Xie Hongchen gazed at the person before him, while the person’s gaze was empty, seemingly without consciousness.

All around was silent. Like everyone else here, he was neither living nor dead, quietly standing in this place.

Leiyin Daji…

Xie Hongchen silently recited this name in his heart.

Then, his five fingers swept across the mountain wall, getting his hand full of dusty mud. He then reapplied the dusty mud to obscure Leiyin Daji’s features.

Watching those familiar features become blurred and unclear again, he turned around, his heart feeling as if a boulder had fallen into it.

In his ears, Yue Mihua was completely unaware of Xie Hongchen’s strange state.

He rambled on, still talking about the past: “Later, I also joined the Immortal Sects. You always took care of me like a big brother. But… but why did you go and practice that damned demonic technique? You were already honored as Yuhu Xuanzong’s ancestor. What didn’t you have…”

When he reached the sad parts, tears and snot flowed freely.

But Xie Hongchen’s heart was completely cold.

A strange thought drove him—he wanted to reread Xie Lingbi’s journals.

He wanted to know what exactly had happened over these years!

Despite his inner urgency, he didn’t rush anyone.

Regarding Xie Lingbi’s current fate, in the entire Immortal Sects, probably only two people felt melancholy. And now, both were here.

He waited until Yue Mihua had changed Xie Lingbi into new clothes and combed his hair neatly.

Xie Hongchen finally escorted him out of Luofu Hall.

Then, he found Xie Lingbi’s journals.

“Today I paid respects to founding ancestor Yinian Shenbu and discovered the barrier was damaged. I must enter to repair it. For such a divine immortal figure, I wonder what the scene inside his tomb is like.” Xie Lingbi’s handwriting, stroke by stroke, recorded what happened back then.

“I secretly entered the tomb chamber and discovered Yinian Shenbu’s tomb was empty! How could this be…”

“No, the tomb isn’t empty! In the stone chamber beneath the coffin, I found a forbidden book and countless cultivation methods! What have I discovered?”

“Ah, it’s the Demon Spirit Ghost Scripture… Yinian Shenbu faked his death and hid here to practice the Demon Spirit Ghost Scripture? How is this possible?”

Xie Hongchen flipped through page by page.

The early entries in this journal recorded Xie Lingbi’s discoveries, but gradually, the handwriting became sloppy and frenzied.

“I never imagined the Demon Spirit Ghost Scripture would be such a technique. Simply shocking. Unfortunately, Leiyin Daji’s magical artifacts were lost… No, were they actually lost, or did they fall into Yinian Shenbu’s hands?”

Xie Hongchen’s ears seemed to hear Xie Lingbi’s voice—he was so urgent, yet puzzled and confused.

“I waited a long time. Yinian Shenbu never came back. I’m not sure if he died or has already left.”

“The Demon Spirit Ghost Scripture is so profound and mysterious, it truly drives one mad.”

“Yinian Shenbu must not be coming back, but my constitution and bone structure make it fundamentally impossible for me to practice this demonic technique…”

Xie Hongchen’s flipping speed gradually quickened. Xie Lingbi’s journal entries became increasingly disorderly and sloppy.

“It’s fundamentally impossible to succeed. Before the technique is complete, I’ll suffer complete backlash and die!”

“This thing—besides that old wretch Leiyin Daji, who else can cultivate it? This is a scam!”

“Ah, Leiyin Daji. If it’s that old wretch’s bloodline, could it be possible… Wait, the Demon Spirit Ghost Scripture has a wonderful method for possession!”

Time gradually came to four hundred years ago. After a long time, Xie Hongchen finally steeled his resolve and opened that page.

That page read: “I took the old wretch’s essence and found a woman to test whether she could bear his offspring. This old wretch has been suppressed for many years. I don’t know if his essence can still produce descendants.”

As expected.

Xie Hongchen stared at this journal entry. Next to it was the technique of the Demon Spirit Ghost Scripture.

Several times he wanted to open it, but ultimately held back.

What exactly was so captivating about this technique?

Even Yinian Shenbu couldn’t resist the temptation?

Xie Hongchen pondered for a long time. Finally, he removed the journal’s binding thread and carefully extracted these few pages.

Xie Lingbi, utterly deranged, in order to change his bone structure, had actually thought to use Leiyin Daji’s essence to cultivate a new body. And between him and Xie Lingbi—over two hundred years of master-disciple affection.

When the final outer garment was stripped away, everything was bloody and raw.

And these things could not see the light of day. If people in the Immortal Sects knew he was Leiyin Daji’s descendant, they would certainly panic.

A flash of firelight appeared at Xie Hongchen’s fingertips, and these few pages of journal turned to ash.

The next day, Qiu Cailing and a group of elders came looking for him.

Everyone’s expressions were solemn.

Qiu Cailing still spoke first, saying, “The Demon Spirit Ghost Scripture technique cannot be preserved. Xie Lingbi’s journals and all related insights should all be destroyed. This demonic technique has been buried for many years. We cannot let it appear in the world again.”

Xie Hongchen said, “This is natural.”

Having said this, he suddenly thought of the records in Xie Lingbi’s journal and changed his approach: “However, temporarily keeping the technique isn’t necessarily bad. If there are still villains practicing it, at least we can subdue them.”

That made sense too.

Qiu Cailing said, “You are the Sect Master. You make the decision. It’s just that, Hongchen, you are still young after all. These things—it’s best not to read them, lest you become obsessed.”

Xie Hongchen naturally understood his worry and said, “Elder Qiu can rest assured. I won’t follow in my master’s footsteps.”

Qiu Cailing frowned and said, “He is now a criminal of the Immortal Sects. You shouldn’t call him master anymore! As Sect Master, you are inherently a person pure as white jade. Why bring filth upon yourself because of him?”

Xie Hongchen looked at him, as if seeing the coldness of human hearts.

He suddenly thought of Huang Rang.

If Huang Rang were here, what would she say? What would she think?

At this time, Huang Rang was feeding the saddleback caterpillar water transformed from spirit pills.

She was more experienced than Di Yiqiu at cultivating a body technique for the little demon.

After all, outside the dream there was Xie Jiu’er, and inside the dream she herself had also switched to practicing martial arts.

She earnestly helped cultivate a body technique for her beloved insect.

This saddleback caterpillar was also promising. It had now developed some spiritual intelligence and knew to steal spirit herbs from the medical office.

Everyone knew this was the Supervisor and Scholar’s “beloved insect,” so they forcibly restrained themselves from stomping it to death.

Meanwhile, Di Yiqiu earnestly studied the tea needle Huang Rang had given him. He discovered the incantation inscriptions on the tea needle had commonalities with the Soul-Binding Bone-Setting Needles. Looking again at the Demon Spirit Ghost Scripture, based on Xie Lingbi’s cultivation level, he wrote half an analysis.

But this technique fed on resentment and suffering—clearly it wasn’t just for possession.

Immortality?

By constantly possessing new bodies, both the body and primordial spirit could remain ageless and undying?

He couldn’t figure it out.

But regardless, Xie Lingbi had already been punished. No matter how profound a technique, if no one practiced it, naturally there was no need to guard against it.

The world seemed to return to its proper track.

Xi Yin still lived on the estate. Baowu occasionally went over. After spending time together, the two were already like old friends. Xi Yin would even tailor clothes for him and chat with him about everyday household matters.

Baowu wasn’t interested in these things, but would listen for a long time.

Xi Yin was different from him.

Her life had no flashing blades and swords. Only these peaceful years like water, and the green seedlings that flourished and withered year after year.

Baowu even felt this was good.

Xie Hongchen remained at Yuhu Xuanzong as the lofty Sect Master.

As his cultivation advanced, his prestige grew daily. It was just that over these years, no matter what kind of women admired him, he politely declined them all.

Di Yiqiu, because he had reforged his body technique with Xie Lingbi’s cultivation, gradually became another leading figure among the Immortal Sects.

The saddleback caterpillar also reforged his body technique. Di Yiqiu named him Huang Yang. He lived together with Huang Rang and Di Yiqiu, mischievous every day. Later, influenced by his father, he also became quite interested in artifact forging.

So Di Yiqiu simply brought him along to work in the Artifact Forging Bureau.

He Xijin and the others were loving couples. Later on, Qu Manying was so bored she even gave birth to a young son. Huang Yang even had a girl he admired.

Meanwhile, Shi Wenyu continued cultivating in Yuanrong Tower. This life had been smooth to this point—simply perfect.

On this day.

Huang Rang was leading students from the breeding academy to cultivate new strains. The students brought her much food.

She couldn’t eat it all, so she simply distributed it to the tenant farmers.

At this time, a tenant farmer held osmanthus cake. After a long time, she said, “My child loved osmanthus cake most.”

Hearing this, Huang Rang casually said, “There’s more here. Take it back for the child.”

Unexpectedly, that tenant farmer’s eyes reddened. After a long time, she shook her head saying, “My child is gone. We can’t find him no matter how hard we look. His father drinks himself drunk every day. Last year he fell and is still paralyzed in bed…”

She wiped her eyes and bit into the osmanthus cake, but no matter what, couldn’t swallow it.

Huang Rang only felt her heartbeat quicken. She took a deep breath and asked as if nothing was wrong, “When did this happen? Didn’t you search?”

That tenant farmer said, “Two or three years ago. We searched everywhere. Master Di Sanmeng, why do people like us have to suffer so much…”

Two or three years…

No no no, perhaps it was unrelated to the previous missing children case.

Children getting lost wasn’t anything strange.

Huang Rang didn’t speak again, but also lost the heart to continue breeding.

She returned to the residence. Huang Yang jumped out saying, “Mom, Dad stole from my savings. Are you going to do something about it or not!”

Huang Rang had no mind to play with him. After a long time, she said, “Where is your dad?”

Seeing her expression was melancholy, Huang Yang couldn’t help but say, “In the kitchen. He insisted on cooking, saying Sect Leader He and the others can all make a few small dishes, and he can’t fall behind. He’s even forcing me to learn together!”

Huang Rang acknowledged and stepped into the kitchen.

As expected, Di Yiqiu was cooking.

The room was filled with the aroma of vegetables.

“Back so early today?” Di Yiqiu frowned.

Huang Rang stood behind him. After a long time, she reached out and embraced him.

Di Yiqiu was slightly stunned, then tossed the ladle again before saying, “…Do it here? Let me first chase that stinking brat out.”

Huang Rang didn’t speak. She hesitated for a very long time.

Di Yiqiu sensed her strangeness and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Now, are there still children mysteriously disappearing?” Huang Rang didn’t know what kind of mood she was in when she asked this question.

Di Yiqiu was slightly stunned and said, “No reports have been received.” Saying this, he suddenly became serious and asked, “Did you hear something?”

Huang Rang was silent for a very long time. Perhaps, as long as she didn’t pierce through this layer of paper, the dream could continue forever.

But she now was no longer the Huang Rang from Immortal Tea Town back then.

Time overlapped and intersected. Having lived several lives as a person, she had long understood—happiness built on others’ suffering was only a false appearance.

She pressed her face against Di Yiqiu’s back and said, “Then… can you investigate for them again, alright?”

Di Yiqiu said, “This is natural. I will order each prefecture to re-report suspicious cases from these years.”

Huang Rang slowly released him.

If heaven would grant me one wish, I hope this is just an ordinary case of getting lost.

Huang Rang thought this way.

But the next day, Di Yiqiu received case files from prefectures throughout the provinces and discovered that over these years, strange cases had occurred frequently everywhere.

Parents losing beloved children in agony, loving couples separated…

Each case file was like a dark cloud hanging over this seemingly clear sky.

At Yuhu Xuanzong.

Xie Hongchen was cultivating when he unexpectedly received a rare visitor.

—Di Yiqiu.

Seeing him again, Xie Hongchen still felt like sand had been rubbed into his eyes.

But he still brewed tea to receive him, asking, “What brings the Supervisor here?”

Di Yiqiu got straight to the point, asking, “Is Xie Lingbi still trapped in Yuhu Xuanzong?”

“This is natural.” Xie Hongchen frowned, displeased as he said, “Do you suspect there’s something false about it?”

Di Yiqiu finally said, “Xie Hongchen, children are still disappearing among the common people! The person truly using them to practice demonic techniques may not be Xie Lingbi! Or rather, not only Xie Lingbi!”

The cup in Xie Hongchen’s hand paused. In that instant, scattered records from Xie Lingbi’s journals flashed through his mind.

“Yinian Shenbu…” he murmured.

Di Yiqiu asked, “What?”

Xie Hongchen closed his eyes. A moment later, he opened them again and said, “My master’s journal once recorded that he discovered the Demon Spirit Ghost Scripture in Yinian Shenbu’s tomb. He also said Yinian Shenbu should still be alive!”

The two men’s gazes met, their scalps truly tingling.

At this moment, both simultaneously thought of another person.

Xie Hongchen said, “Arang, she must know something!”

Di Yiqiu glanced at him and corrected, “If Sect Master Xie still refuses to acknowledge she has married me as wife, at least please call her Miss Huang.”

And this correction successfully earned Sect Master Xie a cold snort.