Golden Finger 11

Unaware of the Dragon Clan's existence and their remnants, Chen Xing, now enlightened, yearned to explore these traces. However, a sudden realization prompted a profound question to surface from her soul,

"As the sole dragon in this world, shouldn't the remnants left by the Dragon Clan be inherited by me?"

Qin Ji, having just unearthed this astonishing secret and contemplating how to reveal it to the Sect without exposing Chen Xing’s identity, was momentarily startled. He then gazed at Chen Xing with surprise.

Locking eyes, Chen Xing asked, "Shouldn't it be so?"

Qin Ji considered seriously and said, "Logically, it ought to be entrusted to you, but would you be willing to reveal your identity to others? 

The heritage left by the Dragon Clan or life?"

Chen Xing responded without hesitation, "Actually, I am very frugal and don't need too much wealth."

Qin Ji remarked, “The cultivation world actually admires the Dragon Clan a lot.”

In the previous life, the individual who entered a pact with Chen Xing received abundant praise and profound respect from numerous major sects, despite holding a lower cultivation level. Dragons, revered as totems by many ordinary people, were uncommonly treated with disdain by cultivators. Qin Ji, too, couldn't fathom why, in his pact with Chen Xing, a stringent prohibition existed against disclosing her identity to anyone. Furthermore, Chen Xing instinctively avoided anything that might jeopardize her safety.

Could it be because Chen Xing's subconscious still remembers her experiences from her previous life? 

If so, it seems plausible. However, Qin Ji felt that many mysteries still surrounded Chen Xing, extending beyond her. As he diverged from his previous life, he became aware of even more perplexities.

Qin Ji couldn't comprehend why, but a sudden wave of shock swept over him. Yet, the feeling swiftly vanished. During Qin Ji's night watch, Chen Xing transformed into a small snake, coiling around his neck. Qin Ji, draped in a fur-lined garment, nearly enclosed Chen Xing, who swayed her tail contentedly.

Meanwhile, Xiao Bao remained asleep in the tent, undisturbed by their emergence. In the frigid weather, there was no need to subject more creatures to suffering. Initially, Qin Ji hadn't planned to bring Chen Xing along, yet the moment he stirred, Chen Xing awakened and gracefully drifted over to him.

Chen Xing extended her head, looking towards the barrier's location, and asked, "Qin Ji, what does it look like beyond the barrier?"

Qin Ji, upon hearing this, replied, "I don't know."

Appearing somewhat puzzled, Chen Xing asked, "Are there no records in the cultivation world?"

Qin Ji furrowed his brow slightly, saying, "None."

Unable to comprehend, Chen Xing inquired, "When the barrier wasn't there, were there still no records? And why were all the demonic clans sent there? What do these demonic clans look like?"

Qin Ji had never pondered these questions, akin to the widely accepted belief that the Dragon Clan, before ascending from the small world, banished all demonic clans to another continent and erected a barrier to protect the cultivation world—this understanding had gone unquestioned. However, this conventional belief now seemed incorrect. What did the isolated continent truly look like?

Chen Xing waited for some time, receiving no response. She gently nudged his face with her head and inquired,

"What's wrong?”

Lowering his gaze, Qin Ji admitted, "I don't know. Regarding the demonic clans, they are notorious for their bloodlust, appearing impervious to pain. Their demonic energy infects cultivators through wounds. Some bear a semblance to humans, while others are vastly distorted. The overarching impression from the demonic clans is one of darkness, intense animosity, and madness."

Chen Xing took in a breath and asked, "They seem like puppets, don't they?"

Qin Ji, recalling his encounters with the demonic clans, agreed, "But they are alive."

As they conversed, they heard movement from behind the tent. Qin Ji and Chen Xing looked over to see a runic mage, Master Zheng, coming out.

"Master Zheng."

Despite Master Zheng's lower cultivation level, he was highly skilled in formations and deserving of the title "Master".

He smiled, sat down by the fire, and said, "I'm having trouble sleeping, my apologies for interrupting." 

Chen Xing greeted Master Zheng with a hiss.

Qin Ji nodded silently and chose to abstain from further conversation. He wasn't naturally outgoing; it was only in the presence of Chen Xing that he felt compelled to engage in more dialogue. After all, Chen Xing was different.

Master Zheng didn't mind. He quietly glanced at the sky and then, by the light of the fire, turned his gaze towards the location of the barrier.

Chen Xing, for some reason, quite liked Master Zheng at this moment. She thought for a moment, resumed her human form, and tightly wrapped herself, creating the appearance of a large bundle as she sat there.

"Were the demonic clans like this in the past?" she asked.

Master Zheng, unaware of their prior conversation, looked over with some confusion upon hearing this.

Qin Ji responded, “I don't know.”

Chen Xing uttered an 'oh' sound. Resting her chin in her hands covered with fluffy gloves, she said, “Why do I feel like neither of you knows anything about what's beyond the barrier.”

Though Master Zheng appeared elderly, he was quite cheerful.

“I have come across some descriptions of the demonic clans in ancient texts.”

Both Qin Ji and Chen Xing turned to look at Master Zheng.

Master Zheng, though not understanding why they were curious about the demonic clans, regarded the younger ones with a kind and compassionate demeanor. It might be that, nearing the end of his lifespan, he had grown much more gentle.

“When I was young, I once saw murals in a secret realm. Before the invasion of the foreign devils in our small world, there was no so-called 'demonic clan' in the small world. At that time, there were demonic cultivators, similar to sword cultivators, Buddhist cultivators, wicked cultivators, and monster cultivators. However, the techniques employed by these demonic cultivators were exceedingly brutal. They not only absorbed the cultivation of others but also refined flesh, blood, and souls to empower themselves, hence they were exterminated.”

Chen Xing inquired, 'What about the heart demons?'

Master Zheng actually quite liked Chen Xing because of the clarity and purity in her gaze, devoid of the world's impurities.

“The heart demon is merely a trial for a cultivator's advancement, much like the tribulation. Its complete name is the Heart Demon Tribulation.”

Chen Xing nodded, somewhat understanding. So, the heart demon wasn't a type of demonic entity; it was a kind of tribulation.

Qin Ji remained unaware of these things.

Master Zheng spoke with a gentle tone, "Demonic cultivators still exist today, often referred to as 'wicked cultivators.' In the past, they extensively used monster cultivators or spiritual beast essences for their cultivation, defying the natural order. However, their actions rarely involved harm to humans."

Observing this, Chen Xing silently shifted closer to Qin Ji. To her, the wicked cultivators of that time were more terrifying than demonic cultivators. Demonic cultivators targeted both humans and monsters, while the wicked cultivators solely focused on harming monsters. Both were unpleasant creatures.

Noticing Chen Xing's slight movement, Master Zheng chuckled and said, "The present wicked cultivators are very dangerous."

Chen Xing nodded in agreement.

Master Zheng turned to Chen Xing, speaking tenderly, "If you encounter them, it's best to keep a distance. After all, cultivators still value reputation, and these wicked cultivators care little for that."

Chen Xing shivered and vigorously nodded.

Qin Ji sensed that Master Zheng didn't hold a favorable impression of cultivators either.

Master Zheng, having noticed Qin Ji's gaze, smiled at him and turned to Chen Xing, asking, "Do you have any other questions?"

Though both smiled, Qin Ji felt that Master Zheng's smile at him was simple, while the one directed at Chen Xing was more amiable, resembling the fondness an elder has for a younger person.

Chen Xing inquired, "What about the current situation with the demonic clans?"

Anticipating this question, Master Zheng explained, "The term 'demonic clans' emerged after the appearance of foreign devils. Their greatest threat lies in their ability to silently replace a person by consuming a cultivator's soul, absorbing memories, and enhancing their skills. With sufficient energy, they can even split into an entirely independent 'self.'"

Qin Ji frowned, wondering about Master Zheng's identity and how he knew all this.

Master Zheng continued, ignoring Qin Ji, "When the cultivation world was unaware of foreign devils, some infiltrated major sects, and one even became a sect leader."

Chen Xing was astonished.

Finding her expressions adorable, Master Zheng added, "Not only the cultivation realm, but spiritual beasts have suffered too. Lighting life lamps during a disciple's initiation serves not only for their safety but also as a precaution against foreign devils. These lamps are linked to the soul, and when the soul disappears, the lamp goes out. Foreign devils do not possess a soul."

Chen Xing, sitting next to Qin Ji, was completely absorbed in Master Zheng's words.

Master Zheng continued gently, "Before the Dragon and Phoenix clans ascended, the adult members of divine beast families weren't afraid of foreign devils, but their unhatched eggs and immature young were possessed. The foreign devils didn't realize that divine beast families primarily discerned their kindred by their souls. Although they detected the possession quickly, the lost ones couldn't be retrieved."

This revelation helped Chen Xing understand why the Dragon Clan had sealed off the demonic clans before their ascension—it definitely touched the Dragon Clan's reverse¹ scale.

Curiously, Chen Xing asked, "Can't the foreign devils be eliminated?"

This time, Master Zheng didn't provide a direct response. Instead, he said, "If they could be eradicated, this barrier wouldn't exist."

Chen Xing nodded in agreement and further queried, "So, the term 'demonic clans' refers to those possessed by the foreign devils?"

Master Zheng replied, "I don't know, but the so-called demonic clans that I saw on the battlefield seemed more like puppets to me.”

Chen Xing's eyes lit up, "I also thought the demonic clans Qin Ji described earlier sounded like puppets. How could there be living beings unafraid of pain and death?"

Master Zheng chuckled lightly, "It might be that when hatred reaches a certain point, death and pain cease to matter."

Qin Ji's voice turned solemn, "Who exactly are you?"

Chen Xing, alert despite her fondness for Master Zheng, transformed into a small snake and hid in Qin Ji's arms upon hearing Qin Ji's questioning.

Recalling the silver snake he had seen earlier, Master Zheng softened his expression slightly. In response to Qin Ji's inquiry, he wasn't angry but instead said, "Just a dying man. There are matters you should not delve into. Delving too deep for too long, you'll end up like me, unable to progress further in cultivation."

Qin Ji stood up, gazing at Master Zheng.

Sitting calmly by the fire, Master Zheng's fair hand and wrinkled face looked oddly eerie in the firelight, "Your sword cultivators are quite interesting."

Qin Ji didn't draw his sword but warily watched Master Zheng.

Master Zheng looked up at the starry sky, "Qin Ji, do you know why among the prominent cultivators still alive, there are cultivators of dharma, Buddhism, medicine, and even the wicked, but no sword cultivators?”