Chapter 34: No Longer Touchable
Meng Xueli’s tears had dried, his emotions had calmed somewhat, and his gaze gradually grew firm. He changed the topic abruptly:
“No, it’s not ‘priceless treasures, a lover is hard to come by.’ It should be ‘Repay you the favor atop the golden platform, I will wield the jade dragon and die for you!’”
—Ji Xiao had first saved his life and then gifted him a divine weapon. How could he repay such trust and kindness?
Only by wielding ‘Hundred Generations of Time,’ uncovering the truth about Ji Xiao’s death, guarding Ji Xiao’s legacy, and protecting Ji Xiao’s children.
Ji Xiao was bewildered again and subconsciously nodded, “Right, exactly…” You cried so much just now that my heart felt stifled. As long as you don’t cry, whatever you say is right. Yet, recalling Meng Xueli’s past anger, he realized his current status didn’t allow him to agree easily and was at a loss for words.
Meng Xueli thought, if their story were written, it would surely be about “A great demon in distress, fortunate to be saved by the sword sovereign, thereafter loyally following the sword sovereign to repay the kindness with utmost devotion.”
It was only after coming to the human world that he started reading popular stories in the marketplace, much like a child learning new words, eager to apply them. Similarly, it was after studying scriptures in the discussion hall and library that he learned to quote the classics, often saying, “As the sages said.”
Meng Xueli turned to Xiao Tingyun, as if he could see the shadow of Ji Xiao in him, once again feeling comforted and warm.
The Sword Sovereign, entrusting his young son, who had lost his mother, to grow up on Changchun Peak, signified a deep trust in Meng Xueli. This trust alone was a precious gift.
Meng Xueli had once professed his unwavering loyalty to the Sword Sovereign, swearing by the sun and moon, yet he knew Ji Xiao might not fully believe him. He had overheard Master of Tianhu Lake advising Ji Xiao, “Even if a demon is reborn as a human, their nature remains. Changing a river’s course is easier than changing one’s essence.”
Now, with both the child and the extraordinary weapon before him, perhaps he had misunderstood the Sword Sovereign. Ji Xiao had left “Endless Sky Sword“ behind to reinforce the “Eternal Spring Formation.” Maybe it wasn’t meant to trap him after all.
Meng Xueli pondered deeply and suddenly declared, “I’ve changed my mind.”
Ji Xiao, unable to follow his train of thought, asked, “What?”
“This extraordinary weapon, its formal name is ‘Hundred Generations of Time,’ but I’ll give it a nickname, to be engraved on the shaft, as a constant reminder to myself. ‘The world is but an inn for all things,’ so I’ll call it ‘Transient.’”
For Meng Xueli, the Sword Sovereign’s kindness and grace remained unrepayed. The path he had to tread in the human world was destined to be filled with thorns and hardships—a true ‘transient’ journey.
Ji Xiao had never heard of a weapon being given a nickname, let alone one implying ‘transient..’ How could that be a source of self-motivation? But he feared he might say the wrong thing and upset his little Dao companion.
Moreover, seeing that Meng Xueli genuinely liked the gift, a faint joy arose in his heart.
He simply nodded, “A good name.”
Meng Xueli breathed a long sigh of relief. Looking up at the gentle glow of the “Eternal Spring Formation,” he no longer felt confined, as if a heavy stone had been lifted from his heart. He had never felt such freedom and clarity before.
With a sudden burst of energy, he stood up, closed his eyes, and stopped suppressing his cultivation level. The spiritual energy around him surged, and the ruined grass and soil beneath his feet began to rise, suspended three inches off the ground.
The unseen energy of heaven and earth converged towards him as his aura rapidly escalated.
Ji Xiao, slightly alarmed, realized that Meng Xueli was about to break through. He immediately focused his energy, standing guard by his side, ready to intervene if anything went wrong.
But everything went smoothly, and in no time at all, Meng Xueli achieved his breakthrough effortlessly.
Having suppressed his cultivation for over two years, his internal energy was refined and condensed to the utmost. With a single thought, he stepped into the Condensed Spirit Realm.
His entire body’s meridians, flushed by the pure energy, felt like rivers widened by a rushing current. The amount of spiritual energy in the Condensed Spirit Realm was twice that of the Qi Refinement stage.
Opening his eyes, Meng Xueli’s “Hundred Generations of Time” gleamed, resonating with its master.
“Congratulations,” Ji Xiao said with a smile.
Cultivators often required extended seclusion, meticulous preparation, and sometimes the aid of elixirs like Qi Gathering or Spirit Inducing Pills to break through realms, enhancing their ability to absorb spiritual energy and accelerate energy circulation.
If anyone other than the exceptionally gifted Ji Xiao had witnessed this instantaneous breakthrough, they would likely have been stunned on the spot or suspected that Meng Xueli had been hiding his true strength all along.
Tonight, Meng Xueli was truly elated. Not wanting to cause more damage to the already ravaged observation platform, he lightly leapt on the spot, boasting to his disciple, “Your master is amazing, isn’t he?”
“Amazing,” Ji Xiao replied, finding him endearingly charming. Unable to resist, he reached out, pulling Meng Xueli close and plucking a piece of grass from his hair.
He then gently patted Meng Xueli’s head.
Meng Xueli jolted as if electrified, leaping back with wide eyes.
When his disciple had grabbed his arm, Meng Xueli had assumed it was a childlike show of affection and found it comforting. But the sudden warmth from being patted on the head, a sensation running from the crown to the nape, brought a familiar shiver down his spine, reminiscent of the days when Ji Xiao used to groom his fur in his demon form.
This wasn’t right. His entire body felt off.
Ji Xiao, seeing Meng Xueli’s panicked and trembling expression, was equally at a loss.
Meng Xueli quickly said, “Let’s just forget about this incident. From now on, you should show me more respect. At your age, you ought to know better.”
Ji Xiao stood there, dazed, thinking, Now that you’ve become human, I can’t touch you anymore?
Author’s Note:
Meng Xueli: Mind your boundaries! No touching!
Ji Xiao: What boundaries?
Meng Xueli: The boundaries of a stepchild!
Ji Xiao: …The ridiculous plot of a ridiculous author.
Script: “The Affluent Step-Ferret: The Overbearing Stepson’s Forced Love,” Scene One, Action!
P.S.: The term “Transient” in poetry refers to “inn” or “guesthouse,” but our little ferret sees it as a “journey against the current.” I noticed some readers asking about it in the comments, and I wanted to clarify, especially for those preparing for exams—don’t want them to get it wrong. Thank you for the heads-up!
”Repay you the favor atop the golden platform” is from Li He’s “The Governor of Yanmen Pass.”
Regarding the power levels in this cultivation story, in case anyone’s wondering: they are Qi Refining, Spirit Condensation, Barrier Breaking, Xiao Sheng, Mahayana Realm, Nascent Soul, Sanctification, and Ascension (legendary). It’s not critical to know them for enjoying the story!
Huge shoutout to @_nyanmaru_ on Discord for commissioning this! The chapter will be posted regularly, show your support for Ciacia at Kofi.
