My System, My Wife Feng Aotian [Transmigration] - Chapter 49.2

The arena was nestled among the mountains, separated by low peaks into several platforms, all clustered around a towering mountain that pierced the clouds. Countless Spectator Platforms were built upon this mountain, with early arrivals claiming the best vantage points. Those who arrived later had to settle for platforms on the surrounding low peaks.

The crowd swelled with eager faces, creating a vibrant spectacle.

Lanyang Palace’s delegation also hurried to the scene, settling on a Spectator Platform draped in crimson and gold curtains. Feng Jue took her seat and publicly reiterated that the competition would be a life-or-death battle. Uninformed cultivators buzzed with speculation, wondering what ancient grudge could warrant such a deadly pact.

Elder Li strode onto the arena floor, sword in hand. When someone recognized him, they exclaimed in surprise, “The Palace Master of Lanyang Palace only mentioned an elder from the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect, but it’s actually Li Wuhe himself! He’s a Late Nascent Soul Stage expert and one of the founding pillars of the sect—rumor has it he was there when the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect was established!”

“No wonder he carries himself with such commanding presence! That’s the aura of a Late Nascent Soul Stage Grandmaster!”

“Lingshan Sect? Never heard of it!”

Behind the curtain of the Spectator Platform, Feng Jue suddenly rose and walked to the edge, lowering her gaze.

A woman with long silver-white hair walked forward unhurriedly. The moment she entered the crowd’s view, everyone fell silent, staring at her face in stunned silence. For a moment, the entire arena was silent except for the soft jingling of jade bells tied beneath the ribbon on her forehead.

03 stood opposite Li Wuhe, adjusting her clothes and staring straight ahead. She murmured softly, “I’m nervous.”

So many humans!

All of them are watching me!

A cultivator’s senses far surpass those of ordinary people. Hearing 03’s words, Li Wuhe sneered, “You can still concede now.”

Before 03 could respond, a pink shadow landed outside the arena. As if afraid someone might renege, the figure swiftly tossed a Jade Token onto the arena floor. The token flew toward the arena, embedding itself into the formation. The entire arena lit up, a barrier rising around it.

The newcomer was Siyi. In a clear voice, she declared, “This is a death match—a fight to the finish. All previous grievances between the sects will be settled here, and their disciples are forbidden from further entanglement. All cultivators present today bear witness: the match begins!”

With that, she tossed several more jade pieces onto the arena floor, scattering them across the surface.

On the Spectator Platform, everyone finally snapped out of their daze, captivated by the Lingshan Sect disciple’s striking beauty. They couldn’t help but murmur:

“How could this be…?”

“This fellow cultivator’s appearance is so delicate. Is she truly destined to perish here like fragrant incense and jade?”

“What kind of irreconcilable hatred could drive them to this desperate, life-or-death battle?”

Amid the collective lamentations, 03 drew her longsword once more. After a moment’s thought, she casually tossed the scabbard aside with a clatter.

Clack.

Out of the way.

Feng Jue: “……”

Li Wuhe: “……”

Spectators: “……”

And certain bewildered cultivators shrieked in panic: “My wife!”

03 waved the sword, her gaze fixed on Li Wuhe. “Actually, I misspoke earlier. I take back what I said.”

She continued, “I shouldn’t have claimed to be your ancestor.”

“Heh, it’s too late for apologies now!” Li Wuhe sneered. “I want you dead!”

I didn’t mean to apologize! I didn’t do anything wrong! 03 thought.

She raised the sword, and the Nine Heavens lit up. A frigid aura filled the air as white snowflakes swirled around her. The pristine snowflakes kissed her silver hair as she looked up at Li Wuhe and said softly, “I heard the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect is a bunch of cowards. I don’t want to be the ancestor of cowards.”

The barrier didn’t block the sound from the stage, allowing 03’s calm voice to reach everyone’s ears.

Amid the uproar, Li Wuhe’s face flushed crimson as he channeled heavenly lightning through his sword. The thunder roared within the barrier, echoing his furious roar. Most of the cultivators present were witnessing a Nascent Soul Cultivator’s display of power for the first time. Their hearts raced as they felt the barrier tremble on the verge of collapse, fearing it would shatter and unleash the fury upon them.

The merciless lightning split into hundreds of bolts, hurtling toward the peerlessly beautiful woman across the arena. Those who cherished beauty couldn’t bear to watch and closed their eyes, only to hear even louder gasps around them and quickly open their eyes again.

The north wind swept across the white grass, bleaching the world of color!

A vast, swirling blizzard raged within the barrier, like a rampaging ice giant roaring as it clashed with the lightning. Even without being there, one could feel the bone-chilling cold. Each flake, far from being the soft, poetic imagery of willow catkins or poplar seeds, was an icy blade infused with Sword Intent, carving the very fabric of heaven and earth.

The thunder transformed into mournful wails, the cold into desolation. The lightning seemed frozen by the snow, and in the blink of an eye, the entire arena was blanketed in thick, pristine white.

“Nascent Soul!” An unknown number of spectators on the viewing platform rose to their feet in astonishment, gazing at the serene woman standing calmly in the blizzard.

Li Wuhe was the one truly panicked, his hair standing on end—not because of the freezing weather, but because… “You’re not just at the Middle Nascent Soul Stage!”

Earlier, this opponent had effortlessly dodged his half-strength attacks. Now that he was fighting at full power, the Lingshan Sect disciple was still handling him with ease. How could this be only the Middle Nascent Soul Stage?

“You deliberately concealed your cultivation level to frame me!” Li Wuhe roared.

Why say so much during a fight?

03 frowned slightly and simply replied, “I am at the Middle Nascent Soul Stage.”

However, in this world, there was a vast difference between Nascent Soul cultivators—even between those at the same stage. To assume that superior cultivation alone granted one the right to act recklessly was a fatal pride.

03 was a humble System—one who believed humility was the path to progress.

Boom!

Frost swirled through the air, blanketing the world in a white expanse.

Feng Jue gazed into the swirling snow, watching the red-robed figure dance through the blizzard. She clicked her tongue and muttered under her breath, “If I’d known this would happen, I should have bought some spare clothes last night.” The Lingshan Sword Venerable making her debut in Lanyang Palace robes… Well, it was passable.

Resting her chin in her hand, she watched the match. A small Jiao Dragon, as long as her arm, slowly, slowly wriggled under the curtain. Just as its head emerged, a lazy voice drifted down from above.

“Where did she learn this from?”

Lingshi froze, raising her pale eyes and pretending not to understand. Feng Jue lowered her gaze, looking down from above, and said slowly, “Turtle Sun?”

Lingshi: “……”

It flopped onto the ground, belly-up, its belly rolling slightly as it uttered a single word: “Croak!”

On the arena stage, Li Wuhe’s heart grew as cold as the surrounding air. At first, he had exchanged blows evenly with the female cultivator. But then he noticed her sword energy growing increasingly fierce, her sword techniques becoming more fluid, and her strikes faster. Initially, Li Wuhe had even sensed a strange clumsiness in her sword movements. Now that clumsiness had vanished, as if… as if their initial sparring had merely been her warming up, familiarizing herself with the sword techniques.

This absurd thought made Li Wuhe first chuckle bitterly, then burst into wild laughter. He realized he was completely outmatched. The lightning in his sword was being suppressed by the icy cold. Soon, like lightning swallowed by snow, he would offer his life to the wind and snow, the final handful of soil covering his arrogance.

He was second only to the sect leader in the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect, a formidable force even in the Eastern Continent. He had believed himself invincible, unchecked in his arrogance. Yet in the end, he had miscalculated, setting himself up for this sudden, fatal move.

Li Wuhe’s defenses crumbled, his Sword Intent collapsing in disarray as his resolve shattered. He retreated in a series of defeats.

Below the platform, Xu Zehua’s initial smugness, once visible in the swirling snow, transformed into terror. Anyone with eyes could see who would win this deadly duel. Panicking, he leaped to his feet and shouted, “We concede! Stop the match! Release Elder Li!”

Li Wuhe was a renowned warrior of the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect. How could he return to his father and the other elders if he died here? But who cared about his desperate cries, other than the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect disciples?

On the platform, the wind and snow gradually faded. 03 approached the kneeling Li Wuhe, sword in hand. Li Wuhe’s face was pale, his body tinged with a frosty blue as if his blood had frozen. He knew begging for mercy was futile; if their positions were reversed, he wouldn’t have spared his opponent either. After all, he had genuinely intended to kill this man.

But there was one thing—

Straining to lift his head, Li Wuhe gazed at the calm, victorious woman approaching him. He murmured, “May I ask your name, honored one?”

“I am Xi Lingren,” she replied.

Li Wuhe gave a nervous laugh, his sword clattering to the ground. Amidst the fading sword glares, he closed his eyes, thinking: Even in death, he still resorts to false names. What a pathetic end.

The deadly duel ended. The Jade Token fell, and the Barrier opened.

A frosty, sword-infused aura spread out, chilling the spectators who had been about to leap up in celebration. The cold, desolate energy froze their words in their throats, and they shivered as they closed their mouths.

No one dared speak on the icy arena.

Amidst the silence, applause erupted from the high observation platform. 03 quickly looked up, waving toward the crimson and golden curtain. A faint smile curved her lips.

Feng Jue didn’t lower her voice. With a clear, ringing laugh, she praised generously, “Well done!”

“It’s been truly enlightening.”

The praised 03 wanted to giggle again. She sighed in relief, her sword jabbing idly at the snowy ground. Where did I toss the scabbard? she wondered.

A laugh rippled through the crowd, followed by more chuckles.

Someone exclaimed, “Her aura was different from the start! That’s the presence of a Nascent Soul Grandmaster!”

The surrounding cultivators exchanged puzzled glances, feeling the words sounded strangely familiar.

The laughter belonged to others, but the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect, having lost a Late Nascent Soul Stage expert, was steeped in sorrow. Xu Zehua felt an overwhelming urge to leap up and roar at the crowd to silence, but the icy wind lashing his face forced him to suppress his terror. He grabbed a nearby disciple and shoved him forward, growling, “Go retrieve Elder Li’s body!”

The disciple glanced at the female cultivator on the platform, writhing in the snow and even building a small snowman. His knees buckled, and he fell to his knees. Meanwhile, 03 finally found the sheath for her sword and breathed a sigh of relief, quickly sheathing it.

Nine Heavens is far too sharp!

As she rose, her eyes met Xu Zehua’s below. Their gazes locked, and Xu Zehua’s knees also went weak, but he forced himself to remain standing.

“Ah!” 03 slapped her forehead and turned to Xu Zehua. “That man claimed everyone below him was worthless. Now that he’s lost to me, it should mean everyone below me is worthless. So, who’s weaker between you two?”

Xu Zehua looked at 03’s face again, his hidden romantic thoughts dissipating like smoke, leaving only fear. He dreaded 03 dragging him onto the platform for another deadly duel. He lowered his head in humiliation and stammered, “I am weaker.”

03 tilted her head, staring at Xu Zehua. “Hm?”

Xu Zehua glared fiercely at the ground. A wisp of snow drifted down from the platform and landed on his shoe. He forced out four bitter words: “I’m worthless.” Then he fled without looking back.

The supporters of the Scarlet Thunder Sword Sect scattered like birds and beasts, covering their faces. 03 watched their retreating figures. Just like that?

She waved a hand and turned to find Feng Jue. Just then, a Spirit Boat soared down from the sky beyond the platform, carrying a woman in white who held a long scroll.

From her perch on the boat, the woman bowed to the assembled crowd, her voice gentle and measured:

“My name is Lanzhi, from Wendao Academy. I have come to oversee the Eastern Continent Grand Competition. If I make any mistakes, please enlighten me, fellow Daoists.”

The crowd was astonished; they hadn’t expected someone from Wendao Academy to arrive so quickly! All eyes turned to her.

Feng Jue lifted the curtain of her tent, peering curiously at Lanzhi.

Lanzhi alighted from the Spirit Boat onto the arena floor. Her delicate features and ethereal bearing were like a rare orchid in a secluded valley. At her waist hung a long jade pendant inscribed with the words: “Dawn and Dusk Seeking the Dao, Vigilant Morning and Evening.”

“Hello,” 03 said, curiously glancing at the scroll in Lanzhi’s hand.

Lanzhi bowed to 03 and said, “I’ve observed your competition. Please allow me to test your Spiritual Root.” She produced a Cyan Jade Bead and offered it to 03.

The moment the Cyan Jade Bead landed in 03’s palm, it erupted in brilliant light. Lanzhi covered her mouth in surprise, exclaiming, “As I suspected!” She retrieved the bead and handed 03 a Jade Token, upon which eight characters were engraved:

Dawn and Dusk, Seeking the Dao, Warm and Lustrous.

03 gripped the Jade Token and examined it.

“You’re still young, yet you’ve already reached the Middle Nascent Soul Stage,” Lanzhi said. “Such talent is rare in the world. Your potential is limitless. There’s no need for further competition.” The unspoken implication was clear: 03 had secured direct entry into the second round of the Eastern Continent Grand Competition, bypassing the first.

On the high platform, Feng Jue froze, her gaze fixed on the token in 03’s hand. The crowd of cultivators, still dazed from the recent battles, also turned their attention to 03’s token. Though stunned, they felt it was only natural.

After all… she had just slain a Late Nascent Soul Stage cultivator! And according to the man from Wendao Academy, her age was far younger than the competition’s minimum of three hundred! Rare talent indeed…

Envious, admiring, and longing gazes converged on 03, all eyes fixed on the Jade Token in her hand.

Out of the tens of thousands who had come to Lanyang Palace to compete in the Grand Competition, only five hundred would be selected. Now, only four hundred and ninety-nine spots remained!

Yet 03 was thinking, She’s quite old, isn’t she?

“I—”

“Ahem.” From the raised platform, Feng Jue spoke softly, “Hurry and put the Jade Token away safely.”

“Oh!” 03 nodded, thanked Lanzhi, casually tucked the Jade Token into her sleeve, and said goodbye before flying off in haste. She had just spotted something and needed to get there quickly!

In the blink of an eye, 03 vanished into the mountains, leaving the group staring at each other in silence. Siyi chuckled softly and discreetly stored the surrounding recording stones into her Storage Ring. “I am Elder Siyi of Lanyang Palace,” she said to Lanzhi. “Please follow me, Fairy.”

With the delegation from Wendao Academy and the main participants of the competition now gone, the observing cultivators scratched their heads, discussing the recent match while daydreaming about the upcoming Grand Competition. Reluctantly, they dispersed.

Only Feng Jue remained on the viewing platform, seated on a soft couch, scrutinizing Lingshi intently. The little creature twisted and turned, cooing to itself as it tied itself into a knot.

As the noise around her faded, a familiar voice drifted from afar. 03 landed outside the platform, lifted the curtain, and rushed in, holding out a flowering branch. Red blossoms, their layers of petals overlapping in intricate profusion, bloomed luxuriantly.

“Phoenix Jue!” 03 exclaimed happily. “I brought you a gift!”

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