Yao Ranran returned to Gu Ling Mountain. As she passed through the shrouding black mist, a surge of violent, corrupted qi rushed into her body on its own.
She paid it no mind. This happened from time to time, and she was long used to it.
Besides, it had no effect on her body at all.
A phoenix glided over from the far side of Lone Star Peak.
As a divine beast, it could only marvel at its master. Truly incredible!
It was one thing not to fear the chaotic spiritual energy at the mountain's foot. But she cultivated in that very place every single day!
The phoenix's eyes were opened wide. So Dao attainment could actually be tempered this way!
"Ji… kukuku!" With its cheeks flushed, the phoenix landed beside her. If its master wanted it to act like a well-behaved barnyard chicken, then so be it. After all, her fists were so terrifyingly large. It had no power to resist!
"You even brought two letters back with you?"
Yao Ranran retrieved the envelopes hidden in its feathers and tore them open to read.
One was from Zhao Lingyi. The message was simple: thanks, and that the promised spirit stones had been placed on the phoenix.
At that line, she excitedly searched its body until she pulled out a deed that looked more like a land contract than anything else.
"What's this?"
She froze, staring at the parchment-like paper.
"A deed to a major spirit vein in Wanxiang City?
What kind of gift is this? No cash, so you're giving me collateral instead? No, wait. In times like these, who would even sell a spirit vein? It would only invite hatred and robbery…"
Yao Ranran fell silent.
"So this is their way of tying themselves to me on the same rope."
She couldn't help but marvel at Zhao Lingyi's audacity. To casually hand over the deed to a great spirit vein like this…
Though there was clearly a binding intent, compared to life and death, it hardly mattered.
Still, Yao Ranran was no saint. The only reason she wasn't angry was because she truly wished for the righteous path to win. She had not yet ascended. She could not allow the Eastern Wilderness to fall, much less into the hands of Li Luoqi.
After a moment of thought, Yao Ranran wrote a reply.
They could join forces, but nothing more.
She returned the deed to the phoenix and had it delivered back to Yun Gu Sect.
It was valuable in its own right, much like phoenix blood.
But she had no wish to bind herself to Yun Gu Sect forever. When the war ended, they would pay her the spirit stones she was due, and they would part ways with no debts between them.
The second letter was from Lu Ziqian.
"Master, tomorrow I will lead a thousand demon cultivators to attack the spirit mine east of Fenglin City. Another commander will secretly strike the spirit spring to the west.
One in the east, one in the west. One open, one hidden. So the Demon Sect intends to seize the western spring…"
Yao Ranran saw through the plan at a glance.
At the end of the letter was a single line:
"Master, how should I act tomorrow?"
She drew out a mustard-seed slip, calmly wrote down her countermeasure, and tucked it into the phoenix's feathers to deliver.
"Go, Pikachu!"
"Kukuku~"
The phoenix gave a cooperative cry, though it had no idea what on earth a Pikachu was.
-
Youyan Sect.
A vast mountain shrouded in rolling black qi.
Hao Yinqin looked toward the peak, hands clasped behind his back, a smile curling at his lips.
"With such a mighty general at our side, tomorrow's victory is assured!"
At the mountain peak, inside a hall, Lu Ziqian studied the mustard-seed slip again and again before finally burning it to ash. "Master instructed me to build good relations with that commander. Survival is all that matters…
Master's concern for me has never changed. How can I sit by and watch the righteous sects fall? If she wants me to draw closer to him, then tonight I must not rest. I'll make sure her arrangement is fulfilled to the letter!"
As the last embers died out, Lu Ziqian vanished like a shadow, reappearing at the foot of another peak where he knocked on a certain door.
Late night.
Four eyes locked together in silence.
"Master… why are you kneeling on the floor?"
Yao Ranran's startled voice broke the stillness.
An Xiaolin's face flushed crimson as he shot upright, staggering a few steps with legs gone weak.
"No, no, your master wasn't kneeling. Good disciple, you must have seen wrong."
Why did she have to wake up at this exact moment! His ears burned scarlet.
Yao Ranran glanced at the retreating man, then at the blanket covering her.
"Master, were you… making sure I was tucked in properly?"
An Xiaolin froze.
What blanket?
"Ah, yes, yes! That's right. Your master was only tidying the room, making sure your blanket was in place. I certainly wasn't kneeling!"
He put special emphasis on the last line.
Yao Ranran tilted her head, attention caught on the phrase "tidying the room."
"Master, was it you who left Shu Xi Palace on my table last night?"
The blush slowly faded from An Xiaolin's cheeks. "Yes. Good disciple, have you noticed anything different about yourself?"
Yao Ranran nodded. "I have!"
"What is it?"
"I couldn't fall asleep tonight. That's never happened before. Terrifying!"
Her eyes widened in dread.
An Xiaolin was struck speechless.
"Good disciple, that is worth noting, yes. But have you noticed any other change?"
Yao Ranran tilted her head. "Master, what are you trying to say?"
Meeting her clear gaze, An Xiaolin said softly, "Good disciple, have you not realized that the power of faith within you has multiplied several times over?"
Yao Ranran blinked. "Ah, I did notice."
An Xiaolin nearly collapsed.
She noticed and could still be so calm? Did she even grasp how enviable that was?
"Master, are you all right?"
Yao Ranran hurried down from the bed, afraid her teacher might crumble into dust at a touch.
Steadying himself, An Xiaolin forced composure. "Good disciple, do you know how many people in this world wield the power of faith?"
She thought for a moment, then shook her head. "I don't know."
He looked straight into her eyes.
"Only you."
Yao Ranran: "…" Then why make her guess in the first place?
"Good disciple, when Shu Xi Palace collapsed, I thought I would die. I feared you might forget me. It wasn't that I doubted you, but Shu Xi Palace bore the curse of Heaven's Dao."
He spoke with effort, hiding the pain in his gaze beneath a faint smile.
Ah, what a good disciple. And so beautiful, too.
Yao Ranran blinked in confusion. "What is Heaven's Dao's curse? And what does it have to do with the power of faith?"
It felt like she had stumbled into something never even hinted at in the original story.
A flicker of puzzlement crossed An Xiaolin's eyes. "In truth, even I cannot be sure… but with the protection of faith, good disciple, you will not need to fear the miasma of the Spirit Realm."
"The Spirit Realm?" Yao Ranran was stunned.
How did the subject jump all the way to the Spirit Realm? Wasn't that the high plane of cultivation she was supposed to ascend to?
"Yes, the Spirit Realm. And I must tell you the truth, good disciple. It is not the paradise you imagine. In fact, if not for the power of faith, I would never allow you to ascend there."