Xuanyin Mountain was normally managed by the thirty-six ascended spirit peak masters, and absent a great matter like an internal conflict or turbulence in the Sea of Stars, even those peak masters usually wouldn’t see the shed skin elders. 

Shifu had already been sent back to Flying Jade Peak, but the elders had kept him here alone. Xi Ping couldn’t think of anything they could want to talk to him about. It probably couldn’t have been just for the sake of praising him for taking a shovel to the Zhou family ancestral tomb in the nick of time. 

When he had broken through shifu’s prohibition, Xi Ping had known what he would have to face. He was ready. 

There was nothing to regret about his own choices. He had been purely forced into taking the ancient demonic god’s hidden bones; there had been nothing deliberate about it. If the elders wanted to punish him, he would have plenty to say. When it came down to it, apart from privately giving Wei Chengxiang a bag of spiritual stones and permitting her to walk the path to becoming an evil cultivator, he had nothing on his conscience. So what if he had wanted to kill Zhao Zhenwei? The evidence was conclusive, and the guy hadn’t been much of a prize, either; if Zhao Zhenwei’s own father showed up, even he wouldn’t have the face to demand repayment from Xi Ping. 

The Dignitary of Rites Elder Zhao paused. He looked at Zhang Jue. 

Zhang Jue always kept his eyes closed; it was unclear whether he was awake or sleeping. He didn’t respond. 

So Zhao Yin amiably asked Xi Ping, “Are you aware of the full history behind those ancient demonic god’s hidden bones that you carry?” 

Xi Ping figured that they weren’t good news at all, or else Zhi Xiu with his nature of “there’s nothing that can’t be spoken of” wouldn’t have gone straight to putting a prohibition on him. 

“Not especially,” he said lightly, and calmly tried to clear shifu of any responsibility. “On Flying Jade Peak, even my shifu couldn’t work out what the hell those things were good for—apart from being able to listen in on evil cultivators talking. That’s why he sent me to investigate the evil cultivators. Who’d have thought that I’d run into the other half of the skeleton in the Impassable Sea and it’d come chasing after me without another word. It nearly killed me.” 

Elder Zhao seemed not to have noticed what he was doing. He nodded and said, “These events took place long ago. They are in fact rather distant from you juniors.

“The original owner of those hidden bones was named Yuan Hui. Tradition has it that he was cut down in the Impassable Sea by the Southern Sage, but that is not the truth. When I was young, I heard the venerable Southern Sage himself say that he was incapable of defeating Yuan Hui. That ancient demonic god died in a heavenly tribulation because heaven and earth could not abide him. While living, his cultivation was extremely strong, equal to the Southern Sage, but he had taken an evil way. Since his hidden bones reemerged into the world, the Bell of Tribulation has rung three times, more it has than during the last several hundred years. The bones fixed their attention on you from outside Jinping City. Up to the present, you could say that every step you’ve taken has been through chance and coincidence. With our level of cultivation, we are unable to see the ancient demonic god’s way clearly. We only know that it has been secretly altering the fortunes of heaven and earth.”

Xi Ping nodded. He had used the reincarnation wood to bring the elders here. The elders must know perfectly well by now how he had gotten the hidden bones. 

Elder Zhao continued, sighing, “Establishing a foundation after a hundred years already indicates superior natural endowments. Even your Duanrui-shishu with her innate spiritual bones took most of a decade to get there after opening her spiritual eyes, entering the inner sect, and inheriting a Way of the Heart. Establishing a foundation less than a year after beginning to cultivate is unheard of. Too great haste has always been a calamity, not a blessing. You have mistakenly entered the way of the demonic god. You have no Way of the Heart on your spiritual foundation. This cannot be sustained in the long run. Fortunately, it’s early days yet. There is still room for you to escape.” 

Xi Ping stared. With all the evil schemes he was brewing, he was forced to acknowledge now that everything Elder Zhao had said was reasonable. 

“Please tell me what I ought to do, elder.” 

Zhao Yin said, “Remove those spiritual bones.” 

Xi Ping: “…” 

Xi Ping had heard the story of Lancang’s Hui Xiangjun having her spiritual bones removed and her cultivation failing. The removal of spiritual bones had always been the immortal sects’s heaviest punishment. Elder Zhao’s words were tantamount to saying, “There’s a tumor growing in your head, the prognosis looks bad. Fortunately, it’s early days yet. There’s still time to chop off your head.” 

A sneer was about to appear on his lips when he heard the Dignitary of Fate Zhang Jue suddenly put in a word: “The half-skeleton of hidden bones in his body had already fused with his own true bones when he opened his spiritual eyes, never mind now, when he has established a foundation. An established foundation cultivator has already formed his heart, fixed his way. Removing his spiritual bones will shatter his vital weapon. At best he will never be able to cultivate again. At worst, he will be utterly destroyed.” 

Zhao Yin said, “He is unlike others. Others form their hearts and fix their ways when they establish a foundation, but his way has been forced on him by the hidden bones. He himself can’t say what way it is. How can you call it forming his heart? Removing his spiritual bones may not necessarily damage his spirit.” 

Shaking his head, Zhang Jue said, “There is no precedent for this. It is only ‘not necessarily.’  Matters concerning the ancient demonic god do not appear in the Sea of Stars. Neither you nor I know what the outcome of removing his spiritual bones will be. Though he has no Way of the Heart, he does have cultivation. Even mortals with natural spiritual bones cannot live long after losing their bones, so what will happen to him?” 

“The Sea of Stars may not be able to see matters involving the ancient demonic god clearly, but it is still an established truth that ‘what accords with heaven’s will is auspicious, what is contrary to heaven’s will is inauspicious.’” Though Zhao Yin was debating with Zhang Jue, his eyes were watching Xi Ping. He said, “For example, forcibly removing a mortal’s natural spiritual bones is ‘contrary.’ Naturally the victims will die young, unless their spiritual bones can be restored to them, returning to what ‘accords’…” 

Hearing this, Xi Ping’s heart gave a fierce leap. Ignoring everything else, he said, “If a mortal loses their natural spiritual bones, can they still be returned?” 

Zhao Yin nodded. “As long as they aren’t dead.” 

Xi Ping said, “So how…” 

Zhang Jue interrupted him: “That’s beside the point.” 

Zhao Yin’s expression didn’t change. “Shiyong did this unintentionally. The demonic god’s hidden bones forced themselves onto him. For him, having the spiritual bones is what is ‘contrary,’ while getting rid of them will be restoring what is natural. It is evident at a glance what accords and what is contrary. Regardless of what the outcome of removing the spiritual bones is, surely you aren’t going to tell me it wouldn’t be better than letting him continue on a wrong path?” 

Zhang Jue turned to ask Elder Lin, “What does the Dignitary of Rule say?” 

With the gazes of both Elder Zhang and Elder Zhao on him, Elder Lin pulled the seal over his mouth down a little. It turned out the old fellow wasn’t mute. 

Emphasizing each word, Lin Zongyi said, “Yuan Hui’s hidden bones are inauspicious.” 

When he opened his mouth, Xi Ping felt all his bones give a fierce shake and nearly jump out of his body on the spot. 

No wonder Lin Zongyi kept his mouth sealed. Every word that came out of his mouth was a judgment, taking effect at once. Xi Ping had a sense that if Elder Lin had found him guilty of a crime not even death could atone for, he might have been struck down by a bolt of lightning on the spot. He didn’t make a sound, only listened to all his bones clattering, as if he were being squeezed in the palm of a big invisible hand. 

The folds in Zhang Jue’s brow deepened. Zhao Yin cast his eyes down indifferently. 

But Lin Zongyi paused briefly, then went on: “The great service this disciple has rendered is indelible. He may not be forced to undergo the punishment of the removal of spiritual bones.” 

As soon as he said this, the pressure on Xi Ping’s body disappeared. He was wholly uninjured, but all his strength was exhausted. He narrowly kept himself from falling face first by holding himself up with his hands. 

Elder Lin treasured his words like gold. After these two sentences, he once again sealed his mouth, turning again into a mute minding his own business. 

“Lin-shixiong’s word is final, so this matter has been decided,” Zhang Jue said. “Shiyong, it is up to you whether the spiritual bones stay or go.” 

Zhao Yin also turned to Xi Ping and said, nodding, “As it ought to be.” 

Xi Ping was silent for a long time. Finally, he said, “I didn’t finish what I was saying earlier. I would like to ask Elder Zhao to instruct me on a certain matter. You said that a mortal whose innate spiritual bones have been removed can have them restored. How can this be done?” 

Zhao Yin answered, “It only needs a cultivator of the ascended spirit level or higher to keep the meridians from breaking during the opening of spiritual eyes, as happened with you. Then, at that opportune moment, the spiritual bones can be merged back into the original body.” 

It had to be an ascended spirit cultivator or above…

Xi Ping threw his head back slightly, glancing towards the nearby reincarnation wood forest. The reincarnation wood forest at the bottom of the sea was moving without a wind, the limbs and leaves shaking incessantly. He suddenly clenched his teeth, and the reincarnation wood trees, like his own tense back, instantly calmed down. 

“The rest doesn’t matter, but my san…His Highness Prince Zhuang’s spiritual bones were the last to be placed by the Zhou family into the Impassable Sea. He didn’t voluntarily choose to allow the demon host to suck his marrow. All these years, the Impassable Sea has kept him silent. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to expose that awful place.” 

Zhao Yin said, “I know.” 

Xi Ping thought, It doesn’t matter that you know. 

He turned to look at the Dignitary of Rule Lin Zongyi. 

But Elder Lin didn’t say a word. 

“Poor child. This is indeed a difficult choice.” Zhao Yin sighed and turned to Zhang Jue. “I don’t believe this matter is urgent. How about this—Zhang-shixiong, you seal his meridians, and when Jingzhai’s wounds have healed and he leaves seclusion, we will make a ruling. After all, this is his only direct disciple.” 

Xi Ping slowly looked at Elder Zhao’s kindly-looking face, and the blood pumping through his heart turned to ice—evidently it was no good trying to be clever in front of a shed skin elder. 

Zhao Yin clearly knew what Zhi Xiu had done. Fair enough. What was Xi Ping? It was an insult to the high elders’s precious energy to give him a second look. It took a two-hundred-year-old sword cultivator whose thrust of the sword had touched the boundary of the shed skin stage to be worth them wasting their spit. 

For a moment, out of nowhere, Xi Ping thought of Duanrui-shishu. 

After the forebear who had died for a cause, she was the first instance of innate spiritual bones in the whole Zhou clan. It was easy to imagine how pampered she must have been from childhood. A precious princess like this, forced into the way of clarity—she was no human-shaped punching bag, either; hadn’t she resisted back then? 

Back then, she must also have been questioned by the sect in this kindly fashion, in this same calm atmosphere: Are you Great Wan’s princess, or the Zhou clan’s princess? 

The Zhou family possesses all under heaven. With Xuanyin Mountain to rely on, they are sure to continue throughout the ages, generation upon generation. With the imperial family’s power, it is easy to control Xuanyin’s Grand Selection. If they are not held back, over time, it is certain that they will become the sole great family. When that time comes, will they still be able to follow the old teachings of the demon subduers, value the nation above all? If you say they will, then, Zhou Xueru, won’t you be the one to prove it to the immortal mountain now? 

In Xuanyin Mountain, everyone had a Way of the Heart; some were brave, some were pure, some cherished the nation. Elder Lin was just, Elder Zhao spoke of what accorded with heaven’s will… In sum, Xuanyin Mountain couldn’t produce those comic characters in operas who were base and shameless, who bullied others for their own ends. Everything had to be his own choice. 

Right now, he had rendered an indelible great service, but if he wouldn’t give up his cultivation, insisted on holding on to the ancient demonic god’s hidden bones, would he still have rendered an indelible great service? 

Lax teaching is the fault of the teacher. Zhi Xiu had wished to cover up the hidden bones with a prohibition. When he came back, would he be able to escape the accusation of letting his disciple run free and fostering a demon? 

What position would his shizun be in when the time came? 

Never mind that there was no telling how long shifu would be in seclusion. It might be a hundred years…and even if it was only three years or five, there was someone who couldn’t wait that long.  

Starting from when he had concealed Jiang Li’s birthday jade, the whole way here, he hadn’t consulted anyone’s opinion. Why should he let someone else make the decision to wind it all up? Even if he were facing a coffin, he would still have to choose to lie down in it himself. 

Xi Ping suddenly smiled. “There’s no need.” 

The three elders simultaneously turned their heads towards him. 

Xi Ping took a deep breath and sat up straight. He said, “His Highness Prince Zhuang’s constitution is special.” 

Zhao Yin responded, “That’s correct. Natural spiritual bones cannot coexist with a paramount spiritual sense, unless the individual opens his spiritual eyes and becomes a half-immortal. In the history of this nation, there has never been an emperor of the mortal world who practiced cultivation. But in his circumstances, even if he becomes a half-immortal, he is unlikely to have a lifespan as long as that of others. If he is willing to accept certain restrictions, it would be possible to make an exception.” 

Xi Ping instantly distinguished several layers of meaning in his words. 

“That may not be necessary. It will depend on whether he is willing to sit on the throne.” Saying so, he took out the mustard seed that held Prince Zhuang’s spiritual bones. “Thank you, elder. I have nothing else to say.” 

This time last year, he had still been fooling around at the House of Overflowing Splendor under the name of Mr. Yu Gan. His parents had been fretting about how to make him settle down, get married, and embark upon a career. No one in his whole family had had a thought of that selection card. 

A year later, he had attended the Latent Cultivation Temple, gone into Demon Country, been broken to pieces, and even established a foundation. It was all like a wild dream. 

Even in his dreams he wouldn’t have been able to imagine that he would see General Zhi, fly a sword on Flying Jade Peak, and by coincidence break san-ge out of his hopeless game. It truly had been a busy year. 

The immortal path…

He raised his head and looked up. In the depths of the sea, he couldn’t see the light of day. 

In fact, you couldn’t see the light of day on dry land, either. The legendary sages who had ascended to heaven never spoke, and the gang that was left behind…ha. 

What about this immortal path was worth clinging to? 

“The damn things aren’t mine to begin with. They just keep chasing after me without any shame.” Xi Ping withdrew his gaze and spreads his hands carelessly. He said, smiling, “Go ahead, remove them.” 

Wei Chengxiang had veiled her face and was staying in a little fishing village on the shore of the East Sea. 

In the middle of the night, as she was wrapped up in wild dreams, she suddenly heard refreshing qin music playing in her ears. 

She knew nothing about music and couldn’t tell whether it was good or bad. She only felt that when that music sounded in her ears, all the secret anxieties and alarms in her heart calmed down. Her muscles and bones, not yet accustomed to being scoured by the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, suddenly stopped aching. 

Wei Chengxiang abruptly opened her eyes. “Uncle, you’re back!” 

The music stopped. “Hey.” 

“Where did you go before? I kept looking for you, I…” 

“I went to dig up a grave. There was a seal on the damn place, I couldn’t contact anyone on the outside. I know you’ve opened your spiritual eyes. That’s good.” This person’s voice sounded directly in her spirit, his tone just as lively as when he had egged her on into pretending to be a holy woman in a den of evil cultivators. “What do you think of the qin?” 

Towards outsiders, Wei Chengxiang seemed like a hedgehog, but towards those she knew, it was just the same as the way she had tolerated Chunying—no matter how unpleasantly the person behaved, she would only speak nicely. Without any hesitation, she praised, “It’s lovely. It sounds better than all the qin music on the Lingyang River!” 

The person in the reincarnation wood bragged shamelessly: “Of course. Those musicians are worthless. My qin can turn a donkey into a famous singer.” 

Wei Chengxiang: “…” 

Then she heard him continue, “Though this may be the only performance. A qin dug up out of a grave is very inauspicious. I’m playing it for you as a treat. I won’t play it again. You’re a half-immortal now, the same as Heaven’s Design Pavilion’s walkers in the mortal world. No one will be able to casually bully you again.” 

Wei Chengxiang went blank, suddenly having a bad feeling. “Uncle, what do you mean?” 

“Didn’t I say so before? You aren’t a little girl anymore. It’s inappropriate for me to always be watching you.” The person in the reincarnation wood laughed. “And I’m too lazy to keep watching you. The circumstances were special before. Now you’ve gotten past your obsession. Take care of yourself in the future.” 

Wei Chengxiang’s eyes opened wide. “Uncle, wait…” 

“Walk the path ahead on your own. We won’t meet again.”  

Wei Chengxiang stood up at once and seized the reincarnation wood. 

She called out, prayed, and finally, at wit’s end, she once again dripped blood on the reincarnation wood amulet. 

But there was no answer. 

She didn’t hear that voice again. 

Meanwhile, Xi Yue had returned to the southern mines along with the spiritual stone shipment convoy. When Xi Ping’s voice suddenly came from the dragon-taming chain, the half-puppet abruptly rolled over and stood up. 

“Everything’s fine, I’m going back to the inner sect,” the scoundrel young master said to him. “But I have other things to do, so I don’t have time to take care of a weak little encumbrance like you. So, anyway, I’m entrusting you to Pang-shixiong. Don’t be polite about eating his spiritual stones. Tell him to go to the Marquis Manor or the Prince Zhuang Manor to get them back.” 

Xi Yue: “…” 

Was he making any sense? 

The resentment that had been held down by worry instantly surged up. He wanted to bite him again. 

“Xi Yue.” The scoundrel young master suddenly became serious. “Xi Yue was my little brother’s name. He never grew up, and you…you also nearly died young. But you were a little luckier than him. Whether your arms and legs are made of wood or iron, at any rate you’ve survived. Even I haven’t treated you like a straw child or a puppet. If anyone dares to in the future, kill them for me.” 

Xi Yue’s pupils contracted sharply. Where are you? What are you saying, you…

Crack. There was a chill on Xi Yue’s neck. His scoundrel young master had somehow improved his skills. Across a vast distance, he had still been able to break the dragon-taming chain. 

When a dragon-taming chain had been crushed by its master, there was no way to repair it. 

The billowing waves on the canal pushed away the haze of the southern mines. He no longer had a master.