PID Chapter 45

Merci pour le Ko-fi, Choco !

(3/5)

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In the cultivation world, aside from certain secret realms that reopen at specific intervals, there are many one-time-only opportunity realms.

 

When such realms emerge, they cause spiritual energy fluctuations in the surrounding space. Once detected, their name and entry restrictions naturally appear in people’s minds.

 

The Phantom Moon Secret Realm is one such realm.

 

Being newly formed, no one knows its terrain, routes, or specific treasures—all must be discovered after entering.

 

But Xiao Mo was different. With his system at hand, he not only knew the map but also the location of its most valuable treasures.

 

The Phantom Moon Core

 

The Phantom Moon Core is a growth-type magical artifact capable of constructing illusionary spaces that blend reality and fantasy. It can deceive minds and trap individuals—ideal for cultivators specializing in illusion techniques or mind-manipulation spells… as well as Inner Demons like Xiao Mo.

 

Its strength depends entirely on its master—the stronger the master’s spiritual consciousness, the stronger the artifact becomes.

 

The Moon Lord Sword Manual

 

This sword manual was created by a renowned Mahayana-stage cultivator known as “Moon Lord.” It contains his unique sword intent and can help sword cultivators reach new heights. No one would expect such a treasure left behind by a Mahayana-stage cultivator to be hidden within a Nascent Soul-level secret realm.

 

Both treasures were highly valuable—one for Xiao Mo’s unique abilities as an Inner Demon and one for Chu Jinglan’s path as a sword cultivator. The Phantom Moon Secret Realm presented an opportunity they couldn’t afford to miss.

 

In the Upper Realm, Great Perfection-stage cultivators are among the most exceptional.

 

How could anyone not be tempted by treasures like the Phantom Moon Core and the Moon Lord Sword Manual?

 

The next day, after Jing Lei and the other Yushan Sect disciples heading to the secret realm had left, Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan went to the dining hall for breakfast. There, they informed the outer disciples that they planned to take this time to return home and would come back to Yushan Sect later.

 

No one doubted their intentions and bid them farewell, looking forward to their return.

 

After all, some cultivators who left during such breaks never returned. However, Chu Jinglan’s determination to repair his dantian was well-known, and the outer disciples believed that neither he nor Xiao Mo would give up halfway.

 

Once outside Yushan Sect, Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan found a secluded spot. At Xiao Mo’s suggestion, Chu Jinglan changed his outer robe for a Moonlight Silver Gauze Cloak, replaced his headpiece with a silver crown, and donned a golden bird mask adorned with cloud patterns.

 

In an instant, he looked like a completely different person. Even if one of Yushan Sect’s outer disciples saw him now, they wouldn’t recognize him as Chu Jinglan.

 

A one-click transformation.

 

Xiao Mo took a moment to admire Chu Jinglan’s new appearance before merging into his body and taking control.

 

Now, they were no longer “Xiao Mo” or “Chu Jinglan.” They had become the “mysterious Nascent Soul cultivator with the golden mask.”

 

Inside Chu Jinglan’s inner sea of consciousness, their two spiritual forms—one black and one white—drew closer together. Spiritual energy surged through Chu Jinglan’s body in an instant.

 

Though his dantian remained shattered, under Xiao Mo’s control, a simulated dantian could be created. Xiao Mo managed the flow of spiritual energy within Chu Jinglan’s body, allowing it to circulate without dissipating.

 

Unfortunately, this effect only worked while Xiao Mo controlled the body. If it could be sustained at all times, it would essentially function as a repaired dantian—making true restoration unnecessary.

 

Xiao Mo suddenly had an idea: “Should we give this identity a name? What if we need one for registration or something?”

 

Chu Jinglan didn’t respond verbally. His silence was tacit approval. Taking this as consent, Xiao Mo pondered briefly before deciding on something simple.

 

He combined one character from each of their names.

 

“Let’s call it Mo Lan—how about that?” Xiao Mo suggested casually.

 

“Whatever you want,” Chu Jinglan replied indifferently.

 

“Then it’s settled,” Xiao Mo said cheerfully.

 

And so, the freshly minted Mo Lan continued on their journey.

 

Although Hengdu Prefecture bordered Guangdu Prefecture geographically, distances in the Middle Realm were vastly greater than those in the Lower Realm. Traveling from Guangdu Prefecture to Hengdu Prefecture—even at wind-riding or sword-flying speeds—would take three to four days of continuous flight.

 

Xiao Mo believed in making life easier when possible. So they decided to head to Lin’an City and take a passenger flying boat instead.

 

It was unfortunate that this wasn’t one of the days when the three children would return to their courtyard in Lin’an City; otherwise, they might have had time to visit them.

 

Sects often had their own flying boats for travel. However, enterprising organizations also operated commercial flying boats for public use. As long as you paid the fare, anyone could board and travel to fixed destinations—except for demonic cultivators.

 

Righteous sect territories strictly prohibited demonic cultivators from entering or using such services.

 

Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan arrived at the flying boat station and queued up for tickets.

 

The flying boat business was managed by another major force in the cultivation world: Jinxiu Pavilion. This organization encompassed numerous aristocratic families and sects. From its inception, Jinxiu Pavilion had focused not only on cultivation but also on commerce. Essentially functioning as a business alliance, it was known for its wealth—immense wealth.

 

Under Jinxiu Pavilion’s banner were countless smaller businesses: trade guilds, auction houses, information brokers—you name it. Their philosophy was simple: if it made money, they’d do it.

 

Jinxiu Pavilion spans both the Middle Realm and the Upper Realm, with its operations in the Middle Realm currently led by the Wang family of Tongdu Prefecture.

 

After queuing for a while, Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan paid fifteen low-grade spirit stones to board a flying boat traveling from Lin’an City to Yuan City in Guangdu Prefecture.

 

Once enough passengers had boarded, the flying boat slowly ascended into the sky.

 

The flying boat couldn’t compare to the massive celestial vessel outside Lin’an Academy that day—it was simple but functional. Designed for passenger transport, it had a maximum capacity of around 100 people per trip.

 

The boat featured three levels of cabins where passengers could rest. It was equipped with protective formations that activated after takeoff, shielding it from harsh winds during flight and preventing unauthorized individuals from forcefully boarding.

 

Of course, the effectiveness of these defenses depended on the intruder’s cultivation level.

 

This particular flying boat’s formation could withstand attacks up to Nascent Soul-level cultivators. The highest cultivation level among the onboard guards from Jinxiu Pavilion was also Nascent Soul stage. As expected, better-equipped flying boats required higher fares.

 

For Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan, this flying boat was more than sufficient.

 

Standing on the deck, they watched as the flying boat gradually rose into the air, reaching an altitude of over 100 meters. The scenery below shrank into insignificance while their view expanded into vast horizons—a fascinating experience.

 

Xiao Mo rarely flew this high when traveling by wind-riding himself. Having so many people around made it feel entirely different.

 

In crowded settings like this, wearing masks or bamboo hats wasn’t unusual. About five steps away from Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan, some passengers were discussing the Phantom Moon Secret Realm.

 

“I heard from sensing its aura that it won’t be small inside—and there should be plenty of treasures.”

 

“Yeah, I wonder how many people will go.”

 

This flying boat carried exactly 100 passengers. While many were still on deck enjoying fresh air and conversation, others had already returned to their rooms to avoid crowds.

 

After spending some time on deck watching the scenery, Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan decided to check out their room. Entering the cabin, they quickly located their assigned quarters. However, before stepping inside, Xiao Mo paused briefly to scrutinize the door of the neighboring room.

 

“There’s a demonic cultivator,” Xiao Mo said firmly to Chu Jinglan.

 

The golden-masked figure lingered at the neighboring door for only a few seconds before entering their own room—acting as though they hadn’t noticed anything.

 

As long as the demonic cultivator didn’t provoke them directly, it had nothing to do with Xiao Mo or Chu Jinglan. Xiao Mo might be an Inner Demon, but Chu Jinglan wasn’t one of those righteous cultivators who felt compelled to confront every demonic presence they encountered. Knowing there was a demonic cultivator next door simply meant staying vigilant—nothing more.

 

The flying boat would take three days and two nights to reach its destination. While inspecting their room, Xiao Mo felt movement from the spirit pet pouch stored in his spatial device.

 

He pulled out the pouch and released Qiuqiu.

 

The little creature had eaten well and grown strong feathers while inside the pouch. Now eager for fresh air, it hopped out energetically and shook its dull gray plumage with vigor.

 

Qiuqiu spotted the masked “Chu Jinglan” and chirped, “Cheep!”

 

It seemed to be asking where the other person was.

 

Xiao Mo teased it, using Chu Jinglan’s voice to say, “Right here.”

 

Qiuqiu tilted its head in confusion. “Cheep?”

 

Suddenly, Xiao Mo left Chu Jinglan’s body and appeared beside him. “See?”

 

Startled, Qiuqiu let out a loud chirp: “Cheep-cheep!!”

 

The little bird fluffed up its feathers in alarm but quickly began hopping left and right on its tiny feet, puzzled about how Xiao Mo had appeared. Eventually, it jumped onto Xiao Mo’s shoulder and nuzzled its feathers against his neck.

 

Soft and fluffy, the sensation was quite pleasant. But Qiuqiu froze again—it felt cold.

 

Qiuqiu stiffened. It wasn’t supposed to be cold—why was it so chilly? The cold made it shiver slightly.

 

Warmth was better. Warmth was comforting.

 

Qiuqiu chirped hesitantly: “Cheep? Cheep-cheep?”

 

Just then, a loud thud came from the neighboring room as something slammed against the wall. A furious voice roared: “Shut that little beast up! It’s driving me crazy!”

 

Startled again, Qiuqiu accidentally slipped off Xiao Mo’s shoulder. Xiao Mo caught it with a quick motion and gently stroked its feathers, whispering softly: “Don’t be afraid.”

 

He raised his hand and placed a soundproofing talisman on the wall. Clearly, the flying boat’s rooms weren’t well-insulated against noise, and their neighbor—the demonic cultivator—was rather irritable.

 

Fortunately, the demonic cultivator only shouted once before falling silent. He didn’t immediately storm over to commit any violent acts out of frustration, which suggested he still had some semblance of self-control.

 

“What kind of neighbor is this?” Xiao Mo muttered. “Let’s hope he doesn’t ruin our mood.”

 

Chu Jinglan suggested: “There’s a dining area on the boat—shall we check it out?”

 

Xiao Mo immediately forgot about the demonic cultivator. “Let’s go!”

 

Returning to Chu Jinglan’s body, Xiao Mo once again puzzled Qiuqiu, who stretched its little neck left and right in curiosity, trying to figure out the “magic trick” of Xiao Mo disappearing into Chu Jinglan. With Xiao Mo now controlling Chu Jinglan’s body, he placed Qiuqiu back on his shoulder and took it along for some fresh air as they headed out.

 

Unbeknownst to them, the demonic cultivator next door had finally thought to set up a soundproofing barrier for his room. At that moment, he was lying on the floor in agony—his arms and forehead bulging with veins as he gasped eerily.

 

His demonic cultivation technique was backfiring, leaving him ravenously hungry.

 

Hungry… so hungry… I want to eat people… eat… eat… This boat is full of fresh blood and flesh—I could eat as much as I want…

 

No! I can’t lose control!

 

The demonic cultivator clutched his head and slammed it against the floor repeatedly. He was only at Nascent Soul stage himself and relied on a special cloak to conceal his aura. If his identity as a demonic cultivator were discovered, the righteous cultivators aboard would unite against him—and he wouldn’t stand a chance.

 

Blood trickled from his forehead as he rolled around in pain before finally regaining some semblance of sanity.

 

Panting heavily, he wiped his forehead and licked his own blood—he couldn’t let it go to waste.

 

As he licked the blood away, he thought bitterly: I can’t eat openly—it’ll get me caught. But if I secretly grab one or two people… that should be fine.

 

He knew how flying boat rules worked: passengers paid when boarding but weren’t checked when disembarking. As long as only one or two people went missing—not too many—who would notice?

 

Best to target someone traveling alone.

 

…The blood and flesh aura from the neighboring room earlier belonged to just one person, along with some sort of bird-like demonic beast.

 

However, due to his muddled state of mind at the time, the demonic cultivator hadn’t been able to sense the other person’s cultivation level.

 

The demonic cultivator stood up and wiped his forehead. The superficial injuries on his skin healed in an instant. He pushed open the door and followed the scent of blood and flesh, intending to confirm the cultivation level of the person next door.

 

The sinister cultivation technique he practiced had one notable feature: an acute sensitivity to blood and flesh auras, akin to a dog’s nose.

 

As he walked, he kept an eye out for other lone individuals who might serve as backup targets for his hunger.

 

Following the scent trail, he arrived at the dining area.

 

At this moment, there weren’t many people in the dining area. A figure wearing a golden mask sat alone at a table, with a small grayish bird hopping around on the tabletop as it slowly ate its food.

 

It was clear that this was the person living next door to him.

 

Oddly enough, the demonic cultivator couldn’t discern his cultivation level.

 

Typically, those with lower cultivation levels couldn’t see through someone of higher cultivation. However, due to his unique technique, the demonic cultivator could usually identify someone’s strength by their blood and flesh aura—even if their cultivation surpassed his own. Yet he couldn’t determine anything about the golden-masked man’s depth.

 

Perhaps some magical artifact was blocking him.

 

The demonic cultivator felt frustrated but suddenly froze when the golden-masked man raised his head and locked eyes with him—a pair of cold, piercing eyes staring directly into his soul.

 

The demonic cultivator shuddered. Though he had come looking for prey, he felt as if he had been caught in the gaze of a hunter instead.

 

Unable to discern his target’s cultivation level for now, the demonic cultivator gritted his teeth and decided to leave for now—opting to search outside for easier prey.

 

After he left, Xiao Mo’s misty spiritual form within Chu Jinglan’s inner sea spoke to Bai Xue Tuanzi[mfn]Little White Snowball, he’s talking to Chu Jinglan[/mfn]: “I can smell his barely-contained desire. He wants to eat us—but for now, he’s hesitant and afraid… though I don’t think he’ll hold back much longer.”

 

“Wants to eat us,” Xiao Mo murmured softly, pressing his tongue lightly against his teeth. “I’ve never tried consuming someone’s entire consciousness before—I wonder what that would be like.”

 

Xiao Mo decided that if the demonic cultivator truly attacked them, he would devour all of his thoughts and desires. After all, from Xiao Mo’s perspective, this demonic cultivator smelled delicious—like a walking cake.

 

Wants to eat us? A faint red glow flickered in Xiao Mo’s eyes. He doesn’t yet know who will end up eating whom.

 

 

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1 Kofi = 1 Extra Chapter