Chapter 73 - A Girl Dies Every Day in Her Dream Life

"Ha, back in the day, many of us sisters lived in the courtyard of Fengyin Mountain," Nangong Mengxiang reminisced, propping her chin up with a hand and her eyes reflecting the past. "When there wasn't enough room, we'd huddle together to sleep. I wonder where they are now..." "You actually lived on Fengyin Mountain?" Luo Xue blinked in surprise. "Yes, but only until reaching the Innate stage. After that, you'd undergo aptitude testing, and if you didn't pass, you had to leave," Nangong Mengxiang recalled with a hint of bitterness. "But I was an exception. I stayed longer and saw many sisters off." At this, Luo Xue couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Why did this seem eerily familiar... Some questions lingering from the past life finally found answers through Nangong Mengxiang. The actions of Ziyang Daoist were indeed mimicking the Feng Yin Zhenren, though the latter was searching for a successor of the Phoenix Heritage. Ziyang Daoist, on the other hand, sought to break through the Foundation Establishment and evade the pursuit of celestial sects. For a cultivator like him, who treaded the path of heretical cultivation, he was typically considered just an experience cache for the disciples of major sects. Unless he could break through to the Golden Core stage, his foundation was unstable. But now, the most crucial question was… "Nangong, do you still remember where Fengyin Mountain is?" Luo Xue asked softly, unable to hide a trace of urgency in her demeanor. During her time at Juexiao Sect, Luo Xue had deliberately noted details from the previous life while researching. Apart from the True Phoenix Heritage, she also sought out information on Ziyang Daoist, Feng Yin Zhenren, and Fengyin Mountain. Unfortunately, her efforts bore no fruit. The True Phoenix Heritage was far too mysterious, with no records in any tome — only rumors claiming it might exist in the depths of a forbidden ancient mythical land. As for Ziyang Daoist... a heretic cultivator of his level might simply be listed in records as "a certain Foundation Establishment heretic," making his trace even more elusive. Tales of the Feng Yin Zhenren were centuries old, and only a few lines remain, with no comprehensive biography or life story. Since she was a heretic cultivator, whose activity was mostly around the Demonic Abyss, she was beyond the reach of celestial domain chronicles. As for Fengyin Mountain... none of the named peaks across the four domains of the Nine Provinces answered to this name. Predictably, it might just have been a name whimsically chosen by the Feng Yin Zhenren. Ziyang Daoist had renamed it to Ziyang Mountain, after all... Luo Xue's quest revolved around understanding the aftermath of her past life. She yearned to know if Xiaoyao survived and how many years had passed since her previous life. With her current limited knowledge, Luo Xue couldn't determine any of these. "Yes, I know. It's at the border near the Forbidden Region of Ten Thousand Demons," Nangong Mengxiang casually remarked, supporting her chin with a hand. "I searched two hundred years ago, but my master wasn't there." "The Forbidden Region of Ten Thousand Demons... I see," Luo Xue nodded thoughtfully, then her eyes widened, "Wait, two hundred years ago? Nangong, how old are you?" "Two hundred and thirty-six years," Nangong Mengxiang replied without hesitation. "...Then why are you only at the peak of Foundation Establishment?" Luo Xue's brow twitched slightly. She recalled that a certain saintess from the Yinling Shrine reached the peak of Foundation Establishment in her twenties. Why was Nangong Mengxiang's progress so different? It shouldn't be, right? "Your words indicate you're from a major sect. Most Foundation Establishment peak cultivators are two to three hundred years old," Nangong Mengxiang laughed, "However, my slower advance is due to body cultivation." "......" Luo Xue fell silent for a moment. Reflecting on it, it did make sense. The prevalent mindset in Juexiao Sect made it seem like anyone failing to reach Foundation Establishment within three decades was doomed in their celestial path... In reality, Foundation Establishment within a century was rare; most cultivators achieved it in their two to three hundreds. Viewed this way, Nangong Mengxiang was indeed quite normal. Yet... Since Nangong Mengxiang knew the location of Fengyin Mountain, should she explore it? Perhaps she might discover the burial site of the past. But more importantly, there was Xiaoyao's information. In the last moments of her previous life, Xiaoyao's heartbroken expression as she watched Luo Xue perish was still vividly etched in her memory. Thus, Luo Xue was a bit worried that Xiaoyao might have ended her own life following Luo Xue's demise to the beasts. "Do you want to go back there once more?" Luo Xue asked, "Back to Fengyin Mountain." Luo Xue didn't directly disclose Feng Yin Zhenren's death to Nangong Mengxiang, partly due to the previous life's implications, and partly because such matters needed the right timing. "Are you thinking of visiting? It makes sense, your cultivation style resembles my master's," Nangong Mengxiang scratched her head, "I heard recently there's been a surge of Yin toxins in Fengyin Mountain... without a protective artifact, it's tough to delve deep." Hearing this, Luo Xue's expression tensed. The root cause of that Yin toxin surge is sitting right in front of you. "Rumor has it a legendary treasure emerged. Many have gone seeking it. To be honest, my master had no grand treasure. She was so desperate for a successor that she nearly offered her last shirt." Mentioning Feng Yin Zhenren, Nangong Mengxiang's demeanor reflected fond nostalgia and relaxation. She... truly adored her master. Inwardly sighing, Luo Xue lamented the Feng Yin Zhenren's demise, and her unclear cause of death. At the time, with just a wisp of her soul left, Feng Yin Zhenren hadn’t mentioned why she fell. Clearly, there was another story. ...Wait a moment. Recalling this, Luo Xue suddenly remembered. The Feng Yin Zhenren had referred to her as junior sister, claiming she was the true inheritor of the Phoenix lineage, elevating her status by this title. If that's the case... Luo Xue looked towards Nangong Mengxiang, who was also looking at her. The two of them locked gazes for a moment. "If I say I'm technically your martial aunt, would you believe it?" Luo Xue coughed lightly and said. "Ah, you're the master's martial brother... ah no, martial sister?" Nangong Mengxiang responded with surprise, nodding eagerly, "Yes, yes, your aura is similar to Master's, so from now on, should I call you Little Martial Aunt?" "Martial Aunt is fine, drop the 'little' part..." Recalling her 'Little Junior Sister' title from Juexiao Sect, Luo Xue's eyelids twitched. "You're younger than me, shorter, and lower in cultivation..." Nangong Mengxiang started counting on her fingers. "Stop, stop... enough!" Luo Xue hastily interrupted, "Let's put our matters aside for now and focus on reaching Fengyin Mountain first." She hesitated a moment, then added, "When the time is right, I'll also share some information about your master." The news of Feng Yin Zhenren's death would be something to tell Nangong Mengxiang at a more appropriate time later. "Absolutely!" Nangong Mengxiang said, quite fairly content. Part of her staying in the Ghost Demon Pass was to find leads regarding her master’s whereabouts. Given such a hub of varied individuals, information flowed particularly well. “Sure enough, I’ve encountered my Little Martial Aunt here!” Nangong Mengxiang delightedly thought, “Finding my master is just around the corner.” Luo Xue then engaged in conversation with Nangong Mengxiang about the tales of Feng Yin Zhenren and the surroundings of Fengyin Mountain. Listening, Luo Xue became slightly apprehensive. Had she chosen an alternate route back when she left Fengyin Mountain, she would have been drawn deeper into the swamp. Then, encountering beasts above the Nascent Soul level could have been an inevitability... That scenario would have truly been death with no burial ground. Fortuitously, her fortuitous mishap triggered the surge of Yin toxins in the depths of Fengyin Mountain. During this opportunity, Luo Xue also questioned Nangong Mengxiang about the Demonic Abyss. Ghost Demon Pass served as the gateway to the Forbidden Region of the Yin Spirit, opening once a month. Only during this opening could one enter the Demonic Abyss. Controlling the pass was the Ghost Demon Gang, reputedly backed by the Yin Spirit Shrine, and occasionally high-ranking figures from the Shrine would appear. Fearing their influence, the Medicine Gang and Tianhai Gang refrained from toppling the declining Ghost Demon Gang outright, instead gradually encroaching. About half a month remained until the next opening of the pass, and reaching Fengyin Mountain required passing through the Forbidden Region of the Yin Spirit. With a slight detour, the path led to the border between Qing Province and the Wanmo Dao Sect. — Essentially near the power scope of Juexiao Sect. "Going in circles has led me to return once again. It's unexpected how close the place where I was born in these two lives truly is." Rubbing her temples, Luo Xue meticulously arranged today's gathered information in her mind. Meanwhile, Nangong Mengxiang, having nothing better to do, sorted through the spoils of yesterday's battle. Luo Xue glanced around briefly, feeling that, compared to the treasures in her own storage ring, what she saw here was somewhat lacking. Downstairs, having noticed the quieting commotion, Sha Yiyi and Sha Keke timidly poked their heads out and descended the stairs. After some discussion upstairs, the sisters decided to abandon their current assignment. The primary reason being Luo Xue's identity—kidnapping a prodigy of the Juexiao Sect was too risky a business. If discovered, they wouldn’t even be able to remain in the Ghost Demon Pass. Certainly, this was a place without rules or constraints, teeming with desperados and outlaws pursued by major sects. Yet most targets of these bounty hunts were exceptionally powerful, beyond the reach of ordinary folks. Sha Yiyi was only at the mid-Innate stage, and Sha Keke had just entered the Innate stage. Their strength was enough against common slaves, but facing someone like Luo Xue... even with several of them, it would be a lost cause. An average rogue cultivator, even at the same cultivation level as a major sect prodigy, would struggle against the disparity in techniques and artifacts. If they ended up on the Juexiao Sect's bounty list, despite this inn being under the Medicine Gang's protection, bounty hunters would devour them, leaving only bones behind. As Luo Xue watched the twins hesitantly approach her, they stood before her, bowing their heads in apology, saying, "We're sorry... Miss Luo Xue." "Mm?" Luo Xue blinked, a bit surprised. "What's this about?" She was aware the sisters might have had thoughts about her, but she hadn’t expected them to come clean so promptly. "Actually... the reason we invited you to the Youxiang Tavern was that someone wanted to capture you, and the trade was supposed to take place there," Sha Yiyi took a deep breath and explained, "We don’t know who it was, we just accepted the assignment." "An assignment? To capture me?" Luo Xue frowned slightly. Someone wants to capture her? Who could it be? Juexiao Sect wouldn’t resort to employing such amateurs... Yet apart from Juexiao Sect, Luo Xue could think of no other suspect. She had only recently left the sect and only knew Nangong Mengxiang. Could it have been related to yesterday's incident at the alchemy shop? That didn’t make sense either. The uproar yesterday was too significant for it to be merely an under-the-table commission. If anything, she'd be on the bounty list. Nonetheless... "From your cultivation levels, you haven't reached the Foundation Establishment stage, have you?" Luo Xue looked over the twins, a hint of amusement in her voice. "How did you find the courage to... try and capture me?" Before the twins could reply, Luo Xue continued on her own accord,