Chapter 14: The Secrets of Transmigration and Etheric Energy

With their appetites sated and the meal concluded, it was time to delve into the day’s main agenda.

Having finished their meal, Cheng Lan and Qin Jinxuan proceeded into the bedroom, one trailing the other, while Lidoa graciously stayed to clear the dining table.

Cheng Lan walked over to the desk, pulled out a chair, and settled into it with an air of nonchalance, while Qin Jinxuan moved toward the bed and took a seat.

“Do your parents know about you moving?” Cheng Lan asked, his curiosity piqued.

“Of course they know,” Qin Jinxuan affirmed with a nod. “They bought this room and all the new furniture.”

“And they didn’t ask why you wanted to move here?”

“They did ask,” she replied. “I just told them it was closer to school, making my commute easier. Then I pleaded with them relentlessly, using every trick in the book, and they finally agreed.”

‘Ugh… the sheer extravagance of it all.’

“I really don’t understand you,” he remarked. “Leaving a huge mansion to come here and ‘suffer’ like this.”

“Don’t even get me started,” Qin Jinxuan retorted, pouting slightly. “If you ask me, living alone in a massive villa like that is the *real* inconvenience. All that climbing up and down all day—it’s utterly bothersome.”

“Didn’t your family arrange for a maid or something?”

“They originally did,” she explained, “but since I spend most of my time at school anyway, I just had them arrange for her to come a few times a week to help with cleaning.”

Unconsciously, one of the young girl’s small feet began to sway gently. A pink slipper perched precariously on her toes, which were exquisitely encased in fine white stockings, rocking back and forth with each movement as if it might fall off at any second.

Cheng Lan’s gaze drifted over, quite against his will.

“Ahem!” He cleared his throat softly, consciously redirecting his attention. “Enough with the small talk. If you have any questions, just ask.”

“Alrighty~” Qin Jinxuan chirped in response.

Having kept her eyes on Cheng Lan all this time, she seemed to pick up on something, a sly smile gracing her lips.

“I’d like to start by understanding what this ‘transmigration’ phenomenon actually is.”

“You didn’t ask about abilities?” Cheng Lan raised an eyebrow. “Technically, answering this question incurs an extra fee. But since you’re a long-term client, I’ll give it to you for free. You remember going home earlier, only to ‘transmigrate’ the moment you stepped through your front door, right?”

Qin Jinxuan nodded.

“This phenomenon is called a ‘World Rift’,” he explained. “It just happened to appear right at your doorstep, which is why you ended up in the Beast World.”

A thought seemed to strike Cheng Lan, and he let out a chuckle. “Thinking about it, you really are quite unlucky. A ‘World Rift’ appearing directly at someone’s front door is practically unheard of!”

“Alright, alright! I get it, I’m unlucky,” Qin Jinxuan grumbled, pouting slightly in annoyance.

“In short, all the recent disappearance phenomena you’ve heard about are caused by ‘World Rifts’,” Cheng Lan continued. “However, because Etheric Energy (TL Note: The energy that allows for supernatural abilities and powers.) is extremely scarce on Blue Star right now, all current ‘World Rifts’ are temporary.”

“Etheric Energy?” Qin Jinxuan tilted her head, confused.

“I’ll tell you about that later,” Cheng Lan said, waving a hand dismissively, before continuing. “Entering a ‘World Rift’ can not only transport you to the Beast World, but also to another realm entirely—the Mech World (TL Note: A world populated by advanced mechanical beings and technology).”

“The Beast World resembles Blue Star from hundreds of millions of years ago, teeming with rich natural resources and a diverse ecosystem of exotic beasts. The Mech World, however, is a realm entirely constructed of machinery, boasting incredibly advanced technology far surpassing our current level.”

“Then… Lidoa… is she…?”

“Precisely,” Cheng Lan confirmed with a nod. “I retrieved her from the Mech World.

However, Lidoa is quite special. Under normal circumstances, it’s extremely difficult for either ‘exotic beasts’ or ‘mechs’ to travel from their respective worlds to Blue Star at this stage. As for what makes Lidoa so unique, well, that’s her secret, and I won’t be divulging it to you.”

“Alright,” Qin Jinxuan quietly assented, choosing not to press further.

“In essence, both of these worlds possess an abundance of Etheric Energy, and all the Etheric Energy currently present on Blue Star has seeped out from the ‘World Rifts’ connecting to these two realms.

This is also why you were able to successfully use your abilities in the Beast World, but couldn’t do so on Blue Star.”

“Of course, there are exceptions, for example—” Before he could finish his sentence, Cheng Lan subtly vanished into the shadows beneath his feet.

“Me.”

In the next instant, Cheng Lan emerged from the shadows right beside Qin Jinxuan.

“Ah!” Qin Jinxuan gasped, her shoulders recoiling in fright, and almost instinctively, she lifted her foot to kick at Cheng Lan.

Gazing at the ice cream (TL Note: A humorous, slightly lewd slang term for a woman’s foot, especially when delicate and white, often used to tease or imply attraction) that was now alarmingly close, Cheng Lan merely tilted his head sideways, effortlessly dodging the attack as a wisp of fragrant air brushed past his nose.

He calmly settled back into his chair.

‘What a joke! He wasn’t a foot fetishist; he certainly wouldn’t be so idle as to let someone step on his face.’

“Couldn’t you have come out from somewhere else?!” Qin Jinxuan grumbled, retracting her small foot, though the tips of her ears subtly flushed red.

“This is to improve your reaction speed,” Cheng Lan stated, his face unwavering and heart unthumping, with an air of righteous conviction. “When the time comes, attacks against you will be coming from all directions. If you don’t practice your reactions now, I wonder how you’ll dodge them then.”

“You!” Unable to find a suitable retort, Qin Jinxuan could only stomp her foot in frustration.

“Calm down,” he urged. “In any case, you’ve seen for yourself that even on Blue Star, it’s possible to unleash abilities.”

“So what am I supposed to do?” the girl asked, her gaze fixed on Cheng Lan with a hint of resentment.

Cheng Lan extended a single finger. “First, you need to be able to perceive Etheric Energy.”

“Then, Teacher, how exactly do I perceive Etheric Energy?” Qin Jinxuan asked, smiling sweetly at Cheng Lan, though a slight twitch played at the corner of her lips.

“I know you’re eager, but don’t rush,” he advised. “First, find a posture that allows you to concentrate most effectively.”

Qin Jinxuan nodded, drawing her shapely legs, meticulously encased in white stockings, back onto the bed. She then sat cross-legged, placing her hands gently on her knees.

“And then?” she asked, blinking.

“Then, close your KAZILAN (TL Note: KAZILAN is a popular Chinese makeup brand, implying ‘big, beautiful eyes’ when used in this context.) eyes and carefully sense if there are any strange fluctuations around you.”

“Oh,” Qin Jinxuan murmured. She immediately closed her eyes, her breathing slowing as she focused all her attention on sensing.

Time ticked by, minute after minute.

“Do you feel anything?” Cheng Lan asked softly.

“No,” the girl replied, shaking her head.

“Are you perhaps still distracted by other thoughts?” Cheng Lan prompted from the side. “You must focus all your attention on sensing the fluctuations.”

‘Probably not…’

Qin Jinxuan pondered internally.

Aside from Cheng Lan’s irritating face occasionally flashing through her mind, she truly was trying her best to sense those ‘fluctuations.’

“Alright, I’ll try again,” she said, gently patting her own small face before closing her eyes once more.

After another period of time, Lidoa, having finished her tasks, quietly padded into the bedroom. She stood silently beside Cheng Lan, observing with them.

The night had deepened, and moonlight streamed through the window, casting a soft glow upon the girl’s fair cheeks.

As for why Cheng Lan didn’t turn on the light? He was simply afraid of disturbing her concentration.

Before long, Qin Jinxuan opened her eyes once more, her pale pink irises clouding with a hint of confusion and disappointment.

“Well?” Cheng Lan inquired again.

“It’s… still no good,” she whispered, her shoulders slumping slightly.

“Tsk, what a steamed vegetable (TL Note: A Chinese slang term implying someone is useless, slow-witted, or apathetic.),” Cheng Lan muttered under his breath, unable to help but complain.

“I’m… I’m sorry,” Qin Jinxuan mumbled, slowly lowering her head, her fingertips unconsciously clutching the hem of her clothes.

Yet, she soon subtly lifted her gaze to glance at Cheng Lan. “Are there any other methods?”

“Other methods?” Cheng Lan stroked his chin, pondering for a moment.

“There are, indeed,” Cheng Lan said, rubbing his fingers together pointedly. “But… you understand.”

Qin Jinxuan immediately grasped his meaning, her eyes lighting up. She promptly hopped off the bed and dashed out of the bedroom.

It wasn’t long before a transfer notification for fifty thousand yuan (TL Note: The currency of Huaguo, China.) popped up on Cheng Lan’s WeChat.

At that moment, Qin Jinxuan re-entered the bedroom, clutching her phone.

“Thank you, boss!” Cheng Lan said, nodding with satisfaction.

“What should I do next?” Qin Jinxuan asked, her voice laced with impatience.

“Just maintain that posture you had before, then turn your back to me.”