"Can things still be turned around at this point?" Song Qianji inwardly cursed how absurd this was.
He wasn't clear about the enmity between Ji Chen and the Ji Family branch in their previous lives, having only vaguely heard rumors:
After the Immortal Venerable Ji who supported the Ji Family perished, he left behind a son and daughter.
These two were born into nobility, but unfortunately the son Ji Chen was dull-witted. Despite studying talisman arts for eight years, he accomplished nothing. The daughter Ji Xing was frail and bedridden, not surviving past eighteen.
The family had no choice but to select Ji Guang from a branch line as heir. The good-for-nothing Ji Chen, jealous of the talented Ji Guang, turned against his family in hatred, caused a major scene, and disappeared without a trace.
A hundred years later, Ji Chen returned to his old haunt having inherited the legacy of an unorthodox formation master. Single-handedly, he exterminated his entire clan, wiping out a once-prominent family from existence.
Afterward, he became deranged, spending his days half-drunk and half-conscious. Initially, some protested the Ji Family's destruction, but no one dared provoke a powerful madman—they could only avoid him.
One night, thoroughly drunk, Ji Chen actually tried to pluck stars from the sky. He crashed against the celestial barrier and was torn apart by the fierce winds and air currents.
The starry river hangs beyond the celestial barrier, and cultivators who haven't ascended cannot break through this obstruction. This was basic common knowledge in the Cultivation World.
Ji Chen, a grand formation master of his generation with countless souls perishing in his formations, ultimately died in such a bizarre and ridiculous manner.
"Flying to pluck stars" briefly became a famous joke circulating through the Cultivation World.
These matters reached Song Qianji's ears because they were either shocking or sensational.
In his previous life, Song Qianji had been busy cultivating and traveling, naturally knowing little about others' gossip.
The Ji Chen he encountered indeed spouted nonsense as erratically as the rumors claimed, even trapping him in a formation to pick a fight. But unwilling to engage in pointless, meaningless conflict, Song Qianji broke the other's formation and escaped using Evasion Arts.
This lifetime, however, Song Qianji met Ji Chen at the Grand Assembly of Distinguished Appraisals.
During the Calligraphy and Painting Examination, Ji Chen was still a naive young master from a wealthy family.
Though ridiculed as a good-for-nothing for failing at drawing talismans, he remained quite optimistic, even mocking himself and creating a series of self-amusing "toxic positivity" quotes:
"The harder you try, the worse you get. Not trying is much more relaxed."
"Life is about participation—I'm genuinely last place by my own skill."
"Though unlucky lately, I must believe Heaven rewards the rich. I still have a chance."
Later, when Song Qianji taught him chess, reading game records, and setting up formations, he shed his despondency, studying with extreme seriousness and never slacking off.
If Song Qianji pointed at the moon and told him it was actually square, he'd widen his eyes: "Looking carefully, it does seem a bit square. Brother Song is amazing."
When Meng Heze, Wei Ping, and Lin Feiyuan were at sword points, it was Ji Chen who mediated between them.
The multiple formations in Song Courtyard and Thousand Canals also relied on his meticulous arrangements.
How could such a Ji Chen become enemies with his branch-line brother over mere jealousy?
Moreover, though Ji Chen was wealthy, he didn't value money heavily. He only cared about his sister Ji Xing—how could he resentfully exterminate his entire clan over dissatisfaction with inheritance distribution?
Most importantly, Ji Xing in Thousand Canals was clearly strong and healthy, having safely passed eighteen—where did this talk of her being long-bedridden and dying young at eighteen come from?
Previously, when Wei Zhenyu compiled "Three Hundred Sixty Basic Common Knowledge Points of the Cultivation World," he enlisted the Ji siblings' help, bribing Ji Xing with delicious food and having Ji Xing torment Ji Chen.
Wei Zhenyu said Ji Xing alone could eat three bowls of rice with six dishes and, raising her fists, could pummel Ji Chen until he fled covering his head, loudly begging, "Mercy, little sister!"
This showed the previous life's rumors contained too many doubtful points, completely unreliable.In the blink of an eye, Song Qianji had sorted out his thoughts. Ji Chen's voice rang out once more:
"You all heard it—this man claims to be my friend."
He projected his voice with ample energy, ensuring everyone in the building heard him clearly.
The once-boisterous tavern fell into dead silence, broken only by seven or eight sharp, light sounds.
Song Qianji didn't need to turn his head to know they were the unsheathing of blades and swords, the infusion of spirit qi into magical artifacts.
The hall was filled with cultivators poised for battle.
Ji Chen patted Song Qianji's shoulder: "They want to kill me. As my only friend, you'll stand up for me, right? Otherwise, what kind of friend are you?"
Song Qianji scanned the room: "These people can't kill you." Meeting the increasingly hostile gazes, he sighed softly and whispered, "Stop causing trouble."
Ji Chen laughed heartily: "Did you all hear that? Even my friend looks down on you!"
His tone was light but dripping with sarcasm, stoking fury and boiling blood.
Someone slammed the table and shouted: "Villain, cease your arrogance! The Ji Family has accumulated virtue and done good deeds for years, their patriarch widely respected. Yet you dare threaten to wipe out their entire lineage—utterly deranged and insane, ignorant of your own insignificance!"
Another immediately chimed in: "Do you truly believe White Phoenix County has no one to challenge your insolence?"
"Today, we'll slay Ji Chen and his accomplice to rid the Cultivation World of this scourge!"
Outside the window, rain continued to fall as the sky darkened gradually.
Spring in White Phoenix County was always like this—endless gloomy rain, stirring restlessness and gloom.
The patter of rain amplified the tension in the tavern.
The crowd denounced Ji Chen's crimes, emboldened by alcohol and grand rhetoric.
As if they hadn't just been drinking and scheming with Ji Chen moments earlier.
Song Qianji sighed: "Let's all go home early. The rain is about to worsen."
On such a day, one should listen to the sound of plants drinking water, not to people shouting insults.
His words left the crowd staring at him in astonishment.
Had their clamor been ignored, with only the rain outside catching his attention?
"Is heavier rain unwelcome?" a voice suddenly interjected. "Zhang Lu of the Spring Rain Sword from Tiannan Province seeks to test your skills!"
The voice rose from the first floor, accompanied by a sword light fine as raindrops drifting upward.
Amidst the fervor, someone had to take the lead.
The first to strike faced the greatest risk but also the most glory.
Future tales of this demon-slaying battle would forever praise his courage.
The sword light reached Song Qianji, aimed directly at his vitals.
Its energy was swift and cold, like the night rain carried by the wind.
Simultaneously, two others joined the assault—a crimson long blade and a silver chain striking Song Qianji's back.
"If you've drawn your sword, there's no need to announce yourself." Song Qianji's hand gripped his sword hilt.
A sword cultivator's blade was their name.
Once unsheathed, the opponent should recognize it—no explanation needed.
The Spring Rain Sword leveraged the downpour, seizing advantage of timing and terrain, amplifying the force of the other two's blade and chain.
With Ji Chen watching idly from the sidelines, Song Qianji appeared all the more isolated.
The crowd held its breath, eager to witness the clash, but there was no prolonged fight.
"Boom!"
Only a deafening roar erupted.
A blinding radiance burst from Song Qianji's scabbard, like lightning splitting the night sky or autumn moonlight on water.
Everyone instinctively shut their eyes for a moment. When they reopened them, the Spring Rain Sword lay discarded, the long blade shattered, and the chain severed.
Three figures were sent flying together, crashing straight through the roof.
Beams collapsed, tiles exploded.
Wind and rain poured violently through the gaping hole, a desolate scene.
A solitary sword stroke had severed three lifebound magical artifacts."The Solitary Light Sword Technique! He, he's Song Qianji!"
"Why would Song Qianji be in White Phoenix County?"
"I heard he's been gathering materials recently to forge a life-bound sword. The unique Phoenix Fire found in White Phoenix Mountain is a top-grade forging flame—he must be passing through for that!"
A group of people transmitted messages while quietly slipping away in the darkness, wishing they had never set foot in Phoenix Immortal Pavilion tonight.
They had come here either having accepted benefits from the Ji Family, hoping to eliminate a scourge for the Cultivation World to make a name for themselves, or simply to watch the spectacle with hopes of picking up leftovers.
Without deep-seated grudges, no one was willing to risk their lives.
After the brief panic, only about a dozen people remained—all at the Nascent Soul Stage and with old ties to the Ji Family.
An elder calmly stated, "Why are you meddling in this mess, sir? What did Ji Chen promise you? Can we negotiate the price?"
Three men behind him cupped their hands respectfully toward Song Qianji.
Song Qianji sheathed his sword. "Ji Chen is my friend. No business tonight—I'm taking him with me."
The elder pondered.
Since no one had drawn weapons yet, it suggested room for discussion.
Clap, clap, clap! A crisp applause broke out.
The night's original protagonist leaned against the window frame, clapping with genuine admiration:
"As expected of the hundred-battles-undefeated Song Qianji! To think I have such an impressive friend—looks like I won't die tonight. What can you do to me, after traveling all this way?"
Song Qianji's vision darkened.
With Ji Chen taunting like this, a fight was inevitable.
"The current head of the Ji Family is also my friend!" The elder lunged forward, striking at Ji Chen with a palm strike. "Did you think everyone fears Song Qianji?"
The other three had prepared simultaneously, attacking Ji Chen together.
To prevent Song Qianji from intervening, they moved at extreme speed with full-force strikes aimed at instant kills.
Seeing Ji Chen's fingers twitch, Song Qianji felt an inexplicable dread and shouted, "Don't go near them!"
The four paid no heed, already within two and a half feet of Ji Chen.
Ji Chen raised his hand and plucked at something as if strumming zither strings.
Pat pat pat pat.
Like raindrops on roof tiles, chunks of flesh and blood rained onto the floorboards.
Before Song Qianji could intervene, he watched as the four were shredded by countless transparent Array Lines into piles of minced meat, no longer recognizable as human forms.
Not a single scream was uttered.
"Sorry, I got bored earlier and strung up a few lines." Ji Chen shifted his foot, displeased that the blood might stain his Cloud-Treading Boots.
The remaining cultivators exchanged horrified glances and hastily made their excuses.
In such a scene, who still cared about the Ji Family's internal conflicts?
Amid the wreckage of Phoenix Immortal Pavilion, only two figures stood facing each other.
Ji Chen remained leaning against the window frame, looking perfectly at ease as if surrounded by clusters of flowers rather than minced flesh and shattered bones.
Song Qianji roared, "What did you do?!"
What was wrong with Meng Heze and Ji Chen in their previous lives?
One enjoyed crushing people's skulls, the other delighted in slicing them into pieces.
When we return to Thousand Canals, they'll be put to work grinding wheat at the mill—no meals until every grain is crushed.
Ji Chen smiled innocently. "Fighting your way would take forever. I never knew the hundred-battles-undefeated Song Qianji was so soft-hearted."
With that, he lightly pushed off with both hands, flipped out the window, and vanished into the night rain like a swallow.
...
"Aren't you angry? Why are you still following me?"
Ji Chen glanced back through the dense curtain of rain at Song Qianji trailing not far behind him."I am your friend," Song Qianji repeated.
"Oh right, I almost forgot. Then follow along."
Despite his words, Ji Chen quietly gathered his energy.
Two blurred figures chased through the rain.
A cultivator could stay awake all night, but couldn't remain highly alert at all times—they still needed to meditate, regulate their breathing, and channel their Spirit Qi.
Since Ji Chen entered the city, the Ji Family had sent people to track him every night, but they could never keep up and failed to discover his lodging.
Ji Chen felt somewhat proud of this—until tonight when he encountered Song Qianji, whom he couldn't shake off.
As a Formation Master, his understanding of space surpassed that of other cultivators. Why were Song Qianji's Evasion Arts and movement techniques even superior to his?
Ji Chen looked back, showing an annoyed expression for the first time: "You can still keep up? Aren't you tired?"
Song Qianji said leisurely: "This is my first time coming to White Phoenix County and entering White Phoenix City. I'll treat it as sightseeing."
Ji Chen could do nothing about him: "Suit yourself!"
The rain gradually stopped, though rain clouds still obscured the hazy moon.
After taking several more winding, circuitous routes, Song Qianji and Ji Chen eventually jumped over a wall side by side.
Inside the wall, carved railings and painted buildings stood in decay, with spiderwebs covering the corridors. Only the courtyard's plants grew wildly, lush and verdant.
"Is this within the Ji Estate?" Song Qianji asked in surprise.
"It's where I lived as a child," Ji Chen said.
Song Qianji thought to himself—aren't you the legitimate son? Why would you live in a side courtyard facing the street?
Ji Chen said proudly: "I opened a 'door' in their Protective Array."
So this was where Ji Chen rested every night.
How could the Ji Family have imagined that Ji Chen was right under their noses?
"Make yourself at home, don't stand on ceremony," Ji Chen said as he took out a soft couch and silk quilt from his Storage Bag, relaxing as he lay down.
Song Qianji jumped onto the roof, holding his sword vigilantly.
The clear breeze after rain blew away the floating clouds, revealing the hazy moon.
Rustling sounds filled the courtyard's plants.
"Why set the time for three days later, on the night of Jingzhe (Awakening of Insects)?" Song Qianji asked.
Ji Chen said with closed eyes: "Jingzhe is good—everything sprouts, spring thunder begins to rumble. It's perfect for activating arrays, especially Killing Arrays."
"Wouldn't Qingming (Tomb-Sweeping Day) be better? When the Qingming wind arrives, aren't you more skilled with wind and thunder arrays?"
Ji Chen's laughter came through: "A madman acts without reason, without asking why."
Song Qianji thought for a moment: "The day of Jingzhe is the hundred-year anniversary of your sister's death, isn't it?"
The insect chirping ceased, and the atmosphere turned deathly still.
When Ji Chen spoke again, his tone was icy:
"Do you know what you're saying?"
Song Qianji said: "I knew Ji Xing."
He wasn't lying, but Ji Chen didn't believe him.
"I'm mad, not stupid," Ji Chen sneered. "You just said this is your first time in White Phoenix County. But my sister died young at eighteen. Besides attending one Grand Assembly of Distinguished Appraisals during her life, she never left White Phoenix County. How could she have known you?!"
Suddenly his expression changed: "Wait, the Grand Assembly of Distinguished Appraisals..."
Song Qianji had once been an outer sect disciple of Huawel Sect, hunted for years after betraying the sect.
Timing-wise, when Song Qianji was hiding in Huawel City at the mountain's base, Ji Xing happened to come to Huawel Sect for the Grand Assembly of Distinguished Appraisals. Finding Huawel Sect dull and boring, she often went down to the city to wander and play.
It was indeed possible for the two to have met.
Moreover, when Song Qianji mentioned Ji Xing's name, the familiarity in his tone and the genuine concern in his eyes didn't seem feigned.
He had likely met Ji Xing, and the two were friends rather than enemies.
Thinking this, Ji Chen's gaze toward Song Qianji underwent a subtle change.
Could he be my sister's intended husband?
Was it because of Ji Xing that he came to help me today, calling himself my friend?A normal person with such suspicions would likely seek confirmation from the other party or take care of their deceased sister's beloved, visiting graves and reminiscing together years later.
But Ji Chen had a peculiar train of thought—this Song Qianji was handsome and charismatic, exactly the type to win female cultivators' favor.
Since he shared a past with Xiao Xing, why not arrange a ghost marriage between them? That way, he could look after Xiao Xing in the underworld.
Otherwise, what if Xiao Xing, all alone as a ghost, got bullied by other female spirits?
The problem was, this man was exceptionally skilled in combat, never parted with his sword, and wouldn't be easy to deal with. It would take some effort.
Song Qianji would never have guessed the insane ideas swirling in Ji Chen's mind.
Otherwise, he would have grabbed his sword scabbard and beaten Ji Chen until he was covered in bumps and scrambling for his teeth:
"When Ji Xing was in Thousand Canals, you kept trying to set her up with Meng Heze and Wei Zhenyu. Now that she's dead in this lifetime, you're still arranging ghost marriages for her? Are you even human!"
"Aren't you afraid your sister will come haunt you?"
"Brother Song, since you were my sister's friend, you're my friend too. Cough, aren't you cold up there on the roof? Come down and share a bowl of wine to warm up," Ji Chen said.
Hearing the familiar and affectionate "Brother Song," Song Qianji froze momentarily.
He couldn't understand the sudden change in attitude, but a madman's logic defied reason.
He jumped down from the eaves: "Do you really believe me now?"
"Of course I believe you!" Ji Chen blinked his large eyes, feigning innocence.
Just as Song Qianji pulled out a talisman, Ji Chen immediately covered his forehead with both hands: "Again? Is this a lie-detection talisman?"
But he was a moment too slow.
"Come back!" Song Qianji shouted.
Ji Chen tore off the talisman and deftly folded it into a paper swallow: "Why stick a talisman on me? Where else would I go?"
He tossed the paper swallow, which flew lightly before plunging into the courtyard pond, shattering the moonlit reflections of flowers.
Watching the soaked talisman, Song Qianji murmured to himself: "Each challenge is harder than the last..."
...
The Ji residence was enormous, like a city within a city.
The main courtyard stood at the very center, surrounded by layers of guards, as imposing as an imperial palace.
As the current head of the Ji Family, Ji Guang had long grown accustomed to being the absolute ruler in Baifeng County.
But since Ji Chen entered the city, he faced his greatest challenge since taking office. The pressure even kept him from meditating at night.
During this time, Ji Chen waited, and the Ji Family members waited too.
All of Ji Chen's expenses at Phoenix Immortal Pavilion were charged to the Ji Family account.
Ji Guang sent him fine wine, beautiful women, and Spirit Stones, arranging companions to drink, gamble, and entertain him.
Drinking every day—could his mind stay clear? Indulging in sensual pleasures—would his killing intent remain firm?
Living in a drunken stupor—would his hands stay steady enough to set up formations?
Ji Guang waited bitterly. But why hadn't Ji Chen completely lost his mind yet? And why couldn't he be killed no matter what?
Late at night, candle flames flickering, Ji Guang still paced in his study:
"When did Ji Chen become acquainted with Song Qianji? Why was such important news only reported now?"
The dozen people in the study were all senior Ji Family advisors.
One of them sighed: "Song Qianji was disguised before. No one actually knew he had come."
"Send someone to meet this Song Qianji," Ji Guang finally decided. "No, I'll go myself."
OpenNovel