Empress Ni Chunchiu descended from the pavilion in a daze.

  Her gaze was vacant, her mind drifting, her steps unsteady.

  She felt utterly lost.

  Was it over?

  When she opened her eyes, she met Lu’s gentle and satisfied look. She didn’t know what he was satisfied with—she dared not ask, dared not speak.

  Lu told her to leave, so she obediently descended.

  Only at the foot of the stairs did she snap awake…

  She had spent an entire day and night in enlightenment?!

  She had wasted this precious, wonderful time alone with Lu on enlightenment?

  In an instant, thunder seemed to explode in her mind. She froze, her heart heavy, chest constricted, soul on the verge of collapse.

  Yet facing Lu’s expectant gaze, Ni Chunchiu knew she couldn’t push her luck.

  Lu’s personal guidance was an opportunity countless people dreamed of but never received.

  Having received it, how could she demand more?

  With this realization, Ni Chunchiu came to her senses. She exhaled, disappointed in herself.

  Seeing Ni Yu blinking her big eyes, full of hope and gossip, Ni Chunchiu felt choked.

  “Sister Ni, it’s over? So soon?”

  Ni Yu’s mouth opened wide in astonishment.

  Ni Chunchiu smiled bitterly, glanced at Ni Yu, and pursed her lips.

  In the distance, Ning Zhao and Yi Yue nodded slightly at her.

  “Yes, it’s over.”

  Ni Chunchiu sighed.

  “Young Master Lu’s guidance truly brought me extraordinary insight…”

  She spoke with deep bitterness.

  Inside, she was roaring, going mad.

  What did she need enlightenment for?

  What use was enlightenment?

  But there was no regret pill in the world. The empress sighed deeply and finally turned to leave.

  The beauty had departed, yet her sigh lingered over the island.

  Ni Yu looked utterly confused—she really didn’t understand.

  She stopped paying attention and went back to refining pills. Gossip was fine in spare moments, but refining pills was her true calling—she couldn’t get addicted to gossip.

  The island returned to its usual calm.

  Lu sat in the pavilion, one hand propping his chin, eyes on the chessboard.

  A gentle breeze blew, stirring his white robes and lifting his sidelocks—refreshingly cool.

  Ning Zhao and Yi Yue cultivated while managing the Fortune Tower.

  Everything proceeded in an orderly manner.

  …

  Tianling Ancient Emperor walked across the waves. In his palm, a twelve-petaled blood lotus spun quietly. Within it, billions of wailing souls cried out.

  These were the souls of all living beings from the Nine Heavens, condensed by Ancient Emperor Hao into a blood sea and formed into this lotus.

  If Ancient Emperor Hao hadn’t done this, these souls would have eventually dissipated into the Nine Heavens.

  Now, they had a chance at rebirth.

  Tianling was deeply uneasy. He wasn’t sure if Lu would accept the souls of the Nine Heavens within the lotus.

  But he had once been an Ancient Emperor of the Nine Heavens.

  So he decided to gamble.

  Originally, he planned to go straight to the Netherworld and find Dantai Xuan to handle it. But the little princess stopped him.

  Her words struck Tianling like a revelation.

  “I’ve heard Young Master Lu of White Jade Capital has a bit of a temper. You should go talk to him…”

  “Don’t provoke him—you’ll suffer greatly.”

  The little princess had grown up listening to tales of White Jade Capital, holding it in unparalleled awe. And Young Master Lu of White Jade Capital inspired even greater reverence.

  Tianling thought about it and agreed. Lu Ping’an, that petty guy… had a tiny heart and loved messing with people’s heads.

  If he mishandled this and gave Lu leverage, Tianling would suffer greatly in the future.

  He had to think of the little princess too.

  So he brought the blood lotus to Lakeheart Island.

  Ning Zhao received him.

  This time, there was no obstruction. Lu had divined Tianling’s purpose and allowed him entry.

  Tianling stepped onto the island and immediately raised the blood lotus, asking Lu.

  “The souls of the Nine Heavens…”

  Lu sighed.

  He had nothing to say about Ancient Emperor Hao’s choice.

  After all, without sacrificing all life in the world, Ancient Emperor Hao could never break through to Heavenly Emperor realm, resist future god-demon calamities, or achieve immortal-martial ascension.

  So Lu actually understood Ancient Emperor Hao somewhat. When cornered with no way out, what else could be done?

  Better to gather all power and kill some god-demons.

  Kill one to break even, kill two to profit!

  That might have been Ancient Emperor Hao’s thinking.

  It was just a bit extreme.

  “Go. Enter the Netherworld and find Dantai Xuan. The Five Phoenix has now achieved immortal-martial status. Even if these souls reincarnate, the Five Phoenix can fully bear it—and it could even bring tremendous growth.”

  Lu said.

  Tianling froze.

  He looked at Lu with some emotion.

  He hadn’t expected Lu to be so agreeable, without refusal.

  He had thought Lu’s petty nature would reject integrating the Nine Heavens’ souls into the Five Phoenix. He never imagined it would be so easy.

  That was why Tianling felt such emotion.

  Lu Ping’an… wasn’t so bad.

  Tianling soon departed.

  Lu smiled as he watched him leave.

  Integrating billions of Nine Heavens souls into the Five Phoenix naturally brought great benefits.

  Though reincarnation couldn’t happen instantly, it would rapidly increase the Five Phoenix’s population and fill its current labor shortage.

  Moreover, many of these souls were cultivators. Even after reincarnation, they would retain cultivation talent and likely become cultivators.

  In other words, Nine Heavens cultivators would gradually become Five Phoenix cultivators.

  And the more Five Phoenix cultivators there were, the greater the benefit to Lu Ping’an.

  By reason and emotion, Lu would never refuse.

  Lu smiled. Though unified reincarnation meant no spiritual energy harvest for a century, if he wanted a wave of harvest, he’d have to wait a few hundred years.

  But regardless, any spiritual energy share was welcome.

  Tianling left and easily entered the Netherworld with Lu’s permission.

  Dantai Xuan personally received him.

  Tianling walked through the Netherworld, following the Yellow Springs deep into its heart. He saw the endless Sea of Bitterness and the abyssal rift.

  He marveled at the Netherworld’s vastness and intricacy.

  The Six Paths of Reincarnation left Tianling in awe.

  This reincarnation system sustained the mortal worlds of the Five Phoenix, making heaven and earth stable and harmonious.

  In the Nine Heavens, after death, souls returned to the Heavenly Dao as nourishment.

  New lives would then be born in the Nine Heavens—there was never any talk of reincarnation.

  That was why Tianling was so astonished.

  Dantai Xuan took the blood lotus.

  Looking at the billions of deeply resentful souls within, he sighed deeply.

  He took the lotus and sat in the center of the Sea of Bitterness.

  Activating the Six Paths Reincarnation Visualization Method, he washed away the resentment, converting it into karma, granting these resentful souls the right to reincarnate.

  Of course, during this process, those who had committed countless evils and reveled in slaughter naturally sank into the Sea of Bitterness.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  This was perhaps a form of screening.

  The lords of the nine other cities of the dead also appeared. Now all at peak Profound Immortal realm.

  They sat in the Sea of Bitterness, assisting Dantai Xuan in refining.

  Vast karma surged. During the transcendence, the city lords gained tremendous power.

  Their karma became vast oceans, stepping into Golden Immortal realm.

  The Netherworld suddenly gained nine Golden Immortals—its strength greatly increased.

  Tianling stayed in the Netherworld for a long time. He personally witnessed all Nine Heavens souls being transcended and, with Dantai Xuan’s help, granted reincarnation. Their souls were purified, becoming pure and innocent, reborn in the Five Phoenix.

  Dantai Xuan also broke through. This wave of karma propelled his cultivation forward, reaching ninth-turn Golden Immortal. But Dantai Xuan felt neither joy nor sorrow.

  What was there to celebrate in such a breakthrough?

  …

  Five Phoenix Continent.

  Great Xuan Dynasty.

  Southern Region, South Chu City.

  A city under the southern dynasty—not particularly prosperous, even somewhat remote.

  No cultivators guarded it.

  Deep night.

  Stars twinkled.

  Outside the city, a figure walked step by step—somewhat dazed, somewhat carefree.

  Dressed plainly, wearing a bamboo hat—like an ordinary laborer.

  “Is this the mortal world of the Five Phoenix Continent?”

  Ancient Emperor Hao raised his head, calmly gazing at the frail city in his eyes.

  All within were mortals—perhaps some martial artists, but to cultivators, they were mere ants.

  When Tonggu left, he suggested Ancient Emperor Hao visit the Five Phoenix to wash away his killing intent.

  At first, Ancient Emperor Hao refused.

  But in the end, he chose to come.

  He wanted to rebuild the Nine Heavens—perhaps he could draw inspiration from the Five Phoenix’s development model.

  He understood the Five Phoenix well—from low-martial origins, rapidly growing to its current immortal-martial status…

  What an inconceivable miracle of transformation. Not just him—Ancient Emperor Hao believed even powerhouses in the human ancestral land had never seen anything like the Five Phoenix.

  Which immortal-martial world didn’t start as a high-martial one and require billions of years to ascend?

  Where else was there something like the Five Phoenix—rising like a whale’s spout toward the peak?

  Ancient Emperor Hao stopped sighing. He sealed his cultivation. Suddenly, an overwhelming urge arose—to experience the mortal world as a common man.

  He entered South Chu City.

  The city wasn’t large, and he blended in seamlessly.

  He entered as an outsider.

  Ancient Emperor Hao felt the clamor of mortals, the various bustling scenes—dazzling to someone who had been in seclusion for tens of thousands of years.

  From birth, Ancient Emperor Hao had been of noble status. Forget mortals—even cultivators below Immortal Abode realm were rarely seen by him.

  After all, born into a great cultivation clan, even his servants were at Immortal Abode level.

  At first, Ancient Emperor Hao felt extremely unaccustomed.

  He felt somewhat out of place in this world.

  He wandered the streets, walking and walking.

  His strange behavior eventually drew attention. South Chu City was small—everyone knew each other.

  A sudden unfamiliar face wandering the streets in confusion—people assumed he was a refugee fleeing war.

  So someone approached, spoke to him, and offered to take him in.

  After all, Ancient Emperor Hao’s muscular build looked strong—he’d be good labor.

  With nowhere else to go, Ancient Emperor Hao agreed and became a porter in the city.

  Dressed in coarse clothes, eating simple food.

  At first, Ancient Emperor Hao thought he’d quickly tire of this life.

  After all, the rough food was nearly inedible—ten thousand times worse than the worst pills.

  But to his surprise, he slowly grew accustomed to it.

  Even the raging killing intent from sacrificing an entire world began to calm.

  The killing intent seemed washed away by the mundane world’s hustle.

  Ancient Emperor Hao gained some insight.

  He gradually let go and tried to integrate into this world.

  “Payday!”

  “Hao boy, this is yours.”

  The foreman tossed him a string of copper coins. Ancient Emperor Hao, sitting alone gnawing on a dry bun, accepted it expressionlessly.

  This was his first wage.

  He stared blankly at the modest string of coins. A strange emotion stirred in his heart.

  “Hao boy, you’re not young anymore and still unmarried. Uncle Liu knows a girl—I’ll introduce you. Find someone, get married, have kids—it’s good.”

  After distributing wages, the foreman smiled and patted Ancient Emperor Hao’s solid chest.

  Marriage?

  Ancient Emperor Hao silently shook his head.

  But he did start thinking of settling in South Chu City.

  Earn more money, buy a house. As for marriage—forget it.

  Some people were hard to let go of.

  Besides, he held a faint hope. He had entrusted Tianling with the blood lotus containing the Nine Heavens’ souls for reincarnation in the Five Phoenix. He didn’t know if Tianling had done it.

  If he had… perhaps he could wait for her reincarnation.

  Next, Ancient Emperor Hao worked diligently. His smiles gradually increased. He integrated into the city.

  He earned enough to quit, bought a house, even opened a shop.

  The shop didn’t sell anything else—just various exquisite pastries.

  This was something Ancient Emperor Hao learned after eating rough food.

  He discovered that making exquisite pastries helped dissipate his killing intent.

  He even became obsessed with the feeling.

  At first, his pastries looked decent but tasted terrible.

  But Ancient Emperor Hao didn’t give up. He worked at it for years. His pastry shop gradually gained fame.

  It became well-known in South Chu City.

  Like jade washed clean of dust, he lived quietly in South Chu City, leading an ordinary life.

  No disputes with others.

  Rising with the sun, resting at dusk.

  At night, he could sleep peacefully—without worrying about world calamities or god-demon wars.

  Sometimes, even in sleep, his lips would unconsciously curve upward.

  Ancient Emperor Hao settling in the Five Phoenix naturally drew Lu’s attention.

  After all, Ancient Emperor Hao was a Heavenly Emperor-level powerhouse—and his relationship with the Five Phoenix wasn’t entirely harmonious.

  So Lu kept watch over Ancient Emperor Hao from Lakeheart Island.

  To his surprise, Ancient Emperor Hao truly stayed in a small city for decades, living like a mortal.

  This felt somewhat familiar—like when Lu had entered the mortal world.

  Lu didn’t disturb him—just observed occasionally.

  Ancient Emperor Hao lived very ordinarily.

  Decades passed in a flash.

  His appearance aged with time.

  His pastries grew increasingly famous—even people from nearby cities came to buy from his shop.

  Ancient Emperor Hao took apprentices. After all, as an old man with a mortal body, he couldn’t manage alone.

  Time passed bit by bit.

  The killing intent around Ancient Emperor Hao grew thinner.

  Gentle smiles began appearing on his face.

  One day.

  Ancient Emperor Hao opened the shop.

  The apprentices placed freshly made, fragrant pastries on display.

  Suddenly, Ancient Emperor Hao froze.

  He looked at the white-robed youth sitting in a wheelchair in the distance. A gleam flashed in his aged eyes.

  “Shopkeeper, one green jade cake.”

  Lu looked at Ancient Emperor Hao and said lightly.

  The apprentice laughed. “Sir, you must be from out of town? You look unfamiliar. Our Hopeful Studio’s pastries are the best in South Chu City—old brand, guaranteed satisfaction.”

  The apprentice skillfully wrapped the green jade cake in oil paper.

  Ancient Emperor Hao stepped forward. “Young Master Lu graces us with his presence—forgive the lack of proper welcome.”

  Lu paused, then smiled and waved it off.

  “I just wanted to try the pastries. Watching every day finally made me crave them.”

  Lu said.

  Ancient Emperor Hao didn’t mind being watched. He laughed.

  “This meal’s on me.”

  But Lu tossed a tael of silver to the apprentice.

  “Do I look like someone short on money?”

  The apprentice caught the silver, confused, and was about to give change when he realized Lu had vanished.

  “Shopkeeper, do you know this young master? A distant relative?”

  The apprentice asked curiously. They’d worked for the shopkeeper for years and never seen any relatives.

  “This young master looks refined—like he has immortal aura. Shame about his legs… otherwise, I’d think he was an immortal descended to earth.”

  The apprentice said.

  Ancient Emperor Hao smiled and pointed at the apprentice. “I know him. He’s petty—watch your words.”

  Lu returned to Lakeheart Island.

  He opened the oil paper, took a green jade cake, and bit lightly. Closing his eyes, a unique flavor spread through his mouth—an emotion, an artistic conception.

  “The killing intent is almost completely washed away. Is this still the Ancient Emperor Hao I know?”

  Lu smiled. The pastry was surprisingly delicious.

  No wonder it tempted him to sneak down for a pack.

  Ancient Emperor Hao’s transformation left Lu感慨.

  Sometimes, an ordinary life really was good.

  Ten more years passed.

  Ancient Emperor Hao continued running his pastry shop in South Chu City.

  He didn’t expand it—though Hopeful Studio’s reputation had spread far, even reaching the capital of the dynasty governing South Chu.

  Ancient Emperor Hao increasingly enjoyed this ordinary life.

  He even planned to end his days here, experiencing the full cycle of mortal birth, aging, sickness, and death.

  But his plan fell through.

  One day.

  Dark clouds gathered over South Chu City.

  The oppressive atmosphere weighed on everyone’s hearts.

  On the city walls, guarding soldiers felt an inexplicable dread.

  Outside the city, a figure shrouded in black qi rapidly approached.

  Ding ling ling!

  A black banner shot skyward from the black mist.

  “Jie jie jie…”

  The banner soared. Black mist surged, smashing into the city wall and collapsing it.

  The mist rose. Within it stood a gaunt, skeletal old man, eyes gleaming with malice.

  “Sacrifice a whole city—today I form my Nascent Soul!”

  The man inhaled deeply in intoxication.

  South Chu City had already descended into chaos. It was just a small city. Though a cultivator guarded it, he was only at Foundation Establishment.

  Against this perfected Golden Core evil cultivator intent on sacrificing the entire city for a Nascent Soul, he stood no chance.

  But the Foundation Establishment cultivator charged out fearlessly. Treasures flew, red light flashed. He rallied martial artists and fought the evil cultivator.

  City officials didn’t flee either—they sent soldiers to join the battle.

  The fight was brutal. Many soldiers died.

  This only fed the evil cultivator’s desires. Countless souls were drawn into the banner.

  “Today, everyone in the city dies!”

  The evil cultivator had waited a long time. Entering Nascent Soul—perhaps this was his only chance.

  Chaos reigned in the city.

  Even those queuing for pastries panicked. Fortunately, the Foundation Establishment cultivator and martial artists held on desperately, preventing the city’s fall.

  When the Foundation Establishment cultivator’s spiritual energy ran out and the martial artists’ stamina failed, they would be slaughtered by the evil cultivator.

  Ancient Emperor Hao remained calm.

  While the apprentices panicked, he stayed serene.

  He didn’t look at the evil cultivator.

  He looked at the Foundation Establishment cultivator in the front line, the martial artists, and the countless soldiers.

  They fought desperately to protect the citizens behind them, to give them a safe life.

  This scene deeply moved Ancient Emperor Hao.

  He stood stunned, eyes fluctuating intensely.

  It reminded him of the Nine Heavens’ situation—equally desperate and helpless.

  Yet the Foundation Establishment cultivator and martial artists fought fearlessly for the mortals behind them.

  The citizens also mustered courage, grabbing carrying poles, kitchen knives—anything to resist the evil cultivator.

  Ancient Emperor Hao’s eyes wavered.

  “Back then… perhaps I should have given the world such a choice…”

  Ancient Emperor Hao sighed.

  There was no turning back.

  Boom!

  Just as the defending Foundation Establishment cultivator coughed blood.

  Ancient Emperor Hao stepped forward from his hunched posture—firmly walking toward the city gates.

  “Shopkeeper, go back!”

  “We’re young—we don’t need old men and women fighting!”

  Many soldiers saw Ancient Emperor Hao and shouted.

  Ancient Emperor Hao smiled, emotions swirling in his heart.

  The Foundation Establishment cultivator finally fell.

  The evil cultivator shrouded in black mist saw his chance. Malice blazed in his eyes.

  Massacre and sacrifice—now!

  This was his moment to form a Nascent Soul with the blood of a hundred thousand!

  Suddenly.

  The evil cultivator’s heart trembled.

  Unbeknownst to him, an old man with white hair approached step by step. This elder gave him an overwhelming sense of dread.

  The defeated Foundation Establishment cultivator, heart as dead as ashes, also froze.

  In disbelief, he looked at Ancient Emperor Hao. He recognized him—wasn’t this the shopkeeper of Hopeful Studio?

  He’d bought pastries from him before.

  Suddenly, the Foundation Establishment cultivator’s pupils shrank.

  Because the aged Ancient Emperor Hao gradually straightened as he walked. His white hair turned vigorous black. Terror gleamed in his dark eyes.

  The Foundation Establishment cultivator drew a sharp breath!

  This shopkeeper… was a hidden powerhouse?!

  “All living beings have spirit. Mortals have their own persistence—to protect what they wish to protect…”

  Ancient Emperor Hao said.

  A sudden realization dawned.

  Boom!

  Terrifying aura erupted.

  Ancient Emperor Hao clasped his hands behind his back and calmly glanced at the evil cultivator.

  The evil cultivator panicked instantly. In that moment, Ancient Emperor Hao seemed vast as heaven and earth in his eyes.

  What kind of existence was this?

  Yin God?

  Or Yang God powerhouse?

  With the evil cultivator’s realm, these were the only possibilities he could imagine.

  Then his consciousness was erased. His entire body turned to ash, annihilated in the air.

  Ancient Emperor Hao merely glanced—and he was gone.

  The citizens of South Chu City were stunned.

  The Foundation Establishment cultivator was speechless. What kind of big shot was this?

  He had eaten pastries made by such a big shot…

  Suddenly.

  The Foundation Establishment cultivator’s pupils shrank. Above the sky, space tore open. A white-robed youth in a wheelchair appeared within.

  “Lu Ping’an, I understand now. Thank you for letting me stay in the Five Phoenix these years.”

  Ancient Emperor Hao looked at Lu and said.

  Lu leaned back in the Thousand-Blade Chair and nodded slightly.

  The next moment, space closed. He paid Ancient Emperor Hao no further attention.

  Ancient Emperor Hao looked back at South Chu City and smiled.

  He stepped forward and vanished instantly.

  The Foundation Establishment cultivator stood frozen. He didn’t know Ancient Emperor Hao, but as a cultivator, how could he not recognize the figure who tore space—the Lu Ping’an that Ancient Emperor Hao had spoken of?

  “I… I actually witnessed… Young Master Lu of White Jade Capital manifesting in the mortal world!”

  …

  Ancient Emperor Hao’s released aura instantly drew the attention of many Five Phoenix cultivators.

  Chai Feng, searching for talents to cultivate into emperor-realm, glanced in the direction of Ancient Emperor Hao’s aura burst and smiled. He sensed the killing intent washed away from Ancient Emperor Hao and felt moved.

  Tianling Ancient Emperor, Lu Jiulian, and other powerhouses also noticed.

  But Ancient Emperor Hao quickly concealed his aura.

  Hum…

  Ancient Emperor Hao stood in the void. A vertical eye opened on his brow.

  Radiant light poured down, seeking a graceful figure.

  He stepped forward.

  His aura concealed, worldly dust washed away.

  He became an ordinary man walking through the bustling night market streets of Great Xuan Dynasty’s imperial capital.

  His eyes lifted, gazing straight ahead.

  Searching through the crowd.

  There, a graceful young woman in pale blue gauze, holding an umbrella, walked elegantly through the night market crowd.

  She brushed past Ancient Emperor Hao, leaving her fragrance behind.

  She took two steps, then stopped. It seemed… a figure deeply engraved in her soul had just flashed by.

  She turned abruptly.

  But the figure was already gone.