Chapter 150: Ghost Immortal Xiaoqian Becomes a Golden Immortal, Human-Ghost Love Involves Many Schemes [4k]

Nie Xiaoqian, this female ghost who was also famously renowned in his past life, does not seem simple at all to the current Fang Longye.

If the development of events in this world is not too far off from the narrative thread of the stories in his past life's memories, then there is much to be said about this successor wife of Ning.

"Several years later, Ning indeed passed the imperial examination, and the woman bore him one son. After taking a concubine, they each bore another son, all of whom achieved fame in officialdom."

This is the ending of the Nie Xiaoqian chapter in the *Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio* of his past life.

In other words, this female ghost, Nie Xiaoqian, and the living human being before his eyes, Ning, successively gave birth to two living sons.

What kind of concept is this? It indicates that this female ghost named Nie Xiaoqian must be, at the very least, a cultivator of the Ghost Immortal Path at the Golden Immortal level.

Only a Ghost Immortal who has stepped into the Golden Immortal level can possess both Yin and Yang, manifest a spiritual body, and unite with a human to give birth to normal living beings.

"I fear the truth is likely not far off from my conjecture. Only if this successor wife of Ning, Nie Xiaoqian, is an existence at the Golden Immortal level could it be related to the opportunities and fortunes of Qingli and the others."

Thinking this, Fang Longye likewise returned a slight bow to Ning Caichen, and without concealment, spoke bluntly: "Yuanlong of Cangmang Mountain, greetings to this gentleman."

This famously renowned "undead knight" was momentarily stunned, seemingly not expecting Fang Longye to be so candid as to directly report his own background.

After the daze, he waved his hands repeatedly: "This Dragon Lord is too kind; Ning has merely read some books of the sages, how could I be called a gentleman?"

The previously trembling Zhou, who was standing nearby, was also stunned after hearing Fang Longye report his background; he immediately stole a few glances at Fang Longye and gradually regained his composure.

This action was naturally taken in by Fang Longye, who immediately chuckled inwardly; the title of Dragon Lord is truly useful!

Without even needing to truly confirm it, it could make a mortal set aside the fear in their heart.

"My secular name is Fang Longye; Brother Ning may simply call me Brother Fang."

"Ning is but a secular scholar, how would I dare to address the Dragon Lord as an equal?"

"Brother Ning is mistaken; as the saying goes..."

After some polite refusals, Ning Caichen finally agreed, "Since Brother Fang is so willing to humble yourself and lower your status to befriend me, I, Ning, shall boldly accept."

Having said this, he recovered his previous ease, looked at the dilapidated villa, and smiled: "Having stood outside for so long, I wonder if I might enter to beg for a cup of tea?"

Fang Longye smiled: "We are but passersby here; as long as Brother Ning is not afraid, follow your own wishes."

Ning Caichen smiled upon hearing this and immediately paced into the place, observing the dilapidated and eerie villa with great interest.

A trace of nostalgia rose in his eyes, as if he were recalling something.

Fang Longye casually bestowed some wealth upon Zhou and sent him away.

He then paced to Ning Caichen's side and, toward him as he was lost in thought facing the villa, probed: "I only stated my own name just now and offered no proof. Is Brother Ning not worried that the three of us, master and servants, are some kind of demons or evil spirits?"

Hearing this, Ning Caichen came back to his senses and immediately patted the Sword Pouch at his waist.

He opened his mouth and smiled: "I do not believe Brother Fang could fail to see the miraculous nature of this Sword Pouch of mine. If Brother Fang were some kind of demon, this Sword Pouch would have reacted long ago."

Fang Longye looked at the worn-out Sword Pouch at this Ning's waist, his eyes shining brightly, and continued to probe to lead the conversation: "What a strange treasure! Is it a family heirloom?"

Ning Caichen shook his head and said: "How could it be a family heirloom? It was merely gifted to me by an extraordinary friend in my early years~"

"Oh? It seems Brother Ning has had quite the fortuitous encounter!" Fang Longye thought to himself, it's settled; the story's development is indeed not far off from his past life's memories.

"It was merely a matter of fate!" Ning Caichen looked at the eerie and terrifying scene all around and sighed with emotion.

He then chuckled, "Just like meeting Brother Fang today, is that not another magical encounter for me?"

"I am actually quite interested in Brother Ning's previous encounters," Fang Longye said with a smile, "Since we have this rare affinity, why not drink and chat?"

"Since Brother Fang invites me, it is naturally my great honor."

Seeing this, Fang Longye immediately smiled and waved his hand, instantly changing the scenery; the demonic aura was cleared, plants and trees vied to grow, and the entire villa took on a brand-new look.

It no longer had that previous dilapidated, messy, and eerie terror.

In the courtyard by the rockery and pond, willow branches cast reflections in the waves, strands entering the water; it was clear, newly dyed, and lush with greenery.

Under the tree in front of the pond, a jade table and Vine Chair were set, upon which sat an antique bronze flower pot, with sparse flower branches inserted diagonally, blooming like brocade.

The two sat opposite each other, and accompanied by the new tea in the jade cups and the swirling steam, Ning Caichen recounted the encounters from seven or eight years ago.

Sure enough, just as in Fang Longye's past life memories, the narrative thread was not far off.

Meeting Yan in the temple, meeting the ghost beauty at night, slaying the Yaksha demon with a sword, gifting the Sword Pouch upon parting, Xiaoqian offering herself, remarrying after his wife's death, the Sword Pouch eliminating old enemies, the ghost wife bearing two sons.

There were some deviations in the details, but the general thread was the same.

As Ning Caichen recounted these past experiences of his, he was naturally expressive and vivid; listening to it felt as if these things were being performed right before his eyes.

Even though Fang Longye was already intimately familiar with this Ning's story, he still listened with great relish.

Interspersed in between were exchanges of conversation, discussing everything from poetry and songs, Buddhist and Immortal Dao scriptures, the theories of the hundred schools, to personal insights...

It was quite a pleasant chat.

The shadows of the pine and cypress leaves outside slanted in.

Mixed with a faint dim yellow, circular halos of light appeared on the bluestone floor.

Blue and yellow reflected each other, layered and orderly.

Ning Caichen sat on the bamboo Vine Chair, talking and laughing, speaking incessantly.

After a long while, he stopped talking and sipped his tea; a breeze blew, bringing a chill, and only then did he realize with astonishment that time had flowed far away.

He saw the willow colors soaking in the waves all around, the green clouds drifting; he did not know when the morning light had already turned into evening glow, the dim yellow sunset rays coming from the treetops, the bamboo and trees sparse, the water ripples delicate.

In front of the pond by the table, a spring flowed from a beast's face, spraying water like snow, scattering gracefully, with a quiet and tranquil charm.

The sunset light, water ripples, and stone texture intertwined to form a beautiful picture scroll.

Ning Caichen did not care too much about the delicacy of the scenery, but truly did not expect that he and the other party would be so compatible.

Without realizing it, they had chatted from sunrise to sunset; a whole day of time had passed, and he hadn't even noticed.

After his surprise, he sighed with emotion: "The world says, 'A white-haired acquaintance feels like a new one, while a new acquaintance feels like an old friend'; I had never experienced this before. Today I finally know what this feeling is like."

Fang Longye smiled faintly and did not respond. Using his experiences from his past and present lives to engage in conversation with him could only be called bullying.

However, this Ning who married a ghost wife was indeed beyond his expectations and gave him quite a surprise.

The breadth of his knowledge and the uniqueness of his insights were not at all like those of a mundane person; it was truly inconceivable.

Fang Longye gazed at the manifestation of fortune above his head, and thinking of Nie Xiaoqian, that practitioner of the Ghost Immortal Path, he became lost in thought.

"Sigh! Although being able to befriend a personage like Brother Fang is naturally a trip worth taking, I have delayed quite a bit of time, causing my wife and children at home to wait for me for an extra day for no reason."

After Ning Caichen recovered from his excitement and calmed his mind, he thought of his wife and children at home and sighed immediately.

"Oh?" Upon hearing this, Fang Longye's eyes shifted, and he smiled immediately: "How about this? Let me give Brother Ning a ride."

"Ah? That wouldn't be good, would it?"

"What is there to be bad about?" Fang Longye waved his hand and said, "It is merely a matter of lifting a finger."

"I felt like old friends with Brother Ning the moment we met; this is just a small favor. Besides, it was indeed because of talking with me that time was delayed, so this is just to make up for it."

Seeing Ning Caichen hesitate, Fang Longye immediately made the final decision: "It is settled."

"With my methods, it will only take a moment to get Brother Ning home safely. Does Brother Ning not want to see his wife and children at home tonight?"

Upon hearing this, Ning Caichen thanked him immediately: "Then I shall trouble Brother Fang!"

"It is no trouble."

"However, regarding Zhou and the others outside, I ask Brother Fang to please look after them as well."

"Brother Ning is kind-hearted. I understand."

After some arrangements, Fang Longye accompanied Ning Caichen to the side of the carriage.

"Brother Ning, please look!"

As soon as the words fell, the entire carriage, along with the precious steeds pulling it, changed its appearance, returning to its original form.

A carriage carved with dragons and painted with phoenixes, inlaid with precious pearls, rose into the air and hovered in mid-air.

At the bottom, clouds gathered in clusters, with Divine Light rising and auspicious energy surging.

What a fine Immortal-family carriage.

The originally spirited red precious steeds were nowhere to be seen; replacing them was a strange beast with a dragon's mouth, lion's head, fish scales, ox tail, tiger claws, and deer antlers, resembling a Qilin.

It was seen to be entirely bright red, stepping on golden light, with blossoms blooming, also hovering in mid-air. One look, and it was clearly extraordinary.

"Let us go!"

Fang Longye took him and stepped into the carriage in one stride.

Before he could even look closely at the layout within the carriage space, he heard the sound of wind whistling in his ears.

Not long after, Fang Longye nudged him, as he was in a daze: "Brother Ning, we have arrived!"

"Ah?"

Ning Caichen came back to his senses and looked outside through a small window.

He saw that below the carriage was a residence covering several acres, planted with tall locust trees and deep bamboo, with lush greenery hanging down.

Inside the residence were storied buildings and high pavilions, winding corridors and flower pavilions, with clear water and trees.

It was indeed his own residence.

"This?!"

Fang Longye smiled without a word.

In fact, given the distance to Ning Caichen's residence, he could have brought him back and forth with a wave of his hand.

The reason he summoned his carriage was not to show off, but because his true intention was not the wine; it was for his wife—Nie Xiaoqian.

Do not misunderstand; it is not the kind of thought you are imagining.

It was to display his background, so as to recruit this talent.

How arduous is it to ascend to Golden Immortal in the Ghost Immortal Path? Regardless of what methods this Nie Xiaoqian used to ascend to Golden Immortal, the fact that she could succeed shows that her natural talent is overflowing.

In any faction, she is a talent worth Great Strength to cultivate.

And from Ning Caichen's description and the various signs Fang Longye perceived, this Nie Xiaoqian is still a lone wanderer in the mountains and wilds.

It is just right for him to recruit her.

Fang Longye would not believe that a practitioner of the 'Ghost Immortal Path' who could ascend to Golden Immortal would be some naive fool or love-struck simpleton.

Otherwise, she would not have chosen Ning Caichen, this sucker, to lock herself down.

As long as he shows his background and provides a ladder to climb upward, he does not believe this outstanding figure among Ghost Immortals would not work for him.

Look—hasn't this drawn her attention?

Feeling a gaze pass through the carriage and land on him, Fang Longye followed the gaze and looked.

He saw a woman gracefully emerge from the residence below, come into the courtyard, and look up.

To ordinary eyes, she was dressed as a married woman, but under Fang Longye's Dharma Eye, the layers of concealment vanished, revealing her true image.

It was strikingly the appearance of a female Daoist, with her hair combed into a flying immortal bun, her jade face cold, a cinnabar mark between her brows, holding a Whisk, with the patterns on her Dharma robe like water in the clouds, swirling in layers.

The expression in her eyes was daunting, full of indifference, icy cold, making one shudder at a glance, as if falling into an icy abyss.

Her gaze was like frost, like a white silk ribbon, piercing through.

Fang Longye was not to be outdone and immediately activated his Sun and Moon Golden Pupils, the powers of the sun and moon intertwining, gold and silver colors wrapping around, and met her gaze.

In the end, the two collided, sparking and clashing.

In the void, invisible to the naked eye, fine and dense sparks were born, possessing an indescribable beauty.

"What a formidable Dragon Lord!" In the clash on the spiritual level, she was faintly falling behind; Nie Xiaoqian's cold gaze shone into the gold and silver colors, and there was a stinging sensation in her pupils.

"Indeed, the Dragon Clan has a profound foundation." Her beautiful eyes lowered, and she thought to herself, "I observe that this Dragon Lord has not yet stepped into Golden Immortal!"

In her surprise, envy arose in her heart.

The 'Heavenly Immortal Path' practitioners truly have a bright future!

"Wife—"

While she was pondering, a voice came; she looked up and saw it was her husband.

Ning Caichen was full of joy.

She composed herself, immediately offered a slight bow, and spoke: "Husband—who are these guests?"

"Oh—" Ning Caichen patted his head and introduced them: "This one is no ordinary person; he is the Yuanlong Dragon Lord of Cangmang Mountain, a true and genuine Divine Immortal figure."

He apologized to Fang Longye with embarrassment: "I haven't seen my wife for a long time and couldn't help myself; I hope Brother Fang will forgive my lack of decorum."

"Brother Ning is sincere and straightforward; how could anyone find that laughable?"

Then, Fang Longye wore a smile and said: "Greetings to your esteemed wife."

"I am but a mere woman; how could I dare trouble the Dragon Lord with such courtesy?" Nie Xiaoqian replied, bowing with a look of trepidation.

Both sides put on a show of pretense in front of Ning Caichen.

Afterwards, they exchanged a few more vapid pleasantries before parting ways.

The Ning residence's detached courtyard was deep and secluded.

It was the middle of the night.

There was not a wisp of cloud in the sky.

The cold light was like water poured from a bag, falling into the courtyard, blending with the shadows of bamboo and pines to accumulate a clear emptiness; as the wind blew, it swayed gracefully, beautiful and exquisite like a verse of poetry, drifting onto the moss-covered ground.

"As the saying goes, a short parting is better than a new marriage. Brother Ning has just returned; since your wife is not accompanying Brother Ning to enjoy the new marriage, why have you come to my side, Fang?"

Between the pines and bamboo stood a wooden couch, two feet high and a zhang long, with hollowed-out carvings on the back depicting empty mountains in the rain and a young girl washing silk.

Fang Longye leaned halfway on the wooden couch, looking up at the moon; his ears twitched, and knowing who had arrived, he immediately spoke in a teasing tone.

"Hmph!" With a swirl of clouds and mist, the phantom of Nie Xiaoqian appeared beside an ancient well in the courtyard.

Paired with her white robes, it was truly three parts eerie.

She faced him with a cold expression and said sternly: "Is the famous Yuanlong Dragon Lord really such a rogue who specializes in bullying weak women?"

"A weak woman?" Fang Longye immediately laughed until he swayed back and forth, "A weak woman at the Golden Immortal Realm? Or should I ask, which weak woman is capable of daring to scheme against a reincarnated Golden Immortal with a profound background while she herself is only at the True Immortal stage?"

Seeing that she had no reaction, Fang Longye immediately stopped his laughter and muttered to himself that it was boring.

"It is often said that a great reputation is hard to live up to. However, it seems now that the Dragon Lord is truly extraordinary."

"But, I imagine the Dragon Lord did not travel thousands of miles to find this little woman just to say this, did he?"

Seeing Fang Longye expose her true nature in a single sentence, Nie Xiaoqian was greatly shocked, but she did not show it on her face and continued to speak coldly.

Fang Longye did not mind her attitude and said lazily: "It is indeed not for this, but from the moment I first saw you, fellow Daoist, the original problem was already solved."

"I had intended to invite you, fellow Daoist, to join my Cangmang Mountain and accomplish something great. As it turns out—" Fang Longye shook his head and sighed, "Since you, fellow Daoist, have other preferences, there is nothing more for me, Fang, to say."

Upon hearing this, Nie Xiaoqian just stared at him coldly again and again, then dissipated this avatar without a word.

She vanished and left.

Fang Longye stood up lazily, clapped his hands, and said to Qingli and Ao Ying who were serving nearby: "Alright, it is time to go. Since she does not look favorably upon our small temple, then so be it."

"It is also time to head to Corpse Soul Ridge to seek the fortune and opportunity that belongs to Qingli~"

(End of chapter)