Chapter 41: Another Happy Day!

The path ahead is blocked.

Seeing these words, Chi Jiu Yu suddenly felt a complex emotion she could not describe.

“Then… if I continue cultivating in the Nascent Soul realm, can I reach your level, Master Shu?”

【Perhaps, but it’s unnecessary】

【In our day, when the path ahead was blocked, we could only fumble and stumble in place】

【But now, the broad highway lies right before us—why abandon the root for the trivial?】

Soul Transformation, Return to Emptiness, Union with the Dao—even higher realms—our predecessors forged the way so those who follow might walk more easily.

Being trapped in the Nascent Soul realm, endlessly refining one’s magic power, is merely the last resort of the desperate—today, it might even be called a ‘heretical path.’

【If you ascended to Soul Transformation, could you truly not block that sword strike?】

After ascending to Soul Transformation, could you block that sword strike?

That goes without saying—Soul Transformation is another qualitative leap beyond Nascent Soul. She was already at the forefront of her realm; after ascending, she would certainly not be weaker.

Calculated this way, she could indeed block that sword strike—and perhaps even fight back…

No!

“That’s not how you calculate it, Master Shu!”

Just because Soul Transformation can block a Nascent Soul strike and fight back, is that something to be proud of? I’m Chi Jiu Yu—when did I become the one being overthrown?

【That’s exactly how you calculate it】

If Xu Xing had had a choice, he would never have wasted years stuck in the Nascent Soul realm.

【Do you really plan to remain stuck in Nascent Soul forever, challenging me for the title of strongest in Nascent Soul?】

“Of course not.” Chi Jiu Yu was not one to dig her heels in.

Her goal was to become the next sect leader of Xiang Jianzong—staying stuck in Nascent Soul forever, how could she compete with anyone by sheer willpower? Then she asked the question she cared about most.

“Master Shu, who was stronger between you and Master when you were both in Nascent Soul?”

In her expectant gaze, a line of golden text slowly appeared.

【Guess】

“...” Master Shu had a mischievous streak too. After mentally grumbling, she looked up and called out, “Master Shu, I want to try again—several more times!”

Though she considered herself a genius, she had to admit she still needed a long time to advance from Nascent Soul to Soul Transformation—better to hone herself first.

【Agreed】

Soon, from deep within the mist, Xu Xing’s Nascent Soul apparition stepped out once more.

At the same time, in the outside parlor, Chi Jiu Yu’s projection screen accelerated sharply.

Xu Xing stood and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.

The stars glittered, the silver moon hung high, and memories flowed through him.

His own Nascent Soul days—so long, long ago.

By the way, back then, this realm wasn’t even called ‘Nascent Soul’—the cultivation system of Tai Xuan World wasn’t what it is today.

Fortunately, in the end, we won.

Moved by these thoughts, he found himself reflecting deeply.

His old comrades… and the first human ever to reach Soul Transformation, now long gone.

Xu Xing smiled lightly.

Wasn’t he himself walking a path paved by those who came before?

…………

The next day, Chi Jiu Yu slept straight through until noon, and when she woke, she was dazed, her spirit dull.

She looked like a wilted eggplant—completely drained of her former energy.

She yawned: “Good morning, Master Shu.”

“It’s already noon—what kind of ‘good morning’ is that?” Xu Xing chuckled.

“Oh~”

She answered listlessly, and as she descended the second-floor stairs, she misstepped and tumbled all the way down.

Fortunately, as a Nascent Soul cultivator, her body was tough—she didn’t feel pain, and immediately pushed herself up using the railing.

Last night, she’d tried to hone herself against Master Shu’s apparition, but she hadn’t survived a single sword strike—she’d lost count of how many times she’d died.

This was the gap forged by years of accumulation—extremely hard to bridge.

Worse still, every technique she knew seemed riddled with flaws before Master Shu’s Nascent Soul form—especially when using the Grand Void Sword Scripture.

Seeing her state, Xu Xing suggested: “How about I take you out for a walk? It might lift your spirits.”

“Huh?” She blinked, then slapped both cheeks hard with her palms—her fair, delicate skin turned red. “Sure!” She needed to get out, to reset her mindset.

“But I can’t ride today—I might not be able to take you.” Fatigue while driving was dangerous. “How about you ride, Master Shu?”

“Heh, we’ll take a taxi.”

He hadn’t planned to ride that absurd human-powered tricycle again anyway.

…………

The Xuan Sword City Exotic Beast Park was one of Xuan Sword City’s most famous tourist attractions—a complete mountain, but in essence, just a zoo.

Only, it didn’t house ordinary beasts, but exotic creatures with peculiar abilities.

Walking along the mountain trail, a small stream wound beside them. Chi Jiu Yu paused frequently, glancing around, holding a cotton candy several times larger than her head—this place’s specialty.

The raw material for this cotton candy came from a bird called ‘Miyu Que’—it couldn’t fly, its entire body covered in crystalline feathers, sweet and delicious to taste.

When frightened, its feathers turned deadly poison—only cultivators who had mastered spiritual-calming techniques could pluck its feathers.

“Master Shu, hurry up!” Chi Jiu Yu called back.

Below, Xu Xing moved slowly, already far behind her.

She waited a few seconds, then couldn’t hold back and ran down.

“You’re adjusting your state awfully fast.”

“Of course—I’m naturally optimistic!” She pulled out her phone from her pocket. “Come on, Master Shu, let’s take a picture together as a keepsake.”

Just then, an exotic beast appeared nearby, circling in the sky—its crimson feathers flawless, distant enough to look like a ball of fire falling from the heavens.

It landed by the stream, submerging its entire head into the water—this was how it drank.

The bird was called Chiyu. When provoked or enraged, its feathers ignited, burning at extreme temperatures.

In the past, low-rank alchemists and artifact-makers often captured this bird to pluck its feathers for fire-starting.

Chi Jiu Yu adjusted her position, framing Chiyu in the background while ensuring both she and Master Shu were in the shot, snapping several photos.

“Master Shu! Take a few pictures of me too!”

She handed her phone to Xu Xing and posed with her cotton candy like a sword technique.

Behind her, Chiyu lifted its head, staring fixedly at Chi Jiu Yu’s back. Suddenly, it spread its wings and flew toward her, claws outstretched for the cotton candy.

But just as it was about to grasp it, a hand—not large, but powerfully firm—clamped around its neck, holding it motionless despite its frantic flapping.

In panic,

WHOOSH! Flames erupted, the air warping from heat—but the thin veil of spiritual light held firm.

“Trying to steal my stuff?” Chi Jiu Yu shook its neck. Then she teased, “Master Shu, let’s buy this bird and roast it.”

Chiyu seemed to understand—its tiny eyes filled with fear.

“Forget it. These beasts were hard-won by the locals.”

“Alright.”

Chi Jiu Yu released it. Chiyu, utterly terrified, didn’t linger—flew off swiftly.

Watching Chiyu vanish into the distance, she walked forward, took her phone back from Xu Xing, and scrolled through the photos.

“Master Shu, can I send these photos to Master?”

“Do as you like.”

Xu Xing continued his slow ascent. Chi Jiu Yu followed behind, sending the photos to her Master.

The first few were of her holding Chiyu, posing with a sword technique.

It took a long while before she received a reply.

My most revered Master: “That cotton candy in your hand looks good—send me one when you get back.”

“...”

After a silence, she sent the rest of the photos—these were all the ones with Xu Xing.

My most revered Master: “??? Is Brother Xu with you?”

Chi Jiu Yu didn’t reply. She powered off her phone and tossed it into her storage ring.

Since she’d seen the chat history, she wasn’t afraid anymore—she’d be punished anyway when she returned.

Oh well!

Another happy day!

Please collect, please follow!! Also, let me explain the worldbuilding.

We haven’t even reached 100,000 words yet—there’s no way to explain it clearly unless I just dump the outline, so please don’t rush.

(End of Chapter)