However, to Heng Xīnyán this was a marvellous achievement. Finally, she relaxed in her upper field, then she started cultivating. She let the fog spread over the forest floor. The snake watched the strange scene, alert yet the fog bypassed it so it relaxed.
However, the surrounding living things weren't spared as the red fog sucked all their essence and spiritual energy away with ease. The snake watched this sinister created cultivation method and had faint fear yet it relaxed as the red fog continuously passed it. As long as it wasn't its spiritual energy being drained, it was fine.
The stolen essence and spiritual energy entered Heng Xīnyán's soul but they contained impurities which could damage Heng Xīnyán's soul.
Yet, Heng Xīnyán sat in her upper field with a calm mind, her black hair flowing around her as the red fog bought her impure spiritual energy. Collecting the energy, she built her soul unaware of the changes in her surroundings yet she didn't care. As the impure spiritual energy entered her soul, Heng Xīnyán cultivated it, purifying it to some extent.
Heng Xīnyán felt her hatred, it wanted revenge and she would do anything to get it!
Soon, her red fog engulfed the entire Enchanted Rose forest as her cultivation level rose rapidly. She took every single thing that moved essence and energy. This alarmed other cultivators yet they strangely couldn't break the barrier and hence, it stayed like that for a decade.
With a sharp snap, Heng Xīnyán opened her eyes, breaking the deep red fog from around her body and it shattered like glass. Revealing Heng Xīnyán dressed in a red Hanfu that had yellow phoenixes on the skirt.
Standing, with a devilish smirk on her deep red lips, her black narrowed eyes looked up at the snake.
"Great One," her soft voice called, different from her coarse voice from before. The snake trembled lightly as it saw how Heng Xīnyán collected back that dreadful red fog that covered the sky for one decade with just a wave of her slender hand.
The snake looked up at the clear blue sky before it looked around. Its surroundings were dead, unlike the previous lush green trees that gave the Enchanted Rose Forest its dreamy state. The trees were now black, thin and emitted a dark gloomy atmosphere.
Heng Xīnyán looked around with delight, "Such gloom." She tsked, yet her black eyes shone with a strange happiness. Then, she looked up at the snake making it tremble from her dark bottomless black orbs.
"My cultivation stage?" Her red lips curled into a smile.
The snake tried to see her stage but failed. It looked at her as fear covered its red eyes.
"Don't worry, Great One." She muttered, "You are my teacher."
The snake hissed, feeling faintly comforted as it expressed its doubt. "What is that… red fog?"
Heng Xīnyán laughed, "Oh that! It's my resentment and hate."
The snake hissed, as its fear turned into amazement. "You controlled it?"
Heng Xīnyán nodded, "Yes, Great One."
The snake hissed, "Oh."
"Now," Heng Xīnyán lifted her pale right hand, the red fog surrounding it and the snake watched as the red fog slowly surrounded its body.
"You are going to be my partner to find a way out of this place." The snake vaguely heard her voice as the red fog entered its body causing endless pain.
The snake hissed loudly as its body fell from the tree branch. Its red eyes flashed rapidly as its scales disappeared exposing smooth milky skin.
Heng Xīnyán called back her red fog with a wave and she watched the female who stood before her in a similar red Hanfu but on her skirt were Red Spider Lilies that represent the underworld. However, on her red skirt, they were white and the female looked up at Heng Xīnyán.
"Y-You," The snake now in a female body stuttered.
Heng Xīnyán smiled, "Welcome Bàolì Hua."
The snake looked at her.
"Why turn me into a human?" The snake now called Bàolì Hua asked, her voice soft and somewhat coy. Bàolì Hua was startled as her delicate willow black brows furrowed in shock.
"And my voice," Bàolì Hua held her neck with a milky pale hand. Looking at Heng Xīnyán with her bright obsidian eyes filled with questions. Heng Xīnyán smiled, "Worry not. My voice is the same."
Bàolì Hua nodded, and then she moved her leg to take a step only to trip over her long Hanfu skirt. Heng Xīnyán held her forearm lightly to stabilise her from falling. "Try walking now." Heng Xīnyán muttered. Bàolì Hua took another step with Heng Xīnyán's assistance yet she almost fell as she was unaccustomed to walking. The red Hanfu dress made it worse too and Bàolì Hua frowned. Finding walking difficult.
Heng Xīnyán pat her arm lightly to comfort her when Bàolì Hua asked, "Can't this Hanfu get shorter?" A frown formed on her pink smooth lips as she looked down at the Hanfu dress.
Heng Xīnyán blinked, "Shorter?"
Bàolì Hua nodded, "Yes, shorter. Like around here." Bàolì Hua pointed at her shin when she lifted the dress.
Heng Xīnyán looked at her pale shin before she answered, "I am unsure."
Bàolì Hua was pained, "Really?"
Heng Xīnyán shrugged, "Guess we have to enter a village and see what its people wear."
Bàolì Hua frowned but nodded, "So, how long will we reach a village?"
Heng Xīnyán shrugged, "I don't have a map, so… try with the Hanfu for now."
"So how long do I need to stay in this Hanfu?" Bàolì Hua inquired, trying to walk, refusing the temptation of just going on her stomach and glide. Like she did as a snake.
"Hopefully, not long," Heng Xīnyán answered and holding Bàolì Hua's arm, they slowly walked in the dark gloomy forest. Even if the sun shone brightly above, it did not diffuse the darkness on the forest floor.
As the entire forest lost its life and essence. The spiritual energy that was birthed was dark and evil, corroding cultivators' mentality. Hence, no one was in their way. The forest floor was a swap, yet the edges of their skirts were not dirtied as the forest sensed the person who made it like this.
It was not resentful as it respectfully cleared the path for Heng Xīnyán and Bàolì Hua.
As Bàolì Hua walked, she slowly adjusted to the Hanfu. However, as she walked alongside Heng Xīnyán. Her footsteps quietly bloomed with red spider lilies, Heng Xīnyán glanced back with a raised brow. Upon seeing the blooms of red spider lilies, she merely turned around and continued heading for the exit of the forest.