Chapter 25.1 - I ate, ate and ate... and then they're all gone!

A/N: Putting this here because it didn't fit the author's thought. Chapter is after the author's note. I'm sorry guys!

An early chapter to the readers! Sort of... a present for those who celebrate Christmas? XD

Anyway, I actually didn't know today is Christmas. Thought it was tomorrow... I also have another chapter up soon because a kind-hearted person donated coffee to me! Unfortunately, they didn't leave a name so I can't give a shout out (there is a name on Paypal but idk if it's appropriate since that is definitely a real name).

Happy Holiday! And enjoy!! As usual, if you want to support me, you can do so by donating at ko-fi.com/traita 

If you wish to reach out to me or just talk about the story with me, you can join my discord channel: https://discord.gg/FvenTjz

P.S: The teaser for the comic is already up in webtoon! There, you can see how Li Xinwen, Li Jinghua, Sun Xiao, Xue Rui and Min Xiaoyu looks like! It is a bit spoilery but then again, the teasers are subject to change. It is my first time stepping foot in comic making so do pardon the writing quality >.< (I noticed the pacing was too fast. Promise the real one won't be like that!)

Now, on to the chapter!

***

Lanyu led Li Xinwen over to the cottage earlier and as soon as they got inside, Li Xinwen felt a sense of familiarity. 'Ah... it truly felt as if I'm back in Long Xing...' he thought as he looked around. The room was simple, most of the decorations are either made of bamboo or wood. Of course, the wood and the bamboos are not simple. Since they have been placed in a place rich in spiritual energy, they have also absorbed some of the energy, making it even sturdier.

In the living room, Li Xinwen could see three more doors and he can't help but become curious. 'I assume one is the bedroom, but what is the other two?' he turned to Lanyu who are now staring at him with wide eyes.

"Well? What do you think, master?" Lanyu asked. "Everything here was made by the old master personally. Before he died, he left a lot of items for his successor but unfortunately, something came up and... well, we're at this state now," Lanyu said with a sigh. "Anyway, come over here," Lanyu led Li Xinwen over to one of the shelves filled with trinkets. There are also some small boxes, and no matter where Li Xinwen's eyes land on, he does not see any specks of dust. Clearly, Lanyu has been keeping this place clean. His eyes unconsciously went to the small spirit again who are currently looking around to find something.

"Here it is!" Lanyu exclaimed with a bright smile on his face. He grabbed a palm-sized round jade container and handed it over to Li Xinwen. "This is one of the medicine that the old master made," Lanyu said as he opened the lid to let Li Xinwen see the content. "This ointment, when put on your skin, will let others see an illusion. The old master used this to disguise his face, sometimes he'd change his face to an old man, and sometimes to a face with ugly scars. How about master try it! I'm sure it will-- aaah! Master! What are you doing?!"

Li Xinwen naturally knew how the ointment work after hearing Lanyu's explanation. So he grabbed some onto his hand and then rubbed it over to Lanyu's face as an experiment while the fairy was still talking. "Don't move. I just want to see its effect. After all, it has been here for who knows how long, ah! What if it loses its effect?" Li Xinwen said though he knew that is impossible since the jade container is made out of a top grade spiritual jade. 'In any case, I just want to make sure Lanyu didn't get a wrong one by accident...' he thought to himself.

After rubbing the ointment all over Lanyu's face, he waited for a while and not long after, Lanyu's face changed into that of an old fairy. The face was full of wrinkles and there was an unkempt beard on his face.

"En. This will be helpful. I'll be taking this out," Li Xinwen said as he closed the jade container and placed it in his pocket. "Is this the only one?" Li Xinwen asked.

"Unfortunately," Lanyu flew over to a mirror on top of a cabinet and then let out a horrified scream. "Ugly! So ugly!" he cried before he wiped his face with his clothes. "Master is bullying me..." he mumbled.

Li Xinwen just chuckled and shook his head at the fairy's antic. He patiently waited for Lanyu to finish cleaning his face before finally asking again. "You said the old master made this. Is there a way that I can make this too?"

"Of course! Come right here!" Lanyu flew over to the door to the right of the main entrance. Li Xinwen followed him, and when they entered the room, Li Xinwen found that there is another three separate doors.

'Why are there so many doors? No actually, can the cottage even fit this many rooms?!' Li Xinwen felt as if that even the cottage he's in is not a normal cottage.

"The first door is the medicine making room, the second door is the pill refining workshop and the last is the room for crafting!" Lanyu explained to Li Xinwen. "But, the old master sealed it before he died... Don't worry though! The old master did leave something for you to help undo the seal!" Lanyu said before he dragged Li Xinwen to the other door in the living room. This door is located right in front of the entrance and Lanyu pulled Li Xinwen inside.

This room was a study room, but what made Li Xinwen gasp in surprise was the number of shelves in the room that's filled with books. Not even waiting for Lanyu's explanation, he went over to one of the shelves and took out a book. "This... is the manual of a lost cultivation technique for Flame Eruption! In Long Xing, only the first three steps were preserved!" Li Xinwen said as he flipped through the pages. "But this book is complete!" Li Xinwen's eyes were shining as he put the book back only to take another one. "I've never seen this before. Phantom Form?" Li Xinwen flipped to the first page and started to read the first page. As he read the technique's description, Li Xinwen liked it. "This would really help to sneak around during the apocalypse. Unfortunately, I need to be at least jindan stage to start cultivating this technique," Li Xinwen sighed. Putting the book back in place, he suddenly remembered that Sun Xiao has Zhuo Yang body type, which means he has the aptitude to cultivate.

"Lanyu! Does the old master have anything that can help someone with Yang body type to cultivate?" Li Xinwen asked.

"Yes, we have several! But master... you have a Yin type body, ah! If you use a cultivation method for Yang body type, it will end up being detrimental for you!" Lanyu said in a worried tone.

"It's not for me. It's for someone else. Anyway, prepare me all that is suitable for someone with Yang body type. I'll take them out," Li Xinwen said as he began looking around once more.

"As you wish, master!" Lanyu said before he began to browse the shelves. "Ah, yes! The thing that can help you undo the seal is on the table! Master should have a look!"

When Li Xinwen heard it, he walked over to the table and saw that there are two books on the table, one thick and one thin. The table a short-legged table so Li Xinwen simply sat on the floor before he grabbed on the thinner book. Flipping through the pages, he found out that the pocket dimension belongs to the growing type of heavenly treasure. This means that even after Li Xinwen restores it to its original state, Li Xinwen is able to make it grow. Originally, the owner had only wanted to experiment if he could create a small world of his own. 'But since the pocket dimension is in this state, I guess he failed,' Li Xinwen thought as he continued to read. In the entry, it mentioned several other functions of the pocket dimension. Like the spiritual lake earlier can be used as nourishment. Further into the journal, it mentioned that the owner was able to put live animals inside.

"Lanyu!" Li Xinwen called out as soon as he read it. "Your old master mentioned that I can place animals inside this place. Can I still do it now? Or do I need to restore the jade first?" Li Xinwen asked.

Lanyu, who was busy taking out cultivation manuals turned to Li Xinwen before he answered. "Because of the damaged medium, you can only put small animals in..." then Lanyu's eyes seemed to shine brightly and he quickly flew toward Li Xinwen. "Master! Are you going to put some livestock in here?! Lanyu wants some chicken! It has been so long since Lanyu eats meat!"

"... the animals that your old master had placed here, were they all eaten by you?"

"Old master didn't place much... just a few Leaf Antelope, Flaming Bull, Mountain Ox, Tempest Chicken..." Lanyu murmured in a soft voice. Due to the contract that both of them have, Li Xinwen could sense that Lanyu was lying so he just raised an eyebrow to Lanyu. "Wuwuwuwu... Master! Please don't get angry! It's been over thousands of years! So, of course, Lanyu would be hungry! So I ate, ate and ate. Then by the time I realized it, the animals are all gone!!" Lanyu explained tearfully.