The night was cool as water, with twinkling stars and moonlight spilling like silver dust over the backyard of the Qin Family Villa, casting a hazy, delicate veil over the flowers, plants, and trees. Qin Zhizhi was immersed in the joy of cultivation, completely unaware that danger was quietly descending.
Following the principles of the "Star-Moon Formula" recorded in the ancient text, she guided the surrounding spiritual Qi of heaven and earth, absorbing it into her body bit by bit. Warm currents flowed through her meridians, bringing an unprecedented sense of comfort.
However, right at that moment, a dark figure flashed past like a ghost, carrying bone-chilling murderous intent straight toward Qin Zhizhi. A sharp dagger reflected a cold gleam in the moonlight, aiming directly for her heart! Alarm bells rang wildly in Qin Zhizhi's mind, and in the nick of time, she instinctively sidestepped. The dagger grazed her arm, sending a wave of sharp pain as fresh blood instantly stained her sleeve.
"Who is it?!" Qin Zhizhi clutched her wound, raising her head in shock and anger, but she could only make out a blurred dark figure.
"Humph, go to hell!" The dark figure let out a sneer, brandishing the dagger once more to attack her.
Enduring the excruciating pain, Qin Zhizhi dodged the attacks while trying to catch a glimpse of the assailant's appearance. Yet, the dark figure's movements were exceptionally swift, every single strike ruthless and leaving her no breathing room whatsoever. Under the fierce assault, Qin Zhizhi's stamina gradually failed her, and a few more wounds were added to her body. To make matters worse, the spiritual Qi within her seemed to have suffered interference as well, turning utterly chaotic and preventing her from properly operating the "Star-Moon Formula."
"Am I really going to meet my end here today?" A flicker of despair surged in Qin Zhizhi's heart.
Just at this critical juncture, a figure dropped from the sky like lightning, carrying the momentum of a thunderbolt to block the path right in front of Qin Zhizhi.
"What person?!" The dark figure clearly had not expected a sudden interruption, asking with a mixture of shock and suspicion. The newcomer was none other than Yin Sichen, who had received the news and rushed over in frantic anxiety.
He pulled Qin Zhizhi behind him with a single motion, his icy gaze sweeping over the dark figure as he spoke in an arctic tone: "Who sent you?"
"Humph, wanting to know? Go to hell and ask King Yama!" Knowing he was outmatched, the dark figure dropped a harsh threat and turned to flee.
"Want to leave? It's not that easy!" Yin Sichen let out a cold hum, his figure flashing as he chased after the intruder like a leopard.
Powerless, Qin Zhizhi collapsed onto the ground, watching Yin Sichen's receding back with a heart full of gratitude and worry. She struggled to stand up, only to discover that her body was completely hollow, unable to mobilize even a shred of spiritual Qi.
"My cultivation..." Qin Zhizhi's face turned ashen; only then did she realize that not only was she injured, but she had also lost her cultivation entirely, reduced to an absolute good-for-nothing cripple.
Just as she plunged into despair, Yin Sichen returned, scooped her up into his arms, and asked anxiously, "Zhizhi, how are you? Where are you hurt?"
"I'm fine..." Qin Zhizhi shook her head weakly, her voice as thin as a mosquito's buzz.
Daring not to delay, Yin Sichen scooped her up and quickly left the Qin family's backyard, leaving behind only pools of blood and scattered shards of moonlight...
Yin Sichen brought Qin Zhizhi back to his own residence and immediately summoned the best doctor to treat her injuries. Looking at Qin Zhizhi's pale face and weak breath, his heart was filled with self-reproach and heartache. If he had not failed to arrive in time, Qin Zhizhi would never have been injured this severely.
"Damn it!" Yin Sichen smashed his fist against the bedside table, producing a loud crash.Meanwhile, inside the Qin Family Villa, Qin Jiaojiao and Lin Wan were gleefully celebrating their "victory.""
"That bitch is finally dead!" A ferocious smile appeared on Qin Jiaojiao's face, her eyes flashing with a venomous light. "Let's see how she competes with me now!"
"Jiaojiao, don't celebrate too early." Although Lin Wan was also pleased, she was far more cautious than Qin Jiaojiao. "That man named Yin Sichen is not someone to be trifled with. If he finds out we're behind this, I'm afraid..."
"Afraid of what?" Qin Jiaojiao sneered dismissively. "That bitch is already dead with no evidence left behind. Even if he suspects something, what can he do? Can he really do anything to us?"
"That may be so, but we still need to be extra careful." A vicious glint flashed across Lin Wan's eyes. "To cut the weeds, one must eradicate the roots. We need to find a way to also..." She made a slashing motion across her throat. Qin Jiaojiao caught her meaning instantly, and the two exchanged a knowing smile, leaving everything unsaid between them.
However, what they did not know was that at this very moment, Qin Zhizhi was not dead. Though heavily wounded, her will to survive was exceptionally tenacious. In her unconsciousness, she seemed to enter a wondrous space. It was a place filled with an ancient aura, surrounded by swirling clouds and misty immortal Qi. An elderly man in white robes, possessing the refined air of an immortal, appeared before her, looking at her with benevolent eyes.
"Who are you?" Qin Zhizhi asked warily.
"Child, there is no need to be afraid. I am here to help you," the elderly man said with a smile. "You possess spiritual roots and ought to have been a favored daughter of the heavens, yet you were plotted against and lost your cultivation. What a pity!"
"Do you know who harmed me?" Qin Zhizhi asked excitedly.
The elderly man shook his head and replied, "Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed. However, I can impart an ancient cultivation method to you, helping you recover your strength and exact your revenge!"
With that, the elderly man began imparting the cultivation technique to Qin Zhizhi.
Qin Zhizhi drank it in thirstily, as if she had grabbed onto a final straw of life. After an unknown passage of time, the elderly man gradually faded away, and Qin Zhizhi snapped awake from her dream. Opening her eyes, she found herself lying on a soft bed, the room suffused with the faint fragrance of medicine.
"Where am I..." Qin Zhizhi wanted to sit up, only to find her limbs completely lacking strength.
"You're awake?" A familiar voice drifted over. Qin Zhizhi turned her head to see Yin Sichen sitting by the bedside, looking at her with concern.
"Sichen..." Warmth flooded Qin Zhizhi's heart, and tears spilled uncontrollably from her eyes.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here." Yin Sichen gently pulled her into his embrace, offering soft words of comfort. Qin Zhizhi hugged him tightly, feeling his warm embrace and becoming filled with a sense of security.
She knew she had walked back from the gates of hell once more, and for all of this, she had the man before her to thank.
"Sichen, I want to cultivate." Qin Zhizhi suddenly raised her head, her eyes flashing with a resolute light.
Yin Sichen was slightly startled before understanding what she meant. He nodded and said, "Alright, I'll help you."
Though Yin Sichen did not know why Qin Zhizhi had suddenly developed this thought, he had always respected her choices. Furthermore, having experienced this incident, he also realized that only by growing strong herself could Qin Zhizhi truly protect herself.
Consequently, Yin Sichen sought out various rare medicinal ingredients to help Qin Zhizhi recuperate her body. At the same time, using his connections, he searched for a suitable Cultivation Manual for her.
Qin Zhizhi began cultivating according to the "Star-Moon Formula" imparted by the elder in her dream. At first, her progress was slow, and the spiritual Qi within her remained chaotic and difficult to control. But she did not give up; instead, she persevered with her cultivation day after day, without slackening.
Yin Sichen saw her efforts and felt them in his heart. Though he did not understand cultivation, he knew that the path of cultivation was fraught with hardship and could never be accomplished overnight. All he could do was quietly guard by her side and provide her with every possible assistance.
Hard work pays off. Through Qin Zhizhi's persistent efforts, her body gradually recovered, and her cultivation began to advance by leaps and bounds. The miraculous nature of the "Star-Moon Formula" gradually manifested; she could feel the surrounding spiritual Qi of heaven and earth growing closer to her, cheering and joyfully rushing into her body to nourish her flesh and soul.
A month later, Qin Zhizhi's cultivation had already returned to the level it was at before the attack. What surprised her even more was that the practice of the "Star-Moon Formula" seemed to have unblocked her vital meridians, making her perception of spiritual Qi sharper and her manipulation of it far more effortless.
"I feel like I've broken through!" Qin Zhizhi said excitedly to Yin Sichen.
"Really?" Yin Sichen was genuinely happy for her. "That's wonderful! Zhizhi, you're truly amazing!"
Qin Zhizhi clenched her fists tightly, flames of vengeance burning in her eyes. "Qin Jiaojiao, Lin Wan, just you wait! I will definitely make you pay the price!"
Just as she was preparing to launch her retaliatory campaign, the elderly man from her dreams appeared once more.