Xiao Ru’s appearance was youthful and petite, seemingly only fifteen or sixteen years old, and her speech seemed quite guileless. Yet her Outer Scenery cultivation realm and the mature aura in her every gesture cloaked her in an inexplicable veil, adding to her allure.
At this moment, she clutched her head, rolling amidst the collapsed pile of blood-colored rocks, groaning softly, appearing to be in great pain.
Before Meng Qi could check on her, he noticed her groans weakening and her movements slowing, as if she were recovering. More strangely, her aura not only remained unchanged but even grew stronger, causing Meng Qi to silently marvel in astonishment.
“Miss Xiao Ru, are you alright?” Seeing her no longer clutching her head, Meng Qi asked, puzzled by her condition.
During the battle, surrounding disturbances couldn’t escape Meng Qi’s perception. He knew Xiao Ru had started experiencing headaches only after he used his sword to emulate palm techniques and unleashed “Only I Reign Supreme,” and she hadn’t been injured by the battle’s aftershocks.
Meng Qi was well aware of the effects of “Only I Reign Supreme” and understood that anyone with a flaw in their mind would be affected. Xiao Ru’s initial reaction was normal—wasn’t her master, Song Bingde, also momentarily stunned?
Yet some time had passed since the battle ended, and even Song Bingde had recovered, so why was Xiao Ru still in such pain?
Could she have a serious hidden problem concerning her Yuan Shen or mind?
Xiao Ru’s face was pale, her eyes dazed, as if she had lost all sense of time and place.
She didn’t answer Meng Qi, instead blankly scanning her surroundings. Gradually, sorrow and grief surfaced in her expression. Her youthful looks, eyes, and demeanor suddenly matured, harmonizing with her actions, no longer jarring—like a petite, mature woman rather than an innocent girl!
Hmm… Meng Qi slightly furrowed his brow, perplexed by Xiao Ru’s transformation.
Could her previous innocence and immaturity have been due to amnesia? Thinking of various clichéd stories, Meng Qi instinctively made this guess.
Xiao Ru suppressed her emotions, slowly rising and forcing a smile. “I’m fine. It’s just that witnessing Brother Wu Ming’s sword technique caused my Yuan Shen to tremble, resulting in a tearing pain. But I’m already better now.”
Her face remained pale, appearing frail and pitiable.
“Good to hear,” Meng Qi couldn’t very well directly ask others about hidden flaws or illnesses in their minds or Yuan Shen. He slightly nodded and said no more.
Song Bingde exhaled in relief. “Xiao Ru, you’re usually so lively and energetic. I never expected you to be more fragile than your master. Look at me—I didn’t even get a headache…”
Xiao Ru interrupted him, letting out a low groan as if still feeling residual pain: “Master, I’d like to return to the cave dwelling to recuperate.”
“Alright,” Song Bingde glanced at Meng Qi and the others, nodding hastily, as if he thought their presence would hinder his tomb-robbing or lead to dangerous changes.
Master and apprentice soon took their leave. Yi Xin, the “Silver Sword,” also departed after taking some pills, carrying his brother’s corpse away—the clues left behind were too vague, offering no clear direction. The chances of finding the reincarnated form were practically nil!
Meng Qi planned to further contemplate and study the Valley of Immortality, casually choosing a relatively flat spot to sit cross-legged. He recalled what he had seen before his death and the clues left by Yi Meng and Gu.
Another self? They? Could it be that this place was like the Hall of Reincarnation, where countless future lives, derived from various possibilities, could be seen? Meng Qi pondered thoughtfully.
But why could Yi Meng only see one self, without any resurrection, while Gu could see “them” and return from death?
It was understandable that Song Bingde and Xiao Ru, who had been tomb-robbing for so long, might overlook seemingly “unimportant” messages. But why hadn’t they encountered any resurrected Outer Scenery beings?
Was it because Gu possessed the greatest strength, nearly reaching the level of a Semi-Dharma Body? Or was there something strange about the place where he was buried?
As Meng Qi speculated and explored, Huang had already placed Gu back into the coffin, secured it with magical artifacts, and strapped it to his back, preparing to leave. “I’m taking the elder back to our tribe. Are you coming?”
He intended to properly thank Meng Qi for saving his life.
“No need. I’ll explore the Valley of Immortality a bit more,” Meng Qi replied flatly.
Upon hearing this, the usually straightforward Huang couldn’t help but ask, “Didn’t you say it was pitiable and lamentable? Why are you still seeking the secrets of the Valley of Immortality?”
Huang still harbored some resentment toward Meng Qi’s earlier remark.
Meng Qi sighed. “I wasn’t criticizing your elder. It’s just that in recent years, the more I’ve experienced, the more I’ve come to despise the idea of reincarnation. It just slipped out.”
“No one is willing to die,” Huang said calmly. He was tall, nearly two heads taller than Meng Qi, standing like a small mountain.
Meng Qi’s right hand stroked the hilt of his sword. “And no one wants to be someone else’s reincarnation. Would you?”
The atmosphere grew tense. Huang’s eyes flickered, his mouth opening several times, but he ultimately said nothing.
Whether something was right or wrong depended entirely on one’s perspective. At this moment, Meng Qi clearly held a resistant attitude toward reincarnation!
He didn’t want to be someone else’s reincarnation, so he didn’t want to see others’ reincarnations either!
Huang’s bronze skin shimmered faintly under the eerie red glow. He adjusted the coffin on his back, preparing to leave, and finally asked, “Then you’re still seeking the secrets of the Valley of Immortality?”
“You can’t resist what you don’t understand,” Meng Qi replied succinctly, like a swordsman, while inwardly grumbling that he couldn’t very well tell him about the death mission.
Of course, if he could uncover the truth about reincarnation, it would help him maneuver and ultimately escape the chessboard!
Huang remained silent for a long time, his belief in reincarnation shaken for the first time. He strode forward, stepping over the collapsed rocks and mountains, heading out of the valley. Suddenly, he halted, turned, and called out loudly, “That master and apprentice don’t seem to have come specifically to rob tombs. They seem more like they were searching for something.”
Searching for something? Meng Qi’s heart stirred. He abruptly stood, silently activating the Somersault Step, flying toward the direction where Song Bingde and Xiao Ru had vanished.
He hoped it wasn’t too late!
…
After exiting the Valley of Immortality, they arrived at the “Snake Tail” peak, where miasma blanketed the land, and poisonous insects and savage beasts roamed freely.
As they flew into the mountainous region, Xiao Ru suddenly sighed, filled with melancholy, sorrow, and pain.
“Xiao Ru, are you still uncomfortable?” Song Bingde, his eyes darting suspiciously around, fearing pursuit, asked casually.
“Master, I’m fine now,” Xiao Ru’s expression returned to normal.
“She’s fine, of course. She’s just awakened,” suddenly a voice came from afar, startling Song Bingde into swiftly turning around, sword in his right hand and a bell in his left.
A silver sword light approached, revealing Yi Xin’s figure. His gaze burned with intensity as he stared fixedly at Xiao Ru.
“What awakening?” Song Bingde feigned ignorance.
Yi Xin chuckled coldly. “Your good apprentice is no ordinary person—she’s a remnant orphan of the Immortal Clan!”
“What?” Song Bingde involuntarily exclaimed, staring at his apprentice in disbelief.
Yi Xin sneered. “My brother and I once visited the Immortal Clan, seeking their method of eternal reincarnation, but were cruelly rejected. At the time, they were powerful, and I couldn’t oppose them. Now only you remain. Hand over the secret method immediately!”
As he spoke the last sentence, his gaze shifted back to Xiao Ru.
“Senior Yi, what are you talking about?” Xiao Ru’s pale face showed only confusion.
“Stop pretending! The unique sensations of your Immortal Clan cannot fool an old man like me who secretly observed you for an entire year!” Yi Xin revealed a sinister smile. “If you cooperate, I’ll spare your lives. If not, I’ll flay your skin and extract your bones, search your souls and dissect your spirits!”
Xiao Ru’s expression darkened, no longer the look of an innocent girl but more like an ancient crone who had lived countless years. In a clear voice, she declared, “Oath to the Soulbug God!”
In the Southern Wilderness, the Soulbug God was the supreme deity, often manifesting divine miracles. Legend had it that the Blood Robe Sect, fleeing from the Central Plains, had once received the Soulbug God’s protection.
“Swear an oath?” Song Bingde looked from his apprentice to Yi Xin, his mouth nearly dropping open.
…
Meng Qi deduced the heavenly signs and traced their path. Half a lamp’s worth of time later, he finally spotted Song Bingde and Xiao Ru.
Seeing the white-robed swordsman pursuing them, Song Bingde revealed a bitter smile. “Brother Wu Ming, you’ve come for Xiao Ru, right? We’ll tell you everything!”
Faced with this attitude, Meng Qi felt bewildered but pretended to know everything. “Start from the beginning.”
Xiao Ru bit her lip. “Back then, the Blood Sea Rakshasa meticulously plotted, using the Star River’s anomaly and the earthquake at Snake Mountain to break through our Immortal Clan’s protective formation around the valley. At that time, I was near death, ‘seeing’ my reincarnation. Before I could leave any clues, I was caught in the catastrophe and perished.”
“This body was in a daze, vaguely remembering something but unable to grasp it fully. It wasn’t until I witnessed your sword technique that I finally awakened.”
Song Bingde wore a bitter expression. “Brother Wu Ming, I was also deceived. I always found it strange how such a young girl could possess an Outer Scenery realm and know about the Valley of Immortality in the Southern Wilderness, constantly urging me to come here.”
Meng Qi listened, his heart surging with shock and amazement. He was lucky he had caught up, or else he would have missed the remnants of the Immortal Clan!
No wonder Xiao Ru and Song Bingde were in the Valley of Immortality!
Meng Qi maintained a cold exterior, as if he already knew everything Xiao Ru said, and asked emotionlessly, “What exactly is your reincarnation method?”
Xiao Ru pointed to a pond in the mountains below, shimmering with moonlight. “Everyone has their own fishpond. Each fish within is a version of oneself. With the Valley of Immortality’s unique perception, one can sense them.”
“Before death, this premonition mysteriously intensifies, becoming tangible. One can fish, pulling out a fish, merging it with one’s decaying soul, and casting it afar to become a reincarnated self.”
Fishponds? Fishing for souls? Meng Qi felt a chill run down his spine.
At this moment, Xiao Ru continued, “If you swear an oath to the Soulbug God and let us go, I can tell you the secret of reincarnation.”
“Huh, such a good deal?” Meng Qi was extremely puzzled but barely kept his expression neutral and gave a slight nod.
After a while, Meng Qi slightly furrowed his brow, returning to the Valley of Immortality, becoming a corpse again, burying himself.
This time, he secretly activated the Immortal Clan’s secret method. The previously blurred images finally became clear!
But it turned out to be useless because they were all events from Meng Qi’s past life—school, work, computers, mobile phones, airplanes, cars!
“It really is me, but where is the other me? ‘They’?” Even in his confusion, Meng Qi couldn’t help but wonder!
He exerted the secret method to its fullest, still to no avail. So he slightly altered his approach, letting his consciousness ascend, climbing higher and higher, gradually feeling as if he had left the Valley of Immortality.
At this moment, a golden fragment appeared within Meng Qi’s “vision.”
Finally seeing something else! Meng Qi’s heart leapt with joy, flying toward it.
The golden fragment grew larger and larger, revealing a familiar scene—a massive iron rod, propped between heaven and earth, as thick as a mountain peak, with golden hoops at both ends crackling with lightning, surrounded by blooming and withering blue lotuses. Within the cycles of birth and death, blooming and withering, the universe itself seemed faintly visible!
“This old Sun never cultivates for the next life!”
The roar entered Meng Qi’s ears, and he instantly froze. Could it be that he was connected to the Great Sage Equal to Heaven?
But suddenly, he felt something was off. From this angle, he wasn’t the one swinging a staff midair. Clearly, he was standing deep within the Sacred Mountain of Ling Shan, looking up at this scene—with a swaying shadow beneath his feet!
Was this the real “me”?
The shadow suddenly expanded. The body that overlapped with Meng Qi’s consciousness twisted, its eyes cold and indifferent as it looked toward him—its face indistinct!
Ah!
Meng Qi’s head split with pain. He sprang from the dirt, his mind filled only with those eyes, cutting off all worldly emotions!
…
Deep within Snake Mountain, Yi Xin lay on the ground, eyes wide open in disbelief.
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