…

…

Yin Changli decided to accept these ten years of memories, the final summary of his life before awakening, which differed from his previous “youthful infatuation.”

Mentally, he was already very close to his normal self.

Only under the loss of memory did emotions still have the upper hand. Afraid of being defeated, he first played the emotional card he excelled at.

This was undoubtedly his usual way of doing things.

Yin Changli hadn’t been brainwashed either. Looking at those trivial little matters concerning her truly stirred his emotions.

Each detail was something he had genuinely experienced; there was no need to reject them.

Moreover, a mere ten years was just a fraction of his life experience.

Like pouring a cup of liquor into a vast ocean, no matter how potent, it should be diluted.

He emptied his mind and began, bit by bit, to reclaim those memories he had been rejecting.

Like time flowing backward, he traversed again the path he had walked during his amnesia.

…

Long after Qi Yin had finished his two jars of wine, Yin Changli, who had been sitting cross-legged in meditation beside him, slowly opened his eyes.

Before entering the Rear Spirit Realm, his entire demeanor had been somewhat anxious.

After emerging from the Rear Spirit Realm, the anxiety vanished, replaced by profound bewilderment. His pair of pitch-black eyes remained unfocused for quite some time.

His long eyelashes trembled rapidly several times before he finally regained his senses.

“How was it?” Qi Yin curiously examined him.

“I…” His Adam’s apple bobbed for a long while as Yin Changli’s thin lips quivered slightly. His voice was filled with confusion, “Master Qi, do you think a cup of strong liquor can intoxicate an entire ocean?”

Qi Yin replied cryptically, “What nonsense are you talking about?”

“I mean, after reading the records I wrote, I thought it wouldn’t be so bad and decided to reclaim my memories. Who knew those memories would be so intense, almost occupying my entire being…”

Yin Changli had originally been unwilling to accept those ten years; now he was unwilling to accept everything he had done since awakening.

That night in the Small Jianmu Tree hollow, he refused to recall it.

“I even urged her to follow Han Qi…”

“Fortunately, I changed my mind at the last moment… but then I abandoned her again. After Di Jun took her away, I left her behind, even telling Lu Xiqiao to tell her…”

Yin Changli closed his eyes and lowered his head, his palm against his forehead as he murmured, “What have I done…”

Slap.

Qi Yin smacked him on the back. “What’s the use of sitting here mumbling? Since you know you were wrong, go fix it.”

Yin Changli stumbled from the blow, momentarily stunned.

After regaining his composure, he wrapped his feathered cloak tighter around himself and nodded.

“Yes, I need to focus and reconsider if there are any oversights in safely escorting her out of Other Shore City two days from now.”

“Two days from now? You’re still waiting two more days?” Qi Yin, knowing his disciple had been wronged, was already furious and wanted to kick him, but had been suppressing his temper while speaking with him.

Now, Qi Yin looked at him with utter disbelief. “No wonder you haven’t had a romantic connection all these years. I thought your standards were too high, but that’s not it.”

Yin Changli furrowed his brow deeply. “I…”

Qi Yin interrupted: “If I weren’t trapped here, I’d charge over there myself right now!”

Yin Changli had considered this idea. He could come and go freely in Other Shore City and could ambush Xiang Haikui unexpectedly, binding her to his side.

But the moment he appeared, he would be discovered.

Then they would fight, in direct warfare.

However, this would place Xiang Haikui amid battle, risking injury.

With her current cultivation level and experience, she couldn’t withstand a war of this caliber.

That’s why Yin Changli had chosen his timing carefully. When the Netherworld Sea’s waves were at their highest, he would first send people to break the barrier from twelve directions, letting seawater flow into the city.

Taking advantage of the citywide chaos, he would steal Xiang Haikui away, tuck her into his traveling palace, have Xiao Bai take her out of the Netherworld, and then return to face Di Jun himself…

“Alright, alright…” Qi Yin listened to him methodically listing “one, two, three” with clear logic until his head felt enormous. “In simple terms, aren’t you just being a coward, worried that a direct breakthrough wouldn’t allow you to fully protect her?”

Yin Changli shook his head: “I’m not being cowardly. I’m going to battle Di Jun regardless, so what would I be afraid of? The reason I chose this path is because it maximizes her safety…”

But what if something unexpected happened in these two days?

Yin Changli pondered at length, then stood up, his eyes gleaming with cold light: “Master Qi, I must go now. After taking Other Shore City, I’ll bring Little Kui to see you and begin working on freeing you all.”

“I’m more concerned about what you’re going to do now,” Qi Yin said, standing up with him, chains clanking loudly.

“I have my ideas.”

…

After Yin Changli left the Ten Thousand Bones Cave, the brilliant sun shone outside, its light making him deeply furrow his brows.

He stretched out his hand to shield his forehead, shading his face.

His eyelashes lowered slightly, then he removed his hand, fully exposing himself to the sunlight.

In truth, the wound from having his scales flayed had occurred many years ago. Though he had developed a serious chronic condition, he should no longer be suffering so intensely.

It was more of a habit, always wanting to hide in areas that made him comfortable.

The small black ball that had been romping about not far away saw its master approach and immediately enlarged itself, rolling over to him and opening a gap in the middle.

Bai Xingxian was chatting with Lu Xiqiao in the traveling palace.

Lu Xiqiao had just left Other Shore City when Yin Changli intercepted him.

“Little Lu, let’s talk later. My uncle has returned,” Bai Xingxian emerged from the traveling palace, preparing to transform back to his original form to pull the carriage.

Yin Changli stopped him with a gesture, first addressing Lu Xiqiao inside the palace: “I’m returning to Other Shore City now to rescue Miss Xiang. It’s extremely dangerous—are you coming or not?”

“Of course I’m coming!” Lu Xiqiao had never wanted to leave in the first place; he’d only gone because Xiang Haikui said he would be in the way if he stayed.

Yin Changli nodded: “Good. No matter what happens later, neither you nor Xiao Bai is to interfere. You’re only responsible for receiving Miss Xiang.”

“Understood.” Lu Xiqiao didn’t know exactly what they were planning to do, but he didn’t ask. “I’ll follow Brother Bai’s lead afterward.”

Bai Xingxian asked nervously: “Uncle, are we moving ahead of schedule?”

Yin Changli grunted in affirmation, then instructed Bai Xingxian: “Listen, if the situation becomes desperate, reveal the Netherworld Fire I gave you. Use it only in the most critical moment.”

“Alright.” Bai Xingxian had preserved his life at Small Jianmu thanks to that flame of Netherworld Fire. “But…”

Bai Xingxian knew his uncle had been overwhelmingly busy lately and hadn’t dared disturb him. Hearing him mention the Netherworld Fire, he quickly voiced his concern, “Could you please look at what’s happening with my Netherworld Fire…”

He extended his hand toward Yin Changli, palm up, spiritual energy surging and gradually condensing into a flame.

“It’s changed color again.”

This was the Netherworld Fire seed his uncle had given him for protection, implanted in his body since childhood. Initially, it was red—the red of a spider lily.

Over two hundred years ago, when Bai Xingxian transformed from his beast form to human form to escape heavenly lightning, he had used it once and discovered it had turned a light gold color.

Previously, at Small Jianmu, when it suddenly appeared, it had changed from light gold to pure gold.

Bai Xingxian bared his teeth, revealing two gold incisors: “Is it because of the Tian Bao sword? Has the energy from the treasures that Tian Bao consumed affected the Netherworld Fire seed in my body?”

Yin Changli stared at the flame in his palm, his slender fingers stirring the flame’s core, glancing at him: “Since you gained sentience, I’ve ordered you to spend half an hour every day practicing the ‘Spirit Concentration Technique.’ During these ten years of my amnesia, I fear you haven’t practiced a single day, have you?”

Bai Xingxian shuddered when Yin Changli’s emotionless gaze swept over him. He quickly withdrew the Netherworld Fire and cupped his hands in supplication: “Little Bai rarely slacks off…”

Yin Changli pressed a hand on his shoulder: “You’re five hundred years old now, not five. Do I still need to whip you to make you do your assignments? If you depend on me for everything, what would you do if I had fallen into eternal slumber?”

Bai Xingxian’s heartstrings tightened, and he dropped to his knees with a thud.

In the past, when he had been lazy, his uncle would at most narrow his eyes and give him a look that meant ‘go reflect in a corner.’

Never would he seriously reprimand him like this, seemingly even displaying a trace of disappointment, which made him deeply anxious. “Uncle, Little Bai was wrong. Little Bai won’t dare do it again!”

Xiang Haikui followed Jing Ran back from the Inner City to the Twelve Palaces, suffering seven assassination attempts along the way.

The assassins were strange races with different colored skin and differently shaped facial features, but all were trending toward human form. It was said that the human form was originally the form of the gods.

From this, she could already see that the Heavenly Race’s desire to exterminate the Mountain Sea Race was not just because the Mountain Sea Race was domineering and disrespectful to Di Jun.

Although Jing Ran remained unharmed, after several rounds of “experience harvesting,” he too had become somewhat overtaxed.

Exhausted, he decided to forego cultivation and rest in his sleeping palace.

Before resting, he first summoned the Netherworld Lord and the Twelve Palace Masters to berate them.

“Jin Ying, when my elder brother was in power, it was impossible for me to send someone to infiltrate the Netherworld.”

Jin Ying and the other high officials all lowered their heads to receive the rebuke.

Jing Ran scolded: “Now, even if Other Shore City isn’t defended, these assassins have only recently infiltrated the Netherworld. So, has the Netherworld become a sieve?”

Jin Ying bowed with clasped hands: “The breaches are indeed too numerous now, all thanks to Yin Changli. He knows the Netherworld too well—we simply can’t defend against all his actions. We patch one hole, and another appears…”

Jing Ran coldly replied: “So you’ve given up completely and stopped patching?”

Jin Ying looked toward someone behind him.

The Golden Toad Palace Master, who managed finances, said worriedly: “Di Jun, even the cleverest housewife can’t cook without rice. In this matter, I truly have no solution…”

The Netherworld had no money now.

The treasures accumulated over tens of thousands of years had all been stolen by Yin Changli.

Now, as soon as they saved up a bit, he would steal it again—they simply couldn’t accumulate funds.

Xiang Haikui stood to the side, enjoying the spectacle. Jing Ran noticed her upturned lips and, feeling somewhat disgraced, dismissed them all.

After he cleared the hall and only the two of them remained in the sleeping palace, that voice came again—Tian Kuang’s bewitching, demonic persuasion.

Xiang Haikui didn’t give it a chance, immediately counter-suppressing it: “Tian Kuang, according to my master, your entire clan was exterminated, your wife and children died tragically, and you lived in solitary misery. Finally, when transforming into a dragon, you glimpsed fate and understood that everything was meant to fulfill your destiny. You chose to rebel against fate and smashed yourself to death on Heavenly Dao Mountain.”

“Is this true?”

“Yet why don’t I feel any of this at all?”

“Perhaps I’ve spent too long circulating in the mortal realm, absorbed too much of the mortal smoke, and only indulge in watching dramas unfold?”

Tian Kuang trembled in the box, clearly angered, as if saying: I’m just concerned about our predicament and want us both to grow quickly so we won’t suffer so much!

Xiang Haikui retorted: “You make it sound like we’ve grown steadily through honest effort. How much have you siphoned from Yin Changli since your unsealing to reach the seventh level? What hardship have you endured? None!”

It wasn’t that she held some moral high ground—who would prefer a tricycle when they could ride in a sports car?

But advancing too quickly was already overwhelming her; she was struggling to suppress Tian Kuang’s demonic nature.

If she were truly bewitched by it and ascended in one step, without a foundation, she would only fall harder.

“Besides, if you want to fleece Senior, you should consider whether you’re capable of it.”

He treated her like a pet; there were absolutely no romantic feelings involved.

Xiang Haikui suddenly heard Jing Ran ask: “Your method of suppressing heart demons is to argue with them?”

Xiang Haikui frowned—he could sense that?

The corner of his lips curved into a slight arc as Jing Ran asked, “Miss Xiang, will you sleep on the bed or the couch?”

Xiang Haikui stood motionless.

“When we camped on the mountain before, we were closer than we are now.” Jing Ran chose the bed first, sitting cross-legged. “Are you afraid I’ll take advantage of you?”

Xiang Haikui shook her head: “But doesn’t Senior summon women from your Heavenly Race for bedchamber service? Wouldn’t it be inappropriate for me to stand here?”

“Bedchamber service?” Jing Ran was momentarily stunned, hearing those words, finding them amusing. “You think I’m like a mortal emperor, requiring bedchamber service?”

Xiang Haikui let out an inquisitive “Oh?”

“I don’t have so many desires. The stronger a Heavenly Race man’s spiritual sense, the weaker his desires. I, this alpha wolf, am almost without desire.” Jing Ran’s words carried considerable pride. After speaking, he looked at her. “Do you understand?”

Xiang Haikui was slightly stunned, pondering his words before tentatively asking: “You mean that a stronger spiritual sense leads to impotence, and Senior, as this alpha wolf, is practically half-castrated?”

Jing Ran was stunned momentarily, his pupils contracting: “No, no, that’s not what I meant. It’s not physical, it’s psychological…”

Jing Ran sensitively realized that this topic couldn’t continue.

This was a strength, a strength he had always prided himself on, a gift brought by his bloodline.

It allowed him to elevate his realm without distractions, undisturbed by any desire, without needing deliberate suppression, without breeding heart demons.

But having shared Earth’s education with Xiang Haikui, he could comprehend what she was imagining.

It wasn’t like that at all, yet it inexplicably made him feel somewhat embarrassed.

Especially when, after learning this, Xiang Haikui, who had been standing motionless, immediately walked to the couch, her steps light and quick, completely free of any psychological burden.

Jing Ran felt somewhat indignant with embarrassment.

“I think I’ve misunderstood you, Senior,” said Xiang Haikui.

Jing Ran’s indignation was interrupted: “Hmm?”

“I thought…” Xiang Haikui had previously believed that while he claimed to care for her, his heartbeat showed not the slightest change—too fake.

It turned out he was naturally cold.

That she could make him regard her even slightly differently was probably already quite an achievement for him.

She thought of Meng Xilou.

She had never understood why Meng Xilou, the heir to a great family in the upper realm, had such poor skills with women.

His spiritual sense was also among the top three grades in the Heavenly Race, making him somewhat emotionally cold.

Different races truly couldn’t be judged by her common sense.

Xiang Haikui used the sword case as a pillow and lay down.

“Why use that hard sword case as a pillow when you have an actual one?”

“I’m afraid that if I fall into deep sleep, I won’t receive Tian Kuang’s warnings.” Xiang Haikui turned to her side and closed her eyes to rest.

“What are you afraid of with me by your side?” Jing Ran didn’t understand. “It’s completely unnecessary.”

Xiang Haikui raised her head to look at him, her expression darker than the Netherworld sky: “Yin Changli once said that after he awakened, with him by my side, even if the sky fell, he would hold it up. Yet the next moment, I was captured by you.”

Jing Ran replied: “But the opponent was me…”

“So what if it was you? Are you that impressive? Today, wasn’t I still taken hostage? See the bloody cut on my neck? It still hurts!”

Jing Ran was rendered speechless.

Xiang Haikui got up from the couch, grabbed her sword case, and walked out.

She finally understood—regardless of race, these garbage men were all the same!

Jing Ran watched her leave without stopping her, only ordering the guards to protect her in secret.

Her accusation was irrefutable; it was indeed his failure.

…

Perhaps due to her unstable state of mind, Xiang Haikui was now easily angered.

After leaving the sleeping palace, Tian Kuang hummed softly, and she knew someone was following her.

With Lu Xiqiao gone, Xiang Haikui didn’t know where to go, so she returned to the flower petal she had slept on before to cultivate.

She had slept for two or three days earlier and wasn’t tired at all. She wanted to quickly break through to the ninth level, raising her cultivation to better suppress the seventh-level Tian Kuang.

But the boss had clearly said that with his yang energy, her breakthrough to the ninth level would be effortless, so why couldn’t she achieve it?

After sitting for a long time, a spider lily flew before her, spinning to form a line of text.

It was Luo Yunxiu who invited her to the Extreme Pleasure Palace.

She and Luo Yunxiu had only met once before at the Buddhist cave, when Luo Yunxiu had come to capture the boss.

But when she was falsely accused of killing Second Senior Brother, it was Luo Yunxiu who had transmitted the truth to her.

And that sentence—”Not all powerful individuals enjoy bullying the weak”—Xiang Haikui had kept in her heart.

After all, it was one of the few kindnesses she had received.

They had met again recently, but always with a crowd of people and Di Jun present, never able to talk.

With the spider lily leading the way, Xiang Haikui circled half the city before arriving at Extreme Pleasure Palace, one of the Twelve Palaces.

Upon entering the palace, Xiang Haikui felt as if she had entered a pleasure house.

“Extreme Pleasure Palace oversees mortal pleasures. The souls that drift into this palace all had merit in their previous lives,” Luo Yunxiu stood at a height, leaning against the railing, smiling gently at her. “This is a place to entertain them. If they had regrets in life, they can be fulfilled here before proceeding to the Pool of Reincarnation…”

“Sister Luo,” Xiang Haikui looked up at her with a smile.

Luo Yunxiu beckoned to her with a finger, smiling alluringly: “Come up.”

As Xiang Haikui climbed the spiral staircase, she smiled and said: “Since our parting at Yin Sha City, I’ve truly missed you, Sister.”

Luo Yunxiu gracefully came to welcome her: “You’ve grown up, and your sweet talk has improved too.”

Xiang Haikui glanced again into the hall. Of the seven Twelve Palaces she had toured, not even the Golden Toad Palace, which managed finances, was this splendid—the boss’s style.

Luo Yunxiu accompanied her forward. People requested audience everywhere along the way, voices calling “Palace Master” in succession.

Xiang Haikui examined them one by one—plump and slender beauties of all types. The boss must have had a wonderful time during his days as Palace Master.

Luo Yunxiu said, “You’re thinking too much. Senior Yin wouldn’t glance twice at these ordinary beauties, considering none are as handsome as himself.”

“That’s true; Senior Yin is very narcissistic,” Xiang Haikui pointed at her face. “With my appearance, he said I was just average.”

“You might be wronging him there. Senior Yin probably considers everyone average,” Luo Yunxiu said. “Including himself.”

Suddenly, a drunk man staggered out from one of the halls. Luo Yunxiu put an arm around her shoulders, drawing her closer.

Xiang Haikui was momentarily bewildered: “Could Senior Yin be face-blind?”

She hadn’t noticed that.

Luo Yunxiu replied: “He sees his face most often, and even the most beautiful face becomes ordinary when seen too frequently. When peonies of devastating beauty seem ordinary to a person’s eyes, what feeling would wild flowers evoke?”

Xiang Haikui suddenly transmitted: “Senior Yin?”

“Luo Yunxiu” paused mid-step: “You discovered me that quickly?”

Xiang Haikui rolled her eyes: “Only you would say such shameless things.”

Yin Changli was silent for a moment, finding it somewhat difficult to speak: “Miss Xiang has become increasingly perceptive.”

Xiang Haikui walked alongside him into a side hall: “I’ve become increasingly perceptive? Given how obvious your words were, if I couldn’t guess, my brain would truly have a hole in it.”

She noticed Yin Changli awkwardly touching his forehead.

Xiang Haikui was startled. “You discovered me,” “increasingly perceptive”—after saying a bunch of narcissistic nonsense, it somehow felt like he had done it just so she would guess his identity, allowing him to compliment her perceptiveness.

Surely that was her imagination?

“Did you possess Sister Luo’s body?”

“No, I merely controlled her consciousness.”

“What are you doing here? Didn’t we agree on two days from now?”

After entering Luo Yunxiu’s small flower tower and activating the privacy barrier, they finally didn’t need to communicate via transmission. Yin Changli asked: “Miss Xiang, do you want to leave now or in two days? Leaving now carries a risk of injury for you. Leaving in two days would be foolproof…”

He added, “If you choose to leave in two days, I will remain in Other Shore City as Luo Yunxiu. You… need not be afraid.”

The boss seemed strange, Xiang Haikui noticed. He spoke while avoiding her eyes: “Does my choice affect your assault on Other Shore City?”

“No,” he stated confidently. “We’re ready and can begin the battle at any time.”

It must have an impact. Leaving now not only puts her at risk of injury, but it would also be a burden to look after her, definitely hampering him.

No matter how she looked at it, it seemed like he was flying into a rage out of love. If they lost this battle, she might end up labeled a femme fatale in the history books.

Xiang Haikui sat by the window, gazing at the sea through the transparent window paper: “If it can be foolproof, then let’s wait two more days. I’ve been here this long already, there’s no rush.”

“You’re certain?”

“Yes.”

“Very well.” Yin Changli also believed this was the most appropriate course.

With him staying here, he wasn’t worried about any unexpected incidents.

“You can’t stay,” said Xiang Haikui. “Di Jun’s cultivation changes daily, his protective golden light constantly strengthening. Not only are you not cultivating, you’re draining your spirit to control Luo Yunxiu.”

Luo Yunxiu’s cultivation level was not low; controlling her must require enormous mental energy.

Yin Changli walked to her side, following her gaze toward the Netherworld Sea: “You needn’t worry about me…”

“Don’t misunderstand, I’m not worried about you,” Xiang Haikui rested her chin on her hand, raising an eyebrow. “I just don’t want to take the blame.”

He had likely recovered those ten years of memories, and now speaking with her was cautious and awkward everywhere—very strange.

At this moment, emotions were prevailing, but if they were later defeated, he would certainly reflect and reproach himself for being emotional.

Living until today, this man was the most deeply entangled with her in every aspect.

He was also the one she understood most clearly.

Her aloofness caused a trace of bitterness to spread across Yin Changli’s heart. After a long silence, he said: “Little Kui, I know what I’m doing.”

“Senior has no intention of harming me, and your staying has no purpose,” Xiang Haikui said matter-of-factly. “My imprisonment here is your fault. If you rescue me in two days, we’ll be even. If you stubbornly insist on watching over me for two days, won’t I owe you another favor?”

The words “we’ll be even”—Yin Changli had uttered them countless times in his life, only now realizing how they stabbed at the heart like a knife.

“One more thing,” Xiang Haikui added. “Please call me Miss Xiang or Xiang Haikui. ‘Little Kui’ is too intimate; I want to distinguish you from him…”