Is This How It Starts? I Choose To Fake My Death [Transmigration Novel] - Chapter 14

The crimson-gold fire imagery, capable of blocking out the sky and earth, slammed heavily onto the ground!

The shockwave penetrated deep into the underground, hitting with such force that the continuous snowy mountains trembled. Beneath the thick layers of accumulated snow, an extremely faint silver radiance echoed the snowy hue, yet it was completely concealed.

Yet this faint silver radiance, blocked by the Snow Domain seal, remained unextinguished for a long time, representing a cold and indifferent contest destined to lose, unnoticed by any soul.

In the distance, mountain peaks stretching to the heavens fractured silently, collapsing downward amidst howling winds, resembling a mountain landslide and earth-splitting catastrophe! Yet every pair of eyes in the sky lacked the leisure to spare even a fleeting moment of attention toward the disaster-stricken area they had engineered.

The battle against Xie Feng concerned the subsequent destiny of the Scarlet Phoenix lineage, and none dared to relax in the slightest.

Wu Xun stared fixedly at the ground, the fire-red elder’s ceremonial robe swaying restlessly without wind in response to its master’s changing state of mind. Beneath him, numerous Scarlet Falcons similarly formed hand seals and held their breaths, waiting for the smoke and dust to clear from the sealed and covered region so they could eagerly peer forward.

Amidst the kicked-up snow fog, the vast plain sank into a gigantic crater. Melted snow water pouring in from the tiny aperture struck his back, the splashing droplets mingling with the cold sweat at his temples, sliding past his sideburns to drip along his jaw, pooling into a tiny puddle of water right before his knees.

He planted one knee on the ground, curved his arm to brace against the wall for support, and his wall-propped fist trembled slightly from exertion while his knuckles turned ghostly white.

The system asked in a small voice, “Host, are you alright?”

Shen Ji closed his eyes to steady himself. “I am fine.”

The back that had shielded Xie Feng for at most half a second had lost sensation due to numbing agony, the implicated nerves challenging the ultimate limits of human endurance by releasing the most extreme torment within his body. He shifted his gaze to observe his left arm, which shared the identical wound, noting that the flesh and skin on the exterior were nearly melted and ulcerated, appearing rather horrifying.

Presumably, his back suffered the exact same fate.

Aside from that, the primary defensive gear rewarded at the outset of entering this world had met its demise during this unequal confrontation. Extensively burned through and with its engraved runes largely destroyed, it possessed no capacity for automated recovery and was reduced to a patch of tattered rags.

Fortunately, the cultivation from the preceding two months, the ten days of dual cultivation, and the supportive effects of the Snow Domain seal toward him all exerted favorable buffering effects upon his injuries. As he directed spiritual energy to circulate across his back, the sensory stimulation dropped off significantly.

Withdrawing his hand, Shen Ji shifted to cross-legged meditation and breath regulation.

After an extended duration, when the external injuries healed slightly amidst the tight, itchy, stinging pain, he changed out of his blood-soaked garments, materialized a pathway using illusions, and tossed it casually outside the seal.

Unable to comprehend, the system inquired, “Host, why cast it afar?”

In truth, it harbored another lingering query within its digital mind: “Moreover, when rescuing the main villain previously, why did you remain apart from him instead of staying by his side? That way you would have avoided injury.”

Injured to such a degree, its entire frame and head ached sympathetically just observing.

Shen Ji stated calmly, “Do you imagine that Xie Feng and I might reconcile?”

With nothing else occupying him, he resumed cross-legged posture, utilizing idle chatter to divert attention from his wounds while executing spellcasting for healing.

The system reasoned, “Normally, no, yet when you rescued the main villain yesterday, he was genuinely concerned for you!”

Yesterday?

Checking his interface, Shen Ji discovered that nearly an entire day had indeed elapsed.

The system continued, “Host, venturing forth to rescue the main villain this time, he will assuredly feel moved to tears, and perhaps even dismiss the thought of slaying you.”

Shen Ji stated, “Emotional resonance remains fleeting. Once he recalls the ten days spent herein, how do you guess he shall react?”

Xie Feng had experienced emotional stirring previously, even to the extent of proactively offering medical treatment. Those instances of sentimentality had reverted precisely to square one upon the conclusion of the sixteen dual-cultivation sessions. He perceived no likelihood of differing outcomes for this iteration.

The system concurred fully, “He shall swallow this grievance never!”

Shen Ji stated, “Only the deceased harbor no fear of harboring grudges, for they perish not a second time. Should Xie Feng become convinced that I perished within the Snow Domain, regardless of his animosity, he shall eventually lay the matter to rest.”

The system felt paralyzed. The host possessed rationales for every circumstance, sounding thoroughly convincing.

It queried further, “What shall be our subsequent course, then? Intend you to dispatch the main villain outward once more?”

Unwilling to remain cooped up with the main villain, yet aware that countless adversaries lay in ambush outside, and given the main villain’s present fragility, exiting equated to courting certain death.

Shen Ji answered, “Nay, let him remain.”

Releasing Xie Feng outside lacked security guarantees, ultimately leading back to him sustaining harm. Per the original plotline, Xie Feng never departed the Snow Domain seal throughout these three months, making this strategic line the safest and most infallible.

As for occurrences post Xie Feng’s cultivation recovery, he trusted that the Scarlet Phoenix Spiritual Venerable, who endlessly manufactured troubles for Xie Feng, occupied a spot on Xie Feng’s blacklist preceding his own.

Pondering thus, Shen Ji probed through the Snow Domain seal to locate Xie Feng’s whereabouts. Imprisoned for a full day, he wondered regarding Xie Feng’s current state of mind.

Shortly after, the projection depicting Xie Feng’s grotto materialized within his consciousness. To prevent him from wandering astray, the sanctuary prepared by Shen Ji was sealed on all four sides, and absent the illumination provided by ice crystals surrounding the perimeter, it differed not at all from a pitch-black cell.

Upon observation, the cold anger that had manifested so unmistakably upon Xie Feng’s countenance during their parting had completely vanished. Seated cross-legged with closed eyes, his expression, devoid of decipherable joy or wrath, appeared far colder and more ruthless than usual.

The precise instant Shen Ji’s view locked onto him, he snapped his eyes open, gazing directly into the spying gaze traversing the void. Even reduced to this juncture, his innate aura persisted, and the Phoenix Emperor’s majesty remained entirely undiminished.

Yet registering the depths of his pupils, Shen Ji faltered slightly. Those brilliant silver-gold eyes invariably maintained a frosty, lucid purity unsoiled by dust, carrying an immense sense of otherworldly distance and oppressive weight. Arguably, since making Xie Feng’s acquaintance, Shen Ji had never witnessed his pupils bloodshot as they appeared today.

With cold indifference, Xie Feng withdrew his gaze, his hand seals complex and rapid. The silver phoenix phantom condensing behind him cried out like thunder, circling his entire frame. Upon the conclusion of his hand seals, the silver phoenix unfurled its wings menacingly, plunging straight toward the vault above propelled by his palm force!

The grotto trembled violently. The white light threads of the seal likewise surfaced under his assault, slowly repairing the pristine fissures. Numerous remaining unclosed cracks crisscrossed amidst the white light in abundance.

Flipping his palm, Xie Feng altered his hand seals anew. A new fissure cleaved across the white light, and for a fraction of a second, the crisp, chilling scent of drifting snow seeped inward through the gaps. With concentrated resolve, Xie Feng seized the momentum to execute hand seals once more.

Absorbing the ten-thousand-year primordial breath, Xie Feng’s realm could be described as advancing by leaps and bounds daily. Fortunately, he awakened early, as a delay of mere minutes would have prevented the dark cell from containing this progressively irritable phoenix.

Before Xie Feng could thoroughly shatter this layer of the seal, the Snow Domain seal loyally executed its master’s conveyed intent. It abruptly unlocked a vertically descending passage beneath Xie Feng’s feet, and for every incremental depth Xie Feng dropped, Shen Ji augmented the overhead thickness accordingly until Xie Feng was forced downward to the deepest nadir, whereupon all passage entrances quietly sealed shut sequentially.

Surveying his surroundings and spotting the intimately familiar stone grotto nearby, Xie Feng experienced a rigid tremor in the hands that prepared to form seals. Following a day of recuperation, the golden mark upon his brow was overlaid entirely by silver grain patterns.

Thenceforth, heaven and earth would harbor no further spiritual energy capable of inciting the instinctive desires within his bloodline. Achieving this feat theoretically required solely a single entity across creation, and this very entity had laid down its life for him, leaving its current survival unknown.

The visage of Shen Ji stained red by the overwhelming fiery blaze still flickered before his eyes. A simmering wrath remained coiled within his breast. Wherefore rush into the array? Wherefore refuse to accompany him in return?

Imprisoned herein, unable to exit the array to seek Shen Ji, the sense of debilitating powerlessness accumulated across nearly two months culminated today in utter helplessness. Xie Feng wore an expression of severe sternness. The primordial energy long brewed within his palm released amidst the peak of his suppressed fury, causing the ground to fracture in gloomy webs.

Yet a heavier boulder compressed his heart, stirring fragmented, unprecedented searing agitation that disturbed his state of mind, rendering his wrath incapable of release and leaving only a deeply unpleasant, nameless turmoil. Pressing his thin lips into a straight line, Xie Feng closed his eyes and turned away. In an instant, the narrow stone grotto was swallowed by silver radiance, silently shattering into fine dust that blanketed the floor.

Peeking at the main villain’s every action through the host’s perspective, the system felt a lingering terror.

“Host, your assertion was correct, for the main villain’s sentimentality was merely fleeting. Observe how he instantly resorted to venting upon returning hither!”

Shen Ji had already severed his connection with the Snow Domain seal. Having resolved to part ways with Xie Feng, he saw no necessity to lavish excessive focus upon the latter’s status. Isolating the other at the lowest tier of the seal, he strode toward the diametrically opposite route.

Barely a single day passing had witnessed Xie Feng’s cultivation recover to such a degree, and within a month, he would undoubtedly achieve full recovery. Furthermore, post-absorption of the primordial breath, the restrictions imposed upon Xie Feng within the seal were diminishing, so presumably, upon full recovery, the seal would fail to contain him, obviating any need to intentionally forge an exit channel for him.

Meaning Xie Feng currently required zero assistance. Thus, Shen Ji planned to distance himself as far as possible.

The system inquired, “Host, shall we descend the mountain to locate the female lead?”

Shen Ji stated, “Not yet.”

His injuries remained too grave, and the lingering aura of the Phoenix fire seed upon his back proved overly concentrated. Once he exited the seal, should the Scarlet Phoenix Spiritual Venerable employ any methodology to deduce that today’s grand array provoked the occurrence, even his rebirth would offer insufficient justification.

The month Xie Feng required for cultivation recovery must likewise be utilized by him for rapid recuperation, lest he soar to immortality alongside the female lead only to be hunted down anew by the Scarlet Phoenix as an enemy. Crucially, he must avoid arousing Xie Feng’s suspicions, otherwise all prior efforts would be forfeited.

Though disappointed, the system refrained from interfering with the host’s decisions. Without further elaboration, Shen Ji proceeded straight to the absolute periphery of the seal to seat himself. Herein lay the maximum linear distance from Xie Feng’s coordinates, granting optimal contingency windows against unforeseen hazards.

A month’s duration slipped past with the velocity of an accelerating accelerator. Shen Ji gained profound experiential insight regarding how uneventfully time passed during cultivation.

Per the system’s estimation of a fortnight for seal recognition expiration, he had maintained readiness for departure throughout the duration, yet presumably due to Xie Feng’s lingering aura confounding the Snow Domain seal’s judgment, a full month elapsed while he still enjoyed unhindered freedom of movement.

Conversely, he perhaps underestimated Xie Feng’s self-restraint. Aside from the initial day’s impetuous outburst resembling a transformed individual, Xie Feng devoted the remainder of his schedule entirely to meditative concentration. Shen Ji had occasionally monitored his status during healing intervals, and Xie Feng’s meditation spot remained unchanged, so absent respiration, he resembled an icy sculpture.

Today marked the final exhaustion of the residual fire seed within his body, completing his final connection of spiritual intent to the seal. Xie Feng’s silhouette remained immovably stationed in place. Only this time, wisps of silver spiritual energy condensed around his perimeter. A formed phantom fully enshrouded him in the configuration of a gigantic egg.

Shen Ji recalled that subsequent to their initial dual cultivation, Xie Feng had awakened from a golden egg sharing identical contours yet distinct coloration. Seemingly, Xie Feng’s cultivation recovery impended imminently. All the more reason he could not linger herein.

Witnessing the host finally rise to his feet, the system expressed boundless excitement, “Host, are we descending the mountain today to locate the female lead?”

Shen Ji responded, “Mhm.”

Stretching his limbs briefly, he accessed the point mall first. Occupied with healing previously, he had deferred utilizing his accumulated points. Now poised to depart the Snow Domain seal, preparations were imperative.

Observing the quest progress bar, which had nearly collapsed entirely at one stage, now marching steadily back toward normalcy, and noting the host’s sudden initiative toward the main storyline, the system felt virtually moved to tears, proactively flipping pages to locate its passionately recommended Flawless Disguise.

“Host, redeem it promptly, for post-utilization, we may embark upon our journey!”

Prompted by its impatient urging, Shen Ji raised a hand to tap the selection.

The system inquired professionally amidst its excitement, “Primary Flawless Disguise successfully redeemed, disguise duration spans thirty natural days, confirm activation?”

He remained silent. Due to a prerequisite that fundamentally defied reality appearing within the statement.

Still puzzled, the system asked, “Host?”

Shen Ji spoke with calm composure, “Thirty natural days?”

“Affirmatively.” Devoid of self-awareness regarding why the host raised the query, the system elaborated, “Primary disposable items possess modest durations, whereas intermediate variants span 365 natural days, and advanced variants span even longer.”

Shen Ji closed his eyes, interrupting its uninterrupted stream, “This item possesses an expiration window, wherefore omitted you this disclosure previously?”

Finally detecting peril within the host’s tone, the system scrambled to defend itself, “These particulars reside entirely upon the details page, and I presumed the host had reviewed them!”

Shen Ji opened the designated details page cited.

Flawless Disguise (Primary): From inside out, a complete rebirth.

Recalling the prior exchange, the system recognized its blunder, swallowed hard, and forged ahead bravely, “This additional content extends further downward…”

Shen Ji scrolled downward. The details page elaborated upon the mechanics and deployment guidelines of the Flawless Disguise. Reaching the concluding paragraph, he spotted a line of fly-sized text: Primary Disguise Duration: Thirty natural days (Please exercise caution when selecting deployment cycles).

The semi-transparent interface remained frozen indefinitely upon this page.

Paralyzed with terror, it remained mute. What was to be done? Another blunder committed. Yet time progressed, and the quest advanced. It could only brazenly and tremblingly probe, “Host, shall the item nonetheless be deployed?”

Shen Ji massaged his temples. He should have known better than to anticipate anything functional originating from the system’s lexicon. The visual allure of the Flawless Disguise had effectively blinded him, plunging him into a state where he trusted the system blindly.

To secure this thirty-day prop, he had executed sixteen dual-cultivation sessions, thoroughly alienating Xie Feng. Had the realization occurred prior to those ten days, alternatives might have been negotiated. Alas, time brooked no reversal, and among the sixteen instances where he forced Xie Feng, not a single one could be deemed innocent.

The host offered no rejoinder. The system dared not emit a peep.

After a protracted silence, Shen Ji stated, “Activate it.”

Things had progressed to this stage, and returning to fraternize amicably with Xie Feng was thoroughly unfeasible. This Flawless Disguise at least granted a thirty-day buffer. Upon reaching the immortal realm where mainline quests initiated, at minimum one or two assignments would trigger, allowing him to navigate step by step as circumstances dictated.

Regaining its spirit, the system announced, “Activation confirmed, please formulate a character profile.”

Surveying the diverse datasets arranged upon the panel, Shen Ji lost patience upon reaching the skin tone parameter, “Lacks a default option?”

Guilty of prior wrongdoing, the system hastened to display the primary modeling templates from the character column sequentially. Scanning these uniformly attractive visages, Shen Ji instructed, “Swap to an ordinary model.”

The system murmured quietly, “These few genuinely represent highly praised handsome profiles, yet compared to the host, they are average enough.”

“What muttered you?”

“Nothing!” Recovering his wits, the system responded awkwardly, “Initial models are restricted to these selections, and alternatives mandate manual customization.”

Shen Ji frowned. Aiming to alter one’s visage, a generic face provided optimal concealment. Yet manual customization proved overly tedious, leading him to select an optional profile from the pool.

Upon successful selection, the system’s notification chimed anew.

“Flawless Disguise successfully activated, please assign a moniker to the novel character.”

Shen Ji stated, “Li Chenyin.”

The original body had wandered the mortal realm extensively, engaging in demon hunting as a livelihood with virtually zero acquaintances, and demon clans hunting him for his Heavenly Spirit Cauldron constitution would hardly expend effort investigating an ordinary mortal’s biography, ensuring this alias invited zero vulnerabilities.

“Naming successful.”

Such a lazy host. Even naming conventions were sourced ready-made, too indolent to conjure independently.

Manifesting a water mirror to acquaint himself with the countenance, Shen Ji finally departed the Snow Domain seal amidst the system’s joyful cheer.

Prior to stepping out of the aperture, he surveyed the surrounding geography. The perimeter of the seal assigned to his access lacked Scarlet Phoenix guards, presenting a direct pathway leading straight down the mountain.

While reviewing the map, the system inquired, “Host, having altered your identity, how propose you to rendezvous with the female lead?”

Shen Ji stated, “As a precaution, I shall await her at the immortal-mortal boundary seal.”

His injuries had healed completely, and the Luling powder had likewise been largely neutralized under Xie Feng’s conditioning, rendering a visit to Shouluo Village unnecessary.

The system echoed enthusiastically, “Precisely so, guaranteeing absolute foolproof security!”

Summoning his mount amidst the dialogue, Shen Ji prepared for departure. Yet the instant the Gale Leopard leaped outward past the aperture, its footing turned leaden, causing it to stumble forward clumsily. Shen Ji channeled spiritual energy into its frame in a timely manner, enabling it to flap its wings and stabilize its posture.

The system startled at the abruptly erratic perspective, “What ails it?”

Directing the spiritual energy channeled into the Gale Leopard to navigate its meridians, Shen Ji uncovered zero anomalies. Injury-free?

Dismounting to inspect for external wounds unreached by spiritual energy, he took barely a single step forward when an unconscious, low groan emanated from the snow beneath his feet. Following the sound, he looked downward.

A pale-faced man with blood overflowing his lips lay sprawled upon the ground in a semi-conscious, half-dead state.

The system gasped audibly, “Host, you trampled him nearly to death!”

Frowning, Shen Ji squatted down to press his fingers against the man’s carotid. A pulse persisted. As he channeled spiritual energy into the man’s Dantian, he observed the unique white radiance belonging to the Snow Domain sealing the man’s entire frame, with a shallow layer of hoarfrost caked across his vestments from being deeply embedded in the snow.

With every respiration, the man’s light-cyan outer robe flickered with rosy radiance, effortlessly vibrating away the shallow frost. This attire undoubtedly surpassed the tier of his primary defensive gear by a considerable margin.

While pondering, an icy hand reached out abruptly, clamping tightly around his wrist.

The man roused from unconsciousness, his eyes flashing with an intensity of fire incongruous with his refined demeanor. Spotting Shen Ji, a grateful smile broke across his pain-strained face, “Was it you who saved me?”

Exhibiting utter disdain for a fool, it explained to the host, “The Snow Domain seal possesses an undesirable penchant for draining vital essence, and this individual must be the unfortunate wretch locked away and drained by it.”

Scanning the blood stains at the man’s lips, Shen Ji queried instead, “How fare you?”

Simultaneously, in a blind spot hidden from the man’s view, he tapped the shackles left upon his person by the Snow Domain seal. As the white light dissipated, the gratitude in the man’s eyes intensified. Maintaining decorum despite plunging into such a dire plight, he saluted, “This immortal is deeply indebted to Immortal Jun for saving my life, and finding myself thus bedraggled, I am unable to stand and return the courtesy, and pray Immortal Jun will forgive me.”

Shen Ji refrained from explicitly correcting the misunderstanding, stating simply, “Can you stand?”

The man replied, “I shall attempt it.”

Propping himself on his arms, he lost strength before his upper body could rise, collapsing downward until supported back upright by Shen Ji’s spiritual energy.

The system asked, “Host, what shall we do? This fellow appears severely drained, shall you rescue him?”

Shen Ji harbored zero inclination for rescue. The man’s deportment strictly adhered to etiquette, donning high-end magical treasures and addressing him effortlessly as “Immortal Jun,” indicating he was clearly no ordinary figure. The last thing he desired currently was entanglement with such individuals.

Yet leaving him to perish?

Shen Ji sighed softly, “From whence hail you? I shall escort you to the sealing passage.”

Conversely, the man smiled bitterly and shook his head, “The sins I reap today stem entirely from my own transgressions, so it is best I postpone returning thither.”

Shen Ji glanced at him.

Very well. Xie Feng had yet to emerge from seclusion, and the expiration window remained unreached. With a few days remaining, saving a life could count as accumulating merits and performing good deeds. After all, ever since arriving in this realm, his fortune desperately required auspicious purging.

“Should you be willing, you may accompany me for the nonce.”

Hearing this, the man lifted his gaze toward Shen Ji, registering mild surprise before transitioning into a warm, gentle smile, “Then I must trouble Immortal Jun.”

Channeling spiritual energy to seat the man atop the Gale Leopard, Shen Ji remarked, “Stand upon no ceremony, for my care shall extend merely for two or three days, whereupon your primary concern must be plotting your subsequent course.”

The man smiled, “Having two or three days suffices wonderfully, how might I dare covet further grace?”

Engaging in sporadic conversation, they traversed the greater portion of the Snow Domain, arriving at a grotto situated adjacent to the immortal-mortal boundary seal. The man had regulated his breathing throughout the journey, and though his gait remained somewhat unsteady upon dismounting, he deliberately selected the furthest corner of the cavern to sit cross-legged, ensuring he posed no disturbance to Shen Ji.

Extremely courteous. Unlike a certain foolish bird who, despite cohabiting across an extensive duration, remained entirely ignorant regarding the concept of manners.

Biting into a sweet-and-sour fruit in his palm and reviewing the preceding three months, the tranquility of these past three days appeared all the more precious.

Nodding slightly to the man looking over, Shen Ji prepared to enter the interior when a pebble dropped from the ceiling without warning, clattering right before his toes. Simultaneously, the ground shuddered slightly.

Contemplative, Shen Ji shifted his gaze toward the deepest recesses of the Snow Domain seal.

The man completed his hand seals to conclude his session, drifted gracefully to his feet, and walked to the grotto entrance to stand shoulder to shoulder with him.

At the distant edge of the firmament, a majestic anomaly was unfurling. Silver-gold phantoms saturating the vault rippled leisurely amidst dark clouds brewing sudden lightning and thunder. Trailing silver flames along their wings, they shone brilliantly within the darkening gloom, impossible to overlook, matching the domineering presence of their master.

Xie Feng had emerged from seclusion.

The system cried out anxiously, “It is the main villain!”

A deep, heaven-shattering roar rolled across the mountains, retaining the tyrannical might Xie Feng possessed when shattering the seal. From afar, Shen Ji could still perceive the Snow Domain seal’s powerlessness in withstanding Xie Feng’s onslaught.

Within the projection feeding into his consciousness, Xie Feng trod the void, contesting single-handedly against the residual aura left by ancient deities without conceding the slightest ground. The array forcibly fractured on the ground underwent slow self-repair, while the contending white light in the sky gradually faded.

Xie Feng pointed two fingers toward the array eye, and for reasons unknown, his motions appeared violent, signaling an intention for a swift resolution. The surging phoenix shadow condensing behind him carried the divine beast pressure that caused ten thousand beasts to prostrate, transforming into rolling giant flames that whistled downward in a dive!

The resisting white light retreated in successive defeats. Seconds prior to the silver flames pouring into the array eye, the contours of the ancient seal flickered slightly upon the ground and vanished quietly.

The live broadcast linked to the seal disconnected. Before Shen Ji could re-attempt connection, the oppressive weight previously felt once in Minghuang Station swept across the entire Snow Domain. Invisible ripples undulated across the entirety of the upper Snow Domain, bending pine branches and collapsing snowfields.

Beside him, the hitherto refined man found his feet sinking under the emperor’s pressure, his complexion finally altering.

“It appears heaven’s will dictates thus.”

Looking toward Shen Ji, the man wore a troubled expression, “Unforeseen that Xie Feng would recover his cultivation with such swiftness, and traveling in my company, Immortal Jun shall inevitably suffer my entanglements.”

Entanglements? Shen Ji recognized the incongruity. The man had concentrated solely on healing across the past three days, leaving his identity unquestioned.

“Depart the Snow Domain first.” The man accelerated his pace slightly, glancing toward the sealing passage, “Possesses Immortal Jun a scroll?”

Shen Ji countered, “A scroll?”

“That denotes none carried.” Realizing the situation, the man cast a hurried glance toward Xie Feng’s direction, “Urgent circumstances dictate haste, so I pray Immortal Jun accompanies me back to the Three Spiritual Realms.”

Regardless of urgency, returning to the Three Spiritual Realms was out of the question. Shen Ji’s refusal hovered upon his lips.

Yet the man’s left hand had already grasped his forearm, a burst of fire flashing from his right hand as a jade scroll bloomed with blinding radiance, enveloping them both instantaneously.

The system panicked and shrieked, “The seal is about to be shattered, host, no!”

The subsequent instant, both figures vanished concurrently.

Snow Domain. Deepest recesses.

Snowy mountains stripped of ancient divine power’s protection lay exposed utterly beneath the Phoenix Emperor’s divine sense.

Xie Feng’s focus lingered upon no extraneous entity. Terror-stricken Scarlet Falcons fled opportunely, yet he launched no pursuit.

Within the span of a breath, he flashed downward.

Fixating upon the snow below, his heartbeat fluttered erratically. The aura belonging to Shen Ji lay buried beneath this stratum of snow.

Raising his hand slowly, a fragment of tattered, blood-red old clothing from the snow was instantly absorbed into his palm.

Heaven and earth appeared plunged into absolute silence. The mortal previously most adept at idle chatter still smiled at him within his memory, yet that unbridled silhouette was soundlessly saturated by this layer of bloodstain.

Xie Feng’s breathing grew progressively heavy.

The familiar aura froze into ice, chilling his heart with piercing agony within his palm. This ash-gray combat uniform of indistinguishable original hue, thoroughly destitute even when completely intact, constituted Shen Ji’s sole protective artifact. Yet presently, the artifact stood fractured. The master of the artifact remained reduced to a patch of sullied blood.

Xie Feng curled his five fingers tightly, lowering his gaze to fixate upon this hand that trembled faintly.

He pressed the blood-stained old clothing against his inexplicably and persistently dull-aching chest, registering the heavy respiration vibrating his ears as uncharacteristic of his own.

Impossible.

His expression turned increasingly frigid, rolling with a chilling tempest within his silver eyes, concealing a deeper, escalating fracture of agonizing palpitations escalating with every passing second.

Shen Ji could not possibly have perished with such casual ease.