Chapter 106: The Stranger Woman—What Are Her Intentions?

Yu Shangji summoned his dagger and quietly approached the inner room. Strangely, the Bone-Eroding Mirror did not attack him this time. Yu Shangji cautiously glanced at the woman who had her back turned to him, then slowly moved beside Meng Youyuan and grabbed her. However, sharp rays like needles emanating from her wounded his hand, forcing him to retract it abruptly. He looked at her helplessly, only to find that her eyes had long lost their color.

It seemed that Meng Youyuan was truly under the control of this mysterious woman. Apart from subduing her, there was no other way. Yet Yu Shangji could detect no trace of true energy on this stranger. Could it be that she had no cultivation at all, or was she deliberately concealing it? In truth, Yu Shangji had not sensed any life force from her; she sat motionless like a statue, devoid of vitality.

If that were the case, he might as well destroy the Bone-Eroding Mirror first. That way, no matter what tricks the woman might play, he would have no cause for concern. However, as Yu Shangji raised his dagger to strike at the mirror, the woman suddenly stood up, still with her back to everyone, and struck Yu Shangji with a fierce palm, sending him flying outside the room. He had never expected such a seemingly fragile woman to deliver such a heavy blow out of nowhere.

It was clear that Yu Shangji’s decision had been somewhat rash and underestimated his opponent. He had intended to bypass the seemingly lifeless woman and launch a full assault on the Bone-Eroding Mirror to destroy it. Yet unexpectedly, she came to life, ignored the residual force from the dagger’s strike, and instead shielded the mirror. Even more astonishing was that, though appearing delicate, her cultivation was unfathomably profound.

Engaging her head-on would surely lead to his defeat. Not even the lingering energy of a legendary artifact like the dagger could harm her in the slightest—such was the terrifying level of her strength. Yet, the powerful palm had not injured Yu Shangji; it merely expelled him from the inner room before she ceased her attack. It seemed she had no intention of harming anyone; otherwise, none would have survived her.

“Although both the Bone-Eroding Mirror and the dagger are rare and peerless treasures, neither exists in its complete form now. Forcing them to collide will only end in mutual destruction. Surely, you wouldn’t want such precious artifacts to be lost by your own hand,” a voice filled with slight melancholy echoed softly, like a clear stream flowing gently into everyone’s hearts, enchanting all who heard it. Could this be the legendary celestial sound?

Following the voice, they finally saw the source: the mysterious woman. Only then did they truly behold her face. Her complexion was delicate and lustrous like a lotus flower, framed by a pair of dazzling eyes that sparkled like stars. Her nose, as if carved from white jade, stood prominently at the center, captivating the soul. Her lips, soft and petal-like, parted gently, exuding an enchanting charm.

Even her willow-leaf eyebrows appeared inked on with exquisite brushstrokes. Her beauty was unreal, yet vividly present before their eyes, as if she were a living goddess rather than a mere painting. Suddenly, everyone seemed overshadowed by her radiance, as if they were the tender green leaves meant only to highlight this exquisite blossom.

“Miss, I must admit I was too reckless. But there is one thing I still do not understand and hope you can explain. Why did you go to such lengths to lure us here?” Yu Shangji, briefly captivated by her beauty, quickly regained composure. In his view, everyone loves beauty, but one must not fall into its trap lightly, lest it invite disaster.

“Sir, you are noble and graceful, yet your words are so thoughtless. It is not that I schemed to lure you here. From beginning to end, I only wished to invite this young lady to speak with me to ease my troubles. It seems you all insisted on coming uninvited and even broke into my chamber,” the woman replied. Her voice was sweet, and her wit sharp, almost leaving everyone speechless.

“Your use of ‘invite’ is quite precise. So nowadays, ‘inviting’ means deceiving others, disregarding their will, and forcing them to unwanted places!” Hmph. The woman was eloquent indeed, but Yan Xue Su was no fool either. If she wished to challenge them, they would not back down easily. One must remember, she never spared mercy just because someone was beautiful.

“Seems I was too careless with this girl. I will restore her now.” With that, the woman raised her hand and waved gently. The light covering Meng Youyuan vanished in an instant. Looking again, Meng Youyuan’s eyes brightened, and she appeared more alive than before. This woman’s cultivation was indeed profound—she had revived Meng Youyuan as if reborn from the ashes.

“Where am I? Why is my mind blank?” Meng Youyuan murmured, confused as she surveyed her surroundings. When her gaze fell upon the woman, she seemed startled but quickly looked away. Yet upon seeing her beloved, her face immediately relaxed with a smile, and she rushed toward Lan Bingxian.

However, just as Meng Youyuan was about to part the beaded curtain and fall into her brother’s embrace, an overwhelming force pushed her back. Undeterred, she charged again, but no matter how many times she tried, she could not escape. It was as if trapped in a cage—able to see the outside world clearly but unable to touch it. The helplessness was suffocating.

“What do you want from this woman? You went through so much trouble to imprison her here and now forbid her to reunite with us. What kind of heart do you have?” If not for their master holding Lan Bingxian back, he would have rushed in long ago. Despite her alluring beauty, her heart was venomous. To him, this woman was worth less than a single hair of Meng Youyuan; he was lucky not to have drawn his sword on her already.

“I only wished to talk with her, just that simple. Besides, I have already allowed you all to stay here as an exception. What more do you want? Don’t push your luck,” the woman said with a light laugh, though a flicker of coldness flashed in her eyes. She hated being disturbed above all else. Having tolerated so many eyesores today, she would not let anyone ruin her plans now—should they provoke her, she would not be polite.

“Who are you? I don’t know you, and we have nothing to discuss! Release me at once, or don’t blame me for being ruthless!” Though normally gentle as water, Meng Youyuan’s temper could erupt like a volcano when provoked. Seeing this woman’s hostility toward Lan Bingxian only fueled her resolve to teach her a lesson.

“You’re a lovely woman, yet your nature is so unlikable. Regardless, I don’t mind. I will answer all your questions obediently. You want to know who I am? Very well, I am but a divine consciousness. Though shaped by the passage of time and touched by human traits, I remain merely an illusory existence,” the woman said, a trace of melancholy flickering in her eyes before vanishing as if afraid to be seen.

“You say you’re only a divine consciousness? That’s impossible. Though I was controlled earlier, my eyes saw clearly. You struck Yu brother and sent him flying—how could a mere consciousness do that?” Meng Youyuan voiced her disbelief. Others shared her skepticism, deeming such claims fanciful.

“Humans have physical forms; consciousnesses do not. If you don’t believe me, feel free to touch,” the woman replied with a gentle, caring demeanor, as if tending to a beloved relative. There was no arrogance, no chill—only warmth and a captivating smile. To an outsider, it would seem these two women shared a close bond.

Meng Youyuan frowned, conflicted. She wanted to move forward to verify but feared a trap. As she hesitated, the woman teased, “Afraid now? Didn’t someone threaten to be ruthless to me just moments ago? Why stop now? Besides, if I truly wanted to harm you, I wouldn’t need to lure you here—I could have grabbed you outright.”

“Touch, then! Who’s afraid? The one who loses out isn’t me anyway!” Meng Youyuan said defiantly and stepped forward, raising her hand to touch the woman’s chest. The scene left everyone embarrassed—this young lady’s boldness knew no bounds! Such a daring move toward the woman’s bosom—what if she actually touched her? What then?

Yet something astonishing happened. When Meng Youyuan’s hand reached the woman’s body, it passed through effortlessly, grasping only emptiness. It was as if she had tried to touch air, not flesh. Indeed, this woman was an illusion—a divine consciousness without physical form. Visible to the eye but untouchable.

Yu Shangji remained amazed. He had felt this woman’s formidable strength firsthand. To think such profound cultivation could emanate from a mere divine consciousness—remarkable. Even if she was just a spirit, none present, including the old dean, could rival her. Together, they might still lose. It was a pity for such talent to be confined to an intangible form.

“If you’re only a divine consciousness, why did you bring me here? What is your purpose? What do you want to do?” Meng Youyuan was thoroughly baffled by the woman’s presence. Why stir up so much trouble? And why involve her? She was certain there was no connection between them—she did not know this woman.

“Know that I have waited here for you a thousand years, not out of idleness, but on behalf of the master of this place, entrusted with a task. My current form is but a projection of her true self. If she hadn’t feared missing our meeting, she wouldn’t have left me here to wait,” the woman revealed, smiling with a warmth that puzzled onlookers, though it was not sinister.

“You’ve waited a thousand years for me? I’m curious—how did you know I’d come here after all that time and not turn away?” Meng Youyuan smiled inexplicably upon seeing the woman’s expression. Perhaps she was touched by the patience of this thousand-year wait, seeing the woman in a new light, less hostile than before.