After The Death Escape and Ascension, The Male Protagonist of Long Aotian Went Crazy - Chapter 14

Because the events at Bixu Palace never appeared in the storybook, Wei Shizhou, though wary, didn’t think too much of it.

But when the storybook automatically updated this section and he looked at the contents, it felt like a thunderbolt had struck him.

In the plot, Hua Jinning, in order to resurrect her sister once again, feigned a desire to mend relations between the two sects and invited the people of Xuan Yin Immortal Sect to stay in the city. In truth, she wanted to extract Wei Shizhou’s immortal bones for her sister, and use the others to threaten Chi Qingxuan into bringing the Soul-Returning Pill to her.

Both the Soul-Returning Pill and immortal bones were key to bringing Hua Jinrong back to life.

Whether this method would succeed or not, Wei Shizhou didn’t know. The plot showed that Chi Qingxuan arrived just in time to save him while he was having his bones extracted. As for Shi Hua, that vicious supporting female, who had long hated him—naturally she sided with Hua Jinning, pretending to have fallen into the trap and unable to save him.

Although the extraction failed in the end, Wei Shizhou still experienced the excruciating pain of his immortal bones being torn from his body.

He shivered all over, heart racing so fast he could hardly breathe.

He couldn’t let this plot proceed!

Having one’s immortal bones forcibly drawn out was worse than death.

He had to think of a way—one that would save himself, and best of all, punish that vile woman too!

He couldn’t let her run rampant!

Wei Shizhou returned to the group absent-minded.

Chang Ying counted heads, finding no one missing, then led them to meet Qingxuan.

By then, Shi Hua’s soul had already returned to her body.

Chang Ying bowed. “Immortal Venerable, Immortal Lord, the Palace Master has prepared fine dishes, please come with this disciple.”

Who knew if this wasn’t just a Hongmen Banquet.

In the story, it never said when Hua Jinning administered the Spirit-Dissolving Powder.

【Immortal Venerable, no matter what, you must fall for it!】

The system diligently reminded her of the mission.

Failure meant three bolts of heavenly thunder.

Shi Hua wasn’t afraid of lightning punishment.

The Spirit-Dissolving Powder was powerful, but not flawless.

“Immortal Venerable…”

Up in the hall, a flicker of charm flashed in Hua Jinning’s eyes. She opened her mouth to speak.

“Palace Master Hua,” Shi Hua lifted her gaze with cool indifference, as if idly bringing it up, “This Venerable has been in Ji’an City for several days, why have I never seen the King and Queen?”

Hua Jinning stayed silent, first dismissing the attendants in the hall with a wave of her hand, then smiling faintly. “To be honest with you, the King and Queen contracted a dire illness and cannot receive guests. As for myself, being of royal bl00d, it is only natural that I take charge for now.”

The King and Queen of Ji’an City had no children. They had planned to adopt an heir from a side branch, but now, with this sudden illness, Hua Jinning—whose bl00d carried the royal line—was perfectly suited to hold power.

Shi Hua wasn’t interested in others’ family affairs. Once she knew the situation, her expression remained cool and she said no more.

Now was when Qingxuan’s role came into play.

His face was still gentle as ever, eyes soft as he looked at Hua Jinning on the dais.

“Palace Master Hua, since we are here at your invitation, let us first speak of business.”

Hua Jinning’s smile stiffened slightly. She nodded toward them, though a shadow crossed her eyes.

Her voice turned cold.

“Yes, we should talk…” She lowered her gaze, masking her emotions. “If you want the enmity between our sects to be resolved, then let Chi Qingxuan bring the Soul-Returning Pill.”

The Soul-Returning Pill?

Qin Xiyan and the others glanced at each other, bewildered—they had never heard of such a pill.

Among everyone present, apart from Shi Hua and Qingxuan, only Wei Shizhou’s expression was unreadable.

Xie An couldn’t help whispering to him.

“What is the Soul-Returning Pill?”

Wei Shizhou shook his head—of course he couldn’t say.

Qin Xiyan and Xie Wanmian also frowned, realizing this banquet was unlikely to end peacefully.

As the senior disciple, Qin Xiyan knew a little more about the grudge between the two sects than the others.

Qingxuan’s warm smile faltered. “Palace Master Hua, it was you who once made our Sect Master swear never to step into Bixu Palace again.”

This demand was tantamount to tearing all pretense away.

Chi Qingxuan had agreed because of guilt, but that didn’t mean the rest of them would indulge her.

Hua Jinning’s tone rose, her attitude defiant. “Fine! I don’t mind letting the entire cultivation world hear how selfish and hypocritical Chi Qingxuan was back then!”

She suddenly turned her gaze on Wei Shizhou and Qin Xiyan.

Her smile was a little crazed.

“Didn’t you both see it yourselves? The one lying on that Crystal Cold Jade was none other than this palace’s elder sister—the Sect Master’s former beloved!”

Her face hardened as she rose. “Unless Chi Qingxuan brings the Soul-Returning Pill to Bixu Palace, there will be no discussion!”

Shi Hua’s calm features tightened, her eyes like still water that seemed to pierce through everything.

Caught by that gaze, Hua Jinning’s heartbeat stumbled. She forced herself to remain steady, glaring hatefully.

“This palace knows how powerful the Jade-Purifying Immortal Venerable is. That’s why, the moment you set foot in this hall, the Spirit-Dissolving Powder was already mixed into the incense. Soon, its effects will show.”

Since everything was laid bare, Hua Jinning had no need to pretend anymore.

She had woven a formation throughout the entire hall, tied to her very lifeforce—if the barrier was broken, she would die.

Surely Shi Hua could see through it.

Hua Jinning counted on them not daring to act.

Shi Hua’s frosty gaze landed on her.

“Five hundred years ago, this Venerable saved you once. Do you still refuse to repent?”

Qingxuan quietly tried to circulate his spiritual power—nothing.

The juniors, needless to say, were powerless.

Xie An hid behind Wei Shizhou in terror.

After months of upheavals, he was starting to think he was cursed—why did he always stumble into such messes?

With their spiritual power sealed, they were like helpless chicks—snuffed out at will.

But seeing Shi Hua and Qingxuan calm steadied the others a little.

Hua Jinning’s eyes grew frenzied. “The Immortal Venerable’s saving grace, I dare not forget. I won’t harm you. You just need to stay quietly and watch.”

“You know, this formation is linked to me. Break it, and I die. Then Bixu Palace will surely go to war with Xuan Yin Immortal Sect…”

A naked threat.

Wei Shizhou couldn’t help glancing at Shi Hua.

The storybook said she had deliberately fallen into the trap. Hua Jinning hiding the powder in incense was indeed hard to guard against.

He wondered—had Shi Hua noticed?

After all, the Spirit-Dissolving Powder was colorless and tasteless.

As if sensing him, Shi Hua lifted her lids and looked straight his way.

Their gazes met, and Wei Shizhou’s heart skipped violently.

Shi Hua’s expression remained calm throughout—no jealousy, no murderous intent. She seemed every inch the Jade-Purifying Immortal Venerable who loved all beings.

Wei Shizhou was startled by his own thought, quickly turning away.

What if it was all just an act!

“Jinning, you are destroying yourself.”

Shi Hua sighed softly, weighing the possibility of making a move.

So be it if the mission failed—what was a little heavenly lightning?

But Hua Jinning refused to relent, her eyes locking on Wei Shizhou.

“An innate Heavenly-grade immortal bone…”

Her mutter slithered like a venomous snake.

Suddenly, she struck a palm!

Wei Shizhou paled in shock, about to dodge, when Shi Hua’s palm shattered the attack.

Hua Jinning shrieked. “Aren’t you afraid of spiritual backlash?!”

Her cultivation was high, so the powder hadn’t weakened her as quickly as the others—it still allowed her to use some power.

But as Hua Jinning said, forcing spiritual power out would cause it to reverse, tearing through her meridians.

Shi Hua remained serene. “You underestimate this Venerable.”

【Immortal Venerable, nooo!】

【The mission! The mission! Just endure a bit longer and it’ll succeed!】

Shi Hua frowned. “This Venerable will accept heavenly punishment…”

But the system might not allow it.

It had also been tasked by the main system to stabilize this world. If the mission failed, both it and Shi Hua would be destroyed.

The system gritted its teeth and forcibly seized control of her body.

“Urgh!”

A shock like lightning pierced her—her spiritual power was locked away, impossible to break through.

This wasn’t the powder’s doing.

It was the system’s meddling.

【I’m sorry, Immortal Venerable, but I can’t let you break the mission. Once it’s done, I’ll explain everything…】

Shi Hua staggered, collapsing back.

Wonderful. Everyone was forcing her into the plot!

Wei Shizhou watched her closely.

What he had just seen looked like true backlash.

But she was the Jade-Purifying Immortal Venerable—the peak of the cultivation world. Could the powder really restrain her?

He fully believed the story now.

Shi Hua truly hated him and wanted him dead!

Ridiculous that he had wavered about her before!

Wei Shizhou abandoned all hope in her. Better to rely on himself. He immediately summoned his sword to block Hua Jinning’s attacks.

She was shocked. “Why can you still use spiritual power?!”

Wei Shizhou’s gaze was icy. “This junior fears death above all. I may lack other skills, but I have plenty of life-saving tricks.”

She raged. “Then let’s see what else you’ve got!”

A mere early Foundation cultivator daring to challenge her—laughable!

Qingxuan tried to move but was locked down by her formation.

“Huahua, what’s wrong with you?”

He noticed Shi Hua’s pallor.

She had no time to answer.

The system’s interference made her backlash worse, the spiritual reversal tearing at her body.

Damn it!

The system had better have a good explanation—otherwise she’d drag it down with her even if it meant mutual destruction!

Clang!

Wei Shizhou’s sword was broken by Hua Jinning.

He gritted his teeth and abandoned the broken blade.

“Wei Shizhou, be obedient, and I can spare you the pain.”

What a joke!

The pain of having one’s bones extracted—how could that be spared? It was literally pulling bones out of living flesh!

Throwing out wave after wave of artifacts from his spirit bracelet, Hua Jinning was forced to keep blocking them.

They didn’t hurt her, but they enraged her. With a blast of spiritual power, she shattered them and lunged with her sword.

In front of everyone, Wei Shizhou appeared to flee in disgrace.

But who said he was just fleeing?

The last marker was complete.

Wei Shizhou poured his remaining power into activating a formation.

At once, an ancient pattern lit up beneath them, black and white each occupying half, spinning rapidly underfoot.

Hua Jinning didn’t recognize it.

Qingxuan blinked, then reacted instantly.

“The Two-Rites Floating Life Formation?!”

The Two-Rites Floating Life Formation—yin and yang attracting each other. It could drag people into a random point in the past; if they couldn’t break free from the illusions, they would be trapped until their souls dissipated.

The system screamed: 【The Two-Rites Floating Life Formation! Isn’t this the formation the male lead only learns later?!】

How had the plot turned into this?!