Chapter 105: A Lifetime (Part Three)

Walking along the mountain path, Xu Cheng and the others did not use their light-speed flight.

Winter had not yet passed, and now sparse snowflakes began to fall, mirroring the turmoil in Xu Cheng’s heart.

Indeed, for cultivators, life may be long or short.

Those with long lives, like the Perfected Tian Gui or the Zombie Zi An, live for three thousand or six thousand years—fleeting moments in the grand scheme—either ascending to the immortal realm or returning to the cycle of reincarnation; the short-lived, like the carpenter Chu Tianrui, who sacrifices his physical lifespan to cast spells, have no reincarnation, ultimately merging with the waters of the River of Forgetfulness, like brilliant summer blossoms.

Though brief, that moment is deeply imprinted in Xu Cheng’s mind. Six thousand years may be long, but it cannot compare to that single instant!

A lifetime, a fate intertwined; without entering the cycle of reincarnation, one cannot become part of all living beings.

His thoughts churned relentlessly. Even with memories from a past life, Xu Cheng could not suppress these reflections for long.

At first, the thoughts fell like the gentle snow, but then they became a fierce storm, washing over his soul.

His movements slowed, and even the light snowfall transformed him into a snowman-like figure.

“Are you alright, Right Envoy? If we don’t leave soon, we’ll turn into snowmen again!”

Juhua brushed the snow off her body, speaking out.

The voice startled Xu Cheng awake. Having endured this trial, even amid the snow, the sky seemed to brighten, a rainbow appeared, and the cleansing of his mind steadied his primordial spirit.

“Let’s rest here for a while.”

Xu Cheng said, sitting cross-legged. Simply being buried by snow felt inappropriate, so he controlled the surrounding snow to form a circular fortress around them, enclosing the three of them.

They brushed off the snow and then took out the Yellow Springs talisman to attract nearby spirits.

Soon, ghosts began to gather around them, including one Xu Cheng had seen earlier at the inn—the innkeeper’s ghost.

“You shall no longer linger in the mortal world. Follow me back to the Yellow Springs!”

Xu Cheng addressed the spirits.

“What are you? I will stay in this world!”

One ghost, short and round-faced, shouted defiantly. Xu Cheng remained silent.

Seeing a leader emerge, the ghosts immediately began to shout in unison, all harboring the thought that the law does not punish the many.

Worse yet, some charged toward the trio, intending to overwhelm them.

“Juhua!”

Xu Cheng had not anticipated this. He glanced at Juhua’s Book of Life and Death for guidance, ready to act. The attacks of these ghosts were nothing more than an itch to the three, like ants trying to bite down an elephant.

Juhua transmitted the contents of the Book of Life and Death into Xu Cheng’s mind and waited silently for him to move.

The anticipated scene of the three being knocked to the ground never came; not a single mark was left on them. Some ghosts, realizing the situation was wrong, fled immediately.

Suddenly, someone shouted, “Run! Everyone scatter!”

The group dispersed with a whoosh, unwilling to let their prey slip away after it was so close.

Chains flew out, locking the escapees one by one. These obstinate souls showed no remorse, worsening their offenses, and were sent by Xu Cheng to various hells according to the severity of their sins.

Even so, the Yellow Springs rewarded Xu Cheng with a thousand merits, though these did not enter his body.

After this series of actions, no ghost escaped. Juhua couldn’t help but ask, “Right Envoy, did you forget to question these ghosts for information?”

“Why didn’t you remind me earlier?”

Xu Cheng replied irritably.

“I was about to say something...”

Juhua said, feeling aggrieved.

“Forget it. Let’s go to the Celestial Master Sect and have a look!” Xu Cheng interrupted her. “I wonder if we can use the Book of Life and Death to erase all of Zuo Wenbai’s remaining lifespan!”

“No, even if he has committed great sins, you cannot erase his remaining years from the Book of Life and Death! It can only increase lifespan, never decrease it. Moreover, increasing someone’s lifespan consumes your merits. Decreasing it would increase your sins—tenfold, even a hundredfold!”

Juhua pointed at the Book of Life and Death and explained further.

“What? Increasing someone’s lifespan reduces my merits? How many merits did it cost to add ten years to Chu Tianrui’s life just now?”

A red glow flickered in Xu Cheng’s dark golden eyes as he grabbed Juhua’s collar and shook her back and forth. Had he known it would cost him merits, perhaps he would not have revealed himself to seek the Thousand-Change Box from the other party.

“One thousand! Exactly one thousand. Adding years to Chu Tianrui’s lifespan is equivalent to borrowing a thousand merits from the Yellow Springs. The merits gained from sending those ghosts to hell were reclaimed by the Yellow Springs as repayment, so no merits actually entered your body!”

Juhua explained repeatedly. Xu Cheng felt a sharp pang in his heart; he hadn’t imagined the Yellow Springs would operate by such rules.

“My merits!”

Xu Cheng sighed deeply, gazing up at the sky.

However, upon seeing the Thousand-Change Box, he was somewhat reassured—at least it was not wasted entirely, and he had obtained another wondrous artifact.

“By the way, Juhua, can the Book of Life and Death tell us where Zuo Wenbai is now?”

Calmed, Xu Cheng quickly asked.

“It should be able to! Let me try.” Juhua produced a red, flowing light disc adorned with the twelve heavenly stems and earthly branches, then placed it on the Book of Life and Death. Chanting softly, “Cause and effect cycle, heaven’s way reveals, now!”

In the next moment, words appeared swiftly on the Book of Life and Death: Zuo Wenbai, having fallen into demonic path due to slaughtering, was stripped of all magical powers by the Celestial Master Sect, later obtained various spells in an immortal manor, secretly fled to another province, became a mountain bandit, and was ultimately slain by Xuantian Dao Sect disciples, Liao Yi and Liao Wu!

Xu Cheng stared blankly for a long while after reading this, surprised to learn that the bandit leader he and Liao Yi encountered when first leaving Xuantian Dao Sect was none other than Zuo Wenbai.

“So he died by my hand long ago!”

Xu Cheng murmured.

“Phew! Which one are you, Liao Yi or Liao Wu?”

Juhua sighed, pointing at the golden characters on the Book of Life and Death.

Using the Book of Life and Death to perform such a thousand-mile search drained him greatly, but he had not expected the target to have died long ago.

What a strange coincidence the world holds.

“My Dao name is Liao Wu! Enough said, I’d better return and inform that carpenter Chu. Wait for me here—I’ll be right back!”

With that, Xu Cheng transformed into a shadow and swiftly returned to the mountain.

At that moment, Chu Tianrui sat in his room, staring blankly at the wall, lost in thought.

Invisible, Xu Cheng swiftly inscribed words on the wall with masterful strokes: “Zuo Wenbai has been slain by me. Your great vengeance is fulfilled; now you must honor your promise.”

Having finished writing, Xu Cheng left the room without caring whether Chu Tianrui had seen it.

After only a few steps, Chu Tianrui’s wild laughter erupted from inside, filled with endless sorrow beneath the mirth.

Shaking his head quietly, Xu Cheng immediately went back to find Yan Mengdie and Juhua.