Chapter 544: Encounter with Ximen Xuanji

"Indeed! I never imagined there would be someone in this world who looks so much like me. No, I should say that I look a little like you instead. Your appearance is even more perfect than mine. It seems the title of the most handsome man in the Mystic Jade Realm will have to go to someone else."

Just then, the locked door suddenly opened, and a young man who appeared to be around twenty years old stepped across the threshold. He wore a yellow robe embroidered with dragon patterns.

The moment he entered, everyone froze. Their gazes darted back and forth between him and Fu Young.

Xiao Shou was equally astonished. The newcomer resembled his beloved disciple far too closely in facial features, temperament, and expression. He possessed the same flawless, peerlessly handsome face, the same immaculate jade-like complexion, the same incomparably noble bearing, and the same faintly amused expression.

As for the differences, the newcomer appeared to be two or three years older than his beloved disciple when viewed up close. Yet despite his seemingly perfect features, eyes, and complexion, there was a subtle sense of imperfection when compared with Fu Young. It was like seeing a counterfeit beside the genuine article.

As soon as this comparison came to mind, Xiao Shou hurriedly shook his head slightly. Why would he suddenly think of describing them that way?

Every person was a unique individual. How could the distinction between a counterfeit and an original, something used to describe objects, possibly apply to people? He was being terribly rude.

Still, Xiao Shou could not help sending a voice transmission to his beloved disciple. "Young’er, you wouldn’t happen to have an older brother who was separated from you many years ago, would you?"

"I’m certain I don’t."

However, this was another fragment of the Supreme Star Lord’s consciousness, one that existed separately from Fu Young himself. After answering through a voice transmission, Fu Young studied the newcomer with a somewhat complicated expression. The subtle fluctuations in their blood and souls gave him the distinct feeling that the entire being before him was something he ought to reclaim in its entirety.

Fu Young carefully examined the newcomer and discovered that his soul was indeed much stronger than that of an ordinary person. However, the portion belonging to the Supreme Star Lord was far too small. Instead, another extraordinary force seemed to have made up for the deficiency: the vast, majestic true dragon aura of successive Human Emperors.

That power had filled the gap in his soul, allowing his consciousness to reincarnate in the form of a soul.

What an unexpected discovery.

Not long after deciding to reclaim the fragments of the Supreme Star Lord’s consciousness and the Divine Osmanthus Tree, Fu Young had unexpectedly encountered someone who had been reincarnated from a fragment of that consciousness shortly after leaving the Heaven Origin Realm.

This was truly troublesome. What should he do?

If it were up to him, he would simply reclaim what belonged to him, regardless of what kind of person the other party was. However, his Master was right beside him. Xiao Shou would certainly disapprove of him taking someone’s life without a good reason.

Alternatively, he could collect and replenish the same kind of power that had filled the gap in the newcomer’s soul, seemingly the true dragon power of the Human Emperors. That power had shaped itself into a divine soul, replacing the fragment of the Supreme Star Lord’s consciousness.

But the key to this approach was determining which force formed the newcomer’s primary soul. Was it the fragment of the Supreme Star Lord’s consciousness, or was it the power of the Human Emperors?

If the latter was the case, things would be much easier. The power of the Supreme Star Lord would merely influence his aptitude and abilities.

However, if the fragment of the Supreme Star Lord’s consciousness formed the primary soul, then the moment Fu Young replaced it, the other person would become an ignorant fool with no awareness of his original soul. It would be equivalent to turning him into an entirely different person.

Judging by how similar their faces were, perhaps the newcomer had been influenced by the residual soul of the Supreme Star Lord. After all, Fu Young’s own face was identical to that of the Supreme Star Lord.

What was he supposed to do? Why had he encountered such a troublesome person?

Sigh! It seemed he would have to stay here temporarily and think of a solution.

Fu Young sighed helplessly to himself before sending Xiao Shou a voice transmission. "Master, can we stay here for a while? I’m somewhat interested in this Young Master Ximen Xuanji."

"Of course!"

Xiao Shou assumed the newcomer really had some connection to his beloved disciple. In fact, there genuinely was a connection between them. He readily agreed, but only afterward did he nervously send a voice transmission to Tushan Shanhe.

"Uh, Great Granduncle Shanhe, since we’ve finally come to the Mystic Jade Realm, there’s no need to hurry back, is there? How about we travel around here for a while before returning?"

Ever since learning that this was another world from a novel and that his beloved disciple had taken the Heavenrise Immortal Sword, Xiao Shou had given the matter serious thought.

Regardless of how heaven defying the female and male protagonists might become later in the story, as long as the Heavenrise Immortal Sword remained in their possession, the female protagonist would not be able to destroy the Mystic Jade Realm by detonating the paired Heavenfall and Heavenrise Immortal Swords.

As for everything else, the three of them had already fought against immortals. If they were still afraid of two cultivators at the same level in a Spirit Realm, that would be far too embarrassing.

Seeing that Xiao Shou had said this, Tushan Shanhe nodded immediately.

"If neither of you is in a hurry, then neither am I. But if trouble comes looking for you later, don’t come crying to me."

"That won’t happen! I’m not a child anymore."

Xiao Shou rolled his eyes at Tushan Shanhe. How dare he treat him like one of those little brats in his clan? It was infuriating!