Chapter 198: "L~i~t~t~l~e~ D~a~o~i~s~t~"

That female voice, clear and cold yet carrying a hint of lazy playfulness, fell like pearls landing on a jade plate, echoing through the deathly still cave.

It also served as a final verdict, utterly shattering the last vestiges of hope Liu Xuanyin had desperately clung to.

As her voice faded, the deep, shadowy area in the depths of the cave, which had previously been occupied by the phantom projections of the "Thousand-Faced Dream Fiend" and the "Ten-Thousand-Filth Mother," began to ripple with soft, moonlight-like waves.

It was as if an invisible hand was slowly parting a curtain.

There was no eruption of earth-vein yin energy, no flickering of sinister array runes.

There was no cloying, corrupted mental pollution like the Thousand-Faced Dream Fiend's, nor the filthy, stench-ridden aura of the Ten-Thousand-Corpses Pollutant Mother.

Instead, it was a completely different kind of "presence." One that seemed utterly out of place in this space filled with malevolence and despair. It was pure and... perfect.

It was descending slowly.

The first thing to emerge from the shadows was a... hand.

It was a... work of art, seemingly condensing all imaginable concepts of "perfection."

The skin was delicate and lustrous, shimmering with a warm, glossy quality like the finest mutton-fat jade under the cave's dim light. Yet it seemed to contain a faint inner radiance, like flowing moonlight, completely flawless.

The five fingers were long and slender, the knuckles well-proportioned, the nails rounded and bearing a healthy, pale pink hue.

Every curve, every proportion, was precise to a heart-stopping degree of harmony, almost like a fundamental "law."

This flawless hand, with an utterly casual, even somewhat lazy, grace, gently parted the last shadow.

Then, a figure slowly "walked" out from the shadows.

Her appearance lacked any earth-shattering momentum.

There was no spatial tremor or rule-roar like when Gu Qingwan descended, nor the eerie, soul-crushing mental pressure of a Malevolent Deity surfacing.

Her very "existence" seemed to possess an intangible, gentle yet undeniable "field." It naturally attracted, or rather, "soothed" all the chaotic, evil, and negative energies and light around her.

When she fully revealed herself, standing silently before the darkness, the entire cave seemed to... freeze for a moment.

It wasn't a suppression of power, but a... cognitive shock.

Lu Yuan held his breath. Even though he had guessed who it was from her voice, even though he had witnessed her "apotheosis from an object" before, that shocking transformation tempered by thunder and fire, seeing her again now still sent an indescribable shock through him.

The Deity of Beauty...

She was truly too beautiful...

She wore an extremely simple, yet impeccably tailored, moon-white long dress.

It wasn't like the one on Gu Qingwan, which had a texture that was cold and resolute like moonlight, tough like frost-jade.

This was a softer, more restrained fabric, a strange silk that seemed to absorb and refract the most harmonious light of all things. The dress had no unnecessary embellishments. It was cinched loosely at the waist by a moon-white sash of unknown material, outlining a breathtaking, yet utterly pure and noble, perfect curve, completely free of any hint of seduction or vulgarity.

Her long hair, like the finest black silk, was not overly adorned. It was simply tied into a loose bun at the back of her head with a simple white jade hairpin. A few strands naturally fell beside her neck, adding a touch of casual grace and liveliness. The white jade hairpin in her hair seemed ordinary, yet it blended perfectly with her temperament, as if it had always belonged there.

And her face...

Lu Yuan had once thought Gu Qingwan's cold, perfect features were an unearthly beauty that shouldn't exist in the human world. But this face before him represented a different kind of "beauty," one that also surpassed the limits of mortal imagination.

It wasn't the extreme, cold perfection of Gu Qingwan, which carried a sense of destruction and divinity and was almost too dazzling to look at directly.

This was a warm, vibrant "beauty." It was as if it had gathered all concepts of "goodness, harmony, and fulfillment" from heaven and earth.

A living "perfection."

Her eyebrows were like distant mountains veiled in mist, naturally dark without needing makeup.

Her eyes were like autumn waters rippling, shimmering with life. Her pupils were a clear, translucent amber, as if containing the orbital paths of billions of stars, or reflecting the most beautiful scenes in the world. They were clear to the bottom, yet infinitely profound.

Her nose was straight and delicate. Her lips were naturally rosy without lipstick, and the corners of her mouth slightly lifted. She naturally carried a faint, elusive smile that could make anyone's mind sway. That smile wasn't intentional; it was a natural expression of peace and joy arising from an extreme sense of satisfaction and harmony with herself, all things, and "existence" itself.

Her skin outshone frost and snow, translucent and flawless. One could almost see the extremely subtle, healthy, rosy blood beneath the surface, yet there was no trace of mundane, worldly energy.

The features, contours, skin tone, expression, even the length and curve of every eyelash on her face achieved an incredible, absolute "golden ratio" and "harmonious unity."

Add a touch, and she'd be too gaudy. Take away a bit, and she'd be too plain. Increase an inch, and she'd be excessive. Decrease an inch, and she'd be lacking.

It was as if she were the ultimate physical manifestation of the concept of "beauty" in the material world, the living embodiment of the word "perfection."

But the most shocking thing wasn't just the extreme perfection of her physical form.

It was the... "aura" she exuded.

It was a strange aura that was difficult to describe precisely in words.

It was a mixture of the quiet warmth of an "object," the pure nobility of a "deity," and the vivid vitality of a "living being."

She stood there quietly, like a perfect jade statue that had just descended from the highest heavens.

Yet she also carried the warmth and vitality of a living person.

As her gaze shifted, it held the wisdom and detachment of one who sees through the ways of the world, yet there was no trace of world-weariness or senility. Only a peaceful, pure, and clear calmness.

She was completely out of place in this sinister, filthy cave.

Yet it seemed that her very "perfection" and "harmony" could naturally "repel" and "purify" the filth and chaos around her. Within three feet of her, a strange, quiet "pure land" formed, as if independent of this death trap.

She tilted her head slightly. Those amber eyes, seemingly holding a sea of stars, carried a faint, intrigued smile. First, she glanced at the broken pieces of the "Nine Nether Soul-Refining Chains" on the ground. Then her gaze shifted to Liu Xuanyin, who had been completely "frozen" by Gu Qingwan's power and had fallen into utter ash-gray despair.

Her red lips parted slightly, and she spoke again in that clear, cold voice laced with mockery:

"Surprised that I could dismantle the 'Nine Nether Soul-Refining Chains'?"

Her voice was like a clear spring in the mountains, pleasant to the ear. Every syllable seemed to carry a strange rhythm, making one feel comfortable just listening.

But the content of her words plunged Liu Xuanyin's remaining consciousness into an abyss of bottomless cold.

The Deity of Beauty.

Apotheosis from an object, flawless.

She had arrived.

When this moon-white figure completely stepped out of the shadows, when her amber eyes, holding the orbit of stars, swept across the room with a lazy smile, and when her spring-like voice sounded again, Lu Yuan's heart, which had been wound tight with extreme tension, lingering fear, and confusion over Gu Qingwan's actions, felt as if it were gently... plucked by a warm, yet powerful hand.

Shock, like a bursting dam, instantly washed away all of Lu Yuan's doubts, anxiety, and bewilderment.

In its place was a near-frantic, indescribable... relief and excitement!

The Deity of Beauty?!

Was it really her?!

When did she get here?!

How was she here?!

Countless questions exploded like bubbles in Lu Yuan's mind. But at this moment, none of them could compete with the clearest, most heart-stirring fact: The Deity of Beauty was here!

Had she sneaked into the depths of the cave in advance and silently removed the biggest threat to the old man?!

Yes!

That had to be it!

No wonder Qingwan had been so calm and confident earlier, even watching Liu Xuanyin's final desperate struggle with a hint of "amusement"!

She hadn't been taking a risk at all, nor had her temperament suddenly changed.

Whether it was not attacking directly, letting Liu Xuanyin go all out one more time, or any of those other strange things—looking at it now, she was just buying time for the Deity of Beauty!

Lu Yuan was a bit stunned. When had they gotten in touch? And how had the Deity of Beauty done it? Lu Yuan had no idea, but none of that mattered now!

What mattered was that the old man... was safe!

At the very least, the biggest threat, the "Nine Nether Soul-Refining Chains," had been removed!

Liu Xuanyin's final do-or-die card had become a completely useless piece of trash!

An indescribable warmth surged from the depths of Lu Yuan's heart. The emotional release of finding hope in a desperate situation was overwhelming. For a moment, he couldn't contain it.

Lu Yuan stared fixedly at the Deity of Beauty's flawless, calmly smiling profile.

Then he jerked his head to look at Gu Qingwan, still floating serenely in mid-air.

His eyes were filled with unbelievable surprise and a sudden "so that's how it was" realization.

The Deity of Beauty's gaze, carrying that lazy smile, naturally turned to Lu Yuan, whose face still held a mixture of shock and ecstasy.

When those amber eyes, which seemed to reflect the orbiting stars, fell on Lu Yuan, the faint, almost divine mockery and playfulness quickly faded. They transformed into a softer, more vibrant, even slightly... mischievous warmth.

That smile instantly added a vivid, worldly vitality to her unrealistically perfect face.

It was as if a celestial maiden from the highest heavens had suddenly felt playful and wanted to tease a junior in the mortal world.

She didn't immediately walk toward Lu Yuan but remained standing where she was. She tilted her head slightly, her gaze shifting as she looked Lu Yuan up and down. She took in his tattered Daoist robe, covered in blood and dust. She saw the bruises on his face, the not-yet-dried bloodstains, and his eyes, bright from the intense emotional turmoil.

Then her red lips parted slightly, and that clear, spring-like voice sounded again.

This time, the tone carried an undisguised, almost doting teasing:

"Oh~ Little Daoist."

"Were you scared just now?"

Her voice wasn't loud, but it clearly pierced through the lingering cold air in the cave, reaching Lu Yuan's ears. It was like a warm current, instantly dispelling the last traces of chill.

The title "Little Daoist" from her lips held no condescension. Instead, it carried a familiar, almost familial warmth.

Lu Yuan was stunned by her sudden tease, which was completely at odds with the murderous atmosphere of the moment. The ecstatic expression on his face froze for a moment before he came to his senses. Embarrassed, he wiped his face with his hand, only to smear more blood and dirt, making him look even more disheveled.

He opened his mouth, wanting to explain or thank her, but didn't know where to begin.

In the end, it just came out as a nasal, muffled "Mm," admitting that he had indeed been scared out of his wits just now.

Seeing this, the smile in the Deity of Beauty's eyes deepened, as if she had found something extremely amusing.

She took a small step forward. Her moon-white dress swayed slightly with her movement, drawing an elegant arc.

"Tsk~"

"Look at you, what a silly expression~"

She wrinkled her delicate nose slightly. This playful little gesture, when made by her, wasn't jarring at all; instead, it was breathtakingly cute.

Her gaze swept over Lu Yuan's bandaged right hand, which was still seeping blood, and then his slightly unsteady stance, weakened by the sealed zhenran and his injuries.

A barely perceptible flicker of concern passed through her amber eyes, but it was quickly hidden by that mischievous smile.

"Did you feel like the sky was falling?"

"Thought Qingwan was acting strange today, that she was going to kill that old ghost no matter what, even if it meant your old man would be implicated?"

Her words were direct and precise, as if she could see right through all of Lu Yuan's anxieties and struggles from before.

When she mentioned Gu Qingwan, she used the name "Qingwan" in a natural, familiar tone, indicating their relationship was far from ordinary.

Lu Yuan became even more flustered by her words. Even his ears were burning. He could only nod sheepishly.

He couldn't help but sneak a quick glance at Gu Qingwan, who was still standing silently in mid-air, seemingly uninterested in this "reunion" happening below.

The Deity of Beauty caught every one of Lu Yuan's little moves. The smile on her lips deepened, carrying a knowing "just as I thought" expression.

She clasped her hands behind her back and leaned forward slightly. This motion accentuated her perfect curves and brought her stunning face a bit closer to Lu Yuan, as if she were sharing a secret just between the two of them.

"Relax~~"

She blinked her expressive eyes, her long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings.

"With big sisters here, do you really think we'd let something happen to your old man?"

Her tone was light and confident, carrying a sense of natural protection.

"Qingwan was keeping him busy up here, distracting him and seeing what other dirty tricks that old ghost had up his sleeve."

"As for me, I took the chance to slip down and see how your old man was doing. And then..."

She glanced at the broken pieces of the "Nine Nether Soul-Refining Chains" on the ground, then shrugged her shoulders gracefully.

"...I helped him clean up those... little traps he was tangled in."

"This old ghost's arrays were quite complicated. Took me a bit of time; otherwise, I would've been up here ages ago."

The Deity of Beauty spoke lightly, as if her trip through the core area of the "Nine Nether God-Refining Array," guarded by a super malevolent deity and perilous at every step, was a mere trivial, slightly bothersome errand.

Lu Yuan's heart surged with emotion. He took a deep breath, suppressing the waves of feeling. He faced the Deity of Beauty and then looked toward Gu Qingwan in mid-air, solemnly cupping his hands:

"Thank you..."

Lu Yuan's voice was still a bit hoarse, but it was filled with sincere gratitude.

"The old man... how is he now?"

The Deity of Beauty straightened up, resuming her elegant and composed posture. But seeing the lingering anxiety in Lu Yuan's eyes, her tone softened a bit more.

"Don't worry. He's been through a lot, his zhenran is severely depleted, and his soul has some damage, but his foundation isn't destroyed, and his consciousness is intact."

"I've temporarily stabilized his injuries and severed all residual erosion from the array."

"He's resting down below now. Once this is all sorted out, take him back for some proper care, and he'll be fine."

Hearing that the old man's life was not in danger and his foundation was intact, the final heavy stone in Lu Yuan's heart finally fell.

He felt as if he had collapsed, letting out a long, thorough sigh of relief.

This relaxation caused a wave of intense pain and fatigue to wash over him, making his vision blur again. His body swayed.

Seeing this, a glimmer moved in the Deity of Beauty's eyes, but she didn't go to support him. She just watched him with a beaming smile. In a tone that was slightly proud, like an older sister showing off her skills to her younger brother, she gently added:

"See?"

"When push comes to shove, you still need your big sister to come and clean up your mess, right?"

"L~i~t~t~l~e~ D~a~o~i~s~t~."