Inside the innermost chamber of the Thousand Peaks Pavilion's grand tent, the atmosphere was utterly luxurious. A long table was laid out with gleaming spiritual fruits, each radiating a faint glow of vitality. Nearby, trays held precious treasures—rare herbs, jade scrolls, and spirit tools—neatly arranged like offerings in a royal hall. The entire room was adorned with silken drapes, intricate carvings, and faintly glowing runes, making it feel more like a sacred hall than a temporary shelter.
Compared to Su Chen's tent, this place was the difference between a beggar and an emperor.
At the center of the room stood an elegant white bed, its frame carved from spiritwood and cushioned with snow-feather silk. Upon it sat a solitary figure, shrouded in swirling pink qi. All around her, high-grade spirit stones—deep blue and dense with energy—were piled in abundance. Their essence flowed steadily toward the seated figure, disappearing into her body like rivers feeding the sea.
She appeared to be around nineteen, her presence youthful yet refined. Long black hair cascaded down her back like flowing ink, smooth and glossy, framing a face so flawless it seemed carved from crystal. Her features were delicate yet defined—perfectly balanced, with clear, luminous eyes and lips that held a natural grace.
Her figure was no less remarkable, with a graceful waistline and a poised, elegant posture that exuded quiet confidence. The dark blue and white robes she wore hugged her form just enough to suggest elegance without immodesty, embroidered with fine spiritual patterns that shimmered faintly under the residual glow of the absorbed qi.
In that moment, she looked like someone born not of the mortal world, but descended from an immortal realm.
A sharp crack echoed from within her body.
Boom!
In the next instant, a wave of powerful aura erupted from her, spreading in all directions like a tidal wave. But before it could tear through the chamber, the surrounding formations lit up and swiftly suppressed the outburst, sealing the energy within an invisible barrier.
She slowly opened her eyes, a glint of icy calm within them. Her voice was cold and flat.
"Peak of the Deity Realm..."
Almost immediately, a middle-aged woman in a black robe appeared beside the bed. She knelt on one knee with a respectful bow and spoke reverently.
"Congratulations, Young Miss, on reaching the peak of the Deity Realm."
The young woman glanced sideways and sighed softly.
"Aunt Mei… How many times have I told you? There's no need to kneel."
Recognizing the familiar presence, her voice softened slightly, and the cold edge faded into something more delicate.
"Really, you don't have to do this every time."
"It's only right, Young Miss," Aunt Mei replied, her head still lowered. "This is my duty."
Qin Ruqing gave a light shake of her head, then changed her tone back to calm and composed.
"Alright then, Aunt Mei. Is everything ready?"
"Yes, as you instructed," Aunt Mei said. "All preparations are complete. The Sacred Heart Lotus remains hidden, and the attention of the continent is fully directed toward the tomb."
Qin Ruqing narrowed her eyes slightly, murmuring,
"The Sacred Heart Lotus… it isn't essential to me. But that inheritance inside the tomb—that is what I truly need. And to obtain it, those people must serve their role as sacrifices. There can be no mistakes. If even a single step goes wrong, the tomb could self-destruct."
"The formations are in place," Aunt Mei assured. "Once they enter the tomb, none of them will be able to leave."
Qin Ruqing gave a satisfied nod, her expression calm but ruthless.
"Good."
A faint smile curved her lips, but it held no warmth—only quiet assurance.
Let's talk about this miss background:
[This young miss is Qin Ruqing, a cultivator from the Upper Realm, and holy daughter of Heavenly Maiden Sect, a place where only women are allowed to cultivate.]
[She is the possessor of the Nine Emotions Physique, a rare and powerful body constitution.]
[As for why she is in the lower realm—it's to obtain the inheritance of a Supreme Realm expert who shared the same physique. The so-called Tomb of a God Transformation Stage cultivator that has drawn attention across the continent is, in truth, the resting place of that Supreme expert.]
[To unlock the tomb, nine true emotional essences are required, and the only way to obtain them is to sacrifice those who enter.]
[The rumors about the tomb were all intentionally spread by Qin Ruqing herself—bait to lure the most of cultivators in the Central Continent to their doom, so they could become fuel for her need.]
Meanwhile su chen***
"F*ck… this woman is seriously dangerous," Su Chen muttered under his breath.
He had just been jolted awake by a system notification flashing in his mind—[Daughter of Luck Detected!]—and was now staring blankly at the translucent interface floating in front of him. The details listed under the name Qin Ruqing made his scalp tingle.
"Why the hell is everyone in this world so casual about human life?"he whispered, rubbing his temples."And isn't 'Daughter of Luck' supposed to mean heroine? Why does this woman feel more like a villainess than a heroine?"
"Thank the heavens I learned about that whole sacrificial lamb nonsense ahead of time," Su Chen muttered in his mind. "At this rate, I'd have been lining up for death with the rest of those idiots—probably even thanking her for the chance!"
He let out a long sigh and flopped back onto his makeshift bed, pulling the thin blanket over his body.
"Whatever… I'll think about it tomorrow. I'll just grab an opportunity if I see one and run as far as I can. No way I'm stepping into that tomb—knowing it's a trap? What do I look like, some death-seeking protagonist?"
He grumbled a little more to himself, then rolled over and closed his eyes.
"No inheritance is worth dying for. I'm not insane."
And with that, Su Chen fell asleep again—blanket pulled tight, determination firm:
He was definitely running the first chance he got.