"Ascending to immortality through sword liberation?" Chen Shi was stunned.

Sword liberation was a form of Corpse Liberation Immortality, also a type of concealment technique. There were many methods of corpse liberation. First, one refined a weapon—such as a sword, staff, or bamboo—into one's own form. When one's lifespan ran out, this form would be used to fool the underworld officers, allowing the true body to roam free.

Back then, when Grandpa had arranged his own funeral, the false death method he used was a form of corpse liberation.

If one chose sword liberation, they would need to kill themselves with a divine weapon, abandon their physical body to cultivate as a Ghost Immortal, and finally unite their Primordial Spirit with the Dao. This method disregarded the physical body, seeking only the Primordial Spirit's Dao Unification.

The Water-Fire Refining Art, on the other hand, used the method of water-fire refining to preserve the physical body, a major difference from sword liberation.

"If one unites the Primordial Spirit with the Dao, perhaps there would be no possibility of demonic transformation," Chen Shi thought to himself.

But he immediately thought that Dao Unification also required the Realm of Emptiness. Without the original star chart to calculate the correct positions of the stars in the sky, one couldn't truly achieve Dao Unification, and they would likely still undergo demonic transformation.

So, had these several patriarchs of Tai Hua Qing Palace truly ascended to immortality through sword liberation?

If they had become Ghost Immortals, had they undergone demonic transformation?

Blue Goat said, "We've dug up almost all of the sect masters' graves. The empty ones are the Fourth Generation Sect Master Guangxian, the Seventh Generation Sect Master Daocheng, the Sixteenth Generation Sect Master Jingxu, and the Seventy-Eighth Generation Sect Master Dancheng. Your grandfather suspected they had become Ghost Immortals, already achieved Dao Unification, and existed long in this world."

He paused, then said, "I've eaten the grave grass on their tombs. It was bland and tasteless, not good in flavor."

Chen Shi was stunned. "Can you tell if a grave is empty from the grave grass?"

Blue Goat said, "Mostly, yes. Just now, I chewed on many sect masters' grave grass and found that the sect master your grandfather almost killed had grave grass that was also somewhat bland... Black Pot, wasn't it a bit bland?"

Black Pot stood up, his expression serious. "Woof."

Chen Shi blinked. "Could it be that this sect master also used corpse liberation to become a Ghost Immortal?"

Blue Goat said, "We'll know when we dig him up."

He said excitedly, "I hid a few Luoyang shovels in Blue Goat Palace; they probably haven't been found. Black Pot, help keep watch!"

Black Pot nodded eagerly.

A Daoist came to lead Chen Shi to arrange lodging for the night. Chen Shi asked, "Junior brother, is Yu Lingzi on the mountain?"

The young Daoist said, "After Senior Brother Yu Lingzi returned from the Western Capital, his temperament changed greatly. When he sparred with a few senior brothers from Tai Hua Qing Palace, he broke their fingers. The sect master punished him with confinement; he's in the Demon Sealing Cave now."

Chen Shi asked, "Where is the Demon Sealing Cave?"

The young Daoist pointed to a nearby mountain peak. "It's on Wenxu Peak. The cave entrance is where the billowing demonic energy comes out."

Chen Shi looked toward Wenxu Peak. Under the sunlight, the mountain radiated a refined, elegant aura, but demonic energy faintly seeped out from within.

"Yu Lingzi is a Daoist of my Celestial Court. If he's kept locked up on Wenxu Peak, isn't that wasting his time?"

Chen Shi left his lodging and went straight to Blue Goat Palace to find Blue Goat, intending to ask him to plead for Yu Lingzi's release. But he saw that everyone in Tai Hua Qing Palace was busy, with Daoists preparing for the celebration of the Immortal Sword's return to the palace.

Blue Goat sat high on the altar, a big red flower hanging around his neck, looking like a mascot with a face full of utter despair.

Surrounding him were Daoists and villagers from the countryside, who had offered oxen and horses as sacrifices to Blue Goat.

Some of the sacrifices were simply goats, bleating loudly.

This was just a rehearsal. For the real celebration of the Immortal Sword's return to the palace, they would also need to invite the court and experts from other holy lands to come and witness it, making it even livelier.

Seeing this, Chen Shi didn't approach. Then, a gentle voice came from beside him. "Are you... Chen Shi?"

Chen Shi turned around. The speaker was a beautiful woman who looked only about twenty years old, with skin as smooth as congealed fat, bright eyes, and white teeth. Her clothing wasn't a Daoist robe but a light yellow long dress made of thin gauze, hanging from her shoulders to her ankles, baring her arms. Silk ribbons were wound under her armpits and drifted behind her head.

She had an immortal-like aura, ethereal and radiant. Light sparkled in her eyes—whether from the sunlight or the brightness of her gaze was unclear.

Chen Shi nodded lightly, smiling. "I am Chen Shi. And you are, miss?"

The beautiful woman looked him up and down, smiling. "You've grown up. The first time I saw you, you were lying in a coffin... You look alike, more and more like your grandfather when he was young. I am Qiongyang. Did you send Patriarch Blue Goat and the True Martial Exorcising Sword back?"

Chen Shi said, "It was me. But Uncle Blue Goat is only staying for a few days; he doesn't plan to stay long. Miss Qiongyang, you..."

Suddenly, he remembered something and stared blankly at the beautiful woman. "You... you are Patriarch Qiongyang?"

The beautiful woman couldn't help but laugh. "Why are you so surprised? Did your grandfather mention me to you? When you were in trouble, your grandfather came to me and asked me to save you."

Chen Shi found it hard to believe. This woman before him was Patriarch Qiongyang, who had once had a romantic relationship with his grandfather, Chen Yindu. He had thought Patriarch Qiongyang would be an old crone or an elderly Daoist nun, not such a fairy-like figure!

Chen Shi honestly said, "Grandpa never mentioned you, Patriarch."

Patriarch Qiongyang's expression darkened. "Which woman did he mention? Was it Mistress Lingsu of the Celestial Master Mansion? Or Li Huazhi of the Li family? Or Zhang Qiaoxi of the Zhang family? Or the Venerable Nun Huiyin? It certainly wasn't Huali; she was just a little girl..."

Chen Shi cautiously said, "Grandpa never mentioned any woman's name to me."

Patriarch Qiongyang sighed in relief and smiled. "It seems that in his eyes, none of us were as important as his Dao. But that's fine; it saves me from having to compete with them."

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Chen Shi. "It's a good thing you came this time. If it were your father, I'm afraid I couldn't help but make things difficult for him. Hmph, having a child with some unknown wild woman!"

Chen Shi smiled. "Patriarch, my father wouldn't dare come. Patriarch, Yu Lingzi is locked up in the Demon Sealing Cave. Can you get him out?"

"Yu Lingzi? He was sent to the Demon Sealing Cave for cultivation because he broke a few senior brothers' fingers."

Patriarch Qiongyang said, "This is a small matter."

She waved her hand, summoned a Daoist, took out a jade talisman, and said, "Take my personal edict to Wenxu Peak and release Yu Lingzi."

The Daoist looked troubled. "Yu Lingzi injured the sect master's disciples. The sect master was the one who locked him up..."

Patriarch Qiongyang's face turned cold as frost. She sneered, "If I tell you to go, you go. Why the chatter? If Chang Ying won't release him, I'll lock him in the Demon Sealing Cave and send him to reunite with his master!"

The Daoist didn't dare say another word. He nodded obediently and flew off on his sword.

Patriarch Qiongyang looked at Chen Shi, her expression softening. She smiled. "Don't be afraid. I'm not usually like this. I have a very gentle nature. Your grandfather knows that."

Chen Shi smiled. "I also think you're a particularly gentle person, Patriarch."

Patriarch Qiongyang smiled, her eyes pleased, and lowered her head gently.

Chang Ying Daoist hurried over, forcing a smile. "Aunt Master Qiongyang, after Yu Lingzi returned from the Western Capital, he didn't take the metropolitan or palace examinations. A few senior brothers said a few words to him, and he flew into a rage, breaking their fingers..."

Qiongyang said, "Being locked up for this long should be enough reflection."

Chang Ying Daoist said, "My few disciples had all ten of their fingers broken by him. And their Uncle Master Ai went to break up the fight, and Yu Lingzi grabbed his fingers too. If his cultivation wasn't stronger, he would have had his fingers broken as well."

Qiongyang said, "It must have been Uncle Ai pointing his finger at Yu Lingzi that made him grab it. That's not breaking up a fight; that's scolding."

Chang Ying Daoist was about to speak again when Patriarch Qiongyang's expression turned cold. "One more word, and I'll send you down to accompany your master!"

Chang Ying Daoist quickly said to a nearby Daoist, "Why aren't you going to release him?"

That Daoist quickly assented.

Patriarch Qiongyang called the Daoist back. "You came here to report this. As punishment, go spend a day in the Demon Sealing Cave!"

The Daoist's face turned pale, and he hurried away.

Qiongyang glanced at Chang Ying Daoist, feigning surprise. "Sect Master, why are you still here? Go about your business. Chen Shi and I will take a walk around."

Chang Ying Daoist acknowledged, saying, "Aunt Master, please don't make things difficult for Chen Shi. Chen Shi returned our sect's immortal sword, a great kindness to our sect. I've given orders that no one on the mountain is to say that the Chen family are all demons anymore..."

Patriarch Qiongyang smiled. "Why would I make things difficult for him? When Little Ten died back then, I even personally went to the underworld to save him. Go on down. You're not needed here."

Chang Ying Daoist sighed in relief before leaving.

Patriarch Qiongyang said to Chen Shi, "Don't misunderstand. I'm usually very gentle. The sect master isn't afraid of me."

Chen Shi hesitated for a moment, feeling that his previous judgment might have been slightly off.

"I usually live on Blue Phoenix Peak. Originally, when your grandfather was my Dao companion, we renamed it Red Phoenix Peak."

Patriarch Qiongyang summoned a cloud of good fortune beneath her feet, carrying him and Black Pot toward Blue Phoenix Peak. As she recalled the past, a look of fondness filled her eyes. She smiled. "Those were truly wild and crazy days. The Daoist nuns and priests on the mountain gossiped endlessly. Even my master couldn't help but tell me to restrain myself. I retorted, saying, 'We cultivate to become immortals, we seek the Dao. Why must we wear Daoist robes? Why must we sever emotions and desires? Is desire not the Dao?' He fell silent. Later, when your grandfather left, I was heartbroken and changed the name back to Blue Phoenix Peak."

Her Stepping-Cloud Technique was extremely fast. In the span of a conversation, they arrived at Blue Phoenix Peak and descended.

On the peak was a green palace called Blue Phoenix Palace, which also housed a bronze statue of Blue Goat.

Presumably, this place had once been called Red Phoenix Palace.

Blue Phoenix Palace was filled with women, none of whom wore Daoist robes. They all possessed the art of preserving their looks, their figures graceful and light, a dizzying sight.

Chen Shi felt the influence of his Lower Corpses God, Peng Qiao, and quickly composed himself. He asked curiously, "Did Patriarch Qiongyang save me before?"

Patriarch Qiongyang smiled. "How could I bear to refuse when your grandfather asked? I thought that after he left Tai Hua Qing Palace, we would be from two different worlds and never see each other again. I never expected him to come back to beg me for your sake. When I saw him again, I thought I had already forgotten my feelings, but when I looked back, he was still there."

In Blue Phoenix Palace, many cultivating women kept glancing at Chen Shi, full of curiosity.

Patriarch Qiongyang scolded them. "All of you, go far away. Haven't I suffered enough? Do you still want to throw yourselves into the fire and provoke the men of the Chen family? You see how handsome he is, but he's actually a player! Little Ten, I don't mean you. I'm talking about your grandfather!"

Chen Shi was already used to it.

Patriarch Qiongyang shooed them away and then asked about Chen Yindu's daily life in his final years. She asked in great detail, laughing for a long time, and also sighing for a long time.

"If Grandpa hadn't saved me, he wouldn't have left so early," Chen Shi said, feeling sad.

Patriarch Qiongyang sighed. "He was already old. I am old too. Perhaps in the future, I will go down to accompany him, so no one will fight with me over him. Alas, I've cultivated the Dao all my life, seeking immortality, but I have failed to achieve it. Perhaps if I had been braver back then, abandoned everything, and left Tai Hua Qing Palace with your grandfather, I might have been your biological grandmother."

As she said this, a trace of sorrow crossed her face.

The Dao was not achieved; the love was lost.

Looking back, there was only empty sorrow.

She now merely possessed the art of preserving her looks, appearing young, but she was already old and decrepit, with only a few years of life left.

Chen Shi thought of Mistress Lingsu, hesitated for a moment, and did not tell her that Mistress Lingsu had passed away.

"Patriarch, who was the sect master before Chang Ying Daoist?" Chen Shi asked.

Patriarch Qiongyang said, "It was Senior Brother Jinghong. He was a few years older than me and passed away a few years ago. Back then, he was almost killed by your grandfather."

"So, he was the sect master that Grandpa almost killed!" Chen Shi realized.

Patriarch Qiongyang asked suspiciously, "Why are you asking about him?"

Chen Shi hesitated for a moment, then recounted Blue Goat's discussion about grave grass, saying, "Uncle Blue Goat suspects that Sect Master Jinghong might have used corpse liberation to become an immortal and is still alive."

Patriarch Qiongyang's eyes lit up, and she laughed. "Back then, when your grandfather and I dug up the patriarchs' graves together, we did find a few empty coffins!"

Chen Shi stared at her in disbelief. Patriarch Qiongyang blushed slightly, looking somewhat embarrassed as she defended herself. "Who hasn't been reckless in their youth? I was particularly reckless back then, and with your grandfather full of mischief, I followed him in doing this."

She quickly changed the subject, looking very proud. "Later, Blue Goat caught us, and your grandfather threatened him with the fact that he ate grave grass, so Blue Goat joined us. We dug up all the patriarchs' graves... I still have two Luoyang shovels here, which I've refined into weapons through cultivation. I'll give you one, and we'll go dig up Jinghong's grave later."

Chen Shi was startled and quickly said, "Patriarch, how could I dare to do such a thing? Besides, Uncle Blue Goat and I agreed to make our move tonight..."

Patriarch Qiongyang stood up, walked into the side hall, and took out two golden, gleaming Luoyang shovels. She shoved one into his hand and laughed. "Blue Goat is now being worshipped as a mascot; he can't get away for days! We won't wait for him!"

Chen Shi put the Luoyang shovel into the small temple, his heart pounding wildly.

Patriarch Qiongyang led him out. Just then, Yu Lingzi's voice came from outside. "Disciple Yu Lingzi thanks the Patriarch for pleading on my behalf!"

Patriarch Qiongyang walked out of Blue Phoenix Palace. Yu Lingzi was standing outside, bowing respectfully. When he saw Chen Shi, he was both surprised and delighted. "True King Chen!"

He suddenly realized his mistake and quickly corrected himself, laughing. "Master Chen, long time no see!"

Patriarch Qiongyang was a woman of swift and decisive action. She glanced at him and said, "Yu Lingzi, come along too. You two can catch up on the way."

Yu Lingzi was both surprised and delighted, thinking to himself, "The Patriarch is promoting me!"

He quickly caught up with the two and whispered, "Master Chen, where are we going?"

Chen Shi said, "To dig up Sect Master Jinghong's grave."

Yu Lingzi shivered, his face turning the color of dirt, wishing he could go back to the Demon Sealing Cave.

"Yu Lingzi and Black Pot will keep watch. Little Ten and I will dig the grave!" Patriarch Qiongyang said.

Yu Lingzi secretly lamented, "I only broke a few senior brothers' fingers; I never thought I'd be betraying the sect..."

They soon arrived at the restricted area of Tai Hua Qing Palace and entered the graveyard. Black Pot patted Yu Lingzi on the shoulder, signaling him to follow and be alert.

Yu Lingzi, with a mournful face, followed him to stand watch.

Chen Shi and Patriarch Qiongyang swung their Luoyang shovels, digging with the speed of the wind.

"We dug up the wrong one. This isn't it. This is my master's grave."

Patriarch Qiongyang's voice came through. "Master, your disciple is sorry... It should be the one next to this."

After a while, the coffin of Sect Master Jinghong was opened.

It was empty inside, with only a Daoist robe left.

— Today, I did my best to make up for yesterday's chapter!