Zanxing (Retranslated)

Chapter 161 - Mirage (1)

Zanxing emerged from the darkness and walked up to the Mirage Woman, coming to a stop in front of her.

The Mirage Woman stared at her, incredulously asking, “How did you come out?”

“I just came out like that. Is it supposed to be difficult?” Zanxing replied casually.

The Mirage Woman’s gaze carried a hint of suspicion. “My illusions are sustained by human desires. They can glimpse into what you most desire deep inside. However, a newly formed Core Formation cultivator like you shouldn’t be able to see through my illusions. How did you manage to come out?”

Zanxing smiled faintly. “Maybe you didn’t try enough?”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you really sure that what’s in the illusion is what I most desire?” Zanxing retorted nonchalantly. “I don’t think so. Your illusion is just that, unable to see clearly what I’m truly thinking.”

This remark instantly angered the Mirage Woman. Her eyes darkened, and her serpent staff thrust forward suddenly. Gu Baiying exclaimed, “Danger!” and met it with his Xiu Gu Spear. A loud crash echoed through the secret chamber as Gu Baiying’s back slammed against the hard stone wall, nearly crushing Mimi’s tail.

“Senior Uncle!” Zanxing rushed to his side, helping him up.

“You really underestimate me,” the Mirage Woman withdrew her serpent staff, her jade hand caressing its head where two serpents hissing softly under her touch. She looked at Gu Baiying. “Did you think you could still use your qi here in my illusion?”

Zanxing frowned. “If this is your illusion and everything is false, why are our abilities restricted?”

The Mirage Woman chuckled lightly, a hint of satisfaction in her expression. “It doesn’t matter if I tell you. Since you entered the Wudanlin Desert, you’ve been under my illusion. Initially, your qi was just weakened. As you got closer to Wufan City and delved deeper into the illusion, the restrictions on your qi became stronger. By now, entering Wufan City, you’ve completely sunk into my illusion, naturally following my ‘way’. In my illusion, the one who reigns supreme over all is me.”

“So,” she looked at Zanxing and the others, teasing them like a cat playing with mice, “you are now just two ordinary mortals without cultivation.”

“You’re overly confident,” Gu Baiying half-knelt on the ground, supporting himself with the Xiu Gu Spear, staring at her coldly.

“Speaking of which, you really surprise me,” the Mirage Woman looked at him with interest. “So young, yet already at the stage of Soul Splitting. To see through my illusions in such a short time, and with such rare steadfast soul power, if it weren’t for your damaged spiritual veins, I wouldn’t have been so sure of handling you.”

Zanxing was taken aback. “Damaged spiritual veins?”

“It seems you don’t know,” the Mirage Woman seemed surprised. “Little girl, let me tell you. Your Senior Uncle here was born with damaged spiritual veins, and his qi has always been stagnant. Previous reckless cultivation methods have worsened this. Even if he hadn’t come to Wufan City, his situation would still be extremely perilous. I suspect he won’t live much longer.”

“Senior Uncle,” Zanxing turned to him abruptly. “Is this true?”

Gu Baiying glared angrily at the Mirage Woman. “You wicked woman, stop spreading nonsense!”

He didn’t answer Zanxing’s question directly, but she understood in that moment. Suddenly, all of Men Dong’s extra care and protection towards Gu Baiying made sense. She had always wondered why Men Dong treated him with such delicate care, like handling a fragile porcelain vase.

Now she understood why.

“I haven’t lied. Wasn’t this troubling you deeply in your own illusion?” The Mirage Woman smiled faintly. “Wanting to survive is instinctual for everyone, no need to hide it. Besides, it’s not entirely hopeless.”

“What scheme are you planning now?” Gu Baiying tightened his grip on the Xiu Gu Spear.

“The Snake Shaman of the past traded with the commoners of Wufan City using this serpent staff alone. It can fulfill people’s desires.” She smirked cunningly. “Considering how handsome you are, I could make a deal with you. After the transaction, the flaws in your spiritual veins will be repaired, and you’ll live on.”

Gu Baiying sneered. “What’s the cost?”

The Mirage Woman looked troubled for a moment before reluctantly speaking. “Oh dear, you’re so adorable. I don’t want to make it difficult for you. How about this: all you need to do is kill the woman in front of you, and the deal is done.”

Zanxing: “…”

The way the Mirage Woman put it made it seem like a “discount for your good looks.”

Before Gu Baiying could respond, Zanxing spoke up first. “Bringing others into this kind of deal, don’t you need their consent? Moreover, the rules of the Snake Shaman from before, they don’t engage in schemes that harm others for profit.” She turned to Gu Baiying again. “Senior Uncle, don’t listen to this enchantress. She’s deceiving you. Even if you kill me, she won’t help repair your spiritual veins.”

Gu Baiying took a deep breath. “I know. Shut up.”

“Trading the chance to live for the life of a woman, that’s quite a deal. Opportunities like this don’t come every day.” The Mirage Woman chuckled lightly. “Are you really not going to reconsider?”

Gu Baiying looked at her calmly. “Is this how you enchant those who are lost, making them turn on each other?” He flicked his silver spear, and from the corner, a piece of white bone rolled out with a clatter.

Zanxing was startled. Upon closer inspection, she realized that the corner of the secret chamber, previously haphazardly piled with jewels and precious metals, now revealed nothing but heaps of bleached bones.

The smile froze momentarily on the Mirage Woman’s face, her red lips curling slightly. “It seems you’ve noticed.”

The Mirage Woman had seized the serpent staff of the Snake Shaman, transforming the entire Wufan City into her illusion. Anyone entering Wufan City would be swallowed by the illusion, forever trapped in the mirage of the Mirage Woman. Over the years, it was inevitable that cultivators of exceptional ability would stumble upon this place, and her illusions were not impervious.

When these cultivators saw through the illusion, they would find their qi depleted. The Mirage Woman would then seemingly kindly point out a way out, often involving the lives of their companions. She orchestrated scenarios where friends turned against each other, stabbing each other in the heart for a slim chance at survival. This cruelty was truly despicable.

“No need to make such a disgusting face,” the Mirage Woman bent down, picking up a piece of white bone from the ground. She caressed it gently as if caressing a lover, saying, “Guess how many cultivators over the years were willing to make deals with me here?” Her slender eyes held a faint hint of irony. “Whether disciples of major sects or once-in-a-century geniuses, when their lives were on the line, their true faces showed. Moments ago, they were deeply in love, pledging to face hardships together, but the next moment, they turned their swords against each other, becoming enemies. Young ones, I’ve seen far more than you.”

Zanxing frowned. “Is this how you manipulate people’s hearts?”

“How can you call it manipulation?” The Mirage Woman tilted her gaze. “It’s that the human heart itself cannot withstand tests.”

She glanced at Gu Baiying, suddenly smiling. In the next moment, a golden silk skirt appeared beside Gu Baiying. The Mirage Woman’s slender, cold fingers lightly brushed the young man’s chin, her tone flirtatious and sticky, “Since I first laid eyes on you, I’ve been thinking, handsome young man, I can’t bear to let you die. Considering how beautiful you are, I won’t kill you. Stay here with me forever.”

Gu Baiying pointed his long spear directly at her. The Mirage Woman swiftly dodged, her golden silk skirt unfolding like a magnificent golden flower in the darkness.

The woman pouted. “You really don’t know how to appreciate beauty.”

Gu Baiying’s face darkened. “Don’t let your filthy body touch me!”

“Why though?” The Mirage Woman’s fingertip traced her red lips as she glanced at Zanxing, her tone dismissive. “This woman isn’t that important to you, is she?”

“Not important?” Zanxing winced at the contempt in her eyes, standing up with a cold smile. “We are comrades who face adversity together, bonded by deep affection. Our bond is as strong as gold, and we would never betray each other!”

The Mirage Woman burst into laughter as if she had heard the most amusing joke. Laughing, she remarked, “Never mind that one of you is a senior and the other a junior. Even if you weren’t, why would such a handsome young man like him choose an ugly woman like you? Calling yourselves lovers, you’re shameless indeed.”

Zanxing: “…”

She couldn’t understand it. Though she had a scar on her face, her features were still delicate and charming. Why was she always emphasized as “ugly”? Was this the background setting of At the Summit of the Nine Heavens? It made no sense at all.

“Do you think you’re very beautiful?” Zanxing calmed down. “Regardless, we are both humans, and you, using underhanded methods to steal others’ spiritual treasures, are just an old monster.”

As soon as she mentioned “old,” the Mirage Woman’s face darkened instantly. Gripping the serpent staff tightly, she charged straight at Zanxing. “You wretch, today you will beg for your life!”

“Yang Zanxing!” Gu Baiying’s expression changed.

Zanxing wielded her Panhua Staff, meeting her head-on.

*

A spacious mansion.

The front gate of the mansion is painted with beautiful red lacquer, and the door handle was made of brass. Above, there hung a golden plaque inscribed with the characters “Tian Residence.”

Tian Fangfang felt that this place looked somewhat familiar.

After hesitating for a moment, he pushed open the mansion’s gate, crossed the threshold, and walked inside.

The mansion occupied a large area, with winding corridors, spacious courtyards, and ponds. The plants near the pond were meticulously trimmed, creating an exquisite scenery. Towards the back of the courtyard, there stood a tall apricot tree laden with ripe apricots.

Tian Fangfang paused under this tree for a moment before continuing inside.

Inside the hall, various beautiful paintings hung on the walls, and the tables were adorned with various fruits, snacks, and a roast chicken. Servants passed by respectfully, addressing him as “Young Master.”

Tian Fangfang was stunned, pointing at himself. “Am I the Young Master?”