“I say, back when that girl Qin Luoyi was training with Little Mu, you wouldn’t listen when I told you not to, and kept sneaking up here to watch them. Now it’s Huai Zhi’s turn with Little Mu, and you’re still sneaking around to watch. Are you really that worried something will go wrong?”
“You come to watch every day too, don’t you?”
“I’ve got plenty of free time, but you—you’re an Empress. We’re not the same. Besides… this is my responsibility as Master.”
“Heh, I’ve noticed your way of talking has gotten weirder lately. Does your whole race get like this when Cocooning is near?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen any of the others go through Cocooning.”
Uphill in the valley, inside a cave draped in trailing vines, Tu Shan Yunxi and Eleven stood, one to the left and one to the right, bantering lightly as they both kept their eyes fixed on the pair below:
Yun Mu and Tu Shan Huai Zhi, not looking away for a second.
The Cocooning they spoke of was a tribulation unique to Eleven.
Unlike humans and most demonfolk, her race did not need to endure the Thunder Trial when advancing realms.
But when it came to growing stronger, the Dao of Heaven was always fair.
Compared to passing through a Thunder Trial, the Cocooning she endured lasted much, much longer—a few months at the shortest, several decades, a hundred years, or even a thousand years was entirely possible.
As for why it was called “Cocooning,” it was simply because, driven by instinct, Eleven would hide away inside a force-shaped shell—an ellipsoid like an egg—formed by her own power.
What was interesting was that while dormant, she could still sense information from the outside world, though the range was tiny—barely three meters at most.
Moreover, during this period, she couldn’t repel any danger that approached.
Other than releasing a bit of superficial pressure, she had no means to “attack.”
So, before each Cocooning phase, to avoid danger while sleeping, and to make sure she didn’t wake up in some strange place, she always found somewhere secluded in advance.
This time, she had chosen the Ancient Nation of Baiyao.
But a few days ago, a new idea had come to her—a plan that seemed not only feasible but downright tempting.
“It feels pretty strange, honestly. Someone so steady suddenly talks like a kid… Mm, it kind of ruins the image I had of you.”
Tu Shan Yunxi’s teasing words brought no retort from Eleven; this was all within her expectations.
After all, this wasn’t her first time Cocooning.
Every thousand years was a minor cocoon, three thousand a major one.
She hadn’t bothered to count how many times it’d happened, but she always remembered the signs that came beforehand.
“Can’t help it. I don’t know why, but this time it’s the only one that’s affected my personality. It never happened before. And honestly, compared to that, there’s something even weirder.”
“Weirder? What is it?”
“You’ll see.”
With that, Eleven lifted her hand and removed her Mask, revealing the face she’d kept hidden so long.
But beneath the Mask was another Mask—her face was covered in smooth, jade-white scales.
“What’s this?”
“Ancestral Regression.”
“Ancestral Regression?”
“That’s right. With my bloodline, it’s normal to experience Ancestral Regression. It’s like how you’re the Main Bloodline of the Tu Shan clan. I’m the true line too.”
Eleven paused briefly, then added, “But that’s not the main point. What I really want you to see is this.”
Without waiting for Tu Shan Yunxi to respond, Eleven began to chant a series of extremely obscure and cryptic words.
After three lines, her body suddenly shrank—like a conjuring trick—almost half its original size, and of course, her clothes seemed to shrink as well, fitting her perfectly.
“Look. This is where things get truly odd. Not only did I regress to my ancestors’ form, I even regressed to childhood.”
Her voice now sounded tender and young as she stood up, spun around in place twice, looking nothing like she had before.
“What… what’s going on?”
Tu Shan Yunxi’s pupils shrank suddenly.
Then, almost reflexively, she bent closer to take a look.
“This isn’t an illusion?”
As she reached out to pinch Eleven’s face to check, she was batted away.
“It’s really me, the genuine article. If I lift my disguise right in front of you and you still doubt it—go die.”
“Huh?”
Tu Shan Yunxi was left full of question marks by that statement.
“Huh, what? I already told you, I’ve shed my disguise. Of course my personality’s younger, even more regressed—stupid little fox.”
“So… what you were like just now was you working hard to maintain your usual self?”
“Of course. With the arrogance of my ancestors, do you think I’d ever speak so nicely to a little fox like you?”
As she spoke, she even rolled her eyes.
Even though she was much shorter now, the way she looked at Yunxi somehow exuded a sense of disdain.
“Little fox, huh… Heh… If this was really your ancestors’ era, I guess it would be just like that.”
Naturally, the Empress Tu Shan Yunxi didn’t get angry.
She understood what Eleven was going through.
In fact, rather than bicker, she was much more curious about what had caused such changes in this Cocooning.
She was a demon with a strong sense of curiosity.
“Could it be because you give your Blood Essence to Little Mu for his medicine bath every day that this happened?”
“Not likely. I’m only giving the little guy a bit of Blood Essence. That’s not enough to change anything.”
“Strange… I really can’t think of what else could be affecting you.”
“I can’t think of anything either. Still, I can sense it’s not a bad thing for me. Better not to overthink it. Why worry about something with no reward?”
As Eleven spoke, she put her Mask back on, restoring her usual appearance.
“Anyway, how are things on your end?”
“Everything’s ready—we’re just waiting on Little Mu.”
“That’s good. Ah, now I can set my mind at ease.”
Her words almost left Tu Shan Yunxi unable to continue the conversation.
Glancing at the woman stretching beside her, Yunxi turned and looked down at the boy and girl in the valley below, heaving a long sigh.
“Little Mu’s about to begin cultivating. I won’t stay much longer. I probably won’t come again for a while. Is there anything else you want to tell me?”
“There is, actually. I was going to tell you later, but since you said that, no time like the present. I’ll just tell you everything now.”
“Oh? I’m all ears.”
Eleven didn’t have much to say, so she didn’t talk for long.
But the few things she did say made Tu Shan Yunxi frown.
“Are you sure? Little Mu’s just started cultivating, and you want him to do something like this? Isn’t it too dangerous?”
“Danger? Opportunities and danger always go hand in hand. If he misses this chance, who knows when the next will come.”
Eleven gestured at the Qiankun Pouch at her waist, which looked almost identical to the one Yun Mu carried, showing a look of total confidence.
“Besides, I’ve made sure everything’s prepared—Immortal Weapons, Life-Preserving Treasures, food, clothes, shelter—I’ve packed it all for him.”
“You didn’t keep anything for yourself?”
“I did. Peach Blossom Brew, Osmanthus Brew, all kinds of wine—I’ve got it all. He’s too young to drink, though.”
As she spoke, she casually pulled out a Wine Gourd and offered it.
“Want some?”
“No, thanks. I meant, didn’t you save any magical artifacts or treasures for yourself?”
“It doesn’t matter who holds them. He’s my one and only Disciple. Besides, he’s been absorbing my Blood Essence every day now. Isn’t that just like my own child?”
“Disciple is fine, but child—not a chance.”
“Whatever. Just tell Little Mu what I said. He’ll make his own choice. As for your worries, I’ve made it clear—nothing will happen. If you’re still uneasy, prepare whatever you want. After all… by then, I’ll already be an egg.”
“I understand.”
For a while, the two fell silent, lost in their own thoughts.
No one knew what they were thinking, until Eleven spoke up again, breaking the quiet.
“Ah, it’s starting. Cultivation.”
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.