Unfathomably profound.

Thousands of thoughts swept through her mind, countless ideas drifted through her consciousness, yet all ultimately coalesced into these four hollow words.

Jian Chou couldn’t really see through the array formation beneath her feet.

The Heaven-Releasing Creation Array was jointly established by the eight Yama Kings to seal the boundary between Yin and Yang. One could imagine it wasn’t something simple.

This former master of the study had not only comprehended it single-handedly but had even reconstructed it…

There are people beyond people, heavens beyond heavens—nothing more fitting than this, perhaps?

Jian Chou steadied her state of mind, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled before she could barely spare a bit of mental capacity to think about the problem.

If this Heaven-Releasing Creation Array were real…

Then everything would be easily resolved for her.

The ground was simple, clean, and bare. Jian Chou glanced at it and directly flipped to the page she had seen before.

Due to the tremendous shock she had just received, her fingers inevitably trembled somewhat.

Seeing this, Jian Chou couldn’t help but clench her five fingers tightly and smile bitterly to herself: “My cultivation in mental state is still insufficient after all.”

However, in the face of this situation, those who could remain calm would probably be few and far between.

Having already browsed through it earlier, Jian Chou was clear about where she had left off and casually flipped to that page.

She carefully examined the diagram.

Every stroke and line, every detail and fraction—though simple, it was indeed identical to what she had seen on the ground.

Could it truly be the Heaven-Releasing Creation Array?

Besides this diagram, there were no additional explanatory text on this page.

Since it had already appeared, it couldn’t possibly be just a simple drawing placed here.

Jian Chou held her breath and flipped to the next page, immediately overjoyed—

“This array was established by the eight Yama Kings at the bottom of the eighteenth level of hell, at the intersection of the Yin and Yang realms. It separates Yin and Yang, blocks the two realms, preventing internal energy from flowing outward and external spirits from invading inward. Its mysteries are unfathomable.”

“Through diligent study and research, with myriad transformations, and following inspiration, I managed to pilfer several vats of Reincarnation Pool water and inscribed it in this study to protect this water.”

“…”

Truly capable and willful, wasn’t he?

Reading these few brief words, Jian Chou truly felt the urge to press this book against this “formidable person’s” face.

However, Reincarnation Pool water…

That this person had “pilfered” it was rather incomprehensible.

Reincarnation Pool water naturally existed within the Reincarnation Pool.

When people entered the six paths of reincarnation, they needed to plunge into the Reincarnation Pool to be washed of all traces of their previous existence by this water, becoming like blank paper to be reborn. When born again, they would be infants who knew nothing and could do nothing.

To pilfer Reincarnation Pool water for no reason?

Surely it wasn’t to nourish these three plum branches?

The more Jian Chou thought about it, the more confused she became.

She shook her head, temporarily setting aside her doubts, and continued reading.

This person truly didn’t disappoint her.

After recounting the array’s origins, there followed page after page of research, starting from every detail of the array formation to the function of each semicircle, omitting nothing.

However, after reading everything, Jian Chou realized she had misunderstood this person.

The “Heaven-Releasing Creation Array”—the larger it was, the more energy it consumed and the more it tested one’s control over array formations. A formation one or two zhang in size could hardly compare to one that nearly covered the entire underground of the Extreme Domain’s Evil Soil.

This person speculated in the book that even with the eight Yama Kings working together, they probably spent a full ten years on this array formation.

Moreover, they would have needed to undergo long periods of seclusion to replenish their consumption.

It seemed that in the Yin-Yang realm battle, though the Extreme Domain achieved victory, it probably suffered great damage as well.

To prevent accidents or avoid new wars, they established this array formation to eliminate the possibility of new conflicts.

The Heaven-Releasing Creation Array was like a thick, solid barrier, allowing them to control reincarnation exclusively while remaining undisturbed by cultivators…

Jian Chou’s mood inexplicably grew heavy.

She thought of the outside of Yashan, beneath the cable bridge, on the riverbank—those quietly standing thousand cultivation tombs of Yashan…

The Heaven-Releasing Creation Array was so formidable. What was arranged in this study was actually just a miniaturized version that had been modified, lacking any offensive capabilities against people and only providing defense.

Therefore, when Jian Chou had previously gone to touch this array, no accidents had occurred.

Correspondingly, the method to unlock this array was also written on the pages.

Using this method to unlock the array formation would provide half a quarter-hour to retrieve the “Reincarnation Pool water” stored below. Afterward, the array would automatically restore itself.

This array formation was presumably arranged by the study’s master for daily protection.

He had kept quite a bit of Reincarnation Pool water for himself, using it each time, so this array could restore itself.

Jian Chou had a half-understanding of the various arrangement details of this array formation, as her realm wasn’t sufficient, but the method for temporarily unlocking it was quite simple.

She pondered briefly, and with her considerable understanding of array formations, she gained some unique insights.

At this point, she was fully prepared—only lacking the activation of the array formation.

This page concluded after explaining the array-opening method.

To be safe, Jian Chou flipped one more page, fearing she might miss something.

Unexpectedly, while there was indeed no content related to the array formation ahead, there was a unique speculation recorded, specifically about the eight Yama Kings who had established the array formation.

This person said that among the eight Yama Kings, the highest in cultivation should have already reached the ninth realm of “Penetrating Heaven,” while the lowest also had the peak of the seventh realm “Returning to Void.”

The Extreme Domain and the Shijiu Zhou were different paths leading to the same destination in terms of realms.

After the sixth realm, the following three levels were “Returning to Void,” “Having Boundaries,” and “Penetrating Heaven.”

The eight Yama Kings were all top-tier existences in the entire Extreme Domain, so making such a judgment wasn’t problematic.

It’s just that…

The handwriting in this book was of the first type, roughly judged to have been left over four hundred years ago. Since there were already great powers of the “Penetrating Heaven” realm at that time, by reason, wouldn’t they be figures who could ascend soon?

Thinking of this, Jian Chou suddenly realized a problem she had never paid attention to before: could the ghost cultivators of the Extreme Domain ascend?

She hadn’t been in the Extreme Domain for a long time, but it couldn’t be considered very short either.

If there were rumors of ascension, they should have been widely spread like the ascension of the three great powers at the transition between ancient and modern times in the Shijiu Zhou.

There was no reason she wouldn’t have heard even half a word about it.

Her brows couldn’t help but furrow even tighter.

Jian Chou suddenly thought that she could ask Chen Tingyan and others about this when she encountered them again, but for now—

Naturally, the Reincarnation Pool water was more important.

By now, Jian Chou didn’t know how many days had passed.

She had searched through countless books in this study, even forgetting to eat and sleep while reading for so long, experiencing waves of hope and disappointment, and learning that the Yin-Yang realm was in the eighteenth level of hell—it could be described as one twist after another.

Although she currently had no idea how she could safely reach the eighteenth level of hell, the Reincarnation Pool water was a good thing after all. It wouldn’t be too late to think about these matters after obtaining it first.

Therefore, Jian Chou cast aside all distracting thoughts, placed the unfinished book on the desk, and walked to the front of the array formation she had seen before.

Array formations were things that seemed impossibly difficult when you couldn’t understand them, but once you comprehended their inner workings, you would feel a sense of transparency when viewing them again.

Jian Chou bent down for the second time, extended her finger, and pressed it against the floor tile just as she had done the first time.

The temperature showed no change whatsoever.

She hesitated momentarily, then her soul power condensed into a thin line that, through her fingertip, probed beneath the ground surface.

Thus, that pale bamboo-azure light once again emerged from the ground.

This time, Jian Chou was prepared and didn’t show the same surprise as the first time, not moving even slightly.

Six pale bamboo-azure semicircles, emanating a subtle glow, slowly spread across the ground surface.

Mysterious runes, one after another, flickered beneath the light.

Jian Chou recalled every word and sentence previously written in the book, her gaze wandering among these runes, finally settling on the rune in the Dui position to her left.

There were eight runes in the array formation, all slightly deeper in color than the bamboo-azure, tinged with ink traces.

These were the legendary array cores.

The one Jian Chou saw was one of them.

As her finger approached, even her fingertip was reflected in a pale azure color.

When she was only three inches away from that rune, a resistance force suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Jian Chou’s vision blurred, and she saw a small array formation three feet in size appear before her.

Now understanding the array’s secrets, Jian Chou was calm and unhurried.

Though she still felt somewhat nervous—after all, this was her first time facing such a top-level array formation—her hand movements were unhesitating, like plucking stars and climbing the moon, continuously tapping on this small array formation, as fast as fleeting wind and shadows.

“Crack crack crack…”

As her finger pointed toward the array formation, there came a series of crisp sounds.

The faster her finger techniques, the quicker the sounds.

Finally, when the crisp sounds connected into a continuous stream, and reached the ultimate speed, there came a soft “pop,” and the entire three-foot array formation turned into a wisp of azure smoke and instantly dispersed!

Jian Chou’s forehead was already slightly damp with sweat. Only after seeing the array formation truly dissipate did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.

With her current cultivation level, memorizing such complex finger techniques and perfectly applying them to break this array was still somewhat forced.

However, the more frightening part was yet to come—

Jian Chou’s gaze moved to the other seven dark green runes that hadn’t been touched, and a bitter taste immediately arose in her heart.

That’s right, what she had just done was only the beginning.

To temporarily unlock this array formation for half a quarter-hour required going through a full eight similar array-breaking procedures.

Moreover, because each rune was different, the array-breaking techniques were completely different too.

Jian Chou activated the next rune again and began working busily…

In the study, only light and shadow changed, and who knew how much time had passed.

Previously, browsing through the contents of one bookshelf had probably taken several days, but fortunately, no one had intruded, so Jian Chou was still at ease.

“Pop!”

The final crisp sound finally appeared.

Jian Chou’s face was completely grave as she waited for the next change.

That dark green rune wavered leisurely after this small array shattered.

Jian Chou’s heart immediately tensed up.

The next moment, the rune crumbled like light smoke and disappeared completely. The entire array formation suddenly burst with brilliant azure light!

What a magnificent feeling that was!

Jian Chou, standing within the array formation, felt as if she was about to be swallowed by this azure light, as if she was about to merge with this world!

After a moment, the azure light dimmed.

But the feeling from that instant was deeply etched in Jian Chou’s heart.

“Crack…”

Suddenly, a sound came from the ground.

Jian Chou looked down and saw that the floor tile in the very center suddenly sank downward, collapsing toward the depths below.

Then, as if the entire ground surface had caved in, the surrounding ground, including the tile beneath Jian Chou’s feet, also sank accordingly.

Centered on the middle tile, it actually formed a small basin.

The surrounding floor tiles collapsed to varying degrees, starting from the edges, getting lower toward the center, actually forming a downward-sloping terrace!

This scene was truly beyond Jian Chou’s expectations.

She was standing very close to the center tile, now at the very center of the entire collapse. Looking back, those books were already far away, standing tall at the edge of her vision.

The study actually concealed such an ingenious design…

Was this originally there, or was it designed by this person?

Jian Chou couldn’t figure it out and had no time to think further.

The array formation’s opening time was only half a quarter-hour, so she should hurry to retrieve the Reincarnation Pool water.

The center tile had collapsed the deepest, right in front of Jian Chou, forming a small pool two feet in length and width.

At this moment, pale purple-gray liquid was continuously flowing out from the cracks between the tiles.

In no time, the two-foot-high depression was already nine-tenths full.

Then, the flowing purple-gray liquid gradually decreased and finally disappeared completely.

It was a strange color, very light and pale, as if flowing light flickered within it.

It wasn’t viscous, clear as spring water in a pool, and carried a hint of coldness.

Just looking at it gave one a sense of transparency.

All of one’s worldly experiences seemed to flash rapidly through the mind—some painful, some sorrowful, some joyful, some intoxicating…

Watching it, Jian Chou was in a trance and actually felt a desire to leap in and immerse herself in it.

Fortunately, this thought only flashed by briefly and disappeared in an instant.

Even so, after Jian Chou came to her senses, she couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat!

Reincarnation Pool water—if it truly was what people had to pass through when reincarnating, naturally it would reflect one’s entire lifetime of experiences.

Immersing oneself in it would mean becoming a blank slate again.

Jian Chou felt somewhat afraid and dared not look carefully anymore.

She simply took a jade bottle for storing water from her Qiankun Bag and, with a slight application of magical technique, turned the bottle mouth downward. The Reincarnation Pool water below was drawn to it and automatically flew toward the bottle opening.

“Splashing sounds…”

Water entered the bottle with a series of clear, pleasant sounds.

The water in the pool visibly became shallow and soon reached the bottom, revealing the black tile surface.

Seeing the pool bottom was dry, Jian Chou made a hand seal.

The jade bottle immediately inverted, not letting a single drop of pool water escape, collecting it all in the bottle and sealing it.

Looking carefully again, the originally purple-gray water, once inside the jade bottle, actually emitted a faint fluorescent light that shone through the jade bottle, dreamlike and illusory, quite beautiful.

Jian Chou found it somewhat miraculous.

Since the matter was finished, even if she was curious, she should go up to study it. She turned around, intending to go directly up, but when she withdrew her gaze, several deep marks on the pool bottom caught her attention.

“Water in the plum vase should be filled seven-tenths full.”

After all the Reincarnation Pool water was collected by Jian Chou into the bottle, the original pool bottom became completely dry.

The characters hidden by the water traces quietly emerged.

Jian Chou frowned upon seeing this.

“Crack.”

At this moment, the steps formed by the floor tiles beneath her feet suddenly moved.

Needless to say, the time was up.

Jian Chou couldn’t think much, grabbing the jade bottle and leaping directly upward.

While she was in mid-air, the ground beneath her feet began to change rapidly. The originally collapsed tiles rose one by one.

When Jian Chou began to descend, the previously disappeared array formation had already covered the surface again.

The eight runes she had broken also appeared in sequence, like locks upon locks, securing the array formation.

In an instant, the ground had returned to its original state.

Jian Chou naturally landed, her feet touching the flat, even ground surface where every floor tile was properly fitted and embedded, with no gaps to be found.

Everything was the same as before. The only difference was perhaps the jade bottle now in Jian Chou’s hand.

Looking back at that floor tile, she couldn’t help but furrow her brow: “Fill the bottle seven-tenths full?”

She had seen very clearly when she went down earlier.

All the Reincarnation Pool water hadn’t even filled the two-foot square area, so the quantity wasn’t much to begin with.

But that plum vase was to be filled seven-tenths full?

These three plum branches definitely didn’t need to be seven-tenths full to survive, otherwise when the water wasn’t seven-tenths full, wouldn’t the three plum branches wither?

Jian Chou looked toward the window. That plum vase was about a foot tall but had a rounded body. If filled seven-tenths full…

Tsk.

A rough calculation was truly heartbreaking.

Should she follow those words and honestly fill it seven-tenths full?

Inside the room, Jian Chou hesitated for a moment.

Outside, the sky had brightened again.

Who knew how many nights had passed.

Within the City of Unjust Deaths, liveliness was gradually returning.

Under Qin Guang King’s command, Grand Judge Cui Jue, once again accompanied by Zhang Tang, arrived in front of this unremarkable old residence.

His usually composed demeanor had already turned somewhat unpleasant.

The simple pair of doors remained tightly shut, showing no sign that the house’s owner intended to come out.

Several withered leaves had already fallen on the doorstep.

Standing before this door, Cui Jue stopped in his tracks, looking up like this without speaking.

Zhang Tang clasped his hands in front of him, appearing quite calm, standing slightly behind and to the side of Cui Jue. Seeing Cui Jue stop, he remained composed, glancing sideways to observe, and somehow felt a strange sensation in his heart.

Although he didn’t know what this Jian Chou person was about, she had already given the dignified Grand Judge Cui several cold shoulders, which was truly… quite impressive.

Seeing Cui Jue’s displeased expression, Zhang Tang spoke with apparent concern: “Grand Judge Cui, I’m afraid today won’t work either. The protective array is still active.”

“…”

How could Cui Jue not see the array formation arranged around the residence?

He frowned and waved his sleeve: “It seems this Miss Jian Chou is likely in cultivation. The Cauldron Competition is only seventy days away…”

Regarding Jian Chou’s existence, Cui Jue didn’t have any particular feelings, only thinking that none of the eight Yama Kings were easy to deal with.

No matter how formidable ordinary cultivators were, they couldn’t escape their grasp, so there was nothing to worry about.

However, this time, the various Yama Kings sought this female cultivator for her “selling point.”

If she diligently cultivated and this selling point disappeared, wouldn’t that be troublesome?

Zhang Tang seemed to see through his concerns and interjected at this moment: “The Cauldron Competition is of great importance, and she also has friends participating in it. She’ll probably come out to see when the time comes. Cultivation matters might not show progress even in a hundred days, so why not come back after some time?”

“She has friends too?”

Cui Jue couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow upon hearing this.

Since Chen Tingyan and Zhang Tang didn’t get along well anyway, Zhang Tang was about to say something.

Unexpectedly, just as he opened his mouth, a somewhat surprised and sarcastic voice came over: “I was wondering who it was. Looking from afar, one could smell the stench of blood all over the ground. Turns out it’s Prefect Zhang.”

This voice was familiar.

In the City of Unjust Deaths, there weren’t many who could mock Zhang Tang like this.

Zhang Tang closed his mouth, turned around, and saw Chen Tingyan walking over leisurely.

This former profligate young master of Great Xia wore a rather fine silk robe, fanning himself with a fan, his eyes carrying a hint of mockery as he glanced at Cui Jue beside Zhang Tang. Not recognizing him, he didn’t pay much attention.

Needless to say, he had also come to find Jian Chou.

This street was so quiet—if not for business or finding someone, who would come here?

Seeing Zhang Tang from afar, Chen Tingyan felt uncomfortable.

Jian Chou actually knew him and seemed to have a good relationship with him. Today, seeing him here, Chen Tingyan instinctively assumed Zhang Tang must have come to find Jian Chou alone.

As for Cui Jue standing beside Zhang Tang…

Who was he?

Didn’t recognize him.

Simply ignored him.

So when Chen Tingyan spoke, his words were not polite at all.

Even his beautiful peach blossom eyes carried additional hostility.

In front of a female cultivator’s door, one man looking at another man with hostile eyes—the implication was clear without saying.

Cui Jue was astute.

Looking at this scene, his previous pile of doubts was actually explained at this moment: he had wondered where a female cultivator who had just entered the City of Unjust Deaths got the ability to both cultivate and rent a residence. Turns out she had this famous profligate supporting her.

Chen Tingyan didn’t know Cui Jue, but Cui Jue knew him.

The list of ghost cultivators entering the second round of the Cauldron Competition in the City of Unjust Deaths was constantly reported to Cui Jue, and accordingly, he would understand all relevant situations.

Chen Tingyan was the most incompetent-looking among all of them.

His cultivation relied on pills, his offense and defense on magical artifacts.

But such people were often the most detested by everyone: clearly lacking any real ability, yet you just couldn’t defeat them.

However, he was actually looking at Zhang Tang with that kind of gaze, as if treating Zhang Tang as a rival, which was quite interesting.

Cui Jue could tell that this gaze had nothing to do with the Cauldron Competition and everything to do with women.

Could it be that the seemingly aloof Zhang Tang also had some entanglement with this female cultivator named Jian Chou?

Originally, this was just a random thought, but once it emerged, Cui Jue was startled.

He remembered Zhang Tang’s unusual moment of hesitation when he had questioned him at the Reception Department earlier, and how he actually knew this female cultivator’s residence…

Was this normal?

If he had no entanglement with the female cultivator, how would he know where she lived?

Hmm, this matter was suddenly becoming interesting.

Seeing Chen Tingyan about to confront Zhang Tang, Cui Jue simply stopped talking and watched from the side.

Zhang Tang naturally wouldn’t drag Cui Jue into this without reason.

“Zhang has business to discuss with Jian Chou today. I heard that Fourth Young Master Chen has a close relationship with her…”

He glanced at Chen Tingyan and spoke calmly.

Upon hearing this, Chen Tingyan immediately showed some smugness.

“That’s right…”

He was about to boast about his relationship with Jian Chou to exclude Zhang Tang, this lurking enemy.

Unexpectedly, before he could finish, Zhang Tang had already said the next sentence quite naturally: “If so, could you perhaps send her a message, just a few words?”

“…”

At that moment, Chen Tingyan was completely stunned.

He never expected Zhang Tang to say such a thing!

Send a message?

Send a message my ass!

Chen Tingyan hadn’t had time to leave a communication jade slip with Jian Chou before, so where could he contact her now?

This Zhang Tang…

Chen Tingyan pressed his lips together, his heart sinking considerably.

He looked up at Zhang Tang, only to meet a completely expressionless face and those indifferent, ice-cold eyes devoid of any emotion.

Those calm eyes, seeming to look at everyone the same way, were sharp as bone-cutting knives and seemed to see through him instantly.

This kind of indifference, this gaze that seemed to view everyone equally…

How detestable!

Chen Tingyan’s expression immediately turned ugly.

Zhang Tang said nothing more, only turning back to Cui Jue and saying calmly: “Grand Judge Cui, it seems Fourth Young Master Chen also has no means of contact. Let’s come back another day.”

Cui Jue looked left at Zhang Tang, right at Chen Tingyan, thinking this was quite a show.

Usually, Zhang Tang appeared indifferent no matter how you looked at him, silent and unassuming, with everyone respectfully keeping their distance, so Zhang Tang never showed his true nature.

Who would have thought that now, with seemingly plain and simple words, he was actually cutting to the bone.

The cruel official Zhang Tang…

At this moment, they were getting the first glimpse of his true nature.

A three-step killing strategy.

If Chen Tingyan could communicate with this Miss Jian Chou, their relationship close to this degree, would he need to foolishly come guard at her door?

Zhang Tang saw through this point but deliberately didn’t mention it, instead setting a trap with one sentence for Chen Tingyan to jump into.

To remain so composed while scheming was not the behavior of someone easy to deal with.

Cui Jue and Zhang Tang weren’t of the same type to begin with. He didn’t approve of Zhang Tang’s methods, but he also looked down on Chen Tingyan’s style. At this moment, he nodded: “Since that’s the case, we’ll come back later.”

After all, this wasn’t about arresting criminals. Forcibly disturbing someone’s cultivation really wasn’t Cui Jue’s style.

Having said this, he didn’t look at Chen Tingyan’s immediately frowning expression and slowly passed by the main gate.

Zhang Tang behind him narrowed his eyes, said “farewell” to Chen Tingyan, and when leaving, glanced back at the residence’s main gate once, his eyes showing no ripples, then turned and departed.

Only Chen Tingyan remained, his mood truly unpleasant.

He went through various expressions on his face, but wariness slowly grew in his eyes: the cruel official Zhang Tang with his sharp pen—court intrigue was all hidden beneath the surface. If he were to compete with this person in cunning and ruthlessness, he would still fall short by several points…

However, he had thought him to be cold-faced and iron-hearted, incapable of anger.

Turns out he was overthinking it.

Chen Tingyan slowly thought this over, also looking toward Jian Chou’s residence: How did she suddenly seem to be in seclusion? Sigh, he had wanted to take her to see more excitement.

But…

Grand Judge Cui?

Could it be that Judge under Qin Guang King?

What did he and Zhang Tang want with Jian Chou?

Chen Tingyan couldn’t think of a reason and could only frown in thought, eventually walking slowly in the opposite direction from Zhang Tang and the other, gradually moving away.

Inside the residence, in the study.

Jian Chou didn’t yet know that outside, a pile of interesting events had already occurred around her. She stood by the window, holding the jade bottle filled with Reincarnation Pool water, lost in thought.

She slowly extended her finger toward the only remaining flower bud on the withered branch.

Just as she was about to touch it, she stopped.

Only a hairline away.

Jian Chou was afraid that after enduring such long years, this plum blossom had already withered and would crumble into dust like what she had touched on the windowsill before.

“Awaiting someone who cherishes flowers to have this fate…”

Looking at her fingertip, she couldn’t help but smile slightly, with a hint of sentiment in her eyes.

Having experienced so many things, she felt she had a kind heart but was definitely not someone soft-hearted.

On the contrary, her methods were clean and efficient, never showing mercy when action was needed.

“Cherishing flowers”—such elegant affairs were probably only for those literati, scholars, and pampered young masters to create some fine tales. She considered herself just an ordinary person, hardly suited to such refinement.

Yet unexpectedly…

She suddenly wanted to affect elegance once.

Jian Chou withdrew the finger that was about to touch the plum blossom and instead pointed toward the plum vase. The remaining stagnant water inside immediately flew out.

The tightly closed carved window opened accordingly, and the stagnant water flew out, disappearing in an instant.

“Seven-tenths full…”

The cost of affecting elegance was truly substantial.

Looking at the jade bottle in her hand and thinking of the Reincarnation Pool water about to be used, Jian Chou couldn’t help but sigh with lament.