The moment the contract was successfully formed, dark clouds gathered outside the secret realm, and three bolts of Tribulation Lightning struck the Tianlv Secret Realm.
Xiao Baidao and the others were utterly shocked!
Could there be some high-level monster beast inside the secret realm undergoing tribulation? Or perhaps some precious secret treasure had manifested?
Baili Muchen was green with envy!
In the event that some treasure truly had manifested, there was certainly no share for their Hunyuan Sect, because not a single Hunyuan Sect disciple remained inside the secret realm.
Shen Zhilan dug her nails into her palms without feeling a trace of pain; she was completely unwilling to accept this!
If not for Feng Xi, this stroke of fortune would definitely have been hers!
Her gaze flickered for a moment as she said to Baili Muchen, "Master, I'm going to check on Second Senior Brother."
Baili Muchen gave an absent-minded assent.
Inside the secret realm, Feng Xi, the object of Shen Zhilan's resentment, was busy naming the Little Black Ball.
"You were born in the primordial chaos, and you're still just a ball, so you should be called... Hunqiu (Bastard/Chaos Ball)!"
Little Black Ball: "......"
*You're* the bastard! Your entire sect is full of bastards!
It expressed its refusal to submit to the death; another name had to be chosen.
Consequently, Feng Xi listed a dozen or so names for it to pick from:
Ergouzi (Second Dog), Sanluzi (Third Donkey), Erbaiwu (Two-Fifty/Moron), Xiaoshazi (Little Fool), Xiaobaichi (Little Idiot)...
In the end, the Little Black Ball had a miraculous change of heart and felt that "Hunqiu" was actually a pretty decent name after all. It resigned itself to its fate.
"Hunqiu, the people outside are treacherous, and I'm afraid you'll get conned. So hand over all the treasures you've collected, and I'll keep them safe for you!"
Little Black Ball: ……The most treacherous person here is *you*!
"Aside from the spirit plants and monster beasts inside the secret realm, I don't have any other treasures. As you can see, I'm just a mass of mist with no place to hide things at all."
Although Feng Xi was skeptical of this statement, they had just formed the contract and it wouldn't do to press too hard, so she dropped the questioning for the time being.
She had the Little Black Ball attach itself to the Blood Demon Token:
"You're a creature that can't see the light of day, so honestly attach yourself to the Blood Demon Token. Unless I call you, just pretend you're dead."
Little Black Ball: "......"
If time could flow backward, I'd rather have grown old and died inside the secret realm.
So be it. Good people don't live long, while scourges outlive centuries; following a master who is both vicious and utterly lacking in virtue is still better than following a do-gooder pushover.
Chapter 34: My Dear Little Ball
Before leaving the Mirage Garden, the Little Black Ball raised its head to look at the sky, a fleeting flash of pain crossing its tiny eyes.
Once outside the Mirage Garden, Feng Xi said to the Little Black Ball:
"Pack up all the high-level spirit plants in the secret realm for me, lest you keep thinking about them after we go out."
Little Black Ball: ……Am I the one thinking about them, or are *you*?
Glaring with its tiny eyes, it said:
"The most I can do is control the guardian monster beasts so they won't attack you, but you'll have to dig up the spirit plants yourselves.
Besides, the secret realm needs to maintain its balance; we can't harvest too many high-level spirit plants all at once."
Feng Xi narrowed her eyes and stared at it:
"This won't do, that won't do either — then what use do I have for you?!
Contracting you is worse than contracting a pig; at least when you fatten it up, you can slaughter it for meat!"
The Little Black Ball was provoked into a rage!
"Useless?
Do you even know that this secret realm itself is a spatial divine artifact?
Once I absorb enough demonic Qi, not only me, but even you will be able to enter and exit the Tianlv Secret Realm at will. The monster beasts and spirit plants inside will be yours for the taking!
Can you find a more useful partner than me in this entire world?!"
Even after signing a contract with Feng Xi, the Little Black Ball refused to acknowledge itself as her spirit beast; the two of them were at most in a cooperative relationship.
Feng Xi: (???)
A spatial divine artifact? Spirit plants and monster beasts available for the taking at any time?
She had hit the jackpot this time!
"My dear little ball, I was just joking with you!
Useful or not, since the two of us have signed a contract, you are my heart's delight, my little darling! From now on, we two are the closest; even my Fifth Senior Brother has to step aside!"
Little Black Ball: "......"
Jun Wen: "......"
You flip your face faster than turning the pages of a book!
The Little Black Ball instantly puffed up with pride: "Knowing that is enough. For you to be able to contract with me, smoke must be billowing from your ancestral graves!"
Feng Xi said with a smiling expression: "More than just smoke billowing — they've practically been struck by lightning!
Little ball, besides the secret realm, what other skills do you have?
Speak up and broaden my horizons!"
By this time, the Little Black Ball was floating on air, its two tiny horns radiating an aura of supreme dominance!
"I have plenty of skills!
Because I can absorb both spiritual Qi and demonic Qi, after you contract with me, I can disguise you as a member of the Demon race at any time without leaving a single flaw for anyone to discover.
That's not all. Because I am originally composed of primordial chaotic Qi, when push comes to shove, I can also release a portion of spiritual Qi and demonic Qi for you to use.
For example, if you reach some place devoid of spiritual Qi where no one else can use spiritual power, with me around, you won't be troubled by this problem at all!
How about that? Astounded, aren't you?
Meeting me is truly a blessing accumulated over eight lifetimes..."
When it finished showing off, Feng Xi pursued the question: "Is there anything else besides these? Like combat methods or something?"
The Little Black Ball showed off even harder now!
"See my horns? I can generate lightning. This is the lightning from the very creation of heaven and earth, a ten-thousand-fold stronger than any ordinary Tribulation Lightning today!
As long as someone is struck by my lightning, they'll be reduced to fine dust in an instant!"
Feng Xi nodded: "Anything else?"
The Little Black Ball wore a smug expression: "Not for now, but as my cultivation level increases, I'll have even more abilities. Every single one will scare you to death when I name it!"
Feng Xi asked out of the blue: "Then can you use these abilities at any time, or are there restrictions?"
The Little Black Ball's tiny eyes flickered slightly:
"There are... a few minor restrictions. Because I haven't absorbed enough demonic Qi for a long time, I can't use them too frequently, and the effect is... is also slightly weakened."
Upon hearing this, Feng Xi sneered:
"Then what are you acting so high and mighty for?!
After all that talk, it's all just pie in the sky!
Including this so-called spatial divine artifact of yours — goodness knows what year or month I'll actually be able to enter and exit it freely.
So, you'd better get your position straight: you are my spirit beast, and from now on you must respectfully address me as Master, otherwise I won't be polite to you!"
As Feng Xi spoke, she slightly moved her divine sense, and the Little Black Ball let out an immediate, miserable shriek.
Only then did it belatedly realize that the stinky girl had done it on purpose just now!
Originally, it had wanted to hide things and had no intention of spilling the beans at all.
Yet the stinky girl was too insidious; she had deliberately flattered it, tricking it into blurting out its entire hand in confusion!
Despicable! Shameless! Faceless!
At this moment, Feng Xi spoke again:
"Besides, you need to have a clear understanding of yourself. What bullshit primordial chaos spirit — right now you're just a weak chicken, a total pushover!
Apart from me, no one would pity you enough to sign a contract with you, so you'd better pledge your loyalty to me, you hear..."
After Feng Xi's rapid-fire lecture, the Little Black Ball, which had previously exuded an aura of supreme dominance, completely wilted.
Even its little horns drooped down.
That's right, however glorious it used to be, that was all in the past. Now I can only hang on and make a living following this stinky girl!
The pitiful Little Black Ball had no idea that such a thing as "pua" (gaslighting/manipulation) existed in this world!
With a combination of moves, Feng Xi had completely wrapped it around her finger.
Although she had signed a contract with the Little Black Ball, this creature's origins were unknown, and it definitely wanted more than just to use her to absorb demonic Qi, so she couldn't let her guard down.
Jun Wen, who had been acting obediently like a quail off to the side, had his jaw permanently welded to his face in utter astonishment.
If it were him, he'd certainly treat the Little Black Ball like an ancestral deity, considering its grand background and formidable skills.
Yet here with his Junior Sister, the Little Black Ball was being disciplined like... a turtle's grandson.
Next, the Little Black Ball led Jun Wen and Feng Xi to harvest high-level spirit plants.
It knew the secret realm like the back of its hand, so it chose an area dense with high-level spirit plants.
Those guardian monster beasts sensed the presence of the Little Black Ball, prostrated themselves on the ground, and trembled all over.
The confidence that the Little Black Ball had lost was instantly restored quite a bit, and its little horns perked up again.
Feng Xi glanced at it: "Come here! Use your horns to dig up the spirit plants!"
Little Black Ball: "......"
Is what you're saying human language?
Are my noble horns meant for digging up spirit plants?!
Just as it wanted to refuse, a wave of intense pain shot through its divine sense, almost making it cry in anger!
It had truly fallen into the hands of a wicked stepmother!
Had it known this earlier, no matter what, it wouldn't have let her get ahold of it!
In the end, the Little Black Ball summoned a swarm of Spirit-Devouring Rats.
This species of small monster beast specialized in nibbling on spirit plants and also had the habit of storing them.
Consequently, they were extremely skilled at digging up spirit plants without damaging their roots.
With these Spirit-Devouring Rats around, Feng Xi and Jun Wen had nothing to do.
They just had to wait right where they were.
Feng Xi suddenly felt a bit hungry, especially when she looked at the spirit plants the Spirit-Devouring Rats were bringing over.
Why did they look so delicious?
She swallowed her saliva. Should she taste one?
She had always firmly believed in a simple principle: whatever you crave is what your body is lacking.
Chapter 35: Xuantian Sect Takes First Place
After a slight hesitation, Feng Xi chose a spirit plant that looked like a carrot. She took a bite first, and noticing no uncomfortable sensations, crunched away as she ate it.
Seeing this, Jun Wen let out a yell and snatched the half-eaten spirit plant right out of her hand.
"Junior Sister, have you lost your mind? This is Baiyao Huangge; eating it will kill you! Quick! Spit it out quickly!"
With that, he reached out to hook his fingers into Feng Xi's throat to make her vomit!
There was no time to care about anything else now!
Feng Xi leaped aside: "Fifth Senior Brother, calm down. I'm fine, I'm genuinely fine!
Look, I'm jumping around and full of life!
Besides, even if I really were poisoned, we have Hunqiu here; it definitely has a way to save me."
Feng Xi wasn't stupid; naturally, she wouldn't make a joke of her own life.
If this so-called Baiyao Huangge could truly take her little life, the Little Black Ball would have stopped her long ago.
For a moment, Jun Wen was somewhat bewildered.
Baiyao Huangge was highly toxic; a single bite was enough to be fatal.
Yet his Junior Sister looked completely unharmed?
Could he have misidentified it? Was this not Baiyao Huangge?
But it clearly was!
While he was dumbfounded, Feng Xi took the half-section of Baiyao Huangge back from his hands and continued to crunch away at it.
After finishing that Baiyao Huangge, she picked up a fiery-red spirit plant, plucked a handful of leaves, and stuffed them into her mouth.
Jun Wen was terrified out of his wits: "Junior Sister, this one is also highly toxic; you can't eat it..."
Feng Xi gave him a reassuring look and ate it regardless.
Once she finished that one, she picked up a spirit plant that looked like dogtail grass and started eating...
At first, Jun Wen was on tenterhooks, but eventually, he became numb to it.
Because Feng Xi was completely fine; her little face even had a bit more rosy color, and she looked remarkably well.
He also discovered something: the spirit plants Feng Xi ate were all water, wood, and fire-type spirit plants, and she hadn't touched a single metal or earth-type one.
What was going on here?
Feng Xi already knew the reason, because the three Spiritual Roots inside her Dantian had all poked out beyond the Dantian at this moment, greedily absorbing the corresponding elements within the spirit plants.
Additionally, some black elements were also being absorbed by them.
Feng Xi guessed that those black elements should be the toxins.
Although her three Spiritual Roots were freakishly bizarre, they at least had one advantage: she should be immune to all poisons from now on.
Having signed a contract with Feng Xi, the Little Black Ball naturally noticed this scene as well.
It was somewhat baffled — what on earth was going on here?
Had these Spiritual Roots become sentient spirits?!
After eating several dozen high-level spirit plants, Feng Xi finally stopped.
While letting out a burp, she said to Jun Wen:
"Fifth Senior Brother, the spirit plants you harvest will be displayed on the image-projection stones outside, so you just need to gather enough for first place.
I'll keep the rest, and in the future, once we sell them for money, the two of us will split it evenly."
Jun Wen hurriedly said: "Junior Sister, you can just keep them; you don't need to give me any."
Being able to find these spirit plants was entirely the Junior Sister's merit; how could he have the face to split them evenly with her?
Feng Xi was very satisfied.
Not greedy, and possessed a sense of proportion.
Only by being this way could cooperation last long-term.
Of course, she had always been very generous to her own people, so she naturally wouldn't leave Jun Wen without his fair share of benefits.
While the two of them were happily harvesting spirit herbs, the outside world was in an uproar!
Because on the image-projection stones, Jun Wen's tally of achievements was skyrocketing!
They were all high-level spirit plants!
And the quantity was downright astonishing!
How on earth did he pull that off?
Had he raided the ancestral den of high-level spirit plants?!
Xiao Baidao tried his utmost to maintain a dignified composure, but the corners of his mouth curled upward uncontrollably.
He had struck it rich!
A massive fortune!
And on top of that, it was first place!
Hahaha!
As expected, he, Xiao Baidao, was the most outstanding sect master of the Xuantian Sect apart from the founding patriarch. In his hands, the Xuantian Sect would inevitably flourish and reach its peak!
Peak Master Gu and the others from the Xuantian Sect were also beaming with joy. Their best result in past sessions had only been third place, yet now they were actually going to secure first place?
Truly a cause for celebration!
Come to think of it, ever since Feng Xi joined the sect, good news for the Xuantian Sect had come one after another; she was simply a token of auspiciousness for the sect!
Some rejoiced while others worried — Baili Muchen was so angry he plucked out several strands of his beard!
Especially when he thought of how the last-placed sect had to surrender a third of their spoils as a penalty, he felt like he wanted to die!
The sect masters of the other two factions were also sour with jealousy, making a few snide remarks.
Xiao Baidao simply treated their words as singing praises for him, smiling as brilliantly as could be!
Ah, when one is in a good mood, even cursing sounds pleasant to the ear!
When the time came for the Tianlv Secret Realm to close, the four sect masters opened the secret realm's exit.
Actually, people inside could crush their jade tokens to exit; this secret realm entrance was just a precaution in case someone lost their jade token.
Most people chose to crush their jade tokens to come out in order to save time, and only those relatively close to the exit chose to walk out.
Of course, Feng Xi had no choice; she could only walk out.
Naturally, Jun Wen had to accompany her.
The moment the two of them stepped out, Feng Xi first waved to the crowd, then ran over to Xiao Baidao:
"Master, this disciple has not failed my mission; I've brought back first place for you!"
Hearing this, Xiao Baidao felt a sourness in his nose, and tears almost fell.
He felt that ever since he took in this youngest disciple, his tear ducts had grown shallower and shallower.
"Good disciple! As long as you return safely, Master thanks the heavens and earth!"
Seeing Jun Wen behind Feng Xi with an expression eagerly waiting for praise, he gave a cough:
"Xiao Wu, your performance this time wasn't bad either; you truly live up to being my disciple!"
Jun Wen's refined and handsome brows and eyes instantly blossomed like flowers!
Master rarely praised him.
With his carefree personality, although he was considered a swordsmanship genius, his cultivation level wasn't top-tier, so Master was usually very strict with him.
At this moment, Baili Muchen and the other two sect masters walked over.
Liu Shaobai and the others also crowded around out of curiosity, envy, and burning jealousy.
"Feng Xi, Jun Wen, earlier three bolts of Tribulation Lightning descended outside. Did you two encounter some great fortune inside the secret realm?"
Inside the secret realm, Feng Xi and Jun Wen had already thought of a cover story, so Feng Xi immediately replied:
"A breach appeared in the Mirage Garden, and Fifth Senior Brother and I climbed inside. It was full of high-level medicinal herbs.
Pity that we could only enter the outer perimeter; there was another layer of barrier inside.
Hehe, but we still consider ourselves to have scored a huge bargain, stripping the outer perimeter spirit plants completely bare! Not a single stalk was left!"
The subtext was: you guys can forget about it, we cleaned it all out!
Baili Muchen and the others didn't actually raise any suspicions.
Because they all believed that the Mirage Garden was filled with high-level spirit plants, and having it divided into inner and outer layers was completely normal.
Moreover, a breach appearing in the Mirage Garden and drawing heavenly lightning was also plausible.
They could only sigh that Feng Xi and Jun Wen were lucky, having stepped in a pile of good fortune.
After a bout of sighs, Baili Muchen said with a gloomy face:
"Feng Xi, you and Jun Wen and the others ganged up to beat my disciple Lu Xiuhan. Is this true?"
Feng Xi nodded: "There is indeed such a matter. He's not dead, right? As long as he's not dead, I suppose it doesn't violate the trial rules, does it?"
Baili Muchen's face turned livid with anger: "But you shouldn't have plundered the valuables on his person; hand the items over immediately!"
Feng Xi blinked her eyes: "Plundered? Where does that wording come from? Lu Xiuhan handed them over to us of his own accord!"
Liu Shaobai and the others nodded successively: "That's right, he handed them over voluntarily; we can all bear witness."
Feng Xi then produced the deed of gift bearing Lu Xiuhan's fingerprint: "Look, he was afraid you'd misunderstand, so he even issued us written proof!"
Chapter 36: The Clouds in the Sky are Truly White
Baili Muchen took it and looked, nearly fainting from rage.
Even though he knew full well that Feng Xi and the others had forged it, there was nothing he could do; he could only swallow this bitter pill in silence.
Just as he was gritting his teeth in fury, a cry of exclamation came from the crowd!
"Look! Shen Zhilan seems to be experiencing an epiphany!"
"Good heavens, it really is! A genius is a genius; an epiphany is something you can only hope for by chance, yet she actually managed to trigger one!"
...
Baili Muchen shifted from anger to joy and hurried toward Shen Zhilan's direction.
Feng Xi thought back — there didn't seem to be any plot point about an epiphany in the book.
However, since she had transmigrated here, the plot would naturally change; that was only normal.
She thought to herself: the female protagonist is indeed the female protagonist. Even though she was kicked out of the secret realm ahead of time, she could still experience an epiphany; her fortune was truly soaring to the heavens!
Once the epiphany ended, Shen Zhilan's cultivation level directly jumped to Foundation Establishment Level 4.
To reach Foundation Establishment in less than two months and leap four levels in a row — if not unprecedented, it was pretty close.
Baili Muchen swept away his previous dejected state and grew as excited as an old fighting rooster!
"The fortunes inside the secret realm are important indeed, but for a cultivator, personal fortune and enlightenment are even more crucial!
Sect Master Xiao, wouldn't you say so?"
Xiao Baidao gave a perfunctory assent, thinking once more of his youngest disciple's injuries, and his previous good mood instantly took a discount.
Seeing Xiao Baidao get rebuffed, Baili Muchen felt even better.
At that moment, someone hurried over to report: "Sect Master, Lu Xiuhan's injuries have suddenly worsened; please come and take a look!"
Baili Muchen couldn't help frowning. Lu Xiuhan was indeed not lightly injured, but as long as he rested quietly for a few months, he should recover as before. How could it suddenly worsen?
Upon inspection, he discovered to his shock that Lu Xiuhan had actually been bitten by a Blind Earth Centipede!
Everyone was dumbstruck!