“Fellow cultivator? We are all rogue cultivators, and our current cultivation level is achieved through our own efforts. We haven’t benefited from any ‘fellow cultivators.’ If you’re so kind-hearted, why not help my brother and me?”
“The token in your hand is related to the Dragon Clan, isn’t it? If you’re willing to hand it over, I might allow you to enter my cave as a concubine.”
“What if I’m unwilling? We’re all at the Mortal Shedding stage; it’s hard to say who will come out on top.” The female cultivator’s voice rang out, and after a moment, the two rogue cultivators chuckled maliciously, saying, “Then don’t blame us for being ruthless and not knowing how to cherish beauty.”
Ji Yutang frowned, listening to the conversation clearly. Earlier, she had chosen to avoid the demonic cultivators she encountered, but this time was different. It was clear that a fellow cultivator was in trouble. She couldn’t just watch her fall into the clutches of evil. But what if the other party was colluding with those two rogue cultivators to deceive her? Ji Yutang had encountered such situations before.
However, as the rogue cultivators’ words became increasingly lewd, Ji Yutang couldn’t hold back any longer. Activating the Xuanxiang Pearl, spiritual energy flowed into her meridians, gathering strands of magical power. Ji Yutang didn’t reveal herself but hid in the shadows, launching a Qingfeng Sword Style. The “Qingfeng Sword Technique” was a family-inherited sword technique, borrowing the power of the wind, and its power was not small.
The sword intent rose sharply with the breeze, and the originally gentle wind suddenly carried a hint of killing intent. The two rogue cultivators, seeing they were about to overpower their opponent, were blocked by the Qingfeng Sword Technique and couldn’t help but raise their weapons defensively, shouting angrily, “Who is it? Hiding in the shadows, afraid to show yourself?”
Ji Yutang ignored their shouts, feeling the flow of the surrounding breeze, synchronizing her breathing with it, rising and falling, stirring the Dao rhythm. This concealment ability was brought by her innate Dao heart, but due to the “Scattered Spirit Body,” she couldn’t fully utilize the true mysteries of the Dao heart.
The Qingfeng Sword Technique was extremely entangling, and coupled with the fact that the female cultivator they were dealing with wasn’t easy to handle, the two rogue cultivators exchanged a glance, feeling the urge to give up. Although the token carried dragon energy, it didn’t mean obtaining it would grant the inheritance of the True Dragon’s legacy. Continuing to entangle here wouldn’t yield any benefits. After cursing their bad luck, the two rogue cultivators unleashed a sword intent and retreated.
Ji Yutang had no intention of pursuing them. She emerged from the shadows, tidied her clothes, and looked towards the female cultivator—she was dressed in a yellow robe, adorned with jade hairpins and earrings, but her appearance made Ji Yutang’s pupils contract sharply! Ran Guzhu!
She had been beautiful since childhood, and by the age of seventeen or eighteen, she had become exceptionally graceful. Her skin was snow-white, her long hair as black as clouds, and her eyes were extremely beautiful, though they occasionally revealed a hint of coldness and aloofness. She always liked to wear snow-colored dresses, with only the collar and hem embroidered with elegant cloud patterns in gold thread.
However, the Ran Guzhu before her was different from the one in Ji Yutang’s memory. Her posture seemed more upright, and her attire was vastly different. Could it be that her half-year journey to the Taiyuan Dao Palace had changed her mindset? Ji Yutang pursed her lips, unable to hide the sudden surge of disgust and wariness.
With Ran Guzhu’s abilities, why would she need saving? Perhaps this was a trap? Followed by mockery of herself? Ji Yutang thought bitterly.
While she was scrutinizing “Ran Guzhu,” the other party was also observing her intently.
“Thank you, fellow cultivator, for saving my life.” After a long time, a clear voice reached her ears.
It was like a wind blowing from a snowy mountain, carrying the cold and purity of snow. The burning anger in Ji Yutang’s heart was suddenly extinguished.
She hadn’t concealed her appearance, but Ran Guzhu seemed to be plotting something, deliberately pretending not to recognize her. Ji Yutang frowned, and after a light scoff, she replied indifferently, “It’s not really saving your life. Even without me, you would have found a way to escape.”
“I am Li Jingyu. May I know how to address you?” the yellow-robed female cultivator asked again.
These three words were completely unfamiliar to Ji Yutang. She had known Ran Guzhu for many years and had never heard of this name. Could it be that she adopted “Jingyu” as her Dao name after going to the Taiyuan Palace? But what about the surname “Li”? Her mother seemed to have the surname “Li,” but wasn’t the Ran family forbidden from mentioning her mother? The adults didn’t want to talk about the past, but children could always find some clues from their vague and ambiguous attitudes.
“How should I address you?” While Ji Yutang was lost in thought, a faint unfamiliar fragrance wafted around her.
“Ran Guzhu” walked towards her with a smile.
In Ji Yutang’s mind, there were only those words that belittled her as a waste, but as the person approached, the blurred face became clearer, like an old painting being recolored. Ji Yutang instinctively stepped back until her back pressed against the rough tree trunk, and her heart trembled. It was as if she heard the sound of drums in her ears. She forced a smile and replied, “Ji Yutang.”
Her time with Ran Guzhu wasn’t actually long. To her, Ran Guzhu was a “fiancée,” a “responsibility,” someone she was supposed to spend her life with. How she treated friends and family was how she treated Ran Guzhu. If there was any difference, it was the awkwardness that arose after being teased. But that was all in the past. Now, there was no longer that “title” binding them. She was just someone who had humiliated her. In the past six months, she had imagined meeting Ran Guzhu, but she hadn’t expected it to be like this.
“Does Fellow Daoist Ji seem a bit dissatisfied with me? Is it because I delayed your matters?” Li Jingyu lowered her eyes, a dark glint flashing in them. When she heard the name “Ji Yutang,” her inner doubts were answered. She thought she hadn’t offended the other party, and her appearance wasn’t unappealing, so why would she provoke the dislike of her “savior” at first sight? It turned out it was all the Ran family’s fault.
Is this a rhetorical question? Ji Yutang looked up to meet “Ran Guzhu’s” gaze, and her previously calm emotions were stirred again, with astonishment clearly written on her face. Pretending not to recognize her was one thing, but how could she have the audacity to ask about the reason for her “dissatisfaction”? After all, she had done such things, and face was clearly not important.
“Is Fellow Daoist Ji here to try her luck in the Dragon Palace? It’s extremely dangerous here. Why not travel together for mutual support?” Li Jingyu smiled and added.
If these words came from a stranger, Ji Yutang would consider it a sincere invitation, but they came from “Ran Guzhu.” Did she need “mutual support” with a waste? This was blatant humiliation. Ji Yutang’s face flushed with anger, and she coldly laughed inwardly, raising her eyebrows to meet Li Jingyu’s gaze, replying, “Sure.”
After all, the person in front of her claimed to be “Li Jingyu.” If she could pretend to be nonchalant, why couldn’t she? It was a good opportunity to get close to her and find a chance to avenge past humiliations! After all, she had known her for many years, and she wouldn’t be more dangerous than a stranger.
Having an extra person didn’t change much from acting alone. They wandered like headless flies in the vast, endless True Dragon’s legacy, searching for an unknown, possibly non-existent inheritance.
As long as she didn’t look at Li Jingyu, Ji Yutang’s emotions remained stable. But the other party clearly didn’t want her to be at ease, having developed a strange habit of constantly causing trouble for her, such as provoking a swift, eight-legged demon spider at this moment. Fortunately, the spider wasn’t high-level, and even without using magical power, she could handle it with the Qingfeng Sword Technique.
Ji Yutang sheathed her sword, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and looked at Li Jingyu, who was full of joy.
Was she pleased with her own embarrassment? After leaving the Ran family, she no longer needed to yearn for those resources and had released her true nature? “Fellow Daoist Li,” Ji Yutang called out, but Li Jingyu ignored her, instead taking out a dagger to cut the demon spider, extracting a lot of venom from it.
“If you don’t find the Dragon Palace’s inheritance, will you return empty-handed? There are treasures everywhere here; what you get depends on yourself.” Li Jingyu looked up and smiled at Ji Yutang.
Ji Yutang was stunned, and when she came to her senses, her expression darkened. Li Jingyu’s words sounded like boasting. She was clueless about things like plants, poisons, and spirit mines, unable to exert any effort in those areas! Her greatest wish now was to find a way to solve the “Scattered Spirit Body,” so she could confidently stand before those who had mocked her. Oh, she could stand before “Ran Guzhu” now, but it wasn’t the situation she had imagined.
After venting in her mind, Ji Yutang looked at Li Jingyu, her eyes like a pool of rippling autumn water, and returned a bright smile, saying, “Fellow Daoist Li is right.” Although she said this, when Li Jingyu searched for other resources, Ji Yutang remained the same.
Nothing could pique her interest except for something that could solve the problem of her scattered spirit body.
Night fell.
The sky above the Dragon Mansion was no different from the outside world. The brilliant Milky Way was like a dazzling ribbon of light, leaving a vivid mark on the night sky.
Ji Yutang was tending to the campfire, with a plump wild chicken skewered on her long sword. In the six months since she had run away from home, her cultivation hadn’t advanced at all, but her skill in roasting chicken had improved significantly. She glanced at Li Jingyu, who was meditating, with spiritual energy fluctuating around her, seemingly forming an inexplicable connection with the lunar star. Just as Ji Yutang was about to look away, Li Jingyu suddenly opened her eyes, deep as the night sky, bright as the moon and stars.
Ji Yutang felt a wave of embarrassment, as if caught in the act of peeking.
Li Jingyu didn’t speak, just quietly gazed at Ji Yutang.
Just when Ji Yutang thought Li Jingyu would say, “I didn’t expect you to do such things,” Li Jingyu spoke.
“Can you share half with me?”
Ji Yutang: “…”
Her fiancée was strange, but everything she did had a purpose, right? Could it be she wanted to gain something from her again? Ji Yutang pursed her lips, gently turning the roasted chicken in her hand. Her mind was in turmoil, but she showed a smile as gentle as a breeze and softly replied, “Of course.”
