Chapter 1364: 1009: Little Eight Emerges from Seclusion (Part 2)

At that time, the alchemy endeavor had just begun. Jiang Yuan couldn’t even refine Grain Avoidance Pills, so he could only bring some food for Miss Little Eight, thinking that if she got hungry in the middle of her session, she could just come out, eat to her heart’s content, and then go back in. Unexpectedly, since the little spider entered the Carefree Lotus, there was no sign of movement.

Each time Jiang Yuan passed by to check on the Carefree Lotus, it displayed "Miss Little Eight’s place of retreat". After a long time without any movement, Jiang Yuan stopped thinking much about it.

After all, cultivators can spend hundreds of years in retreat, and as a descendant of Spiders Valley, having inherited from her ancestors, Miss Little Eight likely progressed quickly without the need for food.

Up to today, Miss Little Eight’s cultivation has significantly increased, but it’s unknown to what realm she will ascend after passing the thunder tribulation.

"Crack!"

"Boom!"

Lightning tore through the sky, illuminating a figure standing gracefully in the snow, making it appear even more frail.

"Mr. Jiang, Miss Jiu, let me speak to you after I’ve crossed the thunder tribulation!" Miss Little Eight sensed a familiar yet strange aura and turned back to see familiar faces.

After signaling with a wave, a pair of enormous, translucent wings suddenly expanded from the back of her white-clad figure.

Flipping her right hand, the spider silk, resembling white silk or being akin to a sword, flew towards the heavenly thunder bolting down!

"Eh? I remember Miss Hu Jiu mentioning that Miss Little Eight is a spider demon, so how does she also have wings?" Yun Shu watched in confusion and turned to Yun Ying, saying: "I say, you should ask Daoist Leng to study further someday and get you a pair of wings! I have wings and they’re very useful."

Watching the increasingly fantastical scene in the snowy thunder tribulation, Miss Little Eight’s wings flitted nimbly, Yun Ying couldn’t help but admit envy quietly, "I’ll try mentioning it to Daoist Leng, his artifact refining technique has become exceptionally skilled, often surpassing my thoughts."

The gap in realms was growing larger, Yun Ying knew it well, but unfortunately, starting over to delve into the puppetry technique required sufficient time to hone.

Now, operating in the Whale Wave Bay Market among the Sea Demon Race with Yun Shu, she only needed to refine puppets while Yun Shu managed everything else. Her friend took good care of her, yet her cultivation wasn’t progressing as desired.

"I know what’s on your mind, don’t be downcast," Yun Shu patted her shoulder, comforting her: "Qing Niao said last time, having obtained that puppet treasure, it could be cultivated like a cultivator, able to advance in realms.

Mr. Jiang has important matters, very busy.

We’re now doing well in the market. Once we move to a bigger and more advanced market, earning more spirit stones, we can freely search for puppet treasures. As long as such items exist in this world, we have hope!"

Yun Ying silently nodded, indeed, demon cultivators in the Wilderness World aren’t adept at alchemy, artifact refining, or puppetry techniques, so these professions are operated by external cultivators. Especially puppet masters, they’re an extreme minority among minorities.

However, amidst the myriad small worlds, there must be sects highly adept at refining puppets!

"Though I don’t remember past events, this life is fortunate enough to meet Mr. Jiang, I hope by accumulating virtue and kindness, one day I can satisfactorily complete this puppet body." Yun Ying gazed at the thunderous clouds with great curiosity, wondering if obtaining a supreme puppet treasure would allow cultivation and realm advancement—would even puppets need to cross thunder tribulations?

The thunder tribulation lasted nearly an hour before gradually dissipating.

The knowledgeable can see the subtlety, while Jiang Yuan as the layman could only watch the excitement. He just observed Miss Little Eight wielding spider silk as she faced off the fierce bolts of lightning with such dazzling chaos. He couldn’t discern how impressive or risky it was, but was obliged to feign calm, acting the role of an otherworldly expert.

[Side Mission: The Legacy of Spiders Valley]

[Mission 3: Obtain all suppressing objects and refine any descendant of the Spider Race to gain ancestral inheritance, completed. Reward: Life Origin +100 issued]

[Mission 4: Assist the new Valley Master of Spiders Valley to rescue enslaved descendants of the Spider Race. Reward: Life Origin +300]

[Miss Little Eight: A little spider demon accidentally saved by Miss Hu Jiu, descendant of the Spider Race of Spiders Valley, White Feather Spider demon. Successfully refined the suppressing objects of Spiders Valley, rose to the Fourth Layer of Body Tempering Realm Great Demon Cultivator, recognized as the new Valley Master of Spiders Valley by Five Elements Suppressing Object]

Tsk tsk, who could have thought!

Upon first meeting, Little Eight was just a little demon in the Qi Refining Stage without even reaching Foundation Establishment. Now she’s emerged from retreat after crossing the thunder tribulation, transformed into a Great Demon capable of dominating a region!

"Congratulations to Miss Little Eight on emerging from retreat, and congratulations on becoming the new Valley Master of Spiders Valley." Jiang Yuan was first to offer his blessings.

Miss Hu Jiu followed closely, stepping forward to take Miss Little Eight’s hand, thoroughly examining her with delight: "Oh my, I haven’t seen you for half a year, Little Eight is now way more powerful than I am! From now on, you’ll be the one supporting me. If anyone dares to bully me, you’ll go smack them hard!"

Hu Zhile had a slight impression of the little spider demon in his sister’s cloth shop and hastily greeted, "You’ve been in retreat for so long and just came out crossing the thunder tribulation, must be tired, right? We’re having a bustling banquet now, come have something to eat and rest for a while."

Though Little Eight had ascended to become a Great Demon, her demeanor remained unchanged, responding somewhat awkwardly and kneeling down before Jiang Yuan, reverently kowtowing three times, "Little Eight has received Mr. Jiang’s great kindness and has no way to repay, henceforth willing to follow orders, gladly at your disposal!"

"Quickly, arise!" Jiang Yuan hurried to help her up, laughing, "What brings such words, Miss Little Eight? To receive ancestor recognition and inheritance was purely by your own skill, I just aided the flow."

"Do refrain from saying such in the future. As the new Valley Master, you’ll need to recover all your tribe members lost in the world and lead them to brilliance once more, you must possess the dignity of a leader and never kneel casually."

Once standing, Little Eight watched unfamiliar onlookers gather, her face slightly reddening, shaking her head: "Mr. Jiang overpraises; I... really don’t know how to be Valley Master, feeling quite anxious."

"First, replenish your spiritual power with some food, then proceed to cultivate and stabilize your realm," said Jiang Yuan, though inexperienced with thunder tribulation personally, having observed it often enough. "Once your realm stabilizes and doesn’t waver, we’ll discuss at length. You can learn plenty from City Lord Yuan; she manages an entire city, quite impressive!"

Another joy was added to the small courtyard, and the banquet fell further into a lively and harmonious atmosphere.

Du Li took a sip of wine, feeling conflicted.

On the one hand, he felt the camaraderie among the cultivators in the courtyard, no overt or secretive struggles, no backstabbing, everyone helping each other out and striving to improve their cultivation collectively. As a high-level cultivator, he quite enjoyed and envied such an ambiance;

On the other hand, as the Cloud Concealment Sect worked together and Mr. Jiang assisted in construction, the former collapsed ruins of City Lord Yuan’s majestic city gates were gradually restored. Though not involved in construction directly, watching the rebuild brought a sense of happiness and accomplishment as he considered moving into the Divine Mountain City;

Moreover, as he dug deeper into the internal affairs of the Demon Realm Alliance, the more filth emerged.

Recent collusions and dirty dealings have left Du Li disillusioned with the Demon Realm Alliance, increasingly disappointed. He had a foreboding sense—even with the restored Heart Mirror, how many truly virtuous individuals could be identified throughout the Alliance?

And yet, as Vice Alliance Hierarch, he held deep feelings for the Alliance.

No matter how much evidence lay before him, Du Li maintained a slim hope, considering the Power of the Celestial Dao’s Remnant still existed?

The long-awaited collective ascension plan was just around the corner, pending the Heart Mirror’s acquisition tomorrow for initiation; he could not dampen his spirits at this crucial juncture, nor bolster others’ pride!

One must believe in the wisdom of tens of thousands of predecessors; it will succeed, no! It must succeed!

The Wilderness World can no longer afford turmoil; to save the world, the collective ascension plan must succeed!

The Demon Realm Alliance still boasts influence—even with insufficient numbers internally to activate the ascension array, the Alliance could openly recruit aspirants, finding worthy cultivators across the vast Wilderness World. As long as the numbers suffice, ascension is possible!

Mr. Jiang’s courtyard is neither in the Wilderness World nor in the Human World; it presumably remains unaffected.

Apologies, but in such a matter, there’s no discourse of yielding, those capable must take the helm.

Draining his drink, Du Li resolved to stay a day at the small courtyard under the guise of inebriation, awaiting the Heart Mirror’s acquisition before returning to the Alliance headquarters.

In the conviviality of toasts and laughter, the welcome banquet drew to a close.

With everyone lightly drunk from the Spiritual Wine’s intoxicating energy, all retired to rest; Miss Hu Jiu and the newly emerged Little Eight accompanied Hu Zhile to her cavern abode.

Jiang Yuan dashed to the Floating Market’s highest level. With the courtyard’s market no longer receiving public orders, save for sporadic sales of trifles, it essentially served as decoration.

He retrieved the Mirror of Evil from his top disciple’s plunder of You Lai, clicked to set it up, took a deep breath, and stepped forward.