Chapter 107

For those before him, the most pressing matter was to locate the Celestial Mirror and its spirit vessel. Rong Ling and Ming Ji, though gravely wounded, needed only to slowly nurture their bodies and primordial spirits. Suo Yun and Xuan Ting, however, were different; having been reincarnated, it remained uncertain whether they could truly restore their immortal forms. Ascension was the prerequisite for any such possibility.

Moreover, even if they became earth immortals, whether they could still hold the position of realm lord depended entirely on the will of those above. As the saying goes, one day in heaven equals a thousand years on earth. The Celestial Mirror had been lost for over thirty thousand years, which barely amounted to a month in the Immortal Realm.

Even if no one discovered that the closure of the ascension path and the lack of ascensions for thirty millennia were due to their fault, the reincarnation of these two—armed with memories of their past lives—could not remain unnoticed.

Whether they would face punishment was uncertain. Hence, they needed to perform some meritorious deeds.

Since Rong Ling had taken upon himself the task of nurturing the Celestial Mirror, no one else contested it. Ming Ji, the most adept at reading the tide of events, knew the original plan was hopeless and would not openly oppose it.

Thus, all agreed and returned to their respective domains.

Decades had passed since their awakening, filled with accelerated cultivation and attempts to rally their old followers, hoping to revive their influence. Yet time was long, and few of their former allies survived, so progress was slow. Fortunately, Suo Yun and Xuan Ting still held modest sway in the Luo Star Realm. They had once wished to abandon their current identities but now had no choice but to bow their heads, rebuild their territories, and prepare to march north or south again.

Since the day Suo Yun had chased after Huai Yin, she barely returned to the Blue Sky Sect. Fortunately, the body cultivators possessed soul tokens, so her mother, Sect Leader Suo, was not overly worried.

Having reached the Transformation Spirit stage this time, Suo Yun’s return was met with a grand reception by the sisters of the Blue Sky Sect. Soon after, a new batch of Nascent Soul cultivators was trained. The sect’s strength leapt forward, nearly ascending to the top in the Luo Star Realm. Encouraged, Sect Leader Suo decided immediately to take possession of the territory in the Stone Imperial Realm that rightfully belonged to them.

Xuan Ting, although sharing half the favor due to Han Su’s presence, came from a distinguished family. With the backing of his sect leader and clan, and a cultivation level surpassing Han Su’s by one tier, he still held the upper hand. Upon his triumphant return, he was made an elder of the clan. Following his suggestion, a portion of the Ji clan was dispatched with him to the Jing Xiang Realm to expand their operations.

Ming Ji promptly returned to consult with the Golden-Furred Fox, Master Ming Xin, about their next moves. How to safely avoid tribulations and successfully cross the threshold had become their foremost priority.

Han Su naturally had to return to her sect. She had had opportunities to reveal the truth but clearly, even if Huai Yin was willing to accompany her unto death, he could not bear to see his mother questioned. Besides, Xuan Ting and Suo Yun had always sided with Ming Ji. Without solid evidence, it was difficult to shake her position in their hearts.

Though Rong Ling resolutely stood by her and opposed Ming Ji fiercely, Han Su dared not underestimate Ming Ji’s strength after this series of events. Though severely injured, Han Su suspected Ming Ji’s injuries were mostly spiritual exhaustion from forcibly transferring Han Su’s primordial spirit from another realm into the original Han Su body.

It was possible Ming Ji had been fine for tens of thousands of years, secretly making many preparations.

Even if the truth were revealed immediately, while Suo Yun might cease siding with Ming Ji, only she and the Immortal Lord might not be able to overcome Ming Ji’s far-reaching schemes. It was better to swallow the truth for now and wait for a suitable moment to disclose it.

This matter could not be settled by force at present; it required a gradual approach.

From this, Han Su realized that overwhelming strength was key. Unless she stood on equal footing, she would forever remain a fish on the chopping board. She must rapidly enhance her power.

Huai Yin was the most difficult. From birth, his heart yearned to leave—to search for his mother and find his biological father. Everything could be sacrificed for this goal.

Though he was fond of Han Su, he resolutely left.

For this same purpose, though not in love with Suo Yun, he stayed by her side.

Later, he succeeded: he learned of his origins, met his mother, and understood his father.

From then on, his devotion to his mother was wholehearted, with scarcely a trace of selfishness. Yet, at this very moment, he realized his mother did not feel the same. The past might have been a lie, rendering all his sacrifices meaningless. The beloved girl seemed to have a more powerful suitor now.

In one day, Huai Yin suffered a double blow, lost and unsure where to turn.

His attitude toward his mother could never return to what it was before, but having been separated in childhood, a lingering bond of kinship remained. Though he knew his mother was likely different from what he had imagined, he preferred to believe in the best.

Moreover, he could not bear to see Han Su share a tacit understanding and closeness with others. Xuan Ting, though his biological father, now belonged to another clan, making it difficult to explain his return.

Even though Suo Yun harbored feelings for him, these were grave times, and she had far weightier matters to attend to, unable to care for him much.

Though the world was vast, he had nowhere to go.

After Xuan Ting and Suo Yun departed, Ming Ji, embarrassed by the earlier drama, did not summon Huai Yin. For a moment, he stood there alone and forlorn.

Han Su’s feelings toward Ming Ji had soured completely. Seeing her leave Huai Yin behind like that filled her with guilt. She approached and gently tugged on his sleeve, saying, “Where do you want to go? Why not come with me to Yao Hua?”

Huai Yin smiled faintly, shaking his head, then lowered it to hide the loneliness in his eyes. “I want to return to He Xi Secret Realm. It’s been long since I went back—I wonder if the children have rebelled.”

Han Su wished to persuade him further, but he extended a hand to gently remove her grasp. His eyes full of sorrow, he looked at Rong Ling. Seeing this, Rong Ling nodded, and Huai Yin faintly curled his lips, released her smooth hand, and vanished in a few leaps.

Han Su felt he was the one she had wronged most in her life. Standing there, she could not help but weep softly.

Rong Ling stepped forward, sighed lightly, and embraced her shoulder. “Going to He Xi Secret Realm is not a bad choice. For him, this is a tribulation; once he passes it, his future will be boundless. You need not worry too much. The heart of a demon is far tougher than you imagine. He will come to understand soon.”

Though Han Su understood this, guilt and self-reproach still weighed heavily. Turning to Rong Ling, she said, “Immortal Lord, actually, about today’s matter...”

She recounted the details Ming Ji had revealed. Rong Ling compared them with his past suspicions and confirmed their truth.

“That day, Hua Yun went berserk, chasing her to the Luo Star Realm. I felt suspicion then. Hua Yun, though reckless, was not foolish enough to be possessed so easily by the Celestial Mirror’s spirit vessel.

“Now I realize she must have used some secret technique. But everything happened too fast, and I was already gravely injured... Xuan Ting, straightforward as always, held Ming Ji in his heart. Who would have imagined his beloved was...”

“Immortal Lord, you mean Ming Ji Immortal Lord...?”

“Before you, I had never been moved by anyone.”

Though recent suspicions lingered, no one expected someone like Rong Ling to speak so candidly. Han Su felt a mixture of sweetness, excitement, and shyness. Yet with Huai Yin’s plight and such a formidable rival as Ming Ji, this was hardly the place to pursue the topic further. She only asked, “What will happen next...?”

Due to past misunderstandings, Rong Ling had resolved to speak plainly in the future to avoid regrets. Seizing the moment, he expressed his feelings directly.

Han Su’s response was as expected; he did not pressure her to reply immediately. To cultivators, romantic feelings were but a part of their lives. Both had greater responsibilities and goals.

He replied readily, “I will return to the Luo Star Realm to contact some old allies. As for Ming Ji, her schemes run deep. Rash moves will only bring more trouble. I will make my arrangements and resolve this problem.

“You should focus on improving your cultivation first. Do not worry about Ming Ji. If danger arises, crush the jade talisman I gave you. No matter where I am, I will come at once.”

Han Su nodded, then glanced at Lu Tan Immortal lying still on the ground. “My junior nephew’s heart is errant, but much is due to possession by that spirit vessel. We should bring her back to the sect and let the Law Enforcement Peak handle it.”

With that, she took Lu Tan Immortal into the celestial palace. Rong Ling produced a flying artifact to accompany Han Su part of the way.

They parted near the Yao Hua Sect; Rong Ling went his way, Han Su returned clutching the precious hundred-spirit mushrooms she had painstakingly gathered.

Xuan Ting had already returned before her. The sect leader was both surprised and delighted. Previously, Han Su’s formation of the nascent embryo was a rare blessing. For a Ji clan member to reach the Transformation Spirit stage at barely over a hundred years was extraordinary.

In truth, such a defiance of destiny suggested he was a reincarnation or possessed by a great power. But no matter his past, he was now a Ji clan scion, a great honor to them. Thus, they feigned ignorance and held a grand celebration, granting him clan resources without limit.

Compared to him, Han Su’s return was quiet and unassuming.

She immediately went to the abode of Dao Lords Lan and Heng Bo. The couple had not left, busily attending to the unborn child. Heng Bo showed clear signs of pregnancy and was joyful to see Han Su.

Taking her hand, he urged her to recount her journey. Han Su skirted the heavier matters, telling only of events in Great Delusion Mountain. Then, from her storage ring, she produced two jade boxes containing the hundred-spirit mushrooms.

Both Dao Lords, experienced in dealing with spiritual herbs, instantly recognized the treasure. Dao Lord Lan happily took the boxes for alchemical refinement. Heng Bo, meanwhile, held Han Su’s hand as tears streamed down his face.