the multi

Chapter 44: Smackdown Gust

The strongest cultivator is not the one who can take the most, but the one who knows precisely how much force to apply. Like a master physician administering medicine, your response to corruption should be carefully measured—enough to cure the disease without killing the patient.

—Master Bai Yue, Hand of Mortal Healing

Xiulan stared at Feng Yu, then shifted her gaze to the bell-shaped collection device. The contraption gleamed in the late morning light, its polished surface reflecting the rocky landscape.

They had brought the wagon with them—along with a group of six men plus their drivers—up into the mountain as far as the path allowed. The journey ended at a played-out gold mine, still within sight of the city.

The open ground provided a clear view of the dozens of small groups and solo miners combing the rock fields for loose valuables. Most of them worked their way higher up the mountain, driven by desperation. Their worn clothes and haggard faces spoke of long days spent searching for small lost pebbles that might offer days or weeks of succor.

Xiulan watched the hired laborers strain under the weight of the bronze bell. Their muscles bulged as they maneuvered it onto solid ground with grunts of effort.

Four taels well spent , she thought, even though she and Feng Yu possessed enough cultivation strength to move it themselves. The security of having eight men escort the empty wagon back to the city outweighed the minor expense.

Leaving with the bell and not the wagon would have been more suspicious, although she wasn't exactly clear on who was being suspicious of them. They'd certainly been watched by the light blue robe and white sashed guards in the city and while leaving, but she hadn't seen anyone else paying them extra mind.

But Feng Yu had said it was a good idea, and she was predisposed to listening to the other woman on these things. She had way more experience traveling and living in the world.

A leather harness sailed through the air toward Xiulan's face. She caught it reflexively, staring at the intricate webbing of straps and metal buckles.

"What?"

"You'll need one too—just in case you have to carry the bell," Feng Yu said. She pulled two more harnesses from the cart and stuffed them into their oversized travel pack. "These are single use only, and we've got just two spares."

Xiulan examined the harness, methodically fastening the various buckles around her torso. The design sparked a memory from Phoenix Kingdom Chronicles —players used identical gear to transport heavy items. But the game had always faded to black during the actual lifting sequence...

Feng Yu turned to look down the path and froze, eyes fixed on the abandoned mine entrance. The weathered timber supports cast long shadows across the rocky ground.

"Is something the matter?" Xiulan asked.

"We're being watched," Feng Yu said, her gaze fixed.

Xiulan's muscles tensed. "By who?"

"Not sure." Feng Yu shifted her stance. "But whoever they are, I don't sense any overwhelming strength from them."

Xiulan closed her eyes and reached out with her qi sense. Another skill she needed to master properly. At close range, her qi detection worked perfectly—she could track individual meridian flows and pinpoint energy concentrations within arms' reach. 

But Feng Yu operated on a completely different level, detecting things long before they became immediate dangers. And the only advice given was a frustrating 'practice more,' which wasn't super useful!

The background qi pulsed steadily around them, denser than usual due to the mineral-rich mountains. Beyond that... nothing. No distinct signatures or unusual patterns caught her attention. Maybe the elevated ambient energy was making it harder?

What am I missing that she can detect so easily?

Feng Yu exhaled sharply. "Well, let's just see what comes out."

Xiulan watched as Feng Yu backed up to the bronze bell and dropped into a perfect squat. A quick tug on a cord at her shoulder transformed the simple harness into something else entirely. Leather straps shot outward like striking snakes, wrapping around the massive collection device in fluid motions. The bindings cinched tight with a series of sharp clicks, securing the bell firmly against Feng Yu's back.

Feng Yu straightened, lifting the massive weight as if it weighed nothing. Xiulan focused on the qi flows rippling through the ground beneath Feng Yu's feet. The energy pulsed subtly—not a massive drain, but definitely active qi at work maintaining her balance.

"Here they come." Feng Yu nodded toward the abandoned mine entrance.

Three figures emerged from the shadowed tunnel. Two wore plain green robes with blue sashes, steel swords hanging at their sides. Their leader strutted ahead in more elaborate garments trimmed with gold thread, a heavy cudgel thrust through his waist sash.

"Earth's Embrace Academy." Feng Yu's words carried a note of recognition.

Why now? Xiulan's jaw tightened. The timing was far too convenient—waiting until after Feng Yu had strapped herself to their equipment before making an appearance. This was not a friendly visit.

Xiulan turned to the hired laborers, who shuffled their feet against the rocky ground. Their eyes darted between her and the approaching cultivators.

"You may return to the city now." She kept her tone steady, projecting calm authority despite the tension crackling through the air. The men bowed deeply before urging the horses back down the mountain path.

The three cultivators advanced with measured steps. They acted like they had all the time in the world. Xiulan blew a puff from her lips. Annoying.

Feng Yu eventually raised her hand, the bronze bell still strapped to her back. "That's close enough. State your business."

The leader stepped forward, gold thread on his robes catching the morning light. "I am Duan Wuji. You're trespassing on our territory. There's a fee for that."

"We're still on the public road." Xiulan gestured to the worn path beneath their feet. The packed earth showed clear signs of use.

Duan Wuji smirked. "This road services the mine exclusively. Beyond this point, you're trespassing."

"We have no interest in the mine." Xiulan squared her shoulders. "Our business lies elsewhere, so there's nothing more to discuss."

"How unfortunate you see it that way." Duan Wuji's fingers traced the length of his cudgel. "We'll need to settle this with a duel, then. And I'm afraid the price just went up significantly."

Xiulan crossed her arms. "And what if we don't consent to a duel?"

Duan Wuji's eyes narrowed to dark slits, and he shifted his stance. "That would be quite unfortunate. Then all three of us would need to fight—and with your friend so encumbered by whatever that is, it wouldn't be very fair, would it?"

"Tsk." Xiulan studied the trio's positioning. The two lackeys had spread out slightly, hands resting on their sword hilts.

Duan Wuji chuckled, the sound echoing off the rocky cliff face. "You should have just paid the fee! Two spirit stones and you could have passed freely. Now when I win this duel, I'll be taking all of them."

"Haa." Xiulan tilted her head. "And what if you lose? Will you offer up your gold mine?"

"We don't even need to consider that possibility." Duan Wuji puffed out his chest. "I won't be losing!"

"So whatever I want, then?" Xiulan smiled sweetly.

Duan Wuji scoffed. "I don't care." He pulled a studded mace from his belt. One of his companions passed him a small buckler shield. "First hit decides it—unless you wish to court death?"

Xiulan reached for her spear, but Feng Yu's arm shot out, blocking her.

"I'll be his opponent," Feng Yu declared firmly. "Not my younger martial sister."

"What!" Duan Wuji exclaimed.

"The only one courting death here is you." Feng Yu shifted the massive bronze bell on her back. "I won't let my martial sister fight some toll monkey. Besides, explaining your corpse to the city guards would be troublesome."

Blood rushed to Duan Wuji's face, turning it scarlet. "You—!"

"Are you sure...?" Xiulan studied Feng Yu's stance. The device was unwieldy…

Feng Yu drew her saber with her free hand and patted Xiulan's shoulder. "One Thunder God Clap would probably kill all three of them. The guards watching us from the city walls might take issue with that."

Xiulan squinted toward the distant walls. The city sprawled below them, buildings reduced to tiny blocks at this distance. No way to make out individual guards from here—but then again... If I was stuck on guard duty with enhanced sight, I'd probably watch anything interesting too.

"Those guards aren't even paying attention to us." Duan Wuji spat on the ground.

A sharp whistle cut through the air as Feng Yu stepped forward and slashed. The force of her strike created visible ripples in the air between them. "You're wasting our time. Run or fight."

Xiulan backed away from the confrontation, giving Feng Yu space to maneuver despite the bell's bulk.

Duan Wuji released a guttural growl and charged forward like an enraged bull, his cudgel raised high.

Xiulan held her breath as Duan Wuji skid to a halt, his charge a fake out as he switched directions to circle Feng Yu. The bronze bell restricted her friend's movement, forcing precise, economical steps. Each pivot looked calculated, deliberate.

Duan Wuji darted in from the side, mace whistling through the air while his buckler stayed centered, protecting his core. Feng Yu's saber flashed in response—a storm of steel despite her encumbrance. The weapons clashed in a series of clangs and clinks that echoed off the rocky ground.

The Earth's Embrace cultivator retreated, reassessing. His footwork showed practiced discipline as he maintained distance. A sharp stomp sent qi coursing through the ground. Rock cracked and split, a fissure racing toward Feng Yu's position.

Feng Yu's saber struck downward in a horizontal arc. The blade ignited with crimson energy, carving a glowing line that intercepted the approaching fault line. Fire erupted from the intersection, forcing Duan Wuji back another step.

"Damned fire cultivator!" His mace struck downward in a vicious arc, qi-enhanced strength shattering the ground. Rock chunks flew toward Feng Yu in a deadly barrage.

Multiple slashes carved burning paths through the air. Waves of super-heated qi reduced the projectiles to ash. The red mist continued onward, forcing Duan Wuji to leap aside. His green robes fluttered as he landed and tensed for another assault.

"Stop!" Xiulan's shout cut through the tension.

Three pairs of eyes turned toward her. She pointed at Duan Wuji's sleeve. Embers still smoldered on the fabric.

"The duel was to first hit. You've already lost."

Xiulan tensed as Duan Wuji's companions drew their swords. Qi surged through their meridians—the telltale sign of imminent attack. Three against two, and Feng Yu's movement is limited by that bell.

She raised both hands skyward, channeling opposing qi streams through her meridians. The energy crackled between her palms before she released a controlled burst upward. Thunder boomed across the mountainside, echoing off the rocky slopes. The sound echoed like a warning drum.

Duan Wuji's team froze mid-step, weapons still raised. Their eyes darted between Xiulan and the dissipating energy above.

"Parlor tricks won't save you." Duan Wuji sneered, adjusting his grip on the cudgel. "We aren't afraid of some sound."

"Xiulan don't kill th—" Feng Yu started.

Xiulan shifted her stance and aimed both palms at the trio. Qi rushed through her meridians as she carefully modulated the flow—hopefully enough to teach a lesson without causing permanent damage. The energy streams collided between her hands, releasing a Thunder God Claps for Arrogant Young Masters .

The blast caught all three cultivators. They lifted off the ground, arms and legs flailing as they sailed backward through the air. They crashed into the gravelly dirt several a dozen feet away, weapons scattering.

"Hey, you've learned some control." Feng Yu nodded approvingly.

"Thanks to your help with practicing." Xiulan grinned at her.

Duan Wuji staggered to his feet, dust falling from his once-pristine robes. "Even if you can do that special move, you can't possibly maintain it more than—"

Xiulan brought her palms together. The qi streams collided with precise control, sending another thunderclap through the morning air. Though weakened by distance, the blast still caught Duan Wuji square in the chest. He stumbled backward, boots scraping against loose rocks as he fought to maintain balance.

"I'm not even trying." Xiulan channeled more qi between her hands, creating visible distortions in the air. "Want to see if you three can survive a trip back to the city? Over the wall? Test out how the defensive talismans work?"

Maybe that's pushing it a bit far , she thought. But the threat had the desired effect—blood drained from Duan Wuji's face, leaving him pale as morning frost.

"Now then." Xiulan lowered her hands and smiled sweetly. "Since you never specified what I'd get when you lost the duel... I can take everything, right?"

Feng Yu leaned close, her breath tickling Xiulan's ear as she whispered something that made Xiulan burst into laughter.

"Start stripping." Xiulan gestured at the three cultivators. "If you hurry, I'll let you keep your underclothes."

Chapter 45: Wilderness Sigh

In the untamed wilds, every step carries both danger and opportunity. The wise cultivator learns to see beyond the surface, to feel the pulse of qi that marks territorial boundaries, and to recognize that even the most fearsome beasts follow predictable patterns. Yet it is often our own rashness, not the wilderness itself, that poses the greatest threat to success.

—Master Song Lin, Scholar of the Jade Path

Xiulan braced against the bronze collection device strapped to Feng Yu's back. She pushed qi through her entire body for support as her muscles strained to push upward. The valley path had deteriorated into a treacherous maze of broken stone and jutting rocks. 

At least cultivators didn't sweat easily unless their qi reserves were hard pressed. They hadn't reached that point yet. The stupid climb was just more of an annoyance.

The two-foot rocky steps earlier hadn't slowed them down. Feng Yu's enhanced strength made those look trivial and Xiulan hadn't needed to help with the balance of the thing at all. But then they'd faced a choice: a thirty-meter cliff drop or a knife-edge ledge that twisted down into fog-filled ravines.

They'd picked the latter and ended up going down the former, anyway.

Now they struggled up chest-high rock faces that demanded constant climbing.

No one in their right mind would call this a road . Only the verified directions Feng Yu had acquired from Fershere's Treasure Pavilion gave her any confidence they were headed the right way.

They were almost there… just one more hump.

"Come on! Push!" Feng Yu encouraged.

Xiulan planted her feet and shoved hard against the collection device. The sudden force launched Feng Yu forward with an undignified squawk as she tumbled up and over the ledge.

A second later, Xiulan hauled herself over as well. Her palms scraped against the rough stone as she rolled onto solid ground.

"We made it into the wilds." Feng Yu sat cross-legged with the straps to the bronze bell still tugging at her back. She gestured toward the expanse ahead. "There's the valley."

Xiulan pushed to her feet and stared in awe. A massive trough stretched between the mountains that cupped it like two sheltering hands. A dense evergreen forest rimmed the scarp and surrounded a dominating, pristine blue lake in the center. 

Sunlight danced across the crystal-blue water, creating diamond-like sparkles across its surface. Giant birds soared overhead, their wingspans casting fleeting shadows as they dove toward the water.

At the far end of the valley, creatures straight out of Earth's prehistoric era lumbered between the trees. One beast, tall as a building and built like a mutated elephant, ripped up an entire tree trunk. The monster chomped through the wood and leaves with the casual ease of someone eating a sandwich.

It sparked her memories of Phoenix Kingdom Chronicles . The valley mirrored the perfect location she'd chosen for her sect—spacious enough for defensive walls, element-focused cultivation pagodas, and gathering grounds for inner and outer disciples. The lake would support a proper dock with leisure boats and a spiritual fishery. 

Most importantly, the natural isolation would protect from common riffraff while the terrain's shape would make the invasion-protection arrays much more energy efficient.

"Wow. Is this The Land Before Time or something?" The words slipped out before she could catch them.

"What?" Feng Yu frowned.

"Nothing." Xiulan shook her head. "Just amazed how different it looks from the wastelands outside."

"Well, we're in the wilds now. The qi changed drastically." Feng Yu stretched, the leather straps pulling against her. "Did you notice?"

Xiulan frowned and extended her qi sense outward, probing the surrounding air. The spiritual energy flowed with the same thickness and consistency she'd grown accustomed to in Fershere. "The density seems identical?"

A bright laugh escaped Feng Yu. "Yeah, but it's not the same. Can't you feel the pulse?"

Xiulan closed her eyes, blocking out the prehistoric valley's distractions. She pushed her awareness deeper into the qi currents, past the surface-level energy. At first, nothing stood out beyond the usual ebb and flow.

Then—there. A subtle vibration threaded through the qi, so rapid she almost missed it. The sensation reminded her of touching a running engine, a nearly imperceptible hum of contained power.

"Maybe?" Xiulan opened her eyes. "I've never noticed anything like that before. I'd have to go back to Fershere to compare."

"Every region has a different pulse." Feng Yu adjusted the collection device's straps and stood up. "That's how you know you've crossed through a barrier. They don't always announce themselves with dramatic fog or visible boundaries."

"Right." Xiulan absorbed the insight. The concept aligned perfectly with how Phoenix Kingdom Chronicles separated its regions. Different enemies, varied encounters, shifting qi densities, and elemental affinity bonuses—all changed at regional boundaries. She wasn't sure how well that mirrored reality, but the rest stood to follow if the qi signature did.

Would it kill the universe to give me a status interface? Xiulan sighed.

Feng Yu took a step forward and headed toward the treeline below. The broken platforms they'd crossed gave way to a long gravel slope that stretched down to struggling grass skirting the trees.

"We should gather anything useful along the way," Xiulan said, scanning the ground for resources.

Feng Yu extended her palm with a knowing smirk. Four fragments of translucent green stone sparkled in the sunlight, catching and refracting the rays like living crystal.

"Spiritual jade fragments?" Xiulan stared at the precious stones. "When did you—"

Feng Yu's laugh echoed across the slope. "Keep your eyes sharp, martial sister! We're here for a mission, but that doesn't mean it's not an adventure. Treasure lurks everywhere!"

Xiulan caught herself smiling as she scanned the treeline for spirit herbs. Great, now I'm infected with whatever madness drives Ren Chun and Feng Yu . 

Still, the excitement sparked through her qi. Purple-stemmed plants dotted the grass near ancient tree trunks, their leaves shimmering with spiritual essence. She'd collect them later.

The gravel crunched beneath their boots as they picked their way down the slope. Feng Yu angled toward the crystalline lake.

"Should we really head toward the water?" Xiulan studied the shoreline for movement.

"Don't know." Feng Yu adjusted the bronze collection device. "But serpents probably need to drink, right?"

"Makes sense." Xiulan kept her qi sense extended, trying to practice her ability to monitor their surroundings.

Life teemed around them everywhere—birds swooped through branches while insects buzzed in complex harmonies. The wilderness pulsed with natural energy, so very different from Blackmere's tainted swamps. A six-winged creature soared overhead, casting prismatic shadows through translucent feathers.

"Last time I ventured into wild territory, the beasts attacked almost immediately," Xiulan said.

"In Blackmere?" Feng Yu glanced back.

"The swamp, yeah." Xiulan remembered the black scaled creatures lurking beneath the murky waters.

"Places like that fill up with beasts over time." Feng Yu swept her arm toward the valley. "This is more usual. Someone probably came through here in the last decade and cleared out the most hostile creatures. But Blackmere isn't exactly prime real estate for cultivators. Probably no one strong enough passed by to deal with them in a long time."

Xiulan studied her companion's profile. "Was the bounty really why you came? A thousand spirit stones sort of feels inadequate."

A flicker crossed the other woman's face—so brief Xiulan almost missed it.

"No." Feng Yu picked up the pace slightly. "The bounty provided a convenient excuse. I needed to lay low, avoid some... complications. Nothing that should cause you trouble, though."

"Huh. Okay." Xiulan absorbed this revelation while scanning the treeline. Everyone had secrets, and Feng Yu had already proven herself reliable. For the setting, anyway.

It wasn't like she didn't have a bunch of secrets she was holding herself.

Keeping those close seemed like the safest bet, but… Damn it. The longer they worked together, the more and more she wanted to lay everything out and get advice on things.

But… that also felt like shaking a tree, and without knowing if the fruits would be hard or soft as they landed on her head. Xiulan let out a sigh as the trees and water came closer.

The tree trunks grew larger, the distance no longer making a mirage of their size. Ancient branches formed a thick natural canopy while a fence of leafy underbrush ran along the perimeter.

Xiulan gestured toward it. "Should we set up the trap in the trees?"

Feng Yu glanced between the trees and the lake. There was a natural runway down to the water at the two ends of the valley, but they were still a bit high up on the slope. "Let's keep going down until it's level."

"Sounds like a plan," Xiulan replied. They continued down without issue until they put the water on their left and the forest on their right.

Feng Yu turned and nodded toward the trees. "This should be good."

It didn't turn out to be good.

Xiulan hacked at the dense undergrowth with qi-enhanced strikes using her spear. Thick vines and branches moved out of the way grudgingly. Feng Yu followed behind, using her qi in heavy pulses that ran through the air to break through any snags.

It was worse than climbing the mountain!

Eventually, the forest floor transformed from a jungle-like thicket into a relatively thin open space between the thick tree trunks. Light fell down in weak dappled patterns as the wind sieved through the branches.

A thunderous crack split the air and Xiulan jumped. A giant squirrel—easily the size of a compact car—slammed into a nearby tree trunk. The impact shook leaves loose as the creature scrambled away, its bushy tail leaving destruction in its wake.

"There is one!" Feng Yu pointed toward a clearing ahead.

Xiulan followed her gesture and froze. A dawn serpent coiled around a fallen log, its eight-meter length rippling with self-luminescent white scales. The ethereal glow pulsed in gentle waves along its body.

Xiulan studied the creature's display. "How do they sneak up on anything glowing like that?"

"They probably just eat qi most of the time," Feng Yu said. "And sleeping things, maybe?"

Impatience thrummed through Xiulan. "Let's set the trap and then grab it and throw it in."

Feng Yu chuckled. "Doesn't that defeat the point of a trap?"

"Hmm." Xiulan tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Either way, we'll get scales. One method is faster than waiting for it to come after the bait..."

She helped Feng Yu lower the bronze collection device to the ground. The bell shape settled onto four heavy feet that prevented the interior from being flush with the ground. The outer surface was etched with intricate patterns that reminded her of circuit boards.

Dropping to her hands and knees, Xiulan crawled beneath the bell's rim. She positioned a small block at the center, creating a small platform for a spirit stone to sit on. The stone's faint light blue glow cast dancing shadows across the bronze interior.

She backed out and brushed the dirt from her robes. An elaborate control panel housed a second stone slot, and a weathered copper dial. She inserted a second spirit stone and turned on the mechanism. Qi channels lit up across the bell's surface, following geometric grooves that pulsed with stored power.

"Finally!" Feng Yu stretched dramatically, rolling her shoulders. "That thing weighs more than ten people."

"Maybe I could carry it back?" Xiulan suggested.

Feng Yu hummed thoughtfully. "Not sure little sister is ready for that level of weight training!"

"Hey, I'm not weak!" Heat rose to Xiulan's cheeks.

"I know." Feng Yu smiled warmly. "Should we find a suitable spot to watch from? The serpent will come investigate soon."

Xiulan grinned and spun toward where they'd spotted the dawn serpent. "Ha!"

She'd go wrestle the creature into the trap personally.

Chapter 46: Serpent Sough

Water holds memory deeper than any scroll, and wisdom vaster than any sage. Those who dive its depths must be prepared to face truths that have slumbered since the world's dawn.

—Sage Master Tang Xue, Mistress of the Eternal Frost

Xiulan gripped the dawn serpent's muscular body just behind its head, muscles straining against its thrashing coils. The creature's luminescent scales flickered wildly as it twisted and writhed. Its angry hiss echoed off the trees.

"Ahhh!" Xiulan sprinted toward the bronze bell, fighting to maintain her hold. Each step brought fresh resistance as the creature fought against her grip.

"I can't believe you caught one!" Feng Yu's voice carried equal parts amazement and concern.

The serpent's tail whipped violently as Xiulan reached the trap. She attempted to stuff its length inside tail-first, but it lashed back out at her. "Fuck!"

Feng Yu darted forward and seized the serpent's tail. She pulled it taut, stretching the creature's length. Once she was on the opposite side of the bell, she shouted, "Now!"

They released their grips simultaneously. The serpent coiled instantly, preparing to strike—but its defensive posture brought its entire form within the bell's circumference. A grated ring slammed down into the dirt with a resonant clang. A piercing shriek alarm went off two seconds later in a two note pulse. Blue formations across the bronze surface shifted to pulsing green, sealing the trap.

"Oh my god, that was insane." Xiulan's breath came in quick gasps.

"Which god?" Feng Yu asked with genuine curiosity.

A weak laugh escaped Xiulan's lips. She crouched to peer beneath the bell's rim. 

A concentrated beam of light played across the trapped serpent's form as it searched frantically for escape. Where the light touched, scales loosened and detached, floating upward into the beam. Even the creature's hidden belly scales separated under the device's influence.

Xiulan winced at the seemingly cruel process—until she noticed fresh scales beneath the harvested ones. The serpent showed no signs of injury or pain.

"Don't just put your face up to it!" Feng Yu called out. "It'll be furious when the trap opens!"

Xiulan scrambled backward to join her companion at a safe distance. The device continued its work for several minutes before chiming softly, its light shifting to yellow flashes. Soon after, red pulses signaled the end of the cycle. The grate retracted with a grinding sound.

The dawn serpent exploded from the trap in a blur of motion, its scaleless form no longer glowing as it slithered angrily into the underbrush.

Four big handfuls of scales popped out of a small container, and Xiulan dumped them in a collection bag inside their travel pack. When she bent down to check the bait, it was gone. "It snatched the bait anyway?"

Feng Yu pulled a spirit stone from her pouch and handed it over. Xiulan placed it on the little block underneath and then stood back up as the device's qi channels turned a cheerful blue.

"Let's find a good hiding spot. The glow should attract another one soon enough," Feng Yu said.

They settled behind a fallen log near the underbrush, maintaining a clear view of the trap while staying beyond what they hoped was the serpent's sensing range. The spirit stone's pale blue radiance painted shifting shadows across the forest floor.

Minutes stretched into an hour. Xiulan shifted uncomfortably on the damp ground.

"Ugh." Feng Yu nudged her shoulder. "Maybe you should catch another one?"

"Haha, no thanks." Xiulan shook her hands emphatically. "Once was crazy enough."

"Hmm." Feng Yu stood abruptly and gazed toward the lake. "We should collect other materials while we wait."

Xiulan followed her companion through the underbrush. A patch of multi-colored flowers caught her attention. "Look—these are like chromatic daisies. When crushed together, the powder works as an excellent elemental intensifier."

"Lucky me." Feng Yu patted Xiulan's shoulder with a grin. "Having such a skilled alchemist for a martial sister?"

Xiulan squinted at her suspiciously. "Is that my best trait? You and Ren Chun keep mentioning it."

"Most cultivators focus purely on martial arts at our stage." Feng Yu plucked another flower. "Having an alchemist as a peer is invaluable."

"At least you're honest about it." Xiulan gathered the last of the flowers.

They discovered water roots near the shoreline, adding them to their travel pack. Xiulan frowned at the diminishing space. She had brought an extra pack that was still folded up, and it would double her carrying capacity, but even with the extra pack, storage might become an issue.

"I'm going for a swim," Feng Yu announced suddenly, pointing at the lake.

"What!?"

Xiulan bounced anxiously as Feng Yu untied her martial robes. "What are you doing?"

The outer robe fell to Feng Yu's feet, revealing a thin chemise underneath. "How do you expect me to swim in these clothes?"

Xiulan slapped her hands over her eyes. "Someone could see you!"

"Who? We're alone out here."

Through splayed fingers, Xiulan peeked—and immediately regretted it. The chemise joined the pile at Feng Yu's feet. Heat rushed to Xiulan's cheeks. "You're naked!"

"What's wrong with that? Haven't you seen another woman naked before?"

"Yes! But not—not outside!" Xiulan shifted from foot to foot. "What if someone has a spyglass?"

Feng Yu struck an exaggerated pose. "Then they'll get quite a show."

"Oh my god." She couldn't look anymore and stared at the ground.

"Relax, I'm not going completely bare."

Xiulan glanced up to see Feng Yu retrieving her red sash. She wrapped it around her hips like a loincloth and belt, then attached her sword. "Never go anywhere without my weapon. Even swimming."

"Are swords even waterproof?" Xiulan asked weakly.

Feng Yu laughed and waded into the lake. "With qi protection, it's not even cold." She turned back with a grin. "Watch my clothes like a good sister!"

"How long will—"

A splash cut off Xiulan's question as Feng Yu dove beneath the surface.

"—will you be in the water," Xiulan finished to empty air.

The trap alarm pierced the silence with its two-note shriek.

"Aaagh!" Xiulan snatched up the discarded clothes and sprinted toward the sound. "Feng Yu!"

She sprinted back to the trap. The bronze bell pulsed with green light, signaling another successful capture. She bounced from foot to foot while counting down the required waiting period. The serpent inside thrashed against its prison, scales already detached and floating in the harvesting beam.

A minute later, the cycle was completed again. The grate retracted with a metallic groan and the scaleless serpent shot out like an arrow, vanishing into the underbrush. She quickly collected the scales and replaced the bait.

Back at the lakeshore, Xiulan settled onto a mossy log. The water's surface remained undisturbed—no sign of Feng Yu. A cold knot formed in her stomach.

How long can cultivators hold their breath? The thought struck her with sudden force. They need air to cycle qi!

Xiulan sucked in a deep breath and held it. The familiar flow of energy through her meridians stuttered to a halt. Her lungs burned as seconds ticked by. Nothing worked right—the qi refused to move.

But shouldn't there be some circulation? Even a little? Terror clawed at her chest. Feng Yu would be dead by now!

The surge of panic jolted her qi. It moved! Just a tiny bit, but definitely moved. Xiulan focused harder, manually pushing energy through its usual path. Another push. Then another. Like paddling through thick mud, her qi began circulating again. The burning in her lungs faded.

Relief flooded through her. So cultivators could hold their breath—it just took constant effort and drew from their reserves. Her expanded dantian held plenty of energy though, even if it wasn't regenerating while she maintained the technique.

Xiulan pulled out their collection pouch and began sorting scales into neat dozens. Nineteen full stacks plus seven extras; Two hundred thirty-five scales total. Almost halfway to their goal—three more successful captures would do it.

She glanced at the lake again. The water remained perfectly still. She let herself breathe again.

"Where are you?" Xiulan muttered. "This isn't funny anymore!"

Xiulan drummed her fingers against the silk pouch. Their conversation the day before about the lake's mysteries echoed in her thoughts. "Nobody ever tries swimming down there..."

Feng Yu's previous words were a hint.

"You're not actually—" Xiulan shot to her feet. "Feng Yu!"

No response. Just the gentle lap of water against the shore.

"Ahhh!" Xiulan paced along the bank. "You better not be doing something stupid!"

She steadied her breathing and focused qi into her feet. The familiar tingle of Water Stepping Foot spread through her soles. Unlike the poor form she had been using before, Xiulan channeled a precise stream that covered only her feet.

The lake's surface held firm beneath each careful step. Ripples spread from her footfalls as she ventured further from shore. Forty paces out, Xiulan peered into the depths. Murky green water obscured everything beyond a few feet. Deeper sections faded to absolute darkness.

A massive shape glided through the gloom below. Xiulan squinted at the water. The shadow stretched across half the lakebed.

That can't be right.

She glanced up at the cloudless sky. There weren't any clouds, and nothing that big was flying around. It wasn't something above casting a silhouette.

The Dawn Serpent Collection Device shrieker alarm pierced through Xiulan's worried thoughts. "Not now!" She sprinted off the lake and back through the forest, branches whipping past as she charged toward the sound.

Xiulan reached the bronze bell just as its harvesting cycle finished. The grate retracted with a grinding screech. The serpent shot out, scales stripped away, and lunged straight at her with fangs bared.

"Get out of my way, you stupid snake!" Xiulan's frustrated scream echoed through the trees. The serpent froze mid-strike, muscles tensed. Its eyes locked with hers for a heartbeat before it twisted away and vanished into the underbrush.

She snatched the scattered scales from the collection tray and stuffed them haphazardly into her pack. The dead spirit stone could stay where it lay—finding Feng Yu took priority.

Just as she burst through the tree line toward the water, an enormous geyser erupted from the lake's center. Steam and water rocketed skyward in a massive mushroom cloud. 

The peaceful surface shattered as something massive breached.

A colossal white serpent emerged from the chaos. Its scales gleamed like polished pearls in the sunlight. The creature's massive head alone was the size of a building. It released a thunderous hiss that shook leaves from nearby trees.

A wall of water surged outward from the serpent's emergence. Xiulan planted her feet and channeled qi through her meridians just before the tidal wave slammed into her with crushing force. She gritted her teeth as the water rushed past, leaving her soaked but unmoved.

Twin explosions drew her attention upward. Fireballs bloomed against the serpent's pearl-white scales. 

Between two massive fangs, each longer than Xiulan was tall, Feng Yu clung to the creature's gums. Her red sash fluttered as she hacked at sensitive flesh with her sword, still half naked.

"Feng Yu!" Xiulan shouted a third time in exasperation.

Chapter 47: Standard Unprepared Ancient Beast Encounter

The fiercest beast may spare those who possess what it values most, though they may not comprehend their fortune until long after danger has passed. Such mercy is not weakness, but the deepest expression of protective instinct.

—Master Song Lin, Scholar of the Jade Path

Xiulan craned her neck upward at the towering serpent. Pearlescent scales reflected the sunlight like polished mirrors, each one the same size as the smaller serpents in the forest. The creature's massive form loomed over her and blocked out part of the sky—a behemoth straight from the endgame raids of Phoenix Kingdom Chronicles .

"What the fuck, Feng Yu!" The words tore from Xiulan's throat.

Why did they have to run into a world boss sized problem now? Gathering the scales from normal serpents had been easy!

The serpent whipped its head sideways as a wall of water surged across the lake. Another fireball exploded against its snout, drawing an earth-shaking hiss that rattled Xiulan's bones. Feng Yu's flames illuminated patches of scorched scales near its nostrils.

How did this thing even fit in the lake! ?

The serpent twisted away, carrying a nearly naked Feng Yu in the opposite direction. Its massive body curved through the air before snapping back toward Xiulan. Another fireball burst overhead, its heat washing down as Feng Yu screamed something unintelligible.

Xiulan sprinted aside as the creature's shadow fell over her again. She leapt over an incoming wave, her boots sliding on the muddy shore as she landed. Water dripped from her sodden clothes while she spun to face the monster.

Her mind raced through possible strategies, but nothing seemed adequate. Still, Feng Yu needed help—and fast.

The collection device might work against it.

What gave her confidence in it actually doing anything, she had no idea. But she had to try something!

She sprinted back through the trees, her boots pounding against the soggy forest floor. The bronze collector came into sight. She grabbed the nearest handhold—one of its feet—and yanked. The device crashed onto its side with a resonant clang.

Bark and leaves scraped against the metal as she dragged it through the underbrush toward the churning lake. Her qi raged through her meridians to give her the strength needed to pull the thing through snags and dips.

Ahead, the massive serpent thrashed in the water, sending more waves crashing against the shore. Another of Feng Yu's fireballs lit up the sky.

Prehistoric beasts thundered past through the forest. The ground trembled under their fleeing footsteps. Even the massive tree-eaters they'd spotted earlier crashed away from the chaos, snapping branches and toppling smaller trees in their wake.

Water sprayed down like storm rain, soaking through her already drenched clothes. The collection device's weight dragged at her arms as reality sank in. She could probably haul it across the water using qi-enhanced strength, but the waves would sweep her away before she got close enough to use it.

Throwing it isn't an option either.

A desperate idea struck. Xiulan positioned herself behind the device and focused her qi. Thunder God Claps for Arrogant Young Masters built up in her palms.

The blast connected. A massive gong note reverberated through the air. Arrays carved into the collector's surface blazed with light. The sound repeated, multiplied, until a dozen thunderous rings made Xiulan's vision swim.

The collector barely shifted, but she was knocked on her ass.

"Fuck." Xiulan pressed her palms against her temples. What was I thinking? That was never going to work!

Heat blazed across the lake as a massive fireball erupted near the serpent's head. Xiulan shielded her eyes against the inferno. The flames cascaded down the creature's pearlescent scales in a torrent that would have incinerated a lesser beast.

"This is getting ridiculous." Xiulan dropped her hand as the flames dissipated. The sheer magnitude of Feng Yu's qi attack was stunning. 

Ren Chun's suspicious questions about her own cultivation rang through her mind. Now she knew how he felt.

But Feng Yu's meridians weren't even fully opened.The contradiction made no sense. Either she possessed some legendary artifact or—

Spikes of flame shot from the fireball, peppering the serpent's hide like burning arrows. The beast opened its maw in reply, blue qi coalescing into a sphere of pure water energy. The aqueous blast smashed through Feng Yu's flames, extinguishing them in a burst of steam.

Xiulan's breath caught. Had her friend just been roasted alive?

A blur of movement drew her attention as Feng Yu vaulted from the serpent's mouth. Her flaming sword carved a burning line along the creature's snout as she sprinted upward. The blade sparked against impenetrable scales.

The serpent thrashed violently. Feng Yu maintained her footing until she reached its eye—where everything went wrong. The protective lid slammed shut, pinning her leg beneath its crushing weight. Her fire-wreathed sword struck uselessly against the armored membrane.

"Fuck!" Xiulan glanced at the fallen collection device. There had to be a way to use it.

Xiulan snapped her gaze between the extra cargo harness she wore and the fallen collector. The way Feng Yu carried it...

A plan crystallized. Taking the two extra harnesses out first, she stashed their travel pack high in a nearby tree, securing it between two thick branches. The serpent's roar added urgency as it thundered across the lake, spraying water droplets through the canopy. No time to waste.

Xiulan sprinted back. Her boots slipped in the mud as she heaved the bronze device into position. The metallic surface hummed beneath her fingers—residual energy from her failed thunder attack still lingered.

She ducked inside the bell-shaped container. The curved walls amplified every sound, from her rapid breathing to the distant battle. 

Feng Yu's scream pierced through the cacophony, spurring Xiulan to move faster.

Her fingers fumbled with the first harness. She pressed it against the inner surface, just below the collector's rim, positioning it to face outward. The second harness followed, aligned directly over the first but facing inward.

Xiulan activated the inward facing device. Energy surged through the arrays as the harness expanded. Leather bands interlocked and tightened, securing both pieces to the collector's frame. The resulting configuration created an anchor point that would let her—

Another thunderous crash from the lake interrupted her inspection. She needed to hurry!

She pulled her knife from its sheath and sliced through a few of the harness wrappings. The cut exposed crucial components—particularly the emission point where the collection beam came out from. 

Slipping back outside, she replaced the spirit stone power source. It was a relief when the qi channels flashed and then turned blue. Ready.

No time for further modifications. The distant sounds of battle pushed her forward.

Xiulan squatted with her back to the collector and activated her harness. Leather bands snaked out, latching onto the bronze surface. The device yanked her backward, its weight pulling her as she toppled.

Shit.

Qi surged through her meridians as she focused power into her feet. The energy gripped the sodden earth, giving her the leverage needed to fight against the collector's mass. Her muscles strained as she pushed upright, mud and leaves clinging to her robes.

"How did Feng Yu make this look so damn easy?" Xiulan gritted her teeth.

The ground shuddered. Near the shore, the white serpent's massive form slammed into the earth. The impact knocked loose branches free and sent ripples through puddles of standing water. Its armored eyelid remained clamped shut, pinning Feng Yu's leg despite her continued struggles.

Xiulan shifted her weight, adjusting to the collector's bulk. Her qi-enhanced strength kept it manageable. Almost like wearing a massive turtle shell.

She planted her feet and channeled qi through her meridians, focusing the energy just as Feng Yu had taught her. The technique demanded perfect control—too much force would send her flying, too little would drop her into the lake or mud.

"Here goes nothing."

Xiulan broke into a run. The collector's weight threatened to topple her backward with each step, but she compensated by leaning forward. Water splashed beneath as she crossed onto the lake's surface. Her qi spread through each footstep.

A massive wave rolled toward her, its crest rising higher than her family manor's walls. Xiulan redirected her qi flow, pushing more power into her legs. She sprinted up the liquid slope before it could break. 

The collector's weight tried to drag her down, but she defied gravity.

She cleared the wave's peak and sailed through the air. Wind whipped at her robes as the lake stretched out below. Her stomach lurched at the height—far higher than any of her practice attempts. The collector's mass pulled her into a controlled fall. 

She was going to crash through the water surface and there was no way she could swim with a bronze weight lashed to her…

Two Heavenly Step.

She focused, her qi rushing to fill the specific points. Her first step stopped just above the water, the second directly forward, converting all her vertical velocity into horizontal. The lake surface exploded behind her, trying to catch up as her legs flailed to keep the sprint moving forward.

Her boots barely touched the water's surface as she maintained the pace somehow. The giant serpent turned toward her, its pearl-white scales gleaming as its massive body cut through the lake like a living dam.

Time to see if all those hours of "basic" qinggong practice paid off. Feng Yu's patient instruction echoed in her mind—proper breath control, precise qi distribution, maintaining perfect balance.

Despite the practice, none of it really worked. Her qi was surging like a river washing out of its banks.

So she abandoned all pretense of finesse.

Qi surged through her meridians in raw, uncontrolled bursts. The collector's weight shifted, threatening to plunge her into the depths below.

"Feng Yu!" The name tore from her throat—half warning, half desperate curse.

The serpent's thunderous roar responded, drowning out any possible response. Water churned below as its massive coils as it writhed, sending waves in every direction. Through the spray, Xiulan glimpsed Feng Yu still struggling against the creature's armored eyelid.

Fuck subtle. Time to go up.

Xiulan gathered qi beneath her feet and launched herself skyward. The collector's mass tried to drag her down, but raw power won out. 

She formed a disk of pure energy above—like the platforms Ren Chun had taught her, but cruder and far less stable in the air. Her boots connected with the ephemeral surface just long enough to spring higher.

Another disk materialized above as the first dissipated into mist. Each jump carried her further up, following an erratic path through the air. She left nothing but scattered droplets in her wake.

The serpent's pearlescent coils suddenly shifted, its massive body redirecting straight toward her position. Xiulan's heart hammered against her ribs as the beast's shadow engulfed her.

Oh shit. Xiulan gritted her teeth. Now or never.

She released her harness with a sharp twist. 

The collector's weight pulled away as she flipped around, grabbing the rim of the bronze bell. The collection arrays hummed against her skin while she oriented the device toward the oncoming serpent.

Pulling herself forward without unbalancing things was a strain, but her fingers closed around the last unused harness cord. One sharp yank activated the mechanism.

Xiulan slid behind the collector's bulk as momentum carried them through the air. The beast's thunderous roar vibrated through the metal, making her teeth rattle.

She couldn't tell if they were falling toward the serpent or if it rushed to meet them. The world became a blur of white scales and churning mist.

The harness bands shot outward with a snap of taut leather. They expanded impossibly, growing to match the serpent's massive girth. They whipped through the air like living things seeking purchase and they found their target, wrapping all the way around the serpent's torso.

Emerald light flooded the collector's chamber. Xiulan's heart soared—it worked! The arrays had locked onto their target.

The victory lasted exactly one breath.

Pearlescent scales filled her vision as the serpent's massive body slammed into the collector. Xiulan braced her feet against the curved bronze surface. Qi surged as she absorbed the crushing impact. The collision knocked the air from her lungs.

The world tilted. Wind whipped through her hair as she plummeted toward the lake, bouncing down the serpent like she was falling off a mountain.

Pure instinct took over—Xiulan channeled qi through her boots and hands, adhering them to the serpent's scales. The technique saved her from being flung into the air, but now she faced a fresh problem as the distance to the water dwindled.

Shit. If this thing hits the water with me pinned beneath it...

Spray pelted her face as she sprinted up the serpent's flank. Her boots found purchase on the slick scales through sheer determination and desperate qi control. Each step carried her higher along the creature's undulating form while lake water churned below.

Sweat dripped down her neck. Her lungs burned from the exertion. The qi drain from maintaining her footing while running vertically threatened to empty her reserves.

"Come on, come on!" Xiulan panted as she raced the crush. Water droplets stung her eyes, but she didn't dare slow down.

A piercing shriek cut through the chaos, rising above the serpent's thunderous movements. Xiulan twisted to look behind her, nearly losing her footing.

The bronze collector glowed green, its surface pulsing with unstable energy and the harness bands writhed, their grip on the serpent's massive form loosening with each violent movement. The device careened wildly, bouncing and sliding in an erratic dance.

Shit. The harness wasn't meant for this.

Ancient runes flashed across the collector's surface—warnings or activation signals, she couldn't tell. The magical formations carved on the harnesses sparked and sputtered, clearly struggling against forces far beyond their design limits.

Suddenly, the harness snapped tight, and the device's trajectory shifted, its mass drawn upward by some unseen force. Xiulan's breath caught as the bronze bell rocketed straight toward her position, arrays blazing with uncontrolled power.

Xiulan jumped. The leather wraps whistled past beneath her boots, close enough to feel the disturbed air. Her heart hammered against her ribs as she twisted mid-jump, reaching for the serpent.

Her fingers slipped across the smooth surface. Gravity yanked her down the creature's flank and wind whipped at her robes while she scrambled for purchase. 

Qi pulsed erratically through her meridians as she fought to regain control. After a dozen terrifying meters of freefall, her energy finally latched onto the scales. Her descent halted with a bone-jarring jolt.

Three brilliant fireballs erupted near the serpent's head, painting the sky in crimson and gold. Relief flooded through Xiulan's chest. Feng Yu was still alive!

The collector's piercing shriek cut off abruptly. Xiulan snapped her head toward it. Emerald light flashed, so bright it left spots dancing across her vision. Something small and hard bounced off her shoulder.

More impacts peppered her head and shoulders as iridescent scales rained down from above. They clinked against each other like falling coins.

Holy shit. Xiulan stared at the scales falling in a rain-like spray. The collector actually worked.

She regained her purchase and then sprinted after the collector as it skidded across the serpent's scales. The massive beast thrashed, its coils rising from the lake in a devastating surge. Ancient trees splintered like kindling as the serpent's bulk crashed onto land.

Why is the device sliding upward?

She guarded her face with her forearm as pearlescent scales pelted her face as she chased the runaway collector. The bronze device scraped a gleaming trail up the serpent's body, leaving exposed pink flesh in its wake.

The serpent tapers—skinnier near the head, thicker at the middle. Understanding clicked. The collector's bands kept tightening, forcing it to slide up the narrowing form like a shrinking ring pushed along a cone.

A familiar weight pressed against her back. My spear. She'd forgotten about the weapon until now. Xiulan yanked it free from its sheath, testing the edge against the serpent's exposed flesh. The blade sank in easily, drawing thick rivulets of blood.

Keeping her grip on the embedded spear, Xiulan ran alongside the wound she carved. The serpent's movements grew more erratic with each step. She glanced sideways—and nearly stumbled.

The forest canopy stretched far below. The serpent hadn't just risen from the lake—it soared through open air, its massive form cutting through clouds as it climbed higher into the sky.

It's flying. The damned thing is actually flying.

"Aaaaaahhh!" The scream tore from Xiulan's throat as vertigo slammed into her chest. She tore her eyes away and chased the path of missing scales wrapping around the serpent like a corkscrew.

A few seconds later, she slammed into the collection device as it ground to a sudden halt. Leather straps creaked and groaned, constricting tighter around the serpent's massive form just below its head. Each squeeze drew an ear-splitting shriek from the beast.

She clung to the device as the serpent thrashed wildly. The world spun in dizzying arcs of sky and forest canopy. Her stomach lurched.

A wall of flames roared toward her position. The heat singed her eyebrows even from dozens of meters away.

"Feng Yu!" Xiulan ducked behind the collection device. "Are you trying to fry me too?"

Need to free her first. The thought crystallized through her panic. The serpent's eye remained firmly shut, trapping her companion beneath its armored lid. What could force it open?

A memory flickered through her mind—the satisfying crackle of her old stun gun, back when she was Li Mei. The way electricity could make muscles spasm and contract...

Xiulan glanced at her spear, still embedded in the serpent's flesh. One prong down. She yanked her dagger free and plunged it into the naked serpent skin an arm's length from the spear.

Yin on one side, yang on the other. She'd created lightning before, but controlling the qi flow through both weapons proved challenging. The energy wanted to rush into the weapons from her palms all at once, but that would just cause an explosion.

I don't need lightning. A stun gun delivered a continuous current. Xiulan forced the mental dam she had built to open the floodgates just a little.

The moment she gave an inch, electricity crackled between the blades. Blue-white arcs danced across the serpent's skin and into its flesh.

Too late, Xiulan realized her mistake. The current raced through the beast's nervous system—and straight into her hands, still gripping the metal weapons.

Electric current surged through Xiulan's body, scrambling her qi pathways. Her muscles spasmed as lightning danced across her skin. The skin of her hands hissed as she completed the 'stun gun' circuit. White spots danced in her vision.

Did I just stun myself with my own technique? Her limbs twitched with residual energy. This is why you don't invent cultivation techniques on the fly.

She struggled to even open her hands to let go of her two blackened weapons.

"Xiulan!"

She blinked away the afterimages and looked up. 

Feng Yu sprinted down the serpent's flank toward her. Blood and dirt covered the other woman's skin, leaving little to imagination.

Almost on cue, the collection device's leather straps vibrated like plucked bowstrings before snapping with explosive force. The bronze bell launched into open air.

"What are you—" Xiulan's lungs rasped.

Feng Yu scooped her up with one arm, flame sword blazing in the other. Without hesitation, Feng Yu plunged her burning blade deep into exposed flesh.

"What the fuck! What the fuck!" Xiulan clutched Feng Yu's shoulders as they plummeted. A geyser of serpent blood erupted above them while they slid down the creature's massive form.

"We need to get back to the ground!" Feng Yu shouted.

Xiulan's stomach lurched as she glanced down at the distant earth. The memory of her first helicopter ride at a summer festival flashed through her mind—but they soared even higher than that childhood adventure. The treetops below looked like a green carpet against the landscape.

Blood sprayed across her face, hot and thick with the scent of ozone. The wind whipped her robes against her skin, each gust threatening to tear them apart.

Their descent ended abruptly as they reached the end of the line the collection device had cleaned of scales. Feng Yu's sword wrenched free, launching them into empty air. Xiulan's stomach lurched again as gravity took hold.

She closed her eyes and clung to her companion. A roar above forced her to open them again.

The serpent twisted its massive form, its pearl-white scales gleaming in the sunlight. Its jaws gaped wide, aimed right at them.

"It's coming back!" Xiulan tightened her grip.

Feng Yu glanced over her shoulder. A wild grin spread across her face. "We need cover!"

"In the fucking sky, where is there any fucking cover?" Xiulan's words turned shrill. "Feng Yu, why did you do this, you stupid protagonist person!"

"What are you talking about? It's right there!"

Xiulan twisted her neck, following Feng Yu's gaze. The bronze collection device tumbled through the air below them, its surface still crackling with flickering energy. Her heart skipped. "Being eaten by a serpent while inside that thing is not an improvement!"

The device grew larger. Too large, too fast—something felt off about their descent. Qi radiated from Feng Yu in controlled pulses, guiding their trajectory toward the bronze bell.

Blue light flashed in her peripheral vision. Xiulan snapped her attention upward. Azure energy coalesced in the serpent's maw, building into a familiar glow.

"FASTER!" Xiulan screamed into Feng Yu's ear.

The azure light coalesced into a brilliant sphere between the serpent's crystalline fangs. The energy pulsed with deadly intent, reminding Xiulan of lightning trapped in a bottle. Her meridians thrummed as she gathered qi, though she doubted anything she could think of would withstand that kind of power.

Before she could attempt any defense, Feng Yu yanked her sideways. The world spun as they tumbled. Feng Yu's arm locked around her waist, pulling her into the bronze collection device.

Hundreds of pearlescent scales lined the interior like scattered coins stuck in a vending machine's insides. The interior glowed with the faint spiritual energy.

"Help me form a barrier!" Feng Yu raised her palm in an unfamiliar gesture, eyes squeezing shut in concentration.

Golden light sparked between her fingers, spreading outward to seal the bell's opening. Xiulan stared at the shimmering barrier. Great idea, but did you forget I don't know these techniques yet?

The serpent's attack resonated through the bronze as it washed over them. Blue energy thrummed against gold, flooding the chamber with blinding light.

The collection device rocketed downward with them inside it, spinning dizzyingly as trees and rocks below vaporized in the onslaught of spiritual power.

Bitter cold seeped through the bronze device's surface, biting into Xiulan's skin. The metal walls radiated an intense chill that made her bones ache. Her gaze snapped to Feng Yu, who maintained the barrier with nothing but a makeshift loincloth fashioned from her torn sash.

Shit. The cold will kill her before we land.

Xiulan gritted her teeth and grabbed Feng Yu's free hand. The meridians beneath her skin pulsed with untapped potential. She closed her eyes, focusing on directing her qi outward.

The energy trickled into Feng Yu's palm like water searching for a path through stone. Each attempt to navigate the complex network met resistance. Her qi thread wavered, losing direction in the maze-like pathways.

Suddenly Feng Yu was there and her grip tightened around the small needle Xiulan offered. She pulled the qi through the intricate passages like a runner navigating a maze for the millionth time.

The ground rushed up to meet them. Less than ten meters.

The qi thread found its target—and erupted. Raw power ripped from Xiulan's dantian in a violent surge. The force drove the air from her lungs and doubled her over. Bile rose in her throat as her body registered the sudden emptiness where vital energy had resided a breath before.

The bronze bell's descent slowed. Ice crystals falling around them suddenly hung suspended in the air. Their momentum bled away until the collection device settled onto the frost-covered ground with a gentle thud. The frozen mud burned at Xiulan's skin as everything came to a stop.

Feng Yu's breath turned into mist as she stood up and shoved the bell off of them to reveal the sky.

Xiulan puffed, her abused body and meridians suddenly protesting all at once.

An enraged roar shook the air above. The serpent launched another azure sphere toward a distant peak. The mountain's crown exploded in a shower of pulverized stone and spiritual energy.

It seemed to have lost interest in them.

But she didn't think it was going to calm down for a while.

Chapter 48: Standard Post-Trauma Sisterly Bonding

True friendship reveals itself in moments of shared vulnerability. When two cultivators trust enough to rest in each other's presence, their bond transcends mere alliance.

—Master Yan Hui, Teacher of Common Wisdom

The ancient dawn serpent's roaring tirade echoed through the mountains, each blast of spiritual energy demolishing peak after peak until it vanished into the distant clouds. Xiulan stared out across the lake, the entire valley writ with a trail of cataclysmic destruction.

Where pristine forest had stood, only splinters and crushed logs remained. The lake's surface had dropped dramatically, exposing mud-slicked rocks along its banks.

Life crept back slowly. Massive tree-eaters lumbered through the destruction, claiming the few remaining stands of intact forest. Smaller creatures emerged from hiding places to scavenge through the wreckage. The surviving trees swayed in the spiritual-charged breeze, their leaves rustling with an almost metallic sound.

"Let's get you dressed." Xiulan supported Feng Yu as they made their way to the ancient oak that had somehow weathered the serpent's rampage. Their travel pack still hung securely in its branches, protected by the tree's surviving canopy.

Feng Yu remained oddly quiet while Xiulan helped her into fresh clothes. The spirit stones pulsed with healing energy as Xiulan pressed them against their injuries. The spiritual and physical damage faded, but exhaustion weighed heavily. Xiulan guided her companion back to their up-turned bell, but Feng Yu slumped against the bronze collection device, eyelids drooping.

"Rest here." Xiulan squeezed Feng Yu's shoulder. "I'll gather what we can."

Dawn serpent scales littered the ground like fallen leaves after an autumn storm. Each one gleamed with residual spiritual energy, creating a carpet of pearlescent light across the ravaged earth. 

She moved methodically through the destruction, collecting scales one by one. Her secondary travel pack grew heavier with each addition. The sheer number of scales boggled her mind—thousands scattered in every direction.

Xiulan paused every few minutes, glancing toward the shore where Feng Yu slept against the bronze device. The scattered scales gleamed like fallen stars. Her pack grew heavier until the straps dug into her shoulders.

After two hours of gathering, her pack couldn't hold any more. She returned to Feng Yu's side, pressing gentle fingers against the other girl's wrist to check her pulse. The qi flowed steadily through Feng Yu's meridians, though weaker than usual.

The massive fireballs must have drained her completely.

There were limits to how many times you could refill your dantian in a short time, although she had never reached hers. Feng Yu had likely pushed far beyond normal limits.

Xiulan shifted to sit, guiding her friend's head onto her lap. The devastation stretched endlessly, scattered with countless more scales from the ancient serpent's massive form. A short while later, a movement caught her attention—a dawn serpent slithered past their position toward the lake, scales glinting in the light.

The air filled with a symphony of hisses. Xiulan stiffened as hundreds of dawn serpents emerged from the wreckage and tree lines, their scaled bodies flowing toward the water.

Was that ancient beast simply a little dawn serpent that grew massive over millennia? The thought sparked curiosity as she observed the smaller creatures dive into the lake—their ancestral home?

The implications twisted through her mind. In ten thousand years, would another monster emerge from the water? Would future cultivators face the same battle she and Feng Yu had barely survived?

Xiulan's hand drifted to Feng Yu's shoulder, gentle strokes meant to check on her companion's wellbeing. Feng Yu responded by rolling closer, wrapping both arms around Xiulan's waist in a vise-like grip.

"I'm not a pillow, Feng Yu." Xiulan stiffened.

No response came except deeper breathing as Feng Yu burrowed closer, clearly claiming Xiulan as her personal cushion.

Okay, it turned out, she was indeed a pillow.

The dawn serpents continued their procession toward the lake, but Xiulan found herself trapped by her sleeping friend's determined cuddles.

How long does she plan to sleep? Xiulan shifted, trying to find a more comfortable position without disturbing Feng Yu. The warmth of another person pressed against her slowly melted away the lingering tension from their battle. Her own exhaustion crept in, and her eyelids grew heavy.

If we're going to waste the day anyway... Xiulan let her eyes drift closed, the comfort of human contact pushing back her usual worries. Sleep beckoned, promising respite from the chaos of the past hours.

Xiulan woke with a start. The song of insects filled the air, mingling with a brisk breeze that carried the scent of damp earth and crushed vegetation. Moonlight reflected off the lake, casting an eerie glow over the valley. The devastation from their earlier battle lay stark against the serene backdrop.

"Feng Yu?" Xiulan's voice broke the silence. No answer. She scanned the area, heart pounding. The other girl was nowhere in sight.

The collection device had been turned open side up. White sparkles shone as little white dawn serpent scales overflowed from inside it.

Wait. What?

Xiulan scrambled to her feet, her travel pack snagging on her ankle and nearly tripping her. She steadied herself and checked the pack—completely full of scales. She turned to the collection device. It, too, brimmed with scales. The entire area around them in the valley had been cleared out, leaving only a sparse scattering of scales in the distance.

Feng Yu must have collected them. Xiulan's gaze darted around, searching for her friend. "Feng Yu?" she called again, anxiety creeping into her voice.

Had she left her here alone? Gone?

"Xiulan." Feng Yu's voice came from the lake shore, hidden by a pile of crushed wood.

Instant relief washed over Xiulan. Not alone. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding and headed toward her friend.

Feng Yu sat by the lake, her silhouette framed by the moonlit water. She looked up as Xiulan approached, a tired but satisfied smile on her face.

"You did all this?" Xiulan gestured to the overflowing collection device and her bulging travel pack.

Feng Yu nodded, brushing a strand of sandy brown hair from her face. "Couldn't let you do all the work."

Xiulan knelt beside her, the cool night air wrapping around them both. "Thank you," she said softly.

Feng Yu wouldn't look at her. Xiulan frowned.

"Is something wrong?" Xiulan studied Feng Yu's profile against the water.

"We agreed to split everything fifty-fifty but..." Feng Yu's shoulders hunched inward. "What if we found something that couldn't be split?"

The vulnerability in Feng Yu's tone made Xiulan pause. Tales of cultivator friendships shattering over rare treasures echoed through her mind—a common tragedy in a ruthless world.

"Did you find something good in the lake?" Xiulan kept her voice gentle.

Feng Yu's muscles locked tight. A faint tremor ran through her hands as wisps of qi leaked from her meridians, vibrating with an unmistakable fear. The powerful, more experienced Feng Yu—who could easily overpower her and take everything—sat paralyzed by terror.

Had something like this happened to her in the past? Was it a painful scar?

Xiulan shifted behind the other girl, wrapping her arms around Feng Yu's shoulders and resting her chin in the crook of her neck. Feng Yu twisted to stare at her with wide, bewildered amber eyes.

"If my big martial sister found something amazing that she wants or needs, I'd be thrilled for her." Xiulan squeezed her friend's shoulders.

"But..." Feng Yu's confusion radiated through her rigid posture.

The reaction made sense. In cultivation, advancement demanded ruthlessness. Kill or be killed left little room for compassion. This belief permeated every corner of their world.

Yet, if pure ruthlessness ruled supreme, none would survive long enough to cultivate at all.

Xiulan gazed across the moonlit lake. The story of Phoenix Kingdom Chronicles surfaced—tales of sects and schools bound by ancient oaths and modern ambitions. A complex web of alliances and betrayals that shaped the fate of Arinthia.

"The guardian deity sacrificed everything to create the four seals." Xiulan reached out with her left hand and traced patterns in the sand. "They protected the land from demonic cultivators who would drain everything dry. Gave everyone—mortal and immortal—a chance to make their own path."

The sand shifted under her fingertips as she drew the ancient seal patterns from the game. Strange how clear those memories had become, when she had only seen them on loading splash screens.

"I've thought about where I stand in all this." Xiulan tilted her gaze to meet Feng Yu's. "The innocent deserve protection and the freedom to live their lives. I would like to help them when it is possible. But those who hurt my friends or family?" She clenched her fist, crushing the sand patterns. "Complete devastation awaits them. No mercy for those who threaten what I cherish."

Moonlight reflected off the lake's surface, casting rippling shadows across their faces. Xiulan leaned in and pressed closer.

"The people close to me deserve to be guarded, cherished, honored. Protected with everything I have." She stared into the other girl's eyes. "Does that sound too naïve?"

Feng Yu glanced at the ruined sand patterns. "I don't know."

"I don't intend to die." Xiulan traced another pattern in the sand. "And I won't put myself last either. These dawn serpent scales will help Mei Chen, but the journey has also made me stronger. You taught me so much already—if you found something amazing too, isn't that wonderful?"

Feng Yu twisted the fabric of her robes between her fingers. Moonlight caught the subtle tremor return to her hands at the mention of her discovery.

"Besides." Xiulan brushed sand from her fingers. "Weren't you the one who called me sister first?"

Feng Yu hunched forward, amber eyes fixed on the ground. "That was... I was..."

"Using me because an alchemist would be useful?" Xiulan kept her tone gentle. "Had ulterior motives from the start?"

A weak nod answered her question. Feng Yu's shoulders drew even tighter, as if bracing for rejection or anger.

"Everyone uses each other in some way. That's not wrong." She squeezed Feng Yu's shoulders. "But you'll have to take responsibility."

Feng Yu twisted around, amber eyes wide. "What?"

"You declared yourself my martial sister." Xiulan brushed a stray hair from Feng Yu's face. "My blood sisters hated me. They tried to kill me. But you—you treated me well. Protected me. Taught me." She pressed closer. "So I claim you back."

The night breeze whispered through the leaves as Xiulan tightened her embrace, leaning her cheek against Feng Yu's. "And I will never let you go. You're mine now." Her words carried the weight of a vow. "Maybe it's only been a little over a week, but I was very alone and in trouble, ripe for finding family. So if my big sister finds something good, I'll be overjoyed."

They sat in silence for a while. The tension melted from Feng Yu's muscles as she relaxed into Xiulan's embrace. Both watched silver ripples chase across the dark water.

"Most of my blood sisters hate me, too." Feng Yu shifted against Xiulan's shoulder. "Only two of my brothers show any kindness. My oldest sister—she stays fair, at least."

Xiulan remained still, letting Feng Yu find her words.

"That's part of why I left." Feng Yu traced her own little idle patterns in the sand that surrounded Xiulan's. "I couldn't stand the constant fighting anymore. Seeing the world seemed like a perfect excuse to get away."

"Seeing the world?" Xiulan blinked. "You must be from a cultivator family, then?"

A soft laugh escaped Feng Yu's lips. "Something like that."

The pieces clicked together in Xiulan's mind. A noble family, perhaps? Duke Fang Liang ruled Stonehaven with his iron grip. Fang... Feng... The names sounded close enough. But no—this wasn't the time to pry. The vulnerability in Feng Yu's posture spoke volumes about her need for simple companionship, not interrogation.

But there was one little question that kept throttling her curiosity.

"Though I do wonder what it was you found." Xiulan hummed thoughtfully. "But you don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

Feng Yu shifted, conflict evident in her rigid posture. After several heartbeats, she exhaled softly. "I'll tell you later. Not right now."

"That's great!" Xiulan brightened. "I can't wait to find out what neat thing it will be. Maybe a spatial storage ring?"

A quiet chuckle escaped Feng Yu. "I wish. That would have been really useful."