Chapter 28: Asura Field? No, the Deepest Affection in Qingyun!

Unlike Lin Miaoxuan’s frail, obsessive demeanor, Chen Qianru’s messages were just as frequent, but carried an air of icy calm. Yet beneath that calm, Cao Xuan sensed a wildness—if he didn’t go to Moonwatch Valley tonight, Chen Qianru, unlike Lin Miaoxuan, would surely turn Qingyun Sect upside down to find him. She possessed both the drive and the ability; Cao Xuan had witnessed firsthand the extent of her connections and talent. None of this was the real issue. What made Cao Xuan’s scalp tingle was that both women had arranged to meet him tonight at Moonwatch Valley.

Though their spiritual messages claimed indifference toward each other, Cao Xuan knew better. In his previous life, he learned never to trust a woman’s words, not even a single syllable.

“Is this what they call a slaughterhouse?” he murmured.

He never expected that in the world of cultivation, he—a “devoted dog,” a male cultivator who gave gifts without expecting anything in return—would find himself in this predicament.

He glanced at his status panel: both Chen Qianru’s and Lin Miaoxuan’s favorability ratings were fixed at ninety under the “devoted dog” category.

“So this is the power of devotion?” he mused. “I was always the one reaching out, so I never noticed. Now that I’ve secluded myself for cultivation, everything’s coming to the surface!”

“Just ignoring their messages a little, and they’ve sent me this flood of spiritual transmissions…”

Suddenly, Cao Xuan understood the mindset of those playboys and heartless women from his previous life. Watching a devoted admirer send countless messages to their idol, only to receive a curt ‘Oh, got it. Sleep early,’—he used to think it was just a joke, but now he saw that sometimes, the joke was on them.

Love is meant to be mutual; when one side is too humble, the other will either be a true playboy or heartless woman, finding amusement in it—or else feel overwhelmed, unsure how to respond.

At this moment, Cao Xuan felt the latter. He swore, he just wanted to gift a few items and get some resources back. Of course, there was a bit of infatuation, a hope that things might progress, but he never meant for it to turn out like this.

“Clearly, I’m neither a true devoted dog nor a qualified playboy,” he concluded. “From now on, for the sake of immortality, I must cultivate the image of a playboy!”

He’d already decided what to do at Moonwatch Valley—even if it meant lowering their favorability, he wouldn’t hesitate. As someone who crossed over from a world with little spiritual law, he had no reason to abandon the path to immortality now that he had access to cultivation.

With his four-tempered spiritual roots, Cao Xuan knew he couldn’t rely on talent alone to go far.

He admitted he could never be as heartless as those demonic Immortal Lords; so his only way forward was to excel as a devoted dog, seeking returns from celestial maidens.

So in the future, he would surely encounter female cultivators a hundred, a thousand, even ten thousand times more valuable. He couldn’t give up these prospects for just Lin Miaoxuan and Chen Qianru, who were merely tenfold. Rather than let things drag on, it was better to portray himself openly as a playboy, a flirt who loved everyone he met.

That way, female cultivators wouldn’t harbor unrealistic fantasies.

“Yes, this is how it should be. Qingyun’s most passionate—Cao Xuan will claim that title!”

Having reached this conclusion, Cao Xuan felt liberated. He no longer needed to sneak around, gifting items to both women in secret. From now on, he would give openly and honestly.

Any female cultivator with a high multiplier would receive his signature line: “Fairy, please stay!”

With his resolve strengthened, Cao Xuan relaxed, his heart for seeking immortality growing even firmer.

…

Moonwatch Valley, nestled at the outskirts of the Qingyun mountain range, was a tranquil haven. Qingyun Sect had dominated Cloud Province for millennia, and its cultivators had transformed the mountains with countless ancient immortal structures.

A thousand years ago, Moonwatch Valley had a beautiful legend. An inner disciple of Qingyun Sect once gazed at the moon here, comprehended its mysteries, fell in love with his senior sister, and their fate was sealed for three lifetimes. Eventually, one broke through to the Golden Core and became sect leader; the senior sister reached the peak of Foundation Establishment and became head of Talisman Peak.

Thus, Moonwatch Valley still drew wistful figures—disciples from both inner and outer sects, meeting here to kindle their bonds.

“Hey, Senior Brother, look—she’s so beautiful. Is she waiting for someone?”

Most meetings in Moonwatch Valley were senior brothers waiting for junior sisters, or junior brothers for senior sisters. For a woman to be waiting was unheard of—simply impossible!

The senior brother mused, “Moonwatch Valley is a place for moon-viewing. Not everyone comes here for romance because of the legend.”

“I imagine she’s here to enjoy the moonlight, nothing more.”

At Qingyun Sect, there were plenty of provisional outer disciples; anyone in plain robes could be addressed as senior brother or sister.

Lin Miaoxuan had no idea if Senior Brother Cao would come tonight. She guessed he probably wouldn’t. After all, he’d been out of contact for three months, and stood her up more than once.

She gazed up at the bright moon, remembering how, not long ago, she lowered herself, donned a sheer dress to attract him, yet he never appeared. Tonight would likely be another fruitless wait.

Her expression was full of sorrow—paired with her exquisite figure and status as an outer disciple, she quickly became the center of attention in Moonwatch Valley.

A slap rang out.

“Ow, Junior Sister, what are you doing?!”

“Keep staring, and I’ll break up with you. One more look and we’re finished.”

“Junior Sister, I’m just appreciating the moon!”

“The moon, huh? I think you’re appreciating someone else’s full moon. What, you think my moon isn’t big enough?”

“It’s huge, huge! No one’s bigger than you, Junior Sister!”

“Hmph. Men!”

In no time, Lin Miaoxuan drew the gaze of countless couples and caught the eyes of male cultivators. Soon, all sorts of pinching, nudging, and playful scuffles broke out among them.

Suddenly, another figure flashed onto the platform at Moonwatch Valley.

Lin Miaoxuan turned around in delight, but her face instantly darkened, as did the newcomer’s. It was Chen Qianru.

Both had reached the fourth layer of Qi Refinement and had taken Cao Xuan’s supreme-grade pills. Without impurities, their spiritual energy refined, their presence grew more striking.

Each was already a high-scoring beauty; in the provisional outer sect, they went unnoticed, but once they entered the outer sect, their status changed—now they were the objects of pursuit for many senior brothers, even among the inner sect.

As some male cultivators secretly admired the two beauties, they spoke almost in unison.

“Qianru (Miaoxuan), so it’s you. Where’s Senior Brother Cao?”

Surprised by the question, both paused, then sneered.

Lin Miaoxuan spoke first: “Chen Qianru, I truly underestimated you. I thought you were just well-connected, but you’re actually a social butterfly. Senior Brother Cao is such a pure soul—how could he resist your wiles?”

“Pretending you don’t know him now, I get it. Did you secretly invite Senior Brother Cao to Moonwatch Valley tonight?”

“You’ve got the nerve to steal a man, but not to admit it?”

She glanced behind her.

“Where is Senior Brother Cao? Where are you hiding him?”