The Storm Valley

With the flying artifact at full speed, the sky soon darkened. They had entered the domain of Storm Valley.

Storm Valley was battered by relentless, howling gales. Flying here was perilous; though Xiao Siyu boasted of her prowess, she still held a healthy respect for nature. She steered the brocade toward the ground.

As the artifact landed, Yuan Xing finally let go—somewhat reluctantly. He leaped off and set foot on the rugged, solid earth. He then turned to watch Xiao Siyu descend.

But when he looked at her, he noticed something highly unusual.

Xiao Siyu’s cheeks were tinged with a faint, unmistakable blush. Her eyes were evasive, darting away the moment they met his.

In the mortal world, this would be the typical shy demeanor of a young woman who had just been held intimately. But this was the Eight Desolates.

People here had undergone genetic modification. Their “Immortal Genes” were entirely selfish, focused solely on the pursuit of eternal life. Under the dominance of such genes, romantic feelings simply did not exist. The biological responses associated with those feelings should have been erased. Outwardly, the organs looked the same, but they no longer produced the corresponding sensations.

This was why Yuan Xing’s previous advances had never provoked a reaction beyond annoyance or suspicion. But now, Xiao Siyu—a cultivator—was displaying the shyness of a mortal girl.

Is it possible that she, like me, escaped the genetic modification? Yuan Xing wondered.

No, that was unlikely. If she were a normal mortal, she would never have allowed his touch in the first place.

Could it be… that the genes aren’t stable enough?

The Immortal Gene wasn’t innate; it was a transformation of the mortal “Reproduction Gene.” After the initial transformation, immortality wasn’t immediate. A cultivator needed to reach higher realms to stabilize the gene. Since Xiao Siyu was still in the Qi Refining stage, the very first phase of the transformation, it was possible she still retained “residual” traits of the original gene. This time, his actions had touched particularly sensitive areas…

Realizing this, Yuan Xing felt a wave of relief. After all this time, I’ve finally found half a kindred spirit.

Xiao Siyu jumped down. She raised a hand, and the flying artifact, once several dozen yards long, shrank into a three-foot colorful silk sash that coiled around her waist.

“Alright, now you lead the way.” Xiao Siyu took a deep breath and finally met his gaze. The blush on her cheeks had mostly subsided, replaced by a professional coolness.

“Okay. Remember to stay close and protect me,” Yuan Xing said, playing his part.

“Don’t worry, I’ll stick right by you,” Xiao Siyu said confidently.

Yuan Xing stepped forward into the gloom.

In Storm Valley, the winds never ceased, making it nearly impossible for vegetation to take root. The mountains were jagged and bare. With sand and rocks whipping through the air, visibility was less than a meter. The terrain was a maze of caves and hollows—a perfect environment for a demon beast to spring from.

Even Yuan Xing, with his true Foundation Establishment strength, tread carefully.

Suddenly, a loud splash echoed through the wind. A jet of water shot out from beside him, striking a Mountain Kui demon that had been camouflaged by the dust only a few yards away. The water entered the beast’s body and froze instantly, pinning it to the ground and shattering its internal organs.

So, she specializes in Water and Ice spells, Yuan Xing noted.

He wasn’t surprised by the magic, but he was impressed by her reaction speed. He had only just sensed the Mountain Kui himself, but Xiao Siyu had struck instantly. Her true strength was formidable.

He decided he had to test her further.

Their partnership had seemed harmonious so far, but that was only because no conflict of interest had arisen. Given the selfish nature of this world, things could turn hostile the moment a treasure appeared. Betrayal was the standard here. For his own safety, he needed to know exactly how powerful Xiao Siyu was.

Instead of searching for the Spirit Realm, Yuan Xing changed his trajectory. He began heading toward areas where the aura of demon beasts was densest.

“Roar!”

A thunderous roar suddenly shook the earth, making the valley itself tremble. Yuan Xing’s eyes lit up. He had deliberately sought out a high-level lair, and it seemed he had found a “Boss.”

“It’s… a Human-Faced Owl!”

Even through the howling wind, Xiao Siyu’s voice was sharp with alarm. Almost as she spoke, the beast’s silhouette emerged from the dust. The sky was dark, but the blurry outline was as massive as a mountain. It radiated an immense, suffocating pressure.

This was the Human-Faced Owl, the overlord of Storm Valley. Legend had it that the valley’s relentless gales were tied to its very breath. It let out another mighty roar, and the wind grew even fiercer, forcing both of them to brace themselves against the ground.

“Hurry! While it hasn’t noticed us yet, let’s get out of here!” Xiao Siyu hissed, turning to retreat.

Yuan Xing quickly stopped her. “No, the Spirit Realm seems to be right nearby.”

“What?” Xiao Siyu froze. “Such rotten luck…”

If the Spirit Realm was close to the beast’s lair, they had to deal with the owl first. Otherwise, the creature would interfere with their search.

“What, are you scared? Can’t beat it?” Yuan Xing taunted, a mocking smile on his face. “Who was it that said she didn’t put anyone in her eyes? And now she doesn’t even dare to fight a little bird?”

“A ‘little bird’…” Xiao Siyu was speechless. This was a legendary beast. In this region, spiritual energy was thin, meaning cultivators rarely surpassed Foundation Establishment. The demon beasts here were in a similar power range. If they fought with everything they had, victory wasn’t impossible, but it was reckless.

“Ah well, I knew I should have found someone else. I can see now that you’re unreliable,” Yuan Xing said, shaking his head and sighing as he turned to leave.

“Hey, wait!” Xiao Siyu grabbed his arm. Her teeth were gritted. “Fine. Since the Spirit Realm is nearby, we have no choice. I’ll go all out. You hide here and don’t show yourself. Don’t blame me if you get caught in the crossfire!”

She let go of his arm and waved her hand. The silk sash around her waist rose up like a living serpent, wrapping around her in a protective spiral as she charged toward the mountain-sized giant.