I Just Wanted To Live but I Somehow Became Better Than the Protagonist

“An ancient ferocious beast, Qiongqi?” Qin Shidream speculated, her gaze tracing the creature’s form.

In the realm of the fantastical, one could hardly escape the echoes of the *Shan Hai Jing* and ancient myths; the appearance of Qiongqi was no surprise to Ye Yong.

“Merely a mimicry,” he replied, aware from his readings that the true Qiongqi would never manifest in such a place.

Even a diminished ancient beast, if slain, would still possess the baseline cultivation of the Great Ascension.

Yet, it was intriguing that a mere imitation could evolve into something real.

The four ancient ferocious beasts corresponded to humanity’s vices, thriving on the darker aspects of human nature. As long as these vices persisted, they could not perish; and since human flaws were eternal, this was the reason for their undying existence, endlessly killed and reborn.

For an imitation to transform into the genuine article, it must first grow to a certain level and then absorb the essence of the true Qiongqi.

“Do you intend to purify it directly?” Qin Shidream believed in Ye Yong’s capabilities.

“Direct purification would be a waste. Its cultivation surpasses ours, and ordinary attacks won’t slay it. It serves as an excellent practice target.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Shidream instantly grasped Ye Yong’s intent. During their last spar at the Sound and Painting Hall, she had learned of his mastery over various combat techniques. Yet, her own strength had been insufficient to counter all of Ye Yong’s moves.

Now, before them stood a malevolent entity of late Golden Core cultivation, impervious to common attacks, and not classified as a living being; it would not betray Ye Yong’s secrets.

With this thought, Qin Shidream felt a surge of eagerness. She had concealed her own cultivation within the sect, wary of drawing attention, and had never employed her learned sword techniques against another… No wonder Ye Yong had insisted on bringing her along; he intended for her to unleash her potential and practice.

How considerate of him.

Qin Shidream silently added two points to her fondness for him.

Ye Yong surveyed the terrain for a moment. Real combat was not a mere exercise; one could not expect the opponent to remain still, bound in place to be struck. Yet, he could not allow it to escape either, so he began to arrange formations around them.

The pseudo-beast Qiongqi, at that moment, remained oblivious to the gravity of the situation, its gaze fixated on the two feeble humans, yearning to swallow them whole.

35 Crystals Against Golden Elixirs

The malevolent spirits are a troublesome lot; they lack a physical form, understood instead as a gathering of energy. In terms of cultivation, most practitioners find themselves at a loss against these entities, either meeting their end or fleeing in terror. Only a select few can vanquish such spirits, a feat often tied to their innate constitution and the methods of their training.

For instance, those of the Buddhist order wield techniques imbued with the essence of their faith, capable of restraining the likes of malevolent spirits and phantoms. Or perhaps one is born with a formidable spiritual power, able to crush their foes with sheer force.

The formation laid out by Ye Yong is a third-tier Buddhist array, which under normal circumstances remains inert. Yet, once tainted entities draw near, it radiates a holy light, driving them back.

After more than ten minutes, the array is complete. Ye Yong hands a relic to Qin Shidream, suggesting she take the lead, before releasing the formation that had ensnared the false Qiongqi.

Freed from its bonds, the false Qiongqi lunges at Ye Yong, its instincts devoid of reason, perceiving the living being before it as an easy target to obliterate.

Yet, with a fluid step, Ye Yong slips beyond the array’s boundary. The false Qiongqi, intent on pursuit, crashes into the wall of holy light, emitting a chaotic, low rumble mingled with a high-pitched shriek, stumbling back as dark smoke billows from its form.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk…” Ye Yong shakes his head, a hint of pity in his gaze. The false Qiongqi glares at him for a moment before shifting its focus to Qin Shidream, still within the array.

With the Ice Soul Star Sword gripped tightly in her hand, Qin Shidream takes a deep breath, steadying her nerves. Though she knows she is shielded, she refuses to rely on that protection. She must treat this as a genuine life-and-death struggle against a late-stage Golden Elixir entity. Dependency would hinder her full potential; she does not wish to disappoint Ye Yong or squander the opportunity he has provided.

The false Qiongqi, unable to comprehend human speech, remains oblivious to its role as a sparring partner. Yet, it possesses a primal instinct for battle, fearing that Qin Shidream might flee like Ye Yong’s previous adversaries. It transforms into tendrils of black smoke, encircling her from all directions.

This method of attack is beyond Qin Shidream’s capacity to counter; the disparity in their cultivation levels is insurmountable. Moreover, she has not trained in any techniques capable of purifying malevolent spirits. The encroaching dark energy engulfs her in an instant… then a beam of holy light erupts, followed by the anguished wails of the false Qiongqi.

It is clear without needing to be said: the relic Ye Yong provided has activated.

The relic has already recognized Ye Yong as its master. He suppresses its Buddhist essence to its lowest state, rendering it undetectable under normal conditions. Yet, once a malevolent spirit approaches, it activates automatically, requiring no control from Ye Yong. After all, such a heavenly relic, even devoid of a spirit, would never allow a taint to sully its being.

The dark energy coalesces once more into the outline of Qiongqi, its dim purple eyes scrutinizing Qin Shidream intently.

Her hands tremble slightly; though the relic protects her, the suffocating aura of death that had approached moments ago lingers in her mind, making her acutely aware of the chasm between her and the Golden Elixir.

An insurmountable divide—so long as she remains a Crystal and has not yet attained the Golden Elixir, she stands no chance against such a malevolent spirit.

“Do not overthink it. Use all your strength, employ every means to destroy it. Even in failure, there is no shame; the disparity in our realms is evident.”

Ye Yong’s words act as a potent tonic for her spirit, gradually calming her tumultuous heart, her once-dazed eyes now resolute.

Meanwhile, the false Qiongqi, unable to discern any trace of a sacred Buddhist artifact on Qin Shidream, launches another attack. This time, however, rather than attempting to tear her apart, it retains its form, tentatively swiping a claw at her.

Qin Shidream’s expression was grave, a chill swirling around the Ice Soul Star Sword. With a single swing, the biting cold managed to freeze the claw of the false Qiongqi. Though it lasted but a second—just long enough for her to evade the follow-up strike—it was a precious moment.

As Qin Shidream settled into the fray, she cast aside her doubts, pouring every ounce of her being into the battle, intent on vanquishing the malevolent spirit. She continued to strike.

The crystalline energy clashed against the Golden Core, and with the vast disparity of realms—one major realm and several minor ones—there was little suspense. Yet, Qin Shidream found herself locked in a stalemate with the false Qiongqi. Perhaps she could not freeze it for long, but the attack from her fourth layer of crystallization could indeed affect an eighth-layer Golden Core, a feat bordering on the miraculous.

Were there other villains present, one might have uttered, “This girl must not be spared.”

Yet, the only antagonist in attendance was Ye Yong, who could only shout, “Wife, you’re amazing!”

On the surface, the Ice Soul Star Sword was a mysterious-grade weapon, but in truth, it was of the holy grade. Coupled with Qin Shidream’s formidable bloodline, her cultivation of celestial-level techniques, and the protagonist’s buff, she was far from an ordinary cultivator.

However, Ye Yong could see that this was the limit of Qin Shidream’s capabilities. The chill required to freeze the false Qiongqi demanded a significant amount of spiritual energy, all while she had to evade its attacks. He noticed the color draining from her face, a pallor creeping in, and beads of sweat forming on her brow.

Just as Ye Yong was about to urge her to rest, she unleashed a powerful strike, clearly treating the battle as a matter of life and death.

If her previous strategy had been one of retreat and opportunism, now Qin Shidream had cast aside all defense, pouring everything into her assault.

The Ice Soul Star Sword surged with frigid energy, frost and mist swirling around her. Qin Shidream transformed into a shadow of the sword, piercing straight for the malevolent entity’s form.

The false Qiongqi attempted to swat her away with its claws, but the moment it made contact, its claws froze, shattering into ice as the sword continued its relentless thrust.