Cultivators have always had a vague sense of time. After playing for five years, the two finally grew bored and began to choose suitable secret realms in the vicinity for "treasure hunting."
As most secret realms had restrictions, Xing Yue paid a high price to purchase a map detailing many secret realms from an auction house.
"Illusion!" As soon as she stepped into a secret realm, Xing Yue looked at the blue sky, white clouds, and wisps of smoke rising from chimneys, which were strikingly similar to her memories of home. She immediately drew her conclusion.
This secret realm could replicate places that were already blurred in her memory. It seemed this place was truly special!
A flash of sword light cut through the air, and the illusion shattered like glass. Xing Yue walked out.
What Xing Yuan saw was pitch-black darkness, so dark she couldn't see her hand in front of her face. It was the sight she feared most, the shadow of being trapped in an egg for years since she gained consciousness.
She instinctively curled into a ball, just as she had countless times before, closing her eyes and pretending to sleep. Time always passed quickly when she slept.
Xing Yue waited for Xing Yuan for a long time. After a moment of hesitation, she carved a formation on the ground and placed Xing Yuan's used belongings on it. A red thread instantly bound itself to Xing Yue's wrist, with the other end extending outwards.
Without much hesitation, Xing Yue followed the other end of the red thread. Before long, Xing Yue stepped into Xing Yuan's illusion.
This illusion would reflect what a person most desired or feared deep within their heart. But Xing Yue looked around at the darkness, her eyes filled with surprise. Was this A'Yuan's greatest fear?
Xing Yue formed a hand seal, and a ball of fire instantly appeared in her palm, dispelling much of the darkness.
Xing Yue's brow furrowed. Streaks of fire quickly appeared around them. With each step she took, the surroundings became brighter.
Searching like this was not a solution. Xing Yue simply called out, "A'Yuan! Where are you?"
Shrinking in the corner in fear, Xing Yuan's ears twitched slightly. Was she imagining things? It sounded like someone was calling her. The voice grew closer and more frequent.
Xing Yuan raised her head, finally confirming it wasn't her imagination. She couldn't tell where the voice was coming from, but she immediately ran towards the light.
She always remembered that day. A'Jie arrived like a beacon of light. Though she looked the same as before, in that instant, she became Xing Yuan's faith. From then on, she also wanted to become a light.
A light that shone only for A'Jie!
"Wuwuwu~" Xing Yuan was truly crying now, whether from fear or emotion.
"Don't be afraid! I'm here!" These four simple words successfully stopped Xing Yuan's crying.
She looked up at Xing Yue blankly, finally managing to utter three words: "I'm not scared!"
"Mhm! Of course, our A'Yuan is the bravest. You weren't scared, just got some sand in your eyes by accident," Xing Yue chuckled softly, gently wiping away the tear stains from Xing Yuan's eyes.
Xing Yuan's face flushed, but it was hidden by the fur on her face, so Xing Yue didn't notice.
"Alright, let's go out!" Xing Yue picked her up again.
Xing Yuan habitually found a comfortable spot in Xing Yue's embrace.
Xing Yuan asked seriously, "Sister, why are you so good to me?"
Xing Yue thought for a moment, her face full of smiles, and said, "Because... I want to wait for you to grow up, and then repay my debt!"
"But I'm very poor! So, how about I give myself to you as repayment, okay?" Xing Yuan asked with anticipation.
Xing Yue's eyes were full of amusement. She gently shook her head. "No, you're not worth much."
"I am worth a lot!" Xing Yuan became anxious. "Everyone says I look like a Heart-Bewitching Beast, so I must be very beautiful and definitely worth a lot."
Seeing Xing Yuan's anxiety, Xing Yue slightly put away her playful mood and said gently, "Then A'Yuan, do you want to sell yourself for money? I can't bear to!"
Xing Yuan was immediately appeased by this statement. A'Jie said she couldn't bear to part with her! (*^w^*)
Xing Yue gently stroked Xing Yuan's head again. She was truly like a naive fawn. Xing Yue worried if she would be easily tricked by others in the future.
Having spent so much time together, Xing Yue had long since shifted her focus from the merit she was supposed to gain to caring about Xing Yuan, this beast. Merit could be collected again, but Xing Yuan was unique and irreplaceable.
The two continued their exploration of secret realms. This secret realm was said to have been left behind by a Divine Realm expert. There were not many Divine Realm experts on the entire continent, only a few old ancestors from major sects who had entered this realm through long periods of seclusion.
Therefore, this secret realm was bustling with activity. Many disciples from major sects had come to join the fun. Xing Yue even spotted acquaintances from other sects.
However, she did not go to greet them. No matter how good their relationship was usually, they would not hold back when competing for these resources.
The cultivation world has always been about strength. Cultivators generally value their cultivation. The higher the realm, the more so.
Because a higher realm meant a longer lifespan. After loved ones and friends gradually departed, one would naturally become increasingly indifferent. Friends would transition from ordinary people to like-minded individuals with similar cultivation talents.
Xing Yuan, wanting to prove herself and her worth, was very active.
"Over there, there's very dense spiritual energy over there. There must be something good," Xing Yuan said with confidence in her expression, leading the way in that direction.
Xing Yue was helpless but still followed. This secret realm was filled with formations that concealed spiritual energy. Xing Yue wondered how she could sense it.
The two arrived at a wall. Xing Yuan decisively swiped at the wall with her claw, knocking it down and revealing a medicine garden filled with spiritual energy.
The trees were lush, and the spiritual herbs and immortal fruits were of considerable age.
Although surprised, Xing Yue did not hesitate and immediately began collecting the spiritual herbs and immortal fruits, storing them in special boxes. Once these items were removed from their roots, their spiritual energy would dissipate, and their efficacy would diminish.
If she took everything, she wouldn't have a suitable environment for them to survive. It was better to preserve the roots intact, as there might be a chance to return to this secret realm in the future.
Xing Yuan also busied herself happily, occasionally snatching a few plants when her sister was busy picking herbs and wasn't paying attention. The abundant spiritual energy made Xing Yuan's fur appear even more lustrous.
An hour later, another group of people entered the medicine garden from the other side.
Xing Yue instantly adjusted her veil and sped up her herb-picking. If these herbs could be collected by hand, she would have already finished.
The people from the Blazing Fire Sect also looked excited. Their sect consisted of fire-element cultivators, and they had many alchemists. Such a large quantity of medicinal ingredients was truly the greatest harvest of their trip.
"Female cultivator over there, this area is claimed by our Blazing Fire Sect. You should go find your fortune elsewhere!" Yan Chen said with arrogance. In his eyes, he was already being generous by not asking the female cultivator to return the herbs she had found here.