"Of course not. If they had one, they would have already come to massacre my family.

The only reason they want to negotiate is because my master interjected. But they have nascent soul cultivators.

Their strength is similar to our sect's Blue Lotus. That is why I want to become a golden core cultivator to make sure we will survive."

Since her cultivation base was unstable, LinHua knew she would have a hard time-fighting someone with a similar cultivation level.

Their enemy had four people at the nascent soul, while her family only had three.

That is why LinHua was desperate to become stronger, even going as far as trapping MingYue, taking a huge risk. If one thing went wrong, she knew it would come back to bite her, but what other option did she have?

LinHua then excused JiaNu. Being alone, she sat in a lotus position and started stabilizing her cultivation. But LinHua could not focus at all. seaʀᴄh thё novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

The thought kept surfacing in her mind, 'Am I really the Xueqi patriarch's daughter? If that is true, is MingYue my cousin?

But knowing my mother, she would never allow me to hurt someone that is my family...

Except there is something even more important for her to hide. But how could my mother do that?'

LinHua became restless, and her mind started cursing whoever made up the rumor.

Real or not, it's affecting her cultivation now. She then tried to vent by practicing some secret arts, but it was still useless.

Knowing she could not stay calm no matter what she did, Linhua decided to call JiaNu to prepare some snacks and tea.

Sipping the warm tea relaxed her mind, as it was not just normal tea but a special one made by her sect using a special type of lotus petal.

Looking at JiaNu standing in front of her made LinHua feel awkward. "You should sit, too."

"But miss, I am just a commoner."

"Just sit, JiaNu. Being a cultivator doesn't mean your life is better. Sometimes, I envy a life like yours."

JiaNu reluctantly took a seat, then replied, "You are kidding, Miss LinHua. Our life as commoners has no value at all.

Every day, we live in fear; any cultivator can wipe us all out with a flick of their finger."

"You are exaggerating, JiaNu. As long as you live in a city under the protection of a sect or prominent family and pay your taxes, you will have a stable life.

Even when there are conflicts between families or sects, they rarely attack the city occupied by them.

After all, what use is taking over a dead city? They need the money that comes from it.

You just need to work, earn your due, and keep on living. But see us, cultivators, we kill each other, even inside our own family or sect; we fight each other vying for resources.

The moment we become useless, we will be cast aside. Tell me, do you wish to have a life like this?"

"Our life is still in danger anytime. Even among commoners, many people sell their own families as slaves since they cannot earn enough money to live. I think it's not that much different compared to cultivators."

"But at least you can have friends, and not all relatives are like that. As long as you have money, you rarely have problems. But for us cultivators, money has no value.

What matters are Qi crystals and cultivation resources, and we never have enough of them. Only when we reach the top can we stop."

"I am sorry for asking this, Miss, but do you really have no friends?"

"Friend?" LinHua let out a dry chuckle.

"You know MingYue? Everyone knows I hate her, and she hates me too.

But you know what? Actually, if we were not cultivators or met under different circumstances, I am sure we could become friends. Both of us try hard for our families.

Even though I feel similar to her, we still cannot become friends. We need to fight each other to get cultivation resources.

Every day is a tiring grind without any guarantee it will give us any results. Believe me when I say being a cultivator is not as good as most commoners think."

JiaNu then asked, "Did you regret it, Lady LinHua?"

"Regret what? Becoming a cultivator? No, I don't. I just sometimes feel tired of this kind of life.

We become cultivators seeking strength and immortality so we can do anything we want, but in the end, how many reach that level?

The rest perish on the journey. Living hundreds to thousands of years filled with conflict, in the end, left alone and failed to achieve their dream."

"That's not what I meant, Lady LinHua. Do you regret not trying to become friends with Lady MingYue?"

LinHua froze at JiaNu's question. She had never thought about it, but then she sighed, "Does it matter? She is dead now."

Her lips then curled into a smile.

"If she survived, I am sure she would try her best to take revenge, making my life hell. Since I would also do the same if I were her, we are quite similar in that regard."

"What will you do if you meet her again then?"

"What a weird question. Don't you know she's dead too? Well, if we do meet again, I am sure she will try to kill me. We will then fight to the death."

"I see, but didn't you say you wanted to be friends with her?"

"That is just a small thought. As cultivators, it's just impossible. I do hear some people become friends, but that is very rare, JiaNu.

Maybe I will find one if I ever reach a higher level of cultivation. Even for a spouse, we as cultivators will look for one that can make our bloodline stronger, not because of feelings or emotions.

Honestly, in my opinion, cultivators are just people obsessed with power and immortality."