Chapter 98: Spiritual Consciousness

Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Spiritual Consciousness

Xi Yunxui remained silent for a long moment, her gaze moving between the ancient creature’s enormous crimson eyes and the three companions behind her as though hoping one of them might offer a reasonable solution to the absurd situation she had found herself in.

Unfortunately, King C was pretending not to exist, Hui was hiding behind her, and Biyu looked just as confused as she felt.

Xi Yunxui rubbed her forehead.

’What am I supposed to do?’

The system appeared before her almost immediately.

[That depends on the Host.]

’That’s not helpful.’

[If the Host refuses, does the Host have confidence in escaping from this mountain?]

Xi Yunxui’s expression stiffened as she looked toward the ancient creature.

The enormous beast remained seated before her, its massive forelegs resting against the ground while it watched her with unsettling patience.

Xi Yunxui swallowed.

’No.’

The system continued.

[Does the Host have confidence in fighting the ancient creature?]

Xi Yunxui’s eyes widened.

’No, no, absolutely not!’

She had watched the creature emerge from beneath the mountain, felt its spiritual pressure, witnessed it absorb her spiritual energy with barely any effort, and seen how a simple movement could shake the entire mountain.

She would have to be out of her mind to believe she could fight it.

’How could I possibly fight something like that?’

The system remained silent for a moment before displaying another message.

[Then the Host understands the current situation.]

Xi Yunxui’s mouth twitched.

She hated when the system was right.

There were only two realistic choices: refuse and hope the creature would let her leave despite its obvious interest in her spiritual energy, or agree to its proposal and somehow turn the most terrifying creature she had ever encountered into her familiar.

Neither option sounded particularly reassuring, but one offered a considerably higher chance of survival.

Xi Yunxui took a deep breath and looked up.

"All right."

The ancient creature’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Xi Yunxui forced herself to smile.

"If becoming my familiar means you won’t hurt me or the others, then... that’s fine."

For a brief moment, the ancient creature remained completely still. Then a deep, satisfied sound rumbled from its chest.

"Hm."

It was only a grunt, yet the obvious satisfaction in it made Xi Yunxui feel as though she had just made a decision the creature had been waiting for all along.

The corners of its enormous mouth lifted slightly, almost as though it were smiling.

Xi Yunxui’s smile immediately became stiff.

’Why do I suddenly feel like I just agreed to something I shouldn’t have?’

Xi Yunxui glanced at its enormous body. Now that she had apparently agreed to become its master, another problem occurred to her, and she scratched the side of her head.

"Um..."

The ancient creature looked at her.

"What?"

Xi Yunxui gestured vaguely toward its enormous body.

"How are you going to... become my familiar?"

She hesitated before adding, "I mean, what about your size?"

She looked up, then higher, and higher still.

Even while sitting, the ancient creature was enormous. If it remained in this form, there was no way she could take it anywhere without attracting attention. She could already imagine what would happen if she walked into the city with a creature large enough to make buildings look like toys.

"You’re... really big."

The ancient creature stared at her for several seconds before answering as though the matter were insignificant.

"There is no problem."

Xi Yunxui blinked.

"No problem?"

"I can reside within your spiritual consciousness."

Xi Yunxui tilted her head.

"My... what?"

The ancient creature lifted one enormous foreleg and extended a claw toward her.

Xi Yunxui’s body instinctively tensed, but the movement was surprisingly gentle. Despite its enormous size, the creature carefully brought one claw toward her forehead and lightly tapped the center of her brow with a single fingertip.

Tap.

For one brief instant, the world around her remained unchanged.

Then the ancient creature vanished.

Xi Yunxui’s eyes widened as she looked around. The enormous body was gone, while the mountain, trees, spiritual spring, King C, Hui, and Biyu remained exactly as they had been.

But the ancient creature had disappeared without leaving behind even a trace of its terrifying presence.

Xi Yunxui stared at the empty space in front of her.

"Uh..."

She turned around.

"Where did it go?"

A deep voice suddenly sounded inside her mind.

"Here."

Xi Yunxui froze and looked around again.

"Where?"

"Within you."

Xi Yunxui’s expression became strange.

’That’s... weird.’

The system appeared.

[It is currently residing within the Host’s spiritual consciousness.]

Xi Yunxui frowned.

’Is that supposed to make sense to me?’

Before the system could respond, something changed.

Xi Yunxui suddenly felt as though the ground beneath her feet had disappeared. Her consciousness was pulled forward without warning, leaving her no time to prepare.

The forest vanished, followed by the mountain and even the sensation of her own body.

Xi Yunxui’s eyes widened as she felt herself being dragged through something she could neither see nor understand.

"What is happening?!"

Her voice echoed strangely.

The next instant, her feet touched something cool. She stumbled forward and caught herself before slowly lifting her head.

Her mouth fell open.

She was standing on water—not in it, but on its surface.

A thin layer of crystal-clear water stretched endlessly beneath her feet, so smooth that it barely rippled beneath her weight. There was no visible riverbank, shoreline, or boundary separating it from the horizon; it extended as far as she could see.

Yet the strangest part was that she was not sinking.

Xi Yunxui cautiously lifted one foot and placed it back down. The surface rippled, sending small circles outward from her toes before they faded into the distance.

She stared down.

"Where am I?"

The surrounding landscape was unlike anything she had ever seen. Trees covered the distant areas, their branches heavy with flowers of different colors. Some bore pale white blossoms, while others carried vibrant pink, blue, and golden flowers that seemed to glow beneath the soft light filling the sky.

Vines curled around ancient trunks, and small flowers grew everywhere the eye could reach. In the distance, a waterfall poured from a towering cliff, its water sparkling as it fell into a wide pool before flowing outward across the endless surface beneath her feet.

There were no buildings, roads, or signs of civilization—only water, trees, flowers, mountains, sunlight, and an overwhelming sense of life.

The air itself felt warm, carrying the gentle warmth of spring rather than heat or cold, the kind that made every living thing seem capable of flourishing.

Xi Yunxui slowly turned in place.

"Where is this?"

Her voice sounded almost insignificant within the vast landscape.

"This is your spiritual consciousness."

The voice came from behind her.

Xi Yunxui turned and froze.

A young man stood several steps away, looking nothing like the enormous ancient creature she had been facing moments earlier.

He appeared to be in his early twenties, perhaps slightly older, with long black hair falling freely down his back and around his shoulders. It was neither tied nor restrained by any ornament, allowing the dark strands to move naturally whenever the breeze passed through them.

He wore flowing black robes that appeared simple at first glance, though the fabric carried a faint sheen, as if woven from something far more precious than ordinary silk.

His features were striking: a straight nose, sharply defined jaw, dark brows, and an almost unnaturally handsome face that would have drawn attention anywhere in the outside world.

But it was his eyes that made Xi Yunxui realize who he was.

The irises were the same deep crimson she had seen in the ancient creature’s enormous eyes, and the pupils were just as black.

Xi Yunxui stared at him.

The young man looked back.

Neither spoke.

Xi Yunxui’s mouth opened, closed, then opened again.

"You..."

The young man’s lips curved slightly.

Xi Yunxui pointed at him.

"You’re the creature!"

A soft laugh escaped him. It was the first time she had heard the ancient creature laugh, and hearing that deep, ancient presence come from such a young man’s voice made the situation even stranger.

"Creature?"

Xi Yunxui’s finger remained pointed at him.

"You were just..."

She turned toward the endless landscape.

"You were huge!"

The young man chuckled.

"This is merely the form I choose to take within your spiritual consciousness."

Xi Yunxui continued staring, still completely stunned.

After studying her for several seconds, the young man shook his head.

"How can you not even know that you possess a spiritual consciousness?"

Xi Yunxui’s expression changed.

"Why would I know?"

The young man’s smile disappeared as he examined her more carefully. Something in her expression seemed to convince him that she was not pretending.

"You truly do not know?"

Xi Yunxui shook her head.

"No."

The young man fell silent, looking almost baffled, before sighing.

"Very well."

He turned toward the surrounding landscape.

"This is your spiritual consciousness."

Xi Yunxui followed his gaze.

"My spiritual consciousness..."

"Yes."

He gestured toward the world around them.

"The spiritual consciousness is the inner realm where your soul resides."

Xi Yunxui listened carefully.

"It is not simply a place inside your body," he continued. "It is an expression of your soul and spiritual nature. The form it takes is influenced by who you are, your temperament, experiences, desires, and the nature of your soul."

Xi Yunxui looked around again.

"The reason it looks like this..."

The young man nodded.

"Is because this reflects you."

Xi Yunxui blinked.

"Me?"

"Yes."

His gaze swept across the endless water, blooming trees, waterfall, and flowers flourishing throughout the landscape.

"There is vitality everywhere. Nothing here appears barren or lifeless. Even the water carries spiritual energy, and the plants grow without restraint. This is not merely scenery."

He looked back at her.

"It is a reflection of your nature."

Xi Yunxui stared at the landscape.

She had never considered herself particularly special. She was simply someone trying to live her life, complete her system missions, earn enough rewards to make things easier, and avoid being dragged into situations far beyond her ability to handle.

Yet this place was beautiful, peaceful, and full of life.

She slowly crouched and touched the water beneath her feet. The surface rippled beneath her fingers.

"So this is really part of me?"

"In a sense."

Xi Yunxui remained thoughtful for a moment.

"Oh."

The young man watched her as she stood again.

"Okay."

His brows lifted slightly.

"That is all?"

"What else am I supposed to say?"

A faint smile returned to his face.

"You truly are strange."

Xi Yunxui ignored the comment and studied him carefully.

Now that she had a chance to observe him properly, she realized that despite his young appearance, the ancient aura surrounding him had not disappeared. It was merely concealed beneath his human form.

He looked young, but his eyes were ancient.

Xi Yunxui suddenly remembered something.

"Wait."

The young man looked at her.

"If you’re going to become my familiar..."

She hesitated.

"Do you have a name?"

The young man shook his head.

"No."

Xi Yunxui blinked.

"No?"

"I once had one."

His expression became distant.

"It was given to me a very long time ago."

He paused, his gaze drifting toward the distant waterfall.

"But it has been too long. I no longer remember it."

Xi Yunxui’s expression softened. She had not expected that answer.

"You don’t remember your own name?"

The young man shook his head.

"Time has a way of erasing things."

His voice carried a faint trace of something Xi Yunxui could not quite identify.

She looked at him for several seconds.

"Then..."

She placed a hand beneath her chin.

"Do I have to give you a name?"

"You are my master now."

The words made Xi Yunxui’s expression stiffen.

’Master.’

She was still not accustomed to that.

The young man continued, "You may name me."

Xi Yunxui stared at him.

"What should I call you?"

He shrugged.

"That is for you to decide."

Xi Yunxui fell silent and began considering names.

There were too many possibilities: something powerful, ancient, related to his appearance, or suited to his frightening original form.

She frowned in concentration.

"What name would suit him?"

She muttered to herself while pacing across the water.

The young man simply watched her as she considered one name, rejected it, thought of another, and dismissed that one too.

Nothing felt right.

She was still thinking when the world around her suddenly shifted.

"Huh?"

Before she could react, the spiritual consciousness blurred. The flowers disappeared, the waterfall faded, and the endless water beneath her feet vanished.

Xi Yunxui felt herself being pulled backward.

"Wait!"

Her voice echoed across the landscape as the young man’s figure grew distant. His crimson eyes remained fixed on her while the world dissolved into darkness.

The next moment—

Xi Yunxui gasped and opened her eyes.

She was back in the mountain, with the forest rushing into her senses: the smell of earth and leaves, the sound of flowing water, and the distant rustling of branches.

Xi Yunxui stood completely still for several seconds, trying to understand what had happened.

King C was staring directly at her. Hui stood beside him, her little face filled with worry, while Biyu perched on a nearby branch and chirped repeatedly, looking between Xi Yunxui and the surrounding forest.

Xi Yunxui blinked.

"What happened?"

King C immediately moved closer. Hui grabbed her clothing, and Biyu fluttered down onto her shoulder.

Xi Yunxui looked at the three of them.

Only a short moment seemed to have passed, yet she had experienced what felt like an entirely different world.

Before she could ask anything else, faint voices reached her ears.

Xi Yunxui’s expression changed as she turned toward the lower part of the mountain.

The sound was distant but unmistakable. Several people were approaching, and judging from the faint fluctuations of spiritual energy accompanying their movements, they were not ordinary hikers.

Xi Yunxui’s heart sank.

’Cultivators.’

She immediately understood what had happened.

The ancient creature’s awakening had been far too powerful to remain unnoticed. The mountain had trembled, and the spiritual energy had spread across an enormous distance. There was no way cultivators would ignore something like that.

Xi Yunxui looked toward the path leading up the mountain.

More voices could be heard now, growing closer.

Her eyes widened.

"Oh no."

She glanced at King C, Hui, and Biyu.

The ancient creature had just become her familiar. She had entered her spiritual consciousness and discovered an entire inner world she had not even known existed. Now, before she had managed to give the ancient creature a name, cultivators were already coming to investigate.

Xi Yunxui pressed a hand against her forehead.

"This is going to be troublesome."

Deep within her spiritual consciousness, a pair of crimson eyes opened.

The young man heard the approaching voices as clearly as she did, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

The mountain was about to become very lively.