"Alright, alright… since I'm already trapped in this mess, I'll have to crawl out of it myself," Su Chen muttered under his breath, a strange calm settling over him.
His eyes narrowed slightly. "If Long Qianxue is really a regressor… then what if I act like I've regressed too? Maybe—just maybe—I can flip the script and get out of this without losing face."
With that thought, he slowly rose to his feet.
A surge of multicolored qi burst out of his body, rippling in all directions like waves crashing on a shore. His Wood Sovereign Script activated at full force. The air around him trembled violently. The moment his aura erupted, Long Qianxue's oppressive pressure was swept away like a leaf caught in a storm.
He took a step forward. Thup. Another step. Thup.
With each stride, verdant green lotuses bloomed beneath his feet, forming a path of ethereal beauty. It was as if nature itself bowed to his presence.
Long Qianxue, still surrounded by her misty qi, widened her eyes in disbelief. She hadn't expected this—this sudden transformation. She was stunned, but not afraid. No matter how impressive Su Chen looked right now, she reminded herself: all of this was supposed to be his future potential.
Even with her cultivation temporarily sealed by this Immortal Palace, she still had treasures—plenty of them. If Su Chen tried to kill her, she could counterattack. …Not that she believed he would. After all, the Su Chen she remembered was upright, almost naïve. He wouldn't go so far over a simple argument, especially not against a beautiful woman like her.
But as Su Chen closed the distance, something shifted.
She could feel it—her vision trembled, her Dragon Phoenix Eyes seemed to blur. Her limbs froze. Something in Su Chen's presence had changed.
For the first time, Long Qianxue realized… this might not be the same Su Chen she once knew.
And this time, she couldn't move at all.
As Su Chen approached, he finally took in her full appearance.
She looked no older than twenty-five, yet her beauty surpassed anything mortal eyes were meant to witness.
Her figure was a flawless blend of elegance and allure—slender waist, graceful curves, and long, jade-like legs hidden beneath flowing robes of cloud silk. Even her silhouette alone could stir the Dao Hearts of proud young geniuses and weathered old monsters alike.
Her skin radiated with a faint immortal glow, smooth and flawless like moonlight reflecting off tranquil waters. Just being near her felt like standing before a sacred flame—unapproachable, yet impossible to look away from.
Her face was delicately sculpted: brows fine as ink strokes, eyes clear and profound like ancient starry lakes, and lips gently curved with a quiet, commanding confidence. One glance could silence arrogance. One smile could humble kings.
A faint fragrance clung to her presence—light and pure, like dew gathered from celestial blossoms. Subtle. Enchanting. Dangerous.
She wasn't just beautiful. She was an Empress—perfect, untouchable, and carved by the heavens themselves.
Even Su Chen, who had seen his fair share of wonders, felt his heart skip for a moment. But he quickly suppressed the ripple in his mind—he knew better. One wrong move here could lead to disaster.
So he kept his expression perfectly calm.
As he reached her, he came to a gentle halt, lowered himself slightly, and extended his hand. Then, without hesitation, he cupped her cheek—soft and smooth like the petal of a spirit lotus—as if she were a mischievous kitten caught stealing milk.
Long Qianxue froze.
She hadn't expected this. For a brief second, confusion flashed in her eyes. Did Su Chen fall captive to her beauty?
The thought made something flutter deep in her heart. Though her expression remained proud and unreadable, she couldn't stop the warmth that bloomed inside. In her past life, she had secretly harbored feelings for Su Chen—feelings she had never dared to admit, because back then, she wasn't qualified to stand beside someone like him.
They had never even met… and yet, he had always stood far above her, like a star beyond reach.
Su Chen looked her straight in the eyes, his expression calm, voice cold.
"Long Qianxue—Empress of the Chaos Empire, one of the youngest Supremes alive, one of the most beautiful and arrogant women in the entire Upper Realm."
He paused for a moment, letting the weight of his words settle in the air.
"You shouldn't be here… in the trial of the Immortal Palace."
"And the Dragon Phonics Physique… that's not yours either." Su Chen's voice was cold as he looked straight into Long Qianxue's eyes, his tone sharp and unyielding.
Long Qianxue's heart clenched. A chill ran down her spine—as if her deepest secrets had been stripped bare before him.
"No… this can't be…" she thought in disbelief. How could he possibly know? Even I can't speak of it. The heavenly laws forbid it. If I utter a single word, I'd risk divine retribution… So how does he know?
Her expression faltered for the first time. A terrifying thought crept into her mind.
"Unless… he's also a regressor."
A slight tremble escaped her.
Su Chen stepped closer, his gaze unwavering.
"So… you think you're special, huh?" he said softly, almost mockingly. "Stealing someone else's fate… But in the end, you won't be able to break through to the higher realms. That's the price you'll pay."
He released her chin from his grasp and turned away, walking calmly toward the next column of the Heaven Stairs. Just before placing his foot on the next step, he looked back one last time.
"I'll meet you again… when I reach the Upper Realm."
With that, he ascended, his figure gradually disappearing into the mist above.
Long Qianxue collapsed to her knees, her breathing ragged.
She had wanted to use her cultivation, her beauty—perhaps even lure him with the idea of becoming her disciple. She had hoped to draw him close… to make him trust her… maybe even fall for her. But instead, what she received was a chilling warning—one that touched the laws of fate itself.
"If I interfere with his destiny… I might never break through again…"
Her hands trembled slightly, but a faint smile curled at the edge of her lips.
"Still… he said he'll meet me again. That's enough… for now."
[Dear readers,
I've seen some of you expressing disappointment with the recent chapters—particularly about Su Chen still acting the same, without any noticeable character development. Some of you also pointed out that his "Outsider Aura" seems to have vanished. But don't worry—once he leaves the Heaven Stairs, that aura will return. As for character growth, it's not something that happens overnight. It takes time, and it's coming.
A few readers also asked why I'm making Su Chen appear cowardly at times. The answer is simple: because he is.
This isn't a story where the MC always wins. Use a bit of common sense—like with the Lin Yu situation. No matter how heaven-defying Su Chen's physique might be, he still can't overpower someone backed by an immortal weapon spirit master. He's not strong enough yet. I've read many novels where the protagonist defeats anyone and everyone, no matter the logic. But let's be honest—that's not very realistic, is it?
Even as the author, I can't twist the story to fit convenient power-ups. For example, Su Chen's Outsider Aura doesn't work on the Heaven Stairs for a reason. That place was created by an Immortal Emperor to test combat strength and willpower. It suppresses all outside auras—whether it's from a protagonist or a villain.
So I hope you can understand where I'm coming from. I'm trying to write a story that's balanced, not perfect—because a "perfect" story with no challenge or logic quickly becomes boring.
Thanks for sticking around and supporting the novel!]