AUOF - 1

Sang Li was jolted awake by someone choking her.

An overwhelming sense of suffocation gripped her, her breath completely stolen away, and the severe lack of oxygen caused a sharp, excruciating pain in her chest and lungs.

Her survival instincts kicked in, and she desperately clutched at the hand around her neck. The touch was scorching, as if it were burning her skin.

With great effort, she forced her eyes open.

Through her hazy vision, the blurred outline of a face came into view.

Even in her dazed state, she could tell that this person was extraordinarily beautiful.

Bathed in flickering light, his silver hair cascaded down, shimmering with a faint glow. His eyebrows were elegant and long, and the curve of his eyelids carried a cold, sharp edge.

His eyes were slightly bloodshot, and beneath his entangled lashes, his pupils glowed a crimson red that Sang Li had never seen before. There was no trace of emotion in them—like the deep, silent sea—but inexplicably, she sensed an impending danger lurking beneath that calm surface.

Despite all this, the man’s aura remained uncontainable.

He resembled a crimson crane amidst the mountains or a mighty dragon dwelling in a spring—his captivating beauty carried an untouchable air of ethereal serenity.

“Let… let go…”

Sensing the danger, Sang Li managed to squeeze out a few words through her constricted throat, while her still-functional legs flailed wildly, kicking at him with all her might.

The man’s grip didn’t loosen. “How dare you?” he growled.

The drug coursing through his veins made his voice hoarse, but his tone was as cold as icicles hanging from a winter cliff, the chill lingering in her ears long after the words were spoken.

There was accusation in his voice, mingled with a hint of disdain for her weakness.

Looking into those eyes again, the surging crimson seemed on the verge of erupting, ready to obliterate her entirely.

The icy pressure sent a shiver through Sang Li’s heart, and an unprecedented sense of oppression overwhelmed her.

In an instant, her limbs ceased to obey her commands, and her entire body stiffened like stone, unable to move.

She had no idea what was happening. Cold sweat soaked her back, and an immense fear caused her whole body to tremble uncontrollably. Her lips lost all color, and she didn’t even dare to blink, staring blankly at the man who held her captive.

Dare what?

She remembered it was the first day of university, and she had been happily dragging her luggage to register. But before she even caught a glimpse of the campus, the taxi she was riding in got into a car accident. The massive impact from the collision knocked her unconscious in an instant.

She must have died.

So where was this place?

A look of confusion flashed in Sang Li’s eyes.

Almost immediately, a surge of heat rising from her dantian robbed her of all rational thought.

Sang Li bit her lip to stifle a cry, but a faint, lingering moan still escaped.

“I… I can’t bear it…” Sang Li pleaded pathetically, “Please, let me go…”

She felt the weight pressing down on her tremble slightly, and the fingers around her neck loosened just a fraction.

Then, a dense shadow spread across the depths of his eyes.

It was only then that Sang Li noticed something was off.

Though his expression remained impassive, the white robe enveloping his body was already soaked with sweat. His reddened earlobes and abnormally high body temperature revealed that he had been drugged.

Sang Li’s gaze wandered.

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a porcelain bowl lying shattered on the nearby steps. Some dark brown liquid still clung to the inside of the bowl, and a strange, wispy mist surrounded it.

Her body’s abnormal reactions and instincts told her that whatever was in that bowl was the culprit.

At the same time, she too was suffering immensely.

Her entire body burned as if it no longer belonged to her. Gritting her teeth, Sang Li mustered the courage to say, “If you let me go, we can help each other.”

Sang Li wasn’t particularly open-minded, but neither was she rigid.

The man before her was undeniably handsome, and she was in so much agony that even if something happened between them, it wouldn’t be a loss—more importantly, it might save her life.

To her surprise, the man let out a cold, mocking laugh, as though her words were the greatest joke he’d ever heard. “You’re not afraid of death, are you?”

“I am afraid! But think about it—if I die, who will help you?”

To show her sincerity, she stared at him unwaveringly with her teary fox-like eyes.

His expression remained unreadable, as if he were contemplating something. If it weren’t for the burning heat of his palm reminding her of his predicament, there would be no way to tell that he was under the influence of a drug.

The silence stretched on endlessly for her.

The quieter he became, the more danger seemed to seep into the air.

Her heart pounded furiously.

Perhaps it was fear, discomfort, or the overwhelming pressure of his presence, but Sang Li’s vision began to blur. Just as she thought she couldn’t hold on any longer, the hand gripping her neck suddenly withdrew.

“Come,” he said. “Let’s see how you plan to help me.”

He even chuckled afterward, perhaps mocking her audacity.

Sang Li gingerly touched her neck, which was now numb and sore from being squeezed, and cautiously glanced at Ji Hengyu’s expression. Only after confirming that he wouldn’t harm her further did she hesitantly inch closer.

With trembling hands, she pulled open his robe. But when his bare chest was revealed before her eyes, Sang Li couldn’t help but gasp in astonishment.

Countless black and red patterns crawled across his snow-white skin. The eerie markings resembled vines or two slender, intertwined snakes, writhing and slithering beneath the surface of his skin, following the contours of his muscles and winding their way up to his neck. Even his jawline was bathed in an unsettling red glow.

And yet, despite such torment, he still retained a shred of sanity.

Seeing Sang Li frozen in place, he smiled faintly. “What? Scared?”

Sang Li immediately picked up on the murderous intent in his tone and snapped to attention. “No, no! I’ll help you right away!” she reassured herself. “I’m not afraid.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Sang Li closed her eyes and pressed her lips firmly against his Adam’s apple.

He tilted his chin upward, and Sang Li felt the movement of his throat as he swallowed—a simple motion that, to her, felt overwhelmingly seductive. The small flame within her heart ignited uncontrollably.

All reason fled.

A powerful force flipped her over and pinned her down.

Sang Li had always been a rule-follower, even during the hormone-driven days of her adolescence, never once stepping out of line.

She had never experienced anything like this before. This bold, unfamiliar version of herself left her feeling astonished and exhilarated in ways she had never known.

**

Day turned to night, and night gave way to day.

A beam of sunlight slowly filtered through the window lattice, rousing Sang Li from her deep slumber.

Her head throbbed painfully, and her limbs ached unbearably.

Opening her eyes, the strong musky scent invaded her nostrils, and the scattered marks on her skin served as reminders that last night’s absurdity was no dream.

Sang Li shifted her gaze cautiously toward the man lying beside her.

His clothes were torn.

—She had ripped them.

There were bite marks on his lips.

—She had bitten him.

Oh no. This was bad.

An indescribable panic washed over her, causing cold sweat to break out all over her body.

She had said she would help him, but judging by the situation… it seemed… maybe… she had gone too far?

The man’s long lashes were tightly closed, showing no signs of waking anytime soon.

Sang Li looked around, feeling utterly lost. The hall was opulent, with ten towering dragon pillars reaching the ceiling, and above them, the ceiling resembled a star chart, adorned with the Seven Stars and Eight Trigrams, exuding a grand and majestic aura.

Clearly, this was not the world she had come from.

The pain emanating from her neck served as a constant reminder that the man lying before her was dangerous.

Sang Li clutched her neck in fear, and in the next instant, a box seemed to open in her mind. A flood of memories that didn’t belong to her rushed in like an unstoppable tide.

Sang Li immediately closed her eyes in discomfort, forced to accept a life that wasn’t hers.

In these memories, the original owner of this body was also named “Sang Li,” sharing the same name as her.

Sang Li was born into the Spirit Clan.

Five hundred years ago, the Heavens had punished them, sending down 9,900 bolts of divine lightning that obliterated the Spirit Realm. Only a few clan members managed to escape the calamity.

Sang Li had followed her clansmen into hiding but eventually became separated from them by accident.

At the time, Sang Li couldn’t yet transform into human form. She was just a tiny, weak fox cub whose tail hadn’t even fully grown. Fortunately, she was saved by the Demon Lord Yan Jinglou, which barely allowed her to keep her life.

From that moment on, Sang Li’s heart was completely devoted to Yan Jinglou.

Unfortunately, Yan Jinglou harbored no romantic feelings for her. Instead, he valued her abilities and treated her as a useful pawn.

Years of training turned Sang Li into his most capable shadow guard. She worshipped him blindly, following his every command without question.

Three months ago, Sang Li infiltrated Gui Xu with orders to assassinate Lord Ji Hengyu of the Celestial Balance.

Ji Hengyu was plagued by karmic obstacles and had to take medication regularly each month. Without it, he would be consumed by sin miasma, losing his sanity.

This made it the most vulnerable—and thus the most opportune—moment to assassinate him.

Sang Li had seized this chance, planning to strike while he was taking his medicine.

But none of that mattered now.

What mattered was—

She had transmigrated into a book!

Sang Li’s mind went blank, overwhelmed by shock.

Yes, this world was part of a male-centric cultivation novel called Plotting Against Heaven .

Sang Li herself had little interest in male-oriented novels, so her knowledge of the plot came entirely from her best friend’s spoilers.

Her friend had live-updated the story to her every day.

She said the male lead of this novel was like a gentle mad dog: not a harem protagonist, but rather a deranged and dark character. In the opening chapters, he strangled a malicious maid sent to harm him. By Chapter 50, he had killed the only official female lead. By Chapter 100, he was slaying goddesses and storming divine realms. By the end of the novel, almost all the characters were dead.

He killed gods and ghosts alike. On the surface, he appeared to be a gentle and refined celestial lord, but in reality, he was a ruthless, desireless mad dog. Whether it was the top goddess or the greatest hero, he looked down on them all, single-mindedly focused on defying heaven and destroying the earth.

Her friend had gone on and on about many details.

Now, Sang Li only remembered one thing: unless something unexpected happened, she was likely the unlucky maid who got strangled to death by the gentle mad dog.

“…”

Sang Li stiffly glanced at Ji Hengyu.

After the lingering effects of their encounter faded, faint traces of last night’s madness still lingered on her shoulders and spine. The strange patterns on his chest had vanished at some point.

Perhaps due to the drug’s effects wearing off, his silver hair had returned to its original black, flowing like spilled ink across the jade bed. It framed his face, making him even more striking than her friend’s descriptions.

Sang Li vaguely recalled what had happened.

At first, he had maintained a restrained demeanor, but within the span of half an incense stick, he had transformed into a beast driven by primal instincts—fierce, brutal, and merciless. Sang Li had nearly been killed by him.

When calm, his lowered gaze truly did appear gentle and harmless, fitting the description her friend had given of him as “gentle as jade.”

Even so, Sang Li didn’t dare let her guard down for a moment.

What would he do if he discovered she hadn’t died?

He would definitely kill her… right?

Absolutely!

Still trembling with fear, Sang Li dared not stay any longer.

Afraid of waking Ji Hengyu, she carefully adjusted her clothes and fled the Shuoguang Palace in a panic, completely unaware of the pair of eyes that had suddenly opened behind her.

…

Ji Hengyu had already regained consciousness.

He sat up, bending his long legs and resting his elbows on his knees.

The white robe, torn to shreds, hung loosely and messily over his shoulders, unable to fully cover his body.

Ji Hengyu paid no heed to his disheveled appearance. With a casual glance, he noticed a glimmer of light in the corner.

With a lazy flick of his fingers, a hairpin flew into his palm.

It was a delicate hairpin adorned with pink beads and tassels, swaying slightly as he toyed with it between his fingertips.

Ji Hengyu’s expression remained impassive, his gaze cold and distant, like frost covering snow.

Finally, with a light pinch, the silver hairpin crumbled into ash in his fingertips.

**

Unfamiliar with the layout of the Shuoguang Palace, Sang Li wandered aimlessly like a headless fly after leaving the main hall.

The palace was far more intricate and grand than she had imagined. Carved beams and painted pillars, jade steps and red courtyards—all exuded exquisite craftsmanship.

What terrified Sang Li the most were the four dragon pillars floating high in the sky.

These pillars supported the entire floating palace. Four serpent-like creatures, neither dragons nor snakes, coiled around them. Their bodies were black and red, their scales lifelike. Each creature held a massive iron chain inscribed with talismans in its mouth. The chains stretched upward, wrapping around a crimson stone that emitted a glow, dyeing the entire sky a sinister shade of red.

Their heads were raised high, making the vast expanse of the sky seem minuscule in comparison.

These creatures resembled ancient mythical monsters, towering above and looking down upon the mortal realm below. Sang Li felt utterly insignificant in this vast universe, filled with awe and fear.

An indescribable sense of oppression made it hard for her to look directly at the pillars. She lowered her head and quickened her pace, her heart pounding with anxiety.

Finally, she found the main gate. Just as she was about to rush out, she heard the sound of hurried footsteps approaching from a distance, heading straight toward the Shuoguang Palace!

Could it be that Ji Hengyu had sent people to capture her?

Panicking, Sang Li retreated, looking around only to realize there was nowhere left to run.

What should she do? What should she do? She was going to be caught!

In her desperation, Sang Li suddenly remembered that the original form of this body was a fox spirit.

She closed her eyes and tried to transform, but nothing happened.

Hearing the approaching sounds getting closer and closer, Sang Li’s anxiety reached its peak.

Since she couldn’t transform, she could only use magic.

Many chaotic and unfamiliar spells flood in her mind.

Sang Li imitated what she could recall and mentally cast a spell, intending to turn into a bird and fly away. However, due to a mistake in execution, she flapped and turned into a plump golden carp with a splash.

The situation was urgent, and Sang Li didn’t have time to cast another spell. She flapped her tail and laboriously hopped into the nearby pond. Finally, she poked her fish head out of the water, bubbles gurgling from her mouth, her round fish eyes carefully surveying the situation outside.

A boisterous crowd of people barged into the courtyard from outside.

There were men and women, all wearing uniform azure long robes.

The woman at the head was different from them.

She wore a peach-pink gauze dress, her long hair styled into delicate hanging hairpin, adorned with pearls and jade, exuding an indescribable charming beauty.

The young woman herself was also strikingly beautiful, with fair and delicate skin, clearly a woman who had grown up being pampered.

The other party charged in aggressively, whipping open the stone lion statue guarding the gate, arrogant and domineering, as if they didn’t take the immortal lord Ji Hengyu seriously at all.

“Ji Hengyu, you get out here—!”

In fact, she really didn’t take Ji Hengyu seriously.

While Sang Li gurgled bubbles, she recalled the plot.

If she wasn’t mistaken, this should be Si Tu, the vicious female supporting character who would be stabbed to death by Ji Hengyu’s sword in chapter one hundred.

Si Tu was the daughter of Emperor Qi, the God of Laws. She was a genuine nine-heaven goddess with immortal essence and divine bones.

Because Gui Xu was located outside the heavens, and Ji Hengyu was the only immortal lord who could suppress the ancient demon gods, over time, the people in the divine realm inevitably developed resentment towards Ji Hengyu.

Therefore, the current administrator of the divine realm came up with a plan.

He intended to have Si Tu marry Ji Hengyu to use the goddess to tie down this gatekeeper immortal lord. So, under the guise of sect exchange, he sent his spies and Si Tu to Gui Xu together.

But what kind of place was Gui Xu?

It was a forbidden land used to imprison ancient demon seeds. To put it bluntly, Gui Xu was a “heavenly prison” far from the Four Divine Mountains, not even considered an immortal realm.

And Ji Hengyu?

A useless person burdened with karmic obstacles, his immortal bones damaged, who would die at any time.

Si Tu naturally didn’t want to marry such a person, so she came up with a plan.

——Put love potion in the medicine that Ji Hengyu often drank.

Si Tu had inquired beforehand.

Ji Hengyu was always vigilant and would always have his immortal maid test the medicine before drinking it himself to ensure its safety.

Therefore, Si Tu specially found the most beautiful immortal maid in the Shuguang Palace to deliver the medicine, waiting for them to become entangled for a night so she could seize the opportunity to catch them in the act.

This plan could both ruin Ji Hengyu’s reputation and allow the administrator to withdraw his order, giving her a chance to return to the divine realm and realize her grand ambitions. It was truly killing two birds with one stone.

As expected of a vicious female supporting character, Sang Li had to admire Si Tu’s clever scheme.

The problem was, she was the unlucky maid who delivered the medicine in the original story.

Glug~ Glug~

She stretched her neck to continue observing the situation.

“Ji Hengyu, you dare to commit such lewd acts, don’t you even have the guts to come out and face people? Come out, or I’ll report this to the Upper Heavens right now and let all the immortals in the heavenly realm see your ugly face!”

Si Tu rudely banged on the door. Seeing no response after a long time, she prepared to lead her subordinates directly into the inner hall.

“May I ask why Fairy Si Tu has been making such a commotion at my Shuguang Palace so early in the morning?”

A gentle voice drifted over, instantly attracting everyone’s attention.

Due to the obstructed view, Sang Li had to swim forward a little.

The divine light of the heavenly realm fell directly overhead. He came stepping on light and supported by shadows, his silver robe outlined with thread, his immortal attitude like a jade tree. Surrounded by floating clouds, he stole all the colors of the world, instantly silencing the clamor in the courtyard.

Ji Hengyu liked quiet. Apart from the two spirit stone carvings guarding the gate, there wasn’t even a servant in the palace.

He faced the crowd alone, with a handsome face like jade and gold, his demeanor neither humble nor arrogant.

Si Tu was momentarily dazed, then she stiffened her neck and questioned sharply, “You know very well what I mean!”

Whether it was her imagination or not, Sang Li felt Ji Hengyu glance in her direction. When she looked again, his expression was as usual.

Glug~

She blew two small bubbles, feeling rather guilty as she retracted her fish head back into the water.

Then she heard him speak, his voice slow and methodical—

“Fairy Si Tu is referring to this lord committing lewd acts?”