Chapter 230: Reason

Then Jiang Tu left a messenger maple leaf for Jiang Tu, eagerly chased down the cliff, and was taken by the Ninth‑rank Great Demon to the entrance of an orchard heavy with ripe fruit.

All were high‑grade spirit fruits, and they also benefited the divine soul, specifically spirit fruits that strengthen body‑refining.

Jiang Tu just seized a bright blue spirit fruit and bit it; his whole body was locked by the Demon King with spiritual energy, "Do, do, do what?"

Dragon Soul was also startled and quickly sent a voice: "The divine soul is not locked; rush into the Dragon Pearl."

Jiang Tu ignored it altogether, staring only at the Ninth‑rank Great Demon, "Demon King, I haven't offended you, have I?"

"Hehe, Jiang Tu, you also have moments of fear." Xiao She Bilu flew in from deep within the orchard, speaking plainly and demanding its dragon‑blood.

Jiang Tu nodded in agreement but asked to fetch it himself; however, as soon as the Demon King lifted the seal on its spiritual power, the creature immediately retreated into its shell.

Annoyed, Xiao She Bilu flicked its tail, flinging it away.

"See, Jiang Tu easily deceived you; you should grow a sharper eye among humans." The Ninth‑rank Demon King no longer tried to trap the grounded Jiang Tu; the Dragon Turtle's supreme defense was unbreakable.

"Hmph!" Xiao She Bilu grumbled and went off to look for fruit.

Only then did the Ninth‑rank Great Demon come before Jiang Tu, "I, the Demon King, do not need your essence; I merely ask you to look after Bilu more in the future."

"I might go to the Spirit Realm." Jiang Tu resolved not to step forward and declined its request.

The Ninth‑rank Great Demon paused briefly and said, "If you return from Cavern Heaven to the Spirit Realm, a Cavern Heaven seal will mark your body."

Even after leaving Cavern Heaven, advancing to Nascent Soul or Divine Transformation, you will no longer take human form.

That is also why I want Bilu to go with you to the human world.

Since the human race became Heaven‑Way's favored, every sentient being capable of cultivation in the world wishes to become human‑shaped, seeking higher realms.

Jiang Tu was stunned on the spot; the shortcut also had side effects, and he blamed Qian Shiqi for urging him to stay in the lower human world.

He quietly watched the Demon King leave, then cautiously stuck his head out.

Coincidentally, Wan Xiyue and a few others who had heard he also came to the orchard rushed over, "Jiang Tu, where is Jiang Yu?"

"She is still completing the task; the Nascent Soul Ghost Cultivator is supervising." Jiang Tu, not wanting too many questions, quickly changed the subject, saying he would gather spirit fruits for Jiang Yu.

Several friends envied Jiang Yu for having a fine divine beast; they thought she was lucky.

But they didn't know that Jiang Yu, when digging bamboo, once bled from her hand; indeed, the Thunder Bamboo Fan could draw the lightning off her head, yet it couldn't protect her hand that worked outside the fan.

Fortunately, after a night of hard work, she and Jiang Bai finally unearthed ten rods of violet‑golden Thunder Bamboo.

The Nascent Soul Ghost Cultivator needed only nine; "The remaining one will compensate for the one you lost yesterday."

Jiang Yu was reluctant to leave the bamboo grove, "Senior, twelve hours haven't passed yet; can we dig more?"

"Sure, I will no longer give guidance; you try digging."

"I suppose you tried before; five rods are your limit." The Nascent Soul cultivator again showed a half‑smile, greed apparently being a cultivator's nature.

As soon as he finished speaking, the determined Jiang Yu and Jiang Bai simultaneously swung their hoes again; instantly, both were struck by countless lightning arcs.

In the blink of an eye, they were forced out of the bamboo grove, only to sigh regretfully.

Under the Nascent Soul Ghost Cultivator's request, the two quickly sat in meditation to restore their spiritual power.

Near noon, the Ninth‑rank Great Demon mercilessly blasted everyone out of Xuan Du Mountain, including the Ice Phoenix lingering in the spirit spring.

But at the same time, it reclaimed the two special jade plaques taken by Jiang Yu and Jiang Bai, "Hope to see you again in the Spirit Realm someday."

The group landed at the foot of the mountain; in an instant, spiritual mist rose, and the entire Xuan Du Mountain vanished.

Someone tried to feel forward and discovered that the formation that had blocked them earlier simply didn't exist—it was just an empty void.

"Jiang Yu." Jiang Tu, feeling down, jumped onto Jiang Yu's shoulder.

Before Jiang Yu could ask what grievance she had suffered, she was surrounded by Wan Xiyue and other friends.

And Jiang Bai was called out by his junior brothers and sisters.

The Nascent Soul Ghost Cultivator gave them a brief tea‑time to mingle, then vanished in a flash, taking them away.

"I wonder where they're taking Jiang Yu." Wan Xiyue watched the disappearing flash; she had clearly intended to explore the secret realm with Jiang Yu, yet now they part each time they meet briefly.

Lin Yuan waved a messenger maple leaf, "We can't lose them; she and Jiang Tu each take a leaf.

We can exchange messages at any time."

Thanks to the seniors who established Cavern Heaven, the crafted messenger maple leaf can, like a messenger jade talisman, be used one‑to‑many.

Beside them, Lu Ruochan quickly pressed his arm, "Shh, lower your voice; don't let Bilu hear and demand payment again."

However, Xiao She Bilu, hearing this, didn't mind, because it had struck a few decent spirit herbs from Jiang Tu.

Thus, Jiang Tu kept complaining about its insatiable greed along the way.

Jiang Yu understood it best: "You didn't get anything from it."

Jiang Tu, however, wouldn't take a loss: "I got the immortal fruit from the Heavenly King Temple."

"Then why are you in a bad mood?" Jiang Yu patted her back, and then heard Dragon Soul explain the reason in detail.

"That's also why I refuse to possess another body; the divine soul bears a Cavern Heaven mark, leaving no future.

However, I suddenly noticed a problem: the ghost cultivator surely often inspected the Great Lake before, so why never mentioned the palace?

"If such a large object vanished, would he not see it?" Dragon Soul expressed doubt.

Jiang Yu said nothing; the ghost cultivator didn't ask her, acting as if he didn't know.

In the following days, the Nascent Soul Ghost Cultivator led them to continuously strengthen several great formations, and, as promised, let them harvest spirit ore.

Especially when returning to the mortal dwellings of the Heavenly King Temple, Jiang Yu gathered dozens of Geng‑gold pieces, making both her and Jiang Tu beam with joy.

Even Jiang Bai, excited, said more, "Jiang Yu, Jiang Tu, after I introduce you to Master Lin, we should form a team with our fellow sect members.

In the future, if the chance arises, you are welcome to visit Xuan Du Sword Sect."

"Alright." Jiang Yu just nodded, and Jiang Tu suddenly recalled something, "Jiang Bai, does your Xuan Du Sword Sect have any deep connection with this Xuan Du Mountain?"

Jiang Bai thought for a moment and shook his head, "I don't know; before the Great Luo Cavern Heaven appeared, the Xuan Du Sword Sect had existed for tens of thousands of years.

Senior, do you know anything about it?" he asked the ghost cultivator who had not yet left.

The Nascent Soul Ghost Cultivator naturally didn't know, "Whether related or not, it cannot allow you, holding the jade plaques, to re‑enter after returning from Cavern Heaven to the Spirit Realm."

Jiang Yu sighed slightly; the Taiji Fish Plaque she brought back this time—is it now useless? "So you're saying, in three hundred years it won't open as promised?"

Then, can Senior Fu, who went to the Ghost Realm last time, join you in the Spirit Realm?

And Qian Zhenren—how is he doing now?

The Nascent Soul Ghost Cultivator smiled faintly, letting the Peng Bird demon soul tear open a spatial passage: "So many questions; as a cultivator, you worry too much."

They have their own futures; if you have time, you might as well contemplate that palace.

Jiang Yu stared at the spatial passage that disappeared together with him: "Do high-level cultivators all like to pretend to be sages?"

"No, it's just that I don't want to waste words on those who don't understand." Jiang Bai replied like a sword cultivator.

Jiang Tu shook his head: "You're doomed, Jiang Bai; you'll have trouble finding a dao companion."