Inside a dark and low-ceilinged cottage;

The clerk led Li Changshou to this place, searched for a while, and took out a jade stone, skillfully casting a spell on it.

Soon, several lines of small text appeared on the surface of the jade…

Looking at the information revealed in the jade stone before him, Li Changshou first felt…

Slightly relieved.

Thankfully, this Master-Uncle had no connection to his spirit trees!

Well, although the probability of such a thing happening was extremely low;

And the thought itself was quite absurd;

But Li Changshou had genuinely been a bit worried earlier that among those batches of old trees he had “accidentally” disposed of, there might have been his master uncle’s reincarnated tree spirit.

Now seeing the Netherworld’s records, Li Changshou could put aside this concern.

Master-Uncle’s reincarnation had no connection to his past actions!

She had reincarnated into a great world!

Li Changshou carefully examined it for a while, making sure he hadn’t misread a single character, before cupping his hands in thanks to the Netherworld clerk beside him and hurrying back to rejoin the Sect Leader and others.

Saving a tree was like fighting a fire – time was of the essence.

The five didn’t dare delay further, deciding to continue acting together and head directly to where Wan Jiangyu’s tree spirit incarnation was born to search around, hoping they might find something.

However…

Except for the still-hopeful Jiang Lin’er and You Qin Xuanya who steadfastly believed in ‘human determination triumphing over heaven’s will and all ending well,’ the other three Pure Yang cultivators, big and small, all felt…

This journey was destined to fail.

Li Changshou said:

“That great world is quite distant. If we fly there directly through the void, it would take at least ten to fifteen days.

This disciple thinks we might better spend half an hour inquiring in Fengdu City, to see if we can find some channels to use the Netherworld ghost officials’ pathways to reach that great world.”

Once again, Ox-Head’s tablet proved crucially useful.

The common saying Li Changshou often heard in his previous life that ‘having connections makes things easier’ held true in Heaven and the Netherworld as well.

Half an hour later, the five were being led by a ghost official, quickly traversing through the ‘Well Forest’ outside Fengdu City.

The so-called ‘Well Forest’ was the network of pathways used by Netherworld ghost officials to catch spirits across the Five Continents and Three Thousand Worlds, connected to various City God temples.

This place was similar to the rear hall of the Moon Old Man’s Marriage Palace – from the outside, it appeared to be several dozen dry wells containing the power of the Heavenly Dao, arranged in a profound formation;

After stepping in, one would discover they had entered into a vast ocean within the ‘dry wells.’

Li Changshou felt deeply moved…

The great and small worlds were truly countless!

And the Netherworld’s management was truly a mess.

A place important to the Heavenly Dao was just left outside the city, with only some formations for defense and barely any troops stationed to guard it.

How disrespectful to the Heavenly Dao Lord…

He couldn’t look anymore – if he kept looking, Li Changshou would be unable to resist starting to plot for Netherworld merit right now.

If he could bring the Netherworld under Heaven’s administration and establish proper order, his merit golden body would probably be… almost half complete!

And all these years of accumulating worship merit from the Sea God Religion had only gathered enough for half a finger.

A true golden finger indeed.

Comparing the two, the Netherworld offered many more opportunities.

Under the ghost official’s guidance, the five found a dry well marked ‘Earth Spirit 9527.’

While Li Changshou was still confirming if this was the correct ‘direct’ route, Master Wangqing in his white robes and Jiang Lin’er in her white dress had already joined hands and jumped into the dry well.

The scene had an indescribable beauty to it.

Ji Wuyou thanked the ghost official and lowered his head to jump into the well, then transmitted out telling Li Changshou and You Qin Xuanya to jump in without worry.

Li Changshou took out a treasure pouch containing spirit stones and precious materials, smiling as he gave it to the ghost official who had brought them here, then turned and said:

“Junior Sister You Qin, you go down first.”

You Qin Xuanya gently shook her head and said: “No, Senior Brother Changshou, you jump, I jump.”

Li Changshou: …

Why did this suddenly turn romantic?

He didn’t decline, knowing You Qin Xuanya wanted to guard the rear. He slightly lifted the hem of his Daoist robe and strode into the dry well with one step, You Qin Xuanya following closely behind with her great sword on her back.

Light and shadows changed before their eyes, scenes flowing past around them.

Ahead was a long, dark pathway, with faint yellow lights softly flickering everywhere…

Sect Leader Ji Wuyou waited not far ahead, once again enveloping the five with his Golden Immortal power, using his divine ability to carry them against the flow, quickly heading toward this pathway’s exit.

In just a moment, flying an unknown distance, light appeared ahead as this road reached its end.

Entering through one dry well and emerging from another, they found themselves in a dilapidated small temple.

In just a brief moment, using the Netherworld’s shortcut, they had left the Five Continents far behind and arrived in this great world, each feeling… slightly unreal.

Ji Wuyou praised: “Truly worthy of being a place of reincarnation – the Netherworld has such profound spatial arrangements.”

Master Wangqing seemed to have some realization, murmuring: “The might of the Heavenly Dao is beyond human power.”

Li Changshou’s thoughts weren’t so complicated, much simpler than the two senior experts…

[The City God well system could be used for quickly moving and deploying troops, with good concealment too]

Mm, after returning he would carefully analyze and write a treatise on “The Role of the City God Temple Transportation System in Various Calculations and Arrangements.”

Jiang Lin’er hurriedly said: “Changshou…”

“This way, follow me!”

Li Changshou had already determined the direction and urgently led the way forward.

Ji Wuyou swept his long sleeve, gathering up the four people and flying directly toward the mountain ranges thousands of li away.

Along the way, they passed through clouds and mist at lightning speed.

As if rushing there faster might help them find Wan Jiangyu’s reincarnated tree spirit.

Shortly after, in a deep valley.

The five stood in the depths of a lush forest, looking at the old crooked-necked tree ahead that kept dropping leaves, all feeling rather heavy-hearted.

Jiang Lin’er, who had held back the whole way, now couldn’t help her reddening eyes as she said in a hoarse voice:

“Big Brother… Jiangyu, Master came too late…”

Master Wangqing stepped forward to embrace Jiang Lin’er, softly comforting her.

Although Ji Wuyou had expected this, he still couldn’t help but sigh, standing with hands behind his back, his eyes showing traces of grief.

He thought of those figures that had slipped through his fingers over the long years.

“Senior Brother Changshou,” You Qin Xuanya asked softly, “truly, can we not save her?”

“Don’t rush,” Li Changshou pondered for a moment, stepping forward to place his hand on the old tree’s trunk, closing his eyes to carefully sense.

The tree spirit had been forcibly extracted, taking the old tree’s vitality with it, in this situation…

‘If I were the one doing this, why would I do it this way?’

This old tree must have been several thousand years old, not yet having cultivated into a tree spirit, but its rich vitality had nurtured a tree spirit, which was Wan Jiangyu’s reincarnation.

Spirit and Essence, though similar, had subtle distinctions.

This old tree was like Wan Jiangyu’s parents in this life…

The person who extracted the tree spirit should not be above the Heavenly Immortal realm. Some traces of Dao rhythm remained here – they cultivated the Dao of Separation Fire…

Based on the rate of the old tree’s vitality loss and the speed of the Dao rhythm’s dissipation, cross-referencing, and reverse calculating, one could roughly deduce that they had acted about a month ago…

Though tree spirits weren’t precious spirit roots, they were rare medicine catalysts…

When extracting the tree spirit, they had taken most of the old tree’s vitality, likely using it to enhance the tree spirit’s quality.

If they chose to enhance the tree spirit’s power, it indirectly indicated that the person wasn’t very confident about this batch of pills…

Then… could it be…

Li Changshou stood there quietly, the gazes of the other four all focused on his back.

A moment later, Li Changshou suddenly turned around!

“Sect Leader, this disciple boldly requests the Sect Leader to immediately use your Golden Immortal divine sense to search within five thousand li for any cultivators refining pills.

If nothing is found within five thousand li, please expand the search as far as possible.

No matter what, this disciple feels we can’t just give up like this.”

“Good!”

Ji Wuyou agreed with a word, quickly spreading his divine sense to cover thousands of li around them, his eyes soon lighting up.

Ji Wuyou said:

“Just one thousand six hundred li away!

Someone is refining pills within a formation in a valley!”

Li Changshou hurriedly asked: “Separation Fire Dao rhythm, Heavenly or True Immortal realm cultivation?”

“Yes… correct!”

“Hurry!” Li Changshou urged, “Hurry, Master-Uncle might still be saved!”

Everyone’s expressions suddenly stirred!

Immortal power surged around Ji Wuyou as his form vanished with a whoosh, transforming into a flash of cyan light, crossing the one thousand-six hundred li distance in an instant!

Master Wangqing immediately carried Jiang Lin’er as they soared into the sky, following behind.

When Li Changshou’s divine sense detected Sect Leader Ji Wuyou descending from the sky and crashing into that simple formation, he let out a slight sigh of relief.

Hopefully, there would still be some remnant spirit.

At once, he called to You Qin Xuanya and the two hurriedly gave chase on their clouds.

…

When Li Changshou and You Qin Xuanya arrived at this valley, this was the scene they saw.

Deep in a secluded valley of clear waters and blue skies…

A slightly chubby Daoist sat on a meditation cushion, maintaining a backward-leaning posture, not daring to move at all.

Standing proudly before this chubby Daoist was Master Wangqing in his white robes with white-streaked temples, his left palm aimed at the Daoist’s forehead, cyan electric arcs flickering in his palm.

If this chubby Daoist dared move even slightly, it would mean the end of his life and Dao!

Fortunately, Master Wangqing was not an unreasonable person, knowing this matter couldn’t be blamed on this person.

Taking heaven’s treasures and earth’s bounty to refine pills and forge artifacts was something cultivators commonly did…

Thus, Master Wangqing was only intimidating him now, not truly acting.

Ji Wuyou and Jiang Lin’er were currently surrounding the pill furnace whose fire had been extinguished, sensing the medicinal properties surging within, finding several remaining tree spirit essences.

The former calculated methods of salvation with finger formations, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper…

The latter was both shocked and delighted, several times wanting to smash open this medicinal furnace but not daring to act rashly…

Without Jiang Lin’er calling, Li Changshou immediately stepped forward to sense the situation in the furnace, letting out a slight sigh of relief.

There was still hope.

Just then, Ji Wuyou sighed: “Only remnant spirits remain, the true spirit almost completely refined – I’m afraid it can’t be remedied.”

Li Changshou hurriedly said: “Sect Leader, if we use pills to complete the remnant spirit and nourish the true spirit, could we save her?”

“Perhaps we could try, but here and now, where would we find such spiritual pills?” Ji Wuyou shook his head slightly, “Such pills are quite difficult to refine. Though our sect has the formula, people rarely would…”

Li Changshou said solemnly: “This disciple brought some.”

“You brought some?”

Ji Wuyou said in surprise: “Changshou, why would you carry such pills for no reason?”

Li Changshou: …

He could hardly say that such pills were just part of his trump card inventory and that he had brought two pills along this time just to be safe.

If cultivators could regularly carry pills for healing and saving lives, then him carrying some extra pills for completing remnant spirits to deal with the situation of [what if I get killed but my true spirit luckily survives], that wasn’t too unreasonable…

Right?

At once, Li Changshou took out two Immortal pills flowing with phantasmal light and respectfully handed them to Ji Wuyou.

Though these two pills weren’t of high quality, this type of medicine only needed gentle medicinal properties anyway, so lower grade wasn’t a problem.

Ji Wuyou immediately opened the furnace, using immortal power to wrap around those few tree spirit remnants;

Since they couldn’t distinguish which remnant spirit was Wan Jiangyu’s reincarnation at this point, he simply used the pills’ power to nourish them all simultaneously.

Li Changshou then went over to Master Wangqing’s side to inquire from this pill-refining person where he had collected the tree spirits.

To resolve things quickly, Li Changshou opened with:

“Friend, don’t be afraid, we have no good intentions toward you.”

That chubby cultivator’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he gave bitter smiles.

Before Li Changshou formally began questioning, just asking for a few simple details, the other party quickly said everything he could and couldn’t say…

This person was named Cai Wei, a diligent and progressive cultivator who had achieved Heavenly Immortal fruits three thousand years ago and had always worked hard and conscientiously, avoiding the fighting among cultivators…

After three thousand years of effort, he had finally reached the mid-stage Heavenly Immortal realm.

Long life had gained a slightly better chance.

Today’s matter was purely part of Cai Wei’s daily cultivation routine…

Well, you see, because he frequently visited this great world’s famous [World’s End Pavilion] to experience and comprehend temporary emotional tribulations to improve his understanding of the Great Dao, Cai Wei was recently a bit short on funds, so he was hiding here refining pills to build up wealth.

Who could have imagined that as Cai Wei was humming tunes while refining pills;

A Golden Immortal would descend from the sky and storm in, directly seizing his furnace and glaring at him…

“Honored Immortals, I didn’t know!

One of the medicinal ingredients was your relative!”

“Friend need not be afraid,” Li Changshou said gently, taking out two bottles of pills from his chest, “These are finished pills of similar quality and value to what you were trying to refine, made by our sect’s pill-refining master, to compensate you somewhat for your loss.”

The chubby cultivator repeatedly said it wasn’t necessary;

Master Wangqing frowned impatiently beside them, and the other immediately nodded, accepting the two bottles of pills produced by Elder Wan Linyun.

Thus the karma was settled.

Just then, a cry from Jiang Lin’er came from behind Li Changshou…

“Jiangyu!”

Li Changshou and Master Wangqing turned their heads at the same time to look – in Sect Leader Ji Wuyou’s palm were several fist-sized green orbs of light.

…

“Marshal! Marshal!”

At the One Line Sky east of Fengdu City, a ghost official came running hurriedly, panting heavily as he called out to the soul-collecting envoy Ox-Head who was lying on a nearby rock.

“Just learned from the city that those five Humanity Dao immortals with your tablet have already left through the Return Soul Wells!”

“Left already?”

Ox-Head immediately sat up, his ox eyes widening as he turned to look at the banners hung on both sides, with crooked characters writing various welcoming messages.

Things like ‘Welcome to the Netherworld’, ‘The Netherworld is Home, Stability Relies on Everyone’, ‘Brothers Today, No Crowding in Reincarnation’… were among the more ordinary slogans.

That profound ox-thought crystallized into ‘Come Home Often’ was truly wasted now, with no chance to be used!

“Well, if they’ve left then they’ve left,” Ox-Head said with some disappointment.

“Marshal, what should we do?

The brothers put so much effort into making all these banners.”

Ox-Head thought for a moment, then casually arranged:

“Just give one to each immortal who passes through here from now on, wouldn’t that solve it?”

“Marshal’s brilliant idea!”

“Heh heh… uh, the Great Wu Priest always reminds me not to forget my current identity… hmm, let me get into character…

Moo? Moo moo?”

“Just like it, exactly like it!”