The cultivators present were all labeled as [Background Characters].  

In Rong Xueci’s story, they existed merely as props to highlight his prominence.  

Just like her.  

“The Immortal Venerable has his own plans,” Shen Qixi said.  

“Yes, yes,” everyone sighed in relief and hurriedly agreed.  

If the Immortal Venerable’s mortal wife were to incessantly demand an explanation at such a time, it would be seen as overly petty and unreasonable.  

Shen Qixi could read their thoughts from their expressions.  

She felt an unprecedented sense of dullness and emptiness.  

In everyone’s eyes, as the Immortal Venerable’s wife, she had to be beneficial to Rong Xueci—virtuous and magnanimous. Otherwise, she would be deemed unworthy.  

Her trust in Rong Xueci stemmed from their marital bond.  

But if Rong Xueci lied to her, she couldn’t possibly ignore it.  

Did he lie because of that woman?  

She wouldn’t feel hostility toward an unfamiliar woman based on a few words from others.  

She was just disappointed in Rong Xueci.  

And she couldn’t help but think: if he were to kill his wife to prove his Dao, after he killed her, he could freely travel with cultivators better suited to him, without being tied down to a useless mortal in daily life.  

Without any power of her own, she had no voice in her relationship with Rong Xueci.  

“…”  

Everyone was lost in their own thoughts.  

Suddenly, cracks appeared in the sky of the secret realm.  

Then, a cultivator shouted in delight, “The secret realm is broken!”  

“Thank heavens!!”  

“It’s Master,” Zhao Ruorui instantly perked up, gazing at the sky with worship.  

“This is… the Immortal Venerable’s spiritual power.”  

“Heavens, such immense strength!”  

“As expected of the Immortal Venerable!”  

All surviving cultivators in the secret realm realized they had been saved.  

Amid the exclamations of awe, the secret realm was torn apart by that tremendous power.  

Everyone returned to Kunshi Cliff, under a clear blue sky.  

“Immortal Venerable’s wife!” Elder Kongling’s immortal attendant rushed to Shen Qixi’s side with the Beichen Sect disciples.  

“Senior Brother!” The Beichen Sect disciples bowed to Zhao Ruorui excitedly. “Was it the Immortal Venerable who saved us just now?”  

“Indeed,” Zhao Ruorui nodded. “Master shattered the secret realm.”  

“With the Immortal Venerable here, we truly have nothing to fear,” the Beichen Sect disciples cheered with admiration.  

On Kunshi Cliff, cultivators from different sects gathered, assessing casualties.  

“Ah!” A cultivator from the Wuyue Sect looked grim.  

“What’s wrong?” another cultivator asked.  

“Our elder is missing!” the Wuyue Sect cultivator said anxiously.  

Cultivators from other sects offered sympathetic glances.

The Wuyue Sect actually lost an elder? That’s truly tragic.  

[Side Quest Activated: Help the Wuyue Sect disciples find Elder Huaying within one month.]  

Shen Qixi’s expression shifted slightly.  

She accepted the quest in her heart.  

Elder Huaying was still alive.  

But where had she gone?  

Shen Qixi couldn’t help but think of the mysterious female cultivator who was traveling with Rong Xueci.  

In terms of strength, Elder Huaying perfectly fit the description.  

But their hair colors didn’t match—snow-white hair was very distinctive.  

After some thought, Shen Qixi rationally dismissed her unrealistic suspicions.  

She scanned her surroundings but saw neither a white-haired cultivator nor Rong Xueci.  

“Where is the Immortal Venerable? Does anyone know?”  

“Heh, my wife, I am here.” A voice suddenly sounded by Shen Qixi’s ear.  

The man’s cool voice carried a faint smile, magnetic and captivating, as if whispering intimately into her ear.  

Shen Qixi’s ears warmed and turned slightly red.  

Seeing that no one else reacted, she knew Rong Xueci was speaking to her alone.  

Rong Xueci said gently, “After I left, were you injured, my wife?”  

Shen Qixi whispered, “No.”  

“There are still some matters in this secret realm that require my attention.”  

“It saddens me that I cannot see you now,” Rong Xueci murmured softly.  

Shen Qixi’s eyelashes fluttered.  

In the past, Rong Xueci would never have been so direct. What was wrong with him? Was he trying to coax her?  

Not long ago, he had lied to her so naturally, and now he offered no explanation.  

The blush on Shen Qixi’s cheeks slowly faded.  

Truthfully, no matter what he did, as long as he had a reasonable explanation, she could trust him.  

She wasn’t an unreasonable person.  

So why did he feel the need to lie to her?  

Some cracks, once discovered, could never be fully mended.  

She wasn’t a pet that could be sweet-talked into circling around Rong Xueci again.  

“Husband…”  

“Stay safe.”  

Shen Qixi’s tone shifted, calm and composed, as she said, “By the way, when you return, can we talk?”