237 - Mistress, I Was Wrong

# Chapter 237: Imbalance **Sacrifice!** Dongfang Minghui could only think of her almost life-saving blood. Without hesitation, she bit into her wrist, allowing her blood to flow freely. The crimson droplets fell to the ground, causing the inheriting force to recoil and clear a path. Bound by the force of inheritance, Little Color and the Pig Immortal Grass successfully planted the Soul Yin Grass and Ice Lotus at the "Extreme Yin Land," complementing each other from left to right. The Pig Immortal Grass had never expected the vast Extreme Yin Land beneath the Ice Lotus Mountain to be the other half of the Qian family's inheritance power. No wonder it hadn't noticed before—such secrecy. Probably, aside from accepting the inheritance, only Qian Ying was truly aware. "Kill Xiu Qi, and you'll break free from his control." "Heh, haven't you ever thought of rising above that person?" "......" The Pig Immortal Grass flicked its pig's tail, transforming it into a whip to viciously strike away the insidious voices. "You vile cretins, trying to tempt me. Get lost." A flash of starlight broke free from the restraints, accompanied by a shrill scream that added a sinister ambiance to the surroundings. Behind Dongfang Minghui, the five streams of spiritual energy fused with her wood element energy, merging into one with the inheritance power. "Seventh Sister." "Stop." Qian Wanyu's face was shadowed and stern, dark energy enshrouding her, almost cloaking her entirely. "Move any closer, and I'll kill you." Meanwhile, the dark red spiritual energy continued to swirl around her, pouring into her being. Dongfang Minghui was pained by the sight; this familiar figure of her Seventh Sister seemed unrecognizable, as if she didn't know her anymore. Rushing forward, the six streams of spiritual energy collided with the inheritance force and rapidly intertwined. Seven energies entwined, inseparable and indistinguishable from one another. Dongfang Minghui could not care less about this. She hugged Qian Wanyu tightly. "Seventh Sister, I'm Ninth Sister. Wake up." "Laughably, kill her." "You fools, kill her." "She is your enemy." "Did you forget how she harmed you in your childhood?" "Kill her! Kill her! Kill her!" ...... Qian Wanyu's eyes flickered black and red, her fingers claw-like, rising and falling again and again. Just as she thought the other had a shred of clarity, a sharp pain erupted in Dongfang Minghui's chest, followed by a golden blaze that shot out, thrusting her several steps back. "Cough, Seventh Sister, you—" Qian Wanyu stared, frozen, as she suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, mixed with bits of flesh. "Seventh Sister." Dongfang Minghui clutched her chest, where her heart was fiercely guarded by a protective scale, which pulsed warmly, soothing her startled heart. This was what saved her again. "Seventh what Sister? She is now a demon. Those who tread the path of the demonic have already half-stepped into the realm of the Death Spirit Master. She wants to kill you. Killing you would make her the most ruthless and heartless being." The Pig Immortal Grass's voice whispered ominously in her ear. Minghui hadn't anticipated the severity of Seventh Sister's condition. Ignoring the anxiousness in the Pig Immortal Grass's tone, she unwaveringly stepped closer. Qian Wanyu's eyes flashed between red and black. With each step Minghui took, a debate in her mind seemed to rage, making her head pound unbearably. "Seventh Sister." Dongfang Minghui radiated gentle wood-element spiritual energy. As she infused her energy, the other's consciousness tried to resist her, yet their bodies were so accustomed to each other after countless intimate encounters that they couldn't reject her. Seizing this opportunity, she surveyed Qian Wanyu's internal state, discovering five spheres in her dantian, ensnared by the inheritance's force. She detected the tyrannical presence ravaging within her, either swallowing her energy or forcing it to retreat. As Dongfang Minghui grew anxious without knowing what to do, she heard a familiar voice call out softly. "Ninth Sister." "Seventh Sister." In front of her stood the familiar and loving figure of the Seventh Sister, black hair and eyes, with a gentle smile and deep affection in her eyes. Dongfang Minghui was almost moved to tears but realized that Seventh Sister's situation was dire. "Seventh Sister, how can I help you?" Qian Wanyu attempted to reach out but recalled the severe impact of her attack. "I need you to do something for me." Then, Qian Wanyu's eyes shifted again to blood red, as if she were looking at a dead person. Dongfang Minghui smiled lightly. "I won't let you have your way." Then, with her ravenous energy, she infused herself into the inheritance. Her blood, full of vitality, seemed to counter the Extreme Yin's force, strengthening the Soul Yin Grass growing robustly, eager to absorb and grow from the Extreme Yin energy. The multi-colored bead absorbed the cold inheriting energy, a dust-veiled pearl regaining its hue, with a golden radiance piercing the sky, dispelling the surrounding gloom. With their restraints lifted, Little Color and Pig Immortal Grass sought out Dongfang Minghui. She knelt on the ground, covered in blood, a living manifestation of the red specter. Seeing them, she first showed joy, then said, "I need your help." Qian Wanyu, shaken by the life-force-laden inheritance forces, found her dark red energy surging, trying to resist the inheriting power. Dongfang Minghui, weakened by blood loss, was unafraid as Little Color's vine accurately tangled her from behind. "Seventh Sister, I'm on the verge of death; let me embrace you." Qian Wanyu hesitated, and in that moment, Little Color's vine, the Pig Immortal Grass's tail grass, the Man-eating Vine's tendrils, and the silky threads wrapped them both into a gigantic cocoon. Satisfied, Dongfang Minghui transferred the five streams of spiritual energy from her palm into Qian Wanyu with lightning speed and continually infused her blood and life force, striving to balance the five energies. “Ah—” Qian Wanyu struggled to break free, but the vines were as unyielding as iron. Her outflowing dark red spiritual energy vanished without a trace, while the other six energies infiltrated persistently, working to cleanse the residual dark energy within her. The Pig Immortal Grass, having absorbed its fill, happily consumed the energy she released, greedily forming a fifth fruit. "Seventh... Seventh Sister," Dongfang Minghui murmured, resting her head on Qian Wanyu's shoulder, one arm tightly wrapped around her neck, while the other continued to channel her own energy, ignoring the frantic calls from within her soul sea. Seventh Sister, you have to wake up. With such resolve, Dongfang Minghui's hand gradually slipped from Qian Wanyu's back, her other hand limp, her face pale as the perpetual snow on Ice Lotus Mountain. Little Color lay weakly on the ground, feeling its life force ebb away. "Hey, eat this Ice Lotus," commanded the sprightly Pig Immortal Grass, gathering the essence of the Ice Lotus into a bundle and feeding it to the withered Little Color. Then, pulling out a fruit, it quickly stuffed it into Qian Wanyu's mouth, ensuring it was swallowed by shaking the cocoon vigorously. After these actions, it collapsed into the soul sea, muttering, "Let's see what fate brings." --- In her dream, Qian Wanyu felt out of control, removing the five streams of spiritual energy from her body, fully focused on absorbing the inheritance with the singular thought that mastering it would make her the youngest Five-Element Spirit Emperor in the history of the Seven-Color Continent—a great honor. However, a person stood in her way, wearing Ninth Sister's face, trying to stop her under the guise of good intentions. So she tried to eliminate them. It was the violent backlash that finally awakened her—it wasn't a dream but reality. She had nearly killed the one she loved most, led astray by those deceptive voices. "You fell for Qian Ying's trap; the inheritance's power was tampered with," Qing Mo warned in a groggy voice before slipping into unconsciousness again. ... Qian Wanyu felt as if she'd been dreaming forever. Upon waking, she found herself tangled in layers of vines and white silk, reminiscent of the time many years ago when Ninth Sister had protected her during a secluded cultivation breakthrough in a cave. Just a small movement and she felt the body pressing against her back. "Ninth Sister." The vines and silk retracted instantly, the cocoon vanishing along with the binding force. Without the cramped confines, the person behind her suddenly collapsed softly to the ground. Turning around, Qian Wanyu finally saw Dongfang Minghui clearly. She was soaked in blood, which had saturated her clothes. Her own hands trembled uncontrollably until she saw the rise and fall of Dongfang Minghui's chest. Confirming the weak heartbeat, she knew she had hurt her while caught in that strange dream. Filled with regret, Qian Wanyu rifled through a pile of pills from her spatial storage but couldn’t decide which one would wake the person in her arms. "Ninth Sister, don’t scare me." She suppressed the violence lingering in her chest. "Inheritance," Qing Mo's faded voice spoke again, disturbed by the soul sea's tumult, "The true inheritance is before you. Accept it to save her." "How?" she asked, panicked, normally sharp mind now muddled and blank. Qing Mo chuckled lightly, "You share energies; you will surely know where she's hurt." "Right." Qian Wanyu sat and calmed her mind, holding Minghui and intertwining their fingers as she stepped into the realm of the inheritance. The light surged skyward, imbuing the white snows of Bai Lian Mountain with an aura of inviolable nobility. Qian Ziyan, Qian Yiling, and the others, having emerged from the caverns, witnessed the spectacle from a burrow they’d dug to escape the storm, awestruck. Mu Sheng suddenly spoke, "I remember something similar happening in the Qian family’s back mountain. The same brilliance... perhaps it’s Qian Wanyu who’s obtained the inheritance." "Hmm." Though it had been years, the memory felt as fresh as yesterday to them. Every time he thought back, Qian Ziyan fondly remembered those who had cared for him, cherishing the days they'd shared. Those memories were the happiest of his life. "Big Brother, is it Yuer?" "Hmm." Qian Yiling leapt up, gazing at the sacred light, silently sending thoughts to the Qian family—though separated by great distance, they had reclaimed their family’s heritage. "Mother, Father, Yuer is truly our family’s once-in-a-century talent, destined to surpass me, Uncle, and all the family’s past inheritors." The wind carried her words, reaching Lien’s ears, as he looked upon the golden light, imagining what kind of family the Qian’s were. Would his mother, Qian Ying, have become their most gifted without encountering his father? The answer was clear. Qian Ying had unparalleled gifts. Had she not committed unforgivable crimes, the Qian family wouldn’t have declared her deceased, instead holding on to this rare talent and even imprisoning her in the back mountain. That mistake led to a series of unfortunate events. Alas— In this world, there are no "what ifs." --- Ding Ding had only taken Little Bean Sprout to see Little Fatty, yet somehow, Xiao Jiu disappeared. Despite its calls and attempts to force its way in, even the Longevity Cauldron couldn’t breach the inheritance land’s tight guard. Instead, it mistakenly released fierce beasts that trampled Dongfang Minghui’s precious herbs and flowers. Though eventually corralled back into the cauldron, the crushed plants couldn’t be revived. Toothless sighed, "Ding Ding, you’re doomed. Mother will surely be upset when she comes out." Ding Ding fluttered its wings at the devastation, truly feeling like it had done something terrible. The stress of losing Xiao Jiu and the guilt over the ruined courtyard weighed heavily on it. "Ding Ding, calm down. They will be out soon." "I miss Xiao Jiu." Unable to have grilled fish, Ding Ding restlessly bounced on Toothless’s head, a move learned from Little Bean Sprout. After a few ineffective hops, it lay dejectedly across Toothless's crown. "You’d better think of how to acquire new spirit plants. When they see new growths, Mother and Qian Wanyu might not blame you." "Spirit plants…" Ding Ding had little concept of them, only remembering how it fetched water from the river to Xiao Jiu’s hands. "Fine, but I don’t know where they are." Toothless was just trying to distract Ding Ding to prevent another release of the destructive cauldron. Last time they got lucky; next time might not be so fortunate. "I know a few." Ding Ding followed behind Toothless, nosily gossiping, "How do you know spirit plants?" "Mother taught me." Remembering those grueling past lessons, Toothless twitched its mouth. It was a dragon used to identifying numerous spirit plants, thanks to Dongfang Minghui’s relentless teaching during a year of enforced training. "Why didn’t Xiao Jiu teach me?" Ding Ding surprisingly reflected. Toothless didn’t dampen its spirits. "Maybe once you grow up a bit more, Mother will teach you." Words spoken without intent landed with meaning. Ding Ding took them as gospel, resolving that once it planted its spirit garden, Xiao Jiu would indeed be thrilled, and then it would finally be grown up! As for how to grow up...well, that was another matter entirely. Meanwhile, Little Fatty and Little Bean Sprout rooted near the Yin-Yang Spring Meadow. Securing a prime spot even involved scuffling with surrounding grass. Little Fatty busily watered Little Bean Sprout, occasionally nourishing it with its saliva. Each busy with their own tasks, none disturbed the others. Once Toothless helped Ding Ding tidy up the flower beds and herb patches, they settled into a routine of watering, ensuring the spirit plants thrived. When Toothless next saw Little Bean Sprout, she was taken aback. The once delicate sprout had grown significantly taller under the nurturing of Yin-Yang Spring water and Little Fatty’s care, with its face now the size of a sunflower. "Little Bean Sprout, is it transforming into a humanoid?" "No," Little Fatty shook her head. Toothless was puzzled, glancing back and forth several times before noting, “Little Bean Sprout is gradually developing the aura of a Ghost-faced Treant. But if so, it won't be able to follow mother around discreetly anymore.” In the past, when Little Bean Sprout was smaller, it could easily hide inside the Tianyin Helmet. But now that it was half a head taller than her, the tree spirit would be too conspicuous to follow them publicly without inviting unwanted attention. Little Fatty looked thoughtfully at Little Bean Sprout. Smiling cheerfully, Bean Sprout shook its face and said, "Don't worry, watch this." With a couple of shakes, the tree transformed back into a sprout, as if it had never grown. Then it shot back up to its previous height, gleefully waving its leaves. Toothless nodded in understanding, shifting her attention from Little Bean Sprout. Nearby, Ding Ding was filling a ceramic jug from the river, ensuring it was fully submerged before lifting it out. "Ding Ding, go back and water the spirit plants. Mother should be coming out soon." "Oh." Hearing that Xiao Jiu was about to finish her seclusion, Ding Ding zipped off excitedly with the ceramic jug. Seeing Ding Ding leave, Toothless plunged back into the river, with the Little Gold False Dragon close behind. With the nourishment from the Yin-Yang Spring, it had grown from a small dragon into a formidable presence, reigning over the entire river. Yet on seeing Toothless, it respectfully ceded its dominance, following her as she dove deeper into the riverbed. Though the river appeared narrow, it was incredibly deep beneath the surface. Under the influence of the Yin-Yang Spring, the river's inhabitants had mutated, some with varying levels of fire and water element energies. A few were on the verge of becoming river spirits with more cultivation, but in the presence of the dragon Toothless, they behaved submissively, divulging changes that occurred occasionally on the riverbed. Toothless deduced that these twin springs shaping the Yin-Yang Spring likely concealed other treasures, unknown to the river's simple-minded creatures. She left the Little Gold False Dragon to continue investigating. "Master, these Yin-Yang Springs formed a pair of fire and ice pearls. They are not easily obtainable." "Take me to them." "Yes, Master." The Little Gold False Dragon swam ahead, quickly leading Toothless to the deepest part of the river, fifteen meters below. The temperature shifted drastically, a true manifestation of fire and ice. Fortunately, Toothless awakened her fire element energy, enabling her to fend off the discomfort caused by the ice element. In contrast, the Little Gold False Dragon was being scorched and frozen simultaneously. Below, one side appeared as if molten lava, while the other was frozen by white ice. They stood at the center, caught between fire on one side and ice on the other... The sensation was intense. "Stay here for now, and withdraw if you can't bear it," Toothless advised the shivering Little Gold False Dragon, which nodded in acknowledgment, finding a safe spot to watch her glide toward the fire spring. Toothless absorbed the fiery essence, discovering a subtly glowing red pearl, about palm-sized, near the spring. "Hmm, this wasn't here before. Must have formed in recent days." Casting a glance, she imagined a visit to the ice spring. The fire element warded off the cold, but the ice spring's chill was formidable—melted by fire but reforming rapidly. A concerned Little Gold False Dragon watched as Toothless's presence melted ice around her, only for it to refreeze, almost trapping her. The Little Gold False Dragon fretted; she was likely a future Dragon Goddess—she could not be harmed. Toothless found the pearl sizes from both springs equal, one fiery, the other icy, positioned deliberately opposite each other. "Master, have you discovered something?" "We'll wait for mother to come out." Toothless intended to cultivate using the fire energy's purity, informing Ding Ding before immersing herself in training. Little Fatty joined in, diving into the river's depths for cultivation. As they zealously absorbed the fire essence, the fire spring pearl shrank noticeably, unlike the ice pearl that remained the same, appearing disproportionately large. Toothless awoke from the cold ice energy, now seeing the imbalance—the ice creep had encroached, altering the river’s warmth. The river species were chaotic, thrown into turmoil by the sudden freeze, unable to adapt or survive. The Little Gold False Dragon reconverted using solar essence, finding refuge by Bean Sprout. “Wonder how the Master is faring?” "Where's Little Fatty?" Bean Sprout was worried. "Dunno." Soon, creatures escaping the biting cold leaped ashore; intelligent ones survived, while the dim-witted barely did. Ding Ding, punctual in fetching water daily, witnessed this strangeness, delightedly declaring, "Xiao Jiu’s coming out soon—grilled fish!" He didn’t even need to catch fish; they came willingly. Yet amidst his joy, ice crept over the river, freezing a ceramic jug he tossed. Anything in the water, creatures included, became trapped under ice. "What's happening?" "Go." Little Fatty bounded across the ice, pulling Bean Sprout along. The Little Gold False Dragon joined briefly, then realized Toothless was missing. “Where’s Master?” Little Fatty had long fled with Bean Sprout, and Ding Ding, seeing ice lace toward the ground too, fled, wings fluttering. A moment of hesitation cost the Little Gold False Dragon, who was swiftly encased in forest ice. --- "Ugh, Seventh Sister, no more." "More." Qian Wanyu flipped Dongfang Minghui as if a whirlwind, her intensity akin to one starved for years. Yet inwardly, she knew relief only came seeing Dongfang's pleasure; emptiness scared her otherwise. Spirit energies mingled, heartbeats felt, strong beats replacing the earlier frailty, dispelling the terror of losing her. "Seventh Sister, I can't." Dongfang Minghui’s plea turned slightly teary, overwhelmed by Qian Wanyu's relentless passion. She constantly passed out, waking to find her continuing—like being submerged in an ocean of affection. Watching Minghui faint again, Qian Wanyu gathered her close, foreheads touching, needing the closeness for calm. "Ninth Sister, if it happens again, I'll create your own special space." When they awoke from inheritance, Dongfang Minghui looked none the worse for wear except for body aches, nearly mistaking the night’s escapades as residual impressions from dual cultivation—except her memories confirmed vigorous union, both in soul and body. For now, she wished for a break from such 'delightful' experiences. Qian Wanyu helped Dongfang Minghui to her feet. As they looked up, they saw Little Fatty struggling against the encroaching ice element, with Ding Ding and Little Bean Sprout hiding behind her, blocked by a mass of ice in their path. "Seventh Sister." "Mm, get behind me." With a flick of her water-thunder whip, Qian Wanyu cleared the ice like a pathway, pushing it back five meters. Little Fatty caught her breath, while Ding Ding excitedly squeaked, "Xiao Jiu, Xiao Jiu, grilled fish! No, wait, Toothless and Goldfish!" It gestured wildly, mimicking being frozen in place, indicating that Little Gold False Dragon was trapped in ice. Qian Wanyu's gaze turned icy as she looked at Ding Ding, quickly deciphering its gestures. "I'd love to know what you all did that led to this massive ice expansion." "Seventh Sister, you may not know, but during your time accepting the inheritance, Toothless and Little Fatty discovered a Yin-Yang Spring—an area where ice and fire coexist harmoniously in the river. Thanks to this river's water, Little Bean Sprout was able to bloom." Little Bean Sprout peeked out from behind Little Fatty upon being mentioned. Qian Wanyu merely glanced at it, but Dongfang Minghui was startled to see how much Little Bean Sprout had grown. "Little Bean Sprout, have you grown again?" "Yes!" Little Bean Sprout's voice echoed in their ears. Qian Wanyu finally took a good look at it, both of them exchanging serious expressions. Dongfang Minghui cleared her throat, "Seventh Sister, Pig Immortal Grass mentioned that as a member of the Ghost-faced Tree Spirit clan, Little Bean Sprout is skilled in sonic attacks. We just haven't had the chance to discuss its speech capability." "Understood." Qian Wanyu grasped the general idea and then pointed to the encroaching ice. Achieving yin-yang balance in the world is difficult. More so, the consequences of a disrupted balance in a place meant to harmonize are severe. Instinctively, she knew Little Fatty and Toothless must've meddled. The current scene clearly resulted from the imbalance in the Yin-Yang Spring. Qian Wanyu lightly tapped on the golden net at the end of her water-thunder whip, considering unleashing purple lightning. Yet, recalling Ding Ding's mention of beings frozen inside, using such force would likely shatter both ice and those encased within. "Little Fatty, where is Toothless?" "River bottom," Little Fatty managed to say. Dongfang Minghui's worry grew. "Judging by the ice, is Toothless frozen at the river's bottom?" Qian Wanyu lightly caressed her forehead, reassuringly, "I will find Toothless and bring it back. Trust me, I will resolve this, alright?" Dongfang Minghui, eyes wide with trust, reached up and kissed Qian Wanyu's cheek. "I always trust you, Seventh Sister." Qian Wanyu flicked her lightly on the forehead and then quickly addressed Ding Ding, "I need Xiaomiao. Ding Ding, do you know the way up?" Ding Ding pondered, almost shaking its head, but then recalled the path. It led Qian Wanyu back to where they first encountered Little Fatty and Toothless. Qian Wanyu carried Dongfang Minghui piggyback. "Seventh Sister, I can walk, please put me down?" "No." Stubborn, Qian Wanyu continued until they reached the spot. "Is there something peculiar here?" Glancing skyward, Dongfang Minghui noted how the sky felt like a draped canvas—unchanging and artificial with clouds in fixed positions. Yet everything around seemed real. "This is where I initially fell. I was trapped in darkness before Toothless broke through and I fell." "Yes." Ding Ding flitted around them, summoning the Longevity Cauldron, and made a few efforts to poke the sky with it. Abruptly, the blue sky cracked from side to side, revealing a section as dark as midnight but devoid of any stars. Ding Ding continued, enlarging the cauldron and poking again. The task was interrupted as a furious beast, previously trapped in the cauldron, was unintentionally released. "Oh no, it got out again." Ding Ding, frustrated, quickly recaptured the beast, sealing it back. Yet, in doing so, it accidentally pried open the sky above her again.