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

Rather than taking the initiative, it was better to feign passivity, striking when chaos reigned and the enemy was unprepared!

“Huai Ze, do you have any beast-frenzying powder, like before?”

“You mean... the Beast Lure Powder? I think I still have a packet left, though its effects aren’t particularly strong—it only lasts about as long as a stick of incense.”

A stick of incense—far too brief. The Beast Lure Powder from that little rascal was excellent, but it couldn’t be used now.

“A stick of incense is sufficient.”

Huai Ze produced a white jade porcelain vial and handed it to Bai Ruo.

He recalled that the powder the rascal had given him before was simply wrapped in a piece of cowhide paper—how careless.

“Give the powder to Bai Li Ce. Among you, his cultivation is the highest. Do your best to buy time.”

Bai Ruo took a jade pendant from her personal storage—a token entrusted to her by the sect leader. Now, it might finally serve its purpose.

She pressed the pendant into Bai Li Ce’s hand, but unexpectedly, her own hand was caught.

“What about you? Are you planning to go in? The leader inside is at the Saint Realm—they won’t be affected by Beast Lure Powder!”

Bai Ruo rolled her eyes inwardly. Damn it, if I don’t go in, are you going instead? In the end, I’d just have to go save both of you, like the old tale of the Calabash Brothers rescuing their grandfather.

On the surface, Bai Ruo forced a powerful smile, appearing strong and reliable. “Shen Miao was brought in by me. Her safety is my responsibility.”

What a curse, this rotten system! Why insist on sending Shen Miao into the Glazed Secret Realm? All this running back and forth just to torment me!

She brushed off the hand gripping her—like shaking off a pig’s trotter. “Go at least ten miles away. That’ll give you more time to run.”

Huai Ze felt that his senior sister had changed.

In the past, Bai Ruo was clear about grudges and affections; her dislike for Shen Miao was writ large on her face. She might not have realized it, but everyone else could see.

“Senior sister will definitely succeed!”

“Yes! Senior sister is amazing! She’ll make it for sure!”

“…”

Bai Ruo waved them off, watching as they left, then crouched upon a tree branch, concealing all trace of her presence.

[Little Rascal, help me hide my cultivation.]

[Master, you mean...? …Got it!]

Now, Bai Ruo appeared completely ordinary, yet there was something uncanny about her.

Low-level spirit birds and beasts began to flee in all directions. The ground trembled—the demon beasts, eyes red, charged from the demonic domain, heading straight for Bai Li Ce and his group.

Wave after wave, a full four waves.

Bai Ruo frowned—she hadn’t expected such staggering numbers. She could only hope Bai Li Ce and Huai Ze would be safe.

With a light leap, Bai Ruo landed and sped toward the domain.

Inside, it was deathly silent; all the beasts had been sent out.

Bai Ruo summoned the Mirage Spirit—perhaps it would be useful soon.

She searched several caves before finally finding some scraps of torn clothing.

The cave ahead was smoother and more regular than the previous ones. Two golden lions slept soundly within.

[Master, Shen Miao is inside. They plan to feed her to their cubs!]

Guided by Little Rascal, Bai Ruo saw Shen Miao thrown carelessly onto dry straw behind the golden lions. Her wounds had scabbed, what remained of her clothing hung in tatters, one arm gone, claw marks raked across her face—she had clearly suffered greatly.

A chill ran down Bai Ruo’s back—the golden lion had awakened.

“Roar!”

“Human. Hmph. I, Gui, hate humans most of all! Since you dare come here, you’ll make a fine meal for my children!”

Without another word, the massive paw, broad as a face, swept straight for her. Bai Ruo dodged by a hair’s breadth.

“Wait!”

The golden lion, thinking this human incapable of causing trouble, halted its paw midair, intending to let its prey writhe a little longer.

“You’re her companion.”

“Her? That nearly-dead woman? Why compare her to me?”

The golden lion lounged lazily against the lioness. “I can’t see through your cultivation, but you’re no match for me. There’s no need for such feeble attempts to clear your name.”

[Little Rascal, what is this golden lion afraid of?]

[Uh… can I say, domestic violence? But it really hates humans. It once had a cub, and a disciple from the Celestial Sect picked it up during a trial and forced a blood contract!]

[Such a huge lion, afraid of domestic violence???]

[Master, the lioness is much more formidable than the male. Be careful of her.]

Seeing Bai Ruo fall silent, the golden lion assumed its food was preparing itself mentally.

Bai Ruo sent a telepathic message to the Mirage Spirit, “Little Spirit, now!”

On the way here, Bai Ruo had already made her plan. The Mirage Spirit’s illusions could trap the golden lions for about half a cup of tea’s time—enough for a quick escape.

A ripple of space, and the two golden lions yawned, completely unaware they had been drawn into an illusion.

Bai Ruo swiftly darted past their hulking forms, hoisting Shen Miao onto her back.

Shen Miao, who always flitted about like a butterfly in her gaudy clothes, was unexpectedly heavy!

Flying and running as fast as she could, Bai Ruo nearly made it out before the golden lions burst from the cave.

Half a cup of tea’s time—down to the last second.

“Roar!”

…

Elsewhere, Huai Ze saw the Beast Lure Powder’s effects fading and, with no other options, had Bai Li Ce lead a retreat.

Bai Li Ce didn’t hesitate. The scent of the powder had driven the beasts mad.

Huai Ze and the others quickly and stealthily followed behind.

They could handle a single beast, but this was a horde—if they confronted them, they’d be devoured before they could even put up a fight!

…

Outside the Glazed Realm.

Fissures appeared at the edge of the Mirror of Three Lifetimes. The elders convened at once.

Upon seeing the situation, Zhong Li immediately ended the trial and disappeared from the great hall.

…

Bai Ruo threw Shen Miao into a patch of grass and engaged the two lions head-on. The current situation left her on the defensive, every move focused on survival.

She had planned to retreat into her portable space if things went south, but she hadn’t realized there were spatial restrictions in this demonic domain—whoever had set them was a real genius.

Gui’s hatred for humans had reached the extreme; every swipe of their claws was meant to end Bai Ruo’s life.

After several exchanges, Bai Ruo was being overwhelmed; sweat streamed down her brow.

She regretted ever taking on this wretched task.

[Little Rascal, I fear I’m about to end up in the next world.]

[Master, don’t panic! Reinforcements are coming!]

Bai Ruo’s sword had been knocked from her hand by the lioness. The spiritual energy in her core was nearly depleted—she was running on sheer willpower.

She still stuffed life-saving pills into her mouth by the handful, hurling defensive artifacts desperately.

The ground trembled once more. Bai Ruo glanced back—the sky was thick with dust. Reinforcements? More like a death sentence…!