Chapter Sixteen: Immortal Xie Reveals Divine Power
Looking at the house, now renewed yet still retaining its ancient charm, Wu Yue could truly feel the passage of time and the changes wrought by the ages. In the center of the main hall hung a painting: a middle-aged man in white, a long sword strapped to his back, holding a flute in his hand, three wisps of beard gently swaying, poised as if to ride the wind and return home. Wu Yue admitted the man in the painting indeed possessed a celestial aura. But to say this was him—or rather, that this was Xie Huanshu—what was that supposed to mean?
The other rooms were the same, each displaying portraits of “Xie Huanshu.” Below these, all sorts of objects were enshrined: brushes, ink, paper, and books for study; long and short swords for martial practice; qin and flutes for cultivating one’s temperament. Wu Yue could tolerate these, but pots, bowls, and ladles being offered up as well—wasn’t that going a bit too far?
Yet the visitors prayed even more fervently, and Wu Yue could only shake his head, leaving under their curious gazes. What was so strange? Had any of them ever seen someone bow to themselves?
He walked straight to a large water jar and paused, different from his previous bafflement. He remembered this jar clearly—it took six and a half buckets to fill, and had once been a test for the family, a morning’s labor for a woman.
“Does it feel like the things have changed, but the people are gone?” a voice sounded behind him. Wu Yue heard it without surprise and replied, “Yes,” before turning to face a young man—an ordinary face, with hints of familiar features.
“I heard you’ve served as village chief here for twenty years,” Wu Yue smiled.
“Not bad. Practicing immortality, farming a bit. I call it Immortal Farming, you wouldn’t understand,” Xue Xiaoyu looked at Wu Yue.
Wu Yue was genuinely shocked, instinctively glancing at Xue Xiaoyu’s ring before replying, “Actually, I do know a little about that.”
Xue Xiaoyu shook his head, “In the end, you’re a person of this world. You don’t understand.”
But I really do, Wu Yue wanted to say. I’ve read nearly a thousand immortal farming web novels! How can you say I don’t understand?
Suddenly, Xue Xiaoyu’s expression turned serious. “Do you believe in fate?”
Wu Yue shook his head, about to say he didn’t know, but Xue Xiaoyu cut him off. Clearly, these two lacked rapport—direct conversation worked best.
Xue Xiaoyu said, “I know you don’t believe. But I can tell you—my destiny is to become a Creator God... Think of it like this: a deity has taken notice of me, and if I follow his instructions, I can become a Creator God. Creator Gods are far more powerful than immortals; immortals came after creation…”
Xue Xiaoyu spoke in a jumble, but Wu Yue understood.
Wu Yue smiled, “Then congratulations. What is it you want to do?”
“But if I don’t obey, the consequence is erasure…” Xue Xiaoyu paused, his tone self-mocking, “What’s the point of being a Creator God who can be erased at any moment?”
“Then why not break contact with him?” Wu Yue recalled his last task was an erasure mission he hadn’t completed, yet he hadn’t been erased himself.
“That’s impossible now.” Xue Xiaoyu looked at the ring on his finger, helpless.
Wu Yue’s heart stirred—the ring’s functions seemed to be improving, or perhaps Xue Xiaoyu simply couldn’t let go? Few could give up power; it was intoxicating.
“So what do you think I can do for you?”
“He gave me a task: kill Chen Jishan and obtain an item called a Fragment of the Realm.” Xue Xiaoyu spoke softly, but Wu Yue’s heart was instantly stirred. Hearing that name again across two worlds, Wu Yue felt a temporal dislocation. He really hadn’t died—not only hatred, but complex emotions surged within him.
“So you want me to help you kill him?” Wu Yue suppressed his doubts and asked deliberately.
Xue Xiaoyu shook his head, forcing a smile. “The task used to require killing not only Chen Jishan, but also you, Wu Yue.”
“Oh? What does that mean, Brother Xue?” Wu Yue’s eyes narrowed, ready to act, though his face remained calm.
Xue Xiaoyu glanced at Wu Yue. “But then he canceled you from the list.”
“How did you recognize me?” Wu Yue was puzzled.
“He told me you were in the void—and even gave me a portrait…”
Wu Yue was both amused and exasperated. At this level, appearance was easily changed; he had simply chosen his original look from Earth.
So, he thought, perhaps this ring had been tracking him ever since he was on Earth. Could the ring’s master be that ghostly woman? As for the cancellation, it must have happened when he took over this body…
“But you didn’t know me before, right? Why did you serve as village chief for twenty years? And what does killing Chen Jishan have to do with me?” Wu Yue asked, mixing truth and falsehood, his tone pressing.
Xue Xiaoyu ignored the questions, his expression growing strange as he explained.
The story was simple—the task to kill Chen Jishan had a deadline of one hundred years; now, over seventy remained. As for Chen Jishan, Xue Xiaoyu only knew he was outside the realm, plus a portrait. Then nothing. Xue Xiaoyu had resolved to enjoy life, indulge, and accept death when it came. But then, by chance, he met an old man who pointed out Wu Yue as the key to his breakthrough. And then, ultimately…
Oh, please, such a cliché story! Wu Yue was strongly skeptical.
“So what are you planning now?” Wu Yue asked directly.
“I don’t know.” Xue Xiaoyu laughed heartily. “I’ll follow you and see where fate leads.”
“You’re remarkably easygoing.” Wu Yue’s expression was odd—just moments ago, he was full of sorrow, now suddenly light as wind, heart following wherever it leads… It was suspicious, highly suspicious.
“This is what they call extremes meeting!” Xue Xiaoyu switched to a look of utter anguish.
“Let’s leave it to fate then. Honestly, living a hundred years is no small thing.” Wu Yue offered comfort, if it could be called comfort.
Xue Xiaoyu gave Wu Yue a resentful look, then suddenly remembered something and grinned mischievously. “By the way, your sister ran off with someone—ran off with a monk! She ran off with a monk!”
Wu Yue smiled slightly, saying, “As long as she didn’t run off with you.”
Xue Xiaoyu felt a pang, and after a while, said weakly, “But I should explain—this monk is called Li Qing, says he’s from Valoran, here to atone, claims that years ago he practiced summoning, and so on and so forth…”
Now it was Wu Yue’s turn to be dumbfounded.
Damn. Li Qing! The Blind Monk! The Monk! Heaven help me, what’s happened to this world?
“Stop! There are two thieves here trying to damage Immortal Xie’s sacred relic!” It turned out Wu Yue had unconsciously been tapping the jar…
A crowd rushed over. Wu Yue reacted, suddenly thinking of an amusing prank. With a flick of spiritual energy, his voice rang out, clear as an ancient bell.
“This jar served me faithfully for years, storing water. For its merit, it should share my immortal fruits!” With that, he seized the jar and soared away!
“Immortal Xie has manifested!”
“Immortal Xie, please bless our family with health and longevity, grant my husband wealth, my son honor, my daughter a suitable husband, and as for me, let me be beautiful as a flower…”
“Ma’am, with your figure, even Immortal Xie can’t help you.”
“Nonsense, Immortal Xie is omnipotent… I was wrong, I was wrong, forgive my careless words, great immortal, forgive me…”
As for the young man who first cried ‘thief,’ he now looked at the world in disbelief. That was a young man—how could he be Immortal Xie? Oh, I actually encountered Immortal Xie. What have I done…