"I will try to think less," Yu Xuan said politely.
"Good." the old woman replied dryly, absentmindedly letting the purple sli perch on her head like so bizarre ornant.
Yu Xuan still wasn’t sure if the creature was impossibly brave or simply terrifyingly strong. He cleared his throat.
"Elder, I have a request."
"Go on. Speak."
"May I stay here with my sister for a month?"
The old woman tapped her cane against the ground, expression unreadable. "You could... if I were in the mood to permit it. Unfortunately, child, I’m not."
"Master! How can you bully like this!" Lingluo protested, puffing her cheeks.
Yu Xuan put on a disappointed look, then slyly added, "In that case, may I join the Chaos Heaven Peak directly? I was told Irregulars are allowed to choose freely." He calmly took out his dallion.
The old woman’s eyes lingered on it for a long mont.
’So... he’s also one of them.’ Her gaze flickered, but her tone remained casual.
"Fine. You can stay."
She plucked the dallion from his hand, made a few motions, and then tossed it back to him.
"There. You are now also registered as a disciple of this peak. And you," she narrowed her eyes faintly, "—didn’t bother to ntion you’re a disciple of that girl."
"I thought Elder would already be aware," Yu Xuan replied smoothly, though his eyes glead. If this woman was calling his master girl, then her seniority was even higher than her, he’d guessed.
The old woman coughed lightly, pretending it was nothing. Truthfully, she hardly cared for matters outside the peak.
"Enough. There’s a cottage beside Lingluo’s house. You’ll stay there for now," the old woman said, waving her hand dismissively.
"Elder, may I ask a question?" Yu Xuan ventured carefully.
"If you ask another after this, I’m kicking you out," she replied flatly, still balancing the dozing sli on her head like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Yu Xuan pointed. "I just want to know... what exactly is Tririri?"
The old woman’s gaze flickered. "Ho? So you noticed. Your instincts are sharper than your tongue, at least." She stroked the sli fondly before speaking.
"That is a Heaven Devouring Sli. A Grade Two creature."
Yu Xuan blinked.
"Heaven Devouring... sli? And Grade Two?" His voice was filled with confusion.
The old woman sighed, clearly unimpressed. "All living beings are classified into five distinct grades. Grade One being the highest. For example, that locket you carry."
Yu Xuan’s hand instinctively went to the locket hidden beneath his robes.
"Wait, you have a locket?" Lingluo suddenly leaned in and imdiately tugged at his collar before he could stop her. Her eyes widened as she pulled it out into the light.
Two stones were embedded in the simple pendant: one glowing faintly blue and white, the other shimring with a dark, almost ominous radiance.
"Woooow... so beautiful!" Lingluo exclaid, her eyes sparkling. She looked like she’d just discovered a treasure trove.
Yu Xuan sighed, pushing her hand away. "It’s not jewelry, Lingluo. Don’t drool on it."
The sli jiggled faintly in its sleep, almost as if mocking Lingluo with a soft, "Prukk..."
Yu Xuan’s gaze shifted toward the old woman. His master had warned him never to reveal the locket to anyone — yet this elder had noticed instantly. Not that he could do anything about it. At least this wasn’t a demonic sect.
The old woman raised a brow. "Don’t look at like that. I’m not going to steal your eggs."
"...What?" Yu Xuan blinked, completely lost. She said that, but the wording appeared a bit wrong.
She ignored his confusion and stroked the sli perched on her head.
"This one is a Grade Two creature. Very rare across the Heavens. Its level is based on power and potential, not appearances."
Her tone sharpened slightly as she continued.
"Heaven Devouring Slis are a notorious species — born with the ability to consu anything. So grow so fearso they can devour entire immortal worlds as if they were... snacks."
Yu Xuan’s back stiffened. Immortal worlds... as snacks?! He stared at the little blob jiggling happily on the old won’s head which was now awake. He thought, the sli’s sleep cycle was worst.
The old woman smiled faintly.
"But this little one... is still a baby. A special offshoot from the Chaos bloodline." She tapped the sli gently. "My disciple was fortunate to form a bond with it."
"Prukk!" Tririri jiggled as if proud.
Yu Xuan’s power scale collapsed entirely. First it was prodigies, then strange physiques, then so-called protagonists... and now even slis were monsters? What was he supposed to expect next?
He decided it was safer to leave all expectations behind.
"Then... what about humans?" he asked cautiously.
The old woman gave him a look. "Oh, your race? Don’t get your hopes too high. As a collective, you’re Grade Five — the bottom. That’s your base level. Of course, exceptions exist. Have you seen your master? She could flatten Grade Four creatures into dust without breaking a sweat."
Yu Xuan opened his mouth to ask another question, only to receive a sharp bonk on the head from the old woman’s cane.
"You’ve already exceeded your question quota," she said sternly. "Don’t be greedy, child."
Rubbing his head, Yu Xuan bowed. "Then... thank you, Elder." He had gained a place to stay for free and even valuable information, more than he expected.
"At least you know manners," she said with a rare approving nod.
With a lazy wave of her hand, the sli reappeared, plopping back onto Lingluo’s head like a decorative hat. "Go on, then. Today’s a holiday anyway."
She shuffled back into her hut, leaving them outside.
Yu Xuan blinked, checked his dallion calendar, and nearly choked. The thirteenth day of the week — official sect holiday. That explained why the central area was so crowded earlier.
"...Wait," Yu Xuan muttered, his lips twitching. "If it’s a holiday, then those poor disciples working the teleportation hubs..."
He sighed heavily, a silent prayer for the overworked. In his heart, they were no longer cultivators, just corporate workers trapped in the wrong world.
User Comments
0 comments from readers