Chapter 44: “Aren’t You Afraid?”
The spiritual crane soared through the clouds, the boundless ocean stretching beneath them.
The biting wind whipped past their ears relentlessly.
Li Yu, with her abundant spiritual energy, felt nothing, but Mu Tao behind her shivered slightly.
Noticing this, Li Yu quickly conjured a small barrier against the wind and cold.
The barrier was simple, but it was her first time using it unaided.
Determined to reduce her reliance on the system, she stubbornly tried several times before succeeding.
Fortunately, her little disciple was behind her, not witnessing her initial fumbles; that would have been embarrassing.
As the barrier formed, Mu Tao opened her eyes.
The crane flew swiftly, the wind making her slightly dizzy.
But suddenly, the wind stopped, and a thin layer of spiritual energy, like a small bubble, enveloped the crane.
The cold was gone, the wind no longer howled, but it felt slightly unreal, like a dream.
Mu Tao curiously touched the barrier, her finger passing through the thin layer of spiritual energy, creating ripples like on the surface of water.
The sharp wind brushed against her fingertip, the sensation confirming the barrier’s protection.
Her master, impervious to cold, had created this barrier just for her.
A smile appeared on Mu Tao’s face, the initial confusion and curiosity replaced by uncontainable joy.
With the wind no longer stinging her eyes, she looked down.
Snow was still falling, a gray mist blurring the line between the sky and the sea. The ocean was turbulent, the waves a dull blue.
For a moment, Mu Tao wished the sky would darken further.
The moon would rise, its light falling on the snow and the vast ocean, making the restless waves shimmer.
She loved this boundless expanse, this undisturbed tranquility.
And within this tranquility, she craved a hint of sound, a touch of warmth.
Not from the wind, not from the sea, not from the birds or the fish—but from the person who brought her peace.
Thinking this, Mu Tao leaned closer to Li Yu, silently feeling her heartbeat, her breath, her warmth.
The sky gradually darkened.
She saw the scene she had envisioned, yet it was different from what she had imagined.
She stared blankly at the vast, endless ocean.
A feeling of unease settled in her heart, a subtle, yet persistent discomfort, as if something was being drawn out of her.
Initially, she dismissed it as a fleeting sensation, a momentary unease.
But the feeling lingered, mild but persistent, puzzling her.
“Master, I… I feel a little unwell…” Mu Tao whispered.
“Unwell?” Li Yu asked anxiously.
“It’s just…a tightness in my chest, like something is pulling at me…” Mu Tao frowned, pressing her cheek against Li Yu’s back. “I can’t explain it.”
They must be within range of the Upper Spirit Lamp’s influence now.
Li Yu thought for a moment, then said softly, “It’s the Upper Spirit Lamp. It contains the Heavenly Demon Soul Seed. Your unique constitution makes you more sensitive to its presence than ordinary people.”
Mu Tao blinked, confused. “Can Master sense it?”
Li Yu shook her head slightly. “Perhaps when we get closer.”
Mu Tao’s eyes lit up. “Then I can help Master!”
Li Yu bit her lip, a bitter taste in her mouth.
Anyone who learned they were more susceptible to a demonic influence would normally be scared or confused.
But Mu Tao seemed unfazed, simply happy to be of help.
Was the little protagonist in the original story like this too?
Only feeling joy, not fear or confusion, at being able to help…
This girl always put herself last, always prioritizing others, even finding value in being used…
“Aren’t you afraid?” Li Yu couldn’t help but ask.
“Afraid of what?” Mu Tao asked, confused.
“I said you’re more sensitive to the Heavenly Demon Soul Seed than ordinary people,” Li Yu reiterated, hoping she would understand.
“I’m not afraid!” Mu Tao replied without hesitation. “With Master here, I’m not afraid of anything!”
Since she wasn’t afraid, why not tell her what she was about to face…
If she knew beforehand, wouldn’t the blow be lessened?
Li Yu hesitated, looking down at the small hands wrapped around her waist, her mind filled with conflicting thoughts, unsure whether to tell Mu Tao the truth.
Just then, the system spoke.
【Warning! Warning!】
【The system has detected the host’s intention to reveal plot details to an in-text character!】
【This action could have unpredictable consequences for the world’s stability. For the safety of the host and the world, the system will mute any speech that reveals plot details!】
What a strange warning, it could even mute her?
Her momentary lapse in judgment had clearly alarmed the system.
【The system is doing this for your own good!】
【Bluntly revealing plot details could trigger unintended emotional responses from characters, potentially causing the storyline to spiral out of control.】
【The host must remember to achieve your goals through hints and guidance!】
Fine, fine, she understood.
But please, no more “for your own good.” It was triggering.
Just as she thought this, Mu Tao spoke again.
“Master,” she whispered, leaning her head against Li Yu’s shoulder.
She pointed towards the vast expanse before them. “That…pulling sensation is coming from that direction.”
Mu Tao’s voice was soft and gentle, filled with a hint of joy and anticipation, happy to be of help.
Her warm breath tickled Li Yu’s ear, and Li Yu’s breath hitched.
“Mm,” she replied, slightly flustered, her gaze darting around, guiding the crane in the direction Mu Tao indicated.
The crane flew for a long time, and Li Yu couldn’t help but yawn.
She was getting sleepy, but there was nowhere to land. She couldn’t sleep on this “open-air airplane,” could she?
【If you’re tired, Host, just sleep. The system is watching; you won’t fall.】
Really? Are you sure?
【Absolutely! The system can create a safety net of spiritual energy around you, like a seatbelt. Even if you’re completely unconscious, you won’t fall!】
Would this…safety net have any side effects?
【Such a simple spell won’t have any side effects!】
Then show me your seatbelt!
Li Yu raised her right hand, and a soft blue light, like mist, emanated from her palm, enveloping her and Mu Tao.
“Wow,” Mu Tao couldn’t help but exclaim.
Li Yu: “…”
This was the system’s seatbelt?
It didn’t look very safe.
【It’s absolutely safe, Host!】
Fine, fine, she trusted it!
Even if she didn’t sleep, Mu Tao would eventually.
Li Yu turned slightly and said, “If you’re tired, take a nap.”
She looked down at the ocean, swallowed nervously, a flicker of fear in her eyes.
Mu Tao: “I’m scared…”
Li Yu: “The spiritual energy will protect you, you won’t fall.”
Mu Tao flinched, seeming reluctant, but couldn’t resist a long yawn.
Li Yu smiled, patted the hands wrapped around her waist, and shifted slightly, making space for the girl behind her.
“Come here, I’ll protect you.”
Mu Tao looked at Li Yu, blinked, and then smiled, nodding as she carefully moved in front of Li Yu.
She settled into Li Yu’s arms like a puppy finding its nest.
Li Yu smiled, smoothed Mu Tao’s hair, and then gently embraced her.
“Sleep,” she whispered.
Mu Tao nodded, clutched Li Yu’s robe, and closed her eyes.
As the little girl’s breathing slowed, Li Yu relaxed slightly.
She tried not to think about how high they were, just closed her eyes, feeling the rhythm of Mu Tao’s breath, her own anxieties slowly fading.
Under the moonlight, enveloped in a soft blue light, they drifted off to sleep.
When they woke up, the moon was gone.
As they saw the distant shoreline, the long winter night was almost over, the snow had stopped falling.
Mu Tao was still asleep in her arms, her breathing slow and even, her cheeks flushed, her small hand wrinkling Li Yu’s robe, her long eyelashes fluttering occasionally.
Li Yu stared at the sleeping girl for a long moment, then looked away.
She gazed at the distant, snow-covered shore.
Realizing they were approaching the human realm, she quickly searched through her skill tree for the intermediate concealment spell the system had mentioned.
She found it.
Taking a deep breath, she carefully attempted to cast the spell.
After five tries, she finally succeeded.
An invisible barrier formed around them.
Li Yu breathed a sigh of relief.
If she hadn’t succeeded this time, she would have had to resort to the risky system assistance!
She was truly a genius!
Li Yu felt a surge of pride.
Dawn broke, the first rays of sunlight illuminating the quiet world.
The girl in her arms stirred and let out a soft whimper. Li Yu looked down and saw her sleepily opening her eyes.
“Master,” she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep, then turned around, hugged Li Yu’s waist, and nuzzled against her.
Li Yu gently stroked her hair.
Mu Tao snuggled against her for a moment, then seemed to remember something, and sat up, looking around.
She pointed in a direction.
“Master! That feeling from last night, it seems to be coming from that way!” Mu Tao said seriously.
Li Yu followed her gaze, a smile appearing in her eyes, and patted her head. “Mu Tao is so amazing.”
Mu Tao beamed at the praise.
But then, a puzzled look appeared in her eyes.
Li Yu noticed it.
Li Yu: “What’s wrong?”
Mu Tao: “Master, look, isn’t the resentment in the human realm even stronger than last time?”
Li Yu froze and looked towards the shore.
She hadn’t noticed it earlier, but wisps of dark red resentment were indeed swirling amidst the seemingly white landscape.
They blended with the morning mist, tinting it a pale red.
The last time they were here, except for the area around the City of the Undying, nowhere else had such visible resentment.
Although far less intense than in the City of the Undying, it was still at a dangerous level for the human realm.
Li Yu remembered the novel mentioning that when resentment became visible, animals, plants, weak spirits, and even ordinary humans could be harmed by it.
【Your memory is good, Host!】
【In the world of Demon Bone, the stronger the resentment, the more difficult it is for humans to cultivate. When resentment fills the human realm, humans weaken, and demonic calamities become rampant.】
【When demonic calamities occur, good demons will isolate themselves, while evil demons will wreak havoc, further fueling the resentment. When the resentment exceeds the world’s capacity, it will inevitably trigger the revival of the Heavenly Demon!】
If it was inevitable, then what was the point of the seal on the Upper Spirit Lamp?
【Perhaps…to buy time.】
Buy time, find a solution, right?
Whether it was a solution for the resentment or a way to deal with the Heavenly Demon, the goal was to delay the inevitable, correct?
【Correct!】
It had only been a few months since they left the human realm.
The City of the Undying incident, the main source of resentment, had been resolved. What happened during this time to cause such a significant increase?
Could it be that something went wrong with the follow-up cleansing?
The demons who attacked Mount Chao Yao carried a lot of resentment, which clearly enhanced their power.
And the formation that broke the seal on Suiqiong Cave was clearly created by the mysterious figure in black robes from three hundred years ago. This couldn’t be a coincidence.
Something must have happened in the City of the Undying.
This deduction made Li Yu frown.
The black-robed figure never appeared in the novel, or perhaps he did, and she had simply missed it?
Regardless, such a mysterious figure, capable of orchestrating a demon attack on Mount Chao Yao and stealing the Upper Spirit Lamp, couldn’t be insignificant.
Perhaps this person was the one pulling the strings, driving the plot, and forcing Mu Tao towards blackening.
Even if she couldn’t avoid the main storyline, she needed to be more proactive.
The subsequent plot points were closely connected and might unfold rapidly once triggered.
Perhaps she should visit the City of the Undying before starting the next main mission, at least to understand what happened during these past few months.
Li Yu waited briefly, and since the system didn’t object, she made up her mind.
“This resentment isn’t normal; something must have happened in the City of the Undying,” she said in a low voice.
Mu Tao’s eyes widened in surprise, her mouth slightly open, speechless.
Li Yu: “Let’s go to the City of the Undying and take a look.”
Mu Tao: “But the Upper Spirit Lamp…”
“The seal on the Upper Spirit Lamp isn’t something ordinary people can break,” Li Yu interrupted calmly.
Although she had told many lies since arriving in this world, she was certain this was the truth.
Legend had it that the seal on the Upper Spirit Lamp was created by multiple ancient gods.
The power of ancient gods far surpassed that of ordinary immortals; breaking the seal wouldn’t be easy.
In the original story, even Mu Tao’s seal, weakened by the Heavenly Demon Soul Seed, wasn’t broken completely, and the Lamp itself still contained the demonic soul.
Later, both the Upper Spirit Lamp and Mu Tao were brought back to Mount Chao Yao, the former resealed in Suiqiong Cave, the latter bound to the execution platform.
Li Yu remembered these plot points clearly.
Perhaps a long delay might pose a risk to the seal, but a short one shouldn’t be a problem.
Besides, she had Mu Tao, who could sense the Heavenly Demon Soul Seed, and the system, which, although useless in many ways, was surprisingly good at navigation.
Finding the Upper Spirit Lamp should be much easier for her than for the male protagonist in the original story. A slight detour wouldn’t hurt.
Li Yu called the system.
【Are you requesting the location of the City of the Undying, Host?】
Yes, autopilot, please!
【Right away!】
The crane changed direction.
As they flew towards the shore, Mu Tao looked back at the receding ocean, a blank look on her face.
The sea gradually disappeared from view.
The crane soared above the clouds, crossing mountains, passing towns and villages.
Everywhere they went, she saw thick demonic energy intertwined with resentment.
The situation in the human realm seemed worse than she had imagined.
Gradually, she saw the resentment-tinged red sky in the distance.
—A sea of resentment far vaster than the one above the City of the Undying.
It covered not just one city, but many surrounding towns and villages must have already been affected.
“How could this happen?!” Mu Tao gasped.
Faced with such immense resentment, Li Yu hesitated.
She didn’t dare approach, just had the crane land in a small city outside the sea of resentment.
She suspected the sky in the human realm was about to fall.
Before that happened, she, feeling hungry, decided to have a good meal.
To justify this sudden meal break, she embellished her motives slightly.
“We have a more important goal. To avoid alerting the enemy, we cannot reveal our presence.” Li Yu picked up her chopsticks. “We’ll just investigate the resentment briefly. We can deal with it after retrieving the Upper Spirit Lamp.”
Mu Tao nodded seriously.
Li Yu: “To gather information in the human realm, places like inns, restaurants, and…brothels are most suitable. We can ask around after our meal.”
Mu Tao nodded again, then, after taking a bite of food, asked curiously, “Master, I know what the first three are, but what is a…brothel?”
Li Yu: “…Don’t ask.”
Mu Tao: “Oh!”
Such an obedient child. To reward her obedience, Li Yu placed a chicken leg on her plate.
Mu Tao beamed. “Thank you, Master!”
Little wolf cubs loved chicken; a single chicken leg could make her incredibly happy.
Her little disciple was appeased, but with the City of the Undying now surrounded by such intense resentment, it didn’t seem safe. And she had never faced such a situation alone. Should she enter or not?
She suddenly regretted not bringing Mo Yichu.
No, she couldn’t regret this!
The mountain gate wouldn’t be repaired anytime soon, and Si Qinglan was so weak. If any demons attacked, someone had to protect her, protect Mount Chao Yao.
What was she thinking?
Even a weakened immortal was still powerful!
She possessed the body of an Exalted Immortal!
Even injured and with her skills locked, she shouldn’t be relying on a junior for protection!
【Eek?!】
Stop with the eeks. After this meal, after gathering some information, you’re coming with me.
【The system can’t be separated from the host.】
Good, they would live or die together.
If anything truly dangerous happened, the system would surely intervene.
Since it hadn’t said anything, it meant there wasn’t any immediate danger.
Even if there was, it should be within her capabilities.
Thinking this, Li Yu felt slightly reassured and continued eating.
As she ate, Mu Tao nudged her elbow.
Mu Tao: “Master…”
Li Yu: “Hmm?”
Mu Tao blinked. “Someone just came in. They look…familiar.”
Li Yu: “Where?”
Mu Tao pursed her lips and pointed with her half-eaten chicken leg.
Li Yu followed her gaze.
And met a pair of surprised eyes.
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