Initially, Ji Changsheng had been worried that Li Changxi was a fellow traveller through time.
But after hearing what Li Changxi had to say, he would rather she was a time traveller.
Because if Li Changxi wasn't a time traveller, based on her words and actions, Ji Changsheng could basically draw a bold conclusion:
Li Changxi had a mental illness!
He had thought he struck gold.
Now it seemed like he'd struck a mentally ill person.
Although this mentally ill person's power and position appeared legitimate, the fact that her mind didn't work properly made it hard for him to feel safe.
Li Changxi had no idea what Ji Changsheng was thinking.
Seeing Ji Changsheng acknowledge his identity, Li Changxi's spirits lifted. She immediately started treating Ji Changsheng warmly and equally, no longer looking down on him with condescension — she now truly believed Ji Changsheng's lies.
"Since you're one of the Six Emperors, you naturally have the qualifications to discuss Dao with me. Have a seat."
As soon as Li Changxi finished speaking, a Dragon Chair appeared beside her. The real dragons circled around it, subtly emitting the sound of thunderclaps in its grandeur.
Ji Changsheng's eye twitched again.
If he remembered correctly, according to popular legend, the Great Emperor Changsheng of the South Pole, also known as King Yuqing, manifested as the Heavenly Venerable of the Nine Heavens Responding to the Thunder-Universal Transformation in the realm of the nine heavens, residing over the Thunder Department from the Jade Pivot Mansion as the source of all thunder magic.
Li Changxi played her part very well.
He wouldn't dare to offend a mentally ill person who is powerful and well-connected.
He had no choice but to grit his teeth and continue to play alongside Li Changxi.
"When did your True Spirit awaken?" Li Changxi asked.
Ji Changsheng carefully replied, "About a year ago. I just didn't expect that Star Monarch Tai Yin had also awakened the True Spirit."
Li Changxi proudly responded, "I am the master of the Taiyin Star. In the ancient times, I was regarded as a great power on par with the East Demon Emperor. This mere illusion...even if it was created by a saint, how could it trap me forever?"
Ji Changsheng: "..."
This mentally ill individual's worldview was surprisingly coherent.
Thankfully, he wasn't an ordinary person. In his past life, he was a respected supreme VIP reader on Qidian Chinese web, so he wouldn't lose to a mentally ill person when it came to twisting a tale.
"Indeed, what the Star Monarch said is very true. Despite our strength, here in the Immortal Realm, we're still rulers. Though we might not be able to directly break free from this illusion, maintaining clarity isn't hard."
"Your words are wrong, King," said Li Changxi, shaking her head. "Maintaining clarity might be easy for us, but others don't share the same foundation. They've allowed the illusion to take hold and aren't even aware of it. Ah, it's sad. It's really tragic."
Ji Changsheng: "..."
You're powerful; whatever you say is right.
"Why did the Star Monarch end up in this illusion?" asked Ji Changsheng.
Even though Ji Changsheng didn't have any experience dealing with mentally ill people, he did have heaps of experience dealing with normal people.
Unable to defeat this mentally ill woman, Ji Changsheng decided to communicate with her as though she were a normal person.
It seemed like a safer course of action for him.
Li Changxi said with a sigh, "That's a long story involving the changing eras and the transfer of power. I was a ruler of the old days. The new era doesn't have a place for me."
Watching Li Changxi's face, Ji Changsheng held back his desire to counter her.
She was indeed self-confident, but it was clear that she was extraordinary.
"In fact, we have quite a long history together, King. If your memories had fully recovered, you wouldn't need me to explain so much."
Ji Changsheng felt a chill run down his spine.
It seemed he needed to go along with Li Changxi's words and embellish the story a bit.
If he didn't, there would be a loophole.
What? Try to correct Li Changxi's delusions? That was a joke.
The most important thing was to keep this powerhouse happy.
Was it that easy to cure a mentally ill person?
Ji Changsheng started off right away: "The Star Monarch is absolutely right. My memory has also started to recover. The Star Monarch is in charge of the Taiyin Star - this star shines upon the heavens, it is the main star alongside the Sun Star. As a monarch from the past with such authority, it's natural that the new ruler feels threatened by you."
Li Changxi nodded: "What the True King has said makes sense, that I am too powerful is indeed part of the problem. Star Monarch and I, we are truly in the same boat. Officially speaking, as one of the Heavenly Court's Six Majesties, you stand shoulder to shoulder with Hao Tian. But there is only so much cake of power to slice, those addicted to power and authority, like Hao Tian and Zi Wei, certainly can't tolerate the True King."
Ji Changsheng felt that Li Changxi's words were getting more and more unreal.
But he had no intention of correcting her, he continued to go along with what Li Changxi was saying: "Star Monarch is incredibly intelligent, your words are spot on. After the Conferment of God War, I proclaimed myself as Great Emperor Changsheng of the South Pole, taking command of life and death, rewards, and punishments, their flourishing and withering, eliminating demons, and commanding the thunderbolt. Reflecting the heart of Heaven's Dao, relieving the suffering of the people in the Netherworld. The excessive power I wielded led to countless enemies. In this illusion, sadly enough, to this day I still don't know who my opponent is."
Li Changxi speculated: "Hao Tian's strength was originally inferior to you and me. After taking over the Heavenly Court, even with additional Luck, his strength may slightly exceed us, but he can't be capable of trapping us in this dream without giving us a chance to fight back. I presume that Saint Cundi of the Western Religion secretly allied with Hao Tian, causing us to fall into Saint Cundi's dream world. Also, we might have more than one opponent."
Ji Changsheng nodded approvingly.
Excellent.
This schizophrenic worldview is intact.
Logical and beyond reproach.
"If Saint Cundi is behind this, then it's not going to be easy to break free from this illusion," Ji Changsheng lamented.
Li Changxi waved her hand, full of confidence: "The True King need not worry excessively. The Conferment of Gods War has already shattered the myth of the immortality of saints. If saints can be poisoned to death, they can also be killed. The previous failures of East Emperor, Di Jun, and the Twelve Ancestral Witches only indicate that they weren't strong enough. I, on the contrary, am eager to try overthrowing a saint and taking their place. "
Ji Changsheng thought to himself, 'wow, she's really losing it.'
The bigger the illness, the bigger the dream, huh.
I, as a world hopper, am truly not up to her speed.
But he learned quickly, he earnestly went along with: "The Star Monarch's ambition is immense, I am no match for that. When three persons walk together, one can always find a master among them. I must learn more from the Star Monarch."
Li Changxi nodded frankly, indicating with an elder's tone: "The True King is doing very well too, aware of the dangers early on, making preparations in advance. Now that we are reunited here, breaking this illusion should be just a matter of days."
Ji Changsheng: "..."
Aware of danger early on?
Made preparations?
How come Li Changxi's story is starting to sound more plausible?
He didn't dare to continue along her narrative, he was suddenly a bit scared, so he actively moved on to a new topic: "I was about to ask the Star Monarch, how do we break free from this illusion?"
Li Changxi said: "It's not that hard. The heavenly law stipulates that ascension to the Immortal Realm comes from becoming an immortal within this illusion. Once we become immortals, we can leave this illusion and return to the Immortal Realm. The True King is a Heavenly Emperor, though you became a Dao after me, we are both of Supreme Unity. I can't belittle the True King unjustifiably. So, I will inform the Master later that the True King will address me as Senior Sister in the future. I will take you as a pupil on behalf of the teacher, and we will treat each other as equals, what do you think?"
The thing Ji Changsheng cared about wasn't if she was his Senior Sister or Master, but that this lunatic is really strong.
"Let's do as Senior Sister says, this doesn't really matter."
"Indeed, it doesn't. Being the True King, you have a certain status, and I must respect that. You helped me out tremendously in the past, and now in this illusion, it is only right that I return the favor."
"In that case, thank you, Star Monarch."
Ji Changsheng played along.
While they were talking, a rabbit with long ears, round eyes, and a chubby mouth suddenly ran in. It was holding a jar of medicine in its hand, saying on the run: "Oh no, oh no, Master, you didn't take your medication today!"
Li Changxi laughed and said: "This is a rabbit demon that I've enlightened, it helps me manage some miscellaneous tasks in the Moon Palace. You can call it the Rabbit Director. Sadly, it's spirituality is far behind the Jade Rabbit of the Lunar Palace, it cannot understand this illusion, pardon me for breaking character in front of the True King."
Ji Changsheng nodded: "No problem at all, those who do not understand me, think that I care too much; those who really understand me, will know what I seek."
Li Changxi clapped her hands in admiration: "The True King is indeed the True King. Looking at the world, there are only a few with whom I can candidly express my heartfelt thoughts."
"Master, hurry up and take your medication. Fairy Linglong has instructed us to."
Li Changsheng shook her head helplessly, saying to Ji Changsheng: "In the end, it's all just an illusion. To avoid their nagging, I just go along with their ideas, True King, don't think I really have an illness."
"Of course," said Ji Changsheng, nodding solemnly.
Ji Changsheng understood. Those who are mentally ill fear the most being told they are ill.
One minute later.
After finishing her medicine, Li Changxi looked at Ji Changsheng in some confusion: "Why are you sitting across from me?"
Ji Changsheng: "..."
"Ha ha, I'm just kidding. True King, rest assured, I don't have any illness. With our combined effort, we'll be able to break free from this illusion very soon."
The Rabbit Director sighed: "Oh dear! Master's condition is getting worse!"