Chapter 674 553: Shang Miaoyan's Method for a Breakthrough

After leaving the Yin Yang Sacred Land, Shang Miaoyan secretly took Pei Yuhang and left the Spirit Wheel.

While teaching Pei Yuhang Swordsmanship, she brought him back to the village of his birth, Lishui Village.

Unfortunately, after searching all over, Shang Miaoyan still couldn't find that village girl, Lin Qianyan.

It seemed all traces of Lin Qianyan had truly been erased from the world.

Shang Miaoyan sighed softly, her gaze shifting to Pei Yuhang. "Xiaohan, now that we're here, do you remember anything at all?"

Pei Yuhang's brow furrowed slightly, a look of confusion in his eyes.

He shook his head and said respectfully, "Holy Daughter, I have no memory of this place."

"You say this is my homeland, but I distinctly remember growing up in the Yin Yang Sacred Land... Perhaps Your Highness is mistaken.

Regardless, we should return to the Sacred Land as soon as possible. You are the Saintess; you've been away from the sect for so long. The Saint Master is bound to notice, and that will mean trouble."

At his words, a flash of displeasure crossed Shang Miaoyan's eyes.

She suddenly grabbed Pei Yuhang by the ear and said coldly, "Since when is it your place to tell me what to do!"

Seeing Pei Yuhang flinch in pain, she finally let go, her tone firm.

"I'm going to make you remember your past. Let's go. We're going to the Xuanyuan Dao Sect. I'm taking you to the Cold Palace Sword Mansion.

You lived there with Ye Liyuan and those two little fox spirits for so long. Your attachment to that place must be much deeper than to Lishui Village. You're bound to remember something if we go."

"What? Go to the Xuanyuan Dao Sect? Holy Daughter, the Dao Sect and our Sacred Land are like fire and water! It's too dangerous there, we can't go!"

For a moment, Pei Yuhang even considered secretly contacting the Sacred Land to have Shang Miaoyan dragged back by force.

'The Holy Daughter must be suffering from some kind of delusion,' he thought. 'Not only does she think I'm a married man who's just lost his memory... but she's also lost her own mind, wanting to go to a place like the Dao Sect, which is swarming with Righteous Cultivators.'

'Doesn't she know she's the Demon Path Saintess?! This is like a lamb walking into a tiger's den—a death wish!'

Unfortunately, Shang Miaoyan was one step ahead; she had already confiscated all of Pei Yuhang's communication magical artifacts.

A smug smile touched Shang Miaoyan's lips. She leaned in closer, deliberately, and tapped his forehead with a long, slender finger.

"Xiaohan, I forbid you to question any of my decisions. Wherever I go, you follow. Do you understand?"

Pei Yuhang met her stubborn gaze, then finally lowered his head in defeat and replied in a low voice,

"...Yes."

He glanced up in the direction of the Dao Sect, his eyes filled with worry.

'Setting aside the hostility Righteous Cultivators hold for members of the Demon Sect, that thirty-six-layered Sect Protection Array alone will be no simple matter.'

'We'll probably never even make it past the mountain gates, let alone find that illusory Cold Palace Sword Mansion.'

'We're really doomed this time...'

...

「One month later, within the Xuanyuan Dao Sect.」

Pei Yuhang stared at Shang Miaoyan beside him, his expression one of utter shock.

"Holy Daughter, how did you bypass the Grand Array's restrictions? We actually made it inside!"

Hearing this, Shang Miaoyan lifted her chin slightly, a smug smile gracing her lips.

"Hmph," she scoffed, her voice laced with casual pride. "Coming here is like taking a stroll in my own backyard. Of course I know the way."

Pei Yuhang stared at her, stunned. "But... I've been your personal attendant for so many years, and I'm certain you've never left the Sacred Land."

"So how could you have come to the Dao Sect?"

Shang Miaoyan's eyes darted away, and she averted her gaze, a faint blush creeping up her ears.

'Of course, she couldn't bring herself to admit she'd come to the Dao Sect multiple times to coerce and entice him into immoral trysts. That would completely shatter the sublime image Xiaohan currently had of her.'

So, Shang Miaoyan cleared her throat twice, trying to hide her unease.

She waved a hand, feigning composure. "Ahem, as I said, you've lost your true memories."

As she spoke, she snuck a glance at Pei Yuhang. Seeing his still-baffled expression, she quickly added, "Once you remember for yourself, you'll understand why I came to the Dao Sect so often..."

"Anyway, the Dao Sect isn't safe right now."

"Even though I got us past the Grand Array's restrictions, I couldn't erase all of our tracks. We have to find the Cold Palace Sword Mansion and restore your memories before anyone discovers us."

With that, Shang Miaoyan pulled Pei Yuhang along. After disguising themselves as two Foundation Establishment Disciples of the Dao Sect, they mounted their Flying Swords and flew into the Cloud Sea.

Pei Yuhang followed behind Shang Miaoyan, his gaze fixed on her slender figure, a complicated look flickering in his eyes.

'If before he'd been completely convinced that Shang Miaoyan was delusional, now, Pei Yuhang found himself believing most of what she said.'

'After all, delusions alone couldn't explain how she was so familiar with a Dao Sect she had supposedly never visited...'

'Could it be? Was I really a married man, just as the Holy Daughter said? Have I truly lost all memory of my Dao Companion and become a mere plaything for the Yin Yang Sacred Land...?'

The thought made Pei Yuhang's heart clench, and a flash of pain and confusion crossed his eyes.

Shang Miaoyan noticed the shift in Pei Yuhang's mood and felt a surge of delight.

'Looks like coming to the Xuanyuan Dao Sect was the right move after all,' she thought. 'This place really can stir Xiaohan's deeply buried memories!'

All her hard work was finally paying off. Shang Miaoyan felt invigorated, and even the speed of her Sword Control increased, feeling a little lighter.

She took Pei Yuhang's hand, guiding him swiftly through the layers of the Cloud Sea.

As they flew farther, gradually reaching a tranquil place at the edge of the Dao Sect, Shang Miaoyan finally saw gusts of cold wind carrying crystalline frost sweep toward them. She couldn't help but shiver, but the anticipation in her eyes was impossible to hide.