Chilin watched the blurred figure in the flames. She raised her hand and withdrew it, using object retrieval technique to obtain Xiang Su’s Sinking Star Fan and Gardenia Silk. Without these two items, Xiang Su immediately let out a muffled groan. Hearing this, Chilin felt even more dissatisfied and activated Haotian Pagoda to unleash the extreme fire of the Three Realms. Xiang Su’s slender, ethereal form was reduced to calamity ashes the instant Haotian Fire activated, not even managing to release the agonized scream Chilin most wanted to hear.

Chilin stood stunned, seemingly not having expected that the gardenia flower spirit she’d repeatedly tried to eliminate would just like that—in the blink of an eye—be reduced to smoke and dust.

Someone was there!

Chilin was alarmed. Today’s matter concerned life and future—absolutely no room for the slightest error! Ten li away was the energy of an immortal spirit. Even though it was distant, she still had to go investigate.

After she departed riding Jingyu, Jin Zhan frantically used form-merging soul-dispersing technique to pass through the giant stone. His magical power could only use form-merging soul-dispersing technique to send his spiritual consciousness ten li away, diverting Chilin’s attention for a moment.

He looked at the remnants on the ground in panic. Haotian Fire truly lived up to being the Three Realms’ extreme fire—it had refined Xiang Su completely, yet left not a single trace around. The flowers and grass hadn’t even withered or scorched. Because so little time had passed, Xiang Su’s calamity ashes hadn’t yet been blown away by the wind. Jin Zhan shed tears but didn’t dare collect the last remains of his former companion.

He froze—there were actually relics in the ashes? Looking closely, one turned out to be a blood pearl refined from Dong Tianyun’s blood, while another was crystal clear, glowing faintly with wood spirit soul light! Jin Zhan didn’t dare delay. He carefully picked up the soul pearl from the calamity ashes, afraid of leaving any flaws. Just after he passed back through the giant stone, Chilin returned riding the phoenix.

She looked at Xiang Su who had turned to ash, slowly crouched down and picked up the blood pearl. Even though soul and spirit had scattered, the thing Dong Tianyun had given her still remained! Just now she’d felt some guilt and fear, but now only satisfaction and fury remained! She swept her wide sleeve and blew Xiang Su’s bone ash scattered through the mountains, leaving no trace whatsoever.

She’d seen no immortal spirits ten li away and remained suspicious. She sat down cross-legged again, circulating her primordial spirit to carefully search the situation within a hundred li.

Behind the giant stone, Jin Zhan was also on high alert. Actually, having mastered wood forest energy, he could hide his spiritual consciousness within trees, flowers, and grass—Chilin wouldn’t discover him. But he didn’t dare be careless. He held the soul pearl in his mouth, using wood forest energy to envelop his entire body, afraid Chilin would detect Xiang Su’s soul energy.

Chilin searched carefully several times. Confirming no spiritual consciousness existed, she rose and looked at the stone cave for a while. The monument read “Narcissus Tomb”—presumably a burial place. Finally setting her mind at ease, she rode her phoenix away.

When Jin Zhan originally named this place a tomb, he meant to vow not to break through the spiritual tribulation or leave the stone cave. Unexpectedly, this ingeniously deceived Chilin. After staying in the stone cave for a full twenty more days, Jin Zhan finally emerged silently. The soul pearl, under his wood energy nourishment, shone even brighter than before and had a faint gardenia fragrance.

He became more certain that Xiang Su’s primordial spirit was hidden in this pearl, but couldn’t figure out what thing in Xiang Su’s body could withstand Haotian Fire and preserve the soul in pearl form. Even Dong Tianyun’s blood had only formed an ordinary blood pearl. Jin Zhan sighed, carefully concealing the soul pearl in his lapel. The immediate plan was to find Qingsui first.

Qingsui’s manor hadn’t changed at all since he left. It hadn’t been prosperous originally, and now didn’t seem desolate either.

Because Qingsui had rarely been at the manor these decades, the wood spirits who’d originally served there had either gone out traveling or, like Bai Zhicao, left to do other things.

Jin Zhan walked slowly through the main gate and actually didn’t encounter a single person to stop and question him. Walking up the steps to the second gate, he finally saw Huai Shu leading another young wood spirit hurrying over. Huai Shu, who originally wore a slightly resentful expression, immediately showed a delighted face upon seeing Jin Zhan: “You’ve returned too?!”

Jin Zhan was preoccupied with worries. Even meeting an old friend couldn’t cheer him up. He only asked: “Who else has returned?”

He was habitually arrogant, but Huai Shu didn’t find it strange. He only laughed foolishly, rubbing his hands together: “Elder Sister Qingsui. She heard that Dong Tianyun emerged from the Abyss River and has been looking everywhere for Xiang Su. She said she’d return to the manor in the next couple days.”

Jin Zhan’s face paled. Forcibly suppressing the sourness in his heart, he asked: “Dong Tianyun? Abyss River?” During these decades of closed-door cultivation, he knew nothing of affairs in the Three Realms. He’d only guessed the general situation from what Chilin said before killing Xiang Su.

Huai Shu hadn’t had visitors to converse with in a long time and was in high spirits. He instructed the young wood spirit to brew a pot of good tea and, like a storyteller, recounted from beginning to end everything that had happened during Jin Zhan’s seclusion.

Jin Zhan listened silently, then suddenly shed tears. Huai Shu was just getting to the part about Xiang Su bitterly waiting for Shenghuan Dijun and was immediately startled, asking in a shrill voice: “What’s wrong with you?”

Jin Zhan didn’t answer.

Huai Shu laughed. He really hadn’t expected Jin Zhan’s heart to be so fragile that he’d actually cry from listening. “Don’t be sad for Xiang Su anymore. Didn’t Shenghuan Dijun come back? Her devoted heart wasn’t wasted. This time she’s truly had her hardships rewarded. Except… he can’t become Metal-Governing Dijun anymore.” Huai Shu felt somewhat regretful.

“How is any of that important…” Jin Zhan murmured to himself, looking at a tea tree in the corner of the wall.

“How is it not important!” Huai Shu planned to tell the next exciting part—how Prince Yumu ingeniously defeated the other celestial princes to become crown prince, recommended Tuoying to become the new Metal-Governing one, and even recovered the Kongtong Seal.

“I’m somewhat tired.” Jin Zhan had originally been leaning sideways against the stone table listening to him. Now he raised his hand and waved it, revealing a weary expression with such graceful charm that even Huai Shu felt his heart flutter.

“Alright, alright, I’ll prepare a room for you right now.” Huai Shu attentively stood up.

Jin Zhan felt his head splitting with pain, but watching Huai Shu’s back made his heart ache again. “Xiao Huai,” he called to stop Huai Shu. “All these years, you’ve worked hard.” Such a large Qingsui manor relied entirely on Huai Shu to manage and care for.

Hearing this, Huai Shu slowly let his smile fade, revealing a bitter expression. “Back then, I lost face for Elder Sister Qingsui in front of the Five Realms’ immortal spirits… consider it atonement. Jin Zhan, now that you’ve returned… help Elder Sister Qingsui more. My aptitude is limited—this little bit is all I can help her with.”

Jin Zhan nodded.

Night had just fallen when Jin Zhan was contemplating matters in his room. From far away he heard Qingsui’s voice, and soon someone forcefully pushed open his door. The two people who hadn’t seen each other in decades looked at each other and suddenly had nothing to say. After a long while, Qingsui laughed dryly: “Long time no see. You’ve become even more refined.”

Jin Zhan knew she couldn’t say anything that would amaze him. Qingsui also knew that line was too lacking in sophistication, so she changed the subject: “You’ve returned at just the right time! Dong Tianyun sank in the Abyss River for fifty years. Now he’s emerged and even brought out the divine sword Guwen. Tomorrow even the Celestial Lord will visit. We’ll go see this excitement that comes once in a hundred years. It’s just a pity… I haven’t found Xiang Su. She doesn’t even know how happy she should be.” Qingsui’s eyes and brows held a smile, genuinely happy for Xiang Su.

Jin Zhan frowned again. Qingsui also noticed his expression was wrong. Just as she was about to ask, she saw him take something from his lapel and ask: “Do you recognize what this is?”

Qingsui took it to look. Her breathing immediately became erratic. “Where did you get this?” She grabbed Jin Zhan’s arm. Her expression of wild joy startled Jin Zhan.

“I happened to pick it up. What exactly is this?” Jin Zhan hesitated a moment. The future was treacherous and hard to discern—better not to rashly involve Qingsui as well.

“This is Qing Ze’s Xuantian Heavy Water!” Qingsui was so happy she almost lost her composure. She tightly gripped the pearl and pressed it to her heart. “Where exactly did you pick this up?”

Xuantian Heavy Water? The unique spirit water of Water Lord Qing Ze? No wonder it could preserve Xiang Su’s primordial spirit in Haotian Fire. Jin Zhan suddenly understood. Seeing him contemplating, Qingsui couldn’t help but urge him again. “I found it near Qing Ze’s manor…” Jin Zhan lied.

Qingsui was very disappointed, then smiled again. “With this heavy water, finding him won’t be difficult.” Only then did she notice something unusual, examining it from left and right: “Why would there be wood spirit soul light in this pearl?”

Jin Zhan felt some anticipation. “Can you extract the primordial spirit inside?”

Qingsui tried and shook her head: “I’m afraid we’ll need to find Qing Ze for that. What exactly is going on?”

“I… I’m not clear either.” Jin Zhan frowned with worry. All of Qingsui’s thoughts were on the heavy water, so she didn’t pursue the matter further.

“To be protected by Xuantian Heavy Water, this must be someone with extremely deep connections to him. Being a wood spirit primordial spirit separated from the main body for a long time, it can’t hold out much longer.” Qingsui examined the soul pearl.

“Then what do we do?” Jin Zhan’s voice became shrill.

Qingsui looked at him strangely. “Why are you so anxious? Just store this pearl in the Jade Rain Basin—why are you jumping up?”

Jin Zhan glared at her. Could he afford to joke around at a time like this?

Qingsui summoned her magical artifact and, abandoning her earlier smile, became very solemn. “Jin Zhan, you broke through the spiritual tribulation in such a short time. You’re truly a rare talent in our wood spirit realm. I’ll entrust the Jade Rain Basin to you. The wood spirit realm… I also entrust to you!”

“Qingsui!” Jin Zhan hastily tried to decline. Qingsui looked at him and shook her head, indicating he should hear her out.

“Since I took my position, I lost the wood spirit divine artifact. This is my lifelong unforgivable sin. I’ll exhaust everything to recover the Shen Nong Ding to console the spirits of past Wood-Governing immortals. The affairs of the wood spirit realm… Jin Zhan, I’ve always considered you a younger brother. Please help me shoulder this heavy responsibility!”

Jin Zhan looked at the Jade Rain Basin in Qingsui’s hand for a long time before accepting it.

“Qing Ze was punished by the Celestial Lord for privately planting Wan Wood and has been experiencing three tribulation lives in the mortal realm. I’ve searched for him for a long time too… now I finally have news of him.” Qingsui’s eyes flashed with tears. Jin Zhan’s brow furrowed deeply. He opened his mouth wanting to ask but ultimately didn’t. “Protect my meditation. Right now I must divine his location.”

This rather suited Jin Zhan’s intentions. He was also anxious to find Qing Ze Dijun to extract Xiang Su’s primordial spirit.

After a night of searching, Qingsui finally located Qing Ze’s direction. With her magical power, such a search was already straining her limits. Jin Zhan saw her eyes looked vacant and her face was pale. He stopped her from immediately going to find Qing Ze Dijun.

“Dawn is almost here. Let’s first go see the Abyss River shores. I imagine all the various forces from the Three Realms will be heading there. If we don’t go, it seems inappropriate.” What he told Qingsui was certainly sound reasoning, but he also had a small selfish motive. He wanted to see Dong Tianyun first. If his feelings for Xiang Su remained unchanged, naturally he should reveal the truth.

Though Qingsui couldn’t wait to immediately find Qing Ze, what Jin Zhan said was indeed the feasible approach. She could only nod in agreement and return to her own room to rest briefly.

While still some distance from the Abyss River, Qingsui manor’s group had already encountered countless acquaintances. Jin Zhan felt that practically all the immortal spirits and supernatural beings from the entire Three Realms had run over. He couldn’t help but secretly clench his fist. Qingsui had already taught him how to retract the Jade Rain Basin and hide it in his palm. Surely Xiang Su’s soul pearl inside the Jade Rain Basin wouldn’t be discovered by Chilin?

By the time they arrived, the shores of the Abyss River were already a sea of people. Jin Zhan didn’t see where Dong Tianyun was at all, but he did see Chilin’s dazzling red robes. Only then did he spot Dong Tianyun standing beside her.

The Celestial Emperor and many immortal realm venerables surrounded them. There were even a few figures from the demon realm.

Dong Tianyun in a black robe seemed to sense something and turned his face to look over. Jin Zhan’s heart trembled, and a cold sweat immediately emerged on his back. He felt as if Dong Tianyun had sensed Xiang Su’s primordial spirit. Summoning courage to meet his gaze, Dong Tianyun’s cold, icy eyes held no emotion. Only then did Jin Zhan secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

But… he showed a shocked expression in an unseemly loss of composure. On Dong Tianyun’s forehead appeared markings unique to the demon race!

Dong Tianyun had already turned back to speak with the Celestial Emperor. Jin Zhan also observed him more confidently. The corners of his brows and eyes floated with faint purple sinister energy—truly the marks of the demon race!

Qingsui also noticed. She hurried toward Dong Tianyun. Jin Zhan quickly followed behind her, watching as she charged directly in front of Dong Tianyun regardless of anything and loudly asked him how he’d become demonized.

Yuanhou looked at her somewhat speechlessly. In front of so many people, didn’t she consider the face of the wood spirits at all?

Dong Tianyun wore cold brows and cold eyes, obviously in an extremely foul mood, disdaining to answer Qingsui’s question.

Instead, Yumu standing beside him spoke up courteously, afraid Qingsui would lose face: “The Abyss River’s spiritual power is peculiar. Brother Yun spent fifty years at the river bottom and finally recovered his primordial spirit, but was interfered with by demonic energy, becoming the current half-immortal, half-demon state.”

“Half-immortal, half-demon?” Both Qingsui and Jin Zhan couldn’t help but exclaim in unison.

“We can discuss this later.” Yumu smiled. “Where is that Immortal Xiang Su of yours?”

Qingsui was just about to say resentfully that she hadn’t found her when they heard a tender, crisp call: “Junshang!” Qingsui turned to look and smiled too. “Isn’t she coming now?”