After Being Certified by the Immortal Lord on the Path of Ruthlessness - Chapter 3

Ye Qingge’s unapologetic attitude infuriated Ling Lan, who clutched her pocket and sneered, “Wishful thinking.”

With a flick of her wrist, the girl’s fingertips burst with a pale pink glow, slashing straight toward Ye Qingge.

The newly transformed sprite had already exhausted her spiritual energy to the limit, but Ling Lan was furious at Ye Qingge’s utter lack of remorse.

If it weren’t for this sudden intruder, Jiang Mianhao wouldn’t have been severely injured and forced back into her original form.

Faced with the aggressive attack, Ye Qingge showed no fear, her expression indifferent as she said calmly, “My apologies.”

Her long, frosty lashes fluttered slightly, and the incoming pink light was effortlessly deflected.

In the next moment, Ling Lan’s arm was ensnared by a silvery-white radiance, and wherever the light passed, ice formed instantly.

The once-ferocious girl was now a frozen statue, only her head able to move.

And Ye Qingge hadn’t even lifted a finger.

The other sprites who had been watching the commotion had long since fled, leaving only a trembling mimosa plant swaying in the grass.

Ling Lan, seething with rage, shouted, “You lunatic! Using underhanded tricks, what kind of skill is that? If you have any guts, release me and fight me fair and square!”

Ye Qingge had no interest in engaging with her. With a slight wave of her hand, Jiang Mianhao, who had been tucked in Ling Lan’s pocket, floated smoothly into her grasp.

The severely injured Mianhao grass was now a muddy mess, indistinguishable from the dirt, its original roots and veins completely unrecognizable.

Looking at the black-green sludge, Ye Qingge wrinkled her nose in distaste and snapped her fingers, encasing it in a protective spiritual barrier.

Watching Jiang Mianhao being taken away, Ling Lan cried out in desperation, “Let Mianhao go! You maniac!!!”

Ignoring her outburst, Ye Qingge flicked her fingers, and the ice covering Ling Lan rapidly melted away. The moment she regained freedom, Ling Lan raised her hand to attack again.

“If you force your spiritual energy again,” Ye Qingge said coolly, “you’ll explode and die.”

Ling Lan froze. The burning sensation in her neck began to fade, replaced by a chilling numbness in her limbs from the earlier frost.

Had this lunatic not only released the restraint but also replenished some of her spiritual energy with that single gesture?

Ling Lan couldn’t comprehend this mix of punishment and reward, but she didn’t dwell on it. Instead, she grabbed Ye Qingge’s sleeve. “Give Mianhao back to me.”

Seeing her cling like this, Ye Qingge grew impatient.

She had no interest in reasoning with a low-level plant spirit. All she wanted was to take the clump of grass in her arms and quickly end this damned trial of love.

A cold glint flashed in her golden eyes as Ye Qingge prepared to strike. But then, a metallic taste rose in her throat, her vision darkened, and the world spun violently around her.

Seeing the icy glint, Ling Lan braced herself for battle.

Yet, in the next second, the woman before her collapsed toward her.

Ling Lan instantly retracted the hand that had been gripping Ye Qingge’s arm and instinctively sidestepped.

With no support left, Ye Qingge crashed heavily to the ground.

Ling Lan: “……”

……

……

Dawn broke at the horizon, finally ending the long night.

Inside the hollow of an ancient banyan tree, a pot of medicinal broth simmered over the fire.

Ling Lan had expended tremendous effort to separate Jiang Mianhao from the clump of black mud. Low-level plant spirits cultivated for a thousand years just for a chance to take human form, and the night of transformation consumed all their spiritual energy.

But now, Jiang Mianhao had not only lost her millennium of cultivation. Her original form had been utterly destroyed.

Clutching the gravely injured Jiang Mianhao, Ling Lan had knocked on the banyan tree’s door late at night, begging the elder tree spirit, Rong Qi, for shelter.

Rong Qi was an ancient sacred tree who had guarded Mount Taibai for ten thousand years. Throughout those millennia, she had been lonely and without support, with only two lilies of the valley and a patch of sleepgrass growing beside her for company.

The two plants had ventured off to take human form, but only one returned.

The other was on the verge of spiritual annihilation.

“Weren’t you just going to transform? How did you end up so badly injured?” Rong Qi asked while trying to summon Jiang Mianhao’s primordial spirit, but there was no response.

The lily of the valley was frantic with worry, tears welling in her eyes as she recounted everything that had happened. Between sobs, she said, “Mianhao has a kind heart. If she hadn’t switched places with that other plant, she wouldn’t have suffered this calamity.”

“A light sphere that fell from the sky?” Rong Qi frowned. “What did that person look like? Where is she now?”

The lily sniffled and said, “Outside the cave. I dragged her back.”

With that, she turned and went back out, pulling Ye Qingge whom she had left outside into the cave.

Ye Qingge’s white robes and face were smeared with mud, yet even that couldn’t obscure her beauty. Though her eyes were tightly shut, her features were exquisite.

Especially striking was the icy, plum-blossom-like aura around her, frost and snow seemingly gathered between her brows.

Her immortal grace was transcendent, cold and detached from the mortal world.

Rong Qi froze. “This person is an immortal?”

……

……

Ye Qingge remained unconscious for five full days and nights.

Her final breakthrough had been delayed for too long, and her dwindling spiritual energy had become unbearable. On top of that, she had fought that serpent-bird hybrid and, on the night of the full moon, dispersed her spiritual energy to aid all living beings.

After so many trials, she had finally collapsed.

When she opened her eyes, she found herself lying in a completely unfamiliar place.

Beside her, medicine bubbled in a pot over a roaring fire.

Ye Qingge snapped awake and sat up abruptly just as someone pushed the door open and entered.

“You’re awake?” The newcomer was visibly startled and quickly stepped forward. “Immortal, are you feeling unwell?”

Ye Qingge stared at the unfamiliar face, puzzled by the strange address. Immortal?

Rong Qi sensed her confusion and introduced herself. “My name is Rong Qi. I am the sacred banyan tree guarding Mount Taibai. You’ve been unconscious for five full days since we found you. You must be hungry.”

“Where is the grass?” Ye Qingge glanced down and saw that her clothes had been changed and the grass was gone.

Rong Qi replied calmly, “There’s no need to worry, Immortal. Your clothes were changed using magic, without physical contact. As for Mianhao—”

“Before that, may I ask for your name and the purpose of your visit to Mount Taibai?” Rong Qi’s tone remained polite, her face adorned with a smile.

This person before her was no ordinary plant spirit. Rong Qi had lived on Mount Taibai for ten thousand years and had witnessed countless plant transformations. Though some were born with extraordinary talent and manifested immortal bones in an instant, in all those millennia, only one had ever succeeded.

According to the lily, this immortal had descended from the heavens likely a fallen immortal who had committed some crime.

But even a fallen immortal was still an immortal, someone far beyond the reach of lowly plant spirits like them.

“Where is the grass?” Ye Qingge had no intention of introducing herself. Right now, she only wanted to find Jiang Mianhao.

Until this emotional tribulation was resolved, her cultivation would remain stagnant. The war between immortals and demons had to be ended swiftly.

Rong Qi merely smiled and said nothing more.

Seeing that the other had no intention of answering, Ye Qingge simply got up, intending to search for herself.

But the moment she stood, her vision darkened, and she collapsed back onto the bed.

“Your spiritual energy is severely depleted, Immortal. It would be best to rest and recover.” With that, Rong Qi turned and walked out.

While Ye Qingge was unconscious, Rong Qi had tried to probe her true form but found nothing. She remained a mystery.

The moment she closed the door, she ran into Ling Lan, who was hurrying back.

“Grandmother, please take a look at Mianhao,” Ling Lan pleaded. For the past few days, she had been rising early and returning late, carrying Jiang Mianhao out before dawn to absorb the morning dew, but the results were minimal.

Jiang Mianhao’s foundation was severely damaged, her grass spirit completely shattered. Ordinary solar fairy dew could no longer restore her.

Rong Qi glanced at the withered Mianhao grass and sighed. “Mianhao is probably.”

She couldn’t bear to continue. The Mianhao grass before her had already withered to death even its spirit could no longer be summoned.

After all, this was a child she had watched over for a thousand years. Rong Qi couldn’t bring herself to say more.

“Grandmother, I beg you.” Ling Lan’s legs gave way as she knelt, raising the grass pot high. “Please save Mianhao. I’m willing, I’m willing to exchange my thousand years of cultivation for her.”

Rong Qi pulled her up, sighing with heartache.

This lily of the valley and the Mianhao grass were originally two seeds she had unintentionally brought back during her travels. Miraculously, two completely different species had gotten along exceptionally well.

Ling Lan was quick-witted and clever, while Mianhao was lively, pure-hearted, and kind.

For a thousand years, these two little grass spirits had brought her endless joy. Watching one of them die now was unbearable.

“The fairy you brought back has woken up,” Rong Qi sighed. “Ordinary warm solar fairy dew is useless now. The only way is to ask for her help.”

Tears clung to Ling Lan’s face. She knew the person inside possessed immense power, but Jiang Mianhao’s injuries had also been inflicted by her.

“There are other fairies in this world besides her,” Ling Lan gritted her teeth. “I’ll take Mianhao down the mountain to seek another expert.”

Rong Qi tried to dissuade her. “But you’ve only just taken human form. Your foundation is unstable, and you have no spiritual power. Going down the mountain like this would be no different from courting death.”

But Ling Lan had already made up her mind. “If I truly can’t save Mianhao, then I’ll die with her. At least we’ll still be together.”

Rong Qi opened her mouth, wanting to say more, but it all dissolved into a long sigh.

The lily of the valley before her had only just taken human form. Though her mind was still unrefined, her capacity for love had already awakened. She must have long been deeply devoted to the little grass.

Realizing she couldn’t persuade her, Rong Qi nodded in reluctant agreement.

“Then please hold this for me while I go pack,” Ling Lan said carefully, handing the grass pot to Rong Qi. “I’ll be quick.”

Just as she turned and took two steps.

Creak—

The tightly shut door opened.

Ye Qingge stood at the doorway, her tone indifferent. “Give it to me.”

Rong Qi, looking at the person who had emerged, instinctively handed over the grass pot.

Ling Lan, realizing what had happened, let out a cry and lunged forward only to be stopped by Rong Qi.

The door closed again.

……

……

Ye Qingge glanced at the grass pot in her arms. The little grass’s roots had already turned yellow, its stems and leaves withered and faded.

In less than three days, this grass would be completely dead.

The Wuji Mystic Master’s timely warning echoed in her mind.

Qingge, remember do not kill it directly.

First, nurture affection. Then, sever the tribulation of love.

The thought of simply letting the grass die was forcibly suppressed. Before nurturing affection, she first had to keep this grass alive.

Ye Qingge pressed two fingers together. A faint silver light flickered at her fingertips before vanishing.

Her spiritual power had been severely depleted these past few days. Even forcing her energy couldn’t summon any strength.

The backlash of spiritual power surging back into her body made Ye Qingge cough, a metallic taste rising in her throat.

Outside the door, the sound of relentless pounding continued, accompanied by Ling Lan’s voice.

The unfamiliar, noisy environment and the inability to use spiritual power. Without Frostblade and unable to circulate her qi, the usually impassive Ye Qingge finally felt a flicker of impatience.

She looked at the withered Slumbergrass in her arms, then at her own palm, gritted her teeth, and drew a line across her wrist with her fingertips.

Bright red blood droplets rolled down her slender, pale wrist.

Ye Qingge placed the wound near the little plant, letting the blood drip into the soil, where it instantly dissipated.

The banging door finally gave way.

“What are you trying to do?!” Ling Lan burst in with all her strength, her eyes widening at the sight of the wrist held over the plant’s roots. “Don’t touch her!”

With that, she rushed forward in three quick steps to snatch Jiang Mianhao away.

But just as her fingers were about to touch the plant pot, the withered roots flickered and miraculously revived.

Ling Lan’s outstretched hand froze mid-air, not daring to move, as she stood stunned.

Ye Qingge had already withdrawn her hand, her sleeve falling to cover her wrist.

The plant pot was placed beside her, the little grass inside rapidly sprouting new shoots.

Watching the revived plant, Rong Qi let out a relieved sigh.

Still frozen in place, Ling Lan instinctively called out, “Mianhao?”

After a brief silence, a response came.

“Lanlan?”

Hearing the familiar voice, Ling Lan’s nose tingled, and she nearly burst into tears.

The Slumbergrass, which had been withered moments ago, was now 80% restored. Though its leaves weren’t as green as before, they were no longer yellow and dead.

Ling Lan practically threw herself forward, cradling the pot as she called again, “Mianhao? Can you hear me?”

“It’s me…” The little grass’s voice was weak. “I can hear you, just not very clearly.”

Ling Lan wiped her tears, her voice trembling. “It’s okay, it’s okay. Just waking up is enough. Tomorrow, I’ll take you out for sunlight and dew again. We’ll start over.”

“Are you in pain now? Do you feel any discomfort?” Ling Lan tenderly stroked Jiang Mianhao’s leaves, trying to transfer her spiritual energy.

A pair of pale hands reached over from the side, pulling the pot into their embrace.

Frowning, Ling Lan glared at the owner of those hands.

“You’re going to annoy her to death,” Ye Qingge said flatly.

“You!” Ling Lan took a deep breath, glaring at Ye Qingge but not daring to act.

Rong Qi had told her this person was an immortal, someone who could save Jiang Mianhao. Ling Lan hadn’t believed it at first, but now Jiang Mianhao had indeed been revived. Though she didn’t know how, Ye Qingge was the only one who could save her.

Faced with someone she couldn’t defeat but who had saved Jiang Mianhao, Ling Lan could only seethe in silence.

Ignoring Ling Lan’s glare, Ye Qingge idly played with the leaves in her arms.

Seeing the yellowed ones, she plucked them without hesitation.

“Ouch!” The little grass cried out as its leaf was torn off. “That hurts!”

Ling Lan immediately reached out to stop her. “What are you doing?”

Ye Qingge ignored her, continuing to remove the other dead leaves.

“Ouch!”

“It hurts!”

“Ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch—”

After clearing several withered leaves, Ye Qingge looked contentedly at the little grass in her arms. Though its stem was thin and its leaves sparse, the remaining ones were all fresh and new.

Ling Lan waited on the side, her heart aching terribly, but old leaves must be removed to make way for new growth. She had no choice but to endure Jiang Mianhao’s cries of pain echoing beside her.

As soon as the withered leaves were cleared, Ling Lan immediately reached out, her voice pleading, “Quick, give her to me. I’ll take her out to bask in the sun.”

Ye Qingge tossed the plucked dead leaves into Ling Lan’s palm, then with a flick of her sleeve, she swept the entire pot of grass beneath the hem of her robe.

Ling Lan: ?

“From now on,” Ye Qingge said coolly, “this pot of grass belongs to me.”