As the healing energy surged into her body, Ye Chuxue felt her injuries rapidly mending—at a speed more than twice as fast as before.
Her heart surged with joy. She immediately turned to Xiao Jiao. "Xiao Jiao, can you go faster? I can't lose to him!"
Perhaps afraid that Xiao Jiao might hesitate, she quickly added, "Don't worry. Once I get out, I'll give you plenty of pills. You definitely won't lose out!"
Xiao Jiao smiled gently. "Chuxue, you don't have to promise me anything. I want to help you. You said it yourself—we're good friends."
With that, it increased the flow of healing power, flooding Ye Chuxue's body even faster.
As her recovery accelerated, Ye Chuxue's confidence began to return.
But Yu Cheng wasn't a pushover. Years of accumulation, combined with his natural talent for formations, made his progress faster and faster.
Even Feng Jiuxiao looked surprised. "This kid was no slouch. If it weren't for that little girl, I wouldn't have hesitated in the slightest to pass the legacy to him."
A flicker of deep light passed through her eyes. The little merfolk's suggestion wasn't wrong—there was no rule saying she couldn't choose two successors. There was no need to restrict herself to just one!
The thought pleased her. If she completed her task flawlessly this time, perhaps the day would come when the world could be restructured anew.
She looked again at Ye Chuxue in the water mirror. The appreciation in her gaze grew stronger.
And Song Wanníng wanted to gamble on human nature?
That little girl had risked everything yet still cared about Xiao Jiao's safety. She clearly wasn't like those selfish, cold-hearted cultivators.
To find such a selfless heir—it would only help in reshaping the world one day.
But... her relationship with Song Wanníng was undeniably complicated. Feng Jiuxiao was worried the girl might end up killed by Song Wanníng.
Yet, she didn't want to harm Song Wanníng either. Strangely enough, she even felt a vague fondness for her.
How annoying!
Feng Jiuxiao's brow furrowed tighter and tighter. Her heart hadn't been this tangled in centuries.
—
Inside the water mirror, Ye Chuxue's body was recovering well, but her divine soul remained sluggish to mend. Restlessness crept into her chest.
Yu Cheng had already completed the final phase of his engraving. All he needed now was to inject spiritual energy, and he would pass the trial.
If he succeeded first, the legacy would surely go to him.
No. She couldn't lose.
Ye Chuxue turned to Xiao Jiao again. "Xiao Jiao, can you go even faster? He's almost done!"
She was just a hair away from success—her body was the only thing holding her back, and that made her even more unwilling to give up.
Xiao Jiao could see the urgency in her eyes and nodded earnestly. Once more, it increased the output of healing energy.
But this time, its complexion noticeably paled.
Even so, Ye Chuxue still wasn't satisfied. Frowning, she said instinctively, "Faster!"
There was an edge to her tone now—a trace of command.
Xiao Jiao faltered for a moment, visibly uncomfortable. Still, it bit its lip and pushed itself harder, increasing the flow once again. Its face went paper-white. Even its figure wavered slightly, as if its body could no longer bear the strain.
This scene did not go unnoticed by Feng Jiuxiao and the watching merfolk.
Feng Jiuxiao frowned. Something about Ye Chuxue's actions made her feel uneasy. Still, she tried to justify it—perhaps the girl was just anxious, and didn't mean any harm.
But the merfolk had no such patience. It leapt up beside the mirror, stomping its feet and shouting in outrage.
"That human is awful! She's using Xiao Jiao! This is way too much!
Xiao Jiao's body is delicate. At this rate, it won't be able to handle it! That human keeps spouting sweet words, but in the end, she's just squeezing Xiao Jiao dry—how is she any different from those vile cultivators?!"
"Ptui!!"
The merfolk was truly furious. Xiao Jiao clearly saw that woman as a friend, yet that woman was exploiting it—ignoring its limits and well-being.
Someone like that was worthy of a legacy?
This senior must be blind!
Feng Jiuxiao caught the merfolk's accusing glance and pursed her lips. Even she was beginning to doubt now, though she tried to save face with a weak reply.
"Merfolk naturally have healing abilities. Letting the girl use it a little isn't a big deal... I'm sure she knows her limits."
But even she didn't sound confident in her own words. Had this been earlier, she wouldn't have hesitated. But Ye Chuxue's recent behavior had indeed shaken her.
"Hmph! Just because merfolk can heal doesn't mean we have to!"
The merfolk snorted coldly, head held high.
"My master never used me, and she still saved my life!"
She might seem cold and ruthless, but in truth, she was far kinder than those who always went on about morality. At the very least, she wouldn't preach compassion while secretly exploiting others. If she wanted to kill someone, she'd draw her sword and do it outright.
"Hmph, who knows—maybe she'll change with time."
Feng Jiuxiao snorted quietly, annoyed that the little merfolk was now siding with Song Wanníng after such a short time.
All of this, Song Wanníng heard loud and clear.
Her eyes glinted, deep with meaning as she stared intently at Ye Chuxue.
In her past life, the one phrase she'd heard most often was how kind Ye Chuxue was, while she herself was always painted as cruel and ruthless.
They had constantly compared her to Ye Chuxue.
But Song Wanníng had never believed it.
Human nature was complicated. Could Ye Chuxue truly remain selfless forever?
No. The reason she had always appeared kind was simply because her path had always been smooth.
When desire entered the picture, human nature would make the choice for her.
Now, she wanted to see if Ye Chuxue could really stay the saint they all believed she was.
—
Yu Cheng set down his engraving tool and smiled with satisfaction. He stood up, and a flash of light lit up the formation—he had completed an eighth-grade grand array.
Even he hadn't expected to complete such a complex formation one day. His respect for the legacy's creator deepened further.
Without the guidance embedded in the trial, he could never have succeeded this quickly.
Just as he was basking in joy, a glowing doorway appeared before him.
The entrance to the final level.
He stepped forward without hesitation.
The moment he crossed the threshold, the water mirror went dark. His image vanished entirely.
Ye Chuxue's heart trembled.
He entered the final level that fast?
What was in that final level?
Was it the end? Would he receive the legacy immediately—or would a new challenge await?
The more she couldn't see, the more anxious she became.
Her chest tightened, as if a claw were raking across her heart.
"Xiao Jiao, faster! Hurry!"
Maybe the final level had additional trials. Maybe there was still time.
All she could do now was recover—fast—and fight for one last chance.