Wen Zheng: "…………"
"Ha, will you still throw stones around next time?" The woman suddenly pinched his earlobe. Wen Zheng instinctively tried to move away, but he couldn't. The awkwardness made his heart pound, as if it would be forcibly disconnected from the system if it beat any harder.
"Don't think that just because you've cultivated a demon core you can throw your companion stone around carelessly. This is the fate of our Siming Cat clan, understand?" she said slowly. "If there's a next time, you can forget about finding a Daoist partner."
The cottage was filled with the warmth of spring, and bright yellow petals drifted in through the window.
After a while, Wen Zheng calmed himself down and began to think about the current situation.
This is a local instance, so there are no party or teammates. He tried to raise his hand to summon the menu, but found that the inventory and exit buttons were grayed out, and the instance name area was also blank.
To exit the holographic game, there's the crude method of taking off your glasses. Experienced players familiar with the controls and how to manage their senses can do this easily, so Wen Zheng wasn't particularly flustered.
Moreover, this was a gift from Bei Sining, so it must be safe.
It was only then that he slowly came to his senses, his fingertips trembled, and he realized that he could move again.
The woman sat on the edge of the bed, frozen in place, maintaining the same posture. Wen Zheng looked around and first found a mirror—sure enough, the mirror reflected a miniature version of Bei Sining.
He actually allowed himself to enter his body.
The boy in the mirror was only twelve or thirteen years old, still looking like a child, but even so, one could see his extraordinary talent and brilliance in the future.
The adorable cat spirit even has two fluffy black ears that twitch instinctively from time to time, and it just won't stop.
After the initial panic subsided, Wen Zheng played with the cat ears for a full ten minutes before coming to his senses.
I always feel that this kind of first-person perspective is like reading someone else's private diary.
Wen Zheng's voyeuristic desires weren't particularly strong, but when he learned that his partner had given him all his privacy, his vanity still swelled up like rising dough. Excitement overwhelmed his reason, and he wanted nothing more than to strip this body naked on the spot and count how many moles he had.
...No way, that's too perverted.
After taking a few deep breaths, Wen Zheng calmed himself down and was finally able to focus on his current situation.
The woman whom young Bei Sining was leaning on, though she looked very young, was likely a close elder member of her tribe, considering their shared ethnicity. Wen Zheng suppressed his sourness, not wanting to get any closer, and focused on the story she was telling.
There's a lot of information here.
The bright red companion stone is present at birth; the more vibrant the color, the better its quality.
The terms "cultivation," "demon core," and "Daoist partner" sound very similar to those in some fantasy novels. If they are true, then Bei Sining must have come from another world.
However, what does it mean that if you lose the stone, you can forget about finding a Daoist partner again?
Wen Zheng thought for a moment, then started feeling around on his body. After a while, he finally felt a bulge on his lower back. Blushing, he reached into his clothes and pulled out the uncomfortable object—an opaque, bright red round stone.
Is this the companion stone?
Suddenly, Wen Zheng regained control of his body and had no choice but to relax, letting Bei Sining walk on her own and talk to him.
"What's so good about a Daoist partner?" he muttered. "My second aunt keeps saying this, but I don't think I want one yet."
Wen Zheng thought to himself, "He says that, but he's still holding your little stone tightly in his hand..."
The woman laughed like a silver bell: "Silly boy, what cat doesn't like to be loved? You'll understand when you grow up."
With a sudden lightness in his body, the scene abruptly changed, and Wen Zheng found himself standing on a gray-blue mountain path.
The scene is like a traditional Chinese ink painting, abstract yet impressionistic. In the distance, snow-capped mountains are shrouded in white mist on the horizon, and ink-wash forests stretch endlessly. Closer in, there is only barren snow, with only a gray stone path leading downhill.
Where does that direction lead? It's completely unclear. The vast world in the painting is empty, leaving one feeling lonely and oppressed.
Suddenly, an arched portal of light appeared on the right side of the road, shimmering with white light. Three seconds later, the portal disappeared.
Wen Zheng took two steps forward, and another one unfolded to his left. He understood that this instance must be composed of interconnected fragments. He would exit once he finished reading it all.
If there's a door all the way down the mountain, this diary must be incredibly thick...
He laughed out loud and stepped through the second door.
***
"Demon King! I've heard so much about you!" The group stood in front of the huge mountain gate, all dressed in long, gray-patterned robes with wide sleeves.
The leader, with a small mustache and a slender zither slung over his back, beamed with enthusiasm: "Congratulations to Beiyao Mountain for reclaiming the Cave Immortal's Abode! Your display of divine power this time has truly given us, the small sects, a real taste of the Demon King's magnificence!"
Bei Sining carried an unnamed sword on her back, dressed in a red and black outfit. The lines of her forearms were clearly visible through the narrow sleeves, and her powerful curves undulated with her movements.
"Hmm." He glanced at her coldly, his high ponytail revealing the full white nape of her neck: "If your Six Harmonies Sect is a small sect, then North Shaking Mountain is nothing more than a dirt mound."
"Hahaha!" The mustachioed elder of the Six Harmonies Sect laughed heartily, saying with great delight, "As rumored, the Demon King really likes the human race. Look, he's even picked up our habit of being falsely modest!"
Bei Sining twitched the corner of her mouth.
In the eyes of these human cultivators, the demon race must be stupid and foolish.
If someone learns even a little bit of human qualities, they are praised extensively, as if they have done something extraordinary.
He followed with a sense of annoyance, entered the magnificent mountain gate of the Six Harmonies Sect, walked up the nine hundred and ninety-nine steps of the Heavenly Staircase that were set up with restrictions, and flashed to the main hall.
The main peak of the Liuhe Sect soars into the clouds, and outside the main hall lies a vast sea of clouds.
A large group of peak masters, along with members of the three sects, six factions, and two religions of the human race, arrived in a grand procession. The leader of the Six Harmonies Sect stood outside the hall, smiling as he greeted them and exchanged pleasantries with the various hall masters and immortals.
When the elder with the mustache led Bei Sining in, the entire hall fell silent. The sect leader clapped his hands and laughed, "I've long admired your name, but to meet you today is truly an honor. I'm amazed to see the Demon King of Beiyao Mountain in such a magnificent and captivating manner!"
Whispers began to rise, and gazes, sharp as needles, fell upon Bei Sining, who bowed slightly in a gesture of respect.
"I don't deserve it," he said.
Since it concerned the Dongxian Ruins, no one dared to underestimate today's protagonist. Although the sect leaders had different thoughts, they all showed enough politeness to Bei Sining and did not hesitate to praise him with exaggerated words, praising him as the most visionary, the smartest, the most powerful, and the most "human" demon king in the history of the demon race.
After a round of flattery ended, a disciple of the Six Harmonies Sect brought tea, and Bei Sining spoke under the tense gazes of everyone.
"The Immortal Cave Ruins will not be monopolized by Beiyao Mountain." He raised his hand to stop the Six Harmonies Sect leader from speaking, and continued, "But the rules and quotas for entering the secret realm will be determined by Beiyao Mountain."
"This..." The leader of the Six Harmonies Sect exchanged glances with several major sects, then smiled and said, "I wonder what the Demon King's arrangements are?"
"The Grand Competition," Bei Sining said calmly. "The demon race reveres the strong. As everyone knows, I only took my current position after killing the previous demon king. Some say I'm barbaric, others say my position is illegitimate. These words have reached me and made me very unhappy."
The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; some people were gloating, while others looked embarrassed.
"But cultivators are inherently defying the heavens, and only those with true strength deserve treasures. Therefore, I have established these rules." He raised his hand and cast a spell, with glowing characters floating in the air: "Every ten years, the Immortal Cave Relics will open, and young disciples from all sects who have not yet reached the Divine Realm can participate in the grand competition. The top one hundred winners will be able to enter the Relics to seize treasures. What do you all think?"
One hundred people! That's a lot!
The Immortal Cave's Lost Palace is a vast, mysterious realm that appeared recently. Various sects speculate that it contains countless treasures and rare materials. However, this young demon king, through some unknown stroke of luck, has managed to subdue and imprint the entire realm upon himself.
From then on, no one was allowed to lick even a single bite of this piece of fat meat without his permission.
Before Bei Sining released the news, the members of the three sects and six factions had already begun to secretly plot to storm Beiyao Mountain and seize the secret realm. Who knew that this Demon King, though young, was quite cunning, and suddenly spread the news that he would divide the Cave Immortal Relic Mansion among human cultivators.
The conspiracy broke down on the spot.
The smaller sects that hadn't participated were the first to jump up in protest, followed by the larger sects that wanted the treasures of the lost mansion but didn't want a direct conflict with the demon race.
A major battle was averted without anyone noticing, which led to the current situation.
The human cultivators had been expecting the demon king to extort them, but to their surprise, he was incredibly generous and open-minded, making them appear petty and narrow-minded.
One hundred people is roughly the limit for entering the Lost Mansion Secret Realm. Would this Demon King be so kind?
Just as everyone was pondering this, they suddenly heard him slowly say, "However, I have a condition."
Everyone thought to themselves, "They're here."
"The younger demons from Beiyao Mountain will also participate in the competition. The rules are the same, and it will be a fair competition."
"..." The leader of the Six Harmonies Sect couldn't hide his shock, yet he couldn't find a reason to refuse. This condition didn't seem unreasonable at all. They didn't seem to be losing anything.
If one doesn't reach the Divine Realm, one is still a junior, and even the demon race won't gain any advantage; they might even be suppressed and beaten by their own side.
One person inadvertently asked, "What if...not a single demon from your Northern Shaking Mountain made it into the top 100?"
Bei Sining said, "Then none of us will go."
That night, the three major sects and six minor sects persuaded the smaller sects to sign a pact with the Demon King on behalf of the human cultivators.
After finishing his business, the junior disciples of the Six Harmonies Sect led him to the courtyard where they received distinguished guests, and offered him spiritual fruits and tea to rest.
Bei Sining sat alone in the courtyard, drinking tea, a full moon hanging overhead. The moonlight was extremely bright, casting a deep black shadow that shifted shape with his movements. A small, vermilion-colored stone slid out from his collar, smooth and lustrous, unlike anything ordinary.
Young people still have the sharp edges of youthful spirit, and they make no attempt to hide their pride. Even if they pretend to be humble and polite, their arrogance still leaks out from their every move.
This is subtly different from the cat spirit Wen Zheng knew.
Wen Zheng was choked by this discovery and felt extremely uncomfortable, his heart throbbing with pain.
He was thinking of quitting the game.
Even seeing a trace of Bei Sining's past makes it hard to let go.
Before he could catch his breath, a discordant commotion suddenly erupted outside the courtyard.
Bei Sining naturally heard this, put down her teacup, picked up the nameless ancient sword, and strode out of the courtyard gate.
A strong wind suddenly rose from the ground, rustling the grass blades, and a few nauseating sounds mixed in, ruining the beautiful night.
"You piece of trash, you dare to use the Autumn Water Sword?" The same wide-sleeved gray patterned robe belonged to a disciple of the Six Harmonies Sect. The four surrounded the man lying on the ground, reaching out to snatch his spirit sword, while one of them stepped on his face.
"It's just because of your good background that people are eager to send you resources. Don't you even consider whether your cultivation level is good enough to afford these pills and talismans?"
"Isn't it possible to explode and die if you swallow just one?"
"Hahaha, look at him, such a coward!"
One of them whispered, "Is that enough? Don't tell the sect leader later."
“No,” said the man who stepped on his face. “He wouldn’t dare.”
Bei Sining frowned and strode towards the location. He moved swiftly, but the group was more alert than he expected. Hearing someone approaching, they all ran away in a flash.
"Are you alright?" He bent down, looked at the disheveled boy rolling in the grass, and was slightly taken aback.
He had seen this man before; he had poured him tea in the palace earlier that day.
The boy had red lips and white teeth, and even in his disheveled state, his beautiful, gentle features remained undisguised. A shallow pool of tears welled in his clear, black-and-white eyes; with a blink, a trail of water slid down his cheek, reflecting a shimmering line in the moonlight.
"Th-thank you." His voice was soft and innocent. When he pushed himself up, his legs were weak and he stumbled. Bei Sining subconsciously reached out to help him.
"Ah," he gasped, taking a step back and lowering his slender neck, "I'm sorry, don't touch me, there's mud on my clothes..." He paused, a faint blush spreading across his face, and stammered, "You, you're so beautiful, don't get them dirty."
Wen Zheng's heart sank heavily.
Who is this?
Author's Note: Zhengzheng: to flatten with one punch.