The Failed Female Supporting Character [Transmigration] - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Since the spiritual energy of the Mortal Realm dwindled and became scarce, the cultivation world has not seen a successful ascension in thousands of years. The last cultivator to successfully ascend came from the Cloud Sect; his grotto-dwelling at the time of ascension was deliberately protected and only opened to other sects a thousand years ago.

An essential trial for any cultivator wishing to ascend is the Lightning Tribulation. These tribulations originate from the Immortal Realm; when they occur, they tear open the barrier between the Mortal and Immortal Realms. Vast amounts of Immortal Qi pour through the cracks into the Mortal Realm, merging with local spiritual energy to facilitate cultivation.

The locations where these tribulations take place are left with an even denser concentration of Immortal Qi, some of which may even crystallize directly into Immortal Stones.

The increasing scarcity of spiritual energy in the Mortal Realm is also significantly linked to the fact that it has been a long time since any cultivator has ascended.

Every “Immortal Abode” undergoes transformations after experiencing a Lightning Tribulation, becoming filled with numerous dangers. Many beasts mutate due to the lightning, and a territory that was already substantial becomes divided into different zones. These zones can even shift or change at certain intervals; a single moment of carelessness can lead one into a life-threatening situation.

However, because of this unique environment, various rare herbs are produced, alongside hidden Immortal Stones and magical treasures left behind by the abode’s master after their ascension.

In short, opportunities and dangers coexist here.

The Immortal Stones and treasures found in plain sight are claimed by the disciples of the Cloud Sect; as for those hidden in the shadows, it all depends on who has the luck to find them.

…

Departure for the Immortal Abode

After Ruan Lan entered the cultivation world, she had the fortune of visiting the Cloud Sect’s Immortal Abode once. She was deeply impressed by the rare herbs there, so when she thought of the Foundation Establishment Pill, her first thought was of the Abode.

The relationship between Misty Valley and the Cloud Sect was quite good, allowing for more disciples to enter. Although the Sect Leader told Ruan Lan to lead the group for experience, in reality, two other first-generation disciples were going along as well.

Ruan Lan’s primary goal was the herbs, but someone had to guard and protect the disciples during their trial.

With three of the four first-generation disciples leaving, only one remained to guard the sect. Yu Qi was that “pitiful” person left behind.

“Senior Sister, I want to go too,” Yu Qi said with a dark face as she arrived at Fengxing Peak, her lips pursed in a pout. “I haven’t left Misty Valley in three years.”

Ruan Lan was watering the peach trees in front of the bamboo house. Hearing Yu Qi’s complaint, she didn’t even look up as she refused. “No.”

Yu Qi was beyond frustrated, her hands rising and falling in agitation. Looking at the composed and indifferent Ruan Lan, she gritted her teeth. Her peripheral vision caught Feng Qi sitting nearby, staring blankly into space, and she immediately redirected her fire. “What are you thinking about?”

Feng Qi snapped back to her senses. Seeing Yu Qi’s face flushed with anger, she felt a sudden sense of shared suffering. She blinked and said without changing her expression, “I am contemplating the cultivation techniques.” In truth, she was fretting over the fact that she had to follow Ruan Lan to the Immortal Abode.

In the original plot, she wasn’t supposed to go, but for some reason, Ruan Lan had a sudden whim that she must follow.

The Immortal Abode plot was originally designed to bring the male and female leads together. The male lead was a disciple of the Cloud Sect and would surely appear in the Abode to meet the heroine.

Feng Qi truly wanted to avoid the male lead… Thinking this, her gaze fixed on Ruan Lan. Just as she was about to speak, Ruan Lan—as if knowing exactly what she was going to say—said indifferently: “You must go.”

Feng Qi licked her lips and called out, “Master… Little Martial Aunt is so pitiful. Why not give this opportunity to her?”

Yu Qi frowned, displeased. “Who are you calling pitiful?”

Feng Qi silently pointed at herself.

Yu Qi raised an eyebrow at her tactfulness. She and Feng Qi locked eyes for a moment, then both looked toward Ruan Lan and spoke simultaneously.

“Senior Sister…” “Master…”

The hand Ruan Lan used to water the trees paused slightly. She looked up at the two of them, her gaze finally landing on Yu Qi. “Go back and practice.”

Yu Qi nodded reluctantly and turned to trudge away slowly.

“Master, I…” After seeing Yu Qi’s silhouette disappear, Feng Qi pondered trying to convince her again. But once she met Ruan Lan’s gaze, her unspoken words turned into a single syllable: “Go.”

This is clearly the heroine I wrote, so why do I lose my nerve every single time? Feng Qi lowered her head, silently reflecting.

“Do not worry. I will protect you,” Ruan Lan said as she walked past Feng Qi. Just before entering the bamboo house, she suddenly glanced at the sky. “It is still early. Practice your sword for four hours.”

“…Yes.”

“No slacking.”

Feng Qi nodded while rubbing her wrist, her mood even more somber than the prospect of going to the Immortal Abode.

…

The Spirit Spring and Memories

The group from Misty Valley consisted of twenty to thirty disciples, divided into two teams. Two first-generation disciples led one large group, while Ruan Lan and Feng Qi formed a team of two.

The journey between the Cloud Sect and Misty Valley was of moderate distance, taking about a day and a half by sword. Because the opening of the Abode was time-limited, Feng Qi saw many people from other sects while being carried along by Ruan Lan.

The Cloud Sect’s Immortal Abode was not open for free; every entering cultivator had to pay one spirit stone. Based on the Abode alone, the Cloud Sect’s resources and foundations were far richer than those of other sects.

Upon entering, they immediately split up. Ruan Lan and Feng Qi headed straight for the southern valley, while the other Misty Valley disciples headed toward the central palace like most other cultivators. That area had relatively dense spiritual energy and was where the most spirit stones and Immortal Stones could be found.

Setting aside the palace where most cultivators gathered, few solitary cultivators were seen on the outskirts of the Abode. Because it was filled with various dangers, those wishing to explore here usually traveled in groups of three to five.

“Stay by my side and do not wander,” Ruan Lan led Feng Qi into the valley with practiced ease. The air here was filled with waves of medicinal fragrance; one breath was enough to refresh the spirit.

Aside from tangled thickets, strange and colorful herbs were everywhere. Seeing Feng Qi looking so intently, Ruan Lan introduced the names and properties of the herbs as they walked.

Feng Qi looked at the herbs with a complex expression as Ruan Lan spoke names that were both familiar and unfamiliar. The familiar ones were those she had designed; the unfamiliar ones were likely natural occurrences in this world.

As it turned out, the naturally occurring herbs looked much better. The ones she had designed were fine in writing, but seeing the physical reality was… quite strange.

Deep within the valley was a pool of clear spring water. The water was so transparent that fish could occasionally be seen swaying past. Spiritual energy had turned into a thin white mist floating on the surface, and one could feel the moisture in every breath.

The Water Spirit Energy here was incredibly dense.

Ruan Lan raised her hand to cast a barrier around them, then pointed at the spring and said to Feng Qi, “Go in and soak for two hours.”

Feng Qi lowered her gaze to the clear water, her eyelashes trembling. “This is…”

“A Spirit Spring. You have Water and Wood Dual-Spirit Roots; it will be easier to attempt drawing Qi into your body here.”

It really is a Spirit Spring. This was high-quality stuff. For someone with a Water Spirit Root, cultivating here would yield double the result with half the effort. But for Feng Qi, a demon, soaking in a Spirit Spring was not going to be comfortable at all.

“Master, if I fail again, will you look down on me?” Feng Qi stood on the bank, reluctant to go in.

Ruan Lan pondered for a moment before replying, “I will consider it.”

Feng Qi turned to look at her. Ruan Lan uncharacteristically curled the corners of her lips in a slight smile. She raised her hand, using spiritual energy to send Feng Qi into the spring, then turned to gather the herbs needed for the Foundation Establishment Pill nearby.

The water temperature was icy cold. Feng Qi rubbed her palms and walked to a large blue stone, leaning halfway over it as her gaze followed Ruan Lan’s figure.

Ruan Lan was truly the most beautiful person Feng Qi had ever seen. Even a simple, plain white dress looked ethereal on her. Her jet-black hair hung behind her, and her expression as she looked down at the herbs in thought was like a masterpiece painting.

A beauty who only appeared in paintings or books was now standing right before her. Feng Qi rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought as she watched Ruan Lan.

Feng Qi’s gaze was entirely undisguised. Sensing it, Ruan Lan turned her head to look at her and suddenly said, “Fish.”

Feng Qi paused for a moment before asking blankly, “What?”

“There is a fish behind you.”

Feng Qi instinctively looked back and indeed saw a fish swaying back and forth not far away.

Ruan Lan walked to the bank and commanded softly, “Catch it.”

Though she didn’t know why Ruan Lan wanted her to catch a fish, Feng Qi pounced anyway. She caught the fish with both hands and tossed it at Ruan Lan’s feet, looking at her curiously.

Ruan Lan sat on a rock, pulled out a dagger, and skillfully cleaned the fish. She then built a fire and used a branch to skewer and roast it.

Feng Qi was stunned by this sequence of actions. She instinctively walked closer and asked, “Don’t cultivators not need to eat?” She actually wanted to ask why Ruan Lan knew how to roast a fish.

She didn’t remember giving the heroine this skill. In the world of cultivation, if one hadn’t reached India (fasting), a single pill could solve hunger. An ethereal person like Ruan Lan should not be concerned with the flavors of the mortal world.

Ruan Lan drew clean spring water to wash the blood from her hands. Regarding Feng Qi’s question, she said indifferently, “Have you not gone a long time without eating mortal food?”

So, she did this for me? Feng Qi stared blankly at Ruan Lan, her stomach growling right on cue.

Demons were not like cultivators who were mostly indifferent to desires; demon desires were only deeper, amplified several times over in every aspect. Thus, Feng Qi actually loathed Inedia Pills and didn’t enjoy eating them back at Misty Valley.

Perhaps Ruan Lan had noticed she disliked the pills, which was why she occasionally brought spirit fruits from outside.

“Does the Master do this often?” Feng Qi stepped out of the Spirit Spring and sat beside Ruan Lan. Smelling the aroma from the roasting fish, her mood brightened and she smiled.

Ruan Lan grabbed a nearby herb, squeezed its juices onto the roasting fish, and said softly, “The last time I did this was probably over ninety years ago.”

Ninety years ago… wasn’t that before Ruan Lan entered Misty Valley?

“I was just an ordinary mortal then, living in a Taoist temple since childhood. Because there was a river behind the mountain, fish was what I ate most often.” Ruan Lan looked down at the fire, seemingly lost in memory.

Looking at Ruan Lan reminiscing about the past, Feng Qi felt a sudden tug at her heart. The story she wrote began when Ruan Lan entered Misty Valley; she had never written about the heroine’s past, nor had she ever considered it.

But Ruan Lan did indeed have a past.

The person before her now was not just a heroine she had created, but a living, breathing human being. This feeling was stronger than at any other moment.

“Then why did you enter Misty Valley?” Feng Qi developed a deep interest in Ruan Lan’s past.

Ruan Lan raised her eyes to look at her, her expression calm. “Because the temple was later slaughtered by demons. Having nowhere else to go, I entered Misty Valley.”

The expression on Feng Qi’s face froze slightly. “Demons?”

“Yes.”

Feng Qi asked very cautiously, “Then you must really hate people from the Demon Realm, right?”

“It is not a matter of hate or not. Slaying demons and subduing monsters is the duty of a cultivator.”