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"Yino, you're giving off a delicious scent."

Early in the morning, even while washing her face and brushing her teeth, Jinyue couldn't help but snuggle against Yino.

She was becoming more and more like a clingy little fox, while Yino, looking at himself in the mirror as he brushed his teeth, seemed to feel that his face was becoming more refined.

This feeling was a bit strange, like that of a delicate scholar or pretty boy.

"Can you smell what race I am?"

Yino suddenly spoke up.

As his words fell, Jinyue immediately snapped out of her affectionate nuzzling.

"Bird."

"Hey, that's not helpful."

Yino waved his hand dismissively, rinsed his mouth, wiped his face, and got dressed.

He had practiced cultivation through the night and barely slept. Today, early in the morning, Yino wanted to take advantage of the last day to claim the secret treasures that should be his.

In the third volume of the game, Chen Jianxin had come to Western Province City as a disciple of the Wuji Sect, and was subsequently entertained by Holy Maiden along with Yuyan and other senior disciples.

That Holy Maiden was considered the leader of the three major righteous sects in Western Province City.

Holy Maiden Yunmei was beautiful and kind-hearted. After publicly praising the two chosen ones from the prophecy who would save Western Province City, she led many righteous cultivators to the treasure pavilion in the rear courtyard of the holy sect.

Afterward, the plot followed a rather traditional script—

Yunmei said there was a sacred sword inserted into a pedestal in the back courtyard, and only the true chosen one bearing the mission of the great Dao could pull it out.

As a result, many righteous cultivators took turns trying, exerting tremendous effort, but none could pull out the sacred sword.

At the last moment, Chen Jianxin, who possessed the innate Sword Holy Physique, made his appearance as the finale.

When he tentatively exerted force to pull, he actually drew out the sacred sword. Not only that, the legendary sacred sword even transformed according to Chen Jianxin's preferences into a shape that suited him.

However now, Chen Jianxin was dead.

As the successor to the innate Sword Holy Physique, Yino naturally should go and claim this legendary sacred sword.

"So, you're going to meet that Yunmei next?"

Before leaving, Jinyue suddenly spoke up.

Yino turned around, raising his eyebrows slightly: "What's wrong? Aren't you coming with me?"

"I... I'd better not..."

At some point, the foxgirl who had been so clingy suddenly let go of Yino's arm and actively stepped back into the room.

But Yino was once again confused.

In the game, Jinyue had followed Chen Jianxin all the way to meet Holy Maiden.

And at that time, Yunmei had stared at Jinyue silently for a while, specifically using meaningful words to remind Chen Jianxin to be careful of those around him.

"If I go, Yunmei might become suspicious."

"Do you have a grudge with Holy Maiden?"

Yino suddenly asked.

In the game, he had noticed the special relationship between Jinyue and Yunmei, but for some reason, after being reborn, Jinyue seemed to have become much softer-hearted.

"Years ago, I turned her homeland into a demonic disaster, so she has always resented me. Why would I go looking for trouble now..."

Speaking of the past, Jinyue turned her face away, but she was candid without seeming particularly concerned.

Hearing this, Yino couldn't help but suck in a cold breath: "Sheesh, I'm finding you've done quite a lot of outrageous things."

If what Jinyue said was true, then with a grudge over the annihilation of her people, the fact that Yunmei didn't publicly execute Jinyue in the game truly showed her kindness.

Of course... It was also possible that Jinyue had secretly used Chen Jianxin as a hostage.

"I didn't want to either! I thought she was the chosen one, but I didn't expect she was just another poor soul being used!"

Jinyue puffed up her cheeks, her eyebrows slightly drooping.

In fact, ever since confessing to Yino, Jinyue could feel that her mindset had changed significantly.

In the past, she would never have felt any remorse, or at least would never have admitted it.

But now... Jinyue had found her destined person. Her relationship with Yino was harmonious, and her days were happy. Yet Yunmei had spent these seven years in the holy sect, cultivation day after day without change.

Whenever she thought of this, Jinyue gradually became less rebellious.

"But I still suggest you come with me, even if you hide in the shadows without meeting Holy Maiden."

Amidst the somber atmosphere, Yino suddenly spoke up again.

Upon hearing this, Jinyue immediately raised her eyebrows slightly: "Why?"

"In case this second-hand innate Sword Holy Physique doesn't work and the Holy Maiden sees through my identity as the chosen one, I'll need you to use your illusion techniques to cover for me as we steal the treasure and escape!"

Yino suddenly said with a serious face.

But Jinyue couldn't help but suck in a cold breath. Her peach blossom eyes, which had shown some remorse earlier, immediately widened at Yino's words.

"You're outrageous, wanting to steal the secret treasure that Yunmei has guarded for years."

"How... how dare you criticize me for being outrageous just now?"

"Ah, you don't understand, this is a benevolent lie!"

Yino waved his hand, but his awkward smile couldn't hide the guilt in his heart: "Look, Chen Jianxin unfortunately met with disaster. Without him as the chosen one, who will save Western Province City when the Demon Abyss arrives? Someone has to step up to save the world's people, right?"

"So, that secret treasure is just gathering dust in the holy hall's rear courtyard. Wouldn't it be better for it to join me on the battlefield against the evil cultists? Maybe it will even grow to like me?"

"You... how do you make stealing a treasure sound so reasonable... and wasn't Chen Jianxin killed by you!"

"Don't be absurd. Gu Wanglan killed Chen Jianxin. I'm inheriting my brother Chen's mantle to help him avenge his death."

... ... ...

South of the city, at the Holy Sect Hall.

With one day left before the Demon Abyss's arrival, many cultivators who had responded to the Immortal Alliance's call and gathered from all over had already rushed to the front lines.

In the great hall of the Holy Sect, only one white-robed maiden remained in the city, receiving the blessing of Holy Maiden, Yunmei.

The stunningly beautiful immortal maiden in Daoist robes knelt before a veiled woman dressed in Western Region cultivation attire.

This scene truly displayed a blend of Eastern and Western elements.

But in Western Province City, a place of cultural fusion, such scenes were commonplace. Regardless of faith or origin, anyone with a pure heart could receive Holy Maiden's blessings and grace.

"Lady Yuyan, your heart still harbors distracting thoughts."

At the front of the holy altar, the black-robed Holy Maiden sprinkled dew from a lotus leaf in her hand and spoke softly.

A few drops of immortal dew fell upon the white-robed woman's head, and at the same time, the Holy Maiden's gentle guidance stirred some emotion on Yuyan's beautiful face as she closed her eyes lightly.

Yunmei sighed and said gently:

"According to your Central Plains teachings, although your physical body has entered the Divine Transformation stage, your heart is not yet pure. That's why these days, your cultivation has remained stagnant at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage."

"My heart is not pure..."

Yuyan opened her beautiful eyes slightly, lost in thought, yet still sinking into silent stillness.

She could only think of two points.

The grudge over the annihilation of her clan, and her somewhat twisted intimate relationship with Yino.

Actually, a few days ago, Yuyan and other righteous cultivators were already prepared to face the waves of the Demon Abyss.

But just as she was about to set out, Yunmei specifically stopped her, saying that with the great battle imminent, she wanted to continue helping Yuyan purify her distracting thoughts, to see if she could truly break through the final mental barrier of the Divine Transformation stage.

However... The results were not encouraging, and now what Yunmei could do was very limited.

"Actually, these days I've also been uneasy, with concerns of my own..."

Since the treatment seemed hopeless, Yunmei no longer wasted effort on futile attempts. Instead, she crouched down, sitting opposite the white-robed maiden and speaking softly heart-to-heart.

Yuyan raised her eyebrows slightly, her gaze involuntarily turning toward the rear courtyard behind Yunmei.

"Holy Maiden, are you still concerned about the masterless sacred sword in the rear courtyard?"

"Yes... the second chosen one from the prophecy has not yet arrived... this sword remains without a master, which is my failure after all these years..."

"The second chosen one..."

Yuyan murmured, recalling the sword-pulling attempt she had made with other cultivators the day before yesterday. In her mind, she couldn't help but think of a certain extraordinarily talented and particularly hardworking young man.

Two days ago, Yunmei had said that apart from Yuyan, there should have been another chosen one who would come to take the sacred sword.

But later, all the cultivators tried, and no one could pull the sword from its pedestal.

At that time, Yuyan was curious, so she personally went up to try.

The result was that the legendary sacred sword remained unmoved.

Now, Yuyan was truly curious about what kind of chosen one this sacred sword was waiting for.

"—Holy Maiden! Holy Maiden, something terrible has happened!"

Outside the holy hall, a young nun came running in panic.

Yuyan and Yunmei both turned to look, thinking of the crisis of the Demon Abyss waves outside Western Province City.

But before they could speak, the young nun took another breath and earnestly said: "Holy Maiden, there is a young man outside claiming to be the chosen one. He says he was guided by the prophecy to come to our temple to pay respects to you!"

"—!"