In some respects, the way people like Xun Wu lived was rather peculiar.
They were already dead, yet still alive at the same time—a superposition between life and death, like Schrodinger's Cat.
And because of that, even the [Demon Refining Pot] could not provide any information about them.
"...What will happen to these people afterward?"
After a brief silence, Xun Wu shifted his gaze away from the Corpse Tree before him and turned to Bai Zhi.
—He had seen many familiar faces on that tree.
"What do you mean, what will happen? However they were before is how they'll be afterward."
Bai Zhi spread his hands before him, looking completely unconcerned.
"For example, those people down below will peacefully live out the rest of their lives in the real world below, after which their souls will return to their original bodies. This Ghost Immortal, who had sheltered you from the very beginning, is still sheltering you in this way even after death."
"By making them live a fate worse than death?"
Xun Wu looked at Bai Zhi without any expression on his face.
"An illusory world, a false life—you call that mercy?"
"Even if everything was false, you still truly spent eighty-five years in this world, didn't you?"
Looking at the corpse before him, Bai Zhi was noncommittal.
"Don't think about taking your anger out on me. Rather than raging helplessly here, you should think carefully about what you need to do next."
"...What can I do?"
After a long silence, Xun Wu spoke again.
"After taking that step, both my body and soul have been constantly mutating. It probably won't be long before I become a Monster. If there's anything you need me to do, it would be best to do it before I become one."
"Is that so?