“Never mind, I’ll face it calmly. Thank you sincerely for your hospitality, Lord City God and Head Judge. Thank you for preparing this banquet for me. However, my time is limited, and I need to return to deal with some unfinished matters. Please excuse my early departure.”
Shui Miao remained silent for a moment, then prepared to leave.
Although his words sounded pessimistic, Shui Miao still clung to a sliver of hope deep inside—he could still try his luck in the Immortal Realm.
Baiyang clenched his fists and frowned, saying, “Brother Chen, maybe things aren’t as bad as you think. Our Matriarch rarely appears, staying hidden in a stone cave deep within the mountains, only emerging during great disasters to bless the people. This time, I believe she’s angry because you released those hellbenders. Don’t worry—local land gods, earthly immortals, and all the influential figures will soon arrive. I’ll invite them all to plead with the Matriarch; there might still be a chance for a favorable outcome.”
“That’s right, right!” The judge hurriedly chimed in when he saw Shui Miao preparing to leave, “With Master Bai personally intervening, the Matriarch might grant some leniency. We’ve already sent invitations to all the local immortals and land deities. If they arrive and don’t see you here, half-immortal, it might cause some awkwardness…”
“No, no, no, that’s not how it should be said…” Baiyang waved his hand at the judge, saying, “Brother Chen wants to return and spend time with his loved ones—it’s only natural. Even if he isn’t there, we can still go plead on his behalf. This banquet is nothing really. If everything turns out fine, there will be plenty of opportunities for us all to gather again in the future.”
“That’s right, that’s right…”
The judge quickly agreed.
Shui Miao thought for a moment, then once again bowed in gratitude before leaving the City God Temple alongside the fox spirit, Qimei.
The judge personally escorted Shui Miao back.
Back at the stone platform by the dry well cave, Shui Miao opened his eyes, as if waking from a dream. But the presence of the fox spirit Qimei beside him proved it was real. “Qimei, you should return now. I’ve already dragged you into this mess once—I don’t want to involve you again,” Shui Miao said, looking at her. Though she was a demon, she was full of emotion and righteousness, surpassing many humans in this world.
“Brother Shui Miao, don’t talk like that. Aren’t you my brother?” Qimei replied.
“Well… yes, but…”
“That’s all that matters—no ‘buts’ about it. Brother Shui Miao, you still have some time. Let me guard your body while you try going to the Immortal Realm again?”
Qimei and Shui Miao had the same idea.
Shui Miao nodded. “Alright, I’ll go now.”
“Okay!”
Qimei immediately sat cross-legged beside Shui Miao to protect his body while he meditated.
Calmly focusing his mind, Shui Miao extended his consciousness beyond the Celestial Gate, and his soul quickly arrived near the Sixteen Thunder Palaces. Passing through the Thunder Palaces, he reached the entrance of the Celestial Gate. Looking around, he tried to find Limuzi, but instead saw a tall, thin young Taoist priest flying out from within the Gate. He appeared to be no older than eighteen or nineteen.
“Senior Taoist Brother!”
Shui Miao greeted the young Taoist first.
The young Taoist was very humble and quickly returned the bow. “Please, I’m just a humble receptionist Taoist. My name is Li Jinzi. May I know your name, fellow cultivator?”
“Li Jinzi!” Shui Miao’s heart stirred. “Senior Brother, do you happen to know Li Muzi?”
“Li Muzi? He’s my younger brother,” Li Jinzi replied, looking at Shui Miao with curiosity. “Do you know my brother?”
“Yes, the last time I came here, I met your younger brother.” Shui Miao was surprised to meet Li Muzi’s older brother. “Brother Jinzi, it’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Chen Shuimiao.”
“Oh, Master Chen!”
Li Jinzi saluted Shui Miao with a bow, then frowned slightly. “To be honest, today was supposed to be my younger brother’s shift, but he’s fallen ill recently.”
“Ill? Can immortals get sick?” Shui Miao was taken aback—he had never heard of immortals falling ill.
Li Jinzi gave a bitter smile. “Of course immortals can get sick. Last time, the Immortal Realm was hit by a wave of malevolent energy, and my younger brother was unfortunate enough to be infected by it. He nearly lost his life and is still recovering at home. I was originally a novice disciple at the Jade Void Palace, responsible for tending medicinal herbs on Spirit Herb Mountain. When I heard my brother was ill, I asked for leave and rushed back to cover his duties for a couple of days.”
“I see…”
Shui Miao’s heart quickened. It seemed his younger brother hadn’t been entirely truthful. In that case, he should be cautious with his words. If he said something contradictory, it might expose him.
Li Jinzi seemed uninterested in further small talk and quickly got to the point. “Fellow cultivator, I notice you don’t have an Immortal Badge—does that mean you haven’t joined any sect yet? Have you decided which sect you’d like to join?”
These receptionist Taoists were essentially recruiters sent by various sects to attract half-immortals from the mortal world.
Since Shui Miao had already received the Jade Seal from the Spirit General, he naturally dared not join any sect recklessly. He chuckled and replied, “Senior Brother Li, I haven’t decided which sect to join yet. The main reason I came to the Immortal Realm was actually to seek help against a female ghost in the mortal world who’s been around for a thousand years.”
“A thousand-year-old female ghost!?”
Li Jinzi was startled. “There’s a ghost that old in the mortal world? According to the Three Realms’ laws, any ghost not registered in the Underworld can only exist in the mortal world for a hundred years at most. The ghost you’re talking about must be something far more than just a regular female ghost.”
“Not a ghost? Then what is it?”
Shui Miao truly didn’t know how long wandering spirits could survive in the mortal world.
“Either a female Bodhisattva, a female immortal, or even a female saint beyond the Three Realms. Definitely not just a regular ghost,” Li Jinzi said, shaking his head with a skeptical expression. “Because every year during Qingming Festival, the winds blow.”
Shui Miao frowned. “What does the wind during Qingming Festival have to do with ghosts?”
“Uh…”
Li Jinzi blinked at Shui Miao, then asked in disbelief, “Brother Chen, you must have just ascended to become a half-immortal recently, right? Otherwise, how could you not know about the Qingming Festival’s malevolent winds? The Immortal Realm has celestial malevolence, the mortal world has earthly malevolence, and the Underworld has yin malevolence. During Qingming, yang malevolent winds blow through the mortal world. You don’t actually think those winds are just ghosts blowing for fun, do you? In fact, those are winds specifically meant to destroy ghosts!”
Shui Miao scratched his head awkwardly. “Senior Brother Li Jinzi, the truth is… I haven’t even ascended yet.”
“What!?”
Li Jinzi almost jumped up. His eyes immediately lit up with a strange, otherworldly gleam. “Could it be… you’re cultivating the Primordial Yin-Yang and Five Elements energy? Other than that rare path, every other cultivator must undergo ascension trials. Yes! Your energy is perfectly balanced. You must be cultivating the Primordial Yin-Yang and Five Elements energy! Quickly, tell me—am I right?”
Shui Miao was puzzled. Was this cultivation method really that rare? As he nodded slightly, Li Jinzi immediately grabbed his hand, excitedly exclaiming, “I’m so lucky! So incredibly lucky! I’ve actually encountered a rare Yin-Yang and Five Elements cultivator! Come with me to the Jade Void Sect right away! Become a disciple of our Sect Leader in the Ninth Heaven, and I’ll receive a great reward too!”
Li Jinzi made no attempt to hide his intentions.
The title “Sect Leader of the Ninth Heaven Jade Void Sect” sounded incredibly impressive!
Shui Miao didn’t share in the excitement. Instead, he suddenly realized how unique his identity truly was. That must have been why the Spirit General had sought him out. Wanting to understand his situation better, Shui Miao quickly held Li Jinzi’s hand and asked seriously, “Senior Brother Li Jinzi, please calm down for a moment. Could you explain in more detail? How rare is someone like me, cultivating Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, in the Immortal Realm? And why is it so special?”
“What! You don’t even know that!?”
Once again, Li Jinzi’s eyes shone with that strange, otherworldly light.
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