The moment they stepped through the door, the entrance vanished instantly.
They seemed to have arrived inside a grand hall. A heavy, ancient aura immediately assailed them, as if it had existed since time immemorial and flowed down to the present.
Looking at the wide corridor, bright flames rose from the stone pillars lining both sides, illuminating the entire interior of the grand hall.
The little Qilin walked straight ahead. Luo Tangtang and the others followed closely, passing through the grand hall to see a long corridor.
The corridor was somewhat special. Luo Tangtang looked at the walls on both sides, gently touched them, and found that her hand passed right through!
Her gaze immediately became somewhat complex as she looked at the wall’s surface. If her eyes weren’t mistaken, this should be the hardest Fallen Jade Rock, also known as Netherworld Stone.
It was a top-grade stone material that wouldn’t rot even after being eroded by millions of years of Netherworld malevolent energy. Luo Tangtang’s expression was complex; she didn’t know whether to envy the Qilin race for their wasteful extravagance in using Fallen Jade Rock to build a corridor, or if there was some profound mystery here that allowed her hand to pass through the rock.
The surroundings were terrifyingly silent, yet not entirely devoid of sound. The moment they stepped into this place, a dripping sound began from somewhere unknown and continued ceaselessly, like water hitting stone, or perhaps footsteps echoing from an empty valley, feeling somewhat illusory and ethereal.
Ever since the little Qilin arrived at the Ancestral Land, its tears hadn’t stopped. Luo Tangtang and the other found it difficult to comfort, knowing it was sad and not wanting to disturb it. They simply glanced around occasionally, slowly observing this legendary Qilin Ancestral Land.
“Drip, drip!”
The sound grew louder, like footsteps. The little Qilin was now somewhat stunned, tears welling up in its eyes, threatening to fall.
It turned back in a panic, seeing the figures of the two people behind it, and its frantically beating little heart finally calmed down.
“Did you hear footsteps?” The little Qilin quietly slowed down, waiting for Yun Shayi and Luo Tangtang to catch up.
Luo Tangtang looked at it. “You don’t know about your own Ancestral Land?”
The little Qilin choked, murmuring, “These are inherited memories. It’s my first time here too.”
“Be careful.” Yun Shayi, who was nearby, suddenly spoke, swiftly scooped the little Qilin into her arms, pulled Luo Tangtang’s arm, and retreated, quickly casting an invisibility spell.
A chilling wind blew in, accompanied by the dripping sound. Several tall figures appeared in the corridor.
They wore gleaming armor, held long swords or great hammers in their hands, and walked like marionettes, their movements extremely stiff.
“Corpse Soldiers!” Yun Shayi’s eyes shifted.
“My people.” The little Qilin suddenly lifted its head. It could feel a familiar aura on the Corpse Soldiers.
When it tried to move its short legs and run out, it was firmly held back by Yun Shayi.
“Let go of me!” The little Qilin’s eyes were red, and it fiercely bit Yun Shayi’s hand.
“Senior Sister!” Luo Tangtang watched as a bloodstain instantly appeared on Yun Shayi’s originally jade-white hand, and immediately became anxious.
“Shh.” Yun Shayi’s expression didn’t change, and she motioned to Luo Tangtang with her eyes.
Following Yun Shayi’s gaze, Luo Tangtang met a pair of scarlet eyes. A chilling aura of death, devoid of any emotion. Luo Tangtang suddenly felt a little creeped out.
Even more frighteningly, the faces of those corpses were covered in bluish-black scales, and they emitted a thick aura of death. Yet their eyes were constantly moving, and their entire bodies were stiff. With every step, besides the sound of armor, there was the crisp clacking of bones hitting each other, echoing repeatedly in this place.
“Something’s wrong with them.” Yun Shayi looked at the little Qilin and sent it a message via spiritual sense.
“Did your inheritance mention anything about Corpse Soldiers?”
“No!” The little Qilin let go of her hand, tears inexplicably falling again. It was now the last Qilin, and it had no home left.
Its clansmen were clearly dead, yet they couldn’t rest in peace.
Is it unwillingness?
They were ancient divine beasts, uniquely favored by heaven, yet they ended up with the fate of extinction.
“Let’s go.” Yun Shayi covered the little Qilin’s eyes, not letting it see any more.
Luo Tangtang’s gaze, however, was drawn to Yun Shayi’s bloodied hand. As if possessed by a ghost, she grabbed that hand. Luo Tangtang seemed to hear the sound of her own heart beating. It’s Spring Fever Bind!
“It’s nothing.” Yun Shayi thought Luo Tangtang was worried about her, and gently comforted her.
Only then did Luo Tangtang suddenly snap back to attention. She quickly moved her hand away, and then, as if she had done something wrong, pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to Yun Shayi.
Yun Shayi didn’t refuse, even though the wound was healing at a visible speed.
“We should still be careful.” Looking at the gloomy little Qilin, Yun Shayi paused, then spoke.
Luo Tangtang also felt that this place was very strange, and that something was off with herself too. So she volunteered to pick up the little Qilin, to ward off potential misfortune and keep her senses clear.
When they reached the end of the corridor, even the usually expressionless Yun Shayi couldn’t quite maintain her composure. There was another Gate of Chaos.
And it seemed like a Gate of Chaos made with shoddy work; the gate was extremely narrow, probably only wide enough for one person to pass through. Someone a little fatter likely wouldn’t fit.
Thinking this, Luo Tangtang quietly lowered her head to look at herself, and suddenly felt a little relieved.
Yun Shayi and Luo Tangtang exchanged a look, then Yun Shayi went in first. Luo Tangtang looked at the little Qilin in her arms and decided to throw it in first.
Just as she was about to walk in, having just lifted one foot but not yet put it down, the Gate of Chaos in front of her suddenly erupted with dazzling white light. Before Luo Tangtang could react, a powerful suction force pulled her inside.
What the heck is this?
Luo Tangtang covered her head, hopping and looking around, practically wanting to curse. The suction force came so suddenly that she had bumped her head when pulled in. She reached up and felt it, figuring a small bump had formed.
Where was this place? Where were Senior Sister and the little Qilin? Luo Tangtang looked around, but saw no one.
“Cheep—cheep cheep!” Several clear and melodious bird calls.
Luo Tangtang looked with some surprise in her eyes at the birds appearing before her. Their entire bodies were covered in color, their beaks were white, and their tail feathers were long and slender. They were birds with a very flamboyant appearance. She somehow felt she had seen them somewhere before.
They were currently chirping at Luo Tangtang. First, a few short chirps, then longer calls, rapid sounds with strange frequencies.
Suddenly, a few more birds with the same appearance appeared. First a few, then a flock, and finally it developed into an overwhelming swarm of birds flying towards her.
Seeing the large shadow cast from directly overhead, Luo Tangtang’s face first showed surprise, then instantly turned to terror. She immediately turned and ran frantically.
Without the System, my luck is always inexplicably terrible!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Why are they chasing me?!
Luo Tangtang looked back. The bird swarm was close at hand. It was too late to dodge now. In an instant, Luo Tangtang immediately wanted to gather spiritual energy… she couldn’t! Luo Tangtang’s eyes widened, despair spreading within her heart.
She gritted her teeth, covered her head with her hands, and squatted down. No matter what, she’d reduce her surface area first.
A gust of wind blew past her, bringing a chilling, creepy feeling, but there was no expected pain. Luo Tangtang opened her eyes in surprise, exclaiming, “Huh?”
She stood up dumbfounded, watching as flocks of colorful birds passed right through her body. One little colorful bird seemed very curious, hovering above Luo Tangtang’s head, even extending a small claw.
Luo Tangtang watched, somewhat dumbfounded, as the little colorful bird’s sharp claws passed through her again.
What in the world is this place?
“Little colorful bird, why aren’t you coming over yet?” Suddenly, a very gentle female voice sounded.
Luo Tangtang looked over and saw a woman wearing white standing on the hillside. She had light blue long hair, silver pupils, and stood there lightly, her presence like an immortal.
She smiled gently, soft as the spring breeze.
Luo Tangtang, however, trembled slightly all over. For no other reason than that this woman had a face nine-tenths similar to hers. If their hair and eye color were the same, they would be ten-tenths identical.
What is going on?
Luo Tangtang stumbled a few steps forward, running to the woman. Her lips trembled, and her voice was somewhat unsteady. “You… who are you?”
The woman, however, seemed not to hear, simply stroking the little colorful bird that had hopped onto her palm with a gentle expression.
“Your injuries are mostly healed by now. Really, you are! No matter how good that Phoenix True Flame is, you need to be alive to use it.”
The little colorful bird listened to her speak, tilted its head, and chirped a few times.
Luo Tangtang was horrified to find that she could actually understand what it was saying.
“Phoenix True Flame is hard to come by. I want to evolve into a Phoenix, but there’s no other way.”
“Oh, you!”
The white-clad woman smiled gently, reached out her index finger, and tapped the little colorful bird’s head. “Then I’ll go talk to Yun Shayi and see if I can get a wisp for you.”
“Really?” The little colorful bird immediately hopped up excitedly.
Shayi? Yun Shayi, Senior Sister? Luo Tangtang’s heart was a mixture of helplessness and panic. The fear of the unknown place instantly found an anchor upon hearing a familiar name.
Following her, following her, maybe I can see Senior Sister.
Watching the white-clad woman’s retreating back, Luo Tangtang quickly followed.
“Shayi!” The white-clad woman looked at the person walking towards her and called out softly.
Senior Sister… Luo Tangtang stared blankly at that dazzling splash of crimson. She had never seen Senior Sister wear such a vibrant color. In her memories, Yun Shayi was always clad in white, unchanging, cold as the snow at the very peak of Misty Peak.
“Tangtang.” Yun Shayi laughed heartily. She originally had a cold and aloof appearance, and this smile really didn’t seem like an expression her face should have. But somehow it was there, and it wasn’t jarring. Instead, it made her radiant, dazzlingly brilliant.
Senior Sister here is different, and the Luo Tangtang here is also different. Why?
Luo Tangtang’s heart sank instantly. Her eyes suddenly turned dark and deep. Her slender fingers clenched tightly, turning white then blue. Veins bulged on her pale hand.
“Look at you. At first, you wouldn’t even give me a smile, but now you’re all smiles towards this little colorful bird.”
Yun Shayi stared intently at the white-clad woman before her. Successfully seeing the curve of her lips freeze, her pair of clear, cold phoenix eyes were deliberately curved into crescents by Yun Shayi.
“Yun Shayi!” The white-clad woman was somewhat annoyed and stepped forward to hit Yun Shayi.
Yun Shayi cleverly dodged. The white-clad Luo Tangtang, however, wouldn’t give up.
Yun Shayi quickly begged for mercy, chuckling, “Alright, alright, I’ll take you somewhere. Stop messing around.”
“What place?”
“You’ll know when we get there.”
Yun Shayi blinked, pulled “Luo Tangtang”‘s hand, and they both rose into the air.
Flocks of colorful birds flew around them in the sky. The sky was a washed-out blue, a land of purity.
Luo Tangtang, however, felt as if struck by lightning. She subconsciously wanted to chase after their departing figures, but her foot stopped mid-step. Her heart felt like it was submerged in ice water; she was terribly cold all over.
Why is this happening? Did I come into the original novel? It wasn’t written like this in the book.
How was it told?
Luo Tangtang’s eyes lost focus. Her lips were no longer rosy, turning bluish-purple and trembling slightly.
The book said Venerable Huayun went into seclusion, and Yun Shayi was taken out by an Elder of the Supreme Immortal Sect to travel. She met the lonely and helpless Luo Tangtang, brought her back, and raised her for a period of time. Finally, during the Supreme Immortal Sect’s widespread recruitment of disciples, Luo Tangtang joined the Lustful Desire lineage.
Why… why is this happening? A sharp pain suddenly came from her mind, piercing to the bone. It felt as if a thousand heavy weights were pressing down on her head. The crushing weight made her collapse onto the ground, unable to bear it.
System, System! Sensing that forbidden place deep within her mind, Luo Tangtang’s eyes turned scarlet… What exactly did you lie to me about?
Is this Fusang Valley?
Luo Tangtang finally walked towards the direction where Yun Shayi had disappeared. Fusang flowers bloomed wantonly all over the valley. The red morning light spread out, filling the entire valley with warmth, making it seem very cozy.
A towering ancient tree stood tall in the center of the valley. Its winding trunk spread outwards, with luxuriant branches and leaves, lush and green.
“This is what you wanted to show me?” It was still that familiar, gentle female voice.
Luo Tangtang suddenly turned around. She saw two people standing under the giant tree, one in white as snow, the other in red like fire, a very matching pair.
She had to figure things out. Luo Tangtang bit her lower lip. It was already swollen around the area, covered in tiny little wounds, with a few threads of blood oozing out.
Luo Tangtang paid no attention. She lightly placed her hand over her heart. It was beating violently there now, the sound deep and loud.
The System was still sleeping now. This was a good opportunity for her to understand everything. Her thoughts came together in an instant, and Luo Tangtang immediately made a decision.
“Of course not!”
Yun Shayi shrugged. “Who would do something so meaningless?”
“What I want to show you is this.” As if performing magic, a small tree sapling suddenly appeared in Yun Shayi’s hand.
“What is this?”
“Luo Tangtang”‘s eyes held confusion as she asked softly.
“It’s a Fusang tree sapling!”
Yun Shayi raised an eyebrow. “I brought it to plant with you. In a bit, we’ll drip our blood on it, and it’ll be our son.”
“Son?”
“Luo Tangtang”‘s brow furrowed slightly.
“Of course. After dripping both our blood, there will naturally be a bloodline connection as a guide. Is it strange for it to be our son?” Yun Shayi said earnestly.
“Who’s having a son with you?”
“Alright, stop messing around. Come, let’s plant the tree.” Yun Shayi pulled “Luo Tangtang” over and got to work energetically.
She neatly bit a cut on her own hand, dripped some blood, and then shifted her gaze to “Luo Tangtang”.
“Hurry up.” Yun Shayi urged.
“Luo Tangtang” then reluctantly dripped some blood onto it as well.
Yun Shayi immediately beamed, squinting her eyes with a smile. She playfully smacked “Luo Tangtang”‘s head. “That’s a good girl!”
“Don’t touch me.” Luo Tangtang’s face instantly turned dark.
Yun Shayi, however, looked at her seriously for once. “This is more like it. I couldn’t stand seeing you put on that gentle act with a poker face all the time. You used to be cold as ice; you weren’t like this person at all.”
“Just shut up.”
The two walked away, arguing and making noise. The clamor and liveliness receded from her. Luo Tangtang didn’t know when she had suddenly found herself in an empty white space, devoid of sunlight, temperature, or color, terrifyingly silent and still.
Her unfocused eyes moved slightly. Luo Tangtang stiffly turned her head.
“What did you see?”
“It’s you!” Luo Tangtang looked at the white-clad, blue-haired woman before her.
“What exactly is going on? Why?” Luo Tangtang stepped two paces forward, wanting to grab the woman in front of her, but her hand passed right through her.
“This is just my spirit body,” the blue-haired woman said softly.
“You—are you human or a ghost?”
“Huh?” The blue-haired woman was slightly startled, then suddenly let out a soft laugh.
Her eyes held fondness. She gently raised a hand and stroked Luo Tangtang’s temple hair. “You are still so much like her now. You really were changed by her!”
“She?” A flash of insight struck Luo Tangtang. She quickly grasped something. “Are you talking about Senior Sister?”
“She’s your Senior Sister now?” The blue-haired woman’s face held some helplessness. “Before, I was considered her Senior Sister.”
“Who exactly are you?” Luo Tangtang’s face was solemn, her voice somewhat low.
“Don’t be impatient!” The blue-haired woman smiled. “Actually, you already have a guess about who I am, don’t you?”
She reached out and held Luo Tangtang’s hand. “Sometimes not knowing isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I can’t tell you anything right now, even though I really want to.”
“What is it you don’t want to tell me?” Luo Tangtang pressed.
“Go back. Don’t ask anymore. That person is waiting for you.”
The blue-haired woman smiled faintly.
“Goodbye!” She gently waved her hand, and Luo Tangtang felt her body lighten. She was sent flying outwards.
“Ah—!” A sense of weightlessness came over her.
Luo Tangtang fell from a high altitude. A muffled groan sounded, and she landed in an embrace carrying a cold fragrance.
“Senior Sister!” Luo Tangtang stared blankly at the face so close to hers, cold and expressionless, with a slight furrow in her brow.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, I’m fine.” Luo Tangtang hastily jumped out of Yun Shayi’s embrace. She felt her heart was somewhat complex, but didn’t notice the fleeting darkness that flashed in Yun Shayi’s eyes the moment she turned away.
And the plot thickens :]