Wanyan Xue's Samsara Eyes could see through illusions and predict the future, but no one knew of another heaven-defying ability they possessed.
After forming a contract with the Samsara Rat, Wanyan Xue guarded this ability as an unspeakable secret, gritting her teeth and revealing nothing, no matter how difficult the times.
Yet this time, during an ordinary conflict between fellow academy disciples, she decided to reveal it, solely to avoid letting that person see her in her most embarrassing state.
Was she mad?
She thought she was.
But she did it anyway.
She made a strange gesture with her right hand, then smeared it across her eyes.
An indescribable vastness emanated from her eyes.
Wanyan Xue and Nalan Yan cried out in agony almost simultaneously.
*Clang!*
Nalan Yan's defensive spiritual shield shattered completely, her Blazing Flame Spear falling from her grasp and hitting the ground with a clear collision sound.
"This is bad!"
Liu Yin Xiao's expression changed drastically. He moved like an arrow shot from a bow onto the training ground.
Then, to everyone's astonished gaze, he struck Wanyan Xue with a palm-hand knife, rendering her unconscious.
Wanyan Xue slumped to the ground. Liu Yin Xiao had no time to spare. He reached out and grabbed the semi-conscious Nalan Yan, his face looking grimmer than ever before.
The crowd was stunned by the sudden turn of events, holding their breath and daring not to speak, their gazes towards Nalan Yan filled with profound horror.
The once peerlessly beautiful Nalan Yan had withered like a dried flower deprived of life.
Her once black and luxuriant hair had turned into withered white strands, her delicate and smooth skin was covered in wrinkles, and numerous yellowish-brown spots had appeared.
Was this still Nalan Yan?
Everyone looked at Nalan Yan, then shifted their gaze to Wanyan Xue, frowning again.
Wanyan Xue's condition was not much better than Nalan Yan's.
She and Nalan Yan were like two extremes. Nalan Yan had aged, while Wanyan Xue, like a demon that had absorbed life essence, exuded a chilling vitality.
Her face was so tender it seemed like water could be squeezed from it; this was not a metaphor but a fact.
"Madam, I'll leave Xu Yi and the others to you," Liu Yin Xiao said to Yu Chun Dao, then raised his hand, grabbing Nalan Yan and Wanyan Xue with his spiritual energy, and vanished in the blink of an eye.
Yu Chun Dao, though worried, did not wish to show it. She merely calmed her breathing, then led Xu Yi and the others towards the interior of Kunlun Academy.
As soon as Yu Chun Dao and the others left, the previously silent training ground erupted.
"Did you see what move Wanyan Xue used just now?"
"Is that even a question? Besides her Samsara Eyes, does she have any other means to suppress us?"
"That move of hers was too ruthless! Can Nalan Yan recover?"
The person who spoke shivered uncontrollably at the thought of Nalan Yan's appearance just now.
"No matter the outcome, she's definitely going to be punished by the academy this time."
"Exactly! The academy explicitly forbids internal strife and harming fellow disciples. She's committed a major offense this time!"
With Nalan Yan and Wanyan Xue both suffering severe injuries, the competition for the academy rankings this month would surely become even more intense.
Thinking of this, the disciples of Kunlun Academy no longer lingered, and the training ground returned to its peaceful state.
...
"That is your residence. I will arrange for someone to introduce you to the academy's situation later. For now, please rest."
Yu Chun Dao led them to their accommodations and instructed them before leaving in a hurry.
"Xu Yi, why do I have a bad feeling about this?"
Xiong Zhuang Zhuang's thick eyebrows were furrowed tightly, and his heart was pounding wildly.
He was straightforward and voiced his thoughts as they came to him.
"Wanyan Xue has caused a huge problem this time."
Xu Yi's voice was low, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
Who would have thought that Wanyan Xue would resort to such mutually destructive measures?
What a pity for Nalan Yan...
Thinking of that woman, as vibrant as a peony, Xu Yi felt an inexpressible sense of regret.
"She, how could she be like this!"
Xiong Zhuang Zhuang grabbed his hair with both hands and pulled it forcefully, his expression filled with immense frustration.
Before meeting Wanyan Xue, he had considered her a goal to chase and an object of admiration.
But now he realized how beautiful his imagination was and how devastating reality was.
Wanyan Xue was not as perfect as the rumors suggested; in fact, she was worse.
He felt ashamed to be from the same sect as Wanyan Xue.
"Xiong Zhuang Zhuang, don't be sad. She is her, and you are you. You have no relation," Yu Xiao Yu hesitated for a moment before quietly comforting him.
"Thank you, Xiao Yu."
Xiong Zhuang Zhuang dejectedly released his hands.
He had finally made up his mind to report Wanyan Xue's actions to the sect, word for word. He would no longer conceal them for her.
Seeing everyone's dejected expressions, Xu Yi said, "Everyone is tired, let's go back to our rooms and rest. We'll discuss some matters tomorrow."
The others, having no objections, each found an empty room to recuperate.
Lu Zai Ye wanted to say something to Xu Yi when he left but ultimately entered his room in silence.
Some things were not for him to say.
Kunlun Academy, Hall of Medicine.
An elder with a pleasant demeanor and carrying the scent of medicine gently released Nalan Yan's wrist and walked out of the room, shaking his head.
"Teacher Jing, what is Nalan Yan's condition?"
Liu Yin Xiao, Yu Chun Dao, and a fiery-tempered woman eagerly stepped forward.
"Very bad. Inexpressibly bad."
The elder, addressed as Teacher Jing, shook his head heavily once more.
The fiery-tempered woman's eyes flashed with chilling killing intent. Without a word, she turned and walked towards the adjacent room, only to be pulled back tightly by Yu Chun Dao.
"Nalan, what are you trying to do!"
"I'm going to kill Wanyan Xue!"
Nalan Hen Zhu said hatefully.
Thinking of Nalan Yan's appearance, her heart felt as if it had been crushed.
As Nalan Yan's aunt, she naturally had to avenge her niece.
The room next door was Wanyan Xue's. She would ensure Wanyan Xue died without a whole body.
"Nalan, calm down. This is the academy. The Dean will handle this for you. Don't do anything foolish!"
"Nalan Yan is already like this! It's useless even if the Dean handles it for me! Nalan Yan is my elder brother's only daughter and will be the head of our Nalan family in the future! I will absolutely not let the culprit live! Otherwise, I would be failing my elder brother! Failing the Nalan family!"
Nalan Hen Zhu roared with all her might.
"Stop arguing!" Teacher Jing shouted forcefully, interrupting the two.
"Nalan Yan's condition is indeed bad, but it's not without a cure. Nalan, do you want revenge or do you want to save your niece?"
"Teacher Jing, you have a way to save Yan'er!"
Nalan Hen Zhu's eyes blazed with surprise and joy. She broke free from Yu Chun Dao's grasp and tightly clutched Teacher Jing's arm, her face filled with pleading.
"Listen to me first."
Teacher Jing sighed deeply and began to describe Nalan Yan's current situation.
Nalan Yan's sudden aging was not due to her life force being drained, but because Wanyan Xue had used the power of Samsara on her, forcing her body into a state of decay.
In other words, Nalan Yan's lifespan was nearing its end; she was a person on the verge of death.
And to save her, naturally, one would have to find a way to extend her life.