Chapter 4 Part 2
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This chapter is edited by Bakhtawar Kakar. Thank you for your contribution!
Chapter 4: Walking With An Lan Through the Long Years (2)
It had been six years since Bai Lian arrived in the East Divine Land.
The 16th of January.
It rained heavily that day.
But in Bai Lian’s eyes, there was no sign of rain.
…
At dawn, in the town at the foot of the mountain, Bai Lian and An Lan arrived together. Xiao Jinse and Su Youwei were already waiting under a tree.
Before An Lan could react, Xiao Jinse rushed forward.
“Master!”
“?”
Clap.
Suddenly, both disciples darted in, one grabbing her on the left and the other on the right. An Lan was caught off guard.
What are you doing?
There’s no gift for you!
But Xiao Jinse and Su Youwei weren’t there to ask for gifts—they had brought gifts for her.
Xiao Jinse smiled. “Master, I found this beautiful hairpin while shopping earlier.”
Su Youwei chimed in. “Master, I made this sugar figure with my own hands.”
“Oh.”
An Lan nodded, a little puzzled. Do people exchange gifts during the Lantern Festival?
Still, she recognized the gesture as their goodwill and accepted the presents.
“Thank you.”
Xiao Jinse raised her hand, her expression earnest. “What I’ve done is nothing compared to what Master has done for me.”
Hmm.
Though the words seemed like flattery, they also carried genuine sincerity.
An Lan smiled and nodded.
Not bad.
As long as you two don’t follow that despicable person’s path, I’ll be content!
Her smile prompted laughter from Xiao Jinse and Su Youwei.
They recalled the time An Lan had been massaging Bai Lian’s feet—they had witnessed the scene nearby.
They’d also seen An Lan and Bai Lian walking side by side under an umbrella.
Of course, they had no doubts about their tsundere master.
An Lan constantly referred to them as “your Martial Sisters” when addressing Bai Lian. How could they not feel pleased with such a thoughtful master?
Amid the lively chatter, Bai Lian felt deeply touched.
What a joyful scene!
She didn’t know what had happened, but it seemed like her master and Martial Sisters were growing closer by the day.
Looking up slightly, she saw a harmonious picture unfold:
Everyone sitting together, speaking honestly, with no hostility or arguments.
Let’s go.
Go home!
Under their umbrellas, they made their way back to Qiongming Peak.
Just as Bai Lian was about to return to her room to rest, An Lan stopped her.
“Come with me. I’ll make some Medicinal Pills to help heal your wounds.”
Bai Lian followed her.
Initially, An Lan had planned to let Bai Lian recover on her own. But now, she felt uneasy and decided to refine some pills to help.
While these Medicinal Pills couldn’t fully heal Bai Lian’s injuries, they would halve her recovery time.
“Eh?”
As she waited for An Lan to finish refining, Bai Lian noticed a pile of broken porcelain shards in the corner of the room.
Isn’t that the cup Master likes the most?
She had been wondering how to give her new cup to her master.
Isn’t this the perfect excuse?
Deliberately, she asked, “Master, don’t you want this cup anymore?”
Without turning around, An Lan stared at the fiery orb in her hand. “I don’t like it. I don’t want it anymore.”
Bai Lian smiled. “Master, let me give you a new cup.”
Pulling out a piece of refining material from her chest, she began carving without waiting for An Lan’s response.
A cup needed a hollow to hold water.
But that wasn’t enough.
How could a cup stand without handles?
She also worked on the exterior—practicality and aesthetics were both essential.
After all, if the cup was too ugly, how could it interest her master?
Bai Lian wasn’t an expert in this field, and her sense of aesthetics differed from her master’s. In the end, she modeled the cup after the one An Lan had used for decades, adding a few modifications to the handle.
“All done!”
She cheerfully placed the new cup on the stone table.
“…”
An Lan opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing, conceding to Bai Lian’s behavior.
She handed over the Medicinal Pills. “You can leave now. I need to rest.”
“Yes, Master.”
Bai Lian felt at ease after successfully delivering the gift.
The moment she left, An Lan picked up the new cup.
She examined it.
She held it in her hands.
It’s Cold
With this grip, she felt as though she had a hold on Bai Lian’s very essence.
She poured a cup of tea, its surface shimmering with condiments she had meticulously mixed herself. The aroma wafting from the cup was no different from Bai Lian’s unique scent.
An Lan took a sip, nodding in satisfaction.
“Oh, it tastes like Bai Lian!”
Decision made.
That old cup could go straight to the garbage pile!
…
When Bai Lian returned to her room, dawn had just broken.
Her body, still weak, felt as though she had been harshly punished by her master after the exhausting climb up the mountain path.
But sleep was the last thing on her mind.
Sitting on the edge of her bed, she swallowed the medicinal pills in one go.
The medicine spread through her mouth, warmth surging within her as if she had just absorbed her master’s essence.
While her body’s injuries began to heal slowly, a system prompt suddenly appeared before her:
Her basic skills had improved!
Hard Skill +18
Soft Skill +20
Light Skill +27
Focus +8
These improvements were not just the result of the medicinal herbs but also of the two Immortal Spirit Stones she had forced herself to absorb.
The immense Immortal Spirit Qi contained in those stones had been entirely directed into the sea monster’s body, leaving Bai Lian’s cultivation base unchanged.
However, the grueling ordeal had “broadened” her physical limits.
Her body could now accommodate more Spirit Qi, and it had also grown significantly more resilient.
As her injuries gradually healed, her basic skills would continue to improve.
“This could definitely be considered a blessing in disguise.”
Bai Lian was delighted.
However, she vowed never to attempt such a dangerous operation again.
After all, Immortal Spirit Stones were volatile. Once activated, the absorption process couldn’t be stopped.
If either of the stones had been even slightly larger, her body would have been torn apart by the overwhelming energy.
Opening the system panel, she marveled at her updated basic skill attributes, now at an impressive new level:
Hard Skill: 619
Soft Skill: 620
Light Skill: 611
Focus: 644
These values included the Fourth Martial Sister Contract Bonus, pushing every stat above 600.
Even without utilizing Spirit Qi, Bai Lian’s physical strength alone could easily defeat most early-stage cultivators in the Transcendency Stage.
Factoring in the bonuses from her abilities and tools, she was already stronger than most peak Transcendency Stage cultivators.
As for those in the Transmigration Stage…
Bai Lian dared not entertain the thought.
That was an entirely different league.
Unless she wielded powerful Spirit Tools or deeply explored the potential of her Qianhuan Real Eyes, she wouldn’t stand a chance.
Of course.
This assessment didn’t take into account the unique Special Effects she had mastered.
“Take it slow,” she reminded herself.
Bai Lian wasn’t in a rush.
Since she didn’t plan to leave the sect anytime soon, she decided to use the time to train her Martial Sisters and write a book about the Green Emperor’s exploits.
She had promised herself the world wouldn’t forget Xia Qingqing.
She was a woman who kept her word!
After refining the medicinal power coursing through her, Bai Lian kicked off her shoes, nestled under her blanket, and drifted off to sleep.
Outside her window, the rain poured down relentlessly.
What else could one do in such miserable weather but sleep?
Or go for a walk!
That’s what Xiao Jinse thought.
Unfortunately, Su Youwei ruined her plans.
Feeling disheartened but unwilling to quarrel, she decided to walk alone down the mountain.
By the time she reached the massive rock near the entrance to the Duxian Sect, it was already nine o’clock.
There, she stopped in her tracks.
She recognized someone.
“The Saintess!”
It was Ying Shi, the former Saintess of Yaochi Holy Mountain.
Today, Ying Shi was dressed not in the Taoist robes of Yaochi Holy Mountain but in a dark skirt that revealed half her legs.
Ying Shi turned her head.
“Oh, aren’t you the Second Martial Sister of White Emperor Bai Lian? I’m not a Saintess anymore, so don’t call me that.”
Xiao Jinse frowned slightly. I don’t care what you are.
She asked, “May I know what brings you to our Duxian Sect?”
Ying Shi smiled faintly. “I’ve come to speak with the White Emperor Bai Lian. Meeting you here in advance is fortunate. I want to join Qiongming Peak!”
“Huh?”
Xiao Jinse froze, as if struck by lightning.
