After getting off the tiger, An Zhengzheng signaled that it was time to go back.

But the little tiger roared a few times, refusing to move forward or backward, and just stared at her longingly.

His eyes seemed to ask in confusion: Doesn't it hurt?

It definitely doesn't want to leave!

"...Actually, I'm in pain too."

An Zhengzheng's forehead was already beaded with sweat, and the outermost layer of her skin felt as if it were burning hot.

But that's the reason she came!

After rubbing the mutated tiger's head, An Zhengzheng didn't waste any more time and turned to walk into the Cold Fire Pool.

The vast lake was almost devoid of human life, and even living creatures were scarce within a hundred miles.

Animals and plants won't take root here.

The mutated tiger scratched its head but didn't leave; it simply stood obediently outside.

With every step An Zhengzheng took, she felt as if chunks of flesh were being ripped from her skin.

"Everything comes at a price... If you want something, you have to get it step by step, steadily and practically. If you want to take shortcuts, you will inevitably have to suffer the accumulated hardships."

The Frostfire Pool is extremely mixed; it contains not only extremely pure immortal and spiritual energy, but also demonic energy, monster energy, ghost energy, and beast energy...

This is also the only place in the cultivation world where cultivators can absorb immortal energy.

"Good heavens, I saw it."

In the center of the lake lies the island where Master Qingxu first arrived, a place where immortal energy accumulated.

Unfortunately, she can't move forward now.

Because there was too much mixed energy accumulating in there, it even kept pushing An Zhengzheng outwards.

Getting in won't be easy.

An Zhengzheng gritted her teeth and walked forward.

As if whipped by all sorts of turbid air, countless pains came from all directions. Every time An Zhengzheng took a step forward, she felt as if a bucket of salt water was being poured down on her.

The pain was compounded.

This feeling sent shivers down her spine; everything went white before her eyes, and she almost fainted...

Unfortunately, his physique was excellent during the Foundation Establishment stage, and he simply couldn't faint.

She forced herself to walk forward, but this time the pain triggered her to faint instantly.

But just as he was about to fall, he woke up again, and managed not to fall down.

Dizzy, awake, dizzy, awake...

After several repetitions, An Zhengzheng knew that this was her limit.

She marked the location and muttered to herself, "Next time, just one more step and it'll be victory."

He came out again, riddled with illness.

They also poured some herbal decoctions and pills into their mouths.

The little tiger was still waiting for her. It had been lying on the ground, quite bored, but immediately got up when it heard An Zhengzheng's noise.

"You little tiger, you need to improve next time too."

Despite being extremely weak, An Zhengzheng still had the mind to say to the little tiger, "Next time, you have to go in an inch further."

That's less than three centimeters.

If An Zhengzheng wants to enter the immortal aura circle, she needs to come at least once every six months, for a full two thousand years.

This is also why few people come here; firstly, it's troublesome, and secondly, it's really painful.

The little tiger licked An Zhengzheng's hand, trying to soothe her wound.

An Zhengzheng: "...You'd better stop licking me, it's hurting me even more."

Riding the little tiger, they headed towards the Hundred Women's Pavilion.

Now that the Zhou family is no longer a problem, she has less time to be distracted, and she should be able to come once a month from now on.

She was riding the little tiger, and was very weak. Unlike when she came, she couldn't read a book on the way.

"No, I'm too tired..."

She directed the little tiger to settle in Rentong City. It was its first time going to the Cold Fire Pool, and the prepared pills and medicines were insufficient.

As soon as she entered the city gate, she headed straight for the shops that sold things.

However, she discovered that during the two weeks she was away at Hanhuochi, the storybook edited by Zheng Xiaosha and written by Hai Guniang had already entered the market.

"This is the most popular storybook lately, 'She Was Originally an Ocean'? What a strange name."

"It seems like they're talking about An Zhengzheng..."

"You mean Young Master Zhengzheng?"

Even though she had clearly stated that she did not want to be called "Young Master," there were always some male cultivators who, for reasons unknown, insisted on calling her that.

However, An Zhengzheng had seen many male cultivators like this in her previous life. They enjoyed the benefits of favoring men over women at home and the convenience of a patriarchal society, and they always talked about how men fought and did the hardest work.

In reality, he had never fought in a war, let alone done any housework; he could even ignore household chores.

There were also female cultivators who addressed him as "Young Master," which An Zhengzheng found utterly ridiculous.

At this moment, she had no time to worry about anything else. After buying the pills, she rushed to the Hundred Women's Pavilion.

\/\/

"What's wrong? Why do you all look so worried?"

An Zhengzheng rested in Rentong City for a few days before returning, and her health had improved considerably.

An Yirou and the others were still cultivating at Siyue Sect, while those remaining at Bainu Pavilion were independent cultivators without a sect.

"Girl! You're finally back. It's been almost a month since you left."

Dong'er was the first to greet them, and her heart calmed down a lot when she saw An Zhengzheng return.

An Zhengzheng found it strange: "A month isn't a long time, why are you so worried? Has something happened?"

The female cultivators who had gathered around looked at each other in bewilderment. Zhao Xin asked in confusion, "Miss, haven't you been looking at the jade slip these past few days?"

"...I was too busy and forgot." An Zhengzheng said somewhat guiltily.

Because she kept waking up and dizzy for more than half a month, she suffered from severe aftereffects. It's good enough that she can get some rest.

Dong'er said, "That girl definitely didn't see it; the girls outside are all protesting."

It's about the new storybook by Hai Guniang, the one describing An Zhengzheng.

“Take a look…” Dong’er handed the storybook to An Zhengzheng.

An Zhengzheng took it with a blank expression, only looking at the part that Dong'er and the others pointed out, but the more she looked, the darker her face became.

She remembered that she couldn't reveal her past life's beliefs, so she borrowed the name of the goddess Nuwa.

The story goes that the spiritual faith that supported An Zhengzheng all the way was her non-existent younger brother.

The story describes how An Zhengzheng raised herself as a boy to make up for the lack of a younger brother in her family, and she built a successful career. Whenever she encountered setbacks, her imaginary younger brother would appear to encourage her.

An Zhengzheng: ...

"And there's more that makes us angry!" Dong'er said indignantly. "Look at these next few points, Miss. Even though Madam Pei is such a strong person, she's so angry that she's crying her eyes out."

Lady Pei originally fled because her husband's family wanted to abandon her daughter, and she was determined to take her daughter away from the wolf's den.

The storybook says that it was because Madam Pei was capricious and lazy in her husband's family that An Zhengzheng persuaded her to become a seamstress to change her life.

...No wonder Lady Pei was so angry she cried!

In today's cultivation world, where would a female cultivator dare to be lazy and good-for-nothing in her husband's family?!

Another thing that angered the other female cultivators was something else entirely.

"It's obvious the girl opened the shop because she knew we had no way out. And this storybook is just... well..."

Dong'er was furious, her words laced with rage: "They actually said we were lazy, good-for-nothing, and unchaste women, and that we were forcibly corrected into being female workers by the young lady's stern rebuke!"

They are clearly innocent; how could they possibly have the opportunity to be lazy and good-for-nothing?

Moreover, the girl didn't scold them harshly at all; it was clearly the male cultivators from Dongfeng Ferry who were being scolded and reprimanded! How did the blame fall on these female cultivators?

There was no story like in the novels, where the girl forcibly used magic to cut off their hair because they disobeyed!

It's all completely fabricated.

"Alright, stop talking..."

Zhao Xin is a perceptive girl; she had already noticed that An Zhengzheng was very tired when she returned, and now…

An Zhengzheng's expression was even more unpleasant.

She dared to say that this was the first time she had ever seen An Zhengzheng show such an expression since she had known her.

Even when Zhou Xu forced her into marriage, she had never seen him.

“Why can’t we talk about it!” Dong’er was young and a little impatient. “These days, Madam Pei has forbidden us from talking. Now that you’re back, can’t we talk?”

An Zhengzheng remained silent.

This matter is quite troublesome, and it seems that Madam Pei has also realized it.

Public opinion has played a significant role in An Zhengzheng's journey, much like the intellectual fervor of yesteryear.

This time, however, those who hold the high ground in public opinion are Zheng Xiaosha and Hai Guniang, who make a living by selling storybooks.

The public opinion they could control through their storytelling had an influence that extended far beyond the female nuns who read magazines.

An Zhengzheng made a mistake, a big mistake!

"Miss, let me help you back to the backyard."

Zhao Xin had been worried for a long time, and immediately tried to take An Zhengzheng's hand.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch..." An Zhengzheng grimaced instantly.

It's fine if you don't touch me, but if you do, it burns like fire. Unlike the touch on the little tiger that has the mark of the Guhuoniao bird, there's no room for relief.

Zhao Xin was so startled that she immediately let go; she hadn't used much force.

"What happened to you, young lady?"

"No... I didn't expect the aftereffects of the Cold Fire Pool to be so severe."

An Zhengzheng underestimated the Cold Fire Pool. Shortcuts are not easy to take... but they don't seem to be shortcuts either.

Normal cultivation of immortality just takes a little longer.

Going to the Cold Fire Pool to absorb the immortal energy is a arduous journey, filled with hardship and suffering, and there's no guarantee of living long enough to get close to the immortal energy.

"Then let's go to the backyard to rest quickly." Dong'er knew it was inappropriate, so she quickly became serious.

An Zhengzheng gave a wry smile, greeted everyone present, and then returned to her room.

As soon as she entered the room, she closed the door.

The face that had become calm after the pain subsided was now completely indifferent.

Then came regret and anger.

"Idiot! What a foolish thing to do!"

An Zhengzheng was scolding herself. She pinched her wound hard again: "How can you truly trust people? How can you completely trust people?!"

Although the journey had been arduous, it had generally gone smoothly, which made An Zhengzheng quite arrogant.

She actually got herself into this situation!

She initially refused, but then she came to believe the saying that it's better to teach someone how to fish than to give them a fish.

That's absolutely stupid!

“Zhengzheng, as you know, there’s no such thing as a boy or a girl in our family. Whoever can lead the An family further and maintain your maternal grandparents’ connections will be the one in charge of the family.”

"So you have to be determined. If you don't, you'll have nothing! One wrong step and everything could be destroyed at any moment."

"Don't be foolish! If you slack off, you'll have nothing and you won't be able to compete with your eldest sister and second brother at all."

So here with An Zhengzheng...

There is never anything that is not fought for, because rights are never relinquished by others.

There was never any fun or entertainment.

There's never been any venting of emotions, only problem-solving.

There was virtually no chance to make a mistake.

Moreover, in her previous life, she had just returned to China and her career had not yet fully taken off.

There was no time for trial and error, no time to discover... that her plan could also have problems.

An Zhengzheng had never been disappointed in herself, but this time was an exception.

She felt utterly powerless.

She asked herself, bewildered, "How can you completely trust people?"

She said she trusted Anmao because she could bear the consequences of Anmao betraying her.

She trusted Wen Yu because she dared to use a percentage of the profits from the Hundred Women's Pavilion in exchange for Wen Yu not standing idly by.

She trusted An Yirou and the others because even if they were weak, even if they betrayed her, she had a plan B.

She doesn't seek help from the sect outside of their standard procedures...

This is the educational achievement of An Zhengzheng's prestigious business family.

This is also the ruthlessness beneath An Zhengzheng's affection.

In fact, she is the one who is truly suited to cultivate the Path of Ruthlessness.

But this time... she actually believed it.

Because of the storybook in which Madam Huang spoke on behalf of female cultivators?

Because of the things that the Sea Maiden wrote that showed compassion for lower-class monks?

She talked too much about loving the world, and I really thought that someone who could write such things wouldn't do anything treacherous.

It was An Zhengzheng who made a fool of herself! And now all the female cultivators are being smeared along with her.

In her previous life, it was essentially her flawed decision-making that led to the company's losses and the employees' suffering...

That's a serious offense! The kind that could cause a company's stock price to plummet.

An Zhengzheng is sick.

This illness was no small matter; it lasted until the end of the month. An Yirou brought Song Juan and the others to the Hundred Women's Pavilion.

"What's wrong?" they asked, very worried.

Zhao Xin was taking care of her, and she quickly told An Yirou and the others, "Don't touch the girl, it will hurt if you do."

"Why did this illness come on so suddenly?"

This was the first time An Yirou had ever seen An Zhengzheng so dejected.

I was so surprised that I even walked with a lighter step.

"Girls, please have some tea." Zhao Xin brought the tea over. "My technique isn't very good, so the tea might not taste as good."

In the past, An Zhengzheng would always brew tea and prepare snacks for them.

"It smells wonderful." An Yirou took the tea, took a sip, and immediately realized that the tea-brewing technique was excellent: "You're too modest. You're just as good as your older sister."

"It's because the girl taught her well," Zhao Xin thought happily.

The group drank tea and spoke in hushed tones in An Zhengzheng's side room.

"The girl is angry."

Zhao Xin hadn't forgotten An Zhengzheng's expression that day. She looked as calm as usual, but gave off a completely different feeling.

"Is it about this storybook?"

"The second daughter is clever."

“This matter has caused quite a stir.” Song Juan is more mature than before. “Many female cultivators have been inexplicably smeared by that damn storybook.”

"Yes, there's a lot of discussion about this on the jade slip these days, and many female cultivators are consciously resisting this kind of storybook." Su Ying also found it laughable. "The world is even more oppressive than the mortal realm these days, and there are still female cultivators who are lazy and indulge in tea every day?"

If it weren't for An Zhengzheng, they would never have even had tea!

I remember when the Hundred Women's Pavilion first announced that it wanted to recruit female cultivators, An Zhengzheng specially prepared tea for them.

The storybooks say that the lazy female cultivator was addicted to tea every day?