The gloomy wind mourned, and the fallen flowers were completely burned.

Ye Zhu lay peacefully amidst the pouring Dao rain, leaving the world with a serene smile on his lips.

Ye Qinglian embraced the old man, trembling all over.

Soon.

Outside the graveyard, streaks of sword light approached.

The news of Ye Zhu’s life token shattering had spread throughout the valley, and many disciples gathered around the tomb, some standing in silent reverence, others weeping bitterly.

"..."

Duan Zhao stood quietly in the Dao rain, his expression complex.

He was still a young man.

But no longer the youth of the past.

The hardest thing in the world is parting, the pain of separation and death is the greatest suffering here.

"Master."

Duan Zhao’s voice was somewhat hoarse, and he transmitted, "Elder Ye... has he passed away?"

The word "death" was direct.

In major sects, holy lands, other words are often used to beautify it.

But Duan Zhao did not avoid it.

"Yes."

Xie Xuanyi’s response was very simple.

He pulled the sword [Reed] from Yuan Yi’s tombstone.

Xie Xuanyi, currently in the [Manifestation] state, could not wear this sword on his soul form for long. Amidst swirling maple leaves, Xie Xuanyi slowly approached the young man and handed the sword to his disciple: "Elder Ye’s lifespan has ended, leaving the mortal world. This... is what death is."

Duan Zhao sheathed the Reed at his waist.

He took a deep breath and looked up, asking, "If someone dies, does that mean they’ll never be seen again?"

One big, one small, they quietly walked towards the outside of the valley against the flow of people.

Xie Xuanyi’s answer remained simple this time: "Yes."

"Then the Pure Yang Ancestor..."

Duan Zhao cautiously asked, "Do we still have a chance to see him?"

"..."

This time, Xie Xuanyi fell silent.

He understood the young man’s thoughts and knew the reason for his caution.

The Sect Leader of Da Sui Sword Palace had already changed.

Many speculated that the Pure Yang Sword Immortal, who guarded the Sword Palace for three centuries, had already left the mortal world.

"There is."

Xie Xuanyi said gently, "Not only the Ancestor, but also Elder Ye, perhaps... many others can be seen again in the future."

This statement was quite cryptic.

But Duan Zhao, as if enlightened, looked down at the short sword at his waist, lost in thought.

...

...

Master and disciple left Baihua Valley.

In the following days.

Duan Zhao took the [Lotus Token] to many places.

Apart from the relationship with Wangyou Island, just holding this token ensured smooth passage through the territory of Great Chu.

The bearer of this token was as if the Sword Palace Master personally visited.

Xie Xuanyi borrowed the [Longevity Lamp] to extend the life of important people.

After Baihua Valley.

Duan Zhao’s second stop was Qingyang City.

The great battle years ago had demolished half the ancient city, but now the entire huge city was restored. Xie Xuanyi in soul form visited Old Sir Jiang, whose health seemed decent... but to be safe, Xie Xuanyi left a wisp of soul thought.

Jiang Lie was only at the Yin God Peak, theoretically unable to meet the [Reincarnation] conditions.

But...

Leaving a wisp of soul thought is leaving a strand of hope.

After Qingyang City, it was the Taoist sect, Qiantian Palace, and Martial Sect...

Although the north-south battle had ceased temporarily.

Nobody knows what the future holds.

The tragic scene of Archer Immortal bleeding to death during the southern border war was something Xie Xuanyi never wanted to see again.

He borrowed this [Longevity Lamp] to protect those he cared about as much as possible.

He wanted all the Yang God cultivators within Great Chu to leave a wisp of soul thought.

The situation with the Taoist sect was not very smooth.

Master Xuanzhi was quite willing to cooperate.

But Tang Fengshu was not very willing; Master Tang believed that giving up a soul thought implied a lack of courage before a battle, so he initially refused.

However, Xie Xuanyi had anticipated this scene long ago.

Duan Zhao, holding the [Lotus Token], went directly to Tianyuan Mountain.

Master Jun Mountain intervened, and under his persuasion, Master Tang had no choice but to leave a wisp of soul thought.

The Taoists had reincarnation skills.

But compared to reincarnation skills, Jun Mountain had more faith in Xie Xuanyi.

Of course...

Even if Master Tang was willing to cooperate obediently, Duan Zhao still needed to go to Tianyuan Mountain once.

There.

Was someone extremely important to Xie Xuanyi.

"Little Master Aunt?"

Deep within Tianyuan Mountain, at the position of the Talisman Well Celestial Ladder, a beam of sky light shone down.

Deng Baiyi sat in the center of billions of talismans, which surrounded her like tidal waves.

Duan Zhao put away the [Lotus Token], cautiously approached the Talisman Sea, softly called, and then witnessed a scene that shook his Heart Lake. Billions of talismans swam across the mountain’s interior like fish, seemingly awakening with Spirit Wisdom, their movements soft and gentle to the extreme...

In the place where the sky light shone, a young woman sat at the very center of the Talisman Sea.

Deng Baiyi’s features remained unchanged, her appearance ageless, yet her entire being had acquired an indescribable mature aura.

Duan Zhao was stunned watching.

He was certain Little Master Aunt was only at most ten years older than him.

But this time, Deng Baiyi seemed as profound as an Abyss Sea...

Her purple Daoist robe fluttered in the breeze.

"Hmm?"

Deng Baiyi slowly opened her eyes, hearing this address, exiting from her meditative state.

Seeing it was Duan Zhao.

Deng Baiyi gave a slight, gentle smile.

Throughout the world, only this young lad would call her that.

"Little Master Aunt..."

Duan Zhao scratched his head, saying, "Master asked me to check on you."

Actually, Xie Xuanyi sent Duan Zhao to Tianyuan Mountain to obtain a wisp of Deng Baiyi’s soul thought.

Some people needed special care.

Even if their cultivation realm didn’t reach the Yang God Realm, they should still enjoy peace.

However, Duan Zhao, who seemed honest but actually quite astute, believed that holding the [Lotus Token] to obtain the soul thought at Tianyuan Mountain was akin to the Master’s personal arrival.