My System, My Wife Feng Aotian [Transmigration] - Chapter 33.1

The immense temptation was laid before her, and even Feng Jue couldn’t help but feel her resolve wavering.

She took a deep breath, calmed her mind, and closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, she calmly reached out and caught the little thing circling around her, the very thing that had nearly sown the seeds of the Inner Demon within her, and held it in her palm.

03: “?”

“I have my own path to follow,” Feng Jue murmured to herself. “My immortal journey will be measured step by step, guided by the Dao in my heart, embracing the cosmos. I will neither be elated by external gains nor dejected by personal setbacks. I will not be swayed by worldly temptations. Only by treading a solid path can I remain true to myself.”

The small system, pressed against her palm, struggled to extrude a matchstick-thin beam of light, which it waved in the air.

“Feng Jue, I can help you.”

“Feng Jue, I can give you so much, even fight your battles.”

“Feng Jue, Feng Jue…”

Feng Jue snapped, “Silence!”

She pressed down harder. The squeezed 03 emitted a gurgling sound.

After silently reciting the Heart-Clearing Chant three times, Feng Jue released her grip, sparing the system’s life for now. The System Ball drifted slowly toward her, its voice tinged with confusion. “Why won’t you accept my help? I could clearly assist you.”

This feeling was familiar. When they first met, Feng Jue had also refused to complete its tasks, time and again.

Feng Jue asked 03, “If I use up all your points, what about your future tasks?”

03 hovered in the air.

“This is your first task since upgrading to advanced status. There will be countless more tasks waiting for you. If you spend your points on me now, how will you help other hosts like me in the future?” Feng Jue said.

The stunned small system replied, “After completing the task, I’ll still earn many points. Don’t worry, Host.”

“But not as many as you’ve saved up over the years,” Feng Jue said.

03 immediately responded, “In that case, please be more frugal with your spending, Host.”

Feng Jue suddenly laughed, her laughter blooming like flowers.

She reached out and gently touched 03’s body, murmuring, “If other Human Cultivators who dared to dream of sudden enlightenment were in my place, they would be overjoyed and accept immediately. But 03, I won’t indulge in such fantasies. I have my own path to follow.”

Feng Jue held 03, the small system’s nearly weightless body feeling slightly cool. Those seemingly naive eyes always stared intently at her.

“I can rely on you for a moment, but not for a lifetime. You’ll leave someday, and if I grow dependent on you, what will happen when you’re gone?” Feng Jue asked.

03’s body flickered bright, then dim, then bright again. “By then, the Host will have ascended to immortality, becoming invincible. No one will be able to harm you.”

“And after my ascension?” Feng Jue continued. “Even if this world is a story, and the story seems to have ended, we still have to keep living. Even after I change my fate, there will be other fates. I need to grow stronger on my own.”

Understanding Feng Jue’s meaning, 03 nodded. “Then from now on, unless the Host permits it, I won’t intervene arbitrarily.”

“But if you ever need me, just call my name.”

Feng Jue’s smile widened as she placed 03 on her shoulder and walked toward the door that had appeared nearby. As she walked, she stroked 03’s back, praising it. “Good boy.”

Two minutes later, the good boy and Feng Jue stood in the Chongshan Immortal Palace, surrounded by the vast sea of books in the Library Pavilion.

03 observed Feng Jue’s expression, which was even more blank than when she was battling monsters.

A small purple beast emerged from the sea of books.

The Thunder Qilin, now twice as large as 03, stood proudly on the desk, its chest puffed out as it addressed everyone who entered the Library Pavilion:

“My master is renowned as the Sword Immortal. Before cultivating immortality, he was a scholar. This pavilion houses eighty-one thousand books, and my master has read each one thoroughly, knowing them backward and forward.”

“Remarkable,” said 03.

“Remarkable indeed,” Feng Jue agreed.

The Little Thunder Qilin continued, “All you need to do is read. When you’re ready, sit at this desk and answer the questions my master has left behind. Those who answer correctly will receive his inheritance.”

Feng Jue’s gaze sharpened as she recalled the previous perilous trials. “And if we answer incorrectly?”

The Little Thunder Qilin scratched its chin with a hind hoof. “No matter. Simply turn right upon exiting and go to the Treasure Pavilion. Choose an item and leave.”

It now appeared far more intelligent, its speech no longer slurred as if half-asleep.

“There are still three months left before the Chongshan Secret Realm closes,” the Little Qilin said. “Of the cultivators who reached this point, some who disliked studying gave up immediately, others abandoned the quest halfway through, and most answered incorrectly. Those who gave up early received treasures and continued adventuring within the Secret Realm. But if you spend all your time studying and still answer incorrectly, you’ll have no time left to seek opportunities within the realm.”

Feng Jue nodded and turned her gaze to the mountainous sea of books.

More dangerous than the limited time was Xue Bufan. She and Xue Bufan were competing in this final trial, and she refused to lose.

With a resolute expression, Feng Jue laid out a meditation cushion and a cup of clear tea, settling into a graceful posture. The Fire Rock Jiao Dragon emerged from her wrist, grew larger, and used its tail to pile the books onto the carpet.

Master, please study.

After setting up the final trial, the Thunder Qilin didn’t leave. Instead, it strutted across the books with small, proud steps until it reached 03.

03 raised a matchstick and greeted the Thunder Qilin politely: “Hello.”

The Thunder Qilin no longer needed to squint like a fighting cock. It circled 03 twice, clearly intrigued. “Follow me,” it said.

03 glanced at Feng Jue, who was engrossed in her studies, then drifted after the Qilin into the adjacent room.

The Treasure Pavilion.

Glowing treasures piled cheaply on the shelves, their brilliance overwhelming the System’s perception.

Little Thunder Qilin boasted, “These are all leftovers from my master before his ascension. Sometimes when I wake up bored, I pick one to gnaw on. Want to try gnawing one yourself?”

03: “Wow.”

Gnawing wasn’t necessary; the System Ball didn’t have teeth.

But—

“Your master actually succeeded in ascending?” 03 asked, puzzled.

Little Thunder Qilin didn’t understand why 03 would ask such a thing. Its four small hooves clicked across the treasures, leaving purple lightning hoofprints that made the treasures clink like jade.

“Of course! My master was truly remarkable!” Little Thunder Qilin puffed out its chest proudly.

Yet the protagonist had clearly stated that Chongshan Immortal Venerable failed to ascend and perished, his immortal path extinguished, becoming an ordinary old man.

How strange.

03 asked, “Who bewitched Shen?”

Little Thunder Qilin shook its head. “I spend most of my time asleep, for eons. Only my Spiritual Consciousness remains outside. It has encountered countless Human Cultivators, and to me, they’re all the same. But one Human Cultivator’s aura remains on Shen.”

The Thunder Qilin’s four hooves clicked against the floor as it lowered its front half, arched its back, and stretched lazily. “Apart from Shen,” it said cheerfully, “the entire Secret Realm is suffused with the aura of that Human Cultivator. Your human companion and the others all carry his aura. It was on the ring, but I’ve already helped you devour it.”

No matter how much of this aura there was, it couldn’t harm the Thunder Qilin, which remained completely unfazed.

Aura?

03 felt puzzled. It opened the scan panel, but the display only showed the differences between Feng Jue’s recent profile pictures. There was no mention of the “aura” the Thunder Qilin had spoken of.

03 opened the System Mall and searched, but none of the items available to the Host mentioned anything about enhancing the System’s senses.

Disappointed, 03 shook its head and pulled up Feng Jue’s profile again.

This human must be Shen’s new master.

03 put a question mark next to the blank portrait, planning to report this to Feng Jue later. For now, it followed the Little Thunder Qilin around the Treasure Pavilion, scanning and recording the treasures on display in its data manual while the Qilin boasted about them.

“I can’t go any further inside,” 03 said, settling onto a shelf.

The Little Thunder Qilin looked up, peering through the wall at the Library Pavilion. “I remember you saying you can’t stray more than a hundred meters from that cultivator.”

“You’re a bit clingy, aren’t you?” the Little Thunder Qilin remarked.

“Concentration is key,” 03 retorted. “You’re smarter than when you were all tall and gangly.”

The Little Thunder Qilin chuckled, its scales shimmering with lightning. It stomped its four hooves and swayed its head like a lion dance during the New Year. 03 immediately recorded this scene, intending to show it to Feng Jue.

“This is my true form,” the Little Thunder Qilin said. “Before, it was just my Spiritual Consciousness. I’ve been following my master for a long time, but I’ve never encountered a spirit like you. I wanted to see you for myself.”

“I’ve encountered many Qilins myself,” 03 replied honestly. “Some alive, some dead.”

“Mostly dead,” 03 added.

Their body parts became highly prized treasures, fetching exorbitant prices among humans.

Hiss.

The Little Thunder Qilin gasped, recalling the heroic scene of 03 wielding her sword, relentlessly pursuing and blasting Thunder Beasts. It felt intimidated. The Thunder Beasts in the Third Trial, which cultivators fought, drew their power from the Little Thunder Qilin’s spiritual energy. During each battle, it could sense the cultivators’ strength.

Even when the Thunder Beasts died, it could still sense their power. But this time… they were truly obliterated.

This was another reason it wanted to see this silver bead. Despite its small size, it was incredibly formidable! Truly terrifying!

So let’s not fight. Let’s be friends instead.

The Thunder Qilin brought over the treasure it knew 03 couldn’t reach, dancing as it came to show it to 03. In return, 03 exchanged some points at the System Mall for cat food to share with its new friend.

Shouldn’t Qilin be able to eat cat food? 03 wondered, finding a small sword while nibbling on the can. It probably won’t die.

“Here you go,” 03 said to its new friend.

Due to the world’s rules, the cat food cost more points than what 03 had earned from Fighting Thunder Beasts.

The Little Thunder Qilin opened its mouth wide, cramming both the meat and the can into its mouth. After chewing, it spat out, “Yuck, it’s disgusting.”

Well, that’s that, then.

“Follow me,” the Little Qilin said.

03 flew onto the Little Qilin’s back, and it carried 03 back to the Library Pavilion. Feng Jue was still engrossed in her book. 03 fumbled around for a fluorescent stick and waved it at Feng Jue as the Qilin landed on the windowsill.

“Wait here,” the Little Qilin said, wagging its tail as it bounded away happily.

03 clung to the windowsill, waiting. Then it noticed another window nearby and slowly flew over.

Chongshan Immortal Palace was grand and majestic, but the Library Pavilion was particularly exquisite. Outside the window grew rare flowers and exotic plants. 03 perched on a flower, using a matchstick to peek into the neighboring window.

03: (o_o)

Beyond the window was another identical Library Pavilion. The Chongshan Immortal Venerable must have used an array formation to create two mirror-image pavilions, the only difference being the reader inside.

Xue Bufan sat on the floor, engrossed in his book.

It’s an enemy.

A fist emerged from the bubble above 03’s head, punching Xue Bufan twice through the air.

At that moment, a heavy shadow fell across the scene. The bubble retracted as 03 watched the Little Thunder Qilin trotting over, proudly holding the tail of an Earth Fiend Python thousands of times its size. When the Qilin released its grip, the python crashed to the ground with a deafening thud.

The Library Pavilion was protected by a barrier that blocked sound and prevented anyone inside from leaving.

The System circled the python and declared, “Earth Fiend Python. Feng Jue has slain it before.”

The Little Thunder Qilin drooled. “It’s delicious!”

With that, it spat out Thunder Flame, instantly charring the captured python to a crisp.

The charred stench enveloped the System.

03: “……”

It wiped its face, brushing away a layer of ash.

Are you sure this charred thing is edible?

The Little Qilin guiltily crouched on the ground.

“My master used to roast them for me all the time! They’re delicious!” Undeterred, the Little Qilin seemed desperate to prove its claim to 03. It dashed out, calling back, “Wait here!” Moments later, it returned, dragging an even larger Earth Fiend Python. “This time it’ll definitely work!”

It opened its mouth.

Two seconds later, 03 wiped the thick layer of ash from its face and extended a matchstick-like finger at the retreating Qilin.

Wait.

This time, the Little Qilin hauled back the fattest, largest Earth Fiend Python in the entire Secret Realm! Before it could unleash its Thunder Flame, 03 stopped it.

“Wait here,” 03 said, drifting back to the window.

Moments later, it was shoved back by the Fire Rock Jiao Dragon, its horns shaking twin balls of flame as its head slammed against the barrier.

Lingshi: “Hey.”

The Little Qilin’s eyes lit up.

108,000 volumes. For a Golden Core Stage cultivator, it would likely take a lifetime to read them all… right?

Precisely because this opportunity was so fleeting, Feng Jue refused to give up. She lit the Spirit-Focusing Incense in her censer.

Perhaps to facilitate reading, the Library Pavilion was embedded with luminous pearls, bathing the entire space in daylight-like brightness that blurred the line between day and night, allowing one to immerse themselves in the sea of books. Feng Jue had just set down a book when she caught a whiff of a tantalizing aroma.

Meat.

Feng Jue: ?

Come to think of it, where did 03 and Lingshi go?

Dazed, Feng Jue turned around and saw, through the wide-open window in the distance, a fiery red dragon carrying a dark purple Qilin on its head, and perched atop the Qilin was a gleaming silver System.

The System held a plate aloft as the trio of non-human entities waddled toward her in a human pyramid formation.

Feng Jue: “……”

“Feng Jue, look! Food!” 03 placed the plate on Feng Jue’s desk, which was already cluttered with books.

The plate overflowed with golden-brown, fragrant grilled snake meat, generously sprinkled with spices. 03 then pulled out a bottle of chili peppers and asked, “Does the Host like spicy food?”

Feng Jue: “???”

Her brow twitched. She couldn’t understand how the conversation had shifted from scholarly pursuits to culinary matters. Gripping 03’s small chili pepper bottle—and actually managing to grasp it!—Feng Jue demanded, “Where did the snake meat come from?”

“03” said honestly, “The Qilin caught it.”

The Qilin wagged its tail.

This Qilin’s cultivation was unfathomable. Feng Jue couldn’t argue, so she asked, “Where did these seasonings come from?”

“03” continued to be honest, “I exchanged them in the System Mall.”

He had found the God Chef Golden Finger Section and exchanged for seasoning bottles from the scientific world. However, due to the world’s rules, the exchanged seasonings cost a lot, a lot of merit points.

Feng Jue’s brow twitched. She released her grip on the chili bottle and pinched “03” instead.

“Did you save up all those merit points over the years just to waste them like this?” Feng Jue demanded.

“03” pondered, then said, “There’s a saying: merit points earned should be spent. Keeping them hoarded in your inventory makes them worthless.”

So you’re telling me to spend them, and this is how you recklessly squander them?

Seeing Feng Jue’s expression, “03” added, “I have plenty of merit points. This isn’t really wasting them.”

The Main System had been constantly recommending it to hurry and spend in the System Mall, but it had all been refused. It was a very restrained System.

Feng Jue looked like she wanted to throw this restrained System out. She scoffed, “Although the merit points are your own property and you have the right to dispose of them, the thought that these merit points might also have been spent on me makes me unhappy to see you treat them so casually.”

“Don’t spend recklessly without my permission!” Feng Jue said.

“Okay!” 03 immediately replied.

System noted this.

Feng Jue released her grip with a satisfied smirk, letting out a derisive laugh. She retrieved a pair of jade chopsticks from her Storage Ring and, under the watchful, sparkling eyes of the Qilin and Fire Rock Jiao Dragon, picked up a piece of grilled snake meat.

The tantalizing aroma did nothing to improve the Palace Master of Lanyang Palace’s expression. She said slowly, “At this rate, you won’t be one of the Systems who can afford a human body for much longer.”

A “ding” sounded above 03’s head as its backpack opened with a “pop.” After glancing at the string of numbers, it contacted the Main System to inquire how many points were now required to customize a human body.

The Main System’s message arrived immediately, accompanied by an image of shock—a startled expression and a folder dropping from its hand. “You want to exchange for a human body?” it asked. “Have you found a world where you want to stay for a long time?”

Before 03 could answer—or perhaps fearing the answer—the Main System continued, “The System Realm isn’t what it used to be! Inflation, rising prices, technological advancements, craftsmanship fees… it’s not easy for me either!”

After a lengthy monologue, the Main System finally gave a number.

03 stared blankly, raising a matchstick to carefully count the number of zeros.

After a long pause, under Feng Jue’s meaningful gaze and the Main System’s persistent questioning, 03 closed the conversation, paused, and said, “It’s fine. I won’t exchange for a human body.”

Ha ha.

03 let out a cold, metallic chuckle, its voice as emotionless as a text-to-speech program.

Feng Jue couldn’t suppress a smile. After praising their craftsmanship, she shooed them away to go cause trouble elsewhere.

The mischief-makers shuffled away in a human pyramid.

Over the next few days, Qilin handled the meat, while the Fire Rock Jiao Dragon managed the fire. They used every last bit of the seasonings 03 had exchanged numerous merit points for. After the candidates took their portion, the remaining roasted meat went straight into Qilin’s belly, and the leftover Spiritual Elixirs were devoured by the Fire Rock Jiao Dragon.

Bonded by shared feasts, Qilin’s friendship with 03 and the Fire Rock Jiao Dragon, and the Fire Rock Jiao Dragon’s friendship with 03 and Qilin, reached its peak.

03?

03 thought it was all fine.

That night, after a full meal, Qilin, 03, and the shrunken Fire Rock Jiao Dragon huddled together. Qilin’s large eyes blinked as it said to 03, “The Human Cultivator next door keeps talking to himself. He seems to plan on undergoing the Third Trial within the next few days.”

A lightbulb symbol appeared above 03’s head. Glancing at Feng Jue, who was still engrossed in her studies, it said, “I think Feng Jue will receive the Inheritance.”

The Qilin treats all Human Cultivators equally, but it favors 03. After a moment’s thought, it said, “I can’t help you with this. The trials are set by the Master, and I won’t interfere.”

“But if you were a Human Cultivator’s Contracted Spirit Beast, you could enter the trials with your Master.”

Aiya!

Hearing the Qilin’s words, 03 picked up the Fire Rock Jiao Dragon, which was curled into a ball, and swung it back and forth.

Wake up! It’s time to study.

How can someone your age sleep so much?

After consuming several Spiritual Beast Elixirs, the Fire Rock Jiao Dragon, which had been in a deep slumber, finally died, its tail twitching weakly.

03 exclaimed again, Aiya!

“I need to find a way to help Feng Jue,” 03 said. To alter the predetermined plot would require tremendous effort, just like Feng Jue’s life-or-death struggle against the Shen Maiden.

If Xue Bufan had been there back then, things wouldn’t have been so perilous.

Truly, it was perilous.

03 began pacing in circles.

Seeing this, the Thunder Qilin also started circling, its lightning-tinged purple tail swinging wildly until it accidentally slipped into its mouth. The little Qilin, tail dangling from its mouth, continued its joyful circles, electric sparks crackling from its lips.

This one is no help either.

03 raised its matchstick-like finger and calmly extinguished a wisp of purple lightning that drifted near. As the lightning struck the System Ball, it crackled with a crackle-pop, and 03’s soul felt refreshed.

“Ah.”

The System said, “I understand.”

Now that it had a physical form and was in the Library Pavilion, it should be able to withstand the trial, right? It wondered if Qiu Shuangshuang had reached the Third Trial yet. If it could pass the Third Trial’s test before both Xue Bufan and Qiu Shuangshuang, it would be victory for both the System and its Host.

The System drifted to the center of the Library Pavilion, hovering beneath a luminous pearl. The Little Thunder Qilin, carrying Lingshi’s limp tail in its mouth, clattered over and crouched atop a bookshelf, its tail wagging as it stared curiously at the sphere.

My friend, what are you planning to do?

The Qilin tilted its head.

“The sea of learning is boundless,” 03 said in its cold, detached voice. “I’m setting sail.”