Chapter 5: Treasure Hunting (Part 1) Part 2

The other was called “Luo River,” containing incredibly abundant Spiritual Power. Carried on one’s person, it could provide emergency recovery to a full state if Spiritual Power was depleted during battle.

Both fruits were miraculous treasures born once every hundred years. They had just recently appeared, drawing the covetous attention of many Cultivators.

But no one expected a wounded bird Demon to pass by coincidentally.

It was probably dazed. Smelling the exotic fragrance, it recklessly seized one. It had intended to take the Luo River Fruit but mistakenly picked the Awakening Orifice.

Now it had no choice. Unwilling to discard the Spiritual Fruit, and needing time to digest it since it couldn’t instantly heal its wounds, during its escape, it died from exhaustion due to the severity of its wounds.

Both bird and fruit fell from the sky.

As terrible luck would have it, the spot it fell into was precisely the Nether Prefecture Ghost City, a place heavy with yin energy for a hundred li around, where not a single blade of grass grew.

The crowd was greatly disappointed, but thankfully, there was still one readily available Luo River Fruit to compete for, so the Awakening Orifice fell into obscurity.

In the original work, this fruit was also a sideline among sidelines, mentioned only in passing.

Especially the Awakening Orifice that fell into the Ghost City, it was barely brought up at all.

Yun Jinxue lowered her gaze, seeing the Little Villain holding the kite; her thoughts were stirring.

A body occupied by a Devil Being could also cultivate normally, no different from ordinary people.

Only, the meridians needed to be shattered and reassembled, and the flow of Spiritual Power reversed, to maximize the inherent talent.

The Little Villain was extremely diligent. Having been hunted before, she knew the importance of strength.

Living within the Immortal Sect, she naturally wanted to learn something too.

But initially, she didn’t know her own true nature. She had to obediently follow the rules, only receiving occasional pointers when the Senior Sister was in a good mood, progressing step by step.

Even so, before the Divine Zenith Sect’s Grand Apprentice-Making Ceremony, she managed to condense a Golden Core formed from Spiritual Power.

Although it was later shattered before everyone’s eyes when she was gravely wounded.

But at that age, in such a short time, with such casual cultivation, to actually achieve Core Formation—it profoundly shocked the Senior Sister.

It was at that moment she understood what terrifying cultivation talent the unremarkable little girl who constantly followed and served her possessed.

From that point on, Jiang Yanyu’s brief period of good days came to a complete end.

That plot node, serving as a turning point in the villain’s life, made her realize the special nature of her body.

Although the painstakingly condensed Golden Core was shattered, as long as she reshaped her meridians and reversed the Spiritual Power flow, her cultivation path could advance a thousand li in a single day.

Only, the pain in this process was beyond what ordinary people could endure.

The twisted nature of her character was accumulated bit by bit through the unending, extreme agony in her life.

Then, could she slightly alter the process, without changing the ultimate outcome?

The contents of that paper scrap kept flashing before Yun Jinxue’s eyes, compelling her to want to do something for this young girl.

This seemed like an opportunity.

Yun Jinxue lowered her eyes and said softly, “Since your injuries have recovered, in a few more days, we’ll head down the mountain. Accompany me to do something.”

Jiang Yanyu said obediently, “I’ll listen to everything Senior Sister says.”

“Mm.” Yun Jinxue nodded. “Be careful playing outside. I’ll head back first.”

Jiang Yanyu watched that dignified and elegant figure leave, and her smile vanished in an instant.

Casually leaning the kite against a nearby wall, she sneered, “Just as good at pretending as in the previous life.”

Turning her head towards a large rock nearby, she called out, “Come out.”

A youth in servant disciple clothes poked his head out. Seeing the kite leaning against the wall, he propped both hands on the rock and jumped down, crouching before the kite.

Jiang Yanyu looked down at him. “I promised I’d help you get it down, and still you didn’t believe me.”

The youth straightened the swallow kite’s tail. “You didn’t get this down; that Immortal Lord did.”

“I was the one who called her over.”

“But I could’ve gotten it myself originally. You suddenly jumped out, saying you’d help me. I thought you were really capable. Who knew it’d be so troublesome, even calling an Immortal Lord? They’re all swamped with important tasks, very busy.”

Having finally finished his chores and found some rest time, he wanted to fly his kite, only for it to get stuck in the tallest camellia tree.

The youth sighed, resigning himself to bad luck. Just as he prepared to climb the trunk, he encountered the girl emerging from behind the rockery.

She said she’d help him get the kite. He’d thought she was one of those immortals who could fly around.

Who knew she would just go call someone else for help?

Had he known it would be so much trouble, he could have climbed up and gotten it himself.

Jiang Yanyu stood with her hands behind her back, slanting her eyes towards the small path where Yun Jinxue had disappeared.

In her previous life, by this time, she had already set off on the path to seek the Luo River Fruit.

But in this life, somehow, since returning from the Jiang family, she had been holed up in her bedchamber, barely moving, even missing news of the Spiritual Treasure.

She actually needed to be the one to tell her. What a hassle.

After a moment, Jiang Yanyu murmured, “I just wanted to find an excuse to get her to come over, to tell this Immortal Lord that a Spiritual Treasure had appeared in the world. And conveniently…”

She looked at the youth. “See how you’re doing now.”

The youth listened, always feeling something was off. Unhappy, he said, “What do you mean, how I’m doing? I’m living a great life, alright!”

Judging by his energetic voice and his face smeared with pot soot, his days must indeed be going well.

That was good. As one of the few people in her past life who had been kind to her, it was good if he could continue living a stable, peaceful life like this.

The youth, merely possessing a child’s temperament, forgot his emotions in an instant. Slightly curious, he asked, “You want that Immortal Lord to go get the Spiritual Fruit?”

Jiang Yanyu said, “A life-saving treasure like the Luo River Fruit at a critical moment is something every immortal wants. As someone from the Divine Zenith Sect, isn’t it normal for her to go contest for it?”

Just as mortals wage war for survival resources, cultivation resources also always need to be fought for, often in ways even more brutal and vicious than mortals.

Only, on the surface, they maintain the dignity of Cultivators and still speak of fair competition.

The youth frowned slightly, a little uneasy. “But at that time, there will definitely be many powerful people all wanting that fruit. Will the Immortal Lord get injured going there?”

Jiang Yanyu curled her lips. “Injured? Wouldn’t that be perfect? If she’s uncomfortable, then I’m comfortable.”

She knew very well in her heart that in the previous life, that Luo River Fruit hadn’t been taken by the Divine Zenith Sect but went to an unremarkable, unknown Rogue Cultivator.

So this trip was bound to let her see that Yun Jinxue’s ugly side fighting with others, maybe even images of her getting injured.

She was far too eager for that scene.

The youth asked, “You have a grudge against the Immortal Lord?”

Jiang Yanyu said, “Yes.”

Checking the kite for damage, the youth pursed his lips and added, “But with just one sentence from you, she came. She helped you get the kite, and even gave you a flower.”

Jiang Yanyu froze, only now remembering she was still holding the camellia she’d been given.

Looking down at it, the flower that had seemed somewhat pretty a moment ago turned grotesque and repulsive again. She hastily tossed it into the grass.

Lowering her eyes, she brushed the petal debris from her palm. “She’s always good at dispensing petty favors.”

The truly good things, she could never bear to share with others.

The youth asked, “Are you sure the Immortal Lord will go? To fight for that Luo River?”

Of course. She went to fight for it in her past life, just didn’t get it. What a waste.

Jiang Yanyu said disdainfully, “With her false, selfish, fame-and-fortune-greedy nature, she naturally won’t let this opportunity slip by.”

The youth shrank his shoulders and grimaced, looking left and right.

“Hush! You mustn’t say things like that. Cultivators all have eyes on all six paths and ears in all eight directions. If you’re overheard, you’ll suffer for it.”

Jiang Yanyu didn’t make a sound, staring fixedly at the youth’s face.

After a moment, she recited, “Zhang Qingruo.”

The youth started, suddenly turning his head. “How do you know my name?”

Jiang Yanyu said, “You gave me two steamed buns.”

Zhang Qingruo shook his head. “I don’t know you.”

Jiang Yanyu waved her hand. “Doesn’t matter. You’ll get to know me later. Study your cooking well. We’ll meet again someday.”

With that, she turned and left.

Zhang Qingruo stood up, holding the kite, somewhat puzzled. “Hey, talking like that is so strange. I really have never seen you.”

He wanted to follow and ask more, but a head chef, gripping a ladle, burst out from behind the white wall. “Qingruo! Where are you going? I’m so busy I don’t even have time to fart, and you’re still playing!”

Zhang Qingruo hurriedly agreed. Looking towards the end of the small path, the girl had already disappeared.

Three days later, inside the carriage, Jiang Yanyu lifted the curtain, gazing at the scenery outside, and noticed something wasn’t right.

This wasn’t the route to the source of the great river.

Yun Jinxue’s trip down the mountain this time wasn’t to contest for the Luo River Fruit?

Jiang Yanyu looked at the Immortal Lord across from her and asked, “Where are we going?”

Yun Jinxue chuckled lightly. From the moment they departed until now, the little one hadn’t asked their destination. She’d thought she could hold her patience and stay silent the whole time.

Spiritual Power flowed around her fingers, drifting into the teacup, slowly warming the cold tea until a wisp of steam rose.

Lifting the teacup, Yun Jinxue said, “Do you want to cultivate? Like how I do?”

Jiang Yanyu narrowed her eyes slightly, unable to grasp her intention. She simply said, “I do.”

Yun Jinxue said, “I tested your bone structure. It’s very good, suitable for cultivation. However, if you could have a treasure to assist you, it would be even more beneficial for you.”

She vaguely understood what she was about to say, yet still found it somewhat unbelievable.

Jiang Yanyu closed her mouth, then slowly opened it again. “What?”

Yun Jinxue said, “We’re going to the Nether Prefecture Ghost City, to search for the Spiritual Fruit ‘Awakening Orifice,’ to help you cleanse your marrow. How about that?”