Beauty of Resilience – Ju Jingyi, Guo Junchen

At the dawn of the Hongmeng era, the realms of immortals, humans, and demons gradually took shape. Only the phoenix was born together with heaven and earth, undergoing Nirvana awakening after thousands of years, and then disappearing without a trace. In the human realm, the practice of cultivating immortality thrived in the Great Yuyu Kingdom. Every three years, whether nobles, aristocrats, or distinguished families, all those who reached the age of sixteen had to undergo the Immortal Mirror test of their aptitude. If chosen, they could be sent to the White Egret Academy.

Wei Lingyue, the third young miss of the Ministry of Rites, had outstanding talent and an extremely rare constitution. Her younger sister, Wei Jingyue, was also remarkable, and the two sisters were already famous both inside and outside the capital. On the other hand, Wei Zhi, a maid in the Ministry of Rites, was often referred to as a "broom star" and was despised by the entire household. Her greatest wish was to enter the academy through the Immortal Mirror selection, not only to change her own fate but also to provide a better life for her mother and younger brother, Wei Ye.

However, Wei's mother, Lady Gu, believed that her daughter was born with a jinxed fate and only wanted to marry her off as soon as possible, even to a disabled man. At this moment, the Minister of Rites, Wei, learned that Wei Zhi was also on the list for the Immortal Mirror test. He instructed Wei Lingyue to take care of her sister and also to keep an eye on their maid to avoid bringing shame to the Ministry of Rites.

Wei Zhi tried various means to break free from her mother's control and had no choice but to seek help from her third young miss. Fortunately, Wei Lingyue stood up for her and allowed her to join the group for the coming-of-age ceremony. With this arrangement, Lady Gu had no objections, and Wei Jingyue, although unable to understand her sister's actions, did not interfere too much.

On the day of the Immortal Mirror, the streets were filled with carriages and horses, attracting the attention of the entire city's population. Even children from poor families begged for alms along the way. The Wei sisters showed no intention of giving alms and the astute steward at the forefront immediately pushed the little beggar to the side of the road. With a command, the carriage procession continued on its way.

Wei Zhi kindly helped the little beggar to his feet, took out a few copper coins from her meager savings, and then noticed Yan Yue standing in the distance. The steward called for Wei Zhi to catch up with the group, while Yan Yue watched her receding figure with growing curiosity, unable to understand how a mortal could see him.

Numerous noble young men and women made their appearance one after another, including Ming Lang, the young lord of Gu Cheng on the border, Liu Chang, the son of the mighty general, and Xiao Jin, the son of the treasurer of Bao Sheng Money House and the deputy minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Before long, the Court Scholar arrived to preside over the event, and dozens of people were grouped for the Immortal Mirror test, until Wei Zhi and the others stood before the mirror. Suddenly, a resplendent and radiant phoenix descended from the sky, enveloping the entire three realms.

With the appearance of the phoenix, the glory of the Huarong Empire was revived, and news of the Immortal Mirror spread rapidly. The rulers of the three realms all paid attention to this matter. The Court Scholar reported to the human emperor, believing that the phoenix was an auspicious symbol, indicating that the Great Yuyu Kingdom would thrive. However, finding the true phoenix among the eighteen candidates would take some time. The urgent task was to admit them to the White Egret Academy and seek guidance from experts.

Since the phoenix was currently in its infancy and its bloodline was hidden deep within, its power would become unrivaled in the three realms after three bloodline awakenings. To prevent the forces of demons and monsters from coveting its power, the heavenly emperor ordered Yan Yue, the Lord of the Scarlet Sun, to descend to the mortal realm and find the phoenix. Qing Huan, the leader of the Heavenly Guard, would assist him throughout the mission. Upon receiving the news, Yan Luo, the son of the heavenly empress, immediately brought Yin Er from the Eastern Kitchen to accompany Yan Yue. However, Yan Yue reminded his younger brother Yan Luo to return quickly and serve the Heavenly Court instead of wandering around aimlessly.

Lady Gu opposed Wei Zhi's cultivation at the White Egret Academy, holding a grudge against her for indirectly causing the death of her husband and father ten years ago. Young Wei Ye, with a strong determination, supported his sister wholeheartedly. With his encouragement, Wei Zhi resolutely followed the Wei family's caravan to the White Egret Academy, leaving behind a farewell letter to her mother.

The Taoist at the mountain gate had been waiting outside the academy for a long time, emphasizing the strict rules that only students were allowed inside. The Wei sisters dumped their heavy luggage on Wei Zhi and assigned her the worst room. However, Wei Zhi didn't care about these things as long as she could complete her cultivation and achieve enlightenment.

Yan Yue, disguised as a Penglai Immortal Envoy, assumed the role of the master, and upon his arrival, he reprimanded the gossipy Bao Liang to serve as a warning. After the entrance ceremony for the disciples concluded, the dean, Jing Xiu, had a private conversation with Yan Yue, expressing concern that their long-standing acquaintance with the Court Scholar might affect their impartiality in selecting the phoenix. To reassure Jing Xiu, Yan Yue stated that the true phoenix was destined by fate and could not be changed by anyone.

Subsequently, Yan Yue gathered the disciples to study the academy's rules. The disciples were controlled by a spell, and by the end of the morning class, they were already exhausted. Wei Jingyue publicly humiliated Wei Zhi, while those who sought to gain favor with Yan Yue followed suit. Fortunately, Ming Lang and Liu Chang stepped forward to resolve the situation. Meanwhile, the demons lurking around the academy attempted to spy, and when Wei Zhi came to deliver Yan Yue's clean clothes, they easily broke the barrier on her room door. Yan Yue approached Wei Zhi and in his mind, he saw a scene of her wearing a wedding dress, feeling a sharp pain in his chest.

With just one glance, Yan Yue saw Wei Zhi's future: she was dressed in a red wedding gown, tears streaming down her face, and eventually perished in a sea of fire, causing him unbearable heartache. Upon learning this, Qing Huan warned Yan Yue not to let compassion cloud his judgment, as the fate of mortals was theirs to change. If Yan Yue insisted on interfering, he would face severe punishment according to heavenly rules. Yan Yue was well aware of the strict regulations, but he had no idea that Qing Huan was secretly tasked by the Heavenly Emperor to monitor his every move and prevent him from repeating past mistakes.

In the following days, the disciples officially began their training, while the demons from the demon realm kept a close watch, especially on Yan Yue's use of celestial spells. Wei Jingyue, still clinging to her spoiled behavior, bossed Wei Zhi around in front of everyone, only to be reprimanded by Yan Yue. Later, Yan Yue taught everyone the technique of teleportation, and Wei Lingyue, being exceptionally bright, quickly grasped its essentials.

It was because of this that Yan Yue mistakenly believed Wei Lingyue to be the phoenix and took her to the city wall to observe the suffering of the common people and guide her towards benevolence. Upon their return to the academy, Yan Yue assigned the disciples the task of copying the cultivation techniques and mantras a hundred times. The disciples complained, but they still obeyed their master's command.

As the others gradually left, Wei Jingyue intentionally assigned Wei Zhi the task of cleaning the entire academy, knowing that Ming Lang, who had witnessed her mistreatment, couldn't intervene. In the past, Ming Lang's father, Ming Chengwu, and the city lord, Gu Yuanshan, were close friends, and their children were betrothed to each other. However, in a case of rebellion, Gu Yuanshan and his father were wrongfully executed, and Lady Gu fled with her daughter, Gu Fengzhi, who later entered the Shangshu Mansion as a maid and changed her name to Wei Zhi. Now, they were reunited, but Wei Zhi didn't want to involve Ming Lang and they continued to pretend not to know each other.

The Wind God and the Thunder God reported to the Heavenly Emperor and the Heavenly Empress, bringing a joyful atmosphere with them. Xi Er brought pastries to lighten the serious mood. Yan Luo decided to stay in Yingzhou, but the Heavenly Emperor hoped he would stay in the heavenly realm. The Heavenly Empress knew her son had always enjoyed farming and weaving, so she helped persuade the Heavenly Emperor to grant Yan Luo's request. As Yan Luo's figure receded into the distance, the Heavenly Empress felt a complex mix of emotions. Recalling the visions she had seen before, she would rather see her son live a peaceful life without accomplishing anything, free from the treacherous center of power.

Wei Jingyue repeatedly caused trouble for Wei Zhi and often messed up her room, pushing Wei Zhi to her limit. She finally couldn't bear it and lashed out at Wei Jingyue, disregarding their respective positions as master and servant. Wei Lingyue, knowing her sister's spoiled and willful nature, apologized to Wei Zhi and offered to help with the laundry. As she looked at Yan Yue's clothes, memories of the scene on the city wall resurfaced, and she couldn't help but develop feelings for him.

Meanwhile, Yan Yue discussed Wei Lingyue with Qing Huan, but they couldn't determine if she was truly the phoenix. Although she had a pure spiritual root and exceptional talent, she might still be an ordinary person with extraordinary destiny. While they were talking, Yan Yue received a distress call from Xi Er. It turned out that Xi Er had accidentally entered the Pleasure Tower in search of good food, and Yan Yue had to rush to her aid.

Due to a heavenly decree prohibiting the use of immortal techniques to create silver coins, Yan Yue had to gamble to rescue Xi Er. As he left the Pleasure Tower, he ran into Wei Zhi, and faced with her misunderstanding, he couldn't defend himself. Yan Yue accompanied Wei Zhi on a shopping trip, and as he looked at her, he couldn't help but fantasize. Curious about her background, he asked Wei Zhi, who honestly revealed that she came from Gu City and had never been married.

Meanwhile, the Royal Tutor placed spies in the academy to search for the phoenix, and the person in question was the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Xiao Jin. The Noble Consort took advantage of the Emperor's seclusion to spend time with the Royal Tutor. The Royal Tutor's ambitions went beyond seizing the throne; he also desired the phoenix, aspiring to gain supreme power and rule over the three realms.

On their way back, Wei Zhi and Yan Yue were unexpectedly robbed by a child, and when they chased after him, they discovered that the child's mother had passed away. Wei Zhi begged Yan Yue to use his immortal powers to save her, but Yan Yue believed that life and death were predetermined and beyond the interference of others. Besides, everything was subject to change, and a true cultivator should remain unperturbed even if the sky were to collapse. However, Wei Zhi found his words heartless and accused him of being no different from the privileged aristocrats who had never experienced the hardships of life and knew nothing of the lowly existence of ants.

Those who are impoverished are like ants. Even though Yan Yue himself is in a situation similar to that of ants, he understands the hardships Wei Zhi has endured as a servant and encourages her, telling her that even ants can eventually shake trees. This greatly moves Wei Zhi, and under Yan Yue's guidance, she gradually becomes more accepting of the injustices in the world and calmly faces her own predicament.

That evening, when they returned to their room, Wei Zhi was surprised to find that it was clean and orderly. On the desk, there was a wooden box containing the four treasures of the study, which delighted her. On the other hand, Yan Yue went alone to the place where Wei Zhi had lived since she was young. He witnessed how Wei Ye was mocked and bullied by her companions due to poverty. Yan Yue finally understood Wei Zhi's thoughts and concerns. He then approached a young boy whose mother had passed away. Although he couldn't use magic to resurrect her, he could offer financial help by giving him some silver coins.

Yan Luo, accompanied by his fairy servant Da Tao, arrived at Yingzhou. To his surprise, the place was desolate and agriculture was in decline. A crisis was inevitable. In order to alleviate the current problem, Yan Luo entrusted the Fertile Soil to Da Tao, instructing her to take good care of Yingzhou and maintain the vitality of the Three Realms. Even if they couldn't reverse the decline, they could at least buy some time.

The Gu family did not cancel the engagement with the man's family. Instead, they took advantage of Wei Zhi's entry into the White Egret Academy to enhance her value and covet her family's assets. Naturally, the man's father did not want to give up Wei Zhi as his daughter-in-law. He immediately understood the intentions of the Gu family and presented a deed of the shop, promising that if Wei Zhi married into their family, he would give them the small embroidery workshop.

Wei Lingyue admired her master Yan Yue and personally washed his clothes, sewing two bamboo leaves to repair the damaged parts. However, Wei Lingyue was unable to break the barrier and couldn't open the door. At a critical moment, Wei Zhi brought a basin of water and helped her put the clothes inside. Watching Wei Zhi easily push open the door, Wei Lingyue felt amazed. Yan Yue used magic to erase the embroidery and reminded Wei Zhi to focus on the right path. If she came to the White Egret Academy, she should devote herself to studying and practicing.

The next day, during class, Wei Lingyue noticed that Yan Yue's embroidered robes had disappeared. She misunderstood that Wei Zhi had tampered with them and felt dissatisfied, although she didn't show it. Yan Yue created an illusion of wooden sparrows to test the disciples' agility. Wei Lingyue and Ming Lang successfully passed the test, while Wei Jingyue embarrassed herself in front of everyone. Wei Zhi was also unable to perform her magic properly. Yan Yue observed the situation and announced the end of the class, leaving Wei Zhi behind to check her progress.

Nowadays, everyone can use teleportation, but Wei Zhi is completely unfamiliar with it. Despite her diligent efforts, her talent is average, making her seem insignificant among the others. In order to help Wei Zhi improve quickly, Yan Yue took her to a tree and instructed her to practice according to the book's mantra. After Yan Yue left, Wei Jingyue deliberately knocked down the book with a slingshot, causing Wei Zhi to be laughed at by everyone. In the end, Wei Lingyue stepped forward to resolve the situation.

Under the influence of the Demon Lord's Demon Eye, Bao Liang came to Yan Yue's room with a vacant expression, intending to bribe him for better grades. Yan Yue noticed something was amiss and discovered that Bao Liang was surrounded by demonic energy. When Bao Liang attempted to attack him, Yan Yue expelled the demonic energy, causing the Demon Lord to retract his Demon Eye.

As a result, the escaping demonic energy stirred up a strong wind, causing Wei Zhi to accidentally fall from the tree. Fortunately, Yan Yue summoned a halo of light in time and saved her. This scene happened to be witnessed by Wei Lingyue, who felt somewhat suspicious. Without showing any gratitude, Wei Zhi slapped Yan Yue, angrily accusing him of being a celestial envoy who only played with mortals and never cared about their lives.

Wei Zhi's words had a profound impact on Yan Yue. When he returned to his room, he carefully contemplated the deeper meaning behind her words. Qing Huan, entrusted by Yan Yue, investigated Wei Zhi and confirmed that she was just an ordinary mortal with an average destiny. However, a great calamity would befall her in the near future. Yan Yue felt uneasy upon hearing this and instructed Qing Huan to inform the Heavenly Emperor about the Demon Clan's actions, advising the Demon Realm not to get too involved.

Ou Ya, the Wolf Tribe prince of the Demon Realm, and Lan Su, the Fox Tribe princess, were about to marry. Considering the difficulties in the reproduction of female demons, only the Phoenix Tail Feather could activate their bloodline and change the crisis in the Demon Realm's reproduction. Therefore, they decided to infiltrate the academy in search of the true phoenix. Yan Yue taught a new lesson called "Creating Something from Nothing," which allowed them to transform various objects out of thin air. He emphasized the importance of memorizing and studying the technique repeatedly to prevent the influence of one's state of mind on the results of the spell.

Ou Ya disguised himself as a senior brother and infiltrated the academy, using his sense of smell to search for the trace of the phoenix. With his smooth talk and handsome appearance, he pleased many female disciples and took the opportunity to investigate their backgrounds. Wei Jingyue was attracted to Ou Ya and felt ecstatic, but when she saw that everyone else received flowers from Ou Ya, she couldn't help but feel angry and concluded that he was a scumbag who flirted with everyone.

Later, Ou Ya used wine to intoxicate Ming Lang and the others, discovering that none of them were the phoenix he was looking for. Only Wei Zhi and Wei Lingyue had not been approached yet, but Wei Zhi unexpectedly saw through his disguise. Ou Ya thought that Wei Zhi, with her average talent, being able to see demons and monsters, indicated that she had a mixed human-demon bloodline. And Wei Zhi believed it to be true.

After Wei Zhi left, Ou Ya caught a scent of birds and followed it, only to find Wei Lingyue. At first, Ou Ya speculated that Wei Lingyue might be the phoenix, but he felt that the scent leaned more towards a mountain chicken. Meanwhile, Wei Zhi was doing laundry in the courtyard and was about to fetch water from the water tank when she was unknowingly possessed by the Demon Eye.

The next day, Yan Yue assessed everyone's progress in practicing magic. Each person produced different objects, but only Wei Lingyue transformed a phoenix feather. The Demon Lord controlled Wei Zhi to attack Wei Lingyue, and just as Yan Yue was about to intervene, a scene of celestial and demonic battle appeared, and a sword pierced his chest, causing him great pain.

In the end, Yan Yue couldn't bear the discomfort and fought the Demon Lord remotely, completely expelling the demonic energy from Wei Zhi. As a result, Wei Lingyue and Wei Zhi were injured and unconscious. They brought Wei Lingyue back to the room, and Wei Jingyue stayed by her bedside to take care of her. Wei Jingyue noticed Ming Lang looking worriedly at her third sister and asked him to leave.

Yan Yue treated Wei Zhi's injuries alone, but he suffered a backlash and coughed up blood. His physical body soaked in a bathtub while his divine soul ascended to the heavenly palace to retrieve healing jade. The guards of the heavenly court sensed the situation was not good and the old guard revealed to the new guard a little-known past, saying that this was the second time he had seen the divine soul of the Crimson Sun God. The last time was when the god descended to the mortal realm for a karmic love affair and had a fateful connection with the phoenix, which led to the celestial-demonic war.

Although Yan Yue's divine soul returned, his physical body was damaged and it took thousands of years to merge the spiritual and physical aspects. Therefore, the old guard speculated that something major would happen this time. Qing Huan also had unresolved doubts and believed that the phoenix matter was of great importance. She questioned why they didn't directly send troops or recall Yan Yue but instead assigned other immortals to deal with it. The Heavenly Emperor stated that everything in the Three Realms had its predetermined course, and Yan Yue's entanglement with the phoenix was difficult to escape.

When Wei Lingyue woke up and inquired about Yan Yue's condition, she insisted on visiting him despite her younger sister's objections. She happened to see Wei Zhi kissing Yan Yue, which ignited her jealousy. In fact, Wei Zhi noticed that Yan Yue had no breath and mistakenly thought he had lost his life while saving her. Regardless of gender differences, she performed artificial respiration to save him. Yan Yue's divine soul returned to his body, opening his eyes in astonishment, and Wei Zhi felt ashamed and left.

Because Wei Zhi was manipulated by the Demon Clan to attack Wei Lingyue, and it was confirmed that Wei Lingyue possibly had phoenix bloodline, everyone despised Wei Zhi, even Ming Lang watched her being bullied without intervening. Hearing the criticism from those around her, Wei Zhi recalled the tragic death of her father and grandfather and began to question whether she was the cause of their deaths, bringing suffering to her mother.

At a critical moment, Yan Yue suddenly appeared and helped Wei Zhi up, warning everyone that within the academy, they should not distinguish between seniority and rank but understand the importance of unity and not engage in deception and infighting. Considering that Wei Lingyue was highly likely to be the phoenix, Yan Yue arranged for her to be protected in a separate courtyard with a barrier. His special care made Wei Lingyue misunderstand his intentions.

Yan Yue had long discovered the presence of demonic energy within the academy, saw through Ou Yang's invisibility, and threw him out of the White Egret Academy. Wei Zhi felt guilty towards Wei Lingyue and brought her a pot of soup, but Wei Lingyue ignored it and locked herself inside her room. That night, a thunderstorm raged, and Wei Zhi sat outside Wei Lingyue's room until the dean, Jing Xiu, arrived with an umbrella in front of her.

Wei Zhi confessed to Jing Xiu that she had been different from others since she was young, often seeing demons and spirits that others couldn't see. She believed that Wei Lingyue's attack was also due to her own reasons and begged Jing Xiu to teach her immortal techniques to rid herself of these abnormalities. She would rather live a peaceful life as an ordinary person.

Jing Xiu expressed his inability to help and tried to enlighten Wei Zhi, suggesting that these abnormalities were not evil powers but rather a part of her destiny. Instead of seeing fate as a restriction, it could be understood as a responsibility. Unfortunately, Wei Zhi found it difficult to understand his words at the moment. Jing Xiu noticed the jade chain on Wei Zhi's hand and asked about her relationship with the former city lord, Gu Huai Xuan. Wei Zhi withheld some information about it.

Back in her room, Wei Zhi stared at the jade chain in a daze, recalling how she had always been misunderstood by her mother whenever she banished evil spirits since she was young. Every time she made a big mistake, her grandfather, Gu Huai Xuan, would step in to calm the situation. Gu Huai Xuan knew that his granddaughter had an extraordinary background, but he had never treated her differently. He even gave her the jade chain that belonged to the head of the family in each generation, instructing her to wear it at all times and control her temper to avoid trouble.

Yan Yue sought out Qing Huan and mentioned his old chest injury, noticing that it had been recurring frequently since he descended to the mortal realm. Qing Huan knew the truth but chose to be evasive, comforting Yan Yue and suggesting that he shouldn't think too much about it. The top priority was to focus on selecting the phoenix, and Wei Lingyue was currently the most likely candidate with phoenix bloodline.

Minister Wei voluntarily approached Wei Lingyue, briefly inquired about her injury, and then got straight to the point. He wanted to take her back and give up cultivation. Wei Lingyue firmly refused, well aware that her father had always favored her younger sister, Wei Jingyue. Only by becoming the phoenix and bringing honor to the Wei family could she prove her worth.

In the end, the father and daughter parted ways unhappily. Wei Jingyue rushed over upon hearing the commotion, believing that her third sister, Wei Lingyue, was the true phoenix. Although Wei Jingyue also had aspirations to become the phoenix, she cared more about Wei Lingyue in her heart. She boldly declared that anyone who dared to obstruct Wei Lingyue would be eliminated, as nothing was more important than her sister. Wei Lingyue felt deeply touched upon hearing this.

Within the academy, Wei Zhi encountered Ou Ya once again and urged him to leave quickly to avoid being caught by the dean. Inadvertently, Wei Zhi, who had taken off the jade chain, unknowingly captivated Ou Ya, reminding him of the clan leader's advice to hold on to a woman who moved his heart. After realizing the situation, Ou Ya was shocked and scared, quickly turning around and running away, leaving Wei Zhi confused and puzzled.

At this time, the Demon Lord infiltrated the academy in search of Wei Lingyue. Wei Zhi discovered his presence and was choked by the Demon Lord while trying to protect Wei Lingyue. Her life was hanging by a thread. However, Wei Lingyue refused to come out of her room, partly out of fear and Jing Xiu's advice, and partly to take this opportunity to eliminate Wei Zhi, her love rival.

Fortunately, Yan Yue appeared in time and saved Wei Zhi. He engaged in a battle with the Demon Lord, and the two were evenly matched. The disciples rushed over, but they couldn't intervene. Suddenly, the Demon Lord received news about Huo Rong's incident and immediately stopped the fight and left. Yan Yue, convinced that Wei Lingyue was the phoenix, arranged for Wei Zhi to stay in her room and scolded her for overestimating her abilities, punishing her by copying the immortal scriptures a hundred times.

The Demon Lord searched for Huo Rong's whereabouts and discovered that it was actually Yi Er who had mistakenly entered the Demon Realm and took Huo Rong as the fire seed. Since Huo Rong had been damaged, Yi Er quickly tried to appease the Demon Lord's anger by claiming that she could restore Huo Rong to its original state. Yi Er had the Demon Lord transform into an ordinary-looking immortal and took him to the Yan Zhou Mihun Grand Peach, obtaining some vital soil from it to restore Huo Rong.

Xiao Jin reported the situation to the Minister as usual. In order to prevent the academy from selecting the phoenix bloodline, the Minister decided to send a book named "Ming Cheng Wu" to the capital as soon as possible to achieve their goals through internal and external coordination. The academy held an assessment for outstanding disciples every year during the Mid-Autumn Festival, and everyone was busy cultivating for it, including Wei Zhi. Ou Ya secretly visited her and couldn't understand why he felt sad and upset when she was injured, knowing that she wasn't the phoenix.

Yan Yue cared about Wei Zhi's injuries and brought her spiritual pills and miraculous medicine. On the other hand, Wei Zhi felt depressed despite everyone's encouragement. She went to the lakeside, drank wine, and danced gracefully, only to find herself in Yan Yue's embrace with a simple turn. Leaning against Yan Yue's shoulder, she looked at the night scenery and murmured to herself. Instead of pushing her away, Yan Yue smiled knowingly.

The early morning sun rose, but Wei Zhi remained in a deep sleep. Seeing this, Yan Yue used magic to delay the sunrise and cast a gentle morning light. Yi Er resurrected Huo Rong using the Life Soil and, when questioned by the Demon Lord, falsely claimed that Qing Huan had transformed into Penglai Immortal Messenger. The Demon Lord didn't believe her and imprisoned Yi Er, demanding that she reveal how to sneak into the Demon Realm and steal Huo Rong without anyone noticing. Knowing that she could easily immobilize the guards in the Demon Realm with her magic, Yi Er decided not to mention their weakness, fearing punishment.

Despite the attack by the Demon Clan on Bai Lu Academy, the Minister didn't inform the Emperor, and instead requested an imperial decree to proceed with the Mid-Autumn Assessment as planned. Parents of the disciples were invited to attend the feast. Yan Yue couldn't understand this decision, but Jing Xiu saw through the worldly affairs and believed that holding the Mid-Autumn gathering during the Demon Clan's attack would help stabilize people's hearts. He entrusted Yan Yue to protect the students' safety.

Just as Jing Xiu left, Qing Huan suddenly appeared and criticized Yan Yue, as the God Sovereign, for delaying the sunrise. Qing Huan believed that mortal lives were fleeting, and any attempt to change fate using immortal arts went against the will of heaven. He warned Yan Yue that such actions would result in punishment or even heavenly condemnation.

Da Tao woke up and informed Yan Luo of the situation. He blamed himself for failing to guard properly and was willing to take responsibility. Yan Luo felt that since the incident had already happened, there was no need to delve deeper. However, Da Tao volunteered to fertilize the land throughout the entire Yingzhou region. After finishing their daily lessons, Yan Yue distributed the invitations to the disciples, instructing them to inform their parents to attend the banquet.

Ou Ya spent the whole day hiding and watching Wei Lingyue from the wall. Although she was beautiful and had the aura of a bird clan member, she had no attraction to him. She couldn't compare to Wei Zhi, who had ordinary talent. Jing Xiu found an invitation that Wei Zhi had dropped in the classroom and personally handed it to her, unaware of the strained relationship between Wei Zhi and her mother.

Ming Cheng Wu arrived in the capital and visited the Minister. From the Minister's words, it was clear that he wanted Ming Lang to win the first place and be named the phoenix. The Ming family had guarded the border for many years and had long desired to come to the capital to seek higher power. Ming Lang mentioned Wei Lingyue to his father, intending to propose a marriage alliance between the two families. However, Ming Cheng Wu reminded him to maintain their friendship as classmates and not have any other thoughts.

Feeling down, Ming Lang went to Wei Zhi to confide in her. Wei Zhi comforted him, telling him not to be discouraged and that he and Wei Lingyue were a perfect match. Unfortunately, their conversation was overheard by Wei Jingyue, who harbored resentment. On the other hand, Minister Wei had already learned of the collusion between the Minister and Ming Cheng Wu and planned to use this opportunity to make his daughter realize the futility of her aspirations.

After much hesitation, Wei Zhi decided to return home to persuade her mother to attend the Mid-Autumn feast. Lady Guo sternly refused her and even stepped on the cloud cake she had brought, locking her up in a shed to be sent to her husband's family. Shortly after, Jing Xiu arrived at Wei Zhi's home and immediately recognized Lady Guo, but their reunion was filled with disappointment.

Years ago, when Jing Xiu traveled the world, he met Guo Cheng and Guo Huai Xuan in Guo City, and they had a pleasant conversation. Before leaving, Jing Xiu saw young Wei Zhi and still remembered the jade bracelet on her wrist. This is why he was convinced that Wei Zhi was connected to the Guo family. Lady Guo told Jing Xiu about the tragic extermination of their clan. The Emperor, deceived by false accusations, blamed the drought on Wei Zhi and ordered her to be sacrificed to pray for rain.

The family packed their belongings that night, intending to take Wei Zhi and leave. However, they were surrounded by soldiers. Guo Huai Yuan and his son were shot while protecting Wei Zhi, and in her anger, she awakened her Phoenix bloodline. Everyone present perished, except for Lady Guo. Since then, Lady Guo traveled with Wei Zhi to various places and finally settled in Yu Capital, where she gave birth to Wei Ye. Although Lady Guo knew Wei Zhi was her own flesh and blood, it was difficult for her to let go of the resentment for the loss of their entire clan caused by her daughter.

As Chun Wu's condition worsened, Gu Shi took the initiative to visit Chun Ye and proposed an immediate marriage between Wei Zhi and the Chun family to bring joy to the household. Chun Ye was overjoyed and promised to make all the necessary preparations to welcome Wei Zhi into the family. However, just as Gu Shi left, Chun Wu's illness suddenly took a turn for the worse, and the planned celebration turned into a funeral.

The siblings in the clan blamed Chun Ye for being too hasty and criticized him for hastily preparing the marriage gifts, resulting in a loss of personal wealth. While Chun Ye and his brothers were brainstorming for a solution, a mysterious person appeared and offered a solution. She stated that even if the groom passed away, the bride still had to fulfill the marriage contract. As for the Chun family, they didn't need to worry about the authorities as she had already made all the arrangements.

With no other options, Wei Zhi sought help from Ming Lang, but he was also at a loss. In order to prevent Wei Lingyue from misunderstanding him, he turned against Wei Zhi on the spot. Desperate and unable to find anyone suitable to help, Wei Zhi begged Yan Yue for assistance, but he responded that everyone had their own fate and needed to follow it. He was seen as heartless and indifferent by Wei Zhi for standing idly by.

As Wei Zhi left disappointed, Yan Yue suddenly felt a dull pain in his chest and repeatedly thought about Wei Zhi's words. That night, Jing Xiu went to the Purple Hua Book Pavilion to find the Chief Elder Mu and wanted to learn about the special properties of the jade bracelet that Wei Zhi wore. Mu Elder never made losing deals and usually required an equal exchange. If Jing Xiu could return to his own body, he would provide any information free of charge. However, Jing Xiu refused the offer.

When Gu Shi heard that the Chun family wanted to bury her daughter alive, she regretted her decision to cancel the marriage years ago. But when the Chun family sent people to cause trouble, Wei Zhi was kidnapped. Gu Shi then went to the government office with Wei Ye to seek justice, but the officials were bribed by the Chun family and threw her into the dungeon.

As the funeral procession made its way outside the city, Wei Zhi, inside the burial sedan, remembered her grandfather's dying words and took off the pearl bracelet on her hand, activating her bloodline. As flames started to rise from the sedan, Yan Yue appeared out of thin air and carried Wei Zhi back to Bai Lu Academy.

Through this incident, Wei Zhi confirmed that Yan Yue was not an ordinary person. Yan Yue flew with Wei Zhi on a cloud and encouraged her not to be disheartened because she was not a jinx as others claimed. She was a student of Bai Lu Academy and his own personal disciple.

Jing Xiu personally went to the government office to release Gu Shi and her son, assuring her that Wei Zhi was safe and urging her to let go of the past. Gu Shi understood that she had made too many mistakes in the past, so she gradually let go of her resentment towards her daughter and prayed for her to cultivate well in the academy, thanking Jing Xiu for his efforts.

Yi Er roamed freely in the Demon Realm and found luminous mushrooms to cook. She wanted to invite the Demon Lord to taste them, but the next moment, she fainted. After being examined by a demon doctor, it was determined that Yi Er had been poisoned by the food. Although luminous mushrooms were a rare delicacy in the Demon Realm, they were highly toxic to immortals. At present, her life was in danger, and only the Nian Bi Lingzhi could counteract the poison.

Since the Nian Bi Lingzhi was extremely rare and had never grown in the Demon Realm, the Demon Lord personally went to Mu Elder to ask for the antidote. However, he discovered a secret related to the word "qing" (emotion) in the exchange proposed by Mu Elder and decided to offer his own smile as a trade. After Yi Er woke up, she vaguely remembered that the Demon Lord had given her the antidote and felt deeply grateful, silently vowing to repay his favor in the future.

At this time, the Heavenly Empress appeared in the Demon Realm and took Yi Er back to the Heavenly Palace. She reprimanded her for her indulgence and for daring to secretly descend to the mortal realm and tamper with the laws of time, which could potentially lead to punishment for the entire universe. The Heavenly Empress' maternal clan has been in charge of time since the beginning of Heaven and Earth, and their responsibility relied on adhering to the celestial rules and keeping secrets. Therefore, as a way to fulfill her obligations to her clan, she ordered Yi Er to be confined and reflect on her actions.

Wei Zhi returned to the academy and was stopped by Wei Jingyue on her way back, who questioned her and bluntly stated that their master had saved her. Upon hearing this, Wei Jingyue was furious and accused Wei Zhi of lacking shame and seducing two men. Seeing this scene, Wei Lingyue felt jealous, and the two of them developed a deep grudge against each other.

Ou Ya had been waiting for Wei Zhi in his room and complained that she didn't seek his help when she had a problem. Wei Zhi couldn't be bothered to explain and simply drove him away. Lan Su noticed that Ou Ya had developed feelings for someone else and wanted to cause trouble for Wei Zhi. Ou Ya quickly stopped Lan Su and warned her not to harm Wei Zhi in the slightest.

Due to Yan Yue changing the fate of others without authorization, committing an unforgivable crime against the celestial laws, the Heavenly Emperor had no choice but to punish him severely according to the law, stripping him of two hundred years of spiritual power and temporarily sealing half of his cultivation. Qing Huan privately reported the situation in the mortal realm to the Heavenly Emperor, stating that Wei Lingyue had exceptional talent and was different from others. However, due to the deep-seated Phoenix bloodline, it was still impossible to accurately determine her potential. Therefore, Qing Huan planned to include a test specifically targeting the Phoenix's characteristics in the Mid-Autumn Assessment. However, the Heavenly Emperor felt that these questions were too simple and instructed Qing Huan to add another level of difficulty.

Meanwhile, Yan Yue recounted what he had seen and heard in the mortal realm to the Heavenly Empress, hoping she could provide him with answers. The Heavenly Empress believed that these scenes were not from the future but fragments of the past. For some reason, Yan Yue had intersected with these fragments, making his situation unpredictable.

On the eve of the Mid-Autumn Assessment, Yan Yue and Jing Xiu announced the rules to the disciples. Everyone would be grouped by drawing lots, with two people who drew the same constellation forming a team. Wei Jingyue intentionally switched Wei Zhi's sign, successfully forming a team with Ming Lang, while Wei Zhi and Wei Lingyue became teammates.

Wei Zhi didn't want to burden Wei Lingyue during the assessment and hoped that Yan Yue could help her change teams. Sensing Wei Zhi's concern, Yan Yue decided to teach her the "Sun Crown" technique, reminding her that it could save her life in dangerous or critical moments. As Yan Yue demonstrated the technique, Wei Zhi became fascinated and attempted to summon the Sun Crown, but ended up surrounding both of them, creating an ambiguous atmosphere.

During the Mid-Autumn Assessment, the atmosphere at Bai Lu Academy was lively. The fathers of the disciples got to know each other, and Wei Lingyue's father generously gave each person ten thousand silver. Guo Shi met privately with Yan Yue, wanting to recommend a suitable candidate to be crowned as the Phoenix. Yan Yue firmly stated that the Phoenix was chosen by destiny and couldn't be determined by anyone's will.

To avoid trouble for her daughter, Gu Shi didn't bring Wei Ye to the Mid-Autumn Assessment. Yan Yue, accompanied by eighteen disciples, arrived at the hall and announced the assessment's content to the parents. The assessment would take place in an illusory tower that materialized out of thin air. The groups entered the tower one after another and were soon transported to an unknown desolate mountainous area. Yan Yue's voice echoed through the surroundings.

The tower was divided into three levels, with the first level being the gathering hall where the disciples were located. Each higher level represented a higher level of difficulty, and only by reaching the third level and passing three tests could they reach the top of the tower and be declared the winners. Although the challenges within the tower were illusory, they could cause real harm or even death. Therefore, Yan Yue distributed flight charms to everyone, allowing them to safely leave the environment by breaking the charm if they encountered insurmountable difficulties or wanted to withdraw from the assessment.

However, as soon as the assessment began, two groups chose to withdraw. These individuals were those who had received benefits from their fathers. At this moment, a senior disciple reminded everyone that leaving the forest before the incense burned out would be considered passing the first challenge, otherwise, they would face unpredictable consequences. However, the first challenge's forest was filled with dense mist, and despite walking in a large circle, everyone ended up back where they started.

Wei Zhi noticed that the senior disciple seemed somewhat strange, and she instantly realized that he was a troublemaker. As expected, the senior disciple revealed his true form and informed Wei Zhi that he was the guardian spirit of the tower, responsible for protecting the flowers and trees inside. Wei Zhi subtly tried to find out a way to leave the forest, and suddenly thought of using flight.

Everyone was still spinning in place in the forest, but only Wei Zhi thought of a way to get out. She suggested that everyone try using the teleportation technique taught by the master, and it worked smoothly. On the other hand, the Baoliang group got lost and chose to quit out of fear, causing Liu Chang to lose his qualification for the assessment. Liu Chang angrily scolded Baoliang as a coward, and his father stepped forward and slapped him, apologizing to Baoliang's father for the incident.

In the blink of an eye, the second challenge was an endless sea. Wei Lingyue guessed that this should be the Weak Water Barrier, where any spell would be difficult to cast. While they were talking, the demonic mist quietly approached. Wei Lingyue exclaimed that it was not good, as this mist invasion easily triggered inner demons, making it impossible for people to concentrate.

With the Weak Water in front and the demonic mist behind, everyone was trapped and had nowhere to go. Wei Zhi remembered what Talin had said and decided to turn back towards the direction of the mist, risking their lives. As a result, two more groups chose to give up. Those who entered the mist each triggered different inner demons.

Wei Jingyue liked Ming Lang and felt sad seeing Ming Lang fall in love with her sister. Ming Lang wanted to be the top scorer in the assessment, but he couldn't bear to harm Wei Lingyue and would rather be stabbed to death by her sword. Wei Lingyue became the Phoenix as she wished, earning the admiration of many people. However, when she was in a high position, she suddenly faced questioning from Yan Yue and instantly came out of the environment.

In the end, everyone relied on the Heart Protection Technique to pass through the Weak Water Barrier. Wei Lingyue felt puzzled in her heart, thinking that Wei Zhi's success was not just luck and that he probably had a hidden secret. However, the assessment was full of danger, with people being eliminated or quitting constantly. By the third challenge, only Wei Zhi, Ming Lang, and the Wei Lingyue sisters remained.

The four of them entered a land of ice and snow. At first, they could withstand the cold wind, but later it became difficult to bear. Wei Zhi was completely unaffected and kept Wei Lingyue warm like a human furnace. Seeing Wei Jingyue freeze and faint, almost losing her life, Ming Lang hesitated but ultimately gave the only life-saving elixir to Wei Jingyue. Then the two of them withdrew from the assessment.

The master felt dissatisfied with the situation, but Ming Lang's act of kindness was appreciated by the others present, even in defeat. Everyone initially thought the assessment would soon be over, but Qing Huan unexpectedly set up more challenges, intending to have Wei Lingyue and Wei Zhi compete against each other. In order to win, Wei Lingyue ruthlessly attacked Wei Zhi, causing the jade chain to break and fall to the ground. Just as Yan Yue was about to intervene, the magnificent scene of the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix suddenly appeared, and everyone believed that Wei Lingyue was the Phoenix. Yan Yue protected her.

The results of today's Mid-Autumn Festival obviously did not meet the expectations of the master, but he couldn't deceive the emperor and had to report the truth. Wei, the Minister, no longer opposed his daughter becoming the Phoenix and sighed that the situation was already settled, promising to do everything he could to protect her. Wei Lingyue was very happy and promised that once she was crowned as the Phoenix, she would serve Dayu and seek the well-being of the people.

Late at night, Wei Zhi sat alone in the room repairing the jade chain. She faintly heard some movement outside but couldn't see anyone when she opened the door. Yan Yue personally strengthened the barrier for Wei Lingyue, advising her not to go out for the time being. Wei Lingyue wanted to persuade Yan Yue to enjoy the Mid-Autumn Festival together, but she was rejected. Qing Huan, who had been waiting for Yan Yue for a long time, admitted that the additional challenges were the will of the Emperor. As for why the Phoenix was not sent to the Heavenly Court for protection, he concealed something and didn't explicitly say it.

An assassin sneaked into the room intending to assassinate Wei Zhi, but fortunately, Ou Ya arrived in time and killed the assassin. Wei Zhi sensed that her family was in danger and indeed saw another assassin targeting her mother and younger brother. Gu Shi bluntly said that he had long suspected Ming Chengwu of framing the old city lord, but unfortunately, there was no evidence. Yan Yue took Wei Zhi to the Ming Residence and gave her a magic weapon for protection. Despite all the clues pointing to Ming Chengwu, even Ming Lang vaguely guessed the truth of the old case, but unexpectedly, Ming Chengwu died of accidental poisoning.

Yan Yue and Wei Zhi sensed that something happened in the Ming Residence, but by the time they arrived, it was too late. Ming Chengwu had died of poisoning, and Ming Lang was captured by the soldiers. When Yan Yue brought Wei Zhi back to the academy, they noticed something strange about the barrier. The Dean, Jing Xiu, explained that Gu Shi had been ordered to bring Wei Lingyue to the palace.

On her way to the audience with the emperor, Wei Lingyue was intercepted by the Demon Clan's leader, who killed many guards and took her to the Demon Realm. He referred to her as his sister and brought her back to their old city to reveal the past. Wei Lingyue had no recollection, but the Demon Clan leader was unconcerned because he believed that once she merged with Huarong, her memories would return.

According to the Demon Clan leader, Huarong was the fragment of the Phoenix's soul that fell into a flower bud after its demise. It had been passed down for thousands of years, waiting for the Phoenix to awaken again. The Demon Clan leader then brought Wei Lingyue back to the Demon Realm, where she was hailed as the Holy Maiden and guided step by step towards Huarong. However, during the process, Wei Lingyue and Huarong repelled each other, revealing her true form as a peacock. The Demon Clan leader was furious.

Xiao Jin rushed to the academy with shocking news that Ming Chengwu had committed suicide out of fear, and Ming Lang was taken away to prison by the soldiers. The reason behind this was that Ming Chengwu had hired an assassin to attack Wei Zhi and her family. The crowd was in an uproar, and they looked at Wei Zhi, who was standing behind Xiao Jin. Wei Jingyue was worried about Ming Lang's safety and accused Wei Zhi of being a disaster.

Dean Jing Xiu intervened to stop Wei Jingyue, expressing his desire to avoid internal conflicts among the disciples at this time and not let the outside turmoil disturb their studies. Jing Xiu informed everyone that there would be soldiers stationed at the academy in the near future, and he and Yan Yue would take turns patrolling to ensure everyone's safety.

The Demon Clan leader was angry that Wei Lingyue had deceived him by pretending to be the Phoenix. He devised a plan to lure Yan Yue and rescue Wei Lingyue. Wei Jingyue once again confronted Wei Zhi, first breaking the jade chain she often wore and then splashing sulfuric acid on her. In a fit of anger, Wei Zhi activated her Phoenix bloodline, and a red light soared into the sky, attracting the attention of everyone, even the three realms.

Yan Yue realized that the red light was the aura of the Phoenix and quickly turned to look at Wei Lingyue, who appeared panicked, confirming his earlier suspicions. As Yan Yue hurried towards the direction of the red light, Wei Lingyue's mind was in chaos, and she suddenly remembered Wei Zhi's unusual behavior, incredulously guessing that she was the Phoenix.

The other disciples thought something had happened to Wei Zhi and wanted to rush into the room to save her but were killed by the Demon Clan leader. The Demon Clan leader tried to forcibly take Wei Zhi away, but she was terrified of the demon in front of her and kept evading him. Just as Wei Zhi confronted the Demon Clan leader, Yan Yue and Jing Xiu arrived in haste. However, Yan Yue's powers were sealed by the Heavenly Emperor, making him no match for the Demon Clan leader.

Because of this, everyone present knew that Wei Zhi was the true Phoenix. In a critical moment, Wei Zhi's Phoenix bloodline erupted, transforming her into her true form and taking Yan Yue away. The Demon Clan leader tried to stop them but could only watch as the Phoenix flew away, vividly recalling scenes from their past, witnessing the destruction of their country and family as Princess Wei Zhi wore a red bridal gown.

When Wei Zhi woke up and saw Ou Ya looking worried, she noticed that Yan Yue was severely injured and temporarily lost the ability to protect her. Considering that the Demon Clan would soon come after them, Ou Ya took them to hide in the Demon Realm for recovery. Wei Zhi settled Yan Yue in a room to rest while Ou Ya prepared a bath for Wei Zhi, allowing her to freshen up and change clothes.

Meanwhile, Qing Huan, feeling guilty for failing his mission, went to the Heavenly Emperor to confess. The Heavenly Emperor didn't delve deep into the matter and commanded Qing Huan to find Yan Yue's whereabouts as soon as possible. Yan Yue woke up from a nightmare and saw Ou Ya in the courtyard. He was about to inquire about Wei Zhi when he noticed that she had finished bathing and changed into new clothes, which brightened his eyes. Lan Su criticized Ou Ya for not randomly bringing others into the Demon Realm, especially not getting involved with the Phoenix's affairs. Ou Ya quickly explained to Lan Su to prevent her from reporting to the Demon King.