Pei Zichen heard the voices coming and looked at them in confusion.

Their words seemed to be in another space. They entered his ears, but he somewhat didn’t know what they were saying, nor did he care what they said.

The two seemed to have anticipated this long ago. The surroundings slowly darkened. The white-robed young man held an orange palace lantern in his hand and walked forward, saying gently, “Master, your original body has been damaged and you cannot return temporarily. At Cangming Sea, you have another spiritual body still remaining. However, this body was condensed from resentful energy and cannot bear things of beauty and goodness. After we send you into this body, we will return to our divine artifacts. When one day you transcend the resentful energy, we shall meet again.”

With that, the young man turned around, raised the palace lantern and pointed. Pei Zichen only felt tremendous force pulling him in.

Thick black water rolled up like a giant python, wrapping him up and dragging him into the abyss.

In an instant, screams and wails filled his ears. Before his eyes, bizarre and grotesque scenes flashed past—

He once raised a small dog that was cut open knife by knife.

He once had a junior brother who died on his back.

He was slandered by his sect, accused by ten thousand swords.

He loved his master’s wife, yet she pointed at him with the arrow he taught her: “To me, you are only pity.”

…

Pain, resentment, despair—overwhelming, toppling down. In the midst of suffocation, he suddenly opened his eyes wide and sat up in shock.

Cold breath brushed from the surroundings, stirring the talisman strips hanging around the bed. He stared carefully at the demonic energy-rich runes above, listening to the sounds of everyone around him chanting spells.

This sound made him feel as if his soul was merging with something. He gripped the brocade quilt tightly and turned his eyes to look.

He saw that inside the palace hall, surrounding his bed stood a group of dharma cultivators wearing cloaks. They were chanting and casting spells. When they saw Pei Zichen turn his head, they fell silent, placing their hands in front of them, stepping back sideways and bowing.

Outside them in the great hall, densely packed crowds stood. These people’s clothing was completely different from people of Central Continent, with huge individual variations. Some were even demon cultivators unwilling to shed their demonic nature, standing in the main hall with their marks of being demons, half-human and half-beast in appearance.

At the forefront of this dark mass of people, closest to Pei Zichen, was precisely Xinluo Yi in a red palace gown.

Seeing Pei Zichen wake, Xinluo Yi’s face broke into a smile. She immediately raised her hand, leading everyone to kneel and bow, taking the lead in calling out loudly, “Congratulations on Master’s return to his position. The three realms united, only we are Jiuyou!”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen froze. Then he saw everyone in the entire hall kneel down, their voices coming like a tidal wave: “The three realms united, only we are Jiuyou; sun and moon through the ages, only we are Xuanming.”

“We welcome the return of Jiuyou Xuanming Emperor!”

Pei Zichen’s pupils contracted sharply.

Then he heard all their voices repeatedly echoing through the demon palace:

“We welcome the return of Jiuyou Xuanming Emperor!”

“We welcome—the return of Jiuyou Xuanming Emperor!”

“The karmic retribution on Father’s karmic line has been completely repaid. Going forward, Father only needs to find Medicine Lord for recuperation, and he can slowly recover.”

In Penglai’s Jiang Pingsheng’s bedchamber, Jiang Zhaoxue raised her hand and wiped it across her forehead, closing her third eye.

After this eye closed, it quickly disappeared, leaving only a golden divine mark between her brows, making Jiang Zhaoxue appear even more distant and cold.

A Ninth Realm Fate Master would open a third eye. Once the third eye opened, they could completely see karmic fate lines.

If an illness was caused by unresolved karma, she could manipulate karmic fate lines to find the cause clearly and resolve calamities.

Three months ago, she had brought Pei Zichen back to Penglai.

She arrived alone on an immortal crane. When she reached Penglai, everyone first saw her immortal crane, then saw her covered in blood as she descended, startling everyone into quickly calling out her mother.

When Dong Huaiyu saw Jiang Zhaoxue, she saw Jiang Zhaoxue sitting on the ground holding Pei Zichen. She was covered in blood-stained clothing, her garments disheveled. The young man in her arms was even worse—his blood-stained clothes showed cracks after solidifying, his whole person soft against Jiang Zhaoxue’s shoulder.

This was Dong Huaiyu’s first time seeing Pei Zichen, but at one glance she could tell this was a beautiful man rarely encountered even in the entire cultivation world.

She could also tell at one glance that this young man had long since ceased breathing.

Dong Huaiyu was so shocked she couldn’t speak. She watched as Jiang Zhaoxue smiled at her.

“Mother, this is Pei Zichen,” she introduced, saying, “I’ve brought him back to Penglai.”

At these words, Dong Huaiyu was at a loss. Jiang Zhaoxue seemed to have finally reached the finish line. She closed her eyes wearily and collapsed while holding the young man.

Her spiritual power was severely depleted. When she woke from this sleep, it had been ten days. When she awoke, Jiang Zhaoyue had also returned.

He sat beside Jiang Zhaoxue telling her about the current situation.

“This is the Book of Fate you brought back from Lingjian Immortal Pavilion that day.”

Jiang Zhaoyue handed her a book that looked no different from any other, though it clearly once had immortal energy flowing through it, explaining, “That day, Pei Zichen used Zhan Shen Sword to sever your and Shen Yuqing’s marriage line. The Book of Fate was damaged, and fortune and spiritual energy leaked out. Now the situation of spiritual energy depletion in the True Immortal Realm has reversed, but this book has also become completely useless.”

Listening, Jiang Zhaoxue took the book and gently stroked the patterns on it.

This book looked no different from an ordinary book. No one could imagine it once possessed such tremendous power.

Power sufficient to kill Pei Zichen who single-handedly fought a hundred sects.

Thinking of this, Jiang Zhaoxue wanted nothing more than to tear it apart.

Yet she also knew that now it was just an ordinary book without any power to resist.

She thought for a moment, put the book away, and inquired, “What about Lingjian Immortal Pavilion? What’s the situation?”

Jiang Zhaoyue explained in detail.

Those with ability at Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, knowing that in the future Lingjian Immortal Pavilion’s spiritual veins would be sealed, left who could leave, departed who could depart. Only Liu Mingxiu and Shen Yuqing remained at Lingjian Immortal Pavilion. Liu Mingxiu became the new Pavilion Master and specially wrote her a letter of apology, saying Lingjian Immortal Pavilion would spare no effort searching for ways to revive Pei Zichen.

As for Shen Yuqing, his meridians were damaged and he was recuperating. Though he had preserved his fortune by not marrying her, he could never return to the peak of swordsmanship.

“I went to see him when I returned,” Jiang Zhaoyue said softly. “He looked very different from before. He talked with me for a long time, all about trivial matters. He asked me to tell you that he owes you in this life, and if you have any use for him, just speak up.”

“No need.”

Listening to news of this person, Jiang Zhaoxue felt all past events fade away.

Seeing her expression, Jiang Zhaoyue thought for a moment, then finally said, “Star Cloud Sect is about the same as Lingjian Immortal Pavilion. The other sects have also all sent apology letters. And then there’s the Immortal Alliance…”

Jiang Zhaoyue took out a golden seal and documents, handing them to Jiang Zhaoxue. “Shen Yuqing is no longer the Immortal Alliance Leader. Now that Jiuyou Realm hasn’t been destroyed, the Immortal Alliance always needs someone to manage it. Everyone wants you to succeed as Immortal Alliance Leader…”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyes to look at Jiang Zhaoyue.

Jiang Zhaoyue couldn’t bring himself to speak for a moment, hesitating, “If you’re unwilling…”

“If I’m the Alliance Leader, I can use all of the Immortal Alliance’s resources, correct?”

Jiang Zhaoyue froze, then immediately reacted. “Yes.”

“Good.”

Jiang Zhaoxue answered without hesitation, saying calmly, “Have them send over all soul-summoning methods. Have all the Immortal Alliance’s scouts search and seek. I want to obtain all the soul-summoning methods in this world. As long as they can provide me resources to revive Pei Zichen, I’ll be this Alliance Leader.”

Hearing these words, Jiang Zhaoyue fell silent for a moment.

He hadn’t mentioned this person from the beginning because he didn’t know how to bring it up.

Their parents weren’t present that day, but he was. He witnessed Pei Zichen’s death with his own eyes and understood how tragic the process was. Not to mention Jiang Zhaoxue herself—even he felt his heart tremble at the mention of it.

He had thought Jiang Zhaoxue would avoid this person, or when bringing him up would cry bitterly. He hadn’t expected her to use such a calm tone and begin planning the future.

He didn’t know if this meant Jiang Zhaoxue had come to terms with it, or was forcefully suppressing her grief. If the latter, this was far more worrying than crying.

He thought left and right, finally only saying, “I understand. You needn’t worry about this matter. I’ll explain clearly to them. This is…” He hesitated a moment before saying, “This is what we owe you.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyes, looking woodenly at Jiang Zhaoyue.

Jiang Zhaoyue’s heart sank as he said hoarsely, “Yaoyao, I… I didn’t help you and him at that time…”

“Brother.”

Jiang Zhaoxue interrupted him. Looking at Jiang Zhaoyue’s guilty expression, she thought for a moment, reached out her hand and grasped Jiang Zhaoyue’s, saying, “Don’t be sad. I’m very happy. You’re Penglai’s Young Master. You can’t be willful. You’ve already done very well.”

“Yaoyao…”

“I’ll be fine.” Jiang Zhaoxue consoled him, smiling. “Let’s not talk about these things. What about Father?”

Hearing her weary tone, Jiang Zhaoyue knew she didn’t want to discuss it further and said in a low voice, “In his bedchamber.”

Jiang Zhaoxue nodded, then got up to wash and dress. Afterward, she went with Jiang Zhaoyue to the bedchamber and finally saw her father.

Jiang Pingsheng had aged considerably, lying in bed, thin as a skeleton.

Since her marriage, she hadn’t seen much of Jiang Pingsheng. The last time they met was at her one hundred and fiftieth year, at Jiang Pingsheng’s birthday banquet.

She had brought Shen Yuqing to visit. That day, Jiang Pingsheng quarreled with her, then scolded her and told her never to return.

After this father-daughter dispute, fifty years passed. Though she later apologized and wanted to return to Penglai, Jiang Pingsheng never permitted it and refused to see her.

She had always thought this was Jiang Pingsheng resenting her. Now looking at him, she smiled. “Father drove me away back then because he was afraid I’d see you like this now, isn’t that right?”

Jiang Pingsheng lay in bed, looking at her weakly. In the end, he only said, “Yaoyao has become a Ninth Realm Fate Master…”

At these words, Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t know why, but tears suddenly welled up.

But she quickly suppressed them and said calmly, “Let me examine you.”

She tried using her third eye and saw Jiang Pingsheng’s karmic line clearly. On one section was a huge abscess. This abscess blocked the karmic line. Jiang Zhaoxue frowned and raised her hand to touch the abscess. The moment she touched it, she saw the Dingkun Needle collapse with a boom. Jiang Zhaoxue was shocked and turned to look at Jiang Pingsheng. “Father?”

Jiang Pingsheng looked up in confusion. “What is it?”

“Twelve hundred years ago,” Jiang Zhaoxue said hesitantly, “when I used the Dingkun Needle to connect to Penglai and seek Penglai’s aid, why did you destroy it?”

Hearing this, Jiang Pingsheng froze, then recalled, “I… did you use the Dingkun Needle?”

“I did,” Jiang Zhaoxue affirmed. “I even sent you a message, telling you I was your future daughter and asking you to help me.”

Listening, Jiang Pingsheng carefully recalled, “The Dingkun Needle can use Penglai’s spiritual power. There was indeed such a matter back then. But… at that time, Gujun suddenly visited Penglai, saying an evil object had appeared in the Human Realm, forging a Dingkun Needle to steal Penglai’s power, so…”

“So you destroyed it at that time?” Jiang Zhaoxue understood.

Jiang Pingsheng also grasped Jiang Zhaoxue’s meaning. “My illness is related to this?”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue closed her eyes.

If the Dingkun Needle hadn’t been destroyed at that time, she would have saved people early on. Millions of mortals died indirectly at Jiang Pingsheng’s hands. Such karmic debt, even for a cultivator like her father, was difficult to resist.

The only fortunate thing was that Jiang Pingsheng had done countless good deeds throughout his life and hadn’t intentionally harmed anyone. Jiang Zhaoxue took a deep breath and said softly, “Yes. We can only use fortune to preserve life now.”

As she spoke, she condensed Jiang Pingsheng’s fortune into dharma light and placed it on that abscess.

This method of transforming fortune into spiritual power was possessed only by Ninth Realm Fate Masters.

However, this method extremely consumed spiritual power. Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t eliminate it all at once, only able to dissolve a bit of that abscess each day.

After she cast spells on Jiang Pingsheng for a moment, he felt the pain in his body disappear considerably and actually closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Seeing this, Dong Huaiyu immediately began crying, sobbing softly, “He hasn’t slept in so long… He woke from pain night after night… Yaoyao… thank you…”

“Mother,” Jiang Zhaoxue heard this and smiled bitterly. “How can you say thank you to me?”

However, once Dong Huaiyu started crying, she couldn’t stop. As if the worries accumulated for so long suddenly burst forth.

Jiang Zhaoxue accompanied her for a long time. By the time she finally coaxed Dong Huaiyu, it was already nightfall.

Dong Huaiyu came to her senses, seeming somewhat embarrassed. To cry like this before her daughter was ultimately improper.

She held Jiang Zhaoxue’s hand, only then remembering the scene when Jiang Zhaoxue first returned. After hesitating a moment, she said softly, “Yaoyao, that child… I placed him in the Rebirth Pool. I had all of Penglai’s Medicine Lords examine him, but…”

Dong Huaiyu didn’t speak. Only after a long while did she say softly, “Yaoyao, life is a journey that’s always walked section by section. That child Zeyuan, you were able to let go…”

Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyes. Dong Huaiyu couldn’t continue speaking.

Jiang Zhaoxue suddenly felt somewhat weary. She didn’t even want to respond, only raising her hand to pat the back of Dong Huaiyu’s hand.

Then she walked out alone. When she left, she thought of nothing. When she came to her senses, she was already at the Rebirth Pool.

Penglai’s Rebirth Pool consisted of small pools one after another, each a different color, scattering various colored lights under the moonlight—bizarre and grotesque.

After demon cultivators died, placing their demon cores in the Rebirth Pool would repair their demon souls, and they would naturally reincarnate.

The Rebirth Pool naturally possessed the effect of gathering souls and was a natural place for soul-summoning.

She passed through pool after pool and finally saw him.

The demon core in his pool had long been emptied, leaving only him inside.

Penglai had changed him into Penglai’s robes.

White with golden patterns like hers, his hair spread out. Following Penglai’s customs, they had adorned him with hanging jade, ear studs, chest jade pendants, and foot bells.

Compared to Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, he seemed to have lost some pure righteousness and become more beautiful.

Standing before the pool, Jiang Zhaoxue saw Pei Zichen dressed this way and couldn’t help laughing.

“Why didn’t I think to dress you up like this before…”

She murmured softly, suddenly wanting to get close to him.

She waded into the water. The Rebirth Pool’s water was bone-chillingly cold. She reached out her hand, wanting to hold his.

But the moment she grasped his fingers, the soft, yielding sensation startled her into suddenly pulling back her hand!

That day when Pei Zichen held her for the last time, the injuries she had glimpsed flooded into her mind in an instant. In that sky full of blood, he held her tightly. The pain of Tianji Lingyu’s spiritual power filling her body spread throughout her being. She seemed to return to that day, the pain leaving her mind completely blank. She couldn’t help but retreat a step.

She panted shallowly, at a loss for a moment.

She knew people always had to look forward. Where was the logic in being heartbroken to the point of wanting to live or die over a man? But this was Pei Zichen…

Thinking this was Pei Zichen, Jiang Zhaoxue felt it seemed appropriate after all.

Who in this world wouldn’t find it regrettable upon meeting Pei Zichen?

Who wouldn’t find him worthwhile upon meeting Pei Zichen?

But such a good person… such a good person… she had met him, then lost him. What should she do… what could she do…

She stood in the icy pool water, gasping for breath. She didn’t want to cry, yet tears wouldn’t stop falling.

For the first time, she was so confused and helpless.

Until finally, she gave up struggling and couldn’t help but shed tears.

She felt wretched, thinking how she’d fallen for a man again, yet couldn’t control it.

She only leaned against the side of the pool until from somewhere unknown, flute music rang out.

That flute music sounded much like what Pei Zichen had played—like the tone he had played for her sitting outside the window in his youth.

But compared to when she was young, this flute music was obviously more steady and profound, as if carrying words for a beloved.

She stood blankly in place, not daring to move. She knew this might be an illusion she had conjured. If she moved, perhaps the person would disappear.

She just stared blankly at the young man in the water, listening to the flute music. After a long while, the flute music gradually faded. She followed in a daze, led all the way by that flute music.

She forgot what happened after. When she woke again, she was already lying in bed.

Sunlight fell on her face. Thinking of last night’s illusion, she suddenly felt that perhaps Pei Zichen had come.

His soul must still be here. She shouldn’t lose heart so early.

If he was still here, what was there to grieve over?

Back then, Pei Zichen didn’t know the path ahead but waited for her to return. She could do the same.

So when she woke that morning, she dressed herself up properly, seeming to return to her usual appearance.

She would go examine her father at fixed times every day. Afterward, she would go to the Rebirth Pool, first using rare treasures gathered from everywhere to repair Pei Zichen’s physical body, then using soul-summoning methods she had collected to summon Pei Zichen’s soul.

The flute music never appeared again, but she always vaguely felt someone accompanied her. So every day she would gather interesting things, good books, fine wine.

One night, she drank too much with Qingye and poured wine into the pool for Pei Zichen to drink. When she woke up, she found the entire pool reeked of alcohol. Frightened, she quickly changed all the pool water, touched Pei Zichen, and sighed to Qingye, “Worthy of being the man I love—soaked in alcohol all night and still without a scratch!”

After three months like this, Jiang Pingsheng’s health had mostly recovered.

After Jiang Zhaoxue finished examining Jiang Pingsheng, he saw her smiling face and smiled bitterly. “Going to see Shicang again?”

“Yes.” Jiang Zhaoxue stood up, raised her hand to take a pill to replenish her stamina, and turned around. “Father, rest well. I’m going to find your son-in-law.”

As she spoke, Jiang Zhaoyue walked into the room. Watching Jiang Zhaoxue leave happily, he said coldly, “Going to find that dead ghost again?”

“Can’t you speak more pleasantly?” Jiang Zhaoxue looked back in disgust. “My dead ghost is better looking than you anyway.”

Jiang Zhaoyue laughed coldly and threw a pile of documents at her. “News from the Immortal Alliance.”

Hearing it was from the Immortal Alliance, Jiang Zhaoxue immediately became interested.

The Immortal Alliance had searched for quite a few soul-summoning techniques for her. Holding the documents, she said happily, “I’m leaving.”

With that, she carried the documents to the Rebirth Pool. From far away, she saw two young men, one blue and one cyan, standing not far off.

These two young men looked similar, both extremely beautiful, wearing wide-sleeved luxurious robes embroidered with complex patterns in crystal-clear gemstones that shimmered in the sunlight.

Seeing Jiang Zhaoxue, both bowed respectfully to her, smiling warmly. “Lady has arrived.”

“Die Lan, Die Qing.”

Jiang Zhaoxue greeted them. These two had served her in her youth. Both excelled at close combat. Their true forms were butterflies, making them particularly beautiful.

Back then, because Shen Yuqing didn’t like it and considering Lingjian Immortal Pavilion’s rules, she hadn’t brought these two male attendants along.

Now back at Penglai, everything was arranged according to her youthful configuration. Die Lan and Die Qing remained unmarried, so they returned to continue serving.

“Where’s Qingye?”

Jiang Zhaoxue nodded in greeting. The two stepped aside, revealing Qingye preparing tea and refreshments for her.

“Qingye is preparing food for you.”

Die Lan loved to talk and volunteered, “We’ve been waiting for you a long while.”

Jiang Zhaoxue nodded and casually handed the documents into Die Qing’s arms, then walked forward and sat down by the pool.

Seeing her, Qingye’s face lit up. She hurriedly poured tea for her. “Lady? Is the Island Master better?”

“Better.”

Jiang Zhaoxue took the teacup, sipped her tea, and said softly, “With Father’s health restored, Penglai can rest easy for another thousand years.”

“With you here, Penglai can rest easy!” Qingye immediately flattered. But Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t speak. She sipped her tea, then turned to look at Pei Zichen.

Sunlight fell into the water. Jiang Zhaoxue watched the young man under the rippling water—his expression seemed to have softened somewhat.

Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help but smile. Then she took out a small knife, let a drop of blood fall into the pool, and skillfully began drawing an array.

Seeing her draw an array, Qingye’s face showed hesitation. “Lady, are you summoning his soul again today?”

“Which day don’t I summon?”

Jiang Zhaoxue asked calmly. Qingye tentatively dissuaded her, “Excessive use of spiritual power isn’t good for your body. You should rest.”

“Has today’s Bone-Growing Pill been fed?”

Jiang Zhaoxue paid her no mind and inquired about the daily “care” for Pei Zichen’s body.

Soul-summoning must continue, lest his soul encounter some accident out there.

But regardless of when his soul returned, she had to give Pei Zichen an intact body.

So the daily Bone-Growing Pills and Meridian-Mending Pills were slowly being fed.

The only thing missing was the spirit root—this was an innate thing, difficult to recreate.

They could only keep searching. Perhaps somewhere there would be rare treasures like Tianyan Vine again.

Seeing her mind was set, Qingye sighed. “Fed. I feed him every day—he eats more regularly than I do.”

“Die Qing.” Seeing Qingye displeased, Jiang Zhaoxue called Die Qing beside her to give Qingye something to do. “Give the documents to Qingye. She’ll read today.”

Now that she was Immortal Alliance Leader, she needed to read reports sent from various places daily.

Qingye knew she was finding work for her. She lazily took the documents and flipped through them, somewhat hesitant. “Which one do I start with?”

“Cangming Sea.”

Jiang Zhaoxue said decisively, “Three months ago after Gujun died, the seal on Cangming Sea’s barrier loosened. I sent people down to check on Li Xiuji’s situation. Just now I saw the color from Cangming Sea’s direction.”

Documents from different directions came in different colors. Qingye nodded at her words and opened the blue document from Cangming Sea’s direction, reading aloud, “Investigation shows Cangming Sea’s deep-sea barrier has been breached. The ice coffin is destroyed. The Xuanming Emperor’s whereabouts are unknown. The investigating disciple was captured. Negotiations with Jiuyou Realm are underway…”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue’s expression turned cold, though she wasn’t surprised.

Actually, from the day she left Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, she had sensed unusual activity at Cangming Sea. Back then, Li Xiuji had been sealed by Gujun leading all of True Immortal Realm’s elite—ten cultivators above Mahayana Stage perished to seal him.

Since Gujun had led the effort, now that Gujun was dead, it made sense for the barrier to loosen.

But at that time, she didn’t want to care about anyone. Let the dead die and the living live—what did it have to do with her?

Now calmed down, if Central Continent fell, Penglai would be next. She couldn’t sit by and watch.

“Have them negotiate properly with Jiuyou Realm’s people. If they can avoid fighting, don’t fight. Try to safely bring back the investigating disciple. Upon return, promote them one level and reward them with a hundred top-grade pills. Also have the Cangming Sea side reinforce the barrier between the two realms, monitor Jiuyou Realm’s situation. The Immortal Alliance will deploy personnel to garrison Cangming Sea’s border.”

Jiang Zhaoxue gave calm instructions. Die Qing beside her recorded everything.

After resolving Cangming Sea’s matter, Qingye began reading other reports.

Jiang Zhaoxue listened while responding. After a long while, the array in the pool water lit up.

The water formed a vortex, as if summoning something.

Qingye knew the critical moment had arrived and fell silent. Everyone quietly watched the pool. After a long while, the array began to tremble, as if unable to bear it any longer, and shattered.

It failed.

Cold sweat seeped from Jiang Zhaoxue’s forehead, but she calmly accepted this result.

She was used to it anyway.

But after repeated failures, Qingye still felt somewhat doubtful. She couldn’t help glancing at Jiang Zhaoxue and tentatively said, “Lady…”

“Hm?”

“Have you ever thought…” Qingye gestured, “that maybe your soul-summoning technique has a problem?”

These words made Jiang Zhaoxue pause. Then she considered, “This soul-summoning technique definitely has no problems. I confirmed someone has successfully summoned souls with it.”

“But I don’t think so. It feels like some charlatan scammed you…”

“Impossible.” Jiang Zhaoxue was adamant. Then she said, “If you don’t believe it, let’s try it on someone else.”

“Alright.”

Qingye immediately pulled out a sachet from her sleeve and handed it over. “Try this.”

“What is this?”

Jiang Zhaoxue took it curiously. Qingye propped her chin up and explained, “The Young Master gave me this, saying it was left by the person who sent me into the Rebirth Pool. I haven’t met him yet. Can you summon him so I can see?”

“Soul-summoning can only summon souls,” Jiang Zhaoxue frowned. “If a living person’s soul leaves their body, that’s not quite appropriate.”

“Oh, never mind then.” Qingye was somewhat disappointed and was about to take it back.

Jiang Zhaoxue suddenly remembered something and pondered, “But I do have something to ask him. Let’s try it.”

With that, Jiang Zhaoxue held the sachet in one hand and drew an array with the other.

The water in the pool once again spun into a vortex. Jiang Zhaoxue closed her eyes and called softly, “Ye Tianjiao, return thy soul. Ye Tianjiao, return thy soul.”

At this moment, Ye Tianjiao was frantically running through a dense forest.

Three months ago, just as Cangming Sea showed unusual activity, he sensed Pei Zichen was about to return. He was preparing to come out of seclusion when he opened his door to find a grand array lighting up in the courtyard.

He knew something was wrong and quickly protected his disciples to escape. Then Xinluo Yi personally arrived, leading the Nine Demons to hunt him down relentlessly.

He had been hunted for three months. His spiritual power was exhausted, his talismans used up. He was now at a dead end.

Hearing a feathered arrow shooting toward him, he leaped high in fright.

The feathered arrow flew narrowly past his crotch. Startled, he turned back and threw a talisman, cursing angrily, “Who shoots arrows like that? Wicked!”

“Right Emissary Ye.”

The person behind laughed loudly. Then arrow rain shot from behind, only asking, “Then is this way of shooting acceptable?”

Seeing the arrow rain, Ye Tianjiao was so frightened he turned and ran, frantically searching his pouches.

While frantically searching his pockets, he shouted with all his might, “Don’t! Don’t shoot! Save me!!”

However, the arrow rain was fine as spring night drizzle, forcing him to dodge frantically, shooting his clothes into disarray. He dodged left and right, finally touching a talisman.

“I’m saved!”

Ye Tianjiao pulled out the talisman. Concentrating to look, it turned out to be the most useless summoning talisman—

And it was a child talisman of a summoning talisman, the kind that waited for the parent talisman to summon it!

But who would summon him out of the blue?

But he had no way out. He could only hold that talisman in both hands, running frantically while shouting, “Save me! Save me!! Someone save me!!”

In that instant, a voice rang out: “Ye Tianjiao, return thy soul.”

“Wait,” Ye Tianjiao was somewhat confused and instinctively retorted, “I told you to summon me, not perform soul-summoning!!”

However, the other party clearly wasn’t listening, only continuing, “Ye Tianjiao, return thy soul.”

With that, his talisman lit up. Ye Tianjiao’s eyes widened.

It’s over, truly over.

A living person’s soul leaving their body—which immortal was calling him?!

But before he could react, everything went black before his eyes.

Meanwhile, Jiang Zhaoxue and Qingye waited by the pool, watching the pool water keep spinning.

Qingye propped her chin up, somewhat puzzled. “Why is this person spinning longer than Pei Zichen?”

With that, Qingye looked suspiciously at Jiang Zhaoxue. “Did you secretly add extra power to prove you weren’t wrong?”

“Is your Lady that kind of person?”

Jiang Zhaoxue turned to look at her, saying seriously, “This means it sensed the person.”

“I don’t believe it. If you can, summon the person over and show me.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue only said, “How is that possible? This is a soul-summoning array. Being able to summon a soul would be good enough.”

Jiang Zhaoxue pinched incantation signs with her fingers and yawned, also feeling it impossible to actually summon someone today. She only said, “Call two more times. If they don’t come, forget it.”

With that, dharma light appeared at Jiang Zhaoxue’s fingertips. She swayed her head again, “Ye Tianjiao, return thy soul.”

“Ye Tianjiao, return thy soul.”

“Ye Tianjiao…”

Before she finished speaking, there was a loud “splash” as a figure suddenly burst out of the pool.

This person flailed about. The moment they appeared, they created high waves in the pool. Startled, Qingye instinctively stepped forward to shield Jiang Zhaoxue behind her. Die Lan and Die Qing immediately rose and stood before Jiang Zhaoxue.

“Who is this?”

Ye Tianjiao stood in the pool, wiped the water from his face, trying to see his surroundings clearly, complaining, “Who summons people and greets them by tossing them in water?”

As soon as he spoke, Ye Tianjiao felt something was wrong.

Birds sang and flowers bloomed around him. Spiritual energy was abundant—completely different from Jiuyou Realm.

He quickly shut his mouth and carefully raised his eyes to see a woman in cyan holding a blade, a face identical to Qian Sisi appearing before him.

He looked at Qingye before him in shock, his gaze moving in disbelief down to Jiang Zhaoxue kneeling behind her.

On Jiang Zhaoxue’s left and right stood a beautiful man each. She sat in the middle, dressed luxuriously, posture elegant. The only discordant thing was the water he had splashed all over her face.

She stared at him with an icy expression. Seeing this expression, Ye Tianjiao was so frightened he shivered, instinctively turning to climb out in the opposite direction, running frantically toward the distance.

Jiang Zhaoxue sat motionless in place. Seeing that figure running away without hesitation, she said calmly, “Heavenly dao summons—Ye Tianjiao, halt.”

At these words, Ye Tianjiao instantly felt an uncontrollable force freeze his entire body.

What the hell?! Words becoming law?!!

Ye Tianjiao’s eyes widened in shock. Then he heard the person behind him pick up a teacup, commanding in a completely flat tone, “Roll back here.”

The moment the words fell, Ye Tianjiao’s whole person uncontrollably fell down, stretching both hands straight upward, as if turning himself into a cylinder, smoothly rolling all the way to Jiang Zhaoxue’s front, eating quite a bit of grass in his mouth.

Jiang Zhaoxue lowered her head to sip tea and continued, “Kneel.”

Ye Tianjiao’s body leaped up and with a “thud” knelt down.

A talisman cultivator belonging to the dharma cultivator category had a very fragile body. He was immediately in such pain that tears sparkled in his eyes. After realizing what kind of monster was before him, he made no resistance whatsoever and tried to pull the relationship closer, wailing out, “Sister! My dear sister! I’ve missed you so much!!”