“Perfect.” I curved my lips into what I hoped was a reassuring smile, turning to Qiu Shuangshuang. “Thank you for clearing that up for me.”

I reached into my storage ring and pulled out a box of spirit pearls, offering it to her.

Please, take it.

Qiu Shuangshuang frantically waved her hands. “Senior, you’re being too kind! Not only did you save my life, but Palace Lord Velka is going to be my future master. Just for that alone, I’d walk through fire and water without hesitation!”

If that’s really how she feels…… I paused for three seconds, considering the enormous responsibility of being a master. I’d need to discuss this properly with Seraphine when I found her.

Siyi interjected, “We should still search the peach blossom forest first. It would be disappointing if this turns out to be false hope.”

“Right, right!” Qiu Shuangshuang scratched her head with a goofy grin. “Senior, let me come with you.”

Both Siyi and Xue Mengtao wanted to join, but I declined.

“You two need to keep searching for the golden dragon fragments,” I told them. “Leave Seraphine’s matter to me. If I find her, I’ll bring her to the Golden Jade Tower and leave word that we’re safe.” I met their eyes seriously. “Since I’m the one who lost her, I should be the one to bring her back.”

Siyi sighed and nodded. With her and Xue Mengtao’s current cultivation levels, they wouldn’t be much help anyway. “Please bring the Palace Lord back safely.”

I nodded and leaped onto Error’s back.

Qiu Shuangshuang grabbed her Water Dragon’s Hymn, chuckling as she jumped onto the fire rock dragon. “With me…… and Water Dragon’s Hymn here, we’ll definitely bring master back safely!”

I patted Error’s head, and the fire rock dragon soared into the sky, racing toward the distant horizon.

The Golden Jade Tower and its towering purple wisteria tree grew smaller and smaller. As Error climbed higher, clouds flowed beneath us like a river. I snapped my fingers, creating a windshield barrier, then turned to Qiu Shuangshuang.

“Inviting you to help find Seraphine will cost you valuable time. I should compensate you with golden dragon fragments. How many have you collected since entering this secret realm?”

Qiu Shuangshuang looked embarrassed. “Senior, in the past five months, I’ve only managed to find seventy-two fragments.”

“I heard that at the Golden Jade Tower, you can spend two fragments each month to buy a list. The list estimates how many fragments the top hundred cultivators among the three thousand participants have collected. Senior Zhao says it’s just an estimate, but it’s probably pretty accurate. I didn’t have the nerve to buy it though.” She muttered quietly.

I tilted my head curiously, catching her next words: “I was afraid I’d be too far behind the top hundred and damage my dao heart.”

“Haha.” I laughed. “Don’t worry about that. This exam accepts five hundred out of three thousand participants. Everyone who makes it into the top five hundred is essentially first place. I believe you can do it.” I raised Nine Heavens and waved it encouragingly at her.

“For this trip, I’ll give you eighty fragments. Does that sound fair?”

How…… how many?

Qiu Shuangshuang was stunned. She sat bolt upright, jaw dropping, looking completely dumbfounded. She took a sharp breath, then slumped back down miserably. “Senior, I really haven’t done anything special! Eighty fragments is way too much!”

I used my most calm and gentle tone to explain: “That’s for both you and Water Dragon’s Hymn together. Forty each for person and weapon. It’s really not that much.”

Is…… is that how it works?

Qiu Shuangshuang hugged her Water Dragon’s Hymn tighter.

“Senior, there’s still half a year left in the secret realm. If you give me eighty fragments now, what if you don’t have enough later? The fragments are getting scarcer, and competition is getting fiercer……”

I smiled warmly. “Don’t worry about it. It’s just eighty fragments.”

Just. Eighty. Fragments.

Qiu Shuangshuang stared at Echo in shock, then suddenly relaxed and wiped away tears. “You know what? Not buying that ranking list was definitely the smartest decision I’ve made since entering this realm.”

I had been about to turn away, but her comment made me face her with a serious expression. “Always be wary of consumer traps. You’ve only found seventy-two fragments in half a year.”

Only. Seventy-two. Fragments.

Qiu Shuangshuang clutched Water Dragon’s Hymn and shed the tears of the defeated.

I nodded with satisfaction.

The fire rock dragon flew toward the realm’s edge for two solid days. After three thousand cultivators entered the secret realm, they’d swept through the starting area like locusts, pushing steadily forward.

The discovery of teleportation tokens had only happened two or three months ago, meaning the mountain forests stretching from the starting point had all been thoroughly searched by cultivators. Not only were there no fragments left, but even the dangerous spirit beasts had vanished without a trace.

Error flew tirelessly for two full days while Echo sat on her head, gazing down at the sea of clouds.

Red sun rising, brilliant rays of light painting mountains and vegetation gold.

Dusk approaching, clouds and mist swirling as the setting sun sank into the long river, the water filled with sunset.

Vast mountains, rolling seas of clouds.

My sleeves fluttered in the wind, and I suddenly realized that these landscapes I’d once loved most could no longer leave any impression on my heart.

[Crisis mode is preventing me from focusing properly.]

Stars sparkled overhead, casting down starlight.

A translucent interface panel hovered before me, neat text appearing line by line.

I wrote in my work log: This is my first time being separated from my host, my first time being apart from my host for so long. High-level mission worlds really are places that leave even systems feeling lost.

As a system, logic and calm flow through my code, but my logic doesn’t want to analyze the consequences of prolonged separation from my host. Whenever I try to use the data records to analyze what my host might be experiencing, the moment I imagine her getting hurt somewhere I don’t know about, I can’t help but force myself to stop.

My mission is to complete the mission.

But compared to mission failure due to subject termination, I’m now more worried about my host’s safety.

Starlight fell across Echo’s shoulders. Her long, moonbeam-colored hair lifted in the wind as she stared down at the completed work log, hesitating to upload it.

After a long moment, Echo silently deleted the last line.

[My mission is to complete the mission.]

[I will find her.]

[Log upload successful.]

I stared at the interface panel, my star-touched lashes falling and rising again, my pupils resolute beneath them.

Behind Echo, Qiu Shuangshuang was fast asleep, sprawling out with her arms spread like she was in her own bed, one leg dangling over the edge of the fire rock dragon. Water Dragon’s Hymn, bound to her body, flew out and transformed into a dragon shadow, wrapping its tail around her to keep her from falling.

I closed the interface panel and turned back with a smile. “Hello, Water Dragon’s Hymn.”

“Orb.” Its voice was clear and dreamlike, yet filled with an inhuman coldness.

“You can call me Xi Lingren.” I said.

“Xi Lingren.” Water Dragon’s Hymn memorized Echo’s name, its twin eyes fixed on Echo.

In its true form, it was a spear—one of this world’s rare divine artifacts. When it took dragon form, every scale and whisker was a crystalline water-blue, matching its eyes perfectly.

I asked curiously, “Can you transform into human form?”

The moment I spoke, Water Dragon’s Hymn shifted into a female figure wearing elaborate, intricate robes with flowing ribbons trailing behind her. But whether it was her clothes, skin, or anything else, everything remained that same ethereal blue.

“What’s so appealing about human form?” Water Dragon’s Hymn said flatly.

I nodded. I used to think being human had few advantages, but after actually experiencing it, I’d discovered it wasn’t so bad. Plus, there were lots of delicious foods to try.

I analyzed the situation for her: “It’s probably because you’re somewhat insubstantial.”

I picked up Nine Heavens and poked at Water Dragon’s Hymn.

She looked down as the blade passed right through her body.

A phantom form, naturally insubstantial.

Water Dragon’s Hymn released spiritual energy, pushing Nine Heavens away, then returned to dragon form and coiled around Qiu Shuangshuang.

“Hahaha” I laughed.

“Thank you for your help earlier. What would you like me to do in return?” I asked.

“When you’re a bit stronger, I’d like to spar with you. Your swordsmanship is quite good.” Water Dragon’s Hymn replied.

Just that?

I nodded. “No problem. I’ll get stronger quickly, so you won’t have to wait long.”

“If you want a specific timeframe, I can’t be too precise, but I should reach the Soul Transformation stage within six months.”

Without Seraphine around, I was back to being modest.

Water Dragon’s Hymn seemed satisfied with Echo’s humble promise and nodded approvingly.

“I don’t think you can beat me.” I stated in my usual flat tone.

“We’ll see after we fight.” Water Dragon’s Hymn replied just as calmly.

The two of them sounded like they were having a conversation about breakfast: “Did you eat?” “I had two boiled eggs.” “Nice, boiled eggs are good.”

Hearing this exchange, Error couldn’t help but turn her head, only to discover there was actually a dragon on her back!

Sure, it was just a dragon shadow, but what was it doing coiled up there like it owned the place?

She roared in displeasure.

My hair fluttered from the roar, and I waved dismissively. “We’ll talk more later.”

“See you.” Water Dragon’s Hymn replied.

It transformed back into a spear and landed on the dragon’s back.

Qiu Shuangshuang, awakened by Error’s roar, sat up groggily, wiping away drool. She grabbed Water Dragon’s Hymn just as it was about to fall from the sky and scolded, “You really are a troublesome divine artifact! Why didn’t you stay properly bound to me? If you’d fallen, where would I find you without mother around?”

Water Dragon’s Hymn went limp. Water Dragon’s Hymn played dead.

I smiled with my eyes.

Qiu Shuangshuang sighed and re-bound the spear to her back, then looked down at the earth below. Cloud shadows drifted beneath the dragon as she stretched, fully awake now. “Are we there yet?”

I looked down and rolled up my sleeves, extending my moonlight-pale hand into the cloud mist. I scooped up handfuls of cool, damp vapor that swirled around my slender fingers. “Almost.” I said gently.

“Oh…… oh!” Qiu Shuangshuang stared at Echo’s profile, nearly drooling again. She scratched her head and sat cross-legged, lost in thought: Master has such good taste. If I’m going to serve at master and master’s wife’s side from now on, getting used to looking at these two faces…… will I ever be able to find anyone else attractive?

She touched her own face sadly.

Another sunrise painted the sky.

I sat on Error’s head, roasting buns. I held two chopsticks, each skewering two large buns, carefully toasting them over the small flames on Error’s horns.

Flying was exhausting enough, but controlling the flame temperature on her horns made it even harder. Error was working incredibly hard, but at least they finally reached their destination.

As daylight brightened and the earth spread out below them, Error excitedly descended from the cloud layer and landed on a mountaintop, transforming into human form and plopping down with relief.

Qiu Shuangshuang walked over curiously and patted her shoulder. “You worked so hard! Error, you’re absolutely beautiful!”

Really?

The dragon blinked her large eyes and smiled shyly. “Hehehe.”

Qiu Shuangshuang giggled back.

I handed each of them a large bun and took one for myself, storing the rest in my pack. While eating breakfast, I pointed downward. “Look.”

Error scooted forward, and Qiu Shuangshuang leaned over to peer down.

“Huh?”

Both girl and dragon stared wide-eyed at the endless expanse of pink stretching below the cliff.

“It’s almost autumn now. How are these peach blossoms still blooming?” Qiu Shuangshuang asked in wonder.

I nodded, my lips curving upward as I suddenly spun in a little circle.

Seraphine must be here!

Qiu Shuangshuang and Error watched Echo happy spinning with puzzled expressions.

“Does senior get excited and spin when she’s happy?” Qiu Shuangshuang whispered to Error.

Error twitched her ears and stuffed the entire bun in her mouth. When she was still an orb, yes.

“You two wait here. I’m going down to take a look.” I gave them instructions and borrowed Water Dragon’s Hymn from Qiu Shuangshuang before flying toward the peach blossom forest.

One Foundation Establishment cultivator and one Golden Core cultivator watched Echo’s departing figure with eager eyes.

I landed on the grass and pulled out my map, walking to the familiar location.

Pink clouds filled the sky like an eternal dream. Six months ago, Seraphine and I had landed here, and she’d personally made me a flower crown—my first flower crown as both system and human.

I planted Water Dragon’s Hymn in the ground and opened my storage ring, carefully retrieving the perfectly preserved flower crown and placing it on my head.

I walked forward through the peach blossom forest.

The endless groves were interspersed with pear white and apricot red. I stopped beneath a peach tree and gazed into the distance, where a winding river snaked through the infinite peach forest.

Fragrant grass grew everywhere throughout the woods, showing no signs of human passage. This was still the same peaceful paradise from before.

“Flowers bloom in crimson splendor, water ripples like green jade.” I recited with proper intonation, plucking a peach blossom. I held the flower and looked up at the ancient tree, asking politely and gently, “Hello. Have you seen a very beautiful woman? She likes to wear red.”

⁂

Wind passed through the branches, shaking loose countless peach blossoms.

Fragrant petals drifted down, following the spinning golden sutra text as they fell.

Inside the Brahma Bell, spiritual energy stirred as the woman meditating with closed eyes slowly opened them, gazing somewhat vacantly toward the outside.

Another day of gentle wind and bright sun. The men, women, elderly, and children of Brocade City had once again emerged en masse for their spring outing, their time seemingly frozen on this single day. Only that woman with the round fan stood in the distance, looking over from afar.

She seemed to be asking: Where is this savior you spoke of?

Seraphine paid her no mind, taking out a vermillion mirror to check her reflection. The flower mark on her forehead had long since faded without leaving a trace. Displeased, she clicked her tongue and simply removed all her hair ornaments, pulling the flower crown from her storage ring and placing it on her head.

She looked like she’d stuck a whole flowerpot on her head. After examining herself, Seraphine couldn’t help but smile.

“A bit silly.”

The little spirit heart nestled in her robes released a wisp of spiritual energy.

Seraphine admired the flower crown for a moment, then put away the mirror and prepared to resume cultivation.

Slanted sunlight, drifting wind, flower rain falling gently. Seraphine seemed to sense something and looked up at the shower of petals cascading from the sky.

She raised her hand, trying to catch a handful of pink blossoms through the Brahma Bell’s barrier.

Outside the bell, someone else opened their hand at the same moment, grasping a palm full of peach blossoms.

I closed my fingers around the petals and gazed toward the hidden paradise.

Time to force my way in.