107,2 - Little Peasant Wife

Jing Aoxue asked in amazement, "So, what exactly is this aura, and why don't I feel anything?" As she finished speaking, everyone turned to look at her. Shen Luman, with a complicated expression, said, "Didn't you feel the oppressive atmosphere, as if being suppressed by a cultivator's might?" Jing Aoxue carefully sensed her surroundings, then shook her head, saying, "I really don't feel it; I just sense abundant spiritual energy, which is quite comfortable." Shen Luman's expression grew serious. "Do you know what this aura reminds me of?" "No idea." Shen Luman walked toward her. "This is demonic energy. The defensive barrier is about to be flooded with demonic energy, which is why Liu'er and I feel uncomfortable. There's not much spiritual energy here; what you’re sensing as abundant is likely a mix of spiritual and demonic energy." Saying this, she squinted at Jing Aoxue and asked, "What exactly was your inner demon?" Jing Aoxue was taken aback. She tried to sense the atmosphere again, feeling only comfort and no trace of demonic energy, which could only mean there was an issue with her own body. When Shen Luman questioned her, she frowned in thought, but couldn't remember. She shrugged and said, "I can't recall. Anyway, I've successfully built my foundation, so it might not be anything important." Shen Luman sighed, thinking that even significant issues might not seem so to Jing Aoxue. She then turned to Wu Yiling and asked, "So your suggestion is for us to wait here for a while?" Wu Yiling nodded. But it was too late; the impatient Phoenix Xiaohui released a burst of flames, and the barrier, like a piece of paper, went up in flames, releasing a messy burst of energy. Liu'er said, "The spiritual energy is indeed dense, but the discomforting aura is even stronger." She glanced at Xiaohui, who was rolling its eyes, and suggested, "Why not just go in now?" Given the situation, they had little choice. The spiritual energy quickly dispersed, and Jing Aoxue stepped in effortlessly, immediately spotting a pitch-black hole in the center. The group exchanged glances, and Wu Yiling said, "Let's go down. This should be the entrance to True Lord Qingmu's abode.” Standing there idle would be a waste of time. Better to take it one step at a time. Without hesitation, Jing Aoxue and the others leaped into the hole. Meanwhile, Aunt Lan lay in her carriage, lifting the curtain to look at the distant Duobao Village. "Did you mention before that Jing Aoxue's family went into the mountains?" The servant nodded respectfully. Aunt Lan stroked her chin and said, "Wasn't that Gold Core cultivator in the mountains too?" The servant replied with a flat "yes." Aunt Lan was puzzled, staring at the mountains without finding anything unusual. Frowning slightly, she muttered to herself, "Why is everyone heading to the mountains? Could there be something unusual there?" She paused, retrieving half of a treasure map from her storage bracelet. This revealed the specific terrain of True Lord Qingmu's abode, resembling a reclining dragon from afar. Smiling bitterly, she murmured, "So the abode of True Lord Qingmu is within the mountains near Duobao Village. A classic 'can't see the forest for the trees' situation." Previously, she believed the dragon-shaped terrain had royal significance in the mortal world, spending decades robbing imperial tombs. Little did she know... She pursed her lips, eyes sharp, saying, "It seems Jing Aoxue stumbled upon True Lord Qingmu's abode by luck. No wonder her cultivation improved so rapidly, having likely already obtained True Lord Qingmu's legacy!" She sneered, "Just a foundation-building cultivator, hardly a threat to me!" With that, she flew toward the mountains. As she neared the mountain's protective array, a dense demonic energy surged around her. Startled, Aunt Lan was shocked by the demonic energy, comparable to that of the Demon Cultivator Sects in the cultivation world—how could this be? In the mortal world, where demon cultivation was rare, how could there be such a powerful concentration of demonic energy, unless the demon gates were opened and demons invaded again? For demon cultivators, this would be dire news. She panicked briefly, then forced herself to calm down, reasoning that if the demon gates were indeed open, the demonic energy would be far thicker. Choosing not to scare herself, she decided to investigate further once inside. With this thought, she entered through a gap in the mountain's protective barrier. The aura spread rapidly, drawing the attention of surrounding cultivators. Aunt Lan's trained cultivators couldn't resist being drawn to the accumulating spiritual energy. From afar in the capital, the Great National Teacher sneered, "Your Majesty, as I said, there's no need to rush. You'll achieve immortality eventually." The Emperor, looking youthful and vibrant, frowned. "That's not my concern right now. It's the disasters being reported both officially and among the people. They're blaming me for being a muddle-headed ruler. It's absurd; though I've neglected governance, I'm not an inept ruler. The ministers are competent, how could they claim such chaos under my rule and the people's suffering?" The Great National Teacher narrowed her eyes and looked at Liu Wenyao. Having recently emerged from a seclusion, she couldn't ignore the Emperor's demands, though she barely had the energy to engage. Thus, she was unaware of recent events. Liu Wenyao glanced at the Emperor, and after receiving a nod from the Great National Teacher, he reported, "Your Excellency, a solar eclipse appeared in our southwestern region a few days ago, accompanied by continuous disasters. The populace blames the Emperor, instigating rebellion. Although subdued with force, neighboring countries use this to threaten invasion, claiming to bring justice." The Great National Teacher narrowed her eyes and asked, "Which specific location in the southwest?" Liu Wenyao, sweating, stuttered, "It's...near my hometown." Her words provoked the Great National Teacher to angrily smash the table. Startled by her sudden action, the Emperor took several steps back. The Great National Teacher sneered, "I've advanced during seclusion. As the Emperor's advisor, it's my duty to resolve your worries. I'll personally investigate and expose whoever’s behind this sorcery!" She hadn’t forgotten the humiliation of being bested by a mere Qi Condensation cultivator nor the gifted child. With her, she could have genuinely advanced to the Gold Core phase rather than relying on pill-concocted pseudo-cores. Just the thought made her grit her teeth in anger. Tired of lingering in this mortifying mortal realm, chasing a possibly non-existent Nascent Soul abode based on a mere treasure map, she felt embarrassed by her past delusions. Hualing Lan, that demoness, severely wounded back then, couldn't be healed entirely and should be dead by now. She would go to town, eliminate Jing Aoxue’s family, and return to the cultivation world to rebuild her strength! No matter what, she had to vent this fury first. And the Duanmu woman's connections to Jing Aoxue’s family were irrelevant. If the Duanmu woman wasn't the family's authority, she needn't fear. Increased power bolstered her confidence. Even confronting a mid-Gold Core Duanmu woman was conceivable. Bolstered by determination, the Emperor, deeply moved, said, "Very well, then I'll rely on your assistance, Great National Teacher." The Great National Teacher made perfunctory remarks, and after the Emperor’s departure, Liu Wenyao asked, "Your Excellency, are you truly returning to my hometown?" Recalling the previous retreat, he had doubts. The Great National Teacher coldly laughed, "Of course, forsaking such grievances, I'd be unworthy of my Gold Core status." Liu Wenyao looked troubled. "But I have official duties; I can't accompany you, Your Excellency." The Great National Teacher dismissed his concerns, "You'd only be a hindrance. I’ll go alone." Then she retrieved her treasured sword and flew toward Duobao Village. Suddenly, all nearby cultivators sensed the disturbance in spiritual energy, while mortals merely found the air refreshing, rejuvenating them. But savvy cultivators knew something was amiss and rushed to the scene. Within the dark cave, Jing Aoxue and her companions carried torches, walking some distance before she sighed, "How much longer till we get out?" After entering through the hole, the paths became a complex labyrinth with twists and turns, preventing them from finding a way out. Growing weary, she mused, "Could this be a illusionary maze set by True Lord Qingmu? Or maybe a deception?" Recalling novels and dramas, she noted that treasure sites typically had perplexing traps managed by formations or spirits. Given they were in the cultivation world, it was evidently due to formations. Shen Luman paused and said, "No, I can sense there's no formation fluctuation here." Wu Yiling, being a demon cultivator, wasn't familiar with the methods of human cultivators. Phoenix Xiaohui, already growing impatient, suggested, "Why not simply crush the stones and see what's beyond?" Liu'er looked around and said, "The environment inside this abode is monotonous, and we've been walking for some time without encountering new scenes. Perhaps this is a labyrinthine layout, or maybe a trap set with mortal methods." Having studied formations with Qin Yishu, she made such a deduction. Jing Aoxue scratched her head. "Why don't we mark every ten feet, and after retracing our steps, if we encounter the mark, it means we're going in circles. If not, we can consider other possibilities." After she finished speaking, she looked at everyone, who nodded in agreement. Jing Aoxue handed her torch to Shen Luman and left a glowing green mark on the coarse wall with her wood-based abilities. "Let's move." They continued walking, with Jing Aoxue marking every few paces. After a quarter of an hour, Jing Aoxue stopped. "I haven't felt the marks I left, so this isn't a trap or ghost wall; it's just complex terrain." This revelation complicated matters, and Jing Aoxue, now weary, stopped to take a break. She took some cushions from her storage bag and said to Shen Luman, "Let's sit and rest. There’s no need to search ourselves. What was I thinking earlier? Dear, why not use a clone to scout ahead?" Realizing the straightforward solution, Shen Luman summoned vines to search for a way out. Liu'er leaned against the wall, lost in thought. Wu Yiling said, "Why don't I use divination to find the exit?" Thinking of her unreliable prophecies, Jing Aoxue shook her head. "Better not." Shen Luman encouraged her, "Give it a try. The more methods we have, the better our chances than just wandering endlessly." Wu Yiling agreed, closed her eyes, and a dense demonic aura emanated from her. Whatever she did, she soon opened her eyes, now glowing white, and said, "This way." She led them back the way they came. Jing Aoxue and Shen Luman shared a look and followed. They twisted and turned through the hidden passages until Wu Yiling stopped. Jing Aoxue looked up at the light above, her expression twitching. "Isn't this where we first fell from?" Wu Yiling gazed intently at the ground, crouching to uncover smooth earth beneath dried leaves and branches. "The entrance to the abode is beneath here." Jing Aoxue squinted and examined it carefully. "There are traces on the ground." She used her spiritual energy to burn away the debris, revealing a formation pattern. A faint recognition struck, and Shen Luman confirmed, "A teleportation array!" Indeed, the formation was a teleportation array, buried under layers of dirt and foliage over the years. None had suspected it, starting their search from the tunnel instead. What a waste of time. Wu Yiling then looked up and said, "A new aura's approaching, a foundation-building cultivator." Jing Aoxue was alarmed; someone arriving this quickly could only be Aunt Lan from the town. She quickly set spirit stones into the formation. "We should go." Liu'er and Shen Luman stood at the center of the teleportation array. As it activated, the array emitted a faint glow, and when Wu Yiling stepped in last, a gust of wind blew, raising dust and leaves, concealing the site again. Unaware, Jing Aoxue held Shen Luman close as the teleportation ceased. Upon opening her eyes, she saw a vast valley spread out before them. Glancing around, the valley resembled the mountains near Duobao Village but with even denser vegetation and richer spiritual energy. However, seeing Shen Luman and Liu'er's frowning faces, she realized it wasn't just the spiritual energy that was abundant; demonic energy was also present. She thanked Wu Yiling and her gaze landed on a large hall in the center of the valley. "This must be True Lord Qingmu's actual abode." In the cultivation world, 'abode' didn't strictly refer to cave dwellings but encompassed most cultivation locations for a practitioner. Shen Luman hesitantly nodded, sensing the millennia-old spiritual plants, some developing rudimentary intelligence. She could hear their whispers and emotions. Jing Aoxue said, "Let's head over." So, they started toward the hall. Along the way, Jing Aoxue couldn't help but gather as many of the ancient spiritual herbs as possible, leaving only the younger ones. Upon reaching the hall, Jing Aoxue read the words above, "Carefree Retreat. True Lord Qingmu certainly was carefree." They entered cautiously. True Lord Qingmu hadn't set many traps; it seemed more a place of residence. Inside, there were a few treasures—artifacts and implements unusable by a Nascent Soul cultivator, and some leftover pills from long ago. Having degraded over time without proper preservation, most pills had turned to dust. Jing Aoxue, however, found some still viable and stored them away. "Seems like there aren't many treasures here." Indeed, the abode was simple, with few valuables. Shen Luman found it odd but recalled how True Lord Qingmu initially hid in the mortal world to evade demon clan pursuit, making sense of it. Having explored the hall, Jing Aoxue was about to leave when Wu Yiling said, "It's not that simple. I sense a treasure about to reveal itself. This is likely just the second trial, not True Lord Qingmu's real abode." Jing Aoxue thought: These cultivators sure make things complicated. She asked, "Are you going to try divination again to find the abode?" Wu Yiling hesitated—this was peeking at the heavenly way, not just fortune-telling! Ignoring the remark, she closed her eyes to divine again, but her form changed uncontrollably. Her vision shifted, and as she tried to speak, only a horse's neigh came out. Wu Yiling was flustered; having been cursed by the heavenly way again, turning into a horse each time she trespassed its laws. Jing Aoxue chuckled, "Looks like you're once more cursed by the heavenly way. At least it only turns you into a horse." Wu Yiling, frustrated, stamped a hoof and communicated telepathically, "Stop laughing; if this is accurate, we're in trouble since it means that..." Before she could finish, a burst of demonic energy erupted from the valley. Jing Aoxue blinked, finding herself back in the winding passage rather than the hall. She was bewildered. "What just happened?" The cushion beneath her made her suspect it was all a dream, but Wu Yiling was still a white horse. Shen Luman frowned. "Check what's in your storage bag—the items from the hall. Have they changed?" Jing Aoxue quickly checked with her spirit sense. "There are pills and artifacts, confirming it wasn't a dream. So what is this now?" Shen Luman replied, "Not just that. The sudden rise in demonic energy indicates..." She looked at Wu Yiling, who communicated, "The great treasure is a demonic artifact, and it seems to be faintly connected to Liu'er? This isn't right!" Jing Aoxue looked around. "Your prophecy must've been off. Let's find a way out. Should we return to the cavern below and use the teleportation array again?" The White Mare Priest shook her head. "I don't know. Now, I'm just an ordinary white horse. You must be cautious; if trouble arises, it could be dire." Jing Aoxue nodded. "Maybe you should wait outside the cave, in the mountains, pretending to be a normal horse. If real danger arrives, we can't protect you." Understanding their concern, Wu Yiling glanced at Liu'er, who in her regal phoenix tone, told her, "Wait outside!" Wu Yiling obediently complied, and Jing Aoxue escorted her to the cave, using her sword to carry her out, considering she was merely an ordinary horse now, unable to fly. However, stepping out of the abode, Jing Aoxue realized the place was unfamiliar, unlike the previous mountain's protective array—it was somewhere unknown. She scratched her head and called down to Shen Luman, "Dear, bring Liu'er up here quickly." In moments, Shen Luman carried Liu'er up, and she was equally startled by the new surroundings. This place... it looked like the valley from earlier, but the grand hall was gone, replaced by an imposing mountain peak. Jing Aoxue was bewildered and asked, "So what exactly just happened? I don't recall seeing such a tall mountain among the ranges." Xiaohui suddenly chuckled and said, "This is a layered illusion array, an ancient formation lost for over ten thousand years. If I'm not mistaken, the moment you sensed the demonic energy, you were already inside the formation. Everything you saw afterwards was what True Lord Qingmu wanted you to see." As it spoke, flames enveloped Xiaohui, forming the vague shape of an adult woman. It wrapped around Liu'er, who winced from the sharp pain, and she saw Jing Aoxue and Shen Luman in the cavern, their eyes tightly shut. Liu'er looked at Xiaohui and asked, "What is this? Did we already enter True Lord Qingmu's formation the moment we tried to explore the cave?" Xiaohui replied lazily, "Go give them a nudge, and use a bit of force." As instructed, Liu'er pinched her mother's hand. Jing Aoxue opened her eyes and found herself back in the cavern, utterly puzzled. "What's going on?" Xiaohui said, "It's a treasure from True Lord Qingmu's ancient abode. I suggest you empty your storage bag and burn everything. They're covered in hallucinogenic powder. As long as you carry them, you'll keep entering different illusions based on your experiences and what True Lord Qingmu designed." Jing Aoxue was shocked. Had she been going in circles all along? She burned the contents of her storage bag with her wood-based fire ability. After moving some distance away, their minds felt much clearer. Jing Aoxue frowned, "True Lord Qingmu, truly... should we say worthy of being a Nascent Soul cultivator?" For the first time, Shen Luman realized the terrifying power of a Nascent Soul cultivator—one illusion after another. Without Xiaohui, they... Wait, Shen Luman turned to Xiaohui, just as Liu'er asked, "Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Xiaohui replied, "I just recalled. I stayed in the egg within the abode for millennia. It felt off. I remember True Lord Qingmu's real abode always had the sound of water to keep the mind clear. But when I entered the illusion with you, there wasn't a trace of water, indicating..." "It's True Lord Qingmu's illusion formation. The items you obtained are real but worthless. The more you hoard, the deeper you sink. Others’ possessions aren't easily claimed." Jing Aoxue was speechless, "But Wu Yiling is really no longer with us." Xiaohui said, "As an ordinary mortal horse now, she was transported out. The formation likely only affects cultivators; otherwise, the small animals here would've gotten trapped too." Jing Aoxue swallowed, "Do you remember the real location of the abode?" Xiaohui nodded, snapping its mouth shut. "We are currently in the maze-like passage beneath the cave. It's indeed a labyrinth as you initially guessed." Jing Aoxue tiredly rubbed her forehead. "I'm utterly confused. How do we reach the real exterior of the abode?" It felt like she had spent all this time circling in one place. While they had truly been teleported earlier, Xiaohui noted, "What you saw was half-true, half-false. If you hadn't been greedy and left after collecting things, you could have left for real." Jing Aoxue asked, "What exactly is True Lord Qingmu aiming for?" Xiaohui scoffed, "I'm not her, how would I know? I only know she intended to kill me and suppress something. She came to the mortal realm partly to evade the demon clan and partly to hide something." Liu'er asked, "How do you know these things?" Xiaohui looked at her, "I feel my memories returning. When True Lord Qingmu soaked my phoenix egg in potions, my memories were jumbled. But being here has started to bring everything back." It looked in a direction and said, "True Lord Qingmu made a grave mistake and has been trying to atone, but it seems she had two personalities—one trying to stop the other from doing evil, while the other tried to suppress a deeper part. It's quite... intriguing." Then it flew off Liu'er and said, "Follow me; I've remembered where the abode is." Jing Aoxue and Shen Luman exchanged glances, feeling that Nascent Soul cultivators were beyond their comprehension. Ever since entering the protective array, they'd been played. Thankfully, the formation treated everyone equally, or Aunt Lan would've caught up by now. Following Xiaohui, they twisted and turned in the passage. Xiaohui periodically spit fire; although Jing Aoxue saw nothing, the path where the flames burned echoed with wailing cries. Worried Liu'er might be scared, Jing Aoxue draped an arm over her shoulder and held Shen Luman’s hand. After some time, light appeared before them. Jing Aoxue squinted to adjust her eyes and found herself in a familiar valley. Jing Aoxue: "..." She felt like her brain had vanished. Looking at Shen Luman, whose face showed thoughtful realization, she said, "We've been here before, I think." It seemed True Lord Qingmu did have an abode in a valley like this. But she'd used illusions to deceive them before. Returning to the passage, even if seeing such a valley again, they'd question if it was another illusion instead of realizing the illusion and true abode were the same. Rubbing her temples, she mused how hard it was to fathom a cultivator's thoughts. She suddenly felt like venturing into the cultivation world might be a dead end for someone like her. Feeling a bit defeated, Shen Luman stepped over and said, "True Lord Qingmu is unique; not all cultivators are so convoluted." It seemed, as the Demon Phoenix had noted, True Lord Qingmu was torn during formation placement. Their journey suggested she had a soft nature, evidenced by non-harmful illusions, yet she toyed with people’s minds—more damaging than physical harm. She couldn't fathom the reasoning but continued onward with Xiaohui. This time, even if rare spiritual herbs grew by the path, Jing Aoxue dared not pick them. "So are we staying in the hall again?" Xiaohui answered, "Yes." Looking at the waterfall by the hall, Xiaohui said, "This is the true abode." It had heard the waters for millennia from this very waterfall. They reached the hall, with the plaque still reading "Carefree Retreat," but Jing Aoxue was too exhausted for commentary. Hesitating at the entrance, Xiaohui finally said, "The treasure is truly emerging now." As it spoke, intense spiritual energy rose from the hall. A massive object appeared in the sky. Jing Aoxue felt it block out the sun, resembling a giant cauldron. Before she could observe, the cauldron descended swiftly, enveloping her, Shen Luman, and Liu'er. Enchanted by a strange fragrance, she lost consciousness. Upon waking, vast fields of spiritual herbs spread around her. An old man with a white beard stood before a lone thatched hut, stroking his beard. "Come with me, young one." Jing Aoxue saw no one else around. Hesitantly, she approached. "Elder, did you see a woman in blue and a ten-year-old child?" The old man replied, "No, only the destined can enter. You're the second in tens of thousands of years." "The second?" "Who was the first?" The old man shook his head. "I can't recall. My fragment of a soul has persisted for ages but is nearing its end. If you have time, come walk with me, and I'll tell you a story." Jing Aoxue: "..." Truthfully, she had no interest in tales. Her priority was finding Shen Luman and Liu'er. Yet, wary from True Lord Qingmu's illusions, unsure of her own mind, she realized she wasn't equipped to handle cultivation world's mysteries. With a resigned nod, she said, "Please, tell your story, elder." "Elder?" Amused, he remarked, "Shouldn't you call me senior?" Caught off guard, Jing Aoxue realized her modern habit of addressing elders as "Mister" or "Lady," unusual in the cultivation realm where "senior" was proper, especially with his... Immeasurable cultivation! Surprised, the old man chuckled, "You're quite interesting." Jing Aoxue shook her head and said, "Just average." The old man couldn't help but laugh again. "You have a good mindset. Though not as clever as that woman before, it’s precisely because you think less that you aren't led astray into demonic paths." Jing Aoxue wasn't sure whether to feel offended or amused. She speculated, "The person you’re referring to must be True Lord Qingmu, right?" The old man hesitated, seemingly trying to recall who True Lord Qingmu was. It wasn't until Jing Aoxue mentioned her real name, Fan Qiluo, that the old man realized. He murmured, "Yes, that's her. She received part of my legacy years ago and rapidly became a sixth-level alchemist. Her swift advancement left her thoughts behind, and she was ensnared by the demonic aura within the celestial cauldron, leading her astray. Fortunately, she realized it in time and retreated to the mortal realm to recuperate. Otherwise, the cultivation world would have suffered greatly. I feel quite ashamed..." Jing Aoxue opened her mouth, unsure how to respond. "I don't quite understand." The old man smiled kindly. "It doesn't matter if you don’t understand. Let me start from the beginning for you." Jing Aoxue nodded, expecting a tale of his acquaintance with True Lord Qingmu. Unexpectedly, his first words took her far back in time. The old man began, "In the ancient times of primordial chaos, the war between gods and demons led to the collapse of the immortal realm..."