Marry First, Love Later With The White Cat Princess - Chapter 103

Liu Fenyun and Lian Yi were quickly brought to the Guest Hall.

Unsure of what Chong Xinyuan had said to them, the elder in charge of reception was very polite, though it was a distant, formal politeness. After serving tea and pastries, the elder vanished.

“Does this mean we’re free to roam as we please?” Lian Yi picked up a piece of osmanthus cake, eating as she spoke.

“Or perhaps it means we’re forbidden from leaving this room,” Liu Fenyun joked. “It seems gathering the herbs won’t be so easy.”

The moment they stepped into the Qingmu Immortal Mountain, the system had loaded a full map of the area, including the growth zones for the “Unseen Sorrow” (Bujianchou) and its companion grass. As Liu Fenyun had expected, the herb grew within the sect’s forbidden grounds. As outsiders, gaining entry would be difficult.

“Let’s go find Chong Yun first. She’s an elder now, even if only in name. She’ll have more authority to move around than we do,” Lian Yi suggested, feeding Liu Fenyun a piece of cake. She fell into thought for a moment before adding, “How about we disguise ourselves as Divine Envoys?”

Half an hour later, classes ended at Qingmu Immortal Mountain. Disciples poured out of the teaching buildings on the main peak, chattering about their lessons, when suddenly two bolts of green lightning struck from the direction of the Guest Hall. Moments later, thunder rumbled.

The disciples were terrified, those with lower cultivation levels even fell to their knees.

Everyone felt a crushing pressure, yet within that pressure was a strange, nourishing spiritual energy. As the thunder faded, the energy drifted toward them. Upon touching the disciples’ skin, it bored inside. Though it was a strand thinner than a hair, the disciples were shocked.

“What kind of spiritual energy is this?!” “Junior Sister, how do you feel?” “…It’s wonderful. I’ve never touched such pure energy before.”

Amidst their surprise and joy, a cold female voice rang in their ears: “I am the envoy of the High God of the Heavenly Realm, ordered to descend to find someone. This is my gift to you. If anyone knows the whereabouts of the mortal Chong Yun, please lead me to her.”

Following the voice, a woman in black robes appeared before the disciples, riding a snow white lion with blue eyes. Though her voice was cold, her gaze was unexpectedly gentle, not looking like someone seeking vengeance.

This display naturally drew the elders. The disciples only saw the “Divine Envoy” being led toward Mirror Snow Peak by an elder, they knew nothing of what followed, as they were all immersed in the joy of receiving the envoy’s gift.

“You certainly know how to scheme, lowering your status just to bluff people like this.”

The one leading Liu Fenyun and Lian Yi was none other than Madam Chong, Chong Youhuai.

Having finished her act as the envoy, Liu Fenyun let Lian Yi revert to her original form. Carrying her, she smiled and asked, “Madam Chong, you recognize us?”

“Not exactly ‘recognize,’ but I have seen you in dreams,” Chong Youhuai said. “A God appeared in my dreams and showed me your images, allowing me to sense your aura.”

Liu Fenyun recalled her friends. To be able to provide images and auras through dreams, only the God of Dreams could have done it.

The two chatted along the way and soon reached the teleportation platform to Mirror Snow Peak. Liu Fenyun looked toward the peak and couldn’t help but remark, “This peak truly lives up to its name.”

She had observed their surroundings along the way. Most peaks of Qingmu Immortal Mountain were green, but Mirror Snow Peak, where Chong Yun stayed, was a pristine white.

“Indeed. Mirror Snow Peak is the most beautiful scenic spot in our sect,” Chong Youhuai said with a hint of pride as she activated the teleportation array.

Lian Yi, having listened to the conversation, noted that Chong Youhuai hadn’t mentioned Chong Yun’s situation yet. Her suspicions grew. Once they reached the Elder’s Residence on Mirror Snow Peak, she finally asked: “The disciple who brought us said Chong Yun is already an elder of Mirror Snow Peak?”

“A titular elder, nothing more. No different from a puppet emperor in the mortal realm,” Chong Youhuai replied, her voice flat and emotionless.

“Given your status, you shouldn’t need her to be a puppet,” Lian Yi pressed. “Did she successfully accept some kind of inheritance based on the lingering divine breath in her body?”

Lian Yi knew that spiritual energy in the mortal world was waning. If ancient sects survived to this day, they likely held ancient inheritances that required a successor every few generations. However, the requirements for such a successor were usually one in a million. Chong Yun’s talent was top-tier, but not normally enough for a grand inheritance.

Chong Youhuai paused, then smiled. “This is a sect secret. If you two weren’t from the Upper Realm, you’d likely be dead for hearing it.”

Lian Yi smiled back. “Since we are still breathing, it means you can tell us the details.” She patted Liu Fenyun with a paw. “After all, your daughter’s ability to take on this heavy responsibility is thanks to the favor of a God.”

Gods are not supposed to interfere in mortal affairs, even a sect’s inheritance could trigger Heavenly Punishment if interfered with too much. Lian Yi didn’t want her wife to end up like the God of Cultivation, wounded and unable to move by divine retribution.

Sensing their concern, Chong Youhuai nodded. “Fair enough. However, I assume you didn’t come to my sect just for Yun’er.”

Liu Fenyun thought for a moment. “There is indeed something else, though I’m not sure if Elder Youhuai can handle it.”

Assuming she was about to be asked for a favor, Chong Youhuai didn’t press further. She led them into the hall, ordered disciples to serve tea, and sent for Chong Yun.

Chong Yun had been idling in the tea room and rushed over upon hearing the news. She greeted Liu Fenyun and Lian Yi with some constraint and sat beside her mother.

Once the serving disciples left and Chong Youhuai set up an isolation barrier, Chong Yun asked cautiously, “Lord God, you haven’t come to take back the divine breath, have you?”

“That depends on how your sect uses it,” Liu Fenyun said slowly. “If the user has ill intentions, the Upper Realm will take it back even if I don’t. Until then, you have nothing to worry about.”

“That’s a relief,” Chong Yun sighed, then began to complain. “I only came back to ask my mother what was going on, and suddenly I’m being forced to accept an inheritance… You know I only want to study medicine; I don’t want to be an elder… Ouch!”

Chong Youhuai pinched her daughter’s cheek. While Chong Yun yelped in pain, she said, “Don’t take your luck for granted! Countless cultivators would kill for this inheritance, yet they lack the qualification!”

“Yes, yes, you’re right. I only dared say that because the Lord God is here…” Chong Yun muttered aggrievedly.

Chong Youhuai’s expression softened as she explained the details of the inheritance to Liu Fenyun. Since Liu Fenyun hadn’t fully recovered her memories, she simply said she would discuss it with her “colleagues” and had the system record the conversation.

With that settled, Liu Fenyun brought up Meng Nie. “I have a mortal with nowhere to go. You both know her. I wonder if she could become an outer disciple here?”

She then released Meng Nie, who had been dazed in the medicine garden. Seeing her state, the mother and daughter were stunned.

“General Meng, you?!” Chong Yun rushed over to check the injury on her leg, regretting that she hadn’t brought her to the mountain sooner. “Does this mean Liuzhi Country has…”

“No, not yet,” Meng Nie snapped out of it, shaking her head. “But… it’s close.”

“Her leg needs to be replaced. Do you have the materials for a prosthetic?” Liu Fenyun asked.

“Yes, yes!” Chong Yun nodded quickly, then looked at her mother. “But Meng Gen…I mean, A-Nie…must become a disciple first to be eligible for sect resources.”

Noticing Meng Nie’s distracted state, she quickly changed how she addressed her.

Liu Fenyun and Lian Yi watched Chong Youhuai’s expression. Though her face had flickered when she first saw Meng Nie, she quickly regained her composure. After a moment, she replied, “To be an outer disciple, one’s body must not be flawed. However, if she possesses a spiritual root, the sect will take her regardless of her disability.”

“But I remember A-Nie doesn’t have a spiritual root!” Chong Yun grew anxious. “Cultivators tested the Meng family before, those with roots were taken away at age three or four!”

Meng Nie sat silently, eyes vacant, as if the conversation didn’t concern her.

Lian Yi interjected, “Why not just test her again? The Meng family had a guardian god. Perhaps the god hid her roots on purpose because they didn’t want her to leave?”

She said it casually, thinking that if it failed, they could just take Meng Nie back to the Demon Realm and give her a civil post under City Lord Kongmeng.

Chong Yun agreed and immediately fetched a testing tool, a mirror and held it before Meng Nie. “Come, A-Nie, try it.”

Meng Nie responded half-heartedly and placed her hand on it. The mirror remained still at first. But just as she was about to pull away, the surface suddenly erupted in a blinding red light.

“Mother! What kind of spiritual root is this?!” Chong Yun cried out in excitement.

Chong Youhuai fell into a long silence, eventually taking Meng Nie’s hand to probe her pulse. Finally, she said, “It is a Pure Fire Root. However, if she joins, she must go to another peak. She cannot stay at Mirror Snow Peak.”

“That doesn’t matter, as long as she can live,” Chong Yun didn’t care at all, hugging Meng Nie excitedly. “Congratulations, A-Nie!”

Meng Nie was still in shock. She pulled her hand back, watching the red light fade. “Is it… is it accurate?”

“Try again if you don’t believe it!” Chong Yun pressed her hand back down. This time, the mirror didn’t even hesitate, it shot out a pillar of red light so bright it nearly blinded them.

Meng Nie murmured, “But how could I have a spiritual root…?”

Liu Fenyun noticed Chong Youhuai looked like she wanted to say more. She told Meng Nie, “Go back and rest for now. We will let you know once we’ve discussed things.”

“Alright, thank you,” Meng Nie replied, returning to the medicine garden space full of confusion.

Chong Youhuai took the opportunity to send Chong Yun away as well. Once only she, Liu Fenyun, and Lian Yi remained, she spoke: “Meng Nie’s situation is unique. Her spiritual root is indeed a top-grade Pure Fire Root, but someone stole a portion of it years ago and used a secret method to hide it. That is why she tested negative before.”

She paused. “She can cultivate, but every time she faces a tribulation, be it the Golden Core or Nascent Soul tribulation, the risk will be far greater than for others. One mistake, and her soul will be extinguished.”

Liu Fenyun’s expression darkened. “Is there a way to repair the spiritual root?”

“There is, but it requires the companion grass of the ‘Unseen Sorrow’ as a catalyst,” Chong Youhuai answered. “However, the forbidden area where it grows is too dangerous. It is filled with ancient lightning arrays left by the Demon Race. Even I cannot guarantee I would survive entering it.”

“Ancient lightning arrays?” Liu Fenyun thought of the Wuyuan Fan left by the God of Dreams, which was carved with lightning laws. She suspected the God of Dreams had anticipated this environment. “If you can lead us to the entrance of the forbidden area, I may have a way to retrieve the companion grass.”