OLTFMD | Chapter 16

Chapter 16

◎Quick! Seize the chance!◎

Mortal?

Yun Lang, who was badly injured and had been flung back by Xie Fu with a casual palm strike, was just about to step forward and block him again when he heard this, and could not help looking toward Shen Ji.

Peeking into another person’s cultivation was truly rude. He had never thought about the identity of an “immortal lord.”

He had only learned the name of his benefactor, Li Chenyin, when they entered the city.

But Xie Fu was absolutely not the kind of person who spoke carelessly.

If he said that, there must be a reason.

The mortal realm suffered under the burden of the seal. For spiritual power to enter the body was as difficult as ascending to heaven, and for ten thousand years there had been almost no mortals who ascended to the immortal realm.

Yet on that day, he had been trapped by the ancient snowfield seal in the Snow Realm, and it was Shen Ji who rescued him.

If Shen Ji’s cultivation were not profound, how could he have cut through the many shackles on his body?

However, regardless of whether Shen Ji came from the immortal realm or the mortal realm, he had already shown him kindness. Xie Fu was slaughtering without restraint today, his murderous aura thick and heavy. He did not know why Xie Fu would care about a mortal identity, but he had to protect his benefactor properly.

“Your Majesty.”

Yun Lang flashed back in front of Shen Ji. “Li Chenyin truly was someone I met in the mortal realm. He never called himself an immortal lord. It was I who mistook him for someone from the immortal realm, which led to this misunderstanding. Now that I have received Your Majesty’s guidance, I will not make that mistake again.”

Li Chenyin?

Xie Fu still watched Shen Ji, who had lowered his head and eyes as though he were a complete stranger, without once looking away. The hand hidden in his sleeve slowly tightened.

So that was it. This person knew Yun Lang, and had come to Minghuang City together with Yun Lang.

No mortals had appeared in Qishan for ten thousand years.

Just after Shen Ji left, this Li Chenyin had appeared without warning.

He did not believe this was mere coincidence.

Thinking of this, Xie Fu stepped forward and raised his palm, pressing it toward Shen Ji’s front.

Yun Lang was startled and immediately moved to block it. “Your Majesty!”

Shen Ji took the chance to retreat half a step.

He inadvertently caught Xie Fu’s icy gaze and in his mind severely criticized the System. “Didn’t this item claim it could fool Xie Fu? Why did he lock onto me the moment we met?”

The System was also blankly shocked. “It should be able to fool the big villain! Perfect disguise can completely change the host’s figure and appearance. In the cultivation world, even aura and meridians change. It’s equivalent to becoming a different person. You and your previous self only have one thing in common now, you’re both mortals!”

Shen Ji frowned.

Could it be that Xie Fu hated him this much?

Would Xie Fu bite onto him just because he was a mortal?

That was impossible, right?

Xie Fu was indeed vindictive, but to hold a grudge against all mortals because of him, the scope of collective punishment was simply too broad.

When Red Phoenix Spiritual Venerable had gone to such lengths to hunt him down, Xie Fu had still let Yun Lang, who had been led by Red Phoenix Spiritual Venerable, go. So why was the change so great when it came to him?

He had merely forced Xie Fu into a mere sixteen instances of dual cultivation. Red Phoenix had wanted Xie Fu’s life.

Such different treatment was not Xie Fu’s style.

While he was thinking, Xie Fu’s arm trembled slightly.

Once again knocked away fiercely, Yun Lang, unable to resist, staggered back several steps, and could only watch helplessly as Xie Fu’s hand hovered and pressed toward Shen Ji’s chest.

Silver light burst from his palm and poured into Shen Ji’s body at once.

Compared with the Phoenix Emperor, Shen Ji’s spiritual power was not worth mentioning.

The self-generated defense was easily crushed through, and Xie Fu’s faintly warm silver fire ran wantonly through his meridians.

Unlike before, when spiritual power had been under absolute control, this time Shen Ji, under compulsion, could clearly feel that Xie Fu’s always domineering yet steady spiritual power seemed somewhat restless and forceful.

Realizing that he was checking the meridian structure of this body, Shen Ji let him do as he pleased.

According to the System, after the disguise, the cultivation and meridians had no similarity at all to the previous ones. There was no need to deliberately hide anything in this regard, lest it be overdone and backfire.

Xie Fu quickly withdrew his hand as well.

Perhaps after confirming something, his expression was even colder than before.

Yun Lang held his chest and stood where he was, his voice weak. “Your Majesty, his coming to Qishan was also an act of helplessness, not of his own free will. If Your Majesty unseals the demon-mortal passage, I will send him back to the mortal realm immediately.”

He was still pleading for Shen Ji, and the four elders finally arrived belatedly.

They stood between Xie Fu and Yun Lang, faintly shielding Red Phoenix’s noblest bloodline, though they did not dare make it too obvious.

As for the mortal, who was once again protected behind Yun Lang, they had secretly sized him up. They were only curious about Xie Fu’s attitude, and did not take him seriously.

After landing, it was still the red-robed old woman who spoke first. “Your Majesty, now that the culprit Wu Xun is dead, should Jianchi Terrace be unsealed?”

Hearing this, Yun Lang could not help looking toward Xie Fu.

Xie Fu no longer spared Shen Ji a single glance.

This mortal had been silent from beginning to end, cowering behind Yun Lang, completely unlike Shen Ji in temperament, and his meridians bore not the slightest commonality with Shen Ji’s.

That fleeting glance just now, the familiarity that had surfaced in Li Chenyin, was only an illusion.

At this, he shifted his gaze and landed on Yun Lang’s face, his tone flat. “My falling into the mortal realm this time was inseparable from Red Phoenix’s contribution.”

Yun Lang’s expression tightened slightly.

He understood that since Xie Fu had said this, it meant this matter would never be let go.

And indeed.

Xie Fu said again, “Wu Xun is dead, but his subordinates have not yet been rooted out. Yun Lang, Jianchi Terrace is your territory. This matter will be left to you to handle.”

Yun Lang’s voice was somewhat hoarse. “Yes.”

“Report to me within three days.”

Xie Fu’s tone had always been like this, leaving no room for objection. “For every Red Phoenix involved in this matter who escapes by luck, Jianchi Terrace will repay it tenfold.”

The four elders exchanged glances, and no one dared speak in rebuttal.

Shen Ji watched them not even daring to breathe loudly in front of Xie Fu, and somewhat understood Xie Fu’s hatred for him.

Perhaps in the eyes of this ruler under a feudal system, face was more important than life.

The System also let out a long sigh of relief. “Completely changing bodies and still checking spiritual power, the big villain really is suspicious. Luckily the item’s effect is still there.”

Shen Ji lowered his eyes and said nothing.

Xie Fu’s suspicion was heavy, a fact well known throughout this book.

The scene he had staged in the Snow Realm did not seem to have achieved very good results.

“Since Your Majesty was injured this time, Golden Pavilion cannot escape blame either.”

The red-robed old woman suddenly said, “We beg Your Majesty to allow us to assist Your Highness from the side and atone through merit.”

The other three also hurried to echo her.

They had seen Wu Xun’s fate with their own eyes.

Xie Fu was truly enraged. At this point, the only course was to do everything possible to preserve themselves.

Xie Fu said, “Go down.”

Since he did not reject it, that was as good as an assent.

The red-robed old woman felt a little relieved and was just about to bow in thanks when she heard his cold command again from above.

“Su Xi, stay.”

The red-robed old woman’s heart jolted hard.

Watching the others leave with Yun Lang, she looked up and saw that Xie Fu had already turned and flown toward Minghuang Palace. She quickly followed, and only after landing did she ask uneasily, “May I ask what urgent matter Your Majesty has?”

As soon as the words fell.

Seeing the hem of the golden robe in front of her suddenly stop, her heart jolted again and she hurriedly stopped too.

“To find the place where the seal absorbs demonic energy, what method do you have?”

Su Xi lowered her head and gritted her teeth as she offered her plan. “If the seal is shattered, there will certainly be results.”

Xie Fu said nothing.

Shattering the seal and opening the passage was originally what he intended to do.

But now he only had complete certainty regarding the immortal realm seal. As for the remaining three places, he had few clues.

If he used this most fundamental method to break the seal, it would take too long.

Even if he could wait.

What about Shen Ji?

In the silence before her, Su Xi lightened her breathing and said again, “Your Majesty, ancient seals were never something that ordinary methods could break. We are not as unmatched as Your Majesty’s golden phoenix form, and we have no feasible method either.”

She had fabricated the matter of absorbing demonic energy herself, how could she really let Xie Fu succeed?

Shattering the seal sounded simple, but it was the hardest thing in the world to do.

Just the passageways of the four realms alone would be enough to keep Xie Fu tied down.

The longer the delay, the more the so-called mortal soul could be treated as having scattered to the winds, allowing her to distance herself from the matter.

But after those words fell, there was still a long, dead silence in front of her.

Just as Su Xi was suspecting that he had seen through her scheme, she finally heard his voice again.

“I have two things for you to do.”

Su Xi’s eyes shifted rapidly.

Matters personally assigned by Xie Fu naturally had his own close attendants in Minghuang Palace. Golden Pavilion had never had the chance to interfere. How could this be an exception now?

Could it be that this time the phoenix guards of Minghuang Palace had failed to defeat Wu Xun, and that had disappointed Xie Fu too much?

As she speculated, she said solemnly, “Since Your Majesty has given the order, Golden Pavilion would not dare disobey.”

“First,” Xie Fu said, “from today onward, search the texts of the Five Realms for all records related to the Snowfield seal, and not a single word may be wrong or missing.”

Su Xi said, “Yes.”

“Second.”

Xie Fu turned around. Silver light flashed in his raised palm, and a broken bloodstained robe lay across it.

Su Xi instinctively reached out to take it.

But before her hands even touched the bloodstained robe at all, waves of chilling cold suddenly surged up behind her.

She quickly drew back her hand, and sensed that Xie Fu’s murderous aura had also been withdrawn from his body. She closed her eyes and let out a murky breath.

It was only a bloodstained robe, yet Xie Fu treated it with such care?

However, she had long since experienced his capricious temperament and was not surprised.

If she had a choice, she would actually rather not deal with Xie Fu. But now that Wu Xun had brought disaster to Golden Pavilion, she had no choice but to do her utmost for Xie Fu.

“Go to the Snow Realm and find this aura.”

As Xie Fu spoke, he forced a thread of blood from the bloodstained robe with two fingers and drew it into a dan bottle. “Bring his soul back to the Three Spirit Realm.”

Hearing this, Su Xi already understood that what Xie Fu wanted Golden Pavilion to do was really only one thing.

Find the mortal whom Wu Xun had said was dead.

Xie Fu had believed her words and concluded that the mortal’s soul was trapped in the Snow Realm. She would just carry out the order and stall for time.

But as she took the golden bottle in both hands, her astonishment could not be contained.

For the sake of a mere mortal, Xie Fu had nearly slaughtered all of Red Phoenix, and now he was using Golden Pavilion’s power just to find the already hard-to-locate whereabouts of that person.

Xie Fu’s actions were by no means a simple matter of concern.

Could it really be, as Wu Xun had said, that Xie Fu had actually developed true feelings?

Su Xi was deep in thought when she saw Xie Fu raise his hand slightly.

She understood and bowed to him before withdrawing.

Xie Fu had already flashed back to the bedchamber.

Unknowingly, he looked toward the bed.

There had once been his first meeting with Shen Ji.

More than three months had already passed.

Returning to the old place, everything that had happened that day, mixed with the time spent together in the mortal realm, had not faded at all, but instead become even clearer.

Xie Fu pressed a hand to the chest that had once again inexplicably begun to ache and swell, and his brow tightened further.

He looked at this spacious and luxurious palace.

He was already used to seeing it.

Yet why was it so desolate today?

—

Jianchi Terrace.

Yujin Palace.

“Come to my palace and rest for a while.”

Landing together with Yun Lang, Shen Ji heard this invitation and did not refuse.

He looked at the gilded palace before him and could not help thinking of Xie Fu’s bedchamber, which was also dazzling with gold.

He had previously thought Xie Fu had an unusual taste, but now it seemed that because the highest bloodline of the phoenix clan was the ancient golden phoenix, gold was held in the highest esteem.

However, someone like Xie Fu, who was dressed in gold from the inside out, was still uncommon.

“This way, please.”

Along the way, Yun Lang led Shen Ji, and only after personally escorting him into the inner chamber full of spiritual energy did he say, “Please make yourself at ease here for now. I’ll be back shortly.”

There were still three elders outside waiting for him to discuss matters, and Shen Ji did not stop him.

With Yun Lang’s status, an immortal realm scroll should, in theory, not be a problem, so there was no need to rush.

Just now Xie Fu had given him three days to deal with the Red Phoenix traitors. It was a busy time, and going to ask for payment now would be inappropriate.

Watching Yun Lang flash away, Shen Ji walked to the table and sat down.

The System sounded anxious in his mind. “This really isn’t right, host. If the female lead had gone to the immortal realm, I would definitely have received a reminder that the mission had started. I didn’t receive one, which means she still hasn’t gone. The big villain hasn’t gone to the immortal realm to shatter the seal at all.”

Shen Ji only asked, “When should he have shattered the seal?”

“Half a day later.” The System could not figure it out. “But in the original plot, the big villain never returned to the demon realm, so I don’t know whether he can make it in time. And unifying the Five Realms is his only goal in life, he thought about how to do it a thousand years in advance. This matter should be the top priority in his heart. What could possibly be more important than his life’s goal?”

Shen Ji said, “You’re asking me, who should I ask?”

The System: “...”

The only instability in the plot was the host.

It very much suspected that the resentment the host had drawn from the big villain was too high, causing the plot to change.

But how would it dare say that?

Shen Ji casually poured himself a cup of tea to moisten his throat.

The water tasted cool, and after drinking it, waves of warmth flowed down his throat, making him feel refreshed.

The spiritual power in his dantian stirred. Shen Ji raised his hand to form a seal and sat cross-legged to regulate his breathing.

He did not know how long had passed before he refined this mouthful of spiritual power from the water.

He withdrew his energy and opened his eyes, looking at the teapot on the table. Just as he was planning how to drink more, a gentle knock came from outside the door.

“Young Master Li, it’s me.”

Shen Ji flicked his sleeve and opened the door.

Yun Lang stepped over the threshold. His face was a little paler than before, and he gave him an apologetic smile. “Young Master Li, I’m truly sorry. Before he left, Xie Fu issued an order to seal the Three Spirit Realm, so the demon-mortal passage will not be opened for the time being. I can only ask you to endure here for a few days. Once the restriction is lifted, I will send you back to the mortal realm.”

Shen Ji caught the key phrase in that sentence. “Before he left?”

As for whether Xie Fu would unseal the demon-mortal passage, with this bird second-generation in front of him, he was no longer that concerned.

“That’s right, you needn’t worry. He has already left the Three Spirit Realm and will not trouble you again.”

Yun Lang thought Xie Fu’s earlier difficulty had caused Shen Ji to ask this. After speaking, he added, “Also, if you need anything in the future, you can come find me.”

After saying this, the messaging jade slip at his waist glowed faintly.

Yun Lang lowered his eyes to listen carefully, then pressed his lips together and said to Shen Ji, “I still have matters to handle, and cannot stay here to keep you company.”

Shen Ji understood. “Go.”

Yun Lang gave him a slight nod and hurried off.

The System listened in on their conversation, thanked heaven and earth, and said to Shen Ji, “The big villain really still values his life’s goal. In that case, it seems the timing is not much different from the original plot.”

Its every unease and anxiety ended safely, and Shen Ji did not bother with it.

But not long after, he still heard it excitedly report in real time.

“The reminder that the mission has started!”

The System was so happy it could hardly contain itself. “Host, our main mission has finally officially started!”

It immediately opened the system panel.

Shen Ji looked over and saw that the mission content was indeed marked there.

Main mission:
First meeting with Luo Ning, completed
First meeting with Xuan Chen, not completed

“Congratulations to the host for successfully unlocking the main mission and completing the main content, first meeting with Luo Ning, and receiving a total reward of fifteen points. The current total is fifteen point five, keep up the good work!”

Shen Ji raised an eyebrow.

The gain was fairly decent.

At this rate, after going to the immortal realm and doing a few more missions, maintaining a perfect disguise would not be difficult.

“Wow!” The System cried out in delight again. “Host, you’ve unlocked a side mission!”

On the panel, another mission content slowly appeared.

Side mission:
First meeting with Yun Lang, completed
Make friends with Yun Lang, and raise Yun Lang’s favorability to 30, 8/30

“Congratulations to the host for successfully unlocking the side mission and completing the main content, first meeting with Yun Lang, and receiving a total reward of thirteen points. The current total is twenty-eight point five, keep up the good work!”

The System finished happily and explained to Shen Ji, “The mission unlock reward is a fixed ten points. Because Yun Lang is only a male supporting character, the reward for his main mission is not as high as that of the male and female leads.”

Even if it was not high, it was still an unexpected delight.

Shen Ji said, “What does favorability mean?”

The System read from the template, “Character favorability is one of the fixed tasks in a character side mission. If it is raised appropriately, only after being trusted can the next step continue. Otherwise, if favorability is not high, it will lead to mutual suspicion and scheming. What we’re doing is a life-threatening mission, so we must proceed step by step.”

Shen Ji asked, “How do you raise this thing?”

The System said, “According to each character’s different personality, the host should figure it out on your own.”

Shen Ji looked at the number after Yun Lang’s favorability. “Is his number high or low?”

“...” The System said softly, “Low.”

It did not understand.

Yun Lang was clearly warm and refined like jade, and he seemed very grateful and attentive toward the host. It had thought that once favorability was unlocked, the first hurdle would be easy to clear, but when it was unlocked and it looked, it was only eight points...

According to big data, that was just the favorability an ordinary person would have toward a stranger they did not dislike.

Shen Ji only treated that number as a reference and did not care much.

He remembered something and turned to ask, “How do I check Xie Fu’s favorability?”

The System said, “Host, the big villain is our opponent. There is no side mission involving him, and his favorability cannot be viewed either. If you need it, I can apply upward and try.”

At that, Shen Ji said flatly, “Forget it.”

He had only thought of that stupid bird and asked casually.

Even if there were one, that white-eyed wolf’s favorability would probably be negative.

“Oh.” The System did not ask further. “Then we can continue doing side missions next!”

Still in the demon realm, the only missions they could do were side-mission favorability tasks.

But in the following three days, Shen Ji did not see Yun Lang even once.

The three-day deadline Xie Fu had given was too urgent. On Jianchi Terrace, from Yun Lang down to the phoenix guards, there was almost no breathing room. On top of that, with Golden Pavilion assisting from the side, they only barely managed to completely capture all of the Red Phoenix connected to Wu Xun.

Just after the three days passed, Shen Ji also saw the dark, chaotic clouds stacked outside the window from within the hall.

With Yun Lang’s golden word, he could move freely on Jianchi Terrace. Seeing this, he stood up and went outside.

In the air, Red Phoenix with red wings on their backs pressed over Jianchi Terrace like a tornado, holding spears in both hands, most of them wearing pained expressions.

Below them, their former companions were densely packed, kneeling and pressed to the ground, their faces gray and defeated.

Shen Ji saw Yun Lang in the distance.

He stood together with Xie Fu, and after hearing something, his face immediately turned several shades darker.

But with the four great elders persuading him beside him, he remained silent for a long time before taking stiff steps and tremblingly forming a spell.

On the ground, a streak of sunlight-like golden light suddenly swept across it.

The fissure of golden patterns that split open grew wildly in the golden light. The earth shook, and surging heat slapped his face, bringing a burning pain.

A pool of golden water slowly rose from within, its surging waves like magma.

Shen Ji immediately formed a seal to raise a barrier in front of himself, and upon seeing this golden pool, he unexpectedly remembered the Golden Flame Pool Xie Fu had once mentioned.

The traitors in the field who had no spiritual power to protect them were the closest to the golden pool. The wings on their backs touched the sparks ignited in the pool and were immediately burned through.

Miserable cries rang out across Jianchi Terrace, and Yun Lang’s face turned as white as paper upon hearing them.

The System hurriedly offered advice: “Host, Yun Lang has been badly provoked by the big villain, this is the weakest moment. Quick! Seize the chance! Favorability will definitely be in hand!”

In the distance, Yun Lang could no longer bear to watch.

Leaving the rest to the four great elders, he turned and walked toward Yujin Palace.

He stumbled on the steps, and Shen Ji casually reached out to support him.

Yun Lang forced a smile. “Seeing my ugly state while injured, Young Master, please forgive me.”

Shen Ji politely asked him, “Do you want to rest?”

Yun Lang raised his right hand, which was still faintly trembling, and as he formed a spell he looked at Shen Ji. “I’ll have to trouble Young Master to send me off.”

As the words fell.

A round little red bird replaced him as it flew up from the ground and landed in Shen Ji’s palm.

Shen Ji lowered his head to look at it, and habitually pinched its beak. Before he let go, his heart suddenly tightened, and he looked up toward the front.

In the distance.

The Phoenix Emperor’s inherently suspicious and cold silver eyes were staring straight at him, his gaze sweeping over his hand and then landing again on his completely unfamiliar face, his brow moving slightly.

The System also instinctively grew nervous. “Host, that action of yours is very bad. Before, the big villain was always being pinched by you. If he sees that, he’ll be very easily stimulated!”

Shen Ji: “...”

He remained expressionless, withdrew his hand, turned, and left Xie Fu’s line of sight.

Author’s note:
System: Host, you really need to pay attention!

—
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