I Outworked the Entire Cultivation World

Chapter 46: Chapter 37: Green Palace Lantern

The sky in the east was about to dawn, and the first light of morning trickled through silently.

Around Jiang Yuebai lay a scattered mess of Spirit Stone fragments. The thirteenth Spirit Stone carving had failed, and as the stone shattered, the Spiritual Energy dissipated. She hurriedly absorbed it into her body, not daring to waste a single bit.

Jiang Yuebai was heartbroken as if she were carving into her own flesh.

The only comfort she could find was in the fact that the dissipated Spiritual Energy was absorbed into her body to enhance her Cultivation, and even the three-leaf seedling at the center of her Sea of Consciousness sprouted a tiny bud, about to grow a fourth leaf, symbolizing the growth of her Divine Sense.

”This effect is several times better than the Star Refining God Method, but it really consumes a lot of Spirit Stones...”

Jiang Yuebai slumped over the low table, once again wishing she owned a Spiritual Ore vein.

”It’s no wonder they say, ’Don’t enter the Puppetry Path without money’, nor is it surprising that Moh Baichun sets up a stall in the workshop to trick kids out of their Spirit Stones.”

After a moment of frustration, Jiang Yuebai pulled herself together, saw that Lu Nanzhi and Xie Jingshan were still asleep, and quietly left, heading deeper into Yinfeng Creek.

The canyon between the two mountains was over three yards wide, deep and pitch black, with the howling of the wind like the wailing of ten thousand ghosts, utterly terrifying.

Jiang Yuebai circled around, looking for a way to the south side of Yinfeng Creek to Ten Miles Slope, from where she could sneak back to Huaxi Valley, as her stomach was growling with hunger.

”There are so many Ghost Lamps on Ten Miles Slope, but there’s not a single one here? Without them, how am I supposed to practice the Broken Water Three Blades?”

After searching without finding a path, Jiang Yuebai sat on a rock, took out the White Jade Ocarina, and practiced playing the Chaotic Soul Technique, treating it as a way to relax and cultivate her character.

[You’ve started learning the Chaotic Soul Technique, the tune is not a tune, the melody is not a melody, utterly talentless. Miss, could you stop playing?]

Jiang Yuebai ignored the Immortal Cultivation Panel’s reminder, bobbing her head, enjoying herself.

The sudden attack of the Yinfeng brought three streaks of phosphorescent light from unknown origins, charging straight at Jiang Yuebai from the side.

She was caught off guard, dodging frantically, letting the White Jade Ocarina fall into the dry grass, and those three streaks of light fiercely darted back and forth over it.

Unfortunately, as they had no physical form, they couldn’t damage the White Jade Ocarina in the slightest.

After a moment, the three phosphorescent lights calmed down, forming into the shape of a lantern. Jiang Yuebai’s eyes lit up, her hand gripping the handle of her machete behind her waist.

”Hmm? Why is this Ghost Lamp different?”

Ordinary Ghost Lamps had a vague lantern shape, but the green Palace Lantern now surrounded in the center was extremely lifelike and exquisite.

Two balls of phosphorescent fire circled it, emitting a faint green glow, as if there were two lines of words on the lantern?

Zheng!

The machete unsheathed, silver light flashing.

The green Palace Lantern trembled and turned to flee.

”Stop! You’re not allowed to run!”

Jiang Yuebai retrieved the White Jade Ocarina and pursued. The green Palace Lantern was as swift as a meteor, so she slapped on a Gale Talisman, cutting down two followers, forcing the green Palace Lantern back against a cliff wall with nowhere to retreat.

The green Palace Lantern trembled in fear. Jiang Yuebai closed in step by step, gradually making out the small characters on the lantern.

[The moon rises, startling the mountain birds, which chirp in the spring creek]

The green Palace Lantern suddenly went berserk, turning back to crash into Jiang Yuebai.

Jiang Yuebai swept her machete horizontally, the Sword Aura slicing the Palace Lantern in half in mid-air as two green lights collided with her body.

”I’ve seen so much blood; I detest the color red. Today is the Lantern Festival, so I’ll make you a jade-green lamp.”

A woman’s voice suddenly sounded in her mind, the sound lingering beautifully.

Jiang Yuebai hurriedly checked her body, finding nothing abnormal. Could it be that this Ghost Lamp had a remnant soul, which made it special, leaving a phrase before dying?

Crash!

The cliff wall shattered, revealing a narrow gap.

Jiang Yuebai approached, discovering the cliff wall was thin, likely broken by her Sword Aura.

Inside, cold air spilled forth, revealing a Grotto Heaven with twisting paths of unknown length, glowing dimly with many Ghost Lamps.

”Did I just stir up a nest of Ghost Lamps?”

Jiang Yuebai visibly grew excited. This direction led southward, and maybe she could fight her way to Ten Miles Slope.

”Jiang Yuebai—”

Hearing Xie Jingshan’s call, Jiang Yuebai retracted the leg she’d stepped out with, reluctantly glancing at the broken wall twice before turning back.

”Where did you run off to so early in the morning? Have you been secretly practicing again? It’s bad enough you pressure me openly, but secretly working hard too — you’re practically inhuman!” Xie Jingshan fumed.

Jiang Yuebai was baffled, ”What does my practice or efforts have to do with you, Jingshan?”

”You! I’m at Qi Cultivation Third Layer too now, why do you still call me Junior Brother?”

”I broke through before you.”

”We have the same level of Cultivation!”

”And yet, I broke through first.”

”...”

Jiang Yuebai pushed aside Xie Jingshan and returned to the entrance of Yinfeng Creek, where she saw Lu Nanzhi sitting cross-legged with a solemn expression, facing east.

In front of her was a low table of redwood with gold lacquer, adorned with intricately carved gold cups and an incense burner.

Lu Nanzhi sat with her back straight, smoothed her sleeves, adjusted her hair, and performed the Dust Cleaning Technique three times.

Her white clothes were as pristine as snow, presenting a very dignified appearance.

Nanzhi took some salt, covered her face with her wide sleeve, and cleaned her teeth and rinsed her mouth. Finally, she lit the incense, and amidst the curling smoke, folded her hands over an elixir and meditated with closed eyes.

”What is she doing?”

Jiang Yuebai scratched her messy hair, looking at Lu Nanzhi with utter bewilderment, while Xie Jingshan crossed his arms and rolled his eyes.

”I’m asking you a question.”

Jiang Yuebai elbowed Xie Jingshan, who gritted his teeth in annoyance.

”It’s just the stuffy rituals of a big family, a morning routine every day.”

Jiang Yuebai frowned at Xie Jingshan, her hair disheveled, covered in straw, her clothes askew, with a trace of drool at the corner of her mouth.

Though both were in isolation for reflection, compared to the immaculate and dignified Lu Nanzhi, he looked like a beggar.

Disdainfully shaking her head, Jiang Yuebai chewed on a piece of straw from her head, thinking they’re both in the same situation.

Once Lu Nanzhi finished the incense ritual, Jiang Yuebai leaned over to inhale her elegant fragrance and asked, ”Aren’t you tired doing this every day?”

Lu Nanzhi’s eyes dimmed slightly, ”This is a family rule of the Lu Family. I’ve done it since childhood; it’s just a habit now.”

”If you don’t like it, don’t follow it. You’re not with the Lu Family now.” Jiang Yuebai turned her head, ”Why don’t you have these rules? You’re like a vagabond.”

Xie Jingshan scoffed, ”My family doesn’t bother with such stuffy rules. Besides, my family isn’t an Immortal Cultivation Family, wasting time on useless rules. Good character comes from everyday behavior, not these pretentious rituals.”

Jiang Yuebai and Lu Nanzhi were not too familiar with Xie Jingshan’s background; he didn’t like to elaborate, and they didn’t press.

Another day of undercurrents passed, Jiang Yuebai remained energetic, Lu Nanzhi appeared a bit tired, and Xie Jingshan looked hopeless.

At midnight, Jiang Yuebai put down the talismanic pen, stretched her body. Having successfully drawn three out of a hundred talismans today, she felt it was not bad.

Lu Nanzhi and Xie Jingshan both sighed in relief as they put down their books, exchanged glances, uncertain why they felt relieved.

Gurgle～～

The sound of a growling stomach echoed, Jiang Yuebai frowned looking at Xie Jingshan.

Xie Jingshan held his stomach, ”It’s not me; I secretly took a Fasting Pill before coming in. I can last until tomorrow.”

”You’re experienced, having been here twice.”

Jiang Yuebai praised, assuming it wasn’t Xie Jingshan; could it be...

The two looked at Lu Nanzhi, who remained calm.

”It’s me.”

Gurgle～～

Lu Nanzhi silently endured, maintaining her posture at the desk.

A moment of silence followed.

”Puhahaha, Senior Sister Lu, your image as an elegant fairy has entirely collapsed in my heart, hahaha. So even immortals can be hungry enough for their stomachs to growl!”

Jiang Yuebai clutched her stomach, laughing, while Xie Jingshan stifled his laughter, knowing Lu Nanzhi was naturally a Spiritual Body and needed to eat a lot; two days without food must have been unbearable.

Lu Nanzhi’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, she turned away from Jiang Yuebai in annoyance.

”Before Foundation Establishment, fasting is impossible; hunger is a common human experience, what’s so funny!”

Jiang Yuebai wiped tears from her eyes, her mouth sore, ”Okay, okay, I won’t laugh. I’ll take you to eat.”

Lu Nanzhi abruptly turned, her eyes bright, ”Where is there food?”

Xie Jingshan was also confused, ”All our food was confiscated when we came in; isolation is meant to make us starve. Did you hide something to eat?”

Jiang Yuebai gave a mysterious smile, ”Not really, but I know a path that might lead to Ten Miles Slope. If we can reach Ten Miles Slope, I can bring you back to Huaxi Valley. My grandfather is a Spiritual Cultivation Master, there’s definitely food at home.”

”We’re being punished, escaping is against the rules,” Lu Nanzhi refused.

Xie Jingshan was eager, ”Let’s go quickly, I’ve long wanted to leave; is there anything fun at your Huaxi Valley?”

”Senior Sister Lu, you’re really not going?”

Gurgle～

Lu Nanzhi sat as before, silent.

Jiang Yuebai chuckled mischievously, said no more, and left with Xie Jingshan.

As their footsteps faded, Lu Nanzhi clenched her fist in frustration, ”He didn’t even try harder to persuade...”

Just as she finished speaking, she was pulled up by Jiang Yuebai, who had returned, ”Let’s go, let’s go, as long as we’re back before the seventh day, it’s fine.”

One dragging forcefully, the other half-heartedly yielding.