After Fan Xian was brought to the first-class meditation spot, she discovered that this was undoubtedly the most scenic and spiritually abundant place in the Undying Immortal Mountain.
Before her window, a branch of plum blossoms stretched in, exuding a bewitching beauty. Opposite it lay a scroll of rolling clouds and mist, a scene typically found only in the most exquisite landscape paintings, with distinct layers. Even Fan Xian felt her mood lighten.
However, she was unaware that someone had already begun to harbor resentment towards her.
"Why should she, an outsider, be granted such a place when I, who have followed Master for so many years, haven't received such treatment!"
The speaker was a woman of breathtaking beauty, though lacking a certain vivacity. She was Zhi Hua, the youngest disciple of the Undying Saint Lord, and also his most prodigiously talented. At her age, her strength was already immeasurably close to the Saint Venerable realm, and breaking through to it in the future was a certainty.
However, the Saint Lord was a different matter. In the entire Primordial Immortal Domain, there were only four Saint Lord powerhouses, and no one knew how many ages they had existed. Saint Lord powerhouses, as the absolute ceiling of combat strength, were not solely determined by powerful talent but by many indispensable factors.
Even Yun Fan, the first in history to suppress the Immortal Dao curse, dared not claim he could break through to Saint Lord. Although breaking through to Saint Venerable was a sure thing, reaching Saint Lord was no simple feat.
At this moment, Zhi Hua's supporters chimed in, "Exactly! Why should the Saint Lord send her to the first-class meditation spot? Even if she's a distinguished guest, can she overshadow Young Lady?"
The more Zhi Hua heard, the angrier she became. She had served diligently for years, expecting to be granted access to the first-class meditation spot. Then, she would have smoothly broken through to Saint Venerable and ascended further. Instead, an outsider had snatched away the place she coveted.
"Young Lady, shall we take care of her?" one of her supporters asked.
At this point, these supporters were already prepared to deal with Fan Xian for Zhi Hua.
But Zhi Hua replied, "There's no need. If Master finds out, he won't spare me!"
Upon hearing this, the others ceased their impulsive actions. They couldn't fathom why the first-class meditation spot, which had remained inaccessible for hundreds of thousands of years, was now occupied by a mere lass from the Immortal Clan. They couldn't understand the Undying Saint Lord's reasons.
Zhi Hua then said, "Everyone, you may leave for now. Such dissatisfaction can only be voiced in private; Master must absolutely not hear of it!"
"Yes!"
Despite their displeasure, they knew that the Undying Saint Lord's authority was inviolable. Otherwise, being expelled would be a minor issue. If they lost their lives, it would be far too costly.
After they departed, Zhi Hua was still sulking. Just then, a figure suddenly appeared before her. He was as handsome as jade and as elegant as a scholar, exuding an air of roguish charm. At first sight, Zhi Hua was captivated. It was impossible not to be; he was too handsome, too perfect. Even Zhi Hua, a renowned celestial maiden, couldn't help but be moved.
If Yun Fan were present, he would have recognized him instantly as the Curse Heart.
"Who are you? Why have you trespassed onto my domain?" Zhi Hua asked coldly. This was her residence, and outsiders were not permitted entry without permission, given her high status in the Undying Immortal Mountain.
The Curse Heart replied, "Who I am is unimportant. What matters is seeing a beautiful lady in distress, so I've come specifically to offer comfort!"
"Comfort?" Zhi Hua scoffed. "Based on your disrespect just now, I could kill you outright!" His words were exceedingly frivolous. While such talk might be acceptable on Earth, here it was unequivocally considered harassment.
The Curse Heart continued, "If killing me will make you feel better, then I am willing to give my life, merely to win a smile from you!"
"Do you truly believe I wouldn't dare kill you?" Zhi Hua's face flushed. It wasn't that she was easily swayed, but he fit her ideal aesthetic perfectly, and his words were so pleasing to the ear. It was natural for Zhi Hua to be smitten.
However, the Curse Heart grew bolder and stepped forward.
"Do not come closer!" In the next instant, Zhi Hua held her sword to his throat. A single flick of her wrist would sever his throat. Of course, destroying his divine soul was impossible.
To her surprise, the Curse Heart showed no fear. "I know you can't bear to kill me, because you like me!"
"Preposterous!" Zhi Hua retorted disdainfully. "We've only just met. Do you think I could possibly fall for you?" Unquestionably, Zhi Hua was seething at this moment.
Yet, he used his folding fan to push her sword away and then kissed her. Such audacity was unexpected, even for Zhi Hua, but at this moment, she did not push him away.
After a moment, the Curse Heart said, "I can help you resolve your predicament!"
"Help me resolve it?" Zhi Hua sneered. "Do you have the capability?"
"Of course!" the Curse Heart declared. "I have come only to share your burdens and help you obtain everything you desire!"
"Then do you know what I desire?" Zhi Hua asked with a disdainful smile. She believed he was being too simplistic. It was her own fault for trusting a scoundrel's words, yet she found herself incredibly fond of this scoundrel, incredibly so.
The Curse Heart continued, "I can see that someone has stolen what you want!"
"That's right. Can you help me get it back?" Zhi Hua asked with a dismissive smile.
However, the Curse Heart replied, "Why get it back? The correct approach is to kill the opponent, and then all troubles will be resolved forever!"
Zhi Hua was stunned. She hadn't expected him to be so much bolder than she had imagined. Even she wouldn't dare to think such a thing, yet he had directly vocalized what she dared not think but wished to do.
The Curse Heart then asked, "What? Do you think it's not feasible?"
"It is feasible!" Zhi Hua replied. "But if I kill her, Master will know everything!"
The Curse Heart chuckled, "Don't worry, with me here, I can help you achieve it without any reservations!"
"Why should I believe you?" Zhi Hua asked, confused.
"Because you are mine!" The next moment, the Curse Heart swept Zhi Hua into his arms and carried her into her cultivation chamber. To use an Earthly analogy, within a minute, Zhi Hua was lying contentedly in the Curse Heart's embrace.
"You truly are a captivating man!" At this moment, Zhi Hua was completely smitten. In her eyes, the Curse Heart was a perfect man. The only slight drawback was that their time together was too brief.
The Curse Heart then said, "As long as you wish, I can stay with you anytime, but now, there is something more important to attend to!"
"How do you plan to deal with her?" Zhi Hua asked him.
The Curse Heart replied, "I have a power that can make her fall victim instantly, and she will slowly die within a short period. No one will suspect you!"
"Are you sure?" Zhi Hua found it hard to believe such a magical power existed.
"Of course, I am sure," the Curse Heart assured her. "Because you currently have my power within you!"
"What?" Zhi Hua quickly checked her body and discovered this ominous power coursing within her. "What are you doing?" Zhi Hua was shocked. She hadn't expected him to have implanted such a fearsome power within her; it was truly unexpected.
But the Curse Heart smiled, "Don't worry. My power has two sides; it can harm others, and it can be used for cultivation. If you cultivate this power, breaking through to the peak will be no problem in the future!"
Zhi Hua finally relaxed. "Then what do you want me to do?" she asked the Curse Heart.
The Curse Heart instructed, "I can elevate your strength to the Saint Venerable realm, and then you will infect her with my power. She will surely die, and it won't be traced back to you!"
"Are you certain you can help me break through to Saint Venerable?" Zhi Hua found all of this too outrageous.
"Before, breaking through to Saint Venerable would have taken a long time, but now it's simple!" the Curse Heart said. The next moment, the Curse Heart activated the Immortal Dao Curse. The Immortal Dao Curse spread within Zhi Hua's body, and before long, Zhi Hua directly broke through to Saint Venerable. This astonishing sight left Zhi Hua dumbfounded. She hadn't expected breakthroughs to be so effortless. Undoubtedly, her admiration for the Curse Heart grew immensely.
At this point, the Curse Heart told her, "Now, use this power to sneak attack her. Once she is infected with this power, she will naturally die within a month!" Hearing this, Zhi Hua was moved.
She said to the Curse Heart with captivating charm, "You truly are my confidant. You help me so much, is it simply because you like me?"
"Of course!" the Curse Heart agreed. "Who wouldn't like a peerless beauty like you?"
"Excellent!" Zhi Hua said with satisfaction. "Then you must promise me one condition!"
"What condition?" the Curse Heart asked, puzzled.
"You can only like me!"
"No problem!" Afterward, Zhi Hua set off. True to his word, that very night, she ambushed Fan Xian. Completely unprepared and outmatched by countless levels, Fan Xian was wounded by Zhi Hua. However, what confused her was that the attacker only injured her and then left. This left her somewhat bewildered.
...
Several days later, Zhi Hua learned that Fan Xian was not faring well in the meditation spot and was gravely ill. At this moment, Zhi Hua felt immensely triumphant. The Curse Heart had indeed not lied to her, and this was precisely the outcome she desired. Daring to compete with her for the meditation spot was simply seeking death.
She then informed the Curse Heart of the situation. "Excellent," the Curse Heart responded. "Within a month, she will surely perish!"
"Mmm-hmm!" Zhi Hua felt greatly avenged. But at this moment, the Curse Heart said to her, "Your request has been fulfilled. Now, let's discuss my request!"
"What is your request?" Zhi Hua asked, confused.
The Curse Heart stated, "My request is very simple. I have prepared this power for you. No matter what method you use, you must infect the Undying Saint Lord!"
"What?" Zhi Hua was startled. Would she even agree to infect her own Master? Even if she agreed, could the Undying Saint Lord, with his strength, not see through it? This idea from the Curse Heart was truly terrifying. It was no wonder he claimed everything was simple; otherwise, nothing in the world would be difficult.
She immediately declared, "Impossible!"
"Why?" the Curse Heart asked, confused.
"Because he is my Master, and I would never lay hands on my own Master!"
"Good!" the Curse Heart replied. "It's commendable that you have this sentiment, but have you considered your own feelings?" He continued, "The meditation spot is the core of the Undying Immortal Mountain. You are your Master's most favored disciple, but has he ever opened it to you? He would never reserve that place for you. Frankly, he doesn't take you seriously!"
This statement ignited Zhi Hua's existing resentment. Everyone believed she was being groomed to be the Mountain Lord of the Undying Immortal Mountain, but her Master had never expressed such an intention. Now, a newcomer had surpassed her, making her doubt her Master. Had he abandoned her and chosen Fan Xian as the future Mountain Lord?
However, she quickly dismissed this thought. After all, her Master's kindness was immeasurable. No matter how indignant she felt, she couldn't harm him. Thus, she immediately told the Curse Heart, "I see this is your true objective! You will not sow discord between me and Master!"
Upon hearing this, the Curse Heart unreservedly admitted, "Yes, this is my objective!" The Curse Heart, although currently only at the first level of Saint Venerable, harbored immense ambition. He had already set his sights on the Undying Saint Lord. By seizing the Undying Saint Lord's power, if he accumulated enough, he could directly bypass Saint Venerable and become a Saint Lord. Then, he could destroy this era, especially the Battle Heaven Clan. Yun Fan would not appear in later eras; he intended to change history. He was aware of Yun Fan's potential and formidable power, and now Yun Fan had become a significant force. Even he could no longer kill Yun Fan, so he had to take a crooked path, directly targeting a ceiling-level existence. Failure would not kill him, but success would allow him to turn the tide and annihilate all beings of this era. Currently, he did not know Yun Fan's whereabouts, but if Yun Fan was in this era, he would destroy him along with everyone else. This was his goal.
Zhi Hua said coldly, "You don't like me. If you liked me, you wouldn't ask me to deal with my Master. Do you know how great the risk is?" After all, her Master was a Saint Lord, an existence far beyond a Saint Venerable. Even Zhi Hua dared not scheme against such a being.
However, the Curse Heart stated, "That's right, I don't like you. I am merely using you!" These words chilled Zhi Hua to the bone. She had once believed this handsome man, despite their brief acquaintance, truly loved her. Now, she realized he had merely been using her.
At this, Zhi Hua angrily cursed, "I'll kill you!"
Unexpectedly, as soon as she moved, the Curse Heart activated the Immortal Dao Curse, nearly suffocating Zhi Hua on the spot. It was then she understood a critical fact: she was already under the control of this Curse Heart.
"How heartless of you!" Zhi Hua glared at the Curse Heart in anger. She hadn't expected this man, who was more beautiful than any woman, had been toying with her emotions all along.
Suddenly, the Curse Heart emitted a soft, effeminate aura, startling Zhi Hua. The Curse Heart before her was even more feminine than she was, his beauty surpassing hers and even Fan Xian's. Perhaps only the Patriarch of the Immortal Clan, the Hundred Flowers Fairy, could compete with him for a moment; otherwise, no woman could possess such striking beauty. Yes, beauty – a man so beautiful that Zhi Hua felt deeply inferior.
"Are you a man or a woman?" Zhi Hua asked, shocked. The Curse Heart did possess masculine features, but in his current state, he appeared quite feminine. In fact, even the Curse Heart couldn't answer this question. As his strength grew, the various curses combined within the Curse Heart had caused changes. In later eras, he was a cool and handsome man. However, upon arriving in this era, the Curse Heart found that as the Immortal Dao Curse rearranged itself, his body began to change, leaning increasingly towards a feminine form. It wasn't his fault that his time together was so brief; it was because his masculine characteristics were rapidly fading, transforming him into a woman.
At this moment, the Curse Heart said angrily, "Of course I'm a man! Don't you know that?" Yet, even his voice was now filled with feminine charm. Fortunately, this peculiar phenomenon was suppressed by the Curse Heart. He then coldly told Zhi Hua, "Do as I say, or you will face death. Choose: live or die!"
Undoubtedly, Zhi Hua was at her lowest point. She had believed she had found true love, only to realize she was merely a tool. Worse still, her very life was now in his control. "If you obediently follow my instructions, I can make you even stronger in the future. Otherwise, you won't even survive today! Do you know how to choose?" the Curse Heart sneered, but his laughter was so alluring and charming that even the Curse Heart himself felt a tremor of fear. If this continued, he might truly turn into a woman. He didn't know the reason for this.
At this, Zhi Hua quickly pleaded, "Don't kill me! I'll do as you say!"
"That's more like it!" The Curse Heart nodded in satisfaction. He then instructed Zhi Hua, "Figure out how to do it yourself. Do not try to expose the secret. No one can resolve the ominous power! You must know this!"
Upon hearing this, Zhi Hua's heart sank into despair. Indeed, the ominous power had always existed, and no one could resolve it; this was not an empty boast. At this point, she could only surrender to the Curse Heart's control. Her mistake was her greed and jealousy; otherwise, none of this would have happened. Still, she couldn't help but ask the Curse Heart, "Did you ever like me?"
"Like?" The Curse Heart scoffed. "In my eyes, you are merely a tool for my use. Do you think you are worthy of my affection?" Instantly, Zhi Hua's heart grew cold.
Afterward, Zhi Hua found a way to meet the Undying Saint Lord. The Undying Saint Lord had a habit of drinking tea once a year. Previously, others would brew tea for him, but for years, she had been the one to do so. While preparing tea for the Undying Saint Lord, she infused a strand of ominous power into the tea. As she handed it to him, she dared not meet his gaze. The Undying Saint Lord accepted the tea and drank it in one gulp.
Seeing her Master drink the tea, Zhi Hua finally relaxed. She had, after all, completed the Curse Heart's plan. She had expected her Master to notice, but to her surprise, he hadn't. This brought her immense relief. She then proactively said to the Undying Saint Lord, "Master, Miss Fan Xian is gravely ill. May I go and attend to her?"
However, the Undying Saint Lord shook his head. "No need. Just focus on your own tasks."
"Yes!" Zhi Hua quickly retreated. But as she left, the Undying Saint Lord cast a meaningful glance at her, then looked at the teacup. The next moment, a fresh cup of tea appeared before him.
"A distinguished guest is arriving soon. It seems I must prepare the welcoming procedures first!" At this moment, the Undying Saint Lord stood up and looked towards the east.