Shisi’s time in the lower realm was brief.

Almost the instant he finished tilling the soil as Qin Zhou had requested, he was forcibly transported away by the portal.

His divine soul abruptly returned to his body. Sitting cross-legged on the palace floor, Shisi suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

The spatter flew half a meter.

This commotion completely startled the disciples nearby.

Several disciples rushed forward to support him, shouting incessantly: “Supreme Elder!”

“The Supreme Elder has coughed up blood!”

“Where is Master Bai? Quickly summon Master Bai!”

“I’ll go fetch him at once!”

Shisi slowly opened his eyes and asked—

“Has Bai Xing arrived?”

A disciple nearby replied, “Supreme Elder, today is the day Master Bai arrived on the Master’s orders to deliver the elixir to you. He arrived the day before yesterday.”

The disciples hurried to report, only to unexpectedly discover the Supreme Elder’s spirit had left his body. They immediately summoned Master Bai to examine him.

But Master Bai merely frowned and said they must wait for the Supreme Elder’s spirit to return.

That was why so many people were gathered here upon his awakening.

Bai Xing arrived swiftly.

In barely five breaths, he stood at the doorway.

“Shisi, Uncle.” Bai Xing, dressed in elegant blue robes, was a physician known for his calm demeanor. Yet upon seeing Lu Shisi’s pallid face and the blood at the corner of his mouth, his own brow furrowed. “What did you go and do this time?”

Lu Shisi smiled faintly. “I went to tend the fields.”

Lu Shisi wiped the blood from his lips, uncrossed his legs, and rose slowly.

He strode to the front of the hall.

His bloodstained outer robe hung loosely over his shoulders. As he passed beneath the eaves, where the light was dimmed, the bells on his wrists chimed with each step.

The light of day fell upon him, and even his silhouette possessed a divine beauty. Though his face was childlike, the radiance emanating from him was something others dared not profane.

Seeing this, the disciples bowed their heads in unison.

This was the Supreme Elder of the Thousand Machinery Divine Sect.

Lu Shisi yawned, turning back with a look of surprise. “Why isn’t anyone asking me why I suddenly went to the farm?”

The seated disciples dared not utter a word. But Bai Xing, uninhibited, asked, “Why did Uncle Shisi suddenly go to the farm?”

Lu Shisi chuckled. “Me? Though I went to the farm, I actually went to see an old friend.”

As a patient, Lu Shisi seemed genuinely happy now, as if spitting out that mouthful of blood had released some pent-up frustration. Bai Xing’s worry eased slightly. “Seems that old friend is someone important to Uncle Shisi.”

Lu Shisi laughed heartily. “A biased old man. Wait, biased… young man?” He chuckled even harder.

Bai Xing: I don’t get it, but if the patient’s happy, that’s fine.

“I may be going to the farm more often from now on. If you see my soul leaving my body, don’t worry.” Lu Shisi addressed this to the disciples guarding him.

“Understood.”

Bai Xing disagreed, “Uncle Shisi, your health…”

“Bai Xing, do you have three qian of White Crane Tears and five Soul-Restoring Grasses?” Lu Shisi suddenly asked.

“What do you need those for?” Bai Xing’s first thought was this. After speaking, he took out some pills from his Cosmos Bag: “Uncle Shisi, these are medicines Master asked me to deliver—Fifth-Tier Soul-Stabilizing Pills. The Soul-Restoring Grass you’re seeking is the primary ingredient for these pills.”

“As for White Crane Tears, that’s an ingredient for the sixth-tier Core Stabilizing Pill. It’s extremely rare in the world, but the Master should have some.”

“Go back and tell Fifth Brother to hand over all the Soul-Restoring Grass. And the White Crane Tears—I want that too.”

Bai Xing was puzzled. “If Uncle Shisi wants it, the Master won’t refuse. But you must have a reason. The Soul-Stabilizing Pill is your life-prolonging medicine. Without any justification, the Master likely won’t give it to you.”

Shisi faltered. That was true.

“Then take this message back.” Shisi paused briefly before saying, “Tell them someone claims they can use Soul-Restoring Grass to refine a sixth-tier Soul-Stabilizing Pill to prolong my life.”

Bai Xing froze upon hearing this.

Soul-Restoring Grass? Refining a sixth-tier Soul-Stabilizing Pill? How could that be possible?

Pills are ranked in seven tiers, and seventh-tier ingredients are harder to find than master alchemists themselves. The divide between the fifth and sixth tiers is enormous. Some ingredients can be used for both fifth and sixth-tier pills, but the quality of the final pill depends entirely on the alchemist’s skill.

But for a supreme spirit herb like Soul-Restoring Grass, even the most elite alchemists couldn’t guarantee a sixth-tier result.

Even his own master could only refine it to the fifth tier, used to alleviate Uncle Shisi’s injuries.

And across all realms, there was no alchemist superior to his master.

“Shisith Uncle, were you deceived?” Bai Xing couldn’t help but question.

“Just relay this message verbatim,” Lu Shisi said with a smile. He raised his wrist, jingling the Thousand Machinery Bell, and chuckled, “Bai Xing, the world’s schemes are about to undergo a major reversal.”

Bai Xing: “Should I relay that too?”

Lu Shi: “…No need to relay that.”

“Then I’ll depart immediately. Please keep these Soul-Stabilizing Pills safe, Uncle Shisi.”

“Very well.”

Bai Xing, seemingly unconvinced that any alchemist could surpass his master, hurried off.

Shisi took out the Soul-Stabilizing Pill and swallowed it, feeling considerably better.

Wait.

What did Bai Xing just say?

The primary ingredient for Soul-Stabilizing Pills is Soul-Restoring Grass, while Core Stabilizing Pills require White Crane Tears. What does that village chief need White Crane Tears for?

Shisi frowned in confusion for a moment, but dismissed it quickly.

Ah, well, Big Brother Wu has some anyway. I’ll just take some from him.

“Oh, and one more thing—does the sect’s warehouse have any low-grade spiritual items? Ingredients, tools, anything will do.” Right at the end, Shisi didn’t forget to ask for something to bring back to the village chief.

The disciples exchanged glances. Finally, one asked, “Supreme Elder, when you say low-grade, you mean…?”

“Things for Qi Cultivation or Foundation Establishment stages?”

The lowest-ranked disciples present were all Nascent Soul stage: “…”

“If it’s for the Golden Core stage, we might be able to find some,” the disciples said, gritting their teeth.

Lu Shisi’s expression turned serious: “Find as much as you can. Golden Core is fine too. But Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment are best.”

“Yes!”

The disciples steeled themselves—worst case, they’d contact their contacts in the lower realms!

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

Meanwhile, at the Cangyun Sword Sect in the same upper realm, an anonymous letter arrived.

The mountain-guarding disciple who received it rushed straight to the sect’s main hall.

Inside, elders and the sect master gathered, brows furrowed over the impending millennial conflict.

“Each time the Secret Realm opens, both the righteous and demonic paths suffer heavy losses. This time will likely be no different…”

“With that scoundrel Wen Jue trapped in the Immortal Restraint Prison, the scales of victory have already tipped halfway in our favor.”

“We still cannot afford complacency. The Demon Sect’s leader, Lu Xiao, is immensely powerful and difficult to deal with. Over the past millennium, the Demon Sect has recruited many new allies. We must devise a foolproof strategy.“

Just then, a disciple arrived at the door with news.

He presented an anonymous letter.

The head of the Cangyun Sword Sect read it with a frown, his expression not easing in the slightest.

”Head Sect Leader, what does it say?”

The Sword Sect leader sighed, “Undercover intelligence reports that although Wen Jue is imprisoned in the Immortal Restraint Prison, his divine soul can still travel freely between locations.”

This single sentence made the already tense atmosphere even more charged.

“His divine soul can move freely? What kind of imprisonment is that?” someone blurted out.

A chill ran through the hearts of those listening.

Ranked first on the Heaven-Piercing List, Wen Jue’s combat prowess—even with only his divine soul present—meant that if he truly engaged in battle, it was impossible to estimate how many lives the major immortal sects would need to sacrifice to withstand him alone.

“Truly worthy of the top spot on the Heaven-Piercing List. Even if he pierced the heavens, the Dao itself wouldn’t bear to see him fall,” someone sneered. The Immortal Restraint Prison only confines the physical body?

“Master Sect Leader, what else did the letter say?”

The Sect Master sighed. “Calm yourselves, there is also good news in the letter—”

“Our undercover agents have discovered Wen Jue’s weakness.”

At these words, the entire hall fell abruptly silent.

A second later, urgent questions erupted in rapid succession.

“What is it?”

“That demon Wen Jue has a weakness?”

“Master, just tell us already…”

The Sect Master hesitated, then slowly revealed amidst the eager gazes: “That great demon Wen Jue… likely has someone he cherishes…”

What did “someone he cherishes” mean?

Was Wen Jue seeking a Dao companion?

The crowd fell first into shock, then into silence.

For most cultivators, the word “affection” was a calamity.

The path of cultivation was long and arduous. A dao companion must not only be compatible in cultivation, but also in emotion.

Cultivators did not crave love, yet they could not endure the prolonged solitude.

Those of their caliber understood precisely what a dao companion entailed.

“Is that person… from the Demon Sect?” someone inquired.

“No,” the Sect Master shook his head. “The letter states he is merely a second-tier Qi Cultivation alchemist. Currently residing in the lower realms, he knows nothing of the upper realms’ conflicts.”

“How is that possible?”

“A fiend like Wen Jue, and he favors a mere mortal?”

“Master, could our undercover agent have made a mistake?”

“Without evidence, the agent wouldn’t have sent word,” the sect leader replied. “Any other theories, everyone?”

Wen Jue had a weakness—and that weakness was a mortal.

The crowd exchanged glances.

One sighed bitterly: “If this weakness were a demon cultivator, I’d scour the entire upper realm to capture him and threaten Wen Jue.”

“But it’s a mere Qi Cultivation Stage 2,” another chimed in. “What difference is there between a Qi Cultivation Stage 2 and an ordinary mortal? Are we supposed to send old fools like us, who’ve lived for millennia, to capture a mortal to threaten Wen Jue?”

“The Sword Sect shouldn’t have anyone capable of such a deed.”

The Sect Master smiled too. “Even if that person were a demon cultivator, being favored by Wen Jue would be an undeserved calamity. Misfortune should not extend to family or partners. Fellow cultivators, we, too, have trusted confidants. We are the righteous path. If we do not embody our teachings through our actions, we are unworthy of the title ‘Immortal.’ The swords in our hands must be wielded for righteous deeds.”

“The Sect Master speaks wisely.” The assembly echoed in unison.

With a flick of the Sect Master’s fingers, the letter ignited swiftly, reduced to ashes in moments. “Then we shall discuss this matter another day.”

“Understood.”

The Sword Sect elders and stewards departed one by one.

One figure remained in the hall.

“Fang Huai?” The Sect Leader noticed Elder Fang Huai had not departed and inquired.

Fang Huai fixed his gaze upon him, his eyes brimming with confusion. “Sect Leader, Wen Jue now has a weakness. This is a golden opportunity. Eliminate Wen Jue, and the Demon Sect will lose its last pillar of support. This is precisely what the leader of the righteous path ought to do… is it not?”

The Sect Master gave no clear response, only countered, “Even if that were true—even if you grasped his weakness—would you have the ability to kill him?”

Ultimately, whether it posed a threat was entirely up to Wen Jue.

Fang Huai fell silent.

“The matter of his weakness must not be mentioned again,” the Sect Master declared. “Even if this tactic could truly deal with Wen Jue, I will not employ it unless absolutely necessary.”

Fang Huai fell silent.

He knew the Sect Master’s resolve was firm; further words were futile.

Fang Huai bowed to take his leave, but the Sect Master’s brows furrowed.

His master had once told him: Where there is light, darkness inevitably follows. Kill one Wen Jue, and more Wen Jues will arise.

Demons cannot be eradicated.

Yet the righteous path must steadfastly hold its ground.

Otherwise, even immortals would succumb to darkness.

“Master, did I do the right thing?” Suddenly, the Sect Master turned his head, murmuring to himself in a certain direction.

“You did right.” A voice entered his ear, cold and clear as a blade sealed within its scabbard.

“Master, you’ve emerged from seclusion.” A flicker of surprise and joy passed through the Sect Leader’s eyes.

“The millennium conflict approaches. I, too, must meet an old acquaintance.” The voice echoing from the mountains carried a hint of ethereality.

“What is the situation with the Demon Sect?”

“Lu Xiao remains the Sect Master. Supreme Patriarch Lu Qi is missing. Wen Jue is still imprisoned in the Immortal Restraint Prison.”

“…Missing?”

“Yes. Junior Brother Jiang Huan went to the Demon Sect… as an infiltrator. The news came from him,” the Sect Master said awkwardly.

“Did he also relay the news about Wen Jue having a Dao companion?”

“Yes.”

“…He’s an excellent mole. Tell him not to do it again next time.”

“Master, do you believe that Wen Jue has a Dao companion is false?”

“If he could have one, he wouldn’t have remained solitary all these years.”

The Sect Master wanted to ask more, but the transmission had already cut off.

Suddenly, a long-forgotten rumor surfaced in his mind.

It was said that his own Master, the peerless Sword Sovereign of Cangyun Sword Sect, had once been a fellow disciple with the great demonic fiend Wen Jue…