Category: A Girl Dies Every Day in Her Dream Life

Chapter 44: The Immortal Ascension Gate

A white ponytail bounced up and down as a petite figure peered cautiously through the doorway.

Having rarely left her small hut, Luo Xue had spruced herself up a bit.

At least she had tied up her long hair, simply tying it into a ponytail.

Upon entering, Luo Xue was unexpectedly met with four eyes staring back at her.

“Oh, hello Elder.”

The tall woman sitting behind the table was her Senior Sister, Bai Zhanying, but Luo Xue didn’t recognize the stern-faced old man beside her.

“This is the Elder.”

Bai Zhanying offered a brief introduction.

“Greetings, Elder.”

Luo Xue performed the proper etiquette of a disciple, but the sect elder just stared at her without saying a word.

“Xiao Xue, why have you come out?”

Bai Zhanying stood up, walked over to Luo Xue, and subtly positioned herself between her and the elder.

“I want to participate in the Immortal Ascension Gate.”

Luo Xue said directly.

“…”

Hearing this, Bai Zhanying’s expression froze.

The sect elder’s gaze sharpened imperceptibly.

“Why… is that not allowed?”

Luo Xue shrank back slightly, sensing the strange atmosphere.

It wasn’t right. She had read the rules of the Immortal Ascension Gate. There were no restrictions on realm or strength.

The only limitation was age, which had to be within one jiazi.

Another important point was that life and death were irrelevant on the Immortal Ascension Gate.

Although many high-level elders would be watching over the Immortal Ascension Gate, accidents still happened every time.

Therefore, there were occasional deaths.

But anyone seeking the path of immortality had to understand that the path was not easy.

A slight misstep could lead to life and death being separated.

Bai Zhanying hesitated, unsure if she should refuse.

She turned to look at the sect elder, but he remained silent and expressionless.

“…It will be very dangerous.”

Bai Zhanying said softly.

“I’m not afraid,” Luo Xue replied, slightly clenching her small fist. “Senior Sister, trust me.”

Seeing Luo Xue’s insistence, Bai Zhanying could only sigh inwardly.

She knew this day would come. Being in an immortal sect, witnessing the ethereal grace of immortals every day, it was impossible not to have a yearning for it.

If Luo Xue were just an ordinary person, even one without any aptitude, it wouldn’t matter.

If she could cultivate, she could cultivate. If she couldn’t, Bai Zhanying was willing to watch over her for the short hundred years of a mortal life.

After all, Xiao Xue had been picked up by her as a child, without parents, and had stayed with her for twelve years.

Bai Zhanying wasn’t a heartless person; she had developed some feelings for Luo Xue.

But… Luo Xue possessed the Calamity Poison Body.

This physique wasn’t just dangerous. No matter what Dao technique she cultivated, her spiritual power would be forcibly converted into a special poisonous spiritual power.

In other words, even cultivating immortal techniques was like cultivating evil techniques.

…How could an immortal sect cultivate an evil cultivator?

More importantly, because immortals and demons were incompatible, forcibly cultivating would easily lead to Qi Deviation.

The Qi Deviation of the Calamity Poison Body…

It wouldn’t destroy the entire Peerless Summit Sect, but it could easily destroy one or two peaks.

At the very least, thousands of disciples would be involved.

This was why the Peerless Summit Sect had been advising Bai Zhanying to kill Luo Xue or sever her path of cultivation and drive her into the Demon Abyss.

After a long hesitation, Bai Zhanying finally spoke.

“I’m sorry, Xiao Xue, this is not appropriate…”

“What’s inappropriate about it?”

Unexpectedly, the sect elder interrupted her.

She looked at him in surprise, only to see the sect elder smiling kindly and nodding at Luo Xue.

“A good seedling.”

“Thank you, Elder.”

Luo Xue bowed again, very well-behaved.

“Elder, you are…”

Bai Zhanying was puzzled, but the sect elder no longer paid attention to her.

The sect elder approached Luo Xue, smiled kindly, took out a token, and handed it to her.

“This is my personal token. If you need my help, you can come to the Law Enforcement Hall with this token.”

“I am Zhong Bo, the Second Elder of the Law Enforcement Hall. If you wish, you may call me Grandpa Zhong.”

“Okay,” Luo Xue took the token and bowed repeatedly. “Thank you, Grandpa Zhong.”

Elder Zhong Bo’s face showed a satisfied smile. He glanced at Bai Zhanying’s slightly flustered and puzzled expression, then continued to speak to Luo Xue.

“However, I have some matters to discuss with Zhanying now. Could you leave for a while?”

“Alright.”

Luo Xue wasn’t so insensitive as to stay here.

She could also tell that Senior Sister seemed to have something to say to Elder Zhong Bo, and it wasn’t convenient for her to be present.

“Senior Sister, Grandpa Zhong, I’ll be leaving then.”

Luo Xue waved and walked out the door, thoughtfully closing it behind her.

When the small white figure disappeared, Elder Zhong Bo’s smile instantly vanished, replaced by his usual stern and rigid expression.

“Elder, why is this?” Bai Zhanying cast a silencing spell and turned to look at Zhong Bo. “Elder, the Peerless Summit Sect cannot accept Xiao Xue as a disciple.”

“It seems you are well aware of this.” Zhong Bo said coldly.

“In a few more years, I will send her away.”

Bai Zhanying’s attitude was firm, unyielding.

“Zhanying, do you think I don’t know what you’re thinking?” Zhong Bo shook his head. “A few years, then a few more years, when will it end? You and your master are both so stubborn.”

“When all this turns into a disaster, it will be too late.”

“But…”

Bai Zhanying’s expression still showed hesitation.

This matter concerned Luo Xue, whom she had raised for more than ten years. The usually calm Bai Zhanying couldn’t help but be flustered.

The reason why Bai Zhanying was like this was partly because of her feelings for Luo Xue, and partly…

She was also an orphan adopted by her master.

Perhaps it was empathy, but she felt a certain kinship with Luo Xue.

Moreover… Xiao Xue was indeed a good child.

Zhong Bo saw Bai Zhanying’s concerns and snorted coldly.

“Don’t worry, the Peerless Summit Sect is an upright immortal sect. We won’t resort to underhanded methods against her, and neither will I.”

“The reason I opened my mouth was for your sake, to respect her wishes and give her a chance at immortality.”

“But in a few years, if you are still obstinate, I can only ask the Sect Master to issue a decree to expel her.”

Bai Zhanying was silent.

She knew very well that if Luo Xue was expelled from the Peerless Summit Sect, she couldn’t stay in the Immortal Domain or the mortal world.

Nor did she dare to leave Luo Xue in the Immortal Domain or the mortal world.

The Calamity Poison Body was, after all, a terrifying disaster waiting to happen.

Seeing Bai Zhanying’s silence, Zhong Bo knew that the matter was settled and didn’t stay any longer, waving his sleeve and leaving.

Bai Zhanying remained silent for a long time, then sighed softly.

“But, if the path of cultivation is severed, being in the Demon Abyss is also a dead end…”

Chapter 43: Little Junior Sister of Falling Flower Peak

The towering peaks of Falling Flower Peak, a part of the vast and illustrious sect known as the Peerless Summit Sect, pierced the heavens, wreathed in ethereal clouds.

From time to time, white-robed immortals could be seen soaring through the sky on their swords, and figures with an air of immortality sat on the peaks, discussing the Dao, creating a scene of unparalleled beauty.

“So this is the true world of cultivation…”

Luo Xue sat on the rooftop, gazing at the scene, her long, waist-length white hair fluttering in the wind, yet she didn’t bother to tie it up.

It had been a few days since she woke up, and the memories of this world were gradually returning.

Twelve years ago, the Senior Sister of Falling Flower Peak, Bai Zhanying, had found her on her way back from completing a sect mission.

Taking pity on the weak Luo Xue, she brought her back to the Peerless Summit Sect to raise her.

Twelve years passed in a flash, and Luo Xue’s consciousness returned.

Luo Xue couldn’t even tell if this was transmigration of the soul or the body, because when she woke up, she was already twelve years old.

The fight against the Spirit Condensation assassin was still fresh in her mind, as if it had just happened.

But in her memories, she had lived as a child raised by the Senior Sister of Falling Flower Peak for twelve years.

Even more terrifying was that Luo Xue’s current appearance was almost identical to her appearance in the outside world, just a little more mature.

This awkward conflict had troubled Luo Xue for several days, and she had only just recovered.

“At least the Calamity Poison Body and my cultivation are still here.” Luo Xue briefly examined herself internally. “Even the True Phoenix blood essence is… Wait, if this thing is also here, am I still the successor of the Xuanyin Phoenix Transformation Scripture?”

A strange expression appeared on Luo Xue’s face. It was said that there was only one successor in the world, but now there were suddenly two?

However, Luo Xue wasn’t even sure if this was the same world as before.

But the current situation… was better than waking up to a life of constant fear and danger, right?

She just didn’t know if she would ever see Xiao Yao again.

And if she did, would she even recognize her?

“It’s fortunate, getting a good start this time.”

Luo Xue calmed her thoughts, putting aside the matters of the apocalyptic world for now and focusing on the present.

Twelve years ago, the reason Bai Zhanying, who had adopted Luo Xue, rushed back to the sect was because the once-every-twelve-years Immortal Ascension Gate had begun, and Falling Flower Peak was under her charge.

Now, twelve years later, the Immortal Ascension Gate was opening again, and Senior Sister had to rush to arrange matters, so she hadn’t been seen in days.

This matter should have been the responsibility of Senior Sister’s master, the Peak Master of Falling Flower Peak, but she was an irresponsible person who was never around.

“Speaking of which, should I also participate in the Immortal Ascension Gate?”

Luo Xue took out a letter from her pocket, with Senior Sister’s neat handwriting on it.

She had left a message telling Luo Xue that she would be busy during this time and that Luo Xue should take care of herself.

Looking at these words, the usually stern and cold, but actually very gentle, Senior Sister seemed to appear before Luo Xue, and she couldn’t help but smile.

…In her memories, Senior Sister had always taken good care of her.

Luo Xue rarely received such care. Whether in the apocalyptic world or in her previous life, she had always played the role of the older sister, even though she was still young.

Putting the letter back in her pocket, Luo Xue jumped off the roof and returned to the house.

This was Senior Sister’s usual residence, located in the depths of Falling Flower Peak, simple yet tidy.

Because Senior Sister was always serious and didn’t interact much with other disciples, few people came to this house.

Luo Xue had lived here for twelve years, but less than a handful of people in the Peerless Summit Sect knew her.

Also, although she had stayed for twelve years, Luo Xue wasn’t considered a disciple of the Peerless Summit Sect.

Even the children of elders had to pass through the Immortal Ascension Gate to enter.

Otherwise, even if Senior Sister had complete control over Falling Flower Peak, she couldn’t do anything… Although it sounded strange, Bai Zhanying did indeed decide all matters, big and small, on Falling Flower Peak.

Bai Zhanying wasn’t strict with Luo Xue. Whether she wanted to enter the Peerless Summit Sect or not was entirely up to her.

Even if Luo Xue remained a mortal, she could stay in the Peerless Summit Sect until the end of her life.

Of course, Luo Xue couldn’t do that.

She had to become stronger; otherwise, this dream life would be meaningless.

Luo Xue activated her internal energy and opened the panel.

[Cultivation Aptitude: Barely There]
[Special Physique: Calamity Poison Body]
[Survival Points: 305]
[Current Realm: Innate Realm (Soul Cultivation)]

“A twelve-year-old at the Innate Realm. Passing the Immortal Ascension Gate shouldn’t be a problem, right?” Luo Xue rubbed her fingers, looking towards the distant peaks shrouded in clouds. “Reaching Spirit Condensation and learning some techniques should be enough to defeat that assassin.”

As for what came after, she would deal with it later.

“At least now, I can finally experience a somewhat relaxed life.”

Thinking of this, Luo Xue suddenly felt the weight she had been carrying in her heart lighten, and she felt much more relaxed.

“I should go out and have a look.”

Luo Xue hung a short sword at her waist and walked out of the house.

She hummed a little tune as she walked towards Falling Flower Peak.

…

“…Have you not driven that child you adopted into the Demon Abyss yet?”

A deep voice suddenly rang out.

As the voice fell, Bai Zhanying’s hand trembled slightly. In a clear voice, she replied, “She is a good child.”

“But she also possesses a demonic body.”

The sect elder stood with his hands behind his back, looking coldly at Bai Zhanying.

“Bai Zhanying, you are the next generation’s pride of the Peerless Summit Sect, the pillar of the sect after we retire. You must know what the ‘Calamity Poison Body’ means.”

Luo Xue’s physique had been discovered by a Peerless Summit Sect elder by chance a few years after Bai Zhanying had adopted her.

Although Luo Xue only knew that this physique was poisonous and terrifying, she didn’t know how terrifying it truly was.

But the Peerless Summit Sect knew.

Thousands of years ago, there had been a great war between immortals and demons.

Among them was a great demon with the Calamity Poison Body who, with his own power, contaminated half a province of the Immortal Domain, killing hundreds of millions of living beings.

What a terrifying physique…

It was simply a walking human purgatory.

When they discovered that Luo Xue possessed this physique, the Peerless Summit Sect immediately decided to kill her to prevent future trouble.

However, Bai Zhanying, who had already raised Luo Xue for several years, couldn’t bring herself to do it and kept refusing.

Because Bai Zhanying’s status was so important, the sect couldn’t bypass her and act on their own.

Therefore, in the end, the sect took a step back and agreed to spare Luo Xue’s life.

But she had to have her cultivation sealed and be driven into the Demon Abyss to fend for herself.

Bai Zhanying reluctantly agreed, but years had passed, and she still showed no signs of taking action.

The sect elders had come to urge her many times, but Bai Zhanying always used the excuse of being busy with affairs and that Luo Xue was still young to delay.

“…She’s still a child.” Bai Zhanying’s eyes flickered, and she said in a low voice, “Wait a few more years, and I will personally send her down.”

“I hope so.”

The sect elder looked deeply at Bai Zhanying.

“Falling Flower Peak has many affairs, so Zhanying will not see the elder off,” Bai Zhanying raised her hand towards the door, intending to send the guest away. “Please.”

“Hmph.”

The sect elder snorted coldly, waved his sleeve, and turned to leave.

Just then, a light and crisp voice rang out from the doorway.

“Senior Sister! I’m here to see you!”

Chapter 42: Life is Like a Dream

Boundless darkness and silence.

This was the scene that greeted Luo Xue when she opened her eyes. She seemed to be suspended in mid-air, her feet not touching solid ground.

Was she dead again?

…Why did she say “again”?

Luo Xue vaguely remembered being killed by a black-clothed assassin whose combat power was equivalent to the Spirit Condensation Realm, and he had said a lot of strange things.

“The target is only me, he won’t harm A’Ling?”

“And he had to kill me in an ‘accident’?”

“What was his purpose…”

“Wait, an accident?”

Thinking of this, Luo Xue’s pupils constricted.

She realized something.

After all the adults in the settlement had left, there were originally more than ten children left, besides her and Ling Ling.

Moreover, the supplies in the cellar were enough for them to reach adulthood and gain the ability to hunt.

But after several minor disasters, the originally ample supplies in the cellar were inexplicably depleted by more than half.

This situation directly led to the children having to go out hunting earlier than planned.

The older children in the camp formed a team to go to the small forest, but in the end, less than half returned.

The terrifying specter of death loomed over everyone.

But even so, for the sake of survival, everyone had no choice.

Eventually, after repeated sacrifices, only Luo Xue and Ling Ling remained in the entire camp.

All along, Luo Xue and Ling Ling had thought these were just accidents.

But now… could they really be accidents?

Could even Luo Xue’s previous death also be an accident?

It seemed that an invisible hand was manipulating everything in the settlement.

But what value did Wastelanders have, to make this unknown force go to such lengths?

It couldn’t be just for their sick amusement, could it?

“Could it be for A’Ling?”

Luo Xue’s eyes narrowed. From the words of the unknown assassin, she could only come to this conclusion.

…She couldn’t let them succeed!

Whether it was for Ling Ling or for her deceased companions…

However, she needed more strength.

Being able to send an assassin equivalent to a Spirit Condensation expert, this mysterious force was definitely not something Luo Xue could contend with now.

At least, she couldn’t even defeat the assassin they sent.

She had to become stronger.

And the only way to become stronger now was in the dream.

After sorting through all of this, Luo Xue composed herself and began to pay attention to her surroundings.

It seemed to be a space of consciousness.

Luo Xue tried to summon the system, but the red text that appeared was no longer her personal panel, but an option.

[Do you want to enter the dream?]

[Yes/No]

Of course, she would choose yes. Choosing no would probably mean going back.

Now, Luo Xue was completely outmatched by the assassin. Going back would just be sending herself to her death again.

Speaking of which, would she come back and choose again if she died?

Also, did the condition for entering the dream have to be death… or was losing consciousness enough?

Maybe… she should try knocking herself out next time?

Luo Xue’s thoughts wandered, but she still focused her mind on “Yes.”

In an instant, a door opened before Luo Xue, and white light dispelled the surrounding darkness.

But before Luo Xue could take a closer look at her surroundings without the cover of darkness, she had already thrown herself into the white light.

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

A soft whisper seemed to echo in her ears. The next moment, several blurry and unfamiliar voices sounded.

“This child… is born with white hair…”

“I wonder if it’s a good omen… or a disaster…”

“Since she has a head of white hair, let’s name her Luo Xue, nicknamed Xiao Xue.”

“Xiao Xue.”

It seemed to be a very pleasant and gentle voice.

…

“Master, can the dead be resurrected?”

“The soul has dissipated, the person is gone.”

“If the soul dissipates, can it enter reincarnation?”

“Reincarnation will not accept it, and heaven and earth will not tolerate it.”

“But… Master, I still miss her very much. I always feel like she will come back.”

“You have asked me three thousand times, and I have answered you three thousand times,” the beautiful woman in the purple dress slowly opened her eyes. In an instant, even heaven and earth lost their color in her presence. “Since you already have your own answer in your heart… why do you keep asking me?”

“Over the years, your appearance hasn’t changed. Isn’t it because you’re afraid she won’t recognize you when she returns?”

The girl didn’t speak, sitting alone on the coffin.

Only silence.

The woman in purple looked at her for a long time, then closed her eyes again.

“Yao’er, instead of being trapped by your inner demons, why not go out and see the world?”

“The world is very boring. It’s rare to find a few people you can get along with. I don’t want to lose another one.”

The girl remained silent, but she stood up and kowtowed three times to the woman in purple.

Then, she left, carrying only a broken blade and a coffin, from the sea of blood.

Not long after, news spread from the Demon Abyss.

The inheritance of the Underworld Phoenix, which was thought to be completely cut off, had found a new successor, who was accepted by the most forbidden place in the Demon Abyss, the Temple of the Nether Spirit, as their new Holy Maiden.

Within a few years, the Holy Maiden challenged all the demon talents within a jiazi of her age in the Demon Abyss.

She was undefeated.

***

A “jiazi” (甲子) in the traditional Chinese calendar is a cycle of 60 years.

“Within a jiazi,” it means “within a 60-year period” or “within a 60-year age range”

Chapter 41: Assassination

“Found me?”

Night Owl was stunned. Although he hadn’t used any special techniques to conceal his aura, it was still far beyond what a Level 3 ability user should be able to detect.

However, Night Owl was unaware that Luo Xue’s cultivation system was completely different from the ability users of this world and couldn’t be directly compared.

It could only be said that Luo Xue’s combat power in her normal state was only at the level of a Level 3 ability user, while in her True Phoenix state, she could contend with a Level 4 mutated beast.

This was also Luo Xue’s first time using the True Phoenix state, and her proficiency was less than 10%. In addition, she didn’t use any True Phoenix techniques.

After all, the all-around enhancement of physical attributes was just a byproduct of the True Phoenix state.

And in this state, Luo Xue’s sensory abilities were also enhanced, allowing her to detect an out-of-place aura lurking in the dense forest.

Luo Xue frowned, the purple-red patterns on both sides of her cheeks, which had slightly faded, reconsolidated.

However, it couldn’t last too long.

The True Phoenix state required True Phoenix power, which was nurtured by the True Phoenix blood essence. Luo Xue currently only had a trace of it.

Therefore, Luo Xue didn’t hesitate for long and flew towards the direction of the aura.

“She’s really perceptive…”

Luo Xue’s changes were all observed by Night Owl. Especially the sudden increase from Level 3 to Level 4, he was amazed.

Even for low-level ability users, possessing such a secret technique was rare.

Especially since she was… a Wastelander.

It was truly not easy.

Night Owl didn’t have any prejudice against Wastelanders, but he also didn’t have any sympathy for them.

The same went for the white-haired girl in front of him.

He was an assassin.

Take the mission, complete the mission.

That was all an assassin should do.

“I originally wanted to make it look more like an accident… What a pity. It might be difficult to explain to the higher-ups.”

Night Owl sighed. He wasn’t a perfectionist. “Accident” and the like could be fabricated after the target was dead.

Since he was sure that the target might have many hidden methods, Night Owl wouldn’t hold back.

“I hope in your next life, you’ll be born into a better family.”

In an instant, a black light flashed, piercing through the white-haired girl’s chest.

The forest was silent, and a few leaves fell.

Night Owl wiped the purplish-red blood from the tip of his blade, sighed, and sheathed his knife.

“Such a young girl.”

“Are you trying to kill me?”

A delicate yet calm voice sounded behind him.

“What?”

Night Owl’s pupils constricted, and he looked back.

He saw Luo Xue clutching her left arm, standing in place, the Dao patterns on her body already gone, looking quite weak.

“A bit slow…”

Luo Xue smiled and casually tore off a piece of her skirt to bandage the wound.

Indeed, compared to Daoist Ziyang’s last-ditch attack, Night Owl’s movements were much slower.

Luo Xue had been struck several times then, and some instinctive danger premonition had been trained.

Coupled with the boost from the True Phoenix state, Luo Xue was able to subconsciously avoid the black light.

Unfortunately, her movements were still a bit slow, and her left arm was cut with a wound so deep that the bone was visible.

However…

Luo Xue glanced strangely at Night Owl’s finger, which had just wiped the blood from the blade, but she didn’t say anything.

It seemed her poisonous blood was a bit too potent. It corroded without any pain.

Night Owl frowned, his expression turning serious.

“It was my mistake, I wasn’t cautious enough and didn’t go all out.”

This was a major taboo.

Every assassination by an assassin should be carried out with all their might, treating the opponent as a supreme expert, even if they were just an ordinary person.

Night Owl hadn’t held back, but he also hadn’t exerted his full strength.

“Now, please go to your death.”

Night Owl drew his dark blade again, but suddenly a sharp pain came from his finger.

“This…”

His fingertip had turned into two sections of white bone.

The remaining flesh was still melting, stained with a hint of purplish-red blood.

Such a serious injury… he hadn’t felt a thing just now.

It wasn’t until the white bone touched the handle of the blade that Night Owl noticed.

And this purplish-red blood…

Night Owl suddenly remembered that before hunting, Luo Xue had cut her flesh with a short knife and stained it with blood.

So it was poison…

A poisonous ability user?

In this instant of hesitation and panic, Luo Xue’s figure vanished.

…She ran.

Joking, this was at least a Spirit Condensation level of combat power!

Luo Xue wasn’t stupid. She wasn’t good at fighting in the first place, let alone when the difference in strength was so great. Fighting head-on would only lead to defeat.

Moreover, Luo Xue didn’t even know why the other party wanted to kill her, and he was at least an expert equivalent to the Spirit Condensation Realm.

A mere Wastelander, did she deserve such treatment?

Also, if there was an assassin planning to kill her, what about Ling Ling? Was she in danger too?

Thinking of this, Luo Xue’s pace quickened, gradually approaching the camp.

On the other side, Night Owl unhesitatingly cut off two finger bones, along with the flesh contaminated with the poisonous blood.

Fortunately, not much blood had been contaminated. If there had been more, he might have lost his entire arm.

As for Luo Xue’s escape, Night Owl wasn’t worried. For an assassin, tracking was a basic skill, and with his speed, he wouldn’t be outrun by Luo Xue.

The only thing he was worried about was the other little girl in the camp.

Night Owl could vaguely guess the higher-ups’ intentions, which was to make this little girl think that everyone in the camp had died due to accidents in the wasteland, leaving her alone.

As for why they were going to such lengths, instead of just taking in all the other Wastelanders in the wasteland…

“Perhaps, they want that girl to be able to rely only on the High Tower…”

The more people, the more variables. The higher-ups didn’t like variables.

As for what the higher-ups wanted the little girl to do… that was beyond his ability to guess.

But…

“No wonder the reward is a Level 7 gene potion. This mission is a bit troublesome.” Night Owl bandaged his wound and shook his head. “It’s not easy to get…”

Then, the black figure disappeared again.

Luo Xue hadn’t run far before being intercepted by Night Owl.

As expected of an assassin who specialized in speed, the pursuit time was almost negligible.

“Don’t worry, your friend will be fine. You are the only target.” Night Owl sighed. “And don’t ask why, I don’t know much either. Just die obediently.”

Luo Xue raised her short sword, stained with her poisonous blood.

Night Owl recalled the white-haired girl’s highly poisonous blood. If she resorted to a suicidal attack at the last moment, it would be quite troublesome.

“And it has to look like an accident,” Night Owl rubbed his temples, glancing at the wary Luo Xue. “Fine, I’ll have to use this move. I wanted to save it.”

As his voice fell, the ground suddenly shook.

Luo Xue’s pupils constricted, and she looked up.

She saw the surrounding hills seemingly being blasted open, countless rocks and debris rolling down.

Night Owl’s figure had already retreated far away, and he had used some method to restrain Luo Xue’s movements.

“You…”

Luo Xue tried to break free, but her movements seemed to be slowed down several times, making it impossible to move.

“Backup plan, bury you under a landslide… Explosives are expensive, but you must die.”

Night Owl’s voice came from afar, finally carrying a hint of pity.

“Resent me all you want. In your next life, be born into a good family, and don’t be a Wastelander again.”

Countless rocks and debris fell, completely burying her.

Chapter 40: True Phoenix

Luo Xue had somewhat misjudged Ling Ling; her talent was actually quite good.

She had almost completed the Cleansing Mouth stage overnight, almost on par with Li Zining and the others.

But… there was still something strange.

“Could it be that A’Ling has a special talent that allows her to cultivate faster and faster?”

Luo Xue carefully examined Ling Ling, making the little girl nervous.

“Xue’er Jie, did… did I do something wrong?” Ling Ling asked cautiously.

“No, you did very well.” Luo Xue rubbed Ling Ling’s hair. “It’s time to work. Cultivation should be done gradually.”

There were no Dao Insights here, nor the rich spiritual energy of Mount Fengyin, so they couldn’t support non-stop cultivation.

“Okay!”

Ling Ling immediately nodded her head like a chick pecking at rice.

After this night, she could also feel the benefits of cultivation.

But Xue’er Jie said to take it slow, so she would.

Ling Ling had always been very obedient.

After sending Ling Ling off to break down the wolf bones for soup, Luo Xue turned her gaze towards the small forest, her eyes narrowing.

Although the senses of an Innate Realm cultivator couldn’t compare to those of true cultivators, they were still quite sharp.

She could sense a powerful aura within the small forest, restless and agitated, and a sense of danger welled up in her heart.

“Could it be that yesterday’s hunt disturbed some powerful mutated beast?”

Even when the camp had hundreds of people, they had never hunted as openly as Luo Xue had.

Because the Wastelanders were too weak, they had to rely on tools and traps. Direct combat was never an option.

Moreover, Luo Xue had never been to the depths of the small forest and didn’t know what existed there.

But if a mutated beast had been disturbed… the camp might be in danger.

Luo Xue looked back. Ling Ling was still leisurely picking meat from the bones, a pot of water boiling beside her.

The temperature during the day was quite comfortable, a full two or three degrees, which was considered warm.

“A’Ling, I’m going out for a bit. I’ll be back soon.”

Luo Xue raised her voice and called out to Ling Ling.

Hearing her voice, Ling Ling looked up and waved the crude bone-picking knife in her hand.

“Okay, Xue’er Jie, come back soon!”

“Okay.”

Luo Xue nodded, put on her short sword, and walked towards the small forest.

No matter what… she had to deal with this restless mutated beast first.

…

The bleak wind blew, bringing a chill.

Luo Xue wondered if she should find a furry beast to make a scarf. She wasn’t afraid of the cold, but Ling Ling was still weak.

But after cultivating, she should be fine, right?

The Breathing Technique was still a cultivation technique; keeping out the cold shouldn’t be a problem.

Thinking aimlessly, Luo Xue entered the small forest again.

The small forest during the day had a bit more life than at night. This rare greenery in the endless wasteland nurtured countless lives.

Birds, beasts, insects, and fish; for a moment, Luo Xue was reminded of the scenery on Mount Fengyin.

But soon, several angry roars brought Luo Xue back to her senses. The commotion in the distance startled many small animals, and even a bunch of trees fell.

“There really is something…”

Luo Xue sensed carefully and could tell that this rampaging beast wasn’t weak.

At least equivalent to the peak of the Innate Realm, possibly even reaching the Spirit Condensation Realm.

With her current strength, just entering the Innate Realm, Luo Xue wasn’t qualified to fight such a beast, especially since her combat experience was practically zero.

But she had her methods.

Luo Xue took off her short sword and lightly cut her palm.

The pain didn’t even make her frown. She calmly coated the short sword with her purplish-red blood.

As long as this blade pierced it, even a Foundation Establishment cultivator couldn’t resist and would be forced to cut off the flesh contaminated by the poisonous blood.

Daoist Ziyang had ultimately died from Luo Xue’s blood poison.

If it hit a vital point, a single blow could be fatal—of course, that was if she could hit it.

Under normal circumstances, a Foundation Establishment cultivator wouldn’t give Luo Xue a chance to strike…

“It’s about the peak of the Innate Realm, I can still deal with it, and then find a chance to inflict a few wounds.”

Luo Xue gripped her short sword, concealing her figure, and gradually approached the location where the beast was rampaging.

All of this was observed by Night Owl, hiding in the shadows. As an assassin, evading detection was his most important skill.

However, Night Owl didn’t quite understand Luo Xue’s actions. Why did she have to perform a blood ritual with her sword before fighting a beast?

But this didn’t stop him from continuing to watch.

The white-haired girl shuttled through the forest. Soon, a strong, pungent smell of blood assaulted her.

A giant tiger beast, twice the size of a man, roared, its terrifying fangs dripping with scattered flesh and blood, its bloodthirsty eyes exceptionally fierce.

A proper man-eating tiger.

Luo Xue briefly looked at the area the tiger had ravaged and instantly became serious.

“It really is heading towards the camp… If I hadn’t come, it would probably have reached the camp in less than half a day.”

If that happened, even if they could eventually kill the tiger, the camp that hundreds of people had worked hard to build would likely be destroyed.

Luo Xue and Ling Ling would be forced to live in the wilderness.

No matter the reason, she had to stop the tiger outside the camp, preferably killing it in the small forest.

Just then, the tiger seemed to sense Luo Xue’s presence. Its ferocious eyes instantly locked onto Luo Xue, and with another deafening roar, it pounced.

This massive creature was surprisingly agile. As it leaped through the forest, its figure almost formed afterimages, and Luo Xue’s gaze had to work hard to keep up.

With Luo Xue’s current strength, fighting such a beast head-on was still too early.

She retreated a few steps, narrowly dodging the beast’s pounce, then rushed forward, the True Phoenix Dao patterns spreading across half of her face.

…This was the trump card of the Xuanyin Phoenix Transformation Scripture.

It wasn’t that Luo Xue was being cautious, it was just that this was the only move she knew.

While in the True Phoenix state, both her speed and strength were greatly enhanced, and she could immediately keep up with the movements of the man-eating tiger.

In fact, this state increased the power of True Phoenix techniques the most, but unfortunately, Luo Xue didn’t know any.

Afterimages flashed in the forest, and soon, many wounds appeared on the tiger’s body.

The poison slowly seeped into the tiger’s internal organs, silently corroding its flesh and blood.

The huge beast’s body swayed, and it eventually collapsed, its life force gradually fading.

Luo Xue had also taken two hits during the fight, but her injuries weren’t serious.

It was just a pity…

“This poisoned tiger, it seems A’Ling can’t eat it…”

Luo Xue scratched her head and sighed.

Just as she was about to deactivate the True Phoenix state, her enhanced senses suddenly caught a faint gaze directed at her. She immediately turned her head.

“Who’s there!”

Chapter 39: What the Hell Kind of Monster is This?

Ling Ling did indeed possess some cultivation aptitude, but not much.

Not to mention compared to Luo Xue, whose aptitude had been improved, or Su Yiyao, who was a natural genius, she was even inferior to the other three girls involved in the Mount Fengyin conspiracy.

…But she was still better than Luo Xue in her “almost none” days.

The spiritual power of the Breathing Technique was mild and neutral, belonging to the type that anyone could cultivate without any specific aptitude requirements.

With someone guiding her, it wasn’t difficult to get started.

The difficulty lay in the path afterward. Without a superior technique to replace it, one would be stuck in the Innate Realm forever.

For someone like Luo Xue, who couldn’t even cultivate with guidance before, it was extremely rare, even a kind of talent in itself.

Of course, now Luo Xue was “barely there.”

After the spiritual power of the Breathing Technique circulated a few minor cycles in Ling Ling’s body, her complexion visibly improved, finally showing the rosy hue of a healthy child.

Because of the scarcity of resources in the wasteland, Ling Ling had been malnourished since childhood, looking like a scrawny little monkey.

Seeing that Ling Ling was doing well, Luo Xue carefully stood up and went outside to stand guard for her.

The so-called guarding was just to prevent any external disturbances from interrupting the cultivation.

Especially for someone like Ling Ling, who was cultivating for the first time, she needed to concentrate.

If she was accidentally interrupted from her meditative state, it might be more difficult for her to enter it again on her own.

The temperature outside at night was as low as minus twenty degrees Celsius, but for Luo Xue, who had already entered the Innate Realm, she could go out in a tank top without any problems.

Luo Xue leaped onto the roof and looked into the distance, lost in thought.

“I wonder how Xiao Yao is doing…”

To be honest, it was impossible for her to stop thinking about what happened in the dream.

The unforgettable memories of those few months couldn’t just be forgotten so easily.

Especially the moment she chose to die… the pain was excruciating!

Countless beasts tore at her body, and because of her Innate Realm strength, she didn’t die quickly. Luo Xue endured a full fifteen minutes of torture before finally being released.

She was still a little afraid just thinking about it now.

“If I can enter the Immortal Martial World again, I’ll have to find an easier way to die…”

“No, I’d better not die at all…”

Luo Xue wasn’t sure how the time flow between the outside world and the dream world was calculated because when she entered the dream, she had already lost consciousness in the fire.

And when she came out, several days had already passed in the outside world, so she wasn’t sure if it was a month converted to a day, or if no matter how much time passed, it was only an instant.

If it was the latter, Luo Xue would have to consider living as long as possible.

And…

There was also the survival rating.

[A mere mortal thwarted the plot of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, sacrificing herself to leave a final hope of survival for her companion.]

This was the summary of her previous life, and it seemed to affect the final settlement results.

On the other hand, Luo Xue didn’t know how to enter the dream world again.

Was it by sleeping? Or… dying?

Luo Xue wasn’t sure, so she didn’t dare to sleep for now.

Fortunately, the Innate Realm, although not allowing one to abstain from food, could let her endure for a few days. She would wait until the psychological trauma of this period passed.

“Forget it, I’ll take it as it comes.” Luo Xue patted her cheeks. “Wake up, Luo Xue, you still have Ling Ling to take care of!”

As for Xiao Yao…

She could only hope to meet her again if fate allowed.

She just didn’t know if she would still recognize Ah Chou.

As she was lost in thought, Luo Xue suddenly felt sleepy.

She sat on the roof, her eyes slightly closed, a faint tear glistening.

…It was hard to forget.

…

“What the hell kind of monster is this?”

Night Owl, hiding in the shadows, was dumbfounded as he looked at the white-haired girl dozing off on the roof in the distance, his gaze lingering on her tattered clothes.

It wasn’t that Night Owl had any malicious intentions towards a girl who was probably only ten years old. No normal person would have such bizarre thoughts.

Besides, even though her clothes were tattered, they were still properly covering her.

The reason he was so shocked was…

Anyone who could sit on a roof in minus twenty-degree weather and take a nap had to be considered a monster by Night Owl.

“A Level 3 strength-type ability user… Could it be enhanced physique? But she looks so scrawny, with no muscles…”

Night Owl touched his chin, thinking about how to strike and create the appearance of an accident.

The higher-ups had their reasons, and he, as a hired hand, just needed to do his job.

As he was thinking, Night Owl shivered and shrank back.

He wasn’t a monster like the one on the roof. Staying in minus twenty-degree weather for too long could be fatal.

Not to mention, Night Owl couldn’t wear heavy clothing for the sake of concealment and agility, and the warmth provided by this black stealth suit was barely enough to withstand such low temperatures.

“Let’s… incite a beast tide first, and see what happens.”

Night Owl shivered, his gaze falling on the hungry beasts in the small forest not far away.

The advent of the cataclysm had brought about variations in humans, bringing ability users.

But humans weren’t the only ones who had changed. Many wild beasts had also undergone transformations after the cataclysm, becoming known as mutated beasts.

Mutated beasts were powerful, and even a single one couldn’t be dealt with by an ability user of the same level. They were another form of natural disaster in the endless wasteland.

Coincidentally, there was a Level 4 mutated beast in this small forest, but it was naturally lazy and usually spent its time sleeping.

Even Luo Xue didn’t know that such a hidden disaster was lurking near the camp, and Night Owl only found out through technological means.

A Level 4 mutated beast wasn’t too strong or too weak, just within the range that Night Owl could defeat but Luo Xue couldn’t resist.

Thinking of this, Night Owl no longer delayed and immediately took action. He didn’t want to waste too much time on this small task.

The night was shrouded, the forest rustled, and no one noticed.

…

Dawn broke.

No dreams that night.

Luo Xue opened her eyes and found that she had actually fallen asleep.

“My vigilance is really getting worse…”

Luo Xue mocked herself and shook her head.

However, because of the conspiracy on Mount Fengyin, Luo Xue had always slept lightly, waking up instantly to any disturbance.

She stood up and shook off the snow that had accumulated on her body.

The snow in the endless wasteland was poisonous, so it generally couldn’t be used as a water source, and few people dared to expose themselves directly to the falling snow.

But Luo Xue had maxed out her poison resistance and possessed the Calamity Poison Body. She was a super source of poison that could swim in Yin Breath Poison.

A little snow poison was nothing to her.

At the same time, Ling Ling’s anxious voice came from the hut below.

“Xue’er Jie! Xue’er Jie!”

“Don’t shout, I’m up here.”

Luo Xue leaped off the roof and stood beside the bewildered Ling Ling, reaching out to touch her forehead.

“Wow, so fast, you’re almost done with Clear Mouth?”

Chapter 38: Turns Out I’m the One Who’s “Almost None”

“A little girl? That’s the target?”

Night Owl took the photo, then looked at the black-clothed man with a “you’ve got to be kidding me” expression.

“Yes.”

The black-clothed man nodded.

“No, what does upper management mean by this? Do they look down on me? Think I’m only good enough to kill children? I’m not taking this job!”

Night Owl was furious. Level 6 ability users had moved beyond the realm of manual labor and existed as the backbone of most Suspended High Towers.

“The reward is this.”

The black-clothed man took out a vial of medicine and placed it on the table.

“I already said I’m not taking it…”

Night Owl waved his hand impatiently, but when his eyes inadvertently fell on the vial, his gaze froze.

“Wait, a gene optimization agent? And a Level 7 one at that?”

Genetic technology was the foundation upon which the Suspended High Towers stood in the post-apocalyptic world. The gene optimization agent was the most widely used application of this technology.

Whether it was to enhance abilities, alleviate the deterioration of the contaminated, or stabilize the power of the uncontrollables, it had a very significant effect.

Like the levels of variation, gene optimization agents were also divided into nine levels, with higher levels having better effects.

With Night Owl’s current level of variation, if he wanted to advance further, he could only rely on higher-level gene optimization agents.

“The higher-up said that you are the most ideal candidate for this task,” the black-clothed man’s attitude remained respectful, “but not the only possible candidate.”

Hearing this, Night Owl didn’t immediately accept. Although he really needed this gene optimization agent, the target requiring such a generous reward…

“Is she the offspring of some big shot?”

Night Owl carefully examined the photo. It was hard to imagine any big shot’s offspring being so poorly dressed.

“No.”

The black-clothed man shook his head.

“…Is she a test subject from some experiment?”

Genetic technology required a large number of human subjects for live experiments to advance, and there were indeed many missions to dispose of experimental waste.

“Also no.”

The black-clothed man paused, then continued,

“She’s just a Wastelander, a common Wastelander… but she seems to have recently awakened an ability, probably a Level 3 strength-type.”

“Level 3…”

For Night Owl, a Level 3 ability user was no different from an ordinary person, easily dealt with.

“So… why kill her?”

Night Owl asked in a deep voice. As an assassin, caution was paramount.

He didn’t want to be inexplicably drawn into the struggles of powerful figures and then die an unknown death in some obscure corner.

“The higher-up didn’t say, but…”

The black-clothed man hesitated for a moment, then spoke,

“It should be related to the other little girl she’s with. As for the specifics… please forgive me for not being able to disclose them.”

Night Owl looked at him deeply, then said nothing more.

He put away the photo and picked up the gene optimization agent—this indicated that he had accepted the mission.

“One more thing,” the black-clothed man added, “The higher-up specifically instructed that the target must die in an accident. There must be no trace of assassination.”

Night Owl glanced at him.

“Got it.”

As his voice fell, his figure faded into the shadows.

…

Night fell.

But to be honest, there wasn’t much difference between night and day in the endless wasteland, especially now that the extreme cold had just passed.

At most, it was a bit warmer during the day and much colder at night.

After surviving the disaster, Luo Xue and Ling Ling moved back into the same hut. They had been living together for the past few years anyway.

There weren’t many other things in the camp, but there were plenty of leftover huts, since it used to house hundreds of people.

These huts also served as backup fuel, but since building houses was too difficult for two young children, they generally avoided using them unless absolutely necessary.

After dinner, Luo Xue and Ling Ling sat cross-legged on the bed.

Ling Ling was a bit restless, constantly fidgeting, clearly a hyperactive child.

“Xue’er Jie, when are we starting?”

“Don’t rush.”

Luo Xue touched her chin, using her Innate Realm spiritual sense to envelop Ling Ling.

She wanted to see if there were any differences between humans in the apocalyptic world and the Immortal Martial World, to avoid any accidents.

After observing carefully for a while, both the soul and the body seemed to be similar.

Should… be fine, right?

Luo Xue couldn’t use her own body to test, as her situation was rather special.

“Let’s try it first. If there are any problems, I’ll intervene in time.”

Luo Xue composed herself and then began to think about which technique to teach Ling Ling.

Ziyang Technique?

Luo Xue didn’t even like that half-baked, modified technique…

Xuanyin Phoenix Transformation Scripture?

This thing couldn’t be cultivated by just anyone. Even without the True Phoenix blood essence, one needed to have a Xuanyin Body.

Moreover, having a Xuanyin Body was just a prerequisite; it didn’t guarantee success.

Otherwise, Daoist Ziyang wouldn’t have modified it.

Luo Xue only had a few techniques on hand. Besides these, the only other one was the Breathing Technique.

The Breathing Technique, as the worst basic technique in the cultivation world, could never reach the Spirit Condensation Realm. It was something that would never be chosen if any other technique was available.

But fortunately, the spiritual energy of the Breathing Technique was very inclusive, making it much easier to switch to other techniques later, and it didn’t require wasting too much cultivation.

Generally, switching cultivation techniques required one to dissipate all their cultivation, but the Breathing Technique was an exception.

Therefore, in this situation, the Breathing Technique was still superior to the Ziyang Technique.

Once Luo Xue could find a better technique, she would let Ling Ling cultivate it.

“Calm your breath and close your eyes.”

Luo Xue spoke in a solemn tone.

Ling Ling immediately closed her eyes. She might be mischievous, but seeing Xue’er Jie’s serious expression, she knew the importance of this matter.

So, she would be obedient.

Luo Xue moved closer, gently placing her forehead against Ling Ling’s brow, and whispered,

“Don’t move.”

The warm breath on Ling Ling’s face made her cheeks blush slightly, but she quickly ignored it.

Luo Xue directly transmitted the Breathing Technique to Ling Ling, like letting Ling Ling read a Dao teaching jade slip, even clearer and easier to understand than a jade slip.

At the same time, Luo Xue sent a small stream of her spiritual power through Ling Ling’s body, pre-planning the minor circulation for her.

But she didn’t dare to linger for too long, as Luo Xue’s spiritual power was poisonous.

Although Luo Xue could control the toxicity and prevent it from leaking out, she couldn’t stay long just in case.

Soon, Ling Ling entered a meditative state, her restless body gradually calming down.

Her eyes were closed, and her expression was peaceful.

The surrounding spiritual energy was slightly drawn in, slowly flowing into Ling Ling’s body like a gentle stream.

With each breath, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth cleansed Ling Ling’s mortal body.

Luo Xue opened her eyes and sat back down.

“She actually entered meditation so quickly…”

Luo Xue looked at the unusually well-behaved Ling Ling, blinking in surprise and a little envy.

“When Xiao Yao helped me like this, I couldn’t cultivate at all… It seems I’m the one with ‘almost none’ aptitude.”

Chapter 37: Xue’er Jie, It Hurts…

“Ah Ling, I’m back!”

Luo Xue dragged her bounty, walking briskly back to the camp.

Ling Ling poked her head out of the hut, and seeing Luo Xue’s return, her furrowed brows relaxed.

She quickly scrambled out of the hut and ran to greet Luo Xue.

“Xue’er Jie!”

Ling Ling’s little feet pounded on the frozen ground as she threw herself into Luo Xue’s arms, a big smile on her face.

For the Wastelanders in the settlement, every time they went out to gather resources, they had to be prepared to give their lives.

Every successful return was a blessing from the goddess of fate.

After all, most Wastelanders were not capable ability users.

Even a Level 1 ability user could find a living in the Suspended High Towers. Why would they choose to be Wastelanders, living a precarious life?

However, things were different now.

Luo Xue’s strength was enough for her to survive in this small settlement, and she didn’t want to go to the Suspended High Towers. She just wanted to take care of Ling Ling.

It seemed like it wouldn’t be bad to spend her life with Ling Ling like this.

“Alright, alright, let’s get to work.”

Luo Xue chuckled, gently patting Ling Ling’s head.

Hearing this, Ling Ling made a face at her, then reluctantly got down from Luo Xue’s embrace.

She picked up a small knife and expertly handled the wolf meat that Luo Xue had roughly cut up, looking nothing like a seven-year-old child.

In the wasteland, children had to learn survival skills after the age of three, and Ling Ling was no exception.

However…

“Xue’er Jie, why is there so much meat?” Ling Ling handled the meat, her expression filled with amazement. “It’s enough for the two of us to eat for a year!”

“And there’s so much water, and so many vegetables… Xue’er Jie, how did you carry all this back by yourself?”

Ling Ling bounced around the supplies excitedly.

Luo Xue didn’t answer, because she was also working.

Putting the vegetables and water into the cellar, air-drying some of the meat, and freezing the rest.

When Ling Ling had finally exhausted her excitement, Luo Xue smiled and said,

“Because I learned some incredible martial arts in my dream, and now I’m very powerful!”

“Really?”

Ling Ling’s eyes widened, looking at Luo Xue with admiration. “Xue’er Jie is amazing!”

“Do you want to learn?” Luo Xue picked up a short sword and with a flick, a wolf bone on the ground was instantly cut in half.

The Innate Realm allowed one to project their spiritual power, and wielding sword beams was a simple feat.

In the Immortal Martial World, this was the ability of Martial Grandmasters revered by mortal nations.

Even entering the Innate realm was an unreachable goal for ordinary people.

The reason she asked Ling Ling if she wanted to learn wasn’t on a whim. Luo Xue discovered that there was also spiritual energy in the apocalyptic world, just much thinner.

…Of course, it was also possible that Mount Fengyin was a blessed land.

In other words, the conditions for cultivation existed here.

Luo Xue could protect Ling Ling for the rest of her life, but her lifespan was much longer than ordinary people.

Even if she remained at the Innate Realm for the rest of her life, Luo Xue would still have a lifespan of two hundred years, far exceeding that of ordinary mortals.

She didn’t want to see Ling Ling grow old while she remained young.

If they embarked on the path of cultivation, they could spend more time together.

“But considering that I’m ten and she’s seven, is it a bit too early to think about this…”

Luo Xue muttered to herself, but maintained a smile on her face.

“Wow, so cool!” Ling Ling exclaimed, looking at the cleanly cut wolf bone, squatting down to examine it closely. “Can I become as powerful as Xue’er Jie?”

“That’s not certain. Your Xue’er Jie is a once-in-a-century cultivation prodigy!”

Luo Xue felt a little guilty looking at the “Barely There” on her status and raised her chin slightly.

“But becoming stronger than you are now is definitely possible!”

Luo Xue patted her chest. Even if Ling Ling was like her before, with “Almost None” aptitude, she knew some methods for ordinary people to temper their bodies.

Although it was slower than cultivating immortality and had a lower upper limit, it could still increase one’s strength.

Strength was the guarantee of survival in the endless wasteland.

“Can I help Xue’er Jie?”

Ling Ling looked up, her little face eager.

Seeing Ling Ling like this, Luo Xue was reminded of Su Yiyao, and she was momentarily lost in thought.

Xiao Yao seemed to look at her like this often…

“Xue’er Jie? Xue’er Jie!”

Ling Ling waved her little hand in front of Luo Xue’s eyes, blinking.

Luo Xue came back to her senses, her smile softening.

“Of course you can.”

That’s right, Ling Ling and Su Yiyao… were both her important little sisters.

However, Su Yiyao was quieter, while Ling Ling was more boisterous.

“I want to learn!”

Ling Ling immediately raised her hand, and thinking that wasn’t enough, she raised her other hand as well, bouncing in front of Luo Xue.

“I want to learn! I want to learn! I want to learn!”

“Then stop fooling around and finish all this work,” Luo Xue flicked the tip of the short sword with her wrist, knocking the hilt against Ling Ling’s head. “Don’t be naughty, I’ll teach you well tonight.”

“Ow, Xue’er Jie, it hurts…”

Ling Ling covered her forehead with her hand, staring with a pitiful and innocent big eyes.

“Hehe.”

Luo Xue sheathed the short sword and dragged the processed supplies into the camp’s cellar.

…

“Night Owl, sir.”

The black-clothed man bowed respectfully. In front of him was a seemingly carefree blond man, the Level 6 assassin, Night Owl.

After the advent of the cataclysm, not only did the world undergo drastic changes, but humanity itself also experienced many mutations.

Ability users were the product of this mutation.

Perhaps due to genetic mutation or contamination from the cataclysm, a portion of humanity developed variations.

Some of these variations were beneficial, some were detrimental, with roughly equal numbers of each.

Among them, the beneficial variations were called ability users, the detrimental variations were called contaminated, and the unstable ones were called uncontrollables. Based on the degree of variation, they were divided into nine levels.

Ability users were honored guests of the various Suspended High Towers, the contaminated were outcasts even the Wastelanders wouldn’t accept, and the existence of uncontrollables was a disaster in itself.

Night Owl was an ability user and an honored guest of Suspended High Tower 132.

His ability was speed, and his extreme speed brought extreme lethality, making him an excellent assassin.

“More orders from above… What is it?”

Night Owl leaned back in his recliner, leisurely crossing his legs, but his expression wasn’t very pleasant as he looked at the black-clothed man.

There were many maids serving him nearby, but upon closer inspection, they were all androids.

When the cataclysm was imminent, the Federation gathered the collective power of humanity to build hundreds of Suspended High Towers, allowing a portion of humanity to escape the disaster and preserve the achievements of civilization.

These android maids were a product of the technology left behind by the previous civilization, combined with current genetic technology.

“You are to kill someone.”

The black-clothed man handed over a photo. It showed a thin little girl standing calmly on the snow.

—It was Luo Xue.

Chapter 36: 

Luo Xue didn’t tell Ling Ling everything about her experiences in the dream.

For one, the story was too bizarre and convoluted. For another, Ling Ling was too young to understand.

To avoid confusing the little girl, Luo Xue explained it in a way Ling Ling could comprehend.

Even so, Ling Ling was only half-comprehending, her attention completely focused on Luo Xue’s changed appearance.

She kept propping up her chin, staring intently at Luo Xue, even trying to reach out and touch her white hair.

However, Luo Xue, still traumatized from pulling out handfuls of hair in the dream, stopped Ling Ling’s restless hands, causing the little girl to pout.

After returning to the camp, although the extreme cold had passed, the remaining temperature was still unbearable for ordinary people, probably around ten to twenty degrees below zero.

Although it was nothing for Luo Xue, who had now reached the Innate Realm, little Ling Ling was just an ordinary child, with a weaker constitution.

In this situation, they couldn’t just go out as they pleased.

However, the food, water, and fuel in the camp were almost depleted after surviving the extreme cold.

Therefore, Luo Xue needed to leave the camp to replenish these resources.

There was a small forest not far from the camp, where some wild animals lived, and a narrow stream flowed through it.

Chopping wood, hunting animals, and collecting fresh water all relied on this forest.

Unfortunately, the forest was too small, and even exhaustive exploitation couldn’t support a complete Wastelander settlement.

The shrinking size of the forest was also related to some incidents that had occurred in the camp. In the end, all the adults left the camp to start anew, leaving behind only the children to fend for themselves.

…Yes, to fend for themselves.

Although the resources in the small forest were easier to obtain compared to other places in the endless wasteland, there were almost no adults left in the camp. The oldest child was only fifteen or sixteen years old.

Going out to gather resources was the most dangerous thing. Most of the other children in the camp had died doing so.

Originally, for the remaining Luo Xue and Ling Ling, this was also a life-threatening task.

But now… things were obviously different. Luo Xue possessed the strength of the Innate Realm, far stronger than most Wastelanders.

Luo Xue first tucked in the tired Ling Ling, then took a handy short sword and various tools and set off for the small forest.

The endless wasteland at night was actually quite beautiful, especially with the faint snow falling under the dazzling starry sky, like a scene from a poem or painting.

But beneath this beauty lurked deadly dangers.

Luo Xue exhaled a puff of white mist and hurried on her way.

Now, only Ling Ling was left in the entire camp. She had to finish things quickly and return, in case of any accidents.

The small forest wasn’t far. With Luo Xue’s current speed, it only took a few minutes to see the faint green amidst the desolate wasteland.

Her sharp hearing picked up the roars of wild beasts, and as Luo Xue approached, several auras pressed towards her.

Looking closely, she saw several gaunt wolves, their fierce eyes fixed on her.

However…

“They’re not even at the Post-Heaven Realm. A fit adult with a weapon could fight them alone.”

Luo Xue assessed their strength at a glance. If it had been before, she would probably be in a desperate situation.

Of course, if it had been before, Luo Xue wouldn’t have just barged into the forest like this; she would have planned carefully.

But now… she could just crush them.

“This is power. No wonder Daoist Ziyang looked down on me so much…”

Luo Xue sighed. Even in the final battle, the difference in strength between her and Daoist Ziyang was still greater than the difference between her and these wolves.

“No, no, I must be careful, I can’t get careless.”

Luo Xue slapped her cheeks, discarding the arrogance that had surfaced.

What if she ended up like Daoist Ziyang, capsizing in a gutter…

Even in the dream world, Luo Xue hadn’t dared to experience death lightly.

Because she had experienced it, she knew what kind of great terror awaited her near death.

Moreover, death was a very sad thing for those around you.

Like Ling Ling.

…And like Su Yiyao.

After composing herself, Luo Xue’s gaze turned sharp when she looked at the wolves again.

Perhaps it was because of the “Bright Eyes” stage, but when the wolves met Luo Xue’s gaze, their eager movements froze, and they even involuntarily retreated.

But how could Luo Xue let them go? They were her and Ling Ling’s food for the next few days.

Holding her breath, she struck.

Luo Xue didn’t spend much effort dealing with the scrawny wolves; it was processing the meat that took some time.

“Hmm… I’ll gather some wild vegetables and two large jars of water, then I can go back.”

After finishing with the wolves, Luo Xue wiped the blood from her face and continued deeper into the forest.

Whether it was the smell of slaughter or the aura Luo Xue was emitting, the small forest suddenly became quiet, with no more beastly roars.

Everything was completed without a hitch.

However, unbeknownst to her, a mechanical eye floated in the sky above the small forest, seemingly merging with the starry sky.

After Luo Xue left the forest, the mechanical eye slowly closed.

…

“Luo Xue, identity unknown, ten years old.”

“…”

“Ling Ling, daughter of Ling Xi, seven years old.”

“…”

Luo Xue had no idea that their detailed information was recorded in the database of a certain Suspended High Tower.

And now, this information had been retrieved and was being presented to a middle-aged man.

“…The entire camp, only these two remain?”

The man held a cigar between his fingers, tapping lightly on the table.

“Yes.”

His subordinate replied respectfully.

“The operation against Luo Xue failed?” The man raised an eyebrow.

The subordinate’s expression immediately turned terrified, and he quickly lowered his head, saying,

“For some reason, we were unable to burn her to death, and…”

At this point, the subordinate hesitated.

“Speak.”

The man’s voice instantly deepened, his expression revealing an unquestionable authority.

“Please look at this, sir.”

The subordinate handed over the latest information, and a holographic projection from a bird’s-eye view appeared in front of the man.

In the thick darkness of night, a young, white-haired girl skillfully and calmly killed a pack of wolves that even adults would struggle to fight, her movements fluid and agile.

“Hmm? Her hair turned white? And this strength…”

The man’s expression finally turned serious, and he straightened up slightly.

“It is estimated that she is a Level 3 ability user, and a strength-type one at that.”

The subordinate said in a deep voice, although even he found it hard to believe.

To go from a powerless little girl to a Level 3 martial artist overnight was a bit too fantastical.

Level 3 martial artists could easily make a living in any Suspended High Tower.

“Level 3? Interesting… Then let Night Owl handle it.”

The man smiled indifferently.

Hearing this, the subordinate was surprised and asked in a low voice,

“Sir, Night Owl is a Level 6 assassin… Isn’t this a bit of an overkill?”

“It doesn’t matter. He’s idle anyway. Remember, make it clean.”

The man leaned back in his chair and turned around.

“It must look like an accident, a very unfortunate accident.”

Chapter 35: Xue’er Jie! Xue’er Jie!

Was this a dream?

Could it really be a dream?

But the pain of her body being torn apart felt so real, and the approach of death’s aura made her entire body cold.

The next moment, Luo Xue opened her eyes.

The familiar red text appeared before her again, slowly scrolling.

[Synchronization Lost]
[Survival Rating: S]
[A mere mortal thwarted the plot of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, sacrificing herself to leave a final hope of survival for her companion.]
[Experienced Dangerous Events: Witnessed Foundation Establishment cultivator silencing witnesses, discovered Foundation Establishment cultivator’s life-or-death secret, escaped Foundation Establishment battle, trapped in Soul Transformation cultivator’s illusion formation]
[Final Event: The Conspiracy of Mount Fengyin]
[Survival Points +300]
[Obtained Physique: Calamity Poison Body]
[Obtained Technique: Xuanyin Phoenix Transformation Scripture]
[Current Realm: Innate Realm]
[“The dream is over”]

Luo Xue slowly opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was a familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar environment.

The dilapidated little wooden hut was filled with choking smoke, and there were traces of burning everywhere. Even the roof had several holes burned through it.

“…What’s going on? Am I… still alive?”

Luo Xue hadn’t recovered from the previous, realistic life. She staggered to her feet, stumbled a few steps, and sat down on a nearby chair.

“Thump!”

Unfortunately, the chair had also been burned, and the moment Luo Xue sat down, the chair leg snapped.

Luo Xue sat blankly on the ground for a long time before finally reacting.

She had returned to the apocalyptic world.

This was the little wooden hut she had lived in for who knows how many years.

But…

“So that’s it.”

Luo Xue touched her face, then looked at the situation in the little wooden hut and instantly understood.

Before entering the dream, she had lit firewood for warmth.

Perhaps due to some accident, the firewood had ignited the entire hut, and Luo Xue, in her sleep, had perished in the fire.

Thus, the dream Luo Xue had a burned face.

But now…

Luo Xue turned to look at a small table beside her, where the only mirror shard in the entire camp was placed.

After the adults left the camp, this last “treasure” was given to Luo Xue.

Luo Xue stood up and reached out to gently wipe the dust off the surface of the mirror shard.

After a while, a silver-haired girl appeared in the mirror.

“…Damn, did this white hair also come into reality?”

Luo Xue habitually scratched her head, then immediately looked at her hand nervously.

Fortunately, she didn’t pull out any hair this time.

If this head of white hair was brought back, what about the other things from the dream…

With a thought, Luo Xue’s eyes widened slightly.

The familiar red text appeared before her, and she had a full 305 survival points.

Looking at the records, Luo Xue realized that survival points were also awarded after completing the final event, and they could be brought back.

In addition, besides these, the Calamity Poison Body, the Innate Realm, and even the Xuanyin Phoenix Transformation Scripture had all been brought back.

And it was even the complete version of the Xuanyin Phoenix Transformation Scripture…

Luo Xue circulated it slightly, and purple-red Dao patterns spread across her cheeks.

Looking within her soul, she saw the True Phoenix blood essence leisurely floating above her not-yet-fully-opened sea of consciousness.

“Did I… not pass on the inheritance to Xiao Yao in the end?”

Luo Xue couldn’t help but feel a little worried, but after carefully recalling, she was sure she hadn’t made any mistakes.

Or perhaps, anything obtained and recorded in the dream would definitely be brought back?

Oh well.

“I hope Xiao Yao can live well and overcome the shadow of ‘Ah Chou’s death’.”

Luo Xue sighed, then quickly cheered herself up, temporarily burying this unforgettable experience in her heart.

She didn’t know if she would re-enter the Immortal Martial World in her dreams, but at least for now, she was back in the apocalyptic world, and she still had to take care of things in the camp.

The extreme cold had already passed, and a few rays of sunlight shone through the damaged roof.

In the ten years since Luo Xue had come to this apocalyptic world, she had only seen such a sight a few times.

“What a nice day.”

Seeing such good weather, Luo Xue also felt a little relief from the lingering effects of the dream’s ending.

However, just then, her door was knocked on loudly.

“Xue’er Jie! Xue’er Jie!”

An urgent, childish voice rang out, mixed with a hint of sobbing.

“Coming.”

Luo Xue responded and walked over to open the door.

A little girl, also dressed in tattered clothes, stood at the door, staring blankly at Luo Xue who opened the door, tears still lingering in the corners of her eyes.

“Eh… Xue’er Jie, you’re still alive?”

“…Do you want me to die that much? A’Ling.”

…

The little girl’s name was Ling Ling, nicknamed A’Ling, two or three years younger than Luo Xue.

After the adults of this camp left, only a few children who couldn’t make the long journey remained.

Among them were Luo Xue, who was only six years old at the time, and Ling Ling, who could barely walk.

This camp was in a good location, rarely experiencing life-threatening natural disasters. The recent extreme cold was nothing compared to the true disasters.

The only problem was that resources were extremely scarce, and it wasn’t on the “Suspended High Tower’s” travel route.

Although the Tower People looked down on the Wastelanders, there were still some kind-hearted people willing to give some resources to the Wastelanders.

Even if the scarce resources in the camp could sustain the survival of a few children, there were always many accidents in the endless wasteland, similar to the recent extreme cold.

Over the years, several accidents and natural disasters had taken the few remaining lives in the camp.

Until now, only Luo Xue and Ling Ling were left, depending on each other for survival.

When the fire broke out, Ling Ling was in another wooden hut in the camp.

The reason they didn’t live together was to avoid everyone being killed in an accident.

After all, even if the children gathered together, it was difficult to deal with the disasters in the endless wasteland…

Ling Ling and Luo Xue had experienced many similar things, so even though she was sad, Ling Ling didn’t leave the shelter during the extreme cold, but waited for the disaster to end.

Then… she would bury her last relative, Xue’er Jie, like she had buried the other older brothers and sisters.

Ling Ling pretended to be strong and walked out of the house, but as she got closer to Xue’er Jie’s burned-down house, she couldn’t suppress the sadness in her heart.

She cried at the door of the house, calling out for Xue’er Jie over and over again.

…Then the door opened.

That’s how it happened.

“So, Xue’er Jie, you’re saying you had a dream?” Ling Ling hugged her little head, her curious gaze constantly looking at Luo Xue’s white hair. “And your hair turned white?”

She lowered her head, her cheeks slightly red. “And, you seem… to have become a lot prettier.”

After reaching the Innate realm, one’s body would be reshaped to a certain extent, improving one’s appearance. Besides, Luo Xue had never been unattractive to begin with.

The reason she was called Ah Chou in the Immortal Martial World was entirely due to the burn scars.

“Yes, that’s roughly what happened.”

Luo Xue nodded, fiddling with her silvery-white bangs with a slight headache.

She was only ten years old, how could she have a full head of white hair…