The Villainous Senior Brother Doesn't Want to Wash White [Transmigration] - Chapter 44

Within the Abyss of Qixue, Ji Yanqing was unaware of the second condition required to open the seal. He simply believed it was an electronic password door and that he had opened it because he had the right code.

Inside the transparent electronic door, frost Qi and sword intent surged. Ji Yanqing took this opportunity to observe the layout behind the barrier. The door separated a narrow corridor; outside was the living room connecting the three chambers, while the inside was shrouded in darkness, making the path ahead unclear.

After receiving a well-deserved beating, the bratty Spirit Artifact had finally become honest. He sat obediently on the bed in the living quarters, while Ji Yanqing sat on the sofa opposite him. Ji Yanhui leaned against the wall nearby, and Qi Ye sat cautiously on the edge of the sofa. The modern furniture, unlike anything Qi Ye had ever seen, made him wary, yet he refused to sit too far from Ji Yanqing.

To prevent the brat from escaping, his hands had been bound with Spirit-Binding Cords  specifically designed for artifacts. His face was bruised and swollen—a look of being “viciously bullied.” However, Ji Yanqing knew that as a formless spirit, he couldn’t actually sustain such injuries; he was merely putting on an act to garner sympathy.

“You… you’re committing child abuse!” the bratty spirit cried out in tragic accusation.

Before the “perpetrators,” Qi Ye and Ji Yanhui, could speak, Ji Yanqing mocked him: “A Spirit Artifact several hundred years old has the nerve to call himself a child?”

The spirit pouted, but Ji Yanqing glanced at the M416 rifle and warned: “One more word of nonsense and I’ll melt your physical form down into a smoke grenade.”

Spirit Artifact: “…” Is it really okay to insult smoke grenades like that? They’re actually very useful!

Though the threat lacked physical weight, the cold, menacing tone made the spirit shudder instinctively. That familiar feeling… it’s back. He stared at Ji Yanqing, now even more certain of the youth’s identity.

Seeing the brat finally behaving, Ji Yanqing softened his tone slightly. “Tell me, why did you take the Cloud Pendant? And what exactly is your relationship with Ji Qixue?”

“I told you before…” the spirit started impatiently, but meeting Ji Yanqing’s gaze, he quickly placed his hands on his knees and said in a cute, soft voice: “It’s like this: I was originally just a tiny little Spirit Artifact belonging to Ji Qixue…”

“Speak normally,” Ji Yanqing interrupted.

The spirit adjusted his tone. “A hundred years ago, I was the spirit of a magical treasure Ji Qixue created herself. That treasure was the gun.”

A gun? Qi Ye and Ji Yanhui were confused—there were no “guns” here. But Ji Yanqing’s calm demeanor confirmed the spirit’s story.

“Ji Qixue didn’t take me with her when she left,” the spirit continued. “I had to disguise myself as a ghost cultivator to survive. Recently, I saw the Cloud Pendant at the Emperor’s palace. I remembered Qixue saying it was a vital item for the Ji family and that someone would eventually come to claim it. I was angry at being left behind, so I stole it and came here.”

Someone would eventually come to claim it? Ji Yanqing realized Ji Qixue wasn’t just a transmigrator; she knew the entire plot. But with the pendant in hand and Ji Qixue gone, the only thing left was to find a way out.

“How do we lea—” Ji Yanqing started, but a thunderous roar erupted from the depths of the corridor. It was ten times louder than Lei’s roar, suggesting a creature ten times the size.

The spirit hid behind Ji Yanqing, trembling. “I told you there was a monster! You wouldn’t listen and just had to open the door! Luckily, the guy is trapped near the exit. As long as you don’t try to leave, you won’t run into it.”

Ji Yanqing: “…”

“The only way out is to tame it, and that’s why I couldn’t leave. I’m only at the Soul Manifestation stage, and all my treasures were destroyed by that thing!” the spirit grumbled.

Ji Yanqing decided he couldn’t leave without even seeing the monster. “Take us to see it.”

The spirit reluctantly led them to a semi-open circular cavern at the end of the corridor. Sunlight streamed in from the abyss above—an exit was indeed possible. However, within the shadows lay something else: a Mecha Dragon.

Unlike the slender dragons of this cultivation world, this was a massive Western-style dragon with bat-like wings, a powerful tail, and sharp spinal spikes. Its silver metal skin reflected the sunlight brilliantly. This is so cool, Ji Yanqing thought, his childhood love for expensive-looking mechs surfacing.

But his excitement was short-lived. Sensing their presence, the dragon turned its horse-like head and breathed a blast of searing fire. Qi Ye and Ji Yanhui blocked the attack, but Ji Yanhui’s Heavenly-grade treasure was incinerated in seconds.

“That monster is at the peak of the Spirit-Gathering Stage (聚靈圓滿), nearly a Spirit God,” the spirit warned. “Maybe we should just wait. The Emperor will eventually come to save us.”

The spirit sensed a terrifying pressure from the Emperor, who was secretly watching, and quickly shut his mouth. Better to let the Emperor and Ji Yanqing settle their family matters themselves.

Ji Yanqing grew anxious. He had only three days left on his Vow of the Dao Heart. Even if he couldn’t leave, he had to get Ji Yanhui and the pendant back. “I’m going to try to deal with it,” he said.

Qi Ye stopped him. “Senior Brother, don’t be impulsive. Let’s wait.”

Ji Yanhui stepped forward, blocking Ji Yanqing. “I am at the Golden Core stage, same as the monster. Only I can face it. This started because of me, so I’ll take responsibility.” He looked at Ji Yanqing, wanting to say that if the boy would just call him “Brother,” the deadline wouldn’t matter.

Ji Yanqing misunderstood. “I won’t let you risk it alone. We’ll do it together.”

Ji Yanqing prepared all his treasures, including the M416 rifle he found on the workbench. The battle began. Ji Yanhui used his frost Qi to freeze the dragon, while Qi Ye attacked the cavern’s barrier with his sword array.

But the dragon broke free as Ji Yanhui’s focus wavered. It unleashed a torrent of fire.

“Careful!” Ji Yanqing shouted. A snake of fire climbed Ji Yanhui’s arm, charring it black. The dragon targeted him relentlessly. Qi Ye’s sword light rained down on the dragon’s hard shell, but it did no damage.

Ji Yanqing threw his treasures at the dragon like they were free, trying to draw its attention. “Ji Yanhui, you better hold on! I don’t want you dying and making me break my vow!”

When he reached for the Golden Light Retroactive Glazed Lamp, he hesitated. It would shatter if used for attack. Ji Yanhui, sensing his hesitation, used a trace of frost Qi to stop him. “I’m fine,” Ji Yanhui said with a faint smile. “Actually… the deadline doesn’t matter anymore. You’ve fulfilled the vow.”

The golden threads of the Dao Heart Vow vanished from their fingertips. Ji Yanhui’s expression was bittersweet. “If only you would call me… Third Brother… one more time.”

“Third Brother…” Ji Yanqing whispered, his heart filled with grief as he watched his brother enveloped in flames.

“Are you just going to watch him die?” the spirit shouted.

Ji Yanqing looked at the M416 in his hand. It was a peak Heavenly-grade Spirit Tool. If he could use it, he could defeat the dragon. But it was Ji Qixue’s weapon.

“It was always your weapon!” the spirit cried. “If you want to use it, you can!”

Time seemed to slow down. Visions flashed before Ji Yanqing’s eyes: Qi Ye calling him “Senior Brother,” his boss applauding his success, and the realization that his talent in illusions was legendary.

Who am I? What do I want?

He realized that his feelings for Qi Ye, his mastery of illusions, and the M416 were all just means to an end. All he ever wanted was to complete the mission.

A light illuminated his path. His soul condensed into a golden dragon, then into a High-Grade Golden Core (上品金丹). Spiritual Qi gathered into auspicious clouds as time began to flow normally again.

Ji Yanqing gripped the M416. With a deafening shot, the mechanical dragon collapsed. Ji Yanhui was safe, his charred arm miraculously healed.

“Thank you,” Ji Yanhui said awkwardly. He looked at Ji Yanqing with joy.

“Senior Brother, you’ve formed a High-Grade Golden Core!” Qi Ye exclaimed.

Ji Yanqing: “!!??”

He hadn’t intended to form a core yet—especially not a high-grade one before the protagonist. How was he supposed to face the sect now? He looked troubled rather than happy.

He suddenly remembered the voice he heard earlier—a voice that sounded like a certain Emperor who swore he would never come here.