"Which do you want me to be, a mortal or an immortal?" Fang Chen asked with a faint smile.

Little Yu was silent for a long time.

"I hope you are an immortal so that you never age, never die. I want you to stay just the way you are in my memories. But I also hope you're mortal, because then you can stay with me through this entire lifetime."

As she said this, she gave a soft, self-mocking laugh. "Am I being too greedy?"

"It's good to be human, and humans are allowed to be a little greedy," said Fang Chen with a smile. "So you may be greedy."

"Then I want to be even greedier." Little Yu suddenly looked at Fang Chen with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I suspect there is reincarnation in this world. In our previous life, you and I must have been husband and wife, so in this life, you came to find me. I hope that in the next life, you'll still come looking for me. But I still have one final verification of my theory."

Fang Chen smiled. "That medicine... it was bitter, wasn't it?"

"Yeah. When I swallowed it, it was unbearably bitter. My heart meridians are already severed. Even you shouldn't be able to save me anymore. But that's fine. I would like to go when I am still presentable. If I had waited a few more decades, my face would have become full of wrinkles. Forget you finding me unpleasant to look at, even I wouldn't be able to stand seeing myself."

Little Yu rambled on, her voice growing softer and softer. In the end, she struggled to look at Fang Chen one last time, as if trying to carve his appearance deeply into her heart. Then she wearily closed her eyes, her breath gradually fading away.

Fang Chen supported her body. He dug her a grave and buried her. He then looked at Little Yu's soul and smiled.

"In the next life, you won't remember me."

After a moment of confusion, Little Yu looked at Fang Chen in delight. "Lord, so ghosts really do exist! I've become a ghost! That means I really can reincarnate?"

"You can, but you'll lose some memories."

"That's fine! But you'll remember me. So you'll come find me, and even if I don't remember you, I'll still follow you," Little Yu said decisively.

After a pause, she added with an ingratiating smile, "Lord, is there any way for me to remember you? Will I be able to recover my memories in the future?"

Fang Chen smiled. "You will, but not now. It'll take some years."

"That's good then. I'll wait for the time to come. Lord, hurry and take me to have a look at the Underworld. I want to see what it's like."

She was full of anticipation. She had been everywhere over the years. Personally seeing the Underworld before entering reincarnation could be counted as one final journey.

"When you took the medicine, did you ever consider that your verification might be wrong?" Fang Chen lightly waved his hand. Instantly, rolling mist surged around them, and a Yellow Springs Road appeared before Little Yu.

"I did think about it. But I felt my deduction had a ninety-percent chance of being right. You said it yourself, if there's ninety percent certainty, treat it as one hundred percent," Little Yu said proudly. "Isn't this proof that my deduction was correct? No wonder, back then, the moment I saw you, I couldn't move my legs. Turns out our bond goes beyond just one lifetime."

Fang Chen smiled and shook his head, then took Little Yu to the Enlightenment Underworld Realm.

Because of his status as a core disciple, the black-robed guards stationed by the river didn't dare to stop Fang Chen at all. They directly made way for a small boat for the two of them.

Little Yu's eyes were filled with curiosity. Everything here was far too wondrous for her.

"Lord, what's ahead? Once I cross over there, will I be reincarnated? I suddenly feel a little scared."

"Are you really scared, or just reluctant to leave?"

"Heh..."

"I'll send you here, then I need to head out for a while. So you won't reincarnate that soon. I'll have someone look after you, and when I return, I'll personally send you to the Reincarnation Division."

"Oh? Then I'll reluctantly wait for you."

***

Enlightenment God Palace.

The fifty-year appointed time had arrived. Core disciples preparing to head to the Lesser Immortal Realm to back the Ji Family arrived one after another.

"Old Nine and Junior Sister Hong still haven't arrived? Wait for them a bit longer. If they still don't come, we'll leave first and forget about them," Chen Enxue said calmly.

After a pause, she swept her gaze across the crowd and let it settle on Ji Sheng. "Where are Old Five and Old Eight?"

"Fifth Senior Brother and Eighth Senior Brother happened to run into something and went to the Ancient Forbidden Zone. They won't be able to go with us this time," Ji Sheng replied.

"That makes sense. The Divine Palace's affairs are more important," Chen Enxue murmured softly.

Before long, she saw Fang Chen's and Little Immortal Honglian's Black Dragon Boats arrive in succession.

Ji Tianjun, who had been standing behind Ji Sheng the whole time, glanced discreetly at Little Immortal Honglian, then at Fang Chen, before calmly shifting his gaze away.

"You two put away your Black Dragon Boats. This time, just take mine. Once we arrive, Old Ten can knock on the gate and have them open it," Chen Enxue said.

Soon, everyone boarded Chen Enxue's Black Dragon Boat, which departed from the Enlightenment God Palace.

Fang Chen found an opportunity to approach Chen Enxue and asked, "Third Senior Sister, why has Senior Taixu, the Lord of the Reincarnation Division, been absent lately?"

"You'll have to ask Old Eight about that. But Old Eight went to the Ancient Forbidden Zone with Old Five. Is there something you need to find him for?" Chen Enxue asked curiously.

"It's nothing important. I just had something I wanted to consult him about earlier. Since that's the case, I'll talk to him after we return from the Lesser Immortal Realm," Fang Chen answered with a smile, making an excuse before taking his leave.

Returning to his cultivation chamber, his soul left his body and went to look at Little Immortal Honglian.

"Your Highness, why did you come along this time?" Ji Tianjun asked respectfully in a low voice.

"Core Disciple Fang invited me to go to the Lesser Immortal Realm. I had nothing pressing to do, so I decided to take a look. What are you planning this time?" Little Immortal Honglian said calmly. "I know that person has been cultivating in seclusion in the Lesser Immortal Realm all this time. He isn't planning to make a move against Chen Enxue, is he?"

"Your Highness, I cannot go into details," Ji Tianjun replied softly. "That person required that even among our own kind, recognition from him is needed before anything can be revealed. Since you're going to the Lesser Immortal Realm this time, you may have a chance to meet him there. When that happens, you'll naturally understand everything."

He added in a low voice, "I can only say that he has already begun to act. I believe that before too many years pass, we will become the true masters of this realm."

"I heard that demonic calamities have appeared in some places in the Lower Six Realms. After the calamities, many people fell into demonic states and were hunted down. Is that part of his plan?" Little Immortal Honglian asked calmly.

Ji Tianjun's expression shifted slightly. He replied in a low voice, "This matter was originally extremely secret. But the methods of the Yang Gods are as extraordinary as ever. They were still discovered. Some people are constantly spreading news of demonic corruption after the disasters, causing many of our kin to be slain the moment they awaken. It's truly detestable.

"But don't worry, clearly, the plan has succeeded. Compared to before, the number of awakened kin is on a completely different level. As long as we have enough time, our clan's strength will only continue to grow!"

Little Immortal Honglian nodded casually. "So this time, you're planning to act at the Ji family?"

Upon hearing that, Ji Tianjun revealed a bitter smile. "Your Highness, I'll take my leave first."

He turned and left, clearly unwilling to reveal more.

Meanwhile, Fang Chen's expression had turned grave.

So the one they keep referring to... is it that Saint Son? The one who left Old Wang with psychological trauma?

But it didn't matter. He still had the Formation Heart. Once they reached the Lesser Immortal Realm, if that place was also sealed, he would use the Formation Heart to open a passage. Once he gained the ability to advance or retreat at will, he would be invincible.

***

Several years later.

The Black Dragon Boat slowly came to a halt within Qingming. One core disciple after another emerged from their chambers.

Chen Enxue looked toward Ji Sheng. "Old Ten, quick, knock on the gate."