The Shattered Image of Immortals

Yu Lian had never imagined that her pristine image of immortals would shatter so completely, and that the catalyst would be Yixiya’s words, here and now.

Immortals, it seemed, weren’t always aloof and ethereal beings. They, too, harbored greed and desires, capable of mercilessly slaughtering their innocent kin and seizing coveted treasures.

Weren’t these merely mortals? How could they possibly be called immortals?

These “immortals” were nothing more than mortals who had acquired extraordinary abilities. Indeed, if they were truly immortals, devoid of desire, why would they relentlessly pursue the whereabouts of mermaids in their quest for eternal life?

Yu Lian’s heart was a maelstrom of complex emotions. She wished to sigh, to voice her thoughts, yet found herself utterly speechless. Turning to Yixiya, she met her gaze and asked, “If cultivation is such a terrifying pursuit, fraught with the constant risk of death, are you not afraid at all? Do you truly intend to continue down this path?”

“For the future of the Yi Manor, and for my own sake, I must give it my all,” Yixiya replied with a carefree smile, idly stroking a lock of long hair that fell over her shoulder. “If I can achieve the Dao, then this life will not have been lived in vain.”

“I know what you’re thinking. You want to ask me if it wouldn’t be better to simply remain safely in Bai County, in the Yi Manor, living as a pampered young lady? But I want to tell you, Yu Lian, that Bai County, where we currently reside, is nothing more than a remote, impoverished backwater. Unless there’s a significant reason, even ordinary merchants are reluctant to venture here. Tell me, are you truly content living in such a place? Don’t you yearn to witness a broader world, to interact with outsiders, and to ascend to the very peak, step by step?”

Yu Lian suddenly felt as though the Yixiya before her was a complete stranger. It turned out that her companion harbored such immense ambition and grand aspirations. To “ascend to the very peak” sounded magnificent, but how much peril truly lay within that journey?

Seeing Yu Lian lower her head in silence, Yixiya reached out and gently stroked Yu Lian’s cheek. But just as quickly, she recoiled as if pricked by a needle. She sighed, “Bai County is truly tiny. It’s merely one of many counties within the Qingyan Dynasty, and the Qingyan Dynasty itself is just a subsidiary of the Grand Yan Imperial Dynasty. And above the Imperial Dynasty…”

She concluded with a heavy sigh.

One layer nested within another, it made Bai County seem like an insignificant speck. While the Yi Manor in Bai County was a powerful and prominent family possessing vast territories, when viewed against the entire world, it was less than a tiny ant.

“Compared to you, my horizons are far too narrow.”

Yu Lian didn’t comprehend the vastness of the world, nor had she ever seen a map. Although she now knew she was in Grand Yan, she had no idea how far it was from her original home. This was her first time hearing of the Grand Yan Imperial Dynasty, and she presumed it was an unimaginably distant realm from her own dynasty and tiny town. She feared she might never return in this lifetime.

“Yixiya, for the sake of cultivation, can you truly abandon even the Second Young Lady? If you leave with the immortal master in half a year, you will only repeat the fate of the Bai family’s eldest daughter. I fear that by the time you return, there will be nothing left but a handful of yellow earth, overgrown with weeds, with the one you held dear long gone.”

The lifespan of mortals and cultivators existed on entirely different dimensions. A mortal world could transform into vast oceans and fertile lands in the blink of a cultivator’s eye.

“Don’t worry, I am not a heartless person. My Ya’er hasn’t even agreed to accept me yet; how could I possibly leave and never return, becoming a cruel person like the Bai family’s eldest daughter? I will make time to come back often, even if I can’t see Ya’er as frequently anymore. Alas.”

Yixiya estimated that after entering the immortal sect, she would return at most once every two years. Meeting only once every two years would surely make the longing unbearable, with loneliness a constant companion.

*Come back often?* If you could come back often, you wouldn’t have rushed your confession and been rejected by the Second Young Lady. Yu Lian understood this connection perfectly, yet she refrained from explicitly pointing it out.

“In that case, Yixiya, I once witnessed some extraordinary abilities from Lingyi—great strength and swift steps. Does this mean Lingyi is already a cultivator, then?”

“That’s right! Lingyi is naturally intelligent and actually possesses considerable cultivation talent. Of course, compared to me, she still falls quite short. My talent is far superior to hers!” Yixiya proudly tilted her head back.

Yu Lian looked at her strangely and asked, “Then why are you still so intimidated by Lingyi that you dare not act recklessly? If your talent is so formidable, it should be Lingyi who fears you, not you acting like a mouse afraid of a cat in her presence.”

Had Yixiya not held the status of the Yi Manor’s eldest daughter, Yu Lian suspected she would have been beaten by Lingyi until she cried for her mother.

Yixiya instantly deflated, mumbling, “She just relies on being a few years older and cultivating earlier. Once I officially begin cultivating, she’ll definitely be left far behind.”

“What’s your cultivation level now?” Yu Lian asked curiously. “And Lingyi, how far has she progressed without personal guidance from an immortal master?”

“I’m at the third heaven of the First Tribulation Realm.” Yixiya pouted, holding up three fingers, then added three more. “Lingyi is at the sixth heaven of the First Tribulation Realm.”

They were actually three heavens apart! Wasn’t that like effortlessly crushing an opponent? Yu Lian suddenly felt a surge of pride—*My Lingyi is truly amazing; she’s progressed so quickly even without a teacher.*

“Speaking of which, Lingyi’s talent isn’t low, is it? Why hasn’t an immortal master sought her out to invite her into an immortal sect for cultivation?”

“Who said no one did? Lingyi simply refused. She said she wanted to serve Ya’er, so she turned them down.”

To be able to resist the allure of immortality and reject such an invitation indicated an incredibly strong will. Yu Lian was secretly astonished; if it were her, upon receiving such an invitation, she would likely have cheered with joy and immediately accepted, never achieving Lingyi’s resolute and unwavering stance.

“I heard Lingyi say that the Second Young Lady has no cultivation talent. Is that true?”

“If Ya’er had talent, I would have long since brought her into the immortal sect with me. Why would I bother with this charade of simulating a romance with you to make her jealous? Hmph, you should be secretly delighted. To be fed by this young lady is an honor of a lifetime.”

*What’s this? I even kissed you.*

Of course, these words could not be uttered, not even if it killed her. Yu Lian genuinely feared that if Yixiya knew, she would bite her head off, seal her in a jar, and toss her into the sea.

What she didn’t know was that Yixiya already knew.

“Indeed, it’s quite an honor.”

At least the Second Young Lady wouldn’t do such a thing for Yu Lian; on the contrary, she would make Yu Lian feed her. Thinking this, Yu Lian found the Yixiya before her more appealing. *Look, both are young ladies of noble birth, yet the difference between you two is so vast.*

If given the chance to choose, Yu Lian would definitely pick Yixiya. Aside from her yandere tendencies, Yixiya had no other significant flaws. Her every frown and smile was particularly pleasing to the eye.

“Alright, I’m done feeding you.”

Yixiya put down her chopsticks and stretched. Whether it was accidental or not, her body leaned forward, causing her chest to make intimate contact with Yu Lian, who was directly in front of her.

Yu Lian let out a startled gasp. She hastily pushed her chair back, retreating. Though Yixiya’s chest was not as large as her own, it was certainly there, and that momentary collision had sent her heart racing and her ears burning.