After transforming into a fairy, I, in my simulation, wreaked havoc in the cultivation world.

As the sole heir of the Azure Phoenix clan, you have an inescapable duty to fulfill the entrustment entrusted to you by your ancestor!

As the images in your mind gradually faded, you slowly regained your senses and clearly perceived that a wondrous connection had been established between yourself and Zhou Xiaonuan in your arms.

It is neither a superior form of enslavement nor a heavy shackle of shared life and death.

It is a more advanced form of equal contract, in which neither party may demand that the other do anything they do unwillingly, and neither party may ever harm the other.

[Tsk~ It's just a contract, but they've made it sound so romantic.]

But when you feel that unconditional trust and reliance from the depths of your soul, your once impenetrable defenses inevitably loosen a little.

This is probably the first living being you can trust after arriving in this strange world.

【"Huh?"】

[You feel that the touch in your arms is very, even extremely, wrong. The originally soft and warm body of the young girl has somehow become light and somewhat furry.]

You opened your eyes in surprise, looking down to meet a pair of round, clear cat eyes.

A tiny, black kitten, no bigger than your palm, is nestled obediently in your arms, tilting its head and looking at you intently.

"Meow? Master?"

Seeing you staring blankly at it, the little black cat leaped onto your shoulder, nuzzled your cheek, and gently licked it.

The warm touch pulled you back to reality. You stretched out two fingers, grabbed it by the scruff of its neck, and lifted it up in front of you.

[A person and a cat, just staring at each other, their eyes locked.]

"What happened to you?"

You looked at the little black cat struggling in your arms, released your grip on the scruff of its neck, and let it fall back into your embrace.

The little black cat rubbed against your palm and tilted its fluffy head back.

"I just received some new knowledge in my mind, and I've achieved a unity of spirit and body. Now I can change forms at will!"

This clear and coherent expression seems to indicate a much higher level of intelligence compared to Zhou Xiaonuan's previous demeanor.

That's fine; it's much more convenient to have a cat with you than a person.

You gently patted its head with satisfaction, and in a moment of mental sensing, you discovered that the little black cat's cultivation level had actually reached the peak of the second tier!

[Just now, I was only at the sixth level of Qi Refining.]

Why do you happen to share the same name as a disciple of the Xuanjian Sect?

【"Meow..."】

The little black cat raised a front paw and stroked its chin in a seemingly serious manner, as if considering how to explain it to you.

"That Zhou Xiaonuan is me too."

It paused, a hint of confusion flashing in its eyes.

"My soul and body underwent a change and were forced apart, but I can't remember exactly what happened."

Seeing its pitiful and disappointed little face, your heart softened, and you sighed helplessly.

Forget it, why make things difficult for a cat...

Although some unresolved doubts remain, since such an unreserved bond has been formed, there's no need to be overly defensive or cautious.

You look down at the soft shape in your arms. Now that you've decided to treat her sincerely, your bottom line as a friend can be lowered considerably.

With that thought in mind, you stopped hesitating, gently placed the little black cat on your shoulder, and prepared to fly back the way you came, after all, there seemed to be another team member shivering in the forest...

"Master, wait!"

The little black cat tugged at your collar, its furry paw pointing towards the dark depths of the crevice below.

"Do you need those sparkly stones? There are so many below!"

[A sparkly stone?]

"Spirit Stones?"

Upon hearing those two words, your eyes instantly lit up with an astonishing light, and a surge of fervor welled up within you.

Heaven knows just how resource-intensive cultivation is in this world. Even with your wealth from borrowing spirit stones from other cultivators multiple times, you were severely depleted in the last simulation in order to advance your cultivation as quickly as possible, and you urgently need to replenish your spirit stones.

[Only when you truly reach the special realm of the ninth stage of the Golden Core will you understand why many cultivators with dual spiritual roots, even those with sufficient talent, find it difficult to form their Golden Core.]

Of the four elements—wealth, companionship, law, and location—wealth comes first.

[If you don't have money, what kind of immortal cultivation are you talking about!]

【"Meow~ It should be..."】

The little black cat lowered its ears guiltily and mumbled something uncertainly.

【? ? ? 】

[You were full of questions, grabbed its chubby little face, and pulled it to both sides without any politeness, asking through gritted teeth:]

"Leaving aside the past, Zhou Xiaonuan is technically your alter ego, so how could you not know about spirit stones?"

"Forgot about meow!"

The little black cat protested indistinctly, puffing out its cheeks and raising its two furry fists, but not forgetting to retract its sharp claws, it unleashed a harmless "cat punch" counterattack against your wrist.

【...】

[In the dark, narrow passage, you're with Zhou Xiaohei... Oh, right! Zhou Xiaohei is the new name you gave your little black cat.]

You sank down with it, and after about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, your feet finally touched solid ground.

Upon seeing the scene before you, you gasped sharply, your eyes flashing with an unprecedented desire.

Spirit stones of varying sizes were scattered throughout the underground space, stretching as far as the eye could see.

You slowly exhale, suppressing your excitement, with only one incredibly clear thought remaining in your mind:

[You're about to get rich!]

You immediately stuffed several storage bags into the little black cat's arms, then transformed into a blur and plunged headfirst into the pile of spirit stones.

Wherever it passed, spirit stones vanished as quickly as a whale sucking in water.

Your lightning-fast looting speed stunned Zhou Xiaohei, who stood frozen in place, clutching the storage bag, staring blankly as its master sped past.

"Little Black, get to work!"

【"Meow!"】

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xiaohei snapped back to reality. His previously round cat eyes widened instantly, and his entire cat face turned solemn.

This is the first task its owner has given it!

It clenched its furry little paws tightly, telling itself it had to do a perfect job!

And so, a comical scene unfolded in the dark depths of the earth, with a human and a cat frantically collecting spirit stones.

【until...】

"Huh? Master, what's this?"

In the distance, Zhou Xiaohei was scratching at a strangely shaped rock with his claws.

The stone's surface was mottled and covered with strange runes.

[You didn't stop collecting the spirit stones, but your divine sense subconsciously swept towards the location of the little black cat.]

[The moment you see its unusual location and the stone under the cat's paw, your heart skips a beat, and you gasp in surprise:]

【"stop!"】

But it was too late. With a soft "click," Zhou Xiaohei effortlessly pulled the stone slab out of the slot.

"Master? What did you just say?"

Zhou Xiaohei sat atop the array's central core, clutching a stone, looking at you with an innocent expression.

Damn! She's actually kind of cute.

You cursed under your breath, about to speak, when...

[“Boom!”]

A deafening roar suddenly erupted throughout the entire underground space.

In an instant, the sky spun, the earth shook, and mountains trembled!

...