107,3 - Little Peasant Wife

“During the ancient times of chaos, the war between gods and demons led to the collapse of the Immortal Realm. The realm shattered into countless fragments, forming what is now known as the Grand Thousand Worlds. The Hong Ze Continent is one of those fragments.” “Even after such destruction, the battle between the immortals and demons raged on. Fragments corrupted by demonic energy became demon domains, while those occupied by cultivators formed the Cultivation Realm.” “After countless ages, the gods and immortals sacrificed everything, erecting an impenetrable barrier between the demon domains and the Cultivation Realm, imprisoning the demons within their own realm.” “Among the demons, the twelve most powerful leaders were trapped in the Infinite Prison, forged from ten divine artifacts, from which escape was impossible.” “The price was steep; all gods and immortals perished, yet the demons could no longer invade the Cultivation Realm, granting peace to the world.” “Unfortunately, before their entrapment, the twelve leaders each extracted a part of their being to create a thirteenth leader. This leader escaped during the crisis and, upon returning to the demon domain, sought to rescue them.” The old man paused, breathing heavily, and said, “I don't have much time left.” Jing Ao Xue was listening intently, but the interruption surprised her. She saw the old man's body becoming more transparent and asked, “Are you okay?” He waved his hand dismissively, saying, “I am just a fragment of a soul now, don’t worry.” Jing Ao Xue hesitated, looked him over, and asked, “What happened to the thirteenth leader after they escaped?” The old man replied, “Shouldn’t you be the most informed about that?” Jing Ao Xue furrowed her brows, recalling the current situation in the Cultivation Realm. Indeed, there was a barrier between them and the demon domain, but it wasn't unbreakable. Every so often, the demons would re-emerge and pose a great threat to the Cultivation Realm. However, they always eventually left, so the Cultivation Realm treated them like beast tides, which arise periodically and are then followed by peace. Given that, the thirteenth leader must be quite formidable, having cracked the ancient barrier created by gods. Noticing her contemplative expression, the old man sighed, “Yes, she led the demons back through the broken barrier, and for years has been trying to free the twelve leaders from the Infinite Prison.” “Nearly a million years ago, she almost succeeded, but the Celestial Lord Rong Ye uncovered her plot. He imprisoned her using a prison forged from seven divine artifacts. Over time, the spiritual energy in these artifacts has waned, making the prison increasingly unstable.” “Finally, ten thousand years ago, the prison was completely destroyed due to internal and external factors. The seven divine artifacts have degraded into spiritual treasures scattered across the Grand Thousand Worlds. On the Hong Ze Continent, there are two such treasures, each containing a fragment of the thirteenth leader’s soul. We are currently within one of the seven divine artifacts, the Azure Wood Cauldron.” Jing Ao Xue was dumbfounded, glancing around at the vast fields of spiritual herbs, she said, “You mean we’re inside the Azure Wood Cauldron, and it contains the remnant soul of the thirteenth leader? Then the demonic energy previously surging between the mountains must have emanated from this cauldron.” The old man nodded, “That remnant soul has been suppressed by me for years. Until thousands of years ago, it encountered someone destined, which not only revived the soul but also induced True Lord Qing Mu into the demonic path when I was weak.” “She remained steadfast, awakening at the last moment. She left the spiritually abundant Cultivation Realm for the Mortal Realm, but by then it was too late. Her body had been taken over by the remnant soul, leaving her often confused. She set up numerous defensive formations to imprison herself here.” Hearing this, Jing Ao Xue admired True Lord Qing Mu. But why did she take the phoenix egg? And what exactly was the prophecy about? She briefly recounted her own experiences, and the old man was taken aback, saying, “There are indeed entities capable of foretelling destiny, but it’s not entirely correct. The current course of destiny was altered ten thousand years ago. Any predictions made since have merely been manipulations by those with an agenda.” “As for the phoenix egg, I instructed her to take it. The phoenix, one of the four ancient divine beasts, remains the only living one in the demon realm. It’s not immortal, merely reborn from its ashes repeatedly. It can be permanently killed if its soul is harmed—a scheme devised by the thirteenth leader. The last time, she forced Qing Mu to kill it in its adult form, causing it to regress to its weakest, infant stage, and then bound it with an ancient bond contract. Killing the contract bearer would doom the fragile phoenix, preventing its rebirth.” Jing Ao Xue instantly thought of the contract between the phoenix and Liu Er and said, “If that’s the case, we’re in trouble. Do you know where the thirteenth leader is now?” The old man responded, “She awoke before me, so you sensed the demonic energy first and later the spiritual energy. She should be within the celestial cauldron now. Unfortunately, I’m too weak and will soon vanish completely, so I must leave this task to you.” Since this involved Liu Er, Jing Ao Xue would not ignore it. “I’ll do my best,” she said, “but what exactly are you?” The old man smiled and said, “I am the spirit of this celestial artifact. Once a cultivator who ascended to the Immortal Realm, I volunteered to merge with the cauldron to forge a true celestial artifact.” His form flickered, and with a grave expression, he said, “I’m out of time. Remember my words. You must gather the seven celestial artifacts to recreate the prison and seal away the thirteenth leader, or else the Cultivation Realm will be in grave danger.” Jing Ao Xue frowned, “Why not just kill the demon once and for all?” The old man shook his head, “Everything has its dual nature. The thirteen leaders cannot be killed, only imprisoned. This isn’t pointless because, with only the thirteenth leader remaining, imprisoning her will grant peace to the Cultivation Realm for an extended period.” Taking a deep breath, he continued, “I shouldn’t be so hasty, but you have both fire and wood spirit roots, making you the ideal candidate to become a great alchemist. It’s why I chose you over others with superior talent. I entrust this mission to you. Now... enough talking. You must overcome numerous trials to earn the recognition of the Azure Wood Cauldron.” With a wave of his sleeve, a gust swept over Jing Ao Xue, forcing her eyes shut. When the wind ceased, she found herself in an alchemy chamber, the first trial of the Azure Wood Cauldron. Jing Ao Xue pursed her lips, feeling like she’d been shoved into a difficult spot. Still, the Azure Wood Cauldron, a legendary celestial artifact, was tempting enough for anyone. So, she took a deep breath and stepped into the chamber. Inside lay a vast space neatly filled with various spiritual herbs. Jing Ao Xue knew little of the Cultivation Realm except what remained in her predecessor’s memories. Though her predecessor possessed both fire and wood spirit roots, she had favored fire techniques and knew little of wood-related skills. Among the countless herbs in the chamber, only the common ones were familiar. She’d have to start from the basics to identify them. ... Meanwhile, Shen Lu Man and Liu Er found themselves awakening in a dense forest. Shen Lu Man scanned the area but saw no sign of Jing Ao Xue, which made her anxious. Liu Er also called out for Jing Ao Xue without any response. Unfamiliar with their surroundings, Liu Er summoned Xiao Hui and asked, “Xiao Hui, do you know what happened?” Xiao Hui surveyed the area with a complex expression, “Jing Ao Xue was taken by the celestial cauldron. As for you two, you’ve been teleported to a forest in the valley.” Shen Lu Man, bewildered, said, “Then we should leave here and head to the grand hall to find Jing Ao Xue.” “You won’t find her,” Xiao Hui interjected. “If I’m not mistaken, she has been chosen as the cauldron’s successor. Besides, you yourselves are in danger.” “What do you mean?” Liu Er asked warily, glancing around. “Detect the number of beasts around,” Xiao Hui said with a sneer. “This place is extremely dangerous. You should focus on escaping first.” With that, he sat atop Liu Er's head, closing his eyes in fatigue. Lost in a swirl of chaotic memories, Xiao Hui realized it might soon reach a breakthrough and return to the demon realm at the Nascent Soul stage. It said, “Liu Er, I can’t help you now. You’ll have to navigate the dangers on your own.” Liu Er noticed Xiao Hui's unusual state and acknowledged it, hurrying with Shen Lu Man towards the direction of the grand hall. However, along the way, different beasts continuously emerged. Shen Lu Man found it strange that these beasts were not weak, all of them at least at the Foundation Establishment stage, making it extremely difficult for Liu Er to handle. This place wasn't the Cultivation Realm. Even if the spiritual energy from Qing Mu Zhen Jun's abode transformed ordinary beasts into demonic beasts, it shouldn't have produced so many intermediate-level ones within just a few thousand years. This... could likely be another illusion. Thinking this, Shen Lu Man frowned, pursing her lips tightly. She sent out vine avatars from her body while dealing with the ferocious beasts in front of her. Liu Er had never been in real combat before, and the fierce beasts were terrifying, causing her some fear. But she made a great effort to remain calm, standing behind Shen Lu Man and assisting her in killing the beasts. ... Qing Mu Zhen Jun was an exceptionally intelligent woman. She set up intricate arrays within this abode that dizzyingly mixed reality with illusion, making it increasingly hard to distinguish what was real and what was not. After Lan Yi Niang entered the mountain-guarding array, she soon discovered the cave. The challenges she faced were similar to those encountered by Jing Ao Xue and her group—half illusion, half reality. Having seen much of the world, Lan Yi Niang vaguely recognized the setup as a linked array. Using her past experience, she tried to enter the true heart of the abode. Yet, Qing Mu Zhen Jun, who set the array, was not in her right mind at the time. Alternatively put, she was somewhat unhinged. The array was a product of back-and-forth installations with the demons, defying any logical solution. Without the guidance of Xiao Hui and the Wu Yi Spirit, finding the correct exit would be impossible. Lan Yi Niang's initial enthusiasm had given way to frustration and annoyance. She narrowed her eyes. Her body couldn't last much longer in its current state, yet she was still trapped outside the abode. Continuing like this meant she would likely end up a dried corpse within these twisted tunnels. Unable to find the correct path within the maze of pathways, she decided to retrace her steps to locate some spiritual herbs to sustain her body. But as she returned to the foot of the abode, she spotted a teleportation array rustling in the wind. She paused, certain she'd already examined the cave's underside, yet she hadn't seen anything there before. What was happening now? Had she arrived beneath another cave? Perplexed, Lan Yi Niang let out a cold laugh, stating, “Why think so hard about it? This array is so bizarre. I am not leaving in defeat; I might as well press on, taking it one step at a time.” With that thought, she pulled spirit stones from her storage bracelet, placing them within the array. In the next moment, a fierce gust swept her away, transporting her into a mountainous valley. Seeing the grand hall on the other side of the valley, she exclaimed joyously, “Finally found it!” Beyond that, the manifestation of the great treasure had attracted cultivators from around, all drawn towards this powerful aura. They navigated smoothly into the mountain-guarding array and found a pitch-black cave. Before they could enter, more cultivators arrived, some choosing to collaborate, others opting to kill and steal. The brutal realities of the Cultivation Realm were starkly displayed. ... The Guo Shi flew on her sword, and as she neared Duobao Village, she noticed the dense spiritual energy unleashed by the appearance of the treasure. Her eyes brightened, and she sped up, flying in that direction. Upon capturing a few low-level cultivators for questioning, she discovered they were Lan Yi Niang’s followers. Her heart seethed with anger. For more than two decades, she had sought to catch Lan Yi Niang, expending countless resources and efforts, only to be repeatedly outpaced. She should have realized sooner that the less she associated with a place, the more likely it was that Lan Yi Niang would go there. It was because of Jing Ao Xue's family that Lan Yi Niang had hidden in the town for five years! Truly... infuriating! She immediately demanded, “Where is that witch?” The cultivators trembled as they pointed towards the mountains. The Guo Shi narrowed her eyes; Lan Yi Niang wouldn't be drawn by anything ordinary. A place that compelled her to fly despite her ruined body could only be the abode of Qing Mu Zhen Jun! These mountains contained the treasure she had searched for over two decades, and had almost given up on finding! Her emotions were conflicted as she thought, "What a stroke of luck!" Leading to treasure with little effort, all thanks to her intentions against Jing Ao Xue's group. She realized she could wait outside the abode, let Lan Yi Niang grab the treasure, then kill her to seize it. But then she thought about it—the most valuable items within Qing Mu Zhen Jun's abode wouldn't be the pills or spiritual herbs; it would be the celestial artifact she possessed. A celestial artifact—a treasure only known in legends. Obtaining such an artifact would make one unstoppable. Back then, Qing Mu Zhen Jun was just a regular Golden Core cultivator. But after acquiring the celestial artifact, she swiftly reached the Nascent Soul stage and became the first Sixth-Grade Alchemist in the Cultivation Realm in millennia. All because she inherited that legacy. What if, while the Guo Shi stayed outside, Lan Yi Niang got that legacy? That would be disastrous! Thoughts raced through the Guo Shi's mind, brows furrowing as she considered: she had to enter the abode herself! With that, she went into the mountain-guarding array and leaped into the cave. ... The chaos had drawn many factions, creating an uproar that even the residents of Duobao Village couldn't ignore. Qin Yi Shu, standing in the courtyard, sensed the powerful auras converging from all directions. She turned back into the house and told Gu Bai Wei, “We can’t stay here any longer. We must leave with the children immediately.” Startled, Gu Bai Wei felt a pang of panic. As an ordinary human, she couldn't sense the cultivators’ presence as keenly, feeling only random bouts of breathlessness, wrongly assuming it was her postnatal weakness. But seeing Qin Yi Shu's grave demeanor, she realized that something was definitely wrong. Frowning, she rose with the help of servants to dress, and asked, “Yi Shu, what's happened?” Qin Yi Shu walked up and said, “I’m not entirely sure, but this is beyond what we can handle. I have a bad feeling and think it’s best we leave soon.” Besides, she also needed to return to the capital to handle unresolved matters. With that in mind, she ordered the servants to pack their belongings and sent someone to Wu Zhi Yong’s family, urging them to pack and travel with her. Wu Zhi Yong, a subordinate, knew Qin Yi Shu wouldn’t issue such orders without cause. He exchanged a look with his elderly father, who nodded and said, “Alright, let’s go and hide for a while. Lately, I’ve felt an ominous storm brewing above.” Wu Shen chimed in, “Maybe demons are out and about, looking to drink our blood.” Wu Zhi Yong sighed, “…” His mother adored tales of spirits and monsters, tending to imagine the supernatural upon hearing of unusual events. Shaking his head, he ignored her comment, consulting briefly with Wu Zhi An. They packed quickly, and the family boarded a carriage, arriving at Qin Yi Shu’s courtyard. Qin Yi Shu, having prepared as well, soon joined them. The group swiftly made their way to town, escaping the village. Their departure was discreet, but in a small village, word traveled fast. Gossiping women gathered, spewing disparaging remarks, watching the darkening sky above the mountains with unease before scurrying home. ... Fortunately, the demonic energy remained concentrated in the mountains, not spreading further. Otherwise, ordinary villagers wouldn't withstand such perilous power. Even so, villagers felt unwell and lethargic yet continued with their daily lives unperturbed. On a distant shore of the Mortal Realm, Zhang Qiao Er leaped from an exquisite flying boat, announcing, “Senior brother, we’ve arrived. Thanks to this boat, we made it a month earlier than usual.” Her senior brother, a gentle-looking young man named Duan Mu Han, smiled pleasantly, replying, “No trouble, I had to make this trip for my aunt too.” His aunt was none other than Duan Mu Yi Ren, who had appeared at the Liu residence five years prior. Zhang Qiao Er’s smile faded a little. Her time in the Cultivation Realm hadn't been favorable. Once ambitious, she had hoped to make a name and return gloriously. But in reality, after reaching there, the mighty Duan Mu Family had become an obstacle. Though she possessed a rare water spirit root and a pure yin body, qualities prized by sects that would typically gain the favor of a Nascent Soul True Lord, her experience with the Duan Mu Family taught her the harsh truth. Even with her aunt at the Golden Core stage, Duan Mu Yi Ren held little influence within the family. At best, she was a minor elder, one often overlooked. If Duan Mu Yi Ren had limited power, then Zhang Qiao Er, merely a mortal brought into the family, had even less. Before her spiritual roots were tested, the Duan Mu Family treated her like the lowest servant. When the patriarch of the Duan Mu family inquired about Duan Mu Yi Ren's relationship with her, expecting an affirmation that Zhang Qiao Er was her disciple, it would have made life in the Duan Mu family considerably easier for her. But Duan Mu Yi Ren, stubborn in her ways, merely introduced her as an important guest she brought from the Mortal Realm. A seven or eight-year-old child from the Mortal Realm, considered a ‘distinguished guest’? The patriarch was immediately displeased. While he couldn’t directly confront Duan Mu Yi Ren, he could subtly make life difficult for Zhang Qiao Er. After returning to the family, Duan Mu Yi Ren entrusted her to the family steward, instructing him to take good care of her, and then secluded herself for cultivation, leaving Zhang Qiao Er without support. With her greatest protector gone, the patriarch, who already disliked her, watched as she was reduced to a lowly servant under the steward's supervision, forced into the dirtiest, hardest tasks and frequently ridiculed by the young masters and mistresses of the Duan Mu family. This predicament continued for half a year, effectively trapping Zhang Qiao Er within the family. It wasn’t until the family’s annual spiritual root test six months later, when she was identified as having water spirit roots, that everyone’s attitude towards her changed. Just as she was beginning to feel proud, Duan Mu Yi Ren emerged from seclusion. Perhaps deliberately opposing her, she informed the patriarch about her pure yin body. The patriarch’s attitude shifted dramatically, becoming uncharacteristically kind, though Zhang Qiao Er didn’t understand why and was initially overwhelmed by his unexpected favor. It was only after gaining more experience in the Cultivation Realm that she realized what a pure yin body entailed. She then understood the patriarch's goodwill was because he saw her as a potential cauldron for his son, the young master of the family! Zhang Qiao Er seethed with resentment. Her quick-mindedness revealed her market value in the Cultivation Realm; she knew she had the kind of talent that would be highly coveted by major sects. Yet, Duan Mu Yi Ren brought her back to the Duan Mu family, only to half-heartedly care for her, leading to her current difficult situation! She loathed Duan Mu Yi Ren now, but the woman remained her only ally within the wolf-den of the Duan Mu family, and she had to play nice. When the five-year agreement was nearing its end, Duan Mu Yi Ren unexpectedly announced another seclusion but hankered after bringing Liu Er into the Cultivation Realm. Seeing it as an opportunity, Zhang Qiao Er volunteered to undertake this task. However, the Duan Mu family, distrusting her, sent two stewards, a young master, and two young mistresses to accompany her. Zhang Qiao Er understood their true intentions. On one hand, they wanted to bring back Liu Er, a child with even better potential than hers—a statement Duan Mu Yi Ren herself had made to the patriarch. On the other hand, they wanted to ensure such a valuable cauldron didn’t escape. Clenching her fists, Zhang Qiao Er maintained a gentle smile. As the flying boat descended, shrinking into the steward's hand, the two young mistresses, Duan Mu Rui and Duan Mu Xin, both concubine-born daughters, curiously and disdainfully observed the Mortal Realm. Duan Mu Rui remarked, “This Mortal Realm is no place for humans with its scarce spiritual energy. Yet Aunt insists on bringing another burden back; it’s really...” Duan Mu Xin glanced at Zhang Qiao Er. Seeing her unchanged smile, she tugged on Duan Mu Rui and said, “Sister, stop it. This place is uncomfortable. Let's finish what we need to and go back quickly.” Duan Mu Han nodded. “Let’s not complain, ladies. Qiao Er, where's your hometown? I'll fly you there.” Zhang Qiao Er, nearing the peak of the Qi Refinement stage, had almost been prevented by Duan Mu Yi Ren from undertaking this task since she was about to advance to the Foundation Establishment stage. But she had convinced Duan Mu Yi Ren otherwise, citing her desire to see family and hinting that Liu Er might not want to leave with strangers, persuading Duan Mu Yi Ren to let her go. In truth, she had learned elsewhere that the patriarch intended to assign her to the young master as his concubine once she reached the Foundation Establishment stage. “Concubine,” she thought, knowing it really meant cauldron. Girls who were plucked for their spiritual essence lost all potential for progress, reduced to mere stepping stones for the young master. Zhang Qiao Er refused to resign to such fate and would use this chance to escape, seeking her true path to cultivation. With these thoughts in mind, her smile grew even warmer as she directed Duan Mu Han toward the town. Upon reaching the town, Duan Mu Rui curiously noted, “Why is the spiritual energy here so dense? And there’s something... uncomfortable about it.” Zhang Qiao Er noticed it too. Rolling her eyes, she said, “I haven’t been back in five years, so I’m not sure. But if we're looking for Liu Er... I last parted ways with her at the Liu residence in town. After five years, she might still be there.” This was an outright lie, but with Duan Mu Yi Ren absent, there wouldn’t be anyone to expose her. She snickered inwardly; it was the strategy she concocted on her journey here. Given her current strength, she couldn’t face off against five Foundation Establishment cultivators. Indeed, the entourage sent by the Duan Mu family included two stewards, wandering cultivators who had joined the family, both at the late Foundation Establishment stage, Duan Mu Han at the mid-stage, and Duan Mu Rui and Duan Mu Xin at the early stage. She was the lowest ranked among them. Force would only get her reprimanded, but what about wielding external powers against each other? The Mortal Realm had the Guo Shi; though not a Golden Core cultivator, she wielded unmatched authority over the realm. Her command could summon the full might of the Imperial forces. If the Duan Mu family picked a fight and killed someone from the Liu residence, it would certainly provoke Liu Wen Yao’s ire and the Guo Shi’s wrath, allowing her to escape amid the chaos. This in mind, she spun her lie, and as the group's leader, Duan Mu Han declared, “Very well, let’s head to this Liu residence.” With that, they flew toward the Liu residence. Concealing their identities, they flew high, landing directly in the gardens of Lady Liu’s courtyard. Familiar resentment surged within Zhang Qiao Er upon seeing the familiar courtyard. If not for Liu's residence, perhaps everything would have been fine, and Liu Er wouldn’t have... No, she couldn't think like that; her own safety was paramount now. Leading the Duan Mu group as if the place was deserted, they reached Lady Liu's residence. The same old gatekeeper was there, eyes narrowing to confirm Zhang Qiao Er’s identity before exclaiming, “So, you’re still alive!” Zhang Qiao Er smiled, “Good day, granny. I’ve come looking for someone. Could you inform Lady Liu, please?” She hesitated, about to refuse, when Duan Mu Rui coldly sneered, her overwhelming presence crushing down on the old woman, who, being frail, immediately collapsed to her knees. Duan Mu Rui stepped forward, shoving Zhang Qiao Er aside. “Didn’t you hear? Go fetch your mistress!” Terrified, the old lady scrambled away. Zhang Qiao Er smirked inside, but she outwardly frowned and urged, “She’s old; why bother with an elder?” Duan Mu Rui sneered. “Play nice all you want! Hah, just a lowly mortal!” Zhang Qiao Er clenched her fists, recalling how Duan Mu Rui treated her before her spiritual root was tested. Even after being revealed as a single spirit root practitioner, she was still scorned! Duan Mu Rui! She wouldn't let this woman off easily! Despite these thoughts, she maintained a calm exterior, observing the courtyard. Lady Liu, steeped in her status as an official's wife, wouldn't appear for a doorkeeper’s word, instead sending a servant. This servant, alluring in her demeanor, was clearly captivated by Duan Mu Han's elegance as she approached, fixing her focus on him. Narrowing her eyes at this familiar servant, Zhang Qiao Er noted that Hantao had not changed in five years... Still coquettish. Her gaze drifted to Hantao's protruding belly, estimating seven or eight months along. Given her pregnancy and intimacy with Lady Liu, she must have climbed into the young master's bed, becoming one of his concubines. How ambitious. Hantao, overcome by Duan Mu Han’s striking appearance, blushed and thought, "Goodness, this gentleman is even more handsome than the third young master." She always thought the third young master was the most handsome man in town, which is why she became his concubine before he even came of age. But seeing this, the third young master couldn’t compare to this dashing youth. Regret lingered as she realized her shortsightedness. Duan Mu Rui, noticing Hantao eying her brother, slapped her. “What are you staring at? Keep it up, and I’ll gouge those eyes out.”