Chapter 233: Chapter 233

"What's going on, host? Why has your fortune decreased again?"

"These past days have required constant surveillance blocking, tracking movements, and covering your tracks everywhere. Do you know how much energy I've consumed just during this period?"

"Weren't you certain it would improve immediately? Why has your fortune decreased instead of increased!"

In the West Courtyard, ignoring its host's clearly confused and even pained expression, a mechanical voice within the consciousness sea continued shouting its dissatisfaction, the sharp noise piercing directly through the eardrums. Upon closer listening, compared to before, this voice now sounded significantly sluggish, even carrying faintly discernible static...

Unfortunately, before the words could fully form, within the consciousness sea, the entire data entity was tightly bound by numerous glowing talismans. It watched helplessly as its dwindling energy was gradually stripped away, until finally, even its core data structure began showing signs of disruption.

No, damn that old monk!

Damn bald donkey, he was actually playing dumb to catch the tiger all along...

In the final second before consciousness faded, the system continued cursing vehemently. Unfortunately, with its energy stripped and programs severely disrupted, it could no longer form any coherent words.

After a sharp headache, Yang Yuan belatedly realized something was wrong: "......"

After multiple failed attempts to summon the familiar mechanical voice, Second Miss Yang finally panicked. As if remembering something, she stumbled almost frantically to her dressing table without regard for anything else.

Damn bald donkey, so you were playing dumb to catch the tiger all along...

What was originally less than seven points of beauty now added ten points of terror.

Though the mirror showed the same person, with features largely unchanged from before, that earlier transcendent, fairy-like ethereal quality had completely vanished without trace...

Even the skin tone had...

Realizing this, sudden overwhelming fear instantly consumed Yang Yuan. She gripped the only thing she could hold onto—the table—so tightly that she didn't even notice when her fingernails broke from the pressure...

In the empty consciousness sea, she repeatedly called out for the once-familiar voice:

"System, system, you can't, you mustn't abandon me..."

"Didn't I tell you before? The palace is already on high alert—any unusual activity among capital nobility would be immediately detected. Especially with Master Wuxiang's talismans in play, without me, you'll never find another suitable candidate..."

"I told you this is only temporary! Once I marry into the Duke of Cheng'en's household, once I......"

Yet no matter how many times she called, the consciousness sea remained utterly silent.

At this moment, no matter how unwilling she was to admit it, that "monstrous entity" that had resided in her mind—which once brought her immense joy, then later immense fear and even disgust—had indeed abandoned her completely.

Right when she had lost almost everything.

Time passed minute by minute.

After what felt like an eternity, Yang Yuan finally rose trembling and went to her writing desk, slowly picking up her familiar writing brush.

Moments later, though the characters on the pristine jade-like rice paper remained as elegant as always, the mind that once overflowed with literary inspiration now felt completely empty...

Discarding the countless attempted poems, Yang Yuan took a deep breath and immediately tried painting and calligraphy. Unfortunately, the results remained equally disappointing.

Staring fixedly at the newly created painting, the brushstrokes unchanged, the technique still skilled, yet that captivating spiritual energy and artistic conception had completely vanished...

So this was the eternal chasm between genius and mediocrity.

Moments later, sharp, mournful sobs suddenly echoed through the sealed room...

Meanwhile, watching an entire system completely vanish before its eyes—not even data fragments remaining—a certain system in the consciousness sea unconsciously gulped.

After a long while, it cautiously glanced sideways at its host, who was leisurely arranging flowers.

"Um, host, those talismans were quite impressive just now... but they almost seemed specifically designed for systems like these...

Hahaha, host is truly amazing, developing countermeasures so quickly, hahaha..."

Well, a certain teacup dog really couldn't force the laughter now. Especially under its host's expression that clearly said "what nonsense are you talking about."

Perfect. No need to wonder—these talismans were definitely researched and prepared in advance. If nothing else, its host excelled at preparing for rainy days, something it understood better than anyone:

"Then... host, if you had preparations ready, why wait until now?"

Naturally to maximize energy depletion from the opponent. After all, this era with sparse spiritual energy inherently suppressed talisman effectiveness. Without sufficient certainty, one might easily fail despite advantage.

As she spoke, An Ning looked down, arranging the increasingly vibrant flower branches in her hands:

"Considering this person's various methods recently, without being able to absorb external fortune, where do you think the system's energy for such large-scale operations came from?"

Of course, this smooth success also owed much to her nominal father's decisiveness. By stripping away her official family status, he directly sent her social standing rock bottom.

So-called fortune simply consists of luck and circumstance.

There's no such thing as a free lunch.

The system was no exception—wanting to borrow Yang Yuan to absorb others' fortune inevitably created connections. Now that her fortune had hit bottom, An Ning didn't believe that system remained unaffected.

The facts proved her speculation correct.

Thinking about how that system had barely any resistance left under the talismans, An Ning couldn't help but click her tongue.

Ah, today's Eighteen Scholars camellia was truly exceptionally beautiful! Such mood-lifting delight!

Within the consciousness sea, the system unconsciously shivered.

Having finally resolved that strange little entity, An Ning remained in quite good spirits over the following days. Perhaps from eliminating a major threat, her mental state relaxed somewhat, and for the first time since transmigrating a year ago, this body's stagnant cultivation finally showed slight progress...

Just, barely reaching Qi Refinement first layer...

Well then. Wrapping herself tightly in her heavy cloak, An Ning comforted herself: though Foundation Establishment or even late-stage Qi Refinement might be hopeless in this lifetime, with effort, she could still hope to make this body comfortable regardless of season.

After all, one shouldn't compromise their own comfort!

At night, somewhat frustrated, she collected all the depleted spirit stones and lay back on her comfortable bed, soon falling into pleasant dreams...