After The Death Escape and Ascension, The Male Protagonist of Long Aotian Went Crazy - Chapter 2

The emerald-eyed Swallowing Sky Python fixed its cold, vertical pupils on the ants below.

The sound of its tongue flicking never ceased.

Xie An steadied himself, holding a longsword he’d somehow swiped from somewhere, and strode before the crowd as if he meant business.

“Everyone, I have a way to get through this.”

The Foundation Establishment cultivators all looked doubtful.

The python suddenly dove down, its enormous head hanging over the crowd.

There was no time to judge whether Xie An’s idea was reliable. At once, everyone exchanged glances and flew to gather behind him.

The plan had actually been Wei Shizhou’s idea.

He had no desire to steal the limelight.

Xie An, however, wanted to win Shu Hua’s favor. The two struck a deal, and put the plan into motion.

Xie An quickly relayed the strategy to the others.

Everyone knew their part and immediately charged at the python.

Under Xie An’s direction, they held their ground steadily.

The Swallowing Sky Python no longer held the upper hand as it had at first.

A thousand-mile dam collapses from an ant hole.

The so-called ants in the python’s eyes, once united, actually managed to shake it.

The python fell into trouble.

No matter how fierce the fighting below, Shu Hua only spared it a glance.

“System, find your male lead.”

【Immortal Venerable, I told you, he’s your male lead, your mission target!】

The system repeated itself, as though she’d forget in a day, so it had to remind her daily.

Shu Hua couldn’t be bothered to argue with it.

【At the python’s lower right, the one skulking at the very edge of the crowd.】

Shu Hua looked over, eyes locking precisely on the sneaky fellow hiding behind everyone else.

“…The heaven-chosen male lead is really… hard to describe.”

The so-called Child of Destiny, cowering behind others—was this how it was supposed to be?

The system had no words.

The facts were plain.

This male lead was nothing like the script she had received!

While others fought desperately, he lounged in ease.

Shu Hua disliked his carefree posture.

【Immortal Venerable, what are you planning?】

The system sensed her intent, tried to stop her—but too late.

According to Wei Shizhou’s original plan, Xie An would lead everyone to pin down the python, then strike at its seven-inch spot and kill it.

Thus, Xie An would gain the favor of the Xuan Yin Immortal Sect elders, including his beloved Su Yu Immortal Venerable.

And Wei Shizhou could slip back into obscurity, continuing to muddle along in peace.

But when a man is pleased with himself, he forgets caution.

Wei Shizhou, brimming with delight, watched as Xie An was about to strike. Then suddenly, a chill crawled up the back of his neck, making his scalp prickle.

Alarm bells went off in his head.

Before he could react, he felt a push from behind—his body flung forward uncontrollably.

Wei Shizhou’s eyes bulged.

What?!

Who was scheming against him from the shadows?!

He could only watch as he was hurled forward, seeing Xie An’s startled gaze, the crowd’s astonished eyes.

So furious he nearly spat bl00d!

“Wei Shizhou!”

Xie An’s face turned to horror, reaching out to grab him.

Wei Shizhou sensed danger, turned his head—

A serpent tail, as thick as a giant tree, whipped toward him!

“Pffft!”

He was smashed away, Xie An knocked flying along with him.

The python thrashed violently.

Those restraining it were shaken off.

“What happened?!”

How could Wei Shizhou’s mortal body withstand the strike of a Foundation Establishment python?

He thought he saw his grandma.

“Wei Shizhou!” Xie An hurriedly fed him a pill. “Why did you fly up here? Just shout warnings from behind! Who told you to shield me?!”

Wei Shizhou nearly coughed up bl00d again.

Who the hell shielded you?!

Someone sabotaged me!

Which filthy bastard—I won’t let this go!!!

“Are you feeling any better?”

Xie An knew Wei Shizhou hadn’t begun cultivating yet. The python’s Foundation Establishment power—he had taken the brunt of it for him.

A mortal body couldn’t bear such punishment.

“I… I’m fine…”

Wei Shizhou, weak as a thread, cracked an eye open to check the battle.

“The python’s enraged. Now, circle behind it, stab its seven-inch spot while it’s distracted…”

No good—his head was spinning.

He felt like he was dying.

Wait, wasn’t he supposed to be the male lead?

Was he going to die this easily?

“Don’t worry, I’ll avenge you!”

Xie An, moved by his half-dead state, looked at the python with murderous hatred, as though it had slain his kin.

【Immortal Venerable! The male lead is still a mortal. Throwing him out there will get him killed!】

Shu Hua rubbed her aching head at its nagging.

Her frosty face betrayed no emotion.

“He looks fine to me.”

Any other mortal struck by the python would’ve long since perished.

But Wei Shizhou still had the breath to tell Xie An what to do next.

She saw it clearly—he was alive and well.

So this was the so-called Dragon-AoTian male lead?

Her eyes darkened with thought.

“Forget it, let’s go back.”

【Ah? You’re not watching anymore?】

Shu Hua glanced at Wei Shizhou’s weak form.

“I’ve considered enough. No point in staying.”

Her spirit dispersed into powder and vanished.

Lying there, Wei Shizhou felt something, glancing at where she’d disappeared.

Was it just his imagination?

The three trials ended, and those who remained were transported by array to the mountaintop.

The Xuan Yin Immortal Sect, first among immortal sects, was vast and awe-inspiring. White jade sky-pillars stood upon a grand dais, etched with ancient, intricate patterns; as if at the dawn of creation, deep bell-tones shook the air. Above, several immortals sat in grace, powerful spiritual energy radiating outward.

The final trial: bone-testing.

The transported crowd was left speechless at the majesty of the sect.

Before they could sigh in admiration—

“Hurgh!”

A loud retch shattered the mood.

The sour stench spread immediately.

Faces twisted all around.

“Ugh!”

Wei Shizhou’s eyes spun with stars, feet unsteady as if he hadn’t found his balance.

No one had told him teleportation arrays were this dizzying!

As a mere mortal, how could he withstand the shifting chaos of teleportation?

“Wei Shizhou…”

Xie An calmly fished out another pill and fed it to him.

Someone recognized it instantly.

“A third-grade spirit pill! Just feeding it to a mortal?!”

Those queuing for the bone test turned in shock to stare at the bottle in his hand.

It really was third-grade spirit pill energy!

Spirit pills were ranked from first to seventh, above which lay celestial pills.

Third-grade spirit pills weren’t exceedingly rare, but their effects were meant to restore qi and heal cultivators.

Giving one to a mortal? Wasteful!

Xie An’s expression stayed calm.

“My pills—whoever I give them to is my choice.”

Someone objected: “That’s not right. If you wish to give him a pill, a first- or second-grade would suffice.”

A third-grade pill was too much for a mortal to handle.

It might even make him explode.

Xie An only said, “Oh? Sorry. The lowest pills I carry are third-grade.”

He tossed them around like candies.

“What a waste!” someone scoffed, brimming with malice toward Wei Shizhou.

Wei Shizhou rolled his eyes, propping himself up on Xie An’s arm.

He raised his wrist to show a space bracelet.

“See this? A spatial bangle—it can hold living things.

Forget third-grade. Even fifth-grade pills, I’ll eat without batting an eye!”

If he had nothing else, he had money.

His father, knowing he planned to cultivate, had spent half the family fortune on pills and artifacts, just to keep him alive in critical moments.

“Outrageous waste!”

Some indignant, some jealous, some simply sour, they all muttered.

Wei Shizhou, upright and fearless, ignored them.

Buzz—

A terrifying aura rippled out like waves.

Hearts clenched, breath caught in throats.

Only sword marks remained in the sky.

An immortal above spoke gently:

“Among fellow disciples, do not bicker.”

All present today were to become disciples of the sect, once the bone tests were complete.

The crowd answered in unison: “Yes.”

Xie An secretly raised his eyes. With his sharp vision, he noticed a new figure among the immortals above—a woman in green robes, veiled, slender and graceful.

Her frost-clear eyes swept coldly over the crowd.

Xie An’s breath quickened. Grabbing Wei Shizhou’s arm, he whispered excitedly, “Wei Shizhou! Look, the veiled immortal—she must be Su Yu Immortal Venerable!”

Wei Shizhou squinted, unable to see clearly.

Su Yu Immortal Venerable?

He hadn’t started cultivating yet, and only saw a faint mist around her. With the veil, he couldn’t even tell if she was male or female.

Suddenly, a commotion rose ahead.

Someone had tested as Heaven-tier Spirit Bone!

The bone test required a drop of bl00d on the disk. After three breaths, the pointer spun and stopped on the bone type.

Bones were divided into mortal, spirit, and immortal, each with earth- and heaven-tiers.

The higher the grade, the higher one’s cultivation potential.

Most in the cultivation world had mortal bones. Spirit bones were rare. Heaven-tier spirit bones rarer still. And as for immortal bones—appearing once in millennia.

The last time, it had been ten thousand years ago, when Su Yu Immortal Venerable tested as an Earth-tier Immortal Bone.

For a Heaven-tier Spirit Bone to appear today was a blessing for the sect.

Sect Master Chi Qingxuan nodded in satisfaction.

“Not bad. Who is this?”

The white-robed Immortal Jun on the left lifted his eyes, clearly interested in taking the youth as a disciple.

Chi Qingxuan understood. “Qingxuan, since you rarely accept a second disciple, I’ll leave this one to you.”

Qingxuan Immortal Jun smiled. “Many thanks, Sect Master.”

The sect had one Venerable and three Immortal Juns.

The Venerable was Su Yu. The three Juns were Qingxuan, Jin Qing, and Wu Ji.

Today only Qingxuan and Jin Qing were present; Wu Ji remained in seclusion.

As for Shu Hua, she had come on a whim, little known to outsiders—or else today the mountain would’ve been stormed.

“Whoa! Another Heaven-tier Spirit Bone!”

Another uproar shook the crowd.

Chi Qingxuan’s eyes lit up. “This recruitment is truly bountiful!”

Jin Qing Immortal Jun already had three disciples, unable to take more.

Chi Qingxuan turned toward Shu Hua.

“Senior Sister, what do you think of this one?”

Shu Hua’s gaze did not shift. “Junior Brother, no need to rush.”

Chi Qingxuan was puzzled. Could there be more?

The second Heaven-tier Spirit Bone turned out to be Xie An.

After the first was revealed, people had mocked and jeered. Xie An, unable to bear it, rushed forward to test.

And indeed—another Heaven-tier Spirit Bone!

Overjoyed, Xie An thought surely he had a chance to become Su Yu Immortal Venerable’s disciple.

Hadn’t she once said she only wanted one apprentice?

What were the odds for a Heaven-tier Spirit Bone?

Surely, he was secure!

“Wei Shizhou, your turn! Smash their smug faces!”

He wouldn’t forget how they’d fawned over that purple-robed youth, only to sneer at him afterward.

Now was the time for payback.

Xie An, having bonded quickly with Wei Shizhou, believed his talent must be similar.

“As if Heaven-tier Spirit Bones grow like cabbages!”

“Every single one? Laughable.”

“A mortal, lucky to test as Spirit Bone at all!”

“Exactly. Just rich, nothing more.”

Xie An gritted his teeth, enduring, waiting for Wei Shizhou’s turn to shut them up.

But Wei Shizhou had no wish to test.

He knew enough from storybooks—he wanted a quiet life. Testing his bone would ruin everything.

He muttered, embarrassed, “I-I’m afraid of pain…”

Xie An nearly tripped.

Did you hear yourself?!

“Hahahaha!”

“Afraid of pain? Then why even come to be a disciple?!”

“Such trash should’ve been tossed out already!”

Wei Shizhou just gave a silly smile.

Xie An couldn’t stand it. He grabbed his hand, dragging him up.

Wei Shizhou cried out in horror, “Xie An, stop!”

No! He wouldn’t test!

Xie An hauled him before the elder, bowed respectfully, then caught Wei Shizhou trying to slip away. His eyes hardened—he yanked him back by the collar.

Unprepared, Wei Shizhou stumbled into the disk.

The mocking grew louder.

He felt this might be his most humiliating moment yet.

Xie An couldn’t bear to watch, but quickly jabbed his finger to draw bl00d.

The drop sank into the disk.

Wei Shizhou froze, unable to escape, as golden light burst forth.

A pillar of gold shot skyward, staining half the sky.

Dragons roared low, phoenixes cried, birds and beasts answered in chorus.

Heaven itself responded!

The elder’s eyes shone with joy. He shouted upward: “Heaven-tier Immortal Bone! Sect Master, it’s a Heaven-tier Immortal Bone!”

At the same time, all the sects across the land were shaken by the vision.

“This is… a Heaven-tier Immortal Bone?!”