The Romantic Cultivator

When Ji Yuan had returned from his ‘scouting’ several hours later, the Goddess Ai Tina and Xu Yifei were still in each other’s embrace; they were still talking quietly and their countenances were still wet.

It was obvious to him that they were still being emotional. 

He did not exactly go too far away as this dense iron forests were too dangerous with many weird spirit plants and the lurking presence of profound beasts.

Ji Yuan knows it better than picking any spirit plants here even though they may be valuable; it is because there is a symbolic relationship between the spirit plants and profound beasts here. Trying to approach or even plucking a spirit plant in this place will sure to provoke reactions from all the profound beasts in this vicinity. 

And he was not too greedy and also unprepared to fight the dangers that he had purposely caused due to his own greed. 

Moreover, it was also getting quite dark as the bright lights from the heavens were slowly disappearing. 

Maybe it was due to the monstrous height of these trees that were as tall as a mountain that he could not even see the sun in this place. Or maybe there was none in the first place. 

“It is too dark now. We should continue on our way tomorrow instead. In the meantime, we should cultivate to regain our profound strength from today’s battle.”

With that, he had leapt high above an iron tree and stay out of sight from them in the shadow of a giant tree branch that was facing the other way. 

Although they could not see one another, he knows that the Goddess Ai Tina and Xu Yifei were still talking quietly to each other throughout the night, as they seemed to have endless things to talk about.

Ji Yuan wrapped himself in the white and blue cloak that Xu Yifei had given him; this was indeed a good profound spirit treasure that could protect him against the elements and he could also cultivate faster with this spirit cloak.

But he could not shake off the thought that the Goddess Ai Tina was trying to kill him; it was because he could feel her killing intents for him and Xu Yifei in the tavern that day. 

It seemed to him that Xu Yifei may be safe for now.

But not him. 

He thought: She is probably only trying to make use of me to reach the Great Oracle of Delphi before disposing of me…

Xiang Li said to him: Big Brother, I think you think too cautious! She has a good soul!”

Ji Yuan: …

Anyang also agreed with Xiang Li as she said: I have to agree with Xiang Li on this…

Ji Yuan interrupted with an unhappy frown: Anyang and Xiang Li, I am now cultivating but aren’t the two of you supposed to be cultivating as well? What are the results of cultivating on the Golden Natal Divine Pearl?

No reply.

He frowned: Xiang Li? Anyang? 

They sure can flee fast when he is asking them a crucial question. 

The next day at the first break of dawn, Ji Yuan saw the Goddess Ai Tina and Xu Yifei again. They were looked ready to move on now. 

Xu Yifei was smiling at Ji Yuan and she looked blissful; it was because of Ji Yuan’s outspoken nature that she had learnt that the Goddess Ai Tina was her grandmother. 

Ji Yuan merely nodded and walked awkwardly in front of them since he had nothing to talk with the Goddess Ai Tina and he was too awkward to look at the enticing Xu Yifei. 

As they walked together, all this while the Goddess Ai Tina was looking tenderly at Xu Yifei as they walked together. 

Last night Xu Yifei had told her some of her memories of her mother consort and her life while the Goddess Ai Tina had shared some of her glorious past.

After several hours of navigating, they had finally come to a ridge and below was an abyssal sea of pink mists. 

They were separated by the other side for a good 100m and it was impossible for them to jump across the ridge to the other side. 

Ji Yuan saw that there were 2 portals that were in front of them and a black stele. 

When they extended their divine senses into the black stele, it told them that one of the portals will lead them to the side of the ridge while the other one will send them to the bottom of the pink mists.

There was actually a riddle on the black stele that told them as much. 

The portal on the left is a door that leads to the truths of life and this is the way. 

The portal on the right is a door that leads to the illusions of life and this is the way. 

𝔫𝞸𝑣𝔢𝓁𝑛𝐞xt.𝗰𝗈𝗆

Pick one of the doors. One will lead you to the other side while the other will lead you to the bottom of the pink mists.

Ji Yuan muttered weakly, “We have a 50/50 chance to pick the correct portal. Should we go another way? This is too big of a risk at 50% chance to take.”

The Goddess Ai Tina smiled as she said to Ji Yuan, “Which portal will you pick?”

Ji Yuan took another look at the riddle before he shrugged his shoulders to say weakly, “I will rather not pick.”

The Goddess Ai Tina smiled wryly, “Give it a try.”

Ji Yuan smiled bitterly at her; he was in no hurry to die. 

Ji Yuan finally said with a heavy sigh, “Even though the left portal looks like the real deal by saying that this leads to the truths of life and this is the way. But I think that if there is life then there must death. So, the portal to the left is not my choice. I am a cultivator. So, I will rather pick the second portal to discover the illusions of life.”

The Goddess Ai Tina smiled, “You have indeed picked the right portal. Come. Follow me.”

With that she had already dashed into the portal on the right.

Ji Yuan was startled, “Wait a minute!”

But he quickly composed himself to say, “So this is the answer?”

The reason why he had said that was because it did not sound feasible for a immortal goddess to gamble on her immortal life. 

Xu Yifei held onto his hands to say gently, “We must trust the Goddess Ai Tina. If there is anything amiss, I will hold onto your hands.”

JI Yuan laughed weakly as they dashed into the portal that was on the right at the same time.

In the next instant, they had now appeared in the circle of tall iron trees and the Goddess Ai Tina was smiling wryly as she awaited them.

Ji Yuan was smiling weakly as he looked at the Goddess Ai Tina, “This is a little reckless. Luckily, this is the correct answer.”

The Goddess Ai Tina smiled instead, “Don’t worry. That is the correct answer to that riddle and we have overcome the second trial. Now we have to find the third trial.”

Ji Yuan looked a little startled, “That is also a trial?”

The Goddess Ai Tina nodded, “Not all trials here require you to fight against the primeval monsters in this place. Some trials test your wisdom and intelligence. And some trials test you on your wits.”

Ji Yuan laughed weakly, “I would rather fight a primeval monster. Haha…”

————————————

1. I’d really appreciate it if the readers can contribute power stones to this story as a show of support even if you are reading from other websites. Your spirit stones are crucial for motivations and releases. Also, it means alot me/ story, Many love and thanks! ლ(⌒▽⌒ლ)

62d67767f92eb560e77c9100