‘Uncle Master Wanjiangyu…’

Li Changshou naturally knew this was an indelible pain in his Master Qi Yuan’s heart.

Though he now used lies to deceive his master, trying to minimize the harm done to him, his master had little spirit each day, passing his days in depression…

He’d truly taken long sleep as cultivation!

It seemed that nowadays, apart from following Li Changshou’s instructions to help secure heavenly positions for Li Changshou and Ling’e, laying the groundwork in advance, Qi Yuan had no other life pursuits.

However, using the term ‘salted fish’ to describe his master would be too disrespectful.

But the word used here was indeed quite vivid and fitting.

And Li Changshou had been waiting, waiting for Master Ancestor to find Uncle Master’s reincarnated form so that his master… while turning over might be difficult, a few jumps were still possible.

On the cloud, at his side.

Ling’e asked in a gentle voice: “Senior Brother, what’s wrong?”

“Thinking about Master’s matters,” Li Changshou said softly, and Ling’e also showed some worry.

The two siblings, though one was excessively steady and one slightly unsteady with gradually increasing stability, both held sincere gratitude toward their master.

This love-hate entanglement of Old Daoist Qi Yuan…

A thousand years of grudges arose, alone hearing of reincarnation matters.

Although the chief culprit of [Master’s Dao Foundation Being Destroyed] had been dealt with by Li Changshou’s own hands; and before dealing with them, he had even made them temporarily experience the feeling of facing tribulation with a destroyed Dao foundation.

But the evil deeds committed by that person could never be fully compensated.

Their master, Old Daoist Qi Yuan, could only become a turbid immortal before heavenly tribulation;

Li Changshou, to help his master, was forced to become entangled in a series of karmic connections;

Uncle Master Wanjiangyu died tragically in the Northern Continent because of this matter, fortunately, her remnant soul protected her true spirit as she went to the Netherworld for reincarnation.

When Little Master Ancestor first returned to the mountain, Li Changshou couldn’t bear to see his master gradually sink into depression, so he entrusted Master Ancestor to go to the Netherworld to search for Uncle Master’s reincarnated form, and secretly gave Little Master Ancestor some hints.

Jiang Lin’er had just recently attained Heavenly Immortal status and naturally didn’t want to see her great disciple die so tragically;

What kind of person was she, Lin Jiang the Scattered Immortal?

Having mixed in the Way for so many years, who didn’t know she was utterly wick—pah!

Who didn’t know she was swift and decisive in action, with friends spread across several small thousand worlds!

Thus, Jiang Lin’er, through several of her friends, constantly visited the Netherworld to establish connections;

After much effort, she finally managed to trace Wanjiangyu’s current whereabouts.

Wanjiangyu’s current incarnation was a tree spirit.

So-called tree spirits were spiritual bodies born from tree spirit roots, similar to grass and wood spirits. Though they had spiritual intelligence, it wasn’t complete. They mostly existed in places rich in vitality and rarely visited by humans, usually glowing with healthy, vibrant light.

Moreover, in this life, she still had some lifespan remaining…

Originally, Jiang Lin’er had already arranged the subsequent matters.

Jiang Lin’er spent many treasures and spirit stones to bribe a minor official in the Netherworld administration, planning to have them intervene when Wanjiangyu reincarnated again, arranging for her to enter the human path and be born into a wealthy family free from worries about food and clothing;

That Netherworld minor official would also leave word for Jiang Lin’er, making it convenient for her to find the reincarnation.

This kind of thing was commonly done by small officials in the Netherworld administration, each skilled in their business and reliable in their work—if the matter couldn’t be accomplished, they would return all benefits!

In this era’s still somewhat chaotic Netherworld administration, such ‘private work’ was the main business of these minor Netherworld officials…

Flying on a cloud at a neither high nor low altitude, maintaining a neither fast nor slow speed, Li Changshou pondered in his heart what exactly had happened that could alarm even the Sect Master to come out.

Reincarnation…

[Was the reincarnated form still that person?]

Li Changshou knew deeply that reincarnation matters were very difficult to explain clearly.

Walking once across the Bridge of Helplessness, previous life memories leave no trace;

When returning to the world with appearance intact, yet no longer the person in one’s thoughts.

That was already another person.

But Jiang Lin’er was single-minded, wanting to do something more for Wanjiangyu.

As a master, Jiang Lin’er had a share of responsibility—that year, she went out adventuring to seek her opportunities, leaving her two disciples without her protection and thus meeting with calamity.

Moreover, as long as they could find Wanjiangyu’s reincarnated form and tell Qi Yuan the truth of those years, even if Qi Yuan only looked from afar, the knot in his heart could be mostly untied…

As for whether Master Ancestor and Master would interfere with Uncle Master Wanjiangyu’s reincarnated form’s fate, Li Changshou had carefully considered this at the time…

The Human Sect’s Way upheld quiet non-action, they generally wouldn’t interfere much.

What Li Changshou didn’t know was…

Originally, regarding Wanjiangyu’s next reincarnation, Jiang Lin’er had arranged everything very well, even giving many extra spirit stones and precious materials, especially exchanging several cultivation methods used by Yin cultivators to give to that Netherworld official.

She never imagined another unexpected event would occur…

Some days ago, two good friends came to find Jiang Lin’er.

These two good friends of Jiang Lin’er were originally going to the Netherworld to ‘handle matters,’ and because they had previously made an agreement with Jiang Lin’er, they came by the Transcendent Gate on their way to ask if Jiang Lin’er wanted to make a trip to the Netherworld together.

At that time, Jiang Lin’er… um, was indisposed.

So she asked her two good friends to take some gifts on her behalf to give to that entrusted minor official and to inquire about her great disciple’s reincarnated form’s current condition and remaining lifespan.

Jiang Lin’er’s two good friends were also very thorough, they went to the Netherworld and asked someone to check, but the result that the minor official gave was…

That true spirit who had one life as Wanjiangyu…

Could not be found.

…

Before Forgetting Emotions Residence.

Li Changshou and Ling’e rode their cloud to the pavilion hanging on the cliff, making a Daoist salute at the door.

Forgetting Emotions Upper Immortal’s great disciple Jiu Yiyi immediately came out to welcome them, leading the two inside.

In the main hall, several people wore worried expressions.

The Transcendent Gate’s Empty Void Sect Master Ji Wuyou, wearing a cyan silk robe, sat in the main seat;

Forgetting Emotions Upper Immortal and Jiang Lin’er, both in white robes and dresses, sat in two chairs on the left side.

At this moment, Jiang Lin’er’s eyes were red and her lips tightly pressed, but she hadn’t let her emotions collapse.

Tree spirits were naturally weak and counted as medicinal ingredients, with many pills using the pure vitality contained in tree spirits as catalysts.

With Wanjiangyu’s true spirit untraceable, there were probably only two possibilities…

Either she was used as an herb and refined into medicine, or her place of existence met with some calamity, and her soul scattered.

When Jiang Lin’er thought of this, her heart was almost breaking.

She only hated that she could not find that reincarnated tree spirit’s whereabouts back then…

When Li Changshou entered the pavilion;

Sect Master Ji Wuyou’s eyes brightened, and in Jiang Lin’er’s already somewhat despairing eyes, there seemed to be a few more traces of hope.

Only Forgetting Emotions Upper Immortal’s gaze toward Li Changshou remained purely the kindness of an elder toward a junior.

Li Changshou led Ling’e forward to the bow, paying respects to the Sect Master, Forgetting Emotions Upper Immortal, and his own Master Ancestor.

Ji Wuyou slightly narrowed his eyes, nodded, and casually greeted: “Changshou, you’ve come.”

“Yes, the disciple has arrived…”

“Mm, no matter, handle your Little Jade Peak’s matters first,” Ji Wuyou said, “I was originally coming to visit Forgetting Emotions, unexpectedly just happening to encounter this matter.”

Why did the Sect Master…

Seem to be deliberately explaining something?

Beside them, Jiu Yiyi was suddenly somewhat puzzled, in her view, perhaps Sect Master Ji Wuyou and this outstanding young disciple from Little Jade Peak…

Were some kind of friends despite their age difference?

Suddenly, Jiu Yiyi thought of another identity of Li Changshou—the sect’s genius pill refiner!

The pills he refined were very popular among the elders, even one pill was hard to obtain.

Could it be that the Sect Master also…

Mm, although the Sect Master had no Dao partner, he did look somewhat weak.

In an instant, Jiu Yiyi thought of many things.

Then she heard Li Changshou ask softly: “Why did Master Ancestor summon disciple to come…”

Jiang Lin’er sighed lightly and said in a low voice:

“Half an hour ago, a good friend sent a message via messaging jade talisman, saying your Uncle Master’s current life suddenly disappeared without a trace, untraceable in the Netherworld—unknown whether dead or alive!

Changshou, what can we do about this?

Her lifespan in this life was already not much, I had already planned out how she would cultivate and become an immortal after her next reincarnation, how could such an incident occur out of nowhere?

Truly heaven has no eyes, why must my eldest have to suffer so many tribulations!”

Beside her, Forgetting Emotions Upper Immortal reached out, continuously patting Jiang Lin’er’s arm gently, comforting in a warm voice:

“This is just news that just came from the Netherworld side, things haven’t truly become so serious, Lin’er doesn’t worry too much, there’s still room for change.”

Hearing this, Li Changshou frowned tightly but didn’t say much, slightly lowering his head to think carefully.

He actually couldn’t think of other possibilities either—tree spirits were naturally weak beings, and being hunted and captured for pill refining wasn’t anything rare.

It’s just that when such things happened to someone close to them, it was somewhat hard to accept.

“Cough, cough cough…”

Ji Wuyou couldn’t help but cough twice;

Today, the Sect Master’s degree of coughing was relatively light, at least he wouldn’t directly cough blood;

It seemed his Primordial Spirit’s wounds had eased considerably.

Then this Sect Master said in a gentle voice: “In this poor Daoist’s view, rather than making wild guesses here, it would be better to send someone to the Netherworld to check now.”

Jiang Lin’er was originally about to nod immediately but then looked up at Li Changshou, her eyes carrying some inquiry.

Obviously, in Jiang Lin’er’s judgment, the one with the most ideas present wasn’t Sect Master Ji Wuyou, but rather her little grand disciple…

“Disciple dares to speak;

What Sect Master said is correct, this matter can only be understood by going to the Netherworld.”

Li Changshou bowed slightly and continued:

“Perhaps, Master Ancestor could take disciple to the Netherworld to investigate this matter in detail.”

Later, he would naturally use a paper avatar to go with Master Ancestor.

Jiang Lin’er immediately nodded in agreement, but before she could say anything more, Sect Master Ji Wuyou stood up, very naturally lifting the hem of his Daoist robe, saying:

“Well then, time is of the essence, let’s set off now!”

For a moment, you could hear a pin drop in the room, with several people wearing different expressions.

Since when had the Sect Master become so concerned with Little Jade Peak’s matters?

Ji Wuyou calmly said:

“Just happens that Elder Forgetting Emotions needs to prepare for tribulation and can’t move around carelessly;

And just happens that this Sect Master has recently been too static and wants to move about,

So, just happens to want to go appreciate the scenery in the Netherworld.”

Li Changshou: …

Would you be unable to make sense of the logic without the words ‘just happens’?

Hearing this, Forgetting Emotions Upper Immortal and Jiang Lin’er exchanged smiles, each somewhat bemused.

The normally dignified and beautiful Jiu Yiyi’s wonderful eyes moved back and forth between her master and the Sect Master;

This was one story.

The usually clever little Ling’e blinked lightly, her gaze moving back and forth between her Master Ancestor, Forgetting Emotions Upper Immortal, and the Sect Master.

This was another story altogether.

Then Forgetting Emotions Upper Immortal said:

“Sect Master, you still need to guard the sect, you mustn’t move carelessly.

This matter involves Lin’er’s beloved disciple, Forgetting Emotions naturally must accompany Lin’er on this trip to discover the truth of this matter.”

“Ah, it’s fine,” Ji Wuyou waved his hand, saying, “Forgetting Emotions, you can rest assured, nowadays our Transcendent Gate has just one word—

Steady!

Whether this poor Daoist holds the fort or not doesn’t mean much, rather… cough!

Since it’s like this, then let’s settle this matter thus, set off in half an hour!

Consider this a Sect Master’s order.

You two prepare well, this poor Daoist will also prepare some gifts, I do have several acquaintances in the Netherworld.”

As Ji Wuyou spoke, he had already left the pavilion with his hands behind his back, leaving several people looking at each other in bewilderment.

What was wrong with the Sect Master today?

He rarely moved about in the sect normally, how did he suddenly, become so…

Li Changshou vaguely understood something, but didn’t say much.

He told Jiang Lin’er he would go back to change clothes first, then left Forgetting Emotions Residence with Ling’e, quickly returning to Little Jade Peak.

The so-called changing clothes were just changing to a different paper avatar.

Going out together with their Sect Master, this Golden Immortal unit of combat power, using his true body would be truly too dangerous.

To be safe, Li Changshou used one of his best-crafted paper avatars, perfectly attaching his aura to it, and prepared some spare paper avatars.

He also instructed Ling’e several times, telling her she absolutely must not leak this matter…

“Senior Brother, can’t I go together?”

Ling’e asked pitifully.

“The spirit energy in the nether dark realm is mottled, and most abundant are yin qi and ghost qi—if you get even a little on you it would ruin your Dao foundation.”

Li Changshou explained to her briefly, then worriedly instructed: “If Master asks what we several people went out to do…”

“Just say Senior Brother was taken by Master Ancestor, following the Sect Master together to discuss the Way!”

“Getting smarter lately,” Li Changshou reached out to rub Ling’e’s head, making her beautiful hair somewhat messy, “Alright, I’m going now.”

With these words, Li Changshou turned and walked toward… the interior of the pill room.

His true body turned into a wisp of smoke and went to the underground secret chamber.

At the same time, on the meditation cushion before the pill furnace, ‘Li Changshou’s form grew out again—this was naturally the paper avatar transformation.

Ling’e blinked, her eyes carrying some hesitation, and asked softly:

“Senior Brother, what’s the difference between this and your true body? Why can’t I tell them apart at all?”

Li Changshou thought for a moment and summarized simply:

“This kind of paper avatar is only superficially real—no matter how authentic the exterior appears, it’s just formed by spirit techniques, similar to an illusion. It can fight in battles but can’t do anything else.”

Ling’e nodded somewhat comprehendingly, watching Li Changshou’s avatar leave the pill room.

Originally Ling’e’s heart held some reluctance to part, but she looked down and knew that right now her Senior Brother was just hiding in some rock crevice on Little Jade Peak…

Ah, Senior Brother’s personality was truly…

Indescribable, impossible to express, too mysterious, simply making this junior sister marvel in admiration!