Chapter 1576: Reentering Xianyuan City

**The Wind Rises in Kyushu**

Li Shang had returned to Kyushu with Lu Ye despite the arduous journey because of their prior agreement: Lu Ye would grant her freedom, and she would help his friends find a way out.

She recalled how she had inadvertently exposed herself and was captured by a Sunblaze cultivator. She was then sent to the Myriad Phenomena Commerce for auction, where Lu Ye paid a substantial sum to acquire her from another bidder.

For Li Shang, Lu Ye even missed out on the Phoenix Sky Blue Crystal.

Of course, in hindsight, missing it was a good thing, as he had obtained Fang, making the Phoenix Sky Blue Crystal unnecessary.

When she first met Lu Ye, Li Shang was highly wary. As a Soul Clan member, she knew better than anyone the value her kind held for cultivators of other races. For a long time, she barely spoke to Lu Ye, believing his sincerity was merely a ploy to gain her trust and make her willingly serve him.

It wasn't until Lu Ye received the summons from the Cycle Tree that Li Shang realized his formidable potential. From that moment on, her perception of him gradually shifted.

Those chosen by the Cycle Tree and granted its mark were known to possess impeccable character; they were rarely, if ever, truly wicked individuals.

Through gradual interaction and growing familiarity, their relationship had now become one of complete trust.

After returning to this realm for a month, Lu Ye had been absent. His sudden appearance today made Li Shang instinctively understand his intentions.

As Lu Ye finished speaking, ripples appeared in the void before them, and a portal materialized out of thin air.

Li Shang was surprised, as she hadn't detected any sign of Lu Ye activating spiritual power or performing any other action. With her perception, she couldn't discern how the portal had opened.

Little did she know, Kyushu possessed a Heavenly Secret. Lu Ye only needed to inform Xiao Jiu in advance, and Xiao Jiu's operation would open the portal whenever desired.

"Please, friend!" Lu Ye gestured with his hand.

Though Li Shang felt curious, she didn't pursue the matter further and stepped into the portal.

Lu Ye picked up Ya Ya, who was standing nearby, and followed her in.

The familiar Immortal Origin City immediately came into view. Lu Ye and Li Shang had appeared next to the Soul Pool in the Lord's Mansion, where a middle-aged man stood quietly, looking in their direction.

Lu Ye turned, bowed, and greeted, "Senior!"

This middle-aged man was none other than Zhang Zishan, the Lord of Immortal Origin City.

Zhang Zishan smiled and replied, "Yi Ye is here." He then glanced at Ya Ya in Lu Ye's arms, showing a puzzled expression, wondering why Lu Ye had brought a child.

Zhang Zishan only possessed a cultivation at the Peak of Divine Sea, so naturally, he couldn't discern anything unusual about Ya Ya.

However, when he looked at Li Shang, a surprised and questioning expression appeared on his face. He sensed a peculiar aura emanating from her, one that inexplicably gave him a feeling of familiarity.

This feeling was clearly abnormal.

"This is..."

"This is Fellow Daoist Li Shang!" Lu Ye introduced. "Senior, has Xiao Jiu already informed you?"

Zhang Zishan replied, "Xiao Jiu only mentioned you'd bring a friend, but didn't specify the reason."

Lu Ye understood and explained, "Senior, Fellow Daoist Li Shang is not human; she is from the Soul Clan..."

As he spoke, the nearby Soul Pool suddenly churned. Immediately after, several Immortal Origin Guards leaped out, cursing as they charged forward.

Lu Ye watched, dumbfounded.

Zhang Zishan explained, "The Immortal Origin City secret realm has opened, and a group of young cultivators are currently undergoing trials here."

Lu Ye extended his divine sense and indeed detected numerous Spirit Stream realm cultivators scattered throughout the city. Many were clashing fiercely with the Immortal Origin Guards, while in another area, hundreds of Spirit Stream cultivators were divided into two groups, attacking each other.

This reminded him of his first time entering Immortal Origin City; it seemed little different from the scene before him now.

Although Kyushu had now been promoted to a large-scale realm, the conflict between the Vast Heaven Alliance and the Myriad Devil Ridge persisted in the Spirit Stream Battlefield and Cloud River Battlefield. While this inevitably led to many casualties, the Star Constellations of Kyushu had all progressed through such trials. Everyone knew that flowers raised in a greenhouse wouldn't thrive. Thus, internal strife and confrontation were necessary within Kyushu; if true peace reigned, cultivators would lose opportunities for tempering.

Only cultivators who grew up amidst blood and strife would be capable of facing greater external risks; otherwise, even if they achieved success in cultivation, they would be weak-willed upon leaving Kyushu.

The true strength of the Immortal Origin Guards naturally surpassed the Spirit Stream realm, encompassing Cloud River, True Lake, and even Divine Sea. However, when the Immortal Origin City secret realm opened, the Immortal Origin Guards would only utilize Spirit Stream realm power, making them susceptible to being killed by cultivators. Nevertheless, all Immortal Origin Guards within Immortal Origin City were immortal; even if killed, they would resurrect from the Soul Pool. The cursing Immortal Origin Guards he just saw must have been those who were killed and resurrected.

Transforming Immortal Origin City into a secret realm for Kyushu cultivators to train in was also a method for the Immortal Origin Guards to maintain their sanity. Most of the time, they slept within the Soul Pool. If their slumber lasted too long, even with the Soul Pool's nourishment, their minds could be affected. Allowing cultivators to enter for trials added vitality to Immortal Origin City, enabling the Immortal Origin Guards to retain their lucidity for longer periods.

Previously, Immortal Origin City occasionally faced invasions from the Insect Race. However, since Kyushu cultivators conquered the Great Insect Secret Realm, the Insect Race had disappeared. Now, allowing Kyushu cultivators to enter for trials was the only remaining method.

Naturally, Lu Ye no longer found this level of training impressive. The arduous tempering he had undergone here in the past now seemed like child's play.

By the Soul Pool, Zhang Zishan looked at Li Shang and asked, "May I ask, Fellow Daoist, what kind of race is the Soul Clan?"

Li Shang smiled faintly without explaining, instead subtly activating her power. Her figure visibly became ethereal.

Zhang Zishan's expression, however, turned utterly shocked. As Li Shang's power activated, he sensed that the fundamental nature of her existence was remarkably similar to his own and to that of the Immortal Origin Guards.

Only then did Li Shang speak: "Strictly speaking, you could also be considered Soul Clan, though you are not naturally born Soul Clan members. You came into being after losing your physical bodies. Fundamentally, there are slight differences from true Soul Clan, but in terms of nature, there isn't much distinction."

Lu Ye's spirits lifted slightly. Although he had always harbored this conjecture, it was difficult to confirm before Li Shang's verification. With her words, the heavy stone in his heart finally settled.

He then said, "Senior, I brought Fellow Daoist Li Shang here because I wanted her to find a way out for all of you. The crisis in Kyushu itself has been resolved, and the Great Insect Secret Realm has long been cleared. The venerable ancestors of Immortal Origin City cannot remain confined within this Soul Pool indefinitely."

Zhang Zishan nodded. "You have a good heart."

Immortal Origin City existed primarily to guard a rift in the Great Insect Secret Realm. Now that the crisis of the Great Insect Secret Realm was resolved, the city's purpose was significantly diminished. It wouldn't do to let these Immortal Origin Guards constantly suppress their strength, playing house with Spirit Stream realm youngsters, and merely existing.

The self-sacrifice of their ancestors should not be forgotten, nor should their contributions to Kyushu be ignored. However, finding a way to rescue them had become a persistent worry for Lu Ye, until he saw Li Shang at the auction.

Lu Ye turned back to Li Shang and bowed solemnly. "Fellow Daoist, please show Immortal Origin City a way out."

Li Shang pondered for a moment, then looked at Zhang Zishan. "May I enter the Soul Pool to observe first?"

Zhang Zishan gestured with his hand. "Please!"

Li Shang instantly entered the Soul Pool.

Ya Ya also ran to the edge of the Soul Pool, peering in curiously. She then tried to leap in, but Lu Ye caught her by the collar in mid-air, causing her to flail her limbs.

After a moment, Li Shang emerged from the Soul Pool and said, "It seems you all have been able to exist for so many years due to two reasons: first, the nourishment from the Soul Cleansing Water in the Soul Pool, and second, by leaving your soul imprints within the Soul Pool. Therefore, as long as the Soul Pool doesn't dry up, you can be immortal and indestructible!"

Zhang Zishan nodded. "Fellow Daoist has keen insight; that is indeed correct. When this realm suffered its calamity back then, we tried many methods before finding this path."

Li Shang's expression became solemn. "Immortality and indestructibility sound good, but they may not truly be. Moreover, all of this relies on the Soul Pool. Should it ever dry up, all of you would vanish into thin air. Furthermore, due to the Soul Pool's limitations, your cultivation cannot grow; it's forever stuck at the moment before your deaths."

Upon hearing this, Lu Ye asked, "Is there a solution?"

Li Shang had discerned so much and spoken so much, suggesting she had some ideas.

Li Shang said, "There is only one solution: let me take them to the ancestral land of the Soul Clan. Only there can they be transformed into true Soul Clan members and break free from their current limitations."

The location of the Soul Clan's ancestral land was a mystery across the entire starry sky. Ordinary people could never find it, let alone enter it. As the cultivators of Immortal Origin City could barely be considered Soul Clan, and given her prior agreement with Lu Ye, Li Shang thought of this method. Otherwise, she would never have brought outsiders to the Soul Clan's ancestral land.

Lu Ye bowed deeply. "Please lend your assistance, Fellow Daoist. Whatever the cost, this realm and its people are willing to accept it!"

Li Shang shook her head. "You saved me from a bitter existence, and I have no way to repay you. Moreover, they can somewhat be considered my kin. It's only right for me to save them. Taking them to the ancestral land is not an issue, but there is one difficulty at present."

Zhang Zishan's expression became grave. "Please elaborate, Fellow Daoist."

Li Shang said, "You've left your soul imprints in this Soul Pool. Therefore, unless we take the entire Soul Pool with us, there's no way to take you all as well."

Lu Ye asked, "Can't the soul imprints be detached?"

Li Shang replied, "Detaching them isn't difficult, but once detached, they would be like rootless trees or water without a source, unable to survive in this world for long."