If the Sixteenth Princess knew what Heavenly Fox Fairy was thinking and how she was judged, she might retort, What do I have to feel inferior about? My talent doesn't matter. How far I go depends on my man.
If he becomes a god, I become a god.
If he ascends to immortality, I ascend to immortality.
If he slacks off, I slack off.
Marry a rooster, follow the rooster; marry a dog, follow the dog.
A husband leads, a wife follows; his honor elevates her.
Like phoenixes in harmony, living and dying together.
From the day she was betrothed to Shi Yi, the Sixteenth Princess understood clearly: she didn't need to do anything extraordinary. All she had to do was support Shi Yi with all her heart.
Because Shi Yi's future determined hers.
If he rose to unparalleled heights, she would rise with him, sharing in his glory and wealth, with no need to worry about anything else.
If his path was fraught with trials, or if he fell midway, that would be her fate, and she would have no choice but to accept it.
Her glance lingered only briefly.
Heavenly Fox Fairy withdrew her gaze, her bright eyes returning to Shi Yi's face. Perhaps the serene atmosphere made her drowsy; her head nodded slightly, giving her the appearance of a silly fox.
But then—
Six words slipped from Shi Yi's lips, jolting her fully awake.
"Follow the flow, become mortal; defy it, become immortal."
Those six words carried immense weight.
As the Fox Fairy snapped to attention, Fairy Yuechan's eyes also gleamed with insight. The Sixteenth Princess lowered her head, seeming to grasp something faintly, but her understanding paled in comparison to the other two.
If their comprehension were measured as a ratio—
Fairy Yuechan grasped nine parts out of ten, Heavenly Fox Fairy grasp eight, while the Sixteenth Princess barely managed one. This gap explained why even achieving divinity was a struggle for her.
For now, though—
None of the three could fully unravel the meaning of those six words. They sensed that the phrase encapsulated the truth of immortality, but the specifics eluded them, as if they were lost in clouds and mist.
Shi Yi paid no mind to their confusion. He began to chant, "Follow the flow, become mortal; defy it, become immortal. It's all about reversing the reversal. Call me mad, and I'll be mad—madness has its roots. One, three, three, one, reverse and reverse again. Triple upon triple, ascend to the Ninth Heaven. Above the Ninth Heaven lie nine truths; the nine truths return to form a single origin. Yin and yang, fate and fortune, are the workings of creation. Follow, and you birth a mortal; defy, and you become immortal."
It was a song.
Called the Song of Reversal.
Shi Yi had suddenly recalled this Taoist chant, attributed to Zhang Sanfeng, the legendary founder of Wudang, known as the "Hidden Immortal." No one knew how long he lived, but emperors across dynasties revered him.
In his past life, Shi Yi was obsessed with mythological novels and didn't just study the supreme Thirteen Taoist Classics. He also delved into works by Taoist masters like Zhang Sanfeng—texts like Mystical Insights, Meditation Song, Essence of Mystery, Rootless Tree, and Song of Reversal.
Back then, he was naive, even attempting to cultivate according to these scriptures. Though he never succeeded in becoming an immortal, his spirit, energy, and vitality far surpassed those of ordinary people.
Some things were hard to explain.
Even if an ordinary person lacked the aptitude for immortality, diligently practicing Taoist methods of wellness would only improve their spirit and energy. It wouldn't lead to ruin or physical harm.
In matters of health and longevity, Taoism needed no further endorsement.
"Follow the flow, become mortal; defy it, become immortal."
The Song of Reversal echoed in Fairy Yuechan's mind. Those few dozen words illuminated her path—a road to the great Dao of immortality.
She had already grasped nine-tenths of its meaning, separated from full enlightenment by only a thin veil. Shi Yi's complete recitation of the song pierced that veil, granting her clarity.
But Fairy Yuechan gave Shi Yi a deep, meaningful look.
She disliked owing favors. The grace of revealing the Dao would be repaid in time.
"Follow the flow, become mortal; defy it, become immortal. Tsk, tsk, tsk. This song—every word a gem, resonating with the great Dao. Little brother, are you truly a reincarnated sage?"
Heavenly Fox Fairy leaned closer to Shi Yi, their eyes meeting. To her, Shi Yi was like a treasure trove, occasionally spilling words that sparked profound revelations.
Though she hadn't yet fully grasped the essence of "follow the flow, become mortal; defy it, become immortal," with her talent, it was only a matter of time.
Receiving such an unexpected boon, she pondered—perhaps the only way to repay him was with her heart.
Of course—
Not yet. But if Shi Yi proved himself further, she might consider it.
At that thought, Heavenly Fox Fairy eyes narrowed slightly. Unlike Fairy Yuechan, who cultivated a primary and secondary self with independent consciousness—potentially leading to conflict—she was merely a spiritual avatar of the enchantress. Her thoughts were the enchantress's thoughts, with no separate will. She genuinely entertained the idea of giving herself to him.
"A sage? I'm no sage. Just an ordinary person, nothing special."
Shi Yi knew his limits. Though he bore the Double Pupil and was hailed as a reincarnated sage, the creators of these scriptures weren't him. He was merely fortunate to have memorized them.
"Ordinary person?" she pursed her lips, too lazy to mock his claim. If you're ordinary, then there's no such thing as a normal person in this world.
___
Time passed. Half a month went by.
Beyond cultivation, Shi Yi spent his days discussing the Dao with Yuechan and Heavenly Fox fairy. Those days were tranquil and fulfilling.
But sometimes, peace wasn't up to Shi Yi. Trouble had a way of finding him, and he couldn't ignore it.
That day—
While Shi Yi was studying a precious technique, an unexpected message shattered his calm. His brows furrowed tightly as he stared at the armored man kneeling before him.
The man, past middle age, bore traces of weathered experience on his face. Faint white streaks adorned his hair, and his tall, imposing frame cut an impressive figure. On the surface, he was a formidable presence.
But before Shi Yi, he was nothing.
"What did you say? My little brother Shi Hao ran into trouble while searching for a mountain treasure in the depths of the wilderness and is now locked in a bloody battle?" Shi Yi asked, his voice tight.
His aura surged like an abyss, pressing down on the armored man, whose forehead glistened with sweat. The man could only manage, "Yes… a bloody battle in the wilderness."
"Are you all useless? A group of Spirit Transformation Realm guards couldn't protect my brother?" Shi Yi snapped, unable to contain his anger.
It wasn't that he enjoyed losing his temper or blaming others. He simply couldn't accept this.
A squad of Spirit Transformation Realm cultivators couldn't keep track of a Heavenly Passage Realm youth, letting their charge fall into danger.
"We tried to intervene, but we couldn't stop him. Shi Hao was determined to seize the mountain treasure. By the time we caught up, he was already surrounded by ferocious beasts, and we couldn't extract him."
The armored man wiped the sweat from his brow. He'd never imagined that, despite being in the same Spirit Transformation Realm, he'd feel so insignificant before Shi Yi, like an ant.
As a seasoned cultivator, it wasn't his first encounter with the might of prodigies. First, there was Shi Hao, who, at the Heavenly Passage Realm, could effortlessly outpace their group. Now, Shi Yi, also in the Spirit Transformation Realm, felt like a fully grown beast, his mere presence enough to tear him apart.
"Enough. Leave. I'll handle this from here."
Shi Yi reined in his emotions, sparing the man further reprimands.
Anger only clouded reason, and he refused to lose his clarity.
"Yes."
The armored man scrambled to his feet, bowed respectfully to Shi Yi, and left the Martial King's Manor with cautious, near-silent steps.
Once the man was gone, Shi Yi's emotions gradually settled.
Little brother, you're too much trouble!
_
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