Before the Immortal Temple, chaos reigned. The Zhou family wailed, crying that the so-called immortal was in fact an evil god who had ruined their daughter. This claim was not unreasonable, but people are driven by self-interest—since the temple had brought benefits to many in the town, none were willing to let the Zhou family destroy it.
The local authorities all came forward to persuade the Zhou family. After all, half the town bore the Zhou surname; if this wasn’t handled well, it would be troublesome indeed.
Some townsfolk even stood guard in front of the temple, swearing to protect it.
“You can’t smash it! Aren’t you afraid of retribution? Remember what happened to those thugs before? Who dares touch it? Are you not afraid of death?”
“Even if you aren’t afraid, we worry the fortune of our Linxun Town will be ruined by you! Life has just started getting better—what, only your Zhou family is allowed to prosper?”
“The immortal has helped us so much—if you don’t show gratitude that’s one thing, but now you even want to harm the immortal!”
“Maybe your daughter herself wanted to marry him. You parents disliked the scholar and tried to block it, but didn’t dare admit it. Maybe the immortal was helping her.”
“Bullsh*t! My daughter would never!”
“Out of the way! Even if it costs me my life, I’ll protect my daughter from this evil god!”
Wu Hongxi grew anxious at the sight. “Why don’t we just help smash it together? This thing can’t be left standing.”
Jingzhan, however, laughed at the scene. “People really believe in something that can control them at will? Aren’t they afraid the day it turns on them, they’ll know real terror?”
As he spoke, he climbed through a window into the temple.
Mo Xuanli and Gu Baiqing followed, while Wu Hongxi stayed outside.
“If smashing really starts—do we stop them, or help them?” Mo Xuanli asked.
Gu Baiqing countered, “What’s your view?”
“For their condition, I can’t make sense of it. But everything originates from here. Maybe if it’s broken, they’ll wake up—or it might draw out the one behind it,” Mo Xuanli analyzed.
Gu Baiqing smiled faintly. In the original story, it was indeed smashed—but only after Mo Xuanli had uncovered the truth. And the truth came with sacrifice, with death. The people refused to face it, clinging stubbornly to their beliefs. In anger, Mo Xuanli smashed the jade statue, to let them see whether retribution would follow. The effect was shocking—but it also drew criticism.
While he was thinking this, the two had just stepped inside, nearly bumping into Jingzhan, who had stopped dead.
Perplexed, they both looked at him. Jingzhan was staring in shock at the life-sized jade statue of the immortal, his mouth opening and closing soundlessly.
“What is it?” Mo Xuanli asked.
Gu Baiqing also looked on in confusion.
Finally Jingzhan stammered, “Qing… Qingrong!”
Before Mo Xuanli and Gu Baiqing could react, Jingzhan leapt onto the platform, reaching out to touch the jade statue’s face in detail.
Only then did Mo Xuanli and Gu Baiqing look carefully, and indeed found some resemblance. But they weren’t very familiar with Xie Qingrong, and when they had met him before, his eyes had been covered—they had never seen the expression in his eyes. Besides, the statue appeared several years younger than him.
So at first, the two hadn’t connected it at all.
This was information never revealed in the original storyline—the immortal jade statue was actually Xie Qingrong.
But this was far too strange. Had Xie Qingrong’s entanglement here been deeper than the text had suggested? Had he not merely stumbled into this place by chance?
Because of Jingzhan’s strange behavior, the two factions outside stopped arguing and rushed inside. Some assumed he was a thug hired by the Zhou family and shouted for him to stop; others thought he too hated the statue and urged him to strike it.
The noise was enough to shake the roof, leaving Jingzhan unable to think straight.
Suddenly, he heard a faint voice calling his name.
Jingzhan froze. That sensation—it was the bond he had formed with Xie Qingrong.
His expression changed at once. Was Xie Qingrong here?
The agitated townsfolk were about to surge forward and drag Jingzhan down, but he still stood dazed.
Mo Xuanli and Gu Baiqing had no choice but to rush up and pull him down first.
Amid the commotion, no one noticed the faint crack of something brittle splitting.
Gu Baiqing spoke to the crowd: “Everyone, calm down. Our friend here just drank too much. He wasn’t going to destroy it—only to look. Please, let’s all settle down.” If the statue was damaged before the truth was uncovered, the townsfolk might very well fight them to the death.
Mo Xuanli pulled Jingzhan down, only to suddenly notice he seemed to be hiding something.
Thanks to Wu Hongxi rushing in to declare them her friends, and the fact that the three men looked refined and outstanding—hardly like troublemakers—the townsfolk didn’t press them too hard. Soon enough, the two opposing sides outside had turned back to quarreling with each other.
Wu Hongxi quickly led them away from the Immortal Temple.
But as soon as they came out, they heard Jingzhan whisper: “Take the small path, run quickly.”
“What did you do?” Mo Xuanli finally spoke. He could sense Jingzhan had just used a spell.
“Ah, right now escaping with our lives is most important,” Jingzhan hurriedly said.
Wu Hongxi didn’t understand, but still obediently led them along a deserted trail.
After they had gone a long distance, loud commotion suddenly rose from the direction of the Immortal Temple.
At once, everyone turned to look at Jingzhan.
Jingzhan gave an awkward smile, then took out something crystal clear from his storage pouch.
Looking closely—it was actually one of the jade statue’s hands.
So just now, right in front of everyone, Jingzhan had damaged the Immortal’s jade statue—not smashing it apart, but snapping off one of its hands.
Gu Baiqing was dumbfounded. Mo Xuanli also froze.
“No, that can’t be, I clearly saw…” Wu Hongxi, coming out of her shock, started to speak.
“Best not pry into the Immortal’s matters,” Jingzhan cut in.
Wu Hongxi’s eyes went wide, then she snorted, “It must’ve been an illusion technique. Or maybe you pressed some fake piece into place and fooled them.”
Indeed, it had been an illusion. The uproar back there was likely because they’d just discovered the Immortal’s missing hand.
“Alright, alright, you’re clever. Miss Wu, I’ll trouble you to make inquiries for us later. If suspicion falls on us, we won’t be able to return for now. If nothing comes of it, then find us—we’ll arrange to meet somewhere safe,” Jingzhan said.
Mo Xuanli and Gu Baiqing exchanged looks. Clearly there were things inconvenient for a mortal like Wu Hongxi to know.
Wu Hongxi could only agree, promising to ask around when she got back: “Then just follow this path. Not far from here… ai? There really is no one there, but it’s a wild graveyard, not very auspicious. You…”
“A wild graveyard is perfect. No one would look for people there. Safe. We’ll wait for your word there,” Jingzhan said, quickly sending her off.
The group didn’t linger, moving further away from trouble.
“That really was Xie Qingrong just now?” Mo Xuanli asked, referring to the jade statue.
Jingzhan’s expression was complicated. “That was Xie Qingrong in his youth, before he lost his sight. But…”
“But what?” Mo Xuanli pressed.
Gu Baiqing also looked at Jingzhan curiously, noting his odd expression.
“But—Xie Qingrong is here.” Jingzhan raised the jade hand in his grasp. It was the very hand that had held the wooden doll.
“Xie Qingrong… is inside this doll?” Mo Xuanli was stunned. “How come I can’t sense a thing?”
Jingzhan’s face darkened. “I don’t know either. But his soul is definitely inside. I can feel it. I even heard him call my name. But he’s far too weak now. Later, help me with a spell to replenish his spirit.”
“Alright,” Mo Xuanli agreed.
But at that moment, Gu Baiqing—still holding Three Bean—suddenly turned pale.
In the original story, Jingzhan had left first. No one sensed Xie Qingrong’s weak soul inside the jade statue. Mo Xuanli, in the end… shattered the Immortal’s statue. Back then, had Xie Qingrong already dissipated, too weak to exist? Or was it because the jade vessel was destroyed that he dispersed?
Either way, no one ever knew the truth. Which meant, in essence, was it Mo Xuanli who killed Xie Qingrong?!
And so afterward, the one they encountered was Xie Qingrong who had already died?
No—that was only from Gu Baiqing the reader’s perspective. From Mo Xuanli’s perspective, the Xie Qingrong he met had a soul and lived. That’s why he brought him back to Rufeng Sect. Only after a series of tragedies did he realize that Xie Qingrong had already died back in Linxun Town.
The original text had far too many plot holes. What on earth was going on? Gu Baiqing’s own attempt to sort it out left him more confused, but also deeply relieved and shaken. He had thought saving Xie Qingrong required finding his body, yet unexpectedly, there was this other turn.
Once again, Gu Baiqing felt the plot he knew didn’t quite match this world. This world was… not quite right.
The three men, one cat, and one jade doll arrived near the wild graveyard. There were indeed many small mounds, but no souls remained—just desolate land.
Jingzhan found a clearing and was about to draw a formation when Three Bean suddenly spoke: “Someone’s here.”
The three froze. Three Bean’s ears pricked, staring fixedly in one direction. As a spirit beast, his hearing was keener than any human’s. To avoid trouble, the group decided to check.
Sure enough, after a while they spotted a figure. Though far from their original spot, if that person returned to Linxun Town, they’d have to pass by. Thankfully, Three Bean had warned them.
“Honestly, why did your master give you his contract beast? Just for things like this?” Jingzhan asked, baffled.
“It comes in handy at critical moments,” Mo Xuanli deflected.
Gu Baiqing was already regretting hiding his true identity. Too many lies to cover.
But the sight before them drew everyone’s focus.
The one kneeling at the wild grave, praying and offering incense, was actually Lu Sulan.
So that morning, when she went out, it wasn’t to the Immortal Temple—it was here. And all this time, judging by the incense still burning, she had been kneeling here begging.
Strange. Families in Linxun Town all had ancestral graves. Only those without kin or status, or criminals, were buried in such wild plots.
But… if it was someone Lu Sulan knew, why would they end up in a wild grave?
She was more devout here than when worshiping the Immortal—rolling her prayer beads, rubbing her hands, lips moving ceaselessly.
The group’s sharp ears caught it clearly. Her hoarse voice repeated the same words over and over.
“Please forgive us, let him come back. I’m already pregnant—my child cannot grow up without a father.”
Mo Xuanli and Jingzhan felt nothing at the sight.
Only Gu Baiqing suddenly understood, finally realizing why the later plot would unfold that way.
But for now, he could only follow along with events.
He set Three Bean down to disturb Lu Sulan. Only then did she come back to herself, looking at the burnt-out incense, staggering as she stood, gathered her things, and left.
Once no one was around, Jingzhan and Mo Xuanli began arranging the formation. When the array was complete, they placed the jade hand at its center. Jingzhan stepped inside, while Mo Xuanli and Gu Baiqing guarded the perimeter.
Very quickly, as Jingzhan formed seals and chanted incantations, wind rose, spiritual power flowing from the spirit stones prepared beforehand into the array. First it wrapped around the jade hand, then Jingzhan extended his hand to touch the jade doll. A glow of spiritual light streamed continuously into the jade doll.
Don’t be fooled by Jingzhan’s usual careless, roguish demeanor—at critical moments, he was serious and focused, showing a trace of his elder brother’s bearing.
After a while, Mo Xuanli suddenly spoke: “Jingzhan, switch.”
Jingzhan was channeling too much spiritual power; it might harm him.
But Jingzhan did not withdraw—his brows knitted tighter, and he forced even more power in.
Suddenly, a warm, low voice came from the jade doll: “Jingzhan, enough. That’s too much.”
At once, Mo Xuanli recognized it as Xie Qingrong’s voice.
Gu Baiqing was unfamiliar with it, but the moment he heard the sound, his heart settled. With this, Xie Qingrong’s death was completely unrelated to Mo Xuanli.
The wooden-doll-shaped piece of jade began to stir as though mechanical gears inside were moving, struggling to its feet. It was about the size of a palm, a faceless doll with a large head and chubby, lotus-root-like body—moving slowly and clumsily. It was hard to imagine that this was once the dignified, elegant Rufeng sect cultivator, whose face was like jade.
“Xie Qingrong?” Jingzhan called.
“It’s me, Jingzhan. Thank you. If you hadn’t discovered me this time, I fear I would have dissipated inside that jade statue.” The jade doll bowed, then turned to Mo Xuanli: “I didn’t expect Brother Mo to be here as well—thank you for your aid. And this is…”
The jade doll turned toward Gu Baiqing. Mo Xuanli quickly introduced him, but Xie Qingrong strangely paused before finally saying: “My thanks to Brother Mo’s elder as well.”
Jingzhan couldn’t wait anymore—he rushed forward, picked up the jade doll, and examined it closely. “How did you become like this? Xie Qingrong, are you in danger now? What… what happened to your body? Just what in the world is going on?”
Xie Qingrong was shaken until he could no longer stand, tumbling back to sit in Jingzhan’s palm. “Stop moving. You’re shaking me dizzy.”
Jingzhan immediately froze, then obediently held out his palm flat, the doll resting before his face. “Quick, tell me what happened. Is what Xuanli and the others are investigating connected to you too? That Immortal jade statue—”
“Jingzhan, stop. At least let me speak.” Xie Qingrong said helplessly.
Only then did Jingzhan finally fall silent.
“I actually don’t remember,” Xie Qingrong said. The words dropped like thunder, making Jingzhan jump to his feet in agitation.
Xie Qingrong hastily explained: “It’s because of the Soul-Splitting Technique.”
With that, everyone understood.
The Soul-Splitting Technique was one of Rufeng Sect’s specialized arts, not exactly a secret. It separated a portion of one’s soul, originally meant for training spiritual sense. Splitting into two and cultivating could achieve twice the results with half the effort.
The separated portion could be attached to any inanimate object. But since it was only a fragment of soul, with no spiritual power to sustain it, it would be extremely weak and gradually dissipate. Memory loss often occurred as well.
Xie Qingrong couldn’t recall why he had appeared here, but he remembered clearly—this Linxun Town was very strange.
“What do you mean, strange?” Mo Xuanli asked.
“There’s a puppeteer at work here,” Xie Qingrong replied flatly, giving the standard answer and instantly moving the plot forward. It saved them the trouble of spending the night investigating victims.
Mo Xuanli’s doubts finally had an explanation—it was a puppeteer causing chaos. That made some sense, though he still had further questions. He waited for Xie Qingrong to finish.
“I too was attacked. To save myself, I had no choice but to use the Soul-Splitting Technique to search for a way to survive. After all, outsiders don’t yet know the situation here. I thought, since so many people worshipped the jade statue, there was bound to be one or two with immortal affinity, or a cultivator might pass by to investigate. Then I could seize the chance to seek help. But perhaps I’ve grown unpracticed in this art—the rate of consumption for this split soul was unusually fast. Until I sensed the contract on Jingzhan, I was about to dissipate. Only then did I awaken from slumber.”
“For you to be forced to such a desperate method… then your main body—” Jingzhan was anxious.
“You should know: if the body dies, the split soul dies too. If the split soul dissipates, the body becomes like a living corpse—essentially dead. Since I’m still here, my body is fine.” Xie Qingrong’s words were calm, but Jingzhan was furious, seizing his chubby doll head.
“Xie Qingrong, when you return to your body and your memories, we’ll have a talk about how you almost—just almost—died. Do you know how close I came to losing you? Whatever you were doing, blind as you are, you couldn’t bring someone with you? Couldn’t you find me?!” Jingzhan rarely lost his joking tone, but this time he was truly angry and worried.
