Ethereal World: Vicious Cannon Fodder's Immortality Road

Was it her imagination? Why did she feel like someone was following her?

She tried to sense it, but she couldn’t detect any malice. When she focused again, the presence disappeared.

"Master, did you sense something following us?"

"No," Xiong Zi Ying shook his head.

"Maybe I was mistaken." She nodded, dismissing the thought.

"Master, let’s go!!!" Xiao Li suddenly popped out from the Ethereal Small World, eager to get moving. He floated in front of her, his nine tails swaying cutely.

"Xiao Li, your tails have grown to nine now!" Shenlian Yingyue’s eyes widened in surprise. Previously, he had only seven.

"Maybe because Master’s strength has reached the late stage of Golden Immortal, it triggered my evolution. My bloodline awakened, and my tails grew," Xiao Li said, his amethyst-like purple eyes flickering with innocence and slight confusion.

Xiao Lan, Zhiyi, Jun Mu Yang, and Shenlian Yinzhu exchanged glances, their expressions shifting. The same was true for Bing Xue and the others, except for Xiao Nian, who was happily nibbling on Divine Cherries alongside Xiao Mei.

When it came to matters of love, both Xiao Nian and Xiao Mei were completely ignorant, being the youngest in the group.

"Really? Congratulations, Xiao Li!" She beamed and hugged him.

Xiao Li smiled happily, enjoying her embrace.

"But, Xiao Lan, why does your body seem different too? Have you awakened as well?" she asked, tilting her head in curiosity.

Xiao Lan’s white fur now had a layer of golden silk, shimmering like sunlight reflecting on the ocean’s surface. His deep, glacier-blue eyes held delicate snowflakes within them, mysterious and majestic. Even his claws had turned golden.

"I’ve awakened too, Master," Xiao Lan confirmed, pressing his fluffy face against her cheek and rubbing affectionately. His usually cold tone softened, like ice melting under the summer sun.

"Wow, congratulations!" She pulled him into a warm hug.

Xiao Lan’s eyes flashed with warmth and joy.

The others’ moods instantly soured.

They wanted to be hugged too.

Unfortunately, those who had already transformed into handsome and beautiful adults couldn’t act cute anymore; it would be inappropriate in public.

"For safety and to conceal our identities, I’ve invented these masks and cloaks for everyone. Once you put on the masks, your hair will turn black," Wang Pei Zhi announced enthusiastically, pulling out various items to show the group.

Dangers lurked everywhere in the Immortal Realm. Beasts, monsters, and other living creatures were certainly a threat; but humans were even more treacherous.

"Your craftsmanship has improved. Good job." Shenlian Sheshan nodded in approval after inspecting the masks and cloaks.

When he put on a mask, his once snow-white hair, which had glistened under the morning sun, turned as black as a crow’s feathers. Even his eyes darkened to a deep black, making him indistinguishable from an ordinary human.

"Uncle Shan, Brother Zhu, and everyone else have such unique and extraordinary appearances. If we travel with Yingyue looking like this, we’ll attract unnecessary trouble. These masks won’t break even if they’re struck by a Golden Immortal’s attack. I’ve reinforced them with emerald sand and other rare materials," Wang Pei Zhi explained, proud of his work but not arrogant about his achievements.

"You’re very talented now. Your craftsmanship is incredibly useful to us," Shenlian Yingyue said with a smile as she put on a silver face mask and cloak.

"Yingyue, it’s all thanks to your uncle. Without his guidance, I wouldn’t have been able to do this," Wang Pei Zhi admitted, scratching his head shyly at the praise.

"There are ruins beneath this sand. At night, the monsters in the desert are far stronger than those we encounter during the day," Xiao Mei informed her after sending out hundreds of Spirit Bees to scout the area.

"I see. So there are places even the Spirit Bees can’t access," she mused.

"Master, we’ll explore the surrounding areas for you. Wait for our report," a group of four hundred Red Snakes and Thunder White Wolves declared as they appeared.

Fortunately, no outsiders were present to witness hundreds of beasts in human form appearing out of nowhere.

"Be careful. Use this as an opportunity to train," she advised.

"Yes, Master!" they responded solemnly before vanishing.

Thus, the group continued their journey through the Immortal Realm. For the first three days, they cleverly navigated to places that few had ever reached.

Along the way, they encountered numerous dangers, including deadly sand creatures like Storm Rocs, Glass Lizards, and Oasis Phantoms. These monsters, equivalent in strength to True Immortals and Golden Immortals, had lived in the Immortal Realm for over ten thousand years, evolving by absorbing spiritual power from heaven and earth. Their forms were both strange and awe-inspiring.

The first creatures they encountered were the Glass Lizards.

These creatures had shimmering, translucent scales that reflected the desert sun like polished crystal. Their elongated bodies blended seamlessly with the sand, making them nearly invisible when still. When threatened, their scales caught the light, flashing in dazzling bursts to blind their attackers. Their eyes, resembling molten gold, glowed faintly at night, and their slender tails left delicate, winding trails across the dunes.

The region where Glass Lizards resided contained Sunfire Crystals, translucent gemstones capable of absorbing sunlight and storing heat energy.

Since ancient times, immortals, gods, fairies, and demons alike had relied on nature’s power to survive and grow.

The moon and the sun were among the most essential sources of energy. The sun, embodying yang, represented fire, strength, vitality, and destruction. It was a force of creation and purification.

Many members of their group, including her, her brother, uncle, and several of her companions, possessed the Spiritual Root of the Fire Element. Absorbing the sun’s power directly strengthened their qi circulation and enhanced body tempering.

However, this method had limitations. Since day and night alternated, they could only absorb solar energy during daylight hours. Furthermore, excessive heat could be dangerous; even in the Immortal Realm, the sun’s intensity could incinerate anything to ash.

To counteract this risk, nature provided a solution: the Sunfire Crystal.

Sunfire Crystals allowed cultivators to absorb solar energy at any time, day or night, underwater, or even in freezing winter conditions, without worrying about the time of day.