At the library, by the small lake.
Princess Ning sat on a rock, quietly reading her book. Occasionally, a hint of appreciation appeared between her brows—the image of an elegant, scholarly beauty.
Suddenly, a black shadow flashed before her. A figure knelt on one knee and said: "My Lord, Chen Xuan and the other two have gone to Weiming Lake. Two of them jumped into the lake."
"Oh."
Princess Ning continued reading, as if she had heard something trivial.
"I didn't expect these three to have some skills. Unfortunately, what's in that lake isn't something ordinary people can handle. Even a King-sealed powerful cultivator couldn't do anything to her, let alone them."
"Should we continue monitoring the three?"
The black shadow asked.
"No need. I'll go personally."
Princess Ning put away her book, stood up from the stone bench, and walked gracefully toward Weiming Lake.
Meanwhile.
In Weiming Lake, Chen Xuan and Zhao Youqian walked leisurely through the water as if strolling in a garden.
The deeper they went, the lower the lake's temperature became.
Although they carried water-avoiding pearls, these could only keep the water away, not block the waves of yin energy coming from the lake.
The light in the lake grew dimmer. Even though it was daytime, the depths of the lake were as dark as night.
The fish that could be seen earlier in the lake were now completely gone.
Occasionally, only a few floating water plants could be seen.
"Brother Zhao, have you found anything?"
Chen Xuan asked calmly.
"No, apart from the yin energy getting thicker, there's nothing unusual in this lake."
Zhao Youqian frowned slightly. Clearly, this wasn't what he had expected.
As they went deeper, Chen Xuan felt an invisible pressure on his body, but he couldn't find the source of this pressure.
"Giggle..."
At this moment, a pleasant laugh suddenly came from the lake, giving an eerie feeling.
Chen Xuan and Zhao Youqian involuntarily exchanged glances. Excitement flashed in their eyes—she was finally about to appear.
However, both had the tacit understanding not to speak, and continued slowly walking toward the lake bottom.
"Giggle... You can't find me..."
A voice that was both innocent and seductive rang in Chen Xuan's ear again. Just hearing it gave one an urge to get intimate.
Ordinary people, after seeing you once, have already thought of names for your future children.
This Yaksha, just from her voice, made Chen Xuan want to spend his life with her.
"Pah! Scumbag!"
That thought only flashed briefly before Chen Xuan and Zhao Youqian heard a coquettish curse.
Zhao Youqian chuckled: "Brother Chen, so we're kindred spirits."
Chen Xuan smiled: "Are you trying to tell me you're even more excited?"
"Brother Chen truly understands me best. Unfortunately, I don't know where that Yaksha is hiding. By reason, we should have arrived by now."
Zhao Youqian didn't hide anything. After all, the other party could read his thoughts, so he might as well say it to avoid awkwardness.
"A mere mortal and a Foundation Establishment cultivator wanting to see me—truly a fool's dream."
A eerie voice came from all directions, making it impossible to determine where it came from.
"Little miss, I'm a scholar at heart. I don't want to get physical with girls. Why are you forcing me?"
Chen Xuan gently stroked his sword hilt, closing his eyes slightly to listen for where the voice was coming from.
"You scumbag, you want me to show myself? Dream on! Don't think just because you're handsome, I'll fall for it. I'm different from those women in your memory."
The Yaksha's voice in the darkness cursed with agitation.
"Those women—meaning there are many?"
Zhao Youqian said to the darkness, then looked at Chen Xuan.
"Is it not normal for someone as handsome as me to have had many women?"
Chen Xuan murmured: "Little miss, my patience is limited. I'll give you three breaths. If you don't come out, don't blame me for destroying the flower!"
"I'd like to see how you plan to destroy the flower!"
The voice in the darkness carried a hint of disdain: "Want me to count down for you—three, two, one?"
"Do you dare?"
Chen Xuan's hand gripped the sword hilt, ready to draw at any moment.
The Yaksha giggled: "Three, two, one, action!"
Before the words fell, a sharp sound rang out in the dark lake water!
Chen Xuan drew his sword and slashed upward toward the sky.
Splash!
The originally calm lake water shot toward the sky like a volcanic eruption!
In the blink of an eye, not a drop remained in the entire lake.
However, in the empty lake bed, no Yaksha figure was found. Only a special seal mark was visible in the center of the lake bottom.
Chen Xuan's gaze focused: "Found you!"
After shouting, his sword pointed toward the seal mark.
As a sword light flashed, the water that had shot into the sky fell back into the lake.
Splash!
The young ladies watching from the shore were all drenched.
The seal mark cracked open.
A Yaksha with a graceful figure—neither fully ghost nor demon, with stunning beauty—squatted there trembling.
Her gauzy cyan dress was translucent, and her every unintentional movement gave off an alluring charm.
When the Yaksha saw Chen Xuan slowly approaching, she called out softly:
"You... don't come over!"
"Heh."
Chen Xuan chuckled: "Where's the courage you had when you counted down earlier?"
"I... I was just trying to accommodate you."
The Yaksha didn't dare raise her head. She wasn't weak—otherwise, she wouldn't have survived being sealed for a thousand years without her soul dissipating. A Yaksha woman's intuition told her that the sword strike just now would have taken her life.
She had thought about escaping, but she was sealed within this academy. Where could she escape to?
"Are you saying it's my fault?"
Chen Xuan said as he raised his sword.
"No, how would I dare blame you? This servant is just a pitiful, weak, and helpless Yaksha."
The Yaksha said pitifully.
Zhao Youqian said calmly: "Brother Chen, don't be fooled by this Yaksha's appearance. Think about the cultivation you lost—she's the culprit."
Hearing this, the Yaksha was stunned. Are these two even men? Facing such a delicate girl, they're still talking about cultivation!
What has this world come to? Girls aren't even as important as cultivation? When will girls stand up!
"You... you can't kill me. If I die, that secret will remain unknown forever."
The Yaksha wanted to resist, but seeing the gleaming sword in Chen Xuan's hand, she decided not to stand up.
"Secret?"
Chen Xuan showed a thoughtful expression. Secrets meant trouble, but after experiencing so many things, he discovered that those troubles could also be solved with a sword.
"Is it about a treasure?"
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