Chapter Eight: Reborn as the Eldest Daughter of the Immortal Sect

"Don’t you want to break the rules and see the world outside?"

Bone-Growing Grass did want to—it was truly tempted. Yet, with its current cultivation, even awakening a sliver of consciousness and gaining the power of speech had already been difficult; venturing out would likely only mean being tossed into a cauldron and refined into a pill.

“I understand your concerns. What I mean is, I have a way for you to cultivate in peace and still have a chance to see the outside world!”

“Hm?” Bone-Growing Grass couldn’t imagine what method Bai Ruo was referring to.

Bai Ruo smiled, walked to the stone, and gently stroked one of Bone-Growing Grass’s leaves.

Suddenly, the world spun into chaos.

“Where is this?!”

Before its eyes was a place brimming with spiritual energy—flowers, grasses, trees, treasures sought by the world, and a cluster of gray… mist?

[Master! Is that the Mirage Spirit? And why is there a Bone-Growing Grass here too?!]

The Mirage Spirit shrank back its little claws in fear. This mist could speak!

“Don’t be afraid, you two. This is Little Rascal. It's similar to you, yet not quite the same. It’s a spirit of an artifact, but it hasn’t taken shape either. Get to know each other.”

The Mirage Spirit still looked uneasy.

Ever since Little Rascal discovered Bai Ruo possessed such a wondrous place, it had refused to return to the sea of consciousness, stubbornly insisting on staying in Bai Ruo’s portable space for life.

Little Rascal was clever indeed. Nothing existed in the sea of consciousness; this space, by contrast, was comfort itself!

“This is my portable space. Just in case, I need you both to form a contract with me. Do you understand?”

“Do you mean that after making the contract, we can follow you wherever you go and cultivate anytime, anywhere?”

“Exactly!”

[Come on! What are you two waiting for? Opportunities like this are rare even in a century! If you follow her, you’ll likely become rulers of your own domain one day!]

Bone-Growing Grass called the Mirage Spirit aside. The two little creatures whispered and deliberated for a long time, finally deciding to enter into an equal contract with Bai Ruo.

The equal contract was the gentlest of all. It wouldn’t backfire on either party, and when one advanced, the other would benefit; if one was injured or perished, the other could choose to dissolve the contract.

There were two other types: the Destiny Contract and the Blood Contract.

The Destiny Contract was fated—when the time arrived, the bond formed automatically. Bai Ruo had never seen one.

The Blood Contract was far more forceful, and few spirit beasts willingly agreed to it. If the master was injured, the spirit beast shared the pain. If the master died, the spirit beast perished too. But if the spirit beast died, the master remained unharmed.

A drop of green blood and a drop of pale gold blood floated into the air. Bai Ruo bit her finger; two drops of blood rose and merged together.

A flash of golden light—a rune sank into the sea of consciousness of all three, sealing the contract.

After giving all necessary instructions, Bai Ruo took a seed from the Bone-Growing Grass, nourished it with spiritual water, and before long, a miniature Bone-Growing Grass sprouted.

Bai Ruo exited the space with the miniature plant and the Mirage Spirit, then sent a message to her junior brothers and sisters. The Mirage Spirit also dispelled the illusion.

The group, upon emerging, clustered around Bai Ruo like chicks spotting their mother.

Bai Ruo handed the miniature Bone-Growing Grass to Huaize.

“You’re an alchemist. Though this one is young, the little fellow guarded it for so long. Keep it safe and plant it in the sect’s medicinal fields when we return. I’ve protected its roots with spiritual power; it won’t wither.”

“Damn! Senior Sister, you’re amazing! I remember this thing is super rare. How did you talk it into giving it up? That little guy was guarding it so fiercely!”

Bai Ruo simply touched her nose and said nothing. She wasn’t about to admit that what she’d given him was just a sample, though Bone-Growing Grass was indeed rare.

Bone-Growing Grass, as its name suggested, could generate bones—hence its value and rarity.

Bai Ruo kept the Mirage Spirit close—having survived hundreds of years in the Glazed Secret Realm, it should make a decent guide.

They had barely taken a few steps when Huaize suddenly remembered the mud on his face and began to grumble endlessly. Bai Ruo tuned him out completely.

In truth, she’d hardly used any force; she’d only pulled a single hair and her slap was half-hearted. Huaize’s tumble had been genuine, but in order to lure the little Mirage Spirit, she’d had to turn her mistake into a playful act.

Moreover, since Huaize had a good relationship with the real Bai Ruo, she’d chosen him for her antics. Purely accidental!

Still, it was obvious Huaize was a decent kid—he didn’t hold grudges, though he did talk a lot, which made one’s ears ache.

...

Having a guide was truly a blessing!

Led by the Mirage Spirit, Bai Ruo’s group avoided most dangers and collected a bounty of medicinal herbs along the way, much to Huaize's delight—he had even more to chatter about now!

“Up ahead is the Domain of the Strange. My cultivation is too low, I never dared enter. Every time I get close, I feel a strong pressure. Sister, do you want to go in?”

After forming the equal contract, the Mirage Spirit had started calling Bai Ruo “Sister.”

The trees here were particularly eerie, each branch twisted and clawing. The path ahead glimmered with ghostly light.

After careful consideration, Bai Ruo decided not to venture in. Her soul was powerful, but her current cultivation wasn’t high enough.

More importantly, she had a group to look after. She couldn’t guarantee everyone’s safety if they plunged into danger.

Rustle… rustle…

Bai Ruo gripped her sword tightly.

The others, seeing her tense, also readied their magical tools and braced themselves to recite their spells.

A pitch-black lump rolled out of the grass and lay motionless.

Huaize picked up a stick and cautiously approached.

He poked it—no response.

Pinching a clump of hair between his thumb and forefinger, he held his breath and gingerly turned it over.

!!!

“Baili Ce!”

At the name, the group crowded around.

Bai Ruo took out a pill and handed it to Huaize to administer.

Baili Ce was covered in mud and reeked with a stench, his clothes torn to rags, black hair plastered to his face. He was a far cry from his former spirited self.

Given the difference between men and women, Bai Ruo stood at the back.

The medicine took effect quickly; Baili Ce gradually regained consciousness.

His eyes were hollow, but when he saw Huaize and the others, hope flared up. His voice was hoarse:

“Hurry… save Shen Miao! She… she was taken by the beast tide!”

Huaize gave him water, and Baili Ce repeated himself.

“All right, all right, we’ll go back and save her. But, Brother Baili, clean yourself up first, then tell us exactly what happened.”

Baili Ce glanced at his clothes—no wonder Bai Ruo had been standing behind him.

He quickly performed a cleansing spell, removed all the grime, and changed into fresh clothes from his storage space.

“Senior Sister Bai Ruo, please save Shen Miao. On our path, we encountered a beast tide. I was lucky, but Shen Miao was taken. I followed the traces all the way here.”

Bai Ruo frowned.

“You went in?”

“Yes. Inside, there were all Royal-level demon beasts—two of them even Saint-level. I barely survived by using my disguises.”

“You saw Shen Miao inside?”

Baili Ce nodded.

She had completed the system’s task, but Shen Miao was, after all, a person. Besides, she was curious to see for herself.

If things got out of hand, she could always knock everyone out and drag them into her portable realm.

Once they exited the secret realm, she could release them and have Little Rascal create some false memories for them.

Royal-level beasts matched her current cultivation, but against two Saints, hard confrontation was impossible.