Chapter 47

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Chapter 47

As Yun Chuyou finished speaking, Xie Fuzhi’s two bright and beautiful eyes suddenly felt as if they were broken, freezing in place without moving. This sudden silence made his already otherworldly face look even more like a delicate doll, strangely adding a sense of fear to the current atmosphere.

However, he soon broke this silence, but his voice had changed from being lively and cheerful to sounding mechanical, deep, cold, and vague, "Chuyou, what did you just say?"

Yun Chuyou, as he wished, repeated word for word, "I said, Xie Fuzhi, the master of this illusion is you, right?"

This kind of role-playing illusion is usually built on someone’s obsession, and only when the chosen person voluntarily awakens and actively breaks free can the illusion dissipate.

It’s like a dream; the dreamer must wake up for the other intruders trapped in the dream to truly return to reality.

Another way is to deal with the master of the illusion directly. But in the environment, the master has the highest power and can easily change the surroundings and rules of the illusion, so it’s not easy to confront him.

Xie Fuzhi didn’t answer yes or no; he just looked at Yun Chuyou in confusion, "Why does Chuyou think it’s me?"

Yun Chuyou smiled slightly and said, "Before today, I didn’t think it was you, but when Master told me the secret of being a Phoenix, I knew it had to be you."

This kind of illusion with a core depends on the power of the master. An illusion created by a mortal, even if supported by treasures, cannot trap a Golden Core Stage cultivator, let alone a Buddha Child with special powers like Shi Rujing.

Whoever can trap the male and female leads together must be very strong. Since Xie Fuzhi’s true form is a phoenix, he meets that requirement.

What does it matter to be the heir of the Buddha Sect? Those secret techniques of the Buddha Sect cannot possibly compete with a phoenix that is over thirty thousand years old.

"Is that why you doubt me?" Xie Fuzhi was a bit surprised. "The other little ghosts are also quite powerful. Any cultivator who enters could potentially be the creator of the illusion."

"Just one reason is certainly not enough. Before this, I have doubted other people, and I have even doubted myself."

After all, in this absurd dream, she is the emperor, and a powerful one at that. Even though there is a watchful grand master like Shi Rujing, who still has some spiritual power left, she holds the advantage of position as well as the advantage of being a woman.

This is a nation ruled by women. Shi Rujing is a man, so it isn’t so easy for him to plot against her, the rightful emperor. In his script, he still needs to rely on Song Mingzhu, the fate-blessed female lead, to defeat her.

Generally speaking, whoever dreams has control. She is a woman with power and understands the other characters well, making it seem like she is in control of the illusion.

But today she doesn’t think that way. She wouldn’t create such an absurd script. Besides herself, there is also Xie Fuzhi, who understands the disciples of Qingxu Sect and Tianyuan Sect.

Xie Fuzhi loves to act, so it’s normal for him to create a dramatic story about being a queen in a powerful kingdom. Just a moment ago, when he spoke about his feelings, he meant every word sincerely.

As for why Song Mingzhu is the Empress Dowager and Shiru is the grand master, it seems the dream world’s structure is influenced by the luck of those who enter it.

Song Mingzhu is favored by destiny, being the beloved main character, so it makes perfect sense for her to become the Empress Dowager, while Buddha Child Shiru carries the blessings of countless followers.

Regarding Yu Jiu, Yun Chuyou was a bit curious, "Does the master think Second Junior Brother is unkind, which is why he arranged such a bad story for him?"

Indeed, Xie Fuzhi replied, "This has nothing to do with me. Although the key to the dream world breaking is indeed linked to me, how the story unfolds still depends on each person’s experiences and true feelings."

This denies that he is the mastermind while also admitting he is the master of the dream world. He was somewhat annoyed, "If everything went my way, that guy Meng He wouldn’t be a favored concubine!"

Having one rightful queen like him is enough; everyone else should be cast aside.

Yun Chuyou laughed lightly, "I guess that’s the most important reason you think so, Master. If it were someone else, they wouldn’t place me on the emperor’s throne, but since you say I’m the most important to you, that’s why I became the emperor in the dream."

Xie Fuzhi’s love for her, his first disciple, made her the most respected among the cultivators trapped in the dream.

"There is another reason that everyone forgets, but the master remembers."

She remembers, perhaps because she traveled through time, and with the system guiding her, even if she forgot some things, she would quickly recall the truth due to the presence of the system panel. But Xie Fuzhi is different; he is one of the only two awake beings in this special environment. No, he is one of the only two awake great demons. Since the master of the illusion is not herself, it must be Xie Fuzhi.

"Chuyou, doesn’t it feel good to be the emperor?" Xie Fuzhi asked her curiously, with a hint of persuasion in his words.

Being an emperor is certainly joyful; one holds great power and enjoys the company of beautiful people.

But as Yun Chuyou thought about the drama and excitement of the past few days, she sincerely shook her head, "Not at all. Compared to such days, I prefer a peaceful and quiet life of cultivation. False things are still false."

She paused and looked at Xie Fuzhi with a watchful face, "Besides, being an emperor means dealing with so many reports, outsmarting the previous dynasty, worrying about rebellion, and managing the harem. I sleep later than a dog and wake up earlier than a rooster; how can that be joyful?"

Unless it’s a careless and indulgent emperor, a responsible emperor would not be very free or happy. In Yun Chuyou’s heart, being an emperor has never been a good job.

"I thought you, Chuyou, wanted to be the leader and would prefer being the emperor instead."

"I wanted to be the leader for the resources for my cultivation. Once the sect is running smoothly and doesn’t need me, it will function normally without my help. Isn’t that much easier than before?"

Xie Fuzhi still had the nerve to say this. Yun Chuyou thought of the past and couldn’t help but glare at him, "When Master was the leader, whether it was this or that, I handled everything. It’s not too much to ask for a title, right?"

With a title, the rules that follow would be easier to carry out. Of course, the more important reason is that she is linked to the golden finger system. If it weren’t for completing system tasks and gaining more resources, who would want to manage so much? She’s not someone who craves power.

Xie Fuzhi blinked his eyes, his eyelashes really long, dark, and bright. When he blinked gently, it looked like the wings of a ghostly black butterfly fluttering, "Okay, but what does it matter to know? How does Chuyou want to break this illusion?"

With such a young and beautiful face, he said something that sounded a bit bad, like a child creating a perfect prank, looking rather proud, "You have never been very good at your formations, but there’s one common thing to breaking them: you need to solve the key point."

Xie Fuzhi shrugged, "I can only be a medium; I can’t actively break this illusion. If Chuyou wants to leave, then just try little by little."

Suddenly, a sword appeared in his hand—it was Yun Chuyou’s sword. It had been hidden by the illusion, but Xie Fuzhi found it and returned it to Yun Chuyou.

Xie Fuzhi looked at her with clear, bright eyes full of expectation, "Maybe if you kill me, it will break this formation. Take this sword and kill me."

Xie Fuzhi looked so small saying this, with a childish innocence.

But when Yun Chuyou heard this, she felt like she wanted to spit blood, "Xie Fuzhi, what are you thinking?!"

If the Xie Fuzhi in front of her is just a false image created by an illusion, she would definitely break the illusion without hesitation by stabbing him.

But the Xie Fuzhi before her is truly real, and to harm him would mean betraying her teacher.

Xie Fuzhi was a bit happy, seeing how much Yun Chuyou cared, "Actually, it’s okay. The one who enters the secret realm is just my external self. Dying won’t affect my true self. Chuyou, don’t worry, just go ahead and stab."

He even wanted to take Yun Chuyou’s hand, to guide it to stab his own heart with the sword.

"That’s nonsense! How do you know this is the way to pass? What if you end up dead, and we’re still stuck here?" Yun Chuyou quickly threw the sword aside, thinking her teacher was a bit crazy.

Afraid Xie Fuzhi would pick up the sword, she gently kicked it with her toe, sending it under the nearby table.

"So what should we do?"

Xie Fuzhi showed a mischievous smile that matched his current appearance, "If you don’t do this, others will remain trapped in the illusion. You know, they’ve forgotten everything, and as they forget more and more, they will always think they are part of Mirror Country, stuck here until they turn into bones."

Xie Fuzhi’s voice was light, but his words felt heavy, each one wrapped in malice, "Chuyou, when you came in, you saw it too. There are many bones in the passageway; they were once the pride of the cultivation world."

How could such a secret realm with great opportunities possibly be like a beautiful dream world, like the Peach Blossom Land, when under countless roots of spirit herbs and medicines lie the bones of cultivators?

High risk, high reward; the world of cultivation has always been a place full of danger. The tomb of that old Sword God is even more so; to find opportunities, one must first pass through one trap after another.

"Chuyou, you are still so young…"

Yun Chuyou silently picked up the sword from the ground. Xie Fuzhi watched her actions, feeling relieved, and closed his mouth, also shutting his eyes, "My heart is on the left. Chuyou, be quick."

He did not want to see his apprentice hurt him, even if he encouraged it; he wouldn’t want that, as it would surely make his numb heart ache deeply.

Xie Fuzhi is still just a little bird over thirty thousand years old; he is afraid of pain.

"Ow!"

A certain phoenix touched its swollen forehead and cried out in pain. It opened its eyes, and Yun Chuyou tapped its head again with the sword hilt.

"Xie Fuzhi, what exactly are you thinking? What if something happens? Even if your main body doesn’t die, if your external incarnation dies, your cultivation level will surely drop significantly."

Xie Fuzhi’s late stage of the Nascent Soul Stage must be fake; being able to have an external body means he is definitely at the Astral Projection Stage.

But he always loves to talk nonsense. What if this body is not an external body but Xie Fuzhi’s real body?

She didn’t know what had upset her master, as he was acting strangely again. It could also be that the illusion magnified his desire to die, making him ramble on and on.

"Are you afraid of pain and can’t hurt yourself?" "But you can’t make me the one to do this! Do you want me to cry over your dead body and create an internal demon, cutting off my path forever?!"

Xie Fuzhi, holding his swollen bump, felt wronged. Although he is a phoenix, in the illusion he is just a first-level mortal. Plus, the men in the woman-led country are delicate, and with his tender skin, it really hurts to be hit.

"Chuyou, I’m sincere; I have never thought like that." He swore, "I really won’t die, so feel free to poke!"

"Do I have to die to break the illusion? If my emotional state reaches a certain threshold, shouldn’t that work?"

Since Xie Fuzhi is the core of the illusion, to get out, the way to solve the problem must be within him.

Yun Chuyou asked, "You found my sword; can you also retrieve the pills and talismans I left outside my storage bag?"

Xie Fuzhi shook his head and said, "There is nothing like that in this illusion. Even if we find it, it would be useless."

Indeed, just like the sword in Yun Chuyou’s hand, although it is still a powerful sword that can cut through iron like mud, it can no longer store spiritual power, so it cannot serve as a spirit tool and can only be treated as an ordinary sword.

"We don’t have to seek danger. We can try other exciting things."

Xie Fuzhi’s eyes sparkled with excitement. "What kind of excitement?"

After a moment, Yun Chuyou took the queen to the tallest tower in the palace, secured her with coarse ropes, and laid down thick blankets below for cushioning. After checking everything carefully, she said with a serious face, "Let’s try bungee jumping."

This exciting activity that boosts adrenaline is good for enhancing emotional experiences. When Yun Chuyou went to the amusement park in her past life, even though she knew the rides were safe, her heart would still race uncontrollably when she jumped down.

After ensuring the safety precautions, Yun Chuyou even borrowed a pig from the rare animal park to test it first. She pushed it from behind suddenly, catching Xie Fuzhi off guard.

It’s worth mentioning that when going to the Realm of Longevity, Yun Chuyou finally found Hu Xiao Bai, the poor little fox spirit, who couldn’t even maintain his original form in this secret realm and turned into an ordinary Little Bai fox among many beasts.

If it weren’t for Yun Chuyou recognizing that unfortunate little fox at a glance, the little fox spirit, who remembered nothing, would still be pitifully trying to grab scraps of meat from those fierce beasts.

Hu Xiao Bai was pulled aside by Yun Chuyou and ordered the servants to prepare fresh food and water for him.

Clean and washed, Hu Xiao Bai lay in the sun, soaking up the warmth, occasionally licking a bit of fresh sheep’s milk from the bowl in front of him.

He wagged his tail, looking curiously at his owner and her queen, as a person swiftly flew out from the tall building.

The long rope quickly tightened and stretched, lifting Xie Fuzhi about two to three meters off the ground; at this height, even if the rope suddenly broke, Xie Fuzhi would not fall to his death.

The old construction skills were limited, and this tall building was only a few meters high, which was nothing for a cultivator, but for Xie Fuzhi, a mere mortal, it was still quite thrilling and dangerous.

"Pull the queen up."

Yun Chuyou commanded, and Xie Fuzhi, who was coming up, looked quite happy, "This is actually pretty fun, Chuyou. Should we do it again?"

"No more. It seems this thrilling method is not useful for you." The phrase "it seems" should be removed, as Xie Fuzhi’s slightly excited face already showed that it had no effect at all.

Xie Fuzhi blinked and said, "Chuyou, you can’t blame me. Don’t forget, my true form is a phoenix, and this height is far too low for me."

It was just like a child playing on a slide, not exciting at all.

"How bold!" said a court lady nearby, "Your Majesty is the true Phoenix Son, how can you let a rooster announce the morning!"

This was a country completely ruled by women, where giving birth and raising children were tasks for men, and even laying eggs was done by roosters.

Hearing such strange accusations, Yun Chuyou, who had been serious, couldn’t help but smile. It was a bit ridiculous, but it was truly funny.

Xie Fuzhi, who had originally wanted to kill this court lady, decided not to argue with this foolish maid when he saw Yun Chuyou smile.

He untied the thick hemp rope around his waist, "This won’t work. Chuyou, think of some other ideas, but don’t take too long."

Xie Fuzhi, who was good at dramatic stories, eagerly gave Yun Chuyou a suggestion, "This excitement isn’t enough. Why not follow a script and have the kidnapper tie up two people on the city wall, one me and one Meng He, and then you, Chuyou, choose below, but only one can survive."

Sometimes, Yun Chuyou really wanted to peek into her teacher’s mind, "Your Majesty, maybe you should read fewer messy stories."

Let’s not even mention that this is the palace; ordinary thieves can’t get in. If there were rebels at the gates, what kind of foolish idea is it to choose between the queen and the consort? She hasn’t abandoned the palace to run outside.

"I am telling the truth. You will coldly choose the favored consort, and I will die from heartbreak, a touching scene. Then, I will leap off the city wall, and the illusion will shatter."

Yun Chuyou refused without any hesitation, "Don’t even think about it."

She couldn’t help but complain, "Besides, the script you know, no matter how exciting, will still feel just like now, with no real emotions changing."

To feel excitement, there must be the unknown. Whether it’s surprise or fright, it needs to be unexpected.

Jumping down from a high place uses a natural instinct. But this scary choice, she thought, could only scare the unsuspecting Meng He.

Meng He did nothing wrong. This terrible idea sounds like Xie Fuzhi, who is being petty, is bullying Meng He.

"Then I can’t think of another idea," Xie Fuzhi looked at Yun Chuyou eagerly, "Your Majesty, won’t you give it a try? You can find some people to act more realistically, and I will cooperate."

"No," Yun Chuyou’s refusal was very firm. She took on the heavy responsibility of Elder Martial Sister again, and she couldn’t just watch her willful master bully the poor amnesiac.

"Your Majesty, it’s getting late today. Let’s stop here for now."

Yun Chuyou shouted for a stop. In that moment, she thought of a thrilling idea that might not be very effective, but it was safe enough to try.

Although Xie Fuzhi was unwilling, in this dream, Yun Chuyou was the absolute ruler. She ordered the servants to take the queen away, and no matter how much Xie Fuzhi protested, he had to cooperate.

He angrily swatted away the hand that tried to grab him, "Go away! I don’t need your help; I can walk by myself!"

Even though the people in this dream were not real, Xie Fuzhi still did not want these dirty things to touch him.

Under the watchful eyes of several servants, the queen came in fiercely and left just as fiercely.

However, this time, the emperor was clearly very forgiving; he did not make the queen follow the rules for men nor confine him.

When the night was quiet, the emperor needed to make his selection. It had only been seven days since he entered, and as long as it was not the first or fifteenth day of the month, he didn’t have to go to the queen’s palace for his usual duties.

Soon, spies in the queen’s palace informed, "The emperor did not go to the Noble Consort’s Palace today."

"The emperor went to Concubine Xian’s palace, who just entered the palace."

Knowing Xie Fuzhi’s identity, Yun Chuyou took some time to visit Yu Jiu. She tried to help Yu Jiu remember, but he looked at her in confusion and did not regain his memory from her few words.

If this continues, Yu Jiu is really going to get more and more ill.

There is nothing in this illusion that she wants to hold on to, so she must find a way to break the illusion quickly. Otherwise, if something happens between the main characters, everyone will just feel more awkward.

Yun Chuyou did not stay long in Concubine Xian’s palace; she turned around and took the sun-dried fox to Meng He’s palace, then handed Hu Xiao Bai to the princess, "Please take good care of it for me."

Princess Meng He is wealthy; although she does not pay enough attention to details, taking care of a little white fox is very easy for her.

She readily agreed, "This is our special bond beast, Your Majesty. Don’t worry, I will take good care of it and make it grow three pounds a day!"

Though she didn’t know why she found the little white fox unappealing, thinking that it was a gift from Yun Chuyou made Meng He’s youthful heart flutter with pink bubbles. He would not let the Majesty down and would take good care of it.

The queen felt heavy in her chest, so she bathed early, changed her clothes, and lay back in her tent.

Instead of returning to her own palace, Yun Chuyou changed her outfit and secretly snuck into the queen’s Kunning Palace.

She came to steal the fragrance and treasures, pretending to be a flower thief, to scare the Queen. If her plan to frighten failed, Yun Chuyou, as the Emperor, would not harm the Queen’s reputation.

But unfortunately, although the Queen had lost her skills, her sense of smell and insight were still amazing, and she successfully captured Yun Chuyou, the not-so-skilled flower thief.

"Your Majesty, what brings you here?"

Queen Xie looked very surprised, but it wasn’t enough.

He knew Yun Chuyou’s intentions and shook his head in disappointment, "This is definitely useless."

A disciple with a thief’s heart but no courage, this false plan would not help him at all.

Just as Xie Fuzhi finished speaking, a soft object gently landed on his forehead.

He widened his eyes in surprise as Yun Chuyou looked at him with a blank expression.

This was Yun Chuyou’s plan B after much thought. Since the other person thought she would not act out of line, she would show him otherwise, which would surely catch him off guard.

Don’t be fooled by Xie Fuzhi’s flashy words; he is actually all talk and no action. He steadily and accurately aimed for his target, determined to succeed with one strike.

If he fails, he will think of another way; it is better than stabbing himself in the back.

Right after that, the same soft touch landed on Xie Fuzhi’s cheek.

It was a very light touch that quickly faded away.

At first, Yun Chuyou, with the body of a six-year-old, would sometimes give a polite kiss on the cheek when she was very excited.

Xie Fuzhi thought to himself, "It’s not a big deal."

If there was a mirror, he would see that his face had turned bright red, like a ripe tomato.

In the end, he opened his eyes wide, as if he had stopped breathing, staring as his beloved apprentice leaned in. That soft, jelly-like thing landed on Xie Fuzhi’s lips.

"The queen’s head is on fire! What a big fire!"

Accompanied by the maid’s screams, the dreamlike scene shattered into pieces, and the core was overstimulated, causing the illusion to break.