The body Hua Jian had shaped could run, jump, and was pretty to boot—already a perfect score for her.
She didn’t need anything more.
“Is there a problem with my body now?”
“Not really, it’s just… don’t you feel you look less imposing this way?” Hua Jian gestured as she spoke.
When she was shaping the Senior, she hadn’t thought too much, so the result was a body with a bit too much cuteness.
Since she’d been the one shaping it, it ended up looking about seventy percent like her younger self, especially the face and figure.
If the hair and eye color matched, the Senior would just be a miniature Hua Jian.
This made Hua Jian feel a little embarrassed—how could she make the Senior look so much like herself?
It was like she was some narcissist who had to make everyone look like her.
Of course, the Senior didn’t understand Hua Jian’s little worries. As far as she was concerned, the body was perfectly fine.
As for “imposing”…she didn’t need it. If something went wrong, she could just release her aura and handle most problems.
“That’s good then, no need to worry about me.”
“Alright…”
“You’re planning to head south to Ascension City next, aren’t you?”
“Yes, but there’s no rush. We still have plenty of time—we can stay a few more days if the Senior can’t bear to part with Shiqi.”
With no outsiders around, Hua Jian didn’t bother lowering her voice and spoke loudly about their plans.
The volume was deliberate—she wanted Shiqi to overhear. If Shiqi had any opinions, they could adjust the plans accordingly.
The Senior had no objections—she wasn’t the type to control her juniors’ lives. If Shiqi wanted to leave, she wouldn’t stop her.
As long as Shiqi remembered to visit sometimes, she’d be content.
She had enough lifespan—she could afford to wait.
“I can leave whenever,” Shiqi said, coming over without daring to meet the Senior’s eyes.
These past few days, the Senior’s meticulous care had made her a little nervous.
The Senior had never really been a senior—her methods of caring for Shiqi were all self-invented.
Put bluntly, she took care of her too well, so much so that Shiqi felt she had no privacy at all.
She was already seventeen—she really didn’t need an elder helping with baths!
“So, it depends on when Linglong finishes up…or should we go find her today?” Hua Jian smacked her palm, suggesting.
Shiqi glanced at the sky. “It’s almost dusk already—it might be a bit late.”
The white flower sea was deep in the mountains. Even if nothing blocked their way, it’d take several days just to get back to Hei Long Gang’s territory.
Hua Jian could only comment “so naïve”—who said they had to walk themselves?
“Senior, can you take us there?”
Only Hua Jian would have the guts to treat the Senior like a mode of transportation.
The Senior smiled. “Of course.”
She was eager for the chance to see the world beyond the flower sea, and carrying two people was no trouble at all.
Two little girls, not even as heavy as a rock together. As a Spirit Lord, carrying them while flying would be effortless.
“See? Problem solved. Coming or not?”
“Tch, I’m coming!”
……
“Linglong Shimei, I have to trouble you again.”
“Shixiong, you’re too polite. How’s Xiaolan doing?”
The former headquarters of Hei Long Gang had now become Hudaosi’s temporary outpost in the Northern Mountains.
Because of the Dragon Blood Vine, the entire Resource Zone was sealed off, forbidding entry to other cultivators.
The Tianmomen Ling Emperor and surviving Hei Long Gang members were all gathered here, subjected to Hudaosi’s “friendly questioning.”
Linglong’s role here was as a translator, allowing Hudaosi cultivators to understand Xiaolan’s words and uncover how the demonic faction had secretly planted Dragon Blood Vine in the Northern Mountains.
According to Xiaolan, the two dragons already killed by the Dragon Blood Vine were her parents.
The three of them had been tricked by Tianmomen’s Heilong Zheng into coming to the Northern Mountains.
There, they were ambushed by the demonic faction, with even a Spirit Lord spirit beast helping from the shadows, leading to their defeat and capture.
Of the three dragons, her father was the strongest, at Linghuang Jing. Maybe for that reason, the demonic faction had targeted him first and drained him with Dragon Blood Vine immediately.
Her mother was slightly weaker, at the peak of Lingwang Realm, and was killed by the Dragon Blood Vine in the following days.
If Linglong and the others had come just a month later, Xiaolan likely would’ve been killed too, and the secret would have died with her.
“Xiaolong’s physical recovery is going well, but her mood is still poor,” said the Wanling Sect Shixiong, opening the door to Xiaolong’s newly converted room and gesturing inside.
Just as Jian Sect specialized in fighting for Hudaosi, Wanling Sect handled aftermath and miscellaneous tasks.
If there was a troublesome spirit beast or object, you called the Wanling Sect disciples.
It left Wanling Sect disciples in Hudaosi feeling helpless—they couldn’t solve every problem.
Still, it broadened their horizons and paved the way for future cultivation, so it was a kind of pain-tinged joy.
Getting to interact with a legendary dragon at close range—something most cultivators might never see in their lifetimes—was a blessing.
“Seeing her parents die, it’s only natural to be depressed.” Linglong replied, then looked toward Xiaolan inside the room.
Because of her large size, most of the furniture had been removed so Xiaolong would have enough space.
Even so, she could only lie there listlessly, looking dispirited.
Seeing Linglong come in, a bit of light returned to her eyes, and she began calling out to Linglong.
Translated to human speech, it was basically “Big sister, you finally came! I thought you were ignoring me,” like a puppy afraid of being abandoned.
“Don’t think like that. I just have other things to do—I won’t forget you.” Linglong walked up to pat Xiaolan’s head, comforting her softly.
“In a little while, you should be able to leave. Want me to contact the Dragon Race for you, so they can take you home?”
Xiaolan only had the strength of a Ling Master. By Dragon Race custom, little dragons of this strength couldn’t travel alone or even enter human territories.
So if she wanted to return to the Dragon Race, she’d need someone to fetch her—otherwise, she might end up ambushed on the road again.
At Linglong’s words, Xiaolan grew even more downcast, her cries tinged with tears.
“We escaped from Longdao. Now we’re probably considered traitors.”
The Dragon Race had its own laws, much like the human race—serious crimes implicated family.
Committing a grave crime and fleeing Longdao was enough for the island to expel a dragon from the register.
In fact, as Linglong thought about it, it made sense—how could an ordinary dragon be tricked by a demonic Hei Long Wang, bringing the whole family to unfamiliar human territory?
Surely a major crime had forced him to flee and drag his family with him down a road of no return.
Now, the dragon had paid with his life, and his family was implicated—no home to return to.
The Dragon Race’s law was harsh. Expelled from the register meant just that. No matter how great your future, you could never return.
So Xiaolan now had nowhere to go, and could only seek refuge in human territory.
Linglong was at a loss—she couldn’t return Xiaolan to her kin. Did she have to take care of the little dragon herself?
Well…that wasn’t impossible. Jade Pool probably wouldn’t mind raising a dragon.
If word got out, Wanling Sect would likely want to adopt her too—after all, this was the Dragon Race.
Thinking this, Linglong felt better—at least she didn’t have to worry about Xiaolan’s future. The sins of elders shouldn’t be borne by their young. This little dragon probably knew nothing, just brought here by her parents to die.
“What crime did your father commit?” Linglong asked curiously.
“I don’t know. One day, my father just flew home in a panic and told my mother and me to follow him…” Xiaolan shook her head, discouraged.
Maybe her mother knew more, but as a child she knew nothing of the shadows.
Linglong sighed. To know the truth, she’d have to write and ask her mother, far away with the Dragon Race.
“Well, rest up. Once Hudaosi finishes investigating, I’ll take you to where I live.” Linglong reached out to gently pat Xiaolan’s drooping head.
Xiaolan blinked, then nodded hard. “Thank you, big sister!”
With Xiaolan comforted, Linglong left the room with the Wanling Sect Shixiong.
As soon as she stepped out, she saw a blindingly white-haired girl landing in the nearby clearing with two familiar faces.
The Hudaosi cultivators nearby all tensed, thinking it was an attack. But seeing the newcomers, they weren’t so sure—there didn’t seem to be any hostility. They hesitated.
Seeing this, Linglong quickly apologized to her companion and ran over, calling, “Hua Jian!”
Her shout was both to alert Hua Jian of her presence and to inform the other Shixiong and Shijie that the visitors were acquaintances, so they could relax.
Though the others didn’t know Hua Jian, they did know Linglong, and realizing these arrivals were Linglong’s acquaintances, they let out a sigh of relief.
At least they weren’t enemies—the sight of that white-haired little girl had startled them. Descending from the sky and only being noticed after landing—it was terrifying.
What happened next only confirmed their fears.
Linglong hurried over and bowed respectfully to the white-haired girl. “Senior.”
A Spirit Lord? The Hudaosi cultivators nearby sucked in a breath.
Judging by her appearance, she had to be a Spirit Beast Senior—why would such a big shot show up here?
Had their actions angered the spirit beasts, so they’d sent an envoy as a warning?
“They wanted to come see you,” the Senior said, pointing to the two girls beside her, telling Linglong not to worry.
She was just here for the scenery, acting as transport for Hua Jian and Shiqi.
Linglong couldn’t help but glare at Hua Jian—who used Seniors like this!
Couldn’t she show a little respect?
Hua Jian just spread her hands. Was this about respect? If you want to get somewhere fast, who else could you ask but the Senior? The Senior herself had no problem with it—why was Linglong making a fuss?
The emperor’s not worried, but the eunuch is.
While the two whispered, Hudaosi’s local Ling Emperor from Wanling Sect was pushed over, looking miserable.
Someone had to ask this Senior’s intentions. Among the three Ling Emperors present, two were sword cultivators with poor social skills—so the task fell to him.
Standing before her, he bowed respectfully. “I’m sorry for failing to greet you, Senior. What brings you here?”
The Senior stood with hands behind her back, saying nothing.
Sweat formed on the Ling Emperor’s brow—was she displeased?
After a long moment, the Senior finally spoke. “Is there something here?”
Huh?
“Senior Huabai is probably referring to the Dragon Blood Vine,” Hua Jian whispered from the side.
“I’m not certain, but there’s a fierce aura hidden in the soil here, greatly affecting the mountains…” The Senior frowned, looking puzzled.
By rights, this kind of mutation should have drawn other Spirit Beast Seniors, but no one had come to deal with it. Strange.
“We’re working hard to clear out the Dragon Blood Vine, but it’s been rooted here for a long time—it’ll take time,” the Wanling Sect Ling Emperor replied, relieved to find the Senior wasn’t here to cause trouble.
“Take me to see it. I might have a way to deal with it,” the Senior said plainly.
The Wanling Sect Ling Emperor hesitated, then nodded.
The Dragon Blood Vine was a real problem. He’d wanted to seek outside help anyway—if a Spirit Beast Senior was willing, all the better.
“Please follow me. For now, we’ve restricted the Dragon Blood Vine’s growth with an Array, but its roots go too deep…” The Ling Emperor gestured and led the way.
The Senior followed without a word. Linglong and Hua Jian exchanged a glance—there was no other choice but to follow.
As they went, Linglong quietly questioned Hua Jian. “How did you bring the Senior out here?”
“She wanted to look around anyway. What was I supposed to do?” Hua Jian insisted on her innocence, and besides, the Senior was here to help.
Wasn’t this great? Perfect, even! And yet Linglong still complained!
So love does fade, after all!