It is undeniable that the [Tao Furnace] is of extremely high quality among many treasures.

Judging from wisdom alone, Dao Jiu's enlightenment level is also among the top three.

However, no artifact spirit of the entire Copper Furnace Mountain likes to converse with Dao Jiu.

Lu Yuzhen stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze falling through the white paper to the pale woman in the pool: "You don't like Chu Man?"

"...Like?"

Dao Jiu frowned.

"Or let me put it this way."

Lu Yuzhen thought for a moment and asked, "Are you dissatisfied with her becoming your lifebound artifact master?"

"No."

Dao Jiu shook his head calmly, "I don't care who becomes this artifact master."

"Then you shouldn't wish for her death."

Lu Yuzhen sighed, "Think carefully about what I said to you at the beginning. If you want to be 'human,' you need to learn to be 'human.'

"Did I... say something wrong?"

Dao Jiu remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly.

"Never mind."

Lu Yuzhen lightly brushed his sleeve, saying helplessly, "After all, I brought you out of the Beihai Tomb... You will understand these principles slowly in the future."

"..."

Dao Jiu lowered his eyelids and gently responded.

Thinking for a moment, he asked, "So, is Chu Man alright now?"

Hearing this, Lu Yuzhen's expression softened a bit.

"She 'died' once in the Beihai Tomb; this physical body is ultimately too fragile. Before cultivating into a Yin God, she can't withstand too much turmoil."

Lord Lu looked at the woman in the pool and said, "If she had been beheaded by Qian Yuan Taoist this time, she would most likely have truly perished..."

Dao Jiu held his breath.

"Don't worry, she just needs some time to recuperate in the [Longevity Pool]."

Lu Yuzhen squinted his eyes and said slowly, "In these few days, stay on this 'Pure White Mountain'... the expulsion of the demons is about to begin, and the mountain gate's construction still lacks some finishing touches, so you can assist with that."

"Is this the next task?"

Dao Jiu raised his eyebrow.

"Something like that."

Lu Yuzhen smiled, "This time, Qian Yuan Taoist's head is actually prepared for you. Once the [Refining Furnace] processes it, you can move more freely within a ten-mile radius... When the turmoil is settled, your physical body can be fully formed, and by that time, you will truly have turned the treasure into a human form, able to stand under the clear sky and bright sun."

...

...

"Crackle!"

The flame burned, sparking faint embers.

The discussion at the Sword Qi Stele had been over for some time.

Xie Xuanyi had not left.

He sat in the snow, protecting Jiang Miaoyin, ensuring that the Snow Demon's Divine Thought did not attack.

Jiang Miaoyin sat before the stele, her Heart Lake in turmoil.

Her Divine Thought swept into the stele but had been unable to enter the Dao.

Normally, her Divine Thought would effortlessly meld into the "Path of Great Peace," but now it couldn't calm down no matter what.

If it weren't for the slight tremor from the [Chronic Illness], telling her the person beside her was indeed Xie Xuanyi, she would even suspect that today's encounter was just an illusion.

The two sat quietly for an hour.

Xie Xuanyi could feel that Jiang Miaoyin was unable to enter the state.

Their Lifebound Flying Swords were a pair grown from the same root, their sword thoughts interconnected, and their Sword Hearts in resonance...

Even without the connection of their chronic illnesses.

Xie Xuanyi and Jiang Miaoyin had grown up together as childhood friends.

With just a glance.

Xie Xuanyi could sense something was wrong with Jiang Miaoyin.

"Tame your inner monkey, control your mind."

Xie Xuanyi watched for a moment and couldn't help but remind, "Enter the stele with your thought, enter the Dao with your spirit."

This voice contained Divine Soul Power, which should have been helpful.

But upon hearing this, Jiang Miaoyin completely gave up on comprehension.

She slowly released her hand from the stele, opened her eyes, and looked at the young man in black before her with a complex expression.

"What's the matter..."

Xie Xuanyi looked puzzled: "Is it because of the Snow Demon from before, why can you not enter meditation?"

"Senior Brother."

Jiang Miaoyin sighed and said, "Did you come to me just to say this?"

Xie Xuanyi was stunned.

"Please don't misunderstand... the arrangement regarding the 'Sword Palace Great Disaster' is very important."

Jiang Miaoyin took a deep breath and said, "What I mean is, besides this, do you have nothing else to say?"

..."

Xie Xuanyi fell silent.

He looked at the beautiful woman before him, not knowing what to say for a moment.

"I cannot enter meditation, not because of the 'Snow Demon,' but because of you, Senior Brother."

Jiang Miaoyin lowered her eyes. She removed her veil and placed it on her lap. Her black hair and white clothes fluttered in the wind, snowflakes falling on her skin, making her skin seem even more dazzling than the snow.

She looked at the young man before her.

If it were possible.

She would rather the person before her be an illusion created by the Snow Demon than the real "Xie Xuanyi."

She hoped the [Chronic Illness] had not trembled.

She hoped today's encounter was just a dream.

"Because... of me?"

As she spoke, Xie Xuanyi had already guessed what Jiang Miaoyin wanted to say.

"I like you, Senior Brother!"

Jiang Miaoyin looked directly into the young man's eyes before her.

Senior Brother had lived his second life, appearing younger, but his appearance hadn't changed; it still matched the heroic image in her memory.

Snow and wind danced.

Each falling ice crystal reflected Jiang Miaoyin's face at that moment.

As time changed.

Xie Xuanyi hadn't changed.

But she had.

She was no longer the naive girl from the Jiang Family in Qing State who followed her Senior Brother's steps, nor was she just a little junior sister who held a sword for him.

Now she was the Mountain Master of Yuping Peak.

She was no longer young.

Some words, bottled up for years in youth, had never been said. Now she finally had the chance.

Back then, how many people said they were a golden couple, a match made in heaven?

In the eyes of others, there was no need to say these words.

Jiang Miaoyin thought the same.

But later, she regretted it.

If back then, she hadn't hesitated, had taken that step forward, even if the result wasn't what she wished, it would have been better than letting everything be washed away by the waves of the North Sea...

The wind and snow howled.

The entire deep mountain echoed with Jiang Miaoyin's voice.

After saying these words.

Jiang Miaoyin felt a great weight lifted off her shoulders, the years of pent-up frustration in her chest seemed to dissipate a lot.

Not waiting for Xie Xuanyi to say anything, Jiang Miaoyin spoke again.

"Miao Yin knew long ago that Senior Brother does not like Miao Yin."

The woman in white looked up at the falling snow in the sky.

Xie Xuanyi not liking Jiang Miaoyin, if these words were spread outside, they would certainly cause a stir.

Who would believe it?

But that's the truth.

Only those who truly knew Xie Xuanyi would understand.

In his heart, there was only Sword Dao, no room for women.

Jiang Miaoyin smiled gently, speaking softly, "Miao Yin knows that in Senior Brother's heart, there is only the Sword Dao, not the feelings between men and women... So today, saying these words isn't for a response from you, it's just that these words have been bottled up for a long time, I'm afraid if I don't say them this time, the next time we meet, I won't have the courage anymore."

"Senior Brother Xuanyi..."

She spoke again, sincerely, "Miao Yin really likes you. Likes you very, very much."

...

...

(Can't go on, still owe 2K, will make up by noon tomorrow.)

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