After The Death Escape and Ascension, The Male Protagonist of Long Aotian Went Crazy - Chapter 6

The immortal’s residence was shrouded in mist, clouds circling the mountains, everything as serene and beautiful as a dream.

Until two ear-piercing screams shattered the peace.

Inside the house, Shi Hua was roused from her nap.

Without moving, she extended her divine sense.

She saw two shadows wobbling in the sky, plummeting rapidly.

Shi Hua sighed helplessly and flicked a branch outside, catching the two just before they crashed.

Down they came.

The two figures now hung from the tree, looking utterly miserable.

Wei Shizhou had lost count of how many times he’d clenched his teeth in rage.

“Xie An! This is what you call stable flight?!”

They had nearly fallen to their deaths!

Xie An stayed silent, guilt written all over his face.
Mistakes happened sometimes, didn’t they?

A surge of power lifted them both.

The grip on his collar was all too familiar—Wei Shizhou would never forget. It was the same force that had once tossed him in front of the Heaven-Devouring Python!

Under the eaves, one had no choice but to bow their head.

He endured.

“Let’s start with meditation.”

The door before them opened.

A woman in plain cyan robes stepped out into the dappled sunlight. No lip color, no tied hair—she came forth with effortless ease.

Her flawless face curved with the faintest smile, as radiant as spring peach blossoms—no ornamentation needed to dazzle.

A cleansing spell fell upon them.

Wei Shizhou couldn’t help but stare.

So this was what the so-called vicious woman looked like?

From beneath her sleeve, the glimpse of a pale wrist gleamed like white jade.

Wei Shizhou’s gaze drifted, catching sight of faint reddish marks at her cuff—pinkish against that snowy skin, startling to the eye.

Compression marks, perhaps?

A cool, detached voice brushed past his ear.

“Xie An, your sword-riding technique still requires much practice.”

“Yes, Master.”

Xie An’s cheeks flushed red.
To have his blunder witnessed by his master… would she think him utterly foolish?

In her immortal abode, Shi Hua lived with ease.

Even as a tribulation-stage cultivator, she ate and slept like mortals did.

Wei Shizhou noticed something—only around her residence was the grass trimmed neat and tidy.

“Haa—”

A yawn disrupted his thoughts.

The stunning woman dabbed a tear from the corner of her eye and cast them a light glance, her gaze as devoid of emotion as ever, untouched by joy, sorrow, or anger.

“Xie An, practice with him first. I’ll return later.”

“Yes.”

Drawing qi into the body was simple—especially for someone with heavenly-grade immortal bones.

Shi Hua wasn’t interested in competing with him.
If he didn’t wish to cultivate, who could force him?

Wei Shizhou didn’t know why, but he couldn’t look away as she strolled out of the courtyard, her long dark hair swaying until it vanished from sight.

It took Xie An calling several times to snap him out of it.

Xie An brimmed with enthusiasm, ready to teach him qi-introduction. Wei Shizhou rolled his eyes, shoving him aside—better that he focus on his own sword-riding instead.

So the two trained separately.

One sat cross-legged in feigned meditation, not cultivating at all.
The other wobbled and swayed through the air, his sword flight still unsteady.

When Shi Hua returned with a plate of pastries, this was what she saw.

Her steps made no sound. With her late-stage tribulation cultivation, her presence was utterly beyond their senses.

【Immortal Venerable, I’ve returned!】

【The Heavenly Dao says the male lead is fine, just follow the plot.】

【But I must remind you, failing the disciple-apprenticeship plot counts as a novice task and won’t be punished. Next time, if you fail again, the system will automatically impose penalties.】

【That part is beyond my control.】

Shi Hua nodded, then glanced at her disciple wobbling in the sky. She withdrew her gaze without expression.

As for the male lead sitting in meditation…

Others could not see it, but Shi Hua’s tribulation-stage eyes pierced the truth.

Within her immortal abode, qi was abundant. For him, qi-introduction shouldn’t require effort—the energy itself should have flowed into him.

But around Wei Shizhou, the qi circled aimlessly, unable to enter.

Her eyes narrowed. She spotted the culprit—a jade pendant at his waist.

With a light flick of her finger, the pendant flew into her hand.

Wei Shizhou suddenly felt qi beginning to pour in. He snapped his eyes open to see her faint smile, and under his gaze, she crushed the pendant without hesitation.

With the seal broken, spiritual energy surged like freed serpents, rushing into him.

He tried to run, but she froze him in place.

All around, qi funneled straight toward him.

Xie An noticed the anomaly and descended, eyes wide with shock.

“Master, what’s happening to Wei Shizhou?”

Shi Hua gave no answer, calmly popping a pastry into her mouth.

In moments, Wei Shizhou leapt from mortal to Qi Refining stage, then soared straight into Foundation Establishment.

It happened in the blink of an eye.

Shi Hua hadn’t even finished chewing.

Heavenly-grade immortal bones—was the talent truly this monstrous?

Back when she reached Foundation, it had taken her a whole day!

Why was his progress so utterly defiant of heaven’s order?

The system puffed up with pride: 【That’s the male lead for you!】

Merely by virtue of being the chosen protagonist, his talent was absurd enough to make others burn with envy.

Shi Hua had long since learned to face his outrageousness with calm.

Her only goal was ascension. Others mattered little.

She swallowed her pastry and leaned closer, crouching down before him.

The sudden nearness made Wei Shizhou’s breath hitch.

Too close!

Close enough that he could smell the sweet pastry she had just eaten.

Close enough to be overwhelmed once more by her devastating beauty.

A face to drive all men mad.

“Wei Shizhou, this sovereign won’t ask why you refuse to cultivate. With talent such as yours, you cannot remain ordinary. Rather than wrestle with yourself, better to cultivate properly.

Grow strong enough that none can rival you, and then you’ll be truly free. None would dare criticize you.”

Wei Shizhou’s entire body was frozen, only his eyes could move.

He disagreed with her.

Were his life not bound by this scripted story, he might have looked forward to cultivation. But now, he wanted only to escape the control of the plot.

“Since you’ve already reached Foundation Establishment, there’s no need to come here to train. Tell your junior brother what’s needed—should problems arise, I’ll guide you.”

Suddenly, the restraint lifted.

Wei Shizhou could move again. He lowered his head and rose.

“Thank you for your guidance, Martial Aunt.”

“Xie An, escort him down the mountain.”

Xie An’s expression shifted. “Yes.”

Having witnessed firsthand the terrifying cultivation speed of heavenly bones, he felt deflated. Again, the thought crept up—perhaps his master had chosen wrongly.

Maybe Shi Hua should have taken Wei Shizhou as her disciple instead.

He bore no envy—only blame for his own weakness.

He couldn’t even fly a sword properly.

Yet he forgot—he had trained sword flight for only two days, already at a level most would envy.

“Wei Shizhou.”

Xie An gazed blankly ahead, clouds rolling beneath them, the sect sprawling below.

“Do you regret it?”

If Wei Shizhou admitted regret, he would withdraw himself.

He could see clearly—only in Shi Hua’s hands would Wei Shizhou go farther.

“Regret what? You’re already Immortal Venerable Shuyu’s disciple.” Wei Shizhou frowned. Why did this fool keep wavering after finally getting what he wanted? “Stop being wishy-washy. Train hard!”

He smacked him on the head.

Knowing Xie An’s self-doubt stemmed from his own monstrous talent, Wei Shizhou even considered badmouthing Shi Hua to reassure him.

But the fool defended her instead.

“Master is amazing! Don’t slander her when you don’t understand!”

He had to uphold his master’s honor!

Wei Shizhou rolled his eyes. If she was so great, why had she harmed him?

Not worth arguing!

The next plot point would come in a month.

Shi Hua rarely appeared before others unless necessary.

Her days were filled with meditation, guiding her disciple, and tranquil leisure.

Alone, she dressed for comfort—loose robes, unbound hair.

【Immortal Venerable, you’ve been idle for a month now. It’s time to continue the plot.】

The next arc was the first meeting of male and female leads, descending the mountain for training, growing closer together.

Since Shi Hua knew no one outside her circle, the system urged her to go recognize the right people, lest she mistake her targets.

“Tell me about this training arc.”

The system sighed and explained.

【After the female lead returns from training, she meets the male lead. This triggers the South Sea Beast mission. To temper the male lead, the sect master sends both leads together. In the process, they save each other several times, leaving deep impressions.】

【Reminder: in the original, the vicious supporting female nearly gets the male lead killed. Since she’s gone missing, you’ll need to take that role.】

In other words, she had to shove him forward at a critical moment, taking the blow in his stead—so that the heroine would be moved to tears.

Shi Hua read through the plot with speechless exasperation.

Cliché to the core.

But what choice did she have? She wanted ascension.

From the moment she bound the system, she knew the Heavenly Dao wouldn’t allow her to ascend easily. She would have to follow the script.

After finishing her last pastry, Shi Hua called out to the courtyard:
“Xie An, come with me to see the Sect Master.”

“Yes, Master.”

His sword flight was now steady, but Shi Hua simply took his shoulder and teleported instantly—her cultivation spanning a thousand li in a blink.

Xie An shook his head, slightly dizzy.

Just then, the returning disciples from a months-long excursion arrived.

They bowed before Chi Qingxuan, their leader a young woman in a blue gown, her slender waist outlined by the fabric. She saluted respectfully.

Shi Hua studied her subtly.

The plot described the female lead, Qin Xiyan, as tall and graceful, her bearing making her stand out even in a crowd. Slender though she was, her swordplay radiated raw strength, her every strike brimming with power.

She spurned cosmetics, yet her bare face shone with youthful brilliance. Her tied hair only added to her sharp, commanding aura.

Qin Xiyan noticed Shi Hua’s gaze.

“Immortal Venerable.”

Shi Hua inclined her head. Indeed, exactly as the plot said—
Radiance enough to dazzle the eyes.

【The Heavenly Dao’s chosen heroine—of course she excels in every way!】

For once, Shi Hua didn’t argue.

This mission also brought crucial news.

On the way here, Shi Hua had already received Chi Qingxuan’s transmission.

On their return journey, Qin Xiyan’s group had rescued an elderly woman. The woman claimed she was seeking immortals to save lives, but her failing eyes had left her lost for days—until she stumbled upon the disciples.

What she sought was aid for a seaside town in the South Sea region.

In recent years, the seas had turned strange. Every voyage met with storms. Believing they had angered the sea god, the villagers resorted to an ancient rite: sacrificing young girls to appease the waves.

At first, it seemed to work. But in recent years, no longer.

So the village chief doubled the offerings—two children each year.

The old woman’s granddaughter had been chosen. Unwilling to see the child perish, she braved the journey alone to seek immortal aid.

The South Sea had always been calm, rarely plagued by beasts—strange indeed.

Qin Xiyan dared not decide on her own, so she brought the matter to the hall.

Coincidentally, Chi Qingxuan had just received a secret missive.

Within the South Sea, there was said to be an immortal herb capable of easing the pain of heavenly tribulation.