The Temptation of Rapid Progression
“Significantly improve cultivation level.”
This was, in fact, the matter Bai Muyao cared about most. For a long time, her cluttered spiritual roots and mediocre natural talent had been a source of constant brooding. While others cultivated at a speed like a surging river, hers could only be described as a trickling stream.
Even though she was now in the late stage of the Golden Core (Jindan) realm and stood out among her peers, she knew deep down that this was merely due to borrowing Xu Qing’s providence; it was not a reflection of her true strength. Her inherent cultivation speed remained as sluggish as ever.
Therefore, any opportunity to increase her speed was an irresistible temptation. It meant that if she were lucky enough to survive the great tribulation a century from now, she might still have a chance to climb toward higher realms of power.
As the carriage jolted along the bumpy road, Bai Muyao’s body swayed with it. She opened her “Opportunity List” to review the mission details once more.
Quest Hint: The host must collect three shattered mirror shards to summon the remnant soul of You Lan.
Shard Locations:
Inside a Monster Beast Cave in the outskirts of Yunyin Town.
Inside the Treasure Pavilion of the Xuanyuan Clan in Lingxiao City.
Within the Ancient Tomb of You Lan.
Driving the carriage and following the system’s instructions, Bai Muyao had already arrived near Yunyin Town. She failed to notice a small silver fox leaping gracefully through the woods nearby—a nimble silver shadow weaving effortlessly between the trees.
The little fox had been quietly following Bai Muyao. To avoid detection, it had transformed into this shape.
That little fox was none other than Xu Qing!
The Hidden Protector
Ever since Bai Muyao left, Xu Qing had entered secluded meditation. Yet, for ten whole days, she found herself unable to calm her mind. Looking back, the last time she had been able to cultivate normally was when Bai Muyao was still by her side.
Now, Bai Muyao was no longer within the sect. She was gone!
Xu Qing didn’t understand why she was acting this way. By the time she snapped out of it, she had already tracked down Bai Muyao sitting in her carriage. Transforming into a silver fox, she had spent the last five days trailing her.
If anyone familiar with Xu Qing saw her transformed into a tiny fox, their jaws would likely hit the floor. In the sect, even the “Old Monsters” (venerable elders) treated Xu Qing with the utmost deference; yet here she was, engaging in such behavior.
Xu Qing simply wanted to figure out why her mind was so frequently disturbed by Bai Muyao. Once she understood, she would leave on her own. Furthermore, since Bai Muyao had rejected her, she vowed she would absolutely not help her!
“I am merely an observer,” Xu Qing thought firmly. “Even if the sky falls, I, Xu Qing, will absolutely not lift a finger for Bai Muyao!”
The Trap is Set
After traveling through the woods for a long time, the carriage finally emerged from the dense forest. Bai Muyao stepped down, facing her destination: Yunyin Town.
She stowed the carriage into her storage space. At that moment, she sensed movement nearby. Turning her head, she caught a glimpse of a small silver fox hiding behind a tree trunk, peeking at her.
How cute! she thought. Those bright eyes and pointed ears exuded a sense of cleverness. However, the moment the fox saw her look its way, it seemed startled and scrambled back into the depths of the forest.
Bai Muyao didn’t give it much thought and continued toward the town with a heart full of anticipation.
Xu Qing, indeed, had been startled. She had lowered her guard slightly and hadn’t expected to be spotted. Fortunately, she was in fox form, so she wasn’t recognized. She told herself she had to be more careful from now on.
Upon entering the town, the first thing Bai Muyao did was buy three steaming hot meat buns. Having survived on dry rations for days, she had been craving a hot meal. She ate two and felt full, tucking the third into her pocket.
Next, she needed to find a gathering point for cultivators. In areas infested with monster beasts, rogue cultivators (Sanxian) usually formed groups for safety. Joining a group to enter the Monster Beast Mountains would greatly increase her security. The shard she sought wasn’t a world-class treasure; she could simply grab it and leave.
“Little girl, I see you looking around. Are you searching for something?”
A kindly-looking middle-aged woman carrying a vegetable basket walked up to her with a benevolent expression.
Bai Muyao bowed politely and asked, “Excuse me, where is the gathering place for cultivators nearby?”
The woman nodded and pointed in a specific direction. “Go that way. Walk for about half an hour until you see a black-and-red house. That’s the place you’re looking for.”
Bai Muyao thanked her: “Thank you for the guidance.”
As soon as Bai Muyao left, the “kind woman’s” face twisted into a successful smirk. He tossed the vegetables aside, ducked into an alleyway, and peeled off a disguise—revealing the face of a middle-aged man! His accomplices were already waiting there.
Man 1: “This brat is as naive as she looks. Easy to fool. Her cultivation probably hasn’t even reached the Soul Nascent (Yuanyuan) stage.” Man 2: “Once she reaches that house, we strike!”
They hurried out of the alley.
A Cold Heart Softens?
Everything was witnessed by the little fox.
The world was a fickle place; a kind “auntie” on the surface could hide a predator beneath the skin. Xu Qing knew Bai Muyao was heading straight into a trap. Leaping onto a rooftop, she watched Bai Muyao walk toward the black-and-red house, her heart torn by conflict.
She wanted to warn her, but then remembered her resolve: “Even if the sky falls, I will absolutely not help Bai Muyao!”
“If she falls into danger… it’s because she’s stupid! Stupid enough to reject me, and stupid enough to be tricked. It’s only natural!”
Recalling the way Bai Muyao had rejected her back at the sect made Xu Qing feel an indescribable discomfort. She reasoned that if Bai Muyao learned how dangerous the outside world was, she might give up her delusions of independent cultivation and return to the sect.
“If she learns her lesson, maybe I’ll recommend her to the Qingfeng Pavilion… No! I already invited her once and was rejected. I will absolutely not invite her a second time! Absolutely not!”
Xu Qing decided to scout the black-and-red house first. By the time she arrived, the three men were already there. These were three Golden Core (Jindan) cultivators in the early stage. Individually, they were no match for Bai Muyao, but together, they could certainly pose a threat.
The men began setting their ambush.
Man 1: “Is the barrier ready? We’ll make sure she has no way to escape!” Man 2: “With the three of us, taking her down will be as easy as flipping a hand.”
Xu Qing crouched on a roof beam, listening silently.
Man 1: “That little chick is quite pretty. A shame she’s so dim-witted.” Man 2: “What’s the use of being pretty if she falls into our hands?” Man 3: “Once we catch her, we’ll show her our ‘strength.’ We’ll let her know that in the world of cultivation, beauty alone is useless!”
Xu Qing’s brow furrowed, a surge of displeasure rising in her chest. How dare these low-lifes insult my Junior Sister!
She suppressed the urge to strike, reminding herself she was just an observer.
Man 1: “Later, we should search her thoroughly. Who knows what treasures she’s hiding?” Man 2: “Don’t break her right away. We need to enjoy the process!” Man 3 chuckled evilly: “Don’t worry, I know what to do. A beauty like that deserves special ‘care.’ I’ll make her beg for life and wish for death.”
Hearing this, Xu Qing was grinding her teeth. Without realizing it, her fox fur began to bristle. She couldn’t expose herself. She absolutely… absolutely could not!
Man 1: “Just wait, in a moment, I’ll grab her little hand… wait, why is there a snow fox here?”