A world without glitz
"Boss! You finally escaped!" Bifang's penetrating voice, laced with undisguised excitement, echoed from the edge of the boisterous crowd. He was shrewd, seizing the opportunity to hide amidst the chaos at Yue Lao Temple. As soon as the barrier dissipated, he eagerly transformed into a dazzling streak of red light and soared into the sky. Someone else's remark, "You're just a bird," finally reminded him of his innate ability: flight!
The red light faded, and Bifang's massive body landed steadily in front of Taixu, stirring up a blast of scorching air. Without a word, he opened his arms and embraced him, the force so immense that Taixu nearly fainted.
"So what?!" Taixu's face flushed red from being strangled. He desperately gathered up the little strength he had finally recovered, trying to free his legs from those iron arms, but it was like an ant trying to shake a tree. "Let go! Why are you holding my legs? I don't have wings, I can't fly!" Taixu roared in frustration.
Upon hearing this, Bifang's bell-like eyes blinked, and a nearly fawning smile, belying his imposing appearance, instantly spread across his face. He cleared his throat, deliberately softening his rough voice to a soft, sticky note, as if it could be squeezed out of honey: "Boss, well... how about... we... 'on the way'... take someone along?" His words were drawn out, the ending rising, thick with coquettishness, each word coated in a sticky syrup. To achieve a more "touching" effect, he even tried to "crush" his voice until it was almost smoking, yet he ensured that every word penetrated Taixu's ears crystal clear. This was the "killer move against the arrogant" he had learned after studying countless storybooks: showing weakness was the most powerful weapon!
"Hiss!" Taixu gasped, his hair standing on end, as if a cold, poisonous snake had wrapped around his neck. "What sewer ghost has possessed you?! Speak normally!" Bifang, a towering figure, half a head taller than Taixu, his muscular body bulging with tendons, pinched his voice and imitated a little girl's coquettishness. The scene was so beautiful and terrifying, it was enough to give anyone nightmares for three days!
Taixu couldn't stand it any longer, and with lightning speed, he thrust his knee upwards! He accurately blocked Bifang's mouth, which was still trying to "clamp"!
"Ouch!" Bifang was caught off guard and groaned, choking back the rest of his words. Taixu seized the opportunity to break free from his embrace, straightening his rumpled shirt. He cast his gaze toward the chaotic Yue Lao Temple in the distance, his tone tinged with a barely perceptible sigh, "He's been trapped in this cage for long enough. What happened back then wasn't entirely his fault... well, take him with you, let's go together." Even in that calm voice, there was a hint of nostalgia for his old friend.
Bifang covered his mouth, aggrieved, and climbed up from the ground, patting his dusty robes. As soon as he saw Taixu relent, he immediately put on his fawning face and stepped forward: "Hehe, I knew you'd fall for this, Boss! Boss, have you been living comfortably in the Taixu Sect all these years?"
Taixu glanced at him and said simply: "It's delicious and drinkable, not bad."
"Actually, Boss," Bifang rolled his eyes and continued to fan the flames, "You really don't need to be so anxious to run away. Look at the Shanhai Order now. It's dirt poor and dilapidated! Who knows, you might be serving as a guardian beast in the Taixu Sect, living an even more comfortable life than the Lord!"
"Hmph!" Taixu's face darkened, and he scolded angrily, "If you're happy being a prisoner, go back on your own! Don't involve me in this!"
"I'm not as stupid as you!" Bifang blurted out the words. As soon as he finished speaking, his pupils suddenly shrank, and he knew something bad was going to happen! However, a shadow had already come roaring in with a strong wind!
"Bang!"
A solid punch landed harshly on Bifang's face! The force was so strong that it made his head buzz and his eyes flash. His tall body swayed several times before he could barely stand steady.
"It's over! He's gotten too carried away!" Bifang wailed inwardly. For centuries, he'd been using his boss's title to bully others. This "fox borrowing the power of the tiger" habit was ingrained in him, and now he dared to act so brazenly in front of the real boss! The punch landed solidly, and half his cheek burned with pain, but strangely, an indescribable sense of pleasure welled up in his heart. For centuries! He'd waited for this punch from the boss, his neck had grown long! This familiar force, this familiar feeling of pent-up frustration… it actually made him want to burst into tears!
Taixu retracted his fist and looked at Bifang, who was covering his face with a complicated expression, with a wave of surprise in his heart. He had expected this guy to be furious, but he unexpectedly had a strange expression of "I finally waited for you"... His doubts were immediately dispelled. It seemed that this guy was still the same Bifang who deserved a beating.
"Get on!" Taixu stopped talking, his movements as agile and swift as they had been a thousand years ago. With one leap, he firmly rode on Bifang's broad neck. He clamped his legs together, as if controlling a majestic horse, and shouted, "Go!"
"唳——!"
A clear and resounding bird cry echoed through the sky! The Bifang's enormous fiery red wings suddenly spread out, stirring up a scorching wave of air, transforming into a stream of red light that tore through the sky, and rushed towards the towering mountain range in the distance!
A strong breeze blew across his face, carrying a breath of freedom that filled Taixu's lungs. He tilted his head back slightly, feeling the long-awaited exhilaration of soaring above the heavens! Dazzling sunlight streamed down, and he squinted his eyes, gazing at the sun and moon, seemingly within reach, towering as high as the sky. A chorus of emotions welled up in his heart: the vastness of the world, he had finally broken free from his cage and seen it once again!
Xifu □□, deep in the darkness.
The cold, damp air seemed to solidify into water droplets, weighing heavily on his skin. Xixian sat in the cold wheelchair, his back straight, but not out of composure, but rather from an invisible force holding him up, preventing him from collapsing. His gaze, filled with unconcealed fear, was fixed on the figure on the platform ahead—the true form of the mountain god Changcheng.
Chang Cheng's appearance resembled a human, but he possessed a thick, powerful, leopard-like tail covered in mysterious markings. At that moment, it swirled lazily, vaguely wrapping around Xixian's upper body. The touch of its cold scales penetrated his thin clothing, stirring a dense layer of goosebumps. Xixian froze, breathing softly, fearing that even the slightest movement would displease the "prisoner god."
He was clearly imprisoned here. Four black iron chains, each as thick as a child's arm and engraved with ancient runes, were deeply embedded in his slender limbs, the other ends sinking into the endless darkness of the southwestern forest, as if connected to some unspeakable taboo.
Xixian wasn't so much a caretaker as a plaything sent to entertain this "lonely god." Chang Cheng's deep eyes, seemingly filled with stars and flames, now surveyed Xixian with deep interest. The young man had a handsome face, and a strange familiarity hung between his brows. Especially the subtle, delicate, and elegant jasmine scent emanating from him felt like a soft feather, gently scratching Chang Cheng's memories, sealed for countless years.
"Old friend from afar... will we ever meet again?" Chang Cheng murmured to himself, gazing at Xi Xian. This question was like a stone dropped into a deep pond, sending ripples through his heart.
Xixian simply couldn't bear to look directly at the "guardian spirit" before him, emitting a terrifying aura of oppression and intense hostility. Compared to the gentle Rain Goddess' concubine beside his elder sister, Changcheng was a demonic being that had crawled out of the Nine Netherworlds! The composure he had forced upon everyone before had vanished into thin air. Now, facing it alone, the overwhelming fear made him subconsciously close his eyes tightly—out of sight, out of mind!
“Crack!”
A sudden, crisp cracking sound echoed through the silent cavern! Xixian frightened, his eyes snapping open. He saw the incredibly thick black iron chain that bound Chang Cheng's right arm suddenly break apart! And Chang Cheng, perched on the platform, hadn't even moved a finger! He continued to sit lazily, as if he had merely yawned.
"You...you...you are not allowed to run away!" Xixian's voice rose in pitch and became piercing due to extreme fear. He raised his hand in panic and pointed at Changcheng, threatening him in a timid manner, but his arms trembled slightly uncontrollably.
A playful smile played at Chang Cheng's lips, as if teasing a frightened rabbit. "Do I look like I want to leave?" he said slowly, his powerful, nimble tail swung gently, retracting with a whoosh, curling gracefully behind him like a living creature. Then, with a fleeting movement, he leaped from the platform with the lightness of a ghost, landing silently beside Xixian's wheelchair, his lofty shadow instantly enveloping him.
"How about this," Chang Cheng leaned forward slightly, with a hint of cunning unique to mountain monsters, "If you agree to one condition of mine, I will stay here with peace of mind, how about it?" His eyes were like substance, carrying pressure that could not be refused.
"What...what conditions?!" Xi Xian was so frightened when he saw him suddenly approaching that he instinctively held tightly to the warm jade pendant around his waist, which symbolized the identity of the young master of Xi Mansion, as if it was the last straw.
"The conditions are simple," Chang Cheng's smile deepened, a strange allure intensifying. "I can stay, but you must sign a guardianship contract with me. This is my way of compensating you, the West Mansion, for the fire that destroyed the southwestern forests." He thought the idea was brilliant, the very method he had been painstakingly contemplating these past few days to break through the impasse in his cultivation. The merits he had accumulated in the past had been destroyed by the wildfire, and centuries of contemplation ultimately led to a simple truth: cultivation requires starting over from the beginning.
His gaze lingered over Xixian, his satisfaction growing with each glance. This boy had a handsome face, a shimmering aura of purple, a clear sign of a "lucky star" blessed with great fortune and prosperity! Changcheng's mind suddenly dawned on him: Wasn't his elder brother, Taixu, so free and easy because he had chosen the right person? He had been blind and followed the wrong person, and the price he had paid was heavy. Now that the opportunity was right before him, he must open his eyes and seek a better partner!
"Am I... am I worthy?" Xixian's voice trembled with disbelief and a deep-seated fear. He subconsciously tried to push his wheelchair backward, to escape the suffocating pressure, but found the wheels were welded to the ground, motionless! A cold despair instantly gripped him—he had no say in this matter!
Just as Xixian's mind was shaken, Chang Cheng's figure suddenly became ethereal and transparent, like a reflection in water blown away by the wind. A spirit, cooler than moonlight and more ethereal than a mountain breeze, with a faint smile, suddenly appeared before Xixian's eyes.
"A perfect match." The soul shadow opened its lips slightly and uttered two extremely clear words, like the verdict of fate.
Before he finished speaking, the soul shadow turned into a stream of light and sank into Xixian's eyebrows unhindered, gently but irresistibly!
"Ugh!" Xixian's body suddenly stiffened, as if pierced by an invisible lightning bolt! A vast, ancient power, imbued with the spirit of the wild, instantly surged through his limbs and bones, blending seamlessly with his own spiritual power. An indescribable connection was established deep within his soul, like an extra heartbeat, an extra thought. Is this... the feeling of being in tune with a guardian spirit?
Three days later, the Immortal Cultivation Conference came to an end.
A giant golden list slowly unfolded under the gaze of the crowd. At the top of the list, written prominently: Qingshui Palace, Xiao Xinshui! He took the top spot with an undisputed, absolute advantage.
However, to everyone's surprise, this illustrious Young Palace Master, faced with the coveted position of "personal disciple," simply bowed slightly, politely declining the offer with a gentle, yet firm voice: "I'm grateful for Master Qi's kindness. As the Young Palace Master of Qingshui Palace, I have my duties and dare not ask for anything else." The moment these words were spoken, the entire audience erupted in an uproar! Gazes of envy, jealousy, confusion, and even sarcasm mingled, lamenting his youthful arrogance and lack of appreciation.
Yu Xing, the highly anticipated competitor from Desolate Mountain, now had a face so gloomy it looked like water could drip from his mouth. He stared intently at his second-place name on the leaderboard, his eyes like a poisoned knife. Finally, under countless gazes, some sympathetic and some mocking, he suddenly tossed his sleeves, not even bothering to offer polite words. His figure transformed into a streak of gray light, and without a backward glance, he fled in the direction of Desolate Mountain, his back etched with resentment and shame.
In the end, the prestigious title of "Qi Yiwen's Personal Disciple" dramatically fell to Xia Xiwen. Faced with this outcome, Xia Xiwen's lips curled slightly, her eyes gleaming with undisguised pride and ambition. To be accepted as a disciple of the world's most powerful being was, for her, the perfect stepping stone to greater heights.
Xuxiao Cave is the forbidden area of Taixu.
This place, once Qi Yiwen's paradise of seclusion, now seemed eerily empty and desolate. The cave was chilly, as if a thousand-year-old black ice lay buried deep beneath the earth. Wisps of white mist drifted and settled in the air. A simple stone bed stood abruptly in the center, its only "furniture."
"Hiss... so cold..." Chen Ye shuddered, jolting awake. The biting chill felt like countless needles piercing her bones, causing her to curl up instantly. Still hazy, she subconsciously called out frantically, "System? System! Are you there?" However, all she heard was dead silence.
She strained to recall, trying to piece together the fragments of her memory from before she lost consciousness: Yue Lao Temple? The fire? The chaotic crowd? ...And then? A complete blank! It was as if a piece of her memory had been forcibly ripped away, leaving only a heart-wrenching emptiness. It felt like her brain had been forcibly formatted.
Even more horrifying was the sudden emergence of a vast flood of memories that didn't belong to her! These memories surged like a flood, overwhelming her consciousness. They weren't just blurry fragments, but coherent, with a gripping plot, like a lengthy and informative fantasy web drama! And the heroine in that drama, who looked identical to her but had a completely different fate, was revealing to her from a first-person perspective the joys and sorrows, loves and hates, of another "Chen Ye"!
Just as she was feeling dizzy and agitated by the surging "memory web drama," a deep voice, filled with indescribable complex emotions, suddenly rang in her ears like a stone dropped into a calm lake:
"Is that you, Yeye?"
Chen Ye froze and looked in the direction of the sound!
At the cave entrance, against the faint light from outside, stood a tall figure. He had discarded the elaborate, ornate robes he'd worn when they'd first met, now dressed in a simple, dark-colored casual garb, his dark hair held together with a simple jade hairpin. Even more startling to Chen Ye was the expression on his face! Gone was the furrowed brow and undisguised cold disgust that had characterized their initial encounter. In its place, his deep eyes, almost overflowing with tenderness, like the shimmering waters of a lake under the warm autumn sun... a kind of ecstasy and uncertainty, almost lost and regained.
This huge contrast, like time going back and soul being reshaped, left Chen Ye completely stunned! Her mind was in a mess, and the boundaries between past and present lives became blurred. She stared blankly at the familiar yet unfamiliar handsome face, at the deep and inextricable emotions in his eyes that almost drowned her. After a long while, she answered with difficulty, with a hint of hesitation and temptation that she herself had not noticed:
“…Yes…it’s me.”
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