My System, My Wife Feng Aotian [Transmigration] - Chapter 49.1

The rhythmic, cadenced voice of 03 echoed across the vast plaza outside the Main Hall, instantly silencing Qihuang Peak. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.

Xue Mengtao slowly released Mu Rong, no longer restraining her. Mu Rong… Mu Rong lowered her rolled-up sleeves, folded her hands over her abdomen, and offered a humble smile. As expected of Senior Sister Apprentice Feng Jue, who shattered the Enforcement Hall’s barrier—her skill far surpasses ours. We must continue to learn from her!

Inside Qihuang Hall, Feng Jue strode out, standing before the hall to survey the crowd gathered in the plaza. 03’s gaze pierced through the throng, meeting Feng Jue’s. The corners of Feng Jue’s lips curled into a smirk, and 03’s eyes lit up, wanting desperately to give her a thumbs-up.

Across from them, the expressions of the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect members were a study in contrasts. The sect’s supporters, noticing Elder Li’s dark, bruised complexion, instinctively retreated, fearing he might draw his sword in fury and endanger the innocent.

“Elder Li!” a Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect disciple roared angrily, “Lanyang Palace is utterly shameless! No respect for hierarchy!”

“They hold you in utter contempt!”

Elder Li’s face twitched, his eyes flashing with ferocity. Still seething from his humiliation at Feng Jue’s hands, he now faced the audacity of a mere Lanyang Palace disciple flaunting her power before him. Yet, at the peak of his fury, he paradoxically regained his composure. In a measured tone, he declared, “Very well. Very, very well.”

“You insolent brat! Do you have any idea who you’re dealing with? If I wanted you dead, do you think anyone could save you now?” Elder Li sneered, raising his hand and unleashing a blast of spiritual power that surged toward the three figures before him. The power was ferocious, carrying half of his cultivation from the Late Nascent Soul Stage, clearly intent on reducing 03 and the others to dust.

The overwhelming pressure of a Nascent Soul Cultivator radiated outward, causing the clouds above to instantly evaporate. The protective barrier of Lanyang Palace hummed in resistance, while the elders atop the surrounding peaks paled and immediately rushed toward Qihuang Peak.

Beside 03, Xue Mengtao and Mu Rong, facing the crushing pressure of the Nascent Soul Stage, froze in place, their faces deathly pale as they watched the spiritual power bearing down on them.

At the brink of death, a sword’s cry pierced the air.

A sudden chill descended, and a layer of white frost spread beneath everyone’s feet. Elder Li’s pupils constricted as he watched the female cultivator he had intended to kill calmly draw her longsword and, with an expressionless face, slice toward his spiritual power.

Boom!

The clash of sword light and spiritual power sent shockwaves that forced everyone back. Elder Li, startled, hastily shielded Xu Zehua, while the others were sent flying by the impact. Those with weaker cultivation were slammed to the ground, unable to rise, coughing blood.

03 swung her sword, glancing at the two figures hiding behind her.

Xue Mengtao immediately spoke up, “Senior Sister Apprentice, don’t worry, we’re unharmed.”

“Oh!” 03 nodded, blinking her eyes.

Noticing her hesitant expression, Xue Mengtao and Mu Rong exchanged glances, wondering if she had more to say. But 03 had already turned back to observe the group.

Elder Li’s expression turned grave as he slowly straightened up. He eyed 03 warily, his heart pounding with shock. He had assumed she was just an ordinary, newly initiated disciple with no cultivation, easy prey. He had kindly offered to give her another chance, hoping the Heavenly Dao might pity her and grant her a better Spiritual Root in her next life, allowing her to join a respectable sect. But to his astonishment, she was concealing her cultivation—and she was actually at the Middle Nascent Soul Stage!

Moreover, considering her youthful appearance… Elder Li stared at 03’s beautiful, youthful face, his jealousy turning into suspicion. He knew every Nascent Soul cultivator in the Eastern Continent, yet he had never heard of her. Could she be some ancient monster from the deep mountains pretending to be young?

“Despicable!” Elder Li sneered. “Hiding your cultivation and putting on this divine act. What are you trying to hide?”

“Who exactly are you?”

03 tilted her head, glancing at Elder Li’s ears, and whispered, “Pity.”

Outside the grand hall, Feng Jue, shielded behind the arriving elders, stood with her hands clasped behind her back. Raising her voice lazily, she drawled, “Didn’t she say it herself? Your ancestor. Elder Li, you’re getting on in years, and your hearing’s going.”

The elders erupted in laughter.

Even 03 joined in, “Hahaha!”

Compared to the others, 03’s laughter sounded almost robotic, her face remaining impassive as she simply opened her mouth to emit the sound. Elder Li grew increasingly convinced that 03 was mocking him. Enraged, he moved to draw his sword, but Xu Zehua quickly stepped forward and restrained him.

Xu Zehua shook his head at Elder Li, pressing down on his arm. Turning to face 03, he declared with absolute certainty, “Last night in Lanyang City, the final burst of spiritual light was your doing!” He recognized 03’s Spiritual Power.

Xue Mengtao and Mu Rong stared at 03 in shock. To them, their Senior Sister Apprentice was as luminous as the moon, her aura ethereal and otherworldly. How could anyone associate her with the words from last night: “You’re all trash”?

But that mention of “ancestor”… Mu Rong scratched her head, realizing it wasn’t entirely impossible.

It wasn’t just the two of them. When the disciples and supporters of the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect recognized 03’s spiritual power, their initial surprise quickly turned to fury. After all, they were the very people she had called “trash”! Meanwhile, the Lanyang Palace disciples secretly stationed around Qihuang Peak whispered in astonishment, their admiration for their silver-haired Senior Sister Apprentice growing even stronger.

She’s one of us!

03 felt a twinge of guilt, though her face remained blank as a sheet of white paper. These people are here to lodge a complaint, she thought. She really didn’t want to copy the palace rules; writing was such a bother. If only she could just type it into a panel.

So she remained silent.

This was tacit acknowledgment.

“It’s her!”

“Elder, Young Master, she holds our Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect in utter contempt! She even called us ‘trash’!” the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect disciples exclaimed in unison. Even the cultivators sprawled on the ground, unable to rise, joined in, “Please, Elder Li, take our side!”

Elder Li had already been convinced that Feng Jue had deliberately deceived him with flimsy excuses. Now, seeing 03, his anger flared anew. With a furious flick of his sleeve, he turned toward the Lanyang Palace group in the Main Hall and roared, “You impudent brats! Spreading such lies! And you dare claim this person isn’t a disciple of your Lanyang Palace?!”

Feng Jue raised her hand to touch the golden hairpin on her head, her voice languid. “Elder Li, in your disheveled old age, it’s one thing for your hearing to fail, but you still can’t tell right from wrong? Who said that just because someone wears Lanyang Palace’s uniform, they’re a disciple of Lanyang Palace? If I changed into their uniform, would I have to kneel and call you Palace Master?”

The elders continued to laugh heartily.

The Peak Master of Liyang Peak said with a smile, “Not impossible. Should we fetch a disciple’s robe for Fellow Daoist Li? They say old age brings a second youth. Perhaps Lanyang Palace’s crimson robes would make Elder Li’s face appear somewhat younger.”

Or at least a little thinner.

“You!” Elder Li roared, pointing furiously at Feng Jue. “You’re spouting nonsense! How dare you slander us so!”

“Hmph.” Feng Jue sneered, her gaze icy as she watched Elder Li’s spiritual power swirl around 03. It was clear he intended to kill her!

Who’s the real slanderer here?

As the one directly involved, 03 had something to say. She smiled faintly at Feng Jue from a distance, her voice cool and clear. “Feng Jue is right. I am not a disciple of Lanyang Palace!”

So please stop citing their palace rules.

She patted her clothes and said honestly, “I don’t have any clothes of my own. I borrowed these.”

The crowd fell silent.

Feng Jue cleared her throat.

Siyi immediately whispered, “I’ve already ordered the seamstress to go fetch new clothes.”

Not a disciple of Lanyang Palace, and never having made a name for herself in the Eastern Continent… Xu Zehua’s eyes flickered as he suddenly clasped his hands in a bow to 03, laughing heartily. “Since Fellow Daoist isn’t from Lanyang Palace, you must be staying here while participating in the Eastern Continent Grand Competition. Everything that happened last night was clearly a misunderstanding! I am Xu Zehua, the sole son of the Sect Leader of the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect. Our sect has been flourishing for centuries and has even hosted the Eastern Continent Grand Competition before. Why don’t I personally host a banquet in your honor, young lady?”

“These red robes don’t suit you at all. The Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect is vast and prosperous. Whatever you desire, we can provide immediately. I happen to have an Exquisite Jade Robe with me—a magical garment left behind by Saint Venerable Qinyan before her ascension. Would you be interested?”

Elder Li scoffed coldly and turned away. He understood Xu Zehua’s intentions to win over this newcomer. Suppressing his fury, he watched from behind Xu Zehua with icy disdain, his heart filled with derision.

If this person surrendered willingly, it would be one thing. But if they refused… he wouldn’t give Lanyang Palace the chance to add another Nascent Soul cultivator to their ranks!

The elders of Lanyang Palace wore grim expressions. Though they didn’t know why this Nascent Soul-stage fellow had appeared at Lanyang Palace wearing their disciple robes, the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect’s blatant poaching right under their noses showed utter disrespect for Lanyang Palace!

Feng Jue calmly raised her hand, signaling everyone to remain calm.

“Let’s observe.”

On the square, 03 listened to Xu Zehua’s words and replied with surprise, “Why are you giving me clothes? We’re not fighting anymore?”

She still held her sword.

Xu Zehua burst into laughter. “As the saying goes, harmony is most precious. Elder Li was merely acting impulsively. If you’re willing to join our Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect, we can work together in the future and avoid any misunderstandings.”

“Let’s fight,” 03 said, finding his words excessive. She ignored him and turned to Elder Li behind Xu Zehua, speaking calmly. “You tried to kill me earlier. Now, I’m going to kill you.”

She lifted her long lashes, her clear eyes fixed on Elder Li as dispassionately as if he were a roadside rock or a wild weed, devoid of any emotion.

Though she carried no trace of killing intent and spoke with the same detached tone as before, Elder Li’s heart skipped a beat at her icy words, pounding wildly in his chest. He recognized 03’s sincerity—she truly intended to kill him!

Elder Li replied slowly, “Very well.”

As a Late Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, why would I fear someone in the Middle Nascent Soul Stage?

Xu Zehua’s face twisted with anxiety. “Elder,” he whispered urgently, “don’t act rashly! You’re here to protect me and negotiate important matters with the representatives from Wendao Academy!”

Elder Li frowned, shoving Xu Zehua aside. Once he kills this man and shows everyone the might of the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect, who wouldn’t rush to negotiate with him? Xu Zehua glanced between 03 and Elder Li, his expression torn.

He turned to 03. “Think carefully. Elder Li is a renowned cultivator with profound cultivation. Why seek death? Join the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect instead. I’ll have my father grant you elder status!”

03 thought calmly, Should I fight? Ah, a butterfly just flew by! Her eyes darted to follow the fluttering insect.

Outside the Main Hall, Feng Jue’s lips curved into a smirk. “What, afraid?” she asked languidly.

Knowing it was a provocation, Elder Li still had no choice but to take the bait. He sneered, “Who’s afraid? I’ll teach you a lesson—and yours too—while I’m at it. Let’s see what happens to those with such a sharp tongue!”

“Excellent,” Feng Jue replied, her smile deepening. She stepped forward from the crowd, her voice booming across Lanyang Palace and Lanyang City.

“Today, a disciple of the Lingshan Sect will face an Elder of the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect in a life-or-death duel at the Eastern Continent Grand Competition arena. Regardless of who lives or dies, no reprisals will be tolerated! As Palace Master of Lanyang Palace, I invite all fellow cultivators in the city to bear witness. For today only, Lanyang City lifts its aerial restrictions. All fellow cultivators are welcome to observe the match!”

As Feng Jue’s voice faded, lights blazed across the city as disciples from various sects soared toward the arena on flying magic tools, creating a magnificent meteor shower.

Lanyang Palace disciples gazed upward, one of them exclaiming, “What a grand spectacle!”

“What are you waiting for? Hurry! If we’re late, we’ll miss out on a good spot!”

On the square, Xu Zehua, caught off guard by Feng Jue’s sudden move, paled with shock. Gritting his teeth, he growled at Elder Li, “We must win this battle. Defeat is unacceptable!”

Defeat would be a devastating loss of face for the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect.

Last night, 03 shattered his spiritual aura, and he knew countless people were secretly mocking him. If he lost this match, the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect would lose all dignity and reputation. How could he face his father?

Hmph, why bother trying to win over that woman in the first place? Probably just lusting after her beauty. Elder Li scoffed inwardly and said dismissively, “Rest assured, Young Master.”

Behind them, a Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect disciple whispered, “But why is Feng Jue so eager to force Elder Li into a death duel with that person? What’s this Lingshan Sect? Could it be a trap?”

“What’s there to fear? It’s probably just a fabricated sect. Winning will generate buzz for the Five Continents Grand Competition, and losing won’t embarrass Lanyang Palace. Feng Jue is truly cunning! That cultivator is only at the Middle Nascent Soul Stage—no match for Elder Li!”

The group murmured in agreement.

Xu Zehua gazed at the peerless Palace Master of Lanyang Palace on the high platform, remembering the humiliation he’d suffered in the grand hall earlier. He thought of how fervently he’d just extended an invitation, only to be ignored by 03. His thoughts twisted into malice as he blurted out, “What kind of trap could there be? More likely, Feng Jue is jealous of that Lingshan disciple’s beauty and wants to claim the title of Eastern Continent’s peerless beauty! Elder Li, if that woman proves no match for you and begs for mercy mid-fight, please show some mercy—just cripple her cultivation. Don’t give Feng Jue the satisfaction of her scheme succeeding!”

“Should I thwart Feng Jue’s plans, or support you?”

Elder Li’s lips twitched as he gave a perfunctory acknowledgment, then led the crowd in a grand procession toward the arena.

03 also headed for the arena, clumsily sheathing her sword. She waved at Feng Jue from afar, who nodded and tilted her head toward the arena.

Go have fun.

I’m going to teach those villains a lesson for Feng Jue! 03 was eager to show off. She asked Xue Mengtao and Mu Rong to lead the way to the arena.

The Peak Masters and Elders of Lanyang Palace watched their retreating figures with concern. Siyi glanced at Feng Jue’s expression and felt reassured. Tentatively, she asked, “Palace Master, the Eastern Continent Grand Competition hasn’t even started, and this is a rare death duel between two Nascent Soul Stage cultivators. Should we charge an entrance fee?”

As soon as she spoke, everyone turned to look at Siyi’s beaming face, remaining silent.

You truly deserve to be the Palace Master of Lanyang Palace.

“No need,” Feng Jue said with a smile, her eyes sparkling with an idea. “I have a better plan.”

The arena for the Eastern Continent Grand Competition had yet to open, but Feng Jue’s announcement drew cultivators from across the city.

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