Chapter Two Hundred Eighty-Nine: Xing Bu
There were six patterned faces corresponding to six types of flowers.
Orchids, roses, plum blossoms, rhododendrons, peach blossoms, and lotuses.
Who knows what the symbolic meaning is?
But Yun Zhonghe was left feeling disappointed because after the magic cube was restored, nothing miraculous happened in the stone chamber. He thought he had been tricked!
Really, the master of this stone chamber must be a total cheapskate, coming up with a magic cube just to lead people on, and then when it’s solved, nothing happens.
Just as Yun Zhonghe was contemplating this, a faint glow suddenly emitted from the cracks of the magic cube.
“Who will be the peak at the end of the immortal path? A glance at the beginning reveals nothing.”
A strange voice echoed through the stone chamber.
After the zen-like line of poetry floated in the air, a wisp of smoke slowly gathered in the void of the stone chamber, gradually materializing into a hazy figure right in front of Yun Zhonghe and Chen Leling.
The figure was obscure and foggy, as if veiled by a thin mist. Even so, Yun Zhonghe could clearly make out her features—she was an ethereal, transcendent beauty.
Dressed in a flawlessly white long gown, her garments fluttered like a fairy coming down to the mortal realm. Her blue hair lightly swayed, and her elegant face bore a smile that was almost imperceptible.
(Is this… a remnant soul lingering at the core of the magic cube?)
Whoa, did I just see a ghost?!
Even Chen Leling shrank behind Yun Zhonghe, like a spooked wildcat, letting out a low snarl at the ethereal figure.
The gaze of the female soul locked onto Yun Zhonghe, her eyes flickering with a hint of something special.
“I am Xing Bu, all-knowing and all-powerful. Little friend, you’ve unlocked this thing, and I can grant you three wishes… ahhh~~~”
Smack!
Yun Zhonghe quickly scrambled with the magic cube, disrupting it, and the soul let out a shriek before being sucked back into the cube.
With a racing heart, Yun Zhonghe glanced at the magic cube in his hands and silently praised his quick reflexes. He hadn’t expected a soul would be lurking in there—talk about dangerous!
Yun Zhonghe had read plenty of fantasy novels, and usually, such seemingly fortuitous remnants of souls—be it a humble old man or a mysterious lady—were likely traps set to steal souls.
He needed to destroy this magic cube and bury it deep!
“Hey! This paranoid mentality is just over the top!”
However, just then, the magic cube suddenly emitted the woman’s roar, and astonishingly, it restored itself automatically, the soul reappearing before them again.
Oh no, this thing can restore the magic cube on its own! The alarm bells in Yun Zhonghe’s head blared, realizing he might be caught in a real trap!
He tensed up, on high alert, his eyes glimmering with suspicion.
To have a remnant soul means its original self must have a cultivation level at least at the Yuan Ying stage; who knows, it might even have reached the transformation stage.
But regardless, she was just a remnant soul now, and if things got tough, Yun Zhonghe wouldn’t necessarily be intimidated.
Seeing the predatory look in Yun Zhonghe’s eyes, the soul of the woman helplessly rubbed her temples, sighed dramatically, and with a touch of grievance in her voice said, “Don’t be like that! I’m really a good person, definitely not a bad egg trying to take over anyone’s body!”
Yun Zhonghe narrowed his eyes, sizing her up: “Bad guys always say that.”
Yun Zhonghe had downloaded an anti-fraud app, and his fraud detection radar was on high alert. Her smooth-talking pitch wasn’t going to fool him!
The female soul couldn’t help but feel a bit annoyed: “What about trust between people?!”
Yun Zhonghe simply smirked, eyes brimming with sarcasm: “You come out here claiming to be all-knowing and all-powerful—obviously a scam artist’s line, so I’ve got to be cautious.”
Also, claiming to grant Yun Zhonghe three wishes? Look around at this pathetic stone chamber; what could she possibly offer?
Chances are, she just wants to lure him into thinking he’s hit the jackpot and lower his guard to snag his body.
The female soul was struck speechless: “…”
Haha, over a hundred years had passed, and she hadn’t experienced being doubted and treated like a fraud in ages.
She had once been an object of admiration for many, and now she was scrutinized by a junior—what a twist of fate!
Looks like she needed to showcase some real skills to earn his trust.
So, the female soul began, “You aren’t from this world, are you?”
Yun Zhonghe stiffened.
Seeing the disbelief in his eyes, Xing Bu could hardly contain her satisfaction. This is the expression she wanted from him!
How dare he underestimate my abilities! Let’s give him a taste of ancient wisdom!
Xing Bu continued, “You’re not from this world—more precisely, your past life hails from another realm, and you still retain memories of that past life. Am I right?”
If her earlier words had just a hint of a scam, then saying something this specific made Yun Zhonghe question if she actually possessed some genuine abilities, prompting him to reevaluate this ethereal being before him.
Could she really know everything?
Xing Bu pressed on: “In your Sea of Consciousness lies something very interesting. You must protect it; although it may not be of much use now, it will surely become invaluable in the future.”
Her tone was filled with confidence and certainty, as if she could genuinely foresee the future.
Yun Zhonghe’s heart thudded; he couldn’t believe his ears! This woman even knew about the Book of Prophecy hidden in his Sea of Consciousness!
“How do you know all this?” Yun Zhonghe couldn’t help but ask.
Facing his doubts, Xing Bu let out a triumphant laugh, sounding just like an arrogant rich girl straight out of an anime.
Then she repeated, “I told you, I’m all-knowing and all-powerful.”
This gal sure has a mysterious vibe, just like those swindlers wandering the streets.
But to have managed to say what she just did, Yun Zhonghe began to think she might actually have some skills.
He’d heard of sects specializing in divination, able to predict the future and scrutinize the past. He figured this lady claiming to be Xing Bu might belong to that kind of cultivator.
Thinking along those lines, Yun Zhonghe subconsciously lowered his guard a bit, but then the nagging question hit him: “If you’re really as all-knowing and all-powerful as you claim, how did you end up like this, just a remnant soul?”
As soon as those words left his mouth, an awkward expression flashed across Xing Bu’s face. She cleared her throat and, in a tone that was supposed to sound mysterious, tried to cover up her slip-up: “Well… the secrets of the heavens cannot be revealed.”
Yun Zhonghe shot back, “So this magic cube was made by you?”
Xing Bu turned sheepish: “Well… the secrets of the heavens cannot be revealed.”
Yun Zhonghe nonchalantly blurted, “Lame.”
What a useless response.
Xing Bu instantly bristled, her brows knitting together, her tone tinged with irritation: “Hey! What’s your deal? I was gonna grant you wishes, and you’re acting all paranoid! This is a heavenly opportunity—hard to come by! Why don’t you just seize it?!”
Yun Zhonghe smiled indifferently: “Then my wish is to know the answer to that question from just now.”
Xing Bu couldn’t help but twitch at the corners of her mouth: “Come on, in this situation, shouldn’t you be thinking of getting stronger techniques or achieving some grand ambition? What in the world is wrong with your brain?”
