CH 41

March 17th, 2023

Fang Li’s eyes were tightly closed, his eyelashes trembling without pause. He seemed to be trapped in a dream.

Disjointed memory fragments poured continuously into his consciousness, those memories flashing past like carousel lights. Rather than calling them memories, they were more like pictures and scenes……

After around a quarter of an hour.

Fang Li’s furrowed brows slowly smoothed out, and he opened his eyes.

It looked like the mission had been a success.

He propped himself up into a sitting position on the bed and looked around him. Below him was a huge mahogany bed, and before him was a folding screen decorated with mountains and rivers. In the incense burner beside his bed, a soothing scent billowed out……

He reached out his hands to take a look. It was a pair of thin and slender hands, a little sickly in pallor. It looked like this body wasn’t in very good shape.

Fang Li sunk into contemplation, putting together those unconscious memory fragments. His new body seemed to be a fool……

Just what kind of body had the System picked for him?

It wouldn’t be both foolish and sickly, would it?

Fang Li closed his eyes and retrieved the memories in his consciousness to analyze them and quickly figured out what was going on.

His current body was originally the young master of a wealthy family. Because he liked to play around as a child, he accidentally fell into a mountain cave. Who would have known he’d have such bad luck…… No, it should be said that his luck had been overly good. That mountain cave just happened to have produced a ten thousand year old jade of distilled mountain essence. If a cultivator had obtained such a treasure, it would be perfect beyond measure for assisting their cultivation, but if a mortal with absolutely no exposure to cultivation obtained it, they would have no way to absorb and assimilate such strong spiritual energy, and it would only break out and kill them.

Luckily, this child’s meridians were naturally unique. He had the extremely rare and hidden Heaven’s Spirit physique. On the surface, the Heaven’s Spirit physique couldn’t be discerned and was difficult to detect, but it made one’s meridians much stronger than the average person, and one could naturally hold much more spiritual energy than a normal person. That was the only reason he hadn’t died immediately upon absorbing the ten thousand year mountain jade.

An absolute prodigy with the Heaven’s Spirit physique who had unexpectedly stumbled upon a ten thousand year mountain jade—this should have the script of an OP protagonist obtaining a cheat code, rising above the masses from the very start.

Alas—he had only been a six-year-old child with absolutely no cultivation and a still immature consciousness.

His soul was far too weak, and the colossal spiritual energy surged through his body in a split second. Although it didn’t immediately burst apart his body and kill him, it did smash apart his soul, causing him to develop a grave illness after returning. When he woke up again, he had become a fool.

For over ten years, he had been muddle-headed and confused. The spiritual energy of the ten thousand year old mountain jade remained in his body, and because it had still not been absorbed, he was hanging on on purely through the might of the Heaven’s Spirit physique. These years, it had been slowly and steadily consuming his body’s strength, which was why he looked so weak and sickly.

If things went on like this, he would die sooner or later.

Before Fang Li had entered this body, the last trace of his soul had just happened to disappear, and this body had become a hollow shell.

The System had probably gone through careful deliberation when picking this body for him.

When he had arrived in this world, he had descended directly into Yan Sui’s body and inherited everything of Yan Sui’s. After death, he retained a part of the strength of his consciousness. Right now, he still possessed the powerful consciousness of a peak-level Soul Formation cultivator, which could be considered his reward for completing the mission.

He possessed such a powerful consciousness, and he was proficient in cultivation techniques. Absorbing the ten thousand year mountain jade’s energy in his body was only a matter of time, and he even had the Heaven’s Spirit physique, which would double the returns of his cultivation. Given some time, he would certainly be able to return to the peak of Soul Formation, and his potential was limitless.

The System truly had fulfilled its promise. As long as the mission was complete, it would pick the most suitable body for him.

With this body, he could possess enough power to keep himself safe in this world, living free and unrestrained and never having to worry about those things for a lifetime. Being a leisurely wealthy young master idling his days away was also pretty good.

The System did have a heart.

When he thought about how the mission was complete and the System wasn’t around anymore, he actually felt a little nostalgic.

But now this world should be able to proceed on its own, right?

Fang Li stood up lazily.

He pushed the door open and went outside.

Outside, there were two servant girls in the courtyard, eating seeds and chatting in the forest shade. When they saw Fang Li come outside, they smiled and stood up, saying to Fang Li, “Young master, are you hungry?”

Although Young Master Fang was silly and foolish with the IQ of a three-year-old child, the Fang couple thought it had been their carelessness back then that had allowed their child to have an accident. These years, out of guilt, they treated him as the apple of their eye and didn’t neglect him because of his affliction, so the servants of the house didn’t treat him poorly, either.

In the past, if he was hungry, he would come outside on his own, which was why the servants attending him would ask such a question.

Young Master Fang couldn’t understand anything else, but he just happened to understand the word “hungry.”

Fang Li nodded. He really was a bit hungry.

This body didn’t know any cultivation techniques and had endured the spiritual energy that it was unable to absorb for many years. It expended a considerable amount of energy, and it got hungry very quickly.

The servant girl immediately smiled and said, “Please wait a moment, young master, I’ll go prepare something to eat right away. If you’re bored, have Huang Tao play with you.”

Huang Tao was a young servant girl wearing a goose-yellow garment and skirt. She scooted over, smiling cheerfully, and said, “Young master, what do you want to play? Why don’t we throw stones?”

Fang Li’s eyes curved, and he said, “Mn.”

He crouched down and started throwing stones with the young servant girl. Say what you will, but without using spiritual power and only using normal tricks, he almost lost to the young servant girl.

The warm and cozy sunlight fell upon him, and the laughter of the servant girl rang through the courtyard. A slight breeze gently brushed past him, everything beautiful and serene, yet so vivid. Fang Li couldn’t help but half-close his eyes.

He’d just known that this world must be very good.

Not long after, the servant girl who had left earlier returned with a box of food.

Inside the box was an array of exquisite dishes. Although they were all the home-cooked cuisine of mortals, it only took Fang Li a single glance for his appetite to rise, and he sat down in the sunlight to eat with satisfaction.

It wasn’t too long before he was full, and Fang Li stretched lazily, allowing the servant girl to wipe his mouth for him and tidy his disheveled clothes.

Then, he got up and headed outside.

He had just woken up, and he didn’t know what had happened after the battle that day, or whether Xie Huai had become the famous number one in the world just like in the original…… There were many things he was curious about, but as a fool, it wasn’t convenient for him to ask directly, in case he scared someone.

If he went out and wandered around, perhaps he would find out.

The servant girl thought he only wanted to wander about aimlessly like in the past. The members of the family also had experience, so nobody stopped him, only following him out the door.

Hualin Town was only so big, anyways. The Fang family was the richest in town, and everybody recognized Young Master Fang, so even if he went outside, nothing much could happen to him.

Fang Li followed his memories as he headed outside and arrived on the streets of Hualin Town.

This was a flourishing little town, and people bustled here and there along the streets with extreme liveliness. Fang Li remembered there was a teahouse in the town, which was a place where news spread like wildfire.

As expected, after walking for not too long, he saw where the teahouse was. Inside, people sat in little groups.

Fang Li had on a set of sky blue brocade robes, a jade pendant at his waist. He strolled in leisurely and looked around, finding a seat and sitting down.

The servant girl behind him had plenty of experience and took out some silver to give to the waiter, saying with a smile, “Give our young master a pot of your best mountain green tea.”

The waiter agreed with a cheerful smile. The Fang family had nothing if not money. No matter what it was, they wanted the very best.

The waiter couldn’t help but take another glance at Fang Li.

Everyone in Hualin Town knew that when he was young, Eldest Young Master Fang had gotten into an accident and was now a fool. Sooner or later, that Fang family business would be inherited by the second young miss, so reasonably speaking, a fool definitely wouldn’t have a good life…… But the Fang family husband and wife treated their son like the apple of their eye, and the talented and capable second young miss also watched over him like a mother hen, not allowing anyone to bully her older brother. So even if he was a fool, he could still live leisurely and abundantly for a lifetime.

Living sober and clear-headed but having to labor about for a lifetime wasn’t even as good as being a carefree, worry-free fool.

Besides, although Eldest Young Master Fang was a fool, he really was very good-looking. Even after being entangled in prolonged illness, and looking a little sickly and pale, his features were extremely exquisite, and he was always peaceful and quiet and never made a fuss. He liked to smile at people for no reason, and his smile was pure and clean, making it impossible to dislike him. He really was the town’s lucky charm!

Fang Li sat idly in the teahouse, his fingertips fiddling with his teacup. The servant girl next to him was peeling peanuts for him.

The storyteller in front spoke in a clear, resonant voice.

He was telling the story of Yuyi-jun killing the devil.

“It’s said that nine years ago, Yuyi-jun killed the devil with a single strike of his sword, that one strike like swans covering the sun, giving that devil no chance to strike back. All of the demonic cultivators on Hollow Ridge were suppressed, and seeing the devil die, they immediately scattered like startled birds……”

Fang Li was a little startled.

Nine years?

So much time had already passed. Just what had the System been doing, taking so long to pick out a body for him?

If not for the fact that the System was already gone, Fang Li would definitely have asked.

Luckily, it wasn’t too important of an issue.

He concentrated on continuing to listen.

“When the Thousand Immortals’ Alliance charged into Hollow Ridge, they just happened to see the scene of Yuyi-jun killing the devil. It’s said that that day, Yuyi-jun’s eyes were red as he struck the killing blow. One can see just how much he hated that devil. After killing the devil, he also collapsed to the ground, his meridians thoroughly broken and his strength exhausted. It’s rumored that after returning, he was unconscious for a whole month before waking up!”

The people below asked, “Isn’t that a bit exaggerated? Old Zhou, even if you’re telling stories, you still have to follow logic a little, okay? If all the meridians in his body were broken, how could he still be so powerful today? Killing until Du Meng is too scared to even show his face?”

The storyteller gave a glare. “How is it exaggerated, this is the insider story from Cloudbank Keep! I had to go to all sorts of trouble to find out about it. It’s said that after Cloudbank Keep rescued Yuyi-jun, they almost thought Yuyi-jun would be ruined forever, but not in a million years did they think that Yuyi-jun is Yuyi-jun after all. He could still stand back up after that and even go further. His title of number one in the world isn’t for nothing!”

Fang Li furrowed his brow, his lips pressed tightly together.

Other people might not believe this story, but back then, he’d seen with his own eyes Xie Huai’s savage appearance, so he actually did believe it…… He hadn’t thought that Xie Huai would go so far to free himself from his control. In the end, he had still hurt Xie Huai. Unease and guilt immediately filled his heart.

After a long time, he let out a light sigh.

Luckily, just like in the original book, not only had Xie Huai restored his cultivation, he had even become number one in the world……

He was still that Yuyi-jun looked up to by the whole world, while Fang Li was no more than a foolish young master living out his days in ignorance. In the future, they would have nothing to do with each other. Surely, Xie Huai wouldn’t go so far as to seek him out to take revenge.

The storyteller paused first, then said fervently, “After successfully regaining his cultivation, the first thing Yuyi-jun did was to chase after Du Meng to take his head! Tsk, tsk, tsk, Yuyi-jun really does hold all the living things of the world in his heart, the light of the righteous sects who takes slaying demons to protect the Dao as his personal duty. He had just suffered serious injury for the sake of killing the demon lord, but without even waiting to fully recover, he went off to chase after the remaining fiends from Hollow Ridge, swearing to eliminate all the evil and demons in the world. Such fearlessness and self-sacrifice, a role model to us all!”

“Back in the day, Du Meng was also a devil second only to Yan Sui. Who would’ve known that not only was Du Meng not a match for Yuyi-jun, he was even cornered into scampering around like a rat. If not for the fact that he’s quick to flee for his life, he would probably have long died under Yuyi-jun’s sword! In the past nine years, forget returning to his Zenith Sky Creed, Du Meng doesn’t even dare to show his face anymore. Who knows what corner of which mountain he’s hiding in!”

Fang Li cheered with the crowd.

Well said.

But what surprised Fang Li a little was that Du Meng actually hadn’t gone to harass Xie Huai? In the original book, Du Meng had been killed because he’d been harassing Xie Huai without rest…… How come listening to today’s story, it sounded like Du Meng hadn’t gone to look for Xie Huai at all, but rather, Xie Huai was actively pursuing him?

Who would’ve thought that Du Meng would encounter a stroke of luck in his misfortune. Although he was being chased into fleeing for his life, he had instead managed to save his life……

Fang Li sank into contemplation.

It looked like things were just as he’d hoped back then. The path of the destined protagonist Xie Huai’s fate was the foundation for this world’s existence, and whether a bunch of side characters lived or died wasn’t really important. Neither Du Meng or Wu Yimei had died…… Now, nine years had passed, and the original story of this world had long concluded, yet it continued to exist. It looked like it had already completely stabilized.

Never again would there be an original story for the development of the world to follow. Instead, it would develop naturally.

The storyteller first took a sip of tea, then revealed a reverent expression, saying, “But the most admirable thing is, not only did Yuyi-jun kill the devil Yan Sui and resolve the demonic calamity, but after finishing all of this, he continued to stand guard along on Hollow Ridge for nine whole years…… Personally suppressing the devil’s resentful soul on Hollow Ridge, forever preventing that devil from being reborn and bringing harm to the world again! This is the real meaning of holding the whole world in his heart, fearlessly sacrificing himself for all living creatures under the heavens!”

Fang Li: “Cough cough cough cough cough—”

This was him choking on a peanut.

Seeing this, the servant girl beside him paled in shock and hurried to pat Fang Li’s back and give him water.

It took a while before Fang Li finally managed to calm himself, his expression complicated.

The first part had been fine. Although it was probably a little off from reality, it seemed more or less correct…… But how come this part was an absolute mess?

Although he and Xie Huai had some grudges between them, when a person died, it was like wiping the slate clean, and the things of the past would scatter like dust. How could such a noble and benevolent and forgiving person as Xie Huai be so bored as to stay at Hollow Ridge to suppress him and forever prevent him from being reborn?

Besides, what lingering soul was there to suppress? This lord’s lingering soul is right in front of you……

But if Xie Huai wasn’t doing it for the sake of suppressing him, then why didn’t he return to Cloudbank Keep, instead staying all alone on Hollow Ridge?

Fang Li didn’t quite understand.

It seemed like a lot had happened in nine years……

But as long as he knew that Xie Huai was doing well, just like in the original book, then he didn’t have much to worry about.

Fang Li lay there, relaxed and content.

The spot he’d picked was perfect, just in the right place for him to sunbathe, and after not too long, he started to doze off.

After waking up hazily from his nap, he found that the storyteller had already left, and the other people in the teahouse had started chatting.

“Did you hear? It’s rumored that the demon lord left behind a treasure vault at Grieving Wind Valley!”

“I know of it, recently lots of sects are heading that way, all trying to get a piece of it.”

“It would be more strange if you didn’t want to. That’s the demon lord’s treasure vault! Whose eyes wouldn’t turn green.”

“Nine years ago, how arrogant was that devil? Taking over the demonic sects, making the world bow down. Who knows how many treasures he’s collected. It’s rumored that there were piles of top-grade spirit stones as high as mountains, and precious treasures just scattered all over the floor.”

“I really don’t know how many good things must be left in the devil’s treasure vault. Even if I get just a glance, I’ll have no more regrets in this life!”

Fang Li’s eyelids drooped lazily as he pondered a little and recalled what this was about. Grieving Wind Valley did have some things that Yan Sui had left behind.

Back then, in order to curry favor with Yan Sui, those demonic cultivators under him kept sending things his way all day, all kinds of miraculous pills and spiritual devices and spirit stones that were too numerous to count, as well as the spoils of victory that Yan Sui had obtained from taking over the demonic sects. There were so many that Yan Sui couldn’t fit them all in his storage device, so other than carrying some important items with him on his person, Yan Sui threw everything else into Grieving Wind Valley.

After that, he didn’t even give it a glance.

Nine years ago, he had died on Hollow Ridge, and all of the demonic cultivators under him had scattered. For news of it to come out only after so many years, that sure was slow enough.

After staying out for a day, he’d heard everything he needed to know.

Fang Li got up and went home.

By the time he got him, it was already late. As soon as he entered the front door, a girl wearing a lake-blue skirt with a sweet and clear smile welcomed him in. The girl’s eyes brightened, and she came over to pull his hand as she smiled, “Brother, you’re finally back! We were waiting for you to eat together!”

As she spoke, she tugged Fang Li by the hand and headed inside.

This was his sister, the Fang family’s second young miss—Fang Qiongyi.

Fang Li entered the room. Inside the room sat a portly middle-aged man with a kindly face, his father Fang Mingyuan, and next to him, with a graceful bearing and a gentle smile, was his mother, Xin Ruiyan.

Seeing his children enter, Fang Mingyuan said jovially to Fang Li, “Li’r, you went out for a stroll again today?”

He knew that his family’s little fool of a son wouldn’t answer him, so he only asked in passing, then said to Fang Qiongyi beside him, “How old are you already? Don’t cling to your brother all day, hurry and sit down and eat.”

Xin Ruiyan smiled as she watched the two kids. When they had sat down, she reached out and put food into Fang Li’s bowl, saying in a gentle voice, “Li’r, eat some more, you’ve gotten thinner again these days.”

Fang Qiongyi raised up her own bowl and pursed her lips, “Mom, where’s mine?”

Xin Ruiyan glared at her with no goodwill. “How old are you? You don’t know how to eat on your own?”

Fang Qiongyi made a face, then went to eat by herself.

Fang Mingyuan shot a doting glance at their family’s foolish little son. Although he ate plenty every day, he was still getting thinner and thinner. When Fang Mingyuan thought of this, he couldn’t help but sigh, his heart heavy, and concealed the worry in his eyes.

Fang Li started to eat cheerfully. Being a fool really was happy and carefree, and he didn’t even have to go out of his way to pretend.

The meal passed by happily and harmoniously.

His parents on one side, his sister on the other, all of them caring and sincere, full of smiles and laughter……

Fang Li lowered his eyes, revealing a nostalgic expression. He had never imagined that he would still have a day like this…… Able to gather the whole family and share a meal together.

Everything in this world was very good.

Everything he’d worked hard for wasn’t without meaning.

How wonderful.

………………………

After dinner, Fang Li returned to his room.

He sat cross-legged and looked into his dantian, then started to absorb the spiritual energy in his body.

Because of the manipulation of his powerful consciousness, the originally restless, chaotic energy immediately became obedient and docile, quickly turning into thin trickles and slowly warming his dried up meridians.

These days, other than eating, Fang Li stayed in closed door cultivation.

Because his body originally belonged to a fool with no logic to his actions to speak of, even if he didn’t leave his room, no one would pay attention.

Seven days passed.

That night, Fang Li suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of light seemingly flitting past his pupils. After the past few days of recuperation, his body was already much better than before, but after so many years of accumulation, his body was like a machine that had rusted over. Rushing things would only backfire on him, so he still had to slowly absorb it and build his foundations in order to make ascending easier in the later stages.

Fang Li got out of bed.

His footsteps were full of force as they hit the ground, no longer weak and floaty. Although this body looked sickly, it was different from Yan Sui’s that had been like a nearly burnt out candle. In truth, this body was brimming with vitality, and recovering to normal was only a matter of time.

Fang Li was in pretty good spirits and was just about to rest when his ears twitched, and he heard a sound coming from the back courtyard.

His eyebrows furrowed faintly, and he pushed the door open to leave, leaping lightly onto the rooftop. He looked out in the direction of the rear courtyard and saw two demonic cultivators sneakily jumping over the wall to enter.

One demonic cultivator had a blade in his hand, and the other was carrying a cudgel.

The demonic cultivator with a blade said, “Everyone says that Hualin town’s Fang family is rich, but it looks just so-so to me.”

The demonic cultivator with a cudgel said, “It’s a rich family in a small town, after all. What were you expecting?”

The demon with the blade said, “Although these mortal families probably don’t have much, killing everyone and taking the money to have some fun in a brothel is pretty good, too.”

The demon with the cudgel said, “This place is very close to Grieving Wind Valley. Let’s not waste too much time. It would be bad if something happened.”

As they spoke, the two were just about to proceed when they suddenly felt a strong breeze past their ears. The demon with the blade felt a chill by the side of his neck. He turned around fiercely, only seeing a leaf sink deep into the wall behind him like a knife!

The demon with the blade’s expression abruptly changed, all the hairs on his body standing up. Being able to make a fragile dead leaf cut into a stone wall required adhering spiritual energy to it without letting it scatter, which one would probably have to be at least a Golden Core cultivator to do. They hadn’t heard that the Fang family had a cultivator!

The two of them raised their guards, looking up in panic.

Under the big tree in front, they saw a sickly looking young man with a pale face standing there. His figure was thin, making his robes look unusually wide and loose, and his expression was languid and carefree. Right now, he was looking at them full of smiles……

The two demonic cultivators were soaked in cold sweat. They had only gotten pumped up and wanted to rob a house, yet they could even bump into a master in a place like this?

Fang Li’s long sleeves covered his hands, which he held behind his back. He looked at the two people in amusement, saying slowly, “Where did these two juniors who don’t know their place come from? To think you dare covet this mighty one’s things.”

The two of them looked at Fang Li nervously, one of them recognizing Fang Li. “You, you’re the Fang family’s……”

When he spoke up to here, his voice suddenly halted, his face paling.

Before they’d arrived, they’d spent some time observing, and they recognized all the members of the Fang family. This person was clearly the Fang family’s foolish young master! How was that possible?

The corner of Fang Li’s lips hooked up in amusement, and he helped him complete the rest of his sentence. “Fang Li’s foolish young master, right?”

Their expressions became increasingly alarmed, and they were drenched in cold sweat.

They’d miscalculated!

Everyone said that Fang Li’s eldest young master was a fool, but looking at him now, where did he resemble a fool in the least bit? He was obviously a powerful demonic cultivator! You had to know, possessing someone’s body required one to be at least a Nascent Soul cultivator!

So, the Fang family’s eldest young master had actually been possessed by a great demonic cultivator, and the Fang family was already in his pocket, yet they’d accidentally barged in. Naturally, they’d offended this mighty demonic cultivator!

The demonic path had always been one of survival of the fittest. It would serve them right to be killed for daring to covet the meat in this mighty demonic cultivator’s jaws.

The two of them immediately changed their expressions and apologized profusely. “We didn’t know the Fang family belonged to you, sir, that’s why we accidentally barged in. We’ll leave right away, we definitely won’t bother you!”

As they spoke, they carefully took a step back.

Seeing that Fang Li wasn’t about to stop them, the two of them took in a deep breath and suddenly leapt back out over the wall, vanishing from sight in the blink of an eye.

Fang Li coolly watched the two of them leave, the corner of his lips hooking up.

And a hundred meters away, atop an inn—

A man in white watched this scene impassively.

Originally, he’d only unexpectedly caught sight of the two demonic cultivators about to plunder a household and was about to kill those two in passing. He hadn’t expected a young man to suddenly come out, possessing a weak, sickly appearance, his bearing languid and unrestrained, scaring away those two demonic cultivators with a mere couple of sentences.

Xie Huai couldn’t help but give him another look.

His gaze fell on the other’s pale white face, looking at those eyes that seemed to hide a light-hearted craftiness within their languid and carefree look.

Suddenly, a feeling surged up in his chest that caused his heart to palpitate, and his grip on the teacup in his hand tightened.

…………………………………

The Author Has Something to Say:

Fang Li: I’ve offended Xie Huai miserably, I still have nightmares thinking about it now, so I can only play the fool to get by for a bit T T

Xie Huai: Where’s my wife where’s my wife where’s my wife where’s my wife where’s my wife where’s my wife where’s my wife where’s my wife where’s my wife where’s my wife going insane

…………………………………

TL Note: Chapter was a bit delayed because work has been hectic, unfortunately… Anyways, happy start of the second half of this story. At 34 chapters, it’s a bit shorter than the first half.