felt uplifted. Indeed, one’s own strength might waver, but having a strong comrade at one’s side was indispensable. “Keep going, little sister—we’re counting on you!” they thought as they reluctantly prepared to leave. Crafting such an artifact took time; waiting by the door was as futile as leaving and tending their own affairs.
Yet as they turned, they found Li Ruowang and Ye Nian standing behind them, halting everyone in their tracks. All eyes turned expectantly to Ye Nian.
Yes—the speech he had just delivered was of their own devising, meant to help Li Ruowang shake off the rage from her ordeal in the secret realm. With heartfelt persuasion and the promise of delectable treats, Ye Nian had swiftly “betrayed” his mother’s side and offered his support. Now he gripped Li Ruowang’s right hand and said softly, “Mother Empress, please—remember what I told you?”
Li Ruowang’s voice was icy. “You forgot, didn’t you? I said that if Feng Yingzhi succeeded in making the artifact, I would consider your counsel. But she has not. Thus, your proposal is void.”
Celestial energy surged around Li Ruowang’s form. Among the crowd, Zheng Nuanxiu dared not intervene; she fled at once. After all, she had been the loudest when the sisters conspired to trick Li Ruowang. Now that reckoning had come, she had no choice but to run. Furthermore, her unresolved grudge over the husband’s affections added fuel to her escape.
Halfway away, Zheng Nuanxiu heard Li Ruowang’s voice calling out, “Junior Sister, stand!”
Zheng Nuanxiu froze—she had been discovered. Forced to reveal herself, she smiled awkwardly. “Senior Sister, I wasn’t trying to flee. I just remembered I had to offer incense at the ancestral shrine—an urgent matter. So I—”
“Silence!” Li Ruowang interrupted, her tone cutting as a blade.
“All right,” Zheng Nuanxiu muttered, hanging her head and falling silent at Li Ruowang’s side.
Li Ruowang raised her hand and continued, “I admit my behavior these past days was improper; I hogged too much of our time together. From today onward, I will follow the rules and queue like {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} everyone else. But you must be reasonable, too. Yin Feijing, who accompanied you out that day? Tell me, and I’ll have both of you placed in the formation array for two days, and we’ll call it even—how does that sound?”
Her words stunned the assembly. The sisters had indeed prepared a Recording Stone at the secret-realm exit to monitor Li Ruowang’s return. They’d known the moment she emerged. Yet they hadn’t run, for they understood they could not evade her forever. Better to face her directly. They had staged their “performance” accordingly—hence Ye Nian’s perfectly timed intervention. They had hoped to fully dispel her anger; if not, they’d find another way.
But events had taken an unexpected turn. The ruse had only half-succeeded: Li Ruowang would yield, but now she demanded Yin Feijing and Gan Zhizui be punished. The demand seemed fair—two days in the formation—but how would the anti–Li Ruowang alliance react? Would it fracture their unity? Would Yin Feijing and Gan Zhizui agree? Though the plan was a collective one, it fell unjustly on just two.
As the sisters fretted, a figure suddenly appeared behind Li Ruowang. One hand pressed gently on her shoulder.
“All right,” came Ye Yu’s calm voice. “That’s enough. I’ve heard about what happened—have them apologize and let this end here. Don’t leave me uneasy when I go.”
Li Ruowang whirled around, astonished to see the space around Ye Yu beginning to distort. Though none had witnessed the void-shattering before, his appearance spoke volumes.
“But you said you wouldn’t go to the Divine Realm for another month?” Li Ruowang’s composed voice trembled, her eyes reddening. Why? They had only just reunited, and already they faced parting again. The agony was unbearable—not only for her, but for all the sisters. None had expected this day to come so soon.
