Outside the Hehuan Sect, Xiao Ningyu looked at the scene projected in the crystal and fell into deep thought.

Within the crystal projection, Zhou Che, after putting on her spirit garment, hurriedly left her abode. And the jade pendant she had gifted her had been left on the dressing table of her boudoir.

Xiao Ningyu recalled the many suspicious points about Zhou Che and finally descended the mountain…

* * *

Sang Town!

Inside the cave, as the desire spiritual power within Zhou Che underwent frenzied conversion, she finally broke through to the second stage of the Minor Attainment Realm as dusk descended.

Her eyes slowly opened. At this moment, Zhou Che felt an inexhaustible strength throughout her entire body, the spiritual power content within her having multiplied several times over.

"Congratulations. It only took three days to completely absorb the Pure Maiden Ten Tears." Tao Yao's voice came from behind, and Zhou Che turned her head to look over.

She saw the other holding the Shiba Inu and smiling at her.

"How is your injury recovering?" Zhou Che inquired. She wasn't just being polite; she wanted to know Tao Yao's specific condition.

"I injured my Source earlier. It won't heal that easily. But I should be able to exert about seventy percent of my strength without much trouble!"

As Tao Yao spoke, she placed the Shiba Inu into a spiritual power cage, then put the cage into her Spatial Pouch.

Hearing that Tao Yao could exert seventy percent of her strength, Zhou Che immediately felt much more at ease.

"Let's go. It happens to be night! Carrying out the operation will be much more convenient." Tao Yao chuckled lightly, got up, and walked out of the cave.

Hearing this, Zhou Che couldn't help but feel nervous.

But she showed not a trace of cowardice. Watching Tao Yao's departing back, she resolutely followed.

Now, she truly had no way to retreat. She could only help Tao Yao to ensure her own identity wasn't exposed.

Before long, the two arrived at the ruined temple from before.

Tao Yao raised her hand and waved it, and over a dozen scenes slowly materialized before them.

"These are a few rather remote locations in Sang Town. Cultivate here in a moment, using the Soul-Enticing Incense to stimulate the Charm Physique's charming trait to its fullest. If cultivators come looking, teleport to these locations. Remember, there are many orthodox cultivators in Sang Town. Drawing away their main force won't be easy, so stall for as long as you can!"

"Mm!" Zhou Che nodded, signaling the other to rest assured.

"Then I'll be off. We'll meet at the Linghua Pavilion later!" Tao Yao gave Zhou Che a meaningful look. At this moment, she shed her earlier playfulness, revealing a seriousness and maturity hidden deep within her soul.

"Take care!" Zhou Che still offered a word of concern as the other was about to leave.

"Ah, right! One more thing!"

Tao Yao seemed to remember something and turned her head back toward Zhou Che.

"What is it?" Zhou Che looked at her, puzzled.

"After all these days, I still haven't asked you your name."

"..." Hearing Tao Yao's words, Zhou Che was completely speechless.

After all, in such a tense atmosphere, the other had brought up something completely out of sync with the mood.

"Zhou Qingyue." Zhou Che sighed, ultimately giving the name she used in the Hehuan Sect.

"Qingyue? Noted!" Tao Yao earnestly committed the name to memory, then turned and exited the ruined temple.

Watching the other's figure vanish into the night, Zhou Che let out a long breath of turbid qi, sat cross-legged on the spot, and offered up the Soul-Enticing Incense to begin cultivating.

Desire spiritual power circulated around Zhou Che, and then the charming trait within her body, drawn by the Soul-Enticing Incense, spread throughout all of Sang Town at an astonishing speed.

* * *

In the Qiao family residence, within the main hall, a group of cultivators were frantic with anxiety.

Just then, the Qiao family head entered from outside, breaking the heavy atmosphere.

"Have you found it?" A cultivator hurriedly stepped forward and asked with concern upon seeing him.

The Qiao family head shook his head helplessly.

"Senior Brother, what are we to do! That Shiba Inu is Senior Sister's pet for her Mortal World training. If we can't find it, it will surely affect Senior Sister's Artistic Conception! When Master assigns blame, how will we explain it to Master?" The cultivator was frantic, then turned his gaze to the man seated at the head of the Qiao family's main hall.

"I don't know either. Yesterday, I already told Senior Sister about the Shiba Inu's disappearance. Although she appeared indifferent on the surface and didn't blame us, the aura around her was noticeably colder. Senior Sister cultivates the Mortal World Artistic Conception. Everything around her has more or less of an influence on it. That Shiba Inu accompanied her for two whole years; its influence goes without saying. Senior Sister must be heartbroken over this! It doesn't matter if we are punished by Master, but if we ruin Senior Sister's Artistic Conception or obstruct her Dao, then there will be no place for us in the entire Qian Kingdom!"

The man seated at the head spoke, his expression extremely grim.

His words sent a chill through the hearts of all the cultivators below.

Only then did they remember: their Senior Sister He Xi was not only the Saintess of Xianyun Mountain and the Orthodox Champion of the Qian Kingdom, but also someone valued by the Qian Kingdom's imperial family.

The reigning emperor of the Qian Kingdom had personally received her and proclaimed to the world, enfeoffing He Xi as the Qian Kingdom's National Guardian Divine Maiden, and offering sacrifices to her with the Dragon Vein Fortune.

One must know, in the entire Qian Kingdom, including He Xi, only two people had received such treatment!

Dragon Vein Fortune, National Fortune's Willpower, and the Incense of All Beings—these qi gathered from all living beings of heaven and earth were originally offerings to deities.

And if a cultivator gained the blessing of even a single one of these three qi, it would be equivalent to possessing a Divinity. Even without cultivating, they could ascend within a hundred years through the nourishment of these three qi.

Just as the cultivators were at a loss, the Qiao family head suddenly stumbled and fell to the ground.

A cultivator rushed forward to help him up, but in the next instant, he froze in place.

It was as if something was tugging at his divine sense. Though it was weak and he reacted in an instant, it was undeniable that this sensation had still affected him.

"What's wrong with you?" Seeing him suddenly freeze, several cultivators sensed something amiss and asked with concern.

The cultivator helped the Qiao family head up, then turned to the crowd and said, "Some kind of special aura has drifted in. It seems capable of seducing the soul!"

Upon hearing this, the cultivators immediately went on high alert.

Once helped up, the Qiao family head moved toward the door like a walking corpse.

The cultivators rushed to stop him, but the Qiao family head was determined to leave. Even when blocked by the cultivators, he bared his teeth and claws, trying to pounce and bite the nearest person.

So, the cultivator he tried to bite raised a hand to knock him unconscious. But no matter how many times he struck, the Qiao family head simply wouldn't faint. Instead, the more he was struck, the more vigorous he became.

Thus, left with no choice, he could only tie him up.

The man seated at the head, however, was experienced and knowledgeable. After carefully sensing the aura permeating the surroundings, he instantly had the answer: "This is a Charm Physique!"

"Charm Physique?" All the cultivators were shocked.

"Yes. The charming trait of a Charm Physique is like this. It cannot be neutralized with Dharma treasures or spiritual power; it can only be dispelled through one's divine soul. Although this charming trait is weak and has little effect on cultivators, for ordinary commoners, it can easily stir up the desires in their hearts. The Qiao family's location is near the center of Sang Town.

Since this place is already affected, it's likely the entire Sang Town has been enveloped by the charming trait. It seems that demon from the Soul Hook Hall has made a move! Chen Wang, quickly go notify Senior Sister! The rest of you, split into two groups. One group will come with me to search for that demon's trail; the other will be responsible for the Qiao family's safety."

The man gave his orders and then led the group out.

The reason they left people to protect the Qiao family was because, under the influence of the Soul-Shielding Umbrella, they couldn't release their divine sense outward, and thus couldn't dispel the charm for the ordinary commoners.

* * *

Zhou Che cultivated single-mindedly within the ruined temple.

As time passed, the night unknowingly deepened.

Suddenly, a cacophony of noise rapidly surged into the ruined temple, drowning out the original tranquility.

It wasn't until someone stood in the courtyard before her, angrily cursing her as a demon and a beast, that Zhou Che slowly opened her eyes and looked toward the source of the sound.

She saw a group of cultivators clad in various spirit garments, wielding numerous spirit treasures and Dharma artifacts, charging straight at her.

These cultivators were extremely fast, and every strike was lethal.

Zhou Che's cultivation was only at the second stage of the Minor Attainment Realm, so even a glancing hit from their spiritual pressure would mean death.

Seeing that they were attacking to kill without any explanation, Zhou Che naturally wouldn't just wait for death. With a flash of spiritual light in her hand, she summoned the Frightfeather Secret Talisman.

Just as wave after wave of spiritual pressure was about to reach her, her figure vanished into thin air at that critical moment...