Chapter 56#
Surprise flashed across Pei Huang’s eyes, but before he could speak, Xue Jingci covered his mouth.
Xue Jingci said: “Think about it first before answering.”
His gaze locked firmly on Pei Huang. His eyes remained as calm and emotionless as always, yet it made Pei Huang feel like this person had already seen through his thoughts.
Pei Huang’s expression grew complex. He’d already resolved to separate from Xue Jingci after leaving this place.
But Xue Jingci had suddenly proposed taking him as a disciple.
Didn’t that mean they’d always be together from now on?!
This fleeting thought suddenly warmed his heart, nearly causing panic as he turned his gaze away.
Before he could think it through properly, his vision blurred. The next moment, darkness claimed him and he lost consciousness.
Xue Jingci instinctively caught him. The system meowed an explanation: “Host, don’t worry. He’s fine. When we seal the two worlds later, we’ll need to go to the void realm. He can only stay safely in the system space.”
Xue Jingci supported Pei Huang, following the little cat’s guidance, placing him into the system space. The little strawberry refused to enter but was caught by the cat’s paw and tossed in together.
“Watch over him,” Xue Jingci instructed.
With that, one man and one cat headed toward the snow mountain.
Only upon drawing near did they realize the mountain was far higher than previously seen.
Snow swirled in spirals, gathering into mist that blocked passages between peaks. Initially, the path showed signs of travelers and wild beasts. But after ascending through the clouds, no human traces remained—only birds could inhabit such heights.
They chased each other across the snow, scattering accumulated drifts and leaving fine claw prints that were quickly swallowed by wind and snow.
Xue Jingci recalled the villagers’ words, knowing this was the “sacred realm” they’d mentioned.
The surroundings grew increasingly silent. Only the faint tinkling of golden wheels from the mountain’s foot could be heard. Later, even that sound disappeared.
The system finally raised its paw, pointing ahead: “There it is!”
Xue Jingci strode forward, feeling like he’d broken through some transparent barrier. Instantly, the surrounding wind, snow, and temperature completely vanished.
There was no sound here, no temperature—it resembled the void world within the main god’s space.
Suddenly, Xue Jingci sensed something massive approaching him. His eyes turned fierce, and he pivoted to attack.
The next second, he collided with something soft and furry.
Recognizing the familiar aura, Xue Jingci withdrew his attack and looked up.
Before him was an extraordinarily large and fierce beast. Its eyes were as huge as lanterns, projecting yellow fierce light.
Its entire body was snowy white, with a flame-like red mark between its brows. Behind it, eight enormous tails churned and twisted like wild serpents.
Xue Jingci was startled. Suddenly, the fierce beast opened its three-part mouth, revealing an idiotic yet triumphant smile: “Host, it’s me! This place is dangerous. I used points to temporarily maximize my body permissions to help you.”
“You…”
Xue Jingci hesitated, asking: “Are you the Eight-Tailed Cat?”
The system was suddenly stunned. Memories locked away for ages surged back.
It finally remembered its name. It remembered the time before becoming a system.
Seeking immortality and growing a ninth tail, it had once traveled everywhere, fulfilling others’ wishes.
Back then, humans called it Eight-Tail.
But it couldn’t remember why it never grew a ninth tail, or how it bonded with the main god to become a system.
The purity in the system’s eyes suddenly faded, becoming somewhat cold and sharp.
After a long moment, it said firmly: “Yes, that’s my name.”
Xue Jingci didn’t notice its abnormality. He simply said seriously: “If anyone asks in the future, I’ll tell them.”
The system was momentarily stunned, lowering its head to look at Xue Jingci. The flame mark on its forehead flickered slightly.
It recalled how Xue Jingci’s situation in the sect wasn’t favorable, yet people would approach him due to his beauty. When someone asked his cat’s name, Xue Jingci would simply say “cat.”
Those people thought Xue Jingci had an odd, arrogant temperament, as if deliberately mocking them.
What kind of cat was named cat?
The system had asked Xue Jingci to give it a proper name, something to brush off casually.
But Xue Jingci shook his head, saying names were important things.
The depth in the system’s eyes faded, and it couldn’t help but smile.
“Host, let’s go.”
Xue Jingci followed the Eight-Tailed cat deeper into the barrier. Here, even time seemed frozen, making it impossible to perceive how much had passed.
The deeper they went, the more chaotic the surrounding forces became. At a certain point, they erupted uncontrollably, attacking everything indiscriminately.
The Eight-Tailed cat extended its tail, wrapping Xue Jingci within it. It frowned: “We were supposed to meet 6B. Why hasn’t it appeared?”
Shortly after, a white giant ape finally descended from the sky, landing before them.
It squatted inelegantly, its tail swinging lazily. It reached up to scratch its chin: “Sorry! These years without a host, I’ve just been sleeping in the void world. Time’s hard to sense there. I accidentally overslept.”
Seeing it mention the missing host, the Eight-Tailed cat’s eyes showed nervousness. It quickly hid Xue Jingci with its tail: “It’s fine.”
Only then did 6B drop its playful smile. It pointed at the surrounding force clusters: “Our two worlds are too close. Right now they’re just bumping into each other, but soon they’ll gradually overlap. That would cause catastrophic disasters!”
Xue Jingci moved aside the tail, asking: “What should I do?”
6B had seen Xue Jingci once before, thinking him a sickly beauty. Today, seeing him again, though weak-looking, the power coiled within him was terrifying. As a level-9 system, 6B couldn’t even penetrate his cultivation level!
No wonder so many in that world wanted to harm him. They’d probably already sensed that if not eliminated, he’d become a major enemy!
6B looked at the system, expressing its concern: “When you return, you’ll have major matters to handle, yes? If you ask me, those highest positions should change hands!”
The system: “…”
It finally understood why its host’s eyes showed relief when teaching disciples, occasionally even revealing smiles like melting ice that made one unable to look away.
He’d been thinking about this all along.
6B, unaware of the system’s wandering thoughts, continued: “But sealing two worlds requires enormous energy. You might fall into sleep and miss your important matters.”
Xue Jingci hadn’t spoken, seriously contemplating the world overlap in his mind.
This meant things from another world would descend here. If it were volcanic lava, it could destroy a city in moments.
Sealing couldn’t be delayed.
His voice was quiet but resolute: “Let’s begin now.”
6B, seeing his eyes as solid as stone, was greatly impressed. Such conviction wasn’t common!
Respect filled its eyes: “First, we need to scatter all these condensed, uncontrolled forces. Then you and my fellow system will work together to reconstruct the barrier.”
Xue Jingci frowned: “Can I directly devour them?”
“Devour?!” 6B’s eyes widened in shock: “Stay calm! While this could quickly solve the problem, you’d explode from the power!”
These young cultivators were too reckless!
Xue Jingci said nothing, turning to fully release the power he’d suppressed.
A terrifying black shadow materialized behind him—a bottomless abyss. The abyss vaguely obscured his body, radiating an aura capable of destroying everything.
Xue Jingci’s expression turned icy, his eyes pitch-black, face expressionless as he approached the force clusters.
A hissing sound filled the air. The originally rampaging, uncontrolled forces, the moment they neared Xue Jingci, were all torn by invisible hands and finally corroded into nothingness by the abyss.
Without blood-color, only cold, deadly black, yet it made one almost smell intense blood, terror and despair rising from the heart.
6B’s tail, hanging behind it, stood straight up like a flag. Its expression showed it was facing a formidable enemy as it looked at the system: “You’re not afraid? He could devour you anytime he wished.”
The system swished its eight tails, watching 6B with vigilance.
Was 6B trying to take its host, sowing discord?
It loudly retorted: “My host would never! He likes me best!”
With that, it whipped its tail, urging 6B: “My host has dealt with the chaotic forces. You quickly help me reset the barrier!”
The two systems quickly coordinated, infusing system power to reconstruct the barrier between the two worlds.
Unknown time passed. Xue Jingci finally finished devouring all the forces here.
His body slowly crumbled, disappearing into space, transforming into scattered starlight drifting toward the heavens.
This was a most unusual perspective.
Lowering his head, Xue Jingci could see two massive light orbs squeezed together—one green, one red. The parts that had merged gradually separated, finally completely detaching from each other.
6B looked toward Xue Jingci, seeing he was no longer human-formed but a twisted black shadow drifting between the two worlds.
It couldn’t help but say to the system: “Your host is truly remarkable, like coming from those high-level divine planes. If anyone else absorbed this much power, they’d already be in deep sleep for self-repair. Yet he’s reformed his body so quickly…”
6B was envious, shaking its head: “I heard the host assigned to me was also from a high-level plane.”
The system laughed awkwardly, pretending ignorance: “Is that so? My host is so humble. He never talks to me about these things. This is the first time I’ve learned he’s from such an amazing place!”
As the two worlds completely separated, the system swished its tail at 6B in farewell.
“The passage will disappear soon. We must return immediately. Perhaps we’ll meet again!”
Though so, the two worlds would certainly never meet again.
6B nodded, sighing wistfully. So that host was unreliable after all. Better to request a new one!
The system leaped to Xue Jingci’s side, pulling him toward the passage.
Xue Jingci’s power gradually stabilized, his human form returning. His complexion was, however, ghastly pale, as if barely clinging to life, ready to collapse at any moment.
The system quickly had Xue Jingci lie on its back, carefully protecting him with eight tails.
Xue Jingci touched the white tail beside him, his hoarse voice saying: “You’re truly beautiful.”
The system initially felt proud, but seeing Xue Jingci turn to cough, blood seeping from his fingers.
Its heart clenched. Earlier, hearing 6B praise the host’s strength, it had been secondhand proud.
But though the host hadn’t fallen into sleep, his body was severely damaged.
“Host!”
The system’s expression was pained: “Are you very uncomfortable? Don’t be afraid. I’m very capable now. After returning, I can protect you.”
Its words had barely finished when it suddenly sensed its power fading like a tide. It then remembered—it had only temporarily recovered its body using points.
Now it had to revert!
One person and one cat fell directly back into the original world.
The system used its remaining power to protect Xue Jingci before flumping to the ground, becoming a dirty little cat doll.
“I’m sorry, Host. I have no power left.”
The system couldn’t maintain its true form. The space also shrunk to fist-size, and Pei Huang and little strawberry tumbled to the ground.
Xue Jingci’s mind felt dazed. Hearing this, he said it was fine, lowering his head to pick them up one by one.
Pei Huang felt like he’d slept for ages.
In his dream, he’d returned to East Village, sitting by a wall, dozing in the sunlight.
Only when a familiar voice called to him did he suddenly awaken.
He struggled to open his eyes and found Xue Jingci sitting extremely close, staring at him without blinking.
Those eyes held soft laughter, making his heart involuntarily soften.
In that moment, Pei Huang had an absurd impulse—to recklessly agree to Xue Jingci and stay by his side.
In the end, he suppressed this impulse, simply watching him quietly, as if wanting to etch this image into his memory forever.
Xue Jingci had waited by Pei Huang all night. Seeing him awake, he asked happily: “Disciple, you’re awake?”
This natural tone suddenly left Pei Huang dumbfounded.
When had he ever agreed?!