Chapter 255

Chapter 255: River of Rebirth

A dangerous look crossed the City Lord’s face as she asked: “Are you bargaining with me?”

Li Shuang’s whole body went tight. She was ready to leave at any moment. But neither Li Li nor the Furnace showed any warning. [Hold on.] She clenched her teeth and said: “I could agree with empty words, but would you truly believe me? Though my cultivation is low, I know there are things one must do and things one must not.”

The City Lord looked at her without expression. A crushing pressure settled on Li Shuang bit by bit. Her soul ached, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead. Even so, she sensed not a trace of malice from the City Lord and held on with all her strength.

After a long time, the City Lord’s lips curved in a strange smile and all the pressure vanished. She said evenly: “Rest easy. What I want you to do does not go against the Righteous Path. I spread the Rebirth Art on purpose. If someone reaches Great Completion, they can grasp the Power of Rebirth and walk upon the River of Rebirth. The River of Rebirth is where the undead gather. I only hope you can find one departed soul, wake her, and bring her back to me.”

She looked at Li Shuang and said: “That person is my little sister. She sought the Dao and never stained her hands with blood. She is not some great villain. Waking her does not defy heaven’s Righteous Path, does it?”

Li Shuang blinked, moved despite herself. The City Lord’s little sister. So everything the City Lord did was for her sister. [I understand.] She also thought of one person: her Mother.

“If the Rebirth Art reaches its end and one can walk the River of Rebirth,” she asked, voice shaking a little, “then can I see my Mother?”

The City Lord glanced at her and asked: “Was your Mother a cultivator?”

“Only a mortal,” Li Shuang answered quickly.

The City Lord showed a hint of regret: “The River of Rebirth is the path of the dead to the next life. After crossing it, they reincarnate and begin anew. Mortals pass through the reincarnation cycle much faster than cultivators. For mortals, a few years can carry them across the River to the far bank. By the time you reach Great Completion, your Mother will most likely have already been reborn.”

Regret flickered over Li Shuang’s face.

The City Lord offered a few soft words: “That is only the general case. Your Mother might be an exception.”

Li Shuang knew it was comfort, but she steadied her heart and said: “In that case, this junior will of course accept.”

She took the three pieces of thunder marrow and said solemnly: “If I can cultivate the Rebirth Art to Great Completion, I will walk the River of Rebirth and fulfill your wish, Senior.”

The City Lord smiled: “Do your best. There is no need to feel heavy pressure. You are not the only person I favor. Among those cultivating the Rebirth Art, someone is about to break through to the Third Layer Realm. I invested early in anyone with a real chance at Great Completion. You are only one among them.”

As she spoke, a touch of loneliness showed in her eyes. Her little sister had been gone for too long. She did not insist on keeping her in the Mortal Realm. She only wanted to see her one more time and speak with her again. For that small wish, she was willing to pay anything she could.

At first, she had not paid much attention to Li. But Li was the only one who had chosen the Lunar Star, and that changed things. Maybe Li would come from behind. If she wanted Li to help willingly later, it was only right to invest now.

The City Lord’s mood dimmed. Li Shuang did not dare speak and waited quietly.

After a while, the City Lord’s calm voice sounded: “Let’s go. It is time to keep my promise. I will go out with you.”

“Thank you, City Lord,” Li Shuang said at once.

The City Lord nodded and slowly walked down the steps. Her body, once half real and half unreal, became solid, though her face still seemed veiled and hard to see clearly. Her cold hand rested lightly on Li Shuang’s shoulder, and then, in the blink of an eye, they left the City Lord’s Manor.

When Li Shuang came back to herself, she was already in the Hall of Myriad Arts.

In the Hall of Myriad Arts, people were still discussing why the City Lord had suddenly summoned Li. Then it was as if time froze. Faces locked in place. Words that were about to spill out stopped on their tongues. Even the curve of their lips stayed fixed. They stared ahead at the forever mysterious woman, fear rising in their eyes.

The City Lord had come in person.

The crushing pressure that followed faded at once. Many people dropped to their knees in panic and said: “Greetings, City Lord.” Even Gu Yuan and Qing Yan did not dare show the least disrespect. She stood at the peak of the Mortal Realm. Even the strong of the Five Super Sects together had left Myriad Arts City in defeat. Who would dare act bold before the City Lord.

The City Lord swept her gaze over the kneeling crowd and called a name: “Gu Yuan.”

Gu Yuan’s body trembled as he said: “Here.”

“Qing Yan,” the City Lord called again.

The Daoist answered in a hurry.

“So only the Sunset Glow Sect and the Devil Heaven Sect from the Five Super Sects came,” the City Lord said faintly. “Fine. You two will pass my words to the others.”

She had not yet said what those words were, but Gu Yuan and Qing Yan already felt a mountain pinning their backs, so heavy they did not dare lift their heads.

Then they heard the woman’s clear voice: “Li is the daughter of an old friend and was taught by me. I heard you tried to force her to become your disciple. Are you saying my teaching is worse than that of your Five Super Sects?”

At her words, panic flashed through Gu Yuan’s and Qing Yan’s eyes. Gu Yuan was even a little stunned. So Li had a tie to the City Lord. No wonder a peerless genius had appeared in Myriad Arts City with no traceable history. The words Sword Sect that someone blurted earlier were likely false. An ordinary person could not have resisted his Secret Soul Method, but since Li was connected to the City Lord, it was no surprise she blocked his Secret Art. No wonder the City Lord met her in person after she handed in a simple ice shard.

Now Gu Yuan understood. He understood everything. Li had challenged the Sixth Peak of the Grand Dao Mountain, then amazed the city and started a scramble among the sects. It had all been within the City Lord’s plan. The City Lord had raised a prodigy in secret, but she could not hide her forever. This scene today was the debut the City Lord prepared for Li.

As for them, they were the stepping stones the City Lord had chosen.

Dignified Tribulation Crossing stage experts turned into stepping stones. Yet Gu Yuan and the others did not dare hold even a trace of resentment.