When endless, sensationless darkness becomes the norm, even the slightest reaction can stir enormous ripples.
Xie Jianbai’s pupils trembled, his breathing growing heavier.
In his momentary daze, the little white cat clutched his hand, having already swallowed a fair amount of blood.
Before he could fully recover from the shock, his mind had already started running automatically, clearly telling him: the little demon was not only consuming blood, but also the murderous energy that had long fused with him.
This was not good.
Soon, the little cat demon, once weak in Xie Jianbai’s view, experienced a sudden surge of energy after absorbing the powerful murderous qi not naturally belonging to it.
The chaotic energy collided within it, as if it could tear this fragile life apart at any moment.
The cat had already stopped eating; it fidgeted on Xie Jianbai’s hand, claws scratching his face impatiently, emitting whimpering sounds of discomfort.
Xie Jianbai furrowed his brows, suppressing his other emotions. His fingers hovered over the cat’s forehead, attempting to draw out the murderous energy, but the power had already been absorbed and rapidly digested—there was no sign of release.
He could only guide it, speaking in a deep voice, “Circulate your true qi, sense the energy within you, break it down and absorb it, let it settle in your dantian, cycling for no fewer than two full periods.”
Yu Wei’s consciousness was hazy, her body hot and uncomfortable, as if she had eaten devil-hot chili like meat in a hotpot; a fire burned and surged in her abdomen.
Only a touch of coolness on her forehead prompted her to instinctively nuzzle against it. At the same time, a cold, clear voice sounded, like a brief snowfall in the fiery world within her.
It did not speak human words, she did not understand a single word.
Yu Wei instinctively tried to get closer to the source of the coolness, but an unyielding, forceful grip restrained her cat form, preventing her from moving. Meanwhile, the chilly voice seemed to continue speaking in incomprehensible words.
Annoying cat!
To break free, she mustered strength, transformed back into her human form with a thump, and curled into the snow, hand covering the source of the bothersome voice.
Instantly, the world felt quiet and beautiful.
The previously tumultuous fire within her gradually calmed, converging below her navel, warm and comforting.
Yu Wei exhaled, shifted in the snow to a comfortable angle, and fell asleep.
She slept soundly, seemingly without dreams, yet felt as if she had enjoyed a grand feast in a pleasant dream, icy yet deliciously satisfying.
After a long sleep, the little cat slowly awoke among the rustling leaves.
It lifted its head, yawned, scratching its claws on the tree trunk, sensing something amiss.
Never mind, it decided, leaving it be.
The cat walked through the forest to the creek, seeing that the small clearing was occupied by Yu Chengyan’s cooking utensils. Yu Chengyan stood at the pot, focused and serious.
The cat lightly landed on the ground, then transformed back into a girl.
“Ling Xiao, good morning,” she said, approaching curiously. “Are you making a big meal?”
“Yes, I want to show off a bit,” Yu Chengyan replied. He glanced at Yu Wei and noticed her relaxed expression and radiant energy, smiling. “Why are you in such a good mood today?”
“I don’t know,” Yu Wei said. “I just feel great, and it’s warm and comfortable here.”
Seeing her touch her dantian, Yu Chengyan frowned slightly. He placed his hand on hers, and Yu Wei obediently allowed him to lift it.
He probed with his power, then exclaimed in surprise, “How are you already at the Qi Refining stage?!”
“Ah?”
Yu Wei was a moment behind, not comprehending.
Yu Chengyan set aside the pot, asking her to sit on the grass. “Close your eyes, focus on your dantian.”
Previously, he and Ning Suyi had guided her many times. Then, Yu Wei could not sense the dantian or surrounding spiritual energy. Now, the warm energy in her lower abdomen made it easy to focus.
“Control the true qi in your dantian, let it circulate throughout your body,” Yu Chengyan instructed. “Can you feel your meridians? They should be like clear paths.”
Yu Wei tried, and the dantian energy responded, protruding slightly, though she could not see the paths. Honestly, she said, “I can’t see, but the true qi seems to have a mind of its own… should I release it?”
Allowing the qi to act freely risked deviation into demonic fire. Yu Chengyan quickly stopped her.
Apparently, his mother remained as carefree and unskilled in cultivation as ever, and his earlier guess that she was a misjudged hidden genius was quietly dismissed.
“How did you suddenly reach Qi Refining?” Yu Chengyan sat beside her, puzzled. “Have you done anything special these past few days?”
Yu Wei shook her head. “I just slept well these last two days.”
She excitedly added, “Last night in my dream, it seemed to snow.”
Snow? Yu Chengyan could not interpret the omen, though the coldness reminded him of Xie Jianbai.
Could Yu Wei’s advancement be related to that man? He considered it but thought it unlikely.
While lost in thought, Yu Wei suddenly nuzzled him like a cat, sniffing.
“What’s wrong?”
She did not answer, sniffed again, then reluctantly sat back.
Perhaps due to entering the Qi Refining stage, her senses had become much sharper, particularly her smell. Yu Wei did not realize this; she wondered if her nose was malfunctioning, as the young man smelled somewhat familiar, even similar to her.
Could it be from rubbing herself against him in cat form, leaving her scent too strong?
After pondering and failing to resolve it, the little cat abandoned the thought.
Breakfast was half an hour later than usual because Yu Chengyan made more complex dishes.
Normally, Yu Wei would complain if delayed even slightly, but today she waited obediently.
Under Yu Chengyan’s expectant gaze, she began eating. Whether due to the new recipes or the satisfaction carried over from her restful sleep, everything tasted delightful, and she thoroughly enjoyed the meal.
Seeing her content, Yu Chengyan relaxed.
While the two enjoyed a pleasant morning, elsewhere, Xie Jianbai sat in his study, the air around freezing.
He had spent the entire night there, thinking of nothing, becoming increasingly dazed.
His spine was straight, sitting perfectly upright, fingers long and elegant, yet unconsciously rubbing yesterday’s wounds.
After some time, he retrieved his communication artifact, contacting Xiao Lang in heaven for the second time.
Xiao Lang had also been waiting for Xie Jianbai’s call. The sudden news of an unexpected son left him anxious, but he knew Xie Jianbai’s habit of handling matters alone, especially personal ones.
Xiao Lang had assumed any call would come months later, yet it arrived unexpectedly fast.
“Jianbai, how is it?” Xiao Lang asked upon connection.
Xie Jianbai remained silent.
Xiao Lang initially assumed he was contemplating something, but after long silence, he prompted, “Jianbai?”
Startled by the voice, Xie Jianbai responded briefly, his voice vague, as if… daydreaming?
Even the normally calm, rational, and merciless Xie Jianbai daydreaming?!
Xiao Lang immediately realized the son issue had a major impact.
“Xiao Tianzun, I wish to ask you something,” Xie Jianbai finally spoke, his voice cold. “After my divine power was sealed, is it normal to be injured by a demon?”
“You were injured?” Xiao Lang frowned. “What level was the demon? Are there really such powerful creatures remaining in the cultivation world?”
Xie Jianbai said, “Last night, she just reached the Qi Refining stage.”
He added, “Not a beast, a little white cat demon, probably white.”
Xiao Lang: ?
“Jianbai, do you know what you’re saying?” Xiao Lang’s headache deepened. “Even with sealed divine power and suppressed cultivation, only a practitioner at the Great Ascension stage or a beast could injure you, and they must exert full force.”
“What about a Qi Refining cat?” Xie Jianbai insisted.
Xiao Lang expressionless: “Maybe it broke a tooth.”
Xie Jianbai: …
Silence followed. Xiao Lang worried about abrupt termination or Xie Jianbai’s emotions; half the heavenly realm would not stand against him if he acted recklessly.
Clearing his throat, Xiao Lang gently said, “Jianbai, I know the pressure is high, but…”
“I’m not crazy,” Xie Jianbai replied flatly. “Last night a cat demon bit me, consuming some of my murderous qi, then advanced to Qi Refining.”
“What?!” Xiao Lang was shocked.
The murderous qi on Xie Jianbai had been cultivated for millennia through the path of slaughter, colder than death, more chilling than frozen plains; others sensed a bitter cold approaching when near him.
After becoming a Heavenly Lord, he had become one of the most ferocious beings in the heavenly realm, naturally suppressing worldly murderous energy. The lingering chill on him was undeniable.
Even Xie Jianbai could not fully tame this formidable power, only suppress it. Yet, a low-level little demon absorbed it and advanced a rank?
Xiao Lang’s expression turned serious. “If true, I suspect this cat demon might possess the bloodline of a sacred beast… to harm you, it must inherit a divine beast’s lineage. Perhaps it awakened part of its ancestor’s power. Is this really possible?”
Divine beasts were born at the creation of heaven and earth. They existed alongside early immortals, helping establish the heavenly realm and the lower worlds.
Although their lifespan matched the world, they chose to dissipate, returning their power to heavenly laws. Elements returned, giving rise to auspicious or fierce beasts, continuing in a different form.
Auspicious beasts are powerful, near equal to deified immortals, but to harm a Heavenly Lord is still unimaginable.
If Xie Jianbai was truly injured by a low-level demon, the only explanation was that it inherited sacred beast blood, allowing it to harm a divine being and absorb his murderous energy.
But could this be possible?
Even the heavenly lords had never seen offspring of a divine beast. Where did this little demon that bit Xie Jianbai come from?
Xiao Lang said, “I will consult Mu Qing, she manages all heavenly records. We’ll check for any sacred beast resembling this cat demon.”
“Good,” Xie Jianbai replied promptly, though Xiao Lang still sensed a hint of distraction.
“Jianbai, don’t dwell on it,” Xiao Lang comforted. “We know your strength; this is just an accident.”
“Mm,” Xie Jianbai responded.
Though his voice remained cold and magnetic, Xiao Lang sensed a faint air of indifference.
At the end of the call, Xiao Lang suddenly asked, “Is this little demon related to your son?”
Xie Jianbai, brought back from reverie, furrowed his brows, pressing the fingers that had been caressing the wound to scratch lightly, then instantly healed it, feeling nothing.
He did not answer, but his silence spoke volumes.
His low-pressure aura seemed to spread through the artifact. Xiao Lang hurriedly said, “Alright, I’ll consult Mu Qing. Contact you when there’s progress.”
Xie Jianbai stored the artifact, sitting quietly in his study, occasionally hearing birds chirping outside.
It was still early, even before noon.
He pondered calmly, agreeing with Xiao Lang’s advice, and decided it was time to check on his ‘son.’