Chapter 267: The Blood-Locking Cheat is Real!

At Mount Pingdu, near the former site of the Nether Gate, three figures stood in silence.

As one of the members of the Small Nether Realm expedition three months ago, Huai Jing still thought back to that strange trip. Apart from driving there and back, he hadn't really managed to do anything else at all.

"

Amitabha.

What's gone is gone. We can only keep them in our hearts."

Shi Qianzhang sighed quietly. "Yeah."

He placed a red rose into the patch of wildflowers at their feet. Three months had passed, yet many still came here to leave flowers and say a few words in memory of the departed.

A stone tablet stood in front of the flowerbed. On it was a short inscription and a three-inch black-and-white photo of a man holding a sword. He was smiling serenely.

Huai Jing blinked and murmured, "Why did you bring a rose?"

Shi Qianzhang shook his head. "Don't get the wrong idea. It's not that I ever had any improper fantasies about Brother Sheng. He's already gone. We can't sully his pure reputation. I just always found him cheerful and sunny. If even a trace of his spirit remains, he'll like something bright and colorful. He'll always live on in my heart."

Liu Yunzhi, who had been silent, lowered his head and sighed. He wiped the corner of his eye. "Fairy Bu Yu has it the hardest."

"True," Huai Jing muttered. "Fei Yu and Bu Yu were supposed to be together until that incident..."

"I heard from the Hidden Earth Sect's sect master that she is emotionally stable now. She's been quietly keeping watch where Fei Yu died. She was supposed to sacrifice herself, but Fei Yu shoved her away and took her place. That must've been the hardest for her to accept.

Haaa...

They were meant for each other. Had I been there, I would have taken his place. The world would've had one less grieving soul today."

Huai Jing smiled bitterly. "I should've insisted on going along. I have no attachments, but Fei Yu could have become a pillar of our cultivation world one day. Truly...

Amitabha.

"

Shi Qianzhang crouched down. He covered his face as he sobbed, muffling it with his hands.

"Can we stop talking about this? I just came to terms with this painful truth! Do you know what Brother Sheng meant to me? He wasn't just my friend. He was like a real brother to me! My bro! Out of everyone at the Mount Mao gathering, he was the only one who added me as a friend! He never looked down on me. He always taught me how to talk to people, how to fight, how to kill—"

Half laughing, Huai Jing scolded, "Hold on now. How much of that is your imagination?"

Shi Qianzhang wiped his tears and sniffled. "He was my life mentor. I've completely lost my way without him."

"And that's why you're always one cultivation realm behind us?" Liu Yunzhi asked coldly.

The spiky-haired young Daoist looked full of grievances.

"Still, there's no need for such grief," Huai Jing said. "All living things and all illusions come from the awakened heart of the Buddha."

Shi Qianzhang stood up. "Preaching across beliefs like that is not really appropriate, no?"

"I'm just using a philosophical perspective to help you two see more clearly," Huai Jing replied. "Starting today, even if Fei Yu is gone, our five-man squad has to keep its format."

𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"Right," said Shi Qianzhang. "Once Fairy Bu Yu—no, once Sister-in-Law Sheng has recovered, we'd better make sure we don't make her feel like she has no friends left. A fairy of her caliber is bound to attract scoundrels. Even if Brother Sheng is no longer here, if anyone tries to chase after her within the next three years, I'll burn their mountain to the ground!"

"You're being too overbearing!" Huai Jing scolded. "

Amitabha.

If you do, though, make sure to take me along."

"You two..." Liu Yunzhi shook his head slowly. "You're talking about her personal life. You shouldn't interfere."

Shi Qianzhang's expression turned fierce. "I don't care! Right now, I'm Brother Sheng's heartbroken widow—I mean his heartbroken little brother! Someone has to defend his honor. They all call me the bastard of the cultivation world, don't they? Then I'll show them what that really means!"

"We're going to Sakura Island soon," Liu Yunzhi reminded. "Let's get our heads straight and join the delegation to meet those ninjas."

"Without Fei Yu, I've lost all interest in the trip," Huai Jing said in a hushed tone as he walked up to the lonely gravestone. "I'll perform another rite for Fei Yu. Maybe I can summon a trace of his residual spiritual consciousness."

"How many times have you done that already?" Shi Qianzhang shook his head. "Let's do something practical instead."

Liu Yunzhi frowned. "And what exactly would that be?"

"I've come prepared. You'll see."

Shi Qianzhang stepped forward and pulled a stack of yellow talismans from his robes, tossing them into the air. With several pops, the paper talismans burst into colorful butterflies. He then took out a Redfang™ speaker from his Crane-Spirit Treasure Pouch, set it before the grave, and tapped play on his phone.

The soft strains of

Butterfly Lovers

drifted out. The monk and Daoist standing beside him instantly cringed.

Good thing it was only

Butterfly Lovers

. If it had been something like

Too Loud to Rise Up

, Liu Yunzhi likely would have struck him with a thunderbolt immediately.

The three stayed for an hour before a call from the Special Investigation Unit reminded them to leave. Not long after they left, two to three more cultivators passed by Mount Pingdu to pay their respects.

At dusk, a lone figure stepped out of the setting sun and landed before the grave, gently brushing the top of the stone tablet with his palm.

Though it had only been three months, Qing Yanzi looked like he had aged three years. Wrinkles had crept into his brow, and gray streaks had tainted his hair. On the other hand, his aura had grown heavier and more subdued.

Beyond the Golden Core Realm was the Heavenly Abode Realm, a realm deeply tied to the spirit and soul.

Wang Sheng's death had hit him so hard that the emotional upheaval had refined his soul and driven him to the Heavenly Abode Realm.

Yet even after awakening, he had murmured over and over that he wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice all his cultivation progress and even half of his remaining mortal lifespan if it meant bringing his "Little Sheng" back.

The hardest part had been the first three months. Still, time only managed to dull the pain a little.

Chi Ling and Chi Wen had stayed close by during this time, helping Qing Yanzi weather the loss. Unfortunately, losing a disciple was like losing a son.

"If I'd known you'd take this path, I wouldn't have taught you all those virtues back then."

Qing Yanzi sighed and patted the stone gently. Standing quietly, he gazed toward the inky veil of dusk rising from the east.

"Your senior sister is heartbroken. I don't even know how to console her. I'll let her accompany you in the Small Nether Realm a while longer. If you have another life, and you come to the Wudang Mountains again to become my disciple, I might already have become an immortal by then. When that time comes, I'll train you properly. I'll teach you real immortal arts."

His fingers trembled slightly. With a final sigh, Qing Yanzi turned and flew to the back of Mount Pingdu. As his aura revealed itself, several Daoists flew up to greet him.

"Daoist Master Bu Yan, please come inside."

"No need. I have urgent matters to attend to. I only came to ask about Mu Wanxuan's condition."

"Lady Meng sent word yesterday that Fairy Bu Yu is safe and emotionally much better than before."

Qing Yanzi clasped his hands in salute and departed through the sky.

The sixteen ancient cultivators brought back from the Small Nether Realm had now awakened in one of the research institute's branches. As one of the highest-ranking cultivators alive, Qing Yanzi had to attend the discussion on how to handle them.

The half-immortal fox had returned to her villa in the mountains. Without Mu Wanxuan, no one could get her to come out.

The cultivation world would have to handle this matter.

***

Within the Earth Qi Seal.

In the corner near a rainbow-colored celestial crystal, a charred corpse had been sitting upright. He had already shed half the outer ash, revealing fresh, glossy skin underneath.

Only the once-flowing hair had burned off completely, leaving a bare scalp with no sign of regrowth yet. Moreover, at the moment, he could only move his eyes and mouth. Since speaking took too much effort, he opted to just think instead.

Wait... I'm not dead?

Sitting in the dreamlike space, he gazed at the familiar hilt of Spiritless. He grinned, and the flaky ash on his face crumbled off, revealing a slightly more handsome version of his old face.

Shi Qianzhang's Brother Sheng had survived.

As he looked at the hilt, light began to shimmer along its surface. A phantasm no taller than three inches emerged.

The phantasm donned a flowing ancient gown that had multi-colored ribbons fluttering from her shoulders. She looked stunning but aloof, and her styled hair complemented her beauty with elegance and brilliance.

The woman tilted her head slightly, studying Wang Sheng. In a cold tone, she telepathically said, "

Of course you're not dead.

"

Thank you for saving me, Your Highness

.

The little fairy sat down on a tiny cloud. "

It wasn't me who saved you. If there's anyone who deserves your gratitude, that would be your sword.

"

"

That sword of yours holds no trace of spirituality and not the slightest impurity, which is a truly rare trait in this world. It's an even more suitable vessel for my divine soul than your body. The moment I sensed its uniqueness, I used a third of my power to refine it as quickly and thoroughly as possible.

"

With it and my soul as the core, I formed the Trifold Qi-Sealing Immortal Formation, eliminating the need for you to die. It also prevented this strand of my divine soul from suffering the backlash from the Earth Qi Seal. In the end, we both survived.

"

Wang Sheng sighed in relief. Upon examining his own body, he found his Golden Core cracked but still intact. He then passed out again, his head lolling to the side.

The little fairy blinked, then sighed helplessly.

I wanted to discuss the future with you, Disciple of Lu Dongbin, but you're still... far too weak.