In his fury, he had self-declared as Ghost King and descended to the Underworld to find the reincarnations of those Qiang’a Tribe members.
He threw them to countless ghosts to devour for fun.
Because one reincarnation was of noble status, a war broke out in the living world, and many died.
This ruined the Underworld’s yin-yang balance.
The Underworld sent forces to suppress him, but none were a match.
After killing the Qiang’a reincarnations, bored, he returned to the tomb that once imprisoned him.
The malicious spirits he gathered continued to wreak havoc in the living world.
Eventually, the Underworld reluctantly invited him—now a half-immortal—to help.
He had known this all along but had no desire to fight.
Zhang Xianyu’s unexpected arrival, not attacking outright but living in the tomb as if a guest, surprised him.
He ignored him, yet was content.
Over time, he occasionally invited Zhang Xianyu to play chess, although he had never learned.
Before reaching adulthood, he was brutally killed and sealed by his tribe, and all he knew was hatred and slaughter.
He had heard of Zhang Xianyu but did not mock, instead slowly teaching him.
He felt that if he were to kill everyone, Zhang Xianyu would be the only one he’d spare.
Unlike the hypocrites and the filthy, Zhang Xianyu was untouched by worldly desires, a true Immortal.
Though still in this world, he was only one step from ascending to immortality.
Most people thought ascension was a myth, but he had seen it with his own eyes.
He spent dull days in the tomb, while wars and massacres outside never ceased.
The death of the Qiang’a reincarnation sparked fights among several nations.
According to the Book of Life and Death, the reincarnated chief should have lived to old age and united the neighboring countries.
His untimely death caused endless conflicts, many deaths, and numerous occurrences of undead and spirit possession.
The Underworld’s Book of Life and Death was disrupted, leaving countless restless souls wailing in the graveyards day and night.
The chaos lasted over a decade.
Even when Lin Wushui wanted to intervene, he lost control.
Many cultivators died for this cause, including himself.
Lin Wushui could still remember arriving like a crane riding the wind, fluttering in flowing robes.
Only one step from ascension, he spent all his cultivation to pacify the souls, quell the hatred, and suppress this disaster he had caused.
At that time, he felt only anger, devouring any defiant ghosts but feeling ashamed before Zhang Xianyu.
When the Underworld wanted to bring him for judgment, he refused, shielding Zhang Xianyu and returning together to the tomb.
He never left again.
He thought death was the end but did not expect to have another life and meet Zhang Xianyu reincarnated.
They had already connected hearts, something he had once been too afraid or ashamed to hope for.
Lin Wushui, regaining his memories, dared not meet Zhang Xianyu.
If he had no memories, he could still be the caring, protective Lin Wushui.
But now, remembering everything, he felt guilt and shame.
When Zhang Xianyu found him, he instinctively fled.
He feared that Zhang Xianyu would remember and feared facing him.
His thoughts twisted and turned.
After speaking, he nervously looked at Zhang Xianyu, who seemed unsurprised, as if already expecting this.
Zhang Xianyu took his hand and said slowly and firmly, “Wushui is already dead. You are Lin Wushui, who studied at Taiqing Temple since childhood. You have never done a bad thing.”
Lin Wushui froze, staring steadily at him.
Zhang Xianyu smiled and led him out, “These are all old, forgotten things. What difference does it make whether you remember or not?”
His eyes were bright, “Since it’s in the past, let it be past.”
Lin Wushui obediently followed, and with each word Zhang Xianyu spoke, the smile on his face grew.
By the time he finished, they were walking side by side as usual, their hands intertwined.
Zhang Xianyu then glanced at the body identical to the usual one and worried, “Can you still come out?”
Lin Wushui stopped.
This body was the one “Wushui” later recreated with violent energy.
After death, the corpse neither decayed nor rotted.
When Lin Wushui’s soul entered the tomb, it was unknowingly drawn into this body, awakening memories.
Lin Wushui tried but couldn’t leave.
Zhang Xianyu scratched his head, thinking that if he took this body out, it might cause trouble.
He said, “Let me try.”
Just as Lin Wushui nodded, he felt an electric current surge from Zhang Xianyu’s hand through his body.
Before he could react, the body turned into black smoke, and the previous body smoldered and collapsed.
Lin Wushui was silent for a moment, then dragged the fresh corpse back to the tomb chamber.
He placed the body into the coffin.
The black smoke wrapped the bronze coffin.
After a moment, the coffin and corpse turned to ashes.
The black smoke returned to Zhang Xianyu.
He glanced back one last time and then left with Lin Wushui.
Having been here before, the winding tomb passages felt like a straight path to him.
If the formations were as Lin Wushui said, they were probably set by him—otherwise, he would have no reason to be so familiar.
But regardless, Zhang Xianyu no longer wanted to investigate.
Just as he hurried to leave, a painful human cry echoed from another tomb passage.
He stopped in his tracks.
Someone else was here?
He thought of the three people who had left earlier; perhaps they had turned back after him.
Zhang Xianyu didn’t want the tomb’s secrets revealed, but now someone was inside.
Unsure if they had seen anything, he frowned and thought for a moment, then said, “First, get them out.”
The voices belonged to Luo Laosan and his group.
They hadn’t gone far before discovering a chamber full of treasures.
Greed overtook them, leading to a quarrel over dividing the spoils.
Luo Laosan barely controlled them, promising to share the loot after getting it out.
But as soon as they grabbed the treasures, the items turned into venomous snakes and fierce beasts, chasing them desperately.
Only then did Luo Laosan realize they had triggered a formation.
Though powerful, the formation wasn’t lethal.
Luo Laosan’s group endured bites and attacks while figuring out how to break it.
Before they escaped, Zhang Xianyu found them.
He easily dismantled the formation.
Luo Laosan’s group was badly injured, lying on the ground groaning.
Luo Laosan’s eyes shifted as he scrutinized Zhang Xianyu.
“You’re Danqing’s classmate?”
His memory was good—he recognized him as Luo Danqing’s schoolmate, whom he had seen from afar at the school gate before.
Zhang Xianyu said nothing, his gaze sharpening, “Why are you here?”
Luo Laosan smiled, “This is the tomb left by the Luo family ancestors. Little brother, you barged in without reason—why question me, the owner?”
Zhang Xianyu glanced at him coldly, “You say this is the Luo family ancestor’s tomb, but there’s not even a path to find it?”
He smirked, “Since you don’t need my help, stay here then.”
As he spoke, the surrounding illusions reactivated.
Luo Laosan’s expression changed, “What do you want?”
Zhang Xianyu slightly turned and repeated, “I asked why you’re here.”
Luo Laosan gritted his teeth, “Our ancestor left a message that treasures are hidden in this tomb. We came looking for treasure!”
Zhang Xianyu didn’t believe him.
The tomb barely had chambers, let alone burial items.
Besides, this was Wushui’s final resting place—it didn’t seem like there were treasures.
He raised an eyebrow, staring at Luo Laosan, “If you won’t tell the truth, forget it.”
He turned to leave.
The illusions thickened.
Luo Laosan, unsure of Zhang Xianyu’s strength, called out, “The truth is, we’re here for an Immortal’s remains.”
Zhang Xianyu paused—an Immortal’s remains?
His mind flashed to the blue-clothed man turned to dust.
Before he could react, Lin Wushui, wrapping around his wrist, suddenly attacked fiercely.
Luo Laosan tensed to resist but was no match.
After a brief scuffle, the group fell unconscious.
Lin Wushui was still angry but was held back by Zhang Xianyu.
He belatedly realized the Immortal’s remains meant the corpse from his past life.
According to Lin Wushui, he hadn’t truly become an Immortal, so how could there be Immortal remains?
Lin Wushui seemed unclear about his own past.
Zhang Xianyu, unable to recall anything either, decided not to dwell on it.
After all, that corpse had turned to dust and scattered with the wind.
“Let’s get them out first,” Zhang Xianyu said to Lin Wushui, “Then call the police to seal this place.”
Digging so deep under the ground, if there were houses above, it could collapse someday.
There was nothing left in the tomb anyway.
The only two remains had turned to ashes, so there was no worry about trouble.
As for Luo Laosan and the others, once outside, hand them to the police.
Zhang Xianyu thought for a moment and broke the formation to let Lin Wushui lead the group out.
With the illusions cleared, the tomb shrank considerably.
It looked no different from a normal burial chamber now.
He turned and left.
Once above ground, Zhang Xianyu called the police.
The police arrived quickly.
Luo Laosan and his group were tied up and thrown on the ground.
Zhang Xianyu prepared a fabricated story, saying he noticed his classmate acting strange recently and came out of concern, only to find his friend held captive.
He claimed the group had dug a long tunnel underground but didn’t know their intentions.
Pointing to the tunnel entrance, police immediately investigated.
When they returned, their expressions changed, and Luo Laosan’s group was handcuffed and taken to police vehicles.
Zhang Xianyu planned to give a statement but worried about Luo Danqing.
He decided to take the injured to the hospital first and return to the police station the next day.
After the police left, Zhang Xianyu took Luo Danqing to Taiqing Temple overnight.
Luo Danqing remained unconscious.
Zhang Xianyu checked and found his spirit stable enough, intending to ask Xie Dingxin for help.
This kind of soul-seizing evil technique was unfamiliar to him.
Since Lin Wushui said Taiqing Temple had records, there should be treatment methods.
Before dawn, they arrived at Taiqing Temple.
Xie Dingxin was awakened by a call and appeared with a look of grievance.
After Zhang Xianyu explained briefly and helped carry the unconscious Luo Danqing from the car, Xie Dingxin snapped to attention.
He hurriedly took them to the guest quarters to settle Luo Danqing, then summoned the temple master.