Huo Ling'er

Purple qi steamed and surged, clouds and mist drifted hazily, continuously spilling from Little One. Radiant light shimmered around him, and auspicious colors billowed.

"Roar..."

A low growl sounded. Little One finally broke through, opening his seventh Heavenly Cave. "Magma" churned inside the volcanic crater and flowed out, pouring into his body.

"Little One, if you take any longer, something might happen." Bai Yixin stood before him, holding the Three-Foot Green Blade and gazing into the distance as he spoke.

"Isn't Brother Little White here? I thought I was just one step away. I didn't expect it to take so much longer." Little One looked delighted. This really was a treasure ground.

"Brother Little White, who are those people coming?"

A large group of geniuses, over forty in all, guarded a carriage as they approached. Red radiance flickered around it; at a glance, it was clearly a treasure.

"The little princess of the Fire Kingdom, and our junior sister from Heaven-Mending Pavilion who joined at the same time as us," Bai Yixin said. He put away the Three-Foot Green Blade in his hand. Now that Little One was awake, there was no need to stay so vigilant.

Red radiance swirled around the carriage, with young geniuses guarding it nearby. Perhaps only the Human Emperor's most beloved daughter could command such a following.

"Here's the merchandise. Take a look." Bai Yixin pointed to the silver being inside the ice beside them. He had even gone out of his way to reattach its head and arms, keeping its body intact.

"What an excellent Primordial Remnant. We're willing to trade for it!" One of the newcomers looked thrilled.

"What do you have to offer in exchange?" Bai Yixin glanced toward the carriage, curious to see what Huo Ling'er looked like, and asked casually.

"Wait a moment. We need to confirm whether this is truly from the Spirit Race." A mysterious figure, covered head to toe in a black cloak, walked over from the carriage. His voice was hoarse.

"Sealer." Hearing that hoarse voice, Bai Yixin glanced at the mysterious figure, and a word flashed through his mind.

A Sealer was, simply put, someone over eighteen who had sealed their own cultivation before entering the Hundred-Broken Mountain Range. Bound by the rules of the range, they could only use strength no greater than the Cave Heaven Realm.

"This is from the Spirit Race?" Several senior brothers from Heaven-Mending Pavilion blanched. They glanced at one another, all visibly shaken.

The Spirit Race was a Primordial Remnant, exceedingly rare in number, yet so powerful that the mere thought of it made people tremble.

The being Little Junior Brother had slain was silver all over. It must have inherited royal blood.

"It really is from the Spirit Race. We're willing to trade for it." The black-cloaked figure was straightforward. He did not try to deceive them, openly stating that he wanted the creature.

All the young geniuses were shaken. It was said that this race possessed rare spiritual blood, which could help a person comprehend the Dao once refined. It was truly marvelous and mysterious.

"It really is from the Spirit Race." The figure with his body and head hidden beneath the black cloak walked back to the carriage to report.

"Fine. We'll trade that for the Purple Cloud Heart." A clear voice rang out, like large and small pearls tumbling onto a jade plate. It was exceptionally sweet.

The more than forty geniuses around them were all moved, while several people beside the carriage immediately objected, thinking the trade wasn't worth it.

"The Purple Cloud Heart is exceedingly rare. It, too, comes from a Primordial Remnant, but its medicinal effects are even more potent and greatly aid breakthroughs. Princess, please reconsider."

"Spiritual blood is scarce. Even in a Primordial Remnant's body, there may not be more than a few drops to refine, because it isn't inherited through the bloodline. It's formed from spiritual essence."

Many people tried to dissuade her.

However, the royal girl inside the carriage, its red radiance shimmering, had made up her mind. In her eyes, spiritual blood that could help someone comprehend the Dao was more precious than anything else.

The cloaked figure enveloped in Black Mist came over, holding a jade cauldron a foot square. He said nothing more, simply offering it forward. He was eager to make the exchange at once.

"Now that's generous!" Bai Yixin had no idea how precious this so-called Purple Cloud Heart was. Judging from their expressions, it seemed like an overpayment. As long as he came out ahead, it was a great deal.

The jade cauldron opened, and purple qi swirled within it. A sweet fragrance wafted out, making every pore on the body relax. It was utterly soothing.

Inside lay an object as big as a human head, purple all over and sparkling with a brilliant luster, like a beautiful amethyst. It radiated a precious glow and fragrance, with wisps of purple mist rising from it.

This was the Purple Cloud Heart. It came from a ferocious Primordial Remnant, the Purple Cloud Marten. It was a heart, yet looked more like a huge purple gemstone, dazzling and gorgeous.

"Not bad!" Bai Yixin was quite pleased. As its name suggested, the purple heart steamed with purple qi, wreathed in clouds. It had no bloody smell, but instead gave off a lovely fragrance.

Who would have thought that the silver Spirit Race creature, whose strength hadn't been all that impressive, would be worth so much? Add in the two treasures dropped by the monsters he'd beaten, and wow, these Primordial Remnants were all rolling in riches.

Little One glanced at the Purple Cloud Heart, clearly tempted. He looked toward the carriage and said, "Junior Sister Princess, I'm from Heaven-Mending Pavilion too. Why don't you come over and meet your senior brother?"

Bai Yixin put away the Purple Cloud Heart and smiled as well. "That's right, Junior Sister. Since you're so generous, call me Senior Brother and I'll treat you to a meal."

The geniuses stared blankly. These two were far too brazen. Even if they were fellow disciples, how many would dare speak to the Human Emperor's daughter? Everyone else treated her with the utmost respect and caution. And they were offering to buy her a meal? Did the Human Emperor's daughter look like she couldn't afford one?

A flash of red light, and the carriage's curtain, strung with pearls and jade, was lifted. A girl stepped out. She looked about fifteen or sixteen, with a full, fair forehead, an oval face, gently arched brows, and large eyes shining like crystals, filled with a spiritual radiance.

Her skin was snow-white. Though she was not yet an adult, she was tall, no shorter than girls of eighteen or nineteen, and a head taller than others her age. She walked with graceful, light steps, her slender waist swaying like a snake. Her curves were exceptionally beautiful.

Her figure was exquisite to the extreme. Her legs were long and straight, and as she swayed toward them, her graceful curves rippled, captivating even girls of eighteen or nineteen and making them feel inferior.

"Little brat, what did you call me?" Huo Ling'er's lips curled slightly, her tone teasing. "You're so young, and you still dare try to take advantage of me."

"As for you... forget the meal. You look strong. Want to come with us? I've already contacted the Nine-Headed Golden Lion, the Feather King, the Silver-Blooded Giant, and several other powerful figures. We're going to the Divine Grotto to seize a supreme treasure." Huo Ling'er's eyes brightened slightly as she looked at Bai Yixin. Ripples of light played in them as she spoke with a smile.

Bai Yixin was only nine or ten, but he had developed quickly. He was already around 1.7 meters tall and still growing at an astonishing pace.

Bai Yixin wore simple white robes, his long black hair spilling down like a waterfall. His skin was as fair as jade, but even more captivating was his otherworldly aura, like an exiled immortal—handsome, elegant, and unrestrained.

"The Nine-Headed Lion will be there? Then sure. What about that Feather King and the Silver-Blooded Giant? Are they for sale, too? If the price is right, I'll treat you to a meal. You should know not just anyone gets to eat food I'm paying for.

"Only the weak band together, but your numbers look substantial. Maybe you can still be of some use."

Bai Yixin still didn't know that the transcendent, ineffable aura he had acquired after being cleansed by Heaven's Dao Qi and the Qi of the Great Dao made people instinctively feel a little fond of him.

Everyone's faces darkened. This kid was really asking for it, calling all of us weak right in front of the whole crowd. Wasn't he afraid we'd gang up on him?!

Just as the geniuses who had come with Huo Ling'er were about to teach Bai Yixin a thing or two about who was really weak, the fame Little One had made by bursting onto the scene attracted even more attention.

"I joined before you, so I should be your senior brother. Besides, I'm not much older than you. Junior Sister, now that you've met your senior brother, shouldn't you come over and pay your respects?" Little One objected, putting on a dignified, old-fashioned air and lifting his chin as he spoke to the exceptionally beautiful girl.

"Oh? You're the Bear Child!" Hearing Little One try to take advantage of her too, Huo Ling'er looked at him. A look of surprise crossed her beautiful, delicate face as she scrutinized him again and again.

"What? The Bear Child!"

"My heavens, he really is that Bear Child! He actually showed himself!" The crowd cried out. Their eyes burned as they slowly closed in, eager to catch him.

"You're the Bear Child! Your whole family's the Bear Child!" Little One snapped. His big eyes darted as he grew wary. "I'm warning you, don't come near me, or I'll eat every one of you!"

"You five, go with them for now," Bai Yixin told the five Heaven-Mending Pavilion geniuses beside him. He called to Little One, planning to first absorb the Purple Cloud Heart before joining them at the Divine Grotto. "Little One, come with me."

He didn't trust these people. Who knew whether someone might try something underhanded? Better to leave the crowd and break through first.

"Charge! Catch them!" Suddenly, Huo Ling'er, the Human Emperor's Daughter, shouted. Dozens of geniuses all moved at once, rushing forward.

"Beat him up and see who's weak!"

Although most of them had run off to catch the Bear Child, quite a few were still coveting the Purple Cloud Heart in Bai Yixin's possession. And after he'd mouthed off, they seized the chance to teach him a lesson.

"Pathetic weaklings. You love picking on people with numbers on your side." Bai Yixin said no more. He struck out with a palm, runes filling the sky and gale winds howling. A tornado sprang up from the ground, crushing every Treasure Technique rushing toward him, then swept all of them into the air.

As if they were nothing but a few lines on a screen, Bai Yixin, who had "pressed R," appeared above them in the next instant. He shaped the wind into fists and hit each person once, knocking them all unconscious. They floated peacefully in the wind, then dropped to the ground with a thud.

The group of geniuses who had failed to catch the Bear Child had just started looking for another target, hoping to join in on Bai Yixin's fight. To their surprise, it was already over.

Hey! There were more than a dozen of them, not just one or two! They'd barely been chasing the Bear Child for a minute, and those dozen-odd people were already down? What a useless bunch!

Bai Yixin drifted down lightly. A field of "sleeping corpses" lay around him. For Huo Ling'er's sake, and since those weaklings hadn't meant to kill him, he hadn't gone so far as to kill them outright.

"So weak. No wonder they're just nameless extras." Bai Yixin shook his head. At least the silver Spirit Race creature had managed a few moves, and with those two treasures, it had been worth playing with. You lot, if you don't band together, you're just a platter of food.

"I wonder if anyone can force me to use spiritual power..." A thought flashed through Bai Yixin's mind.

"Want to take a nap with them?" Bai Yixin smiled at the group of geniuses approaching and beckoned with a finger, taunting them.

"Kid, you're asking for—" In the heat of the moment, one genius couldn't bear the provocation and charged out, but before he could finish speaking—

Smack! Bai Yixin appeared in front of him in an instant and slapped him straight into the ground.

"It's wrong to swear. Be polite."

The golden lightning vanished, revealing a flawless white palm. Bai Yixin narrowed his eyes and smiled.

Everyone shivered. The guy who'd just been hit was about as strong as they were. He'd only been worth one slap? How was this guy swatting them like chickens?

"Excellent!" Excitement shone in Huo Ling'er's eyes. If Bai Yixin could help her, their chances of seizing the supreme treasure on the Divine Grotto expedition would be much higher!

"You're strong. If you're willing to help me, I'll give you a reward you'll be satisfied with." Huo Ling'er's slender figure swayed as she approached in graceful steps, her curves astonishingly beautiful.

"..."

Bai Yixin thought it over. The Divine Grotto seemed like a trap. It was said to be where a god had fallen, but the most valuable thing inside was a descendant of a god—a wolf egg.

He had no idea why wolves laid eggs, but helping to snatch one was no problem.

As long as she paid, everything was negotiable.

But there was something else troubling Bai Yixin: Huo Ling'er was one of Little One's "heroines." Sadly, her story started high and ended low, her fate full of hardship. Leaving aside Yue Chan, whom someone had forced into a wedding, Huo Ling'er had been the first to marry, yet was captured halfway through, then had her home stolen by Yun Xi. It took two million years before she was truly rescued.

"Go with the flow? Or defy fate and change it?"

Bai Yixin personally leaned toward the latter. After all, when he'd read this story in his previous life, he'd thought that if he could transmigrate, he'd turn this world into whatever he wanted it to be.

Was it worth it? Bai Yixin himself couldn't say. But if he didn't do something, he wouldn't be able to live with himself.

"Sure. Call me Senior Brother, and..." Bai Yixin gave Huo Ling'er a complicated look and began to speak.

"You'll have to pay extra!"

Only by leaving no regrets could his Dao heart be complete and his Inner Demon remain unformed.

"Fine! But let's be clear: your fee depends on the work. And the allies I bring along... even if you really can beat them, you'll have to wait until afterward to make your move." Huo Ling'er thought it over and said. With Bai Yixin and the Bear Child hired as muscle, it would be well worth the money.

"Liiittle Se-ni-or Bro-ther."

"Since it's my junior sister's request, your senior brother will help you." Bai Yixin patted Huo Ling'er on the head. Whatever happened, her senior brother could at least keep her alive.

"If you keep touching me, don't blame me for getting rough!" The Fire Kingdom Princess was startled, then her pretty face flushed slightly. She bared a row of gleaming little teeth and bit her bright red lip, runes threatening to flare around her.

"What's wrong with a little pat? I'm giving you a buff."

He was used to patting Little One on the head, so it had been an unconscious gesture. Bai Yixin had no reason to feel guilty, and his confidence was unshakable!

"Buff? What buff?" Huo Ling'er's embarrassment subsided, and she asked in surprise.

"Helping you grow taller?" Bai Yixin blurted out. He was so used to saying things like that to Little One that only after he'd said it did he realize—apart from the people of Stone Village, who had long since gotten used to it, who else could understand his "nonsense"?

"So patting your head keeps you short, right? If you're useless on this trip, just you wait. Hmph." Huo Ling'er's eyes shone like crystals, the corners of her mouth lifting. Children really were children—so childish.