Failed

"AAAAH! AH!" After a week of assimilating the Guidao Shen Heart, Xiang Xiang finally finished. As the heart was fully assimilated, Xiang Xiang could feel her entire body going through a final change.

She felt like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly!

Reborn.

Although she knew she was in a weakened state, she waited patiently as the door made of condensed Evil Qi was dissolving. When it was finally gone, she saw Remona and Song Luixian waiting at the entrance in combat positions.

She could tell just from a glance that their Evil Qi was unstable and they were extremely nervous.

"It's not going to work, so give up." Xiang Xiang said as her eyes narrowed and she released a sliver of her killing intent.

Because Remona and Song Luixian were normal mortals just a week ago, they couldn't handle Xiang Xiang's killing intent despite cultivating.

They both felt like they were being choked by an invisible force that was also releasing immense pressure.

It felt like they were staring at the mouth of a gaint predator that could eat them in one bite.

Remona instantly surrendered, kowtowing to Xiang Xiang in order to beg for forgiveness. Song Luixian was a little more reluctant but she couldn't hold out under the pressure for much longer so she followed Remona's actions.

"We apologize! Please, Miss Xiang Xiang, withdraw your killing intent!" Remona said as she began sweating profusely. She was so terrified that she felt stupid for thinking of trying to attack Xiang Xiang.

What was I thinking?

Miss Xiang Xiang's power is truly unfathomable. I, a greenhorn in cultivation dared to try and ambush her!

Remona felt incredibly terrified and embarrassed, Song Luixian as well. They both prayed that Xiang Xiang would forgive them and let them live, though they had little hope.

Slowly, Xiang Xiang withdrew her killing intent. Remona and Song heaved a sigh of relief as the invisible hand grasping their heart had finally disappeared.

"T-Thank you Miss Xiang Xiang! We promise we won't ever try something like this again!" Song Luixian immediately said.

Xiang Xiang looked at them for a moment before speaking.

"Be lucky that I need powerful subordinates right now or else you both would have already died. I've found the Guidao Shen Heart and we need to make preparations for the world epoch." Xiang Xiang said with narrowed eyes and a cold expression.

She knew that an empire couldn't be ruled by fear and tyranny alone, there had to be mercy as well to keep the people in check.

Since she was nowhere near forming her empire yet, she need valuable and powerful subordinates that could help her survive through the epoch. After that, she'll start her empire, though she had plans to do it during the epoch.

Either way, Xiang Xiang had one thought in her head.

'If I can meet the hero, then everything will proceed smoothly!'

Xiang Xiang stood up, stretched, and then looked down at the two villagers who were still kowtowing. They dared not get up until Xiang Xiang said so in fear that she might release her killing intent again.

'What should I do with these two? Should I punish them or leave them be...' She stared at them for a moment.

"Get up, Song Luixian, and go cultivate. Until you reach the 1st Stage of the Foundation Building Realm, I don't want to see your face." She said. Song Luixian immediately got up and ran off in a hurry.

She went back to the spot she was at earlier and began cultivating wholeheartedly.

"Remona, get up." Xiang Xiang said.

Remona got up but she didn't leave.

"You were the one that thought of such a plan?" Xiang Xiang needed both powerful subordinates and intelligent ones. It would be even better if she had an intelligent and powerful subordinate.

"...Yes." Remona felt extremely nervous while answering Xiang Xiang.

"Go cultivate, it doesn't matter how old you are, if you can break through to the Foundation Building Realm then you're lifespan will increase by 50 years." Xiang Xiang while gesturing with her hand for Remona to go.

Remona quickly left Xiang Xiang's shabby house and headed towards Song Luixian. After hearing what Xiang Xiang said, an inexplicable feeling of happiness welled up inside of her.

She was already over 30 and in 2 decades she would enter the declining years of her life. And she grew up in the village and hasn't seen the outside world at all so she thought it was already too late.

When she heard what Xiang Xiang said, it was like she was given a new lease on life. If she could break through to the Foundation Building Realm, then maybe she can explore the outside world and much more!

'I must breakthrough!'

"Now that I've taken care of those two, I should go test out my capabilities agan." Xiang Xiang said while staring at her hands, clenching them into a fist. Suddenly, an upgraded version of her previous Q, True Evil Qi manifested around her arms.

"Amazing. I guess the Guidao Shen Heart adapts to the power of the person who assimilated it and strengthens it regardless of if they're good or evil!" Xiang Xiang's True Evil Qi was a dark purple and red color that would make any regular person feel uneasy.

She condensed it and transformed True Evil Qi into a short knife in her right hand. She swung it around a few times as an aura trail was left behind the weapon.

"Hmph."

.

.

.

"Last time I came to this forest I met those Han Yu Four, I wonder which sect they're from. I don't like the idea that there's a sect nearby the village and it makes me wonder how the real Xiang Xiang managed to seize control over the village without them knowing..." Xiang Xiang said as she waved around a small dagger made of True Evil Qi.

The normal and exotic animals were making a clear path for Xiang Xiang, they were obviously scared of her.

As she was walking, she saw the silhouette of 2 people in the distance behind some trees and advanced at full speed.

"Are they people from that sect?"

When Xiang Xiang arrived, she saw two people, a man with long brown hair and a woman with long yellow and curly hair strolling around the area. They also seemed to be talking about something.

Xiang Xiang carefully approached them to hear what they were saying.

"Did you say the magical beasts in this forest are weak? Don't play dumb, we may be at the 7th Stage of the Foundation Building Realm but the magical beasts in this forest are not to be messed with. You heard what happened to those so-called Han Yu Four?" The man said as he turned his head in Xiang Xiang's direction as if he noticed her.

'Surely they don't know I'm here? Just turn around and continue your walk please...' Beads of sweat were rolling down Xiang Xiang's head as she was having a staring contest with the man from within a big bush.

Finally, the man turned around and continued talking to the woman.

"It was said their destroyed remains were found around here somewhere. The only magical beast with pure destructive power like that is the YinYang Bear and the Night Poison Cicada. I can't find the YinYang Bear, but I've located the Night Poison Cicada." He said.

Night Poison Cicada?

What are its abilities?

"I've heard the Night Poison Cicada is located deep within the forest and its at the Stage 4 Foundation Building Realm. I guess that is pretty amazing. Besides the magical beasts, nobody outside the Billowing Clouds Sect can get past the 2nd stage..." The woman responded.

Xiang Xiang was happy that she got a location for the magical beast but the duo didn't talk about its abilities so she would have to find out for herself.

Another thing she paid important attention to was the name of their sect, the Billowing Clouds Sect.

She searched through her memories and surprisingly she couldn't recall anything about the Billowing Clouds Sect at all.

'Am I not from this region? I don't understand...' Xiang Xiang was confused but at least she has a worthy enemy, that might end up being stronger than her!

'Sigh...I'm kind of nervous, I should pay more attention to my techniques and their functions as it might help me out in the long run.'

While Xiang Xiang was thinking to herself, the duo had already left, going back to their sect which was through a mountain range and a little secluded.

Currently, Xiang Xiang had no chance at even putting up a fight against those two.

I guess you could say she was rather lucky that they didn't discover her.

BOOM-

Suddenly, Xiang Xiang heard a loud boom and saw a few trees fall down not too far away from her. She peaked her head out from the bush to see what it was and was greeted with a terrifying-looking butterfly.

What the hell is that?

System, can you show me the details for that thing?

[Deranged Killer Moth]

[Cultivation Base: Peak 2nd Stage]

[Description: A deranged and psychotic moth that kills whatever it comes by.]

What the f#ck kind of name is that?!

Is that why those two left? But it can't be because even I have a higher cultivation base than that thing.

It just looks incredibly scary...

The moth was black, purple, white, and had two big black circles surrounded by a thin white circle that made them look like eyes on its wings.

Imagine seeing that thing lurking in a bush, it'd give you a heart attack.

'I guess I can hold off on fighting the Night Poison Cicada, this menace is enough for now. I can't allow it to roam freely or the villagers that come in here will be slaughtered like lambs.'