3 fois vol d'âme

Chapitre 10

"It'll do alright!" the feng shui expert joked.

Hearing Feng Shui so blatantly underestimate him, Li Zhanghao was furious, but utterly helpless. He sensed something only a true master possessed about Feng Shui; from the moment Feng Shui arrived, Li Zhanghao hadn't detected any cultivation aura from him. This place, heavy with yin energy, was not a place for ordinary people, yet Feng Shui moved about freely as if nothing was amiss, and Li Zhanghao couldn't sense any cultivation from him. This baffled Li Zhanghao. The only person who could be so undetectable to him was a cultivator of a higher level than himself.

Therefore, Li Zhanghao realized that Feng Shui must be the work of a master among masters, a true expert. Only those who are unassuming, discreet, and act with composure in this place are the true masters.

Ignoring Li Zhanghao's further contemplation, Feng Shui conjured a short, black blade, about 1.5 feet long, out of thin air in his left hand. Li Zhanghao couldn't help but sigh again. He knew that every cultivator possessed their own "Treasure Pouch," a storage box for essential personal items. Li Zhanghao's three katana were stored in his own Treasure Pouch, approximately four inches square. Each cultivator's pouch was different, its size and internal space determined by their cultivation level; the lower the cultivation level, the larger the pouch. A cultivator at the initial stage of cultivation carried a Treasure Pouch the size of a military satchel, while those at the Ascension stage had their pouches completely assimilated by themselves—meaning they used their own bodies as storage pouches. The short blade that suddenly appeared in Feng Shui's left hand, from Li Zhanghao's perception, appeared to have been taken from the body of an Ascension stage cultivator.

2004-12-7 23:02:00

"You've already reached the realm of ascension to immortality?" Li Zhanghao asked the feng shui master in astonishment.

"No, perhaps my cultivation level is not as high as yours," Feng Shui said with a faint smile.

"Then why..." Li Zhanghao asked, pointing at the black short blade in Feng Shui's hand, puzzled.

"Don't you know there's a spell called 'Wind from Under the Sleeve'?" Feng Shui said with a faint smile.

Feng Shui held the short blade, and with a gentle flick of his wrist, the blade vanished. With another flick, it reappeared in his left hand. Li Zhanghao watched this technique with wide eyes, and was once again deeply moved.

"Could this be the legendary 'Turning Clouds and Overturning Rain' Illusionary Technique?" Li Zhanghao stared with wide eyes, thoroughly examining the feng shui from top to bottom, and exclaimed in amazement and shock.

The "Cloud-Turning and Rain-Covering Illusionary Void Technique" is a mysterious cultivation method circulating in the cultivation world. This method is actually a mantra for improving one's cultivation level. Legend has it that once one masters this mantra, one can manipulate the clouds with a flick of the wrist and sever the earth with a turn of the hand. In other words, one can compress space from vast to small, condensing the distance between heaven and earth into a mere foot's breadth, able to pluck clouds from the sky with a wave of the hand and shorten spatial distances with a turn of the hand.

However, over the past few thousand years, no cultivator has ever truly witnessed the cultivation method of this "Turning Clouds and Overturning Rain" Illusionary Void Technique. As a result, the variations and techniques of this "Turning Clouds and Overturning Rain" Illusionary Void Technique became increasingly exaggerated among cultivators, eventually turning into a rather mysterious and vague rumor circulating in the cultivation world. People could only roughly guess its form, but could not fully understand its essence.

The method of retrieving objects used by Feng Shui is exactly the same as the one in the legend. Based on the mysterious image of Feng Shui in Li Zhanghao's mind, coupled with this method of retrieving objects, Li Zhanghao not only rashly decided that this move "Waving Hand and Wind from the Sleeve" is the legendary "Turning Clouds and Overturning Rain" Illusionary Void Technique.

"Impressive, impressive!" Li Zhanghao said admiringly.

Feng Shui simply smiled calmly, offering no further explanation. His gaze was fixed on the morgue door, and he muttered an incomprehensible incantation. Simultaneously, his right hand formed a six-pointed star in the air, its trajectory neatly tracing its formation. A six-pointed star radiating a bluish light appeared before him. Feng Shui waved his right hand again, and the six-pointed star flew rapidly towards the morgue door. As it traveled, the bluish six-pointed star rapidly expanded, growing to a full three zhang (approximately 10 meters) tall by the time it struck the doorway. A bluish passage was drawn along the six edges of the star, fully revealing the tunnel leading into the morgue.

“Alright, the shortcut is open, let’s go.” Feng Shui turned to Li Zhanghao beside him and said, then turned and walked into the morgue.

Li Zhanghao stared wide-eyed, mouth agape, dumbfounded at everything the feng shui had done, finding this enigmatic man increasingly unfathomable.

※ ※ ※

Unlike the pitch-black exterior, the morgue was brightly lit, exuding an aura of death. The stark white walls, the ghastly white UV sterilizing lamps, the deathly white shrouds—everything was perfectly in harmony with death.

Although this is a world of the dead, it is exceptionally clean. This may be what is meant by leaving the mortal world without taking away a single cloud. The living only create garbage for this world; only the dead can bring it complete peace.

Feng Shui's gaze gradually changed, a ghostly blue light flashing in his pupils. Li Zhanghao followed behind Feng Shui, acting as cautiously as a thief. Despite his burly physique, he was surprisingly timid.

For some reason, the interior of the morgue was not shrouded in yin energy like the outside. The yin energy at the entrance was probably just a barrier to act as a smokescreen, only to protect what was hidden inside. In fact, the interior was a very peaceful and ordinary space.

"This place is so eerie!" Li Zhanghao whispered as he followed behind Feng Shui.

Feng Shui glanced at him, but just smiled faintly and ignored him, continuing to walk into the morgue.

At the far end of the morgue was a massive wall of freezers capable of holding fifty corpses. A chilling aura emanated from it, making the two men feel uneasy. Although Feng Shui and Li Zhanghao had seen countless dead bodies and even killed people themselves, they still felt uncomfortable in this place where only death existed. Because no one in this world is born accustomed to death.

Standing in front of the freezer wall, Feng Shui brandished his black short blade and began to dance. The dance was strange, resembling the kind of dance performed by priests of uncivilized ancient African tribes when praying for divine protection, leaving Li Zhanghao somewhat dazzled.

However, Li Zhanghao didn't want to ask, because he suddenly realized that Feng Shui's figure looked very beautiful at this moment, and the dance he was performing was simply an art. Even the famous dancer Yang Liping, who dances the peacock dance, could not surpass it.

Gradually, waves of flowing, iridescent light appeared around Feng Shui, drifting and filling the room. Feng Shui looked like a fairy from heaven, but this was just Li Zhanghao's perception from his personal perspective.

Because at this moment, the feng shui appears very feminine, and more importantly, the dance performed by the feng shui is beautiful, artistic, and absolutely artistic.

The feng shui was like a sunset visible on the shore, a rosy glow swimming amidst the shimmering waves, or a fish swimming in a sea of light. The backlighting made the lines of light resemble golden ribbons. This dance seemed to depict the most brilliant painting before darkness fell. And those rays of light, like the setting sun at dusk, did not evoke a sense of loneliness. The feng shui, along with the radiant glow emanating from it, was like sunlight and fish, swimming together towards the depths of the ocean.

2004-12-7 23:03:00

Li Zhanghao was completely mesmerized by the breathtaking sight, so much so that he didn't notice that the feng shui dance had stopped and a black tunnel entrance had appeared on the wall of the freezer in front of him.

"I'm going in first!" Feng Shui's voice interrupted Li Zhanghao's reverie.

"Big brother, I admire you!" Li Zhanghao shouted excitedly.

Feng Shui simply shook his head helplessly, ignored him, and walked into the dark tunnel.

※ ※ ※

The location of the sealed forbidden artifact array's core.

This is truly a mysterious world.

This place is like a fairyland, with a space the size of four football fields, and a unique and wonderful sight.

All around, carved stone railings and autumn tiles stood, surrounded by dense, verdant foliage. The colors that met the eye were like a thousand purple tassels cascading down. The fragrant blossoms were like ten thousand green clouds hanging like embroidered ribbons. Like cascading mare's milk, like crystal balls of nectar; like rolling green pearls, like golden dust containing emerald luster. They seemed to be varieties brought from the Western Regions, their fragrance a hidden treasure of sweet springs. Truly, the flowers and trees of all four seasons complemented the delicate blossoms, a beauty priceless under the bright moon and gentle breeze.

Suddenly the scenery changed, as if night had fallen, and the soft sound of raindrops falling to the ground could be heard. Through the rain, a small, emerald-green pond could be faintly seen in the mist, and beside the pond seemed to be a pavilion. The world in the space became ambiguous, and the evening glow enveloped it. As evening fell and the rain passed over the south pavilion, the pond's surface was adorned with scattered red blossoms. Gradually, faint thunder rumbled, the rain stopped and the clouds dispersed. The fragrance of lotus blossoms lingered for miles, and a crescent moon hung in the sky—this was an infinitely beautiful scene.

The scenery seemed to shift and change in an instant, like a mirage. A moment later, the rain stopped, a lingering rainbow appeared in the sky, and twilight broke through the western horizon. The light rain moistened the green islet, and the cool evening breeze refreshed the courtyard.

Several beams of pale blue moonlight shone down, and cicadas suddenly chirped in the willow shade, while fireflies flitted into the courtyard. Where could one hear the water chestnut song? The painted boats returned late. Only the Jade Rope (a mythical string of stars) was seen gliding low, the vermilion doors silent—a scene truly enviable. Ripples on the pond played with colorful mandarin ducks, and green lotus leaves turned. A delicate fragrance spilled down, like pearls of water. A fragrant breeze stirred the air; beside the fragrant grasses, by the quiet pavilion, sitting there, one felt refreshed and invigorated. What was there to envy in Penglai or Langyuan? Only fear that the west wind would startle autumn again, and the years would pass unnoticed.

As Cao Hui sat by the carved pavilion, he was experiencing the powerful sensory and visual impact of this wondrous world. Suddenly, he noticed a guzheng (a traditional Chinese zither) lying on a stone table in the pavilion, faintly emitting a purple glow. A faint melody emanated from it, its descriptions evoking the captivating sounds of nature: splashing water, tranquil waves, fishing boat motors, and flutes. Cao Hui couldn't help but conjure up images of rugged reefs and crashing waves in his mind—a strange and profound collision of emotions, a journey to a fairyland far removed from the hustle and bustle of the world, a dialogue between the soul and poetry. The sounds of flowing water and birds calmed Cao Hui's emotions, relaxed his mind and body, and gave him a sense of returning to nature.

Amidst this music and scenery, Cao Hui savored the tranquility and peace deep within his soul, experiencing a powerful intoxication that made him want to sleep there forever, gradually assimilating his soul into it.

Suddenly, a bolt of azure lightning struck the guzheng, obliterating the surrounding scenery and leaving only a blank world. In this empty space, Cao Hui and the guzheng, radiating a purple glow, stood out starkly. The aftershock of the azure lightning struck the deepest part of Cao Hui's heart, causing him a moment of disorientation before instantly snapping him back to reality. Before him appeared a face that was both familiar and unfamiliar.

"Grass ash," the feng shui voice called out.

Only then did Grass Ash truly come to his senses and recognize the person in front of him—it was Grass Ash's boss, Feng Shui.

Chapter Sixteen: How much hatred does the ruler harbor for the vast sky? He longs to sever his yearning, his soul to break.

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In the bright moonlight, with purple sleeves and red strings, she plays and feels, her face lowered in solitude.

Where the strings falter and the sound fades, a profound emotion lingers.

"Is this the legendary 'forbidden artifact'?" Li Zhanghao asked, his eyes gleaming with desire, his voice trembling.

"That's right, it's her! This is the legendary 'Mei Zheng' who has been sealed here all this time!" Feng Shui said with emotion.

This zither is about one meter long and thirty-four centimeters wide. Its entire body glows with a purplish-blue hue, like flowing fireflies. Occasionally, a green halo appears from the head of the zither, drifting along the strings to the tail. A subtle, captivating aura seems to envelop the zither.

Li Zhanghao's eyes were filled with desire yet somewhat dazed, as if he were bewitched. He squatted down and reached out to caress the "Enchanting Zither".

"Don't touch her!" Feng Shui shouted.

However, it was too late. The instant Li Zhanghao's hand touched the "Enchanting Zither," the strings vibrated, emitting a deep, muffled thunderous sound. Li Zhanghao was blasted more than ten meters away. All the qi blades and shields on Li Zhanghao's body were vaporized and disappeared.

It took Li Zhanghao a while to get up. His face was pale and a trace of pain was visible on his face. Then he spat out a mouthful of blood, indicating that he was seriously injured.

"Boss, this instrument is amazing!" Grass Ash exclaimed in surprise as he looked at the injured Li Zhanghao.

"Of course it's powerful. It's the Demon Butterfly's personal treasure. Only the Demon Butterfly in this world can touch it." Feng Shui's expression was somewhat solemn as he looked at the "Enchanting Zither" on the ground and spoke softly.

"Demon Butterfly? Boss, you're not talking about the Demon Butterfly from the Demon Realm, are you?" Grass Ash asked in surprise.

Feng Shui smiled at him, which was considered an answer to his question. When Cao Hui saw Feng Shui's expression, his body trembled involuntarily, and a bead of cold sweat rolled down his forehead.

"I never imagined this forbidden artifact would be so powerful." Li Zhanghao approached Feng Shui with a heavy body, his eyes filled with awe.

“Her master is even more powerful, but you don’t need to be afraid, because you saved her master’s life.” Feng Shui glanced at Li Zhanghao and said meaningfully.

"No way?" Li Zhanghao asked in surprise.

Before Li Zhanghao could even process what was happening, the blank world suddenly began to conjure up new scenes. A huge full moon appeared above Feng Shui and the others, and the surrounding white faded away, instantly replaced by a deep blue night. The space was once again filled with various exotic flowers and trees, several butterflies frolicked among the blossoms, and the faint chirping of orioles could be heard from the woods. Several secluded pavilions and towers appeared amidst the flowers and verdant trees, with winding bridges and flowing water, the murmuring of the stream echoing in the air. Layers of thin mist drifted through the flowers and trees, adding to the tranquility and elegance.

Feng Shui, Li Zhanghao, and Cao Hui found themselves in an elegant hall, where the "Enchanting Zither" lay horizontally on a carved sandalwood tea table. The fragrance of flowers and the various natural sounds in the space gave them a feeling of being in a fairyland.

"It's so beautiful." Li Zhanghao exclaimed sincerely as he smelled the fragrance of the flowers.

"Even though we know it's all an illusion, we can't escape this fairyland," Grass Ash sighed as well.

“These are all real, not illusions. We have been moved to the interior of the array hidden within ‘Mei Zheng’ itself, which is the Boundless Land,” Feng Shui said with a smile.

The Milky Way shines brightly, the water clock drips slowly, the bright moon shines coldly through the window, a cool breeze blows through the door and the night air is crisp. In the secluded courtyard, the sound of a pestle is heard, the pounding of the pestle almost complete. The clanging of metal on the painted eaves shatters thoughts and feelings; on the tea table, the enchanting zither flashes with purple light, and then a beautiful woman's long sigh is heard.

"Who is it?" Li Zhanghao shouted anxiously towards the window after hearing the woman's long sigh.

No one answered him. The fragrance of the flowers grew stronger. A breeze blew through the carved window, and a faint, floating shadow appeared outside. It looked like a butterfly, but no one could believe that a butterfly could be so huge, as tall as a person.

"Demon Butterfly, you've finally arrived." Feng Shui looked at the shadowy figure outside the window and smiled faintly.

A rich fragrance filled the room, and a huge, pale purple butterfly silhouette appeared, floating in the room. The butterfly's wings were enormous and covered with magical patterns, and in the middle of the butterfly's body was none other than the student council president, Jiang Yao.

Li Zhanghao and Cao Hui were both stunned and completely dumbfounded.

"Heroes of the world emerge from our generation, but once we embark on the path of cultivation, time flies by. A thousand years and ten thousand months are discussed in laughter, nothing surpasses a life of drunken revelry." Suddenly, Feng Shui softly recounted.

"Sword in hand, steed in hand, tail waving in the rain, white bones piled high, birds startled into flight. The mortal world is like a tide, people like water, alas, how many will return to this world?" Demon Butterfly Jiang Yao parted her cherry lips slightly and continued.

Feng Shui looked at Jiang Yao, and Jiang Yao looked back at Feng Shui. Their eyes were exchanging glances, filled with bitterness,感慨 (gǎnkǎi, deep feelings), farewell, and the pain of life and death—a hundred flavors seemed to be swirling in their hearts. Li Zhanghao and Cao Hui watched Feng Shui and Jiang Yao, but they didn't understand what they were saying. They only sensed that the two seemed to know each other and that there was a deep affection between them.

Jiang Yao gently fluttered her wings and floated to the front of the tea table. Without saying much, she waved her hand, and three simple yet elegant carved wooden vases appeared before her. Jiang Yao smiled softly at the three Feng Shui figures, gesturing for them to sit down.

Li Zhanghao suddenly noticed that Jiang Yao's smile seemed different; it was a smile as gentle as the wind and as sweet as the water, a smile that could charm a thousand beauties. It was truly breathtaking, making one's heart warm and comfortable. But Cao Hui saw it differently. He couldn't believe that the student council president before him was actually the legendary demon goddess of the demon realm, and that this goddess was actually smiling at him. This was truly the most glorious thing he had ever encountered since he began cultivating demonhood.

"You've finally awakened." Feng Shui smiled in return, but said with a touch of emotion.

Jiang Yao nodded without speaking, gesturing for the three of them to sit down. A pot of crystal-clear wine appeared on the coffee table, along with four emerald-green moonlight cups. Jiang Yao poured a cup for each of them.

The four of them drank it all in one gulp. The wine had a cool and light fragrance that lingered in their mouths, leaving a lingering and unforgettable impression.

Jiang Yao gently stroked the "Enchanting Zither" on the table, her eyes softening with tenderness, yet tinged with a hint of melancholy. Her slender fingers lightly pressed the strings, and a clear, pure melody, as ethereal as heavenly music, began to resonate in the hall. The music exuded an elegant melody, melodious and captivating, full of spirit. Jiang Yao's jade-like hands, lightly touching the strings, moved slowly and gracefully, like flowing clouds and water, yet powerful and sweeping strokes like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing. The music and the performer became one; the rich expressiveness of the music subtly and delicately portrayed the inner emotions of the performer, depicting a moving and magnificent scene. At times it was plaintive and sorrowful, at other times it was passionate and stirring, perfectly showcasing the artistic conception the performer wanted to express.

As the music flowed, images gradually became clearer before everyone's eyes.

In the scene, a young and exquisitely beautiful woman, exuding an ethereal aura, leans against a window, her face filled with melancholy. Her skin has lost its fragrance, she is thin and haggard, her mirror dusted and neglected. Her makeup is applied with weariness, and she is too lazy to adorn herself with flowers; her delicate brows are furrowed with sorrow. The woman's image fades, and in the blink of an eye, a handsome man appears, his face also etched with worry. He stands alone in a windswept pavilion, facing a solitary lamp and a slanting moon through the window, tossing and turning sleeplessly, sighing deeply, as if lost in thought of a beautiful woman.

Li Zhanghao and Cao Hui were stunned again, because they recognized the people in the picture as Jiang Yao and Feng Shui.

2004-12-7 23:56:00

Feng Shui's eyes were now filled with even more melancholy. Jiang Yao was already shedding tears, and the sound of the zither was even more heartbreaking.

Jiang Yao softly recited: "Sighs and lamentations by the locked window, a lonely phoenix dances, its heart aching. Orchids wither in the autumn rains of Chu, maple leaves fall on the Wu River in a single night of frost. In our past life, our vow of marriage was broken, and in this life, I can hardly find the incense to return to my soul. If there are spirits in the netherworld, then we are both heartbroken in the underworld and the human world."

"Could it be, could it be?" Cao Hui seemed to understand something, pointing at Feng Shui and Jiang Yao in shock.

“That’s right, the man and woman in the picture are me and Demon Butterfly. It was in the ancient times, we were both cultivators, I cultivated to be a god, and Jiang Yao cultivated to be a demon. Since ancient times, gods and demons have followed different paths, but I couldn’t help but fall in love with her. Later, Jiang Yao cultivated to become the goddess of the Demon Luo Domain, who is now Demon Butterfly, while I also cultivated to become a true god.” Feng Ping said calmly and sadly.

"Boss!" Grass Ash said enviously.

"But gods and demons can never coexist. To prevent me from getting caught up in this hopeless relationship with the demon butterfly, my fellow cultivators in the realm of gods joined forces to kill her," Feng Shui said with a bitter smile.

A look of sorrow flashed in Jiang Yao's eyes. She lowered her head, no longer looking at Feng Shui, and the "Enchanting Zither" in her hand fell silent. Li Zhanghao and Cao Hui couldn't believe their ears. Neither of them had imagined that Feng Shui was a deity who had reached the realm of divine cultivation, let alone that a deity who had reached the realm of divine cultivation would fall in love with a demonic butterfly. It seemed that the saying was truly true: love knows no borders.

"However, I still can't escape the torment of my past. In order to avenge the Demon Butterfly, I personally killed the gods who killed the Demon Butterfly, and as a result, I also died," Feng Shui said with a bitter laugh.

Li Zhanghao and Cao Hui both gasped, imagining how exciting and spectacular a war between gods would be. And what kind of power could kill a god who had already reached the realm of divine cultivation?