Is This How It Starts? I Choose To Fake My Death [Transmigration Novel] - Chapter 12

The silence in the room persisted for a moment before the door opened silently on its own.

Entering, Shen Ji saw Xie Feng sitting cross-legged on the Spirit-Gathering Array, golden light flickering across his body twice before fading away entirely.

He stated directly, “My spiritual energy affects you?”

The hand seals in Xie Feng’s grasp tightened slightly, yet he offered no response, merely stating, “Remember, you are not to execute spells casually henceforth.”

Since he had no desire to elaborate, Shen Ji did not press further. “Very well.”

Xie Feng’s hand seals loosened slightly. “Come and sit.”

Already stepping to his side, Shen Ji seated himself within the Spirit-Gathering Array and heard Xie Feng speak again.

“The snow lotus.”

Shen Ji handed the lotus to him and inquired politely, “How does this item work out for you?”

Xie Feng replied, “Not bad.”

Residing in the mortal realm, finding any spiritual herb superior to the Profound Crystal Snow Lotus for nourishing meridians was virtually impossible.

Ever since his heritage began shifting, apart from the several dual cultivation sessions with his companion, his spiritual energy gains had remained negligible. The immortal-grade treasure brought back by the latter resolved his urgent crisis.

With a flick of his fingers, the snow lotus levitated out of Shen Ji’s palm, rotating leisurely between them.

A thread of spiritual energy welled from Xie Feng’s fingertips, encircling it from bottom to top.

The rosy light clustering around the snow lotus slowly retracted, dyeing the crystal-clear petals and reflecting a multicolored yet faint beauty.

The petals peeled away instantly, transforming into a wisp of milky-white mist that drifted toward Shen Ji under the guidance of spiritual energy.

“Close your eyes and center your mind.”

Nodding slightly, Shen Ji complied.

Xie Feng watched Shen Ji’s unguarded face.

This visage had once been a thorn in his eye.

Upon meeting within the Snow Domain, even he could not have anticipated today’s outcome.

That Shen Ji had previously harbored wariness toward him was entirely ordinary.

Across heaven and earth, an abundance of individuals harbored dread toward him, and he had never cared.

Yet observing their brief association thus far, the other’s goodwill arrived far too abruptly, prompting initial suspicions on his part.

Even so, from risking his life to shield him up to this Profound Crystal Snow Lotus, neither act could be dismissed simply as superficial goodwill.

Having been subjected to the golden mark forcing dual cultivation multiple times, Shen Ji naturally harbored dissatisfaction, yet why did he consistently drop all defenses against him?

If Shen Ji held deep resentment, he possessed numerous opportunities to strike, not to mention that he had once shifted into his true, defenseless form right before the mortal.

If ulterior motives were at play, he was already an incapacitated individual with meager cultivation, and Shen Ji, fully aware of his current predicament, would only court endless pursuit.

Xie Feng lowered his gaze, sweeping it across the fallen petals of the snow lotus.

Even the Phoenix Guards of Minghuang Palace might harbor disloyal ambitions for far less.

Since Shen Ji possessed the capability to seize such an immortal-grade treasure, why would he display absolute loyalty to him over a mere manual of mental cultivation?

At this thought, an impenetrable depth infused his pupils.

Shen Ji.

What precisely was it that he desired?

Under Xie Feng’s complete supervision and protection, Shen Ji absorbed the essence of the entire snow lotus with absolute smoothness.

According to Xie Feng’s assessment, half of the lingering poison residing within his Dantian had been resolved, and his chronic injuries were largely healed.

Immortal grades indeed proved extraordinary, differing vastly from ordinary mortal medicines.

Shen Ji looked toward Xie Feng. “Thanks.”

In matters of cultivation, having a guide was vastly more convenient than groping in the dark alone.

Absent Xie Feng, he would have remained oblivious that the snow lotus required prior refinement via spiritual energy, nor could he have utilized it to temper his sinews and bones, let alone heal injuries and purge poisons.

Xie Feng merely stated, “Do not recklessly court danger hereafter. Should you encounter rare treasures, return and seek me.”

Shen Ji chuckled. “You still require healing, and I wished not to disturb you.”

The system commented: “”

Speaks of disturbing or not disturbing.

In truth, was he not merely afraid the main villain would tag along and hinder his solo harvest?

Xie Feng said, “No matter.”

Perhaps owing to the Profound Crystal Snow Lotus, he extended a fraction more patience toward Shen Ji. “Your foundation is unstable. Today you absorbed a supreme worldly treasure; enter seclusion for half a month.”

Shen Ji asked, “How does one enter seclusion?”

Xie Feng’s movements paused slightly.

In the path of cultivation, Shen Ji genuinely differed little from an ignorant mortal.

Raising his palm to manipulate spiritual stones, he instructed, “Gather your vital breath and guard your oneness.”

Only after guiding Shen Ji through a complete circulation cycle did he conclude, “Do not interrupt, and do not act rashly.”

Hearing him finish, Shen Ji felt somewhat unaccustomed.

Fearing hasty advancement might destabilize his foundation, he even went to the length of reminding him of precautions during seclusion?

When had Xie Feng ever considered his welfare to this extent?

Yet this hardly constituted a negative development.

Just as Shen Ji prepared to assent,

“To the woodshed.”

Shen Ji raised an eyebrow.

Indeed.

The person remained unchanged.

Considering that Xie Feng’s advice served his best interests this time, Shen Ji complied gracefully, standing up to head toward the woodshed.

Re-establishing a Spirit-Gathering Array inside, he sat down and executed spiritual energy circulation continuously per Xie Feng’s demands, his breathing gradually growing steady and drawn out.

When Shen Ji emerged once more from his tranquil state, a maximum of two or three hours had elapsed in his consciousness. Checking his system interface, however, he discovered the date had skipped forward by a full seventeen days, evoking spontaneous surprise.

The spiritual stones supporting his seating array had likewise shattered completely, turning dull and lusterless.

Raising a hand, his left arm, which had retained a hint of stiffness prior to seclusion, flexed freely, and the crushed left shoulder exhibited no lingering abnormalities. With every movement, his physique felt considerably more agile than before.

Standard cultivation alone could never produce such effects, indicating the Profound Crystal Snow Lotus wielded exceptional efficacy.

No wonder Xie Feng’s attitude shifted so drastically; this unearned gift proved exceptionally worthwhile.

Inspecting his external injuries, Shen Ji walked toward the entrance.

The moment he pushed open the wooden door, the spiritual energy coursing through his Dantian meridians abruptly lagged.

The system warned, “Host, analysis indicates the main villain has established numerous arrays around this perimeter.”

Shen Ji inquired, “Such as?”

The system reported: “Defensive arrays capable of repelling enemy assaults; Five-Element Sword Arrays and Flowing Fire Arrays capable of counterattacking autonomously; and Sealing Arrays prohibiting any party from utilizing spiritual energy within.”

Hearing of the final array, Shen Ji cast a glance toward the main hall.

A Sealing Array. Xie Feng evidently deployed it to guard against him, willingly forgoing his own usage of spiritual energy in the process, underscoring the high degree of importance attached to him.

Yet he remained entirely perplexed.

Given Xie Feng’s prowess, where lay the necessity for such exhaustive precautions against him?

“The main villain has returned!”

Shen Ji looked past the array boundary.

Treading the void, Xie Feng approached from afar like a stream of flowing light.

Recovered this swiftly?

Upon his descent, Shen Ji observed a gray blur flying from his palm into a corner of the courtyard wall.

A pile of Qiankun pouches resembling garbage was stacked calf-high in the corner.

A newly discarded storage artifact landed atop them, bouncing into a crevice.

The interior presumably consisted entirely of the spiritual stones expended by Xie Feng over these past seventeen days.

Shen Ji withdrew his gaze.

So recovery wasn’t achieved rapidly; rather, he simply possessed the wealth to splurge.

Which concurrently demonstrated that Xie Feng was presently fully capable of self-sufficiency and likely no longer required his assistance.

“It is well that you have awakened.”

Shen Ji turned to Xie Feng. “Mhm?”

Before Xie Feng could speak, battle cries rolled across a nearby mountain peak, charging straight toward their courtyard.

Dense patches of black dots clustered together, numbering around forty to fifty individuals.

Shen Ji: “”

Stepping out a few paces to inspect the traps, he noticed the opposite side of the courtyard was stained with pooled blood, footprints crisscrossing in messy, fleeing lines.

His location had been compromised after all.

He questioned Xie Feng, “Were you out pursuing someone just now?”

Xie Feng stated coldly, “One escaped.”

Sensing profound dissatisfaction in his tone, Shen Ji surmised he had remained invincible for too long, failing to anticipate anyone escaping his grasp alive.

“No matter, what is done is done, let us resolve this first.”

The escaping individual had likely released a signal beacon.

Not merely directly ahead, but the rear left flank witnessed reinforcements arriving swiftly as well.

Griping his firearm and chambering a round, Shen Ji commanded, “Disband the Sealing Array.”

This wooden cabin could hardly withstand such a multitude.

The longer they dragged it out, the more unfavorable the scenario grew for both him and Xie Feng.

A swift resolution was imperative.

Accurately uttering the name of the Sealing Array, Xie Feng glanced at him before refusing, “Negative.”

Should Shen Ji inadvertently employ spiritual energy during a crisis, repercussions would inevitably follow.

Though helpless, Shen Ji did not press the matter further.

For practitioners reliant on magic, disabling an array amounted to crippling one’s own arms. While Xie Feng wasn’t the sole exception present, his persistence ensured the adversaries remained constrained as well.

Conversely, possessing firearms constituted his paramount advantage.

“Boom!”

The initial wave of hostile strikes arrived during their exchange, combining forces to unleash a supreme assault!

The condensed wave of monstrous spiritual energy slammed savagely against the invisible protective shield, causing the earth beneath to tremble violently!

“Indeed, anomalies reside within!”

External parties remained blind to the interior, yet dread of the Phoenix Emperor deterred them from charging blindly, choosing instead to remain stationed outside while continuously forming seals for bombardment.

Abruptly.

A string of faint fire bursts ignited from thin air, projecting vague silhouettes whose facial features blurred as they pierced cleanly into the bodies of the vanguard demon soldiers with soft tearing sounds, blooming droplets of blood.

The crowd recoiled in alarm, gazing with bewildered suspicion at the companions clutching their wounds and wailing, hurriedly raising magical artifacts in attempts to spot the invisible assailant.

Retreating with his rifle in hand, Shen Ji instructed Xie Feng, “This way.”

Most invaders descending to the mortal realm carried protective artifacts. His gun could only secure the element of surprise, rendering one-shot kills unviable; following this single utilization, the opposition would undoubtedly adopt precautions, eliminating future efficacy.

Capitalizing on the enemy’s ignorance and hesitation to advance, he and Xie Feng skirted the cliff-adjacent flank, vaulting across the courtyard wall from behind the trees.

The exact instant of their departure.

The primary defensive array fractured silently under relentless bombardment.

The hidden courtyard revealed itself entirely before the crowd, whose collective expressions flushed with ecstatic frenzy as they charged forward headlong!

“Whoosh!”

A long panel embedded with sharp wooden spikes swung horizontally across the ground, causing the attackers, wary of the Phoenix Emperor’s prestige, to descend into total disorder, stepping squarely into Shen Ji’s leftover yard traps and suffering bedraggled misery.

Realizing they faced merely mundane timber, the crowd, chased back in humiliation, erupted into burning rage, successively unleashing magical treasures with bitter intent, only to find diverse spiritual energies securely blocked by an inner barrier protecting the grounds.

In an instant, an intensely scorching sea of fire condensed abruptly.

Invisible spiritual swords suspended upside down in midair radiated razor-sharp killing intent, piercing through the gorgeous yet perilous crimson flames, pointing straight at the panicked crowd!

Hearing the commotion, Shen Ji glanced back while circumventing the wall.

The secondary contingent had arrived, comprising an even split of immortals and demons.

In their mutual crusade against Xie Feng, they temporarily forged a truce, pooling efforts to demolish all arrays left behind in Xie Feng’s wake.

The leading duo spearheaded their followers into the compound, confronting the open doors in mutual hesitation, lingering without movement.

Until someone pointed toward the mountain waist behind the residence.

“The Phoenix Emperor resides yonder!”

Gazing in the indicated direction, the multitude caught sight of a solitary golden figure standing amidst the snow.

Seeming to register the shouts echoing from the mountain base, Xie Feng halted, turning his head backward.

Breathing growing slightly heavier, the crowd hastily raised their magical items.

“With our numbers, why fear a single individual! Charge!”

“Indeed, a Phoenix Emperor stripped of cultivation is merely a stray dog; upon confronting us, he can only flee!”

Instigated by this rhetoric, the crowd hesitated before raising hands to execute seals, only for their complexions to undergo drastic alterations.

“My spiritual energy!”

In midair.

Gold and silver fire imagery belonging to the supreme Phoenix Emperor was actively condensing. Amidst a heavy, intimidating pressure, a murderous silver phoenix shone brilliantly, soaring skyward!

Its wings, dripping with golden flames, expanded in silence, unfurling a magnificent, boundless expanse of golden light!

A piercing phoenix cry tore through the firmament, striking straight at the heartstrings.

Witnessing this spectacle, none dared verify whether Xie Feng had genuinely lost his cultivation.

Only Shen Ji, observing the ring upon ring of depleted spiritual stones surrounding Xie Feng, comprehended the immense concentration of energy required for this single strike.

Moments later, the silver phoenix plummeted downward in response to its master’s will!

The courtyard they inhabited for over twenty days was instantly flattened to dust.

Trapped by the Sealing Array, the multitude scattered in frantic flight, only to be impeded by the courtyard’s ubiquitous traps, enduring Xie Feng’s assault firsthand and suffering casualties in the majority.

The sparse survivors wore panicked visages, watching Shen Ji and Xie Feng depart side by side, their feet rooted to the ground, utterly unable to take another step.

After a protracted silence, someone tremblingly raised a hand to form seals, transmitting a message outward.

Simultaneously, Shen Ji had hoisted Xie Feng onto the Gale Leopard, galloping toward the depths of Mount Tianshan.

Observing Xie Feng initiate meditation and breathing regulation mid-journey, Shen Ji’s thoughts shifted subtly.

His injuries were basically healed, leaving only the uneradicated Luling powder.

Now that their base was destroyed, parting ways at this juncture presented an ideal opportunity.

“A cavern exists thirty li to the southeast, suitable for settling.”

A ready-made shelter proved acceptable.

Dismissing his prior musings, Shen Ji accompanied Xie Feng toward the southeastern direction.

Arriving at the destination, as he scanned the topography, the system issued a prompt.

“Host, the main villain has set up a Sealing Array here as well.”

Looking back, Shen Ji saw Xie Feng seated cross-legged in a corner unshielded by the array boundaries.

To secure sufficient spiritual stones for deploying this Sealing Array, he had even omitted establishing a Spirit-Gathering Array.

Growing accustomed to Xie Feng’s peculiar persistence in this domain, Shen Ji bypassed the trivial detail and randomly selected a spot to sit down as well.

Throughout the succeeding month and more, whether Xie Feng’s single display of overwhelming might had thoroughly terrified pursuers into abandoning pursuit, Mount Tianshan remained tranquil, yielding virtually no further traces of unfamiliar figures.

Yet both Shen Ji and Xie Feng remained acutely aware.

Setting aside the remaining three realms, the Scarlet Phoenix Spiritual Venerable alone would never drop the pursuit.

The present calm resembled merely the prelude of a storm brewing ahead.

To preempt tracking, they relocated across multiple hideouts, scaling down outdoor excursions significantly during this interval.

Until today.

Shen Ji lifted his gaze to inspect the sky, crimson as blood.

Massive pillars of spiritual energy wreathed in soaring flames slowly descended from the heavens, with a solemn Scarlet Phoenix, its red wings unfurled, stationed at the core of each giant pillar, floating in midair while forming hand seals.

Upon his initial glimpse of this spectacle, Xie Feng recognized it instantly as a blood-sacrifice array.

Every giant pillar bridging heaven and earth functioned as a pawn manipulated by the Scarlet Phoenix Spiritual Venerable.

Employing blood sacrifice to temporarily blind the Snow Domain seal, enabling freedom from seal restrictions within the mortal realm, he could release his divine sense to track Xie Feng’s whereabouts.

This represented the ultimate counterattack following the Scarlet Phoenix Spiritual Venerable’s patient two-month wait.

Wielding such blatant maneuvers, he understood evasion from Xie Feng proved impossible, hence his resort to maximum exertion.

Xie Feng wasn’t the sole party recognizing this reality.

The two-realm seals flickered consecutively, prompting individuals perceiving the anomaly to evacuate the mortal realm entirely prior to the commencement of battle.

Lightning flashed and thunder rolled across the blood-tinted firmament.

Howling wind and snow swept across the mountain range, brimming with a tyrannical aura.

Crouched atop the Gale Leopard, Shen Ji accelerated repeatedly toward the deepest recesses of Mount Tianshan.

The Scarlet Phoenix Spiritual Venerable lifting the seal aimed at locating Xie Feng, yet since Shen Ji occupied a spot on the Scarlet Phoenix’s blacklist as well, sharing the master’s perilous journey remained unavoidable.

He inquired, “You are certain the depths of the Snow Domain house the strongest seal?”

Departing Mount Tianshan would invite discovery earlier, leaving him zero alternatives besides gambling on this path.

Xie Feng answered, “Logically speaking, yes.”

Channeling spiritual energy from his spiritual stones into the Gale Leopard, his silver eyes mirrored an identical frostiness.

Consulting the map, Shen Ji spotted the final mountain summit crossing into view and notified Xie Feng, “We have arrived.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth.

Crimson flames swelled wildly in the sky!

The Scarlet Phoenix figures forming seals within the giant pillars remained oblivious to their predetermined fate as sacrificial offerings, their expressions twisted as they struggled fiercely.

Soul-snatching, blood-flaming spiritual serpents slithered up the giant pillars, glaring fixedly at their prey with hollow, merciless, ravenous eyes.

Billowing clouds brightened by the second, drawn taut like a fully pulled bowstring, awaiting solely the final command!

At that very juncture.

The demon realm seal flickered.

A figure arrived like lightning, hands moving in a blur to execute hand seals while a light cyan outer robe flapped wildly in the gale.

The Scarlet Phoenix entities trapped within the pillars turned collectively toward him, voicing continuous appeals.

“Your Highness!”

The newcomer wore an expression of unbearable pity, arms thrown wide as his physical strength and spiritual energy surged like a rushing river toward the dense array of giant pillars spanning all directions.

Yet caught within the Snow Domain, resisting the nascent power of the formation proved insurmountable.

Having exhausted his spiritual energy, he vomited a mouthful of blood mid-air and plummeted straight down.

The temporarily halted array resumed rotation.

The Scarlet Phoenix figures were entangled by spiritual serpents, bursting apart into gore within the blink of an eye.

Blood suffused the giant pillars, condensing upward into vortices of varying scales that reflected upon the earth, interconnecting sequentially to materialize into array pathways one by one.

“Boom—”

The blood sacrifice materialized.

The snowy mountains trembled in a rustle.

Shen Ji refused a single glance backward.

Gazing toward the plains ahead, a slight frown knit his brow.

Directly ahead lay the deepest expanse of the Snow Domain.

Zero traces of seals existed therein.

Before he could investigate further, heaven and earth quieted abruptly.

The blood-red hue in the sky dissipated.

The giant pillars linking to the earth vanished without a trace.

Shen Ji’s gaze turned sharp; a warning of caution failed to clear his lips before a fatal, piercing whistle tore through the air behind him at point-blank range!

Xie Feng’s spiritual barrier materialized in the nick of time, yet shattered effortlessly beneath the assailant’s strike.

An unprecedented shockwave slammed into his back; Shen Ji managed merely to pull Xie Feng into his arms before a single palm blasted them airborne!

Crashing hard into the snow with Xie Feng, his grip loosened slightly, and turning his head he coughed up blood. Lacking leisure to inspect his injuries, he rasped, “Are you certain this is the place?”

They had reached the purported seal territory, yet snowy expanses surrounded them entirely, devoid of any entrance or array markers.

Unbeknownst to a single soul.

Blood dripping from his lips and wounds seeped directly into the ground, leaving behind zero trace upon the snow.

Failing on the initial strike, multiple figures materialized in the sky above.

Catching sight of the pair upon the ground, the assailants struck collectively without a shred of hesitation!

Xie Feng’s spiritual energy had been nearly exhausted during transit.

Rushing blindly toward the sealed zone offered merely an alternative dead end.

Meanwhile, the searing, heat-blasting scarlet-gold flames lunged forward mercilessly, tearing and burning, leaving zero margin for survival.

Sighing softly, Shen Ji raised a hand to shield Xie Feng, pressing the other beneath him and locking him tight.

Shielded once more within his embrace without a moment’s hesitation, Xie Feng gazed upon the blood welling from the corners of Shen Ji’s lips, experiencing a slight inward tremor.

Meeting Xie Feng’s gaze, Shen Ji realized his deeply ingrained muscle memory for rescuing others had acted up once again.

Yet under such circumstances, he lacked leisure for introspection, channeling spiritual energy via hand seals and preparing to seek an opening for evasion when he inadvertently caught sight of a radiance welling from beneath Xie Feng.

The tongue of fire behind him continued descending like a net,

Yet prior to its closure, the light overflowing the snow surface flared blindingly bright!

When the white light receded and the flames dispersed.

The pair destined to perish beneath the fire net had likewise vanished entirely.

Witnessing this spectacle, the attacking parties wore expressions identically grim as death.

Lightning bolts cleaved from the sky shattered the earth itself, resembling a roar of infuriated, irrepressible wrath!

Plummeting abruptly from the air, Shen Ji transitioned his techniques immediately to cushion himself and Xie Feng.

“How fare you?”

Glancing toward Xie Feng, he found the other’s visage resembling frost, seemingly struggling to suppress an intense impulse.

“Halt,” the golden mark upon Xie Feng’s brow illuminated slowly. “Spiritual energy, cease!”

Shen Ji cast a glance downward. “Wish you to be dashed to pieces?”

Xie Feng’s voice grew even deeper. “I can—”

He managed merely half a sentence before losing all capacity for distraction.

Yet before touching down, Shen Ji perceived the spiritual energy within his own body being drained away at rapid speed.

Embedded within the surrounding rock walls, night-pearl-like ice crystals illuminated the space as bright as day. He witnessed a layer of white radiance rising from the ground, gently cushioning their descent.

“This is the Snow Domain seal?”

Failing to receive Xie Feng’s response for a prolonged stretch, before Shen Ji could pivot to observe him, familiar golden threads wound around his wrists, slipped beneath his sleeves, and roamed about.

The breathing sounding beside his ear had similarly grown heavy.

In such a location?

At such a juncture?

Calmly pressing his hand against Xie Feng’s shoulder, Shen Ji prepared to speak, only to lift his eyes and catch Xie Feng’s unconsenting expression.

Encountering those rage-filled pupils, sudden enlightenment struck him.

If Xie Feng possessed absolute self-restraint,

Then the sole alternative implied that his spiritual energy induced an urgent imperative for dual cultivation within Xie Feng?