Heaven defying villain: despair broke chosen ones

"Don't put yourself down," Rongmei said softly, fidgeting with her fingers "My environment was far more conducive to growth than yours."

Xiao Chen sighed, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "If you put it that way, Mei, you weren't exactly in the most suitable environment either," he replied, his tone gentle.

He reached out and pulled her closer, his embrace radiating warmth despite the cold resolve in his eyes.

"Mei, I will use the Immortal Ye family to their fullest," Xiao Chen said, his voice dropping to a chilling tone.

"And when the time comes, I'll be the reason for their downfall." His expression turned cold and a murderous intent flickered in his gaze, sharp as a blade.

"Xiao Chen, don't put yourself in danger because of me," Rongmei pleaded, shaking her head vehemently. "It's my revenge. I'll handle it on my own—"

"I've already made my decision," Xiao Chen interrupted, placing a finger gently on her lips.

His firm attitude left no room for argument.

He knew her pain.

Rongmei had nearly lost her life once before in her relentless pursuit of revenge. Now that she was with him, Xiao Chen had decided that he would never let such a thing happen again.

Before he could say another word, Rongmei's face turned crimson and suddenly, she leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to his lips.

"Y-you… fool!" she stammered, her voice flustered.

Without waiting for his response, she rushed into the jade pendant, leaving Xiao Chen standing there, momentarily stunned.

Xiao Chen touched his lips, a faint smile spreading across his face. Her sudden kiss caught him off guard, but it also made his resolve stronger than ever.

Just then, the system's mechanical voice sounded in his mind:

[Ding! Rongmei's favorability has reached 85.]

Xiao Chen glanced at the semi-transparent message floating in front of him, and his smile widened.

"Destiny blessings or not," he muttered to himself, "I'll achieve my goals, with or without the system's help."

As Xiao Chen muttered to himself, he slowly closed his eyes and entered a meditative state. The world around him faded away as he focused and with each breath, he absorbed the abundant energy in the air, refining it into Chaos Qi that coursed through his meridians like a roaring river.

Within his body, his mysterious platform was floating above the sea of Chaos Qi.

Above this platform, seven fragmented Dao runes floated, their faint glow pulsing in harmony with his cultivation.

These runes represented seven Daos he had comprehended: Light, Darkness, Fire, Sword, Life, Space, and Time.

Xiao Chen's focus sharpened. He could feel the bottleneck to the next realm growing thinner with each passing moment.

"If I push myself just a little more, I can break through," he thought.

He knew that before they arrived at the Peach Blossom Realm, he would reach the Dao Comprehension realm.

Meanwhile, within the space of the jade pendant, Rongmei sat cross-legged after calming down.

She understood her role clearly. It was to protect him until he could stand firmly on his own in the Middle Realm.

Although her current form was a soul body, her strength was far from ordinary. Even now, she could easily fend off cultivators at the same level and her cultivation stood at the Nascent Soul Forging Realm's early stage.

Even though it was an overkill against lower realm cultivators, it was always better to be prepared.

Around her, a dazzling array of pills, elixirs, and treasures was neatly arranged, each radiating a unique aura.

These weren't ordinary resources—they were all meticulously selected for their effects on the soul. Some enhanced soul energy, others healed damage, and a few even protected the soul against external threats.

These treasures came from the jade pendant's hidden treasury and a storage ring left behind by Fu Ting.

Even simply residing within the jade pendant was beneficial for her. The pendant's environment was rich with soul-nourishing energy, accelerating the restoration of her soul body and allowing her strength to gradually return.

"Alright," Rongmei murmured to herself

"Let's see if I can recover my strength to the Celestial Metamorphosis Realm before the secret realm opens."

Without hesitation, she picked up a radiant pill brimming with soul energy.

This wasn't just any pill. It was called the soul-enhancing pill and of Transcend Tribulation Realm grade.

Rongmei tossed the pill into her mouth, letting its soul essence dissolve within her. Almost instantly, an overwhelming surge of energy coursed through her soul body.

At the same time, within the Peach Blossom Realm, in the bustling bazaar of Heavenly Lotus City, A group of cultivators surrounded a pitiful-looking woman and an old man lying on the ground.

The old man's body was covered in devil energy!

The leader of the cultivators stepped forward, a twisted grin spreading across his face, his eyes filled with predatory intent.

"Miss, how about you come with us? We'll help treat your old man," he offered.

Despite her disheveled appearance, her face streaked with mud and her torn clothes, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

His eyes shamelessly scanned her from head to toe, his thoughts filled with lust.

But before he could utter another word, the woman's icy voice cut through the air like a blade.

"Trash," she muttered disdainfully with a cold face

"Be gone" In an instant, devil energy surged forth, engulfing the entire group of cultivators. Their screams were short-lived, their bodies were swallowed by the devil energy

Moments later, the energy dissipated, leaving behind no trace of the men who had been standing there just seconds ago.

The old man, who had been lying on the ground just moments earlier, slowly stood up, brushing off his robes.

"Madam," he called out and asked "do we really have to go to such lengths to recruit students?"

His gaze shifted to the now-empty space where the group of cultivators had stood. "Can't we simply let the instructors handle the search for talented students, as we always did?"

"Be quiet, Old Gu, and let's change the locations!" The woman rose from the ground and strode toward the valley's entrance.

"Wait, Madam! At least tell me why we're searching for students in this no-name lower realm!" The old man shouted and chased after her.