Chapter 36: Su Wan’er’s Special Constitution

Luo Jiutian was beginning to wonder if the script had been written wrong.

In normal stories, wasn’t the male lead supposed to slash through thorns, slay his enemies, and rescue the damsel in distress?

But when it came to him, the plot had somehow twisted into the beauty saving the hero.

He turned his gaze toward Su Wan’er, who was still pressed close against him.

She was looking up at him with an expression that all but shouted, “I’m obedient, I’m amazing, I’m super strong!”

For a moment, he truly didn’t know what to say.

Just then, the voice of the White Tiger Lord rang softly in his ear, muttering as though to herself:

“Chuhua Immortal Veins… But this girl’s aura clearly belongs to the Nascent Soul stage…”

Luo Jiutian’s eyes flickered, but he said nothing.

Of course he knew what the White Tiger Lord was concerned about.

The Chuhua Immortal Veins.

A constitution that absorbed spiritual energy with incredible speed, allowing its bearer to cultivate far faster than ordinary people.

But prosperity reached its peak only to decline.

Once the cultivator stepped into the Golden Core stage, their progress would halt completely.

If they forced their cultivation, backlash would strike—their meridians would wither away like flower petals, inch by inch, until they dried up entirely and death claimed them.

For this reason, those with Chuhua Immortal Veins were always called “geniuses who bloomed only for a moment.”

And yet now, Su Wan’er’s body was radiating the aura of the Nascent Soul stage.

The White Tiger Lord paused for a moment, then continued:

“No… I can sense it. Her cultivation is slowly falling. The pace isn’t fast, but if nothing changes, in a few days she will regress back to the Foundation stage.”

At those words, Luo Jiutian’s eyes sharpened, and he lowered his gaze toward the girl in his arms.

She was still rubbing against him, still wearing that look that begged for praise.

Luo Jiutian raised his hand and gently pressed down on her shoulder, halting her movements.

“Su Wan’er.”

“Mm?” She tilted her face up, eyes clear and bright.

“Tell me honestly. Did you use some kind of dangerous secret technique?”

At that, Su Wan’er’s expression froze for an instant. Then she tilted her head, pretending not to understand.

“What is Brother Jiutian talking about? I don’t know any secret techniques.”

“Don’t play dumb.” Luo Jiutian’s tone grew heavier.

Su Wan’er puffed up her cheeks, looking aggrieved.

“I really didn’t… It’s just that suddenly, I felt a force inside my body. Then I struck down, and then… I saved you.”

Luo Jiutian stared into her eyes.

He was silent for a long moment, but he didn’t press further.

He knew very well—Su Wan’er only refused to explain because she didn’t want him to worry.

A sigh welled up in his chest.

‘When will this karma finally be settled…?’

The White Tiger Lord’s voice softened slightly.

“There’s no need to worry too much. This girl’s foundation isn’t damaged. Only her cultivation will regress.”

Then her tone shifted.

“Besides… the Chuhua aura I sensed in her body felt… unusual.”

“What do you mean?” Luo Jiutian asked through spiritual transmission.

“Her constitution seems to be showing signs of transformation,” the White Tiger Lord said slowly.

“I once read in an ancient text—though the Chuhua Veins have flaws, in ancient times, there was indeed one person who broke free from their shackles and reached a higher realm.”

Luo Jiutian’s heart trembled.

In the simulated world, he had never heard of such a thing.

Back then, he had searched nearly every record available, and the conclusion had always been the same—

Golden Core was the limit. Beyond that, there was no path forward.

“Senior,” he transmitted, “how did that person do it? Was there a specific method recorded?”

But the White Tiger Lord only shook her head.

“No. That person left behind no legacy or record—only a single phrase: ‘Return the withered flower to the Dao.’ After that, there was nothing more.”

Luo Jiutian fell silent for a long time.

“…My apologies,” the White Tiger Lord said at last.

He shook his head lightly.

“No. For Senior to even tell me this much, I am already grateful.”

Lowering his gaze, he looked again at Su Wan’er, who had snuggled back into his arms.

Noticing his prolonged silence, Su Wan’er tugged lightly at his sleeve.

“Brother Jiutian…” Her voice was soft and uncertain. “Are you… angry at me?”

He blinked.

“No,” he answered simply.

Hearing this, she let out a visible sigh of relief, muttering under her breath:

“Scared me half to death. I thought you were going to scold me.”

After a pause, she suddenly lifted her head with a bright, mischievous smile.

“Then… how does Brother Jiutian think he ought to repay a life-saving grace?”

Luo Jiutian lowered his eyes to look at her, his voice gentle.

“In a few days, I’ll visit the Su Clan… and bring you a surprise.”

Su Wan’er blinked, leaning even closer.

“You wouldn’t mean… that pitch-black stone, would you?”

The words slipped out of his mouth before he could stop them.

“That’s right. With it, Aunt Wang can be cured.”

The moment he spoke, he froze, realizing the slip. His expression stiffened—then he quickly masked it with feigned surprise.

“Wait. How did you know about that?”

Su Wan’er didn’t answer right away.

She only tilted her head, smiling sweetly as she gazed at him.

Her stare made him squirm with unease.

Then, with a sudden giggle, she broke into her usual playful manner.

“Of course I saw it in the jade slip records. Brother Jiutian is so silly.”

She lifted her chin proudly, brimming with smugness.

Understanding dawned on Luo Jiutian’s face.

“So that’s it.”

He reached out and ruffled her hair.

“No wonder. Wan’er really is clever.”

Su Wan’er beamed even brighter.

“Of course! I’m the Su Clan’s genius!”

The two of them bantered back and forth, teasing and laughing.

Su Wan’er poked his waist with her fingertip.

He dodged to the side, tapping her forehead in retaliation.

Immediately, she put on a pitiful look, hugging him tightly and whining, “You hit me!”

“Hmph. Childish,” the White Tiger Lord’s voice cut in coldly.

With that, she turned back into a streak of light and vanished into the ring, falling silent once more.

After a long moment, Luo Jiutian gathered his thoughts.

“Enough. The secret realm will soon close. It’s time we went and seized those persimmons.”

Su Wan’er’s eyes lit up.

“Mm! I’ll listen to Brother Jiutian.”

He walked to the center of the chamber.

With a wave of his hand, the gray-white Archaic Bone Lotus was collected into his storage.

Turning back to her, he said:

“Let’s go.”

Meanwhile, elsewhere within the ruins—

“The exit… I just have to reach the exit…”

Luo Chen stumbled forward, gasping like an ox, his body drenched in blood.

He staggered down the dark corridor, while behind him a phantom shadow clung relentlessly, its roars echoing louder and louder.

He had no time to heal. He could only grit his teeth and push on.

Suddenly, a spiked spear shot from the wall ahead.

He twisted aside, but it still tore open his shoulder, spilling blood.

His breath grew ragged, his face deathly pale.

“Damn this ruin…” he cursed hoarsely as he ran.

“Whoever designed this place… damn you to hell!”

Even as the words left his mouth, his foot slipped.

Another trap activated.

From the ground, a black spike shot up, grazing his calf and ripping away a chunk of flesh.

He forced the wound shut with his qi and kept running, never daring to stop.

Sweat, blood, and dust blurred his vision.

And amid the chaos, for just one instant—

He froze.

Because in his mind, an image surfaced.

An image from long, long ago…