From Now On, Ji Yuchuan Is Ji Yuchuan

Having returned to the White Jade Tower, Li Guanqi finally breathed a sigh of relief. Sitting alone in the hall and gazing out at the courtyard with its carved, openwork walls, he suddenly raised a hand and shaped a small thundercloud. The thundercloud was dainty and docile, drizzling a gentle, pattering rain. Sitting back in a rocking chair, Li Guanqi closed his eyes, listening to the soft clatter of raindrops tapping against the roof tiles, momentarily lost in thought. As if guided by a sudden whim, he summoned a brazier fire beside him. Opening his eyes to look up at the vault of heaven adorned with a brilliant starry river, he murmured under his breath, "One cat missing... and one little girl missing." Li Guanqi drew a blanket over himself. The auras of Cao Yan and Xiao Chen, who had just broken through, were gradually subsiding. It would still take some time to stabilize their cultivation realms, and Meng Wanshu also needed to recover properly for a while. Gu Li was still mumbling to himself day in and day out, engrossed in researching his Fortified Inspection Talismans. Tang Ru cultivated diligently every single day. The corners of Li Guanqi's mouth curved slightly upward. It seemed everyone had their own goals and was forging ahead toward them with unwavering resolve. Tucking the blanket around himself, Li Guanqi thought Ye Feng had probably gone out drinking. A wave of weariness washed over him, and he drifted into a deep sleep right there in the courtyard. Meanwhile, in a mysterious, solemn hall, the Eight Generals and the Four Kings sat respectfully in the lower seats. Ling Tianchen spoke in a calm, aloof voice. "The extermination of the Liao family of the Ethereal Immortal Domain was not Hong Zhi's doing." "Yet the outside world only sees the outcome now. Spurred by the instigation and propaganda of certain factions, it has turned into a tale of the Seventh Domain slaughtering an entire clan on a whim just to prevent people from ascending." Hong Zhi kept her head down, her expression sour. Ling Tianchen paused briefly, then continued, "Under the provocation of such sentiments, many clans and sects have been reacting rather violently of late." At that moment, the Tiger King, Bai Su, clad in a white fur cloak over his shoulders, spoke without expression. "Then kill them all." "Is there any need to trouble Emperor Chen over this...?" Wen Guyan rolled his eyes. To Bai Su, it truly was that simple: just kill them. Among the Four Kings, Bai Su harbored the heaviest killing intent, and he had fused with a drop of White Tiger essence blood. The White Tiger governed slaughter, and his temper was extraordinarily foul. Ling Tianchen pondered for a moment, then raised his eyes toward Yu Shan. "Closely monitor all clans and sects showing unusual movements. If persuasion fails, show no mercy—kill them all!" As the words fell, the old man's figure vanished in an instant. The Four Kings and Eight Generals rose to bow. Yu Shan shook his head with a wry smile. This job truly wasn't easy... With his hands clasped behind his back, he turned and left, arriving at a small courtyard within the Fourth Domain. Inside, a man had long been seated in the courtyard waiting for him. The man bore a gentle expression, his entire demeanor refined and cultured. "You're back?" "Mm. Have you been waiting for me a while?" "Mm. Why did you call me here?" Yu Shan smiled, flickering over to sit across from Ji Yuchuan. Tucking his hands into his sleeves, he stared at Ji Yuchuan for a good while. Ji Yuchuan's expression remained tranquil, his state of mind completely peaceful. Earlier, when he learned that Yu Shan had assumed his appearance, he had already accepted such an end. Being absorbed back into the original body did not seem like an unbearable fate. It was just that... he couldn't help recalling the days spent at Guanyun Pavilion. Yet in the end, Yu Shan had not absorbed his power, but instead let him go. Yu Shan stared at Ji Yuchuan in silence for a long time, then lowered his head and poured a cup of wine for them both. "Have you ever thought about becoming your own person?" Ji Yuchuan smiled, raised his cup, took a sip, and spoke casually: "In the days I lived, I have always been myself." "Although I am your avatar, I never felt that I was you, or... that you could ever be me." "Because everything I went through, you never experienced firsthand. That is why you can never become me. I am who I am." Yu Shan was slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting Ji Yuchuan to say something like this. Ji Yuchuan looked at him and smiled. "After peering into my past memories, were you envious of me too?" "And... the reason you didn't go see Li Guanqi in my guise is because you knew he wouldn't recognize you as a friend, wasn't it?" Yu Shan sighed. As expected of his most important avatar, Ji Yuchuan saw right through his thoughts. "Your existence... is very much like Li Song." Ji Yuchuan smiled, looking at Yu Shan with genuine sincerity. "I know. That's why I am very grateful to you." Yu Shan fell silent for a long time before suddenly looking up at Ji Yuchuan. "Do you... want to be like Li Song?" Ji Yuchuan's hand holding the wine cup trembled slightly, sending ripples through the surface of the wine. Ji Yuchuan's lips parted slightly, his throat bobbing. "I do." "Very well. I will grant your wish!" Buzz!!!!! A terrifying pressure instantly permeated the void!! This aura... was ready to step into the Tribulation Transcendence realm at any moment!!! The surge even alarmed the Four Kings!! Wen Guyan frowned. "What is Yu Shan doing? Does he plan to reclaim Wu Mian?" The taciturn Xuan Yue shook his head, a sharp glint flickering in the depths of his eyes. "He is... likely severing the bond between himself and his avatar." Ji Yuchuan remained composed. He rose and cupped his fists in salute. "Thank you for granting my wish!" Wisps of spiritual radiance bloomed from both of them, light flowing like a brilliant starry river. With a complicated gaze, Yu Shan formed a sword gesture with two fingers and lightly swung downward between them. "Indeed... I cannot become you." "Then I shall grant you this." "From now on, Ji Yuchuan is Ji Yuchuan, and Yu Shan is Yu Shan." Bowing low, Ji Yuchuan's eyes reddened slightly as he clenched his teeth, his lips trembling faintly. Shhh!! Buzz!!!! Ji Yuchuan's face suddenly paled, the primal energy around him surging violently as if on the verge of instability. Yu Shan pressed down with one hand, pouring a majestic power into his body to help suppress the turbulence. His mid-Body Integration realm cultivation did not regress; instead, it grew far more stable, showing faint signs of breaking through to the late stage. At the same time, Yu Shan gritted his teeth and endured the agony of a tearing soul as he swung his hand once more!! This time... the one whose bond was severed was Xi Yunhuai! Inside Guanyun Pavilion, the old man suddenly blanched and fell to his knees. Startled, Qianqiusui rushed forward to support him, but that force pushed her back more than ten zhang!! A look of relief flashed across Xi Yunhuai's face. He bowed low in salute, remaining silent for a long time. Only after quite a while did Yu Shan catch his breath. Looking somewhat exhausted, he waved his hand. Ji Yuchuan took a deep breath, bowed with cupped hands, and took his leave. From this day forth, Ji Yuchuan and Xi Yunhuai were independent individuals. Though still somewhat pale, Ji Yuchuan was enveloped by Yu Shan's power and sent into the first layer of the Celestial Spirit Domain. Carrying a wine jug, he looked toward the direction of the White Jade Tower. Ji Yuchuan took a deep breath, the corners of his mouth curving upward. Asleep, Li Guanqi suddenly startled awake and sprang to his feet. The blanket slipped from him as he stared blankly toward the doorway. A tall, upright figure stood smiling at the entrance, dangling a wine jug in hand. With a complicated gaze, Ji Yuchuan narrowed his eyes slightly and raised the wine jug. "Pavilion Master, Yuchuan has returned." Suddenly! A blur crossed Ji Yuchuan's vision, and Li Guanqi embraced him tightly, declaring with extraordinary excitement, "It is good to have you back! Hahahaha, it is good to have you back!" A smile spread across Ji Yuchuan's face, and he couldn't resist teasing, "Do you still have that Profound Phantasm Sacred Soul Pill? Hurry up and give me one to eat..."