Chapter 399: Fortune and Misfortune are Intertwined and Hard to Predict

East of the Bohai Sea, there is a great abyss, which is truly a bottomless valley; it has no bottom, and is named Gui Xu... Within it are five mountains: the first is called Dai Yu, the second is called Yuan Qiao, the third is called Fang Hu, the fourth is called Ying Zhou, and the fifth is called Penglai...

Regarding the immortal mountain of Penglai, Lingxiang had only understood it through a few scattered words in books, and she knew very little about the details within.

Lingxiang had once thought that whoever could write the "Records of Strange Tales of Mountains and Seas" must not be an ordinary person; otherwise, how would they know of such an ethereal and illusory place as the immortal mountain of Penglai?

However, now was not the time to dwell on these trivial details. Looking at the pale-faced Maidong, Lingxiang fell into deep thought.

After the Humoukou was destroyed, the only connection between the world of the living and the Netherworld was the Reincarnation Path, but the Reincarnation Path was an entrance for rebirth, allowing only exit and no entry; it was simply impossible to go to the world of the living from there.

And also...

Lingxiang watched the departing White Phoenix and sighed to herself: "Sigh... he just left without looking back, just like that fellow Ajin; birds of a feather really do flock together!"

Xiaobai would likely be trapped in the Netherworld for a long time; even if he were a phoenix, it would be impossible to go to the human world from the Reincarnation Path.

Back then, in the Dust-Peering Mirror, she had indeed seen the figure of a phoenix, and after that came the turmoil in the Demon Realm, but the Dust-Peering Mirror had not told Lingxiang how to escape from the Netherworld under such circumstances!

Things had reached this point, and it seemed to have become a dead end...

Forget it, forget it! Whatever! When you reach the mountain, there will be a road; thinking more about it now won't help.

Also looking in the direction where the White Phoenix flew away was Wumin Jun. Glancing at the sorrowful Lingxiang, he could not help but fall into deep thought.

Wumin Jun knew well that Lingxiang had quite a bit of cleverness, but he had not expected that this girl could actually get her hands on such a rare thing as a phoenix; she truly could not be underestimated!

Perhaps this was what is called "having the help of Heaven."

"The phoenix flaps its wings and rises, its cry echoing for ten thousand miles. Bright and clear, ringing and resonant, all things begin anew..."

"Hmm?" Lingxiang seemed not to have recovered yet; she stared blankly at Wumin Jun and muttered: "All things begin anew..."

This poem about the phoenix came from the "Scripture of Exploring the Profound." She had not expected that Wumin Jun had actually read it, but...

Lingxiang had always thought that the "all things" mentioned in the poem referred to things with spirit, such as birds, fish, insects, flowers, grass, and trees. Could it be that the You Du Men Que was also included?

If that were the case...

Sounds of phoenix cries came from far to near, clear and melodious, gentle and pleasant to the ear.

If that were the case, there would be hope for sending Maidong back to the world of the living.

Lingxiang's eyes flashed, and she immediately looked at Wumin Jun.

This old monster hadn't made a sound, and she had truly forgotten about him. She hadn't settled the account regarding Boluohui with him, yet he was able to put on an appearance of it being none of his business.

Hmph!

Wanting to distance himself? Not a chance.

Lingxiang cleared her throat and paced to the side of Wumin Jun.

"I wonder what intention Wumin Jun has in treating my Yuanqing Disciples so poorly?"

Wumin Jun stood with his hands behind his back, his expression unchanged, and he did not answer Lingxiang.

Although Tu Mi did not follow common sense, her actions always had traces to follow. This little girl could be said to be reckless and willful; if one were not careful, one would be schemed against. However, fortunately, her heart was kind, so she was easy to deal with.

"Fucang Elder, feel free to speak your mind. As far as my ability allows, I will certainly give it my all."

Rather than beating around the bush with her, it was better to be direct; it was easier to get along that way.

"Hey~ that's what you said!" Lingxiang clapped her hands and sat down to the side, disregarding her image. "I intend to let Maidong leave the Demon Realm."

Hearing this, Maidong hurriedly spoke up: "What nonsense are you spouting? How could I leave you alone in this den of tigers and wolves? If we go, we go together!"

"If I leave with you, then no one will be able to leave. Set your heart at ease; the Demon Lord still has use for me, so he cannot do anything to me for the time being."

"But..."

Maidong wanted to say something more, but Lingxiang waved her hand.

"I will have Boluohui escort you out of here first. Once you pass the Humoukou, you can go early to bring reinforcements. There is no reason for us not to fight back after that Demon Lord invaded my Yuanqing, right?"

As Lingxiang spoke, she did not care whether Maidong agreed or not, and turned to say to Wumin Jun: "I want you to send Langtou to escort them together."

It was not that Lingxiang did not trust Boluohui, but he was not as familiar with the Netherworld as Langtou. Moreover, Lingxiang was very clear about Langtou's identity. Regardless of what he thought, she would save one if she could; she had to distance herself from the Demon Race early, otherwise, there would be endless trouble.

Langtou, who was to the side, was about to speak, but Wumin Jun raised his hand to stop him.

"I agree."

"So straightforward?" Lingxiang feigned surprise, then smiled slyly: "But I haven't finished yet!"

"Fucang Elder, there is no need to beat around the bush with me. Our goals are the same; if you have a request, I will certainly grant it."

"Good! Straightforward!" Lingxiang clapped her hands again. "I want you to undo the Soul-Binding Witchcraft on Boluohui."

A mask covered Wumin Jun, so she did not know what expression was on his face.

Generally speaking, a soul after death cannot re-enter its original body. If one insists on doing so, one must use the Soul-Binding Witchcraft to force it, but this requires bearing double the karma; the longer the time, the heavier it becomes.

Soul-Binding Witchcraft is a witchcraft of the Demon Race. Lingxiang had seen it in the library; without a certain level of cultivation, one could not perform this method.

Wumin Jun did not expect that Lingxiang would also know about Soul-Binding Witchcraft. He pondered for a moment before speaking.

"The Demon Realm is far from the Ghost Gate; if the Soul-Binding Witchcraft is undone now, I fear he will not be able to hold on until then."

"No matter." Lingxiang said, taking a red Pill from her waist. "With this Soul-Stabilizing Pill, as long as he does not want to leave, he can stay in this physical body forever."

Boluohui did not doubt her and took the Pill and swallowed it.

"Fucang Elder is quite thoughtful."

Wumin Jun raised his hand and pointed; the seals on Boluohui's body shattered like shackles, falling off in pieces.

The so-called Soul-Stabilizing Pill was actually made up by Lingxiang; what Boluohui swallowed was merely a Fragrance Preserving Pill, the same kind she had given to Alv back then.

Boluohui's soul had long since adapted to the Nether Qi. According to Lingxiang's speculation, even without the Soul-Binding Witchcraft, he could remain perfectly well in this physical body. And the reason she said that was just to give Boluohui a choice—whether to continue being a living dead person or to abandon his physical body and head toward reincarnation.

Sure enough, Boluohui was still fine; as long as he did not realize that he was about to leave, he could maintain this appearance.

Lingxiang nodded with satisfaction, then said to Wumin Jun: "A deal is a deal; there is buying and selling. Although I am not a good person, I cannot let Wumin Jun suffer too much of a loss." As she spoke, she took out a sachet and retrieved a wooden box from it.

"This is an ointment I made with the embers of a phoenix. Apply it to your wounds every day, and within half a month, you will be healed." She handed it to Wumin Jun. "But I must say the ugly things first: the chronic illness of the wounds on your face has been long-standing. Although this ointment can knit your flesh and bone, it may not necessarily restore your original appearance. Do not hold too much hope."

Wumin Jun naturally understood; as long as he could close his skull and cast off this mask, it would be enough.

"Speaking of which, I should thank you for coming specifically to save me; otherwise, who knows how long that old hag Guihua would have kept acting crazy."

But upon hearing this, Wumin Jun shook his head.

"I did not come to save you."

"Then I won't thank you," Lingxiang replied casually, before realizing, "You didn't come because you heard the commotion?"

If you aren't here to save anyone, why are you shamelessly showing your face?

Wumin Jun shook his head once more.

"The Demon Lord is summoning you."

Upon hearing this, Lingxiang's face immediately fell.

Truly, one wave had just subsided, and another was already rising...

Why must the people of the Demon Race be so troublesome?