My System, My Wife Feng Aotian [Transmigration] - Chapter 22.2

The Mountain-Swallowing Beast roared furiously, unable to find prey. Relying on its hardened carapace, it flew recklessly through the mountain ranges. Its relatively slender tail, compared to its massive body, swept through the canopy of trees, snapping branches and leaves, and uprooting entire swathes of forest like a force of nature.

03 glanced at Feng Jue, who was itching to fight. “Host, do you want to fight it?”

Feng Jue replied without hesitation. “Of course!”

Since this was the first Spirit Beast they’d encountered, they naturally wanted to test their mettle against it.

“The Mountain-Swallowing Beast dwells near Spirit Veins and feeds on Spirit Stones. After gorging itself, it hibernates in the mountains to cultivate. A Spirit Beast of its cultivation level must have consumed countless Spirit Stones to reach this stage. There might even be an unfinished Spirit Vein nearby!” Feng Jue’s eyes gleamed with determination as she stared at the beast. “Besides the Spirit Vein, its carapace and bones are top-grade materials for refining Artifacts. And then there’s its Golden Core Stage Beast Core.”

At the mention of the Beast Core, Fire Rock Jiao poked its head out from Feng Jue’s sleeve, looking at her with eager anticipation.

Feng Jue smiled. “With your Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, you’re no match for it. But watch me retrieve its Beast Core for you to consume. It will help you achieve the Golden Core!”

Seeing that Feng Jue was determined to take down the Mountain-Swallowing Beast, 03 naturally said nothing more.

Feng Jue instructed Ling Shi to find a hiding spot nearby. The difference in cultivation between the Fire Rock Jiao and the Mountain-Swallowing Beast was too great; approaching it would be suicidal. Once Ling Shi was hidden, the Mountain-Swallowing Beast, its dark, cloud-like form looming in the sky, roared and flew back to the mountain peak where it had been resting, unable to find the intruder who had trespassed on its territory.

As the beast flew over their hiding spot in the forest, Feng Jue seized the opportunity and shot toward it without hesitation. A creature of such massive size and hardened exoskeleton had only two weak points: its eyes and the junction between its tail bone and carapace.

Moreover, Feng Jue’s body was no larger than the Mountain-Swallowing Beast’s fingernail. She was a hundred times more agile than the bulky, lumbering beast. The moment she closed in, the Mountain-Swallowing Beast sensed the spiritual pressure building as Feng Jue prepared her attack and turned.

Its tail whipped wildly, but to Feng Jue’s eyes, the movement was painfully slow. She nimbly evaded the sweeping tail and landed on the end of the beast’s carapace. A fiery whip crackled with thunder as it struck the Mountain-Swallowing Beast’s vulnerable spot.

ROAR!

The Mountain-Swallowing Beast, a tyrant that roamed unchecked, roared in pain, shaking the mountain itself. Its fury surged as it turned to face Feng Jue, who had already leaped from the end of its armored tail to a position in front of it. This time, golden-red flames shot directly toward its eyes.

The beast’s Mid-Stage Golden Core cultivation wasn’t for nothing. It swiftly closed its eyelids, and the fiery whip struck only the lids, like a mere tickle. Feng Jue cursed inwardly as the Mountain-Swallowing Beast opened its mouth, unleashing layers of sound waves that forced her to retreat and hover in mid-air.

03 circled around Feng Jue, the bubble above its head practically sweating with anxiety.

*******

In past battles, when its host fought enemies, 03 had been parasitically embedded within the host’s body. What the host saw, it saw; what the host heard, it heard. Now, witnessing the scene firsthand, it realized that the raw data scans had never prepared it for the overwhelming majesty of the colossal beast looming before them.

The Mountain-Swallowing Beast, a behemoth that blotted out the sky, stood like a towering mountain. Facing it, Feng Jue held her artifact, her hair slightly disheveled. Yet her lips curved in a confident smile, her eyes shining brightly as she stared at the beast as if it were already dead.

Cang Mountain cracked, its slopes devastated as if by an earthquake.

Only the vast azure sky stretched behind Feng Jue, unfolding like a long scroll.

A fiery Phoenix materialized, its wings ablaze. The moment it spread its wings, Feng Jue let out a cold laugh and leaped upward, merging with the Phoenix.

Crimson flames collided with ashen stone, the pressure of the Golden Core Stage radiating for miles. The shockwave stilled the wind and scattered the clouds, leaving no trace of birds in the sky.

Yet the flames and rocks continued their relentless battle, refusing to relent.

Watching this, 03 gradually forgot to follow Feng Jue. It hovered in the distance, captivated by the flaming Phoenix—its majestic beauty, its unyielding spirit as it fought the Mountain-Swallowing Beast, even as the tide turned against it.

The tension was so palpable that 03 felt as if it were in a vivid movie, the scene unfolding as if it had nothing to do with it.

Suddenly, the silver-white System floating above the battlefield froze.

03 extended a matchstick-like appendage and placed it in the center of its spherical body. A question mark materialized in the bubble above its head.

A strange, unfamiliar sensation suddenly surged through its core—fierce and overwhelming, drowning all its code.

The sensation was even more shocking than the first time it tasted food, yet it hadn’t eaten anything. The backpack only contained a half-eaten popsicle, and it hadn’t received any data packets from the Main System.

“Why?” 03 asked itself. After checking all its code and finding no issues, it became even more puzzled, as the strange feeling hadn’t disappeared.

03 spun twice in the air, watching Feng Jue battle the Mountain-Swallowing Beast. Long black streaks emerged from its bubble.

The strange sensation… had started when it realized it was forced to remain an outsider during the Host’s battles.

Without generating any side quests, it couldn’t provide any rewards to Feng Jue. The Host couldn’t accumulate Points to buy items from its Shop. Even now, during the battle between Feng Jue and the Mountain-Swallowing Beast, it could only watch helplessly from a distance.

Engaging with the host would distract her.

The system was clearly the most exceptional among all mission-executing systems, being the first to upgrade to an Advanced System. Why was it suddenly generating these useless thoughts?

Why did the Mission World of an Advanced System have such rules? Was its approach to completing missions incorrect? If this was the intended design, what was the purpose?

Silver-white data flowed through the system’s body, its radiance gradually dimming.

Unable to assist the host… how was this mission supposed to be completed?

A circle of question marks materialized around 03’s round body as it stared blankly ahead. The lingering aftershocks of Feng Jue’s battle with the Mountain-Swallowing Beast swept past—tumbling boulders and flying flames piercing through its form before crashing into the earth.

The cinematic observer gazed at the burning flames and remarked in a clear, quiet voice, “03 senses no heat whatsoever.”

In the distance, the Mountain-Swallowing Beast, its eye blinded by Feng Jue’s strike, panted heavily yet remained defiant. Feng Jue, slightly weary, stood opposite, her eyes burning with renewed intensity.

Human and beast locked eyes, their gazes filled with an unwavering determination to fight to the death.

The battle raged from day into night, and from night until dawn.

The surrounding landscape was ravaged, no longer resembling the peaceful mountains and rivers of bygone days. As golden-red flames pierced the gloom, following the rising sun’s rays to stab into the Mountain-Swallowing Beast’s eyes, shattering its skull and piercing through its head, the colossal creature let out a defiant roar before plummeting from the sky and crashing into the earth, kicking up a dusty haze that scattered like mist.

Juggling two tasks at once, 03 hurriedly flew to Feng Jue’s side. “Congratulations, Host! You’ve secured victory in your first battle!”

This, at least, it could still manage.

Feng Jue’s arm, clutching the artifact, trembled as her spiritual energy was completely drained. She smiled confidently at 03, descended to the ground, and prepared to store the Mountain-Swallowing Beast’s corpse in her Storage Ring.

Just then, 03 froze, shouting, “Host, look out!”

The Mountain-Swallowing Beast, despite its shattered skull, wasn’t quite dead. Its long serpent tail struck with lightning speed, brutally lashing Feng Jue. Her Magic Robe flared with light as she was sent flying, only stopping when she slammed into a rock behind her.

“Host!” Panic surfaced in 03’s bubble as it rushed to Feng Jue’s side. “Are you alright?”

Feng Jue, caught completely off guard by the sudden attack, her black hair cascading down to cover most of her face.

03 saw a crimson streak of blood trickle from the corner of Feng Jue’s mouth, brighter red than her lip rouge.

It circled anxiously around her.

“Stop flying around. You’re blinding me,” Feng Jue snapped, bracing herself against a rock to rise slowly.

Even wounded, she remained the defiant Palace Mistress of Lanyang Palace. Feng Jue frowned, impatiently wiping the blood from her mouth with a handkerchief. Her fingers released, and the bloodstained handkerchief drifted softly downward, only to be engulfed by the flames before it could touch the ground, turning to ash and scattering in the wind.

Feng Jue stood, tucking stray strands of hair behind her ears.

03 ascended quickly, staring intently at Feng Jue’s face. Her complexion was pale, the streak of blood at the corner of her mouth appearing even more vivid. Undeterred, it initiated a scan, but a dejected expression emerged in the floating bubble.

03 cannot scan the Host’s physical condition. Unable to determine the Host’s status.

The sole Advanced System under the Main System felt utterly frustrated.

Feng Jue, straightening her hair and makeup, glanced at the Little System’s bubble, which was rapidly cycling through frustrated expressions. “What use are you?” she snapped. “I never expected anything from you in the first place.”

03: “…”

It desperately wanted to retort with “I’m highly useful! The Host’s evaluations are all positive!” But since entering this world, it seemed it hadn’t actually done anything useful at all.

03 fell silent.

But it was truly useful.

Unwilling to concede, 03 added qualifying remarks.

In previous mission worlds, it had practically been the Host’s guardian deity.

After finishing her preparations, Feng Jue sat cross-legged and took an elixir from her Storage Ring. When she finished adjusting herself and opened her eyes again, she saw 03 floating nearby. The corner of her mouth twitched. “Who knows what that Mountain-Swallowing Beast ate? It was truly formidable. If it hadn’t encountered me, it would likely have broken through to the Late-Stage Golden Core Stage soon.”

“Its final attack was neutralized by my Magic Robe, but I also benefited from the mishap. During the battle, I pushed myself too hard, causing my spiritual energy circulation to falter and nearly triggering a qi deviation. The impact forced the blood clot lodged in my heart to expel.”

She casually recounted the perilous battle as she leisurely walked forward, her voice drifting back to 03.

“However, as the Palace Mistress of Lanyang Palace, I’ve used the finest artifacts, consumed the best elixirs, worn the finest magic robes, and stored countless treasures in my Storage Ring since childhood. To be defeated by such a creature would be a grave insult to my Spiritual Root, which allowed me to cultivate to the Great Perfection Golden Core Stage!”

03 paused for a moment, its body gradually glowing brighter. It floated back to Feng Jue and asked, “Host, are you trying to comfort me?”

Feng Jue had just pulled a longsword from her Storage Ring. Pausing at the question, she shot 03 an indifferent glance.

What else would I be doing?

03 suddenly understood. “Oh, you really are comforting me!”

“Thank you, Host,” it said sincerely, a bowing emoticon appearing in its dialogue bubble. “If only you weren’t so indirect about it. It’s hard to tell what you mean.”

Feng Jue: “……”

“You’re just too stupid,” she said coldly, raising the sword and slashing decisively at the Mountain-Swallowing Beast’s tail.

Even in death, the beast’s tail remained as hard as iron. Feng Jue, still nursing the grudge from the final lash, hacked at it repeatedly. Though her sword couldn’t sever the tail completely, she finally drove the blade into the weak spot where the tail met the carapace, finally satisfied. Only then did she collect the Mountain-Swallowing Beast’s corpse.

As the colossal creature vanished, the surroundings instantly brightened.

The landscape was ravaged, littered with the scars of battle. Feng Jue soared into the air, unwilling to step even once on the strewn rubble and fallen debris.

“Let’s go! To its lair! See what treasures we can find!” Feng Jue’s voice brimmed with rare excitement.

03 nodded. After the fierce battle, it was finally time to open the treasure chest!

“Open the treasure chest… your description is quite amusing,” the man and the System chatted as they flew.

Where the Mountain-Swallowing Beast had been sleeping, there was now a massive crack in the cliff face, hidden by its drooping tail, like a scar slicing across the mountain’s side.

Feng Jue, guided by the System, flew down the mountain pass and into the depths of the earth. Even before she landed, a dense spiritual energy washed over her. The mountain walls were littered with half-eaten spirit stones.

As she ventured deeper, the spiritual energy grew thicker, condensing into pearls that clung to the stone walls.

Feng Jue’s eyes sparkled. “Judging by this, that guy hasn’t even finished half of this spirit vein! No wonder he was willing to fight me to the death!”

“Such potent spiritual energy… This vein must be incredibly rich. It might even have formed a Spirit Heart!”

A Spirit Heart is the condensed essence of a spirit vein, a rare treasure that can only be stumbled upon. A single Spirit Heart contains enough spiritual energy to sustain Feng Jue through the Late-Stage Golden Core period. If buried underground, it could even generate a new spirit vein over time.

The System, in its bubble format, excitedly raised a matchstick and showered virtual confetti. In reality, 03 spoke in its cool, gentle voice: “Open treasure chest.”

Open treasure chest!

Feng Jue rushed forward, almost flying into the depths of the spirit vein. As she rounded a corner, she came face-to-face with a dark figure.

The man clutched a freshly broken spirit stone, his grotesquely ugly face emitting a panicked cry.

“Feng Jue?”

The smile on Feng Jue’s face slowly vanished. A flash of light in her hand, and a crimson-gold whip landed beside her, crackling with flames.

She said coldly, “Xue Bufan.”

Tucked on Feng Jue’s shoulder, 03 watched the confrontation, not at all surprised by the scene.

It pressed closer to Feng Jue’s face, its tone utterly serious.

“03.”

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