Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
It was silent.
Everyone from the Cloud Tribe Sect was dumbfounded. They looked at the Lightning Dagger on the floor—baffled, they even thought they were hallucinating.
“The Sect Master…is gone?”
They were in disbelief. He was a Golden Immortal. Was he a goner just from a ‘Duang’ sound effect?
Not only that. Even the Ultimate Spiritual Treasure was damaged. Not even their dreams were that wild.
That…was so horrifying.
“Sigh,” Pei An sighed and mocked, “I already told you so. Why don’t you guys listen to us? Isn’t it nice to be alive?”
They were not surprised at the result.
What was a Golden Immortal in the eyes of the expert? He was barely an insect. He belonged to the enemies-to-play-with group.
Gu Yuan stared at the remaining cultivator. He looked down and suddenly felt confident, “Say it, who told you to come over?!”
The square-faced middle-aged man already had clouds underneath his feet. He was utterly horrified and fled without hesitation. “Retreat, everyone. Save yourselves!”
“You critter. Where are you running to?!”
…
At the four-part architecture.
Li Nianfan was teaching Daji how to play the gaming console.
“From easy to difficult, see? That lightning was a bit too complex. I feel like you can start from the shield in the beginning. Come on, let me demonstrate for you again.”
He said while holding her hand. He started to slide along the gaming console. Her hand was soft and she smelled nice. Li Nianfan instantly felt seduced.
He leaned on Daji. ‘Yeah, so soft and warm.’
The Fire Phoenix was observing at the side at first. She attentively studied and learned how to create a spell pattern. Then, she realized she was the only one who was learning it seriously—the other two were flirting around. She instantly felt attacked so she quietly left.
‘In the middle of the day? How rude and shamelessly impolite.’
Li Nianfan finally stopped teaching when his hands felt tired.
He finally realized why emperors back in the days would love their women instead of their empires.
Daji looked at Li Nianfan and said, “I recently want to go out with the Goddess Fire Phoenix.”
“Again?”
Li Nianfan arched his eyebrow. He thought of that milk cow and said, “Daji, are you trying to surprise me with a gift again? You don’t need to. We don’t lack anything at the house.”
Daji pursed her lips. She thought about something for a long while, then she said softly, “The Fire Phoenix told me that I actually…can cultivate.”
She hesitated to say this sentence for a long while.
Her Master seemed to wish for her to stay at his side. Therefore, he treated her like an ordinary mortal. However, she felt like a pretty vase, useful in appearance but empty on the inside. She just followed her Master around and ate. The recent situation was getting intense, she wanted to help him out more.
There were a lot of things she could not do as an ordinary person. Therefore, she chose to test cultivation out.
She hurriedly dropped her head after saying it and did not dare to look at Li Nianfan.
She did not know what he would think. She was scared that her Master would be angry.
Li Nianfan was silent.
He kept avoiding that issue from the moment he adopted Daji.
He wished that Daji did not have a Spiritual Root, he wished that she was the same as him so they could live ordinarily for the rest of their lives together.
Sometimes, he even purposefully avoided asking the cultivators and Immortals if Daji could be a cultivator. He was afraid that someone would mention it.
He did not dare to think what would happen to him once Daji was a cultivator.
However, the question finally came.
‘I knew it. Such a pretty girl like Daji would probably be able to cultivate. She might have huge potential too. If she is in a sect, she must be molded to be a Saintess.’
Li Nianfan was slightly agitated. He avoided it because he knew that once Daji became a cultivator, they would be two different people.
Even if Daji was willing to be together with him, he would still feel bad.
Daji noticed that Li Nianfan did not speak for a long while. She instantly teared up. She hurriedly said in a quivering voice, “I’m sorry. I can continue to be an ordinary person.”
“Silly, why would you want to be ordinary when you can cultivate?”
Li Nianfan concealed his sadness. He smiled and said, “I dragged you down previously. I’ll now count on you to protect me after you become a successful cultivator.”
Daji nodded and said, “Don’t worry. I’ll always be there to protect you.”
Li Nianfan laughed. Then, he asked, “When are you ready to go?”
“When do you want me to go?”
Li Nianfan groaned for a moment and asked, “How about after I taught you how to play the gaming console?”
Daji said obediently, “Yeah, I’ll listen to you.”
Five days had passed in the blink of an eye.
Li Nianfan and Daji happily enjoyed the five days. Li Nianfan did not say it but deep down, he cherished the five days very much.
If Daji became a cultivator, or even an Immortal, he would not know how to be with her like that again. In the end, they would feel separated.
Li Nianfan was glad that Daji was following the Fire Phoenix though. If she had joined a sect, he would worry about her at all times.
Li Nianfan was at the door with Daji and the Fire Phoenix. He said, “Goddess Fire Phoenix, please take care of Daji. I heard that recently there are a lot of ruthless demons, and the sky showed weird and unpredictable signs. It’s so not peaceful out there.”
The Fire Phoenix nodded, “Don’t worry.”
Daji told Li Nianfan, “I’m going now.”
The little fox blinked in her arms. She waved at Li Nianfan with her little paw.
“Go.” Li Nianfan tried to look casual and waved.
Li Nianfan waited until Daji was gone. He sighed and sat on the bench. He was in a daze.
‘I’m afraid Daji’s trip won’t be short. If she comes back and becomes an Immortal, what should I do?’
Suddenly, Blackie ran over to Li Nianfan and rubbed its head on his leg.
“Bark.” (Master, you still have me. I am not a cultivator, I am just a normal dog.)
“Leave me alone.”
Li Nianfan nudged Blackie on the head. He shook his head and said, “Bug off to the side. You single dog won’t understand how I feel.”
After a while, Li Nianfan suddenly stood up.
“No way, I have to cultivate!”
Determination flashed before his eyes like never before.
As the saying went, women were the drive of men.
In previous times, once Li Nianfan knew it was hopeless, he would have simply given up and lived a safe, simple life. However, he was about to risk it all to become a cultivator for a woman.
He immediately let Xiao Bai go to the backyard to call on Nanan and Dragin.
Nanan jogged over, “Brother Nianfan, you called for us?”
Li Nianfan looked serious. He looked at Nanan and asked, “Nanan, your Devour skills, can it be learned without a Spiritual Root?”
Nanan tilted her head and thought about it. “Devour is my power. Only a body with Spiritual Root can contain power.”
That answer meant no.
“Dragin, do you demons have skills? Does it also require Spiritual Root?” Li Nianfan was desperate. It seemed like it was impossible.
As expected, Dragin shook her head and said, “Every demon cultivates different spells or skills. If ordinary people learn demonic skills, they will die.”
That answer was even worse.
Li Nianfan frowned.
Dragin raised her hand and said, “Brother, I know how ordinary people can become Immortals.”
Li Nianfan was intrigued, “Tell me.”
Dragin started listing while counting her fingers.
“Eat flat peach.
“Eat Immortal Dan.
“Be investiture as a God.”
‘Okay, so you think this is ‘Journey to the West’ and ‘Investitures of the Gods’ huh?’
Li Nianfan rolled his eyes.
However, he jolted.
In ‘Investitures of the Gods’, it seemed like a lot of ordinary people instantly became Immortals after getting Canonization. If they were written in the plans of the Heavenly Palace, they were basically Gods.
‘Too bad the Immortal Realm does not have the Heavenly Palace. Investitures are out of the question.’
‘However…’
‘There is no Heavenly Palace, but there is an Underworld!’
‘If I can get a job in the Underworld, then I am basically an Immortal, right? This also counts as twisted progress?’
He paced in the four-part architecture. He was getting excited.
He previously thought about bathing in the Styx after death, he had not thought about getting a job in the Underworld!
‘Do I need Spiritual Root to be an Oni? Maybe… not.’
He found a way. He saw some hope.
Li Nianfan felt his heart thumped. He was exhilarated.
There was fire in his eyes. He looked at Nanan and Dragin, “Nanan, Dragin, how’s your cultivation? Is it great?”
Nanan was instantly excited at the mention of cultivation. She said proudly, “It is awesome. Brother Nianfan, I’m awesome. Even though I’m just an Intermediate Distraction cultivator, I can fight ten cultivators from the Combination realm! Excluding using my Immortal Items.”
“Hehe, I am a cultivator from the post-Mahayala realm. I’m stuck but I’m not afraid of the Immortals I encounter,” smiled Dragin. She looked at Nanan smugly.
“So awesome.” Li Nianfan was thrilled. He would be safe with the two of them around.
Nanan was able to Devour. Dragin was a demon with a powerful Carp Demon family. They were also taught and advised by the Fire Phoenix and the Immortals. He did not expect them to improve so fast.
However…it was good news.
Li Nianfan did not wait. He immediately said, “Pack up, I’m bringing you out.”
Dragin and Nanan were exhilarated. “Really? Out to play? Okay!”
They did not wait for Li Nianfan to nod. They already went to pack their things.
Blackie excitedly looked at Li Nianfan while wagging its tail. “Bark.”
Li Nianfan thought about it and looked at Blackie. “Fine, you too.”
Blackie was strong. If they ran into strong enemies, Blackie could delay them at crucial moments.
Nanan suddenly walked out of the room and said, “Oh yeah, Brother Nianfan, the wine gourd vine in the backyard grew out a beautiful wine gourd.”
“It grew a wine gourd?”
Li Nianfan immediately walked to the backyard.
The wine gourd vine was long. It intertwined along the trunk of a small tree.
A purplish golden wine gourd hung from there. It gleamed under the sunlight. It was extremely eye-catching.
The wine gourd was about the size of two palms. The size was just right and it looked extremely beautiful. It was a high-end wine gourd.
He wanted to go out to look for ways to become an Immortal. He might socialize with bigshots. The wine gourd was good enough to show off.
Li Nianfan professionally plucked the wine gourd. He roughly cleaned it up and made it into a wine gourd bottle.
After a deep thought, Li Nianfan chose to bring out the red wine because he was worried that drinking white wine would cause trouble.
“Xiao Bai, guard the house. The hens and cows are your responsibilities.”
“No worries, my noble Master.”
Everything was set. He closed the door of the four-part architecture. Three people and a dog went on their journey.
Li Nianfan had a clear target. He was going to look for ghosts.
He was going with the Underworld route. He also wanted to look for ways to cultivate without Spiritual Root.
Between the two choices, looking for an Oni seemed more reliable.
Li Nianfan did not rush to his destination after he got off the Fallen Immortal Mountain. He headed toward Fallen Town to get information.
Li Nianfan would naturally avoid being clueless.
They arrived at Fallen Town. Li Nianfan said, “Nanan, do you want to catch up with Auntie Zhang? We are going out for a long trip.”
“Oh, okay. Brother Nianfan, don’t leave without me, you must bring me with you,” said Nanan.
Li Nianfan helplessly shook his head, “What kind of person do you think I am?”
Then, they went to their familiar market.
The fishmonger had good business as usual. He immediately smiled when he saw Li Nianfan. He asked, “Mr. Li, long time no see. Are you here to buy fish?”
Li Nianfan shook his head and asked, “Nah, I’m going on a trip. I heard a lot of places were haunted?”
“I know right!”
The fishmonger instantly looked serious. “It’s not a prank or anything. Our Fallen Town had ghosts recently. It’s too scary. Thankfully, the Immortals were there to help. Otherwise, we wouldn’t know how to handle it.”
The fishmonger warned him, “Why are you going out on a trip? It’s such bad timing!”
Li Nianfan smiled and said, “I had to. Do you know where the more seriously haunted places are? I’ll try to avoid them.”
“Southwest area!” said the fishmonger without hesitation.
Li Nianfan asked, “Why?”
“The war!” The fishmonger looked uneasy. “Too many people died there. Ghosts would naturally like to be there. I heard that even an entire city’s worth of people was dead. There were ghosts and demons everywhere. Even Immortals did not dare to mess around. No merchants dare to head in that direction anymore.”
Li Nianfan nodded. “I got it, thanks for informing.”
‘As expected, I came to ask at the right place. That’s the place!’
If it was so heavily haunted, there must be an Oni there.
“Oh yeah, Mr. Li.” The fishmonger warned him, “If you’re going far away, you better buy some Rune Paper or Evil-Warding Jade. Protect yourself from those lost ghosts.”
“Haha, alright,” laughed Li Nianfan.
No wonder why he saw a lot of new items along with the stalls. The reappearance of the Underworld was a big business opportunity.
However, he did not know whether those items like Rune Paper or Evil-Warding Jade would work or not. Li Nianfan felt like they were worse than what he could make.
