The Seventh-Tier Dao-Protecting Alchemy Furnace reached perfection. The alchemy furnace, symbolizing a top-tier spiritual artifact, emitted a crimson light that shot straight into the heavens like an arrow piercing the clouds. Deep within the cloud layers, it violently dispersed, bathing the clouds in a scarlet glow as fiery as the evening sunset.

The commotion was simply too great—it was practically a system announcement declaring that Lu Wu of Yuanqing Mountain had forged a Seventh-Tier Dao-Protecting Alchemy Furnace.

Forget how members of other sects might interpret this celestial phenomenon; even Yuanqing Mountain’s own disciples were utterly stunned.

What the crimson light signified, no one could fail to understand.

Yet a Seventh-Tier Dao-Protecting Alchemy Furnace? They’d heard of such things, but none dared imagine it.

“Baixing, come,” Qin Zhou urged, seizing the moment.

Baixing hurried forward.

Lu Wu had regained his composure by now. Suppressing his inner turmoil, he stepped aside. “Baixing, I shall guard you. Remember, you must heed your great-grandmaster’s words.”

“Yes.”

“Your cultivation is not as high as Lu Wu’s, so this furnace won’t be as fiercely tempered. But still, remember: if it doesn’t work, do not force the refinement.”

Baixing nodded firmly.

As anticipated, Baixing’s refinement of the Dao-Protecting Alchemy Furnace proceeded almost without hindrance.

Though not a native villager of Qin Zhou, Baixing had been well-cared for by Lu Wu. He possessed considerable talent and a sound disposition.

Thus, when the second crimson beam shot skyward, appearing above Yuanqing Mountain’s horizon—

The cultivation world could no longer contain itself.

Regardless of how other sects reacted, even the cultivators treating their wounds at Yuanqing Mountain’s gates couldn’t help but exclaim in shock—

“One crimson beam signifies a seventh-tier spirit artifact emerging; two crimson beams mean two seventh-tier spirit artifacts have appeared.”

Yuanqing Mountain… What exactly is this great medical cultivation sect up to?

Even Yuanqing Mountain’s own disciples had no idea what was happening.

But the red light appearing meant seventh-tier spirit artifacts were emerging!

An elder of Yuanqing Mountain standing nearby watched with eyes burning red.

He’d never heard of their sect master refining a Dao-Protecting Alchemy Furnace either!! The elder’s eyes were filled with envy.

The gaze he cast upon Qin Zhou now held not a shred of doubt—only profound admiration, nothing but!

“Thank you, Grandmaster,” Baixing said respectfully. “A seventh-tier Dao-Protecting Alchemy Furnace… Your disciple’s disciple has no way to repay such a gift. As the head of Yuanqing Mountain Sect, I still possess some decent items in my private treasury. If Grandmaster does not disdain them, I shall offer everything within.”

Baixing understood the true value of a Seventh-Tier Dao-Protecting Alchemy Furnace.

“Seventh-Tier” was already a terrifying term in the current upper realm, and a Dao-Protecting Alchemy Furnace was something no private treasury could ever purchase.

Qin Zhou shook his head. “Next time I visit Yuanqing Mountain, just remember to prepare some Fourth-Tier Fruit Cores for me.”

Baixing glanced at his own master, looking like a child who’d received New Year’s money but dared not accept it. Even as the head of a sect, his great-grandmaster’s generosity was staggering.

Lu Wu cleared his throat. “Village Chief, don’t underestimate Baixing just because he’s young. Yuanqing Mountain earns a great deal of spirit stones.”

The implication was clear: ask for whatever you need.

Baixing nodded in agreement.

“Then I’ll take some Spirit Marrow. Do you have it?” Qin Zhou considered. Other items held little use for him, but Spirit Marrow could accelerate the growth of the fruits in his fields—something he was willing to accept.

Baixing’s expression turned serious. “We do.”

He immediately summoned a disciple. “Go to my private storehouse and fetch fifty vials of Spirit Marrow—select only the finest quality.”

“Yes.”

“Now that the Dao-Protecting Alchemy Furnace is complete, I must return.” Yuanqing Mountain was a fine place, but Qin Zhou had other duties to attend to.

Lu Wu: “Village Chief, I’ll accompany you back.”

Qin Zhou shook his head. “Yuanqing Mountain is in its busiest season. You should stay and help here. My fields haven’t even begun requiring attention yet.”

The fruits weren’t ripe yet.

“I’ll make a trip to the Immortal-Demon City first.”

Having retrieved Galaxy and finished crafting Lu Wu’s alchemy furnace, he seized the opportunity while the fruits in the fields were still unripe to complete the set of items promised to Lu Yi.

Ordinary gold ornaments crumbled at a cultivator’s touch and held little value.

To withstand Lu Yi’s rough handling, they needed to be at least of the Bright Moon Reflecting Snow grade.

He had the main materials, but still lacked some auxiliary items.

Perfect timing—he could head to Immortal-Demon City to see if he could buy them.

He’d also investigate which clever kid had stolen the stone stele from his village entrance.

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

Lu Wu escorted Qin Zhou all the way down the mountain.

Along the way, a gentle breeze caressed them, carrying the soothing scent of medicinal herbs from the wilds.

“Village Chief, when did you learn about Fourth Brother and the others…” After much hesitation, Lu Wu finally asked.

Since everyone’s souls were now with the Village Chief, it meant he must already know a great deal.

“I journeyed to the Secret Realm. I discovered everyone’s souls were being nurtured within the barrier stone by Lu Yi.“ Qin Zhou explained.

Lu Wu paused, murmuring softly, ”…Lu Yi… has been nurturing everyone’s souls all along.“

”Lu Wu.“

Lu Wu lifted his gaze.

Qin Zhou reminded him, ”Not ‘Lu Yi’. ‘Eldest Brother’.”

Lu Wu’s fingertips trembled slightly.

“The incident with your Fourth Brother and the others—it’s connected to Lu Yi, isn’t it?” Qin Zhou folded his arms, gazing at the distant mountain scenery. “If it were merely about them becoming demonic beings, Shisi and you wouldn’t have grown so distant from him and Lu Qi.”

“I asked Shisi about it, but he remained tight-lipped, refusing to mention anything about Lu Yi or Lu Qi. It’s not because the two elders became demons, but because Fourth Brother and the others were implicated, right?“

Lu Wu’s face twisted into a bitter smile. ”Yes.”

The Lu family protected their own fiercely. When they were young, if any of the brothers got bullied outside, Lu Yi would bring men to beat up the bullies. Though he seemed least like the eldest before the village chief, everyone knew Lu Yi was the leader.

Many children, including Lu Qi, had been picked up by the village chief and Lu Yi together.

Even without the village chief, the hundred members of the Lu family shouldn’t have fallen apart like this.

How could the mere label of “demon” outweigh the bonds forged by growing up together?

But if over thirty lives were tied to it… that was another matter entirely.

“Fourth Brother and the others can be saved,” Qin Zhou suddenly declared. “After death, souls unblemished enter reincarnation, crossing the River of the Dead without memory of past lives. But theirs were forcibly retained and nourished by millennia of spiritual energy. I’ve examined them—the wounds on their souls are nearly healed, yet they suffer from having no physical form.”

Lu Wu frowned. “So… you mean letting them possess others? But that method is truly sinister.”

Qin Zhou shook his head. “Not that method. They’ve been dead for millennia; their consciousness is nearly gone. Even if you let them possess someone, it would likely fail.”

“Have you heard of reshaping the Dan?”

Lu Wu froze. “What… is that?”

Qin Zhou: “It’s what can save them.”

The village chief’s bluntness left Lu Wu at a loss for words.

“Chief, what can I do?” Lu Wu pressed his lips together.

“Intensify your cultivation. Elevate the Dao-Protecting Pill Furnace to the eighth tier.” Qin Zhou said, “I can’t refine that many Reshaping Pills alone.”

Lu Wu:?

Village Chief, he’s never even seen an eighth-tier pill before.

“Let’s stop here.” Unnoticed, the two had reached the mountain pass. Qin Zhou halted.

“I’m telling you this for no other reason. I just wanted you to know… even though I let him act like he’s not the leader, he knows deep down that he is.“ Qin Zhou said, ”He grieves for the deaths of Fourth Brother and the others just as much as you do.“

”If he truly did something wrong, I’ll be the one to discipline him.“ Qin Zhou lowered his gaze. ”But if it was just an unintentional mistake… you’re his younger brother. You should forgive him.”

Lu Wu stood rooted to the spot, his expression slightly dazed.

Had the village chief not said Fourth Brother and the others might still be saved, just that phrase—“unintentional mistake”—would have been enough to shatter him.

An unintentional mistake? But that cost the lives of over thirty brothers.

He knew the tragedy wasn’t solely Lu Yi’s fault, but he was the leader. As the leader, everyone could only blame him.

Watching Qin Zhou walk toward the mountain gate entrance, his figure growing ever more distant.

“That biased village chief. Actually expecting the younger brother to magnanimously forgive the elder brother…” Lu Wu’s finely arched brows knitted together. Disapproval—he truly disapproved of the village chief’s blatant favoritism.

Over the years, among them all, Lu Yi had endured the hardest life.

He shouldered the heaviest burdens, endured the most scolding—it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he’d been abandoned by all.

Yet the moment the village chief returned…

Lu Yi would become the most favored child.

The kind everyone envied and resented!

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

Qin Zhou didn’t actually know what had transpired during his absence.

But it wasn’t hard to guess.

Though he could guess the gist, Qin Zhou still wanted to hear it directly from Lu Yi. What others said… would inevitably carry some subjective bias, clouding his judgment.

First, he’d make a trip to the Immortal-Demon City to buy a few things, then return to the village.

He’d prepare the gift for Lu Yi before summoning him.

His mind made up, Qin Zhou summoned Tunfeng and headed for the Immortal-Demon City.

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

While Qin Zhou was still en route to Immortal Restraint Prison, Wen Jue had already sneezed three times in the Immortal Restraint Prison.

“Who on earth keeps muttering about this one day in and day out?” he muttered, rubbing his nose.

It must be those righteous scoundrels cursing him.

Or perhaps those brats, Lu Qi and Lu Wushi.

Qin Zhou must be thinking of him, too.

Wen Jue curved his lips into a smile. Looking at the cold, damp cell before him, he could almost imagine mushrooms sprouting in the darkest corners.

But then he remembered—Qin Zhou had returned to the lower realm days ago.

Why hadn’t he summoned him yet?

Had the fruits in the fields not ripened yet? It probably wasn’t the busy farming season yet.

“Could he have gotten so engrossed in the blacksmith’s shop that he lost track of time?”

If only he’d known… he wouldn’t have insisted on being summoned.

Even if Qin Zhou didn’t summon him, he could go on his own.

“How much longer is my sentence?” Wen Jue tugged at his shackles. His voice wasn’t loud, but he knew the spirit energy carried it, and that bastard would definitely hear it.

【99,999 years】

Wen Jue sneered coldly, “You think I won’t smash this damn cell?”

【You don’t have a hammer】

Wen Jue laughed bitterly. He was waiting for him here.

【You’re his favorite. He’ll summon you. Just be patient.】

Wen Jue: “…”

Miraculously, Wen Jue was appeased.

“Do I look like someone who can afford to wait?!”

He just felt that sitting idle in this cell was worse than rushing back to help Qin Zhou. Even if he couldn’t forge artifacts, he could at least sleep by his side!

“Ten more days. If he doesn’t summon me, I’m out of here.” Wen Jue made up his mind. He couldn’t wait another second.

If he had anywhere else to go, or if he wasn’t stubbornly trying to make Qin Zhou summon him, he wouldn’t have bothered coming back.

This crappy prison could lock him up all it wanted.

After all, going to the lower realms didn’t require his true form.

[……]