Chapter232 – I’m different

Just before leaving Cloud Peak, she ran into Dante, whom she hadn’t seen in quite some time. “Miss Lauren.”

“Hey. Didn’t you say you were taking White out for a stroll? When did you get back?”

Dante lowered his voice. “A few days ago the Mountain Protection Array was activated. I thought something major had happened, so I rushed back.”

He glanced around and leaned closer. “You went to ask my master for Thor’s Sword today, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

Dante let out a long sigh. “No wonder he looked like someone owed him eight million spirit stones. None of us dared get close.”

Lauren didn’t know whether to laugh or sigh.

“These past few years…” Dante shook his head. “You know how my master is. Self-control isn’t exactly his strong suit. Ever since Thor’s Sword was returned to the Sword Tomb, he’s been sneaking over there every few days just to stare at it. Touch it. Sigh at it.”

He dropped his voice further. “After Wallace resonated with it, Master sighs three times a day. Keeps muttering, ‘Why did a Thunder Spirit Root show up so damn early? We didn’t even get a chance to warm the seat. Why is Heaven so unfair? Why couldn’t I have been born with a Thunder Spirit Root?’”

Lauren pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh.

Cultivators were supposed to be detached from worldly desires. Gerald was living proof that some people simply failed that lesson.

With his talent, he could’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with Herbert. Instead, he was sulking over a sword like a child denied a toy.

“I’m telling you this in confidence,” Dante added quickly. “Don’t repeat it. If my master finds out, he’ll skin me alive.”

“Relax.”

“And there’s one more thing…” Dante looked unexpectedly embarrassed.

“Just say it. We’ve known each other for years.”

He cleared his throat. “Since Wallace awakened his Thunder Spirit Root, my master’s mood drops even faster whenever he sees White. So… could you take White to Starfell Summit for a while? Just until Master gets over this gloomy phase.”

Lauren blinked. “I thought it was something serious. That’s all? Fine. Call her.”

Dante sent a voice transmission. Moments later, a massive white bird streaked through the sky and landed before them. In a shimmer of light, she transformed into a slender young woman.

White had changed a lot.

Under Dante’s guidance, she was becoming more human with each passing year. Her white dress was immaculate, without a single crease. Her hair was neatly gathered with an elegant headband—no more crooked coral branch jammed in at an odd angle.

“Sister,” she greeted softly, offering a graceful bow.

“Thank you for taking care of me.”

Lauren raised a brow. That posture was textbook perfect. Dante had trained her well. Like master, like disciple.

“It’s nothing. Come with me.”

Starfell Summit already housed more than one spirit beast; White could keep Briar company.

.....

Lauren devoted herself to guiding Wallace for a time before returning to the Evercrest family estate to prepare for extended cultivation.

An invisible pressure pushed her forward relentlessly.

But advancing from Spirit Transformation to Mahayana was nothing like her earlier breakthroughs. The gap between realms was staggering. Increasing one’s lifespan from ten thousand years to twenty thousand wasn’t just a step—it was a chasm equal to all her prior progress combined.

Last time, it had taken her three full years to absorb the spiritual energy in that cave, and she’d only advanced from early to mid Spirit Transformation.

Now, cultivating in the mountains without such a rich spiritual vein—even with the vast resources her master had left her—it still took nearly fifty years to reach Great Perfection.

She felt it was unbearably slow. Others thought she was insane.

“What? You’re preparing to break through to Mahayana?” Gerald stared at her. “Why don’t you just skip the trouble and ascend straight to the heavens while you’re at it?”

Lauren replied calmly, “That’s exactly what I’m trying to do.”

Gerald: “….”

She took out a jade slip and handed it to him. “Sect Leader, is the key mentioned here still with you?”

He nodded. “Years ago, Mr. Drake prepared an ice cave. I’ve kept the key ever since. You’re planning to use it?”

“Yes. My Mahayana breakthrough will require immense spiritual energy. Without the ice cave, it could drag on for years.” She paused. “It’s already been sixty years. Master and the others have been in the Upper Realm for sixty days. I want to reach them sooner.”

Gerald’s expression softened slightly despite himself. Without further sarcasm, he handed her the key.

“Even after reaching Mahayana, you’ll still be a long way from ascension,” he said. “Herbert managed it by draining an entire secret realm dry. Finding one packed with ice-attributed spiritual energy? That’s rarer than stepping in dog shit by accident. Where the hell are you going to find something like that?”

Lauren smiled faintly. “That’s not something the Sect Leader needs to worry about. I have my own way.”

......

After getting the key and returning to the mountain, Lauren told Tarot she would be entering seclusion immediately to break through to Mahayana.

Tarot’s expression darkened at once.

“You’re pushing yourself too hard,” he said. “If you advance too quickly, your foundation could become unstable. Half the people who fail the ascension tribulation fall because their foundations are shaky. The other half lose their minds—they can’t endure the lightning.”

Lauren only smiled. “That’s them. I’m different.”

She looked at him calmly. “Senior Brother, I have Immortal Roots. Edmund once said that anyone born with Immortal Roots is acknowledged by Heaven itself. No matter how fiercely it strikes, Heaven won’t kill me. Don’t worry.”

Tarot frowned. “Fine. But you’ve been focused purely on cultivation. You barely have any real combat experience. You know what the Upper Realm is like. What are you going to do if you go up there like this?”

Lauren fell silent for a moment.

“I can’t afford to think about that right now,” she admitted. “My cultivation has to come first. Once I’m up there, there will be plenty of opportunities to fight. Down here?” She gave a helpless smile. “Who is there for me to practice with?”

Tarot sighed heavily. The lower a cultivator’s realm, the more they loved fighting. Once you reached Spirit Transformation, real battles became rare.

“Why don’t you spar with the Sect Leader?” he suggested.

Lauren immediately waved him off. “Please. He’ll show up with three thousand disciples behind him. I’m not suicidal.”

Tarot couldn’t help laughing.

“What about provoking Timothy at the Moonlit Sect?” she added casually.

Tarot snapped, “Timothy cultivates even harder than you. He doesn’t have time to waste on your nonsense.”

Lauren’s smile widened. “Good. I heard he’s made a lot of progress these past few years. Then I absolutely can’t fall behind. I have to ascend before he does.”

Tarot rubbed his temples. “Fine, fine. I can’t argue with you. But before you go into seclusion, shouldn’t you see your disciple? He broke through to Nascent Soul and went out to train. He hasn’t come back yet.”

“No need,” she said. “Don’t disturb him. I’ll visit the Evercrest family first, then enter seclusion. We’ll talk after I come out.”

At the mention of the Evercrest family, Tarot took out a Storage Ring. “They sent people a few days ago. This was delivered.”

Lauren opened it and was stunned. The ring was packed full of spirit stones. “So many?”