Chapter 223: The Fortunate Person

Xizui and Ruan Xing entered the Sui Spirit Pearl one after the other.

The vast space inside the Sui Spirit Pearl appeared somewhat desolate, with a few items piled up in isolation, separated by several empty spaces.

Ruan Xing thought with some novelty, is this what it feels like for Cai Jiao and Shen Lingyun to stay inside her Storage Bag?

Xizui suddenly spoke up: "This Sui Spirit Pearl, should it also count as a Small World? I wonder if it is possible for it to produce Primordial Purple Energy."

"Not possible," Ruan Xing said. "Only when a Small World develops until it nears completion and possesses a consciousness that has separated independently and no longer relies on the Cultivation world, will it produce Hongmeng Purple Qi. The Sui Spirit Pearl has already been refined into a Spirit Tool by someone, and without the existence of a tool spirit, it presumably cannot have an independent consciousness."

"I see." Xizui nodded lightly, found a place to sit cross-legged, and began to close his eyes and rest his mind.

Ruan Xing also began to meditate at a position not far away, practicing the chapters from the Record of Nourishing the Spirit to calm her heart and strengthen her Divine Soul.

However, because Xizui was by her side, she did not sink her entire focus into cultivation, but instead kept a sliver of spiritual awareness to monitor the surrounding situation.

Her hand, hidden in her sleeve, clenched into a fist.

Time passed bit by bit.

Xie Feng's lazy voice came in, "Come out, the sky has brightened."

Ruan Xing looked at Xizui and said politely, "You first."

Xizui then flew toward the Light Gate that had suddenly opened in mid-air.

After he went out, Ruan Xing also flew up, though her gaze lingered lightly on a spot in the air.

Outside the Light Gate, Xizui stood to one side. After seeing Ruan Xing emerge, Xie Feng closed the Light Gate and gave the Sui Spirit Pearl back to Ruan Xing.

Xizui asked, "How did the sky brighten?"

Xie Feng shrugged, "Just like that, it suddenly brightened all at once."

Just like when the sky turned dark.

There were simply too many flaws in this Secret Realm Space that did not conform to common sense.

Ruan Xing took the lead: "Let's go see how those two are doing, and ask about the situation in this town while we're at it."

They hadn't had a chance to ask yesterday, and they had both been left bewildered by the sudden enthusiasm and familiarity of those two people.

Passing by the room from yesterday, Ruan Xing suddenly turned in. The leftover pastries on the table were still where they were, their color lustrous and carrying the sweet fragrance of food.

She opened her palm; inside was an identical, small piece of pastry that had already lost its moisture, becoming somewhat crumbly, and smelled slightly like it was nearing spoilage.

Sure enough, there is time within the Sui Spirit Pearl.

But there is none here.

She threw the spoiled pastry back into the paper wrapping and turned to go to the room where the two lived.

Xie Feng and Xizui had already spoken a few words to them.

The scarred male Cultivator said: "We are going to the temple to pray for that child who died prematurely, hoping our next child will be healthy."

Next one? Pregnant again so soon? Ruan Xing felt a bit creeped out, but upon seeing the expressions on Xie Feng and Xizui's faces, she knew she had overthought it.

Xizui followed up: "What temple?"

"Xianzi Temple. It is said that when the world was first created, there was a fairy draped in red clouds who used her red clouds to weave the canopy of the sky, leaving behind a pure land here for us to live in." The female Cultivator wore a look of longing, "Xianzi Temple will surely bless my child."

The scarred male Cultivator asked: "Do you want to go too? You can come with us."

Xizui nodded and said: "Fine, you go ahead, we will arrive shortly after."

The scarred male Cultivator held the quiet bundle of flesh in the swaddling clothes, one hand supporting his 'weak' wife, and slowly set off in a certain direction.

"Why would there be a temple here?" Xie Feng asked curiously.

"Indeed, why would there be a temple?" Xizui sighed long and slowly.

"No, what's wrong with a temple? What's not right about it?" Ruan Xing asked, puzzled.

She has temples too; the Xumi Realm, Yunyang City, and Huayang City all have temples dedicated to her. Isn't it normal for mortals to like building temples?

Although she doesn't engage in these feudal superstitions, and this world lacks Heavenly Dao laws like Incense Fire and wish-power, mortals respect and worship her, praying for her protection. Since these places are within the jurisdiction of the Fengling Yueying Sect, it doesn't matter if she manages injustices along the way; besides, Ruan Tao likes it too.

"Mortals build temples for Cultivators because they have requests in their hearts. You Immortal Cultivators like to be famous, so naturally, you cater to the prayers of mortals," Xizui sneered. "But have you ever seen a mortal pray to a Demon Cultivator?"

What could they pray to a Demon Cultivator for? Praying to be spared?

They wouldn't build a temple for that.

"The formation of the Guihu Secret Realm is inherently related to the place where it is located. Even five or six thousand years ago, Demon Cultivators were more active in this Northern Territory, and Immortal Cultivators were rarely seen. Since this Secret Realm Space is the Return to Ruins Land for the ancient Northern Territory Demon Cultivators, the Northern Territory wouldn't have temples. Where did it absorb the sample from?" Xie Feng said.

Therefore, this Xianzi Temple in the Secret Realm Space is the biggest flaw.

Could the Hongmeng Purple Qi be in this place? But, isn't this a bit too obvious...

Ruan Xing could not easily gauge the intelligence of the Small World consciousness, because the way it manifested was truly lacking in common sense.

"So, we must go to this temple to take a look. Although those two are Cultivators, their life trajectories and habits are almost the same as mortals. Perhaps the World Consciousness deliberately influenced them to do so, unwilling to let them retain the instincts of Cultivators. Therefore, even if we truly find the World Consciousness, its strength should not be particularly high," Xizui said.

Even Golden Core Cultivators are wary, but the strength of the three of them far exceeds that, so there probably won't be any problems.

"Also," Xie Feng suddenly lifted the bedding on the bed, revealing the bare wooden boards, and pointed to the place with splinters on the edge: "Here, there are carvings."

And under the bed, two Storage Bags and two Dharma Artifacts were discarded.

They were likely the former items of those two Cultivators, only now they had been forgotten by them.

Ruan Xing leaned in to look; on the wooden board were several lines of dense, small characters.

"I always feel I should record something, but I can't remember where I should record it. Perhaps I will forget many things every day. I must record it down; I cannot forget."

Xizui sent them to investigate the Secret Realm Space, so they definitely had the task of recording information about the Secret Realm. But this female Cultivator was influenced too deeply; she forgot her jade slip on the very first day she entered, so she could only carve it onto the bed board.

Fortunately, it was discovered by Xie Feng.

"First day. After arriving here, I discovered strange phenomena in the town. After finding no danger, the three of us separated. Pu Xue and Zeng Qie She went outside the town to look for clues, while I stayed in the town.

I did not find any news in the town, but I met a strange male Cultivator. He said he knew me, and I also felt he looked very familiar, so I accepted his invitation to come here and stay.

I must be patient and wait for Pu Xue and Zeng Qie She to return.

I don't know why, but I feel so sleepy. Forget it, I'll sleep first and talk about it tomorrow."

"Second day. A neighbor sent me many clothes and food, and also said congratulations. How strange, I have long since reached Golden Core Inedia and do not need to eat."

Besides, how can one just eat things inside the Secret Realm?

I refused her kind offer and planned to go to the edge of the town today to take a look."

"The third day, that man said he wanted to go to Xianzi Temple to pray; what a joke, since when do Demon Cultivators seek the immortals."

"The fourth day, I have been living here with my husband for a long time. I always feel like I am waiting for someone, but I cannot remember who I am waiting for." "The fifth day, I seem to be pregnant. It is so magical; I am going to have a child. It is something to look forward to."

"The seventh day, how interesting! I suddenly found my old records at home today. Are these dreams I wrote down when I couldn't sleep at night?"

The carvings ended here.

Ruan Xing frowned and pondered for a few seconds before saying, "According to the records from the first two days, she actually still retained her self-awareness; she was just able to perceive that she had forgotten many things. But after the third day, her consciousness seemed to have a fault line, suddenly shifting from the mindset of a Demon Cultivator to that of an ordinary mortal."

"This proves that there is indeed a major problem with Xianzi Temple." Xie Feng's finger landed on the carving for the third day, "It was only after that man went to Xianzi Temple that the records of the fourth day underwent a huge change."

By the time the sixth day arrived, she had even forgotten to keep records.

On the seventh day, when she saw these records again, she could not remember at all that these were things she had written down a few days prior, instead believing them to be dream talk she had recorded long ago.

Wait, then why did she write down this 'seventh day'?

Since she had already forgotten, how could she know it was the seventh day?

Was it her subconscious? Ruan Xing could not quite figure it out.

But Xizui reminded her, "Let's go, those two have already walked far away."

It didn't matter if they had walked far; after all, the three of them were all Cultivators. Whether flying or running, they could catch up very quickly, not needing more than a few seconds.

But looking at the expressions of Xizui and Xie Feng, it seemed they had already subconsciously ignored the option of using magic techniques.

What exactly did Xizui cultivate inside the Sui Spirit Pearl? She had practiced the Spirit Nourishing Record all night and felt her thoughts were clear and she was very sharp! How could Xizui be useless again after only being out for a short while?

She said with some disdain, "Why don't you two go back into the Sui Spirit Pearl for a while."

Xizui's eyes were blank for a moment, then she suddenly reacted and said with some shame, "The methods of this Secret Realm Space are strange; if one is not careful, one will forget some things. It is truly impossible to guard against."

Xie Feng rubbed his chin, "I might be dizzy from hunger. Why don't you let me eat some of the local specialties here? Maybe it will have an effect."

"In your dreams." Ruan Xing rolled her eyes at him and opened the Sui Spirit Pearl, "Keep your consciousness clear. If I need you to come out to fight later, then come out."

"Alright," Xie Feng said regretfully.

The two entered the Sui Spirit Pearl again.

Ruan Xing then used the technique of Instant Movement to arrive near the scarred male Cultivator.

Neither the scarred male Cultivator nor the beautiful female Cultivator felt anything wrong with her sudden appearance.

Instead, they smiled and said, "You came over so quickly. Where are those two?"

"Oh, Great-Granduncle is old and his legs and feet aren't good, and my cousin is supporting him from behind. They should be here soon, don't worry about them, let's go in first," Ruan Xing prevaricated.

The beautiful female Cultivator said weakly, "Oh my, it's all my fault. I forgot that Great-Granduncle is old and it's inconvenient for him. Husband, you should have gone to support him a bit."

Ruan Xing said, "Don't blame yourself. You just gave birth and your body is weak; your husband supporting you is enough. My cousin is strong and sturdy, he can even carry Great-Granduncle on his back, so don't worry about them."

The beautiful female Cultivator then let go of her worries and answered in the affirmative.

Her appearance and temperament were both very bewitching; when she was influenced by the Secret Realm Space to become a virtuous-wife-and-good-mother type of mortal, it looked indescribably strange.

When she stood next to the fierce-looking scarred male Cultivator, this effect was even more obvious.

This Secret Realm Space really didn't assign them personas that fit their faces.

Ruan Xing muttered, looking at the building nearby.

It was an octagonal pavilion-like building with six rows of stair passages around it. In front of the main entrance in the middle stood a large tripod, and a Cultivator in red Daoist robes was standing there.

The flow of people coming and going passed through the passages, quiet and devout.

The three of them stood in line, slowly moving toward the door. The person in front held a bowl, bowed, and saluted the red-robed Cultivator, who scooped a ladle of pitch-black water from the tripod for him.

As he drank, he praised it loudly without end, "Fragrant! So fragrant!"

Ruan Xing turned her head away with some disgust and asked the scarred male Cultivator, "Does everyone have to drink this to enter?"

"No, if you want it he gives it, if you don't he doesn't force you, it's just that everyone smells the fragrance and wants to drink it," the scarred male Cultivator said, "Last time we came, my wife didn't drink it either, but she still got pregnant when we went back. The Fairy will not blame us."

It seems the female Cultivator's change on the third day had nothing to do with this water.

As they were speaking, the female Cultivator swallowed her saliva.

Ruan Xing asked her, "Do you think it's fragrant?"

The female Cultivator said with some longing, "It's too fragrant, I want to drink it."

"Then I'll get you a bowl," the scarred male Cultivator said considerately. He took two small bowls from his bosom and had the red-robed Cultivator scoop two ladles.

He handed one bowl to the female Cultivator, who drank it all in one gulp impatiently and licked her lips, still wanting more.

The scarred male Cultivator placed the second bowl in front of Ruan Xing with a look of reluctance, "You are a guest, let you have it first."

Ruan Xing lowered her head and sniffed. She did not smell any fragrance at all; the smell emitted by this water was not unpleasant, either, like the smell of gasoline mixed with damp soil.

Smelling it twice more actually made her feel a bit lightheaded.

Ruan Xing hurriedly stopped, turned her head, and refused, "No, you drink it, I don't need it."

The scarred male Cultivator's throat bobbed, but he still gave the second bowl to the female Cultivator, saying, "Your body is weak, you take the second bowl too."

The female Cultivator then happily drank it.

After drinking two bowls in a row, her originally pale complexion suddenly became much more rosy.

However, in Ruan Xing's eyes, it was not much different from before.

She could not even sense any power in that pitch-black water.

There was no Spiritual Power, Yin energy, resentment, or Divine Soul energy. After all, she was still a Fifth-Tier Alchemist; she could not distinguish any ingredients in this water—there was no medicinal effect, nor were there any toxins.

Except for the color and smell, it was just plain water.

An old lady queuing next to them praised, "This blessed water has a really good effect; after drinking it, one becomes a blessed person!"

The scarred male Cultivator and the female Cultivator then grinned happily.

Ruan Xing asked, "What does this water taste like?"

The female cultivator smiled sweetly: "The taste of happiness."

Great, asked for nothing.

Ruan Xing looked speechless.

Is this Secret Realm Space determined to assimilate everyone here into fools?