Chapter 286

To avoid being gossiped about, she, pregnant, chose to marry Zhong Wanchou, who loved her like a loyal dog, and gave birth to her eight months later.

Heavenly Dao evaluation: Zhong Ling, endowed with the essence of heaven and earth, a spirit of mountains and waters.

Heavenly Dao reward: Eternal Youth Pill (consumption grants permanent youthful beauty).

Nine Provinces Hundred Flowers List — (tied) 46th place: A Zi, cultivation level: Second-rate.

Identity: Daughter of Duan Zhengchun, Prince of Zhennan in Dali; disciple of Ding Chunqiu, the Old Monster of Xingxiu.

If Zhong Ling's innocence, purity, and naivety represent goodness,

then A Zi is her opposite.

Yet every hateful person has a pitiable side.

As Duan Zhengchun's illegitimate daughter, she never enjoyed a life of privilege.

On the contrary, her mother, Ruan Xingzhu, feared that their births would expose her premarital pregnancy and abandoned them.

Thus, she, who should have lived as a princess, became a homeless orphan before she even learned to speak.

Only through the kindness of strangers did she survive.

Unfortunately, the goodwill did not last; when she was still young, her foster parents passed away.

She once again fell into a life of hardship, enduring suffering from childhood.

Amid hunger and scarcity, she wandered until she was taken in by Ding Chunqiu, the Old Monster of Xingxiu.

Though she no longer lacked food or clothing, the Xingxiu Sect, as a Modaomen Sect, was known for its cruel and vicious ways.

Growing up in such an environment, A Zi's development was predictable.

Yet though her actions were cruel and ruthless, she still retained traces of innocence and determination.

Deep within her heart lay a softness even she herself did not recognize.

Heavenly Dao evaluation: A beauty with a short fate, powerless against destiny.

Heavenly Dao reward: Heaven-grade martial art: Mingyu Gong.

As the content of the Nine Provinces Hundred Flowers List unfolded,

two ethereal figures stepped forward one after another from the void.

The first to appear was Zhong Ling.

She wore a green robe, her smile blooming like a flower.

Her round face bore a tiny dimple at the corner of her lips.

Her complexion glowed like the rosy clouds of morning, her eyes were clear as autumn water, her skin like congealed fat, her breath fragrant as orchids, her beauty radiant.

Her snow-white, pinkish skin glowed with a rosy hue.

It made her appearance delicate and enchanting.

The more one looked, the more beautiful she became, making one unwilling to look away.

Like a lotus emerging from water, she was elegant, unworldly, pure, bright, and refreshingly innocent.

Added to this, she cradled a small white weasel in her arms, her expression half-pouting, half-smiling.

She looked utterly pure and adorable.

One could not help but feel a flutter in the heart.

Behind her stood A Zi.

As half-sisters sharing the same father,

A Zi wore a full purple robe, even her shoes were purple satin slippers.

Clearly, she adored the color purple.

Her graceful figure was perfectly accentuated by the purple robe.

On her snow-white oval face, large, dark eyes blinked with sharp cunning.

If one judged solely by her face,

it would be nearly impossible to link her with the words cruel and ruthless!

"How perfect — 'the tenderness of lowering one's head, like a water lily trembling beneath cool wind' — truly apt!"

"Though pure, shy, naive maidens are lovable, I feel more pity for A Zi — she suffered so terribly from childhood; what fault did she have?!"

"Sigh~ One can only say: beauty with a short fate, destiny playing cruel tricks."

"To be honest, Duan Zhengchun, that bastard, is so despicable!! Both girls on the list are his daughters — I'm jealous!!"

"I find him disgusting! He only knows how to flatter! Isn't it normal for a true man to have three wives and four concubines? He ruins a girl's reputation and walks away — it makes me sick!"

"Everyone curses Duan Zhengchun, yet everyone wants to be Duan Zhengchun — tsk tsk tsk..."

"Why is no one focusing on the Heavenly Dao reward? That's the Heaven-grade martial art Mingyu Gong!! The treasured art of the Yihua Palace!!"

"Exactly! And once learned, it grants eternal youth, ice-skin and jade-bones, and boundless internal energy upon completion — doesn't that excite you?!"

Almost the instant the image appeared,

the previously silent, pin-drop-quiet Nine Provinces erupted into noise.

Loud debates rang out across the heavens.

Among them,

some expressed fondness for Zhong Ling.

Others pitied A Zi.

Some cursed and hated Duan Zhengchun.

Others drooled over Mingyu Gong.

And so on — countless reactions.

Especially with the appearance of Mingyu Gong.

It made countless women look envious, jealous, and resentful, their eyes so red they seemed ready to undergo plasmolysis.

Even their breathing grew noticeably faster!

Their thoughts grew restless and lively.

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Tang Dynasty, Fengxuan Pavilion.

"Hmm, Mingyu Gong?"

"It seems my fortune is quite favorable after all."

She read the contents of the Nine Provinces Hundred Flowers List.

Wu Zetian let out a soft laugh.

Before this.

She had originally abandoned the idea of seizing Mingyu Gong for the time being.

She planned to wait until the Three Imperial Dynasties joined forces to destroy the Qinglong Society before claiming this technique.

Unexpectedly.

It now appeared on the Heavenly Dao reward list.

Truly, when mountains and rivers seemed to block all paths, a new village appeared amid dark willows and bright flowers!!

Even though she was certain.

With her beauty, making the Hundred Flowers List was a foregone conclusion.

She had no need to worry about the Youth-Preserving Pill.

But Mingyu Gong was not merely about eternal youth—it also granted the effect of icy skin and jade bones!

Just this one feature made it nearly impossible to remain unmoved!

Thinking of this,

Wu Zetian did not hesitate a moment; she gave her order without a second thought.

"Send someone to the Song Dynasty as soon as possible."

"Bring me Mingyu Gong at all costs!"

As she spoke,

Her tone was utterly unquestionable.

And tinged with subtle urgency.