Chapter 4: This Generation’s Master of Penglai Island Has a Serious Problem Part 1

Taking food and even packing some to go.

Lu Qing’an had always followed the rules since childhood, respecting her teachers and the Dao. She had never done a single evil deed that harmed heaven or earth, nor had she ever violated a single rule set by the Primordial Pavilion.

She considered herself a good person. Even if her ending wasn’t a good one, it shouldn’t have left her so lost and helpless right now.

Lu Qing’an didn’t know how to reply to the woman in front of her and her jaw-dropping, wild claims. She could only take the Nine-Tailed Bone Fox’s tail from her storage bag and offer it.

The woman had saved them twice. In a moment of life and death, Lu Qing’an had snatched something from her; it was truly wrong.

“I’m sorry. A disciple of our sect was wounded by the Nine-Tailed Bone Fox, and the injuries are severe. We needed the Nine-Tailed Bone Fox’s blood for healing. That’s why I took your… your tail…”

Cheng Huan didn’t have time to care whose tail it was. What shocked her more was that the Nine-Tailed Bone Fox’s tail was still in Lu Qing’an’s hands. It was clearly past midnight, so why was it still intact?

This was unscientific!

Didn’t life just follow her whims?

Lu Qing’an saw the tail vanish as soon as Cheng Huan took it, and figured this person must have some kind of immortal treasure that could hide objects.

The Nine-Tailed Bone Fox’s tail could be used for pill refining and artifact forging. The beast’s blood was also very precious, but she had already used it on Hou An. She could only think of another way to compensate for the woman’s loss.

Lu Qing’an thought about what items on her person could match the value of the Nine-Tailed Bone Fox’s beast blood.

After a quick inventory, it seemed only her own Natal Sword, the Cloud-Cutting Sword, barely qualified.

Cheng Huan was complaining inwardly when she saw Lu Qing’an hand her the Cloud-Cutting Sword with a look of grim determination.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“The beast blood of the Nine-Tailed Bone Fox is a kindness I cannot repay. This Natal Sword of mine is a Profound-Grade Spirit Tool, but it is forged from Thousand-Year Profound Iron found in the extreme north’s cold ice. You can melt it down, extract the Profound Iron, and reforge a spirit tool.” Lu Qing’an introduced it in detail.

Cheng Huan did not understand. “Why are you telling me this?”

Was she showing off?

As if she didn’t have a spirit tool of her own!

But on second thought, she really didn’t.

This damn Persona Card—

“I used the Nine-Tailed Bone Fox’s beast blood to save my Junior Martial Brother. I have nothing else to repay you with. I can only offer this Cloud-Cutting Sword as compensation. I hope you, Senior, will accept it.”

Cheng Huan understood the meaning behind Lu Qing’an’s action.

“I don’t want it.”

If the Female Lead gave her the Natal Sword, she wouldn’t be able to keep it anyway. It would all vanish at midnight.

Lu Qing’an was confused. “But I have nothing better on me to compensate you, Senior.”

Cheng Huan blinked and said, “Why do you need to compensate me? A bit of Nine-Tailed Bone Fox beast blood is utterly insignificant. If you want its Beast Core, I can even fetch it for you.”

As long as you cultivate properly, become an immortal quickly, and complete the objective.

“…” Lu Qing’an was even more confused. This sudden goodwill was utterly baffling.

She swallowed hard and said with difficulty, “Senior, I already have a Master. I have no intention of taking a second one.”

Cheng Huan waved her hand dismissively. “It doesn’t matter. Just treat my offer to be your Master as nonsense, don’t worry about it.”

So her real goal wasn’t to take her as a disciple after all.

But… but why was she being so kind to her?

Lu Qing’an couldn’t figure it out, truly couldn’t.

“But Senior, for such great kindness, I truly have no way to repay…”

“You want to repay the kindness? That’s simple.” A glint flashed in Cheng Huan’s eyes.

What Lu Qing’an disliked most was being indebted. Hearing Cheng Huan proactively ask for repayment, she immediately felt a sense of relief.

“What is it, Senior?”

Cheng Huan extended her hand. “Help me keep this safe.”

Lu Qing’an looked at the Beast Core floating in her palm. “This is a Star Rift Python’s Beast Core.”

“Mm-hmm. Keep it safe for me, and we’ll consider the kindness repaid.”

Since she was restricted by this Persona Card, she would find another way. She’d hand all her treasures to Lu Qing’an for safekeeping. Then she wouldn’t have to fear them all vanishing without a trace at midnight.

“Just keep the Beast Core safe?”

“Yes.”

Lu Qing’an couldn’t quite grasp this person’s thinking. First, the task of guarding a Beast Core was incredibly simple compared to saving her life. And second, this Saint-Rank Spirit Beast’s Beast Core was extremely precious.

If a cultivator refined it, they could surely enhance their Cultivation Base, break through realms, and even jump several stages at once.

A Saint-Rank Beast Core was an immense, almost irresistible temptation for any cultivator seeking immortality.

For this person to so easily hand her the Beast Core for safekeeping was no different from putting the fox in charge of the henhouse.

Lu Qing’an didn’t understand the reason and dared not act rashly. “Senior, entrusting such an important Beast Core to me… aren’t you afraid I’ll keep it for myself?”

Cheng Huan truly didn’t mind. With her strength, she had no need to refine a Beast Core to stabilize or increase her power. “If you like it, just refine and absorb it yourself. But you’re at the Late Golden Core Stage right now. Refining a Saint-Rank Beast Core is somewhat dangerous. Also, there are some impurities in this Star Rift Python’s Beast Core that could easily disrupt your cultivation process. I can clear the impurities for you first before you refine it.”

“…” Lu Qing’an’s heart suddenly clenched.

She felt the Beast Core in her palm heat up, the warmth scrambling her thoughts into a chaotic mess.

Cheng Huan saw Lu Qing’an staring blankly at her, the Beast Core in her hand still glowing.

There were many Spirit Beasts in the Ghost Flood Dragon Abyss, all coveting other Spirit Beasts’ Beast Cores to enhance their own cultivation.

Exposing a Saint-Rank Earth-Shattering Stage Star Rift Python’s Beast Core for too long would lure the Spirit Beasts of the Ghost Flood Dragon Abyss to drool over it.

Cheng Huan wasn’t afraid; after all, all the Spirit Beasts in the Ghost Flood Dragon Abyss combined couldn’t defeat her. But Lu Qing’an couldn’t handle it.

She reached out, took Lu Qing’an’s hand, and closed her fingers over the core. “Keep it well.”

Lu Qing’an flinched as if burned, snatching her hand back with a “whoosh,” her eyes panicked as she looked at Cheng Huan.

Cheng Huan thought she’d scared the Female Lead and explained, “The Saint-Rank Beast Core’s aura will attract the covetous eyes of other Spirit Beasts in the Ghost Flood Dragon Abyss. I’ve cast a stabilizing spell on the Beast Core so no one will detect it. Don’t worry.”

Lu Qing’an placed the Beast Core from her palm into her Storage Bag and asked, “When does Senior plan to retrieve it?”

“At midnight tonight.”

Cheng Huan wanted to test if the Persona Card’s effect was truly ineffective on the Female Lead.

She looked at the changing pale blue sky on the horizon. “It’s almost dawn.”

The Ghost Flood Dragon Abyss was more peaceful during the day than at night.

Lu Qing’an looked at that patch of pale blue and slowly exhaled. “Then I will guard this beast core with my life and await Senior’s return.”

Cheng Huan watched Lu Qing’an’s departing figure, then looked down at her own hand.

She had touched Lu Qing’an’s hand just now.

So soft.

Like silk-smooth, plush cotton.

Cheng Huan rubbed her fingertips together a few times, a slight stirring in her heart.

—

Lu Qing’an returned to the streamside. The people from the Primordial Pavilion were sitting together, waiting for her.

The surrounding area was a mess of ruined trees and shattered boulders. It was easy to see a horrific battle had taken place here.

Seeing Lu Qing’an return, Gu Chuan immediately stepped forward to ask, “Where did you go? Are you injured?”

He guessed she had gone after that Mysterious Person from earlier.

Although that person had intervened to save them, her strength was too profound and unfathomable. When Lu Qing’an went alone to pursue her, Gu Chuan’s heart had been stuck in his throat, trembling with worry.

Now that he saw Lu Qing’an return safe and sound, Gu Chuan could finally let his heart settle back in his chest.

Lu Qing’an knew Gu Chuan was worried and said reassuringly, “It’s nothing. I didn’t catch up to her, so I came back.”

She looked at the others. “How is everyone’s recovery?”

Jing Chen replied, “Everyone has rested well. We can depart at any time.”

Hou An clutched his chest and said, panting, “Eldest Senior Sister, I’m much better now.”

Lu Qing’an nodded. “Then let’s go. We should try our best to leave the Ghost Flood Dragon Abyss before nightfall.”

“Alright—”

Everyone got up and started traveling, walking while staying vigilant against any changes around them.

During the day, the Ghost Flood Dragon Abyss was filled with thick fog. Within a few feet, it was impossible to tell man from ghost.

The fog’s toxicity wasn’t fatal, but it could disturb a cultivator’s mind, erode their Spiritual Power, and easily lead to disorientation.

They had very few Mind-Clearing Pills left. After everyone took another dose, only three remained.

And this fog cycled endlessly. The pill’s effect only lasted for a single day.

So they had to leave the Ghost Flood Dragon Abyss as quickly as possible.

The Abyss had no defined paths. The group could only rely on the Star Compass in Gu Chuan’s hands to discern direction.

Since no one had ever left the Ghost Flood Dragon Abyss alive, the world didn’t know if it had an exit.

Even if a powerful cultivator accidentally entered the Abyss and survived the attacks of its ferocious Spirit Beasts, they would still get lost in the fog, unable to find the exit, and slowly be drained of life.

The group walked for a long time, as if wandering in circles. The Star Compass’s needle would occasionally stop moving, leaving them baffled.