I Idle in the World of Immortal Cultivation
Chapter 38: The Divine Phoenix Ruins
On the fourth day, Yue Long was woken by her phone buzzing.
Not the wooden fish sound – a message alert. Groggy, she reached under her pillow and pulled out her phone. The screen was bright, making her squint. She glanced at it – not a message from Su Xiaoxiao, but a system notification.
[Detected that a member of the sect has set foot on a Land Map.]
[Land · One of the Mysterious Divine Continents. Note: This is another mysterious land, not the place where Yue Long came from.]
[The place where the Divine Phoenix once fell – the Divine Phoenix Ruins. Now called the "Phoenix Kingdom."]
Yue Long's rabbit ears sprang up.
"Master!" She sat up in her bedding, her rabbit ears straight. "Master! Look at your phone!"
Lin Luo was already awake. He leaned against the stone wall, his phone screen lit, his brow slightly furrowed.
"I see it."
"Sister Xiao has arrived!"
"Not yet. She's set foot on the Land Map, not reached the destination."
Yue Long leaned over to look at his screen. Lin Luo's phone showed a more detailed system notification.
[Su Xiaoxiao · Location updated.]
[Entered Land · Mysterious Divine Continent · Phoenix Kingdom.]
[Current distance to Divine Phoenix Ruins: about half a day's journey.]
[Destination's abnormal spiritual energy fluctuations continue to increase. Caution advised.]
Yue Long stared at the line "abnormal spiritual energy fluctuations" for several seconds. Her rabbit ears slowly drooped.
"Master, could it be dangerous?"
"I don't know."
"Sister Xiao is alone…"
"Not alone. The Fire Phoenix Sacred Ground people are with her."
Yue Long bit her lip. "The Fire Phoenix Sacred Ground people might not be reliable either. Didn't you say they're taking her to the Divine Phoenix Ruins, not the Phoenix Kingdom? Divine Phoenix Ruins and Phoenix Kingdom are several words apart."
Lin Luo didn't answer. He opened Su Xiaoxiao's profile and sent a message – "Arrived yet?"
The message went out. It said "Delivered." Not "Read."
Lin Luo turned his phone face down on his knee.
Yue Long crouched by the spirit field, her fingers playing with a Glow Mushroom. After a few touches, she turned back to Lin Luo.
"Master, is there anything we can do?"
"Wait."
"Wait for what?"
"Wait for her to reply."
Yue Long took out her phone, opened Su Xiaoxiao's profile, and sent a message too – "Sister Xiao, send us a message when you arrive. Stay safe. The Divine Phoenix Ruins don't sound like a good place. Be careful."
The message went out. It said "Delivered." Not "Read."
Yue Long stared at the screen for a long time, then put her phone away.
"Master, I'll go make soup."
"Yes."
"After soup, we go to the market."
"Yes."
"Do good deeds."
"Yes."
"Then look at the inn."
"Yes."
Yue Long stood up and brushed her skirt. "Can you say something else?"
"Yes."
Yue Long waited.
Lin Luo didn't speak.
Yue Long took a deep breath and went to make soup.
---
Today's soup was neither too salty nor too bland. Yue Long added salt twice – a tiny bit the first time, another tiny bit the second time. Two tiny bits together made just right. Lin Luo took a sip and didn't say anything. Yue Long crouched beside him, her rabbit ears up, waiting for his verdict.
"Not bad," Lin Luo said.
Yue Long's rabbit ears drooped. "Can't you just say 'good'?"
"Good."
"You sound like you're reading from a book."
"Yes."
Yue Long took the bowls away.
---
The two walked to the market. The sky had just brightened. The clouds in the east were dyed pale gold. Yue Long walked ahead, her rabbit ears bobbing in the morning wind, but today she wasn't humming.
The wonton stall owner was setting out bowls. When he saw them, he waved and smiled. "Little girl, you're early again today!"
"Good morning, boss. Does anyone need help today?"
The owner thought for a moment. "Not today. That injured young man from yesterday – you gave him medicine. When he left, he could walk on his own. He said thank you."
Yue Long's rabbit ears twitched. "He left?"
"Left early this morning. Said he was going to Suihuang City to find his senior brother."
"His leg isn't fully healed yet."
"He said the Bone Mending Pill worked, the bone was growing back. Walking slowly was fine."
Yue Long thought for a moment, crouched by the wonton stall, propped her chin on her hands. "Boss, two bowls of wontons."
"No good deeds today?"
"Didn't find any today. Eat first, look later."
The owner put two bowls of wontons in the pot. Yue Long took a bite – hot, but she didn't spit it out. She swallowed with tears in her eyes.
"Master."
"Yes."
"What do you think Sister Xiao is doing right now?"
"I don't know."
"Do you think she's hungry too?"
Lin Luo didn't answer.
Yue Long lowered her head and ate her wontons. After a few bites, she took out her phone again and glanced at it – next to Su Xiaoxiao's profile picture, the words "Online" still showed. No new messages. She put her phone away and kept eating.
Halfway through, Lin Luo's phone buzzed.
Not a message from Su Xiaoxiao – Bone One's idle alert.
[Bone One · Total damage dealt to Nascent Soul demon beast: approx 17%. Demon beast status: Right front leg bone broken, movement speed decreased by 50%.]
[Win rate updated: 21% → 25%.]
Lin Luo glanced at it, then turned his phone face down on the table.
Yue Long looked up at him. "Master, is Bone One winning?"
"Not yet."
"Soon?"
"Soon."
Yue Long nodded and kept eating her wontons.
---
After finishing the wontons, the two walked around the market again. No one needed help. Old Wang the vegetable seller's leg had healed – he was selling vegetables on his own. The blind granny hadn't gone out today. The injured young man had left. The wonton stall owner didn't need help.
Yue Long crouched at the alley entrance, her rabbit ears drooping.
"Master, no one needs help today."
"Then help tomorrow."
"But I haven't done today's mission yet."
"Do it tomorrow."
"Last time you said do it tomorrow too."
"Then the day after tomorrow."
Yue Long opened her mouth, then closed it. She stood up and brushed her skirt. "Let's go. Look at the inn."
---
The inn looked the same. The sign was older. More moss. Yue Long crouched at the entrance and poked the moss with her finger.
"Master, why doesn't the innkeeper sell?"
"I don't know."
"Is he reluctant to part with it?"
"Maybe."
"Then how will you buy it?"
"Raise the price."
Yue Long's finger paused. "How much?"
"Depends."
Yue Long thought for a moment, stood up, and brushed her skirt. "Master, when you buy this inn, I'll help you greet the guests."
"You know how to greet?"
"No. I'll learn."
"How?"
"Watch how others do it, then do it that way."
Lin Luo looked at her. "The innkeeper sleeps at the counter every day. You're learning from him?"
Yue Long opened her mouth. "…Then I won't learn from him. I'll learn from the wonton stall owner."
"The wonton stall owner only sells wontons. He doesn't greet guests."
"He does! He says 'Little girl, you're early again today!' every day."
"That's you. Not guests."
Yue Long took a deep breath. "Master, can you not – "
The corner of Lin Luo's mouth moved.
Yue Long saw it. "You're teasing me."
"Yes."
Yue Long pouted, but the corner of her mouth still curved.
---
Back at the mine, Lin Luo's phone buzzed. Not Bone One's – Su Xiaoxiao's.
[Su Xiaoxiao · Location updated.]
[Destination reached – Divine Phoenix Ruins.]
[Detected that the first sect disciple to open a new map shares the same bloodline origin as this world's inherited bloodline.]
[Yes / No to initiate awakening of the Five-Colored Divine Phoenix bloodline?]
Lin Luo stared at the line for two seconds. Yue Long leaned over, her rabbit ears almost poking his face.
"Master! Sister Xiao arrived! Bloodline awakening!"
Lin Luo didn't tap [Yes]. He opened Su Xiaoxiao's profile first and sent a message – "Arrived? Message me when you see this."
The message went out. It said "Delivered." A few seconds later, it said "Read."
Then Su Xiaoxiao's reply came back. Just two characters.
"Arrived."
Yue Long's rabbit ears went up. "She replied! She replied!"
Lin Luo sent another message – "The phone says you can awaken the Five-Colored Divine Phoenix bloodline. Tap [Yes]."
Su Xiaoxiao replied with one character. "Okay."
Lin Luo stared at the screen, waiting. No new messages. He turned his phone face down on his knee.
Yue Long crouched beside him, her rabbit ears up, her eyes fixed on Lin Luo's phone screen.
"Master, why isn't Sister Xiao saying anything?"
"She's awakening."
"How long does it take?"
"I don't know."
"Will it hurt?"
"Maybe."
Yue Long's rabbit ears slowly drooped.
Lin Luo's phone buzzed. Not a message from Su Xiaoxiao – a system notification.
[Su Xiaoxiao · Five-Colored Divine Phoenix bloodline awakening in progress. Estimated completion time: 72 hours.]
[During awakening, Su Xiaoxiao cannot communicate. Please wait patiently.]
Yue Long stared at the line for several seconds. "Master, three days without contact?"
"Yes."
"What do we do for three days?"
"Wait."
Yue Long stood up and brushed her skirt. "I'll go chop wood."
"We have enough."
"Then I'll chop again."
"We have enough."
"Then I – "
"You make soup."
Yue Long went to make soup. She busied herself by the stove, getting flour on her rabbit ears again without knowing it. Rat One squatted by the stove, waiting for mushroom scraps to fall. When Yue Long cut a mushroom, a piece fell. Rat One grabbed it and ran.
"Rat One! You're stealing again!"
Rat One squeaked twice and hid in his nest to eat.
The soup was done. Yue Long brought two bowls, one in front of Lin Luo, one in her own hands.
"Master, drink."
Lin Luo picked up the bowl and took a sip. "Bland."
"I didn't put any salt in today."
"Yes."
"Is it good?"
"Not bad."
Yue Long pouted, but didn't say anything. She crouched by the spirit field, drinking her soup, her rabbit ears drooping.
"Master."
"Yes."
"When Sister Xiao wakes up, what do you think she'll become?"
"I don't know."
"Will she become stronger?"
"Yes."
"Stronger than you?"
Lin Luo thought for a moment. "Maybe."
Yue Long's rabbit ears twitched. "Then when she comes back, the strongest in the Idle Sect will be Sister Xiao."
"Yes."
"Where do I rank?"
"Third."
"Who's second?"
"Bone One."
Yue Long opened her mouth. "Bone One doesn't count! He's an alt account!"
"Alt accounts are also part of the Idle Sect."
Yue Long took a deep breath. "Then I'm second. Bone One doesn't count."
"You don't get to decide."
Yue Long stared at Lin Luo for three seconds. "Master, you're teasing me again."
The corner of Lin Luo's mouth moved.
Yue Long stopped asking. She finished her soup, took the bowls away, crouched by the stove, and washed them. As she washed, her rabbit ears slowly went up.
"Master."
"Yes."
"Sister Xiao's Five-Colored Divine Phoenix bloodline awakening – does it take three days?"
"Yes."
"After three days, she can talk again?"
"Yes."
"Then we'll wait for her."
"Yes."
Yue Long dried the bowls, put them away, walked over to Lin Luo, and sat down beside him. Her rabbit ears slowly drooped, resting on his arm.
"Master."
"Yes."
"Are we going to the market again tomorrow?"
"Yes."
"Do good deeds?"
"Yes."
"Look at the inn?"
"Yes."
"When Sister Xiao wakes up, we'll tell her about the inn."
"Yes."
Yue Long closed her eyes. Her phone rested on her knee. The chibi figure hit the wooden fish again and again. Merit +1, merit +1, merit +1.
Lin Luo took out his phone and opened Bone One's interface. Bone One was still fighting. The Nascent Soul demon beast's right front leg was already broken. It dragged its lame leg through the ruins, moving much slower. Bone One's skeleton had more cracks, but his movements were faster than yesterday.
[Bone One · Total damage dealt to Nascent Soul demon beast: approx 19%. Demon beast status: Right front leg broken, movement speed decreased by 60%.]
[Win rate updated: 25% → 28%.]
Lin Luo stared at the "28%" for a few seconds. Bone One's win rate was rising. Su Xiaoxiao's bloodline was awakening. One fighting, one idling. Both idling. No difference.
He turned his phone face down on his knee and closed his eyes.
Yue Long's rabbit ears rested on his arm. Rat One turned over in his grass nest and squeaked twice.
The mine was very quiet. Merit +1, merit +1, merit +1.
Just keep idling.
---
(End of Chapter 38)
Current Status
Main Account · Lin Luo
Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Layer 3 (Displayed: Qi Refining Layer 1)
Nine Cycles Mystic Art: Second Cycle (bottleneck update in progress)
Lightning Prison Indestructible Body: Second Layer
Defense: 850
Attack: ~400
HP: ~600
Spiritual Energy: ~20%
Spirit Stones: ~4750
Possessions: Spirit Recovery Pill ×4, Life Extension Pill ×0, Bone Mending Pill ×2 (one given away), Antidote Pill ×3, Light Talisman ×4, Mountain Pass Token ×1, Drunken Immortal Residence VIP card, Myriad Treasures Pavilion VIP card, Realm-Breaking Talisman (authentic), half a broken sword, pale green jade slip, beast-hide map, Spirit Vein Heart, Secret Realm Core Spirit Stone, spirit plant purchase contract
Skill: Spirit Eye Technique
Disciple: Yue Long
Sect Members: Yue Long, Su Xiaoxiao (bloodline awakening)
Plan: Wait for Yue Long to save 200 contribution for compass, then buy inn and place Spirit Vein Heart
Alt Account · Bone One
Cultivation: Body Refining Layer 3
Status: Idle battle · Ancient battlefield, target Nascent Soul Layer 1 demon beast (severely wounded)
Total damage dealt: ~19%, win rate 28%
New deaths today: ~8 (cumulative ~90)
Alt Account · Blood One
Cultivation: Qi Gathering Layer 8
Status: Hidden – Demon Abyss second layer
Alt Account · Rat One
Cultivation: Spirit Gathering Layer 6
Status: Spirit field at mine land, asleep
Sect · Idle Sect
Sect Leader: Lin Luo
Members: Yue Long, Su Xiaoxiao (temporarily away)
Level: 2
Idle Bonus: +15%
Special facilities: Sect Gathering Array, High-grade shield formation
Sect Contribution: Yue Long 30, Lin Luo 0
Technique Hall exchange items:
· Beast Cultivation · Jade Rabbit Runs to the Moon – 100 contribution
· Immortal Cultivation · Heavenly Computation Technique – 100 contribution
· Compass magical tool (mid-grade) – 200 contribution
Idle Sect Disciple · Yue Long
Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Layer 2 (Human) + Essence Gathering Layer 1 (Buddhist)
Status: Returned from market, resting beside Lin Luo
Buddhist idle: Merit accumulating automatically, current merit approx: base idle (~480) + mission reward ×3 (~30) = ~510
Fudo Myoo's Resolution: Idle cultivation in progress, progress ~0.05%
Spiritual sea vision: Four clusters of light (Buddhist, beast, demon, human), empty space in the center
Sect Contribution: 30
Today's good deed: Not completed (no one at market needed help), mission not done
Personality: lively, talkative, can't keep secrets, acts cute, goofy, knows how to wait
Spirit Stone balance: ~1100
Possessions: disciple-dedicated phone, low-grade storage pouch, Zixiao Sect inheritance token, Greenwind Sword (repaired)
Idle Sect Disciple · Su Xiaoxiao (bloodline awakening)
Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Layer 1
Status: Inside Divine Phoenix Ruins, Five-Colored Divine Phoenix bloodline awakening in progress
Awakening time: 72 hours (started)
Communication status: Cannot communicate, please wait patiently
Special status: First sect disciple to open a new map, shares bloodline origin with this world's inherited bloodline
Note: Destination's abnormal spiritual energy fluctuations continue, cannot be contacted during awakening
---
Appendix: Special Cultivation Systems for Lin Luo and His Alt Accounts
Immortal Cultivation (Main Account · Lin Luo):
Qi Refining → Foundation Establishment → Core Opening → Fusion → Heart Movement → Golden Core → Nascent Soul → Soul Departure → Spirit Separation → Body Integration → Cave Void → Great Ascension → Tribulation Transcendence
Demon Cultivation (Alt Accounts · Bone One, Blood One):
Qi Gathering → Body Refining → Core Condensation → Desire Embodiment → Devouring → Demon Infant → Soul Departure → Sense Separation → Body Fusion → Void Break → Great Ascension → Tribulation Transcendence
Beast Cultivation (Alt Account · Rat One):
Spirit Gathering → Intelligence Awakening → Body Tempering → Bone Refining → Beast Core → Transformation → Soul Condensation → Spirit Roaming → Body Purification → Void Training → Great Ascension → Tribulation Transcendence
Buddhist Cultivation (Yue Long):
Essence Gathering → Mortal Liberation → Core Mind → Will Dispersion → Clear Mind → Relic → Soul Movement → Void Transcendence → Pure Spirit → Void Passage → Great Ascension → Tribulation Transcendence
Note: The above are the exclusive cultivation systems for Lin Luo and his alt accounts. Everyone else (side characters, enemies, etc.) uses the traditional system: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Soul Transformation, Void Training, Body Integration, Great Ascension, Tribulation Transcendence.
---
(End of Chapter 38)