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墨書 Inktalez
A Dun Guang broke through the dark night and swiftly returned.
Xu Xiaofei stood on the sword, looking down. He remembered that beyond this mountain lay the territory of Miaojiang...
He took a deep breath, and then, under his mental control, the Bronze Cauldron in his Dantian began to rotate slowly. The Flying Sword beneath his feet swept past the long ridge in an instant.
A sharp pain pierced through his body. Fortunately, he could withstand it.
He knew that the Promise Bug, a type of insect, would act more violently on those with higher cultivation levels. His low spiritual power gave him a chance to try this.
Everyone had already returned to the Tang family; he had sneaked out alone.
The people from the Xiaoyao Sect might guess where he had gone, but others would probably never think that someone would risk the danger of the Promise Bug poisoning to return to Miaojiang.
Xu Xiaofei accelerated his escape speed again.
Although he had temporarily suppressed the insect poison, he sensed that he could not hold on for too long.
In the Mountain Valley, the Spirit Serpent Palace was dimly lit, silent and tranquil, seemingly unguarded.
Xu Xiaofei lowered the Flying Sword, landing in front of the hall, but in an instant, a figure resembling a priest appeared. The sound of the Insect Flute was soul-stirring, and a cold iron-colored Giant Scorpion charged at him.
While parrying, Xu Xiaofei shouted loudly, "I mean no harm; I am here to see a friend from the Evil Sect!"
Avoiding combat, Xu Xiaofei dodged dozens of attacks from across in just a short while.
Just as he began to feel strained, the flute music suddenly stopped, and the menacing Giant Scorpion, which had swung its pincers at him, froze in place.
A voice floated over, "I hear you are looking for me?"
Spirit Sword Destiny stood not far away, dressed in light white clothing with a faint smile on his face.
"Yes!" Xu Xiaofei looked at the newcomer and exhaled. "We are old acquaintances after all; could you do me a favor? Take me to see the local High Priest. I have an urgent matter to discuss."
He was not at all being polite.
"Why should I help you?" Spirit Sword Destiny asked.
"I know you will help me," Xu Xiaofei smiled, "You've always been nice to me."
It was strange; there were times when Spirit Sword Destiny had pointed his sword at him and spoken coldly, but what Xu Xiaofei remembered were the moments when Spirit Sword Destiny had saved and assisted him. This person always had an inexplicable trust and closeness towards him.
For someone who couldn't even be considered a friend, Xu Xiaofei's response was rather shameless.
Spirit Sword Destiny glanced at him but really turned away, saying, "Follow me."
High Priest Bai Fei of the Spirit Serpent Palace had not yet rested, but out of respect for Spirit Sword Destiny, he allowed them into the bedroom.
"I am Xu Xiaofei of Xiaoyao Sect, paying my respects to the High Priest."
"It's you?"
He frowned slightly, examining the young Sword Cultivator before him, clearly recognizing him: "You actually suppressed the Promise Bug's poison and came to see me; this intention is indeed rare." Although Xu Xiaofei had actively broken the oath, Bai Fei felt a hint of goodwill towards him. "Very well, what do you wish to ask of me?"
Xu Xiaofei said, "I want to know the method to revive the dead."
"Reviving the dead?" Bai Fei was not surprised. "I do know a few methods; however, all come with significant drawbacks. If you turn them into a Puppet, they can remain uncorrupted and undying for a hundred years; if not made into a Puppet, they can only live like a normal person for at most ten years after revival."
Xu Xiaofei shook his head.
"Ten years is too short... Is it really only ten years at most?"
"Deceiving life and death, reversing yin and yang, ten years is already difficult enough; what more do you want?"
Xu Xiaofei thought for a moment and whispered, "What if... like your master?"
Bai Fei's gaze turned cold: "That is naturally different. As long as I am alive, he will remain uncorrupted."
Xu Xiaofei suddenly raised her eyes, surprise already showing in her gaze. "Yes, this is good! I want him to be completely revived, but I also know it is difficult... If I can revive him this way, I will definitely do my best to ensure he lives longer than anyone else. Please teach me this technique, High Priest! I am willing to pay any price."
"Price?" Bai Fei did not agree or refuse directly but suddenly asked a seemingly unrelated question, "How old do you think I am this year?"
Xu Xiaofei was taken aback. The young High Priest was not tall, and although his eyes held a mature calmness, his facial features still bore a hint of lingering youth. She guessed, "About... fifteen or sixteen years old."
She had deliberately estimated higher.
"Wrong," Bai Fei said. "My actual age is much older than your father's generation."
Xu Xiaofei was stunned, and Bai Fei continued, "This is the price of this technique. From the moment I turned my master into a Puppet, my body has never aged again; it is forever stuck at the age of fourteen." He looked at Xu Xiaofei with a calm expression and said, "This isn't really anything significant; it seems you won't take it to heart. However, as long as this technique exists, the Puppet connected to you will have to draw on your living essence and vitality to nourish itself until death."
Being drained of vitality every day would not be a pleasant experience.
Xu Xiaofei couldn't help but think that Bai Fei's face was excessively pale, and his voice was ethereal and lacking strength; could it be for this reason?
But just this alone could not deter him.
"It doesn't matter," Xu Xiaofei said. "As long as I can revive him, I am willing to endure!"
His sincerity was evident to anyone.
Spirit Sword Destiny, who had been silent all along, was also watching him.
From Xu Xiaofei, he seemed to see his own shadow.
Bai Fei appeared moved as well; he nodded and said no more: "Bring me the Flesh and soul of the person you wish to revive, and I can perform this technique for you."
Xu Xiaofei replied, "I... I do not have his Flesh or complete soul; I only brought a trace of his Residual Soul."
She took hold of the thread around her chest and pulled out a Jade Pendant.
Bai Fei stood up and was in front of her in the next moment, pinching the Jade Pendant between his fingers and examining it.
After a moment, he shook his head.
"No."
"What do you mean no?" Xu Xiaofei asked anxiously.
"This fragment of a soul is too incomplete. Without his Flesh, the Puppet created will be a completely unfamiliar corpse. You are left with such a weak thread of Residual Soul; even if revived, it will be muddled and unaware of everything..." Bai Fei put down his hands and sat back down. "What you are so desperately trying to revive is perhaps a person who has lost all semblance and is foolishly ignorant?"
Xu Xiaofei was stunned.
He suddenly lowered his head to look at the luminous Jade Pendant on his chest. The hand holding the Jade Pendant began to tremble.
In just a few words, he had fallen from the heights of joy into despair!
He felt as if he had shattered into countless pieces. His heart broke once more, splintering into thousands of fragments.
He did not say another word.
But the expression on his face made even Spirit Sword Destiny feel a pang of sympathy.
His breathing became rapid, and he swayed, collapsing to the ground.
In a flash, Spirit Sword Destiny stood in front of the fallen figure, bending down to check.
Bai Fei said, "Lost in thought, did the poison take effect?"
Spirit Sword Destiny nodded and swiftly lifted him up, cradling him in his arms. In the blink of an eye, both of them disappeared.
Dreamscape · One
He sensed that he had sunk into a dream...
It felt as though he was no longer himself, yet it also seemed undeniably like it was him.
Where was he? He did not know. As night fell, he stood at Willow Embankment, with scattered Lotus Lanterns drifting along the flowing water.
He looked down at his reflection on the Water Surface; it was his face, still young, but with a gentle and calm expression, as if he had experienced many hardships. His black hair was casually draped, and he wore what appeared to be a proper Daoist Robe, embroidered with cranes and flowing clouds, wide sleeves fluttering gracefully.
"You see, that Daoist is all alone; he seems a bit lonely."
"Hush... Don't be reckless. That person looks like an enlightened master; a Cultivator is detached from worldly affairs and values purity. How could he feel lonely?"
He heard whispers behind him.
He turned around and looked over.
Noticing that he had overheard their discussion, the charming young girl blushed and hid behind the boy accompanying her. The boy, however, was quite composed as he cupped his hands in greeting. Dressed in plain clothes, with black hair tied up with a light blue ribbon, he appeared refined and gentle.
The moment he recognized the boy, he suddenly remembered.
He remembered... he had come to see this boy.
His eyes narrowed slightly as the words of his Ghost Messenger friend echoed in his ears when he descended to the underworld: "I remember that person of yours. No, you cannot take him from the underworld; he has already been reincarnated."
"It turns out he waited for you in the underworld for over a hundred years. Later, it seems he could not wait any longer and decided to seek you in the mortal realm. Before leaving, he borrowed the Bone Piercer from Meng Po at the cost of one soul and one spirit, inscribing his past life memories onto his soul. Yes, he definitely did not find you. Because in his previous life, he committed many sins and was plagued by evil karma; after reincarnation, his fortune was naturally thin. It seems he only lived a short twenty years in this life before perishing. Later? Let me check. Here it is; he went through two more lives afterward. Do you still want to look for him? He will never remember you again. Even if memories were inscribed on his soul, they diminish with each reincarnation."
He sought too late.
But for these two hundred years, he had been stuck at the threshold of ascension, only able to cultivate in seclusion and strive with all his might. He also had reasons to achieve immortality. At least the Yellow Springs and Netherworld were places that ordinary people could not freely enter or exit.
If one does not advance, one retreats; the situation back then was quite perilous. A slight lapse could mean losing all hope of becoming an immortal in this life.
Thus, he missed it.
The refined and handsome young man before him said, "Excuse me for intruding on the Immortal Master's tranquility; I hope you will forgive me."
"It’s nothing," he shook his head. "Come here."
“Immortal Master, what can I do for you?” The young man showed curiosity and obediently walked over.
“Meeting is fate; let me read your fortune,” he said.
“Thank you, Immortal Master.” The young man smiled upon hearing this, without any suspicion.
He reached out and took the young man's open hand, a warm and soft hand, the sensation reaching deep into his heart. The lines on the palm were clear, the veins distinct. From this, he saw a life free from illness and disaster, high in status, with many descendants, wealthy and peaceful.
Everything that a mortal could enjoy in this world, he mostly possessed.
Such a life had nothing to do with him, a cultivator who had already become an immortal.
The young man first looked at his captured hand, then raised his head to gaze at his face.
“Congratulations, my friend. You will surely have wealth and peace in your life…” he slowly said, “Hmm?”
He noticed the young man's entranced gaze.
The young man smiled slightly, looking a bit embarrassed: “I just feel that Immortal Master looks somewhat familiar. Have you been to this town before?”
“Is that so?” He appeared calm on the surface, but his heart trembled.
Looking into the young man's eyes, there was only a trace of confusion in those clear pupils, with no other ripples.
If it were that person, they would never look at him like this.
The last remnant of memory etched into his soul was reduced to this final point, recognizing him as a somewhat familiar stranger.
Suddenly, he asked, “Will you come with me?”
“What?” The young man was taken aback.
“You have good roots and potential. Would you be willing to follow me in cultivating?” He fixed his gaze on the young man.
"This..." The young man hesitated and withdrew his hand, seemingly startled. "Thank you for the favor of the Immortal Master. However, to cultivate requires a heart as clear as a mirror and single-mindedness. I am just an ordinary mortal, blinded by the mundane, and I fear I cannot endure such loneliness."
His vaguely defensive attitude, along with the hand he pulled back, pierced his heart like sharp needles.
"I understand," he said. "As a mortal, in this life you have golden goblets and jade vessels, and a house full of descendants; that is indeed enough."
"Then thank you for your kind words, Immortal Master." The young man smiled and bowed to him before running back to the charming girl waiting nearby.
"What did you and that Daoist talk about?" the girl asked. "Ah, that Daoist... truly a celestial figure!" Her voice was filled with surprise.
A vast mist rose, enveloping him before fading away.
Of course, his figure also disappeared.
Xu Xiaofei suddenly woke up from his dream.
The last scene of the dream, that boundless loneliness and the continuous pain... still lingered in his heart.
The place where he woke up was pitch black, but fortunately, his eyes could see clearly in the darkness. He realized he was in a forest, lying on the overgrown ground, and saw someone sitting beside him.
For a moment, he couldn't tell if he had truly awakened or if this place was also a continuation of the dream.
—Just like the young man he saw in his dream!
Gentle and refined, with a hint of scholarly air, he was quietly watching him. Although their appearances were different, their temperaments were similar.
"You’re awake?"
"Yes, I’m awake." This response completely brought Xu Xiaofei back to reality.
He was no longer in a dream.
"I have removed the poison of the Promise Bug for you; it shouldn’t hurt now," Spirit Sword Destiny said.
"Ah?" Xu Xiaofei tried to move around, and indeed, her body felt much more relaxed. Even without operating the Bronze Cauldron, the excruciating pain caused by the poison had vanished. "Thank you. I didn't expect you to be able to lift the Promise Bug as well."
If the Promise Bug were easy to break, it wouldn't have been used by the cultivation world to forge alliances and make deadly oaths.
Spirit Sword Destiny smiled slightly and said, "There are many things I may not know how to do, but I cannot be ignorant of the ways of betrayal."
Xu Xiaofei sat up and asked with curiosity, "Is that so? What have you done?"
"I fear it might scare you."
Xu Xiaofei replied, "I want to hear."
Spirit Sword Destiny shook his head; he didn't really want to recount those things to Xu Xiaofei. Changing the subject, he asked, "Do you know why I saved you?" Without waiting for Xu Xiaofei's answer, he continued, "Of course, it's for the Master."
He looked at Xu Xiaofei. "I have some ability in divination and originally predicted that you would likely become an enemy of my Evil Sect. I didn't want to trust you, but the Master believes in you. Not only that, he has helped you significantly. I just hope you remember this favor from the Master. Everything I do is also his intention." There was a hint of tenderness in his voice. "If there comes a time when our positions conflict, you need not show mercy to me, but you must never lay a hand on him."
The Master's attitude towards Xu Xiaofei was clear; since he couldn't eliminate this person, what else could he do?
He could only believe that Xu Xiaofei's character was truly as he perceived—soft-hearted and loyal.
"I understand," Xu Xiaofei said. "You can rest assured. I have always liked him, and I... I accept your goodwill. No matter what happens in the future, I will never be an enemy of you or him, nor will I oppose the Evil Sect."
"One more thing," Spirit Sword Destiny said. "Now that we are out of Spirit Serpent Palace, High Priest Bai Fei asked me to tell you that aside from his methods of resurrecting the dead, there are other ways. If you're looking for them, perhaps you could try your luck in the extreme north or the western desert."
Xu Xiaofei's expression brightened. "Okay."
It seemed she hadn't given up... Spirit Sword Destiny quietly observed her expression.
He still needed to suppress Xu Xiaofei's growth in power; he couldn't let her abandon her search for a way to revive Lin Mo. Bai Fei had never mentioned those words; they were all fabricated by Spirit Sword Destiny.
"Just right, I also want to know about the secret methods you're pursuing. If you discover anything, we can exchange information," Spirit Sword Destiny said. "If I find something as well, I'll let you know." This was sincere. If Xu Xiaofei truly had any discoveries due to her exceptional luck, that would be wonderful.
"Alright," Xu Xiaofei smiled lightly. "Then it's settled; it's a promise!"
"You know I'm someone who often betrays trust. Did you really believe what I just said?" Spirit Sword Destiny asked.
"I believe you."
There was no reason for it; it was simply because of this person that he believed from the bottom of his heart, from the deepest part of his soul.
Xu Xiaofei was not a fool. When it came to Lin Mo's death, there were actually some doubts upon closer examination, but he had never thought about it with a questioning mind.
Even though deep down, he felt a vague resistance to the matter, not believing that Lin Mo could die so easily...
Yet, in the deeper recesses of his heart, there was a deeply rooted trust in Lin Mo, in this person.
Even if everyone else in the world deceived him, it would never be this person...
That was his firm belief.
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