The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

"Zhizhi, is that the Immortal Medicine Garden?"

Si Xingxuan's voice trembled slightly.

He strode to the glass railing of the celestial palace, placed his hands on the cool railing, and leaned down to look down.

One glance, and my breath caught in my throat.

The sacred land stretches out, as if someone had carefully crushed the moonlight from the heavens and sprinkled it evenly over this ancient land.

The light was not a blinding white, but a gentle, flowing light of life.

Layer upon layer, silently permeating the entire garden.

The garden is filled with layers of exotic flowers and rare plants, so rich in spiritual energy that it almost becomes tangible.

It was neither mist nor smoke, but rather like transparent silk ribbons, drifting slowly among the flowers and leaves.

It entwines around every petal and every vein of the stem.

"Starfall Mushroom".

He murmured the name, his gaze falling on a spirit herb that was entirely silvery-white, with starlight swirling around the edges of its leaves.

"Glass fruit."

Then they moved to the small tree next to them that bore amber-colored fruit with a translucent, glass-like peel.

"Frosty Grass".

Then look at a clump of pale blue grass not far away, covered with a thin layer of frost and swaying gently in the still air.

There are also hundreds of other medicinal herbs.

The garden was densely covered with ancient treasures that he had only seen in the fragments of the "Compendium of All Things" and read about in the oldest books of the Divine Medicine Valley, but had never seen with his own eyes.

They grow quietly in the sacred soil, the dew on their leaves reflecting a halo of light, like shattered diamonds scattered on jade.

The aroma of herbs drifted up on the breeze from the clouds, clear, sweet, and cool.

Intertwined and entwined, it is refreshing and delightful.

Just one sniff and you'll feel refreshed.

"Yes, that's the Immortal Medicine Garden."

Tang Xixue's voice came from beside him, calm as still water.

Her gaze slowly swept over the spiritual herbs, a hint of amazement flashing in her eyes.

That dazzling light was reflected in her clear eyes, as if someone had scattered a handful of tiny stars in them.

But that light only lingered for a moment before being enveloped by a deeper stillness.

She quickly averted her gaze, pulling her eyes away from the dazzling, enchanting fairyland.

It wasn't that those elixirs didn't appeal to her.

On the contrary, as the Heavenly Physician of Destiny, she understood the value of this garden better than anyone else.

That was a fortune that could drive any healer in the Nine Provinces mad, and even make the Divine Medicine Valley pool all its resources to obtain it.

But she had more important things to do and more important people waiting for her.

Even the most precious elixir could not change her mind about where she was headed.

"Shall we go pick some medicinal herbs?"

Si Xingxuan turned to look at her, and her eyes, which were always shrouded in the misty fog of Jiangnan, were now surprisingly bright.

His voice carried an unusual urgency, as well as a cautious expectation, as if he were holding a fragile glass lamp, afraid that the wind would blow it out.

"Perhaps you'll find the Vein-Regenerating Grass... and also, the Elixir that can make me live even longer."

He lowered his head, his voice becoming even softer.

"Zhizhi, I've never wanted to live as much as I do right now."

Now weaving exists in this world.

This one reason alone was enough for him not to want to die so soon.

He wanted a healthy body and a long life.

I want to stand by her side, longer and longer.

Not with a weak and sickly body, nor with a short lifespan.

Rather, it's about being able to truly shelter her from the wind and rain, and to accompany her across the vast lands of China.

"I used to think that it didn't matter how long I lived."

He smiled, a smile as faint as the morning mist, about to dissipate with a gust of wind.

"Anyway, there's nothing in this world worth clinging to. No matter how big the Seven Generations Pavilion becomes, mountains of gold and silver are nothing but fleeting clouds. No matter how much medicine you take, it's just keeping you hanging on by a thread."

"Things are different now."

He raised his head and looked at Tangxi Xue again.

It's about laying bare your vulnerabilities in front of someone, waiting for their response, waiting for their answer.

Tang Xixue glanced at the Immortal Medicine Garden.

That radiant fairyland was reflected in her clear eyes; the soft light of the spiritual soil, the brilliance of the spiritual herbs, and the fragrance of medicine all flowed slowly in her eyes.

Then, she looked away, glanced at Si Xingxuan, and shook her head.

"Zheyue, go and pick it. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; don't miss it."

Her voice was calm and firm, without the slightest hesitation.

"But I must return to Yaoguang City. Someone is waiting for me there."

She looked up into the distance. The night was as dark as ink, and a faint silver-blue light flickered on the horizon—the light of the city's protective array.

"It's already dark."

She didn't know what Yaoguang City was like now.

Once the city's protective formation is activated, will it be too late?

Are the people she cares about still safe and well?

"Zhizhi, I..."

Si Xingxuan was stunned.

He opened his mouth, as if to say something.

I want to say "I'll go with you," I want to say "I won't pick them anymore," I want to say "Don't leave me alone."

He wanted to stay with her, never leaving her side.

But when he met her gaze, he swallowed all those words.

There was no hesitation, no reluctance in those eyes, only the unwavering determination that once someone has decided on a direction, they will never change it.

She can pause for him, say an extra word for him, and spare a moment of tenderness from her busy schedule.

But she couldn't change the direction she was going for him.

Si Xingxuan remained silent for a moment.

Then, he let go.

It wasn't the kind of letting go out of spite, but a slow, reluctant, yet willing letting go.

He lowered his head and smiled, a smile that contained disappointment, heartache, and an undisguised admiration.

This is Tangxi Snow.

What he has always loved is this kind of snow in Tangxi.

Of course, perhaps he would like her no matter what she was like.

In his heart, she was good no matter what.

"OK."

Si Xingxuan curved her lips into a smile, a bright and crisp one, as if the slight disappointment she had just felt had never existed.

"You go. Leave the herb garden to me."

Anyway, what he picked belonged to her.

He didn't want her to miss this rare opportunity.

Everything he has belongs to her.

Since she doesn't have time, then he will. They can't let this immense wealth slip through their fingers.

When it came to serious matters, both of them remained very calm and decisive.

One was going to the battlefield, and the other was staying in the Immortal Garden. Each had their own direction and their own responsibilities.

"Are you sure you can manage on your own?"

Tang Xixue asked a question, her gaze falling on his slender figure, with an undisguised concern.

Si Xingxuan raised an eyebrow, a hint of arrogance appearing on his pale yet delicate face.

"Zhizhi, what are you saying? How could I possibly be unable to do it?"

"A mere herb garden, how could it possibly stump me? I'm not some old, faded wretch; I'm still young! I have plenty of strength and resources!"

He said this in a light and confident tone.

Tang Xixue looked at him and nodded.

"Zheyue, I'm leaving now. Will you be able to get down by then?"

"sure."

Si Xingxuan answered without hesitation.

He looked sickly and frail, as thin as a delicate orchid about to break in the wind.

But that vulnerability only existed in front of her.

The moment she turned around, he became a towering mountain, her most solid support.

As the richest man in the Nine Provinces and the seventh generation of the Pavilion Master, he possesses a great many treasures.

Those treasured magical artifacts, talismans, and array plates—any one of them would be enough to make ordinary cultivators envious for a lifetime.

He just didn't take it out, not that he didn't have it.

"If you can't get down..."

Tang Xixue's voice drifted from ahead, but she didn't turn around.

"I'll come pick you up then."

The sound was very soft, falling in the wind, yet it was like a scorching star, thrown into Si Xingxuan's heart.

He stood there, watching her retreating figure, and his eyes instantly lit up again.

"it is good."

He responded with a sound of undisguised joy.

She really cared about him.

It wasn't just polite talk or perfunctory; it was genuine. I truly cared about him.

He wanted to pick many medicinal herbs for Zhizhi.

We need to choose the best, the most precious, and the one that she can use.

He wanted to be the man behind Zhizhi, to let her know that he wasn't just someone who could act cute and pitiful.

He is the star-splitter, the moon-suppressing figure, the divine physician who folds the moon, the master of the Seven Generations Pavilion, and the richest man in the Nine Provinces.

He is very useful.

He was determined to prove it.

Si Xingxuan stood there, watching Tang Xixue's figure grow smaller and smaller as the smile on his lips slowly faded away.

He lowered his head, remained silent for a moment, and then said softly, "Is Old Deng still holding on?"

No one answered.

In the empty celestial palace, only the soft sound of the wind passing through the glass railings and the rustling of the spiritual herbs swaying in the distant celestial herb garden could be heard.

He clicked his tongue and turned to face the Immortal Medicine Garden.

The blue robes fluttered in the wind like a painting, the cloud-silk fabric shimmering with a faint silver light, as if draped in starlight.

"Never mind. He's tough."