Chapter 29 — ILK Chapter 29

Rong Cheng’s true form was a Three-legged Golden Crow. Divine beasts were rare treasures that could be sought but not easily found; even their Master had found it incredible when she picked up an unhatched Golden Crow egg. However, the Golden Crow clan was elusive, having no fixed abode and never living in groups. Their Master had searched for years without finding any trace of them.

Eventually, a Peacock—who was on good terms with all winged divine beasts—told her: Golden Crows were naturally flighty and loved freedom. It was likely that the parent had found egg-sitting boring, flown off to play, and happened to have the egg picked up. Upon returning and finding it gone, the parent probably didn't think twice about it; after all, divine beasts were protected by divine power and needed no worry. So, the parent simply left.

Thus, Rong Cheng grew up peacefully in Shifang Grotto. Because of her unique status as a Three-legged Golden Crow, the sect couldn't officially enroll her as a disciple, so she simply became an outer-sect disciple who was free to come and go.

Unlike most people in Shifang Grotto, Rong Cheng possessed zero culinary talent—let alone mastery. Her cooking was limited to reheating; the dish had to be prepared by someone else beforehand, or it would turn into a disaster. The reason was simple: Rong Cheng had too many "sudden inspirations." For instance, Pumpkin Stewed with Century Eggs—a brilliant golden porridge interspersed with unidentifiable black objects. Or Dragon Fruit Stir-fried with Shredded Potatoes—bright red potato strips dotted with black dragon fruit seeds. To make matters worse, she was exceptionally diligent and active, producing dozens of such "ideas" a day.

Eventually, her Master put her in charge of managing the flames for over thirty stoves in the Shifang Grotto restaurant to consume her restless energy. Everyone could see that Rong Cheng wasn't suited for a secular, pastoral sect like theirs. Her Master had dropped hints, but Rong Cheng herself didn't know what she wanted to do. In Shifang Grotto, time was long, and there was plenty of it to figure out one's life purpose. So, she remained the Fire Master and spent her spare time making pottery.

Just like now.

Rong Cheng disparagingly surveyed the cutlery, cookware, pots, pans, and dishes in Sang Ye’s kitchen. "I just got back for rotation leave. I'll fire a few sets for you over the next few days," Rong Cheng said, her excitement at seeing family palpable. "I've collected a lot of raw materials over the years, including iron. I'll forge an iron wok for you! Food made in an iron wok tastes the best!"

Sang Ye shared her experiences of transmigrating while making Passion Fruit Lemon Honey Tea for her. Rong Cheng had arrived in the Gamma Galaxy dozens of star-years earlier. She was born directly into this world, and this time, she wasn't abandoned by unreliable parents. On the contrary, her family was minor nobility, and she grew up in the lap of luxury—or at least "jade-like food." She was an only child.

Upon her birth, her parents nearly cried themselves to death when they learned she had awakened an S-rank spiritual form, the Three-legged Golden Crow. By the time her mental riots began at age fourteen, they had accepted the fact. The once-lethargic couple suddenly became ambitious, vowing to climb to high positions to find a way to save their daughter. With her parents' connections, she lived quite well on Black Tower and didn't even have to go to the most dangerous zones. The reason she had stayed at almost every sub-base was simply because her energy was too abundant with nowhere to release it.

Rong Cheng also brought her insights into the world's mental riots, especially those involving Ancient spiritual forms: the environment. Ancient forms often required more abundant mental power for nourishment and a richer spiritual environment. Just as divine beasts loved vibrant, hidden spiritual realms, even ferocious beasts only stayed in desolate lands because they weren't accepted elsewhere.

Rong Cheng confessed the reason for her own riots. As mentioned, Golden Crows were naturally free and hated being constrained. A Golden Crow turned into a spiritual form was like a child; it couldn't control its temper or learn patience, especially when trapped in a mental landscape. It was S-rank, but Rong Cheng’s own mental power hadn't yet reached S-rank. When she couldn't control it, a riot occurred.

However, after arriving on Black Tower, the Golden Crow's condition improved. The unique environment allowed it to come out for "fresh air," flying freely, setting fire to mountains, and releasing energy. Although it constantly drained Rong Cheng’s power, it would calm down after returning to the landscape. Thus, among the many Sentinels on Black Tower, Rong Cheng’s mental stability was actually the best controlled.

Her parents missed her dearly and had summoned her home several times, but an S-rank form released on a normal planet was too destructive, and Rong Cheng struggled to keep it within a designated area. Ultimately, she returned to Black Tower and rotated through various bases.

Sang Ye listened while her hands never stopped moving. This was the Passion Fruit Lemon Honey Concentrate she had prepared earlier. After slicing the lemons and picking out the seeds, she scooped out the passion fruit pulp. She took a glass jar, poured a layer of honey on the bottom, and then layered passion fruit, lemon slices, and brown sugar until the jar was full. Finally, she squeezed honey over the top, watching it seep down. After refrigerating it for two or three days to let the sugar melt, she could take a portion out to steep in water—hot or cold.

After Lin Changli ate her pig-shaped ice cubes, Sang Ye had frozen over a hundred more. She took out four—two for each—and mixed a large spoonful of the passion fruit jam with cold-steeped tea. The tea fragrance, the sweet-and-sour passion fruit, the honey, and the tartness of the lemon harmonized perfectly. One sip was a refreshing explosion of flavor.

"I finally get to eat something normal!" Rong Cheng sighed. "You have no idea. That day I was in the pottery room, and the moment I heard the signal, I rushed to the mountain. I didn't even bring my storage ring." So, she had spent decades in the Gamma Galaxy drinking nutrient solutions.

"If we could come here, do you think the Master, the Grandmaster, and the Senior Sisters...?" Rong Cheng ventured tentatively.

Before meeting Sang Ye, she had pondered this. After seeing her, she was certain: if the two of them could transmigrate, the others were likely scattered across the galaxy—perhaps even outside the Gamma Galaxy.

Sang Ye smiled. "Let me show you something."

The Wu family had returned home, and Lin Changli had left the West Building. Sang Ye invited Rong Cheng into her pocket dimension. Allowing a Sentinel into one's mental landscape was unthinkable—Sentinel power was violent and aggressive, while Guides were peaceful. It was a deeply private act; one slip-up could mean disaster for a Guide. But Sang Ye was certain Rong Cheng wouldn't hurt her.

When Rong Cheng saw the Concentric Vine growing with the Parasol Tree, she hugged Sang Ye excitedly. "Master and the others are still alive!!! They are in this world too!!" In the mental landscape, Rong Cheng transformed back into the Three-legged Golden Crow, flying everywhere to express her joy.

Back in reality, they inevitably discussed their plans for the future. Sang Ye bared her heart: "I want to find the Grandmaster and the Masters and rebuild 'Shifang Grotto.'"

In this world, planets could be bought and sold. The Gamma Galaxy alone had countless abandoned planets whose resources were spent, left vacant because they weren't suitable for humans. Some families, like the Wu family, bought ownership of planets to establish ancestral homes. The Empire was usually happy to facilitate this as it saved resources while building infrastructure and alleviating population pressure.

With Sang Ye's current power, manifesting her dimension outwardly was impossible, but with the help of her elders, there was hope. Then, they would slowly find the other disciples and continue their lives together.

Rong Cheng scratched her head and remained silent. Sang Ye looked at her, puzzled.

Rong Cheng seemed to have gathered her courage. "Senior Sister, I'm willing to help you find the Masters, and I'm willing to help rebuild Shifang Grotto. But once it's built... I might not live there with you all."

Sang Ye’s heart sank for a moment but quickly steadied. "You... have somewhere else you want to go?"

Rong Cheng nodded. "I like the Legions. I like pioneering, and I like climbing the military ranks." Her voice was soft, but her eyes were bright. "Among all the Sentinels on Black Tower, aside from the Generals, I’m the only one who has set foot in every known area! Some areas were even pioneered by me and the Generals!" She showed Sang Ye her terminal, which displayed the rank of Brigadier General.

As an "exiled" Sentinel, her rank was higher than Sang Ye's.

"During my previous talks with the Generals, they said that if my mental riots weren't so rapid, I’d have a chance to join the Imperial Expeditionary Force to explore new galaxies. Old Marshal Wu Jinyue rose to her rank because she was the pioneer who discovered adjacent galaxies!" Rong Cheng changed completely when talking about this; she was always focused, but now she was passionate... and in love with her work. "I love seeing new worlds. And... I have a mother and father in this world. They are still waiting for me to come home."

Sang Ye wasn't disappointed. Even before transmigrating, she knew that while Rong Cheng belonged to Shifang Grotto, she wasn't suited for it. Rong Cheng had arrived decades earlier and experienced much more. She had finally found what she truly loved. As her Senior Sister, Sang Ye should be happy for her.

Sang Ye nodded with a smile, genuinely glad for her. "Senior Sister, no matter where I am, I am still a member of Shifang Grotto. I've just taken a different path. If the sect ever needs me, I will definitely help," Rong Cheng promised earnestly.