Chapter 18

As spiritual energy gradually revived, the world held countless spirits and monsters. If they entered mortal cities, they would naturally be registered. But if they lived and died entirely in the mountains, the Xuanzhen Dao Court didn’t have the manpower to seek them all out one by one. As long as they caused no trouble, they were left alone. Thus, what looked like an ordinary mountain might hide many spirit creatures. Normally, these spirits would actively avoid Mystic Sect cultivators. But ever since the miasmic fog rose on South Mountain, Mountain Fiends and vermin had appeared in countless numbers. Eight or nine out of ten, something was driving them from behind.

Could it be the Nine-Tailed Fox sealed in Head Hill Cave?

Wang Xuanming’s worry deepened. The elders of the Xuanzhen Dao Court weren’t in Shen City, and the South Mountain Fox Immortal Temple matter couldn’t be delayed any longer; they had to force themselves to act. But on reflection, entering the mountain was still reckless. Although Xie Chaoyun had promised to help, they hadn’t seen any sign of her yet. Had she broken her word, or encountered danger? The more Wang Xuanming thought, the more restless he became. Only when he met Fu Juan’s cold, sharp gaze did his mind calm somewhat, and he forced out a smile.

“Let’s keep moving,” Wang Xuanming sheathed his Ritual Sword and walked towards Fu Juan. But before he could touch the handles, the three Little Paper Dolls acted first, pushing Fu Juan forward.

Wang Xuanming’s raised hand slowly clenched into a fist. Fu Juan’s undisguised coldness stung his heart. A few messy thoughts flashed through his mind, and he frowned, catching up to Fu Juan.

When she saw Fu Juan’s figure clearly, Jiang Yiguang craned her neck, as if wanting to stick to Fu Juan, but her feet remained firmly planted in place. She asked Xie Chaoyun, “Should we catch up to them?”

“No rush,” Xie Chaoyun replied absently. “Let’s deliver the Peach Blossom Pastry first.”

Jiang Yiguang: “…” Who knew what was so special about this Peach Blossom Pastry that both the ghost and the fox were so fixated on it.

Xie Chaoyun was very familiar with the mountain path, clearly having walked this way often. Jiang Yiguang jogged to keep up with her steps, and after winding this way and that, they finally arrived at a deep, pitch-black cave entrance. Although spring had arrived, the surrounding vegetation showed no signs of budding. Dead branches of thorns crisscrossed, matching the dust-colored sky, making it appear even more desolate and lonely.

“Do we have to go in?” Jiang Yiguang pointed at the dark cave entrance, not feeling she had the courage for such exploration.

Xie Chaoyun didn’t speak. She frowned at the decaying-looking entrance and took just one step forward. Immediately, the previously hidden spell talismans blazed with dazzling golden light, making her face turn a few shades paler.

Only then did Jiang Yiguang see the dense, yellow talisman papers at the cave entrance. She silently counted them: only forty-two remained. Logically, they should conform to the Heavenly Derivation number of forty-nine. It was because the talisman papers had fallen off that the Nine-Tailed Fox could cause trouble on South Mountain? “I can only place the Peach Blossom Pastry at the cave entrance.” Jiang Yiguang turned to Xie Chaoyun, very firm in her principles. Being unkillable didn’t mean she had to seek death.

Xie Chaoyun didn’t force Jiang Yiguang. She nodded, giving a soft “Mm.”

Jiang Yiguang secretly breathed a sigh of relief and approached the cave entrance with small steps. Just as she was bending down, she suddenly heard a whistling gust of wind. Instinctively, she straightened up and swung the Seven Star Sword to block. Smack! Something hit the sword blade. The recoil force numbed her hand, sending her stumbling backward several steps. The sword was undamaged, but the ambushing object had shattered into several pieces—fruit pits, upon closer inspection.

Jiang Yiguang’s scalp went numb. Not caring about anything else, she was about to just drop the “Peach Blossom Pastry” gift box when a shout of “Wait!” rang out beside her ear! Turning, she saw Wang Xuanming in a sorry state, covered in dirt as if he’d rolled in mud. There were several fine, bloody scratches near his eyebrow, and the veins on the back of his hand gripping his Ritual Sword stood taut; he was gripping it with great force, looking as if he’d just been through a fierce battle.

Indeed, Wang Xuanming had been through a fierce battle, and it wasn’t over yet. Seeing Jiang Yiguang frozen in place, he raised his voice again and yelled, “Don’t casually offer sacrifices to the fox demon!”

Hearing the word “sacrifice,” Jiang Yiguang’s heart skipped a beat. She turned to the pale, lifeless Xie Chaoyun and finally found a sliver of her fear and wariness towards “ghosts” again. When had her guard dropped? Why hadn’t she noticed?

But Xie Chaoyun had no attention to spare for Jiang Yiguang. A fierce tiger’s Yin spirit leaped out from the murky, dark clouds, glaring menacingly at her.

Only Jiang Yiguang, holding the Peach Blossom Pastry box, seemed like an “outsider.”

The sky was dark, and the surroundings were desolate and bleak. Jiang Yiguang frowned, her mind seeming to empty in an instant, leaving only an empty shell in the world. Vaguely, she heard the words “throw the sword.” Jiang Yiguang looked up blankly and saw a monkey-like Mountain Fiend within the miasmic fog. She didn’t move, instead gripping the Seven Star Sword tighter.

As if lost in fog, but only for a moment.

The sizzling sound of static cleared Jiang Yiguang’s mind somewhat. Only then did she realize the extent of the World Consciousness’s control. She was like an insignificant ant; her self-awareness might have been snuffed out before she even noticed. She heard the system’s mechanical sound pass by her ear, but when lines of text entered her eyes, she still felt a sense of dazed confusion. She bit the tip of her tongue hard, using the pain to find her own consciousness.

She finally clearly saw the words on the panel before her eyes.

【Detected that the Host has entered a key plot point. The following three choices are available:

A. Hold tight to the Seven Star Sword. (Physical Strength Points +5)

B. Throw the sword to Fu Juan. (Daoist Skill Points +1)

C. Wield the sword yourself to slay the Demon. (Daoist Skill Points +5)】

It was Fu Juan shouting for the “sword.”

But the Seven Star Sword was a high-quality magical artifact. If she threw it away, what would she rely on to protect herself? This thought flashed through Jiang Yiguang’s mind. She vaguely guessed what “causing trouble” meant. It was probably because of her cowardice that Fu Juan paid a price that wasn’t originally necessary, thus deepening the rift between them.

The last option’s reward was the most tempting, but her reason told her that wasn’t something she could handle. There was no need to show off. She should choose the second path. Yet, when making the choice, she felt a resisting force pulling at her nerves, as if trying to tear her entire being in two. Her mind buzzed, and an invisible slap struck her head, slowly grinding away her active thoughts.

Abruptly, Jiang Yiguang used the Seven Star Sword to slash a bloody gash across her palm. As the pain suppressed her stray thoughts, she swiftly chose the second option. She still clutched the sword tightly, but if it really came to that point, the system would enforce the action.

Fu Juan’s opponent was a Mountain Fiend of immense strength. Her initial Ritual Sword had already snapped in two during their fight.

She had originally thought that since Jiang Yiguang had plenty of magical artifacts, she could borrow the Seven Star Sword, personally consecrated by Jiang Li, to unleash the power of her swordsmanship. But upon seeing Jiang Yiguang’s pale face, she dismissed the idea. Despite Jiang Yiguang’s usual promises of complete devotion, what was deeply ingrained in her bones was a selfish nature.

She was afraid of death.

She wouldn’t consider what burden her actions would place on others.

The residual magical power of the half-broken sword was insufficient to protect her flawlessly. The Mountain Fiend’s claws closed in on Fu Juan’s face.

“Xiao Juan!” Fu Yi shouted, transforming into a blaze of Scarlet Fire that ignited the Mountain Fiend’s fur.