Xu Yi could only think of one possibility: her previous life had been an extraordinary existence, which was why she could help Hong Jing achieve great merit.
But she found it hard to imagine how she could have a smooth life with Liu Jinghong around.
It wasn't that Xu Yi was being self-deprecating; it was simply that Liu Jinghong's existence was too heaven-defying. Compared to Liu Jinghong, her own luck seemed insignificant.
Even in this life, it was only because she had accidentally avoided Liu Jinghong that she had been spared the subsequent unpleasantness.
"Xu Yi, do you know of a wicked art that can steal one's luck?"
Hong Jing's eyes were gentle, but his words inexplicably chilled Xu Yi. "Are you saying I had my luck stolen by some evil magic?"
"No, I'm not sure, I just feel there's a possibility. You wouldn't know that in your past life, you had the common people at heart, devoted yourself to demon-slaying, led all the righteous cultivators of the Nine Continents in jointly eliminating the demon race, and finally ascended to the heavens under the golden light of virtue."
Hong Jing's gaze was resolute as he recounted a story that was hard for Xu Yi to believe, word by word.
"Hong Jing," Xu Yi's throat felt dry. "Don't try to amuse me, how could I possibly..."
"This painting was drawn by me after receiving the anointment of Buddhist power on the Heavenly Staircase. The Second Elder was the witness. I had not met you at that time, so this is irrefutable proof."
The Second Elder nodded silently beside them, affirming the truth of Hong Jing's words.
After receiving guidance from Buddhist power, Hong Jing understood that the karma of this life had shifted. Thus, he painted this picture and informed several elders of the sect of the truth.
This was why the Second Elder and the others, upon seeing Xu Yi emerge from the light cocoon, recognized her as the person in the painting, leading them to say she had an affinity with Buddhism.
Xu Yi's title as the Demon-Slaying Ancestor in her previous life was proof of her achievements.
At that time, Hong Jing was merely a novice monk who had just joined the Myriad Buddha Sect. By chance, he received guidance from Xu Yi and helped transcend the demon races killed by Xu Yi, thus gaining a portion of her merit.
"What about Fairy Jinghong?"
Xu Yi asked the question that was of utmost concern to her.
With Liu Jinghong's flamboyant personality, it was unlikely she would let Xu Yi have all the limelight.
"The reason I say you've been robbed of your luck is because of Liu Jinghong, because Liu Jinghong simply didn't exist in the previous life."
Boom!
It was like thunder exploding in Xu Yi's mind.
The scenes from her dreams flashed rapidly in her Sea of Consciousness.
From Liu Jinghong's apprenticeship, to her constant targeting of Xu Yi, and finally to Xu Yi's tragic death, every scene was vividly real.
Xu Yi refused to believe that she had fabricated it.
"No, Liu Jinghong exists, she must exist!"
Xu Yi met Hong Jing's gaze, her eyes filled with bewildered disbelief.
Everything Hong Jing had said today was like a stone dropped into a calm lake, churning all her emotions.
"Xu Yi, I know that two thousand years ago you were the chief disciple of Sect Master Yuan Ming of the Xuanji Sect. Haven't you ever wondered why you mysteriously disappeared for two thousand years?"
"I was trapped..."
Xu Yi blurted out the words before her expression turned stunned.
The secret realm!
It was that secret realm!
She had been trapped in the secret realm, thus avoiding Liu Jinghong.
Could it be that the secret realm was also orchestrated by someone with intentions?
"With the help of Buddhist power, I discovered that the heavenly secrets of the Nine Continents were in disarray; someone had already altered the karma from the hidden depths."
"Is it Liu Jinghong?"
"No, it's someone else. However, that person has profound cultivation, and I cannot detect them. But they bear goodwill towards you, so they helped you avoid calamity. And because of your disappearance, Liu Jinghong replaced your destiny as the Child of Fortune and obtained countless opportunities."
Hong Jing's gaze suddenly sharpened. "Do you know why Liu Jinghong finally ascended with seven other people?"
Xu Yi shook her head.
She had thought it was a romantic legend intentionally created by Liu Jinghong to build her reputation.
"Because she knew her status as the Child of Fortune was false, she used the seven true cultivators to share the thunderous punishment, thus deceiving the heavenly secrets."
Xu Yi, upon hearing this secret history so suddenly, nearly dropped her jaw.
To think that a legend that sounded so beautiful hid such malicious intent behind it. Pu Tao, who had envied Liu Jinghong back then, should really hear this.
Xu Yi didn't even know how she had left the Ten Thousand Sutras Pagoda in the end.
Everything that had happened today was too shocking; she needed time to digest it.
Xu Yi returned to the meditation room where she was staying and fell backward, staring blankly at the ceiling beams.
After a moment, she took out the painting from her storage ring and suspended it before her.
Hong Jing had returned the painting to her.
Xu Yi gazed at her own heroic figure in the painting and suddenly couldn't help but let out a silly laugh.
If everything Hong Jing had said was true, then her past self was truly formidable and had brought her great honor.
Even as Xu Yi had become a Sect Ancestor in this life, she hadn't expected to achieve such great things.
"Demon-Slaying Ancestor."
"Heh heh."
"Heh heh heh!"
After laughing enough, Xu Yi began to re-examine everything Hong Jing had said today.
Assuming Hong Jing wasn't lying, she had slain demons and vanquished monsters in her past life, gaining supreme merit, and thus ascended to the Upper Realm.
But in this life, due to being trapped in the secret realm, her opportunities were snatched by Liu Jinghong, who instead attained ascension.
Then, wouldn't the person who trapped her in the secret realm have been harming her?
Because she was trapped in the secret realm, Liu Jinghong gained countless benefits?
No, that's not right, something is wrong.
Hong Jing said that the person who trapped her was helping her. If it was to help her avoid conflict with Liu Jinghong, then it meant that person knew she would suffer losses at Liu Jinghong's hands!
Dreams!
Xu Yi remembered her dreams. If that person hadn't trapped her, things would have unfolded as in her dreams, and in the end, she would not only have lost all opportunities but also become a stepping stone for Liu Jinghong.
Xu Yi's scalp tingled.
If she followed this line of reasoning, everything made sense.
A mysterious person had also learned of her past and present lives. Out of kindness, or for some unknown purpose, they had set up the secret realm to help her avoid Liu Jinghong. Perhaps her dreams were also the work of that person.
Who could that mysterious person be?
A secret realm with different time flow...
Xu Yi abruptly sat up, and a person came to mind.
The Dean of Kunlun Academy!
She had previously suspected that the Time Realm in Kunlun Academy had many similarities to the secret realm she had encountered.
If the Dean could construct such a vast Time Realm, then the small secret realm that had trapped her was not a problem at all.
Furthermore, Hong Jing's statement that the person had profound cultivation perfectly matched the Dean.
What finally convinced her was the Dean's preferential treatment towards her.
Whether it was the hundred-year pact or the graduation assessment, they were different from those of others.
Perhaps the Dean knew that she would become a very powerful cultivator in the future, hence his special consideration and subtle assistance.
The more Xu Yi thought about it, the more likely it seemed, and she wished she could contact the Dean immediately via the communication disk.
However, after some thought, Xu Yi ultimately did not do so.
The Dean knew everything but didn't tell her, perhaps for his own reasons.
Her continuing to feign ignorance and proceeding as originally planned was the best course of action.