Chapter 810: Nine Lifetimes of Karma

"No, you're asking me to prepare things again?"

Pei Jiuye was stunned.

"Didn't you say before that as long as I obtained the Black Jade Heaven-Mending Paste, it would be enough?"

"The past is the past, and the present is the present."

Ye Lin wore a look of earnestness.

"Elder Pei, don't think I'm trying to fool you. Think about it yourself: is the level of the curse from the heavenly condemnation you suffered back then the same as it is now?"

"At that time, only half of your body was rotting, so naturally, the Black Jade Heaven-Mending Paste was enough to solve it. But now that your whole body is rotting, if you don't prepare the four items I mentioned, it simply cannot be resolved!"

Pei Jiuye was half-believing and half-doubting.

However, Ye Lin was the only straw he could grasp to save his life now, so he had no choice but to believe.

"I will go prepare them. Give me three days!"

Pei Jiuye gritted his teeth.

One hundred million detonation talismans, three Void-Escaping Immortal Talismans, and those materials for the Fierce Nether Spirit Fire were all manageable; after all, he, Pei Jiuye, had been drifting through the Demonic Path for so long and had a little bit of savings.

As long as he spent enough Immortal Source Stones, he could get these things.

The most troublesome one was that drop of a Saint's essence blood.

In the Age of Dharma Decline, almost all Saints were in seclusion and did not appear in the world; unless it was a very important matter, one could not see the shadow of a Saint at all.

To want a drop of a Saint's essence blood, relying on Immortal Source Stones alone was not enough; he had to think of some other way.

"Good luck, Elder Pei! I also don't want to see you die and your Dao dissipate!"

A few hot tears were squeezed from the corners of Ye Lin's eyes.

As for the things he asked Pei Jiuye to prepare, they were naturally not for crossing any damn heavenly tribulation, but to give Granny Mad Dragon a surprise.

Since there was a free laborer like Pei Jiuye, it would be a waste not to use him.

After watching Pei Jiuye leave, Ye Lin began to prepare to retrieve his shadow; this thing had been kept in the hands of the Hall Master of Tanhuo for too long, which was somewhat of a hidden danger.

He had already mastered the Shadow Escape Secret Technique obtained from Ying Wushou and had strengthened it into the forbidden technique, the Shadow Devouring Forbidden Chapter; now it was time to take back his shadow.

It was just as well that Pei Jiuye had left, making the Punishment Hall the best place for him to cast his spell; disciples of the Joyous Union Sect generally avoided the Punishment Hall and would never run to this place.

Ye Lin first slit his own wrist and began to set up an array with his blood.

After the blood fell, it turned into eerie blood beads suspended in mid-air.

"The shadow is not bound by the form, the abyss is not born from the light!"

Ye Lin formed seals with his hands, pushing the Shadow Devouring Forbidden Chapter to its limit.

The fake shadow created by the Hall Master of Tanhuo on his body instantly disintegrated; the surroundings were brightly lit, yet there was no shadow cast on Ye Lin, which looked extremely eerie.

The ground beneath Ye Lin began to boil, and the blood he had just spilled began to gather together, constructing a blood bridge in the void.

One end of the blood bridge was Ye Lin's true body, while the other end connected to Ye Lin's shadow inside the Tanhuo Hall.

"You've hidden my shadow for so long, it's time to return it to me!"

Ye Lin lifted his foot and walked toward the other side of the blood bridge.

But just as he reached the end of the blood bridge, a look of astonishment appeared on his face.

At the other end of the blood bridge, what he saw was not his own shadow, but a gentle woman with a graceful figure who seemed untainted by the world.

Her hair, black as ink, was draped down, sticking to her delicate, flawless cheeks after being dampened by beads of sweat.

And his shadow was currently playing cosplay with this gentle woman; his shadow was playing Ma Chao, and the gentle woman was playing Xu Zhu, and the two were performing the plot of the fifty-ninth chapter of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

As Ye Lin reconnected with his own shadow, the shadow's sensations were transmitted to Ye Lin at this moment, making Ye Lin shiver uncontrollably.

Ye Lin was numb.

Because that beautiful, gentle woman was none other than Lin Muxi, the Hall Master of Wunian.

The Joyous Union Sect was still too authoritative.

He did not expect that his lost shadow could actually be taken to do such things.

Ye Lin was now in a dilemma about whether to retrieve the shadow or not; after all, the consequences of going against a woman's will were very dire.

"Giggle, you've been discovered."

The Hall Master of Tanhuo covered her mouth and giggled, her plump, straight, and enchanting legs looming under her cheongsam, her fair and rounded ankles hidden in ink-blue short boots.

No matter how many times he saw the Hall Master of Tanhuo, this woman could always give people a feeling of being unsatisfied and coquettish.

Seeming to notice the astonishment on Ye Lin's face, the Hall Master of Tanhuo took the initiative to speak.

"Do you think that if you don't cooperate, I have no way to entangle you in karma with Lin Muxi?"

"Her natal Love Gu is in your body, and your shadow is in my hands; that is already enough. During the time you were away, your shadow has already replaced you and been husband and wife with Lin Muxi for nine lifetimes."

"If you take back the shadow, the karma of these nine lifetimes as husband and wife will fall upon you. If you don't take back the shadow, you will be incomplete forever. How will you choose? Ye Xiehong?"

At this time, Lin Muxi had also finished dressing, her soft, moist red lips pursed together, her elegant and gentle charm combined with her mild temperament, like a fairy who had walked out of a painting.

Dressed, Lin Muxi actually appeared even more charming.

Ye Lin finally realized what was going on, and he looked at the Hall Master of Tanhuo and asked.

"So, from the very beginning, you weren't trying to scheme against Lin Muxi, but against me?"

"Nonsense, if you hadn't accidentally broken into her place of seclusion, would you even be worthy of touching my Muxi?"

The look in the Hall Master of Tanhuo's eyes toward Ye Lin revealed undisguised disgust.

"I see, you designed it so I would bear the karma of being her husband for nine lifetimes, and then have her kill me with her own hands, so as to break through to the final layer of the Record of No-Thought and No-Emotion, the Avici Prison!"

Ye Lin suddenly realized; so that was what it was about!

After clarifying the ins and outs, Ye Lin was so angry that his vision went black.

Being husband and wife for nine lifetimes—he was very happy to oblige! Why did she have to specifically target him?

Seeing Ye Lin's angry expression, Lin Muxi thought he was angry about being schemed against, and a look of unbearable pity appeared in her eyes.

For these nine lifetimes as husband and wife, Ye Lin only bore the karma, but Lin Muxi had truly experienced it herself.

In other words, she really had a place for Ye Lin in her heart now; seeing Ye Lin angry, she subconsciously felt a bit of heartache and hurriedly spoke.

"I'm sorry... Ye Xiehong, I didn't want this either..."

"It's fine, isn't it just killing me to verify the Dao? If it can help your cultivation, Lin Muxi, reach a higher level, then my death can be considered a death in a worthy cause."

Ye Lin revealed a bitter smile, then recalled his shadow.

When the shadow and Ye Lin merged into one again, Ye Lin clearly felt as if he were carrying something extra on his body.

Clearly, this was the karma of the nine lifetimes as husband and wife that the Hall Master of Tanhuo had spoken of.

Ye Lin knelt on one knee, looking at Lin Muxi with deep affection.

"This humble one is untalented, having not gained the young lady's favor and having disturbed you for so long; please do not blame me. How could I, reeking of blood, dare to touch you, who are so pure and innocent?"

"I am guilty: the first sin is meeting you, the second is knowing you, the third is interacting with you, the fourth is liking you, the fifth is missing you, the sixth is caring for you, the seventh is guarding you, the eighth is protecting you, the ninth is longing for you, and the tenth is loving you. With all ten sins complete, I deserve to die ten thousand times!"

"I, the subject, withdraw; this withdrawal shall last a lifetime!"