C1459 He Had Expected It

Overcome with emotion, Yu Yuan's form quivered slightly within the forbidden chamber. In that moment, he came to the realization that he had been misjudging his senior brother, Zhong Chichen, for many years. There had been an issue with the Reincarnation Pill, delaying his reincarnation. The absence of his Heavenly Soul and Earth Soul suggested that his senior brother had gone to great lengths to protect him.

The reason he hadn't been informed was that, in his senior brother's eyes, he had become irrational. And indeed, that was the case. As malevolent thoughts consumed him, he had descended into darkness, straying further down a path of no return. The poison pills he concocted and the toxic mists he unleashed had claimed countless lives, prompting even the highest powers to resolve to eliminate him in secret.

His senior brother recognized that reasoning with him in such a state was futile. He also understood that this corrupted version of him was not his true self, but a result of the "poison" he had succumbed to. Suddenly, Yu Yuan recalled Lian Hu's words, remembering how Lian Hu had mentioned that upon reaching the Unrestrained Stage, his senior brother had promptly declared seclusion, entrusting all sect affairs to Chu Yao.

Lian Hu had heard the inner voice of their senior brother, questioning whether, after the master and junior brother had been afflicted, it was now his turn. The Ghost Witch Reincarnation Formation within the rock wall had no effect on those at the Yin God Stage. If the master and senior brother were in this secret room, they would not only be immune to the corrupting Yin Qi but could easily purify it and even benefit from it.

However, since the senior brother had indicated otherwise, it meant that he and the master were elsewhere, subjected to the overwhelming force of foul Yin Qi infused into their bodies and souls by Yuan Qingxi. Yuan Qingxi and the Ghost Wizard Sect had set their sights on Hong Qi from his past life. Their goal was to facilitate his reincarnation, revive him, and then induct him into the Ghost Wizard Sect for cultivation. By that point, Yuan Qingxi and the Ghost Wizard Sect already considered him one of their own.

The master must have previously reached an understanding with Yuan Qingxi, allowing him to observe Yu Yuan and consenting to Yuan Qingxi's proposal.

However, it's possible that after learning about the Ghost Wizard Sect's background or for some other reason, my master began to have second thoughts.

The consequence of his regret was his disappearance, and it's highly probable that he met with some misfortune.

Before whatever befell him, he likely confided in his senior brother, entrusting him to protect me and save me from the Ghost Wizard Sect's designs, which would have involved me becoming one of their members after reincarnation.

As a result, my senior brother tampered with the Reincarnation Pill in silence.

When my reincarnation went awry, the Ghost Wizard Sect quickly realized that my senior brother was the one who had interfered, and they turned their hostility towards him.

My senior brother knew that mere alchemy was no match for the Ghost Wizard Sect, so he gave up his pursuit of the pellet and devoted himself to gaining strength, eventually breaking through to the Unrestrained Stage.

By the time he reached the Unrestrained Stage, he may have been deeply tainted by corrupting forces, struggling to fend off the growing malevolence within.

His so-called seclusion was likely an escape, to avoid succumbing to the same fate and becoming another victim of possession...

A whirlwind of speculation churned in Yu Yuan's mind, leaving him in turmoil.

"I've lived for many years and have never come across the Reincarnation Pill. This pellet only emerged during your master's era. I have every reason to believe that both the Reincarnation Pill and the Ghost Wizard Reincarnation Formation we're dealing with were disclosed to your master by Yuan Qingxi."

Loong Jie let out a sly chuckle. The more he uncovered about Yu Yuan's previous life's reincarnation, shrouded in layers of mystery, the more intrigued he became.

The deeper he delved, the more revelations came to light, and the more fascinating it all seemed.

This piqued the interest of the old lascivious dragon considerably.

"Aunt Nan, the Reincarnation Pill?" Yu Yuan sought confirmation.

Xia Nan, bewildered and overwhelmed by their conversation, responded without hesitation, "In our Medicine God Sect, there was certainly no Reincarnation Pill before. It truly was an original creation of your master. Because the pellet was so sinister and peculiar, we all believed it wouldn't work."

"It seems that the Reincarnation Pill and the Witch Reincarnation Formation are indeed connected," Yu Yuan nodded in realization.

At that moment, another thought struck him.

He remembered someone — Mo Yan from the Devil Palace!

Mo Yan practiced a Devil Spell known as the "Metaplasia Spell," which Yu Yuan had taken a keen interest in during his time as Hong Qi.

He was well aware that this spell, always in the hands of Zhu Zhen, had the power to alter a person's cultivation aptitude.

Thanks to the "Metaplasia Spell," Mo Yan managed to condense his Yin God, shatter it, and return to the Yellow Court Stage.

From the Yellow Court Stage, he could purify his acupoints further, enhancing his innate talent. This early foundation strengthening could potentially lead him to the Unrestrained Stage or even to the level of the Primordial Spirit.

The destruction of the Yin God and the return to the Yellow Court Stage for cultivation bore a resemblance to the concepts of reincarnation.

It was akin to a diminished, less potent form of rebirth.

Zhu Zhen of the Devil Palace had been directly involved in the persecution of the Evil King and had even deceived Yun Hao into betraying Yu Xi.

Now in possession of the "Metaplasia Spell," was Zhu Zhen influenced by the Ghost Wizard Sect's secret techniques?

It's possible that he had previous dealings with Yuen Qingxi of the Ghost Wizard Sect.

"Do you know about the Metaplasia Devil Spell?" Yu Yuan abruptly inquired.

"The obscure Devil Spell mastered by Zhu Zhen?" Loong Jie shook his head with a wry smile. "That Devil Spell doesn't compare to your reincarnation. The so-called Metaplasia Spell is merely a minor art that can slightly improve one's aptitude. It's hardly noteworthy."

"Your rebirth, however, is a complete metamorphosis, transforming you from someone who couldn't cultivate into the prodigy you are today."

Loong Jie, the old libertine, clearly scorned the Devil Palace's "Metaplasia Spell," and by extension, held little regard for Zhu Zhen.

"Don't you find this Devil Spell bears some resemblance to the Ghost Wizard Reincarnation Formation?" Yu Yuan pressed on.

Loong Jie was taken aback and then fell into silence.

After a moment, he seemed to realize something and said, "Are you suggesting that Zhu Zhenxiong had interactions with Yuan Qingxi? Did he learn the secret of reincarnation from Yuan Qingxi, which led to his mastery of the Metaplasia Spell?"

"It's a possibility," Yu Yuan replied.

He hadn't yet revealed that the Evil King, Yu Xi, an ancestor of the Yu family, might have been a prominent figure in the Ghost Wizard Sect and the master whom Yuan Qingxi served.

The revelation was too startling, and he needed more time to confirm it.

"I won't be seeing Chu Yao. Aunt Nan, could you please find him for me? Just ask him one thing: where is my senior brother now?" Yu Yuan asked.

He harbored no resentment toward his senior brother or his former disciple.

"I'll take care of it immediately!"

Xia Nan, realizing the Medicine God Sect harbored many secrets, felt overwhelmed.

Driven by her trust in Yu Yuan and concern for Zhong Chichen, she promptly rose to her feet.

"Who would have thought the Ghost Wizard Sect was orchestrating so much behind the scenes?"

Loong Jie chuckled oddly, "It's truly bizarre. Why did the Ghost Wizard Sect choose you? Excuse my frankness, but as Hong Qi, you showed no exceptional talent in cultivation. You couldn't even get past the threshold, so why did they set their sights on you? The crafting of the Reincarnation Pill and this concealed Ghost Wizard Reincarnation Formation are no small feats."

He suspected there was more to the story.

Yu Yuan was also puzzled.

After some reflection, he considered that maybe the mark deep within the core of his first life's soul still emanated some unique mystique after he became Hong Qi.

It was something imperceptible to others, yet perhaps the Ghost Wizard Sect and Yuan Qingxi had detected something extraordinary.

They must have believed he was the prodigy the Ghost Wizard Sect had been seeking, someone who could propagate their esoteric arts, and thus facilitated his reincarnation to hasten the end of this life.

A sudden realization struck him, and he contemplated another possibility.

The colossal phantom soul that had manifested in the consciousness of his first life...

Had that colossal phantom soul ever revealed itself during Hong Qi's time?

In the time of Hong Qi, his three souls—of heaven, earth, and humanity—were beyond comparison to what they are now. Even if his former self had a moment of awakening, it would have been impossible for him to perceive the existence of Hong Qi's present self.

Should his former self awaken and realize an inability to cultivate, recognizing it as an accident and a mistake...

He would likely wish for Hong Qi's era to come to an end as swiftly as possible.

Aware that the Ghost Wizard Sect was orchestrating his downfall and pushing for his reincarnation, he would probably consent in silence, or even embrace it willingly.

Since Hong Qi's era was an error, it should be briefly endured before swiftly moving on.

This life, Yu Yuan's life, marks a fresh start filled with boundless hope and a future full of possibilities!

Whoosh!

Xia Nan returned, her eyes wide with astonishment. "Chu Yao said that Zhong Chichen is in the Iridescent Cloud Miasma Sea!"

"The Iridescent Cloud Miasma Sea!"

Yu Yuan, Loong Jie, and Yinn Xueqi echoed in shock.

The Iridescent Cloud Miasma Sea is one of the enigmatic forbidden zones of the vast expanse, revered as the Earth Demon's sanctuary and the birthplace of the Ghost Wizard Sect!

Yu Yuan's latter years were most frequently spent in the Iridescent Cloud Miasma Sea!

Senior Brother Zhong Chichen had declared his seclusion within the Medicine God Sect, yet he was actually residing in the Iridescent Cloud Miasma Sea!

"Zhong Chichen instructed Chu Yao not to seek him out, to forever avoid the Iridescent Cloud Miasma Sea! Long ago, the Medicine God Sect established a strict rule forbidding all alchemists from entering the Iridescent Cloud Miasma Sea!" Xia Nan exclaimed.

"It makes sense, it's the only reasonable explanation," Loong Jie agreed with a nod. "If he's in trouble, the Iridescent Cloud Miasma Sea is indeed where he ought to be."

After a brief pause, Xia Nan added, "The last message Zhong Chichen sent to Chu Yao was that if you ever returned to the Medicine God Sect and inquired about his whereabouts, Chu Yao was to reveal his location. So, as soon as I met Chu Yao, he disclosed everything without reservation."

"I knew it. Senior Zhong anticipated this day would come," Yinn Xueqi said.

"In the end, it seems I must venture into the Iridescent Cloud Miasma Sea," Yu Yuan said, inhaling deeply.

​