Chapter 130: Immortal Maiden, I Beg You - Ah? The Wives I Abandoned Turned Out to Be Real

Chapter 130: Immortal Maiden, I Beg You [You see the situation and speak up.] "Immortal Maiden, I've come here just to find you." [Upon hearing your words, the ice-cold woman’s eyes turn even colder.] "Why are you seeking me?" "What kind of connection do we have?" "People from the corrupted world, their actions are truly incomprehensible." [After saying this, the icy woman takes back the jade tokens from Monk Sheng and his companions.] [Just as she's about to depart on her sword, you grow exceedingly anxious, knowing this is your last chance to see her. You shout out immediately.] "Immortal Maiden, I love you!" "From the first moment I saw you, I fell for you!" "No, it is love, the purest form of love!" "My mind is filled with your image." [After boldly declaring your feelings, her expression turns even colder.] "Disgusting!" [After saying this, the ice-cold woman releases a blast of frigid energy.] [You feel your body begin to shiver from the cold.] [Yet, you still approach her.] [You know that if you let her leave now, you might never see her again in this lifetime.] [You don’t want to give up.] "Immortal Maiden, take me with you, or I'd rather you ended my life." [You spread your arms wide.] [An expression of willingness to accept her treatment, whatever it might be.] [Seeing you like this, the woman looks at you with disdain, her eyes filled with utter contempt.] "Get out of my way!" [You step forward immediately.] "Immortal Maiden, Immortal Maiden, I beg you." "I beg you!" "Take me with you!" [You kneel down, casting aside all dignity.] [Faced with your nearly shameless persistence, the icy woman is at a loss for what to do.] [Unwilling to burden herself with more killings, she decides to take you away for now and then leave you somewhere to fend for yourself.] [For such pestering, this is the most severe punishment she can think of.] [She turns her longsword into a flying artifact.] "Get on!" [Hearing her words, you become overjoyed and jump onto the flying sword without a second thought.] [A single thought occupies your mind.] [This is sufficient, this is sufficient!] [As long as the Immortal Maiden agrees...] ... [In a flash, she has taken you thousands of miles into the sky, away from the Song Dynasty to a strange world.] [You realize that this world is vast, and the air you breathe is incredibly fresh.] [It feels like the legendary celestial realm.] "Immortal Maiden, is this the celestial realm?" [The icy woman explains.] "This is not the celestial realm, but rather the earthly celestial world, incomparable to the corrupt world." "In due time, you'll understand its wonders." [The icy woman then reveals her true identity to you.] [Her name is Nangong Liuli, the chief disciple of Emei's third generation, and although she appears youthful, she has been cultivating for over a century.] [She is now 120 years old.] [And you, a man not yet thirty, do not match her at all.] [Your eyes widen in surprise upon learning the ice-cold beauty before you is 120 years old. Fantasies flit through your mind, thinking that if you could learn the arts of cultivation, you might stay forever beside her.] [You also learn some aspects of this earthly celestial world’s settings.] [There are innumerable sects, caverns, spells, magical treasures, sacred mountains, cursed lands, and forbidden zones.] [There are kingdoms, tribes, celestial courts, dragon palaces, and demon cities.] [Righteous paths, demonic paths, and paths of monsters. Asuras, hungry ghosts, heavenly beings.] [Your once-dormant heart is ignited by Nangong Liuli's presence.] [Entering this earthly celestial world fills you with hope and yearning for the future.] [However, Nangong Liuli doesn't take you to Emei but instead leaves you in a village before returning to report to her sect.] [She promises to look for you once her report is complete.] [From her, you also learn that Nangong Liuli went to the Song Dynasty because someone in her sect had entrusted her to avenge the death of a deceased's son.] [That deceased's son was none other than the black bear spirit causing havoc.] This! Seeing the explanation in the simulation, Su Mo was taken by surprise. Now he knew. He finally understood the backing of the black bear spirit. It turned out to be Emei. However, the person the Emei celestial mentioned as an old friend, Su Mo was still unclear about. But he knew. That person must have been extraordinarily significant. To be valued so greatly by Emei. The black bear spirit's father must also have been a figure akin to a demon king. And his encounter with Nangong Liuli was no mere coincidence. ... [Nangong Liuli leaves and never returns, leaving you, unfamiliar with this world, to make ends meet by manual labor.] [Fortunately, the village and the seven or eight nearby ones are near a dock where dozens of large ships load and unload daily.] [Thanks to your physical strength, you quickly gain a reputation on the docks for carrying large bundles.] [Since you are always waiting for Nangong Liuli to come back for you, you don't wish to get involved with anyone in the area. Over time, you earn the nickname "Big Fool."] [You don't mind this at all. For a woman, coming to a place like this—what else could it be other than foolishness?] [But the feeling captivates you, as you don't feel foolish in the least.] [Instead, you are happy because you dwell in the same world as Nangong Liuli.] [Every day, you eagerly anticipate and envision a future life, believing everything will turn out well as soon as Nangong Liuli comes for you.] [As such, you work until you've earned just enough for basic needs, then stop conserving your strength.] [However, as days turn into a year, Nangong Liuli doesn’t return.] [The longing in your heart burns so fiercely it nearly consumes you to ashes, leading you to believe something must have happened to her.] [You seize a chance while moving goods to hide on a cargo ship and drift downstream, eventually arriving in Jiangjin City.] [Jiangjin City, with its flourishing water routes, commercial conveniences, thriving entertainment, and wealthy merchants, is active with a wide array of characters.] [Since it's far from the emperor’s gaze, the power of the government is minimal, and various factions thrive.] [Hoping to reach Emei from here.] [Yet, the moment you arrive, you're discovered by the sea gangs of Jiangjin City, as the ship belongs to them and carries contraband prohibited by court order.] [They mistakenly think you’re a government spy and come to capture you.] [However, naturally powerful, and with martial skills learned in this world, you quickly defeat them.] [Just as you are about to flee, a dojo leader of the sea gang pulls out a black lamp.] [Chanting under his breath.] [The black lamp takes a while to activate, but it ignites just as you finish defeating the rest.] [A wisp of smoke enters your nostrils, and you fall unconscious instantly.] As the scene before him darkens, Su Mo sighs in regret. Based on prior simulation experiences. He expected to be bagged and drowned next. But it’s fine. Even in a designated simulation, he’d still gain a talent no matter how abysmal the evaluation. Just as Su Mo prepared to await the result, the screen unexpectedly brightens again. He's pleasantly surprised. "This can happen." He absentmindedly touches the object near his hand. Seemingly accustomed to Su Mo's large gestures, Xu Miaoyin remains asleep, subconsciously adjusting her posture to make his movement easier… ... [You awake, shocked to find yourself in a graveyard bound by chains as thick as a man’s fist instead of Jiangjin’s docks.] [Normally, graveyards are where the town’s diseased, starved, slain, and criminals are laid to rest.] [Over time, they become havens for vengeful souls and chilling winds—places avoided even in broad daylight.] [You scan your surroundings to find the person who drugged you setting up a ritual platform.] [After completing the setup, this person approaches you, murmuring to himself.] "It’s been ages since I’ve found such a robust, vigorous, and spirited material." "Once your soul is forged into my soul lamp, even skilled dao practitioners won't withstand the power of my artifact." [He retrieves a three-inch-long black coffin nail from his sleeve, readying to drive it into your skull.] At this moment of life and death, an inexplicable strength surges through you, allowing you to break free from the heavy iron chains binding you. Seeing you shatter the chains, the man is astounded. He retreats in haste, but as the dojo master, long drowned in indulgence, he is weak and no match for you. In a flash, you seize the coffin nail from his hand and, in one swift motion, drive it into his heart. As he falls, the ritual platform he had set up erupts with black light. A dark mist emerges from the soul lamp on the platform, moving towards the man's corpse. Moments later, his body turns pitch black. The black mist reemerges, now doubled in size, and retreats back into the soul lamp. Even if you haven't wielded dark arts, the scene is evident enough. You quickly discern that the man's artifact consumed his soul. Now, this black lamp has become an ownerless object. Yet, without the corresponding incantations or gestures, you're unsure how to utilize this artifact. So, you begin searching the man's belongings. Upon uncovering his clothing, you discover his body is riddled with festering sores, the cause unknown. Suppressing your discomfort, you continue to search. Along with some silver notes, you find a thin booklet. This booklet contains a technique known as the "Soul Dark Arts," which harnesses the power of vengeful spirits to strengthen oneself. It also details the crafting method and control incantations for an artifact known as the "Soul Lamp." The control incantation is simple: "Blood corrupted, spirit tethered; soul darkened, light encumbered; ghosts obey will's call; demons follow my thrall." Once recited, the souls within the lamp would ensnare others’ minds as per your intent. You now understand you were rendered unconscious by this soul lamp earlier. The ghastly state of the man's body gives you pause as you consider whether to practice the Soul Dark Arts. At this juncture, you must choose: **Option 1:** Ignore the potential drawbacks, practice the Soul Dark Arts, and quickly increase your power to ensure your survival. **Option 2:** Keep the Soul Dark Arts and the Soul Lamp with you for now, but refrain from practicing them. **Option 3:** Disgusted by the malicious nature of this technique and artifact, you decide to dispose of them and bury both the Soul Dark Arts and the Soul Lamp in the gravesite! (End of Chapter)