Xie Hongchen stood in Luofu Hall, watching as Xie Lingbi clutched his head with both hands, crying out in endless pain.

“Have you still not found that wretched woman?” Seeing him return, Xie Lingbi asked harshly.

Xie Hongchen reported truthfully: “She’s at the Bureau of Celestial Observation.”

“The Bureau of Celestial Observation?” Xie Lingbi’s entire face contorted grotesquely as he demanded, “Why didn’t you bring her back? Could it be that a mere Bureau of Celestial Observation has someone capable of stopping you?”

Xie Hongchen slowly walked before him as Xie Lingbi yanked off the medicinal cloth that disciples from Baicao Peak had applied to his head.

“All of you, leave!” he roared in anger.

The other disciples naturally dared not disobey and withdrew one after another.

Xie Lingbi covered his head with one hand while sitting up, saying: “Speak!”

Xie Hongchen looked at him and asked: “This disciple has never understood—why must Master treat her this way?”

Xie Lingbi asked knowingly: “What are you talking about?”

Xie Hongchen said: “She has been subjected to the Soul-Coiling Bone-Setting Needles and can no longer speak or act.”

“Then you should bring her back even more urgently, or kill her to eliminate future troubles!” Xie Lingbi raged: “Now after entering dreams twice, what tremendous losses has Yuhu Immortal Sect suffered because of this wretched woman? Her presence at the Bureau of Celestial Observation clearly shows the imperial court is behind this! Can’t you see?”

Xie Hongchen lowered his eyes without answering. If not for Huang Rang’s words in the dream, he might have almost believed it.

Was she acting under imperial orders, and thus subjected to the Soul-Coiling Bone-Setting Needles, becoming a living corpse?

Seeing his silence, Xie Lingbi grew even more vexed: “Hongchen! You child, you’ve been soft-hearted since childhood! At this point, only by eliminating her can we permanently remove this threat!”

Xie Hongchen finally asked: “The Soul-Coiling Bone-Setting Needles in her head—Master was responsible, weren’t you?”

“Are you questioning me?” Xie Lingbi tried to get out of bed, but the severe headache made him collapse back down. “Are you doubting your own master?”

Xie Hongchen remained silent. Xie Lingbi laughed coldly: “Good, very good! Yes, this old man did it. Will you kill this old man to avenge that wretched woman?”

He was extremely angry and resentful, yet Xie Hongchen did not speak.

This was what he had been contemplating throughout his journey.

Xie Lingbi was his benefactor and teacher; Huang Rang was his wife.

For so many years, he had never pierced through this veil of paper, simply because he didn’t know how to choose.

—If his suspicions proved true and Xie Lingbi truly had harmed Huang Rang, would he be able to avenge her?

Seeing his troubled expression, Xie Lingbi softened his tone and said: “When you insisted on marrying her, this master did not permit it. That wretched woman was inherently a source of calamity, of no benefit to you. But this master thought, you are young and rarely cherish anything. I couldn’t bear to be too insistent. But Hongchen, over these hundred years, she still hasn’t recognized her place. She actually attempted to drive a wedge between you and me—this, I absolutely cannot tolerate.”

Xie Hongchen said: “So Master did this to her.”

Xie Lingbi sneered: “That’s because she deserves it!”

“Since Master mentioned her attempts to sow discord, then this disciple wishes to ask Master: back then at Qilu Platform, what exactly did she want to tell this disciple?” Xie Lingbi froze slightly as Xie Hongchen pressed on: “Even if she intended to cause division, please tell this disciple—what did she want to say?”

“This master doesn’t know.” Xie Lingbi snorted coldly. “Since it’s mere rumor, why care? From the moment she conceived such wicked thoughts, she deserved to die.”

Like an unreasonable father, he tyrannically decided everything about his son’s affairs.

Xie Hongchen said no more and slowly withdrew from Luofu Hall.

Only after his figure completely disappeared did the furious expression on Xie Lingbi’s face finally fade entirely. He supported his head—though his skull throbbed with severe pain, his mind remained clear.

Xie Hongchen had not killed Huang Rang. But this wasn’t surprising—even sons don’t necessarily obey, let alone disciples.

—Just think of that fool Xie Yuanshu.

Xie Lingbi let out a heavy sigh. It seemed matters had become urgent and could no longer be delayed.

Outside Luofu Hall, Xie Shaochong had been waiting for quite some time.

Seeing Xie Hongchen emerge, he hurried forward.

Xie Hongchen asked: “Has the search these past days yielded any clues?”

After the first dream ended, Xie Hongchen had grown suspicious of Xie Lingbi.

He had ordered Xie Shaochong to investigate every trace and detail on Anlei Peak. However, due to the delay caused by the second strange dream, the matter had not yet produced results.

Xie Shaochong said: “Following the Sect Master’s instructions, I started by examining the books the Ancestor has consulted over these years. The Ancestor reads extensively and voraciously. But many pages, from being turned too frequently, have become worn. I collected all these passages.”

“Very good.” Xie Hongchen said. “What did you discover?”

Xie Shaochong looked completely baffled: “I can’t make sense of it. So I’ll leave it to the Sect Master.”

With that, he produced a notebook and handed it to Xie Hongchen.

Xie Hongchen took it and said: “You’ve worked hard. Treat this matter as if you know nothing of it and mention it no more.”

Xie Shaochong said: “I understand. It’s just… Senior Brother, the Ancestor, he…”

He hesitated, and Xie Hongchen patted his shoulder without saying more.

Returning to Cuifei Peak, Xie Hongchen began carefully examining the notebook.

Xie Shaochong’s records were extremely detailed, and the contents inside truly seemed completely unrelated to each other. No wonder he couldn’t find any thread.

But Xie Hongchen was different from him after all.

Throughout all these years in the immortal sects, who dared claim to be first in the way of the sword?

Across a thousand years, there was only one—him.

At this time, at the Bureau of Celestial Observation.

The Xuanwu Division was under renovation. Because of the disturbance between the Director and Xie Hongchen during the day, most of the Xuanwu Division’s study halls had been destroyed.

The Ministry of Works’ people could only complain while rushing repairs in the snow.

The Director couldn’t very well absent himself from responsibility, but such a place was filled with dust and debris. Naturally he couldn’t bring Huang Rang there.

So the Director pushed Huang Rang all the way to the study in the Zhuque Division.

Inside the room, official documents were piled like mountains.

This was natural—after a hundred years of strange dreams and such horrifying events occurring, not to mention among common people and officials, even the immortal sects were shaken with unease. The Bureau of Celestial Observation was naturally about to be buried in official correspondence.

Di Yiqiu pushed Huang Rang beside the desk, rubbed her head, and said: “Wait here for me. A bit later, Miao Yunzhi should come to administer your needles.”

Having said this, just as he was about to leave, he suddenly recalled what this person had said in the dream.

“You must promise me that even if you marry and have children in the future, you can’t stop caring for me! You can’t let them bully me. I’m afraid of the dark—you must always keep the lamps lit. I don’t like being alone—wherever you go, you must take me with you. At night when sleeping, you must stay with me too, and talk to me more…”

Then that person had said with utter dejection and powerlessness: “Forget it. If I keep going like this, I’m asking for too much. Never mind.”

The Director grasped her hand and said softly: “Everything you said in the dream, this seat remembers it all. You don’t need to worry. It’s just that the construction site is noisy and the dust is too heavy—it’s not good for you. You stay here, I’ll return shortly, alright?”

Huang Rang naturally wouldn’t answer, so he recalled what Huang Rang had said in the dream again: “Talk to you more… talk to you more…”

The Director’s gaze shifted around before finally settling on one object.

Perfect!

It was an echo stone, appearing like a smooth pebble, sleek and translucent.

The Director picked it up, infused it with spiritual power, then placed it by his lips and said: “Stay here by the fire, this seat will return immediately.”

Having said this, he nodded, quite satisfied, and placed the stone in Huang Rang’s hands.

Then the Director opened the door and left.

The door closed, leaving only the sound of the burning brazier in the room. There must have been a sound-blocking formation here—the commotion from the Xuanwu Division couldn’t be heard.

Huang Rang’s gaze slowly moved downward, fixing on the stone in her hands—what is this thing?

However, before long, she found out.

The stone’s light flashed and pulsed, brightening and dimming with each breath. Then it began to speak: “Stay here by the fire, this seat will return immediately.”

The tone and inflection were exactly as Di Yiqiu had just spoken.

However, that wasn’t the scary part.

The scary part was that it just kept repeating this phrase.

When the talisman light flashed, it would start speaking; when it dimmed, it would finish the sentence. Over and over again.

…Huang Rang stared at this thing, immediately filled with horror.

—Someone save me, won’t someone please save me!

As the daylight dimmed slightly, a servant came in to light the candles.

Huang Rang desperately tried to signal with her eyes, hoping the person would have some awareness and take away this incessantly chattering stone from her hands. But clearly, no one would do such a thing. Huang Rang could only stare at this object with a face full of despair and helplessness.

By the time it had grown completely dark, Di Yiqiu indeed returned.

He removed his black cloak, shaking off the snowflakes on it before casually hanging it up.

Then he finally took that damned stone from Huang Rang’s hands.

In his hand, the stone had its spiritual power withdrawn and finally fell silent.

The Director squeezed Huang Rang’s hand and asked gently: “Isn’t this much better now?”

Better my foot. Huang Rang’s ears ached from the noise. Hearing these words, she could only maintain a numb expression.

“The Xuanwu Division is still being rebuilt. We’ll make do here for the night, is that alright?” Di Yiqiu pushed her wheelchair to the desk. Though it was a question, he was accustomed to her non-responses.

Official documents had already piled up on the desk. He casually picked up one letter, about to read it, when he turned to see Huang Rang sitting there blankly.

“Are you bored? Let me find something interesting for you to see, alright?” He lifted Huang Rang over and actually had her sit on his lap.

Huang Rang only felt solid warmth at her back, and the damage caused by the echo stone finally lessened somewhat.

The Director half-embraced her and indeed began reading these documents aloud.

“In Dengshui County, a man’s wife died but he did not report it, sharing a bed with his wife for half a year. Yet her corpse did not decay. The local official feared something strange and specially reported to the Bureau of Celestial Observation, requesting someone be sent to investigate.” The Director wrote his response and casually asked: “Very interesting, isn’t it?”

Uh… Huang Rang had reservations about this.

Before long, the Director turned to another document and continued reading: “In Qingzhou Prefecture, a man named Jia, lacking funds, robbed graves at night. Seeing the beautiful appearance of a female corpse, his lustful heart was greatly stirred and he coupled with it. After returning home, his body broke out in festering sores, toxic pus flowing profusely…”

Huang Rang: “…”

—This might not be called interesting, but rather outrageous.

The Director read through documents one by one for her, and he considerately skipped over all those bloody and brutal matters.

Leaving only these “curious and unusual anecdotes” to share with her.

Huang Rang listened until nightfall, when finally Miao Yunzhi pushed the door open. It seemed the time had come for her needles. Seeing him, Huang Rang felt like she’d met her savior.

—Di Yiqiu, please just forget what I said in the dream.

Miao Yunzhi took in the scene at a glance and couldn’t help but frown.

This was natural. At this moment, Di Yiqiu sat behind the desk while Huang Rang sat on his lap, half-embraced in his arms. Such a posture was truly far too intimate.

“Mind the impropriety!” Miao Yunzhi scolded, then spread out his needle case, containing silver needles of varying thickness and length.

Di Yiqiu carried Huang Rang to the wheelchair and loosened her hair knot, letting her long hair cascade down like water.

Only then did Miao Yunzhi begin administering needles to Huang Rang.

“In the last strange dream, she said some things to me. Senior, do you think her consciousness is clear?” Di Yiqiu sat to one side. Though he watched Miao Yunzhi apply the needles, his gaze was fixed on Huang Rang.

“The Soul-Coiling Bone-Setting Needles are far too vicious. The suffering of those subjected to this punishment is beyond what ordinary people can imagine.” Miao Yunzhi said heavily. “Look at her delicate appearance, and she’s already endured this punishment for many years. Do you think she still has much consciousness left?”

Di Yiqiu hummed in acknowledgment. He had thought so previously as well.

Huang Rang was a descendant of the息壤 lineage, born into the Huang family. Though Huang Shu wasn’t kind, his household didn’t lack for clothing or food either.

Her family background was humble but not impoverished. Later, when she married into Yuhu Immortal Sect, though there were many unsatisfactory aspects, she ultimately lived in luxury. Raised so delicately, her willpower was probably weak.

After ten years of imprisonment, could her words be taken as truth?

“What are you thinking about?” Seeing him deep in thought, Miao Yunzhi couldn’t help asking.

Di Yiqiu pondered for a long while before saying: “In the last strange dream, she said some things to me that made me quite suspicious.”

Miao Yunzhi’s curiosity was immediately piqued: “What things?”

Di Yiqiu crouched before Huang Rang, gently smoothing her black hair as he said: “She said there’s a problem with Xie Hongchen’s background, that Xie Lingbi is lying.”

At these words, Miao Yunzhi immediately frowned as well, and after a long while said: “Back then when Xie Lingbi found Xie Hongchen outside the mountain gate, there were eyewitnesses. If there’s fabrication, it would be in his background and origins. But Xie Hongchen came from Qingzhou Prefecture. That year Qingzhou suffered a great plague and refugees were displaced. He was said to be the son of refugees at that time, with both parents deceased. Even now Qingzhou Prefecture still receives considerable favor for being the Sect Master’s native place.”

“Precisely.” Di Yiqiu thought for a long time before saying: “In this matter, Xie Lingbi made no attempt to conceal it. Logically there should be no falsehood.”

Huang Rang silently listened to them talk, really wanting to roll her eyes.

But she quickly discovered that Di Yiqiu had actually been watching her all along.

—He seemed to be checking whether her consciousness was truly clear!!

Huang Rang stopped looking at him. Since falling into his hands, embarrassing situations had occurred by the basketful.

—Stop testing me. Just consider me dead!

She appeared completely unresponsive, so Di Yiqiu could only give up.

Miao Yunzhi instead said: “This girl holds grudges. If she’s fixated on Xie Lingbi, there must be a reason. Since she said so, there’s no harm in you going to take a look.”

Di Yiqiu agreed, saying: “I’ll take her on a trip to Qingzhou.”

Miao Yunzhi frowned: “In that strange dream, she stole all the limelight. Now she’s probably extremely conspicuous. If you take her out like this and someone harbors ill intentions…”

On this point, the Director was fearless. He said: “This seat promised her that wherever I go, I’ll take her along.”

“Still a romantic at heart.” Miao Yunzhi muttered, then said: “Then this old man will accompany you on the trip.”

At Yuhu Immortal Sect.

Xie Hongchen pieced together Xie Shaochong’s notes and actually managed to barely assemble a complete cultivation method.

He drew and analyzed the method step by step.

In the end, only silence remained.

At this moment, a disciple from Baicao Peak rushed to report: “Sect Master, the Ancestor… I fear he won’t make it!”

Xie Hongchen stood up, about to rush to Luofu Hall, but soon he stopped and said: “Understood. This Sect Master will go there shortly.”

That disciple, seeing he had no intention of immediately setting out, could only acknowledge and leave the hall.

Xie Hongchen surveyed the study. After a long while, he took out a storage treasure and carefully collected all the records and texts about the Soul-Coiling Bone-Setting Needles, placing them inside.

“Qinglan,” he called outside.

Nie Qinglan had been standing guard outside the hall. Hearing this, he immediately entered: “Sect Master. People from Luofu Hall have come again. Even the eldest young master has gone over. The Ancestor truly may not survive.”

Xie Hongchen didn’t respond to this, instead handing the storage treasure to him: “Deliver this to the Bureau of Celestial Observation and give it to Senior Miao Yunzhi.”

“Senior Miao? He’s gone to the Bureau of Celestial Observation?” Nie Qinglan was surprised. Of course he was surprised. Currently, the two medical saints were Miao Yunzhi and Qiu Shengbai.

Shi Wenyu had already brought Qiu Shengbai under his command. If Miao Yunzhi was added as well, this probably wasn’t good news.

However, Xie Hongchen only said: “Go.”

Nie Qinglan dared not speak further and immediately set out.

Only then did Xie Hongchen straighten his robes and head toward Anlei Peak.

Anlei Peak, Luofu Hall.

Indeed, even many elders who had been in seclusion or retirement had arrived. Seeing Xie Hongchen, these people came forward to pay their respects one after another. Xie Hongchen returned each courtesy.

These elders actually held great love and respect for Xie Hongchen as Sect Master.

Though they didn’t concern themselves with worldly affairs, they had all heard about the events in the second dream. Now facing Xie Lingbi’s condition, their expressions were grave.

Among them, Grand Elder Qiu Cailing stepped forward: “Sect Master, may I have a word in private?”

Xie Hongchen followed him away from the others, and the rest tactfully didn’t follow.

Qiu Cailing’s hair and beard were completely white, but his complexion was ruddy and his spirit vigorous. He said: “We’ve all heard about Lingbi’s matter. Though his conduct in the dream was lacking in grace, it was still only in a dream. Now… his life hangs by a thread, with few days remaining. His affairs… we still hope you can handle them well. No matter what, don’t let it affect the sect.”

He sighed: “A thousand-year legacy didn’t come easily.”

Xie Hongchen understood his meaning. He asked: “Elder Qiu’s words—are they also the other elders’ intention?”

Qiu Cailing said: “No matter what, the greater good must take priority, mustn’t it?”

This being said, it was tacit agreement.

Xie Hongchen’s gaze shifted lightly to look at the other elders.

They were also looking this way, but clearly their stance was the same as Qiu Cailing’s.

Xie Hongchen said: “In reality, my wife Huang Rang has suffered the torture of the Soul-Coiling Bone-Setting Needles and has already become a living corpse. I previously even wondered if she might be acting under imperial orders, until I saw her with my own eyes. No matter what, this matter should have some resolution.”

Qiu Cailing frowned: “But even if there’s a resolution, can someone who’s suffered the Soul-Coiling Bone-Setting Needles be restored?”

Xie Hongchen then thoroughly understood the intention of the dozen or so elders.

Qiu Cailing’s words were probably what the other elders wanted to say as well.

Xie Lingbi was clearly not going to survive. If he died, then no matter what he had done, everyone hoped it wouldn’t be pursued further. Especially that there must be no public trial. Therefore, they were hinting that Xie Hongchen should clean up after Xie Lingbi’s actions.

Xie Hongchen remained silent. Qiu Cailing couldn’t very well force him either. After all, no matter how you looked at it, Xie Lingbi had crossed the line regarding Huang Rang’s matter.

—Instruments of severe punishment like the Soul-Coiling Bone-Setting Needles were strictly forbidden for private use.

Every person being tortured in the depths of Luofu Hall had been publicly tried by the immortal sects and had confessed their crimes.

Huang Rang had not been publicly tried—how could she be subjected to punishment?

If this matter became public, even Yuhu Immortal Sect itself would be hard-pressed to escape blame.

Though the elders spent years in seclusion and didn’t concern themselves with sect affairs, now that such a major incident had occurred, they inevitably had to step forward and intervene.

Xie Hongchen looked at the elder before him and suddenly asked: “Then Arang suffered this punishment for nothing?”

Qiu Cailing froze slightly, then after a long pause said: “Sect Master, Lingbi is your master. Three hundred and sixty-some years ago, it was he who carried you in from below the mountain gate. At that time, you were frozen blue all over. I personally saw him open his inner garment and hold you against his heart as he entered the mountain gate. He warmed you for half the night before you could cry out.”

“Yes. I owe him.” Xie Hongchen’s expression suddenly became extremely calm. As if he’d figured something out, he actually seemed relieved.

Seeing this, Qiu Cailing couldn’t help saying: “Master and disciple are like father and son. Being father and son, there’s no talk of owing. It’s just that the Sect Master is now the crown jewel of the immortal sects. If such a scandal were to spread, I fear the sect’s disgrace would be hard to wash away.”

Xie Hongchen spoke no more. He stepped into Luofu Hall.

On the bed in the inner hall, Xie Lingbi already looked as pale as gold paper. His breathing was barely audible, until hearing Xie Hongchen’s footsteps, he finally opened his eyes.

“You’ve come?” Xie Lingbi’s voice was also dry and hoarse, as if drained of all vitality.

At his side, Xie Yuanshu had been here keeping his father company, but as soon as Xie Lingbi saw Xie Hongchen enter, he immediately said: “You go out first. I have words to speak with the Sect Master.”

Xie Yuanshu rolled his eyes.

After suffering serious injuries in the first dream, he had been recovering for several days. Just now able to get out of bed, he heard news of his father’s critical condition.

He rushed here in haste, yet Xie Lingbi, upon seeing Xie Hongchen, completely forgot about this son.

Xie Yuanshu snorted coldly. Fortunately, he’d been used to this since childhood. He glanced at Xie Hongchen before rising and leaving.

Xie Hongchen came to the bedside, looking down at Xie Lingbi on the bed.

Xie Lingbi smiled bitterly: “No matter what, this old man has reached the end of his oil and lamp. From now on, the sect is entrusted to you.”

Xie Hongchen grabbed his wrist. Xie Lingbi tried to struggle, but Xie Hongchen stimulated him with a surge of true energy, and black qi immediately emerged from his wrist. This black qi seeped from his pores, making his entire being look wickedly sinister.

“You feed on resentment, cultivating the Demon Spirit Ghost Scripture!” His voice was certain.

Xie Lingbi didn’t refute it either. Xie Hongchen released his hand, and it fell limply: “So what? Originally harboring unwillingness, wanting to defy heaven and change fate. But in the end, heaven’s mandate is hard to defy.”

He sighed deeply: “Heaven’s mandate is hard to defy.”

Xie Hongchen didn’t speak again for a long time.

The person before him had harmed Huang Rang, and very likely had also harmed those innocent children. All just to cultivate this kind of demonic art, feeding on resentment to increase his cultivation.

He said: “Arang—was she harmed by Master because she discovered the Demon Spirit Ghost Scripture?”

“Hahahaha.” Xie Lingbi’s laugh was full of mockery. “That wretched servant, this old man wanted her dead long ago. Whether she discovered it or not, ultimately she was just a stumbling block for you. You are too soft-hearted. In the future when I’m gone and you lead the sect, with that wretched woman by your side, she’ll always be a disaster.”

After saying these few sentences, he gasped heavily, so he rested a while before saying: “Better to eliminate her, so this master can rest assured.”

Xie Hongchen remained silent for a long time.

Just now, Qiu Cailing had mentioned Xie Lingbi’s kindness toward him.

But what he knew was merely the tip of the iceberg.

“I remember I lived in Luofu Hall since childhood, growing up by your side,” Xie Hongchen suddenly said.

Xie Lingbi’s chest heaved rapidly as he said: “Why bring up trivial old matters?”

Xie Hongchen said: “When I was small, I slept in the same bed with you. You would always sit cross-legged in meditation. Later when I grew a bit older, you moved me to a side hall. I was afraid at night but didn’t dare come find you. I could only hide outside your window. So you never extinguished the lamps and never closed the windows.”

Xie Lingbi didn’t speak. He clutched his chest, but his gaze grew somewhat dazed.

“Time is merciless,” he rarely sighed.

Xie Hongchen said: “I knew from childhood that Elder Brother was your biological flesh and blood. So no matter how he bullied me, I endured and yielded. Until one day, you whipped him a hundred times with thorn vines. You said if I continued yielding to him in the future, you would kill him. Otherwise, given his arrogance, he would die sooner or later anyway.”

“From then on, you restrained him with increasing severity.” Xie Lingbi smiled: “All these years, if not for you, how could he have survived until now?”

Xie Hongchen grasped his hand. After a long while, he drew a string of talismans in his palm.

Xie Lingbi froze slightly and asked: “What are you doing?”

Xie Hongchen opened his right hand—in his palm was the same talisman, only reversed in direction, like a mirror image. He reached over and interlocked it with the talisman seal in Xie Lingbi’s palm: “Since Master cultivates the Demon Spirit Ghost Scripture, naturally you know this method can seize bodies.”

Xie Lingbi froze. In this moment, the mockery in his eyes disappeared, revealing a strange expression.

“This disciple received Master’s kindness in raising and teaching, and has no way to repay it. But… Master harmed my wife, and I cannot sit idly by. Now, this disciple offers this body to repay Master’s kindness.” His words were utterly calm as he said: “From this moment on, our master-disciple bond is severed—only enmity remains.”

The talismans attracted each other. Inside the inner hall of Luofu Hall, light and mist interweaved.

Xie Lingbi felt his primordial spirit trembling. He felt infinitely large and infinitely small at once, drawn by the talismans toward Xie Hongchen’s body.

At the last moment, he suddenly asked: “Xie Hongchen, haven’t you considered that this might be this old man’s conspiracy?”

Xie Hongchen didn’t speak.

Of course I’ve considered it.

So many years of scheming, cultivating such demonic arts, perfectly positioned to seize a body.

Wouldn’t that be strange?

However, he didn’t answer.

In that moment, many old memories were like barbs, scraping across the skin of memory, tearing open flesh to reveal bleeding wounds.

“You truly are foolish.” Xie Lingbi’s entire primordial spirit was absorbed into Xie Hongchen’s body. When he spoke again, it was already Xie Hongchen’s voice. “Truly foolish.”

He sighed again.

I’ve schemed for many years, still having countless strategies unused, yet you’ve already offered up your own body.

The severe pain in his skull vanished.

Xie Lingbi stared at his “own” form before him—so this was how old he’d become. He reached out, wanting to touch “his” face. At this moment, the person across from him also opened his eyes.

That white-haired, aged “self” stood up, his words and actions already completely different.

He too looked at the “Xie Lingbi” across from him, and after a long while said: “Will you kill me?”

Xie Lingbi moved this young body. Though Xie Hongchen was already over three hundred years old, at such an age, in the immortal sects he was in his prime.

Youth is wonderful. And his foundation and bones were unparalleled in the world.

To so easily hand over such a body—truly… pitifully naive.

Xie Lingbi stared at his aged former self and murmured: “Hongchen, you’ve made even me feel… just a tiny bit… moved.”

He hadn’t used this word in so long that saying it now felt strange.

So he fell silent again for a long while. Three hundred and sixty-some years of memories were too long—even the most cold-blooded person had many things worth reminiscing about.

“This old man will spare your life.” He lowered his head, and only after a long while gave a dark, mocking laugh. “After all, this is probably… the last time in my life I’ll feel moved.”

The next day, Yuhu Immortal Sect announced to the world that Ancestor Xie Lingbi had disappeared, his whereabouts unknown.

At the same time, the sect expelled him on suspicion of unauthorized use of severe punishment instruments and issued a high bounty, joining with fellow immortal cultivators to pursue the fugitive.

The immortal sects were in an uproar.