Chapter 97: The Unprecedented Liar in Three Thousand Years
Chapter 97: The Unprecedented Liar in Three Thousand Years
Today’s harvest was pretty good.
The Phantom Bride devoured a total of twenty-one Peach Blossom Demons, and Li Si collected eighteen Wishing Stones. He initially thought he might encounter a Peach Blossom Evil Spirit, but nothing happened throughout the entire trip.
The Phantom Bride acted like the most skilled hunter—calm, decisive, and always striking with a single blow, never missing.
Yesterday at the ruins, it had been singing, but today it remained completely silent. Li Si suspected it might possess intelligence. Should he try using a Heart Cleansing Curse?
In the end, Li Si abandoned that idea. Wasn’t it better to just follow along and collect Wishing Stones?
Once full, the Phantom Bride left the mountain and went back to the ruins it had visited yesterday. Well, Li Si couldn’t really tell if it was the same ruins, but the Phantom Bride’s routine was undoubtedly very regular.
Along the way, there was nothing but darkness. Even if there were other things, the Phantom Bride would cleverly avoid them in advance.
When they reached the ruins, it started singing again, and Li Si’s vision was flooded with chaotic information.
There was no doubt that the singing was also one of the Phantom Bride’s methods of attack, but it had no effect on him at the moment.
Li Si chose to keep his distance because the ruins seemed to be the Phantom Bride’s territory, or at least a relatively safe place for it. The bloody glow emanating from its body could illuminate up to a hundred meters.
Li Si stayed at the edge of that bloody glow, imitating the Phantom Bride by rummaging and searching through the ruins. He didn’t know if he would find anything, but if something was valuable, the Fate Forge would display information to alert him.
Surprisingly, he did find things.
For example, he found a strangely shaped jar that seemed to contain traces of some solidified liquid. He copied the Phantom Bride and licked it—it was colorless and tasteless. Information immediately appeared:
“Obtained a drop of expired Immortal Brew. Soul Evolution Level +0.1%.”
This discovery delighted Li Si. Was this really happening?
Back in the Mortal Realm, he had noticed that using Fate could only improve his Bloodline and Bone Evolution Progress, while Soul Evolution Level could only be increased through external stimuli.
For instance, when he encountered the Peach Blossom Evil Spirit, his Soul Evolution Level increased by 0.3%.
During the Seven Emotions Tribulation, it increased by 5%.
He had also tried using Fate to boost it, but there was no reaction. Who would have thought that in the Illusory Realm, he could improve it this way?
However, Immortal Brew?
What did that mean?
It sounded as if this place had once been an immortal’s palace. Back home, he even had an Old Madam who was a True Immortal—did it want to meet her?
For a moment, Li Si practically turned into a wild dog, joyfully scurrying all over the ruins. He was extremely motivated.
But his harvest was meager. In the end, he only collected six drops of expired Immortal Brew. In contrast, the Phantom Bride gathered a hefty amount—all sorts of bottles, jars, and various strange items.
Li Si calculated the time; it was about time to head back. Suddenly, the Phantom Bride took out a Wishing Stone, reached into the void of darkness, and pulled out an identical Phantom Bride. It twisted and squeezed that copy, stuffing it into the stone.
Then it carefully held the Wishing Stone and gestured toward the unknown darkness, as if anchoring a position. Finally, it casually tossed the stone, which transformed into a faint streak of bloody light and flew upward until it disappeared from sight.
The Phantom Bride stood still, watching for a long, long time. Its pious demeanor resembled a farmer who had just sown seeds.
Li Si couldn’t resist asking, “How long until… this thing yields results?”
But the Phantom Bride didn’t answer. It continued to wait there devoutly, making Li Si realize that the results might come quickly.
Indeed, that was the case. In just about half an hour, a faint red dot flickered in the darkness. The Phantom Bride immediately dashed in that direction.
Naturally, Li Si wanted to follow, but the Idol of Fortune he was holding was blocked by an invisible force. He instantly understood—that red dot was in the Mortal Realm. The Phantom Bride’s target had taken the bait.
“Alas, the free navigation ends here.”
Li Si felt helpless because he didn’t know how long the Phantom Bride would be gone or if it would return. Even if it did come back, would it be in the same spot?
Just as he was about to turn around, a bloody glow lit up. The Phantom Bride had completed its trip to the Mortal Realm—exactly three seconds, no more, no less.
Li Si observed it. Its body’s bloody hue had become even more intense. He wondered how many people would die each time it made a move.
After all, a Phantom Bride like this was definitely on the same level as a Peach Blossom Evil Spirit in the Mortal Realm.
The Phantom Bride headed home, singing. But once they left the ruins, it stopped singing. It walked ahead while Li Si silently followed behind until they returned to its safe house. It descended into the well, and Li Si buried the Idol of Fortune, preparing to log off. Suddenly, the Phantom Bride emerged from the well again and spoke in that voice that sounded like a cleaver scraping an iron pot.
“You cannot build a Temple. Now there are many unfamiliar ‘spirits’ here. They will chase the divine fire of the Wishing Stones and attack wildly until the divine fire is extinguished.”
“You know who I am?” Li Si was excited.
“A weak and foolish newborn Deity, just like those other useless ones. When I was still alive, I once offered you my most devout faith. But when I was in trouble, every one of you turned blind and deaf. Ironically, now that I am dead, you come seeking my help.” The Phantom Bride sneered, its voice even more grating.
Li Si was speechless.
“What you said has nothing to do with me, right?”
“You’re all the same. Do you think I don’t know your methods? You inject believers’ Faith Power into Wishing Stones, then use the stones to build grand divine kingdoms. But so what? The ruins we visited today—their former owners were all Deities. Now, you’re being hunted down like a pack of dogs.”
“It can’t be that bad, can it?” Li Si feebly tried to defend himself.
“Not that bad? Then who was it that shamelessly followed me these past two days, competing for Wishing Stones, snatching my food, and living in my house, yet showing not even the slightest gratitude? Do you even want to kill me?”
After the Phantom Bride’s words, Li Si was so embarrassed he wished he could disappear. He could only obediently take out those eighteen Wishing Stones. Ah, he had truly brought shame upon the Old Madam of the Floating Cloud Sect.
What?
Of course, this matter had nothing to do with me, Li Si. I am Ji Chang, styled Donglai.
“Don’t pretend. If I didn’t let you take them, then consider them given to you.” The Phantom Bride turned to descend into the well but soon returned, carrying at least several hundred Wishing Stones.
“Although I am an evil ghost, and though I was harmed by evil people, I can regain my senses here and understand some truths. You Deities, however useless, are still conferred by the Heaven and Earth Decree. I only hope you will work hard to restore clarity to this world. I dare not hope for a utopia, but at the very least, ensure that good is rewarded and evil is punished. Don’t let more pitiful people like me be driven to become evil ghosts.”
“Um, though it might be abrupt, I still want to ask—Miss, have you taken your revenge?” Li Si cautiously inquired. This Phantom Bride was completely overturning his worldview.
“Probably, but it’s meaningless. Whenever I go to the Mortal Realm, I become wildly frenzied. Before killing anyone, I have a sliver of reason, but once I see blood, I will slaughter every living thing I lay eyes on. Once, I massacred an entire city—tens of thousands of people were killed by me. Since then, I would rather starve here, or go to the ruins to find food, than easily go to the Mortal Realm. If you hadn’t taken my food today, I wouldn’t have gone again!”
Li Si broke out in a sweat of shame and hurriedly tried to make amends. “But didn’t you eat many Peach Blossom Demons today? Oh, I don’t mean anything else. How about I bring you some takeout tomorrow? What would you like to eat?”
“I eat Peach Blossom Demons because if I don’t, they will harm people. But they don’t provide me with any gains. Are you going to the Mortal Realm?”
“Yes, Miss. If you have any unfulfilled wishes, just tell me.” Li Si indicated that the Mortal Realm was his territory.
“I’ve been dead for three thousand years. What unfulfilled wishes could I possibly have? Looking at your Divine Idol that’s less than nine inches tall, you must be doing terribly in the Mortal Realm too. Don’t try to act tough when you’re not.”
“Uh, you recognize this Idol?” Li Si was so startled he even forgot about being looked down upon.
“A shabby Divine Idol, and you treat it like a treasure. Bury it farther away tonight—it’s uncomfortable!”
The Phantom Bride descended into the well. Li Si stood there, speechless. Then, he moved the Idol of Fortune thirty meters away and built a small, ugly Temple with Wishing Stones—even smaller than a doghouse. But he didn’t dare inject Faith Power into the Wishing Stones. This matter required caution.
After completing all this, Li Si solemnly bowed in the direction of the well.
“Miss, I, Ji Donglai, will never forget your kindness in taking me in. Henceforth, if you have any tasks for me, as long as it is within my power, I will go through fire and water without hesitation.”
“Aren’t you called Li Si? Why are you calling yourself Ji Donglai!”
The Phantom Bride’s voice came from the well.
Li Si: Damn it, there’s no justice! Is there no law? Can’t an honest person catch a break!
“You… how do you know that?”
“Idiot, it’s written on your Idol. When the Heaven and Earth Decree confers, your true name is engraved on it. Of course, usually only your own people can see it. But I saw it because you buried the Idol here.”
Hearing this, Li Si’s mind exploded, and he felt as if he were splitting apart.
Damn it, why?
Why?
Why can’t an honest person be left with just one way out?
If that was the case…
Then…
The more he thought about it, the more terrifying it became!
“Aren’t you going back to the Mortal Realm?”
“I’m not going back.”
“Why?”
“I have no face!”
“Oh, so you used the name Ji Donglai to swindle, kill, and set fires?” The Phantom Bride suddenly seemed very interested in chatting, but Li Si didn’t want to speak anymore. His head was aching.
He couldn’t believe that the Heaven and Earth Decree would have such a foolish setup?
His clever schemes, his brilliant maneuvers, his god-like operations, his intelligence—all were defeated by these two words.
“Come on, tell me. The night is long, and I can’t sleep. Just tell me a story.”
“No!”
“Don’t be so childish. Tell one!” The Phantom Bride even squatted in front of Li Si with great interest, as if only missing a small stool, snacks, soda, and popcorn.
“No!”
Li Si clutched his head. The sorrow in his heart surged like a river. How can people be so cruel? So heartless!
I’m still a child!
Thieving Old Madam, scheming Old Madam, Soy-Sauce Crone! I want to cut ties with you! I want to betray my master and ancestors!
“One thousand Wishing Stones. This is my last family savings. Tell one, please? For the sake of my three thousand years of loneliness… I’m so pitiful.” The Phantom Bride brought out another large pile of Wishing Stones.
Li Si: Why does this scene feel so familiar?
“What can one thousand do? Make it three thousand!”
“Deal!”
Li Si: ……