In Order To Ascend, I Became A Modern Wage Slave - Chapter 31: Elemental True Monarch 4

Chapter 31: Elemental True Monarch 4

 

“You…”

 

The second half of his sentence, meant to curse, got stuck in Chen Zhidao’s throat. Reason told him it was best to shut up.

 

The atmosphere was tense—so tense that Chen Zhidao had the fleeting illusion he was doomed.

 

Xi Yu finally spoke. “What about me?”

 

Xi Yu’s words came with a smirk, and Chen Zhidao exhaled in relief, taking it as a cue to climb down the ladder. However, he still spoke in a patronizing tone, “Nothing, just listen next time…”

 

Before he could finish, Xi Yu directly vaulted over the broken wall in front of him.

 

The movement was smooth and fluid—effortless. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared.

 

“…?”

 

Chen Zhidao looked up at the wall. It was taller than he was, and today he was wearing height-enhancing shoes.

 

How did he even climb it?

 

He turned his attention back to his phone screen, where the audience comments were streaming:

[Host, show us your skills!]

 

Chen Zhidao scratched his head awkwardly and laughed. At most, he could grab the wall’s edge and flail. Just thinking about it felt humiliating. Making up an excuse, he said, “Well, I’m carrying you all, so it’s not convenient for me. Hey, why hasn’t he made any noise since going in? Did he faint from fright?”

 

Stretching his neck, he called out twice, but the empty mountain only echoed his voice back.

 

Chen Zhidao smirked inwardly, imagining all the ways Xi Yu might suffer for his disobedience. He began to lecture as if teaching a lesson, “This is what they call not listening to the wisdom of elders and paying the price. Alright, let’s go in quickly and see how he’s doing!”

 

Chen Zhidao nearly forgot about the big prank he had set up earlier in the Yuan Zhen Temple.

 

The statue had a wig, and a rope was strategically placed underfoot. Stepping on or tripping over it would cause the wig to fall. Not only that, a white garment was hung from the ceiling, ready to come flying down as someone tripped.

 

Peak entertainment!

 

If Xi Yu fell for it and ended up sprawled on the ground, it might create an even bigger spectacle.

 

Chen Zhidao gritted his teeth: serves you right for showing off earlier. Let’s see how embarrassed you get!

 

Creak—

 

As soon as he pushed open the door, Chen Zhidao immediately aimed the camera at the ground. Disappointingly, there was nothing but weeds and rubble—no sign of Xi Yu.

 

Maybe he’s further inside.

 

Chen Zhidao advanced cautiously, claiming for dramatic effect that his flashlight had run out of power. The only sources of light were his phone screen and the moonlight.

 

Bang!!

 

The door slammed shut behind him without warning. The sudden noise startled Chen Zhidao so much that it felt like all his organs jumped inside him. Probably just the wind, he thought. He steadied himself, took a deep breath, and continued exploring.

 

To distract himself, he checked the live-stream comments.

 

“Maybe he’s curled up in a corner, scared. No big deal, we haven’t seen everything yet.”

“Did a ghost grab him? Stop joking, there are no ghosts in this world!”

“Host, are you scared? Not at all! Even if a ghost stood in front of me, I would—”

 

His sentence was cut off as he tripped over a rope and fell face-first onto the ground.

 

The next second, oily, silky strands of hair brushed against his neck, making his hairs stand on end.

 

Just as he recalled setting up the prank himself, he felt a little relieved. Raising his head, he saw a white garment flying straight at him.

 

The relief vanished. His breath caught in his throat as his mind went blank. The garment draped over his head, plunging him into darkness and confusion.

 

Then, someone lightly tapped him on the back.

 

“AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!”

 

Chen Zhidao sprang up from the ground, flailing his arms like a bird trying to take flight.

 

Screaming and flailing, he ran headlong into Xi Yu. For a moment, they stared at each other. After a brief pause, Chen Zhidao’s screaming grew louder, and he bolted out of the Yuan Zhen Temple.

 

“Was it that scary?” Xi Yu picked up Chen Zhidao’s phone from the ground and, after recalling something, flipped it screen-down.

 

He stood up and looked at the statue.

 

The statue’s eyes glinted briefly, almost imperceptibly, and seemed to rotate.

 

Bai Fan had long noticed something unusual about the statue. “Who would’ve thought that little kid Yuan Xu would know to install an eye in his statue?”

 

Lian Bei said, “If you want to find him, there are only three routes: ancient records, temples and statues, or his own mischief.”

 

“I know,” Bai Fan analyzed, “Originally, the one bringing him here should’ve been you. But I think following the original plan this time might not be ideal. We fully understand the context, but Yuan Xu and Di Yi haven’t told us what they’re up to. It’s definitely no good. Maybe you have your considerations, but Xi Yu’s accidental timing turned out to be ingenious.”

 

Lian Bei rubbed his temples. “I’m not that petty.”

 

“Apologies, I’m used to your nitpicking,” Bai Fan said with a laugh. “Yuan Xu certainly didn’t expect Xi Yu to visit his temple right after returning from Luo Nan Mountain. Yuan Xu hasn’t even had the chance to check it himself. He’s panicking now and is on his way.”

 

Xi Yu folded his arms.

 

The statue of Elemental True Monarch sat upright, one hand holding a book and the other a blade of grass.

 

The grass was common in this area, but the one in the statue’s hand was likely a celestial herb—something not found in the mortal realm, possibly obtained after ascension. As for the book…

 

Xi Yu picked up the statue.

 

Chen Zhidao ran nonstop from the Yuan Zhen Temple to the foot of the mountain, only calming down upon seeing the distant lights of a high school’s evening classes.

 

Leaning against a tree, he finally regained his composure.

 

Not only had he been terrified by his own traps, but Xi Yu had also scared him out of his wits…

 

And now nearly ten thousand viewers in his live stream had witnessed his embarrassing display!

 

“Damn it!”

 

Chen Zhidao slammed the tree in frustration. Before he could utter a second curse, a sharp blow struck his lower back.

 

“Who gave you permission to trespass on other people’s property?!”

 

The blow had no restraint, sending Chen Zhidao clawing at the tree in pain, his nails scraping the bark uselessly as he tumbled down the slope.

 

After a dizzying fall, a boy’s face came into view.

 

The boy had the typical look of a delinquent: upturned eyes, a sneering mouth, and a mocking, disdainful gaze. He wore a school uniform, hands in his pockets, as he sauntered over. His expression screamed trouble.

 

Rumors said high schoolers these days were wild. Was this kid so furious because Chen Zhidao had accidentally interrupted him and some girl?

 

Yuan Xu crouched in front of him and asked, “Do you know what you did wrong?”

 

A wise man knows when to bow. Chen Zhidao nodded repeatedly.

 

Yuan Xu’s finger tapped his forehead. After a moment, he chuckled and whispered, “In that case, you’ll do everything I say from now on. Got it?”

 

Crazy! Give him an inch, and he takes a mile? Does this brat think he’s the king of the world?

 

Chen Zhidao slapped the ground, about to protest, when suddenly a searing pain overtook him. It felt as if countless insects were crawling through his veins, twisting him into a knot of agony.

 

Yuan Xu stood up, his voice light as a feather. “Don’t understand? Then die.”

 

Fortunately, Yuan Xu’s request aligned with Chen Zhidao’s current thoughts—to prank Xi Yu.

 

Along the path down the mountain, they dug three pits. Each was progressively deeper and strategically placed, with smaller pits around them to ensure Xi Yu wouldn’t miss them.

 

Chen Zhidao walked alongside him to ensure he fell into every single one.

 

Chen Zhidao said proudly, “Brother, this time we’ll win for sure!”

 

Yuan Xu, unwilling to acknowledge the idiot as a brother, said irritably, “When he questions you, answer exactly as I say. Don’t you dare add a single word!”

 

“Got it!”

 

Yuan Xu sneered, thinking it was a stroke of luck. How could he let such an opportunity slip by? Even though he wasn’t fully prepared this time, if he couldn’t finish Xi Yu off, he could at least seize the chance to strip him of his magic power, sowing the seeds of disaster. By then, Xi Yu would be powerless to recover.

 

Yuan Xu instructed Chen Zhidao to go in alone while he stayed outside, leaving a fragment of his consciousness on the statue. Closing his eyes, Yuan Xu observed through the statue’s eyes, but something about what he saw seemed off.

 

Chen Zhidao carefully pushed the door open, stepped inside, and looked around, only to find the place empty.

 

Spotting a faint glow from a phone on the ground, he quickly picked it up. The livestream was still running, and the number of viewers hadn’t decreased—in fact, it had doubled!

 

Seeing the barrage of comments, Chen Zhidao chuckled awkwardly and said, “I wasn’t scared at all, haha. I just realized I forgot something outside. That loud shouting? It was just for the livestream effect! Did you guys feel the excitement? Bet it spooked you, huh? Hahaha!”

 

【Oh my god, behind you!】

 

【There’s something moving!】

 

【Run, streamer! Or you’re done for!】

 

Chen Zhidao glanced at his phone and turned to look behind him.

 

There, on the stage, the seated statue slowly began to move. Its legs extended, its hands adjusted, and it stood upright—directly behind him!

 

“Ahhhh—”

 

Chen Zhidao’s eyes rolled back, and this time, he fainted on the spot.

 

Xi Yu caught the collapsing Chen Zhidao, both exasperated and amused. “Seriously? Did he actually faint?”

 

All Xi Yu wanted to do was check if the placement of the statue held any special significance, so he moved it down and sat on it himself to test it out.

 

Was it really that scary?