「Meanwhile.」

The Primal Heaven Sect, leader of the Seven Great Celestial Sects.

In the middle of the Maplewood, a man in white robes sat playing a zither.

The man was handsome and exuded a gentle, scholarly air. His white robes were even adorned with the image of a few maple leaves, making him seem to merge with the surrounding forest.

A melodious tune rose from his zither, and the ground around him was carpeted in dark red maple leaves. In the nearby trees perched all sorts of avian Spirit Beasts, while Spirit Birds danced gracefully in the air, following the rhythm of his music.

The zither player was Sean Lockwood, the Little Martial Uncle of Redleaf Peak in the Primal Heaven Sect.

Just then, he sensed a fluctuation of Spiritual Power in the sky not far away.

His fingers stilled, pressing lightly on the zither strings to silence them.

"Who’s there?"

As soon as he spoke, a spatial vortex materialized in the air nearby. A figure emerged, fell to the ground with a thud, and the vortex vanished.

On the red maple leaves, there was now a... female cultivator?

"Ngh..."

Jocelyn Grant let out a soft groan as she hit the ground.

Her Primordial Spirit was unstable, several of her bones were broken, and she had suffered severe internal injuries. To make matters worse, her head was split open and bleeding. Her entire body was wracked with a single sensation: pain.

’This miserable state is all Celeste Grant’s fault. She showed no regard for our past, striking me with such a heavy hand. She wants me dead.’

’My cousin is as cold-blooded and vengeful as ever.’

’Even if I wronged her once, hasn’t she done enough to me already? She’s trying to kill me, but all I did was leave her by the side of the road.’

’Besides, she turned out fine, didn’t she?’

’Why does she keep holding this grudge?’

The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt.

She coughed up another mouthful of blood.

"Celeste Grant," she spat, gritting her teeth. Then she whispered, "One day, I will kill you."

She was still clutching a round, ancient Jade Token in her hand.

Jocelyn Grant looked at the Jade Token, her spirits finally lifting a little. ’I never would have thought I’d find such a treasure at the bottom of a pond in a backwater place like that.’

It was a teleportation-type Magic Treasure, not one of those Space Treasures with a pocket dimension for cultivating Spirit Grass.

In the Cultivation World, a teleportation-type Magic Treasure was considered even more valuable than a Space Treasure with its own pocket dimension.

Once the Magic Treasure acknowledged an owner, the Jade Token would automatically teleport them to safety if their life was in danger. The only drawback was that the destination was random every time.

Even so, it was a treasure countless people would kill for. This Jade Token was practically an extra life.

’Come to think of it,’ she mused, ’it seems I only ever suffer setbacks when I run into Celeste Grant. It’s the same every single time.’

’The more I think about it, the more I realize something isn’t right... That bitch Celeste Grant must have been born to be my nemesis.’

Recalling all the misfortune she’d suffered since meeting Celeste, she decided it was best to avoid her until she became stronger.

She was lying on her side, and her hand brushed against the fallen leaves.

Just then, a gentle voice sounded from not far in front of her.

"Who are you? And why are you here?"

Hearing the voice, Jocelyn Grant instantly stowed the Jade Token.

She looked up and froze, captivated by the sight.

Before her was a male cultivator as gentle and refined as jade. He sat beneath a tree just a short distance away, framed by a backdrop of crimson maple leaves.

She heard him speak. "Is that how you stare at a man?"

Jocelyn Grant snapped out of her daze and quickly lowered her head. "My apologies, Senior Brother. I was being pursued and was accidentally teleported here. Please forgive me if I’ve disturbed you."

Sean Lockwood glanced at her and said coolly, "If you’re fine, then please leave."

Jocelyn Grant’s expression froze.

’He’s actually telling me to leave? Can’t he see how badly I’m hurt? He looks like a member of an Immortal Sect. Shouldn’t he rush to help an injured female cultivator?’

’He’s just sitting there, not even getting up, and telling me to go.’

’I’m severely injured and have nowhere to go.’ 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

’No!’

’I can’t leave yet.’

’The nature’s spiritual energy here is so rich. If I can cultivate here to recover, my injuries will definitely heal faster. Besides, this man doesn’t seem like a bad person. It might be safer to stay here.’

Though that was her plan, she put on an expression of one about to leave. "I’ve disturbed you, Senior Brother. I’m sorry... I’ll go now."

As she spoke, she glanced up at him, then tried to push herself up with a pained look, only to collapse back onto the ground.

"Ah... Hss..."

She had done it on purpose, hoping to stir his pity so he would save her and let her stay. "I’m sorry, Senior Brother... It just hurts so much."

Sean Lockwood’s gaze fell upon her face.

Tears streamed down her face, a portrait of tragic beauty, like pear blossoms in the rain. Despite her wretched state, she looked exceptionally pitiable.

She was a very beautiful female cultivator.

’How strange. Seeing her cry, I feel a pang of pity and have the urge to wipe away her tears.’

Sean Lockwood stood up and walked toward her.

"You’re badly injured."

Seeing him approach, Jocelyn Grant put on a frightened expression.

"Wh-what are you doing? Don’t come any closer."

Sean Lockwood stopped in front of her. "Don’t be afraid. This is the Primal Heaven Sect. I won’t harm you."

Jocelyn Grant was astonished.

’This is actually the Primal Heaven Sect, the leader of the Seven Great Celestial Sects? Then I definitely can’t leave.’

’I can’t believe I got to the Primal Heaven Sect in the blink of an eye.’

’It takes three days to get here from Breckland, even by Sword Flight, yet I arrived in an instant. It seems I’ve acquired an incredible Magic Treasure.’

Jocelyn Grant was utterly disappointed in her former sect. They had abandoned her. She’d had no choice but to flee the Azure Sky Sect, and now she could never go back.

’If I could join the Primal Heaven Sect, it would be even better than staying at the Azure Sky Sect.’

’One day, I’ll make the people of the Azure Sky Sect realize what a terrible mistake they made by giving up on me.’

’I will become stronger than anyone and grind them all under my heel.’

Jocelyn Grant had made her decision: she would stay in the Primal Heaven Sect.

With this in mind, she put on a look of astonishment. "This is the Primal Heaven Sect, the leader of the Seven Great Celestial Sects? That’s wonderful..."

"Save me..."

Her body swayed, and then she closed her eyes and fainted.

As she fell, Sean Lockwood knelt and caught her with one arm.

Jocelyn Grant’s head lolled to the side, landing perfectly in the crook of his arm.

’Success!’ she thought smugly.

’All I have to do is crook my finger and no man can resist my charms. This one is no exception. No matter who he is, he’ll be groveling at my feet from now on.’

As Sean Lockwood held her, he was hit by the foul stench and the metallic smell of blood coming from her body.