LABMY CH119

Below the deep sea, the deep waters did not bring pressure to Jian Yuanbai, but the two short words gave him immense pressure.

Shen Zhilian got up from Shi Yun’s arms, her brain still a little slow from just waking up. “Master, what happened?”

“And cousin, how are you here?”

Shi Yun frowned. “What nonsense are you talking? Who is your cousin?”

Shen Zhilian looked at Jian Yuanbai in confusion, pointed at him, then looked at Shi Yun. “Master, let me introduce him, this is my cousin.”

Shi Yun immediately grabbed her, “What nonsense are you spouting? This is the sect leader of Wangyun Sect. It was Sect Leader Jian who saved you, should you not thank him?”

Shen Zhilian’s eyes were filled with extreme doubt when she heard this. “Master, you are mistaken. This is not some Sect Leader Jian, he is my cousin.”

“Although I haven’t seen my cousin for a few years, this face is definitely my cousin’s.”

Jian Yuanbai felt flustered inside but forced himself to stay calm. “You must have recognized the wrong person.”

“I don’t know when I became your cousin.”

As he spoke, his oppressive aura surged out and then retracted in an instant. That brief moment was enough to change Shen Zhilian’s expression drastically.

Shi Yun’s face darkened slightly as she softly scolded, “Zhilian, do not be rude!”

“Sect Leader Jian saved you without any grudges, and you still haven’t apologized to him?”

Shen Zhilian was filled with doubt but still thanked Jian Yuanbai according to Shi Yun’s words, “Thank you, Sect Leader Jian, for your help.”

She stared at Jian Yuanbai’s face without a mask, “Sect Leader Jian and my cousin look so alike, my eyes are not sharp, please don’t blame me.”

Jian Yuanbai coldly responded with an “mm”, then looked at Shi Yun. “Sect Leader Shi, aren’t you in a hurry to leave?”

Shi Yun immediately understood the implied dismissal in his words, and since staying in this situation would be awkward, she said, “Then we’ll meet another day.”

Before leaving, Jian Yuanbai said, “The people waiting on the shore, Sect Leader Shi, take them with you.”

On the shore, there were still six or seven sect leaders from various sects waiting. Jian Yuanbai had no mood to engage in any more verbal sparring with them, so he left the matter to Shi Yun.

Shi Yun nodded, silently pulling Shen Zhilian, who was still staring at Jian Yuanbai’s face, and led the group towards the surface of the sea.

She didn’t even mention Zhao Ziji, who had his spiritual energy and mouth sealed by Jian Yuanbai.

Sometimes, in the cultivation world, things were straightforward—strength was everything.

At this point, Jian Yuanbai turned to Elder Yan and Elder Xiong. “Both of you, please return to the sect first and bring this person back to be imprisoned.”

Elder Yan and Elder Xiong nodded to Jian Yuanbai. “Yes, Sect Leader.”

“Wait.”

Mu Jingzhu called out to the two elders, “I’ll return with you.”

The two elders exchanged a glance and, without a word, both subtly glanced at Jian Yuanbai’s stiff expression. “This…”

Elder Xiong spoke, “This person’s background is unknown, we still need to bring him back for strict questioning. Traveling day and night, it wouldn’t be convenient to bring you along.”

After speaking, the two elders quickly took Zhao Ziji away, as if a ghost was chasing them.

At this moment, beneath the deep sea in the Sea of Falling Waters, only Jian Yuanbai and Mu Jingzhu remained.

Jian Yuanbai cleared his throat and was about to speak when he saw Mu Jingzhu suddenly turn and start swimming upwards.

His figure was agile, his long hair as dark as ink, his exquisite face tense, appearing even whiter in the deep blue water. His body moved like a swimming dragon, graceful as a startled swan.

Jian Yuanbai hurriedly followed, grabbing his hand.

The wrist in his palm was slender, and in the flowing water, it felt as though it might slip away from him at any moment.

Just like how the silent youth had remained quiet from the beginning to the end, he might slip away from his hand as well.

Unconsciously, Jian Yuanbai tightened his grip, holding on tighter, with more force.

Mu Jingzhu frowned slightly, turned to look at him, his gaze falling on the wrist held by Jian Yuanbai, and opened his mouth. “Let go.”

His attitude was cold, his tone emotionless, but it made Jian Yuanbai panic inside.

“Wife, don’t leave me.” Jian Yuanbai blurted out without thinking.

He had finally found his wife, the one he wanted to kiss and hug, the one he liked dearly. How could he let her slip away from his hands?

Jian Yuanbai said somewhat aggrieved, “I didn’t mean to deceive you.”

Mu Jingzhu took a deep breath, pointed upwards, “Let’s talk above.”

The two broke the surface, and Shi Yun had handled things well. In such a short time, there was no one left on the shore.

So, they didn’t go far. Mu Jingzhu directly sat on the rocks by the sea.

He was drenched, water dripping from him, his long black hair flowing down his back like fine satin, strands of wet hair sticking to his fair face. In the contrast of black and white, his delicate face appeared porcelain white.

At this moment, the night had just passed, and the sun was slowly rising from the horizon. The warm orange light illuminated his face, making the droplets of water shine. It seemed like he was glowing.

So beautiful that Jian Yuanbai was moved.

However, the cold expression on his beautiful wife’s face, even the warm sunlight couldn’t melt, constantly reminded Jian Yuanbai of the situation at hand.

Although he was unwilling to admit it, things were just as the system had said—this journey for Mu Jingzhu was more like a mine-clearing trip than a trial.

Three mines, one after another, exploding without giving Mu Jingzhu any time to rest. Of course, it didn’t leave Jian Yuanbai any time to prepare either.

His heart was in a panic, up and down, even if any one of these things was discovered, he wouldn’t feel this flustered. But with all three happening at once—life-threatening, really life-threatening.

Mu Jingzhu, who was sitting on the rock, remained silent, his face dark as he stared at the sea, watching the rising sun, gazing at the distant sky.

He watched the sea, the sky, the sun, but he never looked at Jian Yuanbai.

Jian Yuanbai was so nervous he could hear his disordered heartbeat. He had almost no experience apologizing, let alone knowing what to say to make things right in this situation. He could only repeat once more, “Wife, I didn’t mean to deceive you.”

Mu Jingzhu didn’t know what “wife” meant, but Jian Yuanbai had explained it to him when they were in the Yunding Mountains.

A very simple explanation, but when spoken seriously by a man, it carried weight.

He said that “wife” meant a person who would accompany him for life.

It had been fine underwater, but now on land, hearing Jian Yuanbai call him that again made Mu Jingzhuo’s eyes turn red instantly.

Jian Yuanbai sat beside him, watching him anxiously, so he naturally noticed the moment Little Spoon’s eyes reddened.

Panic surged in Jian Yuanbai’s heart. He reached out, grasping Mu Jingzhuo’s hand. “Wife, don’t… don’t cry.”

Mu Jingzhuo sniffled. His reddened eyes looked pitiful as he turned to Jian Yuanbai. “Do you really think of me as your wife?”

Jian Yuanbai blurted out, “You are my wife! Besides you, no one else could be my wife.”

Mu Jingzhuo said, “You hid everything from me, lied to me about everything, played two roles, and tricked me into circles—this is how you treat your wife?”

His words were accusatory, but his eyes were completely red. “You even lied to me about the deep enmity between your two identities. Do you know that I thought I was caught in the middle, trying to find a way to help you both resolve your conflict?”

Suddenly, Mu Jingzhuo let out a cold laugh. “And in the end, the two people I was worried about… turned out to be the same person.”

“And my fiancée’s cousin.”

Jian Yuanbai grew more anxious and guilty. Instinctively, he wanted to deny it again. “No, Shen Zhilan must have mistaken me for someone else—”

Mu Jingzhuo said nothing. His wet, red-rimmed eyes locked onto Jian Yuanbai. His eyelashes trembled, and a fat tear rolled down.

Jian Yuanbai’s heart twisted. He opened his mouth but had no words.

Finally, he let out a quiet sigh and admitted in a helpless voice, “She wasn’t mistaken.”

Mu Jingzhuo choked out, “See? You just tried to lie to me again.”

“I…” Jian Yuanbai wanted to explain but found himself at a loss for words.

He knew everything. Yet from beginning to end, Little Spoon had been completely kept in the dark.

Mu Jingzhuo started counting on his fingers: “It was you who played me for a fool using two identities. It was you who, despite being my fiancée’s cousin, hid your identity to get close to me.”

“Why? Why did you do this?”

“Why did you deceive me with two completely different identities?”

Jian Yuanbai thought and thought, but he had no idea how to explain. Talking about his mission would sound absurd. Besides, he didn’t want Mu Jingzhuo to know that his entire life was nothing more than a scripted storyline.

More importantly, even though he could have let go of one of his identities, he still chose to keep up the deception, switching back and forth, constantly lying to Mu Jingzhuo.

In the end, Jian Yuanbai had to admit that he was at fault.

Mu Jingzhuo continued counting: “You lied to me, saying Dao Without Name was a proper technique, but it turned out to be a Dual Cultivation Technique.”

Jian Yuanbai couldn’t help but interrupt, “I modified it! It no longer requires… physical intimacy with others.”

“Shut up.” Mu Jingzhuo’s ears turned red. He glared at Jian Yuanbai. “Just answer me—was it your doing or not?”

Jian Yuanbai nodded in defeat.

Mu Jingzhuo suddenly asked, “Then why didn’t you just give me the Body Refining Art to begin with? Why did you swap it for another technique?”

Jian Yuanbai didn’t dare hide anything anymore. He confessed honestly, “Because I realized I liked you. I wanted my wife to be soft.”

He hastily added, “But even if you had cultivated the Body Refining Art, I’d still like you.”

Then he sincerely emphasized, “But I do prefer a softer wife.”

Cowardly? Maybe. But he was also sincere.

Mu Jingzhuo recalled how, back then, Jian Yuanbai had hesitated before handing over the Body Refining Art, ultimately placing two techniques in front of him for him to choose from.

At the time, he had believed in Jian Yuanbai.

But…

Mu Jingzhuo’s face darkened. He stretched out his hand toward Jian Yuanbai. “Body Refining Art. Give it to me. I want to start cultivating it from the beginning.”

What?!

Jian Yuanbai’s eyes widened in shock. “But if you restart cultivation with the Body Refining Art, you’ll have to dissolve all your current cultivation and start over again.”

Mu Jingzhuo was unfazed. “I’ve already started from scratch once. Won’t it just be easier the second time?”

“But—” Jian Yuanbai wanted to say something, but when he saw Mu Jingzhuo’s expressionless face, he sighed heavily in his heart.

With great reluctance, he took out the Body Refining Art.

He handed over the tattered ancient scroll, staring at Mu Jingzhuo with puppy-dog eyes. “Wife… if I give it to you, will you forgive me?”

Mu Jingzhuo snatched the Body Refining Art with a cold face. “No.”

He looked deeply at Jian Yuanbai. “Do you have anything else to say?”

“You…”

Mu Jingzhuo hesitated before finally asking, “When you say you like me, is it because you truly like me, or because you have to like me?”

“Like those things you made me say back then.”

Jian Yuanbai was confused. “Have to like you? What does that even mean?”

“Of course I truly like you! I want you to be my wife.”

“Wife, don’t be mad anymore.”

Mu Jingzhuo asked, “How many people have you said that to?”

Jian Yuanbai immediately retorted, “What ‘how many people’? I’ve only said it to you!”

Frustrated, he huffed, “Wife, I’m not that kind of casual person. My virginity is still reserved for you!”

Mu Jingzhuo: …

He was so stunned by the loud declaration of “virginity” that he momentarily forgot what he was going to say next.

Meeting Jian Yuanbai’s serious yet slightly aggrieved expression, Mu Jingzhuo sighed helplessly.

“Take me back to Wangyun Sect.”

Jian Yuanbai had no choice but to bring Mu Jingzhuo back. As soon as they arrived at the main peak, Mu Jingzhuo immediately went to the side hall.

He said to Jian Yuanbai, “Starting now, I will focus entirely on cultivating the Body Refining Art. You go handle all the matters caused by the Sea of Falling Waters incident.”

“If there’s nothing important, don’t disturb my cultivation.”

Then, without hesitation, he shut the door and dedicated himself to his training.

Jian Yuanbai stood in front of the cold, unyielding door, his heart heavy as if weighed down by a thousand-pound stone.

The price of deception and lies was far too steep—so steep that he could barely move his legs.

His wife was angry. Furious. Not planning to forgive him any time soon.

And his once delicate and soft wife… was now about to become an indomitable, muscle-clad warrior.

The image alone sent a chill down Jian Yuanbai’s spine.

Feeling like he had taken a heavy blow, Jian Yuanbai decided to vent his frustrations elsewhere.

He made his way to the place where Zhao Ziji was imprisoned, his face dark.

“You said… you’re the protagonist of this world. What did you mean by that?”

The dungeon was cold and dim. Once locked inside, one would never see the light of day. The sheer solitude of it could drive a person mad.

Guards were stationed outside, but inside, Zhao Ziji was alone. Elder Xiong and Elder Yan were not present.

Back at the Sea of Falling Waters, those two had used interrogation as an excuse to flee. But in reality, neither of them had the ability to remove the spiritual seals restraining Zhao Ziji—because those seals had been placed by Jian Yuanbai himself.

Only he could release them.

Jian Yuanbai waited for an answer, but all he saw was Zhao Ziji shaking his head frantically, making muffled sounds while pointing at his own mouth.

Only then did Jian Yuanbai remember—he had yet to remove the seals preventing Zhao Ziji from speaking.

He waved his hand, and the spiritual energy shackles on Zhao Ziji’s body dissipated. Only then did Zhao Ziji hurriedly say, “You can’t kill me. I am the protagonist of this world.”

Jian Yuanbai asked, “What do you mean by ‘protagonist’? Explain it to me clearly.”

Zhao Ziji averted his gaze, hesitating and unwilling to give a direct answer. He said, “I know that beyond the sea, there is another world. I also know that over there, our cultivation is not even worth mentioning.”

“Our so-called ascension to immortality is merely their starting point. Over there, they have Earth Immortals, Heaven Immortals, Profound Immortals, Golden Immortals, and Immortal Lords.”

“If I weren’t the protagonist of this world, then how would someone like me, born and raised in the Asriga Empire, know about these things?”

“What’s more, in the future, I will defeat the Immortal Lords from over there and become the number one person across the Ninefold Continent.”

The system sneered coldly in Jian Yuanbai’s mind. “Nonsense. He’s spouting absolute nonsense. The true protagonist of this world is clearly Mu Jingzhuo.”

“Ask him where he learned all this from.”

Jian Yuanbai relayed the system’s words, “Where did you learn all this?”

“And why do you claim to be the protagonist of this world?”

Jian Yuanbai suddenly thought of something and said, “Where has the phoenix inside you gone?”

“Did that phoenix tell you all this?”

Zhao Ziji was greatly startled. “How do you know I have a phoenix inside me?”

Jian Yuanbai sneered. “Not only do I know about the phoenix, but I also know that it came from beyond the sea, from the real Ninefold Continent.”

“You obtained that phoenix egg from Taishi Mountain City.”

Zhao Ziji blurted out in shock, “Did you also have that dream?” The moment the words left his mouth, he realized he had made a grave mistake.

Sure enough, he immediately heard Jian Yuanbai ask, “Dream? What dream?”

“No,” Zhao Ziji quickly averted his gaze and said, “Nothing.”

Jian Yuanbai let out a cold laugh. “Do you think I’m just making small talk with you?”

“Either you tell me, or I will search your soul. Choose one. I believe you’ll make your decision quickly.”

Soul searching was an extremely cruel method. A powerful cultivator could directly invade the mind of a weaker one with divine sense, seeing everything from their past.

But the consequences were equally brutal. The victim of a soul search would either become mentally crippled at best or die outright at worst.

This was because cultivators would instinctively resist such an invasion, but in the face of a stronger cultivator, this resistance was as futile as a mantis trying to stop a chariot—it would be effortlessly crushed.

As expected, the moment Jian Yuanbai said this, Zhao Ziji’s expression changed drastically. He frantically called out to the phoenix inside his mind, but no voice answered him.

He was overcome with panic, unsure of where the phoenix had gone.

Back in the Falling Waters Sea Region, he had been crouching, hidden under the phoenix’s protection. But ever since the Spirit-Suppressing Turtle Stone shattered, he had been unable to contact the phoenix within him.

In truth, he had a vague suspicion—when the Spirit-Suppressing Turtle Stone shattered over the Falling Waters Sea Region, the phoenix had likely left him immediately. But Zhao Ziji refused to acknowledge this fact.

If the phoenix was gone, then everything he had gained would be lost. Zhao Ziji could only deceive himself, believing that the phoenix had merely encountered some trouble.

He continued to struggle, shaking his head repeatedly, and said to Jian Yuanbai, “No, you can’t search my soul. I am the protagonist of this world. Without me, this world will collapse.”

“You are nothing more than—” Jian Yuanbai had meant to say that Zhao Ziji was merely at the high stage of the Foundation Establishment realm, but as he began to speak, he suddenly paused.

The man before him should have had the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment realm, yet at this moment, Jian Yuanbai could not sense a trace of spiritual power from him.

There were typically two possible explanations for this. One, Zhao Ziji’s cultivation far surpassed his own, but that was clearly impossible.

The other possibility was that Zhao Ziji had become a mere mortal.

Jian Yuanbai grabbed his wrist. Before Zhao Ziji could resist, he said in a deep voice, “You have no spiritual root.”

Zhao Ziji’s face instantly changed, as if something had been exposed. Enraged and humiliated, he retorted, “I am a Foundation Establishment cultivator with a single fire spiritual root! How could I not have a spiritual root?”

Jian Yuanbai thought for a moment and said, “The phoenix replaced your spiritual root, allowing you to cultivate. Is that right?”

“Now, you’re just an ordinary person.” After speaking, Jian Yuanbai placed his hand on Zhao Ziji’s head and performed a soul search.

For a mortal, a soul search was actually not as severe as it was for a cultivator.

Cultivators, regardless of their strength, would instinctively resist a soul search, but mortals would not.

In the absence of any form of resistance, this, paradoxically, became the best form of protection. A mortal undergoing a soul search would suffer no consequences whatsoever.

In a sense, this might have been a natural defense mechanism for ordinary people.

Scenes from Zhao Ziji’s past unfolded before Jian Yuanbai’s eyes, and he quickly understood everything.

Zhao Ziji had originally been an ordinary hunter, relying on hunting for a living. Though his life wasn’t wealthy, it was not particularly difficult either.

But ever since he was a child, he had longed to become a cultivator who could command the wind and rain.

Yet, the heavens were cruel to him—he never awakened any spiritual root. Not even the most inferior five-element spiritual root. He was a true mortal, completely incapable of cultivation.

Then one day, he had a dream.

In the dream, a man wearing strange clothing told him that he was the protagonist of this world.

The absence of a spiritual root was merely a test from the heavens. All he had to do was go to Taishi Mountain City during a hunt and find an egg deep in the eastern mountains.

If he dyed that scalding-hot egg red with his own heart’s blood, his story would truly begin.

That man even emphasized that he had to go at a specific time; otherwise, it would be too late.

Jian Yuanbai looked at the face of the person in Zhao Ziji’s memory and felt that they looked vaguely familiar.

But he had lost his memories and couldn’t recall anything.

However, upon reflection, the time that person had mentioned coincided with when Shen Zhilan came to annul the engagement, and Little Spoon had been too preoccupied to interfere.

That meant that everything had been deliberate.

That person had intentionally led Zhao Ziji to steal Mu Jingzhuo’s opportunity.

Jian Yuanbai released his grip, and Zhao Ziji soon opened his eyes. At first, there was confusion, but he quickly realized that his soul had been searched.

Zhao Ziji slumped to the ground, dazed and soulless, as if all his vitality had been drained. He kept mumbling that he was the protagonist of this world, that he would one day rule the Ninefold Continent.

But in Jian Yuanbai’s view, the man in Zhao Ziji’s dream had not actually given him any useful information.

Apart from the method to obtain the phoenix egg, the rest were just grandiose, empty words. But Zhao Ziji had clearly believed them wholeheartedly.

Although he seemed mentally broken, Zhao Ziji was otherwise unharmed. Jian Yuanbai left the dungeon where he was being held and instructed the guards, “Send him back to Taishi Mountain City. He is of no use anymore—he’s just an ordinary man now.”

Mere mortals had lifespans of only a few decades and would soon be lost in the river of time. Jian Yuanbai had never been one to kill unnecessarily, and he couldn’t be bothered to do so now.

Besides, Zhao Ziji had not actually caused any real harm.

For someone like Zhao Ziji, who had desperately longed to cultivate and rise to dominance, the greatest punishment was forcing him to live out his days in despair, accepting his own mediocrity.

After dealing with these matters, Jian Yuanbai encountered Elder Xiong, who had hurried over.

Elder Xiong’s round, chubby face was covered in sweat as he said, “Sect Master, the Asriga Imperial Court and various sects have all gathered. They sent word earlier, inviting us to the imperial court.”

“And now, they’ve sent envoys to personally escort you. They’re waiting in the main hall as we speak.”

Jian Yuanbai nodded but did not leave immediately. Instead, he turned and walked away.

Elder Xiong stretched out his hand and weakly waved at his sect master’s retreating figure. “Sect Master, where are you going?”

The figure disappeared from sight in just two seconds, a clear indication of how decisively Jian Yuanbai had departed—and how fast he was moving.

Elder Xiong sighed bitterly, turned around, and headed to the main hall, wondering how he should calm the guests down.

Meanwhile, Jian Yuanbai didn’t go anywhere else—he went straight to the main peak of Wuwang Peak.

As the sect master, Jian Yuanbai stood before the closed side hall door and called out, “Little Spoon.”

“The Asriga Imperial Court has invited us to discuss the relevant matters. You—”

Before he could finish his sentence, a cold voice from inside interrupted him.

“I’m not going.”

“Oh.” Jian Yuanbai responded pitifully, sounding dejected.

He stared longingly at the tightly shut door for a few moments but ultimately didn’t dare to push it open. With a disappointed look, he turned and left.

Feeling somewhat aggrieved, he thought to himself: Wife, you’re so cold.

The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became. If even such an important matter—one that concerned the entire future of the Asriga Empire—wasn’t enough to pull Little Spoon away from cultivation, then…

Could this Body Refining Technique really require complete devotion, to the point of forgetting to eat and sleep?!

Jian Yuanbai trudged toward the main hall, looking utterly deflated. He was nowhere near as swift as when he had first arrived at the main peak.

His fierce Vajra-like wife might not be far off now.

But deep down, he was actually more worried about something else—more than Little Spoon cultivating this technique, he feared that Little Spoon would continue being so cold and distant, unwilling to acknowledge him.

However, the blow from the “fierce Vajra” situation was too great, distracting him from realizing that his true disappointment stemmed from that cold and distant “I’m not going.”

Inside the room, Mu Jingzhu, who had been sitting cross-legged in meditation, opened his eyes.

Expressionless, he harshly slapped the bed beneath him.

I knew it—I said the wrong thing! I didn’t even explain why!

Mu Jingzhu had his suspicions, but he still preferred that Jian Yuanbai tell him directly.

He pursed his lips, puffed up his cheeks in frustration, then closed his eyes again, determined.

Fine. I refuse to believe it—I won’t be able to get Jian Yuanbai to talk?!