CHAPTER 1034: CHAPTER 71: GHOST IMMORTAL AND IMMORTAL

Xiao Jie stood on the cloud top, his face solemn. He slowly closed his eyes, cautiously extended his immense Immortal Sense, and meticulously perceived the vast, complex, and exquisitely operating heavenly laws below.

The moment his Immortal Sense touched the surface of the Sea of Reincarnation, he felt a huge, incomparable suction and indescribable vast Dao charm. Countless mysteries about life, death, reincarnation, rebirth, and extinction surged through his perception like a torrent. He "saw" the foundation forming the Nether River and Yellow Springs, which is the purest of Yin and Netherworld Qi.

What sustains the operation of that great vortex is the deeper laws of reincarnation, involving time, space, and the fundamental source of souls; countless law strands as fine as silk extend from the vortex, connecting with every corner of the Netherworld, even penetrating the void to associate with the life and death of all living things in the mortal world... The complexity of its structure and the grandeur of its power far exceeded his previous imagination!

"So peculiar! So grand! So... dangerous!" Xiao Jie hurriedly withdrew his Immortal Sense; just by probing the vortex’s periphery for a moment, he felt his Immortal Soul almost being pulled in by that terrifying suction, with a ghastly sense of being assimilated and decomposed into the most elemental soul energy. His heart trembled, secretly shocked: the power of the laws of the Sea of Reincarnation is probably one of the most primal forces of this realm. Even an Immortal who dares to wantonly spy or interfere with its operation will benefit nothing!

Though in theory, Immortals are eternal and indestructible, it’s only theoretical. The past battle against the Outer Heaven Demon caused significant casualties among the Gu Yun Immortals, showing that even Immortals are not invincible.

So caution is wise.

He opened his eyes and looked at Ye Luo again, his gaze already different. In his Immortal Sense perception, he could clearly "see" several invisible, intangible, yet incredibly tenacious pale golden law strands, extending from the Sea of Reincarnation below and tightly entwining Ye Luo’s soul body’s core. This connection is profound in essence, ordinary people, ghosts cannot perceive it, let alone sever it.

Even with the power of an Immortal, Xiao Jie is powerless.

This is extremely troublesome. In this situation, even forcibly sending Ye Luo into the Reincarnation Channel, these law strands would pull her back like anchor chains, possibly even triggering backlash from the reincarnation laws.

However, though this force is a constraint, it is not without opportunity. Fleeting fragments mentioned in the "Dark and Mysterious Record" flashed quickly through Xiao Jie’s mind.

Therein lies the discussion of "Ghost Immortals." The so-called Ghost Immortals refer to those powerful souls who are unwilling or unable to enter reincarnation, who, through special cultivation methods, refine their True Spirit from the Yin Soul Body, coalesce their Yin God, ultimately transcending the Ghost Path, achieving Immortal Business. Though without a yang body, not entering the orthodox Immortal Class, they can attain Eternal Life, freed from the constraints of reincarnation, and roam among heaven and earth. The "Dark and Mysterious Record" notes, the path of Ghost Immortals is extremely difficult and must align with the laws of the Netherworld, only those with great willpower and great fate can succeed. Ye Luo, carrying the Yellow Springs mark and closely linked to the laws of the Netherworld, might find, with an authentic cultivation method for Ghost Immortals, the shackles transformed into a stepping stone, traversing this unique path of cultivation.

However, the "Dark and Mysterious Record" only briefly mentions this and does not elaborate on the specific Cultivation Technique. Xiao Jie himself has no research in this field and is not fully confident.

He must return to Gu Yun State to inquire with other Immortals to confirm his conjecture.

"Ye Luo," Xiao Jie pondered and spoke, his tone sincere, "I may be able to find you a cultivation method for Ghost Immortals. If you can cultivate successfully through this, transcend the Ghost Path, you might be able to free yourself from the power of the Yellow Springs, gaining true freedom. This is the best solution I can think of. However... I must be honest, I know very little about this path and have no absolute assurance I can find a technique suitable for you or ensure you can cultivate successfully."

Ye Luo listened, but she smiled sweetly, her cool face blooming with the light of trust: "You don’t need to be so cautious. I am certain, as long as you agree to do it, you will definitely find a way. Hasn’t it always been like that?"

Upon hearing these words, Xiao Jie couldn’t help but be stunned, looking at Ye Luo’s unreserved look of trust, a complex warmth surged in his heart. The weight of being unconditionally trusted, the deep moving of being connected as confidants, and the strong mission feeling arising that he absolutely must not fail this trust. He took a deep breath and heavily nodded: "Alright! I’ll handle this matter."

Then, he turned to I Want to Be Immortal: "Cheng Xian, for you, I also have a plan, but likewise, it requires your own decision. Come, take off your helmet and let me see."

I Want to Be Immortal obeyed, holding that heavy Soul Suppressing Helmet with both hands and exerted upward to remove it. At the moment the helmet parted from the body, there was none of the usual ghostly smoke-like illusion, and exposed was not a vague soul body face.

Beneath the helmet was a mass of pure energy, constantly flowing and flickering with faint golden sparks! This energy roughly outlined human features, but they were hazy and indistinct, drifting as if they might scatter with the slightest breeze. Only the core held a slightly more concentrated bit of spiritual light, like a candle flame, burning unextinguished. Threads of pure incense energy, imbued with the power of faith, seeped out from the void, swirling around the energy mass and barely maintaining its shape, yet unable to truly solidify or make it visible.

The heavy armor forged from Nether Iron appeared more like a vessel to imprison and protect this fragile energy core.

"So it is indeed..." Xiao Jie understood. Earlier, when he heard the Judge mention that ’I Want to Be Immortal’ bore the power of incense, he had a hunch. Seeing it now with his own eyes further confirmed his thoughts.

He began to explain: "When people live in the world, they have a flesh and blood body as a shelter, protecting the soul. Once the body collapses, the soul loses its anchor, becoming exceedingly fragile, unable to exist long in the mortal world, and thus is cast into this Netherworld nourished by Yin Energy, transforming into a Yin Soul. The Yin Soul Body is essentially ephemeral and weak; even with cultivation of Netherworld Techniques and absorption of Yin Energy, it only strengthens the Yin nature, easily influenced by the Laws of the Netherworld, with limited future potential."

"But you are different," Xiao Jie pointed at the energy core of ’I Want to Be Immortal’, "After your death, your soul did not merely absorb Yin Energy. Rather, due to your pre-existing accumulation or some fortuitous chance, it became closely connected with the Incense Fire Wish Power of those who believed in you. These desire powers, gathered by the telekinesis of the masses, have their own divine peculiarity, enveloping your soul and preventing it from being fully eroded and assimilated by the Yin Energy. However, this desire power does not seem vast or pure enough to spontaneously reconstruct a stable ’Divine Body’ for you, which is why your soul is in this dispersed energy state, relying entirely on this specially crafted armor to bind and stabilize it."

"In the long term, although you avoid becoming an ordinary ghost, you would still struggle to advance. Yet, danger and opportunity coexist; this might very well be where your opportunity lies." Xiao Jie’s eyes sparked with the light of deduction, "I once perused ancient books at the Scripture Pavilion in Gu Yun State and learned that besides the Immortal Path, there is also the ’Divine Dao’. Through the worship of all beings, incense transforms into divinity. If you can find the correct cultivation method for ’Immortals’, you might harness this Incense Fire Wish Power to condense a Divine Body, open the Sea of Consciousness, and forge a unique path to achieve godhood through incense faith and then verify Immortal Business with the Divine Dao. This would be the way of ’Immortals’, different in foundation from the orthodox Immortal Path, yet reaching great freedom and Great Divine Power at high levels."

He looked ’I Want to Be Immortal’ in the eye, "Of course, this method, like the Ghost Immortal Path, is something I only know about generally, without detailed cultivation techniques or absolute certainty. Whether you are willing to give up this reincarnation opportunity to take a chance on this opportunity is entirely up to you."

"Feng, is there even a choice?" The energy mass of ’I Want to Be Immortal’ fluctuated with excitement, yet the voice was exceptionally firm, "I believe in you! Just like Sister Ye Luo! If you say it can be done, then it will be done! I’ll team up with you!"

Xiao Jie looked at the two of them, feeling both touched and heavily responsible, letting out a bitter laugh and a sigh. He would rather they, like others, choose the simple reincarnation option, sparing him much trouble. But as a close friend, how could he not do his best to fight for this sliver of opportunity for them?

"In that case, I will do my utmost to find you suitable cultivation techniques." Xiao Jie finally promised solemnly, "This means you two will have to stay in the Netherworld for now. But don’t worry, I have some rapport with Yama and will ask him to take care of you, to transfer you away from the dangerous frontline and arrange for you to have a safe post, to quietly wait and prepare for cultivation."

After their discussion concluded, Xiao Jie mounted a cloud, taking Ye Luo and ’I Want to Be Immortal’, transforming into a beam of clear light to return to Senluo Ghost City. Along the way, all ghost officials bowed in salute, not daring to obstruct them.

Back at the Soul Welcoming Hall, those waiting had all been eagerly anticipating.

Xiao Jie nodded towards the Judge standing to the side: "Thank you, Your Excellency, for arranging the reincarnation matters."

The Judge bowed respectfully in return: "The Immortal is too courteous, it is within my duties. Please follow me."

"Is there a need to go to the Sea of Reincarnation?" Xiao Jie asked.

"No need for that much trouble." The Judge’s face showed a slight semblance of a ’smile’, "The Reincarnation Hall is established within Senluo Ghost City, containing the Rebirth Pool, specially authorized by His Majesty Yama for meritorious souls or special circumstances to access a convenient path. Your friends can all use this path for reincarnation, avoiding many hardships of the Sea of Reincarnation, and can more precisely determine the fortune depth of their place of reincarnation."

Hearing this, Xiao Jie understood, indeed "it pays to have connections" in the Netherworld version. He nodded and said: "Very well, please lead the way."