44: Chapter 44 One must have some means of self-defense.

" Go find her and ask for the truth? "

This thought bubbled up in Xu Ruyu's mind uncontrollably.

Question Xiao Nianyin, throw all his suspicions in her face, and demand an explanation!

But the next second, he extinguished this thought himself.

Ask? How to ask? In this cultivation world where the strong prey on the weak and Mortals' lives are treated as worthless as grass, to question a former Saint Realm Expert and leader of a sect: " Was it you who brought me here? Did your cultivation run into me? How do you plan to take it back? Will you kill me to silence me? "

How is this any different from seeking death?

He could not afford the consequences of tearing off the mask.

With Xiao Nianyin's intellect and methods, once she knew he had glimpsed part of the truth, to ensure her plan to "take back her cultivation" proceeded smoothly, what would she do?

Would she immediately turn hostile and use more direct, crueler methods to control him? Or would she simply go all the way and "extract" it directly?

Xu Ruyu did not doubt for a second that a former Saint Realm Expert, even if she had lost all her cultivation, would absolutely have countless ways to make a Mortal wish they were dead but unable to die.

Cannot be impulsive.

He slowly loosened his clenched fists, letting the blood from the back of his hand drip down and stain the moss at his feet red.

The cold night breeze brushed against his heated brain, causing him to gradually calm down.

" Pretend I don't know anything for now. " Xu Ruyu said to himself, his voice low and hoarse, carrying the cold hardness of someone who had made up his mind, " See what she will actually do next. "

Since Xiao Nianyin had chosen a "soft" policy, taking him as a disciple, using injunctions to protect him, and perhaps... even continuing to try to use that "dream" or other methods to "take back" her cultivation.

Then, before she achieved her goal, he should be safe for the time being.

At least, he was safe on the surface.

But this safety was built on lies and calculations, a sharp sword hanging over his head that could fall at any moment.

" Cannot passively wait for death. "

Xu Ruyu's gaze gradually became sharp in the dim forest.

He came from the modern era, had witnessed the information explosion, watched countless novels and movies, and knew that in a desperate situation, sitting and waiting for death was the most foolish choice.

Even if hope was slim, he had to struggle and find a glimmer of survival for himself.

" If it's really as I thought, the day she successfully takes back her cultivation will be the day I die. "

Xu Ruyu analyzed the worst-case scenario, " Or perhaps she doesn't even need to take it all back. As long as she recovers a portion of her strength and feels she no longer needs me as a 'vessel' or 'key', I will lose my value... "

Value... He chewed on this word.

To survive, he must ensure he always possessed "value", and value that Xiao Nianyin could not easily discard.

Currently, it seemed his greatest value was the Saint Realm cultivation belonging to her inside his body.

But this value was fatal, it was a death warrant.

" Must find other value... " Xu Ruyu began to rack his brain frantically, " What can I do? In this cultivation world, I am a Mortal without a Spiritual Root... "

Without a Spiritual Root, he could not Cultivate orthodox Cultivation Techniques.

This was his fatal weakness, but perhaps... it was also a turning point?

He remembered the scene on the arena earlier where he inexplicably blocked Lei Xuan's electric light.

That power seemed to stem from instinct, from the body's stress response to danger, rather than his active control.

This indicated that although Xiao Nianyin's cultivation was inside him, he could not use it freely; it was more like a passive "energy storage".

" If... I could find a way to actively control this power? " A bold idea emerged, " Even if I only control a small part, even if it's only used to save my life... "

But this thought was soon rejected by him again.

He knew nothing about cultivation and had no guidance for any Cultivation Technique. Trying to recklessly control a Saint Realm level power was no different from a child wielding a giant hammer; he would be blown to pieces in an instant.

" Cultivation Technique... "

Xu Ruyu's eyes flickered.

Xiao Nianyin agreed to start teaching him Hehuan Sect introductory Cultivation Techniques in the afternoon.

Could this be an opportunity? Hehuan Sect's Cultivation Techniques were mostly related to Dual Cultivation, harvesting/supplementing, and seduction. Perhaps... among them were methods on how to guide, use, or even transfer the power of Yin and Yang?

Although it was highly likely part of a trap set by Xiao Nianyin to "take back" her cultivation, what if he could learn in reverse and glimpse a bit of the mystery of controlling his own power from it?

The risk was huge, but it was worth a try.

At least, he had to first understand this world's cultivation system and the basic principles of power operation.

Besides his own power, what other value did he have?

Knowledge!

Knowledge from the modern era!

Xu Ruyu's eyes lit up.

Although he was an ordinary person, he had at least received a modern education, knew some basic physics, chemistry, and biology knowledge, had watched countless sci-fi and Xuanhuan works, and had countless "ingenious" ideas in his head!

For example, he had previously thought of things like "Acetylene Array", "Electromagnetic Flying Sword", "Nuclear Fusion Formation"... Although it sounded absurd, in this cultivation world where Spiritual Qi existed, who said one couldn't combine scientific principles with cultivation methods to create some different "black technology"?

Hehuan Sect was currently suffering from a depletion of Spiritual Qi and was in a difficult situation.

If he could tinker with some things that didn't rely on Spiritual Qi, or could utilize Spiritual Qi more efficiently, or even utilize other energies... would it attract Xiao Nianyin's attention?

Would it make her feel that keeping him was more valuable in the long run than "killing him after taking back the cultivation"?

This thought made his heart rate accelerate.

Although the road ahead was long and full of difficulties, he finally had a glimmer of direction.

" First, survive.

Then, learn the knowledge of this world, especially the principles of Cultivation Techniques.

At the same time, secretly try to see if he could use modern knowledge to come up with some 'inventions'. "

Xu Ruyu formulated a preliminary plan in his heart, " Toward Xiao Nianyin, be obedient on the surface, diligently learn the Cultivation Techniques she teaches, but be secretly vigilant, observe her every move, especially the details when she tries to 'touch' the power inside my body.

Toward Lady Qingli, be even more careful; this woman is more direct and dangerous than Xiao Nianyin. "

He looked up, through the gaps in the dense tree canopy, at the somewhat pale moon in the night sky.

The moonlight was cold and clear, unable to shine into his currently dark and complex state of mind.

Transmigration might not be an accident; it might be a conspiracy.

Revered Master might not be a benefactor; she might be a hunter.

Power might not be a gift, but a curse.

But since he had come, and since he was alive, he could not let himself be slaughtered.

Xu Ruyu took a deep breath of the cold air carrying the scent of grass and soil, forcibly pressing all his fear, anger, and suspicion into the deepest part of his heart.

He moved his injured palm, tore off a large leaf, and bandaged it messily.

The top priority was still to fill his stomach.

He refocused his attention on finding food, his gaze searching in the dim forest.

He was lucky; under a shaded rock, he found a few clusters of thick, tender mushrooms, and next to them were a few shrubs bearing small red berries.

Although he didn't recognize them, judging by their color and shape, they didn't look poisonous.

He picked some mushrooms and berries, found a relatively dry and sheltered small depression, and using the most primitive method of drilling wood for fire, finally lit a small campfire.

He skewered the mushrooms on thin branches to roast, and ate the berries directly.

The taste of the roasted mushrooms carried the fresh fragrance of the mountains, and the berries were sweet and sour. Although they were far inferior to the previous Spirit Fish, they finally relieved the hunger in his stomach.

While eating mechanically, he continued to sort out his thoughts, perfecting his "survival plan".

The firelight flickered, reflecting on his young face that was already etched with solemnity and determination.

In this cultivation world fraught with crises, in this Hehuan Sect that seemed to be "sheltering" him but was actually fraught with danger at every step, Xu Ruyu's life as a transmigrator truly began from this moment.

No longer drifting with the current in ignorance and fear, but with a clear understanding and a strong sense of crisis, prepared to start a silent struggle and game.

He did not know what the road ahead would be like, did not know how much of his speculation was correct, and even less did he know if those rough plans could save his life.

But he knew he had to do it.

To survive.

For... perhaps one day, being able to truly grasp his own destiny, and not become a vessel for others' cultivation, or a bargaining chip in a trade.

The mountain wind was colder.

The direction of Ningyin Hall remained silent, as if nothing had happened.

But Xu Ruyu knew that some things had already changed.