Translator: CinderTL
When Mo Xianxian was brought before the middle-aged man again, she found herself completely immobilized.
Her cultivation level was only at the Dao Seeking Realm, while the four ghosts surrounding her were all at least at the Soul Refining Realm. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't escape her fate of capture.
The middle-aged man wore a smile, his eyes gleaming with intense admiration—the kind one might reserve for a flawless porcelain artifact, not a person.
In his eyes, Mo Xianxian was merely an object, perhaps a particularly rare one, capable of bringing him physical and emotional pleasure.
Despair washed over Mo Xianxian. The sheer disparity in their power left her utterly helpless.
The middle-aged man raised his wrist and gently tucked a strand of hair behind Mo Xianxian's ear, his tenderness reminiscent of a loving father grooming his daughter.
Mo Xianxian remained completely still, her mouth sealed shut, unable to utter even a whisper. Only her eyes could move, but the calm that had once filled them had vanished, replaced by panic and a flicker of fear.
She didn't know what awaited her next, but she knew it couldn't be anything good.
Snap!
With a soft snap, the cord securing the veil behind her ear broke, and the middle-aged man's smile deepened.
As the veil slowly fell away, the first feature revealed was the high, sculpted bridge of her nose. Its smooth, porcelain-like surface gleamed, even the nostrils appearing perfectly rounded.
Next came her small, crimson lips, their slightly pouting shape resembling ripe cherries, tempting one to pluck and taste them.
Her rounded jawline flowed seamlessly into her slender neck, completing a face that seemed utterly flawless, without a single imperfection.
"Beautiful... so beautiful..."
The middle-aged man gazed at her in rapturous awe, his eyes glazed as he murmured in a daze, clapping his hands in unrestrained admiration.
"How could such a beauty exist in this world? She's simply beyond compare."
He seized Mo Xianxian's arm, pulling her into his embrace, and turned to stride into the courtyard without looking back. "Inform them," he commanded without turning his head, "that I have urgent matters today. The assembly is postponed."
"Yes, sir."
Terror flooded Mo Xianxian's eyes, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it would leap out of her throat.
Where... where is he taking me?
What was he going to do?!
The pair passed through courtyards and crossed long corridors. The further they went, the more Mo Xianxian panicked. Because her head was immobilized, her gaze remained fixed on the man.
The mansion was teeming with ghosts. Maids who happened to pass by the middle-aged man would obediently lower their heads and stand to the side. At most, they would steal a curious glance at Mo Xianxian before bowing deeply, a sense of shame rising in their hearts.
Too beautiful...
It was a breathtaking beauty, the kind that left one speechless.
Too bad... it's useless.
Beauty was never a reward from the heavens, but a punishment—especially when she lacked the power to wield it.
Up ahead, a graceful woman adorned with floral ornaments approached, greeting the middle-aged man with a slight bow. "Master, weren't you supposed to be away on official business? Why have you returned so soon?"
Though the woman addressed the middle-aged man, her gaze never left Mo Xianxian. The girl's striking beauty was simply too captivating, triggering a deep sense of crisis within her.
She felt her position was about to be threatened.
The middle-aged man ignored her, issuing a curt command: "No one is to disturb me!"
Bang!
Before the woman could respond, he slammed the door shut.
The closing door severed Mo Xianxian's last thread of hope. Two clear tears streamed from her scattered pupils.
She regretted it...
She shouldn't have overestimated herself and chosen to stay. If she had left with Fang Qingge and the others, none of this would have happened.
The man threw her onto the bed.
Mo Xianxian stared at her torn and disheveled clothes, at her exposed skin, and at the looming figure above her. Slowly, she closed her eyes.
She was the Holy Daughter of Shangyin Mountain, a leader among the younger generation, and her master was a powerhouse in the void harmony realm.
With such a formidable background, she had never imagined she would face such a fate.
But now, it was too late for regrets...
Huff... huff...
The middle-aged man's impatient, heavy breathing filled the room, but to Mo Xianxian, it sounded like the mocking laughter of a demon.
Simultaneously, a voice seemed to rise from the depths of her soul, questioning her:
Do you truly regret it?
No.
You only regret losing your gamble.
She gained nothing but sacrificed her own body.
Mo Xianxian's heart was a desolate wasteland.
Yes, she had lost, but not completely, for she was still alive.
The voice in her mind persisted, drawing her attention away from the man on top of her.
You always act alone. Do you truly dislike interacting with others?
No.
You simply disdain associating with them. That deep-seated hypocrisy and sense of superiority make you look down on everyone else.
You despise anyone weaker than you!
If you were truly proud, why would you agree to join forces with Fang Qingge and the others to confront Xu Sanyan?
Why would you form an alliance with Luo Changtian for mutual support?
Because you know your pride is a facade. Hypocrisy and arrogance are your true nature.
Huan Xi'er, with his childlike innocence, can see through the good and evil in people's hearts. Why does he loathe you so much?
Because he sees through you!
Mo Xianxian opened her eyes, recognizing the voice as the deepest truth within her heart—a truth she had never dared to confront directly.
Only now, having lost what she valued most and least, did she finally face her inner self in the deathly silence of her heart.
She understood why Fang Qingge, Jingyi, Xu Sanyan, and even Qi Liang had all grasped their own realms of intent, while she remained unable to do so.
The reason lay here: she had been too afraid to acknowledge her other side—the side of hypocrisy and arrogance.
This was her Heart Tribulation.
Mo Xianxian's tears stopped flowing, her gaze regaining its composure. She shifted her eyes slightly to look at the man above her.
The middle-aged man noticed her gaze and smiled, applying a bit more pressure. "Hmm... figured it out?"
Mo Xianxian couldn't move, only blink lightly.
The middle-aged man understood her meaning. Without any visible action, a wisp of black energy dissipated from Mo Xianxian's body, freeing her to move again.
Yet she didn't struggle. Instead, she leaned into the man's embrace, knowing that any resistance against such overwhelming power would be futile.
"Hahaha... That's more like it!" the middle-aged man roared with laughter. "Since heaven has blessed you with such beauty, why not use it to your advantage?"
"You're right," Mo Xianxian agreed wholeheartedly. The veil she had worn before was merely a facade, a reflection of her own hypocrisy.
"Don't worry," the man continued, his large hand groping her body with reckless abandon, savoring the exquisite feel of her flesh. "Now that you've submitted to me, I'll make sure you're well rewarded. You all came here for soul crystals, didn't you? I have plenty. Take as many as you want."
"Thank you, Master..." Mo Xianxian murmured, her voice laced with false gratitude.
Since things had come to this, she resolved to make the most of her body's value. She began to take the initiative, her movements becoming more assertive.
(End of the Chapter)
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