"All right, you'll sleep here tonight!" Li Xiaoya still wanted to say something, but Heavenly Venerable Daoling cut him off.
"Ah! I still wanted to hear more about Immortal Cultivators!" Li Xiaoya complained.
"Do you think we're the introductory elders at the Merit Transmission Hall, here specifically to teach you about Immortal Cultivators? Once you've spent some time in the cultivation world, you'll naturally learn all that," Fairy Qingxia said impatiently.
That was only natural. Both of them were great cultivators at the nascent soul late stage. They had told him so much about Immortal Cultivators earlier for two reasons: first, to kindle his interest so he would stay in the Heavenly Dao Sect until they could set up the Five-Element Formation again and extract the Five-Element Rainbow Ganoderma; second, to observe the Five-Element Rainbow Ganoderma's reactions inside him and prevent any further mishaps. Otherwise, why would they be the ones explaining such basic knowledge about Immortal Cultivators to Li Xiaoya? Any low-ranking disciple could have done it.
"Ah! You're not telling me any more?" Li Xiaoya said, disappointed.
"Senior Brother Daoling, I'll return to the sect now. I'll trouble you again tomorrow!" Fairy Qingxia cupped her hands toward Heavenly Venerable Daoling. Only then did she tell Li Xiaoya, "Stay here with Senior Brother Daoling. Don't be naughty or make trouble, and do as he says."
"Okay! I know!" Li Xiaoya said with a nod.
Fairy Qingxia nodded, glanced at Li Xiaoya, then flew out through the cave entrance without looking back and returned to the sect.
Heavenly Venerable Daoling opened an unoccupied meditation chamber and had Li Xiaoya go inside to rest. Then he cast a series of spells at the cave entrance, applying the same magic he had used inside the Five-Element Formation throughout the cave, coating all its walls in a layer of golden light. He cast another series of spells on Li Xiaoya before finally leaving, reassured.
After a whole day of being put through one ordeal after another, with all its ups and downs, Li Xiaoya was utterly exhausted. He lay down on the stone bed and soon fell asleep.
Li... Xiao... ya...
Li... Xiao... ya...
Li... Xiao... ya... save me!
Save... me...
After an unknown stretch of time, Li Xiaoya suddenly sensed someone calling him. At first, he thought it was a dream, but the voice grew increasingly urgent and clear. He tried to open his eyes to look, only to find that he could not. It seemed he really was dreaming, and he drifted groggily back to sleep.
Li... Xiao... ya...
Li... Xiao... ya...
Li... Xiao... ya... save me!
Save... me...
The moment he fell asleep, the voice appeared again. Li Xiaoya tried once more to open his eyes, but still could not. Suddenly, he vaguely sensed that the voice was sounding directly inside his mind. Could it be...? he wondered.
That's right! It's me! I'm Guagua! Just as Li Xiaoya wondered whether it was the Five-Element Rainbow Ganoderma, the voice in his mind hurriedly answered.
It really is you?! Li Xiaoya thought at once, astonished.
It really is me! the voice said again.
How can you talk inside my head? Aren't you unable to speak? Li Xiaoya thought.
I'm attached to your body now. My divine sense can communicate with yours, so you can hear my words clearly in your mind, the Five-Element Rainbow Ganoderma said.
Wow! That's amazing! So you can actually speak human language now too? Li Xiaoya thought happily.
No! Because of my true body's unusual structure, I can't speak human language, but I can understand it. Besides, isn't this perfect? That human Great Cultivator cast a listening spell in this room, but he still can't hear our conversation, the Five-Element Rainbow Ganoderma explained.
"Oh! So that's how it works!" Li Xiaoya understood somewhat. Then he thought, You were burned so badly by that strange flame during the day. Are you all right?
Oh! Of course I'm not all right! That demonic fire specifically suppresses spiritual beings like me, formed from five-element spiritual qi. That short time in the flames used up a full third of my spiritual power. It'll take two or three hundred years to recover! The Five-Element Rainbow Ganoderma's indignant voice sounded in Li Xiaoya's mind.
Oh! It's all my fault for not protecting you properly, Guagua! Li Xiaoya thought guiltily.
You can't blame yourself. You're only a mortal-how could you fight them? Sensing Li Xiaoya's guilt, the Five-Element Rainbow Ganoderma comforted him.
Mm! Right, Guagua! Why do they want to capture you? Li Xiaoya suddenly wondered.
My true body formed from a ten-thousand-year-old rainbow ganoderma. To many cultivators, I'm an exceptionally rare spiritual medicine that boosts magical power. I can improve their aptitude for the five elements and increase their cultivation. So every cultivator wants to get their hands on me to raise their own cultivation! the Five-Element Rainbow Ganoderma thought bitterly.
That's going too far! How can they do that? How can they trade another living being's life for their own cultivation? Li Xiaoya thought indignantly.
Exactly! Human cultivators are far too overbearing. So, Li Xiaoya, you have to save me! the Five-Element Rainbow Ganoderma thought.
Right! Why did you pick me back then, and how were you able to attach yourself to me? Li Xiaoya suddenly wondered. Since the Five-Element Rainbow Ganoderma seemed quite intelligent, why had they chosen him? Fairy Qingxia's claim that they had mistaken him for one of their own kind was clearly wrong. How strange.
Well...! To tell you the truth, your five-element spiritual root nourishes my true body. And you're an ordinary mortal, so you pose no threat to me. That's why I pretended to like you and attached myself to your body, letting your five-element spiritual qi nourish me. The Five-Element Rainbow Ganoderma hesitated at first, but still told him the truth. Yet Li Xiaoya distinctly sensed that they were keeping something from him.
Guagua! You know I'm just an ordinary mortal. I don't know a single immortal art or spell. I can't even get out of this door, so how am I supposed to save you? Li Xiaoya thought, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
Well! I have a way. Tomorrow, you just do this...
Before long, an ingenious plan from the Five-Element Rainbow Ganoderma sounded in Li Xiaoya's mind. Although he sensed that they were hiding something from him, he still agreed to help them escape. He could not bear to watch such an adorable little creature die before his eyes.
After communicating a little more with the Five-Element Rainbow Ganoderma in his mind, he sank back into a deep sleep. After an unknown amount of time, Li Xiaoya suddenly found himself back in Treasure Immortal Town. He was just about to go to the Four Directions Inn to cadge a meal when Xu Er blocked his way. He was about to use his old trick to fool Xu Er when he suddenly discovered that Xu Er had turned into Zhang Dafu. Zhang Dafu stared at him with a hideous expression and snarled, "Give me back my life!" Then he suddenly turned into Scarface, his face covered in blood, and lunged viciously at him...
"Ah!!" Li Xiaoya sat bolt upright with a startled cry. He looked around, then sighed in relief. "It was only a dream!" By now, he was drenched in sweat. Although he had used a scheme to kill Scarface, he was still only a ten-year-old child. He knew perfectly well that Scarface was no good and had deserved to die, yet his heart remained filled with uncertainty, unease, and fear. Curling up on the bed, he began to sob.
Li Xiaoya! It's almost time! After an unknown stretch of time, the Five-Element Rainbow Ganoderma called out inside Li Xiaoya's mind.
(It looks like I've been muted across the entire site. I don't know whether posting an advertisement caused it or whether it was something else! I've actually ended up following in the great Wang's footsteps! How depressing! I was being so careful, afraid I'd get something wrong somewhere, but I still got into trouble! I hope everyone will keep supporting me! The updates will continue.)
If searching for the book title doesn't work, try searching for the author. Perhaps the title was simply changed!