Chapter 53: Players Never Become Slaves!

Finally, I’m almost there!

Ji Lao Jiang panted, sticking his tongue out. He didn’t even remember how long he had been flying and didn’t dare log off to rest.

He feared that if he logged off, his character would end up lost again, leaving him unable to shed a single tear! Feeling the intense heat around him, Ji Lao Jiang felt a wave of warmth. He couldn’t contain his excitement! “Hahaha! I’ve finally arrived!”

As his laughter rang out, he couldn’t help but tear up. The journey had been arduous, and Ji Lao Jiang felt he had endured all the hardships in the Primordial World in his life! Countless times he had been scorched by fire, struck by lightning, and frozen solid. The worst was not seeing a glimmer of hope, but thankfully, he had persevered, holding on to the beautiful fantasy of the Chaos Bell.

“Who is shouting?”

A light, ethereal voice suddenly appeared in the starry sky, interrupting Ji Lao Jiang’s laughter.

“How could there be life near the Sun Star? That voice is feminine. Could it be Xihe? Has she manifested so soon?”

Ji Lao Jiang’s mind raced. He never expected to encounter someone near the Sun Star!

Before him appeared a fairy dressed in a long purple gown, gracefully flying out from the darkness. Even though her movements were slow, she suddenly stood right in front of Ji Lao Jiang.

Ji Lao Jiang trembled, “Could it be the Goddess Xihe?”

He wasn’t scared; after all, he could just die. He just felt pity for all the hard work he had put in over the past several days!

After facing countless hardships, to have hope dashed at the last moment—he couldn’t help wanting to slap himself a hundred times!

“You said you found the Sun Star and decided to celebrate, but why are you laughing so loudly? Don’t you know how obvious you are in the starry sky? Here you go ruining everything!” Ji Lao Jiang cursed inwardly.

The purple-clad fairy frowned in apparent displeasure, “What Xihe? I am a primeval sacred being born of the Supreme Ziwei Emperor Star. How dare you call me such a name, you ugly creature!”

So it’s a divine being born from the Ziwei Star. Ji Lao Jiang’s mind raced; since she wasn’t from the Sun Star, it was easy. All he had to do was trick her away!

With that thought, Ji Lao Jiang smiled, “Then, Divine Maiden Ziwei, why aren’t you cultivating on the Ziwei Emperor Star? What brings you to such a scorching place near the Sun Star?”

Upon hearing the flattering title, Ziwei smiled, her beauty shining even brighter with her smile.

Ji Lao Jiang couldn’t help but be captivated.

This game character design is unbelievably good! It’s as if this fairy genuinely exists in some corner of the universe, he thought to himself.

The Ziwei Fairy replied, “I have been cultivating on the Ziwei Star for a thousand years. Recently, feeling restless, I decided to wander the starry sky.

I happened to want to take a look at the sun formed from Pangu’s right eye when I heard your obnoxious laughter.”

“Uh…”

Ji Lao Jiang became awkward.

Ji Lao Jiang fell silent as the Ziwei Fairy curiously assessed him, her intrigue only growing.

Sweat trickled down Ji Lao Jiang’s forehead. He could only hope this divine being would leave quickly, allowing him to find the Chaos Bell sooner.

“Your strange aura is so out of place here, yet the world doesn’t seem to hate you, this ugly creature!” commented the Ziwei Fairy.

“But looking at you, you seem like an ordinary exotic bird in the Primordial World. It’s truly incredible that you managed to fly past nine heavens and reach the vicinity of the Sun Star.”

The more she scrutinized him, the more brilliance sparkled in her eyes. Despite the compliments, Ji Lao Jiang felt a wave of unease. “I—it’s just pure luck that I found myself here in the starry sky. I wouldn’t want to disturb your noble self; I’ll be taking my leave.”

Saying that, he flapped his bare wings, planning to slip away quietly and return to the search later.

Unexpectedly, a flash of purple magic came at him suddenly. “No way, is this primeval sacred being so ferocious? Could she be after my body, wanting to treat me as a meal?”

Ji Lao Jiang quickly realized the trouble he was in.

“While your breed is ordinary and your talents lackluster, your atrocious appearance is undeniable. But the fact that you’ve made it to the starry sky with sheer will is quite remarkable.”

Ziwei clapped her hands.

“Just in time! I’ve been in need of a mount. I’ll reluctantly take you on as my steed!”

“What the hell!”

Ji Lao Jiang exploded, flapping his sides in an attempt to break free from her grasp. The last few feathers he had were blown away.

“Players usually make NPCs into pets, but today I’m the one being turned into a mount!”

Ji Lao Jiang’s face burned with anger; he struggled desperately, but the purple aura felt as unyielding as the hardest celestial chain. Even as it cut into his skin, he couldn’t budge a bit.

Seeing Ji Lao Jiang squirming, the Ziwei Fairy laughed, “There’s no need to struggle. Becoming my mount isn’t a disgrace to you.”

“Players never become slaves!”

Ji Lao Jiang roared defiantly, his voice echoing through the vast starry sky! If the online community found out he had become an NPC’s mount, sitting beneath someone, what would happen to his glorious reputation? “Players? What a curious name!”

The Ziwei Fairy laughed, gently patting Ji Lao Jiang’s head with her fair hand.

“What’s going on? Are you treating me like a pet now?” Ji Lao Jiang cursed inwardly.

But the next moment, he felt a chill on his head as a surge of energy poured in from the top, and he couldn’t help but let out a crisp cry.

“Did the immortal touch my head to grant eternal life?”

As his body grew stronger, he gradually expanded to about ten meters in size, becoming a towering figure.

Clap!

The Ziwei Fairy clapped her hands in satisfaction, “Now, that’s better!”

Ji Lao Jiang quickly took a selfie. His original green feathers had all turned purple, and his previous injuries were fully healed.

Just as Ji Lao Jiang celebrated, he suddenly felt a weight on his back—Ziwei Fairy had already settled in!

Ji Lao Jiang immediately flew into a rage. “Don’t think you can just ride me because you did me a little good! I have principles too!”

He bucked violently, but the Ziwei Fairy remained as steady as a mountain; she wouldn’t budge.

In a fit of desperation, Ji Lao Jiang shut off all feelings of pain just to confront her!

He thrashed wildly, trying to shake her off, while his beak snapped at the fairy in a desperate bid to attack.

The Ziwei Fairy was visibly moved:

“Could it be you truly do not wish to become my mount? You even wish to slay your master?”

Just after she had enhanced his essence and body, she had put a restriction in place, but it seemed it hadn’t taken effect?

This creature called a player was surprisingly stubborn?

With no other choice, Ji Lao Jiang spoke, “Fairy, how about this: I’ll share with you a magnificent secret in exchange for your fairness in releasing me! We can coexist peacefully from here on out!”

Curious, the Ziwei Fairy asked, “What incredible secret do you have?”

Ji Lao Jiang gritted his teeth; as a player, he knew many secrets. As long as he could escape now, it would be worth it. Besides, having been enhanced, his strength had multiplied many times over! “Have you heard of the Chaos Bell, the innate treasure?”

The Ziwei Fairy gasped, her voice serious, “That is one of the three great innate treasures, formed from the Primordial Axe. How could I not know?”

Ji Lao Jiang’s heart swelled with pride, and he noticed the Ziwei Fairy’s unease. “Why does my mount look like such a creep?”

She thought to herself.

“I’ve faced countless hardships on Earth just to find the Chaos Bell!”

Ziwei Fairy suddenly looked seriously at Ji Lao Jiang. She scanned the starry sky around.

“Could the Chaos Bell be hiding in this starry sky? But it’s vast beyond measure. If I don’t have luck on my side, I’ll never encounter the Chaos Bell in my lifetime!”

“Hehe!” Ji Lao Jiang cackled, “The Chaos Bell is right here on the Sun Star, and it’s currently an unclaimed treasure!”

He said this proudly while eagerly watching the fairy on his back, eager to see her reaction.

As expected, upon hearing this, the air around them froze. The Ziwei Fairy’s eyes radiated with purple light.

The light surged through the endless heat waves towards the massive Sun Star.

The innate treasure, the Chaos Bell—who wouldn’t want it? It’s formed from the Primordial Axe, the best of the innate treasures! After a moment, her expression turned complex as she pulled back her light, saying, “What you said is indeed true. The Chaos Bell indeed lies hidden within the core of the Sun! But I cannot let you go yet!”

Ji Lao Jiang’s eyes widened, and without hesitation, he angrily shouted, “As a player, I’ve already recognized my despicable nature. But never did I expect you, looking so graceful and divine, to be even more shameless than I am! I, player Ji Lao Jiang, will never become a slave!”