Chapter 127: Lending a Hand

Zhou Yi answered: "It is indeed your close friend Wan Huo Ancestor."

"What? Wan Huo?" Hearing the name, Zhenyuanzi's face filled with astonishment, almost unable to believe his ears. As a close friend of Wan Huo Ancestor, learning of his fall had once left Zhenyuanzi in unbearable grief, and he swore to avenge his old friend.

And now Zhou Yi tells him that he has come at Wan Huo Ancestor's request—how could that be? Could Wan Huo Ancestor truly die and be reborn? Or perhaps he never truly passed away?

Thinking of this, Zhenyuanzi stared tightly at Zhou Yi, his eyes brimming with expectation.

Zhou Yi was straightforward; with a wave of his hand, the Nine‑Nine Soul‑Scattering Gourd appeared, and this Preheavenly Spiritual Treasure could not escape Zhenyuanzi's eyes.

In Zhenyuanzi's hopeful gaze, Wan Huo Ancestor's lingering soul slowly floated up, looking at Zhenyuanzi with deep sorrow on his face.

"Daoist friend, I hope you have been well," Wan Huo Ancestor said, his words full of emotion.

Zhenyuanzi's excitement overflowed, but he soon noticed Wan Huo Ancestor's current condition.

"Brother Wan Huo, how did you become like this? Yet, since you are still alive, there is still hope," Zhenyuanzi exclaimed emotionally.

Wan Huo Ancestor was equally moved; they poured out their hearts to each other, and Wan Huo Ancestor recounted his tribulation.

"I regret not heeding my Daoist friend's counsel at the start; that led to this calamity. Fortunately, with Zhou Yi's assistance, I managed to cling to a sliver of life," Wan Huo Ancestor said.

Zhenyuanzi bowed to Zhou Yi in thanks: "Thank you, Daoist friend, for lending a hand, giving my unfortunate elder brother a chance at rebirth."

"You flatter me. The Minghe Sect leader and the Great Peng Bird are ferocious beyond compare; my intervening was also a duty. It's just a pity it was a step too late. Now Wan Huo's restoration will be difficult, but not without hope," Zhou Yi replied.

"Hmm, my elder brother now exists only as a lingering soul; surviving is already a great fortune, and full restoration is far from easy. Yet, to save my elder brother, I am willing to forsake everything and petition Nv Wa Sheng Ren for aid, regardless of the price," Zhenyuanzi declared firmly.

Zhou Yi deeply felt the profound friendship between Zhenyuanzi and Wan Huo Ancestor; indeed, Zhenyuanzi was sincere toward Wan Huo Ancestor.

Requesting the saint to act is no easy task; even if Nv Wa Sheng Ren agrees to help, the karmic consequences will be a heavy burden.

Nevertheless, none of this caused Zhenyuanzi the slightest hesitation; as long as there is hope, he will try.

"Dao brother, no need to trouble yourself; this is destiny, and I and Zhou Yi have already devised a plan. Though it cannot fully restore him, at least he can be reborn and cultivate again."

Hearing Zhenyuanzi's plan, Wan Huo Ancestor was deeply moved, his eyes brimming with hot tears as he looked at Zhenyuanzi.

"Brother, since we first took form we have supported each other; your matter is my matter. If I cannot protect you, what face do I have before heaven and earth? Rest assured, I will see to your restoration."

Zhenyuanzi thought Wan Huo Ancestor was worried about implicating the saint of the world, which is why he said so.

"Daoist friend, do not worry; I have already made proper arrangements, and nothing will go wrong," Wan Huo Ancestor said anxiously.

"Rest assured, brother. Everything is under control; I will go to Nv Wa Sheng Ren at once to seek assistance," Zhenyuanzi replied firmly.

"That's not it, Dao brother, Zhou Yi, please be sure to explain clearly to Zhenyuanzi, Dao brother," Wan Huo Ancestor's face flushed bright red as he hurriedly pleaded.

Zhou Yi had been watching with great interest, finding the interaction between Zhenyuanzi and Wan Huo Ancestor quite entertaining, and he also enjoyed being a bystander.

However, when he saw both parties becoming highly emotional, he realized he must step forward to clarify the facts, and thus he detailed the matter of reincarnation to everyone.

After hearing Zhou Yi's account, Zhenyuanzi looked at Hou Tu Ancestor Shaman with surprise, but the latter remained unusually calm.

In fact, regarding the embodiment of reincarnation, not only Zhou Yi understood, Hou Tu Ancestor Shaman did as well; the two had even discussed the topic in depth before.

Even Yu Qiang Ancestor Shaman said little at this moment, clearly the Wu Clan had already fully prepared for Hou Tu Ancestor Shaman's embodiment of reincarnation.

For Zhenyuanzi, this was his first time hearing of reincarnation, and the shock in his heart was evident.

Given his cultivation, it is easy to imagine the massive upheaval that would follow Hou Tu Ancestor Shaman's embodiment of reincarnation.

"I never imagined a Daoist friend could possess such grand determination; this act will bring great blessings to the Vast Wilderness World, truly beyond our expectations," Zhenyuanzi sincerely expressed his respect to Hou Tu Ancestor Shaman.

Previously, to avoid entanglements with the Wu Clan, Zhenyuanzi had always treated Hou Tu and Yu Qiang with coldness.

Now, his respect for Hou Tu Ancestor Shaman is heartfelt, both admiring her resolve and acknowledging her benevolent deed.

"Daoist friend, you flatter me. This realm was created by the Pangu Father God; as a descendant of Pangu, I have a responsibility to make this world better," Hou Tu Ancestor Shaman replied calmly.

"Hearing your words, I am truly humbled and must bow to you once more," Zhenyuanzi was again deeply moved by Hou Tu Ancestor Shaman's words and respectfully performed a bow.

"Dao brother, the significance of Hou Tu Ancestor Shaman's embodiment of reincarnation is extraordinary; I also hope you can lend a hand this time," Wan Huo Ancestor added.

"This matter is an inescapable responsibility; when the time comes, I will certainly intervene," Zhenyuanzi promised.

Considering that Hou Tu Ancestor Shaman's embodiment of reincarnation benefits both heaven and earth and affects Wan Huo Ancestor's chance of rebirth, Zhenyuanzi dared not be the slightest lax.

On the surface, Zhou Yi showed no expression, but inward he let out a sigh of relief, for his purpose had essentially been achieved.

With Zhenyuanzi's support, some of his plans became more feasible. Though not absolutely secure, the chances of success increased considerably.

Later, everyone discussed together for a long time and reached an agreement: when Hou Tu Ancestor Shaman undergoes embodiment of reincarnation, Zhenyuanzi will arrive early to provide assistance.

"Friends from afar, this humble monk has little to offer; send my disciple to fetch three ginseng fruits," Zhenyuanzi said warmly.

Zhou Yi, of course, had heard of the legendary spiritual root ginseng fruit, and the rarity sparked his curiosity.

The ginseng fruit, also called Grass Reincarnation Pill, blooms once every three thousand years, bears fruit another three thousand years later, then requires another three thousand years to mature, and only after ten thousand years is it fit for consumption.

During this long gestation, only thirty fruits ever form, each resembling a newborn infant under a crescent moon, complete with limbs and facial features.

It is said that an ordinary person who gets to smell the fruit's fragrance can extend their lifespan by three hundred and sixty years; if one manages to eat a fruit, they can lengthen their life by forty‑seven thousand years.