Yunxi felt either choice would do, but she could not feel at ease letting Xun Kun return to Huaxian Gate alone. She nodded. "In that case, I will trouble Xun Kun Daoyou for a few days. I will send a message to my master and let them set out first for the Western Region."
"Good. I will also inform the sect."
The two each sent transmission talismans to their seniors, finished the pot of spirit wine, then returned to their rooms.
After laying a restriction, Yunxi flashed into her space. She had not come in for quite some time. Standing in the main hall of Yixian Gate, she spread her divine sense outward and took in everything within the space.
Dian Dian had curled itself into a ball, asleep at the edge of the lotus pond. With every breath in and out, spiritual energy poured into its body. Because Yunxi had advanced to Divine Transformation, Dian Dian's own breakthrough would progress more smoothly this time. Once she confirmed that Dian Dian was fine, she went to check on Fei Xia.
After swallowing a leaf from the Shengji Tree, Fei Xia had already laid a clutch of butterfly eggs and was tending each one with utmost care, busy and content. Sensing Yunxi enter the space, Fei Xia fluttered over on iridescent wings.
"Master, are you all right? Did you suffer serious injuries earlier? I sensed it, but I could not help you." Fei Xia sounded dejected.
"There were some troubles, but they have passed. Do not worry. Focus on the eggs. Help me raise more 'eyes' and 'ears.'"
"All right, Master, rest assured. No one will steal my eggs this time. They will all break their cocoons smoothly." Fei Xia promised, wings shimmering with pearly light.
"Good. I will wait for your good news."
Yunxi sent Fei Xia back to the clutch.
Zhu Sheng had already made his home in a bamboo grove, cultivating quietly with no sign of waking. After confirming he was stable, Yunxi turned her gaze to the peak where the little panda Li Li lived. Seeing that the spirit beasts had all adapted to the new environment, she withdrew her divine sense.
At the instant she pulled her sense back, Li Li, who had been sprawled along a tree branch, opened its eyes. Surprise flashed in its gaze. In such a short time, its master's strength had risen again. It became even more certain its original choice had been entirely correct.
After confirming that everything in the space was well, Yunxi logged into the chat group again. The moment she connected, a dialog popped up, prompting her to receive items. She did not need to guess to know "Star Trek" had sent supplies. She accepted at once.
She placed the supplies in a corner of the main hall, and "Star Trek" connected with her.
"Little Cloud, how are things on your side? Is the war over? Did you win?"
Yunxi replied immediately, "The war here has ended. Our side won. Thank you for your constant support. I have received the final batch of supplies. What do you want in exchange this time?"
Although Yunxi had fought the evil cultivators in the sealed land for ten years, throughout those ten years she and "Star Trek" had always traded on equivalent exchange, with no credit owed. Otherwise, they would not have supported her so unstintingly.
"Star Trek" seemed to be waiting for this question and answered at once: "Little Cloud, do you have any medicines or spiritual plants that can extend a person's lifespan?"
Over the past ten years, "Star Trek" had learned some cultivation-world terminology, so the question was direct. Yunxi raised a brow and replied, "As far as I know, your interstellar era's medical technology is excellent. Extending life is not difficult for you. Why trade something so 'chicken-rib' with me?"
[Star Trek]: "Little Cloud, pure humans and gene-modified humans are different. The bodily functions of pure humans cannot compare with the modified. No matter how advanced our medicine, we cannot significantly extend a pure human's lifespan."
Yunxi pondered and typed, "You want to extend a pure human's life. Is this person very important?"
This time, "Star Trek" took a while to respond: "Yes. She is the commander of our Third Army Group. If she dies, the Third Army will tear itself apart in a power struggle, and the enemy will seize the opening. We cannot afford those consequences."
"As a military commander, she should have been nurturing a successor long ago. How did it become so passive?"
A competent commander must consider succession first. Given that she was a pure human, she should have been fully aware of her own limitations. This error should not have happened.
[Star Trek]: "The chosen successor was killed in battle by an explosion. His death dealt a heavy blow to the commander. Her health has deteriorated ever since. As her medical officer, I have suppressed the news and am using every method to maintain her life."
Reading this, Yunxi realized "Star Trek" had truly run out of options. She rubbed the storage bracelet on her wrist, ordered her thoughts, and replied, "In my world, there is something called the Longevity Fruit. It can extend a person's lifespan. But you should understand, our physiques are sturdier than yours. I worry that even if I give you the Longevity Fruit, your commander may not be able to withstand it."
This time, "Star Trek" replied in a heartbeat: "Little Cloud, as long as you can trade me the Longevity Fruit, I will extract its essence according to the commander's condition and administer it in small, gradual doses."
"How long will your commander need to train a new successor?"
"Twenty to thirty years."
Yunxi exhaled in relief. A single fifty-year Longevity Fruit should be enough. She replied, "That should be fine. I can trade it to you now."
"Star Trek" was quick on the uptake: "Thank you. What do you want in exchange this time?"
"A friend of mine is injured. Ordinary restorative medicine is useless. Can you provide another therapeutic plan?"
She then described Ye Yuchen's injury in detail.
"Star Trek" did not disappoint and answered immediately, "For injuries at that level, restorative potions are indeed useless. You need a high-grade medical pod, preferably a military-grade pod with its paired regenerative fluid."
Yunxi's eyes brightened. "Can we trade for that?"
"It will be difficult."
"Do not circle around it. State your terms."
"Can you trade me a Longevity Fruit tree? If not a full tree, a branch would do. I want to attempt cultivation."
Yunxi smiled. She could agree to that. She was certain the interstellar era could not raise a Longevity Fruit tree, since there was no spiritual energy there and the environmental conditions for its growth did not exist. Still, their technology might offer surprises. She replied, "I can transmit both a Longevity Fruit tree and fruits to you now. When can you deliver the high-grade medical pod and regenerative fluid?"
"I can do it now as well."
"Good. Then we send simultaneously."
Yunxi moved her divine sense and dug up the shortest Longevity Fruit tree in her plantation, leaving one Longevity Fruit hanging. She plucked the rest, sealed them in a jade box, and stored them away.
She placed the whole tree into a wooden case and, using the chat group's point-to-point transfer function, sent it to "Star Trek."