Chapter 239: Rescuing Shibo Shu

In a dark and cramped hut, the yinshi led Li Changshou to the spot. After searching around, he took out a piece of jade and skillfully cast a spell on it.

Soon, a few lines of small characters appeared on the jade's surface...

Upon seeing the information revealed in the jade, Li Changshou felt a wave of relief in his heart.

He let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Thankfully, this shibo had no connection whatsoever to his own spirit trees!

Though the chances of such a thing happening were extremely slim, and the idea itself was absurd, Li Changshou had harbored a faint worry that among the old trees he had inadvertently affected, there might have been one housing this shibo's tree spirit reincarnation.

Now, after checking the underworld records, that worry vanished from his mind.

This shibo's reincarnation had no ties to his previous actions!

She had been reborn in a Daqian Shijie.

Li Changshou examined it carefully, making sure he hadn't missed a single word, then thanked the yinshi beside him with a cupped-hand salute and hurried back to rejoin the sect leader and the others.

Rescuing the tree was as urgent as putting out a fire.

The five of them didn't dare delay any longer and decided to continue together, heading straight to the place where Wan Jiangyu's tree spirit had been born in this life to search for clues.

However...

Apart from Jiang Lin'er, who still refused to give up hope, and Youqin Xuanya, who steadfastly believed in "human effort overcoming fate and a perfect reunion," the other three men—all pure yang cultivators—felt that this trip was destined to end in failure.

Li Changshou said:

“That Daqian Shijie is quite far away. If we fly directly, it would take at least ten days to half a month.

I suggest we spend half an hour in Fengdu Cheng inquiring around to see if we can find a way to use the underworld yinshi travel routes to get there.”

In the end, it was the token from Niutou that proved crucial.

That old saying Li Changshou had often heard in his previous life—"it's easier to get things done with connections"—held true in the Heavenly Court and the underworld as well.

Half an hour later, the five of them were led by a yinshi through the "Jing Lin" outside Fengdu Cheng.

The so-called Jing Lin was essentially the underworld pathway used by yinshi to capture wandering souls in the Five Divisions Continent, the Three Thousand Worlds, and beyond, connected to various city god temples.

It was similar to the back hall of the Moon Elder’s marriage palace: from the outside, it looked like dozens of dry wells imbued with the power of the Heavenly Dao, arranged in a mysterious formation; but once you stepped inside, you found yourself immersed in an endless sea of these dry wells.

Li Changshou couldn't help but reflect...

There were truly countless great and small worlds!

And the underworld's management was indeed a complete mess.

A place as important as this, tied to the Heavenly Dao, was just left outside the city with a basic formation for defense and hardly any guards.

It was as if they were disregarding the Heavenly Dao itself...

He shouldn't look any further; if he did, Li Changshou might start scheming about underworld merits right then and there.

If he could bring the underworld under the Heavenly Court's jurisdiction and fully establish order there, his merit body would likely be completed... at least halfway!

In comparison, the incense merits he'd accumulated from the Sea God Cult over the years had barely filled half a finger's worth.

The real golden finger, so to speak.

The underworld offered far more opportunities.

Under the yinshi's guidance, the five immortals from Duxian found a dry well labeled "Di Ling Jiu Wu Er Qi."

While Li Changshou was still verifying if this was the correct direct route, Wangqing Shangren and Jiang Lin'er, both dressed in white robes and skirts, had already joined hands and leaped into the dry well.

The scene had an indescribable elegance to it.

Ji Wuyou thanked the yinshi and then jumped headfirst into the dry well, sending a voice transmission back for Li Changshou and Youqin Xuanya to follow without worry.

Li Changshou took out a treasure pouch filled with spirit stones and materials, smiled as he handed it to the yinshi who had guided them, then turned and said:

“Youqin Shimei, you go first.”

But Youqin Xuanya gently shook her head and replied, “No, Changshou Shixiong, you jump, and I’ll jump.”

Li Changshou: ...

Why the sudden romantic flair?

He didn't argue, knowing she wanted to bring up the rear. He lifted the hem of his daoist robe slightly and stepped into the dry well, with Youqin Xuanya following closely, her great sword on her back.

The light and shadows shifted around them, and the scenery blurred into motion.

Ahead stretched a long, dim passage dotted with faint yellow lights flickering gently...

Ji Wuyou waited nearby and enveloped the five of them once more with his Jin Xian immortal power, using his divine ability to carry them swiftly against the flow toward the passage's exit.

In mere moments, after traveling an unknowable distance, a hint of light appeared ahead, signaling the end of the path.

They entered through one dry well and emerged from another, finding themselves in a rundown small temple.

In no time, by taking this underworld shortcut, they had left the Five Divisions Continent far behind and arrived in this Daqian Shijie, where everything felt slightly surreal.

Ji Wuyou praised, “Truly worthy of the treasure land of reincarnation; the underworld's arrangement of space is remarkably ingenious.”

Wangqing Shangren seemed to gain some insight, murmuring, “The might of the Heavenly Dao is beyond human reach.”

Li Changshou's thoughts were simpler than those of his senior predecessors...

This system of city god dry wells could be used for quick troop movements with good secrecy.

Hmm, once back, he'd analyze it thoroughly and write an essay titled "On the Role of the City God Temple Transport System in Various Schemes and Layouts."

Jiang Lin'er urged, “Changshou...”

“This way, follow me!”

Li Changshou had already oriented himself and was leading the way urgently.

Ji Wuyou flicked his sleeve, sweeping up the other four, and sped toward the distant, continuous mountain range thousands of li away.

They soared through clouds and mist, racing like the wind.

It was as if hurrying faster would let them find Wan Jiangyu's tree spirit reincarnation.

Soon, in a deep valley, the five stood deep in a lush forest, gazing at the old, twisted tree shedding leaves continuously. A heavy atmosphere settled over them.

Jiang Lin'er, who had held back until now, couldn't stop her eyes from reddening as she said in a hoarse voice:

“Laoda... Jiangyu, your master came too late...”

Wangqing Shangren stepped forward and embraced Jiang Lin'er, softly comforting her.

Though Ji Wuyou had expected this, he still sighed, standing with hands behind his back, a touch of sorrow in his eyes as he thought of those figures lost to the passage of time.

“Changshou Shixiong,” Youqin Xuanya asked softly, “is there really no way to save it?”

“Don't rush,” Li Changshou pondered for a moment, stepped forward, placed his hand on the old tree's trunk, and closed his eyes to sense carefully.

The tree spirit had been forcibly extracted, stripping away most of the old tree's vitality in the process...

'If I were the one who did this, why would I do it this way?'

This old tree was thousands of years old and hadn't cultivated into a tree spirit itself; its abundant vitality had simply nurtured one, which was Wan Jiangyu's reincarnation.

Though essence and spirit were similar, there were subtle differences.

This old tree was like the parents of Wan Jiangyu in this life...

The one who took the tree spirit likely had cultivation no higher than Tian Xian realm. Traces of dao rhythm lingered here, indicating they practiced the path of departing fire...

Based on the rate of the tree's vitality depletion and the dissipation of that dao rhythm, cross-referencing them allowed for a rough backward calculation: the act had occurred about a month ago...

A tree spirit wasn't a particularly rare spiritual root, but it made for a valuable medicinal ingredient...

When the perpetrator removed the tree spirit, they took most of the old tree's vitality, probably to enhance the spirit's quality.

If they chose to boost the spirit's power instead, that suggested the person lacked full confidence in this batch of pills...

So... could it be...

Li Changshou stood quietly, with the other four watching his back intently.

A moment later, he turned abruptly!

“Zhangmen, I must be bold in asking—please use your Jin Xian immortal sense to search the surrounding five thousand li for any qi refiners alchemy.

If nothing's found within that range, extend it as far as possible.

No matter what, I feel we can't just give up.”

“Very well!”

Ji Wuyou agreed and quickly released his immortal sense to cover the nearby several thousand li. Soon, his eyes lit up.

Ji Wuyou said:

“It's about one thousand six hundred li away!

In a mountain valley, someone's refining pills inside a formation!”

Li Changshou asked hurriedly, “Does it involve the dao rhythm of departing fire and Tian Xian or Zhen Xian realm cultivation?”

“Yes... exactly!”

“Quickly!” Li Changshou urged, “Let's go—Shibo might still be saved!”

The group was instantly stirred!

Immortal power surged around Ji Wuyou, and in a flash, he vanished, transforming into a streak of green light that crossed the one thousand six hundred li in an instant!

Wangqing Shangren immediately carried Jiang Lin'er and followed from behind.

When Li Changshou used his immortal sense to detect Ji Wuyou descending from the sky and crashing into that simple formation, he breathed a small sigh of relief.

Hopefully, some remnant spirit remained.

He called to Youqin Xuanya, and the two hurried after on clouds.

By the time Li Changshou and Youqin Xuanya arrived at the mountain valley, the scene unfolded before them.

In the depths of a serene valley with blue skies and clear waters...

A slightly plump daoist sat on a meditation mat, frozen in a backward-leaning pose, not daring to move an inch.

Before him, Wangqing Shangren stood tall in his white robes, his left palm aimed at the daoist's forehead, faint arcs of green lightning flickering in his palm.

If the plump daoist so much as twitched, it would mean his end.

Fortunately, Wangqing Shangren wasn't unreasonable and knew this wasn't entirely the daoist's fault.

Taking heavenly treasures and earthly materials for alchemy was commonplace among qi refiners...

So, he was merely intimidating, not striking.

Ji Wuyou and Jiang Lin'er were now circling the extinguished dan furnace, sensing the surging medicinal energy inside and discovering a few lingering tree spirit remnants.

The former was calculating ways to salvage it, his brows furrowing deeper...

The latter was a mix of shock and joy, repeatedly tempted to smash the furnace open but hesitant to act rashly...

Without Jiang Lin'er needing to say a word, Li Changshou stepped forward, feeling the situation inside the furnace, and relaxed slightly.

It could be saved.

Just then, Ji Wuyou sighed, “It's become remnant spirits now; the true spirit is almost completely refined—I'm afraid it's beyond repair.”

Li Changshou quickly said, “Zhangmen, what if we use pills to restore the remnant spirits and nurture the true spirit—could that save her?”

“It might be worth trying, but where could we find such pills here and now?” Ji Wuyou shook his head slightly. “These are quite difficult to refine. Our sect has the recipes, but they're not something just anyone would make...”

Li Changshou said firmly, “I have them with me.”

“You have them?”

Ji Wuyou was surprised. “Changshou, why would you carry such pills?”

Li Changshou: ...

He couldn't exactly say these were just a small part of his contingency stock; he'd brought a couple along for safety this time.

Since qi refiners often carried healing and life-saving pills, having a few for mending remnant spirits—in case he was killed but his true spirit somehow survived—wasn't unreasonable...

Right now, he simply produced two shimmering, multicolored Di Xian pills and respectfully handed them to Ji Wuyou.

Though these pills weren't of the highest quality, that wasn't an issue for this purpose—they just needed a gentle effect.

Ji Wuyou immediately opened the dan furnace and used his immortal power to envelop the remnant spirits;

Since it was impossible to tell which one was Wan Jiangyu's reincarnation, he used the pills' energy to nurture them all at once.

Li Changshou then went over to Wangqing Shangren and inquired about where this alchemist had sourced the tree spirits.

To cut to the chase, Li Changshou opened with:

“Daoist friend, don't be afraid—we're not here with good intentions toward you.”

The plump qi refiner's throat bobbed, and he broke into a bitter smile.

Li Changshou hadn't even started questioning properly, just asked a few simple details, and the man spilled everything he could, whether it should be said or not...

This person was named Cai Wei, a diligent and ambitious cultivator. Three thousand years ago, he achieved Tian Xian dao fruit and had been working hard ever since, avoiding conflicts and focusing on his path.

After three millennia of effort, he had reached the mid-Tian Xian stage.

Immortality now seemed a bit more within reach.

What happened today was just part of Cai Wei's routine cultivation life...

Ahem, it wasn't that he had been frequenting the famous Tianya Pavilion in this Daqian Shijie to experience temporary emotional tribulations for insights into the dao, which had left him a bit short on funds lately—he was just hiding here to refine pills and make some money.

Who could have imagined that as Cai Wei hummed a tune and worked on his pills, a Jin Xian would drop from the sky, seize his dan furnace, and glare at him...

“The immortals, I truly didn't know! That there was a precious ingredient in there related to your kin!”

“Don't be afraid, daoist friend,” Li Changshou said warmly, pulling two bottles of pills from his sleeve. “These are of similar quality and value to what you were refining—made by our sect's master alchemist. Consider this compensation for your losses.”

The plump qi refiner insisted it wasn't necessary;

But Wangqing Shangren frowned impatiently, and the man instantly nodded, accepting the two bottles of pills refined by Elder Wanlin Jun.

That settled the karma.

Just then, a cry came from behind Li Changshou...

“Jiangyu!”

Both Li Changshou and Wangqing Shangren turned to look. In Ji Wuyou's palm, several fist-sized green light orbs had appeared.

“Yuanshuai! Yuanshuai!”

Outside Fengdu Cheng, at the entrance of a narrow mountain pass, a yinshi rushed over, panting heavily, and called out to Niutou, who was lounging on a rock.

“I just heard from the city—the five human-teaching immortals with your token have left through the Reincarnation Well!”

“Left?”

Niutou sat up straight, his bovine eyes widening. He glanced at the banners stretched out nearby, covered in crooked slogans.

Things like “Welcome to the Underworld,” “The underworld is our home, stability is everyone's responsibility,” “Be brothers today, no need to crowd reincarnation tomorrow”... those were the milder ones.

That heartfelt phrase he'd come up with—“Always come home to visit”—was truly a waste; it had no use now!

“Oh well, if they've gone, they've gone. They must have had urgent business,” Niutou said, a bit disappointed.

“Yuanshuai, what about this? The brothers put so much effort into these banners.”

Niutou thought for a moment and casually instructed:

“Just give one to every immortal who passes through here from now on.”

“Brilliant, Yuanshuai!”

“Heh-heh... Uh, the Great Witch Priest always reminds me to remember my role... Ahem, let me get into character...

Moo? Moo-moo?”

“Spot on!”