Huang Rang’s Goddess Shrine quickly spread from the capital, blossoming in various places.

Even Yuhu Xuanzong, which had never gotten along well with Si Tianjian, built a Goddess Shrine beside the merchant residences at the mountain’s foot to enshrine her as well. It was said that this statue of the goddess at Yuhu Xuanzong was personally carved by Sect Master Xie Hongchen.

The entanglement between Huang Rang, Xie Hongchen, and Di Yiqiu, fermented through four dreams, was known to almost everyone. Thus there was more romantic color added to the discussions. Common people began to argue over orthodoxy.

Which was the orthodox one—the immortal sect’s Goddess Shrine or the court’s Goddess Shrine?

Yuhu Xuanzong had always been the foremost sect among immortal sects and was unambiguous about this matter.

They regularly stationed people there to divine fortunes and interpret lots, attracting common people to compete in offering incense.

Di Yiqiu said little, only embedding the Nine-Curve Spirit Eyes within the statue.

Thus he could often hear many of the common people’s wishes.

Being in the government, he understood human nature all too well.

So he selected a few typical wishes and fulfilled them.

Within half a month, news of the capital’s Goddess Shrine’s efficacy spread.

Common people were the best transmitters of news—they could make anything sound vivid and colorful. Gradually, people traveled from thousands of miles away to the capital just to burn the first stick of incense at the Goddess Shrine.

However, Yuhu Xuanzong was not to be outdone—this was our Sect Master’s wife! Properly married with a matchmaker!

So Yuhu Xuanzong also began imitating the court, installing World-Piercing Eyes in their Goddess Shrine.

The competition grew increasingly fierce, yet the court ultimately prevailed.

Si Tianjian began distributing quality seeds at the Goddess Shrine every month.

…

Huang Rang’s followers gradually increased, but this was quite disadvantageous for Di Yiqiu.

His act of killing Huang Rang left many people, including Qu Manying, He Xijin and others, unable to let it go.

Clearly Huang Rang wasn’t a resurrected one—she could have continued living to seek a solution for the Bone-Setting Soul-Coiling Needles. Yet Di Yiqiu personally pulled out the needles, inevitably appearing cold and heartless.

Therefore, the Three Wife-Fearing Immortals who had gotten along reasonably well with him also gradually had less contact with him.

And his rampage in court, killing Duke Zhongguo’s subordinates, also caused many court officials to be terrified. Thus court officials dared not have any dealings with him.

Time accumulated his prestige. He became the court’s ancestral tablet for intimidating the immortal sects. Everyone feared him, distanced themselves from him, and gradually rarely saw him anymore.

Even Li Lu and Baowu didn’t know where he had gone.

The capital’s snow fell year after year.

Yuhu Xuanzong’s Xie Hongchen began secluding himself in closed-door cultivation. Si Tianjian’s Director Jianzheng Di Yiqiu’s whereabouts were unknown.

Common people privately had rumors, claiming this demon-transformed Director had long since died for love. Others felt he couldn’t possibly be so deeply devoted—most likely he was hiding away cultivating evil demonic texts.

The latter was more frightening, causing endless debate among the common people.

In the imperial palace, Shi Zhenlang had ascended as a child and was now middle-aged.

He stood with hands behind his back observing flowers, while Li Lu stood quietly behind him. After a long silence between monarch and subject, he suddenly asked, “Recently there have been some rumors among the people. Has Deputy Director Li heard of them?”

Li Lu of course knew what he was referring to and said, “Your Majesty refers to the matter of the Director?”

Shi Zhenlang sighed and said, “Common people spread rumors that he avoids the world and stays hidden because he’s secretly cultivating evil demonic texts. The prefectures have reported another case of a missing child, causing even more panic among the people.”

Li Lu said, “That’s absolutely impossible. Si Tianjian has already sent people to investigate this case. The child was merely lost and has been found.”

“Even if the facts are so, how can the common people believe it?” Shi Zhenlang said heavily. “After past events, how could common people still trust a simple official notice from the prefectures?”

Li Lu said, “This subject understands.”

Shi Zhenlang said, “Has Imperial Uncle still not returned from his travels?”

Li Lu was also in a difficult position and said, “Five years ago, on the third day of the third month, I saw him once. After that, I haven’t seen him again.”

“The third day of the third month?” Shi Zhenlang of course knew what day this was. He said, “The Goddess’s birthday?”

Li Lu said, “Exactly. In past years on this day, he would make a trip to the Goddess Shrine.”

Shi Zhenlang pondered for a long while and said, “I hope this year he can also appear.”

This year, on the third day of the third month, at the capital’s Goddess Shrine.

Attendants kept the common people outside the shrine, allowing three people at a time to enter successively to avoid crowding. Emperor Shi Zhenlang was thus able to enter the shrine. He raised his eyes to look at the altar, seeing only that the goddess on the platform held a basket with pale hands, her eyes lowered, beautiful and compassionate. Her skirt was like light gauze, her eyes lively—every trace of expression was vivid and detailed.

“Imperial Uncle’s hands are truly a treasure of our dynasty.” He sighed. Li Lu still followed behind him, yet when the two looked around, they didn’t see Di Yiqiu.

Countless common people knelt before the statue, devoutly kowtowing and making all sorts of wishes.

Incense smoke curled upward, making the world within the shrine seem submerged in clouds and mist.

Shi Zhenlang had no impression of Huang Rang, so naturally he had no particular feelings.

But Li Lu stared at this person, and only after a long while did he sigh softly.

In the end, the two still couldn’t wait for Di Yiqiu.

He didn’t come.

He wouldn’t even come for Huang Rang’s birthday anymore?

Li Lu couldn’t hide his worry.

“The Director didn’t come again. In past years on this day, he would still appear to repair the statue, touch up the paint and decorations.” Among the common people waiting to enter the shrine to offer incense, someone said quietly.

“He hasn’t come for several years. Perhaps he really is cultivating evil demonic texts? I heard that several more places have had cases of missing children…”

Such discussions floated like dark clouds above Shi Zhenlang’s head.

The disaster of the evil demonic texts had only passed some thirty-odd years ago. The common people still had lingering fears—how could he not worry?

Yet Di Yiqiu seemed to have truly disappeared. He never appeared again.

When Huang Rang opened her eyes, she was still confused for quite a long time.

After a good while, she came to her senses and finally noticed something strange—what perspective was this?

Her gaze looked downward and she discovered she seemed to have become a giant! The altar and incense burner before her appeared so small.

Wait…

An altar? An incense burner?

Light mist drifted past Huang Rang’s eyes, and she finally saw clearly—she seemed to be enshrined on an altar!

This… Memories flooded into her mind, and she began to remember.

She had originally died. After pulling out the Bone-Setting Soul-Coiling Needles, her body had turned to sand, her entire being scattered into dust, losing consciousness long ago. And now, where was she?

Huang Rang wanted to move, but she seemed to be trapped within this giant statue.

Before her, a peasant woman came carrying a basket of red thorns, kneeling before her. Huang Rang looked on bewildered, listening to her murmured wishes: “Goddess above, this believer Xu Xiaofen has been unable to conceive for many years, and now my husband’s family won’t tolerate me. Please, Goddess, bless this believer to conceive quickly…”

What on earth.

Huang Rang’s head spun, and she simply began to doubt reality.

Could I have entered some strange dream again?

She stopped listening to the person’s murmuring before her. Concentrating her spiritual consciousness slightly, she detected a familiar fragrance—the aroma of crops and earth.

Where was this?

Huang Rang wanted to see her surroundings clearly. She should be in some kind of temple. Huang Rang looked at the lamp stands on both sides, on which were placed countless wish lanterns. The incense offerings were so abundant that these lamps would soon be removed and replaced.

Don’t tell me that after breaking free from the Bone-Setting Soul-Coiling Needles, I still have to be trapped forever in this Buddha statue?!

Huang Rang was truly frightened. She struggled hard to break free, yet this time she didn’t need much effort at all—her entire being escaped from the statue! She used too much force and fell from the statue, nearly crushing the kneeling worshiper.

Yet the believers in the hall seemed completely unable to see her. Everyone continued to speak of their own wishes as before.

Huang Rang came to her senses and only then saw the statue.

On the high altar, the enshrined statue was none other than herself.

She wore a pale gold dress, held a basket with pale hands, every frown and smile compassionate and solemn. Huang Rang reached out her hand, gently touching the corner of the statue’s garment. She already knew whose hands had made it.

Whose longing could even replicate the light and shadow in the eyes?

She wanted to walk out of the shrine. Passing through the entrance, she saw familiar handwriting on the wall.

Page after page on the wall, filled with accounts of her deeds.

Huang Rang looked for a while. Clearly she wanted to laugh, yet bitterness welled up instead.

Did this count as being resurrected? Or was it just fragmented memories before death, a fleeting dream?

She didn’t know. She stepped out of the Goddess Shrine and discovered outside was a large expanse of farmland. Familiar fields and farmhouses came into view, and Huang Rang suddenly understood where this was.

Immortal Tea Town!

She had been born here again.

Huang Rang ran in the wind. No one around could see her. Her body seemed to melt into the wind, becoming a faint cloud of mist.

“Di Yiqiu.” After the incredible wild joy, this name finally surged into her mind again. Huang Rang urgently wanted to rush toward him. This time, it wouldn’t be a dream anymore, would it?

She merged into wind and thunder, her speed becoming very fast. She passed through states and prefectures, and along the way saw many more such Goddess Shrines.

One of them was still unfinished.

Huang Rang slowly walked in, seeing only that the worship hall inside had already been built, but the ground was still covered with thick dust and stones.

On the altar, the stone statue was incomplete, showing only vague outlines.

A clanging sound reached her ears—someone was chiseling and carving stone.

Huang Rang walked behind the statue and saw a person covered in dust, hair disheveled. He kept his head lowered, amid the rubble and powder, hammer by hammer, carving the stubborn stone.

The statue was enormous, yet no one helped him.

He struck the chisel hammer by hammer, unaware of Huang Rang’s approach.

Huang Rang extended her hand, wanting to brush back his hair. But her hand passed right through him.

The person before her was completely unaware. Huang Rang could only crouch gently before him.

A thousand words, at this moment, were all like the stones scattered on the ground—painful and incomplete.

“Di Yiqiu…” Her voice was initially very soft, then grew sharper with each call. But the person before her didn’t raise his head. Mud and ash covered his entire body. He seemed like a clay sculpture or stone carving, just repeating this mechanical motion over and over.

Outside, the sky gradually darkened, the light dimming.

Yet he didn’t light a lamp.

This unfinished Goddess Shrine was empty and desolate. He alone, guarding the unformed rock, strike after strike, wanted to carve it into the image in his heart.

No one accompanied him—only the iron hammer striking the chisel, making rhythmic sounds.

The lack of light didn’t hinder him. He had carved it too many times before—that statue was already cast in his heart. He no longer needed to look.

Huang Rang crouched beside him. Broken stones and powder passed through her, floating emptily down to the ground.

“Di Yiqiu… I said so many words, yet I alone forgot to tell you… to live well.” She extended her hand, her fingertips hovering by his cheek. But he kept his head lowered and didn’t look at her.

The dust and ash blurred his features. His cheeks were already covered with a beard, his whole person shabby to the point of being unkempt.

This enormous statue, carved by him alone, would normally require many days.

But he worked day and night without stopping, and was truly skilled.

By the third dawn, he finally finished applying the last paint to the statue.

Huang Rang had silently accompanied him the entire time. Di Yiqiu lit the statue’s eyes and stared at it for a long while. The statue was wordless. He casually wiped the dust from his beard, then serpent scales appeared layer by layer on his body!

Huang Rang didn’t know what he was going to do.

A moment later, she saw him transform into a small snake. The small snake quickly slithered out of the Goddess Shrine.

Then it randomly found a cave, burrowed inside, coiled its body, and silently entered hibernation.