Chapter 115

On the soft couch.

“Mm…”

Yin Luan groaned twice, furrowed her brow, rubbed her forehead, and with great effort pried open her eyes.

“Huh? Where am I? Why am I in bed? Clothes—why am I still wearing clothes?”

The Little Snake Demon’s memories were still frozen at the moment she had been soaking in the hot spring. She vaguely recalled three beautiful maidens throwing themselves into her arms, everyone happily playing games together…

No way, right? Could that have just been a dream?

Lately, she kept having these kinds of dreams…

After a moment to gather herself, Yin Luan slid out of bed, pushed open the wooden door, and stepped outside.

The Iron-Masked Girl and the double-ponytailed maiden were in the courtyard, the latter cultivating under the former’s guidance.

“The key to the Postnatal Realm isn’t about how much raw strength you possess, how fast you can run, or how high you can jump,” Xian Yuan explained. “It’s whether you’ve achieved ‘Fleshly Body Unity,’ laying the foundation for the circulation of Innate Qi.”

“Senior, what exactly is Fleshly Body Unity?”

“Let me put it this way: ordinary people can use their intent to move their limbs and control their fingers and toes. But take it a step further—try controlling a specific muscle in your finger or directing the flow of blood qi in a particular area. That’s incredibly difficult. When you can perfectly control every part of your body, you’ve completed the cultivation of the Postnatal Realm.”

“Then… can I control certain parts of my body to make them bigger?”

“…Focus on cultivating properly. Don’t let your mind wander into strange places.”

With Xian Yuan’s cultivation level, instructing Su Paopao was effortless—far more effective than those paid Elders from the Wonderful Immortal Sect.

Spotting someone emerging from the house, the pair halted their session and turned toward her.

“Good morning… er, or good afternoon? What’s wrong? Why are you staring at me like that? Huh, Su Paopao, what are all those red marks on your neck and face? Mosquito bites?”

“Senior,” the double-ponytailed maiden said, retreating two steps and asking warily, “you don’t remember anything at all?”

“Remember what?” Yin Luan asked, puzzled. “Speaking of which, how did I even get back from the hot spring?”

“You went on a drunken rampage and chased after all three of us, gnawing away,” Xian Yuan deadpanned. “Your strength was bad enough, but then your body started slithering like a snake, wrapping around people and refusing to let go… Black Peach and I had to pry you off Su Paopao with considerable effort.”

“Ah? Really?” Yin Luan’s face filled with shock. “How could I do something like that? I’m a good girl from a proper family!”

“Watch yourself next time. You’d best steer clear of alcohol from now on…”

Even a Half-Step Void Treading expert like her couldn’t suppress a shiver at the memory.

This girl’s drunken antics were the polar opposite of her usual sweet compliance… Thank goodness her “attacks” dealt zero damage in that state, or it would have been a scene of blood and carnage!

“Is that so? I don’t remember a thing,” the Little Snake Demon said, scratching her head. “Oh, right—where’s Black Peach?”

“She left,” Xian Yuan replied. “She said her status as an Evil Cultivator makes it unwise to linger in the sect too long.”

“She just slipped away without a word…”

The Little Snake Demon had taken a real liking to that fiery beauty of a big sister.

Sure, her methods were extreme, but during their adventures together, she hadn’t crossed any major lines. She’d even teamed up with Su Paopao to provide backup for them at the base of Clear Seclusion Mountain.

“She mentioned she’d keep tabs on Xumi’s movements and find a way to pass along any intelligence to you—as compensation for slipping you that poison.”

“Such a classic tsundere. All bark on the surface, but her actions are plenty honest…”

“Stick around a few more days,” Xian Yuan added. “I’ll be heading back soon, too.”

“Heading back?”

It took the Little Snake Demon a moment to process that.

“Yes, back to the Heavenly Immortal Pavilion.”

Xian Yuan nodded.

“What?” Yin Luan’s expression shifted dramatically. “Just like that? Your wounds aren’t healed yet! Weren’t you planning to cross the Barbaric Wastes?”

The Iron-Masked Girl had barely survived the journey from the far side of the Barbaric Wastes, and now—fresh off battling that Immortal’s corpse—she wanted to plunge right back in?

“Staying here won’t heal my injuries,” Xian Yuan said with a faint smile. “I’ll still need the Elders of the Heavenly Immortal Pavilion to help me out. As for the dangers… with the Jade Gourd Bottle in hand, my odds of traversing the Barbaric Wastes are actually better than on the way here.”

Fully recovering required the intervention of a Void Treading Realm powerhouse. But everyone knew the lay of the land in the Eastern Wastelands—finding such an expert might prove harder than hunting down an Immortal.

“The Demon Subduing Division might…”

Yin Luan said solemnly.

They were the only faction with a solid chance of harboring Void Treading experts.

“There are too many unknowns,” Senior Xian Yuan shook her head. “Rather than take this risk, it’s better to cross the Barbaric Wastes. At least I know what problems I might encounter there.”

As an outsider, she dared to act so high-profile in the surrounding small countries because she was confident she could handle anyone with ill intentions.

But facing the Demon Subduing Division was a different story.

Who knew what their attitude was toward cultivators from outside the Eastern Wastelands? What if they captured her?

The Little Snake Demon didn’t think she could sway the Demon Subduing Division’s opinion—not even Du Xuan or Zou Lian could.

The real decision-makers were, after all, the Three Divisions.

“That makes sense…”

Senior Xian Yuan came from a major power, so her understanding of such matters was far deeper than the Little Snake Demon’s. Any decision she made had surely been carefully weighed.

“All good things must come to an end,” Senior Xian Yuan said with a smile, trying to comfort her. “But there’s also a saying: ‘A bosom friend is in the distant sea, but the ends of the earth are like neighbors.’ Even with the Barbaric Wastes between us, we’ll have a chance to meet again someday.”

“People from major powers really are different—they’re so cultured…”

Yin Luan gave her a big thumbs-up, and the disappointment vanished from her face.

“Yeah, I’ve always envied you, Senior Xian Yuan,” Su Paopao chimed in. “By the way, can you tell us about your homeland? The sect has so few records about anywhere outside the Eastern Wastelands…”

Historical records in the Eastern Wastelands were mostly centered on the Great Zhou Kingdom, to the point where most people didn’t even have a concept of the “Eastern Wastelands” and assumed the Great Zhou Kingdom was the entire world.

Even in the Great Zhou Kingdom’s academies, the history lessons were vague about anything beyond the Eastern Wastelands, mostly just advising people not to dig too deep.

“The place I come from is generally called the Hundred Cities Region,” Senior Xian Yuan thought for a moment before replying. “There are no massive nations like the Great Zhou Kingdom—just cities large and small. Of course, no one’s ever bothered to count if there are actually a hundred.”

“A hundred cities?”

Su Paopao looked stunned.

A single city might house tens of thousands of people at the low end, or hundreds of thousands at the high end. Adding up all those populations, who knew how many times larger it would be than the Great Zhou Kingdom.

“Usually, most cities are controlled by a dominant power—for example, our Heavenly Immortal Pavilion controls Heavenly Immortal City, which ranks among the top cities there,” Senior Xian Yuan continued. “Some cities are more chaotic, though, potentially split among multiple rival factions.”

“Hmm,” the Little Snake Demon asked. “Isn’t there a single powerful force that unites all the cities under its rule?”

“There was once,” Senior Xian Yuan replied. “But it was quickly overthrown. The terrain in the Hundred Cities Region is incredibly complex, and each city has its own unique style and history. Anyone who tries to unify them all meets a bad end.”

It sounded way more complex and exciting than the Eastern Wastelands.

“I really want to go there,” Su Paopao said, her eyes sparkling. “Staying cooped up here is driving me crazy!”

The Eastern Wastelands weren’t actually ideal for cultivation. Beyond the lineages passed down here, the overall atmosphere for practice wasn’t great either.

Seeking the Dao and immortality required three things: talent, diligence, and exchange.

Cultivating in isolation behind closed doors would just trap you at bottlenecks; only through mutual exchange and learning could you advance faster and better.

“Every place has its own unique traits,” Senior Xian Yuan said. “You might find the Eastern Wastelands a bit dull, but did you know? It’s brimming with ancient aura and is said to be the origin of the entire continent’s civilization—even immortals love to retire here.”

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have traveled thousands of miles to seek immortals here.

Senior Xian Yuan’s vivid descriptions of the outside world ignited endless daydreams in the two young women.

If not for this dangerous and terrifying Barbaric Wastes, they would surely travel far and wide to take in the continent’s wonders.

“While we still have a few days left,” Senior Xian Yuan clapped her hands, pulling the two back from their fantasies, “I’ll guide your cultivation. No matter if it’s the Eastern Wastelands or the wider world, strength will always come first.”

~~~

Several days passed in the blink of an eye.

Senior Xian Yuan wasn’t just powerful—she was also an excellent teacher. Under her guidance, Su Paopao even began showing faint signs of a breakthrough.

The Little Snake Demon gained a lot too. Senior Sister Zou Lian had previously taught her only the basics of Breathing Circulation, but cultivation in the Innate Realm was far more complex than that.

Even with the Heart Moon Art from Immortal Jing, the Little Snake Demon still had huge gaps in her knowledge of Innate Realm fundamentals.

Now, with this added insight, she could avoid many detours in her practice.

Seeing both of them firmly on the right path, Senior Xian Yuan finally relaxed and could set out with peace of mind.

“Regarding your background,” Xian Yuan said as they prepared to part ways, “once I get back, I’ll do what I can to look into it for you. Inheritance Spirit Jades aren’t exactly common, so there should be some records out there.”

She paused for a moment, then added, “That said, without more clues, tracking it down will probably be a real hassle. By rights, the Inheritance Spirit Jade itself should hold a wealth of information.”

Inheritance Spirit Jades could preserve power and transmit knowledge—a fact Little Snake Demon had proven time and again by triggering hers to gain new insights.

“Thanks so much!”

Little Snake Demon beamed with delight.

Her origins might be complicated, but with friends like these pitching in, the truth would come out eventually.

Gazing at Yin Luan’s pure, unblemished smile, Xian Yuan fell silent.

Deep down, she knew how fortunate she’d been this time.

On the treacherous Ancient God Continent, where danger lurked everywhere and trust was a luxury few could afford, a genuine friend was a priceless treasure.

Without Little Snake Demon, achieving her goal would have been out of the question—surviving the Immortals long enough to escape might not have even been possible.

For the one receiving help, such a friendship brought nothing but joy, security, and peace of mind.

But from the helper’s side, Yin Luan’s trusting nature didn’t fit this brutal world.

They lived in a shadowy forest teeming with hidden traps, where you could never tell if the arm reaching from behind a tree was offering friendship or loosing a poisoned arrow.

Better to watch from afar with cold detachment, focus on your own survival, and last as long as possible than risk everything on others.

“Yin Luan,” Xian Yuan said, lifting her head with a grave look in her eyes, “you have to… take good care of yourself.”

“Huh?” Little Snake Demon blinked in confusion. “I eat plenty every day, and I haven’t been getting hungry as fast lately…”

“That’s not what I meant… Ah, forget it.”

Xian Yuan let out a wry chuckle.

She was overthinking things.

Someone like Yin Luan would naturally draw in others of the same pure-hearted caliber—people worthy of her trust.

True sincerity begets true sincerity in return.

Rather than schooling her in the world’s treachery, it’d be smarter to teach her a few self-defense moves. That way, if some wolf in human clothing crossed her path, she could deck them good.

Xian Yuan touched the ring on her finger and produced a delicate badge, placing it gently in Little Snake Demon’s palm.

“Hold on to this. It contains a map I sketched from my journey through the Hundred Cities Region—marking all sorts of natural landmarks I came across. It’s not the most precise map of the Barbaric Wastes, but it’ll do. Once you’ve mastered Innate Qi, you’ll be able to activate it. And if you ever make it across the Barbaric Wastes to the Hundred Cities Region, bring it to Heavenly Immortal City and find me.”

She had no doubt that Yin Luan’s strength would carry her through the Barbaric Wastes in time.

The Eastern Wastelands wouldn’t hold her forever.

“Gotcha.”

Little Snake Demon gave it a quick look before slipping it into her collar.

“Mmm…”

Xian Yuan pressed her lips together, as if regretting how much she’d said, then broke into a warm smile. “So, see you later?”

“Safe travels!” “Senior, get back to Heavenly Immortal Pavilion in one piece!”

The Iron-Masked Girl ruffled Su Paopao’s hair, wasted no more time, vaulted onto the sturdy steed, and waved farewell.

“Take care!”

Neigh—!

The horse thundered off, bearing the young maiden from view…

“She’s gone,” Su Paopao said with a sigh. “Senior, it’s just us two now.”

“Yeah,” Yin Luan agreed with a nod. “Time to get serious about cultivating. Light passes swiftly, years shuttle by—we’ve got to make the most of it!”

~~~

Ten days later.

“S-Senior, there’s something I need to talk to you about. That Elder mentioned your appetite’s way bigger than normal… and wondered if you could chip in for food costs…”

“What? That’s so petty! Xian Yuan’s hardly been gone, and they’re already hitting me up for cash?”

“S-Senior, when Xian Yuan left, didn’t you say we should buckle down and cultivate? But all you’ve done these past days is eat, sleep, eat—no training at all…”

“After a huge battle, you need time to recharge! What’s wrong with a little rest? Balance is the key to everything!”

“But you’ve only got the rest part, no balance…”

“Why are you taking their side? We’re a team, aren’t we?”

Left to her own devices, Little Snake Demon flipped straight into sloth mode, lazier than anyone had a right to be—even Su Paopao was starting to get fed up…

How could someone this powerful and gorgeous also be this lazy? It just wasn’t fair…

“Sigh,” Yin Luan sighed as she crawled up from the bed and stretched lazily. “But by my calculations, it’s about time for me to set off.”

“Set off? Where are you planning to go, Senior?”

Su Paopao breathed a sigh of relief.

“To the Great Zhou Kingdom Capital, Luo City,” the Little Snake Demon said with a laugh. “I’ve arranged to meet a few friends there!”

Spring had passed and summer had arrived, ushering all things into a period of prosperous growth.

The undercurrents lurking beneath the Eastern Wastelands seemed to sense the agitation as well, faintly poised to surface…

~~~