[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-after-the-sky-fell":3,"chapter-after-the-sky-fell-after-the-sky-fell-chapter-836":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","After the Sky Fell",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2281692,4462,"Chapter 836: Returning to the World of Incense","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-836",836,"\u003Cp>From the anthropomorphic gaze of the black cat, Li Yi had no trouble confirming that his mother’s soul had taken refuge within it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a desperate, unavoidable measure for soul travelers facing peril—if a soul did not attach itself to a small creature, it would slowly dissipate, unless one had cultivated the soul into a Primordial Spirit to dwell permanently in the mortal realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at that time, reaching the Soul Realm was already regarded as the pinnacle of power; after all, the evolutionist cultivation system had not yet been perfected, and many realms were merely explored through trial and error.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that time, Li Yi’s parents possessed cultivation in the Soul Realm—if they hadn’t been caught in a cross-realm disaster, he would have long lived a life of privilege, rather than spending six years laboring and wasting precious cultivation time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Manipulating time is an extremely dangerous act; I rarely do it—but you and your mother are exceptions, since you are not of this world and have no impact upon it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, a cold voice suddenly rang out, accompanied by a flash of red light—Yang Jian reappeared before him, as if he had never vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black cat sensed danger and instinctively went on guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi said seriously, “Though I don’t know how you did it, you saved my mother’s soul—I owe you my thanks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need to thank me. This was merely a transaction.” Yang Jian’s eyes remained impassive, like a deity transcending the world, gazing down upon all things within it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Yi, you have your own path to walk. It is time to return.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He extended a finger, and a winding crimson path reappeared, spanning time and space, linking back to the point from which Li Yi had come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi nodded, used his magic power to lift the small black cat, and sealed it directly into the Crimson Gold Five Elements Bracelet, then retraced his steps along the path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait.” Suddenly, Yang Jian called out to him again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi turned back and asked, “Is there something else?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Jian said, “You cannot take anything from this world with you. You must leave it behind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mean this?” Li Yi pulled out the cracked short staff—it was a supernatural artifact from this world, and truthfully, he had found it quite useful, often producing unexpected results in critical moments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not just that. Also the ghost.” Yang Jian said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi understood. He retrieved from the Crimson Gold Five Elements Bracelet the golden coffin, within which was sealed a powerful ghost—the very ghost that had impersonated his mother and lived with him for six or seven years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Compared to my mother’s soul, these are insignificant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt no hesitation and immediately left both items behind; by now, Li Yi no longer needed to rely on supernatural forces—he himself was powerful enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi swiftly walked along the crimson path, his figure vanishing into the depths of hell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Jian merely watched him depart calmly, for he knew they would meet again—this encounter was but one link in fate’s chain. Yet he had never imagined that the unremarkable messenger he had once met at the Ghost Post Office would one day become a legend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Li Yi completed the crimson path, he found himself back beside the river—the setting sun still blazed like blood, the evening scenery still painted like a scroll, and time seemed to have passed less than a minute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It all felt like a dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as he looked at the small cat within the Crimson Gold Five Elements Bracelet, Li Yi knew it was all real—not a dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To manipulate time, to cross the river of ages, for one’s future self to protect one’s past self—how utterly perverse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi thought to himself: even if he cultivated to the Dao-Attainment Realm, illuminated all three hundred and sixty-five acupoints, and became a god as a Daoist, he doubted he could achieve this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since his goal had been achieved, he would honor his promise and leave this world swiftly, to avoid causing any unnecessary disruption to Yang Jian’s past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately concealed his form, ascended upon a cloud, shot into the sky, and vanished into the distance, leaving Tianchang City behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once beyond the city, Li Yi’s auspicious cloud halted midair. He pulled out the cross-realm device and prepared to open the portal, leaving World #36 for the World of Incense Deification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After so much effort, after so much toil, it was finally time for his family to reunite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just before leaving, Li Yi suddenly remembered something—he looked toward the direction of a city. He still owed Zheng Yaoyao a meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet they were from different worlds; excessive entanglement was not a good thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forget the meal. I’ll give you a gift instead.” From the Crimson Gold Five Elements Bracelet, Li Yi retrieved a spirit stone used by cultivators, concentrated his magic power, and crushed the stone into the shape of a jade pendant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he exhaled, pouring a stream of life essence into the pendant and sealing it within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If worn close to the body, a commoner would be nourished by the life essence and spiritual energy—light as a swallow, free of illness, granted longevity; for an ordinary person, this was already an extraordinary blessing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Give this pendant to Zheng Yaoyao.” Li Yi pointed his finger—the auspicious cloud transformed into a celestial crane, which took the pendant in its beak and flew away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without further hesitation, he opened the cross-realm portal. A white cloud enveloped him, and he vanished from this world, leaving not a trace behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, in Dazhuang City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Yaoyao lay alone in bed at home, idly scrolling through her phone. She stared at the contact labeled “Li Yi,” feeling an urge to call—but remembering that Li Yi was likely dealing with supernatural circles, she quashed the thought. “Li Yi should be fine,” she murmured, yet a faint unease lingered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she drifted in thought, suddenly, a tapping sound came from her window. When she looked, she froze in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A beautiful celestial crane was tapping against the glass, as if trying to enter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after a brief moment of astonishment, Zheng Yaoyao quickly realized—this supernatural phenomenon must be connected to Li Yi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She opened the window. The crane flew in, opened its beak, and dropped a crystal-clear jade pendant onto the bed. Then, having completed its task, the crane dissolved into mist and vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this a gift from Li Yi?” Zheng Yaoyao picked up the pendant, thrilled—she never imagined such a scene from myth could happen to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A celestial crane delivering a gift—how romantic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon, Zheng Yaoyao snapped back to reality, her expression darkening as she rushed to the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi was gone!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought struck her: the last time Li Yi left, he had done the same—this gift was compensation for his silent departure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing this, her earlier joy turned to quiet disappointment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the cross-realm portal closed, Li Yi had successfully arrived in the World of Incense Deification. The moment he appeared, boundless incense power surged from all directions, flooding over him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This immense incense power caused his Primordial Spirit manifestation to radiate boundless divine light—this moment, he seemed on the verge of shedding his mortal body entirely, stepping directly into godhood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I never expected I’d accumulated so much incense in this world,” Li Yi was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, during his absence, his father—the Divine Martial Emperor of this world—had accomplished much. At the very least, he had unified the entire dynasty; otherwise, Li Yi as Imperial Preceptor could never have shared such vast incense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To the palace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi rode the clouds, observing the celestial and terrestrial energies, heading toward the capital three hundred li away, where the dragon-tiger qi surged and all incense of the realm converged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In moments, he arrived at the capital—but noticed a towering mountain, piercing the clouds, rising suddenly nearby. At its base stood many statues, the largest of which was his own; the others were statues of beautiful immortal maidens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dao Mountain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi glanced briefly and immediately understood—it must have been moved by Xiang Xiangzi and the others using great magical power, to serve as their imperial residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason Dao Mountain was built so grandly, so distant from mortal sight, was to elevate the status of the immortal maidens through architectural majesty, encouraging the people’s reverence and the gathering of incense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it also reflected the supreme authority of Li Yi, the Imperial Preceptor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the palace—with its elaborate rituals and gilded halls—subtly instilled awe and affirmed the emperor’s supreme power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi did not go to Dao Mountain—he flew toward the palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to before, the dragon-tiger qi of the capital now felt even more terrifying—the people’s hearts were united, incense flourished, and the dragon and tiger hovering above the city seemed to patrol the realm, instantly crushing any demonic or heretical presence that drew near.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Li Yi’s arrival did not trigger this qi—he was the officially appointed Imperial Preceptor of Taiyi, a legitimate court official, utterly unconnected to demons or heretics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he entered the palace’s airspace, the Embroidered Uniform Guards and the Golden-Eyed Guards immediately noticed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s the Taiyi True Person, the Imperial Preceptor. Do not panic.” Wang Ning, a Golden-Eyed Guard, recognized him and immediately led several others forward to greet him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Golden-Eyed Guards now possessed formidable strength—their evolution method had reached the Spiritual Power Realm, and their souls, strengthened by incense, had become divine. Within this world, their combat power could rival that of a Soul Transformation cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the terrifying power of combining evolution with incense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the soul is condensed and infused with incense, its power undergoes a qualitative transformation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, if they left this world and lost the incense’s support, Wang Ning would merely be an ordinary Spiritual Power Realm evolutionist—unable to defeat even a Golden Core cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Eminence.” Wang Ning and the other Golden-Eyed Guards bowed respectfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I must see the Divine Martial Emperor immediately,” Li Yi said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Ning replied, “Your Eminence, it is already night—the Emperor is resting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi cut her off: “This matter is critical. Go and report—He will not punish you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please wait a moment, Your Eminence.” Wang Ning bowed and hurried toward Yongchang Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, Wang Ning returned and said, “Your Eminence, the Emperor requests your presence. Please follow me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1751,"2026-06-20T01:27:08.613Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","d54ee85bdac373bdce39439c38bad4d8ede5fde0dfbc01782d757ee18e038f64","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-837","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-835",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fafter-the-sky-fell-cover.jpg"]