'The way he spoke and his earlier statement about his clan's subordinates being close to the place of Lin Fan's death…' Xiao Hong's gaze drifted helplessly upwards to the ceiling as an icy grip clenched mercilessly around her heart. The terrifying realisation hit her: 'He had Lin Fan killed.
Lin Fan had set up a Final Will. He'd known. And he'd gone anyway. Invisible claws sank deeper, squeezing until each breath became a struggle.
And by the subtle threat that Mo Tong has woven into his words, he could have her killed, too, with disturbing ease.
A cold prickle raced over her skin.
She hadn't exactly shed tears for Lin Fan - she'd barely known him after all, and people died all the time. Accidents, disease, disaster - any of these things could be the cause. So, she honestly didn't care - and was even a bit relieved. But suddenly, faced with the reality that her own life might be forfeit, everything felt infinitely more real.
"Shit," Knuckles whitening as she balled up a handful of her robes. The fabric slipped free, cool against her skin.
"Shit, shit, shit," she hissed, springing to her feet. Her hand raked through her hair, agitated fingers tangling in the strands. She began to pace in tight circles, heart pounding. What was she supposed to do? How was she supposed to resist a ruthless person like Mo Tong, who seemed like he would stop at nothing to get what he wanted?
Lin Fan was dead.
Lin Fan. A peak Third Stage cultivator - even half a step into the Fourth Stage. A genius who'd outpaced everyone - Ruoxi, Mo Tong and whoever else. His humble origins as a farmhand's son didn't hold him back at all. Cultivation Techniques that others struggled with flowed like breath for him.
And yet… She trembled, "He was crushed. Like an insect. Now, his body is rotting in some unknown corner of the world."
And even his death was being investigated by the one who had him murdered.
Against something like that, what could a mere early-Second Stage: Earthen Origin even do?
For an instant, a suffocating sense of despair threatened to swallow her whole. What could a mere earthling like her do? Born and brought up in a peaceful society, she was hardly equipped to deal with this chilling, psychopathic disregard for life.
'No.' A spark flared in her chest - more desperation than defiance.
She halted, staring out the window, fist clenching until her nails dug crescents into her palm. "I still have time. That bastard probably thinks that everything is within control. And there is about half a year before the Sect's Compulsory Mission comes around. And this period is my opportunity."
She did not want to die - not when she had just been given a chance to live once again!
As for surrendering to Mo Tong? Xiao Hong did not even entertain the idea.
Her eyes wandered to the box she'd brought back from the Alchemy Hall. It was time to get started.
"But first, I have to step into the Second Stage: Earthen Origin properly."
***
In her Cultivation Room, Xiao Hong squared her shoulders. "Well, then. Let's do this," she muttered, and carefully weaved a hand seal from memory… and nearly twisted her fingers into a knot. "Why the hell are these hand seals so complex?! Origami is done with paper, not hands!"
After several dozen hand poses that looked straight out of an image generation model, she finally got it down.
A faint buzz tickled the base of her skull. Her brows lifted as the familiar tingling of Qi pooled behind her eyes. The world sharpened, like she had upgraded to 4K HDR. The leaves outside shimmered like emeralds, the petals of the hibiscus glowing like they had been freshly plucked from a sunrise.
'Huh,' she noted, 'Qi even enhances brain functions.' It wasn't a huge amount - it just upgraded her perception slightly and made her mind a bit clearer. It honestly felt like a cup of well-brewed coffee after a good night's sleep - just a tad stronger and minus the jitters.
She closed her eyes and concentrated on her Qi. Nestled between her brows, it echoed back a gentle fullness, as if someone had slipped a tiny cushion inside her forehead.
Her eyebrows knitted for a moment before realising, "I've already reached the standard for awakening the Spirit Sense?
"Which is kinda odd, though. "'I' have never cultivated or even come into contact with it," she wondered. Perhaps it was because of her transmigration? That made sense to her Web Novel-addled brain.
She shrugged. It didn't matter. Answers could wait. Right now, she needed to awaken her Spirit Sense.
She inhaled deeply and wove her fingers into an intricate seal.
The moment she completed the hand seal, the intense tingling sensation of Qi shifted. It stilled, its active rhythm taking on a serene, almost relaxing quality. A cool tingle rose from her palms. The sensation crawled up her arms and into her chest, melting away every knot of tension. Her breath lengthened and deepened. Her shoulders sank. Even her heartbeat softened to a languid rhythm.
It was almost like she was sleeping… while she was wide awake.
Yep. It made no sense to her either. It was like her body shifted gears. Like a car.
"Fascinating… A weird configuration of hands and twisted fingers can somehow affect my very state of being, my mood and even emotions," she remarked in pure wonderment as she assessed her own state.
"How do these hand seals even achieve these effects?" Then her curiosity betrayed her - just as this thought appeared, her concentration broke. Her Qi, having lost the guiding force, snapped back into its original state.
"Ugh," A small grunt escaped her as her gathered Qi slipped out of her control and, in turbulent waves, crashed downwards into her body, returning to its original state. The pleasant tingling of Qi curdled into pins and needles racing across her skin. It wasn't painful, just unpleasant - like an arm that's fallen asleep and is now waking up. Except her whole body felt it.
This was the consequence of improper handling of Qi and carelessness. If this minor slip-up hurt, she could only imagine what major mistakes would do to her.
Zhenqi, as Xiao Hong had now discovered, was like a rubber band. It can be shaped and reformed to her will, but the moment her focus wavered, it would snap back to its original state. And whether her face appeared to be in its way when it did, depended on how careful she was with her Qi.
A low groan escaped her as the discomfort slowly ebbed. "I should be more careful with Qi." The old Xiao Hong had not and, therefore, paid the ultimate price.
Once she felt the agitation in her Qi had calmed down, she brought her hands together once again to make a hand seal, but paused for a bit and lowered her hands. Should she really risk it? Wouldn't it be safer to hone her Qi Control a bit more? It seemed dangerous; she could end up like the old Xiao Hong!
A cold tremor of fear crept up her spine as vivid memories of the old Xiao Hong's last moments flashed through her mind - Her Qi backfiring, tearing through her very consciousness. In despair, terror and helplessness, her life was snuffed out like a candle.
She swallowed.
Death… She had experienced it. The overwhelming darkness that threatened to swallow all. It crept in slowly, yet surely. And she could only watch helplessly as it took her effortlessly into its chilly embrace.
A part of her mind whispered, how likely is it that you'll gain another life? Why squander this precious chance over just a bit of advantage? An advantage that might not even matter?
Her hands dropped limply into her lap, palms damp with cold sweat.
You're alive. The old Xiao Hong can't boast about that. Not even your previous incarnation can.
Another part roared, No! You can't just stop like that. Every bit of advantage counts!
As her mind waged a war against itself, wind blew in through the window. The rustle of paper drew her attention.
It was a beautifully decorated piece of paper that had been marred by a forceful grip. Thanks to her enhanced vision as a Cultivator, she could read it even from a distance. The words on it jumped out: 'I extend my most eager invitations to the Fellow Daoists of the Cohort of… Mo Tong.'
No. A chill of dread and anger kindled inside her. Her delicate hand clenched into a tight fist, fingernails digging sharply into her palm. She could not delay. The faster she gained power, the earlier she could guarantee her safety.
Determined, her fingers weaving into two hand seals in succession. The tension drained from her body once again as the serene Qi formed up around her Soul Gate.
She pictured a dam holding back a roaring flood - her Soul Power - and guided it to push against the barrier.
Crack.
The dam cracked instantly, and her Soul Power spilt - no, exploded - forth in an unstoppable, furious tide.
A spear of white hot agony lanced through her head. Her vision exploded into a kaleidoscopic whirlpool of colours and lights, like someone had tossed her and a bunch of rainbows into a washing machine.
It was as if Thor himself had bludgeoned her over the head with his hammer!
Disorientation set in, her hands quivering uncontrollably. The carefully crafted hand seal began to unravel, her Qi trembling dangerously, threatening to break free from her control.
Just as her fingers started to loosen, a bone-chilling sensation of pure dread swept down her spine, like the cold fingers of Death trailing down her spine.
'Shit!' Panic surged through Xiao Hong, snapping her wavering mind back into sharp focus. Her arms tightened desperately as she forced her fingers back. Her Qi relaxed, barely regaining its stability.
Just in time, too, as the flood of Soul Power slammed into the wall of Qi. A turbulent shockwave pulsed through her Qi and travelled downward to her arms, sending a stinging ache down her arms, like a porcupine rolling its spines along them. And the damned thing even gained weight as it did!
"Ow!" Xiao Hong yelped, desperately fighting against the instinctive urge to fling her arms apart. But her fear kept her arms locked - relaxing now would not end well. So, she gritted her teeth and bore through the waves of stinging pain, tears pooling at the corner of her eyes.
After a torturous eternity, the flood of Soul Power ebbed into a trickle and then ceased entirely. For a long minute, she didn't dare move a muscle, just breathing through the lingering tingling.
Long moments passed before she dared to cautiously relax her fingers, her hands shaking visibly as she lowered them to her lap. She let out a long breath. That was far scarier than the old Xiao Hong's!
For some reason she could not understand, her Soul Power was especially abundant, outstripping the preceding owner of this body by leaps and bounds. She had no real benchmark, but instinctively, she felt her Soul Power was almost absurd in magnitude.
"But," her eyes brightened, "I've awakened my Soul Power!" A dazzling smile of pure joy appeared on her face. It was a smile that could stop hearts and cause the fall of kingdoms. Unfortunately, there was no one to witness this marvellous sight.
In a moment of euphoria, she bounced to her feet and whooped to the skies, "Hahahaha~! Just you wait, my dainty little Jade Beauties of the Grand Mystic World! Old Demon Xiao is here to sweep you off your little jade feet!"
Outside, in the courtyard, a startled squeak could be heard. The squirrel perched on the courtyard tree nearly launched itself into orbit before scrambling back into its little hole, heart thumping. After a beat, he chanced a peek. Nope, it wasn't the apocalypse, just his lunatic neighbour acting up again. With an indignant chatter, he jumped back inside. He was seriously considering packing up his nuts and moving to the next courtyard! This nutcase of a neighbour was unnerving to share space with!
Inside, Xiao Hong quickly put her hand down. Cheeks blazing, she realised what she had done. Thank Heavens no one was around to witness that! Otherwise, she would be questioning whether Qi Deviation was a good exit strategy.
Anyway, after revelry was axed by sheer embarrassment, she calmed down and fell into thought.
Soul Power. An indispensable power on the Immortal Path. Without it, a Qi Cultivator was almost useless. It touched everything - from enhancing Qi Control, fueling Spirit Sense, and forming the backbone of the fabled Four Major Cultivation Arts.
Qi Control was easy enough to understand.
The Four Major Cultivation Arts were something she couldn't get into at this moment. So she turned her attention to Spirit Sense.
What was Spirit Sense, then?
To put it simply, it was a Cultivator version of a minimap. A very, very rudimentary one. Using their Spirit Sense, a Cultivator can sense all kinds of Qi, from Lifeforce of a living being to the Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth, in a certain range. The specifics differed from one Cultivator to another.
Curious about her newest superpower, Xiao Hong wanted to test it out. Her previous incarnation had found the concept of Spirit Sense, Divine Sense, or Qi Sense irresistibly unique.
How could she not find it interesting?!
An intangible sense that could pierce through walls, help refine Immortal Pills and Artefacts, browse large quantities of information in a short while, navigate complex array formations, and do so much more. Using the sheer power of the Soul, one could move mountains and boil seas, peer into the very Laws of Heaven and Earth and eventually even wield them!
What an enviable power that was!
And now, she had also gained this power! An excited grin stretched her lips as she imagined what powers it could grant her. She closed her eyes and attempted to spread her Soul Power outward. At once, she felt a coolness between her brows, like a cool finger pressed against her forehead.
Like the first raindrop on a still pond's surface, a ripple expanded with her as the centre. She could almost visualise the invisible wave radiating out from her, covering the entire room within a few seconds.
In her mind's eye, amorphous blobs of blue-white light formed - each with its own brightness and peculiar shape. One blob in particular made her do a double-take. It looked like an unusually stretched egg, as though some lazy 3D artist had tried to model an ostrich egg from a normal one but forgot to add the correct thickness, leaving behind an… abomination.
"Is that… my painstakingly decorated vase?!" Xiao Hong squinted, focusing her attention on it.
Sure enough, it was the vase!
Xiao Hong's lips twitched. 'It's alright. It is only because the vase does not have its own Qi that it looks like that!' She repeated that mantra a few times, more for her own peace of mind than anything else. To properly convince herself, she quickly whipped out a thumb-sized pebble that glowed a bright blueish-white and tried sensing it.
This was a Spirit Stone. The resource that makes the Xianxia world turn.
And immediately, she could see the difference. Compared to everything else, the Spirit Stone glowed like a flashlight in a pitch-black cave! And to Xiao Hong's relief, it looked like a proper stone rather than an alien egg.
"Phew," she heaved a sigh of relief. "It isn't that my Spirit Sense is crippled, but the light is too weak!"
Moreover, she was not used to this new sense yet. It required a period of adaptation before she could use Spirit Sense as adeptly as her other senses. It was a completely new sense, after all.
Soon, she began experimenting with her newfound ability and attempted to stretch it as far as possible, only to realise that her maximum range was around five metres.
Xiao Hong: "..."
Well, scanning nine thousand Realms with a casual sweep was a bit further than expected, it seemed.
But, anyway, within that five-metre radius, she could perceive almost everything macroscopic as long as it had Qi or interacted with the Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth, which almost all existing matter in this world. And Xiao Hong was adding 'almost' only because she was being conservative.
She walked around the room, testing her Spirit Sense against every object she came across: from vases to photo frames, from walls to ceilings, from chairs and tables to carpets.
After exhaustively scanning everything indoors, she turned her hungry eyes towards the courtyard!
The grass in the courtyard nearly died of shame from Xiao Hong's intense and voracious scan. Even the squirrel in its comfy little tree home was not spared. The poor thing didn't know just how brutally its privacy had been violated. If it did, it might lament about how it would not be able to get married anymore, you know?
After spending the better part of an hour peeking, scanning and scrutinising things left and right, top to bottom, she was finally satisfied and decided to give it a rest. It was not a good idea to strain her Spirit Sense now.
Closing her eyes, she attempted to pull back her Spirit Sense… and failed.
Xiao Hong: "???"
What on Earth?
She squinted in confusion and tried again.
Still no dice.
Xiao Hong: "... What the heck? How am I not able to take it back?"
She was flummoxed. Isn't Spirit Sense just another Sensory ability? Then, how was she not able to pull it back? It made no sense to her - it's like sticking your tongue out and then forgetting how to pull it back, or opening your eyes and forgetting how to close them.
If someone faced such an issue, they had better find a neurosurgeon. Fast.
Eventually, after failing more times than she cared to admit, she barely managed to reel that pesky Spirit Sense back in.
The instant she did, an overwhelming wave of dizziness slammed her. She staggered, fighting to stay upright as her vision swam in and out of focus, pain throbbing behind her eyes like a bad hangover.
She had barely managed to lie down before the world spun violently.
'Ah damn, I exhausted my Soul Power…' was the last coherent thought she managed before everything faded to black.