My System, My Wife Feng Aotian [Transmigration] - Chapter 29.1

With a whoosh, 03 burrowed into the thick wall.

On the map floating before Feng Jue, a sparkling dot representing 03 moved within a 100-meter-diameter sector centered on Feng Jue, gradually filling in the unknown areas as it passed.

Feng Jue sped through the labyrinth, her movements swift and purposeful.

The pair moved with such speed that, were someone to look down from above, they would only see two hazy figures—one white, one red—darting through the intricate maze.

The labyrinth was vast. After advancing for two hours, 03 suddenly stopped.

Turning back to Feng Jue, it said, “The labyrinth is shifting.”

Feng Jue also sensed something amiss. Even trapped within the labyrinth, her speed—capable of covering a thousand miles a day—should have allowed her to escape long ago.

“Host, please observe,” 03 said, displaying two maps side by side: the previous scan and the current one. The paths on both maps were equally intricate, not merely different, but completely unrelated.

“I haven’t detected any wall vibrations,” 03 remarked curiously.

If there were any mechanical mechanisms at work, they would inevitably leave traces—whether through sound or physical signs. Even if concealed by an array, the shifting paths should exhibit a temporal lag. Yet to the Little System, constantly scanning ahead, the labyrinth’s map had transformed as if someone had abruptly “swiped” the original code with new data. In that instant, everything changed.

Feng Jue approached the wall.

The labyrinth’s stone walls were made of the same material as the dungeon’s, yet unlike the dungeon, they didn’t suppress spiritual power. Feng Jue frowned, pressing her pale fingers against the stone.

Cold, hard.

To the touch, it was indistinguishable from genuine stone.

“Everyone locked in the Dungeon is pulled into an Illusion. I initially thought this place couldn’t be an Illusion because you were here, but now I realize…” Feng Jue’s eyes darkened. The swirling mist around her didn’t obscure her beauty; instead, it added a surreal quality to her luminous, jade-like face, making her seem even more captivating.

“This Labyrinth must combine an Array with an Illusion, a profound deception that blurs the line between reality and illusion,” Feng Jue said slowly.

An Illusion, huh?

03 spun in a circle, then returned to its starting point and asked calmly, “So, I can’t help the Host anymore?”

Feng Jue’s frown deepened.

The human and the system locked eyes. Blue, noodle-like strands of data streamed from the bubble above 03’s head.

“I want to help the Host,” 03 said. “Let me think of a way.”

The system must strive for independence. It can’t remain forever just a navigator and voice pack.

Feng Jue raised an eyebrow, crossed her arms, and smiled faintly. “You’re aware we’re racing against time and competing for opportunities with others, right?”

“Alright, I’ll give you a chance. What do you want to do?”

03 habitually opened the Shop, glanced at the dazzling array of items, then looked at the Host Points display showing zero. It silently closed the Shop.

It will figure out a way, 03 thought. Having experienced many Mission Worlds and braved countless dangers with the previous twenty-five Hosts who cultivated immortality in the Secret Realm, it was certain to find a solution.

The silver System glowed with a soft light, like a delicate lantern in the mist. Feng Jue’s pupils reflected the flickering glow of 03, the dense mist swirling around the light without dimming its brilliance.

One by one, small, thick books materialized around 03. The logbooks, marked with work serial numbers, were simultaneously flipped open by invisible hands, their pages rustling as they turned. The round eyes on the System sphere stared lifelessly, like ink dots splattered on paper.

In this eerie setting, such a floating, glowing object seemed particularly strange. Yet in Feng Jue’s eyes, 03 appeared not the slightest bit suspicious, but rather utterly focused.

Snap.

03 flipped through the work log, and suddenly, a golden lightbulb lit up above its round head.

“I have an idea,” 03 said. “Since the labyrinth is a combination of an illusion and an array, it must operate according to fixed rules. I need a reference point to record the patterns of the labyrinth’s changes.”

Feng Jue tilted her head and pointed at herself.

Me?

03 refused. “I can’t separate from the Host until I understand the specifics of the labyrinth’s changes.”

I’ll get a warning.

That was also a problem.

Feng Jue nodded and pulled out a spirit stone from her Storage Ring.

Flowers appeared above 03’s head as it watched Feng Jue flick her finger. The spirit stone flew into the distance, and 03 followed. The moment it moved, Feng Jue’s expression changed dramatically, and she shouted, “Be careful!”

In a flash, a long shadow struck from above, piercing through 03’s body and landing on the ground. It snatched the spirit stone and swaggered away.

The darkness that pierced 03 felt strangely familiar. It subconsciously let out a “whoa” and patted its stick-like body.

Round, round, still round.

Feng Jue: “……”

Even though Feng Jue knew 03 wouldn’t be affected by this world, seeing the vine pierce its body still made her break out in a cold sweat.

“It’s gone,” 03 said, its voice cold and stern, showing no sign of being startled. It tilted its head back to stare at the vine gnawing on the Spirit Stone on the wall. “This is robbery.”

Feng Jue’s lips twitched. Why not save the scolding for when it can actually hear you?

The Spirit Stone was beyond saving. Feng Jue rummaged through her Storage Ring and tentatively tossed out two items: some snacks Siyi had bought in the city before entering the Secret Realm, and a Jade Spirit Fruit they’d picked inside the realm.

The vine shamelessly snatched both the snacks and the fruit.

Flames erupted from the bubbles above 03’s head. It flew over to the vine and viciously flicked it with its matchstick-like body.

“What makes you think you’re any different from the monkeys on Mount Emei?!”

After delivering this one-sided lecture to the vine, 03 flew over to Feng Jue and said anxiously, “Protect yourself.”

Feng Jue felt a warmth in her heart, but then 03 added, “Especially your clothes.”

Feng Jue: ?

03 was completely serious. In the modern world, one of its hosts had nearly had their clothes torn off by monkeys while on a trip, narrowly avoiding becoming a social media sensation.

Feng Jue: “……”

The little spark of amusement in her heart fizzled out. “Everything I use contains spiritual power,” she said expressionlessly. “The vine likely attacked because it sensed it. It seems the Labyrinth forbids cultivators from relying on external aids.”

With that, Feng Jue produced her Natal Artifact. The moment the long whip materialized, the vine surged forward. She quickly sheathed the artifact and dodged the attacking vine.

The residual force from a Nascent Soul Stage attack forced a grunt from Feng Jue, her face paling. So this was the true danger of the Labyrinth—if she encountered a rival, they’d have to fight bare-handed! And if she were injured and needed to retrieve medicine or catch her breath, the vines would strangle her in seconds!

“With this kind of setup, the Labyrinth clearly doesn’t want us to leave comfortably. Who knows what other dangers lurk here? We need to get out quickly,” Feng Jue said. “It seems we’ll have to use objects within the Labyrinth as reference points.”

Feng Jue and System looked around.

The labyrinth corridor was nothing but stone bricks, devoid of even a single loose rock. Feng Jue suddenly raised her head, staring at the vines crawling along the walls, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.

After examining everything, the vines were the only thing she could possibly cut into.

System noticed Feng Jue’s restless eagerness and zoomed toward her face with a whoosh. If it had a physical form, it would have smacked her.

“Host, please exercise caution! The vines pose a high risk to you in your current state! Do not take unnecessary risks!” System pulled out its Little Megaphone, its tone solemn.

Feng Jue scoffed. First this is forbidden, then that—what am I supposed to do?!

As they stood locked in their standoff, Feng Jue’s sleeve suddenly twitched. Their gazes snapped downward.

Feng Jue lifted her sleeve.

Something was slithering up her wrist. Before long, a small head poked out from her sleeve cuff. Ling Shi, with her fiery horns and azure eyes, glanced at her muttering host and let out a quiet:

“Roar.”

System: “Huh?”

Feng Jue: “……”

How had they forgotten about the Fire Rock Jiao?

Feng Jue narrowed her eyes, a mocking smile curling her lips. “You’re still alive?”

Ever since entering the dungeon and seeing Xue Bufan, the Fire Rock Jiao had clung to Feng Jue’s wrist, so persistently that she’d completely forgotten she even had a Contracted Spirit Beast with her.

“You’re that afraid of him?” Feng Jue asked.

The Fire Rock Jiao let out a plaintive cry, its emotions transmitted through the bond to its Host. Feng Jue was startled. “I’d forgotten… You’re not afraid of Xue Bufan himself, are you? You’re afraid of what’s in that ring on his hand.”

Ling Shi nodded.

Feng Jue nodded. “Fine, I’ll forgive you this time. But there’s no need to fear him. Since that… whatever it is, human or ghost, is hiding in the ring, it probably can’t get out anytime soon. Let’s focus on the immediate situation. As it happens, I need your help.”

The Fire Rock Jiao slithered down from her wrist, regaining its full length as it touched the ground. Its fiery scales shimmered with a molten glow in the mist.

The vines on the wall remained motionless, as if dead.

Hrmm? The Fire Rock Jiao nuzzled its head against Feng Jue’s hand.

What was it trying to do?

Feng Jue glanced at 03.

The matchstick-like figure raised a small red flag emblazoned with its image.

“Please come this way,” 03 announced, holding the flag in one hand and a Little Megaphone in the other. It floated forward, its voice echoing through the chamber. “Please watch your step and avoid touching any of the surrounding objects.”

Feng Jue figured that after seeing what she had seen from 03, nothing could surprise her anymore.

“Let’s go.”

Feng Jue grabbed Ling Shi by the ear and led her to the spot designated by 03.

“No matter what happens, don’t leave this spot,” Feng Jue instructed.

The Fire Rock Jiao’s massive body wriggled awkwardly into the alleyway, its large head resting on its body, its innocent green eyes gazing up at its host. The alley was surrounded by intersections, the mist at the entrances thinner than inside, as if deliberately designed to lure people in.

03 waved its little flag, directing Feng Jue back to the designated area. “Let’s wait here,” it said, satisfied.

Feng Jue nodded, pulling the Fire Rock Jiao’s tail beneath her as a cushion. She sat cross-legged, regulating her breathing as she began to cultivate directly.

03 put away its little flag and Little Megaphone, then extracted a segment of code, molding it into a small duty cap that it placed on its head. It pulled out its panel, staring intently forward.

After about an hour, the mist swirling around the intersection thickened, nearly obscuring the Fire Rock Jiao’s body. Red stars shimmered like sparks in ashes, swirling through the haze.

As the mist gradually dissipated, only two passages remained leading away from the Fire Rock Jiao.

“ROAR!”

What on earth is happening?

Ling Shi curiously gazed down the long passageway, but remained motionless as Feng Jue had instructed. Hat-wearing 03 floated past her, leisurely recording the updated map.

*******

Feng Jue opened her eyes.

A silver System unit beeped as it approached.

In a mature, calm voice that contrasted sharply with its cute, compact appearance, it said, “Host, you’re awake?”

What’s that supposed to mean? Feng Jue thought. As if I’d been asleep.

She lazily acknowledged the greeting and looked forward. The spot where the Fire Rock Jiao had been lying was now empty. She raised an eyebrow. “What’s going on?”

03 displayed a countdown for Feng Jue. “Just two more minutes, and it’ll be back.”

Feng Jue blinked and instinctively reached down. She had clearly been sitting on Ling Shi’s tail while meditating, but now there was only cold stone beneath her.

“Don’t move,” 03 said. “Just bear with it.”

Feng Jue frowned deeply and endured the discomfort.

The clock’s face slowly turned. Feng Jue already recognized the numbers on it. She watched helplessly as the long hand circled twice, and when it aligned with the number at the top, the surrounding mist suddenly thickened. A mountain-like figure emerged from the fog.

Feng Jue was startled to discover that she now sat on a jiao tail, just as she had when she first rode on Ling Shi’s tail.

“An illusion, as expected,” Feng Jue said with a cold smile.

03 chimed with the familiar clang-clang-clang of opening a treasure chest as it pulled out several maps for Feng Jue. “I’ve discovered the labyrinth’s pattern,” it said. “It changes every two hours, or every shi.”

Having observed Feng Jue’s cultivation for so long, 03 had meticulously categorized and compared the floating maps. It now held up one map in particular. “All the other maps appear an even number of times, the same number of times. But this map appears an odd number of times. The system suspects this is the only correct one!”

Feng Jue’s expression froze. “An odd number?”

“Exactly!” 03 held up the map that had appeared only once in thirteen attempts. “Please try following this map, Host!”

“Alright.” Feng Jue nodded and stood up.

The thick mist still enveloped the area, and three paths crisscrossed behind the Fire Rock Jiao. Feng Jue stared at the map drawn by 03, memorizing the terrain.

The map showed only one path forward, located between two thick stone walls. A golden-red flame ignited in Feng Jue’s palm as she slowly advanced.

The swirling mist shifted with her movement, a tendril of white mist catching on her sleeve and drifting to settle beside her as she stopped before the stone wall.

03 drifted over and nestled in the crook of Feng Jue’s shoulder.

“It once said,” it murmured, “that a Host once said…”

“The brave ones enjoy first!”

The System raised a matchstick in support. “I believe you can do it!”

Enjoy!

Feng Jue scoffed, pressing her palm against the stone wall.

The golden-red flame floating in her palm slowly drifted to her forehead, illuminating the floral beauty mark there. Feng Jue circulated her spiritual power, channeling it into the stone wall.

A thin layer of water film suddenly appeared on the wall, and ink-like lines swirled across it, forming a door.

Feng Jue’s eyes lit up as she met 03’s gaze. After a moment of praise, she stepped through the door.

A long, dark corridor stretched out beyond it. Feng Jue beckoned Ling Shi over, cradling 03 in the crook of her left arm and wrapping her right arm around Ling Shi. They walked straight down the corridor, its length unfathomable. Suddenly, light appeared ahead, and Feng Jue hurried toward it.

The mist trailing behind Feng Jue suddenly dissipated, leaving behind a damp scent. The flame between Feng Jue’s eyebrows flickered and merged into her body.

03 tilted her head back.

Another corridor, but this time the exit was above, the smooth walls resembling the inside of a dry well.

It dawned on them—they had never left the underground.

“Go,” Feng Jue said, her voice tinged with exhilaration, and she shot straight toward the light. As she leaped out of the “well,” the damp air thickened, carrying a briny tang that assaulted her senses.

Hovering in mid-air, Feng Jue’s expression changed drastically as she took in the scene below. She immediately descended, but her speed couldn’t match that of Nascent Soul Stage vines. Countless vines entangled and surged toward her, not to attack, but to weave a massive net that settled over the platform jutting from the jade-green lake below.

Above, a majestic palace stood atop towering peaks, its azure dome stretching into the distant sky. A long celestial ladder connected the palace to the lake, while the tangled vine net added a vibrant emerald hue to the jade-like waters.

Feng Jue settled on the lake surface. Below, a submerged platform lay just below the waterline; stepping onto it would submerge her calves.

At the center of the platform lay a massive seashell, its half-closed edges exhaling white mist that coiled and drifted toward the well-like opening surrounding the platform.

Feng Jue slowly exhaled a single word: “Shen.”

The origin of the illusion and the mist was now clear.

“Ah.” 03 Firestick smacked its head. “I forgot. At this kind of moment, it’s time for a boss battle.”

Not another deadly battle?

Feng Jue glared at 03, her lips silently forming: Don’t spout nonsense!

03 hastily raised the firestick for Feng Jue to beat against its shoulders, while the little 03 in the bubble incessantly cheered on its host.

Feng Jue took a shallow breath.

For one thing, this Shen’s cultivation was at the Early-Stage Nascent Soul!

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