“You mean… Changsheng?”
Xuancheng Ren suddenly stood up, his piercing gaze fixed on Yue Tianchuan, who shivered under the intensity. Xuancheng Ren’s expression darkened, his voice strained as he forced out the words: “Don’t tell me… Changsheng is involved in this too?”
The moment he finished speaking, Xuancheng Ren swayed on his feet. Fortunately, Meng Youdao reacted quickly and steadied him before he could collapse. “Old Master, you’re this worked up—do you know him?”
Xuancheng Ren’s lips parted slightly as distant memories surfaced.
“Changsheng… is my youngest grandson.”
“What?!” Meng Youdao immediately leapt to his feet, staring at Xuancheng Ren in disbelief. “Then you must be the long-lost Elder Xuancheng Ren!”
When Xuancheng Ren nodded, Meng Youdao sucked in a sharp breath. Elder Xuancheng Ren—a name once renowned across the land—was now reduced to guarding the gates of a river god’s temple!
Meng Youdao’s jaw nearly dropped. A thought flashed through his mind: Then just how powerful must the others here be?
This rundown-looking temple was clearly more than it seemed. The shabby exterior had to be a facade!
Swallowing hard, Meng Youdao glanced at Yuan Ji with newfound wariness.
Unaware of the shock his identity had caused, Xuancheng Ren sighed.
When he had left home, Changsheng had still been a babe in arms. He had no idea how tall the boy was now. It’s my fault for failing to protect the Xuancheng family, leading to the tragedy that followed.
The thought filled him with bitter regret. “If Changsheng really is caught up in this… River God, may I have your permission to search for him?”
Yuan Ji gave a slight nod, making no move to keep him confined to the temple. “You may go with Meng Youdao to investigate.”
“Thank you, River God.” Xuancheng Ren bowed deeply.
Yue Tianchuan added, “Oh! When I was barely conscious, I heard Second Master—Mu Danchen—using some kind of artifact to communicate with someone. He promised that person he’d use parasitic control to take over the entire Mu family! Father, Young Master, we need to hurry back and figure out a plan!”
If they delayed any longer, the Mu family might already be under new leadership by the time they returned.
Mu Chao’s face turned ashen, then darkened with fury. “Sister Yuan…”
Beside him, Mu Dezhong clenched his fists, veins bulging. “River God, is there any way to completely eradicate this parasitic infestation?”
The parasites were so insidious that even the slightest lapse in vigilance could lead to infection. They had no idea how to counter them.
Yuan Ji pondered for a moment, her fingers absently tapping the stone table. The others held their breaths, not daring to disturb her.
“A’Tong!” She called out internally.
The system quickly searched its database. “Found it, Yuan Ji!”
“There is indeed something that can suppress the parasites.”
Mu Chao’s eyes brightened. He leaned forward eagerly.
Yuan Ji slowly lifted her gaze to him, resting her chin on interlaced fingers. Tilting her head, she said, “Your companion plant can do it.”
Mu Chao froze, staring blankly at the tiny sprout on his wrist. “My… companion plant?”
Yuan Ji nodded, taking a leisurely sip of tea. “It can detect the parasites. Once it grows a second leaf, it’ll be able to devour them.”
Hope surged in their hearts—until they all looked down at the sprout.
A single, lonely leaf, no longer than a fingernail, swayed gently under their collective gaze.
Hi~
Everyone: “……”
“Sister Yuan…” Mu Chao forced a strained smile.
Yuan Ji blinked. “Is that difficult?”
“A bit…” He tugged at his lips, trying not to look too miserable.
For his companion plant to grow a second leaf, he’d need to break through to the next cultivation stage. If advancing were that easy, he wouldn’t have been mocked as “trash” all these years.
There was no way he could do it in such a short time.
“I see.” Yuan Ji lowered her lashes, consulting A’Tong internally. “A’Tong, check the current mission progress.”
A’Tong pulled up the progress bar. “Ninety-five percent. Just a bit more.”
The mission required Yuan Ji to resolve the Mu family’s crisis. Now, all that was left was for Mu Chao to advance—then the problem would solve itself.
“Then I’ll just pump some spiritual energy into you.”
After some thought, this seemed like the fastest solution. Besides, she had so much excess spiritual energy she was practically overflowing.
“Okay.”
Mu Chao nodded—then paused.
Pump… spiritual energy?
Had he heard that right?!
How?! By splitting me open?!
A foreboding chill crawled up his spine. Mu Chao stumbled back a step, stammering, “S-Sister Yuan… wait—!”
Before he could finish, a familiar suffocating sensation slammed into him. A torrent of spiritual energy surged into his body, rushing through his meridians.
Mu Chao hurriedly closed his eyes, guiding the energy through his cultivation cycles under Yuan Ji’s direction. One cycle, then another—a profound, indescribable feeling enveloped him.
It was like floating among the clouds, weightless, merging with the wind itself. He was the wind, the clouds, the myriad things of this world…
Time blurred. Then—crack!
Something shattered.
Before he could react, a sudden lightness filled his body.
He had broken through!
The sprout on his wrist wobbled, unfurling a second tiny leaf.
Mu Chao couldn’t contain his joy. “Sister Yuan! Uncle Zhong! I advanced!”
Mu Dezhong stared in shock, quickly checking Mu Chao’s condition. Sure enough, his spiritual energy had grown far denser.
The others exchanged bewildered glances, then fell into silence.
Breaking through… was that easy?!
Qu Yunqing propped up his chin, struggling to maintain composure. He nudged Yan Ku with a paw and whispered, “How long did it take you to break through last time?”
Yan Ku’s face went blank, unwilling to recall the ordeal. “…Seven or eight years.”
“……” Qu Yunqing shook his head. “Guess I’m not the only slacker. This River God is just too monstrous.”
As far as he knew, the only person who could advance as effortlessly as drinking water was their revered Sect Master, who had stepped into the Nascent Soul stage at a young age. Now, this River God had to be added to the list. Just what level is she at?
His curiosity grew.
Yuan Ji’s aura felt like that of an ordinary person without cultivation. Yet, the moment she acted, she could crush anyone. How bizarre.
“Good. Now you can go back without worry.” Yuan Ji dusted off her hands (though there was no dust) and stood. “If you’re still uneasy, I’ll give you a few more things for protection.”
…..
Some time later, Mu Chao sat in the carriage heading home.
To his left, a sulky, tearful chili plant twisted unhappily. To his right, a mutated cucumber alternated between red, yellow, and green. Mu Chao shrank into himself, praying the two wouldn’t start a fight and drag him into it.
Back at the river god’s temple, Meng Youdao cast a regretful glance at Ai Xiang and Guan Muping, promising to return after settling his affairs before hurrying off.
The lively temple grew quiet once more.
“River God, they’ve all left.” Fang Mingzhu gazed at their retreating figures with a sigh.
“Mmm.” Yuan Ji stood beneath the courtyard tree, hands clasped behind her back. A notification flickered before her eyes.
[Congratulations, Host! Mission complete. Reward: 200 Divine Power.]
[Congratulations! Soul Fragment ×1 obtained.]
As the electronic voice faded, Yuan Ji felt her soul grow sturdier. New memories flooded her consciousness—clearer this time, no longer fleeting glimpses.
Among them was the figure of a man in dark red robes embroidered with golden auspicious patterns. He approached her, holding out an ornate mirror inlaid with gemstones.
“A gift I brought back—the Starcloud Mirror. Don’t be angry anymore.”
Yuan Ji tried to see his face clearly, but a thick mist obscured it.
A dark glint flashed in her eyes. After a moment of silence, she reached out, fingers curling in the air.
Countless invisible strands of spiritual light surged toward her like maddened beasts, vanishing into her body.
“River God?” Fang Mingzhu called softly.
Yuan Ji retracted her hand. “It’s nothing. I’ll rest for a while.”
Once alone, she summoned A’Tong. Her voice was low. “A’Tong, how much do you know about my past life?”
“Huh?” A’Tong blinked in confusion. “Yuan Ji, what’s wrong?”
Yuan Ji studied it for a long moment before waving a hand. “Never mind.”
A knot of frustration tightened in her chest. The unanswered question lingered, gnawing at her. The spiritual energy she’d just expended had been replenished tenfold after reclaiming a soul fragment. Now, the excess energy churned inside her, amplifying her irritation.
With a click of her tongue, she pulled a dozen spirit stones from her storage pouch, arranging them as formation anchors.
Using the entire temple as the formation’s base, she channeled the overwhelming spiritual energy into it. In an instant, a massive Spirit-Gathering Array activated.
A gentle breeze swept through the temple. Everyone felt their cultivation surge abruptly. Even the roots of the man-eating plant thickened, its leaves gleaming with newfound vitality.
“Tsk!” Yan Ku inhaled sharply. “Do you feel that? The spiritual energy just skyrocketed!”
“This must be the River God’s blessing.”
Wu Boshan bowed reverently in Yuan Ji’s direction. “Legends say the River God bestows blessings upon devout followers. We mustn’t waste this opportunity.”
Ye Wenshu and the others exchanged glances. Sensing the boundless spiritual energy rising from the ground, they immediately sat cross-legged to cultivate, afraid of missing out.
They assumed this abundance would last no longer than an incense stick’s burn time. Yet, even after that, the energy only grew denser.
Wu Boshan watched as Fang Mingzhu’s demon-corrupted marks faded significantly after absorbing the energy. Overcome with emotion, they embraced, tears in their eyes.
“The River God is truly benevolent. Not only did she shelter us, but she also aids our cultivation!”
“I’ve heard that outside, such Spirit-Gathering Arrays are closely guarded by sects. You’d need mountains of spirit stones just to enter. Yet the River God shares it so freely!”
Those who had seen such arrays before, like Luo Qiushui, were inwardly reeling.
In a world where strength ruled supreme, power was never easily gained. Any sect possessing a Spirit-Gathering Array would hoard it jealously. Yet here was the River God, offering it to anyone who stepped into her temple.
The River God’s depth is unfathomable.
As they marveled, Yuan Ji emerged from her room, serene as ever.
She murmured to herself,
“It’s getting late.”
“Time to go pick up trash.”
Everyone: “……?”
