*{System: This prince and your four other friends if you guys were on the run}
Tang Xilong didn't reply the system anymore to put all focus on running and a few hours later, he finally saw sunshine but it was setting "System, how long do we have before the sun sets?"
*{System: Well two hours and there is a treehole one hour run from here and five meters above the ground which is safe for the night and can fit all five of you}
Tang Xilong started running again after taking a breather, he dodged trees and evaded beasts on the way 'What about the beast horde?"
*{System: Beasts around the first to third mountain are nocturnal so they only come at night so worry about that if it's nighttime but be careful not to alert any beasts on the way to the tree}
Tang Xilong asked 'Now specify this treehole. A hole or a cave or a tunnel again"
*{System: Its a cave this time, I promise}
Tang Xilong sighed 'Okay good'
An hour later, Tang Xilong got to the tree and saw the cave then he jumped up and into it
But when he took a step forward, he and Ning Caiyu fell straight down 'System! I thought you said this was a cave!'
*{System: (≧▽≦) Oh no no, this is payback, remember when you and your marten were teasing me and calling me grandpa! You think I forgot, didn't ya? You won't die so don't fret but enjoy your free fall haha oh reminds me of this song from another dimension free falling.. ohh free falling, up down lalala up in the air you're falling}
Tang Xilong was frustrated 'You damnable system, stop singing'
When they landed on soft ground second later, Ning Caiyu was about to wake up so Tang Xilong knocked him out again
Tang Xilong dusted his clothes and carried Ning Caiyu on his back again then he looked around to see a sleeping beast a few meters behind him "Yo, system, what kind of beast is this?"
*{System: A Crossed Devil Mole, it's only at the second level late stage. Nothing hard for you. Oh yeah I forgot to tell you, since devil energy is somehow thin in the mortal realm. You need to find devil beasts and eat their demon core. Don't worry, it will just melt into your mouth and your dantian will absorb the energy. Unless you wanna spend money at the sect to buy devil energy stones}
Tang Xilong rolled his eyes "Then why didn't you tell me earlier?"
*{System: I was waiting for a devil beast to appear in the area but they are truly rare in the mortal realm}
Tang Xilong then placed Ning Caiyu on the ground gently so he wouldn't wake up and he prepared himself for a fight
*{System: What the heck are you doing?}
Tang Xilong replied while stretching "Preparing myself for battle"
*{System: With a system like me, do you even need to fight? All you need is tactics but if there is no tactic that's where brute strength comes in now as for this one, it has weak resistance to poison so I suggest you sneak up to its face. Condense your poison element then infuse with a bit of its blood so you can control the poison to spread throughout the blood streams and destroy it from inside then absorb the demon core, easy peasy}
Tang Xilong was surprised "Wow, system, you make it sound so easy but what if it wakes up when I draw a bit of its blood?"
*{System: That's cue for you to step back and control the poison to spread faster}
Tang Xilong took a deep breath then looked back to make sure Ning Caiyu hadn't awoken yet and he started condensing his poison element in his hands as he stepped closer to the beast. He moved the poison to one hand and used the other hand to control Nana which had turned to Qiqi, the scythe form to cut a slash across the beast and Tang Xilong immediately merged the blood into the poison then sent it into the injury and hurriedly jumped backwards
Tang Xilong was expecting the beast to at least move after being cut but it didn't even bulge so he just shrugged and controlled the poison to spread faster and the beast body started trembling then when it was about to reach the heart, the beast suddenly awoke and it's eyes were bulging which shocked Tang Xilong but before it could make a sound, the poison had already taken its life and it laid lifeless with its eyes still open
Tang Xilong scratched his head "Ehnn, that was too easy, is my poison element that strong?"
*{System: No, it's your forbidden element, blood. It is called forbidden for a reason, it's only because you had merged the poison with the blood element that it could spread and enter its body so quickly. Without it, the beast would have been able to attack you at least thrice before the poison worked}
Tang Xilong smiled as he cut his palm then controlled his blood to fly above his palm and change shape 'Heh, it's good to have forbidden elements too'
Then a surprised voice came from beside him "Xilong? What's going on? Blood? Your blood is floating!!!!"
Tang Xilong immediately canceled what he was doing and the system healed his palm then without saying a word, he was about to knock Ning Caiyu out again when the boy himself fainted and fell into Tang Xilong's arms
Tang Xilong sighed as he placed him on his back "You poor thing, you've been knocked out so many times that you willingly collapsed on your own. System, why didn't you tell me that he had awoken?"
*{System: Don't get mad at me, he had already started speaking when I realized the dummy's eyes were open and looking at your blood swirling around. I told you not to let anyone know about your forbidden elements}
Tang Xilong walked towards the beast as he replied grudgingly "I know, I know. I'll just find an excuse for him when he wakes up"
Tang Xilong excavated the demon core from the beast and cleaned it before throwing it into his mouth then his devil level increased by one stage "System, I have a question, when I contracted with Xi'an and Xiaomi, which of my cultivation rose up?"
*{System: You're just wondering that now? Of course it's your devilkin cultivation. You think mortals who don't have any spiritual or devil energy which control elements can contract spiritual beasts or even normal ones?}
Tang Xilong then said "So I should be in Fourth level now with this demon core, right?"
*{System: (≧▽≦) Hah, you think one second level demon core could just shoot you up to fourth level so fast? There is a big bridge between the third level and fourth level of every cultivation. You need at least five more second stage or three more third stage or two more fourth stage to reach it.}
Tang Xilong sighed as he went towards the only exit in the place which was brightly lit with crystals embedded into the wall "System, where does this tunnel lead to?"
*{System: You should be proud of yourself for having a system like me. This tunnel leads right underground for the next kilometer and up into the fifth mountain and out of the sixth mountain. From there on, you have to go into a secret tunnel under a pond in between the sixth and seventh mountain and you'll land at the foot of the seventh mountain then you'll see the gates of All The Way Sect}
Tang Xilong was astounded "Wow system, you already had an easy way planned out for me ehh?"
*{System: Of course but are you sure you can walk it?}
Tang Xilong grinned "How long would it take, of course I can"
*{System: It's already late in the night of the third day, you should reach the pond by morning if you continue walking. The fifth and sixth is only twelve kilometers long but you have to make sure the prince boy stays asleep till you reach the pond unless you wanna tire out your siblings before reaching the sect}
Tang Xilong then grabbed a pill from his inventory and forcefully fed it to Ning Caiyu "This guy's literally making me waste all my precious pills. This Knockout Pill should put him to sleep for an hour tops, I'll definitely reach the pond before then"
Tang Xilong reached the place where the tunnel turned up and sloppy "Uhh, system, how do you expect me to climb up, it's so straight and so slippery"
.*{System: Just jump up and run forward, it's only ten meters high}
Tang Xilong held Ning Caiyu tight as he jumped up and ran forward, he almost fell back into the hole but steadied himself in time then suddenly Ning Caiyu slipped from his back
Tang Xilong hurriedly grabbed him by the waist before he fell in and while Tang Xilong was dragging him back up, Ning Caiyu's eyes shot open and Tang Xilong almost dropped him in shock but Ning Caiyu drowsily closed his eyes and Tang Xilong quickly brought him up before letting him go "Was that me or did Ning Caiyu open his eyes?"
*{System: Don't be silly, I can see everything you see and he definitely didn't open his eyes. Hie eyelashes only fluttered, you're the one seeing things hahah}
Tang Xilong rolled his eyes and got Ning Caiyu onto his back again then continued walking.
Unknown to them, Ning Caiyu had .. woken up but pretended to be asleep so when Tang Xilong carried him on his back, he was blushing then he opened his eyes to look around and saw that it was only the two of them in a bright crystal embedded tunnel 'Where are the other three? Hmm, maybe they went ahead'
About an hour passed and Tang Xilong finally reached the pond then he gently placed Ning Caiyu on the grass beside it. He stretched for a bit before bringing the other two out of their spaces and calling out "Tang Xie'er" then the whip on his waist turned into Tang Xie'er who clung onto him happily
Tang Xiaomi and Tang Xi'an turned into their human form then Tang Xiaomi happily jumped up and down "Xi Gege, look, I can jump now hehe"
Tang Xilong patted her head "That's pretty good for a.. uhh, how old are you now?"
Tang Xiaomi happily raised five fingers up "I am five days old this morning!"
Tang Xie'er smiled and said "Great news, It's good that Xi Gege made this form for you or we wouldn't have been able to bring you in"
Tang Xiaomi nodded then patted Tang Xi'an's shoulder "Xi Jie, the beast space we were in was pretty spacious right? Now tell Xi Gege what you told me when we were there"
Tang Xi'an nodded "Xi Gege, I.. I was wondering when you would contract more beasts to fill the space cause it's really big"
Tang Xie'er was surprised "Wow, Xi'an, you can speak in full and longer sentences now"
Tang Xiaomi proudly said "Of course, I taught her and she is a very fast learner"
Tang Xilong smiled as he sat down "Good job, Mimi. Xi'an, we'll have to see to that much later, it's not good to have too many beasts sometimes, okay?"
Tang Xi'an nodded then asked "Should I go into the water to look out for any danger?"
Tang Xilong asked "Would your fire work in the water? Definitely not, just take a sit, I already checked it"
Tang Xi'an nodded and took a seat beside Tang Xiaomi who was playing with Tang Xie'er then Tang Xilong glanced at Ning Caiyu who immediately closed his eyes shut "This dummy should have woken up by now"
Tang Xi'an said "Maybe he is sleeping, what would you do if he one day found out about all our secrets?"
Tang Xilong shrugged and said calmly "If he found out about you three, I'll give him a quick death but if he found out about mine, I'll burn him alive to non existence with my Devil Spirit Fire. He is only a mortal I saved, nothing important"
Tang Xiaomi punched his shoulder "Xi Gege, don't be so mean, can't you just let him join family? He did say he acknowledges the fact he owes you his life"
Tang Xilong shook his head "If people were so trustworthy, why would my own parents abandon me at age of five just cause they found out I have forbidden elements? I can't trust anyone, it's too dangerous"
*{System: What about those four friends of yours?}
Tang Xilong sighed "I don't even know about those four, well if I see them again, I might reluctantly interact with them but that doesn't mean we are friends. My family comes first and Xie'er, Xi'an and Mimi are my only family now"
When Tang Xilong placed Ning Caiyu on the grass, he slowly opened one eye halfway and he saw and heard everything that happened then his thoughts were 'How the heck did all these beasts and that Xie'er guy just appear out of thin- oh my goodness, that whip was Xie'er and those beasts are Xi'an and Xiaomi!!! What is a beast space? Contract?? Is it another name for taming beast? Who you calling dummy, am so not dumb. W-what? Kill me.. and he just said it like that.. forbidden elements? Oh he was abandoned, oh goodness me, I mustn't let them know I know and I won't tell anyone either cause no one deserves to know. I should try to earn his trust so he won't just kill me when he gets angry but I should probably pretend to wake up now before they start getting suspicious'
While Tang Xilong was looking over at Ning Caiyu, he slowly opened his eyes and their eyes met but Tang Xilong immediately looked away while saying "You're so weak and fainted before we even got out of the tunnel"
Ning Caiyu got up and sat beside Tang Xilong who side eyed him "What?"
Ning Caiyu replied "Am sorry, I guess my body's still weak from the injuries. It's my fault for dragging you guys down"
Tang Xilong rolled his eyes and stood up "Well, good to know you know that you're a burden, time to move, everyone on your feet"
Ning Caiyu's tummy grumbled before he even stood up then everyone looked at him and he coughed "Ahem.. looks like am hungry.."
Tang Xilong held his head and finally realized that he himself hadn't eaten anything for the past four days, he looked towards the others
Tang Xie'er and Tang Xi'an shook their heads signalling that they weren't hungry but Tang Xiaomi said "Xi Gege, me and Xi'an are hungry but Xie'er is definitely not. How about we eat then we move!"
Tang Xilong nodded then said "I already finished up my food when I was at the island cause I didn't know there would still be a test here. Okay, Xie'er, let's go get something for this three to eat"
Ning Caiyu stood up "No no, Err Xilong Ge, I can go kill some small beasts for us to roast or get some fruits to munch on, whichever is to your liking"
Tang Xi'an spoke up "No, Xi Gege, Caiyu Gongzi is too weak, let me and Xie'er go find food instead"
Tang Xilong agreed and pushed Ning Caiyu shoulder down indicating him to sit and he obediently sat down back
Tang Xiaomi said "Xi Gege, can I go with Xi Jie and Xie Gege? I wanna kill some beasts too!"
Ning Caiyu abruptly spoke up before Tang Xilong "No no no way, you're absolutely too young"
Tang Xilong glared at him "Who are you to tell my sister what to do but Mimi, he is right, you're still too young. Just lay down and rest, Xi'an will wake you up to eat when they're back, okay?"
Tang Xiaomi nodded then fell asleep on the grass and Tang Xi'an set off with Tang Xie'er to find food
Ning Caiyu looked at Tang Xilong's side profile as he watched the two off 'Xilong Ge is actually pretty good looking if one pays close attention. I wonder if he'll ever smile at me one day'
Tang Xilong turned to look at him then he quickly looked down and hugged his knees so Tang Xilong sat half a meter away from him "Yo, Gong zi, don't faint from hunger yet. They should be back soon"
Ning Caiyu shook his head as he looked at Tang Xilong "Don't call me that, Call me Caiyu"
Tang Xilong scoffed and didn't reply but laid down to take a nap "Truly a bug"
Ning Caiyu chuckled "Cai as in only and Yu as in jade. What's yours?"
Tang Xilong turned his back to him "And why should I tell you?"
Ning Caiyu said "Cause we're friends and it's fun"