Chapter 352: Reflecting the Nine Heavens

Flowers blossomed in vibrant splendor, and birds wheeled overhead.

Clad in white, Bai Qiulan sat among the flowers, her gentle and breathtakingly beautiful face paired with a graceful, delicate figure, her jet-black hair flowing in the breeze—truly a mesmerizing sight.

From the Fourth Heaven upward, no one recognized her.

All they could think was, *How beautiful!*

Her grace made her the perfect Dao partner. To have her as a Dao companion would surely be an unimaginable blessing.

However, below the Fourth Heaven, most recognized Bai Qiulan.

"Isn't that Bai Qiulan? Lu Ye’s master!"

"Yes, it's her! Not only is she Lu Ye’s master, but I’ve also heard she’s dead set on being his Dao partner."

"That’s right, it’s her! It’s a shame Lu Ye is now wholly devoted to the Dao, with no interest in women. What a wasted opportunity!"

"Would you take that fortune if it were offered to you?"

"Nonsense, of course I would!"

"What is she doing? Didn’t she already ascend? Why is her projection appearing now? Damn, isn’t the Great Sage of the Nine Heavens enforcing his laws?"

"Who knows? But one thing’s for sure—this’ll be a show worth watching!"

Sun Ruowei witnessed this scene, but instead of feeling the excitement of a bystander, her stomach dropped.

What was wrong with Bai Qiulan?

She, who was always so reserved, now appeared openly in the sight of everyone, dressed to stun—what was she planning?

Dread crept into Sun Ruowei’s chest.

She loved drama, but she was ride-or-die for Bai Qiulan. If the price of entertainment was Bai Qiulan’s misfortune, she would never wish for it.

"Please, don’t let this go wrong!"

In the Second Heaven, even more people recognized Bai Qiulan.

Now, the Great Dao Sect ruled the Second Heaven, all thanks to Lu Ye’s sheer dominance, which had brought the sect immense benefits.

"What’s this about?"

Ji Zhangming had been discussing sect matters with Liu Changfeng, but upon seeing the vision manifesting between heaven and earth, his face fell, baffled.

Liu Changfeng gazed at Bai Qiulan in the projection, his gaze distant with memory.

Honestly, it had been a long time since he last saw Bai Qiulan after her ascension.

There was no denying that Liu Changfeng had a crush on Bai Qiulan growing up.

But she’d never felt the same.

Though Liu Changfeng had eventually moved on, now, seeing Bai Qiulan again—especially all dolled up—old feelings came flooding back.

Bai-shimei was still as beautiful as she had been in their younger days.

"But why’s she different now?" Liu Changfeng murmured to himself.

Ji Zhangming? What the—?

"What's different?"

Liu Changfeng sighed softly. He didn't know what had changed either, but just by looking at Bai Qiulan's appearance, he could tell she'd changed.

Within the sect, excited shouts quickly broke out.

"It's Elder Bai, and Senior Sister Yue!"

"Elder Bai is so amazing! Didn't we hear she had already ascended to the Fourth Heaven? Why is she appearing in the projection now?"

"Did they both gain some tremendous fortune again?"

"Elder Bai is still as beautiful as ever!"

The entire sect was buzzing with chatter.

Above the Fourth Heaven, those in the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Heavens, though unfamiliar with Bai Qiulan, were amazed by her beauty and grace. This was what an ideal female cultivator should look like, worthy of the title of a celestial fairy.

But how was this being projected across the Nine Heavens?

Could something truly significant be happening?

The powerful figures of the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Heavens watched closely.

However, the Eighth and Ninth Heavens were different.

Seeing the energy that illuminated the Heavens—good heavens, the Dark Origin?

And Providence hasn't reacted yet?

Strike it down!

How dare the Dark Origin appear so brazenly in the Nine Heavens? Does it truly believe Providence's Tribulation Lightning is weak and powerless?

"Beep, preparing to attack!"

"Ding, wait!"

"Beep?"

Providence was puzzled. What was going on?

The Dark Origin had shown itself under such circumstances. Normally, wouldn't Elder Sister be the first to roar and lead the charge? Yet this time, she stopped it?

"Ding, no rush this time. We don’t have to strike!"

Shen Xitong's voice carried a faint trace of excitement.

Providence didn’t understand, but it didn’t need to. If Elder Sister said not to strike, then it wouldn’t.

It was super obedient!

The projection of the Great Sage of the Nine Heavens also emerged, studying the display as if calculating something.

Merely projecting across the Nine Heavens didn’t seem to exceed the limits he had set.

This phenomenon was akin to a connection between the lower and upper realms—difficult to achieve, but within acceptable parameters.

Unlike when Shen Xitong forced open the laws set by the Great Sage of the Nine Heavens to gaze down upon the mortal realm.

The Great Sage of the Nine Heavens wasn't about to tolerate Shen Xitong, so he fought her, and Shen Xitong even cursed him at the time.

Lu Ye, however, couldn't care less about the matter.

He hadn't discovered Bai Qiulan yet, so he was still carefree, but now that he had found her and pinpointed her exact location, he had only one thought—to locate Bai Qiulan and kill her!

As for what Bai Qiulan might do or intend to do, why should he care?

He kept streaking through the sky, closing the distance to Bai Qiulan bit by bit.

From within the luminous veil, Bai Qiulan spoke!

Standing amidst the flowers, her expression was serene.

"Bai Qiulan pays respects to the many fellow cultivators of the Nine Heavens. Some of you may know me, while others may not, but that's unimportant—for many among you will recognize one of my disciples, whose name is Lu Ye!"

"And I, I am Lu Ye’s master—his sole master!"

Bai Qiulan’s voice echoed across the Nine Heavens.

It was then that the denizens of the Fourth Heaven understood.

"Indeed, Lu Ye is the Lu Ye who ranks first on the Eternal Prodigy Leaderboard."

"Now, truth be told, I find it hard to describe him. He is powerful, he is brilliant, he appears flawless—yet precisely because of this, not a soul remains in this world who can discipline him."

"I am his master. By reason, by duty, by morality, I should be the one to discipline him!"

"I still remember that year when he was a frail young boy, struggling to survive, enduring countless hardships to join the sect."

"I still remember the moment I chose him as my disciple, and he chose me as his master—that wordless smile of mutual understanding we shared."

"I still remember how his face flushed with excitement when I presented him with sacred texts."

"But later, he changed."

"His ascent was too rapid. First on the Eternal Prodigy Leaderboard—how few since time immemorial have achieved such a feat?"

"He became blindly arrogant, deaf to all counsel, unappreciative, selfish and self-serving."

"Now, he pulls ever further away from everyone. I want him to return, but... he is coming to kill me."

Bai Qiulan’s eyes reddened.