Su Bai was silent.
The power of the Celestial Venerable could move mountains and seas, change the very heavens and earth, bring the dead back to life and restore flesh to white bones. But to truly resurrect the dead… that, she could not do, and had never done before.
In the Realm of Immortality, there was no such thing as reincarnation. There had always only been a rumor: after people died, their souls would descend into the Nine Netherworlds, the resting place of all things.
“Little brother, you must live well.” Su Bai half-squatted, gently stroking the little boy’s head. “If your parents could see you from the other side, they would surely want you to live on. You are still young, your path ahead is long, your life—”
“No! I don’t want a life! I don’t want a future!” The little boy shook his head desperately, madness filling his eyes. “I just want to bring my parents back to life! I want them to stay with me forever!”
Su Bai shook her head helplessly and sighed again. “I’m sorry, I can’t do that. Little brother, you must live on.”
“You have the talent for cultivation. If you work hard, you can live for decades more. You’ll marry, have children, grow up bit by bit. Time will quietly heal all these wounds.”
The little boy’s eyes brimmed with tears. Suddenly, as if struck by an idea, he jerked his head up, a glimmer of hope flickering in his black eyes, like a drowning man grabbing at the last straw.
“Immortal, I heard from the [Divine Emperor’s Soldiers] that if you reach a certain realm in cultivation, you can change the very heavens and earth. Does that mean there’s hope to bring my parents back?”
Su Bai sighed in her heart, unable to bear crushing his hopes. So, she nodded.
“Really?” The little boy was overjoyed. “That’s wonderful! Thank you, Immortal, I will work hard to cultivate! I will become very, very strong!”
After saying this, the little boy turned and squeezed through the crowd, running toward his home in the village.
For the little boy’s rudeness, the old village chief apologized fearfully.
Su Bai waved it off, showing she didn’t mind.
Surrounded by the crowd, she patrolled the entire village. At some point, two [Divine Emperor’s Soldiers] appeared carrying chicken, duck, fish, and meat, enthusiastically entertaining their former superior.
Using clouds as a table and mist for chairs, they sat suspended in midair, calmly at ease. Su Bai held a cup in her right hand, chopsticks in her left, leisurely tasting the delicacies before her.
She looked down at the village, at the mortals plowing their fields, until her gaze landed on a room radiating cultivation energy. Su Bai suddenly paused, a flash of realization rising within her heart.
The [Celestial Emperor’s Spirit-Sealing Array] sealed the Five Domains and the Two Heavens, severing the path to immortality. At the same time, it ensured there would be no more natural or man-made disasters in the world, granting mortals a peaceful and stable life.
But would mortals be content with that? Would they stop there? Would they settle for the status quo?
No!
Absolutely not!
The human heart is ever-changing, its desires endless!
Resurrecting the dead—is it truly impossible for the God-Transforming Celestial Venerable?
Yes!
Impossible.
But what about those at the level of Dao-Fusing Immortal Lord, or the True Immortal of Longevity?
Is it truly impossible for them?
Not necessarily.
Su Bai fixed her gaze on the room exuding waves of cultivation energy and suddenly laughed aloud: Even if it’s truly impossible, would others not still try?
What is a path? When enough people walk it, it becomes a path!
The [Celestial Emperor’s Spirit-Sealing Array] could lock the Five Domains and Two Heavens, could block the road to immortality, could restrain billions upon billions of mortals, but it just could not seal this kind of thought.
And the most terrifying thing was precisely this kind of thought!
How could it stop people from their obsessions?
It could never stop the desires rising in people’s hearts!
Her laughter soared through the air, echoing long and far. The two [Divine Emperor’s Soldiers] looked at each other, not knowing what strange wind possessed their former superior.
“Master, what are you laughing at? Why are you so happy?” A man’s voice rang out abruptly. Zhou Xuan had somehow appeared at Su Bai’s side, the black spear in his hand still stained with fresh blood.
Su Bai picked up the wine jug, poured herself a cup, then pointed with a smile at the man in white robes with golden patterns. “I’m laughing at you.”
“At me?” Zhou Xuan raised an eyebrow. “What is there about your disciple to laugh at?”
“I laugh at your overestimating yourself, at your wishful thinking, and at your inevitable future defeat.”
“The [Celestial Emperor’s Spirit-Sealing Array] can lock the Five Domains and Two Heavens, can block the road to immortality, can restrain billions upon billions of mortals, but it cannot lock away people’s wild fancies!”
“People are not rocks, nor are they waves. People have thoughts. Often, it is wild thoughts that are most terrifying, and most powerful!”
“I believe, in the future, there will come a day—not when one person fights alone, but when many unite as one—to shatter this great array, destroy the Azure Emperor Divine Palace, and topple your throne!”
“You cannot stop it, the Azure Emperor Divine Palace cannot stop it, nor can I stop it, and that damn array certainly cannot stop it—because you cannot lock away the wild fancies in people’s hearts!”
After yet another round of tedious cultivation, the little boy sensed only the faintest increase in his energy. He sighed, but quickly pulled himself together, brimming with determination.
He must cultivate well!
He must resurrect his parents!
He must live together with them, forever and ever!
The little boy slowly opened his eyes, still a bit dazed. Once he saw his surroundings clearly, he noticed that at some point, a Daoist in a blue robe had appeared in the room.
Mist seemed to swirl around the Daoist’s body, his face hidden, impossible to see clearly.
“Who are you?” The little boy blinked, curiosity and hope shining in his eyes. He asked softly, “Are you an immortal too?”
The blood figure swayed slightly, as if shaking its head. A deep voice sounded in the room, “Child, I am here to offer you two choices.”
“Come with me, and your cultivation will progress much faster than it does now. But the path will be full of hardships, pain, and even life-threatening danger.”
“Stay here, and your cultivation will still improve, but with your D-grade talent, it will be extremely slow. However, you’ll have a stable and relatively happy life.”
“Child, choose.”
“Can I resurrect my parents?” The little boy asked the question that mattered most to him.
The blood figure fell silent.
“I don’t know, but perhaps there is a sliver of hope.”
“Alright, I’ll go with you.” The little boy nodded, and reached out his hand to the blue-robed Daoist. Meeting the boy’s pure and innocent eyes, the blood figure hesitated for the first time.
“Child, have you truly thought it through? This path is strewn with thorns, very hard and very painful, not easy to walk.”
“Your talent is only D-grade, not a born Dao body, and your comprehension is average. This road will be especially difficult for you.”
“Immortal, I’m sure.” The little boy nodded firmly. “I want to resurrect my parents. No matter how hard or painful, I’m not afraid.”
“Immortal, how should I address you?”
“Mr. Bai,” the blood figure replied, taking the little boy’s hand and asking, “Child, what’s your name?”
“My parents call me Wu Xiao’er.”
“I’ll give you a proper name.”
“The halberd is the mightiest of all weapons. Those who wield it can charge through a thousand armies unhindered. From now on, your name shall be Wu Ji. I hope that on your path of cultivation, you too can cut through all obstacles and win victory after victory.”
“Alright, Immortal.”
“Very well. From now on, I am Wu Ji.”
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