Chen Changsheng opened his eyes once more. His gaze fell upon Jian Shenghua, finding little Karmic Retribution clinging to him.

This meant Jian Shenghua might have spoken truly about not committing evil.

Chen Changsheng recalled those earlier words and asked, “You said you and White Hair share one soul. What did you mean?”

Jian Shenghua said, “Soul-severing technique. External Incarnation.”

“The Remnant Soul in your hand came from White Hair’s Soul. But White Hair himself is also an External Incarnation. And I… I’m no different from White Hair.”

“Meaning, we are essentially the same person. Yet we are also distinct.”

Chen Changsheng asked, “How can I tell what’s true?”

Jian Shenghua said, “Your Honor may examine this Ghost Cultivator’s Divine Sense.”

“Clear your mind.”

Chen Changsheng lifted a pointing finger.

Jian Shenghua’s Divine Sense then became visible.

A glance confirmed something truly unusual. This person’s Divine Sense did indeed appear cleaved from something larger.

Could it all be true?

To Chen Changsheng, it likely wasn’t so simple.

He withdrew his gaze and asked, “Then who is your original body?”

“In his early years, the original body was often called the Demon Sovereign. Also known as the Summoning Demon Divine Monarch.”

“How many External Incarnations like yourselves exist?”

“The number ninety-nine. Eighty-one individuals. Ghost Cultivators, Corpses Cultivators, Blood Cultivators, Demon Cultivators… even Cultivators walking the righteous path aren’t missing.”

After hearing this, Chen Changsheng realized the matter probably exceeded anything he’d imagined.

The Black Pagoda murmured, “I think I’ve heard of that title before.”

Chen Changsheng inquired, “Do you know about these Demon Sovereign incarnations?”

“That? I don’t. I merely recall hearing the name. When I heard it, I cannot remember. I likely never met the person.”

Chen Changsheng asked no more of the Black Pagoda, turning instead to Jian Shenghua. “I still have doubts about certain matters. You may need to endure some hardship, Sir.”

Jian Shenghua did not refuse. “It’s no trouble.”

Chen Changsheng raised his hand, summoning a small flower.

“Please enter inside. Within this flower lies a world of its own.”

“One flower, one world. Your Divine Ability is remarkable, Your Honor.”

“You flatter me.”

Jian Shenghua entered the flower.

Chen Changsheng then took the Black Pagoda and left Mangxue City via Sword Flight.

He needed to ask Manyue.

If this were true, a great upheaval was likely brewing.

The capacity to split into ninety-nine incarnations… just one injured Blood Cultivator had been formidable. How extraordinary must the Demon Sovereign himself then be?

He reached Qingshan City at dawn.

Chen Changsheng first confined the Remnant Soul within the Phoenix Flower also. He then summoned Manyue and asked about the Demon Sovereign.

Manyue’s eyes reflected puzzlement. “Could anyone in this world truly split their soul into ninety-nine fragments?”

Chen Changsheng stated, “Yes!”

“Hmm?”

Manyue pressed, “You’ve seen it?”

Chen Changsheng didn’t answer. He knew he could achieve it – sufficient materials could forge a Mortal Body, Soul Possession was possible without one.

Manyue stated, “I don’t know of this matter. Yu Xuan never spoke of it to me. I’ve heard no tales of any ‘Summoning Demon Divine Monarch.’”

Chen Changsheng found this strange. Not only had the Black Pagoda merely heard rumors, Manyue herself knew nothing.

Chen Changsheng said, “If such a person truly existed, Yu Xuan couldn’t suppress him beneath the Spirit Cage either?”

“It seems likely,” Manyue replied.

Chen Changsheng rubbed his chin. Perhaps other sources held answers.

Someone at Tianji Mountain might know.

Chen Changsheng hung the other flower on the tree.

He placed no restrictions on Jian Shenghua’s movement, saying only, “You may move freely within my courtyard when no one is here. Also, please restrain your Yin Energy, as locals here are predominantly Mortals.”

Jian Shenghua replied, “Understood.”

Chen Changsheng then asked, “Earlier, you said you need the Black Pagoda to restore your freedom. How can it help you?”

“The ancient pagoda itself cannot help me. But a person can. Finding this person requires the Black Pagoda. Many years ago, among we eighty-one, one escaped the Demon Sovereign’s control. This one walked the righteous path, once sealed with us beneath the Spirit Cage.”

“During our escape, Heavenly Tribulations were constant. Cultivators besieged us. In the chaos, he vanished. We saw no other choice but this course.”

Chen Changsheng asked, “You claim you faced trouble because you’re an External Incarnation of the Demon Sovereign. But what of him? Why him?”

Jian Shenghua shook his head. “This I do not know.”

Chen Changsheng turned to Manyue.

Manyue recalled that a righteous Cultivator was indeed sealed beneath the Spirit Cage. But time eroded him; his Mortal Body perished entirely. Only a wisp of his Remnant Soul escaped.

“All eighty-one of you were suppressed without exception?”

“Not entirely. Some perished long ago. Only fifty-three remained when sealed beneath the Spirit Cage. The passage of years claimed many more. Barely thirty survived our escape. How many endured the Heavenly Tribulations… likely not more than thirty.”

Chen Changsheng pondered.

Though Jian Shenghua’s words seemed reasonable and flawless, Chen Changsheng remained cautious. He didn’t surrender the Black Pagoda.

The Demon Sovereign intrigued him profoundly.

What kind of person would devise such a method of Cultivation? Fragmenting into ninety-nine, then uniting again – it fit the title ‘Demon Sovereign.’

Chen Changsheng resolved to visit Tianji Mountain soon. Their knowledge would be vast. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

A nearly nine-thousand-year-old Immortal Mountain surely held records on such things.

As the sky began to brighten fully.

The courtyard grew silent. Unlike yesterday, a small, yellow-leafed flower now hung on the tree.

Three differently colored blooms adorned the branches. It was not beautiful. It looked ugly.

Chen Changsheng felt unsatisfied. He gave the Phoenix Flower more ‘water.’

He made it continue sleeping.

He thought of asking the Blood Immortal but saw little point. The creature likely wouldn’t yield – truly unafraid of death.

Though no External Incarnation of the Blood Immortal lurked in Mangyue City, such a being surely kept multiple paths open.

Chen Changsheng exhaled slowly. He went early for a bowl of noodles.

Qingshan City buzzed with activity that day. The market seemed livelier than ever before.

Chen Changsheng wondered what the occasion might be. He asked a vendor.

“You don’t know?”

“A Temple Fair tonight! Folks have come from far away.”

“A Temple Fair?” Chen Changsheng considered this. “I’ve never heard of it before.”

“Only started the year before last! Honoring the Dragon King! For protection and abundant harvests!”

Realization dawned on Chen Changsheng. That was it.

Probably a response to the drought years ago in Abyss River.