Heroines Did It Too

"The path to the sacred mountain may be treacherous, but if we lack even the courage to climb it, wouldn't the serpent clan's thousand-year-old perseverance be a joke?"

Ji Xueruo her fingertips, the sound as clear and cold as shattered jade.

Her gaze swept over the seven elders in the hall. Seeing their solemn expressions, she suddenly smiled and said, "Elders, do not forget that the serpent clan's greatest skill is turning adversity into opportunity."

Liu Yinyin tapped her snake-headed staff lightly on the ground, her newly matured face revealing a resolute air. "The clan leader is right! When our snake clan had its fewest members, there were only thirty or so. Now we have multiplied to a hundred, and that's not because we complained or blamed others!"

"But the Snake Blood Pool has been destroyed..." Elder Yin stroked the silver chain around his neck, his brow furrowed with worry.

"The sacred mountain connects heaven and earth. The method we can't find here doesn't mean we can't find it on the sacred mountain." Ji Xueruo's fingertips traced the Jade Slip on the table, her voice clear and melodious like ice springs striking stone. Despite her young age, it was inspiring. "Just as we are content in this corner of the world, unaware that the Golden Peng Clan of the sacred mountain has reached such a level in their research on Demon Core. I imagine that among the various clans of the sacred mountain, it's not only the Golden Peng Clan that is interested in the wonders of Demon Core."

Yu Wanyue Golden Peng Clan on Demon Core with Liu Yinyin, including many groundbreaking new insights.

For example, Demon Core cannot be grafted between different races, but the Mystic Qi within Demon Core can be transferred. After a demon dies, the Mystic Qi within its Demon Core will dissipate into the universe, merging once again with the unclaimed Mystic Qi of heaven and earth. It is based on this principle that the Golden Peng Clan made its deceased Lineage nourish its descendants.

As Ji Xueruo had predicted, the various Demon Race were secretly researching Demon Core. However, the Golden Peng Clan was inherently despicable and too eager for quick success, turning what could have been a great and successful inheritance into a forbidden technique for absorbing Demon Core.

"That's right! As long as we can gain a foothold on Mount Shen, the predicament of our clan's survival may not be hopeless! On the contrary, if we wallow in self-pity because we believe that the snake clan will be wiped out, then we are the ones who are truly going against the wishes of our ancestors!"

Elder Chi slammed his hand on the table and stood up. His eyes were full of disdain when he looked at Elder Yin, but his gaze towards the young clan leader was full of admiration.

"Elder Chi's words may be rough, but they are true. Regardless of whether the Serpent Clan is destined to become extinct, this long-cherished wish has finally been given hope in our generation, and we can never give up." Elder Hua rarely agreed with Elder Chi's statement, but worry still lingered in the pink scales at the corners of his brows. "However, gaining a foothold on Mount Shen is by no means easy. The competition among the various clans on Mount Shen is far more intense than in our remote place; the Golden Peng Clan is a bloody example. In my opinion, there are two solutions to improve the problem of our dwindling population."

Elder Hua was the most quick-witted Ji Xueruo asked her to continue.

"The first solution is to increase the population. Although we can't reproduce using the Snake Blood Pool, don't forget that Nian Su is also a child of our snake clan. As long as the Second Young Lady and Young Master You have more children from now on, at least the snake clan will still have fresh blood. If we can't find a way to continue our lineage in the future, this method can serve as a backup plan to continue the snake clan's bloodline."

"No!" Ji Xueruo interrupted decisively, her tone resolute. "Human-demon unions often produce freaks, and my sister and I were both born with congenital defects. Moreover, my sister has told everyone that Nian Su's origins are strange; she was definitely not born from her womb, but rather a product of fortuitous opportunity within her. It was precisely this fortuitous opportunity that allowed my sister to rebuild her Demon Core and open her Spirit Vein."

"The clan leader was born without Demon Core, and the Second Young Lady was born with disordered Spirit Vein. Yet today, you two are both exceptionally talented geniuses even in the sacred mountain. This shows that congenital damage can be compensated for later. The key is that the bloodline must be preserved." Elder Jin bowed and spoke, clearly indicating that the survival of the race was of utmost importance to her.

"Does Elder Jin want the tragedy that befell my sister and me to repeat itself?!"

Ji Xueruo hands clenched tightly, revealing her knuckles. As soon as she finished speaking, the hall fell silent, and Elder Jin lowered his head, unable to rise.

The young girl couldn't bear to see this. As a beneficiary of the grafting of Demon Core back then, how could she have the face to rebuke their decision? And how could their snake clan have survived for so many years without anyone making sacrifices? It would be the same in any race. Just like Elder Jin himself, he damaged his foundation for the snake clan and would probably be stuck at the lower level of the Feather Transformation Realm for life.

She understood the elders' obsession with the continuation of the race, but because she knew how painful such sacrifices were, she was determined to do her best to avoid them during her reign.

She paused, then her tone softened. "If my sister hadn't encountered her own fortuitous opportunity, she might never have had the chance to become an immortal. I don't want to see anyone in the snake clan make such a selfless sacrifice again. This thought may be naive, but it's a conviction I've had since I was a child."

The elders remained silent upon hearing this. Compared to the Second Young Lady, they had witnessed the Eldest Young Lady's growth more closely. It was probably because of her guilt towards her younger sister that she had this obsession.

But this young girl, who has shouldered great responsibilities since childhood, has also frequently sacrificed herself.

"Besides..." Ji Xueruo pursed her lips, "Lingruo and Young Master You's relationship is hard-won and shouldn't be taken advantage of like this. There's no need to discuss this further; everything should be based on their own will, and we cannot impose the greater good of our clan on them."

Having said that, the elders naturally had no further objections.

Elder Hua then said, "Since expanding the population is too difficult for the snake race, the second option is to enhance the strength of the entire race. If Elder Liu truly breaks through to the Upper Realm of Feather Transformation by the end of the year, most of the Demon Race on Divine Mountain will certainly not dare to underestimate us."

Liu Yinyin shook her head and smiled bitterly, "How can I alone support the entire clan? Since retreating from the sacred mountain, the snake clan has had no Void Transformation Realm experts, and in the past thousand years, very few have even broken through to the Upper Realm of Feather Transformation. How can we possibly raise the strength of the entire snake clan to a level that convinces all the clans of the sacred mountain in a short period of time? In the end, whether it's the Six Great Demon Clans or the Immortal Ancestor Temple, they are interested in the exceptionally talented Eldest Young Lady, not our snake clan."

The last sentence revealed the truth. These seven elders weren't stupid. Although Ji Xueruo kept saying that she was extending an olive branch to the snake clan, they also knew that the olive branch was only extended to her.

Elder Yin clapped his hands, an idea forming in his mind. "In my opinion, why doesn't the clan leader choose one of the Six Great Demon Clans as his disciple? After all, their overtures are precisely because they see the clan leader's boundless potential! This way, the clan leader can not only obtain resources on par with the Six Great Demon Clans to focus on cultivation, but also won't have to worry about the snake clan all day long, burdened with his family. Once he achieves success and fame, he can lead the snake clan back to the sacred mountain, and no one will dare to object then."

"Giving out nothing but terrible ideas." Elder Zhu's comments were always so scathing. "Those great Demon Race are searching for exceptionally talented individuals among the Demon Race outside the sacred mountain to take as disciples. Do you really think they're that kind-hearted? Although they'll have resources to cultivate, they'll still be subject to others in the future. Otherwise, why would anyone help you for no reason? Our clan leader is a prodigy. At only 28 years old, she's already at the Water Condensation Realm. There's no one in the Eastern Kingdom who can rival her. It's only a matter of time before she grows up. Who is qualified to be her disciple?"

However, in fact, not only was Ji Xueruo's talent unprecedented, but Ji Lingruo was the same. At the age of eighteen, she was at the Water Condensing Lower Realm, which was hard to find even among the Six Great Demon Clans. Not to mention that she had reached this level from the Channel Opening Realm in just one year, which was truly monstrous.

Elder Zhu's words reminded all the elders of the extraordinary nature of the two beauties. They exchanged glances, as if they had all thought of one person— You Su.

While the Eldest Young Lady's efforts were indispensable, they were not enough to transform her from a dazzling prodigy into a top-tier prodigy whom others could only dream of. Similarly, efforts could not have transformed the Second Young Lady, who was a cultivation failure a year ago, into what she is today.

The reason they were able to defy fate was precisely because of You Su's fortuitous opportunity!

This cauldron-like structure is truly profound and mysterious...

"I will not become anyone's disciple," Ji Xueruo suddenly spoke, waking the seven elders who were lost in thought. "It's not that I, Ji Xueruo, am arrogant because of my talent, but rather that I, Ji Xueruo, would never abandon the Serpent Clan to live in seclusion, much less do anything to dishonor the Serpent Clan. Our Serpent Clan is bound together by the principle of shared destiny, where one's fate is the other's! So if we are to enter this sacred mountain, we will enter together!"

Elder Chi slapped the table in approval, feeling that this young clan leader was a perfect match for her temperament.

Although the others did not echo the praise, it is undeniable that a certain fervor was awakened in their hearts. Sharing the glory and disgrace of the snake clan was, in fact, their own sentiment.

"Elder Hua is right. It's too much for Elder Liu to bear the external pressure alone. We need to improve the strength of the entire clan. Those Demon Race with rare bloodlines are fewer than us, yet they are still recognized because they are strong enough. However, there are less than three months left until the end of the year, and time is tight. We need to see immediate results. Therefore, until the end of the year, the Snake Clan will dedicate all its strength to helping the seven elders improve their cultivation!"

Ji Xueruo raised her eyes and looked at the seven elders in the hall, her gaze as sharp as an unwavering sword.

The seven elders seated below were all taken aback upon hearing this, and their seven charming faces exchanged bewildered glances.

The first to speak was Elder Jin, the most straightforward of them all. Her brows furrowed. "Clan leader, this is far too risky! Draining the pond to catch all the fish will ultimately damage the foundation! The previous clan leader exhausted the Fire Essence Ore beneath Snake Mountain, causing the Snake Clan's income to plummet—that's a precedent! If the Snake Clan's hard-earned resources are also depleted, and they fail to gain a foothold on the Divine Mountain, the Snake Clan will be doomed!"

"I am aware of the risks." Ji Xueruo turned around, the deepening twilight casting its light on her dark back. "But I can guarantee that the Serpent Clan will never run out of resources."

"Is the clan leader... going to trade with other tribes?" Elder Hua was the most perceptive.

"All Six Great Demon Clans favor me. I can find a way to make a deal with them and exchange it for enough heavenly materials and earthly treasures to help the elders break through." Ji Xueruo did not hide her plan.

"How does the clan leader plan to conduct the transaction?" Elder Zhu asked.

"Some promises, the promises of a future Void Glimpse Venerable. The Immortal Ancestor Temple has already intended to recruit me as an Immortal Official. The Immortal Ancestor Temple will not provide resources, but it can provide me with protection. Therefore, I have the confidence to say that I will definitely be able to break through to the Void Realm in the future."

"So... the clan leader intends to make a deal with them in his personal capacity?" Elder Yin asked immediately afterward, and Ji Xueruo did not deny it.

Elder Chi silk fluttered without wind, his voice filled with sulfurous anxiety. "Clan leader! To improve our cultivation level in a short period of time, we must change our Root Bone. But recently our snake clan has received so many gifts. Among these gifts, is there a single spiritual item that can truly temper our Root Bone? Such things are firmly held in the hands of every Demon Race. How could they be so easily traded?"

"Yes, Chieftain, don't jeopardize your future for our sake!" Elder Xiang felt deep pity for the young chieftain who had endured so much hardship. "The transaction was simple, but repaying the debt is difficult!"

Ji Xueruo, put her hands behind her back, and her slender figure cast a large shadow in the setting sun, covering the seven elders.

"My mind is made up. As the head of the clan, it is only right that I act this way. Moreover, elders, please do not think that I am wasting my efforts. As long as you elders can successfully break through, once we successfully enter the Divine Mountain, all these investments will be rewarded even more."

The hall fell silent for a moment. The elders had different thoughts, but none of them wanted their Eldest Young Lady to make such a great sacrifice for them, these old folks.

If they were certain they could break through, they might agree. But most of them have been stuck at their current level for a long time, so how could they easily assert that they would definitely break through?

Therefore, none of them wanted Ji Xueruo take a gamble, because if she lost, they wouldn't be the ones paying off the gambling debts, but if she won, they would be the biggest beneficiaries.

As if by telepathy, the six elders, each dressed in their most vibrant colors, all turned their gazes toward the silent Liu Yinyin, their eyes filled with anticipation and trepidation.

They all knew that there was a way to improve their cultivation without having to depend on others—that was You Su's Heavenly Furnace Body.

But none of them dared to bring it up.

Because they all knew that, given the Eldest Young Lady's proud nature, the fact that she hadn't officially announced her affair with her brother-in-law meant she wasn't ready yet. If she knew that they already knew this secret she shouldn't know, she would probably be so ashamed that she wanted to die.

Therefore, only Elder Liu, the only one among them who originally knew about You Su's unique physique, was the one to speak up.

Liu Yinyin's fingertips dug deeply into her palms, the elders' fervent gazes making her feel like she was sitting on pins and needles. Of course, she didn't want this Eldest Young Lady she had watched grow up to sacrifice herself for them, but then she thought of You Su's intention to bestow the fortuitous opportunity upon them, her trusted serpent clan members, and her heart was filled with inner turmoil.

But having already received such fortuitous opportunity herself, what right did she have to stop her sisters from seizing fortuitous opportunity? The snake clan always helps each other and never hoards anything...

Furthermore, with these six elders present, her affair with You Su couldn't be kept a secret forever. She couldn't even imagine how the Eldest Young Lady and Second Young Lady would react if they found out—she was their most respected elder!

But if they did it too... wouldn't that conveniently cover up the fact that she beat them to it?

Moreover, that young man dared to disrespect both the Eldest Young Lady and Second Young Lady of their snake clan at the same time. She wanted to further dampen his arrogance, otherwise, would he really think that no one in the snake clan could control him...?

After a long silence, she finally stood up and spoke to Ji Xueruo's retreating figure, her voice soft yet firm:

"Chief, I've thought of a way that we can achieve a breakthrough on our own."

"Myself? I can no longer place my hopes on the legacy of the Serpent Ancestor; it is not a benevolent ancestor."

"It's not the Serpent Ancestor." Liu Yinyin felt her six younger sisters' gazes urging her to speak. "It's You Su. I remember the Second Young Lady mentioned to us on the Divine Ark that Young Master You ... possesses the Heavenly Furnace Body."

It's mostly dialogue, so it might seem a bit short, but weekends are definitely busier than workdays.