Hearing Things?

“Instead, the great demon's pressure and resentment became an opportunity to hone your seas of consciousness and divine sense.

“Once your master finds the Demon-Purifying Flower, I will refine them into Demon-Purifying Pills for you to take. That will completely disperse the remaining pressure and resentment.

“After that, when you cultivate your divine sense techniques, your progress will surely soar by leaps and bounds. Your cultivation will advance far faster than other cultivators of the same rank, and your foundation will be much more solid.”

Gu Ningyun had read about the Demon-Purifying Flower in the 《Almanac of Heavenly Wonders》.

Rumor had it that when members of the demon race reached advanced stages of cultivation, they were easily plagued by resentment, which often led to failure during their heavenly tribulations.

Only by consuming the Demon-Purifying Flower could this resentment be cleansed.

Because of this, great demons of the demon race regarded this flower as their sacred flora, keeping it heavily guarded deep within their personal abodes.

Let alone human cultivators, even other demon cultivators found it nearly impossible to harvest.

Strangely, this flower could not survive anywhere else; it could only grow in places where a great demon underwent long-term secluded cultivation.

Around some great demons, the Demon-Purifying Flowers could even grow into a massive patch.

Thinking of this, Gu Ningyun couldn't help but feel worried.

Her master had ventured deep into the demon realm all alone. What if he was discovered?

Yi Shu, however, did not share her concern.

“Your master is incredibly capable. Don't worry blindly.”

Yi Shu smiled faintly. “You survived this danger because of your solid foundation and stable mindset.

“Only because of that were you able to unleash your potential in a moment of crisis, giving full play to your talent and creating a technique to break through the predicament.

“The other four kids didn't let you down either. Even though their seas of consciousness were in excruciating pain, they didn't forget to look out for their companions, remaining alert to every change around them.

“That was how they were able to seize the chance of survival you created and escape the Luan'an Mountain Range with you while you were unconscious.”

Yi Shu patted her shoulder, her eyes curving into a warm smile. “Ningyun, the five of you did exceptionally well. You were brilliant.”

After emphasizing once more that she must not use her divine sense and should avoid using her spirit energy as much as possible, Daoist Lord Yi Shu departed.

Gu Ningyun leaned against the headboard. Her bed was in the best spot in the room, right next to the window.

As she sat there, warm sunlight spilled in from outside, bathing her face in a cozy glow.

Not far outside the window was the courtyard wall. Below it lay a small herb patch filled with common medicinal herbs known for their healing properties. Each plant was brimming with vitality, though she had no idea which disciple was tending to them.

No matter how beautiful the scenery outside was, one couldn't stare at it forever.

Gu Ningyun rolled over, hugging her blanket, and pondered what she could do while recovering.

Ever since inducing qi into their bodies, cultivators would open up their seas of consciousness and learn to employ their divine sense.

Only with divine sense could they peer inward to cultivate and project it outward to investigate.

For a cultivator, almost everything was dependent on divine sense.

Now that her sea of consciousness was suddenly sealed, Gu Ningyun felt completely blind. She could only use her storage ring blindly.

While she could open it with spirit energy, she had absolutely no way of seeing what was inside or where things were located.

Fumbling around with a thread of spirit energy, she managed to pull out a jade slip after a moment—the 《Compendium of Talismans》.

Great. This also required divine sense to read.

Remembering Martial Aunt Yi Shu's repeated warnings to avoid using spirit energy as much as possible, Gu Ningyun slipped the jade slip back, giving up on her storage ring.

She squirmed around in bed for a while before finally letting out a miserable sigh. “I'm so bored...”

From the moment she transmigrated to this world, she had been running for her life or cultivating without a single moment's rest.

Now that she was suddenly idle and unable to do anything, she found it hard to adapt.

It wasn't just a lack of habit; to be precise, a faint sense of unease was growing in her heart.

After all, in the original book, she was supposed to be a cannon fodder female supporting character!

What if this delay slowed down her cultivation progress?

What if she got written off as cannon fodder the next time she went out?

Her past life as an orphan had left Gu Ningyun with a permanent lack of security.

It was a deep-seated flaw carved into her very bones since childhood.

Even after joining Xiaoyao and finding a master, it was difficult to change.

This was also why, upon entering Xiaoyao, she hadn't immediately reported to Punishment Peak about Gu Lianxue's attempt to gouge out her spirit root.

She had been afraid that the sect elders wouldn't believe the words of a mere child.

She was afraid they wouldn't trust her, and she... didn't trust them either.

It was only after living day and night with everyone in Ruiyu Pavilion and across the various peaks of Xiaoyao, day after day, year after year, that she gradually felt the warmth, tolerance, and affection Xiaoyao offered her.

Here, she had made her four most trusted friends.

Together, they had fought for the honor of Ruiyu Pavilion; they had also trusted each other with their backs and faced life and death.

They could share the sweet moments and weather the storms together.

Here, she had met the two best guides.

Senior Sister Yang and Senior Brother Lu had used their gentleness and patience to lead her by the hand, guiding her from bewilderment to composure.

Here, she had met Senior Sister Kong, First Senior Brother, Senior Fat Duck...

as well as her master, martial aunts, and martial uncles...

Every person she met and every event she experienced slowly influenced her, filling her barren, cautious heart.

Until the day of the Heaven-Sacrifice Ceremony, when she officially became her master's disciple.

Until the moment she moved into the Cloud Residence her master had personally built for her.

She finally dared to let down her guarded walls, opening her arms to embrace Xiaoyao—a sect that felt like a mother to her.

She finally felt a sense of belonging.

Though she had no parents or relatives, this place was her home.

Xiaoyao was her home.

No matter what trouble she caused outside, Xiaoyao would always have her back.

No matter how far she went or where she traveled, whenever she was tired, she could return to Xiaoyao.

In Xiaoyao, there was a piece of land designated specifically for her by the sect.

It was designed and built for her by her master himself.

She was not an unwanted, stray child.

She had a legitimate identity—Gu Ningyun of the inner sect, Spirit-Attuning Peak, Xiaoyao Immortal Sect, disciple of Peak Master Yi Chu;

she had her own territory—Pine Wind and Water Moon, a Cloud Residence protected by a heaven-rank array that only she had access to.

But no matter what, she always remembered and remained vigilant.

No matter how good Xiaoyao was, and no matter how wonderful her friends and elders were, they were ultimately external factors.

Out in the world, once everything else was stripped away, the only one she could rely on in the end was herself.

The only one who could grasp a sliver of life at the moment of life and death was still herself.

This was what her childhood as an orphan had taught her.

It was also what Xiaoyao had always taught them and constantly emphasized.

No matter how powerful Xiaoyao was, there was always someone stronger and a wider sky beyond. There would always be times and places where Xiaoyao could not reach.

Only one's own strength was the foundation of everything.

Now, with her sea of consciousness sealed and her meridians needing nourishment, she couldn't even cultivate.

How could she, a cannon fodder female supporting character, not feel anxious?

Staring blankly at the ceiling, Gu Ningyun had nothing to do.

The more she couldn't cultivate, the more anxious she became, and the more her mind began to wander.

Just as she was about to get up to visit Book Peak and see if there were any physical books she could read without divine sense, she suddenly heard a familiar duck's quack.

Huh?

Was she hallucinating?