To prepare for the busy farming season, Qin Zhou bought another basketful of farming tools. As soon as he returned to the village, he found Wen Jue already waiting for him.

It must be said, having a portal is so convenient. Wen Jue was the last to settle into his body, yet he was the first to arrive in the Lower Realm.

Seeing him return, Wen Jue moved closer, sniffed the air, and asked right away, “Mung bean cakes and osmanthus cakes… were they good?”

Qin Zhou praised him, “You have a keen sense of smell.”

Wen Jue tilted his head. “Why didn’t you bring some for me?”

He loved sweets.

Qin Zhou could only explain, “Lady Qin made them.”

Wen Jue keenly savored the words “Lady Qin”—they sounded somewhat unfamiliar to him. As if a deliberate boundary had been drawn.

“You went back to the Qin Manor.”

“I went back to take a look.”

Qin Zhou told him about the letter and his visit to the Qin Manor.

“As for Chen San’s situation, I suspect he was either instigated by someone or possessed,” Qin Zhou said. “I lean more toward the latter.”

Chen San had merely made a single trip to the Yaoyue Sect—a matter of no more than a few dozen days. As a mere mortal who had never cultivated before, even under the influence of the Bone-Marrow Purification Pill—which accelerates cultivation far beyond that of ordinary people—he surely wouldn’t have progressed nearly as far as He Wenfeng’s letter suggested, to the point of nearly establishing a Foundation.

This matter, unless someone was guiding him, meant his soul had been replaced.

The Yaoyue Sect is a medical and alchemy sect from the Lower Realm; its focus in training disciples should be on identifying herbs and refining elixirs. If someone within the sect had truly guided him, He Wenfeng surely wouldn’t have failed to mention it.

“We’ll know once he arrives,” Qin Zhou said.

“Are you so certain he’ll come?”

“If he’s still Chen San, he won’t refuse to come to the village to find me. If he isn’t, he certainly won’t refuse.” Having left the Yaoyue Sect yet returned to Pingcheng to get close to the Qin family, what he’s likely trying to find out is news about him.

Qin Zhou looked in the direction of the mountain.

Giving Chen San those two top-grade elixirs on a whim back then has indeed brought trouble.

“What about the mung bean cakes?” Suddenly, Wen Jue’s words snapped Qin Zhou out of his thoughts.

“What?” Qin Zhou paused in surprise.

“Is Lady Qin suspicious of you? Has she been swayed by others, too?” Wen Jue speculated. “With two kinds of cakes, surely one of them isn’t the one Young Master Qin wouldn’t eat?”

If anything, he knew quite a bit about Qin Zhou.

Though several thousand years had passed between them. But for over a thousand years, he had always been watching this man.

Apart from being a bit more mature than before, Qin Zhou didn’t seem to have changed much.

When he was truly happy, there was a hint of a smile in his eyes.

But when he was truly unhappy, his tone was even more detached and distant than usual. Just like now.

A single visit back to the Qin Manor had left him unhappy.

Qin Zhou hadn’t actually expected Wen Jue to figure it out this far. He smiled. “Pretty much.”

There was no reason to deny it.

“She was probably instigated by someone. As I see it, it would have taken at least a few more years—after I’d spent more time with her—before she’d see through me.” At first, one might have thought his son had suffered a setback and, after receiving guidance from a benefactor, had undergone a sudden change in temperament.

But no matter how much he changed, many habits remained the same.

Qin Zhou was prepared, but Lady Qin’s probing came sooner than he’d imagined.

“I like mung bean cakes, but Young Master Qin doesn’t. She must have noticed. The original host’s spirit is still here, so by now… mother and son should have recognized each other.”

Wen Jue couldn’t care less about the original host.

“I like mung bean cakes too.” Wen Jue plucked a small strand of hair from his shoulder and twirled it between his fingers. “Make some for me next time. Some people don’t like mung bean cakes, but there’s always someone who does.”

Qin Zhou took his hand. “Shouldn’t you be the one making them for me?”

Wen Jue was flustered for a second, then said slowly, “Then… should I learn how?”

Qin Zhou smiled.

He liked to eat them, and now someone was willing to learn how to make them for him.

His moon was gone, but a new sun had risen.

“By the way. There’s one more thing.”

“Hmm?” Wen Jue pinched his earlobe.

“This body… in ten years, it has to be returned to the original owner.” Qin Zhou’s tone was calm and ruthless.

Wen Jue’s hand trembled, and he let go of Qin Zhou’s ear.

We have to return it?

“Is this the will of Heaven?”

“Yes. That way, we leave no karmic debt.”

“Then what happens after ten years?”

Qin Zhou: “We’ll just use a Reformation Pill to mold a new one. But until then, I can’t kiss you. The original owner might be able to see.” He raised his hand and pressed it against Wen Jue’s lips.

Wen Jue: “……”

“A mere ten years,” Wen Jue said, looking away. “It’ll be over in the blink of an eye. If it really comes to that, when I return the body to him, I’ll erase his memories…”

Qin Zhou: “No.”

Wen Jue: ?

“I won’t do it.” Qin Zhou’s eyes darkened.

“Oh.” Wen Jue’s heart fluttered. He hadn’t eaten any mung bean cakes, yet a sweet taste truly welled up inside him.

“Actually, the body isn’t strictly necessary,” Qin Zhou said.

Wen Jue:?

“Once I’ve formed my Nascent Soul, I’ll be able to project my spiritual body with ease.” A spiritual body isn’t really a physical body anymore; it’s more like a tangible form condensed from his spiritual energy.

Wen Jue: “…Hmm.”

“Besides, in the cultivation world, there must be some kind of Nascent Soul dual cultivation technique…” Qin Zhou mused softly.

Wen Jue:!

Dual… dual cultivation!

Had he and Qin Zhou already reached this stage?

Seeing his pupils widen in shock, Qin Zhou smiled to himself.

Unconsciously, all the dark clouds in his heart had completely dissipated.

Meanwhile, at the Thousand Machinery Divine Sect.

No sooner had Shisi returned to the sect than someone reported—

“The Supreme Elder has returned!”

The Patriarch of the Thousand Machinery Divine Sect hurried over and intercepted Elder Shisi just as he was running out of the sect in his spiritual form.

“Where on earth have you been?” The Patriarch was so worried that his hair was practically falling out.

Ever since news of the Demon-Slaying Plan reached the Thousand Machinery Divine Sect, Elder Shisi had vanished, driving everyone to the brink of despair.

The sect had only this one precious Elder. In poor health, he was kept within the sect year-round—how wonderful it would have been for him to live out his days in peace and leisure. But this year, for some reason, disciples had seen Elder Shisi’s spiritual form leave the sect on multiple occasions, and each time he returned, he would cough up a mouthful of blood.

This terrified the disciples waiting on the Supreme Elder’s mountain peak, leaving them at a loss.

Later, just when it seemed the Elder’s health was finally improving, the Thousand Machinery Divine Sect received news regarding the Demon-Slaying Plan a few days ago—and before they knew it, their Elder had vanished again.

This time, it wasn’t just his spiritual essence leaving his body; both his physical form and spiritual essence had departed together.

Elder Shisi felt a twinge of unease. He cleared his throat lightly. “I just went for a walk and came back.”

The Sect Master didn’t believe him.

Last time, the Demon Lord came to the Thousand Machinations Divine Sect and abducted their Supreme Elder, only to return him less than a day later. The Elder was unharmed. Because of this incident, rumors even spread outside the sect that the Thousand Machinations Divine Sect was a pro-demon faction.

In fact, the Demon-Slaying Edict issued by the Guiyuan Sect hadn’t even reached the Thousand Machinations Divine Sect.

But how could the Thousand Machinations Divine Sect possibly be a pro-demon faction!

The Sect Master had been absolutely certain of this.

But now, he wasn’t so sure anymore.

Because the news of the Demon-Slaying Plan had only just reached the Thousand Machinations Divine Sect! And their own Elder had already vanished!

“I really just went out for a stroll,” Fourteen tried to bluff his way out of it.

“And how did your stroll go? Is the demon lord dead?” the Sect Master asked bluntly.

Just as Shisi was about to speak, he suddenly heard the words “demon lord” and fell silent.

Seeing this, the Sect Master’s heart sank. With a grim expression, he asked, “Elder Shisi, tell me—are we really going to become a pro-demon faction?”

Though the Sect Master didn’t want to believe it, he’d been mulling it over for quite some time.

Elder Shisi and that Demon Lord were contemporaries; they likely knew each other from their early days and might even have been on friendly terms. For all these years, Elder Fourteen had kept himself out of worldly affairs, yet the moment he heard of the campaign to exterminate the demons, he vanished.

It really made one… unable to help but suspect.

Elder Shisi shoved his hands into his sleeves and said calmly, “He’s not dead. He’s alive and well.”

“You… you actually went to fight too?! With your health… are you all right?!”

Elder Shisi chuckled. “I joined in a bit. I haven’t fought anyone in years; it loosened up my joints and felt so good.”

Sect Master: “……”

So it was true after all…

Seeing the look on his face, Shisi smiled and patted the Sect Master on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. If word ever gets out, I’ll take the blame alone. The Thousand Machinations Divine Sect is still the Thousand Machinations Divine Sect—I’m the only one who’s pro-demon.”

Unfortunately, it seems no one will be able to spread the word.

The Sect Master fell silent. “You… and that demonic fiend—what exactly…”

Fourteen rubbed his nose. “He’s my brother.”

Sect Master: !?

“The other demonic fiend from the Demon Sect is also my brother.” Shisi looked at him innocently.

Sect Master: !!!

Hmph, I just love seeing that look of shock on their faces.

“Well, anyway, that’s how it is, hahaha.” Shisi chuckled, patted the Sect Master on the shoulder, and said calmly, “Don’t worry. The grand scheme of the cultivation world is about to change. After a long period of division, there must be unification; after a long period of unification, there must be division. Since we’ve been divided for so long, perhaps the day will come when the righteous and demonic paths unite.”

The Sect Master stared intently at his Supreme Elder.

Although Elder Shisi usually acted like a mischievous child, he dared not doubt these words.

Once the Bell of a Thousand Machinations is invoked, there is only one person in the entire Upper Realm capable of divining the future of this world.

The Sect Master’s heart settled, and he nodded.

“Well then, I’ll be on my way.” Shisi waved his hand in farewell.

The Sect Master quickly grabbed his arm. “Elder, there’s one more thing!”

Shisi:?

“Would you care to take a look at the back mountain? The high-tier spirit beasts you keep there have encountered a bit of trouble. A young cultivator wandered in by mistake the day before yesterday and has become quite ‘close’ with those beasts.”

Shisi was taken aback. “Huh?”

This “mingling” surely didn’t mean they’d gotten into a fight, did it? The spirit beasts he raised were all originally from the mountains of his village. Due to the scarcity of spiritual energy in the Lower Realm, he’d moved them all to the Upper Realm and had been raising them on the back mountain of the Thousand Machinery Divine Sect ever since.

Pick any one of them at random, and they’d be older than he was.

Since the area was filled with high-tier spirit beasts and was so remote, Shisi had never worried about anyone accidentally wandering in and harming them—but he never expected—that someone actually would.

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

When Shisi arrived, the handsome young man was sitting on the edge of a cliff, feeding Zhuifeng in the air.

The Vermilion Phoenix was a Spirit Beast at the Union Realm, with power comparable to a Great Perfection cultivator.

The Vermilion Phoenix, usually so domineering, was actually eating the food this young man fed it.

But the little wind sparrow standing at the cliff’s edge sensed Shisi’s presence even before its master did.

It chirped twice, fluttered onto Shisi’s leg, and perched on his shoe, as if curious about who he was.

Shisi possessed the Holy Body of Ten Thousand Spirits and was naturally beloved by all spirits.

And this little wind sparrow before him was no exception.

The Thousand Machinations Bell on his wrist chimed softly, and the chirping seemed to transform into a soft, babyish whisper. Shisi bent down and picked up the little wind sparrow.

“Cheep, cheep, cheep!” “Why do you smell so good?”

Shisi stroked its little head. “I’m not something to eat.” What’s so fragrant about me?

“What are you doing here?” he asked the little fellow.

“Cheep, cheep.”

“Enjoying the view?” Shisi asked in surprise. “This isn’t exactly a safe place. There are many more powerful spirit beasts here. If one were to swallow you whole, what would you do?”

“Cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep!” The little wind sparrow chirped a long string of sounds.

After listening, Shisi looked up. The person before him was the little wind sparrow’s owner.

The young man was also looking at him, his eyes filled with disbelief, as if he couldn’t understand how he could understand his little sparrow’s speech.

“Senior! You… you can understand what the little sparrow is saying?”

“Who are you, and why have you trespassed onto the back mountain of the Thousand Machinery Divine Sect?”

Shisi spoke calmly; after all, the person before him didn’t seem like a bad person. A villain shouldn’t be radiating such a dazzling aura of virtue.

Shen Yun hurriedly bowed his head in respect. “I am a disciple of the beast-taming sect ‘Lingqi Mountain.’ I was passing through here when I was led by the spirit beasts of this mountain, and thus I accidentally wandered in. But I have no ill intent; I simply enjoy spending time with the spirit beasts.”

Shisi: “Lingqi Mountain?”

“Yes.”

Shisi looked puzzled. “Is there a sect called ‘Lingqi Mountain’ in the Upper Realm?”

Shen Yun: “There is, but it’s a small sect. I doubt you’ve heard of it, Senior.”

Shisi narrowed his eyes. “Oh.”

But there was something peculiar about his physique.

He had only recently experienced a soul-stealing incident while imprisoned in the Immortal Restraint Prison.

Shen Yun dared not speak, wiping the sweat from the corner of his forehead.

“Fire Phoenix, what do you say?” Shisi looked past him directly at the Fire Phoenix circling in the sky, which had not yet departed.

The scarlet bird let out a long cry in the air, as if responding to Fourteen’s words.

Yet to Shisi’s ears, that sound carried a different meaning.

“No ill intent.” Shisi gave Shen Yun a once-over.

He knew this man wasn’t likely a bad person.

But he still needed to know who he was.

Back on the Demon-Slaying Battlefield, that cultivator who had possessed someone else had also been shouting about where he was from…

A sudden insight struck Shisi, and he asked, “Do you know the Spirit Mountain Realm?”

As expected, Shen Yun’s face betrayed his shock.

Clearly, he didn’t understand why the words “Spirit Mountain Realm” would come from the mouth of the elder standing before him.