CHAPTER 161: THE SLIME: TRIRIRI

Yu Lingluo dragged Yu Xuan up the winding path toward the mountain where her master resided.

Along the way, Yu Xuan’s sharp senses picked up something unsettling.

Each smaller mountain they passed radiated an oppressive aura. It wasn’t just strong — it was terrifying. Whoever lived in those peaks were no ordinary elders. He just assumed they were Elders as no disciple ever radiated such presence.

Each presence felt like a slumbering beast, watching, waiting.

’So this is the kind of place she’s training in... ’, Yu Xuan thought.

Then Lingluo suddenly stopped, spun toward him, and grinned.

"Hey, look at this!"

Before he could respond, she raised her hand.

"Summon... Tririri!" she chanted dramatically.

A crest lit up on her wrist. Strange runes, like a language from another world, spiraled outward into a glowing circle. Lightning crackled in the background, fog mysteriously rolled in, and even a low ominous "DUN DUNNN" sound effect seemed to rumble from nowhere.

Then — PUUUSSSHHHHH!

From the circle popped... a tiny purple slime.

It bounced once, blinked with big round eyes, and jiggled cutely on her palm.

"Ta-da! Isn’t it adorable?" Lingluo beamed.

But Yu Xuan didn’t answer. His body reacted before his mind did — his danger sense screamed so loudly that within a heartbeat he had already leapt hundreds of meters away, landing on a boulder with his aura blazing.

Lingluo blinked, baffled, "Eh? Why are you so far away?!" she yelled at him.

But Yu Xuan wasn’t listening. His entire focus was locked on the slime.

On the surface, it looked harmless, even pathetic. But the threat radiating from that tiny blob was suffocating. His instincts, told him one thing clearly:

That "ordinary" slime... was the most dangerous existence he had encountered since his cultivation journey.

’What... is that thing...?!’ Yu Xuan thought, his scalp prickling.

Even the Devouring Demon — whom he once suspected to be some reincarnated random ancient immortal, hadn’t exuded such an overwhelming presence.

Carefully, he edged closer to Lingluo, eyes fixed on the bouncing blob.

"Sister... what is that?"

Lingluo puffed out her chest proudly.

"This is my summon! I got it after passing a trial in the Chaos Tower."

Before Yu Xuan could reply, the slime suddenly wobbled, opened its... mouth(?) and spoke.

"Prukk~ I am not bad slime, prukk."

Its voice was so pure and innocent that Yu Xuan instantly felt like he was the villain for being cautious. Then, as if to twist the knife further, watery droplets gathered at the slime’s big, round eyes, like it was about to cry.

Lingluo gasped dramatically and cuddled the slime.

"Tririri, don’t be sad! My brother’s just an idiot sometimes!"

She shot Yu Xuan a glare sharp enough to cut metal. "Hey, look what you did! Hurry up and apologize to Tririri properly!"

Yu Xuan’s face twitched. He had question marks all over his face. (???)

This... thing radiated the aura of death itself, and his sister was scolding him like he’d kicked a puppy. Worse, she clearly had no idea just how terrifying her "cute pet" really was.

Suppressing his instincts, Yu Xuan stepped closer. He crouched, looked the slime in its round eyes, and forced a smile.

"...Tririri, I’m sorry. I was just... startled."

Then, cautiously, he poked it.

The slime jiggled happily.

"Prukk! Prukk!"

It made bubbly noises, yet with each bounce, its aura pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat of doom. Yu Xuan’s back grew damp with cold sweat.

He knew his sister was a genius — their parents praised her endlessly for it. But as he watched her parade around with this walking calamity perched on her hand like an ornament, he realized her genius did not extend to practical application.

And somehow... he was still proud of her.

They continued their march: Yu Xuan at her side, Yu Lingluo humming cheerfully with the slime nestled in her silver-violet hair as if it were a crown jewel. They chatted lightly until they finally reached a shabby little hut.

Yu Xuan blinked. This? His own master lived in a palace. Yet Lingluo’s master — now confirmed to be the Peak Master of Chaos Heaven Peak, resided here, in what looked like a drafty shack that could collapse in the next storm.

He tried to rationalize it. "Preferences. Everyone has their own preferences..."

Lingluo stepped forward and called brightly,

"Master, I’ve brought my brother!"

Yu Xuan almost sighed. Their presence was definitely already known, but his sister dutifully performed her role, as though her master’s hearing had faded with age.

The door creaked open. Out stepped an elderly woman who looked so frail, Yu Xuan half-expected her to keel over on the spot — preferably after leaving behind an inheritance for her descendants to fight over.

She was, by every definition, ordinary.

But Yu Xuan wasn’t fooled.

The old woman’s eyes twitched at the way he stared at her. In that moment, she understood perfectly why these two were siblings: raised together, and equally impossible.

Her voice rasped like dry leaves in the wind.

"So... this is the little brother."

Yu Xuan clasped his hands politely, though his gaze stayed sharp. "Junior greets the Peak Master."

He did the most cultivator like things, greeting a Senior.

Her eyes swept over him once — just once and Yu Xuan felt as though every secret he’d ever held was stripped bare. His body stiffened. For a heartbeat, he was certain she could see everything: his cultivation, his hidden bloodline... even his thoughts about how she looked Old.

Then she nodded. "Hmph. You stare too much, boy. Haven’t your parents taught you how to respect Elders?"

Yu Xuan choked. What kind of opening line is that?! He did respect her.

Lingluo giggled behind him. "Master, he’s always been rude. Don’t mind him."

The old woman ignored her disciple and shuffled closer to Yu Xuan. She lifted her cane, which magically appeared in her hand and then lightly tapping his shoulder.

The touch felt harmless — yet the moment it landed, Yu Xuan’s knees nearly buckled under an invisible mountain’s weight. His heart raced. He instantly understood: if she pressed just a little harder, he would be a corpse.

And then, as if nothing happened, she withdrew.

"Not bad. You didn’t faint. Lingluo, this brat’s not entirely useless."

Lingluo puffed up proudly. "Of course, Master. He’s my brother."

Yu Xuan exhaled carefully, suppressing the cold sweat running down his spine. This shabby hut-dwelling old lady... is terrifying.

The old woman suddenly gave him a faint smile.

"But... you think too much, boy. Careful with that. Those who think too much usually die faster."