Xu Xiaoxiao's Immortal Cultivation Life (Transmigration)

Chapter 171 Searching for People

With Lan Ji's company and the meticulous care of the deep-sea mermaids, Xu Xiaoxiao finally made a full recovery. She walked back and forth in the cave full of energy, feeling the long-lost health and strength.

At this moment, her only thought was to find her senior brother Jiang Jingzhi and second senior brother Mu Zhusheng as soon as possible. The three of them had embarked on this journey full of unknowns and dangers together, but now they had unexpectedly become separated. How could she feel at ease staying in the safe territory of the deep-sea mermaid clan?

Xu Xiaoxiao took a deep breath and, with a firm resolve, walked toward where Grandpa Turtle was. Along the way, she saw many strange and beautiful deep-sea scenes, but she had no heart to appreciate them, her heart filled with worry for her senior brothers.

When she came to Grandpa Turtle, she bowed slightly and said respectfully, "Grandpa Turtle, I have been bothering you for a long time. Thanks to your and Lan Ji's care, my injuries have healed so quickly. Now that I am fully recovered, I really cannot stay any longer. I must go out to find my eldest and second eldest brothers. They must be looking for me anxiously. I came here to say goodbye and thank you for taking care of me during this time."

Grandpa Turtle looked at Xu Xiaoxiao with kind eyes, his gaze filled with worry and reluctance. He sighed softly and said slowly, "Child, I know you miss your senior brothers, but the demon realm is extremely dangerous. You are unfamiliar with this place, and once you leave our territory, danger will follow one after another. Moreover, after ten thousand years, most of the demon race still have prejudices against humans. If you accidentally encounter those demons who hate humans, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Xu Xiaoxiao bit her lip, a hint of stubbornness in her eyes, and said, "Grandpa Turtle, I know there are many dangers outside, but I can't not go to them just because I'm scared. My senior brothers and I have a deep bond, and they must be trying to find me too. I can't let them down."

Grandpa Turtle nodded, as if he had expected Xu Xiaoxiao to say that. He raised a wrinkled hand, took out a bead that emitted a soft light from his pocket, handed it to Xu Xiaoxiao, and said, "This is a Spirit-Avoiding Bead. If you carry it with you, you can disguise yourself as a demon and your human identity will not be easily discovered. This will reduce your danger to some extent."

A hint of surprise flashed in Xu Xiaoxiao's eyes. She carefully took the Spirit-Avoiding Pearl and said gratefully, "Grandpa Turtle, thank you so much! I, Xu Xiaoxiao, will never forget your kindness."

Grandpa Turtle waved his hand and continued, "This Spirit-Avoiding Pearl alone is not enough. I'm worried about you going out to explore on your own. Lan Ji is lively and active by nature and is quite familiar with the demon realm. I want her to accompany you to search for people. With her by your side, you'll have someone to look after you." Most importantly, he wanted to protect this person who might be the hope for saving the demon realm.

At this moment, Lan Ji, who had been standing to the side, suddenly brightened up and jumped up excitedly, saying, "Great! I've been wanting to go out and see the world for so long, and now I finally have the chance! Xu Xiaoxiao, don't worry, with me here, I'll definitely help you find your senior brothers!"

Looking at Lan Ji's expectant expression, Xu Xiaoxiao felt a surge of warmth in her heart. She looked gratefully at Grandpa Turtle, then at Lan Ji, and said, "Grandpa Turtle, Lan Ji, thank you so much! I was worried that I would encounter many difficulties going out alone, but now that Lan Ji is with me, I feel much more at ease."

Grandpa Turtle smiled and nodded, saying earnestly, "You must be very careful on your journey. Don't be reckless if you encounter danger. Protecting yourselves is the most important thing. If you really can't solve the problem, come back to us."

Xu Xiaoxiao and Lan Ji nodded solemnly and said in unison, "Grandpa Turtle, we've got it!"

And so, with Grandpa Turtle watching them go, Xu Xiaoxiao and Lan Ji embarked on their journey to find Jiang Jingzhi and Mu Zhusheng.

Lan Ji led Xu Xiaoxiao swiftly through the deep sea. Along the way, schools of colorful fish swam past them, and coral reefs of various shapes shimmered with enchanting colors under the dim light. However, Xu Xiaoxiao was preoccupied with her lost senior brothers and could only glance at these beautiful sights briefly, her eyes filled with anxiety and worry.

Lan Ji seemed to sense Xu Xiaoxiao's thoughts and would occasionally whisper a few words of comfort, trying to ease her inner unease.

Soon, they reached the shore. Lan Ji took a deep breath, and a faint blue light emanated from her body. As the light flickered, her originally magnificent fishtail gradually changed. The scales on her fishtail slowly faded away, replaced by a pair of fair and slender legs with smooth and graceful lines. Then, Lan Ji gently waved her hand, and an exquisite blue dress instantly appeared on her body. The hem of the dress fluttered gently in the sea breeze, making her even more beautiful and charming.

Xu Xiaoxiao stared in amazement at the incredible scene before her, exclaiming, "Lan Ji, you're amazing! This transformation is like magic!"

Lan Ji winked playfully, a bright smile spreading across her face, and said, "This is a piece of cake for us mermaids! It will make moving around on land much easier."

Xu Xiaoxiao nodded slightly, gazing into the distance with a hint of confusion in her eyes. She then turned to Lan Ji and asked, "Lan Ji, we've reached the shore now. Where should we start looking for my senior brother and the others? In this vast demon realm, finding them is like searching for a needle in a haystack. I don't even know where to begin."

Lan Ji rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought for a moment. After a while, a glint of inspiration flashed in her eyes, and she said, "Let me think... You and your senior brothers got separated in that mysterious sea area and near the magic array. Maybe they are still active in that area. We can start by searching around the magic array. Maybe we can find some clues. Moreover, that area is quite special. We might even encounter other demons who know something about it."

Upon hearing Lan Ji's words, Xu Xiaoxiao's eyes rekindled with hope. She nodded vigorously and said, "Alright! We'll do as you say! As long as there's even a sliver of hope, I won't give up. Even if it means searching the entire demon realm, I will find them!"

Lan Ji patted Xu Xiaoxiao on the shoulder, gave her a firm look, and said, "Don't worry, Xu Xiaoxiao, we will definitely find your senior brothers. With me by your side, we can definitely make it!"

After saying this, the two smiled at each other, their hearts filled with anticipation and determination for the search that was about to begin. They straightened their clothes, carefully put away the spirit-repelling pearl, and walked with firm steps toward the direction of the magic circle. The sunlight shone on them, outlining two young and energetic figures. On this vast land, they began a search for someone full of unknowns and challenges.

With unwavering faith in finding the missing person, Xu Xiaoxiao and Lan Ji headed towards the location of the magic circle. Sunlight shone on them, outlining two energetic yet slightly weary figures.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, a magnificent city finally came into view. The city walls were tall and thick, covered with strange runes that shimmered with a mysterious luster under the sunlight, as if telling the story of the city's antiquity and extraordinary nature.

The two arrived at the city gate, where they saw a bustling crowd of people. Various demons of different forms moved about among them. Some had completely transformed into human form, with elegant manners and extraordinary temperament; others had only transformed halfway, with beast heads and human bodies, exuding a primitive and wild aura. They either emitted a faint demonic aura or carried unique spiritual energy fluctuations, making Xu Xiaoxiao feel an atmosphere completely different from that of the cultivation world.

As Xu Xiaoxiao entered the city, her eyes were immediately drawn to the scene before her. The streets were lined with all sorts of stalls, and the dazzling array of goods was overwhelming.

There were magical artifacts radiating strange light, colorful elixirs, and all sorts of rare and exotic treasures. The stall owners shouted loudly, attracting passersby. Their voices rose and fell, weaving together into a lively symphony of the marketplace.

Among the crowd were many beautiful fairy girls, with graceful figures, dressed in gorgeous clothes, and walking lightly through the streets.

Some girls swayed their slender waists as they stood in front of their stalls, enthusiastically introducing their goods to passersby; others gathered in groups of three or five, laughing and joking, their clear laughter echoing in the air like silver bells. Their faces were beautiful and charming, their eyes sparkling with liveliness and allure, and every gesture they made exuded a unique charm.

Xu Xiaoxiao looked around curiously while closely following behind Lan Ji. She was both excited and nervous. She was excited to see such a bustling and prosperous demon city, but nervous because she was worried that her human identity would be exposed.

Lan Ji seemed to sense Xu Xiaoxiao's unease. She gently held Xu Xiaoxiao's hand and comforted her, "Don't worry, Xu Xiaoxiao, I'm here. As long as you wear the Spirit-Avoiding Pearl properly, there won't be any problems."

Xu Xiaoxiao glanced gratefully at Lan Ji, nodded, and tried to relax. They continued walking through the city, and every time they passed a stall, Xu Xiaoxiao couldn't help but stop and carefully observe the strange and unusual goods.

Suddenly, her gaze was drawn to an item on a stall: a crystal ball radiating a soft light, seemingly containing endless mysteries. Xu Xiaoxiao stepped forward, about to reach out and touch it, when the stall owner suddenly shouted, "Little girl, you can't just touch this! You can't afford to pay for it if you break it!"

Xu Xiaoxiao was startled and quickly withdrew her hand, an embarrassed expression on her face. Seeing this, Lan Ji smiled and said to the stall owner, "Boss, don't be angry. She's just curious. Is there anything special about this crystal ball?"

Seeing Lan Ji's friendly attitude, the stall owner's expression softened, and he said smugly, "This crystal ball is no ordinary item; it can glimpse the past and the future, making it a rare treasure. However, it's not cheap either."

Lan Ji and Xu Xiaoxiao exchanged a glance, thinking that this crystal ball could supposedly show the future, so it was obviously a fake. The two silently left the stall.

In this bustling city, Xu Xiaoxiao and Lan Ji inquired about Jiang Jingzhi and Mu Zhusheng everywhere. They did not let go of any possible clues and took out the portraits they carried with them to ask people if they had seen the two people. However, they were always disappointed. Everyone shook their heads and said they had never seen the two people in the portraits.

As the sun gradually set in the west, its afterglow spilled onto the street, casting long shadows of the two. Xu Xiaoxiao and Lan Ji dragged their weary bodies, each step appearing exceptionally heavy.

The long journey and fruitless search had exhausted their physical and mental strength. Seeing Xu Xiaoxiao's dejected look, Lan Ji felt a pang of heartache and said softly, "Xu Xiaoxiao, don't worry too much. We will find them eventually. Let's rest for a while today and recharge our energy. We'll continue the search tomorrow."

Xu Xiaoxiao nodded, mustered her spirits, and followed Lan Ji into an inn that looked fairly clean. The inn was bustling with people, some chatting enthusiastically and others enjoying their meals. They found a corner to sit down and asked the waiter for some food and tea.

Xu Xiaoxiao picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and the scalding tea flowed down her throat, gradually warming her initially cold body. Just then, she heard the conversation of the guests at the next table.

"Have you heard? The demon prince is getting married! This is a major event for the demon race; all races will receive invitations to attend!"

"Yes, yes, this wedding will definitely be very grand, and there might even be many rare and precious treasures on display!"

Xu Xiaoxiao's heart stirred. The purpose of her and her senior brothers' trip was to find a way to repair the barrier, but they had been clueless all along. As the core of the demon race, the demon royal city might be able to find some clues related to the barrier. Moreover, in such a grand occasion, they might even meet some people who could help them find their senior brothers.

Lan Ji noticed the change in Xu Xiaoxiao's expression and asked curiously, "Xu Xiaoxiao, what's wrong? Did you think of something?"

Xu Xiaoxiao lowered her voice and told Lan Ji her thoughts: "Lan Ji, we came to the demon race to find a way to repair the barrier, but we haven't made any progress. This time, the demon prince is getting married, and many important figures from the demon race will definitely gather in the imperial city. Maybe we can find some useful clues there, and we might even run into someone who knows the whereabouts of my senior brothers. I think we can take this opportunity to go to the imperial city."

Lan Ji's eyes lit up, and she said excitedly, "That's a great idea! We can't find any clues here anyway, so it's good to try our luck in the capital. But how can we sneak in to attend the wedding?"

Xu Xiaoxiao frowned and thought for a moment before saying, "We can first inquire about the requirements and procedures for attending the wedding, and see if we can find a way to get an invitation. If that doesn't work, we'll think of another way."

Lan Ji nodded vigorously and said, "Okay, let's do it this way! I believe we can definitely think of a solution."

The two exchanged a smile, their previously weary faces regaining a glimmer of hope. After eating a simple meal and regaining some strength, they got up and left the inn to inquire about detailed information regarding the demon prince's wedding. They wandered through the streets and alleys, asking different demons, not missing any possible opportunity.

As they made their inquiries, they gradually learned that the wedding invitations were issued by various tribes and factions, and obtaining one was not easy. However, Xu Xiaoxiao and Lan Ji were not discouraged. They believed that as long as they persevered, they would definitely find a solution.