Chapter 1

“Binding confirmed. Host’s vital signs are stable. Everything normal…”

Her head felt groggy, her eyelids heavier than lead. Lu Xi struggled to open her eyes but found her body limp and powerless, completely unable to move. The surroundings were deathly still, leaving her disoriented about her location. Only a flat, emotionless mechanical voice echoed in her mind.

“Hello, host. I am your task system, designation 001. Of course, you can also call me by my grand name, Shuai Yi.”

As the electronic voice finished speaking, Lu Xi felt strength flood back into her body, vitality surging through her limbs. Her fingertips twitched, and she slowly opened her eyes.

Before her stretched the desolate peak of a mountain that seemed long abandoned. No towering trees blocked the sky; instead, waist-high weeds blanketed the area, glowing with eerie hues in the dim twilight.

Propping herself up, Lu Xi scanned her surroundings for a moment. Recalling the voice in her head, she furrowed her brow and murmured, “001?”

In the next instant, the electronic voice returned, this time carrying a hint of warmth. “I’m here, host. What are your instructions?”

Now Lu Xi was certain: something was inside her head. And it seemed just like one of those so-called systems from the novels she’d read before.

The thought had barely formed when a searing pain erupted in her forehead, as if struck by a heavy blow and then raked by sharp claws.

Cold sweat beaded on her brow. Too weak to hold herself up, she collapsed back to the ground. The bone-deep agony dragged on endlessly. Then, strange and fragmented memories were forcibly crammed into her mind.

A long while later, the infusion of memories finally ended.

The familiar electronic voice chimed in again. “Heh heh heh, let me reintroduce myself—your task system, 001.”

“I’ve already sent all the data to your mind just now. Heh heh heh… So now you know what you have to do, right?”

The wind on the mountaintop was chilly, chilling Lu Xi’s heart even more.

Fine. So she really was dead. And now she was bound to a mission system to save a blackening side character. Only after completing all the salvation tasks could she be reborn.

“You’re currently in the book Godfall. Your target to save is the villainess Fu Lan Cen…” As the system’s words trailed off, Lu Xi swiftly reviewed the plot of the book.

With a general understanding, she quickly accepted the fact that she’d transmigrated into the book—as an immortal, no less.

She glanced down at her wide-sleeved robe, flicking her wrist to let the sleeve trace a graceful arc.

Mm, not bad for an immortal. A casual wave of the hand summoned ethereal winds and immortal arts.

“…Next, the main storyline mission will begin,” 001’s voice announced, reminding her, “Are you ready?”

Lu Xi nodded. In the blink of an eye, a ripple stirred the shallow grass on the empty mountaintop—and her figure vanished.

…

Divine Calendar Year 17695.

The long-dormant Divine Realm finally buzzed with excitement. The cause? The revered God Venerable Qi Ran, an Upper God adored across the realm, was taking a wife—the young daughter of the ancient Qingqiu Nine-Tailed Fox Clan, no less.

Both Qi Ran the God Venerable and the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan held immense sway in the Divine Realm, so the wedding was predictably grand and lively.

Prominent figures from the Four Seas Eight Wastelands arrived a day or two early at Qingqiu or the Ninth Heaven to offer congratulations, all eager to witness the splendid event firsthand.

Qingqiu was decked out in festive splendor.

Verdant mountains and forests were adorned with red silk and brocade, while bells hanging from the branches tinkled crisply in the breeze. Ding-ding-dang-dang—the air brimmed with joyful clamor.

Guests streamed in, chatting amiably as they admired the rare beauty of Qingqiu’s landscapes and gazed toward the entrance, awaiting the God Venerable’s arrival to receive his bride.

…

In stark contrast to the front mountain’s boisterous revelry stood the Back Mountain Forbidden Ground’s barren desolation. Deep in its uninhabited woods, no birds flitted through the air, no beasts roamed, and not even insects chirped.

Suddenly, a faint animal whimper scattered on the cold wind.

Lu Xi’s brow twitched as she formed the seal for the Invisibility Art. Following 001’s guidance, she flew onward before alighting gracefully by a small stream.

At the damp streambank sprawled a small beast with matted fur. Its once-powerful claws appeared to have had their sharp nails pried away, dark red blood seeping out and staining the surrounding dull white fur.

Too weak to hold itself up, the little beast’s head lolled between its forepaws. Long, curled lashes framed its eyelids, trembling nonstop from the agony of the wounds.

Hearing the noise nearby, the little beast’s fur bristled all over. It struggled to half-open its eyes.

Lu Xi froze in place.

She could scarcely describe the eyes she beheld. They shone like stars brimming with fragmented soft light, reflecting the stream’s ripples in ever-widening circles that stirred her hitherto calm heart amid the dusk.

This was the first time she’d seen such beautiful eyes. They rivaled the moon in splendor, nearly ensnaring her very soul.

“Hey! Snap out of it!” 001 hadn’t expected her to look so entranced upon first sighting the villainess Fu Lan Cen. “Get a grip. Silently recite the Clear Heart Incantation, or you’ll fall for the Nine-Tailed Fox’s innate charm technique.”

Nine-Tailed Foxes were born with mesmerizing arts, though those of ancient clans rarely unleashed them deliberately for gain. Yet their narrow, alluring fox eyes still proved irresistibly captivating—an inborn gift. Outsiders who wished to avoid its pull simply couldn’t stare too long.

Though Lu Xi now possessed divine power and memories as a transmigrator, she’d nearly succumbed anyway.

She clutched her pounding heart and slowly materialized before the bewildered little fox.

The little fox’s fluffy ear tips quivered involuntarily. Her forepaws thrashed for a moment, but she still couldn’t stand.

Her pointed muzzle parted, issuing a warning growl.

Deprived of her voice and divine power, Fu Lan Cen had no idea who this sudden intruder might be. Yet anyone who could slip silently into Qingqiu’s Back Mountain Forbidden Ground was no ordinary foe.

…Could it be those deranged foes, scheming to extract more of her essence blood to offer the cousin who had taken her place ascending to the Ninth Heaven?

She was terrified.

Her body could barely hold out any longer. Another extraction of blood, and she’d likely perish here.

But she hadn’t taken her revenge yet—how could she dissipate into nothingness like this?!

Her alluring fox eyes brimmed with wariness and desperate fury. Lu Xi knew that even a hint of killing intent from her would prompt the little fox at her feet to fight to the death.

After gazing down for a long moment, Lu Xi gently raised her arm. A wisp of pale white light flew from her fingertip into the little fox’s brow, staunching her wounds’ pain and temporarily immobilizing her body.

Sure enough, the immobilized little fox bared her teeth in helpless fury, her throat rumbling with hoarse roars. It almost looked like… she was cursing her?

Amused, Lu Xi arched a brow, hiked up her robe’s hem, and squatted before the bedraggled little fox. Under that warning glare, she smiled and extended a hand.

Cautiously touching the dry, lusterless fur on her head, Lu Xi shook her head with a tone of pity. “Little fox, there are many ways to seek revenge.”

Fu Lan Cen shuddered under the touch, her fox eyes nearly shooting flames. Had she not been mute, powerless, and now restrained by this enigmatic figure, she would surely have snapped off that hand atop her head!

Sensing the volatile emotions in the little fox’s eyes, Lu Xi continued stroking down her matted back. “Do you know that mutual destruction is the stupidest method of all?”

“Wu…” Fu Lan Cen felt a subtle power seep into her body along the path of the touch, gently soothing the pain that had tormented her for so long.

In moments, she regained a bit of strength and instinctively tried to scramble backward, away from this dangerous and mysterious person.

Noticing the heightened wariness—and faint bewilderment—in the little fox’s eyes, Lu Xi withdrew her spellcasting hand and extended it forthrightly. “I’m at loose ends lately. Why don’t you come with me? I’ll help you get your revenge.”