After I Died My Dao Companion Drowns in Endless Regret Chapter 78

Shi Wufang never considered herself a good person; her only stance was that of Buzhou. She gazed calmly at Wei Yunshu, her expression serene even when the word “kill” was mentioned.
“Her methods are too extreme. First Dustless Sea, then Cloud City. And her relationship with Luoshui Divine Palace is likely not good either. No one knows what she’ll do next. It doesn’t seem like things between her and you are over,” Shi Wufang said, her brow furrowing slightly as she thought of Luo Lingfeng’s actions, explaining to Wei Yunshu.
“I—” Wei Yunshu opened her mouth, her heart turning to ice. She couldn’t form a complete sentence. The five primordial demons from Northern Continent attempted to cross the Great Wall, using public opinion to pressure cultivators. Meanwhile, the Dragon Lord of Southern Continent and the people of Luoshui Divine Palace were plotting in secret, supporting the establishment of the Wu Shi Sect and proclaiming the existence of the Shang Qing Divine Realm throughout the entire Fu Li Immortal Realm. Now, most cultivators leaned towards the Divine Realm, wishing for Fu Li Immortal Realm to return to its former glory. On one hand, they were busy recruiting cultivators, and on the other, they were constructing altars and setting up rituals. If one could sense it carefully, they would notice the extremely violent spiritual energy fluctuations in the Fu Li Immortal Realm today; this was not merely the spiritual tide left by the demise of Cavern Heaven true beings. At such a time, no one wished to see someone with an unclear stance appear.
“I know this will be difficult for you,” Shi Wufang said after a moment of thought. “If you are unwilling, then Buzhou will do it.” In truth, the previous arrival at Cloud City was an opportunity, but firstly, Wei Yunshu had not yet recovered and her intentions were unclear, and secondly, they did not want to walk a path of no return, so they did not act so decisively.
Wei Yunshu shook her head. She slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air and said firmly, “This matter is partly due to me, so I will resolve it.” As for whether it was “killing” or “saving,” she would certainly attempt the latter first.
Seeing Wei Yunshu’s attitude, Shi Wufang breathed a sigh of relief. She had actually been worried that Wei Yunshu would intervene. Regardless of Luo Lingfeng’s attitude towards her, combined with the rumors and actions in the Fu Li Immortal Realm, this Cloud Sovereign likely harbored deep affection for that heartless and estranged Dao companion. Shi Wufang did not mention Wei Yunshu’s sorrow again, abruptly changing the subject to the situation in Southern Continent. “They set up rituals scattered throughout Eastern Continent and Western Continent, and they were all destroyed. However, in Southern Continent, the altars they built have gradually taken shape. That is the territory of Luoshui Divine Palace. Neither Buzhou nor the disciples under True Monarch Yan can reach it.”
“Previously, True Monarch Wen from Xiaohan Mountain came to persuade me, saying that true beings from the Upper Realm held the ascension talisman that could send us to the Shang Qing Divine Realm without needing to cultivate to the Dao Fruit realm,” Shi Wufang said, letting out a cold laugh.
“Such favors are indeed easy to win people’s hearts,” Wei Yunshu sighed. The pursuit of the Great Dao was the sole purpose of cultivators. The path to ascension in the Fu Li Immortal Realm had been severed for three thousand years. Now, there was an opportunity to enter the Upper Realm without reaching a certain cultivation level, so how could they let it pass? Buzhou exposed the matter of the five demons being born from “Severed-self” but the people of Shang Qing Divine Realm denied this. Buzhou was actually at a disadvantage.
“There are still some cultivators who value fundamentals, fearing they won’t have a place to stand in the Shang Qing Divine Realm, and are willing to fight alongside Buzhou,” Shi Wufang said softly. This was the only point that gave them hope. If they truly fell into a situation where they were “accused by all,” Buzhou would not be too pleased.
“In the Shang Qing Divine Realm, there are Daoist Wan Ling and Wen Baixian. In the Fu Li Immortal Realm, Wen Xianren, Tang Wentian, and Jiang Huangyu are leaning towards them. The Dragon Lord of Dustless Sea is wholeheartedly supporting the Wu Shi Sect, attempting to conquer the Great Wall and bring the five primordial demons of Northern Continent into the Immortal Realm. Looking at our side, you, me, our master, martial aunt, and grand-master, plus True Monarch Yan guarding the Great Wall, we are still at a disadvantage!” Shi Wufang sighed heavily. “Currently, True Monarch Yan is relying on that Dao artifact at the Great Wall to block the five primordial demons. Once the Northern Continent defense line collapses, it will be dangerous.”
Wei Yunshu said, “Perhaps we can add the Phoenix Lord of Dustless Sea.” Luo Lingfeng and the Phoenix Lord jointly killed two Cavern Heaven beings from Dustless Sea, and their conflict with the Dragon Lord was irreconcilable. She would not actively seek out the Shang Qing Divine Realm.
Shi Wufang said, “What if they were willing to give up a reception token to send her away?”
Wei Yunshu fell silent. She had no dealings with this reclusive Phoenix Lord and dared not gamble on such a possibility. After thinking for a while, she said, “I want to go to Dustless Sea. It’s best if everything is resolved there.” The latter half of her sentence was somewhat vague, but Shi Wufang quickly understood that the one to be resolved, besides the Phoenix Lord, was Luo Lingfeng. Shi Wufang opened her mouth, wanting to persuade her, but it was all her own decision. After a moment of hesitation, she patted Wei Yunshu’s shoulder and said, “Be careful.”
Wei Yunshu grunted. She suddenly remembered something Luo Lingfeng had mentioned to her when they were in Youluo Mountain. She said softly, “Luoshui Divine Palace might not be able to command their Dao artifact.”
Shi Wufang’s eyes flickered. “The information we gathered is that the incantation for activating the Dao artifact of Xiaohan Mountain is with Wen Danhua. And Wen Danhua has already been ransomed back by Wen Xianren.”
Wei Yunshu said frankly, “I heard it from Luo Lingfeng.” She thought for a moment and then added, “The Chaos Tree in Sunset Burial Mounds might also be strange.” To protect the territory of Luoshui Divine Palace, Luo Lingfeng was willing to sacrifice one of her Nascent Soul avatars, using the essence of the Cavern Heaven to cultivate the blood thorns to restrain the Chaos Tree. But she denied “righteousness,” so she must have had some ulterior motive.
Shi Wufang shook her head. “What a pity.”
In the Wu Shi Sect.
Daoist Wan Ling and the Dragon Lord were playing chess in a pavilion.
The black and white pieces on the chessboard were like two dragons intertwined, emitting an aura of unyielding animosity. Myriad Spirits True Monarch held a black piece and placed it on the board. The black dragon seemed to come alive, its ferocious head raised high. With a dragon’s roar, it fiercely bit off the head of the white dragon.
The white piece held by the Dragon Lord fell into the chess box. He didn’t know how to turn around this dangerous situation, so he gave up searching for a way to survive and smiled casually, “I lost.” Seeing Myriad Spirits True Monarch’s gaze fall on him, he asked, “Senior, you didn’t just find me to play a game of chess, did you?”
“Dustless Sea,” Myriad Spirits True Monarch said the two words with a slight smile.
The Dragon Lord’s expression immediately turned ugly. When he heard about the disaster in Dustless Sea, he chose to continue focusing on the Great Wall, but he didn’t expect things not to go as planned. Not only did he fail to capture the Northern Continent border, but the elite soldiers under his Dragon Palace were all wiped out. Later, when he went to Luoshui Divine Palace, he originally wanted to use the power of Myriad Spirits True Monarch and Wen Xianren to reclaim Dustless Sea, but Myriad Spirits True Monarch said that the matters of the Shang Qing Divine Realm were more important. The Dragon Lord thought for a moment, and indeed, Dustless Sea would no longer be important after ascending to the Upper Realm, so he endured it. But every time he heard these two words, a fire would rise in his heart. After all, a true being of the Cavern Heaven who could even lose his own lair was a joke! “Didn’t Senior say to ignore it for now?” the Dragon Lord asked coldly.
Myriad Spirits True Monarch smiled. “Dustless Sea indeed doesn’t need to be managed, but there is one person who must be taken seriously.”
The Dragon Lord’s expression sharpened. “Who?”
Myriad Spirits True Monarch said, “Phoenix Lord.” Seeing the Dragon Lord’s anger intensify, he did not try to comfort him. “After all, Phoenix Lord is a cultivator of the Cavern Heaven. If she doesn’t join us, then she will very likely join Buzhou. If you alone are confident enough to break the barrier of Dustless Sea and kill Phoenix Lord, then we won’t have to make a choice.”
The Dragon Lord: “…” Thinking of Phoenix Lord, that traitor, made him furious. If he had a sure victory, he would have already set out for Dustless Sea to deal with those scoundrels. “What does Senior plan to do? Are you going to recruit her? She wouldn’t agree.” the Dragon Lord asked, suppressing his anger.
“It doesn’t matter whether she stands on our side or not,” Myriad Spirits True Monarch had been away from the Fu Li Immortal Realm for a long time. Even if he had descendants in Dustless Sea, he wouldn’t care about their lives or deaths. What the Dragon Lord considered an irreconcilable blood feud, to him, was just a speck of dust, brushed away with a light flick. However, he wouldn’t say this in front of the Dragon Lord. After carefully considering for a moment, he said, “Even if she is willing to defect, I don’t think you would be willing to work with her.”
“I have already discussed this with True Monarch Wen. It would be best to send her to the Shang Qing Divine Realm with one reception token. Then, there will be people to deal with her.”
The Dragon Lord slowly nodded. A few dragon scales on his forehead gleamed with a dull light under the sun. If he couldn’t kill her for the time being, but didn’t want her to become an ally of his enemy, sending her away directly was naturally the best choice. “Then, as Senior wishes,” the Dragon Lord said slowly, a cold light flowing in his eyes. The betrayal received after hundreds of years of cultivation was absolutely unforgivable.
Myriad Spirits True Monarch stood up. “I will make a personal trip. I haven’t returned to Dustless Sea in a long time.”
The waves surged, crashing against the reefs with a thunderous roar.
Spiritual energy churned in the sea, giving rise to deep whirlpools.
After parting ways with Luo Lingfeng, Phoenix Lord returned to Dustless Sea, re-established the great defensive array, and began to deal with the remnants loyal to the Dragon Palace. For over a year, she had her disciples train constantly, awaiting the next battle. However, those Dustless Sea elites had died en route, and the Dragon Lord himself was lodged in Luoshui Divine Palace, showing no intention of returning. Phoenix Lord was puzzled but did not let down her guard.
On Phoenix Mountain.
Phoenix Lord sat on her throne with her legs crossed. To her left, a ball of phoenix fire burned brighter and brighter. The information left by her ancestor was too vague, and she still hadn’t figured it out. But besides doing as instructed, she had no other choice. She absentmindedly listened to her disciples report the latest news from the Fu Li Immortal Realm, with no interest in the truth or falsehood of the Shang Qing Divine Realm. However, upon hearing about the chaos in Cloud City, her expression changed slightly, and she clicked her tongue, “What is that person trying to do?” Was she trying to wipe out all the Cavern Heaven beings in the Fu Li Immortal Realm? She had originally wanted to visit Cloud City herself, but soon, she suppressed that thought. If anything were to happen, Luo Lingfeng would have sent a message, after all, Luo Lingfeng had never been polite when directing the forces of her Phoenix Mountain.
On the coast.
The surging tide ebbed and flowed, and the accumulated power in the sea weakened with each collision, appearing gentle and lingering at the shore.
Wei Yunshu stood on the shore, her eyes fixed ahead. The invisible barrier gradually materialized before her eyes, shimmering with a clear radiance under the sunlight. The formation was like water, with infinite changes. Wei Yunshu had come to persuade Phoenix Lord and did not force her way in. She flicked her sleeve, and a talisman transformed into a stream of light, soaring into the sea.
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a clear eagle cry pierced the clouds. The dark silhouette descended, transforming into a girl in a black dress, walking on the surface of the sea as if on flat ground. The girl bowed to Wei Yunshu and said earnestly, “True Monarch Wei, my lord invites you.”
Wei Yunshu nodded slightly and said gently, “Thank you.” With that, she followed the black-clad girl through the great formation, entering the territory of Dustless Sea.
Phoenix Lord was contemplating the messy affairs of the Fu Li Immortal Realm when she heard the news of Wei Yunshu’s visit, and a look of surprise immediately appeared on her face. Her disciples spoke in unison, generally forbidding Wei Yunshu from entering. Phoenix Lord did not feel any danger. If she could cooperate with Luo Lingfeng, she would certainly not fear Wei Yunshu, who was famous for her clear reputation and noble character.
After waiting for less than a quarter of an hour, a ball of starlight descended from the sky, sweeping across the air, leaving a long streak of energy like a sharp sword. The mountain wind caressed her face, and a figure in white walked out of the starlight. Her eyes were as clear as stars, and a smile played on her lips, making her appear transcendent and otherworldly, like an immortal being. When Phoenix Lord’s gaze fell upon her, Wei Yunshu was also sizing up the Phoenix Lord on the throne. Her crimson robes were like fire, and behind her, countless streams of light coalesced into a pair of beautiful, dazzling wings, breathtaking. She was like a blazing flame, but unlike Luo Lingfeng, she did not carry darkness and hatred, but pure radiance.
Wei Yunshu bowed to Phoenix Lord.
Phoenix Lord smiled slightly, returned the bow, and spoke first, asking with interest, “Cloud Sovereign, are you here to seek justice for Yue Qingtan and Su Lancheng?”
Wei Yunshu shook her head. “No.” After leaving Cloud City, she would not proactively seek revenge on those people, nor would she consider them her fellow disciples or care about their lives or deaths.
Phoenix Lord gazed into Wei Yunshu’s clear eyes and smiled, “Then what is it for?” She was very curious about Wei Yunshu. After all, she had learned quite a bit about Cloud Sovereign from Luo Lingfeng, and she was even aware of the assassination plan back then. If such things happened to her, she would surely be filled with hatred. But in Wei Yunshu’s eyes, although there was a hint of helplessness and pain towards fate, they were still as clean as a handful of clear snow. Was hatred and suffering really so easily dispelled? Then why was Luo Lingfeng so deeply mired in it, unable to escape?
“Phoenix Mountain is not completely reclusive, so I imagine you’ve heard about the Shang Qing Divine Realm, haven’t you?” Wei Yunshu asked directly, without beating around the bush. “What is your opinion of the Shang Qing Divine Realm?”
Phoenix Lord replied casually, “Our ancestor concealed the news back then, and there were reasons for it.”
Wei Yunshu said, “But now, those who have returned from the Shang Qing Divine Realm want to restore the Immortal Realm to its appearance thousands of years ago, to once again become the ‘Realm of Ruin’ of the Shang Qing Divine Realm.”
Phoenix Lord smiled playfully, “They haven’t denied this, and they have promised the cultivators of the Immortal Realm that they will arrange new dwelling places for everyone. It’s natural for some to be tempted.”
Wei Yunshu asked, “Setting aside those cultivators for now, I only ask you, fellow daoist, are you tempted by the Shang Qing Divine Realm?”
“No,” Phoenix Lord replied frankly. She only adhered to the eight-character maxim: mind your own business and stay out of others’ affairs. Since the forces of the Shang Qing Divine Realm chose to ignore the movements in Dustless Sea, she could also pretend that nothing had happened. However, these things did not cease to exist just because she didn’t think about them. She stood up, crossing her arms. “I must admit, popular sentiment is not with the Immortal Realm.”
Since the Shang Qing Divine Realm was the “Upper Realm” of the Fu Li Immortal Realm, cultivators at the Dao Fruit level might be as common as the weeds there, and there might even be higher realms. Perhaps due to some restrictions, the cultivators who descended had their cultivation suppressed to the Cavern Heaven realm, but that’s not important. The passageway had appeared, so when the “Cavern Heaven” cultivators entered the Immortal Realm in droves, resistance would be impossible. After explaining her thoughts to Wei Yunshu, Phoenix Lord added, “Although I don’t want to admit it, to the cultivators of the Shang Qing Divine Realm, we are like frogs in a well, aren’t we?”
“We have already considered what you are thinking, fellow daoist,” Wei Yunshu said gently. “Buzhou’s Sect Master, True Monarch Ji Changkong, will wield the True Nature Sword to sever the Heavenly Ladder. With her here, no new visitors from the Upper Realm will be able to enter the Immortal Realm.”
Phoenix Lord narrowed her eyes and smiled. “Originally, Buzhou was weak, and now that Yan Danwo is trapped by the Northern Continent demons, and Buzhou’s Sect Master is restricted by the Heavenly Ladder, there are even fewer Cavern Heaven beings who can contend with the Shang Qing Divine Realm.”
Wei Yunshu also knew this. She met Phoenix Lord’s gaze and said sincerely, “Precisely because of this, we wish to ask fellow daoist to come out of seclusion to help us.”
Phoenix Lord remained noncommittal and asked faintly, “And what about True Monarch Luo?”
Wei Yunshu lowered her eyes, not wanting anyone to probe the faint sorrow and embarrassment that arose from Luo Lingfeng. She said slowly, “If she is willing to join forces with us to resist the Shang Qing Divine Realm, that would naturally be for the best.”
Phoenix Lord tutted and asked nonchalantly, “Have you ever considered that what the four ancestors did was actually wrong?” She was not a direct disciple of those four ancestors and did not hold them in particularly high regard. Her previous words were casual, but when the question arose now, a hint of seriousness appeared on her face.
Wei Yunshu’s eyes gathered divine light, and she said softly, “I don’t care how the ancestors separated from the Shang Qing Divine Realm back then. I only know that the ‘Severing All Selves’ method is not suitable for our cultivation. The Dao is not immutable. If all things were constant, it would inevitably be like stagnant water.”
Phoenix Lord nodded, still not responding to Wei Yunshu’s invitation. She said slowly, “True Monarch Wei, you should know that I have a connection with her.”
Wei Yunshu was stunned, and soon realized who the “her” Phoenix Lord was referring to. The original plan was to resolve all disputes in Dustless Sea, as far away from the land as possible. Her heart turned cold. Even though she had made a decision, upon careful consideration, a hint of hesitation and wistfulness appeared in her eyes. To save Luo Lingfeng, how should she do it? Whom could she save?
Phoenix Lord said slowly, “She will be here soon. I sent her a message.”
Wei Yunshu grunted.
Phoenix Lord said, “I heard you left Cloud City with the Buzhou disciples. Why did you appear again? You should know that coming to Dustless Sea now is like walking into a trap.”
Wei Yunshu said calmly, “I want an answer.”
Phoenix Lord said, “But I cannot give you that answer.” Seeing Wei Yunshu remain silent, Phoenix Lord added, “Aren’t you going to ask anything?”
Wei Yunshu looked at Phoenix Lord’s expression and asked, “Why?”
Phoenix Lord had no animosity towards Wei Yunshu, so she did not hide anything. She pointed to the phoenix fire beside the throne and said calmly, “Because of it.” Before Wei Yunshu could ask, she continued, “Our ancestor probably came with those four founding ancestors. She cultivated to the Dao Fruit realm and left a faint ball of phoenix fire before leaving the Fu Li Immortal Realm, instructing her descendants that if anyone caused the phoenix fire to reignite, our Phoenix Mountain lineage would have to pledge allegiance to that person. In the past, we all thought that the person we were waiting for would be born among our feather clan, but we didn’t expect it to be a human cultivator.”
“You respect the choices of the four ancestors and want to continue on their Dao path, but my Phoenix Mountain will not, as it did six thousand years ago, walk with you all. The person we pledge allegiance to wants destruction, and we feather clan are willing to become the karma fire to burn the heavens and earth.” Phoenix Lord did not mention the other possibility. In Luo Lingfeng, she also saw no other path.
Wei Yunshu’s brows furrowed tightly upon hearing this. Many past events had not been cleared up, and a new mystery had been thrown down from Phoenix Mountain. She lowered her gaze and pondered for a long time before pulling out the Little Tai Sui who was sleeping soundly in her spirit beast bag. Holding this lump of black charcoal, Wei Yunshu asked, “Are there any records of ‘Little Tai Sui’ in your ancient texts?”
Phoenix Lord shook her head. “No.” She gazed intently at the small, dark sparrow. In the past, a mere Foundation Establishment stage bird would not have drawn her attention, but there was a very strange aura emanating from this mountain sparrow. “This—” Phoenix Lord was stunned for a moment.
Wei Yunshu said, “Ten thousand-year demon body, its cultivation base is intact, but its cultivation has not grown even after swallowing many elixirs. It came down from the Shang Qing Divine Realm and appeared along with Buzhou’s secret realm.”
Little Tai Sui felt uncomfortable sleeping and swayed to its feet. Without opening its eyes, it pecked at Wei Yunshu’s hand. Only when a spirit fruit, rich in spiritual energy, was placed in its mouth did it blink confusedly. It tilted its head to look at the beautifully feathered Phoenix Lord, then looked down at itself and let out a pathetic “chirp,” whimpering like a three-year-old child.
Wei Yunshu: “…” She didn’t expect Phoenix Lord’s magnificent plumage to stimulate Little Tai Sui’s vanity. Before she could figure out how to comfort it, the little black ball shot out like lightning, its target not Phoenix Lord, but—
That ball of phoenix fire!
Wei Yunshu’s expression suddenly changed, and she shouted to stop it! She and Phoenix Lord moved to intercept Little Tai Sui, but neither of them intended to harm it, so their movements left plenty of room. This allowed Little Tai Sui to easily break through the flowing light and fly to the side of the phoenix fire. It let out a “chirp” and sucked. As air currents surged and flames leaped, the phoenix fire, which was as large as ten little black sparrows, instantly vanished. Little Tai Sui, unaware of the severity of the situation, let out a satisfied burp.
Wei Yunshu looked at the jubilant Little Tai Sui and couldn’t smile at all.
Although the True Nature Sword mentioned Little Tai Sui, it did not reveal its exact origin. Wei Yunshu still harbored hidden worries. She had intended to ask about it, but she didn’t expect this little fellow to dare to swallow anything. Looking at Phoenix Lord again, her face was indeed ashen, her gaze like she was looking at an enemy and creditor, wishing she could carve Little Tai Sui into a thousand pieces.
“I—” Wei Yunshu was about to speak when a sudden change occurred.
A clear and resonant phoenix cry pierced the sky.
A faint golden light surged from the little black sparrow, as if it were immersed in flames.
In the astonished and surprised gazes of Wei Yunshu and Phoenix Lord, Little Tai Sui transformed into a colorful phoenix and soared into the sky. As it spread its wings, its magnificent plumage trembled, scattering brilliant streams of light. Behind it seemed to be a Tai Chi Yin Yang diagram, but it was incomplete, appearing and disappearing intermittently, looking somewhat blurry.
“How is it? Beautiful?” a familiar voice came. Little Tai Sui was very proud. It retracted its plumage, transformed back into a ball of black charcoal, and flew down. It stood on Wei Yunshu’s shoulder, its golden eyes full of triumphant disdain for the world.
Upon seeing the phoenix manifestation, Phoenix Lord’s anger vanished. She asked gently, “True Monarch Wei, you said it came from the Shang Qing Divine Realm? Is it our clan’s—”
Phoenix Lord’s words were interrupted by the arrogant Little Tai Sui, who opened its mouth and chattered, “I don’t have descendants like you. Stop flattering yourselves.”