Chapter 704

My feelings between me and Zhao Zixun have long transcended life and death.

The more I experience, the more I can let go.

I only want him to be well.

Perhaps it was that one line, "Each of us stays well," that deeply moved Xiao Jiu.

She reached out and put her arms around me, patting my back, a little choked up: "Wanwan, do you know, your love with General Zhao has stabbed me twice; I won't let you stab me a third time. As you said, no matter what, we first find Zhao Zixun and rescue him; later, we'll figure out how to strive for it."

I nodded in agreement.

The golden light that Shan Shan poured into my soul body is a powerful spiritual power from the Nirvana Phoenix.

After Xiao Jiu left, I returned to the spirit tablet to sit in meditation, circulating and absorbing this spiritual power, making it completely mine.

To my great delight, after absorbing this spiritual power, I unexpectedly broke through to the next level of my ghost cultivation.

Ghost cultivation is divided into nine levels altogether.

When I climbed up from the Zhu Pan River, I had already broken through the third level; at that time, ordinary fierce ghosts would not dare provoke me lightly.

But at that time, I carried too much killing intent, shrouded in yin-sha qi, and was also burdened with much karmic hindrance; if I continued cultivating downward, I might have ended up on the path of the blood-clothed fierce ghost, never to return.

After the soul sacrifice with the soul-guiding lamp, my remnant soul was repaired bit by bit by merit, and my entire soul body was sublimated.

Moreover, with Xu Mao's guidance and help, when I entered the spirit tablet to receive incense offerings, I had already broken through the sixth level, enough to directly go into the pawnshop hall as the Clear Wind Hall Master.

Breaking through the sixth level of ghost cultivation is already a height many souls cannot reach in a lifetime; a few days ago, I entered the seventh level.

However, after entering the seventh level, I clearly felt some strain; this is the bottleneck stage, and only encountering a great opportunity could allow a breakthrough in one go.

And when a ghost cultivator reaches the seventh level, they can take a post in the Nether Realm.

However, ghosts who can attain such a high level generally would not be willing to settle for a mere ghost official position, unless their aptitude is insufficient and further breakthrough is difficult; otherwise they will continue cultivating, because reaching the eighth level could make them a regional ghost king.

And when ghost cultivation reaches the ninth level, full mastery, they are truly a ghost immortal.

The ghost immortal spoken of here cannot be mentioned in the same breath as the Clear Wind Immortal who serves in the hall.

I myself wanted to go to the Zang Quarter to visit Xu Mao, and also hoped to receive the Buddhist cleansing there, to calm myself completely, and perhaps even have a chance to advance further.

Who would have thought, my great opportunity would actually be Shan Shan!

With Xiao Jiu and them holding down the outside affairs, I could settle my mind to cultivate diligently, awaiting the arrival of the eighth level.

On the fourth night of my seclusion, at the moment I broke through the eighth level, I again sensed that faint breath in the abyss, and a barely-there calling voice: "Wanwan... Wanwan..."

This time, my consciousness was exceptionally clear, my heart free of fear, and I followed that call forward.

The further I went, the clearer that call became.

It was unmistakably Zhao Zixun's voice!

Just as I opened my mouth to call "Zhao Zixun," a sudden stabbing pain came from between my brows, and I jolted awake.

Opening my eyes, I saw Xiao Jiu standing before me, head lowered, looking at me with worry.

And at this moment I was no longer in the spirit tablet.

I don't know when I left the spirit tablet, nor why I ended up standing at the main gate.

Xiao Jiu asked, "Wanwan, where are you going?"

"I..."

I frowned, right, where should I go?

"Xiao Jiu, I heard Zhao Zixun calling me; that voice came from the depths of an abyss, inside which were specks like molten lava, like sparks of fire..."

I described in detail the scene I had seen while in meditation to Xiao Jiu.

After hearing it, Xiao Jiu was not surprised at all.

She did not press further, and even led me to seek out that place, which surprised me greatly.

Her reaction was as if she had long known what that place was.

I couldn't help but ask, "Xiao Jiu, you..."

"Zhao Zixun has returned."

Xiao Jiu interrupted my words, suddenly saying that.

I was stunned: "He... he has come back?"

Xiao Jiu nodded: "Yes, he came back last night, Wanwan; you need to go with me back to the pawnshop—Zhao Zixun is there."

Xiao Jiu pulled me out, and I felt completely dazed.

I truly hoped Zhao Zixun would return, but at this critical juncture, could he really come back on his own?

If he were safe and sound, he would surely not fail to come see me.

So Zhao Zixun must have met with misfortune!

Xiao Jiu didn't directly discuss Zhao Zixun with me, indicating the matter couldn't be explained in a few words, so on the way back I restrained myself from probing further.

When the carriage entered the territory of Wufu Town, Xiao Jiu finally spoke: "Wanwan, when you see General Zhao later, you must stay rational, understand?"

I nodded woodenly.

I had already steeled myself mentally along the way.

Xiao Jiu held my hand.

Although my soul is now nearly corporeal, it has no temperature and does not sweat.

Yet I still felt cold sweat in my palms.

When the carriage steadied at Xijiekou, that pawnshop I knew so well was right before my eyes.

When I saw the street-facing door of Nan Shu Fang open, yellowish light spilling out, and Li Qingying standing at the doorway looking toward us, my legs actually felt unable to move.

The closer I got to Nan Shu Fang, the more violently my soul trembled.

Until Xiao Jiu came over again, took my hand, and led me step by step into Nan Shu Fang.

Nan Shu Fang is not large; a person stands by the wall near the eastern door.

He stood quietly against the wall, a piece of black cloth draped down from his head, covering his upper body.

But it did not cover the lower edge of his armor, his military boots…

I recognized him at a glance and exclaimed in shock: "Zhao Zixun!"

I shouted and was about to rush over, but Xiao Jiu grabbed me in one move: "Wanwan, you promised me you wouldn't act impulsively."

At that moment, Li Qingying reached out and undid that piece of black cloth, revealing Zhao Zixun's face.

His condition was very poor.

Wherever the naked eye could see, his body was covered in livor mortis, some parts already rotting and giving off a faint foul smell.

He still maintained a stiff military posture, but his eyes were tightly shut.

And between his eyebrows… the coffin nail was gone!

When I saw that black hole in Zhao Zixun's brow, my whole soul froze, I couldn't even feel grief.

I looked at Xiao Jiu with some fear.

Xiao Jiu patted my shoulder and said: "During these days you were in seclusion, A Cheng used the silver ring you gave him to lock onto some information, but I didn't expect that yesterday evening, Sister Qingying called me, saying her people had sensed Zhao Zixun entering her territory, so I rushed back to Dang Pu immediately."

The result was that last night Zhao Zixun appeared at Dang Pu, he… he personally pulled out the coffin nail from between his brows and gave the coffin nail to Dang Pu…