"Brother Pheasant, no, Senior Brother, what's going on with you?"
The pheasant that was practically in her mouth had flown away. Feeling gloomy, Shu Fu reluctantly took out two spirit fruits to munch on.
However, what puzzled her more was why Liu Ruyi had taken the form of a pheasant and used his spiritual sense to sneak into the Purple Jade Pot.
Before the trial, both Jiang Xuesheng and Liu Ruyi had expressed confidence in her, so they probably weren't here to help her cheat. Furthermore, a weak chicken like this, without weapons or spiritual power, didn't seem capable of helping much, unless it was to pass secret notes.
"To be honest, I don't know either."
Life is hard. The pheasant drooped its head dejectedly, scratching at the ground. "Sir only told me to come in and keep an eye on things, nothing more. That's just how he is. Unless he's certain, he won't voice any ambiguous guesses."
"So, he believes there will be an unexpected turn of events during this exam."
Shu Fu did a bit of reading comprehension, feeling somewhat reassured. She reached out and scooped up the pheasant by its wing. "In that case, Senior Brother, you'll come with us. But for tonight, you'll have to put up with... uh, that doesn't sound quite right. Maybe I should just call you Brother Pheasant."
Liu Ruyi: "..."
He had always prided himself on having inherited Jiang Xuesheng's silver tongue, being full of smooth talk and skilled at driving innuendo, but this time he had truly met his match.
"Shu Fu sister, what's with this bird of yours?"
After resting for a while in the spruce forest, Shu Fu, Ye Shusheng, and Lin Xiaomei set off again. Lin Xiaomei's eyes widened as she carefully examined the pheasant perched on Shu Fu's shoulder, asking with a puzzled expression.
Shu Fu brushed it off casually, "I thought it looked cute, planning to keep it for a few days."
Liu Ruyi cooperatively puffed out his chest and stretched his neck, trying his best to show off his multicolored feathers.
Shu Fu added, "Fatten it up a bit, then roast it."
Liu Ruyi: "Squawk!"
There was no helping it; only lines like that fit her fierce persona. If she said something about "compassion" or "cannot bear to eat its meat after hearing its cry, cannot bear to see it die after seeing it alive," it might raise suspicion for being out of character.
Sure enough, Ye Shusheng readily accepted the existence of this chicken. "That's great! When you roast it, remember to call me and save me a leg. Your culinary skills are truly extraordinary, even better than my mother's."
Liu Ruyi: "..."
I'll remember you, you little bastard.
And so, Shu Fu, carrying a chicken and leading her two junior companions, traversed the spruce forest that grew increasingly dark and eerie in the night, then climbed a rugged, difficult mountain path, finally reaching the mountaintop late at night.
As expected, atop the snowy peak, there was indeed a broad volcanic lake, and in its center sat a small, pitch-black island. The island was covered with pavilions, towers, and halls, with vermilion roof tiles and green glazed tiles, painted beams and carved pillars—clearly a magnificent, opulent estate.
Shu Fu thought, what a standard boss location, just like a demon king's castle in a game.
"Fellow Daoist Ye, how many Crimson Pearls are you still short of?"
She turned her head to ask Ye Shusheng.
Ye Shusheng said with a bitter face, "All the Crimson Pearls I got along the way were given to you. Now you have enough, but I'm still short over a thousand."
Ignoring his complaint, Shu Fu turned to Lin Xiaomei and asked, "Fellow Daoist Lin, what about you?"
"Me? I'm sorry, my abilities are low..." Caught off guard by the question, Lin Xiaomei flustered, lowering her head in shame. "After wandering around the secret realm for most of the day, I only got less than a thousand. I'm still short more than two thousand."
Shu Fu sighed inwardly; this girl really was a bronze rank.
"Fellow Daoist Ye helped me a lot, so naturally I'll help you collect Crimson Pearls too. In my opinion, we should first try to challenge the great demon. If successful, Fellow Daoist Ye and Fellow Daoist Lin could both pass in one go."
"If we fail... I've observed beforehand; this area has a large number of demonic beasts, minerals, and spirit plants. If we stay here overnight and gather with all our might, we should be able to collect the required amount."
That said, for Lin Xiaomei, Shu Fu didn't plan to carry her the whole way.
Lin Xiaomei's background was pitiable, but her abilities were clearly lacking. Even if Shu Fu helped her this time, she couldn't help with her future cultivation. Shu Fu had already saved her from the vine and brought her to this resource-rich area where she could easily collect Crimson Pearls; that was already going above and beyond.
For the upcoming trial, Shu Fu could at most lend a hand. Taking complete charge wouldn't do Lin Xiaomei any good.
On another note...
For a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Lin Xiaomei was far too frail. Could it be that her main focus was the healing arts, or perhaps alchemy or artifact forging—a support class?
Or perhaps her foundation and innate talent were simply insufficient, and she had forcibly reached Foundation Establishment through external means?
Shu Fu tucked this doubt away in her heart and spoke kindly, "Fellow Daoist Lin, if you don't want to go with us, you can stay by the lakeside. That would be safer for you."
Lin Xiaomei blurted out, "No, I must go!"
Shu Fu asked, puzzled, "Fellow Daoist Lin?"
"Ah! I mean... I also want to contribute my share. I can't just take advantage of you all for free."
Lin Xiaomei, realizing her attitude seemed a bit off, like she was trying to cling to their coattails, hurriedly waved her hands. "If you think it's troublesome..."
Troublesome? It definitely would be troublesome.
That one snake demon alone was mid-Foundation Establishment. The final boss would undoubtedly be at least that strong, if not stronger. Shu Fu and Ye Shusheng, one at Qi Refining perfection and the other at early Foundation Establishment, could handle one or two if they coordinated well. The fear was that the great demon might come with its own harem, summoning a palace full of beauties at a wave of its hand, all at that level.
Shu Fu and Ye Shusheng could protect themselves, but Lin Xiaomei might not. If possible, Shu Fu sincerely wished for her to stay by the lake, picking herbs, mining, and dealing with minor monsters.
However, Lin Xiaomei was determined, and Shu Fu didn't want to dampen her spirits. "In that case, you must stick close to us."
"Mm! I'll listen to you, sister!"
Lin Xiaomei beamed with joy, her eyes sparkling like a child who had received a coveted gift.
The sprawling estate covering the entire small island was vast, with exquisite architecture and furnishings of extreme luxury, yet it was completely devoid of people. The attendant boys, maidservants, and even various rare birds and beasts were all lifelike paper puppets.
Walking among them, the group felt shadows looming on all sides, a bleak, chilling wind carrying a hint of damp moisture brushing against their cheeks, like someone's icy fingertips.
In Shu Fu's words: This setting, this atmosphere, is clearly set up for a haunting.
She wasn't exactly afraid of ghosts, but considering the exaggerated special effects of hauntings in the cultivation world, if a bloody head suddenly popped out of a well, even she might get a fright.
If she got so scared her hand shook and she couldn't hold her sword steady, that would be a disaster.
Therefore, along the way, Shu Fu's caution reached new heights. Her back and arms were ramrod straight; she practically wanted to have her Solitary Light sword probe even a chamber pot first.
Naturally, Solitary Light struggled violently, refusing this heavy mission with all its might.
During the exploration, Lin Xiaomei stuck close to Shu Fu's heels the entire time. Liu Ruyi couldn't find an opportunity to speak, remaining as quiet as a chicken throughout.
Only after Shu Fu entered a bridal chamber decorated with lanterns and streamers, adorned with a large red "double happiness" character, did Lin Xiaomei, who was rather shy, peek inside for just a glance before blushing and saying she would go check elsewhere first, telling Shu Fu not to wait for her.
After seeing her walk away, Liu Ruyi pecked Shu Fu behind the ear and seized the moment to whisper, "Junior Sister, have you noticed anything unusual?"
"This place is crafted too meticulously."
Shu Fu lowered her voice, pointing to a red coral studded with gold and jade on the table. "Everything we've passed along the way—every blade of grass, every tree, every brick, every tile, even this red coral—is depicted in minute detail. If this were merely for a trial, it would be excessive."
After a moment's thought, she slowly voiced her conclusion: "I think this entire mansion seems to be imitating some real place."
"Correct."
Liu Ruyi admitted frankly, "This isn't much of a secret, so I'll tell you directly. This secret realm was arranged by Master Huaigu. To save effort and attract disciples, he simply copied his own immortal manor from Tianquan Peak and placed it within this realm."
Shu Fu: "..."
What kind of nouveau riche show-off move is this?
"And this bridal chamber? Master Huaigu must be a thousand or eight hundred years old by now. How could he still have such needs? Wouldn't he blush with shame?"
"Heh."
Liu Ruyi chuckled lightly, his gaze shifting—though a pheasant couldn't exactly send flirtatious glances. "You jest, Junior Sister. Time stands still in the mountains; cultivators preserve their youth. Not to mention a thousand or eight hundred, even tens of thousands of years old can have such needs. The Kongtong Elder's cultivation has stagnated, showing signs of decay, yet doesn't he still boast about his undiminished virility?"
Shu Fu recalled the venerable appearance of the homophobic elder and conceded, "Alright, you're right."
Liu Ruyi continued, "As for this bridal chamber, it's most likely to reminisce about a past love."
Shu Fu: "A past love?"
"Indeed."
Liu Ruyi nodded like a bird pecking at rice. "It's said that Master Huaigu once had a romantic involvement with a female cultivator surnamed Fang. Unfortunately, fate was not kind. Fairy Fang failed to form her Nascent Soul and passed away on the immortal path before him. Master Huaigu searched everywhere for her reincarnation but never found her, considering it the regret of his life."
"He has many flaws, but he was truly devoted to that Fairy Fang and took good care of her clan as well. The Fang family was already a prominent clan, and under his patronage, they have now become a fairly well-known power in the cultivation world."
He lifted a wing to point. "By the way, look at this red coral. Don't underestimate it. It's a rare treasure from the East Sea, hard as metal and stone, lustrous as jade. Even the Jiao clan, who pride themselves as descendants of divine dragons, covet it dearly. Who knows how much effort Master Huaigu spent to obtain a branch, just to decorate this bridal chamber."
"Oh?"
Shu Fu listened to this tale of bygone days without finding it tiresome. This was all information absent from her memories; hearing something new was good, and it filled gaps in her knowledge, such as the unavoidable stories between Master Huaigu and the Fang family.
Moreover, learning that this was Master Huaigu's residence helped guide her next steps in the investigation.
Given his arrogant and self-important temperament, his own living quarters would definitely be located at the very center of the mansion, deep within the most splendid, star-surrounded area. Just like his enormous seven-colored teleportation array, the roof would surely be high, the decorations lavish, perhaps even paved with gold bricks, dazzling enough to blind passersby from eight hundred meters away.
Thinking this, Shu Fu gathered her energy, leaped onto the roof, and gazed into the distance—
"Oh! What the—!"
One second later, Shu Fu tumbled to the ground like a Shiba Inu, dramatically covering her eyes. "My eyes! My eyes!"
"..."
Liu Ruyi did not mock her exaggerated reaction. Because even he found Master Huaigu's unique taste... indescribable.
Just as Shu Fu had guessed, Master Huaigu's room was indeed located at the center of the mansion, exceptionally resplendent and ostentatiously obvious.
Even more ostentatious was that this villa had its own swimming—no, lotus pond at the entrance. Beside the lotus pond stood a statue several zhang tall, made of some unknown material that glittered with golden light, resembling an oversized neon sign in the dark night.
As for the statue's subject, needless to say, it was none other than Master Huaigu himself, standing proudly with a sword.
Shu Fu: "This... this..."
This is so tacky!
Help, she's going blind!
To muster the courage to approach the statue, Shu Fu closed her eyes, took deep breaths, and spent a good while mentally preparing herself before finally managing to stand up straight and glide over the eaves. After a few leaps, she landed lightly by the lotus pond, standing opposite the tall, majestic figure of Master Huaigu.
"..."
Oh no, it seems even more eye-searing up close.
Uncle's intense stare.jpg
Bearing the omnipresent mental pressure from Master Huaigu, Shu Fu tiptoed into the room, hoping to find clues about the great demon.
Unfortunately, this time she also found nothing.
Although Master Huaigu had replicated his residence complete with pavilions, towers, lotus ponds, and waterside pavilions, the interior was utterly empty, leaving not a single clue behind.
With no other options, Shu Fu circled back to the entrance and once again stood face-to-face with the tacky statue, spacing out. "If it's not here, where else could the great demon be hiding?"
Having to solve a puzzle just to fight a boss is way too nitpicky.
Liu Ruyi shook his head. "I don't know. Master Huaigu is simple-minded, and precisely because of that, his thoughts are always hard to fathom."
Shu Fu: "I get it. You're calling him an idiot."
Insults wouldn't solve the problem. Shu Fu stared blankly at the statue for a while, then suddenly asked out of the blue, "Senior Brother, is Master Huaigu skilled in swordsmanship?"
Liu Ruyi: "Passable. About the same as you are now, Junior Sister."
Shu Fu: "I get it. You're saying he's as lousy as I am."
She paused, then pondered further. "Since his swordsmanship is so poor, and everyone knows it's poor, why is his statue holding a sword? To express that reality is harsh, but ideals are full?"
"Ah, now that you mention it..."
Liu Ruyi was taken aback, then thoughtfully added, "On the statue at Tianquan Peak, what Master Huaigu holds is not a sword, but a medicinal scale."
"A medicinal scale?"
"He started as an alchemist. What he's most proud of is his alchemy skills, so naturally he would carry something related to pill refining."
"Then, in that case..."
Shu Fu focused her gaze on a single point, fixing it squarely on the long sword in Master Huaigu's hand.
The direction the sword tip pointed was none other than the tranquil lotus pond before them.
"I think we've found where the mechanism is."
Shu Fu took a confident step forward, her eyes gleaming. "So next is the question of how to activate it."
Immediately afterward, her sharp eyes spotted something else.
At the foot of Master Huaigu's statue lay a cushion for kneeling and paying respects. Shu Fu walked over for a closer look and saw that on the ground beside the cushion, finely carved in almost imperceptibly tiny characters, was a line of text only visible up close:
"Three bows and nine kowtows, and passage shall be granted."
Shu Fu: "..."
Liu Ruyi: "..."
"Three bows and nine kowtows, and passage shall be granted."
Shu Fu repeated in disbelief, "Kowtow to you, and you'll let me pass? Do you even have any shame?"
"He's never been one for shame, but I never thought he could be this shameless."
Liu Ruyi sighed softly. "However, in Master Huaigu's eyes, others respecting him, kneeling to him, are probably all matters of course. Demanding only a kowtow is already considered a tremendous act of grace."
"Junior Sister, those who achieve great things don't fuss over minor details. This really shouldn't be a difficult thing. Look—"
Before the words fully left his mouth, a deafening "BOOM" erupted beside their ears. Gravel and shattered stone flew like a torrential rain, whipping up a cloud of dust from the ground.
The billowing dust got into Liu Ruyi's eyes. When he looked up, he saw Shu Fu sheathing her sword, clenching her bare hand into a fist, gathering her energy, and without a moment's hesitation, smashing it down onto the prayer mat.
She put the full force of her strength into that punch. The mat, along with the bluestone ground beneath it, was forcefully driven down half a foot, forming a deep depression.
Amidst the swirling dust, a light click sounded, the noise of a mechanism engaging. The ground trembled for dozens of meters around, accompanied by a deep, rumbling roar rising from below, as if thunder was rolling up from the profound depths of the earth.
The hidden mechanism within the residence had been broken.
Shu Fu did not kowtow. Instead, she punched open a passage.
"......"
This time, even Liu Ruyi was left speechless, stunned by her stubbornness and ferocity.
The earth roared, the illusions scattered. The boundless emerald waves and sun-reflecting red lotuses behind Shu Fu vanished without a trace, revealing a bottomless, massive chasm beneath the "Lotus Pond."
Facing the arrogant statue of Master Huaigu, her back to the dark and cold abyss, she lifted her face against the wind, her long hair whipped by the night breeze into a banner of defiance.
"I will not kneel."
Her eyes blazing, she enunciated each word clearly:
"I have a terrible temper. I don't kneel to heaven, I don't kneel to earth, and I certainly will never kneel to him. Taking a thousand steps back, if I had to follow local customs and bow like everyone else, it might be possible."
"But this Master Huaigu... he looks down on the Master, so he troubles me at every turn, using me as a pawn to humiliate him. Do you think I don't know? I held back for the sake of his face, but in my heart, I've never submitted. If I knelt to him, what kind of person would I be?"
"I'm stubborn. I only know two postures: standing upright, or lying down flat. If he has the guts, let him make me lie down. Otherwise, I will walk to the end standing tall."
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