The Reincarnation Edict

As the golden-armored Imperial Guards formed a procession and the azure-phoenix drew the immortal carriage to the Heavenly Treasures Mountain headquarters, someone from the establishment had already come out to welcome them—after all, this was the famed Xiyue Commandery Princess of the Yan Estate.

“Xiyue, little sister.” A white-clad woman with an ethereal, otherworldly bearing emerged directly to greet her.

“Elder sister Qingliu.” Xiyue Commandery Princess stepped down from the immortal carriage, revealing a smile.

“What brings Xiyue here to Heavenly Treasures Mountain? With your temperament, you rarely come here. I was planning to visit you in a few days.” The white-clad woman, Qingliu, chuckled. Qingliu the Immortal… she was a reincarnated female immortal. In her past life she had been a Loose Immortal of the Tiannong clan, and after reincarnating she was born again into the Tiannong clan!

Here at Heavenly Treasures Mountain headquarters, this Primal Daoist–level Qingliu held a very high position, and she was also close confidantes with Xiyue Commandery Princess.

“I felt like taking a look around, so I came.” Xiyue Commandery Princess linked arms with Qingliu the Immortal. Mist and clouds naturally gathered beneath their feet as they advanced along a separate, wide passage. Ordinary guests like Ji Ning all entered through the common passage.

“You should have come out to see the sights long ago. Cooped up in the estate every day—if you don’t find it stifling, I do on your behalf,” Qingliu the Immortal remarked. This good friend of hers, Xiyue Commandery Princess, was wonderful in every way except that she was too withdrawn. Among the younger generation of the imperial clan of the Grand Xia capital and the many great tribes, Xiyue was often the subject of discussion during gatherings.

Because there were so many imperial scions, princes and princesses didn’t actually enjoy very high status. But the Yan Estate had only Xiyue as family, and the Yan King doted on her extravagantly, so her actual standing was quite high.

Many believed that Xiyue Commandery Princess’s withdrawn nature was linked to her childhood.

Nobody knew exactly what she had experienced as a child. When the Yan King brought her back, she was already a grown young woman.

“By the way, help me look into something.” Xiyue Commandery Princess spoke up. “A person named Ji Ning came to Heavenly Treasures Mountain today. Can you check where he is right now? He should still be inside.”

“Alright.” Qingliu the Immortal smiled, then immediately used divine sense to transmit orders to a subordinate hundreds of li away.

“So you came today for this Ji Ning. The name Ji Ning… the one that comes to my mind is that Black-White College disciple from Anchan Commandery who killed Shaoyan Nong,” Qingliu the Immortal said.

“That’s him.” Xiyue Commandery Princess also smiled. “I’m very curious about him. He actually dared to kill Shaoyan Nong.”

“I’m curious too,” Qingliu the Immortal said.

A short while later.

“Found him.” Qingliu the Immortal reported. “Ji Ning is currently on Many Treasures Peak.”

“Many Treasures Peak? Then let’s go to Many Treasures Peak.” Xiyue Commandery Princess said directly.

Heavenly Treasures Mountain headquarters occupied an enormous area. Within it were numerous peaks, and the tops of these peaks were like scales on a gigantic qilin. Nine of those peaks were collectively called ‘Many Treasures Peak’. Around each peak floated several hundred seats, all formed from condensed clouds. The clouds were over ten zhang across, with tables, chairs, and handmaidens waiting attendance.

Ji Ning was seated cross-legged on one of these cloud seats, enjoying the food. Beside him were the Whitewater Hound and Qingqing, and a handmaiden stood nearby awaiting orders.

“Whoosh.”

The peak rippled as Qingliu the Immortal and Xiyue Commandery Princess flew out together, landing on a cloud seat. They both sat down, and handmaidens promptly served fine delicacies.

“Look, over there—that’s Ji Ning,” Qingliu the Immortal said, casting a glance in his direction.

Xiyue Commandery Princess followed Qingliu’s gaze and quickly spotted him. In that direction were many cloud seats at various heights, occupied by guests from all over. Some of them were people of very high authority and status in the Grand Xia capital, and they even smiled at Qingliu and Xiyue.

“Hm?” Xiyue soon noticed, among all the guests, that very ordinary and unremarkable boy dressed in animal hides.

Though dressed in furs, the boy was often bent over eating, and beside him a huge snow-white dog and a green serpent were also eating. They were even discussing among themselves, “This is really good.” “These are delicacies worthy of the Grand Xia capital. We’ve never tasted anything like this in Anchan Commandery. Master, it was a good call to come here.”

“Ji Ning.”

Xiyue Commandery Princess gazed at Ji Ning from afar, a warmth spreading through her heart.

“So similar.”

“So similar to Father.”

Xiyue murmured to herself.

Ji Ning’s appearance favored his mother, Yuchi Snow, and Yuchi Snow and Yuchi Shan were biological siblings… They say a nephew often resembles his uncle, and indeed Ji Ning shared many features with Yuchi Shan. However, Ji Ning had broken through to Xiantian very early, so he retained a boyish appearance. If he had broken through a few years later—given his height at eleven—by sixteen he would certainly have been stocky and robust.

“Little brother.” Xiyue Commandery Princess felt warmth in her heart, and tears involuntarily glistened in her eyes.

It had been so long.

She had always thought she was alone. Even after her grandfather found her and brought her to the Grand Xia capital, she was still alone. She missed her dead mother even more. She missed her father who had gone away and never returned… Over and over in dreams she returned to the happy days on the island with her parents.

She wanted to go back to being that fisherman’s girl on the island. But she could never return.

Her father’s Life Tablet had shattered. She thought she had no more family… but the death of Shaoyan Nong had brought to light a boy, a boy whose mother was called ‘Yuchi Snow’, a boy said to be a ‘survivor of the Yuchi clan’. Yuchi Snow—she had never met her, but she had heard her father speak of her. She was the only sister her father still had alive.

“Little brother.” Xiyue Commandery Princess had felt anxious before, but now, seeing the boy eating and drinking on the cloud seat, chatting with his two spirit-beasts the Whitewater Hound and the Skygreen Serpent, she was no longer in a hurry.

“Xiyue, tonight there’s a monthly Treasure Competition Assembly here,” Qingliu the Immortal said with a smile. “And I’ve also heard a piece of news regarding him.”

“What is it?” Xiyue’s interest was immediately piqued at the mention of Ji Ning.

Qingliu the Immortal said, “This Ji Ning originally wasn’t very interested in today’s Treasure Competition Assembly, but after learning that someone from the Shaoyan clan was here, he came.”

“Ah.” Xiyue was startled. “What is he planning?”

“This time, Ji Ning didn’t change his appearance, and he brought his spirit-beasts, riding the very carriage that once belonged to Shaoyan Nong when he arrived at Heavenly Treasures Mountain. It’s almost as if he’s afraid the Shaoyan clan won’t notice him,” Qingliu the Immortal said with a sigh. “And now, hearing that the Shaoyan clan is here, he’s deliberately come to this peak. It feels like he’s picking a fight with the Shaoyan clan. I have to say, he’s really quite bold.”

“Then isn’t he in great danger?” Xiyue said anxiously.

“Ji Ning obtained treasures from Shaoyan Nong, so he certainly won’t lack protective treasures,” Qingliu the Immortal said. “And he was able to kill Shaoyan Nong—that alone shows he’s extraordinary… With his strength, for the Shaoyan clan to kill him inside the Grand Xia capital would be very difficult.”

Xiyue recovered her composure and nodded. “Right. The Imperial Guard of the Grand Xia capital monitors the entire city. The moment any fighting breaks out, they will teleport over quickly.”

“Exactly. So if the Shaoyan clan wants to kill Ji Ning, they’d have to send assassins who can finish him within a single breath. And an assassin like that…” Qingliu the Immortal shook her head. “Hard, very hard. At minimum, they’d need a top-tier Loose Immortal, and even a top-tier Loose Immortal might not be confident in killing Ji Ning within a single breath. After all, Ji Ning has the feat of killing both Shaoyan Nong and a Primal-level Fiendgod on his record.”

Xiyue Commandery Princess smiled as well.

She suddenly felt proud of this younger brother of hers. Her little brother really was formidable.

Night had fallen. Starlight appeared in the sky, streaks of light connecting to form a starry passage. A tall, gaunt old man with narrow, long eyes strolled down amidst the starlight—it was Ancestor Xuanji.

Below lay a silent mountain range.

“Fuyun.” Ancestor Xuanji spoke calmly, his voice penetrating layer after layer of the mountains.

Soon, a figure emerged from the mountains—a bald old man. The moment he saw Ancestor Xuanji, he quickly bowed with respect: “Fuyun pays respects to Ancestor.”

“Hmm. How many years have you been cultivating?” Ancestor Xuanji asked calmly.

“Up to now, it has been one hundred twenty-eight thousand one hundred and thirteen years,” the bald old man answered respectfully.

“Not bad. A hundred thousand years is a major threshold; many Loose Immortals cannot endure past a hundred thousand years,” Ancestor Xuanji said.

The bald old man quickly added, “When Fuyun crossed his tribulation, his Primal foundation was damaged. It was only with the clan’s help that he was able to recover his foundation and live this long. However… I have now nearly reached my limit. Every round of the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations is a great tribulation for me. I wish to reincarnate, but I fear failure.”

Reincarnation never succeeded for everyone. Some were lucky and succeeded; others failed completely.

The Netherworld Kingdom was no easy place.

“I can grant you a Reincarnation Edict,” Ancestor Xuanji said.

“A Reincarnation Edict?” The bald old man revealed a look of delighted surprise.

An edict issued by a major power of the Three Realms. Even the Netherworld Kingdom had to show respect to such an edict. Even within the Shaoyan clan, such edicts were extremely precious. After all, there were far too many Loose Immortals; the Shaoyan clan had over a thousand Loose Immortals.

“I need you to do one thing,” Ancestor Xuanji said.

“Please instruct me, Ancestor,” the bald old man said hurriedly. He had begged the clan many times before, but they had never granted him a Reincarnation Edict. Now the Ancestor had come personally and was about to grant him one—there must be an important task.

“You know of Ji Ning killing my Nong’er,” Ancestor Xuanji said calmly.

“Yes.” The bald old man replied hastily.

How could he not know? Shaoyan Nong had been the virtually guaranteed next Feathergod Duke, with even a Fiendgod guard by his side. In the Ancestor’s heart, his status far surpassed that of a Loose Immortal like himself who was on the verge of death.

“Right now, that Ji Ning is in the Grand Xia capital,” Ancestor Xuanji instructed. “Go to the Grand Xia capital, kill Ji Ning, and then reincarnate.”

“The Grand Xia capital?” The bald old man’s expression changed.

Kill someone in the Grand Xia capital?

Kill that Ji Ning?

This was no simple task. Ji Ning had already killed Shaoyan Nong and a Primal-level Fiendgod. Killing Ji Ning was extremely difficult. Moreover, killing someone in the Grand Xia capital was even more troublesome—if he was careless, even his soul might not escape, and he would be captured by the Imperial Guard. In that case, his end would be utter annihilation of his soul.

“I’ll give you time to prepare. Buy treasures, exchange for treasures—I want you to kill Ji Ning today.” Ancestor Xuanji’s voice was cold. At the same time, a golden scroll appeared in his hand. “This is the Reincarnation Edict. Swear a Heavenly Dao oath, and I will grant it to you.”

The bald old man hesitated for a moment, looking at the golden edict. He considered his own collection of treasures, which was not small; he could sell them to acquire a few items of terrifying power.

And Ancestor Xuanji had come in person—it probably wasn’t an option to refuse.

“Let the Heavenly Dao be witness! I, Fuyun, shall kill Ji Ning within three days and shall not reveal a single bit of information about the Shaoyan clan. If I violate this oath, may my soul be scattered.” The bald old man gritted his teeth.

“Very good.” Ancestor Xuanji nodded, then waved his hand, sending the golden scroll flying over.

The bald old man took the golden scroll.

“I give you three days, but the sooner the better,” Ancestor Xuanji said. Then, taking a step forward, he vanished amidst the endless starlight.