[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-watching-the-immortals-fall":3,"chapter-watching-the-immortals-fall-watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-430":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Watching the Immortals Fall",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":12,"novelImage":21},{"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},2260303,4410,"Chapter 430","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-430",430,"\u003Cp>Across the vast southern three provinces, war raged like wildfire, the roar of sacred artifacts echoing through the cosmos, shaking heaven and earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most intense battleground lay in the southern reaches of the Central Theater, in Lingzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath that distant, profound night sky, the myriad laws of heaven and earth churned chaotically, violent energies tearing recklessly at the heavens and earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, torrents of immortal light coalesced into boundless sword qi, flaring outward, while floating celestial texts relentlessly pounded the thick darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This earth-shattering battle had drawn ever closer to Lingjian Mountain’s base through evasion and pursuit; the fierce clash made the entire night sky tremble violently, flickering between light and dark, as shattering roars echoed continuously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid this reckless thunder, Ji You flew past this place, soaring through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could clearly see the fierce battle, but he also knew that without reclaiming his physical body, his enlightened spirit journey held no meaning even if he went there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the wild currents, Ji You raced forward without looking back, surging past dust and earth waves toward Lingjian Mountain behind the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the thousand-year clans colluded in mischief, Tianjian Peak had been erased by Yan Shuyi wielding the Lingjian; now, only Xuanjian Peak and Wenjian Peak stood alone, towering and majestic up close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the entire mountain range, the protective mountain array glowed brilliantly, its killing intent fully revealed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, within the array, Lingjian Mountain disciples stationed on the mountain were anxiously watching the distant battlefield when suddenly they sensed an approaching aura and immediately looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Someone’s coming?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, a strange but immensely powerful aura…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they gazed upward, the mountain guards instantly gripped the swords at their waists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the protective array in place, they believed no one could enter without invitation; even if this stranger came with hostile intent, he would surely land before the mountain gate, so they weren’t overly alarmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What they cared about now was only whether this sudden arrival was friend or foe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he were a friend, it would be fine—no great disaster looming—but the problem was that the three provinces were now engulfed in fierce war; for a being of such immense power to suddenly leave the battlefield and head here, the chance he was a friend was slim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So as the aura accelerated toward them, every disciple silently drew their sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the aura drew nearer, they activated their spiritual sense and easily caught sight of the figure high above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the next instant, something unexpected happened to the Lingjian Mountain disciples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Approaching the array, the figure did not halt or land before the mountain gate as they expected; instead, he charged straight through the array without pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s charging right into it?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dare he crash into the protective array? Is he trying to die?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the howling night wind, the mountain guards cried out in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They knew this array was built upon the foundation of a sacred artifact’s power—it could block even a Linxian—and its killing intent was unstoppable; to act this way was pure suicide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So as the figure struck the array, nearly everyone envisioned the same scene: the man shattering against the array, then crushed to ash by the heavens’ lethal force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But reality diverged sharply from their expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Puh—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soft sound echoed from high above; the figure encountered no resistance whatsoever and instantly slipped into Lingjian Mountain, plummeting straight toward its depths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mountain’s protective array offered no resistance, not even emitting the usual killing intent triggered by an alien aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, the Lingjian Mountain disciples stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He got in?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How is this possible? How could an outsider pass through the protective array?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could it be… could the array be malfunctioning?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a stunned silence, all the mountain guards turned pale and immediately chased after the direction the figure had vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Ji You, having crossed the protective array, floated gently to the ground atop Xuanjian Peak’s cliff, the wind around him scattering fallen leaves across the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, Lingjian Mountain’s protective array would not stop him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was no surprise—he was the husband of the moody ghost; he wasn’t an outsider. Lingjian Mountain couldn’t stop him—it should have welcomed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in truth, his confidence in charging the array stemmed from the Lingjian itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The protective arrays of all immortal sects were built upon the power of sacred artifacts, and he was the one who could wield the Lingjian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Ji You slowly raised his head and saw the Cloud Top Palace directly ahead, like a colossal beast crouching in the deep night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had only visited Lingjian Mountain once—over six years ago, when he came with disciples of the Heavenly Book Academy to seek answers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But because he often came to the peak of Xuanjian Peak, he felt no unfamiliarity toward the moody ghost’s palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bam—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Ji You’s spiritual soul suddenly began to tremble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if suddenly yanked, his eyes unconsciously glowed gold, and his spiritual form shuddered uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew: this was his physical body responding to his soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instinctively, judging the source of the sensation, Ji You turned his head toward the northern side of the Lingzhu Palace and walked toward it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You… who are you?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, two figures appeared on the steps of the Cloud Top Palace beneath the dark sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were two women, dressed in identical long gowns, leaning on the railing, watching him with wary, fearful eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You recognized them at once: the moody ghost’s maids, Cui’er and Xing’er. He spoke softly: “Don’t be tense. I mean no harm—I’ve come only to retrieve something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lies! This is my mistress’s bedroom! No outsider dares enter, not even Lingjian Mountain disciples! How could you have anything here?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui’er’s voice was stern, but her tone clearly trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet her rebuke received no reply; when she looked again, Ji You had vanished from his spot, hurtling toward the northern hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew his current form bore no resemblance to his former beauty; Cui’er and Xing’er could not recognize him. His brief reply had merely been to ease their tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But time was urgent—he had no time to explain further to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, you—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui’er, seeing him vanish into the distance, instinctively shouted out, trying to stop him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the pressure he radiated made her shudder; she dared not chase after him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Xing’er, standing behind her, clenched her fists: “He went to the back mountain! Quick, Cui’er—we must notify the senior disciples stationed here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui’er snapped back to herself, and together they grabbed their skirts and hurried frantically down Xuanjian Peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid a wind that howled like a warning, Ji You arrived at the northern spot where his soul had been drawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a small, square courtyard, with neat walls facing him and a solid black wooden door—no tomb, but like an ordinary home, giving Ji You an inexplicable sense of familiarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wooden door was unlocked, so Ji You easily pushed it open and stepped inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he crossed the threshold and saw the tea table, stone stools, low trees, and even the balcony with its bamboo basket, he gradually understood the source of that familiarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For this courtyard was an exact replica of the one he had lived in at the Heavenly Book Academy—identical in size and furnishings…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Ji You’s heart clenched, his gaze softening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moody ghost had once said she never wanted to be the Lingjian’s master; when the Lingjian chose her, she had been furious and, when alone, sunk it into the Xuan Sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet she took up the burden because she had witnessed Lingjian Mountain disciples being bullied on the mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she had never said what kind of life she truly wished for as the Lingjian’s master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only now, seeing this scene, did he realize: this girl simply wanted a small courtyard with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You took a deep breath and stepped forward, crossing the modest courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the courtyard’s end was not a living quarters, but a square stone chamber, no more than a few zhang wide, its walls stark and bathed in a lonely gray-white hue—as if all color and vitality had been devoured by the stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised his hand and pushed open the heavy stone door; the moment it opened, the sensation pulling his soul became unbearably clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if an invisible rope had tied his soul, pulling him with irresistible force toward the darkness within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You did not resist the pull. He stepped into the darkness, walked through a long, silent stone corridor, and at last saw a simple stone altar standing still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon that altar lay his long-lost physical body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deprived of his soul, his body was entirely gray-white, yet clean and pristine, unchanged from before—likely because his physical strength had already reached its peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this was also because he had a moody ghost who, despite her sharp tongue, was hopelessly sentimental—she hadn’t buried his body, or else he’d have had to dig him out of a grave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You stood motionless before the altar for several breaths, not approaching immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For gazing at his own body lying across from him gave him a strange sensation—as if truly observing himself from an objective standpoint.\u003C\u002Fp>",1557,"2026-06-19T15:28:41.911Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","ca6edf7f6a2cb26440600c822dfdbf698a8b16e292580b1b94dd47c445d23f0c",null,"watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-429","https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwatching-the-immortals-fall-cover.jpg"]