Originally, Er’er had thought that if there was a chance, she might as well be honest with Li Ye and tell him about her prophetic dreams. Perhaps then, everything might still have room for change. But after hearing Xin Wu’s words, she abandoned this idea.
Since the ability of foresight was such an extraordinary thing, if she were to reveal this matter, firstly, Li Ye might not believe her, and secondly, judging by how these higher beings handled affairs, they would most likely be wary of her.
Better to rely on herself.
Xing Yun moved quickly, and in the blink of an eye, the two of them arrived at the immortal mountain where Xin Wu had been in seclusion. As her boots stepped on the dry fallen leaves, Xin Wu glanced back at the person behind him.
She was studying the paper Li Ye had given her, unconsciously making gestures with her hand, looking somewhat foolish.
Could someone like her learn the Soul Gathering technique?
Was he being too hasty, trusting her so readily? With a life at stake, perhaps it would be better to bring Li Ye here instead?
While his thoughts circled a few times without concluding, Er’er put away the paper and said, “I’ll try.”
Xin Wu couldn’t help but frown: “Practice until you’re familiar with it before trying.”
…
…
His tone was both urgent and nervous, causing Er’er to raise an eyebrow and ask curiously, “If the Upper God cares so much about Long Xu, why did you let her fall into this state?”
“…” How would he know?
Xin Wu lowered his eyes, his thumb unconsciously rubbing against the Soul-Nurturing Lamp.
He had never been one to share his inner thoughts with others, let alone with Long Xu.
Long Xu was stubborn and obsessive. Even after marrying Dui Feng, nothing could stop the fervent look in her eyes when she gazed at him.
He had once cast her down from the Nine Heavens for overstepping boundaries, and once threw her into the Ten Directions Cloud Sea in the middle of the night. Yet the next time they met, she still stubbornly presented her dragon scales before his eyes.
Dui Feng had said: Sometimes immortals cannot freely choose their marriage fate, but they can choose where their heart lies.
At that time, Xin Wu had knelt before Dui Feng, nearly destroying his primordial spirit to beg forgiveness.
Even after Dui Feng said he could dissolve the engagement, saying he didn’t love Long Xu, Xin Wu could never open his heart to Long Xu again. Even when they were together, he would never speak an extra word.
He knew Long Xu was innocent, and he knew that he couldn’t bear to let her go, but in such circumstances, he couldn’t bring himself to speak kindly to her.
“I’m not as powerful as Li Ye, so naturally my chances of success are smaller,” seeing that he wasn’t answering, Er’er said directly. “If she truly cannot return, what will you do?”
“What do you think I would do?” Xin Wu sneered, “Die with her?”
Glancing at the soul knot still pinched between his fingers, Er’er hesitated to speak.
Isn’t that what you’re thinking?
“I can use my soul knot to save her, but if I truly cannot bring her back, then so be it.” Lowering his eyes, Xin Wu said coldly, “What I owe her will be settled.”
How complicated! Er’er pouted. Liking someone is liking them, not liking someone is not liking them. If you like someone, strive to be together; if you don’t, each can find their happiness. Why is it that with him, it becomes a tangled dilemma?
Sighing lightly, Er’er reached out and swiftly took the dragon scale necklace hanging around his neck.
Feeling a lightness at his chest, Xin Wu’s pupils contracted, and he instinctively reached out to grab it.
Er’er moved quickly, holding the necklace in her hand, and said, “Step aside a bit, I’m going to begin.”
For the Soul Gathering technique, a medium was naturally required. Long Xu’s dragon scale was the perfect item, but once it failed, this object would also vanish into nothingness.
Gritting his teeth, Xin Wu stepped back three paces, his body tense like a drawn bowstring.
Er’er formed hand seals according to what Li Ye had written. The intricate seal formation was done slowly and somewhat crookedly by her, but once the shape was formed, a white array of light immediately appeared beneath her feet.
Xin Wu watched, holding his breath, somewhat surprised.
She learned it?
Wasn’t this little immortal supposed to have poor aptitude and low cultivation? After not seeing her for a while, how did she seemed like a completely different person.
A wind arose on the immortal mountain, carrying what seemed like the sound of bells. Er’er slowly closed her eyes and began to search her heart for Long Xu’s remnant soul.
***
Li Ye left the Taihe Immortal Gate.
As he left, Meng Wan stood at the main gate seeing him off. He didn’t ask where Li Ye and Er’er had gone, nor did he ask where Li Ye was headed. He only thickened the barrier around the immortal gate, his eyes extraordinarily profound.
Li Ye didn’t look back, soaring upward on his cloud. Just as he flew to the First Heaven, he encountered Zhong You.
“Greetings, Upper God.” Zhong You wore a black robe that stood in stark contrast to the pure white clouds around, but his expression was particularly gentle as he clasped his hands in greeting, “Zhu Yan has already gone up; my people need to rest here for a while.”
The Nine Heavens were not an easy place to enter, and beings from the Netherworld couldn’t directly rush upward. Li Ye glanced at the black energy hidden within the clouds, gave a slight nod, and continued upward.
Their movements weren’t particularly quiet, but they weren’t loud either. Given the vigilance of the Divination Master of the Heavenly Dao toward him, they should have been detected, yet back to the Li Clan Immortal Gate, he didn’t encounter a single guard.
Sweeping a glance at the Upper Bing Palace ahead, quiet as a mountain, Li Ye smiled faintly and said softly, “Since you’ve already come, why hide?”
As his words fell, hundreds of immortals surged out from around the Upper Bing Palace. None held magical weapons, but none looked relaxed either.
“The Upper God has finally returned.” Tai Shang Lao Jun smiled, “It will soon be the Upper God’s ninety thousandth birthday. Following the Divination Master of the Heavenly Dao’s instructions, we have come specially to congratulate you.”
With these words, barriers fell with a series of clicks around the Li Clan Immortal Gate. The barriers bore the complete Five Elements Dao seals of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, interlocking until completely sealed.
A beautiful cage.
Li Ye’s face showed no ripples of emotion, as if these people had truly come to celebrate his birthday. His tone was even, particularly cordial: “If that’s the case, then I must thank you all.”
He stepped forward, and the immortals standing opposite all leaned back in unison.
If Er’er were here, she would laugh at this scene.
His eyebrows twitched slightly as Li Ye smiled faintly, then with a sweep of his sleeve, he vanished into the main hall.
The magic arrays that had been prepared in advance rushed toward him, colorful and exuding killing intent.
Li Ye sat lazily back on his throne without moving. With just a lift of his eyes, dozens of magic arrays dissolved like rainbows, turning into a gust of wind that swirled and blew back out through the door.
“Why are you all standing outside?” he smiled, “Since you’ve come to celebrate my birthday, you should come in and sit down.”
There was complete silence outside. After a long while, it was still Tai Shang Lao Jun who stepped in.
He flicked his long white duster, not taking a seat among the guests but walking forward and kneeling directly on the steps below.
“You and I have known each other for many years, and this old man knows that I cannot stop you this time. But Li Ye, do not be deceived by others.”
With contempt in his eyes, Li Ye said, “Even mortal warfare teaches ‘courtesy before force,’ yet you do well—force first, and still want to reason with me?”
“They fear you,” Tai Shang Lao Jun sighed, “You truly make people afraid.”
With ninety thousand years almost complete, if he didn’t interfere with the Netherworld, he might become the first immortal to glimpse eternity.