Chapter 842: Hidden Place

Dang Jiang felt a chill in his heart and asked, "So, what are you implying?"

Chi Buzi's pale blue eyes fixed on him. He lowered his voice and said, "This move is unavoidable. The moment Lushui sees me, he'll grow suspicious of my cultivation. Do you think he'll politely ask me where I got the Chougui Zangzifu cultivation method? Whether I have it or not, he won't say a word. He'll just reach out and immediately search my memories!"

"If that happens, it won't just be about one cultivation method!"

"Regardless of whether he finds anything or not, I'm certainly dead... While you'll be safe in the heavens, you'll suffer heavy losses and won't be able to meet anyone from then on..."

Dang Jiang felt anxious upon hearing this and replied, "What do you mean by that? Aren't you the person chosen by the Mansion Lord? That True Monarch Lushui is only at the Golden Core stage; how could he kill you?"

Chi Buzi gave him a slightly gloomy look and replied, "Chosen or not, when the karma arrives, the Mansion Lord grants a path. If you can walk it, walk it. If you can't, who cares even if you die? Is the Mansion Lord short of one Purple Mansion cultivator? Would he specifically return from outside the heavens to save me? Usually, it's fine to bluff a little, but don't actually believe it yourself."

When Chi Buzi said this, Dang Jiang frowned, his mood becoming anxious as he thought, "That's true... Who in the heavens isn't involved with some divine ability..."

Seeing that Dang Jiang had nothing more to say, Chi Buzi's initial hope faded, and he felt a slight disappointment. He replied, "My cultivation is shallow, nothing worth mentioning. If something were to happen to me, I'm afraid it might disrupt the Immortal Mansion's affairs..."

Dang Jiang looked at him and heard Chi Buzi say, "I'm counting on you to ask around and find a way out for me... If you could meet that True Edict Master from before, I believe we might gain some leverage."

Dang Jiang hesitated for a moment. He also relied on Shaohui to meet True Edict, so he naturally wasn't very confident. However, since Chi Buzi's lineage and life were at stake, he had to ask. He got up and replied, "You know that Master isn't someone you can just meet anytime. I only know where Master Shaohui's immortal pavilion is, and I can ask on your behalf."

Chi Buzi still had doubts.

As a direct descendant of the Green Pine Sun lineage, he was astute and had learned quite a lot over the years. He pulled Dang Jiang aside and said, "The Mansion Lord... controls Yin and Yang, and perhaps has an avatar in the current world. There was an immortal back then, named Yingze, who also controlled Yin and Yang. I wonder if they are the same person..."

Hearing this, Dang Jiang's scalp tingled, and he dared not say more. He replied, "You're asking me to inquire about the Mansion Lord's human avatar? First, I have no place to ask, and second, I wouldn't risk my life to ask. I couldn't even find out the name of Immortal Official Li when he descended to the mortal realm. This matter... is profoundly secret. Where would I get the ability to ask about it?"

"I'm not asking you to inquire..."

Chi Buzi looked at him, feeling a slight headache. He knew some secrets; many people in the world were searching for Yingze, and since Yingze hadn't appeared, it couldn't be for anything good. He then replied, "Lushui is called one of the Six Sons of Chongming. His master is that immortal who controls Yin and Yang... He is a true, authentic descendant of the Qingxuan lineage... The number of immortals above him is countless... I'm not afraid of him fighting with the heavens; I'm afraid that the information he possesses might cause some upheaval..."

As Chi Buzi spoke, Dang Jiang also felt his heart race. In his past life's memory, he was just a minor water official underground, with no recollection of such powerful figures. He said in a terrified voice, "I understand..."

"Ask indirectly... Inquire carefully..."

When Chi Buzi said this, Dang Jiang looked up again, concealing his unease. As he walked out, he grumbled, "If it comes to talking, you're not as quick-witted as I am. Why do you need so many words!"

He exited the courtyard gate, and only then did Chi Buzi calmly sit down in his spot. After all, he was in someone else's grotto-heaven, and even when alone, he showed no emotion. With his eyes slightly closed, he entered a meditative state in his seat.

White snow drifted around him, slowly accumulating in the courtyard. A fragrant osmanthus scent wafted through the air. It should have been a calming scene, but as he sat still, his heart was far from peaceful.

Chi Buzi's words were not only a plea for help but also a test. In that brief conversation, he discerned Dang Jiang's meaning and keenly grasped a crucial point:

He, Chi Buzi, was not important to the heavens; the Mansion Lord had acted casually, and True Edict had not given Dang Jiang any special orders.

The man's thoughts were gloomy and detached. With just this information, a deep suspicion arose in his heart:

'This Mansion Lord is very likely Yingze. However, after so many years with no news, he must not want the world to know of his existence, secretly pushing some agenda... He and Lushui wouldn't have a good relationship. Since he's an immortal-level figure, the opportunity he gave me surely couldn't expose himself or cause Lushui any suspicion.'

'Once Lushui searches my memories, he's bound to find nothing. As for me... if I don't complete all my plans before Lushui returns, I'll lose my life, be scrutinized by Lushui, and ultimately perish silently... So what role is True Edict playing? How could I have obtained such a precious 'Seeking Gold Method' in just a few years...'

He smelled something amiss, and his heart immediately clouded with dread:

'Could it be that he's using me... making me capture demons and offer tributes for him all these years, knowing it would never be enough? When Lushui arrives, I'll just die, and he'll have reaped immense profits... He wouldn't even need to find any 'Seeking Gold Method' for me...'

Although Chi Buzi didn't know much about the power behind the Immortal Mansion, he was the kind of person who could instantly deduce a conclusion based on a few points of interest—if the opportunity he received wasn't part of an immortal's scheme against Lushui, then the heavens would certainly not disrupt their established plans for him, and he would most likely die at Lushui's hands.

Meanwhile, Dang Jiang exited the courtyard, walking slowly with his head down. After a while, he found a large pavilion within the manor. He presented his token, and a Heavenly Soldier went inside to report.

Soon, the Heavenly Soldier, adorned in radiant scale armor with dignified features, emerged from the pavilion and announced clearly, "Reviser of Xuanqi Pavilion... the Immortal Maiden requests your presence inside."

Dang Jiang had been worried that he wouldn't be granted an audience, but now, feeling as if he'd received a great pardon, he quickly walked forward. Passing through the magnificent corridor, he saw stacks of silvery-white jade slips and a woman in a tea-white robe sitting formally beside a desk.

Shaohui looked slightly fatigued, the pure white light between her brows faintly flickering, indicating that she hadn't had an easy time lately. Even seeing Dang Jiang didn't feel as bothersome as before. She asked, "So it's you... Has something happened?"

Although Shaohui had been reassigned, Dang Jiang was still nominally her subordinate, which allowed him to see her. He prostrated himself on the ground and cried, "Back then... Immortal Official Liu entrusted me with the duty of looking after the talent chosen by the Mansion Lord... But recently, he's encountered a tremendous problem, and his life is in danger, so I came to ask you, Master!"

Shaohui frowned upon hearing this, knowing he was referring to Chi Buzi. She naturally had no leisure to meddle in such affairs, but she also didn't want to bear responsibility. She asked, "What kind of trouble?"

Dang Jiang bowed and said, "It's the same matter as before. True Monarch Lushui, who is above him... is about to return from outside the heavens. But his divine ability was a breakthrough aided by my karma, implicating the heavens. The True Monarch will likely seek him out, which I fear will cause trouble."

Shaohui shook her head and said, "Who would dare cause trouble for the heavens? Let him be. That True Monarch, once he hears it involves the heavens, won't kill him. It's just that the heavens haven't manifested in this world yet, and a sudden exposure might draw blame from above."

Shaohui's words resonated with Dang Jiang. He didn't find Lushui terrifying, nor was he as cautious as Chi Buzi; he was more afraid of delaying matters concerning the higher authorities. After he bowed, Shaohui replied, "Wait here for a moment. I'll go see Master."

Dang Jiang was overjoyed and nodded eagerly, then began waiting in the pavilion. He waited anxiously for over half an hour, but unexpectedly, there was soon activity. The woman in the tea-white immortal dress entered from outside the pavilion, looking thoughtful.

Seeing Shaohui enter the pavilion, Dang Jiang quickly stepped forward and respectfully asked, "Master..."

Shaohui shook her head slightly and replied, "I went to ask Master and received a few pieces of information, which I will share with you."

Her expression was serious and cautious as she said, "First, there are no specific orders from Master regarding him. The Mansion Lord imparting the cultivation method to him was merely a reward for him watching over you. He has no connection to the heavens. The time for the heavens to manifest in this world has not yet come. If he were caught by Lushui, the traces of immortals would naturally remain obscure, and there would be no risk of exposing heavenly presence."

Dang Jiang felt a bitter taste in his mouth, realizing the implications, and understood what Chi Buzi had said earlier. He listened as Shaohui continued, "Second, True Edict Master, considering his single-minded pursuit of immortality, has left him a glimmer of hope. If he feels Lushui will harm him, he can invite an Immortal Official from the heavens to assess if there's any room for maneuver."

Dang Jiang felt a wave of despair, but managed to ask, "Which one should I invite?"

Shaohui offered a slightly helpless smile and replied, "Me."

She rose from the pavilion and said, "Go now... bring him here."

Dang Jiang quickly withdrew and returned to the courtyard. Chi Buzi remained perfectly still, seated by the desk. Dang Jiang, his face full of bitterness, quietly relayed the two pieces of information. Chi Buzi, however, let out a sigh of relief and said with downcast eyes, "Good. Take me to see Master."

Chi Buzi was not surprised by the news from Dang Jiang. He had also anticipated that True Edict would leave him a path to survival. For him, this alone was enough, as he had long had a premonition of his current predicament.

'The moment I went to the island to meet Li Qinghong, I prepared myself to be crushed by Lushui at any moment. So this outcome is neither unexpected nor premature.'

When he declared his betrayal of Lushui to Li Qinghong back then, Chi Buzi had only one thought:

'If I die, I die; I'll just give it a try!'

His current resolve was exactly the same.

With satisfaction and ambition, he lowered his head, slipped through the corridor past a group of immortal generals and maidens, climbed the pavilion stairs, and slowly approached Shaohui's desk. He knelt with a thud and respectfully said, "Thank you, Master, for saving my life!"

Shaohui didn't originally favor him, but seeing a Great True Man prostrate himself before her, she composed herself and softly asked, "Do you have any ideas?"

Chi Buzi looked up, his pale blue eyes bright with no trace of despair. He whispered, "Your subordinate doesn't want to give up the chance to enter the grotto-heaven and pay homage to the immortals of the heavens, nor does he want to abandon his cultivation path. The only way now is to deceive Lushui."

"To deceive Lushui, I must not remember myself. As long as I know I'm deceiving him, the True Monarch will know I'm deceiving him."

Shaohui gazed at his expression. Even though she typically disliked the man before her, she couldn't help but be moved at that moment. She said, "Continue."

Chi Buzi whispered, "Your subordinate believes that for me not to know, my memories must be removed and stored elsewhere. Only after Lushui has searched me and departed, and I then regain these memories, can I escape. Once he returns to Luyu Heaven to heal, it will be difficult for him to keep track of me."

Shaohui frowned slightly, listening as Chi Buzi murmured, "I need a method to alter my memory without the True Monarch detecting it."

However, the Immortal Maiden before him shook her head and replied, "It's not just that. No jade slip can record memories concerning the heavens. You can only store this memory by stripping away a portion of your soul, but splitting a soul is beyond your or my capabilities."

"Furthermore, the pain of splitting a soul is far worse than having your tendons pulled or skin flayed."

Chi Buzi had never considered the pain.

He had risen from Qingchi little by little to his current standing, by any means necessary, seizing every opportunity that flashed before him. Even if an opportunity was as small as a crack, he would carve bone and strip skin, like a weed pushing through a crevice.

Whether it was Chi Wei or True Edict, demons or immortals, whatever the higher powers needed him to be, Chi Buzi could be that. With the Golden Core stage within reach, there was nothing he couldn't discard, nothing he couldn't accept.

'By my own power, even if I were to endure a hundred or a thousand instances of having my tendons pulled and skin flayed, I still couldn't escape Lushui's grasp. I would surely be crushed like an ant... But it doesn't take much; as long as I have even a shred of assistance from a power of equal standing, I will have the means to deceive him.'

However, upon hearing this, Chi Buzi did not nod. His heart turned cold, and he replied, "If my soul is split, how could Lushui not detect it?"

"He would never consider how many tricks I have up my sleeve, nor would he need to. He wouldn't think about countermeasures. Anything involving me—breaking through to Golden Core, shaking his fruit status, or using such mystical methods as soul-splitting—he wouldn't permit anyone to act. He would simply gaze upon me and kill me, even against the pressure of the Underworld."

Shaohui pondered for a moment, then whispered, "I can inquire about a method for memory separation for you; perhaps there's a spiritual artifact that can achieve it. However, how can you ensure Lushui departs? Since he's as cunning as you say, appearing without a trace and leaving without a trace, how will you calculate when your memory-less self should recover its memories? That's almost impossible!"

"Furthermore, even if you do wait for him to leave and regain your memories, how will you know when he might suddenly reappear? A Golden Core cultivator appearing in the mortal world is instantaneous! The moment he has a thought, as long as he steps even half a foot out of Luyu Heaven, he'll immediately know everything about you!"

Seeing Shaohui shake her head repeatedly, Chi Buzi remained unhurried and whispered, "This matter seems difficult, but in reality, I only need this memory when offering tribute."

"As long as Master can find a way for me to deceive his eyes, I can manage to capture demons, recall this matter in a hidden place, offer tribute to the heavens, and then forget it again before departing."

Shaohui's expression gradually became solemn as she stared intently into his eyes, a deep bewilderment in her gaze. She asked, "Is there truly a hidden place that even a True Monarch cannot perceive?"

Chi Buzi's eyes narrowed slightly, and a cold, calm, scrutinizing look appeared on his downcast face:

"Your subordinate does indeed know of such a place... a realm that even a True Monarch cannot see."