This is a strangely shaped stone of a dark blue–green hue, somewhat resembling a rice ladle. It looks as if it were randomly produced by nature, and the small amount of spiritual energy it possesses barely qualifies it as a spiritual object.
However, the fact that it was brought back by a Foundation Establishment–stage spirit bird—and not only that, but it was fetched from Spirit Beast City—clearly shows it is no ordinary item.
Moreover, the reaction of Fang Jinyu's destiny calculation technique was far stronger than expected.
After much hesitation, Fang Jinyu ultimately chose not to employ his destiny calculation technique to "analyze" this object. It was not that he was afraid his luck was insufficient (indeed, the technique did react, which clearly indicated that his current luck was enough to cover the cost), but since luck is such an extremely precious commodity, he did not wish to expend the majority of it on this.
Besides, since this object is meant to be Su Yier's future opportunity, if he carefully recalls its details a few more times, he will eventually find some clues to unravel it. And even if he cannot recall anything at all, he could simply wait until he refines the Qingluan Scissors!
Earlier, Fang Jinyu had been utterly confused, but after receiving that little girl's "hint," he understood its origin. The mysterious book mentioned that after the Yuan Ying–stage Patriarch of Tianling Sect had opened the Spirit Capital secret realm with the tremendous power of his seven-layer Yuan Ying, he observed three magical treasures in the process of being nurtured. Finding their quality rather mediocre, he left them behind in the Spirit Capital secret realm as opportunities for his junior disciples.
Yet, unbeknownst to him, one of them secretly contained a mysterious "soul-splitting"!
The book never revealed the full origins of that "soul-splitting," though it did mention that not long after Su Yier entered the realm she encountered "soul-splitting" and, under its guidance, after obtaining the first magical treasure, she then discovered the second treasure—the Qingluan Scissors. This marks the first appearance of "soul-splitting" in that book.
"Could it be that thing?" Fang Jinyu's eyes flickered. After thinking it over repeatedly, he could only conclude that it must indeed be that mysterious "soul-splitting."
"Such a technique that exerts influence covertly—even if its methods are extraordinary—has a distance limitation. In that case, I only need to wait another two months."
Fang Jinyu recalled what the book had said, and his heart settled. In two months, the incident involving Su Yier and that "Qin senior brother" would be discovered by her master. Then, when her master becomes furious and disgraced, he would expel Su Yier from the sect. Of course, she wouldn't truly be cast out; it would simply be an outburst of anger, and later her master would actively go and retrieve her.
After that, the well-worn—but always popular—phase of "a brief moment of wife-abuse followed by a fiery, desperate pursuit to win her back" would commence. Amid mutual love and strife, after three years they would ultimately return to Tianling Sect hand in hand.
During these three years, Su Yier would encounter several "high-quality male cultivators" in the cultivation world: there would be the refined and gentle aristocratic type, the charming rogue type with a duplicitous nature, and the cold, steady, loyal type, among others. Yet despite the abundance of choices, in Su Yier's heart the foremost remains that gloomy, obsessive, slightly unhinged, lovesick sword cultivator. After all, this man is not only handsome and affluent with high cultivation but also hails from a top-tier cultivation family. Even the "Qin senior brother," who took Su Yier's first physical experience, pales in comparison to this lovesick sword cultivator. Su Yier even declared plainly, "Although he took my first time physically, the first in my heart has always belonged to you..."
Fang Jinyu quickly cut off his own recollection—he was afraid he might become dazed. Immediately, he cheerfully returned to Lingyao Peak; but his good mood was soon short-lived. Du Man'er informed him that a certain piece of gossip about him was spreading wildly. "Someone says that I snatched someone else's opportunity to enter the Spirit Capital secret realm—and that's how I ended up entering the realm?"
"Who says that? Have they lost their mind?"
Fang Jinyu looked as though he had seen a ghost; what is this bizarre slander? He then couldn't help but glance at Du Man'er—whom he had not seen for a while. Last time, she had only just broken through to the second layer of Qi Refinement, and now her cultivation had already reached the fourth layer! Is this the treatment bestowed upon the protagonist? After breaking the originally fated life-and-death outcome and enduring bitterness before finally tasting sweet success—as if riding the winds and waves, hoisting sails to cross vast oceans? This made Fang Jinyu resolve that he must keep as far away from Su Yier as possible!
Du Man'er herself was receiving such treatment, so then—according to the book—the Su Yier who was said to have her elixir pill shattered into a baby form in just over a decade, whose cultivation would then skyrocket so that she'd be nearly invincible at her rank, would be no less formidable.
"Uncle, what's going on?" Du Man'er asked, her tone reflecting a bit of curiosity. For a cultivator in the Qi Refinement stage, being able to see someone in the Yuan Ying stage is considered a tremendous honor!
Then Du Man'er said indignantly, "I don't know who's been spreading this nonsense, but it's too much! And the fact that so many people believe it…" Being close to Fang Jinyu, she naturally sided with him.
"This matter is indeed infuriating, yet it is also utterly trivial," Fang Jinyu said as he shook his head, too lazy to dwell on it further since it held little significance. He decided instead to focus on comprehending the Primal Spirit Pill formula today.
"However, although I don't know who spread it, I do know that someone did snatch another's opportunity to enter the Spirit Capital secret realm." Fang Jinyu looked thoughtfully at Du Man'er; he had decided to give this newly elevated female lead a dose of "eye medicine."
"No wonder…" Du Man'er suddenly realized, but she did not press further. After all, as a Qi Refinement cultivator, she knew what should be said and what should not—even when facing Fang Jinyu, who was characteristically cautious, she would not act rashly.
Yet, she did not ask—and someone else did.
A certain carefree little girl, curiously leaning in, asked, "Who is it? You should know, right?"
Seeing the little girl's "assist," Fang Jinyu immediately pretended to hesitate for a moment until she urged him once more. Then he said in time, "Alright then, it wouldn't hurt to share this with you. Do you know about Ling Jian Peak?"
"Is that the mountain peak of the sect's number-one sword cultivator?" said Du Man'er—since Tianling Sect has only one Golden Core sword cultivator, Su Yier's master carries quite a name.
"Exactly," Fang Jinyu nodded. "To my knowledge, this time for Ling Jian Peak there isn't an opportunity to enter the Spirit Capital secret realm. Because that sword cultivator uncle was rather abrupt in taking on disciples, the opportunity had already been set and did not include Ling Jian Peak. Yet, at that time I did see disciples from Ling Jian Peak."
At this point, Fang Jinyu stopped speaking further, though his meaning was clear enough. Then he proceeded to contemplate the Primal Spirit Pill formula.