118 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 185: Resistance It had been over a month since Xiang Shi Yan last heard the System's voice. The sudden cacophony of strange noises in her mind took her by surprise—frankly, when she lost contact with the System in Huaihai City, she thought it might never reappear. The System's voice was heavily distorted, as if obscured by something. It had shed the pretense of a young woman's tone, reverting to its original cold, indistinct voice, neither male nor female, that confronted Xiang Shi Yan in the beginning. Calming herself, Xiang Shi Yan strained to listen, finally discerning the System's incessantly repeated message from the chaotic fragments: In the primary world, "Tales of the Sword Immortal" is going to be adapted into an animation. She didn't know what "animation" meant, but the moment she heard this, an intense foreboding gripped her. The System's absence likely indicated its banishment upon detection by the world's will, and she believed it was struggling to reestablish contact, albeit unsuccessfully. The fragmented communication suggested that the System hadn't yet found a stable way to contact her, yet this matter was urgent enough to override concerns of detection by the world's will. Amidst the jumbled noise, she could faintly discern familiar voices—staff assisting the System, engaged in anxious or restless conversations. Apparently, some action on the other side had brought a minor clarity to the System's voice, making it easier to understand, though still not entirely coherent. Before conveying the critical news, the System anticipated her unfamiliarity with the terminology and provided some clarification. As Xiang Shi Yan listened, she began resolving the current situation: she informed the Yu Cang Mountain disciples, currently in Huo Cang Fu, that the issue had been addressed. This reassured the anxious young women, troubled by her previous inquiries and their junior sister’s peril, saving them the trouble of a trip to Xinyang City. She assured them she would bring He He back and instructed them to return directly to the mountain. Her intentions were considerate; after all, the disciples had brought He He to Xinyang City out of goodwill, considering her cultivation level wasn't yet stable enough to return home alone, preventing potential harm in unforeseen circumstances. Yu Cang Mountain's contributions were distributed equally, not penalizing those who couldn’t participate, proving the seniors' kindness toward He He. He He’s unexpected mishap caught everyone off guard; having lost an eye now, it was ultimately her choice to trade with Xuan Jiu. Xiang Shi Yan wouldn’t hold others responsible for this. In truth, if blame were to be assigned, it should be Xuan Jiu’s mischievous luring, He He's reckless self-neglect, and Xiang Shi Yan herself, who unwittingly caused Xuan Jiu's interest in He He. However, Xiang Shi Yan was unaware that her urgent inquiry into He He's situation had frightened the disciples, leading to a swift contact with He He. Finding no response, they dared not conceal, spilling everything they knew. Initially intending to rush to Xinyang City to search for He He with Elder Yue Hua, Xiang Shi Yan redirected them, citing the urgent matter at Huo Cang Fu as their priority. Having exorcised those draining spirits, unrest remained. When the message arrived that the head teacher's uncle would escort He He alone while they returned to the mountain, it was succinct, lacking emotional cues and failing to convey the severity. The disciples could only imagine Xiang Shi Yan's cold, stern face, believing it was a summons for their punishment, fearing their junior sister was injured, inciting the elder's wrath. Oblivious to their assumptions, Xiang Shi Yan listened to the System's explanation, feeling overwhelmed. Discovering she was a character in a book was troubling enough; the existence of derivative worlds beyond the original novel was an added burden. Those derivatives could influence the book world’s development. Not all derivative works impact the original world, the System clarified. A world's formation relies on readers' recognition. Ordinary fan creations can’t shift perceptions of the original significantly. For instance, no matter how appealing a chef’s dish featuring Qin Miao X Xiang Shi Yan pairing, the original’s unromantic dynamic remains immovable. Official derivatives, however, are a different story, serving as expansions that can substantially alter audience perception. A few years post-publication, "Tales of the Sword Immortal" soared in fame, coinciding with the comic magazine boom, spawning comics once upon a time. Earlier, the System hinted at Qin Miao's considerable fan base in the primary world, a claim Xiang Shi Yan found hard to believe, especially about the significant female following. Did no one but her find the book’s author and certain male characters, primarily Qin Miao, repulsive? In reality, the remaining female audience for the book is younger, with limited experience, dwindling annually. As they mature, fewer are moved by the lackluster prose, shallow character constructs, and the outright unpleasant undertones. Nonetheless, plenty of casual fans exist, unfamiliar with the original, drawn to "Tales of the Sword Immortal" through official and fan derivatives. Web novels, comics, animations—all differ vastly in audience reach, scrutiny standards, and adaptation efforts to cater to wider acceptance. For example, Zhu Yu, newly apprenticed to Xiang Shi Yan, experienced exclusive favor briefly. However, once Qin Miao cleared his name, he returned to Yu Cang Mountain. The jealous girl repeatedly pranked him, vying for Xiang Shi Yan's attention, leading to a subplot where Qin Miao threatened Zhu Yu with intense alkali—a plot point entirely omitted in the comic adaptation. Similarly, many male lead’s perspectives in the novel—fraught with suggestive undertones and discomforting gazes—are absent from the comic, improving the narrative noticeably. Such corrective adaptation profoundly influences casual readership, impacting Xiang Shi Yan's world—a grim forewarning. Under stringent media scrutiny, "Tales of the Sword Immortal’s" animation will surely bolster the original's reputation. A protagonist’s halo doesn’t solely stem from actions but also relies heavily on reader acceptance. Post-animation, Qin Miao's fan base is likely to swell, elevating the world’s favor towards him unprecedentedly. Simultaneously, the System's strategy to publish fan works based on Xiang Shi Yan's experience was thwarted entirely. Although the account was reality-based, fans sympathetic to Qin Miao wouldn’t hesitate to denounce a story elevating Xiang Shi Yan while disparaging Qin Miao. Controversy was plausible; Xiang Shi Yan's standing could be undermined among some readers. The associated bureau continued reconstructing clandestine communication channels to bypass the world’s will. Urgently risking exposure, they transmitted the news to afford Xiang Shi Yan time to brace for the protagonistic uplift. “I will... preserve certain functions... for you to access information and records,” the System assured. Though its influence waned significantly, with no more casual surveillance, it retained utility in monitoring fundamental metrics like halo values. “Will you... maintain communication as before?” Xiang Shi Yan asked, holding onto hope, met with the System’s hesitant reply; resuming prior operational capacity seemed unlikely. The world’s will had virtually severed, dismantled their established channels. They’d struggled to achieve even sporadic dialogue within a month, and any increased strength in the world’s will would further impede efforts. What turbulent times... Xiang Shi Yan sighed resignedly. With the System still online, she recounted Xuan Jiu’s exploits in its absence, even recent events. The System once mentioned temporal disturbances could explain her memory regression; did Xuan Jiu share similar origins? Unexpectedly, silence fell from the System. Initially thinking it had been blocked again, she was caught off guard when it finally responded: “We’ve been attentive since the temporal disruptions began. Ordinarily, a book world like yours should remain stable. Analysis indeed supports the theory of intentional tampering disrupting the world’s trajectory.” "Someone altered the predetermined events destined to unfold, sparking this turmoil. That’s why you received memories of the future... it seems it wasn't all a mere coincidence," the System reluctantly admitted. "To be honest, we first approached you because your signal was the strongest amidst the disturbance, mistakenly suspecting you as the instigator. But after months of observation, it seems that's not the case." Xiang Shi Yan was stunned, digesting the System's words, and cautiously asked, "So, all this originates from another person dissatisfied with this world’s trajectory like me, purposefully creating the current circumstances?" "If you wish to understand it that way, you could, although we can’t ascertain the true cause. Usually, characters in a book wouldn't awaken to self-awareness without external interference," the System explained. "Beyond the initial temporal turbulence and your intense signal, nothing particularly noteworthy has happened. We’re unsure if the current situation aligns with their intentions." In the silence, Xiang Shi Yan couldn't help but recall Mist Shadow's once-playful demeanor before her. If anyone had the motivation to defy such an ending and break free from the creator's control, it would be Xuan Jiu, destined to be defeated by Qin Miao according to the script. However, despite her suspicions, Xiang Shi Yan chose not to voice them. Xuan Jiu's demeanor, admitting to only perceiving vague illusions, was genuine. If they were responsible, she wouldn't have left herself unaware and caught in this predicament. She refrained from disrupting the System's thoughts with baseless conjecture. "I'll leave you with an emergency contact channel," the System said, "since we can’t observe this world presently. Please notify us if anything significant occurs." Its voice gradually faded away, leaving Xiang Shi Yan feeling burdened as if a giant rock sat on her chest. The brief period of stability, during which she enjoyed freedom from the world's control, seemed to be over. With a major antagonist scheming revenge against the cultivation world and the protagonist poised to strike, Xiang Shi Yan was uncertain about her path ahead. For now, Xiang Shi Yan pushed thoughts of the future aside, focusing on unresolved matters. Xuan Jiu had left behind two survivors from the Lin family: a girl of just sixteen or seventeen and a five-year-old child. While he could vanish without a care, Xiang Shi Yan couldn't simply ignore them. Although she couldn't do much, she sent Lin Yuan Tao to live with relatives. The young girl, sold into the Lin family due to poverty, was forced to become Lin Xiang's new concubine—a pitiful fate. Xiang Shi Yan refused to let her endure the harshness of destiny, obliged to care for a child neither hers nor beloved. With He He still unconscious, Xiang Shi Yan left her in the cave, setting protective wards. After ensuring Lin Yuan Tao's departure, she retrieved the girl from the Lin household and took her to another town. With money leftover from silver she’d gifted the Lin family when taking He He, she arranged a modest living and provided additional support. The girl claimed skill in embroidery, so Xiang Shi Yan used her connections at Song He Hall to help her find work, hoping she could secure a stable livelihood through her efforts. These tasks took little more than half a day. By dusk, Xiang Shi Yan returned to Jiu An Peak. As expected, she found He He awake, sitting somberly in the cave. Immediately upon Xiang Shi Yan’s return, He He couldn't help but smile with relief. Though her complexion was still pale, Xiang Shi Yan had treated her wound and applied pain-relieving herbs, yet the injury to her left eye clearly continued to torment her. "I thought Master left me in anger," the girl confessed, clutching Xiang Shi Yan's sleeve tightly, aware she had indeed displeased her teacher and careful in her demeanor. Xiang Shi Yan studied the strange blend of blood and salve seeping through He He’s bandaged left eye, remaining silent for a long while. He He wasn’t sure what her teacher was pondering, but Xiang Shi Yan's gaze left her feeling guilty and uneasy, leading her to avoid her eyes. Gently, Xiang Shi Yan patted her head, "Let’s go home." Author's Note: Sunday was busy, so no update OLO. 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