For more than ten days in a row, Jiang Yuebai sat on the rooftop every day, gazing into the depths of the Netherworld Sea, sitting there all day long.

Lu Nanzhi sometimes sat with her, neither speaking, and the two silently sat from sunrise to dusk.

Each time someone returned from outside, Jiang Yuebai would stand up, staring intently at the returning person, but each time, all she saw were increasingly solemn faces.

Xie Tianbao and Ding Lanzhi had gone deep into the Netherworld Sea, yet still couldn’t find any trace of the Merfolk.

It had been twenty-seven days since Xie Jingshan’s soul left his body. On this day, before dawn, Jiang Yuebai as usual sat on the rooftop, holding a book, distractedly flipping through it.

As the sky brightened, Shen Huaxi came to Jiang Yuebai’s side, handing her a white thumb ring carved with orchid grass.

"What is this?" Jiang Yuebai asked as she took the thumb ring.

"A storage magic treasure from Tian Nanxing. I’ve looked at the things inside, and I’ve copied a few jade scrolls of his research on various bloodlines. He’s from the Demon Clan, so it’s most appropriate for you to have his items."

Jiang Yuebai did not refuse, putting away the jade scrolls and thanking him.

Shen Huaxi smiled, "This time I should be the one thanking you, and True Monarch Jiuchuan, for allowing me to find the path I should truly walk."

Jiang Yuebai remained silent, Shen Huaxi knew she wasn’t in the mood to discuss such things.

"Brother Jingshan is a fortunate man with good fate, I believe he will definitely turn calamities into blessings this time."

"But seeking the Merfolk is such a task that even if the Supreme Elder came, they might not find them. No amount of money from the Mountain and Sea Building can buy the whereabouts of the Merfolk, and time is running out."

If a cultivator’s soul is away from the body for forty-nine days, there is no saving them.

Shen Huaxi wanted to comfort her, but noticed Lii Jiuchuan appearing behind him, and he quickly got up to bow in respect.

Jiang Yuebai glanced up, "Master."

"You can go now."

Lii Jiuchuan motioned for Shen Huaxi to leave, lifted his robe, and sat beside Jiang Yuebai. He saw Jiang Yuebai holding a book in one hand and a jade scroll engraved with ’Jingshan’ in the other.

"What are you looking at?"

Jiang Yuebai glanced at the jade scroll in her hand, "Jingshan’s jottings, Xie Jingshan stuffed it to me. Over the years he suffered a lot, yet didn’t forget to call me ugly and say I have a bad temper."

"Since you’re so worried, why not go out and search yourself? Just to put your mind at ease," Lii Jiuchuan asked.

Jiang Yuebai rubbed the jade scroll, "Master, how are your injuries? How are Sword Lord Guanhan and Miaoyin?"

Lii Jiuchuan frowned, feeling something was up with Jiang Yuebai.

"My injuries are not serious, they just need to be slowly nursed, to gradually extract the Blood Evil Qi. As for Miaoyin and Ling Guanghan, Cang Huo has been cautious, fearful that Ling Guanghan would harm Miaoyin, but who knew once they met, Miaoyin cried, and Ling Guanghan didn’t know what to do. Eventually, the matter was inexplicably resolved, and Cang Huo lamented he was superfluous."

Jiang Yuebai’s lips curled up, imagining the scene and True Monarch Cang Huo’s embarrassed expression.

Lii Jiuchuan continued, "Miaoyin decided to return to the Heavenly Interence Sect with Ling Guanghan, seeking the Supreme Elder’s help to solve the Blood Orchid Remnant Soul within her body, as for what happens afterwards, no one knows."

Jiang Yuebai nodded, her face turning gloomy again.

Lii Jiuchuan took a deep breath, looking at her patiently, "Do you know why I saved Shen Huaxi?"

Jiang Yuebai looked at Lii Jiuchuan, puzzled with furrowed brows, remembering that day her master said it was just a convenient act.

"It was for you! The whole affair was quite clear as you stated in your letter, although Xie Jingshan was taken by Tian Nanxing because he was sly and deceitful, Shen Huaxi came willingly to help. But I understand you, no matter how cold and ruthless, decisive and murderous you are outside, there’s always a ’good’ place in your heart."

"Anyone who falls into this place, you would use all your strength to protect. No matter how wise you are, when it comes to those in this place, you can’t remain clear and rational. If something happened to Xie Jingshan and Shen Huaxi, you would definitely find all sorts of excuses to blame yourself. So saving Shen Huaxi was partly a convenient act, and partly because I didn’t want your state of mind disturbed."

Jiang Yuebai’s nose tingled at the tip, arguing, "No way, I wouldn’t be at odds with myself!"

"Then what exactly are you doing now? Spending more than ten days without finishing a single book? That’s not your style." Lii Jiuchuan pointed his chin at the book in Jiang Yuebai’s hand.

Jiang Yuebai guiltily put the book away.

"Go ahead, what have you been contemplating these days, whatever great thing it is, Master will back you up. If Master cannot hold it, as master and disciple, we’ll withstand it as long as we can," Lii Jiuchuan said earnestly.

Jiang Yuebai pursed her lips, turning away to wipe her tears before they fell.

After composing herself for a while, Jiang Yuebai said, "I’ve been thinking these days, the living can’t enter the Netherworld, maybe the living can’t see the Merfolk either, to find the Merfolk, one must... die!"

Lii Jiuchuan’s heart trembled suddenly, "What do you intend to do?"

Jiang Yuebai looked at Lii Jiuchuan, "I once read a short story in a miscellaneous book, about a person collecting herbs in the mountains who ate a mystical fruit, then had his soul leave his body and wandered the Netherworld. Because his lifespan hadn’t ended, after a circuit, he was kicked out from the Netherworld and returned safely. So I’ve been thinking, if a cultivator’s soul returns within forty-nine days, there’s no harm, can I maybe..."

"Ah..." Lii Jiuchuan sighed, "Ding Lanzhi has already done this."

Jiang Yuebai’s eyes widened, nervously asking, "Then what was the result, did she find the Merfolk Country?"

Lii Jiuchuan shook his head, "No, such matters depend on personal fate, if it were easy to find, the Merfolk Country would have long been wiped out by people with ulterior motives."

"Master, I want to try, I really can’t just sit here day after day anymore."

Jiang Yuebai grabbed Lii Jiuchuan’s arm, her eyes pleading. Extracting a soul from the body is something only Nascent Soul cultivators can do, and the whole process requires someone to guard it, to prevent the vacant body from being possessed by hidden Yin Ghosts in the Netherworld Sea. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Do you understand the risks of doing this?" Lii Jiuchuan asked.

Jiang Yuebai nodded, "I’ve thought it through. The soul is fragile, even the slightest damage affects the entire path, but I also believe, it’s most fitting for me to do this."

"Actually, I can’t quite explain why, nor do I know since when, but I always feel a pair of eyes on me in Xie Jingshan’s presence. I think there’s something special between me and Xie Jingshan, maybe with this, I can find him."

"Moreover, I’ve already cultivated the Divine Elixir of the Demon Clan, my soul isn’t entirely devoid of self-defense, I must try whether it works or not, can you help me, Master?"

Lii Jiuchuan pondered for a moment before standing up, "Since you’ve thought everything through, there’s nothing more for me to say, I’ll find Cang Huo for help, you prepare to meet me at the seaside."