Tu Longjian gave a respectful salute. Daoist Master Pu Yu merely sat silently at the table, smiling as he looked into his cup.
Tu Longjian pondered for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "Daoist Master, you are versed in the arts of Yin and Yang. What is the usual price for performing such a technique?
"Several of the necessary treasures are native to my Penglai. I can retrieve them easily. This spell isn’t costly to cast on someone at Foundation Establishment Realm, especially since he’s young and his cultivation is clear and pure... But this art is a closely guarded secret of our lineage and unknown to ordinary immortals.
"Let’s set the price aside for now. I have one question: if I could ask Junjian to resolve it for me?" Daoist Master Pu Yu looked at him, a probing light in his eyes, and said with a smile, "Using this art on a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator is extremely rare. After all, death means death. I dwell in Penglai and wander often. There would be no reason to make advance preparations... If one could prepare in advance, why would one need to die in the first place?"
He stood up, looked back at Tu Longjian, and said with deep meaning, "However, it makes no sense. As soon as you reached the Purple Mansion Realm, you visited my Penglai several times and even waited at the foot of the mountain for years just to see me. Your intention was clear. If we look at it from this angle..."
The smile slowly faded from Daoist Master Pu Yu’s handsome face as he said quietly, "Junjian, did you foresee today’s events the moment you broke through to the Purple Mansion Realm? Even with the great upheaval of Xu State’s civil war in between? That’s beyond calculation. Even a Maha would feel ashamed compared to such planning. Was it a dharma relic? Or the workings of someone else?"
Tu Longjian could only smile bitterly in his heart. He hadn’t prepared for years specifically for Li Xijun! Tu Longjian had worked to build ties with Daoist Master Pu Yu all this time solely for Guo Er, who was sealed inside the Six Ding Merging Fire Token!
Tu Longjian had been mentored by Guo Er for many years. Guo Er had once obtained treasures alongside Zhang Cuotian and others within the Green Pine Temple’s grotto heaven. Later, Tu Longjian had escaped danger thanks to a technique Guo Er left behind there. Since he owed him a great debt, Tu Longjian had always sought to find Guo Er a new body.
It was well known that Daoist Master Pu Yu of Penglai was a master in such arts, which was why Tu Longjian had visited him repeatedly. As for Li Xijun, his case was truly just a timely coincidence.
Tu Longjian replied, "If I merely wanted to sever ties with the Li Family, I wouldn’t need to go to such lengths... The matter with the Li Family is just a coincidence.
"In my youth, I was displaced and lost all my family and friends. Their bodies were scattered and vanished over time. Upon hearing that Senior possessed divine arts to govern Yin and Yang, and is close with Judge Yang, I thought to request your aid, to inquire of the Underworld where my kin’s remains lie..."
He did not bring up Guo Er directly. Instead, he voiced a matter that had long weighed on his heart and said softly, "Even if I can’t know where their bones fell, even if my father and kin ended up in someone’s belly or were turned into dharma artifacts, as long as I can know, I, Junjian, will repay the favor handsomely."
"I see." Daoist Master Pu Yu’s narrow eyes narrowed further as he looked at Tu Longjian thoughtfully. He turned his jade cup, and replied, "So it truly was a coincidence... Junjian, you have a kind heart. In longing for one lost friend, you’ve saved another. Such is fate."
He asked no more and responded, "Li Xuanfeng entrusted his orphan to me, since we once shared a fated connection. Though he is gone, he still barely counts as part of the Li Family. I’ll handle Li Xijun’s matter. Penglai happens to have recently grown a piece of Gaoxuan Bright Frost. I’ll carve out sixty percent and fashion a body for him."
Tu Longjian let out a breath of relief when he realized he wasn’t being threatened with the soul, and drew something from his sleeve. The command token was interwoven with red and black patterns.
A misty red glow formed from the Six Ding Merging Fire Token as he gave it a gentle tug. It was half gold and half silver as it hovered in his palm.
Inside the command token, Guo Er wailed in anguish, his cries shaking the heavens, but Tu Longjian pretended not to hear and said respectfully, "I cannot use Senior’s spiritual item without recompense. This Crimson Gold White Flame was something I obtained before attaining divine abilities. Please accept it as compensation."
Centuries ago, a great snowfall blanketed the Northern Sea, forming a five thousand kilometer snow mountain. Spiritual items of Cold Essence became abundant. But even among them, Gaoxuan Bright Frost was exceptional. At the same time, even if six-tenths were carved out for Li Xijun, it still wouldn’t surpass the Crimson Gold White Flame. Daoist Master Pu Yu understood it was meant to aid the ritual and accepted it with a smile.
The two exchanged a few casual words before Tu Longjian saw him off at the cave entrance. Returning to his desk, Tu Longjian sat down and brought two fingers to his lips, exhaling a puff of flame.
The flame quickly formed into a human shape and immediately wailed, "Tu Longjian! You—you—you! You used my treasure to curry favor—how unreasonable!"
Tu Longjian, rarely seeing him so flustered, was delighted inwardly, but kept a stern expression as he said quietly, "Senior, what are you saying? Do you know why I did this?"
Guo Er glared at him in frustration and replied, "Isn’t it just to repay your precious senior’s favor?"
"Not at all." Tu Longjian replied with a serious expression, "I must repay Senior Yuanjiao’s kindness. Yes, but this was also for your sake.
"Think about it. Pu Yu is from Penglai. He is ambiguous in nature, neither righteous nor evil. When crafting an immortal body, who’s to say he won’t plant any hidden tricks? If you enter it unaware, wouldn’t you suffer terribly?"
Guo Er, who had been watching all along, had truly not considered this and paused in surprise. Tu Longjian said earnestly, "Once he finishes shaping the body, you too are skilled in this Dao. Though not as accomplished as the Daoist Master, with Li Xijun as precedent, you can inspect and take precautions."
Guo Er had no more words. He looked like he wanted to nod, but held back. After a long pause, he muttered gloomily, "Fine, fine, fine..."
On his end, Daoist Master Pu Yu left the Slaughter Jun Gate and made his way toward the Eastern Sea, traveling through the great void. As he formed seals and cast spells, the blue light in his hand transformed into a cyan sparrow that glided through the void. He silently calculated, Li Xijun... I should examine him thoroughly. This time, Tu Longjian invited me personally, and the timing checks out. There’s nothing suspicious. Even if someone backs him, they can’t fault me.
He gently pressed on the jade box within his sleeve, his heart stirred slightly, Li Xijun’s soul is unusual too. It's cold as snow, as if carrying a thread of fate. Those Purple Mansion Realm cultivators simply aren’t skilled enough to notice it.
In truth, Daoist Master Pu Yu had sensed it when holding the soul. It had resisted slightly when leaving the body, as if it had been tethered to something. These were classic signs of being entwined with fate.
Since Li Xijun was so unusual and the spirit item matched his Immortal Foundation, reshaping a body for him would not be difficult. Daoist Master Pu Yu then began to consider Tu Longjian’s request to find his kin.
His Penglai did indeed have close ties with the Underworld. Judge Yang was a frequent guest, so Tu Longjian’s request wasn’t hard to fulfill. Pu Yu only pondered, Judge Yang’s Nine-Layer Attribute Net is formidable. I’m not sure if that True Essence fell into his hands. Asking directly would be inappropriate; it's best to leave it alone.
A white ocean appeared below his feet, and a small mountain began to surface. Atop it stood a simple Daoist temple. Before even landing, Daoist Master Pu Yu called out, "Bring me the Gaoxuan Bright Frost!"