Suppressing Evolution and Tricked by the Gentle Elder.
(Note: In the last chapter I said that "all" of Fang Xue's past traumas were resolved, but that was just a form of expression, her traumas still exist and later in the story will be addressed and resolved for good, but know that Fang Xue still harbors some insecurities in her heart.)
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"We can't let anyone see this," said Li Qiang, concerned about exposing Fang Xue's Asura lineage.
Although no one in the mortal world knew about the Asuras, Li Qiang could not afford to expose something as powerful and unique as Fang Xue's Asura lineage. Anyone who felt the strength and singularity of her blood would inevitably be tempted by greed, especially among other cultivators.
"Little Xue, try temporarily suppressing the evolution of your lineage," advised Li Qiang. At first, Fang Xue didn't understand what Li Qiang meant, but she soon felt the frenzied circulation of her lineage within her body.
Fang Xue closed her eyes and felt her lineage circulating throughout her body. The remaining golden light transformed into a dark crimson color. Her heart shone brightly as it pumped the dark crimson blood; something was changing, but Fang Xue couldn't discern what it was.
Excruciating pain surged through Fang Xue's entire body as she desperately tried to suppress the evolution of her Asura lineage. Cold sweat ran down her face, her skin felt like it was on fire, and her mind was in turmoil.
Li Qiang anxiously and worriedly watched Fang Xue, but there was nothing she could do to help. She could feel the power pulsating within Fang Xue, an intensity that seemed ready to explode.
Fang Xue focused on her breathing and tried to calm her mind. She knew she needed to hold back the evolution of her lineage long enough to reach the Cultivation Pagoda, where she could safely undergo the evolution.
The pain continued to intensify, as if she were being torn apart, but Fang Xue refused to give up. She understood that the Asura lineage was both a blessing and a curse, and she couldn't afford to let it be discovered by others.
Finally, after an intense struggle, Fang Xue managed to suppress the evolution of her lineage for a short period of time. She opened her eyes, feeling exhausted but relieved to have succeeded.
"Let's go," Fang Xue said softly to Li Qiang, picking her up in her arms and looking tenderly at the small rabbit.
"We don't have much time." With Li Qiang in her arms, Fang Xue began to make her way towards the Cultivation Pagoda, where she would find a slightly safer place to continue the evolution of her lineage.
Li Qiang felt shy and happy under Fang Xue's gaze. Her feelings for Fang Xue only grew stronger.
"I am deeply grateful for your comforting words. It's true that I shouldn't blame myself for a trivial mistake, and I have learned that I don't have to face everything alone. However, my revenge and my goals remain of utmost importance to me.
"I will do whatever it takes to achieve them, but now I have your friendship to accompany me on this arduous journey. I am still a proud and cold person, but I have learned that I don't have to be strong all the time and that I can count on you as my partner.
"My determination is stronger than ever, and I won't let my self-confidence or arrogance hinder me from achieving my goals." Fang Xue sincerely thanked Li Qiang through their oath connection.
Li Qiang listened in silence and felt even shyer and happier in her heart. Since she met Fang Xue, Li Qiang sensed that Fang Xue trusted her, but she also felt a certain distance between them. Li Qiang understood that Fang Xue maintained a strong facade, and she refrained from commenting on it, knowing that forcing anything would not be beneficial.
Li Qiang sighed melancholically, and acknowledged that she, too, was holding onto some things in her heart. Carrying traumas and insecurities for millions of years, it would naturally be more difficult for her to resolve them. In the end, she made a vow in her heart that she would fully open up to Fang Xue in the future.
Walking in silence, Fang Xue and Li Qiang passed by several cultivators, who whispered as they looked at them. Fang Xue's fight with Yuan Tengfei had become known throughout the Hu Family, and many were discussing the extraordinary cultivator who could overcome cultivation levels and emerge victorious.
Fang Xue ignored the stares and whispers and soon arrived in front of the Cultivation Pagoda. She gazed at the nine floors of the pagoda, determined, and entered.
Inside the pagoda's first floor, Fang Xue found a spacious area without any decorations. Eleven rooms were arranged side by side, each with a number above the door, ranging from 1 to 11. Besides the size of the first floor, Fang Xue sensed that the Qi within this space was more potent than that of her cultivation room in the courtyard.
However, cultivation was only permitted inside the designated rooms, and Fang Xue regretted not being able to harness the full power of the Qi in this space.
As Fang Xue made her way through the Pagoda, a soft and gentle voice sounded beside her, surprising her. It was the Third Elder Hu, still wearing a gentle smile on his face.
"Fang Xue, greetings to the Third Elder," Fang Xue greeted, clasping her fists in a sign of respect.
"No need for formalities. If you wish to cultivate, go to room 70. A cultivator at the 7th Level of Body Tempering will be leaving soon, and the other rooms below will be occupied for several more days," the Elder said, getting straight to the point.
Fang Xue was taken aback by the Elder's straightforwardness, but she quickly thanked him and headed towards the indicated room.
However, as Fang Xue turned around, the Third Elder Hu's gentle smile transformed into a cunning grin, akin to that of a fox.
"Oh dear... I forgot to mention that Tian Chen may have advanced to the 8th Level of Body Tempering, but it shouldn't pose a problem for her," the Elder thought, giving a mischievous laugh before departing from the Pagoda.
The Third Elder Hu wanted to test Fang Xue by pitting her against a cultivator at the 8th Level of Body Tempering while she was still recovering from her injuries, perhaps coaxing her to reveal some hidden strength.
In truth, the Third Elder Hu was aware that Fang Xue was not in the best physical condition, though he couldn't sense her Asura lineage. Nonetheless, he wanted to push Fang Xue to reveal more of herself.
Arriving in front of room 70, Fang Xue saw a group of people waiting for the cultivator to exit. As she approached, she attracted many gazes—some filled with fear, others with admiration and curiosity.
"Hey, who's that beauty holding a rabbit? She's only at the 6th Level of Body Tempering and came here?" someone mocked Fang Xue's cultivation level, but their friend quickly covered their mouth.
"Watch your words! That girl's name is Fang Xue, and despite being at the 6th Level of Body Tempering, she has already emasculated Xia Qiao and defeated Yuan Tengfei!" Another cultivator spoke solemnly.
"Yuan Tengfei? He's ranked 5th among the cultivators at the 8th Level!" exclaimed the previously mocking cultivator, now astonished.
Fang Xue overheard the conversation and felt helpless, knowing that Hu Wen had provided her with incorrect information about Xia Qiao being the strongest cultivator at the 8th Level. However, she couldn't blame Hu Wen, who had simply relayed what he had heard, and Xia Qiao had proclaimed himself as the strongest.
Within the Hu Family, a ranking of the strongest cultivators at each level was widely known, and Yuan Tengfei held the 5th position among the cultivators at the 8th Level of Body Tempering.
'I faced immense difficulty against Yuan Tengfei. I can't fathom the strength of the first-ranked cultivator,' Fang Xue thought, excitement growing at the prospect of facing even stronger opponents than Yuan Tengfei.
'I hope the person in that room doesn't take too long. I won't be able to suppress the evolution of my lineage for more than an hour,' Fang Xue impatiently thought, feeling a tinge of anger and swearing to thoroughly defeat the person inside the room.