Category: A Girl Dies Every Day in Her Dream Life

Chapter 133: What Do You Think?

“…Never heard of it.” Luo Xue shook her head.

“You’re a naturally awakened Wastelander? That’s rare.” Ceres seemed surprised. “However, as a precaution, we need to conduct a test for reactions to the Lingxi Potion. Do you mind?”

“No problem at all.” Luo Xue nodded slightly.

Although she wasn’t an ability user as Ceres described, she definitely hadn’t used any Lingxi Potion.

“Thank you for your cooperation. Please come with me.” Ceres’s smile deepened. “Suspended High Tower 103 welcomes all visitors.”

“Are ordinary Wastelanders also considered visitors?”

Luo Xue suddenly thought of the Wastelanders outside, a stark contrast to the Tower People within the city.

“Heh… you’re quite the joker.”

Ceres replied with a smile, noncommittal.

…

Led by Ceres, Luo Xue quickly passed through the city walls and officially entered the High Tower city.

Only when she entered did she truly understand why it was called a “High Tower.”

The entire city was a tower-like structure, rising layer upon layer into the clouds.

The tower’s area wasn’t large, Luo Xue estimated it to be about the size of a city district in her previous life.

And Suspended High Tower 103 had a relatively small population, only about a million.

This showed how crowded the city must be.

Walking through the city streets, Luo Xue felt a sense of displacement, as if she was back in her previous life.

Both the clothing style and the surrounding scenery were very similar.

Some slight differences, such as the ubiquitous automated machinery, made Luo Xue feel like she was in the future.

The Tower People on the lower levels weren’t as aloof as the Wastelanders imagined. They seemed more like office workers or laborers, just cogs in the machine of the Suspended High Tower.

The residences here all adopted the same honeycomb structure as the office area in the docking facility, small rooms everywhere, and every few steps, she could see the massive pillars supporting the tower city.

Seeing Luo Xue’s curiosity, Ceres said,

“Generally, the first, second, and third levels are the residences of the maintenance personnel and their families. Their job is to ensure the smooth operation of the Suspended High Tower, so the scenery here isn’t very good.”

“Where are we going?” Luo Xue asked.

“The sixth level, it’s where the Federal Investigation Bureau and the High Tower Archives Bureau are located.” Ceres replied. “The seventh and eighth levels are where the important figures live, and only the Mayor can enter the ninth level.”

“That fat guy?”

Luo Xue blurted out. She had seen many portraits and sculptures of the mayor along the way, almost everywhere.

In both the portraits and sculptures, the mayor had a large belly, a bright smile, and a thumbs-up.

“Ahem… while I agree with your description and the person you’re referring to,” Ceres coughed lightly, glancing around, “you should address him as Mr. Leif, or Mayor.”

The mayor of a High Tower city was more like a king or a dictator.

Each tower city had its own system, and clearly, the mayor of Suspended High Tower 103 didn’t want to share his power, obsessed with building his personal image. The entire 103rd Suspended High Tower was managed by him alone.

Ceres led Luo Xue to the center of the Suspended High Tower. To reach the upper levels, one had to take the gravity elevator here. This was the only way.

Therefore, security here was very tight, and the guards were clearly much more professional than the Wastelander guards on the ground, each soldier’s gaze sharp and vigilant.

When Luo Xue and Ceres arrived at the gravity elevator, many eyes were already on them, making Luo Xue uncomfortable.

Only after entering the gravity elevator did Luo Xue breathe a sigh of relief.

Having overly sensitive senses wasn’t always a good thing. The faint killing intent from the guards made her uncomfortable.

“There was a rebellion in Suspended High Tower 103 before. Some lower-level Tower People used the gravity elevator to attack the upper levels, even reaching the eighth level, so security is stricter now.” Ceres explained apologetically.

“I see… indeed.” Luo Xue nodded, the images of the lower-level Tower People flashing through her mind. “Their fate… must have been terrible, right?”

“Who?” Ceres was taken aback.

“The rebels…”

“They… didn’t suffer any consequences.” Ceres’s expression turned strange.

“Hmm?” Now it was Luo Xue’s turn to be stunned. “There were no consequences for a rebellion?”

“Because the rebellion succeeded. The leader of the lower-level Tower People back then… was Mr. Leif, and he’s now the mayor.” Ceres said.

“Then why would you say that?”

“Mr. Leif doesn’t shy away from discussions about his rebellion. He considers it his proudest achievement and even bragged about it openly at the Federal Assembly.” Ceres shrugged. “Perhaps he thinks it makes him look more capable, who knows.”

“So it’s actually a path he himself took, and he doesn’t want others to follow?” Luo Xue raised an eyebrow.

“Heh…”

Ceres didn’t answer, just chuckled.

She clearly didn’t want to continue discussing this topic. After all, it involved the mayor, and further gossip might cause trouble.

“Let’s talk about the Lingxi Potion. Perhaps you’ll be more interested in this. After all, it was humanity’s first method of creating ability users, but… it failed.”

Ceres said faintly, “Almost all of the first batch of test subjects became inhuman monsters. Even the supposedly perfected Lingxi Potion causes severe side effects after awakening abilities, usually manifesting as berserk states and mutations.”

“Were there any successful cases?”

Luo Xue followed Ceres’s lead, although she wasn’t very interested.

From the ability users she had encountered before, although they might be superior to cultivators in certain aspects, they also had obvious weaknesses.

The Spirit Condensation assassin from before had speed far exceeding that of ordinary Spirit Condensation cultivators and also possessed special concealment abilities, but he didn’t have the protective spiritual aura of a Spirit Condensation cultivator.

If he were a true Spirit Condensation cultivator, Luo Xue’s sword wouldn’t have been able to injure him. The protective aura was enough to defend against all attacks below Spirit Condensation.

Simply put, they were overly specialized.

“Yes and no.” Ceres said. “It’s rumored that the only stable Lingxi Potion was used on Dr. Lingxi’s daughter, but this is just a rumor. No one has ever seen his daughter, and it’s not even certain if she exists.”

“I see…”

Luo Xue nodded perfunctorily.

“However, the ability users awakened by the Lingxi Potion are stable for a period of time. Many Wastelanders used this to enter the High Tower before, causing a lot of damage.” Ceres said. “Suspended High Tower 103 also had similar incidents. A part of the fifth level is still under maintenance.”

“How dangerous.”

Luo Xue casually chatted with Ceres, who didn’t seem to notice Luo Xue’s lack of interest and continued talking.

But Luo Xue was only thinking about finding Ling Ling. She only cared about Ling Ling in this world, not the affairs of the Suspended High Tower.

Soon, they reached the sixth level, where the Federal Investigation Bureau was located.

Ceres first took Luo Xue for the necessary tests, then brought her to the temporary accommodation for ability users. Many newly arrived ability users were curiously looking at Luo Xue.

Most of them were adults, and Luo Xue, who looked only about ten years old, stood out.

Taking advantage of this time, Luo Xue drew a portrait of the assassin from memory, hoping to find information about him in the Suspended High Tower.

Luo Xue wasn’t worried about her own safety. The strongest ability user she had seen so far was Ceres, but Ceres’s strength lay in concealment. Her actual combat power was probably less than Foundation Establishment.

From this, Luo Xue deduced that the upper limit for pure ability users in the post-apocalyptic world should be the peak of Foundation Establishment, which was also the dividing line for prodigies in the Immortal Martial World.

From Core Formation onwards, the cultivation of immortal cultivators was no longer limited by their mortal bodies, but involved creating a new world within themselves.

However…

The technology of the post-apocalyptic world was quite advanced in some aspects. The energy used to power the Suspended High Tower, Luo Xue estimated, should be equivalent to that of a Nascent Soul cultivator, and there were over three hundred such towers in the post-apocalyptic world.

In the afternoon, when Ceres came to find Luo Xue with the test results, she happened to see the portrait Luo Xue had just finished drawing and looked surprised.

“Oh, Miss Guijiao, you draw quite well, it’s very lifelike.”

Luo Xue didn’t realize that “Miss Guijiao” referred to her and was stunned for a moment before saying,

“Well… it’s alright.”

“There’s just one small mistake. His right hand isn’t complete. His index and middle fingers are prosthetics. This is a very important identifying feature.” Ceres said with a smile.

“Oh… really?” Luo Xue’s eyes widened. “You know him?”

“Of course, aren’t you drawing a portrait of the wanted criminal? He’s a major suspect being pursued by the Federal Bureau.”

Ceres said casually, then placed the file in front of Luo Xue.

“The test results are out. Your blood shows no reaction to the Lingxi Potion, but it doesn’t seem like you’re an ability user either…”

Luo Xue’s attention was completely focused on the first half of Ceres’s sentence, and she murmured,

“A wanted criminal…”

So, having just arrived at the Suspended High Tower, she already had a chance to find this assassin?

“The suspect in the Suspended High Tower 132 Archives Bureau arson case. The mayor of that tower personally issued the bounty.” Ceres said. “But let’s talk about your situation first, Miss Guijiao. Are you really an ability user?”

Without a word, Luo Xue crushed the alloy tabletop in front of her with her bare hands.

“What do you think?”

“…Miss Guijiao, next time you want to demonstrate your abilities, please let me know first. This kind of alloy table… is very difficult to replace.”

Ceres’s eyelids twitched. She knew how strong this alloy was, with a high melting point and stability. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be placed in a place full of ability users.

Crushing it with bare hands… This ruled out the possibility of Luo Xue having natural divine strength. It would take at least a Level 5 strength-type ability user to do that.

Although she didn’t know why the blood test didn’t show any reaction, perhaps it was just an equipment malfunction. Such things weren’t uncommon.

“Sorry, I can help you replace it, but I want to know more about this person,” Luo Xue pointed at the portrait of the assassin. “I’ve been looking for him.”

Ceres looked deeply at Luo Xue.

“Miss Guijiao, you came to the Suspended High Tower… just for him?”

Luo Xue hesitated slightly, then nodded.

“Yes.”

“An enemy, or…”

“An enemy.”

“That makes things much easier,” Ceres smiled faintly. “If he were a friend, I’m afraid I would have to apologize.”

“So…”

“Of course, no problem. He’s a publicly wanted criminal. If you’re careful, you can find information about him through many channels, but the Federal Investigation Bureau has the most complete information.”

Ceres put away the report and bowed slightly to Luo Xue.

“Please wait here. Someone will show you to your accommodations. After I’ve arranged the procedures, I’ll come and inform you, and I’ll also bring the information you want.”

Luo Xue nodded slightly, and Ceres left, leaving her alone.

The surrounding honeycomb rooms were all occupied by unemployed ability users, most of them at Level 2 or 3. Luo Xue was initially also estimated to be at this level, which was why she was temporarily placed here.

However, since Luo Xue’s ability level hadn’t been determined yet, and she didn’t care, she didn’t move.

Some of the nearby ability users wanted to greet Luo Xue, but she turned them away. She wasn’t interested in unnecessary socializing.

A few days later, when Ceres came again, she brought a file and placed it before Luo Xue.

Luo Xue opened the file and saw a case report.

“The Suspended High Tower 132 Archives Bureau arson case?” Luo Xue frowned slightly. “I asked for his personal information.”

“It’s all inside.”

Ceres observed Luo Xue’s reaction and relaxed her guard slightly.

Luo Xue’s behavior didn’t seem like that of a friend, but more like an enemy.

Luo Xue flipped through a few more pages and finally saw the assassin’s profile, along with his information.

“Name: Unknown”

“Codename: Night Owl”

“Former member of Suspended High Tower 132’s Special Operations Team, reporting directly to the mayor.”

“Fled on the 31st year of the twelfth Eternal Night (two years ago), current whereabouts unknown.”

Chapter 132: The Lingxi Potion and Ability Users

During the docking of the Suspended High Towers, Wastelanders often tried to sneak into the tower cities, evading detection.

For Wastelanders, even a precarious existence within the tower cities was better than struggling to survive in the endless wasteland.

Therefore, to prevent this, the Suspended High Towers were equipped with well-armed guards and specialized equipment to intercept Wastelanders during docking.

In this resource-scarce world, the Suspended High Towers couldn’t support more Wastelanders, and most Tower People weren’t willing to lower their living standards to help unrelated Wastelanders.

When Luo Xue entered the docking area, the detection equipment issued a warning, and the guards, thinking another Wastelander was trying to sneak in, immediately came to investigate.

But seeing Luo Xue, the two guards immediately dismissed their suspicions, instead asking if she had lost something.

No Wastelander could possess such beauty, and Luo Xue’s every move exuded a faint air of arrogance.

—Having learned from Li Guijiao for a while, Luo Xue’s Thousand Faces Cultivation Art had reached 30% of Li Guijiao’s skill in imitating temperament.

“I lost…”

Luo Xue lowered her head slightly. She immediately realized that the tower city must have some kind of detection mechanism, and she hadn’t passed.

Several wary gazes were directed at her, but seeing Luo Xue’s appearance, they quickly retracted.

“I seem to have lost a small bag in the wasteland.” Luo Xue looked up and replied with a smile.

“I see… It seems you might have lost your access pass.”

The guard’s expression turned apologetic. “In that case, I’m afraid you’ll have to wait here for a while, and let the Archives Bureau personnel verify your identity before you can enter the tower city.”

Hearing this, Luo Xue knew she couldn’t sneak in. She frowned slightly, feigning a troubled expression.

“But my mother is waiting for me to go back for dinner…”

“Oh… Miss, we’re truly sorry, but these are the rules. Unless the mayor intervenes, it’s difficult for us to make an exception.”

The two guards seemed genuinely concerned for Luo Xue, not questioning her identity.

After all, she looked so beautiful and well-behaved, nothing like the vicious Wastelanders in their impression.

“So…”

Luo Xue hesitated, considering whether to force her way into the tower city.

Honestly, she didn’t want to.

Although her Foundation Establishment cultivation was quite good, the tower city probably had many ways to suppress her.

Luo Xue estimated that it would take at least a Nascent Soul cultivator, or even stronger, to create such an artifact as this 103rd Suspended High Tower.

“It will be very quick, Miss, we assure you.”

The guards’ expressions softened, seeing Luo Xue’s troubled look, seemingly also worried for this young girl.

“I’ll inform Officer Ceres immediately. She will definitely process your file as soon as possible so you can have dinner with your family.”

If this Officer Ceres really came, she would find that something wasn’t right…

But now… it seemed this was the only option.

“In that case… take me to where I need to wait.” Luo Xue nodded and said faintly.

“This way, Miss.”

One of the guards led Luo Xue towards an office area within the docking facility.

“We apologize again for the inconvenience—”

Before he could finish apologizing, another guard, clearly a captain, approached hurriedly, frowning and shouting,

“Hey! Wilson, what are you still doing here? Those damn Wastelanders are about to break into the tower! Go and help stop them! Do we really need to use the gamma-ray cannon for a few Wastelanders?”

“Captain, I’m…”

Wilson looked at Luo Xue, his expression helpless.

He whispered in the captain’s ear, explaining Luo Xue’s situation.

The captain’s expression immediately changed, and he looked at Luo Xue with a flattering smile.

“Sorry, sorry, Miss Citizen, we apologize for the disturbance. Let Wilson take you over there. Officer Ceres will be here soon.”

Luo Xue didn’t say anything, just nodded slightly, not even glancing at the guards.

For some reason, these guards didn’t even dare to neglect ordinary tower citizens, afraid of offending them.

Coupled with their distinct temperament…

Luo Xue had a guess.

These guards… were probably also Wastelanders before, but they had received the grace of the High Tower and became guards of the docking facility.

In that case, the more arrogant Luo Xue acted, the less suspicion she would arouse.

The captain quickly left, leaving only Wilson to lead Luo Xue to the office area.

Luo Xue didn’t say a word along the way, and Wilson didn’t dare to speak to her either. After bringing her to the work area, he left hurriedly.

The office area was structured like a honeycomb, divided into small rooms, and Luo Xue was in the most comfortable one.

There was a sofa, a coffee table, and even a television—although the picture quality was terrible, so bad that Luo Xue could barely see the images, only hear the sound.

The television seemed to be broadcasting news about the Suspended High Tower, a calm, indifferent female voice reporting,

“Recently, as the twelfth Eternal Night draws to a close, the Federation is actively preparing for the arrival of the thirteenth Eternal Day. More than half of the tower cities have successfully entered their designated orbits, avoiding the paths of natural disasters.”

“The civilian scientific research organization ‘Starry Sky’ has issued a statement, claiming to have created an aircraft capable of exceeding sixty units of altitude, bringing the possibility of deep space exploration one step closer. The Federation has sent experts to ‘Starry Sky’ to verify the feasibility.”

“The ‘Voice of the Federation’ has reiterated that the awakening of ability users must be in accordance with the law. The private manufacturing, transportation, sale, and use of awakening potions are strictly prohibited. The ‘Lingxi Laboratory’ incident nine years ago remains a stark reminder of the dangers of awakening potions.”

“The Federal Investigation Bureau has announced that the ‘Suspended High Tower 132 Bombing Case’ has been solved. The case resulted in the loss of most of the data in the Archives Bureau of Suspended High Tower 132. A wanted notice has been issued for the fugitive, Night Owl. We ask all citizens to report any sightings to the local Investigation Bureau.”

“…”

There was a lot of information in the news report, all things Luo Xue hadn’t encountered before.

This news, readily available to Tower People in their daily lives, was inaccessible to Wastelanders.

Through this, Luo Xue finally had a rough understanding of the post-apocalyptic world.

Firstly, this was a partially developed human civilization. The technology used by the Suspended High Towers was something Luo Xue had never seen before in any of her lives. To have an entire city, housing millions of people, float and travel in the sky was simply unheard of.

But on the other hand, even the most ordinary televisions were so crude, their picture quality so blurry.

Even though the wanted notice had just shown a portrait on the television, Luo Xue couldn’t see the suspect’s face clearly, only that he was a tall, thin man.

Luo Xue resisted the urge to slap the television. She knew it wouldn’t help.

“Knock, knock, knock…”

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Luo Xue instinctively tried to sense the person outside, but found that she couldn’t sense anything.

…What was going on?

“Miss Citizen, may I come in?” A soft and gentle voice rang out. “I am Ceres, Deputy Director of the Ground Operations Department of the High Tower Archives Bureau. I’m here to talk about your lost access pass.”

“Yes, please come in.”

Luo Xue said softly, but she tensed up.

If the discussion didn’t go well, she could only force her way in.

Only by entering the Suspended High Tower could she have the chance to contact other Suspended High Towers.

The routes between the Suspended High Towers overlapped, and during these overlaps, they would briefly dock, allowing people to travel between them.

The docking time depended on the length of the overlapping routes, ranging from a few days to several weeks. This was the main method of travel between the Suspended High Towers.

“Creak…”

The door opened slightly, and a woman with blond hair and blue eyes entered, her smart business attire giving off a sharp aura, but her light makeup softened her appearance.

The only flaw was her height, just slightly taller than Luo Xue.

Ceres held a half-opened file, looked at Luo Xue sitting inside, pushed up her glasses, and her expression showed a hint of surprise.

“You…”

Luo Xue glanced at her.

“You’re not a Tower Person, are you?” Ceres closed the file, perhaps deeming it unnecessary. “A Wastelander? Hmm… but you don’t seem like one either. You’re… strange.”

She was seen through just like that?

Luo Xue didn’t bother to deny it. After all, her identity definitely wasn’t in the archives. It didn’t matter whether she was recognized sooner or later. She was just surprised by how quickly she was identified, almost instantly.

“How did you tell?”

Luo Xue asked curiously.

The other party hadn’t immediately notified the guards, which meant she had something to say, so Luo Xue wasn’t in a hurry.

“Your eyes, Miss. A person’s eyes can speak.” Ceres said with a smile. “You’re curious about everything around you. This is something a pampered young lady from the High Tower would never have. What I find more strange is your age…”

“You’re right.” Luo Xue nodded. “I’m indeed not a Tower Person. I suppose I’m what you call a Wastelander.”

“There’s no need for hostility. To us, there’s not much difference between Tower People and Wastelanders—You’re also an ability user, right?” Ceres pondered for a moment, then recalled carefully and said, “Is it a detection-type ability? When I was outside, I felt like I was being… ‘watched’… You were watching me, weren’t you?”

“…You can even sense that?”

Luo Xue was surprised. What she used wasn’t an ability, but spiritual sense from the Immortal Martial World.

Besides body cultivators, all cultivators at Foundation Establishment and above possessed spiritual sense, which allowed them to sense their surroundings.

“Let me introduce myself again. I’m Ceres, Deputy Director of the Ground Operations Department of Suspended High Tower 103’s Archives Bureau, and also a part-time member of Group 6 of the Federal Investigation Bureau.” Ceres said. “In other words, I’m also an ability user, a Level 7 Seer.”

“…Oh.”

Luo Xue didn’t know how to respond. Her understanding of the Suspended High Tower’s internal structure was limited to what she had just heard on the news.

The Federal Investigation Bureau should be the department in charge of ability users, but as for the classification and levels of ability users… she had only met one in her previous life: that assassin.

“Heh… it seems you’re not very familiar with the High Tower, but that’s not a problem.” Ceres shrugged and said, “Do you want to enter the Suspended High Tower? Actually, ability users above Level 2 don’t need an access pass. You just need to register with the Federal Investigation Bureau and you can enter any Suspended High Tower.”

“Ability users are very valuable to the Suspended High Towers, after all, the natural awakening rate is only about three or four in ten thousand, and many jobs in the Suspended High Towers can only be done by ability users.”

Having said that, Luo Xue naturally admitted it.

“If I enter the Suspended High Tower as an ability user, what procedures are required?”

“Just come with me. I’m the personnel from the Federal Investigation Bureau responsible for managing ability users.” Ceres stood up and extended her hand. “I haven’t asked for your name yet, Miss.”

Luo Xue hesitated for a moment, then shook Ceres’ hand.

“My name is… Li Guijiao.”

Since she was currently using Senior Sister Li’s appearance, using her name shouldn’t be a problem, right?

After all, no one in the post-apocalyptic world would know Li Guijiao, and she was unlikely to come to this world.

Come to think of it, it was Li Guijiao who gave Luo Xue this inspiration…

After all, Li Guijiao’s antics with the appearances and names of the Peerless Summit Sect’s higher-ups and disciples had left a deep impression on Luo Xue.

“Li Guijiao… quite a classical name, rare these days. Well, Miss Guijiao, there’s one more thing I need to confirm, it’s very important.”

Ceres’ expression turned serious.

“You didn’t awaken your abilities using the ‘Lingxi Potion,’ did you?”

“‘Lingxi Potion’?” Luo Xue paused. She seemed to have heard this name on the news.

“It’s commonly known as the awakening potion, but in official records, it’s called the ‘Lingxi Potion’.” Ceres said. “Ability users who awaken using the ‘Lingxi Potion’ are very dangerous. The Federal Investigation Bureau has been strictly investigating this matter to prevent unnecessary accidents.”

Chapter 131: Suspended High Tower 103

Luo Xue slowly opened her eyes. The weakness suppressed by the immortal will had dissipated, replaced by the disorientation of waking from a long sleep.

The surroundings were dim, only a few faint rays of light penetrating through the cracks.

“Where am I…”

Luo Xue tried to stand up, but found her limbs pinned down, unable to move.

Memories of the post-apocalyptic world gradually returned. She remembered that the last time she died in this world, it was because she was crushed by falling rocks.

But… did she really die last time?

Or rather, was she considered alive now?

Phoenix Venerable’s words echoed in her mind, and she couldn’t control her thoughts, her mind racing.

“Could this… be another dream?”

But Luo Xue quickly stopped this dangerous line of thought.

She had similar doubts in the Immortal Martial World, but she knew that pursuing this further might drive her to madness before she found any answers.

No matter what, since she was experiencing all of this, she could only treat it as reality.

After figuring this out, Luo Xue’s mind cleared, and she struggled to sit up.

For an Innate Realm cultivator, these falling rocks would be fatal, but for a Foundation Establishment cultivator with protective spiritual energy, moving them was easy.

“Right, there’s also that assassin with near Spirit Condensation strength…”

Luo Xue suddenly remembered Ling Ling, who was still in the camp, and her movements quickened.

She didn’t know how much time had passed in the post-apocalyptic world and could only hurry to move the rocks.

However, Luo Xue could sense that the energy circulating within her wasn’t the Xuanyin Phoenix Transformation Scripture she was used to, but the Falling Flower Scripture of the Peerless Summit Sect.

And the dangerous Eternal Withering Body was also temporarily gone.

This made Luo Xue relieved. After all, she couldn’t bring that thing back.

Not to mention that the Eternal Withering Body would create a desolate forbidden zone, but also, Luo Xue in her withering state, although powerful, couldn’t do anything but slumber.

Even if she couldn’t use the Xuanyin Phoenix Transformation Scripture now, her Foundation Establishment cultivation was real.

Moreover…

Luo Xue’s fighting style was rather unrestrained, usually wielding a heavy sword, which was more like a body cultivator. The influence of her technique on her combat power wasn’t that significant.

Perhaps Luo Xue wasn’t strong enough to dominate the entire post-apocalyptic world yet, but dealing with a little Spirit Condensation assassin wasn’t a problem.

Soon, the surroundings gradually brightened, and Luo Xue finally cleared a path through the rocks, seeing the sky again.

The scorching sun beat down mercilessly, the surrounding trees withered, and the ground was covered in cracks.

The air temperature was at least sixty degrees Celsius, hot enough to burn human skin upon contact.

Of course, for Luo Xue, this temperature was no different from an ordinary summer day. She didn’t even need to use her protective spiritual energy.

But such weather meant…

“How… how much time has passed?” Luo Xue’s pupils constricted, her breathing quickening.

She looked towards the camp, a bad feeling rising in her heart.

Last time… the surrounding environment was the lingering chill of the extreme cold disaster, and now… it looked like the beginning of the scorching sun disaster.

If it was the later stage of the scorching sun disaster, even the rocks around Luo Xue would turn to dust, becoming part of the parched earth.

Luo Xue didn’t hesitate and immediately headed towards the camp.

The camp wasn’t far from the small forest. With Luo Xue’s current cultivation, she reached it almost instantly.

Luo Xue’s expression turned serious. Holding a sharp, elongated stone, similar to a dagger, she cautiously entered the camp.

“…”

The camp was silent.

The wooden huts were dilapidated, but still intact, with no signs of fighting.

Luo Xue didn’t call out for Ling Ling, but focused on sensing her surroundings.

She didn’t want to alert anyone before understanding the situation. This was the experience Li Guijiao had taught her, to always be cautious.

Finally, Luo Xue reached the center of the camp and saw a large pot on the ground, surrounded by weathered wolf bones.

The pot was empty, but from the remaining traces, she could see that meat soup had been cooked in it.

Luo Xue remembered that on the day she left, the pot was filled with the game she had hunted.

But… where was Ling Ling?

Luo Xue walked a few more steps and reached the cellar, the camp’s storage and shelter.

As soon as she opened the cellar, a nauseating stench assaulted her, seemingly from rotting flesh and blood.

Luo Xue calmly dispelled the stench and, with the faint light from her eyes, saw everything inside the cellar.

“…No signs of being disturbed. It’s all the game I hunted before.”

Luo Xue was slightly relieved. The worst-case scenario hadn’t happened.

At least… she didn’t see Ling Ling’s corpse in the camp.

No news was good news.

And there were no signs of fighting in the camp, not even the large pot in the center had been overturned.

It was more like Ling Ling had left the camp after finishing the soup.

It was a pity that Luo Xue didn’t have any time-reversing techniques. Otherwise, she could see what had happened in the camp.

Now… only one clue remained.

That assassin.

Although Luo Xue didn’t know his name or where he came from, she remembered his face.

Perhaps because he underestimated Luo Xue, or perhaps he didn’t bother to hide, the assassin hadn’t concealed his appearance.

With the memory of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Luo Xue could easily recreate the assassin’s appearance, down to every single hair.

“Hmm… I should head to the nearest Suspended High Tower.”

Luo Xue looked up at the seemingly endless sky and took a deep breath.

She knew that this sky, seemingly shrouded in endless shadows, was the only place where humans could survive, only the sky could escape the ubiquitous natural disasters.

Three hundred and twelve Suspended High Towers…

These were the true human civilization in this post-apocalyptic world.

The endless wasteland and the displaced Wastelanders were just the abandoned ones.

…

“Docking procedure with Suspended High Tower 103 complete. Initiating ‘Tower Engine’ deceleration!”

“Deceleration normal, course correction normal, initiating engine shutdown sequence. Repeating, initiating engine shutdown sequence!”

“Docking procedure activated! Docking with Suspended High Tower 103!”

With a rumbling sound, the towering city in the sky slowly descended.

Scorching hot air waves surged around the city, sweeping through the surroundings, but firmly contained within a certain range.

Not far away, the Wastelanders on the ground looked up at the Suspended High Tower, a flicker of longing and hope in their desolate eyes, but they were stopped by armed soldiers.

Even though the Suspended High Tower had landed, the Wastelanders couldn’t enter.

Only Tower People, or Wastelanders with special permission, could approach the city.

The scorching air waves didn’t last long, and soon, the vast tower city landed on the ground, its grandeur a stark contrast to the desolate surroundings.

“Docking complete! Mission successful!”

“Suspended High Tower 103 commencing 12th day-night cycle maintenance. Estimated duration: two tower cycles.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, praise be to the True God! This is a rare opportunity for a pleasant journey on the wasteland. Come out and enjoy it!”

A portly, middle-aged man in a top hat stood on the city wall, addressing his citizens enthusiastically.

And not far from the prosperous Suspended High Tower was a crowd of huddled Wastelanders, their thin bodies and sallow faces a stark contrast to the city’s mayor.

But… for the Wastelanders, this was a grand occasion.

This was their only chance to interact with the Tower People.

Many kind-hearted Tower People were eager to help these struggling Wastelanders, and some lucky Wastelander children might even be taken in by wealthy Tower People, brought onto the Suspended High Tower, and live a happy life away from the wasteland.

Even without being rescued, the Tower People’s generosity was also an opportunity for the Wastelanders to earn some resources.

Luo Xue, wearing a tattered cloak, stood among the crowd of Wastelanders, looking up at the Suspended High Tower, her face filled with wonder.

This was her first time seeing a Suspended High Tower. Her previous camp wasn’t on any tower’s route. She had only heard about them from the adults.

Even this kind of gathering, she had only heard rumors.

Luo Xue now possessed Foundation Establishment cultivation. Although she didn’t know which level of ability user this corresponded to, she was strong enough to survive alone in the wasteland.

Coupled with her enhanced senses from cultivation, Luo Xue quickly found a Wastelander settlement and learned about the Suspended High Towers.

Human civilization had a total of 312 Suspended High Towers, each with a number.

These weren’t names, but they were recorded in the Federation, and each tower followed a specific route.

Completing a route was called a tower cycle, which took about two and a half months.

As for the twelve day-night cycles, the periods with frequent scorching sun disasters were called “Eternal Day,” and the periods with frequent extreme cold disasters were called “Eternal Night.” Together, they formed one day-night cycle.

The duration of a day-night cycle wasn’t fixed, but it was usually several decades.

However, Eternal Day didn’t mean there were no extreme cold disasters, and Eternal Night didn’t mean there were no scorching sun disasters.

So far, the surviving human civilization had experienced twelve day-night cycles, and they were now in the twelfth Eternal Night, about to enter the thirteenth Eternal Day.

At the end of the twelfth Eternal Night, all Suspended High Towers had to land for maintenance to ensure their smooth operation during the thirteenth Eternal Day.

“The upcoming thirteenth Eternal Day…”

Luo Xue sighed softly, feeling a bit emotional.

The beginning of each Eternal Day was when natural disasters were most frequent.

During the first tower cycle of the twelfth Eternal Day, the surface temperature had reached a scorching 120 degrees Celsius, a true fiery furnace.

More than 60% of the Wastelanders couldn’t survive the initial period of Eternal Day.

For Wastelanders… survival was always the most difficult thing.

The gates of the Suspended High Tower slowly opened, and many Tower People looked at the scenery outside with anticipation. They were curious about every sight on the wasteland, even though these sights were deadly to Wastelanders.

Compared to Wastelanders, the Tower People looked more like… normal humans. Their bright and clean appearance reminded Luo Xue of her previous life, of the people in big cities.

But now…

“I have to find a way to sneak into the Suspended High Tower.” Luo Xue’s expression turned serious.

She wasn’t here for a comfortable life, but to find Ling Ling.

Her only clue was that assassin, and the only place to obtain information about him… was inside the Suspended High Tower.

At this moment, Luo Xue missed the Sha sisters. If they were here, it would be much easier. She wouldn’t have to do it herself.

Professional matters should be handled by professionals, and Luo Xue wasn’t good at gathering information.

Thinking of this, Luo Xue took advantage of the crowd, used the Thousand Faces Cultivation Art to disguise herself as the ghostly girl Li Guijiao had used before, and naturally blended into the group of sightseeing Tower People.

With her current disguise skills, although she couldn’t achieve a perfect disguise, at least her face wouldn’t be recognized.

And Luo Xue’s appearance didn’t resemble that of a Wastelander. Even if she was naturally beautiful, in the harsh conditions of the wasteland, it was difficult to maintain one’s appearance.

Soon, some of the sightseeing Tower People were about to return to the Suspended High Tower, and Luo Xue, casually blending in, intended to enter with them.

But…

As she reached the docking platform, two soldiers stopped her.

“Excuse me, Miss.”

The soldiers looked at Luo Xue, a puzzled expression on their frowned faces. “Did… you drop something?”

Chapter 130: The Great Thousand Worlds 

Time flew by, and the years passed.

The Immortal-Demon War continued for a hundred years, becoming the norm.

The Peerless Summit Sect regained its position as the number one sect in the Immortal Domain, its strength unparalleled, the only sect capable of directly resisting the Demon Abyss’s attacks.

The former Grand Elder of the Law Enforcement Hall died in battle, besieged by six Nascent Soul cultivators from the Blood Lord lineage of the Temple of the Nether Spirit. Before his death, at the cost of his soul’s annihilation, he took two of them with him and severely injured the others.

Hei Pao became the new Grand Elder of the Law Enforcement Hall, and Underworld Water Ravine merged with the Law Enforcement Hall, changing the structure of the Peerless Summit Sect from four peaks and one hall to three peaks and one hall.

The former Peak Master of Falling Flower Peak, Luo Huaxin, disappeared, and the position was taken over by the newly promoted Nascent Soul Elder, Bai Zhanying.

She had once ventured deep into the Nether Spirit forbidden area alone, fighting against ten Core Formation cultivators, killing four and escaping with injuries, achieving Nascent Soul.

After this battle, Bai Zhanying became famous, second only to the Heaven-grade pill cultivator of the Peerless Summit Sect, so she naturally took over as the Peak Master of Falling Flower Peak.

Compared to other sects in the Immortal Domain, the Peerless Summit Sect was still relatively well off. Others suffered far worse fates.

The Everspring Pavilion and the Immortal Music Sect, the weakest of the nine major sects, were the first to collapse during the long stalemate, merging with other sects in their respective provinces, becoming relatively independent branches.

The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion and the Xunfang Sect, although not destroyed, were also struggling, only maintaining their position with their foundations, barely avoiding collapse.

The Silent Temple was an exception. They used a drastic measure, sealing off the entire Fan Province.

Only cultivators at Nascent Soul and above could freely enter and leave, and how could cultivators of this level venture deep into enemy territory alone?

Therefore, Fan Province was the only territory in the Immortal Domain unaffected by the Demon Abyss’s attacks, but they also couldn’t provide much assistance to the other Immortal Domain sects, at most sending out a few Nascent Soul cultivators to salvage the situation.

The Silent Temple disciples who were traveling outside joined the local resistance, fighting against the Demon Abyss alongside the sects in their respective locations.

The Primordial Mother Cult, after the Primordial Mother’s disappearance, completely collapsed, less than 10% of their disciples remaining, and more than half of their Core Formation cultivators and above were killed.

Their former territory was divided among the other three forbidden areas, with a portion reclaimed by the Immortal Domain.

In the long years that followed, the Blood Sea deep within the Demon Abyss became a forbidden zone, even the forbidden area lords didn’t dare to enter it easily.

It was rumored that some cultivators had ventured into the Blood Sea and luckily returned, claiming that the Blood Sea now had a master, and a mysterious force repelled anyone who approached.

The forbidden area lords and the ancient beings remained silent about this.

The Temple of the Nether Spirit appointed a new Holy Son and Holy Maiden. No one mentioned the once unparalleled, yet cruel, Holy Maiden again, a fleeting chapter of history quietly erased.

There were no records of a Luo Xue in the Falling Flower Peak archives of the Peerless Summit Sect. Only the disciples who had witnessed it still vaguely remembered a petite, white-haired girl wielding a heavy sword, single-handedly facing the menacing disciples of the Temple.

The great tribulation, which occurred once every few thousand years, finally arrived, but few could sense its presence.

In the depths of the Blood Sea, Liu Lian sat with her eyes closed, and Phoenix Venerable, in her blood-red dress, sat beside her.

After the Primordial Mother’s death, there was one more spot for a peak Soul Transformation cultivator in this world, and Liu Lian naturally took it.

However, taking this position also meant facing the great tribulation.

But… Phoenix Venerable was the embodiment of the will of immortality. By bestowing a sliver of immortality, Liu Lian wouldn’t even have to face the risk of the tribulation.

“This world… will become peaceful again.” Phoenix Venerable murmured.

She looked into the distance, vaguely seeing a small figure in the Blood Sea.

She hadn’t left in a hundred years.

Phoenix Venerable shifted her gaze downwards, into the depths of the Blood Sea, landing on the immortal coffin, her eyes narrowing slightly.

“Just as I expected… her consciousness is gone, leaving only an empty space…”

Consciousness was self-awareness and memory, the foundation of one’s existence.

Both the soul and the body could change, but as long as the consciousness remained, it wasn’t true death.

In its withering state, the Eternal Withering Body’s soul and body were in a state of “death,” but only the consciousness was dormant.

But Luo Xue’s situation was different. Her consciousness wasn’t dormant, but gone.

“Gone,” not “dissipated.”

“Even I can’t understand its essence… Perhaps, she will find the answer herself in the future.” Phoenix Venerable closed her eyes again.

However, what she hadn’t told Luo Xue and Su Yiyao was that although the Eternal Withering Body could theoretically reach the Great Emperor Realm, it required an extremely long time.

So far, no one had ever become a Great Emperor with the Eternal Withering Body.

More importantly, the methods to temporarily awaken an Eternal Withering Body from its withering state… were few, and each consumed a massive amount of resources.

Previously, she could awaken Luo Xue with the will of immortality because Luo Xue hadn’t truly entered the withering state.

“Xiao Yao, I can only hope… that your wait won’t be forever.” Phoenix Venerable sighed softly.

But just as she was about to return to her millennia-long meditation, she suddenly sensed something and frowned slightly.

“Hmm?”

Her brow furrowed, and a puzzled look appeared in her crimson eyes. “Strange… why do I suddenly feel like something is missing from this world? Could it be that someone bypassed my perception and left this world?”

But after sensing carefully, she found that all existences above Nascent Soul were still present. Even the usually troublesome forbidden area lords and ancient beings had become much quieter due to the arrival of the great tribulation.

After searching for a while without any results, Phoenix Venerable could only give up.

“Well, if it’s just a few minor cultivators who returned to the Great Thousand Worlds, it shouldn’t cause much of a stir. At most, after a fleeting moment of a few hundred years, they will turn to dust, unknown to anyone.”

After a brief awakening, Phoenix Venerable returned to her meditation.

The Blood Sea returned to its state of withering.

…

“Thi-, this is… what is this…”

Li Guijiao, carrying her escape bag, looked up with trembling legs, her face filled with terror.

What did she see…

A monstrous beast, ten thousand feet tall, lay beside her, its fangs the size of mountains.

Ancient trees, reaching the clouds, surrounded her, their branches as thick as city walls.

Every being here emanated a terrifying aura, even the ants crawling on the ground were at least at the Spirit Condensation Realm.

Ten scorching suns shone in the sky, and ferocious roars echoed from the distant horizon…

“Where the hell did I end up?!”

Li Guijiao, whose Spirit Condensation cultivation was like that of an ant here, wanted to cry.

Chapter 129: With You, Forever

To be honest, the reason Luo Xue and Su Yiyao returned to the Temple of the Nether Spirit was indeed related to the Zither Witch.

So, when they entered the Holy Maiden’s Temple, they were prepared to meet the Zither Witch.

But the question was…

Why was Luo Huaxin here?

Luo Huaxin was as lazy as ever, her teasing gaze fixed on Su Yiyao.

It was like scrutiny, yet also like appreciation.

After a while, Luo Huaxin retracted her gaze and looked at Luo Xue again, clicking her tongue in wonder.

“Xiao Xue, your physique is truly amazing. Not only the Calamity Poison Body, but you even awakened the Eternal Withering Body, which has only a few scattered records…”

Although there were records of the Eternal Withering Body in the nine provinces and four domains, they mostly came from the sealed Ancient Demon Lands.

It was generally believed that time and space in the Ancient Demon Lands were frozen at a certain point in ancient times, which was why there were so many ancient and long-lost secrets recorded there.

Of course, after the Holy Master realized the truth about the caged world, there was another explanation.

That the so-called Ancient Demon Lands were the real world, which was why they contained so much knowledge inaccessible to the caged world.

As for those powerful demons who “escaped” from the Ancient Demon Lands… they were probably exiled to the cage…

“Hmm…”

Luo Xue averted her gaze slightly, facing Luo Huaxin’s praise.

Luo Huaxin noticed this, and her relaxed demeanor turned serious.

Luo Xue’s thoughts were written all over her face. She also knew that there must be more to this physique.

At the same time, the Zither Witch stood up and walked towards Su Yiyao.

“Sister Qin…”

Su Yiyao’s expression was a bit tense. Seeing that the Zither Witch looked exactly like the Holy Master, she subconsciously recalled the battle at the Blood Sea.

In that battle, although the Holy Master hadn’t exerted much effort, she had still been on the opposite side.

“Don’t worry, Holy… Su Yiyao, I’m not the Holy Master.” The Zither Witch sighed, a complicated look in her pure white eyes. “To be precise, I should be called… a part of the Holy Master.”

The Zither Witch explained how the Holy Master and the other three forbidden area lords avoided their deadlines. This should have been top secret, but for the current Luo Xue and Su Yiyao, it didn’t matter anymore.

The lifespan of a Nascent Soul cultivator was measured in thousands of years, while that of a Soul Transformation cultivator was measured in tens of thousands.

Upon reaching Soul Transformation, one would have a lifespan of 30,000 years, but even at the peak of Soul Transformation, the maximum lifespan was only 50,000 years.

Once this limit was reached, death would arrive, an irreversible law.

However… the deadline could be delayed.

The Holy Master separated her body, soul, and consciousness. Her consciousness fell into slumber, her soul entered the cycle of reincarnation, and her body remained in the inaccessible Holy Master’s Hall.

The soul that entered reincarnation was the Zither Witch.

But… something went wrong with this reincarnation. A new consciousness was born, Zither Fairy.

After a series of events, it led to the current situation.

“I am destined to disappear,” the Zither Witch… or rather, Zither Fairy, said faintly. “Once the Holy Master’s consciousness fully awakens, her soul will erase mine.”

“How… can’t your consciousness be saved?”

Su Yiyao’s eyes widened. No wonder she always felt that the Holy Master and Sister Qin were different.

The Holy Master was colder, while Sister Qin still retained some warmth.

“Saved… how can I be saved? I am her, but she is not me.” The Zither Witch touched her heart and said with a wry smile, “It’s a strange feeling, you wouldn’t understand if you haven’t experienced it.”

Luo Xue didn’t speak. She understood this situation, because consciousness determined self-awareness.

If she hadn’t withered and had been forcibly revived by immortality, she would have become a living dead, her consciousness gone, but her soul and body remaining.

At that time, the new consciousness born from the living dead would be similar to the Zither Witch.

“Don’t worry, my memories with you… I won’t leave them to the Holy Master. These are my memories.”

The Zither Witch pointed to her head, her expression softening slightly.

Then, she handed the zither she always carried to Su Yiyao.

“This zither has been with me since I embarked on the path of cultivation. If you don’t mind, consider it… me.”

“But then, Sister Qin…”

Su Yiyao hesitated, not taking the zither immediately.

“Perhaps, in the near future, this will be the only proof that I ever existed.” The Zither Witch said softly. “Even if I can use some special methods to avoid my deadline, it’s only a delay.”

“Every few thousand years, this world will face a great tribulation, which will target those who use such methods to cheat death. At that time, the Holy Master will merge her consciousness, body, and soul to face the tribulation, and I… will also disappear.”

Hearing this, Su Yiyao no longer refused.

She solemnly took the zither and looked up at the Zither Witch.

The Zither Witch’s relieved expression showed that this was the path she had chosen, although she and the Holy Master should be the same person, just different consciousnesses.

“I will take good care of it… Sister Qin.”

Su Yiyao nodded seriously and put away the zither.

“That’s enough.”

The Zither Witch nodded.

Then, a dazed look flashed through her eyes, as if she could no longer see Luo Xue and Su Yiyao, and she left the Holy Maiden’s Temple in a trance.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk…”

Luo Huaxin looked at the Zither Witch’s receding figure, shaking her head and sneering slightly.

“Mother, how do you know the Zither Witch?” Luo Xue asked.

“You still recognize me as your mother?” Luo Huaxin didn’t answer immediately, but raised her head slightly and hummed. “Why didn’t you tell me that your little wife is the former Holy Maiden? If you had told me earlier, I would have gone to her directly, okay? Old Qin and I are very close!”

“How… would I know…”

Luo Xue said helplessly.

Su Yiyao’s face lit up slightly.

Ah Xue didn’t deny it!

Hee hee…

“That Old Qin, she’s been avoiding me.” Luo Huaxin pouted and crossed her arms, leaning against the wall. “Even if we work in different places, there’s no need to cut off all contact…”

“You… knew each other before?”

Seeing Luo Huaxin acting like she was very close to the Zither Witch, Luo Xue’s curiosity was piqued.

“Hey, let me ask you, what was the Zither Witch called before?”

Luo Xue frowned slightly, but it was Su Yiyao who answered,

“Sister Qin used to be called… ‘Zither Fairy’.”

“That’s right, my little wife is so smart, mwah~” Luo Huaxin winked at Su Yiyao, then pointed at herself. “What was I called before?”

“…Wine Immortal.” Luo Xue said. She had heard countless legends about the Wine Immortal along the way.

Mainly because… her wine was very valuable.

“That’s right, that’s how it is.” Luo Huaxin said proudly, hands on her hips. “Back then, we were known as the Four Fairies of the Immortal Domain!”

“The other two were Medicine Fairy and Sword Fairy. You should know Sword Fairy, she’s Xiao Yingying’s mother. I visited Medicine Fairy a while ago and even borrowed something from her.”

Borrowed meaning stolen, of course. As for what she borrowed…

Luo Xue had already drunk it all.

“And your other identity?” Luo Xue asked faintly.

“Yo, not bad, you noticed?” Luo Huaxin crossed her arms and asked casually. “Who did you meet?”

“…Master Wumu.”

“That bald donkey with hair probably wouldn’t reveal my identity. You must have heard it from that being in the depths of the Blood Sea,” Luo Huaxin shrugged. “That’s right, before the great tribulation, I was also a Soul Transformation cultivator close to the Ascension Realm, just like Master Wumu.”

Luo Huaxin’s true body was also one of the four ancient beings of the Immortal Domain, but unlike the Holy Master, she didn’t separate her body, consciousness, and soul, but entered the cycle of reincarnation directly.

When the great tribulation arrived, all her reincarnations would return, regaining their peak Soul Transformation strength to resist the tribulation.

It was because of this that Luo Huaxin didn’t dare to approach the Blood Sea and couldn’t provide more help to Luo Xue during the battle there.

“But… is this important?” Luo Huaxin tilted her head. “Is it important to you, Xiao Xue?”

Luo Xue looked at Luo Huaxin and suddenly smiled.

“It’s not important.”

Whether Luo Huaxin was the Wine Immortal or an ancient being, it was all the same. It didn’t matter.

To Luo Xue, she was just Luo Huaxin, her convenient mother, that’s all.

“Good girl, as expected of the one I picked up.” Luo Huaxin squatted down slightly, pinched Luo Xue’s cheek, then turned to Su Yiyao and said with a smile, “Take good care of Xiao Xue. I’ll leave her to you.”

“Okay… okay,” Su Yiyao nodded hurriedly, then lowered her head slightly, blushing. “I understand, Auntie…”

“Still calling me Auntie?” Luo Huaxin raised an eyebrow.

“Stop teasing her, she’s easily embarrassed.”

Luo Xue smiled wryly. Her convenient mother was still the same, always joking at the most inappropriate times.

“Mmm…”

Su Yiyao didn’t say anything more, just buried her head lower.

“Hmph~” Luo Huaxin shrugged, her expression turning slightly serious. “Anyway, Xiao Xue, from now on… take care.”

Luo Huaxin knew about Luo Xue and Su Yiyao, but she didn’t pry.

Although she wasn’t present at the Blood Sea battle, how could she not pay attention to such a momentous event?

Therefore…

She had also vaguely glimpsed some hidden truths about this world.

However, Luo Huaxin was always carefree. Unlike the Primordial Mother’s obsession and fear of her deadline, she chose to stay in this world simply because she wanted to see more.

If she couldn’t, then so be it.

Luo Xue nodded slightly in response, and when she came back to her senses, Luo Huaxin was gone, leaving behind only her wine gourd.

Every time they met… she would always leave Luo Xue some of her carefully brewed immortal wine.

But this time… it would probably be the last.

Luo Xue picked up the wine gourd, looked at it for a long time, then put it away.

Their journey had reached its end.

After spending one last night in the Holy Maiden’s Temple, Su Yiyao carried Luo Xue back to the Blood Sea.

Once again, the coffin became their boat, the coffin lid their oar, just like those nightmarish days in the nameless swamp.

Luo Xue’s weakness was evident. The immortal will Phoenix Venerable had given her gradually faded, and the will of withering slowly consumed her body.

Su Yiyao silently watched this, not speaking, not crying.

“I’m dying again, Xiao Yao.” Luo Xue leaned against the edge of the coffin, looking into the distance. “This time, it might not be just twelve years, but many, many years, so many that I can’t even count.”

“Okay.”

Su Yiyao lowered her head slightly.

She had always known about the Eternal Withering Body, but because Luo Xue hadn’t said anything, she pretended not to know, accompanying Luo Xue on this final journey.

“Xiao Yao, do you remember when we first met?”

“Heh… I’ve said it many times, it’s hard to forget…”

“Do you know? I actually come from another world. So my death isn’t a true death. Not last time, not this time.”

“It’s just like waking up from a dream, that’s all.”

“Don’t cry… you’re not pretty… when you cry.”

Su Yiyao’s shoulders trembled. “I’m not crying, Ah Xue, I’m listening.”

“Ah Xue didn’t lie to you, really, I’m just returning to another world.”

Luo Xue reached out and wiped away Su Yiyao’s tears, her immortal consciousness nearing its limit, her mind becoming heavy.

She shifted her body and lay down in Su Yiyao’s arms.

Looking at Su Yiyao’s tears, her beautiful eyes like a vast ocean, a faint dimple appeared on Luo Xue’s cheek.

“Actually… Xiao Yao is also pretty when she cries.”

Su Yiyao couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Ah Xue… Ah Xue…”

She held Luo Xue, calling her name over and over again.

“I… can hear you, Xiao Yao…”

Luo Xue’s eyelids grew heavier, but the smile on her face widened.

“Ah Xue, I… like you.” Su Yiyao finally said it, burying her face in Luo Xue’s soft body. “No, I love you, it should be love.”

But Luo Xue couldn’t respond anymore. She had already closed her eyes completely.

The will of withering suddenly erupted, even triggering another Blood Sea tide, the surging will of withering swirling around them, like embracing their king.

Su Yiyao stood up, placed Luo Xue, who had fallen into a state of withering, inside the immortal coffin, which had lost its immortal will, and watched as it gradually sank into the Blood Sea.

She stood on the surface of the Blood Sea, watching the immortal coffin disappear into the vastness.

“Ah Xue, no matter how long it takes, I will be with you, forever.”

Chapter 128: Is This… My Daughter-in-Law? p2

Phoenix Venerable picked up her teacup, blew on it gently, and took a sip.

“Master…”

Su Yiyao thought she had done something wrong again and lowered her head, not daring to speak.

Luo Xue sighed softly, glancing at Su Yiyao with a complicated expression.

She picked up her teacup and drank it all in one gulp, then stood up unsteadily, supporting her weak body.

“You’re human, yet you drink tea like this… such a waste.” Phoenix Venerable narrowed her eyes slightly, as if scolding her.

“Not all humans understand tea.” Luo Xue shook her head. “I’m just a crude person.”

If Senior Sister were here, she would probably cherish this opportunity. After all, not everyone could drink tea brewed by a Saint close to the Great Emperor Realm.

“Eh, what’s wrong? What’s wrong?”

The confused Su Yiyao blinked her beautiful eyes, looking at Master, then at Luo Xue.

Why did it suddenly feel like… she didn’t even know what happened, but Master and Ah Xue had changed, as if they shared a secret.

“It’s nothing.”

Luo Xue smiled faintly and rubbed Su Yiyao’s hair.

“Let’s put this coffin away first. It looks creepy.”

Although she had lain in it several times.

“But your body… won’t something happen if you leave the coffin?”

Su Yiyao looked at Luo Xue worriedly. Ah Xue could barely even stand…

“It’s fine.” Luo Xue shook her head and said softly, “Phoenix Venerable has already solved the problem for me. I don’t need to stay near the coffin anymore.”

“Really?”

Su Yiyao’s face lit up with joy, looking at Phoenix Venerable expectantly.

Phoenix Venerable’s expression didn’t change, and she said faintly,

“…She’s right.”

As for Luo Xue’s own situation, when and how to tell Su Yiyao was up to her.

Since Luo Xue didn’t intend to reveal everything now, Phoenix Venerable wouldn’t interfere.

“Thank you, Master!”

Su Yiyao was overjoyed.

“Drink your tea first, before it gets cold.” Phoenix Venerable pointed to the tea in front of Su Yiyao. “I don’t want to use my power and ruin the experience of tea.”

Su Yiyao didn’t say a word and, like Luo Xue, drank it all in one gulp, making Phoenix Venerable frown and sigh.

“Another one wasted.”

“Hee hee, I’m a crude person, just like Ah Xue!”

Although she said that, Su Yiyao’s cheerful expression clearly showed that she cared more about being “like Ah Xue.”

“You… just go, just go…”

Phoenix Venerable waved her hand, an expression of helplessness on her face.

“Master…”

The excitement on Su Yiyao’s face faded, replaced by a hint of anxiety.

She couldn’t understand what Master was thinking…

Could it be that she was too happy about Ah Xue’s return, and Master was… jealous?

Phoenix Venerable seemed to see through Su Yiyao’s thoughts and rolled her eyes.

“Or should I, the one ruining the mood, leave?”

“No, no… How could Master ruin the mood…”

Su Yiyao quickly waved her hands. She still respected her master very much.

But even so, Su Yiyao subconsciously moved closer to Luo Xue, as if afraid she would run away.

Seeing this, Phoenix Venerable snorted softly and stood up.

Her blood-red dress swayed gently in the wind, and along with the pavilion, her figure slowly dissipated, as if she had never been there.

Phoenix Venerable chose to leave, no longer watching their affectionate display.

“Mmm, Master…”

Su Yiyao was melancholic for a moment, then happily snuggled up to Luo Xue.

“Let’s go for a walk, Xiao Yao.”

Luo Xue’s soft voice made Su Yiyao sense something was wrong.

She looked up and saw that Luo Xue’s expression had dimmed slightly.

“A’Xue, what… what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Do you want to lie down in the coffin?”

As she spoke, she opened the coffin lid, as if the immortal coffin possessed some life-saving power.

Indeed, the immortal coffin did have the power to preserve life force, effective on cultivators below Soul Transformation.

Phoenix Venerable had originally created this coffin to preserve the True Phoenix Inheritance, but it had inadvertently become one of Su Yiyao’s magical treasures.

…It was quite useful.

“It’s fine, I’m just a bit weak.” Luo Xue looked at Su Yiyao, her eyelids heavy. “I promised you I wouldn’t lie to you again… So, walk with me for a bit, okay?”

Su Yiyao was silent for a moment, the excitement on her face gradually fading.

She wanted to say something, but in the end, she just nodded firmly.

“Okay! Wherever A’Xue wants to go, I’ll go with you!”

She didn’t ask further, because she trusted Luo Xue.

Ah Xue… would tell her. If she didn’t say it now, it must be because the time wasn’t right.

“Don’t be like this, be happy,” Luo Xue smiled and leaned lightly against Su Yiyao’s shoulder. “We still have… a long time ahead of us.”

Su Yiyao awkwardly put her arm around Luo Xue. It was usually Luo Xue who hugged her like this. This was the first time she felt Luo Xue’s weakness, the first time she felt that Ah Xue needed her protection.

Ah Xue… was soft.

Even when facing the four forbidden area lords at the Blood Sea, she hadn’t felt this way.

It gave her an indescribable heartache, like her experience in the nameless swamp, quiet and profound.

Ah Xue leaned against her, just like she had once leaned against Ah Xue.

“A’Xue, where do you want to go?”

Su Yiyao placed Luo Xue on her lap and carefully combed her long, white hair.

For some reason, Ah Xue’s usually snow-white hair seemed to have dimmed, as if covered in a layer of dust.

“I… want to see this world,” Luo Xue looked up at Su Yiyao’s downcast eyes, sensing the sadness within. “With you, Xiao Yao.”

“Okay.” Su Yiyao replied softly, a faint smile appearing on her lips. “We’ll… see the entire world together.”

…

No one noticed that amidst the churning Blood Sea, a small boat drifted upwards.

Looking closely, this small boat was actually a coffin.

Two young girls sat on the coffin, leaning against each other as they left the Blood Sea.

Unlike the commotion caused last time, this time… they didn’t disturb anyone, not even the forbidden area lords noticed their return.

Luo Xue and Su Yiyao went straight to the nameless swamp, settling down on Mount Fengyin, a place countless people searched for but couldn’t find.

They embraced each other and spent the night in the courtyard, just like before.

The next day, Luo Xue and Su Yiyao arrived at the Peerless Summit Sect, walking into Falling Flower Peak unnoticed.

Luo Xue went to the simple courtyard deep within Falling Flower Peak, the place she had lived for twelve years in this life.

She didn’t disturb Bai Zhanying, just silently looked at Senior Sister’s haggard face, sighed softly, and left a strand of white hair on the desk.

Bai Zhanying, sensing something, looked up, but only saw a familiar strand of white hair on the desk.

She picked it up, looked towards the sky, and tears slowly rolled down her cheeks.

“Little Junior Sister…”

At the same time, Luo Xue’s soul lamp in the Peerless Summit Sect quietly extinguished.

This meant that the Peerless Summit Sect disciple named “Luo Xue” was dead, no longer in this world.

Soon, Luo Xue and Su Yiyao arrived at Ghost Demon Pass. The once Ghost Demon Pass was now renamed Iron Sea Pass, completely controlled by the Iron Sea Sect. The Medicine Gang had lost the battle and retreated.

The Sha sisters were still diligently running their intelligence network. With funds from an unknown source, they had already recruited a group of talented individuals.

And, taking advantage of the ongoing Immortal-Demon War, their network had spread throughout the nine provinces and four domains.

But Luo Xue could tell that the force behind all of this was probably the Treasure Pavilion, the organization created by Shangguan Yu through Liu Lian, independent of the nine provinces and four domains, silently observing this caged world.

Their next stop was to meet Nangong Mengxiang, who had been cultivating with Shangguan Yu since parting ways with Luo Xue at the Blood Sea.

After reaching Enlightenment Core Formation, Nangong Mengxiang’s combat power at the early stage of Core Formation was comparable to the late stage, her progress extremely rapid.

Perhaps, soon, she would achieve the legendary feat of defeating a Nascent Soul cultivator at the Core Formation Realm.

Seeing that Nangong Mengxiang was doing well, Luo Xue was relieved.

This silly woman was always a bit clueless; Luo Xue was afraid she would be tricked by someone.

At the end of their journey, Luo Xue and Su Yiyao arrived at the Temple of the Nether Spirit, standing before the somewhat desolate Holy Maiden’s Temple, and entered.

Inside, they saw the person they expected, and also someone unexpected.

The former was the Zither Witch, and the latter was…

Luo Huaxin.

A pair of sly eyes winked at her playfully, a wine gourd hanging at her side. It was indeed her convenient mother.

“Mother, Mother?” Luo Xue’s expression was filled with disbelief. “Why are you here…”

“Why can’t I be here?”

Luo Huaxin swayed her hips and tilted her head, looking at Su Yiyao.

“Is this… my daughter-in-law?”

Chapter 128: Is This… My Daughter-in-Law? p1

Within the frozen stillness of the severed space-time, no one could hear the conversation between Luo Xue and Phoenix Venerable.

Luo Xue knew this was a rare opportunity. She could voice the doubts she had buried deep within her heart and might even receive answers.

But… this was her most important secret.

However, after a moment of hesitation, Luo Xue carefully said,

“Phoenix Venerable, if I said… that all of this is just a dream I’m having. When I die, I wake up. What do you think… would happen?”

“Oh?”

Phoenix Venerable’s interest was piqued, and her lazy demeanor turned serious.

She looked at Luo Xue, gently touched her heart, then examined her carefully.

“There are no traces of a projected consciousness… This is your true body, not some dream avatar, Luo Xue.”

“I know this is my true body…”

Luo Xue was troubled. How could she explain her situation to Phoenix Venerable without revealing too much?

“Alright, let’s assume what you said is true.”

Phoenix Venerable didn’t dwell on this point and continued to ask,

“So, if you die in this world, you will wake up from the dream and return to your real world?”

Luo Xue nodded, but didn’t explain further.

“Then, under what circumstances do you enter this dream?” Phoenix Venerable narrowed her eyes slightly, her slender hand supporting her chin as she gazed into Luo Xue’s eyes, her gaze seeming to pierce through everything. “Or rather, have you died in your real world before?”

“…”

Luo Xue didn’t answer immediately.

Because the answer was yes, she had died.

Twice.

…And each time she died, she returned to this world.

“If this is just a dream,” Phoenix Venerable said with a smile, “then do you think the other world you wake up to, could it also be another dream?”

Luo Xue was silent for a long time, then shook her head.

“…I can’t tell.”

Indeed, how could she tell…

Whether it was the Immortal Martial World or the post-apocalyptic world, they both felt incredibly real, without any characteristics of a dream.

Although the crisis missions on the panel could only be used in the Immortal Martial World, their rewards could be brought back to the post-apocalyptic world.

They were even universally applicable, because the post-apocalyptic world also had spiritual energy, even in the desolate wasteland.

There seemed to be… some connection between these two worlds.

Luo Xue suddenly recalled the message on the system panel when she re-entered this Immortal Martial World.

[“Life is like a dream, sleeping is also a dream, waking is also a dream.”]

Seeing Luo Xue’s hesitant expression, Phoenix Venerable knew that she had to find the answer herself.

“Well, let’s put this aside for now. I don’t have a definite answer either.”

“Even Phoenix Venerable doesn’t know…”

Luo Xue felt a bit lost.

Phoenix Venerable was a Saint, close to the Great Emperor Realm, a supremely powerful being above the world.

She could destroy the entire Immortal Domain and Demon Abyss without even lifting a finger, just by leaving the Blood Sea.

“There are many things I don’t know, and this is one of them.” Phoenix Venerable returned to her lazy demeanor. “Perhaps it’s a scheme set up by some terrifying being above the Great Emperor Realm, and I haven’t seen through it, that’s all.”

“Above Great Emperor… there are higher realms?”

Luo Xue’s eyes widened. This rabbit hole seemed to have no end…

“It can be said that there are none, but to be precise, no Great Emperor has ever broken through.” Phoenix Venerable sighed. “The Dao is vast and boundless. Even ancient divine beasts, looking beyond the ages, are just… children…”

She glanced at Luo Xue. “This isn’t something you should know now. Forget about it. Knowing such vast and profound things too early will affect your Dao Heart.”

“Okay… thank you, Phoenix Venerable, for answering my questions.”

Luo Xue nodded slightly and exhaled heavily.

Phoenix Venerable was right. After learning about the realms above Ascension, she had momentarily forgotten that she was only at Foundation Establishment.

And when Phoenix Venerable mentioned the vastness and boundlessness beyond the Great Emperor Realm… she felt an indescribable sense of pressure and insignificance.

If she had to describe it, it was like in her previous, previous life, reading about the universe and feeling the vastness of the solar system and the Milky Way, yet being unable to escape even this insignificance… that feeling of helplessness.

For now, she still had to focus on the matters at hand.

“However, I didn’t sever space-time just to talk about these things.” Phoenix Venerable’s tone turned serious. “Liu Lian should have told you some things about the Eternal Withering Body, right?”

Luo Xue nodded. “Sister Liu Lian didn’t say much, only some basic information…”

“I told her not to say too much, because some things aren’t for you to know now, and she doesn’t have good judgment.” Phoenix Venerable said. “As for your current situation, you should have noticed it yourself, right?”

“Yes… I’m very tired, exhausted, I can’t exert any strength, and it’s difficult to circulate my spiritual power.” Luo Xue replied. “Sister Liu Lian said that I’m actually… on the verge of death?”

“Indeed, the immortal coffin is made from the Divine Phoenix’s parasol tree and imbued with my own spirit, possessing the characteristic of immortality, which is why it can suppress your will of withering. But in reality… this ‘saving’ of yours is actually ‘killing’ you, for an Eternal Withering Body.”

Phoenix Venerable sighed softly, a complicated expression on her beautiful face. “Doing this is actually very harmful to you, but it’s a necessary measure.”

Using immortality to counter withering, preventing the Eternal Withering Body from entering its withering state. If this continued for too long, the Eternal Withering Body would be completely eroded by immortality.

At that time, although Luo Xue wouldn’t truly die because of the Eternal Withering Body, she would exist in a strange state, a living dead.

The living dead wouldn’t have their original consciousness… even if a consciousness emerged, it would be a completely new one born within the body of the living dead, unrelated to Luo Xue.

In this situation, there was no difference between Luo Xue and death.

Therefore, Luo Xue only had one path.

“You have to wither.”

Phoenix Venerable said softly.

“…Do I have to die?”

“It’s withering, not quite the same as death.” Phoenix Venerable corrected. “In the withering state, your strength will slowly increase. This ‘slow’ is relative to my existence. For you, it might be very fast.”

“In short, if nothing unexpected happens, your ultimate limit will be the Great Emperor Realm, but the price is near-eternal slumber.”

“But…”

Luo Xue looked at Su Yiyao.

Within the severed space-time, Luo Xue finally saw what Su Yiyao, with her head lowered, was doing.

She was actually counting the strands of Luo Xue’s silver hair scattered on the ground, a faint smile on her lips, looking very happy.

Luo Xue’s heart softened.

Su Yiyao’s world was very small, small enough for only a few people.

And she was the most important one among them.

If that was the case…

How could she bear to be separated from Xiao Yao?

“You have to tell Xiao Yao yourself.” Phoenix Venerable said softly. “When and how, it’s up to you. I can only tell you… there’s not much time.”

Luo Xue just sat there, silent, staring at the frozen teacup, lost in thought.

After a while, she slowly said,

“How long… can I last?”

“Two or three days, if you suppress your cultivation to the mortal level.” Phoenix Venerable said. “I can use a strand of immortal will to maintain your current state, so you don’t have to rely on the immortal coffin, and it won’t affect the surroundings with withering.”

“But because of the Eternal Withering Body, I can’t interfere too much. After all, this is one of the ten sacred bodies, even I can’t fully understand it.”

She understood Luo Xue’s thoughts. Some regrets couldn’t be let go.

“…Thank you.” Luo Xue said softly.

“There’s no need for thanks. You are the one chosen by my clan’s descendant, and moreover…” Phoenix Venerable suddenly smiled charmingly. “Logically, you should also call me Master, just like Xiao Yao.”

Luo Xue was stunned, thought carefully, and said,

“Hmm… it seems that’s true…”

After learning that Phoenix Venerable had taken Su Yiyao as a disciple, Luo Xue had subconsciously treated her as Xiao Yao’s elder.

When interacting with Phoenix Venerable, she even felt like she was meeting Xiao Yao’s parent.

But now, being reminded by Phoenix Venerable, she… seemed to be an inheritor of the divine Phoenix lineage as well?

If so, Xiao Yao would be her… Junior Sister? Or Senior Sister?

But Xiao Yao was also a descendant of Phoenix Venerable’s older sister…

This seniority was confusing.

Luo Xue frowned slightly, a bit troubled.

Phoenix Venerable seemed amused by Luo Xue’s expression, her cold demeanor softening with a smile.

“Don’t think too much about it, it doesn’t matter, I don’t care about these things.” Phoenix Venerable chuckled. “Even if you directly call me by my true name, ‘Immortal,’ I wouldn’t mind. After all, in my long years, it’s rare to meet someone as interesting as you.”

“…Phoenix Venerable, are you… complimenting me?”

Luo Xue’s eyelid twitched, feeling that Phoenix Venerable’s words had a hidden meaning.

“Sort of.”

Phoenix Venerable shrugged noncommittally.

The next moment, the severed space-time slowly recovered, and time resumed its flow.

Su Yiyao, outside the severed space-time, felt a moment of disorientation, then the conversation between Luo Xue and Phoenix Venerable abruptly ended.

She looked up blankly, seeing Luo Xue’s troubled expression and Master’s faint smile, confused.

What did Master and Ah Xue talk about? Why were their expressions like this…

“Drink this tea, then you can leave.”

Chapter 127: Ah Xue’s Body is So Soft, So Light 

When the coffin lid opened, Luo Xue saw a scene that was beyond her expectations.

The deeper they went into the Blood Sea, the stronger the aura of withering became.

And at the end of the Blood Sea, it should have been filled with the aura of death and decay, everything a dull gray.

But…

A clear blue sky with a few white clouds, a boundless grassland stretching as far as the eye could see, dotted with a few flowers, a breathtakingly beautiful scene.

For a moment, Luo Xue thought she was back in the Immortal Domain.

She hadn’t seen such a peaceful environment since leaving the Immortal Domain.

And this… appeared in the place that should have been the most desolate.

Su Yiyao, sleepy-eyed, poked her head out. She had just woken up and sat up, rubbing her eyes.

She looked at the surroundings, clearly stunned for a moment, then her expression turned slightly anxious.

Only after seeing Luo Xue did Su Yiyao relax.

It was good, it was good. Her reunion with Ah Chou… A’Xue, wasn’t a dream.

She had almost thought that she was just dreaming of leaving the Blood Sea, because it was too unreal.

Su Yiyao reached out discreetly and gently held Luo Xue’s hand.

“Young Mistress Luo Xue, you can leave the immortal coffin now, but be careful not to stray too far.” Liu Lian’s voice rang out.

“Now it’s okay?” Luo Xue blinked. “But why just now…”

“Just now, on the Sea of Withering, your life force and withering were in a delicate balance, easily disrupted, causing you to fall back into a state of withering.”

Liu Lian explained, “Although the withering state is actually better for you, with your Eternal Withering Body, at least for now, it’s better to stay conscious.”

Luo Xue nodded slightly. She didn’t know much about the Eternal Withering Body, but judging by the current situation, it was better to follow Liu Lian’s advice.

“But Sister Liu Lian… will A’Xue die? Like… the death we understand…”

Su Yiyao asked anxiously.

“…”

Liu Lian was silent for a moment, looked at Luo Xue, and said,

“Let Master tell you the answer.”

After saying that, Liu Lian bowed slightly to the two of them, and her figure instantly vanished.

“Isn’t Sister Liu Lian going to lead the way?”

Luo Xue scratched the back of her head. Was it really okay to just leave them here?

She didn’t even know where Phoenix Venerable was… wait.

“I know where Master is,” Su Yiyao said. “Sister Liu Lian is always like this. If Master doesn’t give her instructions, she won’t appear.”

“I see, so that’s how it is.”

Luo Xue nodded and climbed out of the coffin.

Only then did she realize that her body was unprecedentedly weak, even weaker than a mortal’s.

Even though her mind was clear, even lifting her arm to support herself was extremely difficult.

Seeing this, Su Yiyao quickly reached out and helped Luo Xue up, gently leading her out of the coffin.

“Why didn’t I… feel so weak just now…”

Luo Xue leaned against the coffin, slightly out of breath.

Just moving a little away from the coffin brought an unbearable wave of exhaustion, as if tempting her to fall asleep.

“A’Xue, are you okay?” Su Yiyao asked worriedly. “You look terrible…”

“This is probably what Sister Liu Lian meant by ‘on the verge of death’.” Luo Xue said with a wry smile. “I was fine during the battle, probably because I borrowed your power.”

“Then… you can borrow it now too!”

Su Yiyao quickly said, extending her arm towards Luo Xue.

Luo Xue’s expression turned strange. Borrowing power wasn’t like sucking blood, extending her arm wouldn’t help…

“It’s fine, it doesn’t matter.” Luo Xue stood up, supporting herself against the coffin, and exhaled softly. “I can’t keep borrowing it… and there are limitations, it can’t last too long.”

“Well, okay, then I’ll support you… A’Xue, take it slow.”

Su Yiyao helped the weak Luo Xue up, and Luo Xue leaned slightly against Su Yiyao’s shoulder.

Feeling Luo Xue’s warmth against her, Su Yiyao’s expression clearly brightened.

But now… there was the matter of the coffin.

“Sister Liu Lian just said I can’t stray too far from the coffin for now, so…”

Luo Xue looked at the coffin, a bit troubled.

“It’s fine, I’ll carry it.”

Su Yiyao skillfully secured the coffin, which was much larger than her, to her back, as if she had done it countless times.

A little girl carrying a large coffin, Luo Xue was a bit dumbfounded.

But if that was the case, would leaning on Su Yiyao’s shoulder be a bit of a hindrance?

“Xiao Yao, how about I just stay in the coffin…”

Before Luo Xue could finish, Su Yiyao became visibly anxious.

“No!”

“Uh… isn’t it troublesome?”

“No, it’s not troublesome… I’ll carry you!”

Su Yiyao squatted down, her small arms reaching for Luo Xue’s knees, and lifted her up.

—In a princess carry.

Luo Xue’s long, silver hair cascaded down, almost reaching the ground. Su Yiyao looked down and saw a pair of shocked eyes.

“Xiao Yao, you…”

Luo Xue was caught off guard and flustered.

“This is more convenient… A’Xue’s body is so soft, so light, it’s not heavy at all.”

Despite saying this, Su Yiyao’s face was flushed red for some reason.

“Does A’Xue not like being carried like this…”

“It’s not that, it’s just that this is my first time being carried like a princess.”

Luo Xue couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Really?”

Su Yiyao’s eyes lit up.

“Really.”

Luo Xue nodded and relaxed completely in Su Yiyao’s arms.

Su Yiyao felt the soft, light body in her arms become even softer, like a silk doll filled with cotton.

She really wanted to bury her face in Luo Xue’s hair…

“Speaking of which,” Luo Xue looked around. “Is the entire Blood Sea… like this?”

“Not entirely.”

“There are other places?”

“The place where Master usually cultivates is similar to the Blood Sea, but the will of withering is much stronger. I have to have Sister Liu Lian take me there, otherwise I can’t even get close.”

“Oh… besides that?”

“I don’t know. Besides cultivating here and visiting Master, I haven’t been anywhere else.”

“Didn’t you ever think of exploring when you had free time…”

“No, because when I have free time, I’m always thinking about—”

“Stop, stop, don’t say it, I can’t take it anymore…”

“Mmm…”

On the peaceful grassland, the small figures gradually walked away.

Time seemed to stand still, everything peaceful and quiet.

Su Yiyao looked down at Luo Xue, who had her eyes half-closed, and lowered her eyelids.

As she walked slowly, a fervent hope arose in her heart.

If only this short journey could last forever…

…

A gentle breeze blew, lifting a few strands of dark red hair, then gently letting them fall back onto the blood-red dress.

The woman in the blood-red dress had her eyes closed, her face carrying an otherworldly beauty.

But this beauty wasn’t seductive, but sacred and untouchable, breathtaking.

She slowly opened her eyes and looked into the distance.

“Master,” Liu Lian’s figure slowly appeared and bowed. “They’re almost here.”

“Okay.”

She retracted her gaze, her eyes calm and distant.

Phoenix Venerable sat in a pavilion that had inexplicably appeared on the grassland, a freshly brewed pot of tea steaming before her.

Two meditation cushions were placed in front of her, deliberately close together.

“Master, why not let me bring them here directly?” Liu Lian asked curiously.

With her cultivation, she could bring Luo Xue and Su Yiyao to Phoenix Venerable in the blink of an eye. There was no need for them to walk so slowly.

“Let them spend some time together, I’m not in a hurry.” Phoenix Venerable said faintly, then looked up and asked, “Besides, with Xiao Yao’s cultivation, do you think she needs to walk?”

Liu Lian thought carefully. Su Yiyao was now at the Core Formation Realm, her movement techniques weren’t bad, so she…

Didn’t need to walk?

Then why…

“…I don’t understand.” Liu Lian shook her head.

“It’s fine, just wait.” Phoenix Venerable said, a hint of pity flashing through her eyes. “Moreover… there might not be another chance like this in the future.”

Liu Lian was silent for a moment, bowed, retreated a few steps, and her figure vanished.

Not long after, Su Yiyao, carrying Luo Xue, slowly appeared at the edge of the grassland.

She also saw Phoenix Venerable sitting alone in the pavilion, and a conflicted expression appeared on her happy face.

But in the end, Su Yiyao still reluctantly dragged her feet, almost crawling, across the grassland, and arrived before the pavilion.

“Master…”

Su Yiyao didn’t dare to look into Phoenix Venerable’s eyes and lowered her head timidly.

After all, she had left the depths of the Blood Sea and gone to the Immortal Domain and the Demon Abyss out of her own will.

Although this was permitted by Phoenix Venerable, Su Yiyao could tell that Master didn’t want her to continue interacting with the Immortal Domain and the Demon Abyss. There seemed to be a hidden reason.

Therefore, after returning, Su Yiyao was like a child who had made a mistake, sitting on the meditation cushion, her head drooping listlessly.

Luo Xue leaned slightly against the coffin, breathing softly, looking tired.

“It’s good that you’re back.”

Phoenix Venerable didn’t seem to mind and just nodded slightly at Su Yiyao, then turned her gaze to Luo Xue.

Luo Xue, finally recovering slightly from her weakness, looked up and met Phoenix Venerable’s gaze, instantly jolting awake.

The terrifying scene in the courtyard on Mount Fengyin flashed through her mind again, but now she was facing the real Phoenix Venerable.

Phoenix Venerable’s appearance was almost identical to the woman in white in the illusion formation, but since this was her true body, the oppressive aura was even stronger.

Seeing Luo Xue’s reaction, Phoenix Venerable’s lips seemed to curve into a faint smile, but it quickly disappeared, as if it were just an illusion.

“Luo Xue… our second meeting, you seem to have changed a lot.” Phoenix Venerable said slowly. “I thought… His bloodline could be tolerated by mortals. Seeing you today, I realize I was mistaken.”

“His… bloodline?”

Luo Xue’s breathing quickened slightly.

In this world’s language, “He” and “He(his)” had different pronunciations. Luo Xue knew that Phoenix Venerable was referring to the true being of the Blood Sea.

So, the inheritance she received was actually the bloodline of the Blood Sea itself?

“The inheritance illusion formation back then would only activate and bestow the inheritance upon those who possessed His bloodline.” Phoenix Venerable explained. “It probably activated because of Xiao Yao, but… for you to be able to withstand the inheritance is strange.”

Back on Mount Fengyin, Luo Xue and Su Yiyao had been inseparable, even sleeping together, so they carried each other’s aura.

Although the aura was faint, the illusion formation had taken into account the dilution of the bloodline over generations, activating as long as it sensed the corresponding aura.

But this didn’t mean that anyone who had been close to Su Yiyao could activate the inheritance.

More importantly… accepting the inheritance.

Basically, only those with the Blood Sea’s bloodline could withstand the True Phoenix Inheritance and the True Phoenix blood essence. Otherwise, they would explode upon contact.

But Luo Xue had added many points to her poison resistance, and she was also a mortal, so the True Phoenix blood essence was heavily sealed, allowing her to withstand it and successfully accept the inheritance.

Of course… the effect of Luo Xue obtaining this inheritance was still inferior to Su Yiyao’s.

Phoenix Venerable didn’t beat around the bush and directly explained these things to Luo Xue. Su Yiyao also listened attentively—she hadn’t been in the mood to listen before, so she didn’t know about these things.

Only then did Su Yiyao react, her eyes widening.

“Wait, Master, you mean… I’m a descendant of the ancient divine beast, the Phoenix?”

She had always thought she was human, but now she was suddenly told… that she was actually a bird?

Yes, the Phoenix was a legendary ancient divine beast, but it was still a bird…

“And unexpectedly pure. Your existence is likely the result of ‘Origin Birth’.” Phoenix Venerable added. “Don’t worry, you are indeed human now, not a transformed demonic beast.”

“I see…”

Su Yiyao breathed a sigh of relief, not knowing why she was relieved.

“But, Phoenix Venerable, you just said that His bloodline couldn’t be tolerated by mortals…”

Luo Xue asked hesitantly.

“Indeed, but I never said Xiao Yao was a mortal.”

Phoenix Venerable thought carefully, then explained in a way Luo Xue could understand.

“Let’s just say, Xiao Yao is actually the consciousness born from the divine Phoenix bloodline, and she constructed a human body… that’s all.”

“Therefore, Xiao Yao and the Phoenix clan are no different, except for their physical form.”

In other words, Su Yiyao was an ancient divine beast in human form.

“So… I’m still a bird…”

Su Yiyao’s expression drooped.

Even the composed Phoenix Venerable’s brow twitched slightly.

If anyone else described the Phoenix clan like this, she would have already killed them.

But…

Such insulting words came from one of the few remaining descendants of the Phoenix clan.

Phoenix Venerable took a moment to compose herself, then continued,

“The Phoenix clan is nearing extinction. I didn’t have much hope of finding a descendant of the Phoenix in this lost world, to inherit His power.”

“I thought finding a mortal with a trace of Phoenix bloodline would be a pleasant surprise, but I didn’t expect… such a pure-blooded descendant like Xiao Yao to appear.”

Su Yiyao opened her mouth, wanting to say something.

But Luo Xue could tell that she was still struggling to accept this, so she quickly interrupted.

“Phoenix Venerable, if you hadn’t found a descendant, would you have continued searching?”

Phoenix Venerable nodded slightly.

“Before Nangong Fengyin, I entrusted sixteen tomb keepers with some aptitude for withering, but all of them failed. If I hadn’t found Xiao Yao, I would have left the Blood Sea again in a thousand years, searching for the next tomb keeper.”

“Tomb keeper? Tomb?”

Luo Xue remembered hearing True Person Fengyin say that she was just a tomb keeper.

“Because this is a tomb, His tomb.” Phoenix Venerable turned slightly, her gaze distant and long. “It can even be said that this entire world… is just His graveyard.”

“So, He is…”

Luo Xue followed Phoenix Venerable’s gaze, seeing nothing, but still sensing the will of withering within the Blood Sea, calling out to her.

“What the world calls the Blood Sea is also the Withering Phoenix. He was the last Great Emperor of our clan. By His time, the ancient divine beasts had become legends.” Phoenix Venerable said softly. “And I… am His incompetent younger sister, the Immortal Phoenix, just a mere Saint, close to the Great Emperor Realm.”

“Wait… what level is Saint?”

Luo Xue felt her mind struggling to keep up, perhaps because she was too exhausted.

“After Ascension is the Tribulation Immortal Realm, followed by the Sea Crossing Realm, then Saint, and finally Great Emperor.” Phoenix Venerable explained patiently. “In other words, those so-called forbidden area lords are about four major realms below me.”

“…”

Suddenly, Luo Xue felt that the forbidden area lords’ earlier behavior before the Blood Sea seemed a bit… comical.

“But Phoenix Venerable, why didn’t you intervene directly just now?” Luo Xue asked with confusion. “With your strength… you could kill them with just a glance, right?”

“Indeed, but unfortunately, I can’t leave the Blood Sea. Every time I appear in the world, it’s with an early Nascent Soul avatar.” Phoenix Venerable shook her head. “If not for this, I would have brought Xiao Yao back myself, without troubling that idiot who always gets lost.”

Luo Xue and Su Yiyao were silent, and a certain idiot hiding nearby was also silent.

No wonder, when Luo Xue received the inheritance in the depths of Mount Fengyin, the panel indicated it was a Nascent Soul level illusion formation.

She just hadn’t expected Phoenix Venerable’s true body to be so much more powerful.

“Why?” Luo Xue frowned slightly. “Phoenix Venerable, you’re so powerful, is there anything that can restrict you?”

“No, it’s because I’m too powerful. If I leave the Blood Sea, this world will collapse.” Phoenix Venerable paused, then said, “Haven’t you been to a secret realm? To me, this world is like a secret realm.”

Many secret realms had cultivation restrictions. For example, the Heavenly Cluster Sword Tomb couldn’t be entered by those above Core Formation.

Phoenix Venerable was even more extreme. If she left the Blood Sea, the entire world would collapse, unable to withstand her power.

Even Liu Lian’s strength never exceeded the early stage of Nascent Soul when she appeared in the world.

But to be the servant of a Saint close to the Great Emperor Realm… she would have to be at least at the Ascension Realm, if not Tribulation Immortal.

“…I think I understand.” Luo Xue nodded.

“In other words, I know about their actions, whether it’s refining this world or searching for the so-called door.” Phoenix Venerable said faintly, picking up her teacup and gently blowing on it. “But it has nothing to do with me. Let them do as they please.”

To Phoenix Venerable, everything happening in the Immortal Domain and the Demon Abyss was less important than the tea in her hand.

After appearing in the world several times, Phoenix Venerable had also learned some things from the human world, tea being one of them.

“What if they succeed?”

“We’ll talk about it when they succeed.”

Phoenix Venerable said indifferently, seemingly unconcerned.

After staying in this place for who knows how many years, the changes in the nine provinces and four domains were nothing new to her.

Luo Xue didn’t ask what was outside this world, because she could tell that Phoenix Venerable was deliberately avoiding this topic. Asking wouldn’t yield any answers.

“You’ve asked about Xiao Yao and this world, don’t you have any questions about yourself?”

Phoenix Venerable suddenly smiled faintly, looking at Luo Xue, a deep meaning in her eyes.

Seeing Phoenix Venerable’s expression, Luo Xue’s heart tightened. Could it be… that Phoenix Venerable had seen through her?

“I do… have some questions.”

Luo Xue said uncomfortably, glancing at Su Yiyao.

Su Yiyao held Luo Xue’s sleeve, her head lowered, lost in thought.

“Ask away. I’ve temporarily blocked everything from the outside world, and Xiao Yao won’t hear our conversation.”

Phoenix Venerable saw Luo Xue’s hesitation and used some method beyond Luo Xue’s understanding to isolate this space and time.

Luo Xue looked around in surprise. Everything seemed frozen in time, even the ripples on the teacup.

“This…”

“Just a small trick, nothing compared to you.” Phoenix Venerable put down her teacup and said softly, “Your body and soul completely dissipated upon death, without any remnant soul, then you were reborn into this world through ‘Origin Birth’.”

“Even as a Great Emperor, I’ve never heard of such a strange and traceless method of reincarnation… But it seems even you don’t understand what’s going on.”

“If you’re willing, perhaps you can tell me. I… might have the answer.”

Chapter 126: You Are Already Dead 

On the boundless Blood Sea, a cold, solitary figure drifted slowly towards its depths.

Beside her floated a coffin.

Liu Lian, eyes half-closed, was like a ferryman on a sea of suffering.

Inside the coffin, Luo Xue stared at the wooden sculpture of her past self.

“It really is… a bit ugly…” Luo Xue murmured.

But it was a perfect likeness, a testament to Su Yiyao’s longing.

“Ah Chou isn’t ugly. Ah Chou said it herself…” Su Yiyao mumbled, then stopped, realizing Ah Chou was right there.

“Heh… it’s okay.”

Luo Xue looked at the other items in the coffin: the broken dagger, clothing fragments, and a recording stone, its runes dimmed from repeated use.

Su Yiyao had told her everything that happened after her death, including everything about the Blood Sea.

Luo Xue learned that the terrifying Holy Maiden was actually Su Yiyao…

She couldn’t reconcile the sweet girl before her with the rumors.

“Xiao Yao, you…” Luo Xue asked, “Do you really eat a pair of children every day?”

“Huh?”

Su Yiyao, startled, quickly explained,

“Those are all rumors… I’m just a scapegoat.”

“Hmm…” Luo Xue nodded, believing her.

But Su Yiyao seemed doubtful.

“It’s true!” Su Yiyao insisted, her face flushing. “I killed the Holy Son, but others killed his followers… And that Holy Maiden, I didn’t do anything to her…”

Su Yiyao explained the various incidents where she was blamed.

She had no foundation in the Temple, yet her status was high, making her a perfect scapegoat.

And she was quiet and reserved, further solidifying her image as a villain.

Su Yiyao also apologized for the wanted notice.

Luo Xue understood her predicament.

“It’s okay, I know… Xiao Yao is the best.”

Luo Xue wiped away Su Yiyao’s tears and rubbed her hair.

Su Yiyao relaxed, enjoying Luo Xue’s touch.

Luo Xue smiled faintly, her thoughts drifting.

Before becoming the Holy Maiden, Su Yiyao lived in the Blood Sea.

And her Master… was an old acquaintance of Luo Xue’s.

“Phoenix Venerable…”

Luo Xue shuddered, remembering her first encounter with a Soul Transformation expert.

As for the True Phoenix Inheritance, Luo Xue now knew she only had half, and Su Yiyao had the other half.

Under normal circumstances, Su Yiyao should have encountered one half, awakened her bloodline, and obtained the complete inheritance.

But now, after merging with Su Yiyao, they both had the complete inheritance.

Together, they could wield the power of the ancient Phoenix.

“Xiao Yao, do you know what the ‘door’ the forbidden area lords keep mentioning is, and how was this Blood Sea formed?”

Luo Xue asked.

“I don’t know,” Su Yiyao shook her head. “Master didn’t tell me. I was too busy thinking about you and cultivating.”

“Ahem…” Luo Xue coughed.

“But,” Su Yiyao frowned, “It seems no one outside knows about Master… Otherwise, they would have recognized my inheritance.”

“Is Phoenix Venerable’s inheritance also the True Phoenix Inheritance we have?” Luo Xue asked.

During the battle, their inheritances merged, and Luo Xue felt that this inheritance was unique, only one person could control it.

“It’s a bit different,” Su Yiyao said. “Master’s inheritance is ‘Immortality,’ while ours is ‘Withering,’ like this Blood Sea.”

That’s why that evil cultivator comprehended the Underworld Phoenix Dao technique from the Blood Sea.

“Didn’t Phoenix Venerable tell you anything else?”

“No, Master rarely spoke to me. And I was always thinking about you.”

Su Yiyao replied, occasionally adding some cheesy lines.

“But I never asked Master.” Su Yiyao added.

Luo Xue wanted to ask Liu Lian, who seemed to have followed Phoenix Venerable for a long time.

But before she could open the coffin lid, Liu Lian’s voice rang out.

“Young Mistress, I advise you not to leave this coffin.”

“Why?” Luo Xue asked.

“Because… you are already dead.” Liu Lian said, her voice emotionless.

“I… am already dead?” Luo Xue’s expression was filled with disbelief. “Wait… am I a ghost?”

Luo Xue almost revealed that she would return to her original world after death. Su Yiyao also looked bewildered.

But Liu Lian continued,

“You’re not a ghost. The Eternal Withering Body can’t become a ghost.”

“Eternal Withering Body…”

Luo Xue’s expression turned serious.

She opened the panel, saw her improved talent and changed Dao Body, and frowned.

“You mean, I’m dead… but alive?”

“That’s not entirely accurate,” Liu Lian said. “Although the ‘death’ state is true ‘life,’ it doesn’t mean you can exist normally.”

“No Eternal Withering Body has been able to act freely without restrictions.”

Luo Xue didn’t understand. She could think and move, why was she considered “dead”?

Liu Lian continued,

“You’ve regained consciousness partly because of this immortal coffin, and partly… because Young Mistress Xiao Yao is maintaining your life force, balancing your withering and life.”

So, when Luo Xue first evolved, she lost consciousness. Only after contacting Su Yiyao and the coffin did she regain it.

And Luo Xue hadn’t left the coffin since.

“This physique… is it that useless?”

Luo Xue’s hands trembled.

Su Yiyao held Luo Xue’s hand, sadness in her eyes.

“Young Mistress, the Eternal Withering Body is one of the ten sacred bodies. If it’s ‘useless,’ then there are no ‘useful’ Dao Bodies.”

“But existing only in ‘death,’ even if it’s powerful… what’s the point?” Luo Xue said helplessly, looking at the worried Su Yiyao and sighing.

“That’s not true,” Liu Lian shook her head. “Like this coffin, there are ways for an Eternal Withering Body to act freely, but most have limitations.”

“Normal ‘life’ is ‘death’ for the Eternal Withering Body. Your current state… is like being half-dead.”

“Also, by maintaining this ‘death’ state, the Eternal Withering Body can continuously absorb the withering energy in the world, gradually becoming stronger, even reaching the Great Emperor Realm.”

“Great Emperor…”

Luo Xue’s mouth opened slightly.

What level was that?

Above Ascension?

And absorbing withering energy… sounded familiar.

“You can ask Master about these things. That’s all I can say.”

Liu Lian stopped her.

“Alright.”

Luo Xue nodded. She looked at the tearful Su Yiyao and comforted her.

“It’s okay, Xiao Yao. There’s still Phoenix Venerable. Perhaps she can solve this.”

“Wuu… Ah Xue, don’t leave me again…”

Xiao Yao hugged Luo Xue, sobbing.

“I won’t, this time, no matter what…”

Luo Xue hugged Su Yiyao.

“Really?”

“Really,” Luo Xue said, “I won’t lie to you.”

Su Yiyao relaxed and quickly fell asleep in Luo Xue’s arms.

Her peaceful sleeping face, her slightly curved lips, were filled with happiness.

“Sleep well, Xiao Yao.” Luo Xue patted her back and sighed. “You’re also very tired.”

Luo Xue gently laid Su Yiyao down and covered her with a thicker set of clothes.

Then, she felt a bit lost.

About this world, about her existence, and about the Eternal Withering Body, she still had many questions.

Perhaps only Phoenix Venerable could answer them.

But before that…

“Sister Liu Lian, can I ask you some questions about yourself?”

“About me?” Liu Lian paused, surprised.

“Is that not allowed?”

“Of course, I’ll answer anything.”

“Are you the owner of the Treasure Pavilion?”

“If you’re talking about the shop Shangguan Yu manages for me, then yes,” Liu Lian replied, her voice fluctuating slightly.

“But I rarely participate. I just take out some of my collection to exchange for resources for Young Mistress Xiao Yao.”

“What’s your relationship with her? And how is she alive again?”

Luo Xue continued to ask.

Liu Lian seemed overwhelmed and, after a long silence, replied,

“Master saved her, and I take care of her for Master. That’s all.”

“Why did she save her?”

“Because she’s a friend of someone Master cares about… Young Mistress, please don’t make things difficult for me. Master should explain these things to you personally.”

Liu Lian’s voice was almost pleading.

However, Luo Xue had learned enough.

So, Shangguan Yu was saved because of True Person Fengyin, and Phoenix Venerable’s power was truly terrifying.

To revive a Nascent Soul ghost cultivator without any side effects…

Was this the power of “Immortality”?

Of course, it was also because Shangguan Yu’s death wasn’t complete.

“We’re almost there, Young Mistresses,” Liu Lian said softly. “Young Mistress Luo Xue, Master… has always wanted to meet you.”

…

The forbidden area lords couldn’t get any information from Shangguan Yu. She seemed to be stalling.

The Shangguan Yu here was just an illusion.

The forbidden area lords were more reserved than the Primordial Mother, patiently dealing with Shangguan Yu.

But Shangguan Yu was unmoved, giving vague answers.

Even the Ghost King’s appeal to kinship couldn’t sway her.

She just kept saying things like, “What you know is what you know, and what you don’t know, you shouldn’t know.”

So… the three forbidden area lords gained nothing.

However, even if Shangguan Yu didn’t stop them, they didn’t intend to enter the depths of the Blood Sea.

The outer regions already held the power of the Ascension Realm.

If they went deeper… they might lose their lives.

The forbidden area lords were cautious.

If not for her approaching deadline, the Primordial Mother would have been even more cautious.

But now…

Burning with the Infinite Fire, the Primordial Mother would suffer unimaginable pain until her death.

The Blood Sea tide was approaching.

The forbidden area lords didn’t dare to stay any longer, both because of the withering and because of what had just happened to the Primordial Mother.

They retreated without hesitation.

Only the Primordial Mother remained, wailing in agony.

Compared to the vast Blood Sea… a burning, twisted beast was insignificant.

After they left, Shangguan Yu’s illusion dissipated.

She stared at the departing forbidden area lords, a sneer on her lips.

“This is a cage?”

“Hahahaha… I didn’t expect these old fogies to actually think that…”

“If you truly break this cage, that would be the arrival of true despair.”

“…Hopefully, that day will never come.”

…

The Primordial Mother’s death had a huge impact, especially since she had recalled most of her disciples before dying.

The Primordial Mother Cult’s forces were greatly reduced.

And they lost contact with the Primordial Mother.

The Primordial Mother Cult worshipped her, and every disciple consumed her flesh and blood.

Now, their god was gone.

The Peerless Summit Sect, leading six smaller sects, attacked the Primordial Mother Cult’s territory.

The four Soul Transformation ancestors intervened, almost killing all six Grand Elders of the Primordial Mother Cult.

Such a crushing victory was because the Peerless Summit Sect’s sword cultivators were almost invincible at the same level, especially their ancestors from the golden age.

And without their deity, the Primordial Mother Cult’s elders were greatly weakened.

The four domains of the Demon Abyss became three, and the Peerless Summit Sect solidified its position as the leader of the Immortal Domain.

But the price was high. The Peerless Summit Sect had the highest casualty rate.

However, the other three domains didn’t attack the Peerless Summit Sect, but instead retreated and entered the stalemate phase prematurely.

Only a few knew that this was because… this war had lost its meaning.

…

Chapter 125: I Can Only Say, Those Who Understand, Understand 

Shangguan Yu stood beside Luo Xue, helped her up, and said with a slight smile,

“Not bad, little girl from the Peerless Summit Sect. You could actually use my Nascent Soul will to this extent and even comprehend the Law of Withering, a sword intent only Nascent Soul sword cultivators can master.”

Luo Xue’s recent sword strikes hadn’t just used the Peerless Summit Sect’s sword intent; they also combined the power of the Mystic Dark Eyes and the True Phoenix inheritance.

More importantly, the will of withering carried by the Eternal Withering Body allowed Luo Xue to create her own unique sword intent.

The Sword of Withering.

One strike, and all things withered.

This was a terrifying sword intent that could sever an enemy’s life force at its root.

Not to mention the Primordial Mother, who was nearing her end, even the other three forbidden area lords had no way to counter the Sword of Withering.

Even with Luo Xue’s weak cultivation, although the amount of life force severed was small, it was unavoidable.

The true strength of the four forbidden area lords and the ancient beings wasn’t just their combat power. Having been at the peak of Soul Transformation for many years, they also possessed countless life-saving methods.

For example, the Primordial Mother’s Soul Transformation flesh and blood embedded within her disciples. At critical moments, she could absorb their flesh and life force, turning the tables.

Besides their deadlines and beings above the Ascension Realm, there was nothing in this world that could directly threaten their lives.

Until now.

Luo Xue’s sword strike made the Ghost King and the Fallen Immortal restless. Seeing the Primordial Mother’s life force being severed, an unprecedented sense of crisis arose within them.

Coupled with the fact that Luo Xue wasn’t a descendant of an ancient divine beast, they finally decided to act.

However, before they could even extend their hands, they were stopped by a mysterious figure.

Standing beside Shangguan Yu was a cold woman shrouded in shadows, slightly shorter than Shangguan Yu, but taller than Luo Xue and Su Yiyao.

She looked like a young woman in her prime, but her indifferent expression seemed to carry the weight of countless years.

“Xiao Yu, you’re still alive?” The cold flames in the Ghost King’s eye sockets flickered. “What happened back then…”

Shangguan Yu had been betrayed by her own sister and died in despair on the battlefield, her resentment even tainting countless Buddhist artifacts of the Silent Temple.

Many had witnessed her death, so how could she be here now?

Resurrecting a deceased Nascent Soul cultivator was unheard of.

“That’s all in the past. Although I’m still called Shangguan Yu, I have nothing to do with the Shangguan clan… or the Demonic Ghost City anymore.”

Shangguan Yu crossed her arms and pouted.

“If you have any business, talk to my boss. I’m just a lowly employee working overtime.”

The cold woman remained silent. She seemed to ignore the four forbidden area lords, walking straight towards Su Yiyao and Luo Xue, and bowing slightly.

“Young Mistresses, I apologize for my tardiness.”

“You are…”

A puzzled expression appeared on Luo Xue’s face.

She knew Shangguan Yu had joined a force called the “Treasure Pavilion.”

In that case, this woman should be the leader of the Treasure Pavilion. Why was she calling herself a “servant”?

“Sister Liu Lian.”

Su Yiyao said with a complicated expression.

“I am here.”

Liu Lian looked up, her emotionless gaze meeting Su Yiyao’s.

“Master, she…”

Su Yiyao shrank back slightly. She seemed to have caused a lot of trouble after coming out and didn’t know if Master was angry.

“Master has instructed me to bring you back,” Liu Lian said faintly. “She has something to tell you.”

“You can’t take them!”

Just then, the Primordial Mother roared, still in her half-monstrous form.

Countless resentful eyes stared at Luo Xue, as if trying to devour her.

The Primordial Mother still had about a hundred years left of her lifespan. Although it was just a blink of an eye compared to her tens of thousands of years, it wasn’t the end yet.

But Luo Xue’s seemingly insignificant sword strike had just taken away fifty years of her life!

If the sword intent of withering had been comprehended earlier, or if Luo Xue had controlled more of the Blood Sea’s power, a single strike could have brought her to her end.

Such an existence… couldn’t be allowed to remain in this world!

Liu Lian glanced at the Primordial Mother indifferently, then turned to Luo Xue.

“Young Mistress, do you have any other business with them? I can wait, there’s no rush.”

Shangguan Yu chimed in,

“Anyway, my boss is lost again, hahaha, she always gets lost whenever she comes out… Ow, ow, ow…”

Shangguan Yu narrowly dodged an attack, patting her chest in relief. “Never mind, never mind…”

Liu Lian retracted her dagger, her emotionless gaze fixed on Luo Xue, waiting for her answer.

“Other business…”

Luo Xue’s eyelid twitched as she looked at the four forbidden area lords.

“There… shouldn’t be any more, right?”

“Yes,” Liu Lian nodded and turned back. “Young Mistress said it’s time to go. Apologies, everyone, excuse us.”

The Primordial Mother was both shocked and furious, and the expressions of the other forbidden area lords were also uncertain.

What did she mean?

…Looking down on them?

They could sense that Liu Lian’s strength wasn’t that great, only at the early stage of Soul Transformation, a world apart from the peak of Soul Transformation.

Yet, she spoke to them with such disdain, even ignoring them.

But the forbidden area lords were also pondering.

And who was this mysterious girl’s master?

An early Soul Transformation cultivator’s master… should be at the peak of Soul Transformation, right?

In this world, was there enough fortune and power to accommodate another peak Soul Transformation expert?

Or perhaps, her master wasn’t from this world…

However, regardless of their concerns, the Primordial Mother couldn’t wait any longer.

Seeing Liu Lian’s attitude, she unleashed all her power, using all her trump cards, transforming into the monstrous beast again, roaring above the Blood Sea.

The other three forbidden area lords retreated, keeping their distance.

They knew the Primordial Mother was making her last stand. This was her strongest moment, infinitely close to the Ascension Realm.

But at the same time, death and decay were also catching up to her, her deadline approaching, her flesh and blood withering.

But she couldn’t care less. This was her last gamble.

“Stay… stay…”

The deafening roar almost shattered everyone’s eardrums, and a foul, poisonous aura filled the air.

The monstrous beast opened its maw, even devouring the dim sunlight from the horizon, let alone the weak beings floating on the Blood Sea before her.

Liu Lian frowned slightly, but didn’t draw the dagger at her waist.

“If you do this… He will be angry.” Liu Lian said softly.

She wasn’t angry, from her tone, it seemed like she just found it troublesome.

Before the monstrous beast’s maw could close, the calmed Blood Sea suddenly churned again.

This time, it didn’t condense into sword intent or transform into a phoenix, but into a single feather.

This purplish-red feather was much larger than an ordinary bird feather, but compared to the roaring beast, it was as small as an ant.

But the moment the feather appeared, the expressions of the forbidden area lords, who had retreated dozens of miles, changed drastically, and they instantly teleported hundreds of miles away.

The power of the Blood Sea that Su Yiyao and Luo Xue had wielded before seemed impressive, but compared to the boundless Blood Sea, it was just a ripple.

But now, without anyone borrowing its power, the entire Blood Sea was churning slightly.

As if something was awakening, opening its eyes, and looking at this world.

“Roar…”

The monstrous maw closed, devouring not only Luo Xue and Su Yiyao, but also Liu Lian and Shangguan Yu.

But the Primordial Mother didn’t notice that a small, purplish-red flame had ignited on her twisted body.

Looking closely, it was just an inconspicuous feather burning.

“I… have succeeded…”

Every piece of flesh and blood on the monstrous beast emitted a hoarse cry of ecstasy. She bathed in the Blood Sea, feeling the arrival of new life.

Then, she felt heat, intense heat.

Confusion flashed through the Primordial Mother’s mind.

After forming a Core and having their own small world, ordinary temperatures were no longer enough to make a cultivator uncomfortable, let alone her, at the peak of Soul Transformation, about to ascend.

…Was it an illusion?

Was it an illusion brought about by her new life?

The next moment, the Primordial Mother realized that it wasn’t an illusion.

Every part of the monstrous beast, every piece of flesh and blood, was burning with a purplish-red flame.

“What… is this…”

Terror filled the eyes on the Primordial Mother’s body. She tried to retract her body, but the purplish-red flames were severing her source of power.

This twisted body, formed from countless cultivators, countless powerful beings, began to collapse uncontrollably, and countless fragmented consciousnesses directly attacked the Primordial Mother’s soul.

At the same time, the pain of the purplish-red flames burning her flesh also assaulted her consciousness without any reduction.

This strange flame’s pain seemed to penetrate everything, and the Primordial Mother had no way to resist, only to endure.

“It hurts… it hurts so much… it hurts…”

Sharp cries of pain echoed from every piece of flesh and every nerve. The monstrous beast was experiencing an unparalleled pain.

Such pain… even made the Primordial Mother forget the fear of her approaching deadline, only wanting to be released from this torment.

“Primordial Mother, you really are…”

Shangguan Yu said lazily, looking at the once untouchable being before her in such a pathetic state. She didn’t feel anything, only finding the screams a bit jarring.

Liu Lian was similar. She was carefully packing Luo Xue and Su Yiyao’s belongings, like a true servant.

When the purplish-red flames ignited on the Primordial Mother’s body, they had already escaped from her maw. The Primordial Mother didn’t even have time to touch them, let alone merge with their power.

“This is…”

Luo Xue stared at the burning flames and instinctively shrank back, as if by instinct.

“The Infinite Fire, the inextinguishable flame, the flame that belongs solely to the ancient divine beast, the Phoenix.” Liu Lian said faintly.

“I told you He would be angry. Even the deceased Phoenix wouldn’t allow such filth to taint its remains. He loves cleanliness.”

“So, the Blood Sea really is… the remains of a divine Phoenix?” Luo Xue blinked. “An Ascension Realm Phoenix? Or…”

She hadn’t seen how the Infinite Fire ignited, but she was certain that the Blood Sea hadn’t unleashed its true power, not even stirring.

“Ascension Realm… One of His feathers is about at that level.”

Liu Lian shook her head, but didn’t continue.

She turned to Shangguan Yu and asked,

“Yu, are you coming back with us this time?”

“No, no, I’m not going to see that old hag.” Shangguan Yu shook her head repeatedly, glancing at the depths of the Blood Sea with reverence. “You go ahead… I’ll go back and continue managing my boss’s business. Farewell, farewell…”

“Okay.”

Liu Lian didn’t insist, nodded, then turned to Luo Xue and Su Yiyao.

As Luo Xue watched in shock, Liu Lian picked them up, put them in the coffin, and closed the lid.

Su Yiyao seemed accustomed to this, snuggling up to Luo Xue without changing her expression, a sweet smile on her lips.

Then, Liu Lian took the coffin and headed towards the depths of the Blood Sea.

Shangguan Yu stayed behind, watching the Primordial Mother’s agony, waiting for something.

A moment later, those she was waiting for arrived.

The three forbidden area lords.

“Xiao Yu, what’s going on?”

The Ghost King asked first, glancing at the Primordial Mother and the Infinite Fire with apprehension.

If that fire landed on him…

He would probably be in the same miserable state as the Primordial Mother.

“Don’t ask. I can only say, those who understand, understand. I won’t explain too much, after all, it’s better to know for yourself, savor it slowly. And don’t ask me what’s wrong. The stakes are too high, it won’t do either of us any good to talk about it. Just pretend you don’t know. All I can say is, there’s more to this than meets the eye, it involves many things.”

Shangguan Yu, as if prepared, rattled off these words, leaving the forbidden area lords stunned.

They were silent for a moment, only the Primordial Mother’s screams echoing around them.

“Do… you know something, about this cage?” The Holy Master asked in a deep voice.

Only peak Soul Transformation cultivators knew about the caged world, but they assumed Shangguan Yu knew about it.

“So, you old ancestors call this place a cage.” Shangguan Yu nodded thoughtfully. “Oh right… it does resemble one.”

She pondered for a moment, then her expression turned serious.

As the forbidden area lords held their breath, their gazes tense, she slowly said,

“I can only say, those who understand, understand…”