Yu Xiaogang's Affairs After Death

Even after Immortal Dao Ceremony ended, the aroma of grilled fish and celestial wine still lingered in the Pagoda God Temple.

Shifang squatted at the entrance of the hall, tidying up the grilled fish rack, the last fish bone dangling from his mouth as he mumbled as he counted the skewers.

"Three hundred and seventy-one, three hundred and seventy-two... Brother Nan, forty more people came today. We didn't have enough grilled fish, and that old bastard Yue Guan's Immortal Herb jelly was snatched up until there wasn't even a crumb left."

Nan Feng leaned against a pillar in the palace, holding the message token left by the Holy Mother White Lotus in his hand, turning it over and over to examine it.

The silver-white token was engraved with cloud patterns from the Law Enforcement Hall. It was cool to the touch and could be sensed by the unique law fluctuations of the Divine Realm.

The Old Huai peeked half its face out from the sacred wood.

"Stop looking at it, that thing is just a one-way transmitter. You throw it in the tower, I'll take it apart and study it for you."

"Keep it for now."

Nan Feng tossed the token into the Tower Spirit Space and patted Shifang head.

"After closing up shop, I went to water Ye Lingling's herb garden. She repotted the Nine Heart Begonia before leaving home today and forgot to water it."

Shifang, with a fish bone in his mouth, mumbled a reply and ran towards the herb garden, carrying the fish grill.

Nan Feng remained alone in the temple, looking up at the top of the tower.

The Nine Heavens Treasure Pearl hangs at the highest point of the Bronze Tower, its cyan-gold light flowing inside, like a living star.

The Spiritual Power offered by all the allies at the Second Immortal Dao Ceremony was completely absorbed by this bead, not a single drop remaining.

The Imperial Dragon Qi of the Heaven Dou Empire, the Seven Treasures Spiritual Light of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and the Icy Source Cold Marrow of the Far North Immortal Alliance.

The Life Origin of the Lake of Life, and the Spiritual Power of all beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest.

Old Huai once said that the Nine Heavens Treasure Pearl is the core of Primordial World spiritual treasure that condenses at the top of the tower after reaching level 100, and it can absorb Spiritual Power and transform it into the Three Lights Divine Water.

The Sun Essence reshapes the physical body, the radiance of the Moonlight condenses the soul, and the Star Marrow awakens intelligence. The three lights unite to bring the dead back to life and revive the dead, surpassing even the life source of the Goddess of Life in the Divine Realm.

Nan Feng leaped onto the platform at the top of the tower and sat cross-legged directly beneath the Nine Heavens Treasure Pearl.

The bead was less than three zhang above his head, and its azure-gold light shone down, making him feel warm all over. He closed his eyes and let his divine consciousness sink into the inside of the bead.

The pearl contained a miniature universe. Countless points of Spiritual Power swirled like a river of stars, being drawn, compressed, and purified by an invisible force.

The Sun Essence is golden, extracted from the imperial dragon energy of the Heaven Dou Empire, each drop as heavy as mercury.

The Moonlight is silvery-white, condensed from the spiritual light of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Power of Moonlight of the Moonlight Pavilion, as light and ethereal as mist.

The Star Marrow is bluish-green, extracted from the Far North Cold Marrow and the Spiritual Power of all beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest, and it sparkles like shattered diamonds.

The three types of divine water each occupy a distinct area within the pearl, yet they are pushed towards each other by the pearl's rotational force.

"Don't rush."

The phantom of the Old Huai floated out from the tower wall, stood with its hands behind its back next to the Nan Feng, and looked up at the precious pearl.

"The fusion of the three luminaries cannot be rushed. The Sun Essence is supremely yang, the radiance of the Moonlight is supremely yin, Star Marrow is supremely spiritual. Forcibly mixing these three fundamental powers will cause an explosion. You must wait for them to find their own balance."

Nan Feng opened one eye.

How long will it take?

"It will take anywhere from three to seven days."

Old Huai stroked his beard.

"You can use this time to sort out the aftermath of the ceremony. Yu Tianheng from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan didn't look too good when he presented the gift today. I noticed he seemed to have something to say but didn't."

Nan Feng nodded.

Yu Tianheng did hesitate for a moment when presenting the gift. When he handed over a brocade box containing a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone, his lips moved but he swallowed back his words. Nan Feng didn't ask any questions at the time, giving face to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan in public.

"And," Old Huai added, "Bibi Dong hasn't left the Tower Spirit Space all day. Since her begonia flower bloomed, she's actually become even less inclined to go out."

The Nan Feng remained silent.

After Bibi Dong's resurrection, her personality changed drastically. From the Pope of the Spirit Hall to the woman watering flowers with her head down in the Tower Spirit Space, this transformation seemed abrupt to outsiders. Nan Feng knew that after the Purification Power washed away the obsession and hatred in her soul, what remained was an empty soul.

This soul needs to rebuild itself.

She relied on Nan Feng, yet was unwilling to show it in front of others. During the ceremony, she stood by the side door, holding a teacup, talking to Ah Yin, appearing no different from a normal person. But Nan Feng noticed that she didn't step forward onto the stage at all.

"I'll go check on her." Nan Feng jumped down from the top of the tower.

Inside the Tower Spirit Space, the Ancient Tree of Life had grown taller once more. Bibi Dong squatted beside the tree, holding a small jade pot in her hands as she watered it.

She wore a simple, moon-white dress, her hair held up with only a wooden hairpin, a stark contrast to her Pope image in the lapis lazuli robes at the grand ceremony.

Nine Heart Begonia bloom in the flowerbed behind her, their pink and white petals swaying in the ethereal light.

"The crabapple blossoms are in full bloom today." Nan Feng walked over and squatted down next to her.

Bibi Dong's hand trembled, and a few drops of water from the jade pot spilled onto the ground. She didn't look up, but the tips of her ears were visibly red.

"Could you please make some noise when you walk?"

"I brought it, didn't you hear me?"

Nan Feng reached out and took the jade pot, then poured the remaining water for her.

Why didn't you go to the front of the stage during the ceremony?

Bibi Dong was silent for a moment. She reached out and gently brushed aside the leaves of the ancient tree, her voice very soft.

"There were many people in front of the stage. When I stood there, the way people looked at me was different from how they looked at others. They looked at Ye Lingling as the Immortal Master's lover, but they looked at me as the former Pope of the Spirit Hall."

"You are just Bibi Dong now."

"I know."

She raised her head, her eyes clear and bright, completely different from the empty and bewildered look she had when she was first resurrected.

"That's why I'm even less inclined to stand in the spotlight. Your Immortal Dao Ceremony is for all realms to see; some people will feel uncomfortable if I'm standing there. I don't want to cause you any trouble."

Nan Feng looked at her and suddenly smiled.

Bibi Dong was completely baffled by his laughter.

"Why are you laughing?"

"I laugh at you for saying something like 'causing trouble'."

Nan Feng stood up and patted the dirt off his hands.

"The old Bibi Dong never considered others' feelings."

Bibi Dong paused for a moment, then turned her head away, her voice lowering.

"If you say that again, I'm going back to the tower and never coming out again."

"No, no, no!" Nan Feng quickly surrendered. "Old Huai said you hadn't gone out all day, so he sent me to check on you. By the way, the Nine Heavens Treasure Pearl is almost ready to condense the Three Lights Divine Water. Once it's condensed, I'll let you try it first."

Bibi Dong's eyes lit up for a moment, then immediately returned to normal.

"Give it to Senior Ah Yin first. Her remnant soul has just solidified, so she needs it more than I do."

Nan Feng didn't respond to that, but reached out and ruffled her hair. Bibi Dong didn't flinch, and her ears turned even redder.

Three days later, a crisp sound came from inside the Nine Heavens Treasure Pearl.

Nan Feng was cultivating at the top of the tower when the sound shook his entire body, causing his Immortal Power to resonate. He opened his eyes, and the three kinds of divine water inside the pearl finally broke through the repulsive force between them.

They merged into a drop of golden liquid the size of a thumb at the very center of the bead.

The surface of the liquid shimmered with the scorching golden light of the Sun Essence, the silvery glow of the Moonlight, and the azure specks of Star Marrow. The three colors alternated and shimmered in the gold, like a drop of concentrated galaxy.

Old Huai jumped out of the tower, looked up at the drop of the Three Lights Divine Water, and smiled.

"It's done! The first drop has formed! Quick, use it while it's hot!"

The Nan Feng drew the drop of the Three Lights Divine Water from the Nine Heavens Treasure Pearl.

The moment the divine water detached from the precious pearl, the entire Tower Spirit Space trembled. The sapling of the Ancient Tree of Life swayed its leaves, and all the petals of Bibi Dong's Nine Heart Begonia turned towards the direction of the divine water.

Even the trunk of the Old Huai locust tree cracked open, sprouting new green buds.

"The first drop is for the Ancient Tree of Life." Nan Feng walked to the tree and dripped the Three Lights Divine Water onto its roots.

The moment the golden liquid seeped into the soil, the tree seemed to be accelerated. The main trunk grew three feet taller, the branches increased from one to four, the leaves changed from tender green to emerald green, and golden Immortal Mark appeared on the veins of each leaf.

The tree canopy spread out, casting a small, cool shade in the Tower Spirit Space.

"Goodness."

The Old Huai tree walked around the tree twice.

"Once this tree grows, you won't even have to worry about physical bodies when you resurrect others. The Sun Essence of the Three Lights Divine Water will automatically condense through the roots of the ancient tree."

"At that time, you only need to place the remnant soul under the tree, and the ancient tree will reshape the physical body on its own."

Nan Feng nodded and turned to look at Bibi Dong's flower garden. The second drop of Three Lights Divine Water had already begun to condense within the pearl.

This time he waited five days.

Five days later, the second drop of golden liquid was drawn from the pearl, Nan Feng walked up to Bibi Dong.

"You come here."

Bibi Dong squatted in front of the crabapple blossoms, receiving the drop of the Three Lights Divine Water with both hands. Her hands were trembling.

Nan Feng gripped her wrist to steady her.

"Drip it onto the roots."

Bibi Dong took a deep breath and carefully dripped the divine water onto the base of the crabapple tree.

The pinkish-white Nine Heart Begonia began to change color the moment the golden light seeped in. From the edges of the petals toward the center of the flower, the pinkish-white faded inch by inch, and layers of gold were applied.

When all nine petals turned pure gold, the entire crabapple tree grew a foot taller.

A golden stamen the size of a thumb has gathered at the center of the flower, exuding a rich sense of life.

Bibi Dong stared at the golden crabapple blossom for a long time. She reached out and touched the petals, feeling a warm sensation on her fingertips, as if someone had breathed on her palm.

Her eyes reddened, but she didn't shed a tear.

"It's of higher quality than my Martial Soul." Bibi Dong's voice was a little hoarse.

Nan Feng crouched down to be at eye level with her.

"That's perfect. When you cultivate the Space-Time Spider Emperor and the Mountain Suppressing Spider Emperor in the future, this crabapple tree can help stabilize your soul. It's now equivalent to half a Immortal Level Martial Soul."

Bibi Dong nodded. As she stood up, she suddenly reached out and grabbed Nan Feng's sleeve. The grip was very light, as if she was afraid he would run away.

"Nan Feng."

"Um?"

"Thanks."

Nan Feng patted the back of her hand.

"You're welcome."

The third drop of the Three Lights Divine Water condensed in the pearl for seven whole days before the Nan Feng dripped it onto the immortal tree of the Old Huai locust tree.

The moment the golden liquid seeped into the tree trunk, the Old Huai's face, blurred for a hundred years, finally became clear. The eyebrows were eyebrows, the beard was beard, and even the old scar on its face that stretched from the eyebrow to the corner of its mouth was clearly visible.

Old Huai emerged from the trunk, stretched its limbs, and then slapped Nan Feng on the back of the head.

"You little brat! You finally decided to water me something nice!"

Nan Feng rubbed the back of his head and grinned.

"Old Huai, go easy on me! I'm at the Foundation Establishment Perfection now. If you slap me, I'll be shattered and I'll need the Three Lights Divine Water to save me."

Old Huai glared and puffed out his beard.

"So what if you've Foundation Establishment Perfection? Your ancestor wasn't even a god when I was guarding the tower!"

After he finished cursing, he laughed first, and as he laughed, his beard stood on end.

"However, the immortal tree has recovered about 70-80%, and I can get out of the trunk. I won't have to rely on my spiritual senses to see anything anymore."

Shifang peered in from outside the tower.

"Brother Nan! The fish is grilled! Old Huai, are you coming out to eat? Hey, your face looks so much clearer now!"

Old Huai turned around and cursed.

"All you ever do is eat! You've been guarding the tower for so many years, and your grilled fish is still the same—too salty!"

The Shifang were not convinced.

You said it was delicious last time!

"I was being lenient with you last time!"

Nan Feng leaned against the Ancient Tree of Life, listening to the Old Huai and Shifang bickering. Bibi Dong squatted beside the crabapple tree, tracing the golden patterns on the petals with her fingers.

The Tower Spirit Space was bathed in ethereal light, and the shadows cast by the ancient trees carried the fragrance of grass and trees.

Just as he was about to close his eyes and doze off for a while, Ye Lingling's voice came from outside the hall.

"Nan Feng, Yu Tianheng from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has arrived. He says he has important business to discuss with you. He doesn't look too good."

Nan Feng opened his eyes. Old Huai stopped cursing, snatched a grilled fish from Shifang's hand, and started biting into it.

"What did I tell you? He was keeping quiet on the day of the tribute."

Nan Feng stood up, dusted off his clothes, and cleared the lingering effects of the Three Lights Divine Water from his mind.

The fact that Yu Tianheng came to visit alone at this particular time is most likely related to Yu Xiaogang. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan just offered up Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone at the grand ceremony, and now they're sending people over so soon—this is no simple matter.

"Tell him to wait for me in the main hall."

Nan Feng turned and glanced at Bibi Dong.

"Would you like to come and listen together?"

Bibi Dong hesitated for a moment, put down the flower petals in her hand, stood up and walked to a spot half a step behind him. She didn't say anything, but followed closely.

Nan Feng smiled and stepped out of the hall.

The Old Huai muttered inside the tower.

"This kid, the Three Lights Divine Water just condensed and trouble has already come knocking. But it's fine, it'll be good to see if the name of the Three Lights Divine Water can hold its own against the tide when Yu Tianheng comes along."

Nan Feng paused when he reached the exit of the Tower Spirit Space, and glanced back at the Ancient Tree of Life.

The golden Immortal Mark on the tree crown pulsed and pulsed in the celestial light, like a growing heart. Only three drops of the Three Lights Divine Water had been condensed, and the ancient tree had not yet borne fruit, but he could already sense what this tree would bring him in the future.

It took one drop of divine water to revive Bibi Dong and three drops to revive Ah Yin. After the ancient tree bore fruit, each fruit was equivalent to one drop of the Three Lights Divine Water.

He touched the tower.

"Old Huai, keep a close eye on the fruit on the tree, don't let Shifang steal it."

Shifang shouted from behind.

"I'll eat grilled fish! Who's going to eat your fruit!"

The Old Huai was cursing inside the tower.

"He dares! I'll break his legs!"

Nan Feng walked out of the Tower Spirit Space with a smile.

Dusk fell outside the hall. Yu Tianheng stood at the foot of the main hall steps, still wearing his formal attire, his expression suggesting he had been walking all day with a bellyful of words to say.

"Immortal Master," Yu Tianheng clasped his hands in greeting, hesitated for a moment, and then added, "I've come this time for Yu Xiaogang."

Nan Feng stopped on the steps, looking down at Yu Tianheng.

"Isn't he already gone?"

Yu Tianheng took a deep breath.

"The person is gone, but the matter isn't over. The family Council of Elders cripple his Martial Soul and expel him from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. But he is of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon bloodline; although his Martial Soul is destroyed, the imprint of the family's heritage is still embedded in his body."

"The Council of Elders hope that the immortal master can intervene and extract the family's inheritance from the remains. Only you can do this."

Nan Feng raised an eyebrow.

Stripped of bloodline inheritance? Even after a person dies, the family still wants to take back those things.