Victor, as usual, couldn't keep the bitterness out of his thoughts. Tch. Tall people get all the good things. The world really is unfair to short guys. His mental list of grievances against the universe grew yet again.
During this time, Tantan wouldn't stop complaining to Dastan, demanding that Leyvi hand over half of the commander-level demonic beast carcasses. She argued passionately that without the Crown Lightning Bolt, Leyvi wouldn't have been able to claim all those valuable treasures in the first place.
Leyvi, of course, felt the urge to tease her. Seeing Tantan's frantic insistence, he decided to play the villain for his own amusement. With an exaggeratedly stingy tone, he spouted every excuse under the sun to justify why Dastan didn't deserve even a single piece of the spoils and why everything rightfully belonged to him.
This only drove Tantan mad. She turned to her master, fur puffed up and tail lashing furiously, and squeaked in outrage about how unfair Leyvi was. She even suggested they kick Leyvi out of the group entirely for being such a greedy, selfish hoarder.
Leyvi, unbothered, found her reaction thoroughly entertaining. The more she complained, the more he leaned into his act, adopting an even greedier persona just to push her buttons.
As for the crown prince, he simply sat back and enjoyed the show. Unlike his spirit beast, he wasn't fooled for a second. He knew how generous Leyvi really was and instantly recognized this as another instance of Leyvi's playful acting. But as he watched, Dastan had a sudden realization.
So that's how it is…
All those times over the past year when Leyvi's antics had angered and annoyed him—they hadn't been completely serious either. Much of it had probably been an act, and as the one on the receiving end back then, Dastan had never noticed. Watching from the sidelines now, it was glaringly obvious.
Tch. This prince must have looked like a fool all this time, Dastan thought, his pride stinging. Good thing no one else was around to see it. Hmph! This prince won't be tricked that easily again.
The journey ended up taking a little longer than Leyvi had estimated. No surprise there, considering all the constant fighting along the way.
One of Leyvi's personal plans—searching for Water Essence Beads underwater while crossing the lake—had to be shelved. He had known little about the deepwater environment when he first made the plan, but now, after experiencing the dangers firsthand, he realized finding them would likely be far more difficult than he'd imagined. It can't be helped, Leyvi thought. I'll leave it for later when I'm better prepared.
On the eighth day of their underwater journey, Leyvi's spiritual sense caught sight of something different.
Finally, he saw it. A glimpse of an island.
---
In a washed-out mansion on a quiet island, a graceful lady in black and white was immersed in her alchemy. The soft glow of flames danced around her as she focused on her concoction. But then, from outside the window, a familiar shape drifted into view—a fluffy cloud carrying a plant.
The lady's hands paused mid-motion. The flames obediently withdrew, snuffing themselves out as she stood and crossed the room. With a gentle push, she opened the window, her lips curling into a warm smile.
"Senior Lapin, why have you come here with another cloud? And this one's… a lot bigger than usual. Are you trying to show me this mistletoe? Is there something special about it? Another rare medicinal herb?" Anda asked, her gaze soft yet curious as she examined the strange plant perched atop the cloud.
She had been alone in the mansion, making alchemy products while the other ladies stayed near the spiritual vein, deep in cultivation.
"Kekeke! No, no," Lapin chuckled in his usual tone. "This mistletoe here isn't for your cauldron. She's my new friend. I found her while searching for people. You can call her Miss Misty. And this is human Anda."
"Hello there, panda lady. I've heard about you from Mister Lapin," a soft, feminine voice chimed in. The mistletoe's leaves rustled as the cloud beneath it shifted slightly, as if to wave.
Anda's eyes widened slightly at the unexpected greeting, and she blinked a moment later. A demonic plant? But it doesn't seem like its true body.
"Senior Lapin," she began with a question in mind, "didn't you say—"
"—that demonic plants don't exist here? Kekeke!" Lapin interrupted gleefully. "I did say that. But it seems Miss Misty is quite the little survivor. She somehow avoided the notice of that colossal tree and managed to become a demonic plant despite all the odds. Amazing, isn't it?"
"I see… hello, Senior Misty. So Senior Misty is an ultimate survivor like Senior Lapin too. Nothing but respect," Anda said. "Does that mean Senior Misty will come to our world too?"
"Kekeke. I've invited her, but she still hesitates. She probably thinks I'm trying to scam her or something," Lapin said with his signature mischievous chuckle.
"Hihi. Mister Lapin, please don't say it like that," Misty replied with a soft laugh, her leaves rustling slightly. "It's just… too sudden for me. After all, I've been here for such a long time. The idea of leaving this world had never even crossed my mind, you know? I never got the chance to see this world until you brought me."
"If that's the case, let me bring you to see more of this world after our visit here," Lapin offered smoothly, as though such gestures came naturally to him.
"Hihihi. That sounds pretty fun. Thank you very much, Mister Lapin," Misty said brightly.
"No need to thank me. I was born to be a gentlemanly rabbit after all. And I consider Miss Misty as my friend—someone who shares a similar experience. A Celestial Cloud Rabbit always helps their friends!"
"Oh my… Mister Lapin. You're one sweet rabbit. It's too bad you're not a plant, or I might have taken quite a liking for you."
"Kekeke! I've heard that a few times," Lapin replied, smug amusement in his tone.
Anda blinked, listening to their playful exchange. What are they doing here anyway? Is it just to introduce her to me? That doesn't seem necessary…
"Kekeke! Look at us. We aren't supposed to be doing this right now. Human Anda, hop onto the Celestial Cloud. I am bringing you somewhere," Lapin said in his usual airy tone.
"Oh? Where are we going, Senior Lapin?" Anda asked as she leaped onto the cloud without hesitation, landing neatly beside the mistletoe. She already suspected this was his real reason for visiting and not simply to introduce her to a demonic mistletoe.
"You will know when you see it. It is just nearby, still on this island," Lapin replied, deliberately keeping the destination vague.
Anda tilted her head slightly, her curiosity piqued. What could it possibly be?
In the past two months, she and the other ladies had already explored most of the island to ensure that it was safe for them to stay. They had to be cautious since they might remain here for quite some time while they figured out how to deal with the spiritual vein.
When Ava reported a possible commander-level demonic beast residing in the jungle, Anda immediately sent Lapin's cloud to confirm it. Ava's hunch turned out to be accurate. A threat of that level could not be allowed to roam freely while they were on the island, especially since they did not have a grand protective formation like those surrounding cultivator cities.
To eliminate the danger, Anda led the group into the massive jungle and devised a meticulous ambush strategy. Together, they hunted down the lone commander-level demonic beast that ruled the area. The plan was executed flawlessly, and the final blow came from Cempaka's most powerful technique. The aftermath of her attack left the ground obliterated and trembling, a testament to the strength of the royal guards.
Apparently, all royal guards from the Protogaea Continent were trained with combat capabilities far above what their cultivation level would suggest. As part of their rite of passage, they were required to face a commander-level demonic beast while in the Core Formation stage. Victory was not mandatory because simply surviving such a fight was already an incredible achievement. However, a few exceptional guards had managed to defeat their targets outright, and those individuals often rose to become squad captains.
This made Anda feel a faint worry for Leyvi and Valenia. She hoped they would not encounter any of the royal guards, especially Leyvi, because they might be hostile. While he was undoubtedly strong and had plenty of sparring experience, she suspected his real-life combat skills might not yet measure up to those royal guards who had been tempered by countless life-and-death battles.
Of course, formidable combat ability alone did not make someone an ultimate survivalist, even though it played a significant role. After all, that was precisely why Cempaka had been in such a desperate predicament when Anda first found her.
The cloud carrying Anda drifted swiftly across the island, heading eastward. It passed over thick jungle canopies, glided above rocky outcroppings, and soon approached the coastline. A short while later, they arrived at a broad beach where gentle waves lapped at pale sand. The cloud descended slowly, and Anda leaped down lightly as it hovered overhead.