CHAPTER 11: GOT YOUR BACK

Sweeping his gaze across the Garment Tomb Forbidden Zone, a bizarre sight greeted him. Countless garments drifted through the air in a burst of colors.

"These mobs are pretty creatively designed."

Among the vibrant garments were long skirts, short outfits, robes, vests, bust-support skirts, overcoats, dungarees... A blend of ancient and modern clothing—everything one could imagine.

The garments hung in the air as though they were living creatures, drifting weightlessly in the void. However, the moment Qi Yuan crossed into the forbidden grounds, every last one of them twisted around in eerie unison.

Though the figures had no heads—only empty spaces where they should have been—Qi Yuan felt as if countless eyes were staring at him.

"Too many. Run!"

Qi Yuan bolted immediately. Despite being at level 82, he couldn’t help but feel daunted.

The Garment Tomb Forbidden Zone was swarming with garment monsters. Tens of thousands drifted before his eyes, quite a few of them carrying power above level 50. The monsters and beasts in Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone were also formidable, but they mostly fought individually.

However, that clearly wasn’t the case here. The monsters acted as if they were an army. Knowing he’d be surrounded if he struck, he shamelessly turned tail and ran.

About fifteen minutes later, he finally sighed in relief. "Finally got away."

Qi Yuan hefted his giant sword and drove it straight into the earth, digging with practiced ease. He'd obviously done this more than a few times. Before long, a gaping pit yawned beneath him, its depth impossible to measure at a glance.

As he slid down into the hollow, he noticed the blinking message on his chat interface. It was from Jin Li. He responded immediately.

Qi Yuan: I wasn't lying. As long as you carry a ladder, you can enter the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone safely.

He’d personally set that rule. What could go wrong?

When he read that she intended to venture into the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone herself, Qi Yuan instinctively glanced at his game screen. It clearly marked the forbidden zone as conquered, firmly under his control. The Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone technically belonged to him.

Qi Yuan: Relax, nothing will happen. Just go with confidence.

Meanwhile, atop Seven-Colored Peak, the real Qi Yuan tilted his head toward the moonglow. A wave of weariness washed over him, perhaps from sinking too many hours into the game.

Qi Yuan: Too many garment monsters in the Garment Tomb Forbidden Zone. I'll hunt more tomorrow. I dug a pit and buried myself. Logging off. Goodnight.

With that, he set down his gaming jade, which soon merged into him.

***

Elsewhere, in a dark palace under the night sky. Jin Li, who had been asleep, suddenly opened her eyes. Her gaze fell on the Linglong Xi Jade. Upon seeing the contents, a strange light flickered within her gaze.

Jin Li: Alright. Be careful. Stay safe and Goodnight.

A brief, simple farewell.

***

Sima Ting lay awake in the grand chancellor’s residence. His desk was piled high with official documents waiting to be reviewed. Compared to Jin Li, he was more like a true political strategist, always prioritizing interests above all.

As he set down a document, he asked, "Any unusual movements from the empress today?"

A figure fully shrouded in shadow appeared nearby, lowering their head. "This afternoon, the empress met with the Minister of Revenue to allocate disaster relief funds. Then, she visited Lady Qin at dusk. After returning to the palace, she remained focused on reading memorials. There was nothing unusual. However, later at night, she ordered a servant to retrieve records about the Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone from the Hidden Library."

"The Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone?" Sima Ting mocked. “She must be so desperate if she pins her hopes on something as elusive as that place."

He knew the duel in ten days was critical for Jin Li. If she lost, her already tenuous position would collapse entirely.

Sima Ting deduced that Jin Li was taking a desperate gamble, as Lady Qin was unfit to face the Southern Feng Kingdom’s state preceptor in her current condition. Clearly, she was hoping to find a spirit herb to heal Lady Qin in the forbidden zone.

He instructed, “The empress is at her wits’ end. No need to worry about her.”

What truly concerned him were the collaborators from the Northern Khan Court and General Tianqi, who guarded the borders.

Then, he picked up another document. "Still, send some people to shadow the empress, just in case something unexpected happens."

It was always better to be careful.

***

A familiar sound filled the air.

With a flick of Qi Yuan's hand, the wooden cat puppet was silenced once more. This time, however, he actually opened his eyes.

"The sun's already high. As the Seven-Colored Peak’s chief disciple, I need to set an example for my junior sister. No sleeping in!"

Even though most disciples of the Divine Radiance Sect had already finished their morning training by now. Still, for Qi Yuan, this counted as rising early.

After freshening up, he lazily stretched under the sunlight. Despite his languid look, his handsome features made him appear exceptionally refined. When he stepped outside, he saw Jiang Lingsu drenched in sweat.

"Good morning, Junior Sister," he greeted without getting too close, deliberately keeping a distance.

His vision also revealed hidden information about Jiang Lingsu.

[A seemingly ordinary girl, but holds many powerful cultivation techniques. She trains diligently in hopes of becoming strong enough to prevent future calamities one day.]

Seeing that, Qi Yuan's impression of her improved once again.

Jiang Lingsu frowned slightly at him. “Senior Brother, you look weak, as if you’ve been overindulging...”

Qi Yuan froze.

He was just mentally worn out from playing games for too long, okay? After all, his cultivation was stuck at the peak of Qi Refinement realm and hadn’t broken through to Foundation Establishment.

Unfortunately, to break through, Qi Yuan still lacked two things: a suitable cultivation technique and a proper Foundation Establishment spirit item. As for the former, he’d have to create one himself.

Despite his low cultivation, his eyes could see hidden details. He could randomly invent a technique and refine it over time with the hidden info. Sadly, even after reading through every technique the sect had, he still lacked enough foundation to create one.

Just now, didn’t he learn that Jiang Lingsu possessed many techniques?

Without taking her earlier jab to heart, he turned to her. "Junior Sister, I need your help.”

Fearing his cultivation had gone awry, Jiang Lingsu asked with concern, "What's wrong?"

"I can tell you come from an extraordinary background..."

"So you want to borrow money?"

"No, not that. I'm asking if you have any spare cultivation techniques, any level is fine. Let me take a look."

Jiang Lingsu sighed in relief. "How many do you need?"

"The more the better," Qi Yuan replied. "Hundreds, even thousands would be great."

She did have 'many techniques' after all.

"What do you need so many for?" she asked.

"To create my own technique," he said lazily. "Even if I told you, you wouldn't believe me. Just give me some techniques. Once I succeed in my cultivation, I’ve got your back. Not just in the Divine Radiance Sect, but the entire Canglan World!"

Jiang Lingsu couldn't help but laugh. Got my back? Do I really need him to have my back?

Even though Qi Yuan was taller and maybe older, she felt she could beat him singlehandedly in a fight. "Tell me again, why do you want so many techniques?"

"To create my own,” he replied bluntly.

After all, telling the truth would get him nowhere, like how no one believed him when he exposed the sect master as a spy.

Jiang Lingsu paused. Create his own cultivation technique? Senior Brother is really bold.

Amid contemplation, she pulled out a jade slip. "Here you go, Senior Brother. There are quite a few techniques in here. I’ll lend it to you, so have a look.”

After all these years, Ruan Yixi had only taken one disciple: Qi Yuan. It meant she held him in high regard, hence it’d be wise to build a good relationship with him.

"But Senior Brother, you'd better stop gaming all day and cultivate seriously. You have to keep your word and have my back one day."

Qi Yuan took the jade slip. "Gaming is a form of cultivation too.”

Her sweaty smell actually didn’t stink anymore. It even smelled kind of nice because... well, she lent him a jade slip containing hundreds of cultivation techniques!