Cultivation is Creation [World-Hopping & Plant-Based Xianxia]

Chapter 95 - 91: An Elder's Favorite Disciple

"The tracks indicate they headed east," Azure observed as I examined the disturbed earth where Rocky once was. "Two sets of footprints, probably male given the size and depth. They were struggling with something heavy."

Wei Lin and Lin Mei spread out to

The boy caught on immediately. "Master will be really angry," he said, his voice quavering perfectly. "Even I get scared when he's mad."

"Yes," I agreed with a frown. "Life Realm cultivators can be quite temperamental."

The shorter brother edged closer to his sibling. "Brother, I think we really messed up. Just look at the aura rolling off that kid – he must be some old monster's personal disciple. Which elder wouldn't want a talent like that? And it would explain the stone elemental..."

"Let me think!" The first brother snapped, his eyes darting between me, Liu Chen, and Rocky. I could almost see him calculating odds, wondering if he could take us all.

Time to push things a little further.

"Liu Chen," I whispered, knowing that the former bandits could still hear me, "maybe you should activate that life-saving treasure your master gave you. It's a waste to use something that can kill Stellar Realm cultivators on mere Qi Condensation practitioners, but I'm sure he'll give you another."

Liu Chen, proving himself quite the actor, nodded and pulled out a necklace I hadn't even known he possessed.

It was an old piece, the metal tarnished with age, but the craftsmanship was evident even under the wear. Small formations were etched into its surface, too worn to make out clearly.

I found myself genuinely curious about the necklace's origin. Was it a powerful artifact from whatever mysterious background Liu Chen came from or just a family heirloom?

The first cultivator studied the necklace intently. Though it gave off no obvious aura, something about it clearly unnerved him. I watched his golden qi aura flicker and fade as he reached a decision.

With a formal bow that wouldn't have looked out of place in a noble's court, he said, "There seems to be some misunderstanding. My brother and I recognized immediately that this wasn't a mere boulder, but rather property of the Azure Peak—"

"A member of the Azure Peak Sect," I corrected smoothly.

"Yes, yes, of course," he continued without missing a beat. "A member of the sect. We were simply trying to return it, worried it might have gotten lost."

His brother's exasperated sigh spoke volumes about what he thought of this excuse.

I had to admire the cultivator's shamelessness – his face showed such earnest sincerity that if someone had walked up right now, they might actually believe his story. This was the kind of quick thinking that kept confident liars alive in the cultivation world.

"Ah, so it was all a misunderstanding," I said, matching his tone. "In that case, we should thank you for your help."

Liu Chen started to protest, but I quieted him with another pat on the head. "Trust me," I murmured, and he subsided, though his doubtful expression suggested he questioned my judgment.

"Since that's cleared up," the first cultivator said brightly, "we should really be going—"

"Oh, but surely you'll help us a bit longer?" I smiled, gesturing towards Rocky. "Our friend seems quite tired from his breakthrough. You wouldn't mind helping carry him back to the sect, would you?"

Right on cue, Rocky let out a grinding sound that somehow perfectly mimicked an exhausted yawn.

I watched as the former bandit's face went through a rapid series of micro-expressions – frustration, calculation, resignation – before settling back into his practiced smile. "Of course! My brother and I would be happy to help."

"For once," his brother spoke up, "I actually agree. It's the least we can do after this... misunderstanding."

"How thoughtful of you both," Wei Lin smiled. "It's so rare to meet such... helpful strangers on the road these days."

"Yes," Lin Mei added with sweet venom in her voice, "especially ones who are so good at recognizing valuable things that don't belong to them."

I studied the shorter fat one. Despite his earlier cowardice, or perhaps because of it, he seemed to have a decent grasp of when to cut his losses. That kind of common sense was surprisingly rare in the cultivation world, where pride and face often led people to their deaths. In my experience, being able to recognize when you were outmatched was an underrated survival skill.

We watched as Rocky's massive form slowly collapsed in on itself, returning to the boulder shape we'd left him in. The two brothers approached cautiously, probably half-expecting another transformation, but Rocky remained still. They positioned themselves on either side, their faces straining slightly as they lifted him up.

I noticed Liu Chen's expression, it seemed like the boy hoped for some kind of revenge, but killing them would have been foolish for several reasons.

First, I wasn't confident of being able to take a seventh stage Qi Condensation cultivator even if I used the combined power of both suns and had Rocky's help, it would be a risky battle with no guarantee of success.

More importantly, we'd just discovered someone was bringing the dead back to life and 'helping' them get revenge. The last thing I needed was to become the target of someone's resurrection-powered revenge plot.

In this world, avoiding enemies was often smarter than making them. Let others play protagonist and antagonist – I was perfectly happy staying alive in the background, growing stronger.

"Master," Azure's voice broke into my thoughts as we began the journey back to the sect, our unwilling porters struggling with Rocky's weight ahead of us. "You handled that well. Though I'm curious about the boy's necklace."

"Add it to the growing list of mysteries," I thought back. "Along with his sudden burst of sixth-stage level power and whatever background he's running from."

But those were questions for another time.

Right now, I was content watching Wei Lin and Lin Mei flank our new "friends" while Liu Chen practically bounced along beside his stone guardian, keeping up a running commentary about how Rocky liked to be carried "just so" and how they should really be more careful with his friend.

I had just started to relax when I felt it - that same subtle energy from the way station sweeping through the area like silk sliding across skin. Within my inner world, the suns reacted instantly, diving beneath the Genesis Seed's branches once again.

The pressure passed over us like a gentle breeze and for a moment, my heart stopped.

Had I been caught?

Then it was gone, leaving me to release a shaky breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

"Master," Azure's voice was barely a whisper in my mind, "if you had used the blue sun's energy..."

I knew exactly what he meant. I wouldn't have made it back to the sect.