"That's amazing?"
Tu Shan Hong Hong understood after Ling Feng's explanation and marveled at the ability's magic, being able to communicate across world barriers.
"It's not exactly magic, though. You should feel the invisible connection between us, that's the medium."
Ling Feng didn't intend to hide it from Tu Shan Hong Hong, speaking boldly. He couldn't sever this connection himself anyway.
"Is that so?
She knew this topic wasn't suitable for the current moment, so before Ling Feng could change the subject, Tu Shan Hong Hong had already done so.
"Going to Tu Shan? I don't know yet. I'll probably be very busy for a while." Ling Feng mused. He wanted to visit Tu Shan, but without a mission, he couldn't. Otherwise, his Wish Energy wouldn't last him for long.
Besides, Cloud Retainer had already arranged his cultivation for the coming period, starting tomorrow.
Speaking of cultivation, Ling Feng was somewhat looking forward to it. He wondered what kind of cultivation method it would be. It couldn't be like Ganyu in the game, flying around and fighting monsters, could it?
He wasn't Ganyu; he didn't have that kind of immense power. If they were Archer Hilichurls, he might be able to handle one, but two or more would be beyond him.
Archers typically didn't engage in close combat. He currently lacked effective ways to deal with ranged attacks. Sword control might help him deal with one or two, but only just.
Any more and, with his mastery of the Carefree Sword Control Art and the true qi within him, he wouldn't be able to cope.
As long as it wasn't fighting monsters, Ling Feng could accept it.
"Is that so." Tu Shan Hong Hong's eyes dimmed slightly upon hearing this, and she appeared quite dejected.
Ever since Ling Feng left last time, she had felt an emptiness in her heart. When she was with Ling Feng, she felt an inexplicable joy, a feeling she had never experienced before, and she didn't know how to resolve it.
Although she claimed not to care, her heart told a different story.
She knew she was a Tu Shan fox demon, and her rapid increase in strength was due to her emotions. The fact that she had risen from a minor demon king to a demon empress meant she had fallen in love and accepted Ling Feng's affections.
Perhaps saving her life was only a small spark, but even this small spark was like a sapling that would either wither or grow luxuriantly at some point. Whether this catalyst would be fertilizer or poison depended on fate.
"Yes, next month. I should have a day off then, and I'll visit Tu Shan, and also see how Mo Xiao Fan is cultivating."
Although Ling Feng sensed something amiss in Tu Shan Hong Hong's reply, he didn't know what she was feeling at that moment.
However, since he had promised to visit Tu Shan, he should give her a definite answer.
Ling Feng knew about the monthly cross-world mission, but he wasn't sure which world it would be or how much Wish Energy he would earn. However, a day of travel time should be enough.
"Okay." Hearing this, Tu Shan Hong Hong finally returned to normal, replying with an "Okay."
"Oh, by the way, there's some bad news: the time ratio between our two worlds might be different."
"Time ratio?"
"The time ratio means the flow of time in our two worlds is different. I've calculated that one day in my world is equivalent to five days in yours.
So, for me, it's a month, but for your world, it's five months."
"Five months? That's not long for us demons." Tu Shan Hong Hong breathed a sigh of relief. She thought it was bad news, but it was just about time.
For demons like them, time was the least of their concerns. Five months was indeed not long.
"That's good. I won't talk anymore. I need to sleep here; I have cultivation tomorrow." Ling Feng, hearing Tu Shan Hong Hong's tone soften, decided to end the conversation test.
"Goodnight."
"Mhm, goodnight."
Hearing Tu Shan Hong Hong's words, Ling Feng smiled slightly, replied, and then ended the test, falling asleep.
That night, Ling Feng slept soundly, unaware that tomorrow's cultivation would leave a deep impression on him.
...
The next morning, Ling Feng looked at the large rock in front of him, utterly bewildered. He stiffly turned his head to Cloud Retainer, swallowed, pointed at the rock before him, and asked in surprise.
"Master, today's cultivation isn't just carrying this big rock back to the mountain peak, is it?"
The rock in front of Ling Feng was larger than him, weighing at least twenty tons.
Twenty tons, what did that mean? A bottle of water is 500g. Twenty tons equals 20,000kg, which is equivalent to 40,000 bottles of mineral water. To put it simply, it was like a heavy-duty truck that could crush him to death.
"Of course not. That's one of Shenhe's training tasks."
"Phew. You scared me to death."
Upon hearing it wasn't his, Ling Feng breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn't even push that rock, let alone carry it.
However, Ling Feng was still a bit surprised. He didn't expect this to be Shenhe's task, but could Shenhe, carrying such a heavy rock?
Soon, Shenhe provided him with an answer.
Shenhe walked up to the rock, grabbed two corners with her hands, and lifted it effortlessly above her head. Ling Feng was dumbfounded by this feat alone.
"Junior Brother, I'm leaving first."
Shenhe even had the leisure to bid farewell to Ling Feng, and then she took off, carrying the large rock.
That's right, she *ran*! It was as if the rock she was carrying didn't exist.
If Ling Feng hadn't personally tried it and confirmed the rock was real, he would have believed Shenhe was carrying a piece of foam disguised as a rock.
Ling Feng truly hadn't expected Shenhe, who appeared to be a delicate woman, to possess such immense strength.
He now understood how much she had held back when they fought. Shenhe could probably kill him with a single punch, without even needing a weapon.
"Uh..." What else could Ling Feng say? He could only express his helplessness and admiration with a grunt.
"Stop looking. Your training for today is..." Cloud Retainer, seeing Ling Feng still gazing at the receding Shenhe, called out to bring Ling Feng's attention back.
"Is... what is it?" After witnessing Shenhe's training, Ling Feng knew his own would likely not be simple. His voice even faltered a bit.
"Starting with basic physical training, running. Start from here, run along the path up the mountain, and reach the summit within an hour and a half."
Cloud Retainer left these words and flew towards the summit, giving Ling Feng no chance to speak.
"Nani?!"
Ling Feng was shocked and quickly opened his map to check his current location. The map was a 3D map, showing how high he was from the summit.
"Over a thousand meters high! Holy crap! We're finished."
Ling Feng looked at the map. The distance between the summit and his current location was displayed, leaving him stunned. He would have to climb non-stop to reach the summit!
He was only at the second level of Qi Refining. His physique was comparable to an athlete, not a superhuman.
Moreover, Cloud Retainer had heartlessly abandoned him and flown away, giving him no opportunity to refuse.
"I see why Master said I should experience the feeling of freefall more! So that's what it was!"
Ling Feng's gaze was somewhat vacant. When he came down the mountain, he had simply jumped, like skydiving.
This was because Cloud Retainer said it was faster and she could guarantee he wouldn't die from the fall, and she had told him to experience the feeling more.
He now understood what she meant: he jumped down, and now he had to climb back up! While skydiving was exhilarating, climbing back up was not.
"No, I can't waste any more time. It's just an hour and a half, right? Today, I'll show you my limits! Senior Sister, wait for me!"
Ling Feng darted off towards the mountain, intending to catch up with Shenhe.