The Eight Empresses Betrayed Me, Only to Deeply Regret It After Being Reborn

Chapter 054: Bone-Chilling Cold:

(Outside the Ancient Battlefield)

Bai Qiulan and Sun Ruowei had arrived along with others. They were all under a hundred years old, barely meeting the age limit to enter the Prodigy’s Ancient Battlefield. Those older, like the Sect Master of the Grand Dao Sect, had already crossed the century mark and could no longer participate—a matter of fate.

“Aren’t you being a bit too much, entering the Ancient Battlefield as someone at the Unity Realm?” Sun Ruowei remarked, clearly exasperated.

Bai Qiulan, clad in her signature white robes, stood gracefully as the breeze gently outlined her striking figure. Many couldn’t help but steal glances at her repeatedly.

“I may be at the Unity Realm,” Bai Qiulan said calmly, “but the Eternal Prodigy Ranking isn’t based on strength alone. It accounts for talent, combat power, age, and other factors. My ranking might not even surpass yours on the list.”

Sun Ruowei waved dismissively. “Stop teasing me. I’m miles away from reaching Unity Realm, and we’re practically the same age.”

As they chatted, a refined young man approached.

“Junior Sister Bai, it’s been a long time,” he greeted.

The newcomer was Xu Mozhi, an elder of the Mountain River Treasure Pagoda Sect, renowned for his expertise in artifact refinement.

“I recently crafted this jade hairpin,” he said, presenting a beautifully intricate hairpin brimming with spiritual energy. “It nourishes the complexion and calms the spirit. I think it suits you perfectly. Will you accept it?”

Sun Ruowei rolled her eyes dramatically. “Oh, look at that! True love blinds all. Here I am, a perfectly living person standing next to you, yet I don’t even get a glance, let alone a word!”

Xu Mozhi, embarrassed, stammered, “My apologies. I haven’t seen Junior Sister Bai in years, and I was a bit too excited.”

Sun Ruowei’s eyes widened. “Excuse me? What did you just call me? ‘This junior sister’? Have you forgotten my name entirely?”

Xu Mozhi avoided her gaze awkwardly, but Bai Qiulan remained composed. “Thank you for your kind gesture, Daoist Xu. However, there’s no emotional connection between us, so it’s not appropriate for me to accept your gift.”

“How can you say there’s no connection? We’ve fought side by side before, battling demons together…” Xu Mozhi protested.

“Please don’t insist,” Bai Qiulan interrupted firmly. “I’m solely devoted to the Dao and harbor no other thoughts. Continuing this will only hurt you in the end.”

Xu Mozhi’s expression dimmed. “I have no ulterior motives toward you. This hairpin is the result of my painstaking effort, and I believe it matches you perfectly. Even if you feel no connection to me, I hope you’ll accept it and give it a worthy owner.”

Bai Qiulan frowned. “I’d rather not speak harshly. Please leave willingly to avoid souring the atmosphere.”

Defeated, Xu Mozhi sighed and turned away. 

Sun Ruowei, however, was fuming. “What was that look he gave me? What does he mean by that? I can’t believe this guy!”

Before she could rant further, Bai Qiulan placed a hand on Sun Ruowei’s fluffy head. “Calm down.”

Sun Ruowei shuddered at the unexpected chill. She turned sharply, eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at Bai Qiulan.

“What’s wrong?” Bai Qiulan asked, puzzled, glancing behind her to find nothing unusual.

Sun Ruowei grabbed Bai Qiulan’s hand, holding it tightly. “Why is your hand so cold?” she exclaimed.

“Cold?” Bai Qiulan murmured, perplexed. She touched her other hand but felt no chill.

Sun Ruowei seized her other hand. “This one is freezing too! It’s like touching ice! Don’t you feel it?”

“What about your body?” Sun Ruowei asked anxiously, her face pale as she rolled up Bai Qiulan’s sleeve. Bai Qiulan’s skin was flawless, smooth, and radiant, like the finest silk. But as Sun Ruowei continued to touch her arm, she became increasingly alarmed.

It wasn’t just cold—it was bone-chilling. The kind of cold that pierced the soul.

“What’s going on with you? Are you hiding something from me? You’re in the Unity Realm! How can you not notice how cold your body has become?” Sun Ruowei demanded, her voice tinged with panic.

Bai Qiulan frowned slightly, running her hand along her arm again but feeling nothing unusual. Could this be the result of her Chaotic Lunar Divine Physique? 

Though unsure of the cause, Bai Qiulan smiled faintly. “Don’t overreact. It’s just a side effect of cultivating a special technique. I’ll recover soon.”

“Are you sure? You’d better not lie to me, Bai Qiulan. We’re best sisters. If you lie to me, I’ll be heartbroken!” Sun Ruowei insisted.

“I’m not lying,” Bai Qiulan reassured her. “This technique is powerful, and without it, I wouldn’t have broken through to Unity Realm so quickly. These are just minor side effects that will fade with time.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“It’s just… so cold. Touching your hand is one thing, but let me try with my arm.” Sun Ruowei pressed her arm against Bai Qiulan’s, only to feel an intense chill surge through her. Goosebumps rose instantly, and she recoiled with a shiver.

“The skin on your hand is thicker, so it’s manageable. But your arm… It’s like touching millennia-old ice!”

“You’re sure you’re okay?”

Bai Qiulan smiled softly. “I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

“Alright. But I’ll keep checking on you. If something happens, we’ll deal with it immediately!”

Bai Qiulan nodded lightly. “Alright.”

She gazed toward the Prodigy’s Ancient Battlefield, her eyes reflecting a complex mix of emotions. The cold… it was like ancient ice, freezing her soul.

For a moment, doubt flickered in her heart.

She had once wondered—when Lu Ye practiced dual cultivation with her, if he felt none of the comfort that others would, could it truly be considered taking advantage of her?

Every time, Lu Ye endured this extreme cold…

Could the accusations of betraying her master and ancestors still hold?

For the first time, Bai Qiulan felt uncertain.