Yi Zixie had excellent talent, but in these past few hundred years, he had prioritized beauty over power.
He spent his time traveling and playing in the mortal world with Nam Co, completely forgetting about his responsibilities.
One time, the three of them agreed to go to the deep mountains to pick a medicinal herb. Upon arriving, Bai Ge'er said he wanted to spar with Yi Zixie first to see how his skills had progressed over the centuries.
Yi Zixie and Bai Ge'er had often sparred in the past, so he readily agreed.
Their previous spars were always light, never requiring them to use their full strength. Yi Zixie assumed this spar would be the same.
However, Bai Ge'er launched a deadly attack right from the start.
Yi Zixie was greatly shocked and barely managed to dodge.
Nam Co, watching from the side, saw the situation and immediately asked Bai Ge'er what was going on.
But her question only made things worse. Hearing Nam Co's concerned voice directed not at himself, Bai Ge'er became even more enraged. His attacks grew fiercer and more vicious, as if he wished to kill Yi Zixie in a single move.
Yi Zixie continued to dodge and gradually realized something was wrong. He then began to fight back, thinking that he couldn't be injured for no reason.
However, Yi Zixie didn't know that Bai Ge'er had far surpassed him. In less than half an hour, Yi Zixie was utterly defeated.
If Nam Co hadn't rushed forward to save Yi Zixie and quickly escaped with him using a magical artifact, Yi Zixie would likely have died then and there.
But the palm strike Yi Zixie had ultimately taken from Bai Ge'er contained a potent poison.
Neither Nam Co nor Yi Zixie were apothecaries. Nam Co could only give Yi Zixie an antidote pill temporarily. Afterward, she took him to the nearest town and found a very low-ranking apothecary who managed to suppress the poison for the time being.
Nam Co intended to take Yi Zixie back to their sect, where the apothecaries would surely be able to cure him. Furthermore, Bai Ge'er would have to answer for this incident.
Unfortunately, reality was far from these pleasant thoughts.
When Nam Co returned to the sect carrying the unconscious Yi Zixie, they were apprehended by the disciples guarding the gate.
Yi Zixie was still unconscious, and Nam Co was holding him, so she was unable to resist. She was escorted by the guarding disciples to the main hall.
In the hall, they found not only the Sect Leader, Yi Zixie's parents, and his master, but also Bai Ge'er and his parents.
Bai Ge'er's face was pale, and he leaned weakly against a wooden chair. When he saw Nam Co enter carrying Yi Zixie, a flicker of disappointment flashed in his eyes, followed by a cough.
Bai Ge'er's mother, however, rushed forward and slapped Nam Co across the face, cursing, "You vixen."
Nam Co was stunned by the slap, completely bewildered as to what was happening. She couldn't understand why Bai Ge'er's mother, who had previously been somewhat amiable towards her, would now hit her and call her a vixen.
"Although we cultivators don't need to adhere to the rules of subservience, throughout history, women who are promiscuous have always been disdained. Especially since Yi Zixie and Bai Ge'er are like brothers. Though not blood brothers, they grew up together and their bond is stronger than that of blood brothers. Now, because of you, one is injured and the other is unconscious. What else would you call yourself if not a vixen?"
Bai Ge'er's mother pointed at Nam Co and yelled, her tone full of resentment and her expression sorrowful, as if Nam Co had stolen her husband.
Finally, the Sect Leader stopped Bai Ge'er's mother's outburst and announced his decision: Nam Co's cultivation would be abolished, and she would be expelled from the sect.
At this moment, Yi Zixie awoke.
Without saying a word, he only stated that he was willing to take Nam Co to another realm, a place where cultivation was impossible, to live out the rest of his days. He only begged the Sect Leader not to cripple Nam Co.
Nam Co heard Yi Zixie's weak voice, but every word was for her. She was both moved and heartbroken.
Yi Zixie's parents, after hearing his words, looked extremely disappointed.
Although their son had been unconscious, he was still speaking up for Nam Co immediately upon waking. His parents were present, yet he hadn't uttered a single word to them.
Torn by conflicting emotions, Yi Zixie's parents remained silent.
The Sect Leader pondered for a moment and then declared that, considering Yi Zixie and Bai Ge'er were not seriously harmed, he would spare Nam Co. Nam Co and Yi Zixie would be allowed to leave together and never return.
Thus, Nam Co and Yi Zixie came to this place together.
Before they left, Yi Zixie's parents couldn't bear to part with their son. They found an apothecary to treat Yi Zixie's poison and injuries.
The poison could be neutralized, but the injuries were too severe and would require slow recovery, with no guarantee of full healing.
Upon hearing that the poison could be cured, Yi Zixie was immediately relieved. With the poison gone, he could live for several hundred more years. Although his cultivation might not improve and could even decline, he would be content as long as he could be with Nam Co.
As for his parents, they would live for a long time and have other children, so they wouldn't need to worry excessively about him.
Then, Nam Co and Yi Zixie traveled here together through the spatial teleportation gate.
"What happened after we arrived here?"
Shen Xiaoyan was engrossed in the story when Nam Co fell silent for a long time. She asked curiously.
"After we arrived here, there isn't much more to tell," Nam Co said with a gentle smile, then looked at Yi Zixie. "For the first decade or so after arriving, Little Zixie Brother was recuperating from his injuries. We lived in the deep mountains for nearly twenty years before he recovered to his current state."
"After twenty years, we began to play in the mortal world," Yi Zixie picked up where Nam Co left off.
Shen Xiaoyan heard this and could only think four words: utterly foolish.
He was beaten, poisoned, framed, his wife coveted by others and slandered by others, yet he could only hide like a turtle with Nam Co in this place.
Having come to this state, he dared to claim he was playing in the mortal world.
If this wasn't foolishness, what was?
Yi Zixie saw the expression on Shen Xiaoyan's face and knew she was looking down on him at that moment.
He gave a bitter smile and said, "You must be cursing me in your heart right now."
Shen Xiaoyan didn't hide it and nodded frankly. "I've truly never met anyone like you before."
"Any man, after experiencing what I have, would surely strive to cultivate diligently, start anew, and seek revenge."
"That's a very logical thought," Shen Xiaoyan stated definitively.
"However, what if I can no longer cultivate?" Yi Zixie's voice held a hint of self-mockery.
"Cannot cultivate?" Shen Xiaoyan was surprised. Hadn't he already been detoxified and his injuries healed?
"Although the poison was neutralized and his injuries appeared to have healed, for some reason, my body has been declining day by day. Over these past hundred years, my cultivation has regressed to the point where even you can defeat me," Yi Zixie said his last sentence to Shen Xiaoyan.
This was also what Shen Xiaoyan had found strange earlier.
Regardless, Yi Zixie was hundreds of years old; it was impossible for him to have only this much ability.
So, it was because of his continuous decline?
"But, what about Wu Ershan and the others..."
"I know what you want to say," Yi Zixie interrupted Shen Xiaoyan with a smile and continued, "You must be wondering why Wu Ershan and the others are also so incompetent."
Shen Xiaoyan nodded, then looked at Yi Zixie, waiting for him to explain.
"It's because once cultivators arrive here, their power is suppressed."
"Suppressed?"
"Yes, suppressed." Yi Zixie nodded affirmatively and then explained to Shen Xiaoyan, "Because the people here basically only have martial skills. If cultivators were to arrive here and their power wasn't suppressed, and if any conflict were to arise, this realm would likely be annihilated."