Chapter 28: and translation of chapter title

"Ao You, could it be that you're their lost dragon cub?" Before sealing her spirit beast bag, Jiang Yu deliberately switched to using a soul contract to communicate.

Translation: "Ao You, could you be their lost dragon cub?" Before sealing the spirit beast bag, Jiang Yu deliberately switched to using a soul contract for communication.

Check: Need to keep same meaning, not add extra. "Ao You, could it be that you're their lost dragon cub?" Before sealing her spirit beast bag, Jiang Yu deliberately switched to using a soul contract to communicate.

We can translate: "Ao You, could you be their lost dragon cub?" Before sealing her spirit beast bag, Jiang Yu deliberately switched to using a soul contract to communicate.

But we need to avoid adding "her". The Chinese doesn't specify gender for Jiang Yu but we know from guide she's female. We must use she/her. So we can say "Before sealing her spirit beast bag". That's okay because we know she's female. The guide says Jiang Yu female. So we can use her.

Thus: "Ao You, could you be their lost dragon cub?" Before sealing her spirit beast bag, Jiang Yu deliberately switched to using a soul contract to communicate.

We need to keep it one line.

"Nonsense, do you Tianyuan Continent folks even have real dragons? Just a bunch of mongrel dragons getting full of themselves."

Translation: "Nonsense, does the Tianyuan Continent have true dragons? Just a bunch of mixed dragons getting full of themselves."

We need to keep punctuation? We'll translate as: "Nonsense, does the Tianyuan Continent have true dragons? Just a bunch of mixed dragons getting full of themselves."

"Hmph, you've made me angry." Jiang Tu the little one is truly a genuine dragon's offspring.

Translation: "Hmph, I'm angry at you." Jiang Tu the little kid is truly a true dragon's son.

But Chinese: "Hmph, you've made me angry." Jiang Tu the little one is truly a genuine dragon's offspring.

We can translate: "Hmph, I'm angry at you." Jiang Tu the little boy is truly a true dragon's son.

We need to keep gender: Jiang Tu male per guide. So "little boy". Good.

Though they call themselves a little turtle on the surface, they actually have a proper name: they are the mighty Baxia, capable of warding off evil, protecting the home, attracting wealth, and possessing boundless strength—just like the Baxia and dragon turtle, which are names people revere.

Translation: "On the surface it calls itself a little black turtle, but it has a proper name: it is a Bixi, which wards off evil, protects the home, attracts wealth, and has boundless strength; people honor it as such, like the Bixi and the dragon turtle."

We need to keep meaning. Let's translate: "On the surface it calls itself a little black turtle, but it has a proper name: it is a Bixi, which wards off evil, protects the home, attracts wealth, and has boundless strength; people honor it as such, like the Bixi and the dragon turtle."

If it weren't for wanting to hide among humans, waiting for the cave heaven to open so it could return home, and also because Jiang Bai's cultivation surpasses its, fearing that entering a master-servant contract would make it impossible to break later, it wouldn't have sought Jiang Yu's company.

Translation: "If it weren't wanting to hide among humans and wait for the cave heaven to open to go home, and if Jiang Bai's cultivation weren't higher than its own, fearing that signing a master-servant contract would prevent future unbinding, it wouldn't seek Jiang Yu's company."

We need to keep meaning. Let's translate: "If it weren't wanting to hide among humans and wait for the cave heaven to open to go home, and if Jiang Bai's cultivation weren't higher than its own, fearing that signing a master-servant contract would prevent future unbinding, it wouldn't seek Jiang Yu's company."

"Hmph! Stinky Yu."

Translation: "Hmph! Stinky fish."

"Sorry, sorry, I'll fry up some little fish for you to make amends." Jiang Yu felt bad, stirring up her little companion's sad memories.

Translation: "Sorry, sorry, I'll fry up some small fish to make it up to you." Jiang Yu felt bad, recalling her companion's sad past.

This guy really is lost; to be precise, it rolled around playing inside its dragon egg, fell into a spatial rift in the Great Luo Cave Heaven, and was born prematurely, so unlike other divine beasts, it didn't have a human form at birth.

Translation: "This guy really is lost; to be precise, while rolling around playing inside a dragon egg, it fell into a spatial rift in the Grand Luo Cave-Heaven and was born early, so unlike other divine beasts, it was born with a human form."

And it has been trapped inside for at least a hundred years.

Translation: "And it has been trapped inside for at least a hundred years."

However, it still hasn't revealed where it's from; a travelogue in the library says there is more than one fairy mountain beyond the Tianyuan Continent, but the exact location and name aren't given.

Translation: "However, up to now it still hasn't said where it comes from; a travelogue in the library says there is more than one fairy mountain outside the Tianyuan Continent, but the exact locations and names are not written."

Since that's not the case, Jiang Yu stopped asking and instead took out the few top-tier defensive artifacts she had just collected and imprinted them with her divine sense.

Translation: "Since that's not the case, Jiang Yu stopped inquiring and instead took out the few top-grade defensive artifacts she had just collected and imprinted them with her divine sense."

She is now at the late stage of Qi Refining; her spiritual power can activate top-tier defensive artifacts, but to use them smoothly she must, in a safe environment, use her divine sense to refine the patterns or symbols etched onto the artifacts (which can be shorted to 'artifact patterns').

Translation: "She is now at late Qi Refining; her spiritual power can activate top-grade defensive artifacts, but to use them with ease she must, in a safe environment, refine the patterns or symbols etched on the artifacts with her divine sense (which can be called artifact patterns)."

Of these five artifacts, she puts on the jade bracelet right away; the mirror-shaped ones are usually powerful and can be used first; the inner armor she will change into when she returns; the shield and fan she will keep for later use.

Note: There's a typo; we'll translate it as: "Of these five artifacts, she puts on the jade bracelet right away; the mirror-shaped ones are usually powerful and can be used first; the inner armor she will change into when she returns; the shield and fan she will keep for later use."

After thinking, since keeping so many pills in the storage ring is unsafe, she opened the spirit beast bag again and gave it to Jiang Tu to store in his space so they could split them evenly.

Translation: "After thinking, she felt the many medicinal pills in the storage ring were unsafe, so she opened the spirit beast bag again and handed it to Jiang Tu to store in his space for even division."

As soon as Jiang Yu finished her planning and sealed the spirit beast bag, she saw Master Hu returning with a frosty face.

Translation: "Just as Jiang Yu finished planning and sealed her spirit beast bag, she saw True Person Hu return with a frosty face."

You two ninth-level cultivators must go to Ershan Cliff to point out where you picked the dragon saliva grass.

Translation: "Two ninth-stage cultivators, you must go to Er Mountain's cliff to point out where you picked the dragon saliva grass."

The sect master has already agreed." There's no way; Master Hu's two Golden Cores cannot suppress a dragon king equivalent to the peak of the Yuan Empress.

Translation: "The sect master has already agreed." There's no way; True Person Hu's two Golden Core cultivators cannot suppress the dragon king whose strength equals that of a Yuan Empress at its peak.

If you can't get it to come in or drive it away, fighting it would require gathering the sect's Golden Core cultivators for a siege.

Translation: "If it won't come in and can't be driven off, fighting it would require gathering the sect's Golden Core cultivators for a siege."

A victory will surely provoke revenge from higher-level demon clans against disciples abroad; a narrow win will only bring shame right to the doorstep.

Translation: "Victory would surely invite revenge from higher-level Yao Race against disciples abroad; a narrow win would only bring shame to the doorstep."

Left with no choice, they can only lock the gate and ask Nascent Soul-stage Sect Master Lin Quan to take action.

Translation: "Left with no choice, she could only lock the gate and ask the Nascent Soul Sect Master Lin Quan to take action."

She flicked her sleeve, bringing Jiang Yu onto the flying sword, and stared at her, asking, "Do you still remember the exact location?"

Translation: "She flicked her sleeve, bringing Jiang Yu onto a flying sword, and stared at her, asking: 'Do you still remember the exact location?'"

The implication is, you picked it up there, right?

Translation: "The subtext is: 'You picked it up there, right?'"

Jiang Yu nodded calmly; after all, she had been there, at most adding a bit of illusion in the void.

Translation: "Jiang Yu nodded calmly; after all, she had been there, at most adding a bit of theatrical flair to the void."

Good, good; she had quietly been to Ershan this once, otherwise it would really be hard to keep up the lie." "Yes."

Translation: "Fortunately, she had quietly been to Er Mountain once; otherwise it would really be hard to cover up the lie." "Yes."

Master Hu nodded, a yellow light flashed from his cuff, a roughly inch-sized round smooth jade tablet fell into her hand, and after giving her these instructions, he sped up his sword flight to outside the mountain gate.

Translation: "True Person Hu nodded; a flash of yellow light from his sleeve, a round, smooth jade tablet about an inch wide fell into her hand, and after giving her these instructions, he sped up his sword flight to outside the mountain gate."

Jiang Yu immediately saw the sect master standing with his hands behind his back, hovering in the air, beside him a man and woman whose spiritual pressure exceeded his, with a hint of red in their hair.

Translation: "Jiang Yu immediately saw the sect master standing with hands behind his back, aloft; beside him were a man and woman whose spiritual pressure exceeded his, with a hint of red in their hair."

The two merely glanced at Jiang Yu, causing her heart to tremble with fear; she couldn't even spare a look at the junior sister beside Master Du Heng, or the eight or nine Golden Core cultivators outside the mountain gate.

Translation: "The two merely glanced at Jiang Yu, filling her with dread; she couldn't even look at the senior sister beside True Person Duheng, or at the eight or nine Golden Core cultivators outside the mountain gate."

She mobilized all her magical power, braving the cold light as she paid respects to the sect master.

Translation: "She mobilized all her magical power, braving the cold light as she paid respects to the sect master."

Sect Master Lin Quan secretly nodded; just this disciple not being intimidated in the face of ninth-level beings made his coming out of seclusion worthwhile.

Translation: "Sect Master Lin Quan nodded inwardly; just this disciple not being intimidated in the face of ninth-stage cultivators made his coming out of seclusion worthwhile."

With a sweep of his sleeve, he dispelled the spiritual pressure of the two dragon kings, saying, "Ling Zhang, you take the junior disciple and lead the way ahead; De Zhang and others stay behind."

Translation: "With a flick of his sleeve he dispelled the spiritual pressure of the two dragon kings: 'Ling Zhang, you take the junior disciples and lead the way ahead; De Zhang and others stay behind.'"

What's the point of having so many people follow? Just let the two demons watch the joke.

Translation: "What's the point of having so many people follow? Just to let the two yaos watch a joke."

He casually pointed to Master Lin and Master Zhuang to accompany him.

Translation: "He casually pointed to True Person Lin, with True Person Zhuang accompanying."

"Yes." Master Hu led Jiang Yu as they flew off first.

Translation: "'Yes.' True Person Hu led Jiang Yu in flying ahead first."

Jiang Yu carefully looked back and saw that Senior Sister Wan also wanted to come, so she quickly sent her a mental message telling her not to go.

Translation: "Jiang Yu carefully looked back; seeing Senior Sister Wan also wanting to come, she quickly sent a voice transmission telling her not to go."

But she had made up her mind, standing motionless on her senior brother's sword.

Translation: "But the latter had made up her mind, standing motionless on her senior brother's sword."

Meanwhile, Sect Master Lin Quan leisurely rode his escape light, while the two dragon kings wanted to go fast but couldn't.

Translation: "Meanwhile, Sect Master Lin Quan leisurely rode his escape light; the two dragon kings wanted to go faster but couldn't."

……

Translation: "……"

The outskirts of Ershan are only a few hundred miles from the Tai Xu Sect; it is said that the deepest eighth- and ninth-level great demons have already been persuaded by the Tai Xu Sect to relocate.

Translation: "Around Er Mountain, it's only a few hundred miles from the Grand Void Sect; it's said that the deepest eighth- or ninth-stage great demons have already relocated under the Grand Void Sect's persuasion."

Nowadays, seventh-level demon beasts rarely venture into the outer areas.

Translation: "Nowadays, seventh-stage yao beasts hardly ever venture into the outer rings."

Although sixth-level demon beasts have already formed Golden Cores, even late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators teaming up can still, by using various magical artifacts, hunt down demon cores.

Translation: "Although sixth-stage yao beasts have already formed Golden Cores, teams of late Foundation Establishment cultivators can still, by using various artifacts, hunt their yao cores."

Therefore, the outer regions stretching thousands of miles are ideal places for low-level cultivators to come hunt demons and gather herbs.

Translation: "Thus, the outer regions stretching thousands of miles are ideal grounds for low-stage cultivators to come and hunt yao and gather herbs."

But today, these cultivators noticed a crowd of Golden Cores flying overhead, while the demon beasts that were happily playing screamed and fled, all sensing that something major was happening.

Translation: "But today, these cultivators noticed a host of Golden Cores flying overhead; the yao beasts that were happily playing screamed and fled, all sensing that something major was happening."

Especially after the Tai Xu Sect's Foundation Establishment cultivators recognized the sect master, everyone began sending messages to inquire, and most people, sensing something, left early.

Translation: "Especially after those at the Grand Void Sect who had reached Foundation Establishment recognized the sect master, everyone began sending messages to inquire, and most people, sensing something, left early."

Jiang Yu pointed the way all along, and soon found the cliff where she had fallen that time.

Translation: "Jiang Yu pointed the way all along and quickly found the cliff where she had fallen."

It is a narrow, slender gap, as if sliced by a sword, and while descending on the sword, occasional yin winds blow by.

Translation: "It is a narrow, slit-like place, as if cut by a sword; while descending on her sword, occasional yin winds blow through."

Looking up at the sky, only a single line of sunlight falls; even after larger birds spread their wings, it's still not easy to fly down.

Translation: "Looking up, only a single line of sky light falls; even after large birds spread their wings, it's still not easy to fly down."

But the cliff bottom occasionally has spirit‑blocking restrictions; for injured Qi Refining cultivators who fall, it's really not friendly at all.

Translation: "But the cliff bottom occasionally has spirit-suppressing zones; for injured Qi Refining cultivators who fall, it's really not friendly at all."

"This place is where the ashes are buried."

Translation: "This is the place where ashes are buried."

"The storage bag was picked up here." Jiang Yu came down and pointed out the direction.

Translation: "The storage bag was found here." Jiang Yu came down and pointed out the direction.

Two Dragon Kings, one lifted the soil layer to look for broken bones, while the other carefully examined the locations of several storage bags she pointed out.

Jiang Yu and Senior Sister Wan kept exchanging glances, feeling that her guess was reliable—the dragon clan hadn't lost a child, but had lost something important.

Unfortunately, the Dragon King only explained the situation to the sect leader; everyone else ignored it.

"Are there still the storage bags and their contents?" After searching for a long time without finding any clues, Lady Ao asked Jiang Yu for the items.

Jiang Yu said the storage bags had been burned, and together with the broken artifacts they had been sold off in the market, only handing over a few jade boxes to her.

Too much time had passed; the other Dragon King swept the vicinity with his divine sense but found nothing, and Lady Ao applied a retracing technique to the jade boxes, but there was no trace.

Well, it wasn't originally picked up from the cliff bottom; after Jiang Yu cleaned Ye Lin's hand patterns several times, she could tell something was up.

Lady Ao suddenly lifted her head to look at Yun Jin, who had followed along, and said, "Let me see the ambergris you obtained."

"Don't worry, I'm not greedy for just one stalk; I'll later give the ambergris to Dao friend Lin Quan."

Upon hearing that, Yun Jin immediately took out the jade box.

But unexpectedly, as Lady Ao approached to take it, she suddenly made an unexpected move against Jiang Yu.

"Stop!" True Person Lin stared intently this way; he reacted extremely fast and flew to seize someone.

But Jiang Yu reacted even faster; the moment she pushed aside Senior Sister Wan, she crushed the small jade tablet she always kept in her palm, and at the instant True Person Lin blocked Madame Ao, her form became ethereal and she teleported away.

The two Dragon Kings immediately gave chase; Sect Master Lin Quan and the Golden Core cultivators on the spot instantly blocked them.

"What do you two mean?" To seize someone right in front of him—is he treating me, the sect master, as a dead person?

The Dragon King sighed: "Just a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding; my wife is too anxious, but……"

"I suspect the little girl isn't telling the truth." Madame Ao interrupted the Dragon King's words; she wanted to search the soul, but the person had fled.

Sect Master Lin Quan could easily guess what she was up to when she just grabbed Jiang Yu's head: "Hmph! Ling Zhang, go find people; if any of my junior disciples come to harm, the Grand Void Sect will certainly not let it rest."

True Person Hu immediately flew away on his sword; the transmission jade tablet was what she gave Jiang Yu, originally intended to let the young lady dodge first if the two sides started fighting.

And Jiang Yu had successfully dodged, but she seemed to have fallen into an even bigger pit—a swamp.