"How dare you, woman, treat me with such disrespect! Be careful, or I'll kick you out," Huntian said, his words slurred. "Let go of my face, you woman."
Ye Lanshan finally released her mischievous hands from his face and asked with a smile, "Who are you? And why are you in my space?"
Huntian cleared his throat and said haughtily, "Listen up. I am the artifact spirit of this space, in control of everything here. If you dare provoke me, don't blame me for never letting you in again."
Ye Lanshan marveled, "So there really are divine artifacts that can produce artifact spirits in this world."
Huntian retorted loudly, "Don't lump me in with those ordinary divine artifacts. I am the one and only supreme artifact, the Chaos Pearl, forged from Primordial Qi and Chaos through divine thunder refinement. How can you compare me to those mundane tools?"
Ye Lanshan couldn't help but laugh at his proud, adorable demeanor. "Alright, alright, we won't compare you to those mundane tools."
"Hmph, that's more like it," Huntian nodded in satisfaction.
Ye Lanshan looked around the ethereal, paradise-like space and asked, "I remember when I came here before, it wasn't this beautiful. And as an artifact spirit, shouldn't you have appeared long ago? Why haven't I seen you before?"
Huntian grew a bit melancholic at the question. "I don't remember. All I know is that I was severely injured and fell into a deep sleep. When I woke up, I found you as my new master."
Ye Lanshan patted Huntian's head. "It's okay. It's fine if you don't remember the past. For now, just remember that you have me as your new master."
Huntian shot her a glare. "Let me tell you, the Chaos Pearl may have acknowledged you as its master, but I don't recognize you as mine."
Ye Lanshan was taken aback. "Why?"
Huntian crossed his arms and looked at her disdainfully. "Your mystic power is far too low. You're simply unworthy to be my master."
Ye Lanshan's demeanor turned dangerous. "What did you say? I'm unworthy?"
Huntian struggled to free his face from her tormenting hands. "Let me go! I'll acknowledge you as my master, alright?"
After a moment, Ye Lanshan finally took pity and released him. "That's more like it."
Huntian paused, then said seriously, "Since you have the Chaos Pearl now, you must work hard to cultivate your mystic power. Don't end up unable to protect yourself, forcing me to fall back into slumber."
He added, "The Chaos Pearl has been restricted, so its functions are unlocked based on your cultivation level. The higher your cultivation, the more complete my memories will be."
Ye Lanshan naturally understood the principle of "cherishing a treasure invites trouble." "I know, I know. You don't have to tell me—I'll cultivate diligently."
Huntian led Ye Lanshan to a pool of water. Its color was strange—a deep, regal purple that exuded nobility, with dense spiritual energy floating above the surface.
Ye Lanshan greedily inhaled the spiritual energy. This was truly a perfect place for cultivation.
Huntian pointed at the pool. "This water can temper your physique, expel all impurities from your body, and widen your meridians, making it easier for you to cultivate mystic power."
Ye Lanshan rubbed his face again. "I didn't expect you to be so good to me. Thanks a lot."
Huntian said awkwardly, "I brought you here to restore my memories as quickly as possible. Don't let me down."
Ye Lanshan slowly stepped into the pool. Pain—a bone-deep agony—engulfed her from all sides.
"Ahh—" It felt like only such screams could ease the torment. At that moment, a single minute felt like an eternity.
Gradually, the spiritual energy in the pool surged into her meridians, washing through them again and again. A wave of even more intense pain struck her.
She wished she could pass out, but instead, she remained fully conscious, experiencing the excruciating sensation of her body being torn apart.
Time passed, and the pain began to subside. A warm current slowly nourished the meridians that had been violently scoured by the spiritual energy.
The comfort was unlike anything Ye Lanshan had felt in either of her lives. Under the warmth's embrace, she unknowingly drifted off to sleep.
"Hey, hey, wake up! If you don't, it'll be dark outside soon," Huntian called from the pool's edge.
Ye Lanshan jolted awake. "Isn't it still bright out?"
"You must be sleep-drunk," Huntian said, pointing around. "Time here is fixed. It never gets dark."
Ye Lanshan suddenly remembered telling Ye Yuan to wait for her at the old spot in the evening. But now, it was already dark.
She slapped her forehead. "Damn it."
She immediately dashed toward the city.
Ye Yuan stood outside the pavilion, growing worried. Why is the young lady so late? Has something happened? Should I go back and check?
No—what if I leave and she comes but doesn't see me?
Just as he was torn, a shadow silently appeared behind him.
"Who's there?" Ye Yuan instinctively turned around.
"It's me, Ye Feng." The shadow was indeed Ye Feng.
Ye Feng smiled. "I saw you pacing back and forth with a worried look, so I came to see if you needed any help. Just say the word."
Ye Yuan's expression turned cold. "I don't need your trouble. Please leave."
Ye Feng looked at him teasingly. "What's wrong with you? Are you meeting some girl that you're so cold to me?"
Ye Yuan's face flushed red. "Don't talk nonsense! I don't even have a crush, let alone meeting a girl."
Ye Feng laughed for a moment. "Alright, I'll stop teasing you. Seriously, who are you waiting for?"
"Ye Feng, what are you doing here?" Ye Lanshan walked over quickly, seeing Ye Yuan's flushed face and Ye Feng's unrestrained laughter.
Ye Feng was surprised. "Young lady? So Ye Yuan was waiting for you here."
"Ye Feng, this has nothing to do with you. Go back first." Ye Lanshan turned to face the lake, her expression unreadable.
"Why are you both acting so strange today?" Ye Feng found their attitudes odd.
"Think about what you did today." Ye Lanshan still wanted to give Ye Feng a chance, hoping he would confess the truth rather than truly betray her.
But she was destined to be disappointed. Ye Feng looked utterly confused, completely unaware of what he had done.
Ye Lanshan inwardly scoffed at herself. What are you still hoping for? He stole the token—he's not about to admit it.
"Forget it. Go back. I just need to discuss something with Ye Yuan." Ye Lanshan's expression seemed weary.