Chapter 227: Oh, I See

Seeing Senior Brother Dai’s disbelief, Meng Jingzhou began to recount the tale vividly.

“A few days ago, we two were out when we saw black smoke rising from a mountain stream. Convinced it signaled a demon intent on wreaking havoc, we immediately went to confront it. The villain claimed to be the powerful leader of the Nine Underworld Cult. Fortunately, we’re not ordinary ourselves and possess a few tricks. After a desperate struggle, we finally captured him. When we removed his mask, we discovered the villain was none other than Li Haoran!

“The leader of the Nine Underworld Cult, so mysterious, *he*, captured by the two of us! We’re not asking for much, just three Proxy Sect Master Vouchers each will do.”

“...Do you even hear yourself?”

As the most senior disciple, Dai Bufan, who had lived for nearly a thousand years, had never felt his intelligence so insulted as he did today.

Lu Yang spread his hands, squatting to untie Li Haoran as he said, “See, I told you Senior Brother Dai wouldn’t believe it.”

The promise to give Li Haoran thirty percent of the contribution points if they succeeded, of course, couldn’t be honored.

“Why wouldn’t he believe it? We really did capture the leader of the Nine Underworld Cult!” Meng Jingzhou genuinely felt that every word he spoke was true.

“Alright, what exactly happened?” Dai Bufan knew that while these two were a handful, they wouldn’t joke about something like this; there had to be a reason. Of course, if they *did* dare to admit they were just trying to scam contribution points, he’d tie them up and hang them at the entrance of the Mission Hall.

“Ahem, well, here’s how it happened.”

“Initially, Junior Brother Li noticed his fiancée was a little nervous and asked us to go with him for support. Later, we discovered his fiancée was beautiful, kind-hearted, and her cultivation was even higher than Li Haoran’s. Everything about her was perfect, virtually flawless. The only issue was her age.”

Dai Bufan, with his legs crossed, leisurely sipped his tea and casually remarked, “A little older isn’t an issue. Where’s the lady from? Just a year or two older?”

“Two thousand years older.”

Dai Bufan spat out his tea. He choked, convinced he’d misheard, and coughed violently for a long moment before finally recovering. “How much? Two *thousand* years old?”

Wouldn’t that make her someone from the Sect Master’s generation?

Dai Bufan scrutinized Li Haoran several times, completely unable to discern his charm.

“Junior Brother Li’s fiancée is named Su Yiren; she’s a Body Fusion stage cultivator.”

“Oh, Su Yiren. I’ve heard she’s quite beautiful and cultivates on Tianzhu Mountain.” Dai Bufan managed all intelligence for the Dao Seeking Sect, with his network spread across the Central Continent, giving him knowledge of Body Fusion stage cultivators unknown to ordinary people.

“Senior Su’s husband was Qin Haoran, also a Body Fusion stage cultivator. Qin Haoran died and lost his cultivation during his attempt to break through to the Tribulation Transcending stage. However, due to the unique nature of his cultivation method, he reincarnated.”

Qin Haoran? Dai Bufan mentally reviewed all the Body Fusion stage cultivators he knew, but couldn’t recall anyone by that name.

“Qin Haoran reincarnated as Junior Brother Li, and Senior Su, hoping to rekindle their past bond, became Junior Brother Li’s fiancée.”

“Later, in Luofeng County, we accidentally discovered traces of Nine Underworld Cult members’ activities. Senior Su intervened, thwarting their schemes, and then led us to witness the process of creating Phoenix Blood Stones.”

“So, you saw Luofeng County using phoenix blood to imbue Phoenix Blood Stones?” Dai Bufan didn’t seem surprised by this.

“Senior Brother Dai, you knew about this?” Lu Yang asked, astonished.

Dai Bufan rolled his eyes. “Anyone could figure that out. What kind of ore vein, formed after a Body Fusion stage cultivator’s demise, could be mined for four thousand years? What, do phoenixes have no flesh, just blood?”

“It’s just that phoenix blood is hard to come by, and we’re worried that exposing this secret would make the Phoenix Clan furious and stop selling it.”

Lu Yang sighed. “...Alright.”

“After that, Junior Brother Li had a breakthrough and gained fragmented memories of his past life, realizing he was once the leader of the Nine Underworld Cult.”

After Lu Yang finished, Dai Bufan remained silent, his index finger rhythmically tapping the table. “Reincarnation... rebirth... the Nine Underworld Cult...”

“The Nine Underworld Cult believes in a place of reincarnation called the Nine Underworlds, and Li Haoran is the reincarnation of their cult leader...”

“Senior Brother Dai, is true reincarnation even possible?”

Senior Brother Dai shook his head. “I don’t know. However, there are many rumors circulating. For example, in the north, there’s talk of a ‘divine child’ who glows with golden light, possesses innate knowledge, and can fly and escape. He’s believed to be the reincarnation of an immortal spirit, worshipped as a deity by the local populace.”

“What’s the reality?”

“In reality, it was just a foolish cultivator whose Nascent Soul slipped out before he had fully mastered his cultivation.”

Meng Jingzhou was speechless.

“Or, take the case of a genius youth who appeared in a small sect, displaying extraordinary talent. Then, one day, a powerful figure visited that sect and, upon seeing the boy, was greatly startled. The youth’s talent and appearance bore a striking resemblance to a deceased old friend of his.”

“And then?”

“Later, the powerful figure discovered that his old friend had merely faked his death to revert to his youth and go to a minor sect to show off and put people in their place.”

Li Haoran was speechless.

“In short, these rumors of reincarnation circulating among the populace cannot be trusted. They are either baseless, fabricated to create a buzz, or stem from other peculiar reasons. Based on all the information I’ve gathered to date, there hasn’t been a single verifiable instance of true reincarnation.”

“The matter of the Nine Underworld Cult’s leader is significant, and I know very little about reincarnation myself. For now, it’s best to leave the decision to Senior Sister.”

“Then we’ll go find Senior Sister...”

Before Lu Yang could finish his sentence, a cool, clear voice drifted into the room.

“No need, I’m already here.”

Her tone was frigid, like ten thousand-year-old ice.

Space twisted, and a graceful figure emerged from an unknown dimension, appearing before the four of them. It was Yun Zhi. While they were talking, Dai Bufan had already discreetly notified Yun Zhi.

“I hadn’t considered that Junior Brother Li might be the reincarnation of a powerful being.”

“True reincarnation doesn’t exist; it’s a baseless claim. If Junior Brother Li truly is the reincarnation of the Nine Underworld Cult leader, it could only be the doing of a Dao Fruit.”

Yun Zhi recalled her earlier speculations about the roles of the four great demonic cults. “Could it be that the Nine Underworld Cult solidified a nascent form of the Dao Fruit of Reincarnation a very long time ago?”

“Clear your mind. Don’t think about anything at all.”

Li Haoran quickly made his spiritual mind clear and unblemished, trying to empty his thoughts completely.

Yun Zhi’s eyes seemed to contain a myriad of stars, exceptionally beautiful and captivating, as if they encompassed all the world’s mysteries, drawing one into their depths. These eyes were like the legendary Immortal Eyes said to pierce through all illusions, or the Divine Eye, one of the Six Supernatural Powers of Buddhism. Only Dai Bufan knew that this was Senior Sister’s unique, self-created technique, known only to her in the entire world.

Li Haoran felt as if all his secrets, from his very being to his innermost thoughts, were completely laid bare before Senior Sister’s gaze. His growth experiences, cultivation journey, psychological state—everything—nothing escaped those eyes.

Yun Zhi withdrew her gaze, then closed and reopened her eyes, which returned to normal. Li Haoran let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding; the oppressive aura from Senior Sister just now had been overwhelming.

“I see.” Her tone conveyed an undeniable confidence, as if she had suddenly grasped certain truths.

Lu Yang quickly pressed her, “Senior Sister, what did you see?”

Yun Zhi’s tone was flat and indifferent as she replied:

“It turns out there are indeed some things even I cannot see.”

Lu Yang was speechless.

“Senior Sister, are you feeling alright?”