Immortal Cultivation and Life-Saving Guide

The skeleton stepped straight over the gate, and two flames started from the hanging lanterns, instantly enveloping the gate.

Through the flames, Wei Xi could see the skeleton walking straight towards the door.

In a hurry, Wei Xi tentatively shone the lantern at the blazing courtyard gate, and the flames turned into a light green.

A series of previous experiences made Wei Xi realize that this special paper lantern could reveal the true side of things here, so after throwing a handful of leaves to explore the way, she picked up the tablet blocking the door and crawled through the burning door.

Weixi No. 2 followed closely behind, unfazed by any misjudgment from her other self. As her skirt emerged from the flames intact, the door behind her vanished with a whoosh.

The fire was indeed quite strange, but fortunately no one was hurt. Wei Xi and the others were so focused on the skeleton that they had no time to pay attention to the strange flames.

The yard was in a mess, with broken paper figures lying in the ashes, looking quite shocking; the flower-mouthed monkeys that had fled in panic before had now become mature and were lying motionless on the ground.

Wei Xi is both talented and experienced in setting fires, and he always manages to escape unscathed.

Of course, she can only ensure that she can escape safely.

Walking through this scorched earth, Wei Xi could hear the wailing sounds of the paper figures, and the smile on his face completely disappeared.

The skeletons did not move very fast, so the journey became extremely torturous.

With just a step over the threshold, Wei Xi entered the room!

"What's going on here?" Weixi No. 2 looked at the nearby woods, clearing, and bonfire, feeling confused. "Where are the red tent and paper figurines you mentioned?"

Wei Xi, equally puzzled, turned around and found that the carved wooden door behind him had disappeared, replaced by the endless Nanjiang jungle.

"It seems this could very well be an illusion," Weixi No. 2 whispered, "Could this be the ability of the Immortal Wood? Similar to Lian Gou's [Enter the Painting]?"

Wei Xi, holding the tablet in her arms, remained noncommittal. Her transformation into wood didn't seem fake; these scene changes could be achieved with magical instruments. Wei Xi had used a similar instrument during the Zhenhai Sect competition.

The two men were incredibly brave and continued to follow the skeleton.

The skeleton walked stiffly to the center of the open space, where a bonfire was burning brightly, sparks crackling outwards, adding a bit of liveliness to the space.

However, the Immortal Wood would normally last no more than three seconds. The skeleton turned its back to the campfire, stretched out its arms, and slowly twisted its joints. Unfortunately, it was now in the form of white bones, looking devoid of any beauty, only endlessly strange.

Fortunately, Wei Xi was no ordinary person. After staring for a long time, he vaguely realized that the skeleton seemed to be... dancing?
Although the movements are a bit stiff and the scenes are a bit weird, it is still reasonable to say that it is a unique dance.

I just don't know who the audience for this kind of dance is, and Wei Xi feels that he cannot appreciate it.

Wei Xi No. 2 next to him was rubbing his fingers so hard that sparks were about to come out. His eyebrows were twisted together and he looked very confused.

Fortunately, as time passed, the skeleton's movements became more and more smooth, and the two reached a consensus that the skeleton was performing a very "explicit" dance.

"...Strange," Weixi No. 2 hesitated for a moment, then leaned over to Weixi's ear and said, "How did a nice wedding turn into a dance of bones?"

This reminded Wei Xi: After all, the paper figurine made it clear that the mission of a blessed person is to gain the approval of the saint and comb her hair smoothly.

After finally confirming the Saint's identity, how can one gain her approval? And where did the skull's hair come from?

At their wit's end, the Saint, now reduced to mere bones, began to move with remarkable ease, even bending at the waist. Without flesh and blood, her bones made a tingling clanging sound. Even more unsettling was the sound of solemn yet untamed music, seemingly a combination of drums and flutes.

"It's not the 'Carrying the Bridal Sedan' you mentioned," Weixi No. 2 said, "I've never heard a similar tune... but do you think it sounds like a sacrificial offering?"

Wei Xi had never participated in a sacrificial ceremony, so she wasn't sure. However, according to her understanding, the saint woman's mission was to communicate with the gods, and dancing might be a way of expressing this.

The music grew louder and louder, and the drumbeats became impossible to ignore, as if knocking on one's heart. Along with the increasingly frantic movements of the skeleton, it was hard not to feel fear.

After the saint fell into the bonfire, the atmosphere reached its peak.

Wei Xi and the others didn't even have time to drag the skeleton out of the campfire before new trouble arose.

Some ragged people emerged from the surrounding woods. These people included men and women, old and young, with expressionless faces, stiff limbs, and slow movements.

These "people" - let's call them that for now - moved step by step towards the blazing bonfire, found their right position and stood there motionless.

At a glance, Wei Xi could tell that these people were standing in the same positions as the paper figures in the room at the beginning. She carefully shone the lantern under them, and sure enough, they were all paper figures.

These people danced around the campfire, their movements were indescribably absurd, like a scene you would see in a dream.

But danger is also approaching quietly. The flesh and blood of these people are disappearing bit by bit, and are replaced by paper; their movements are becoming more and more exaggerated, and those who cannot keep up with the rhythm will be grabbed and thrown into the bonfire.

Wei Xi and the other person were also forced to dance, but they were not familiar with this kind of dance. In addition, they had to rely on willpower to hold on until now, and it was obvious that they could not hold on for much longer.

With the fuel, the bonfire burned more vigorously, like a silent death warrant.

"What do you think will happen in the future?" Wei Xi No. 2 suddenly asked. Her voice was a little breathless, and it was obvious that she could not hold on any longer.

"I don't know," Wei Xi's voice was steady, and there was no sign that she was holding a memorial tablet or a lantern. "You'll see when you get a chance!"

Weixi No. 2 sneered and replied, "You're really good at pretending to be confused... Are we that good at acting?"

"Forget it," Weixi No. 2 took a deep breath, barely dodging an attack from a burly man. "I don't believe you haven't thought about which of us will survive?"

"It's a pity that I'm not the real 'Wei Xi'... Maybe you can survive..."

Wei Xi remained silent: she knew that she would never give up her right to survive easily, so she tried to delay the showdown with the other party.

But I didn't expect the other party to reveal his choice so straightforwardly.

"You knew this a long time ago?" Wei Xi's face showed a rare expression of gentle regret. "Why don't you try to replace me?"

"I'm not giving up," Weixi No. 2 said, refusing to resonate with himself emotionally. He felt a sense of weariness. "This is the best option."

"From my memorial tablet to my past, all signs indicate that I'm not a real person. Even if I harmed you, how can I replace you?"

(End of this chapter)