Volume Five: The Flow of Rivers and Past Lives - Chapter 142

Over the next few days, Jinli continuously gathered news regarding the Soul Grass while searching for the whereabouts of Jingye. After the hour of noon, someone returned to report that the Soul Grass had appeared in the West Sea, and Jinli decided to go and investigate.

The West Sea bordered the River of Forgetting, making it highly probable that she might run into Bai Wanting. Sure enough, no sooner had Jinli arrived than she caught sight of Bai Wanting in the distance, leading a retinue and searching for something. Judging by the meticulousness of their search, it looked as though they intended to turn the River of Forgetting upside down.

She entered the West Sea and presented her visiting card.

In less than half a quarter of an hour, someone emerged—evidently an attendant close to the West Sea Lord. Jinli offered a polite bow, her hand concealed in her sleeve clutching a Transformation Bead. "Greetings, official. I heard that the West Sea Lord has recently acquired a rare treasure, and my Exalted Deity, preoccupied with official duties, has specifically sent this humble immortal to pay a visit."

The attendant nodded. "Anyone under the command of Exalted Deity Changli is an honored guest. Please enter, Immortal."

The moment Jinli stepped inside with her front foot, Bai Wanting arrived with her back foot.

Word had it that Bai Wanting had been sentenced to guard the River of Forgetting for a month as punishment for stealing fairy peaches from the Celestial Empress Yulin, and the term was drawing to a close.

She certainly seemed conscientious in the line of duty.

Could it be that standing guard by the River of Forgetting for so long had actually made her grow fond of the post?

Jinli swept her sleeves and walked on, making sure the Transformation Bead remained secure in her sleeve, and instantly felt at ease.

The West Sea Lord truly was remarkably ostentatious. The moment he acquired a treasure, he felt compelled to proclaim it across the Four Seas and the Eight Desolations, even hosting some sort of treasure appraisal assembly.

The Soul Grass was exceptionally precious; everyone in the Four Seas and the Eight Desolations desired it.

Wasn't this Sea Lord afraid of someone stealing it?

"Hey!"

A crisp female voice rang out, remarkably rude and even tinged with arrogance.

Truly someone all show and no substance.

Jinli turned her head and saw Bai Wanting walking toward her through the crowd.

She had been uncertain at first, but after narrowing her eyes and looking closely, she realized Bai Wanting was staring straight at her.

"Was the Princess calling me just now?"

Bai Wanting's gaze sized up the utterly unremarkable person before her—someone who would completely blend into any crowd.

Yet, the figure from behind had looked so identical.

"I heard you came from the Sacred Celestial Domain?"

"Indeed, Princess Wanting. Is there an urgent matter?"

Bai Wanting pressed her lips tightly together, a naked glint of hostility shining in her eyes.

"Why didn't your Exalted Deity come?"

Jinli smiled. "My Exalted Deity has pressing matters to attend to and naturally could not break away."

This explanation left Bai Wanting somewhat indignant, stirred by an inexplicable wave of anger. She shot Jinli a sidelong glance, brushed past her, and muttered under her breath, "Damn it, I'll make you pay later!"

Pay? Make her look good?

What on earth was this little princess plotting now?

Jinli cast a gentle glance around. Ensuring no one was watching this way, she looked at the departing figure of Bai Wanting and raised an eyebrow. A silent, imperceptible rune materialized behind her back, visible to no one except Jinli herself.

It was time to act with a lower profile.

The evening banquet began in the Pearl Garden. The pearls here were preposterously huge, drawing the admiration and effusive praise of all the guests.

Jinli raised an eyebrow and took a look. Pearls from the South Sea?

"I hear the pearls in this Pearl Garden were a gift from the South Sea Lord. Every single one of them is worth a king's ransom."

"Indeed, judging by this luster and quality, they are undoubtedly from the South Sea."

......

Jinli listened quietly for a long while, a vague anticipation stirring within her heart.

Whose name was she waiting to hear?

After listening for a while without hearing the familiar name, she felt a sudden shock of realization and forcefully erased the image of the young man that had surfaced in her mind.

She figured these pearls must be to blame, so she decided to step outside for some fresh air. Yet, as she raised her gaze among the throngs of immortals, she caught sight of an intensely familiar figure.

Gengyuan?

The youth's figure vanished in a flash. By the time Jinli quickened her pace to search for him again, he was already gone.

She must have been hallucinating.

Hallucinating due to overwhelming longing?

Heh.

Jinli let out a self-deprecating chuckle.

When the time came for her to explain everything to him, would he forgive her?

Probably not.

"I hurt you to protect you." Who on earth would believe such nonsense?

Jinli extended her hand, and the ethereal phantom of a stalk of Soul Grass materialized in her palm.

Its rhizome was translucent and white, its leaves broad and lush, covered by a delicate layer of green luminescence. The intricately intertwined roots were so distinct that the flowing spiritual energy within them was clearly visible.

Such a tiny specimen was a once-in-ten-thousand-years rarity.

She wondered if the West Sea Lord would be willing to lend it to her for use.

Judging that the time was about right, she walked back toward the Pearl Garden while pondering strategies in her mind.

However, the Pearl Garden, which had just been bustling and deafeningly loud a moment ago, was now utterly and eerily silent at its entrance.

Had the location been changed without anyone notifying her?

Jinli stepped inside, skirted around a water screen, and found people lying scattered about in all directions, piled on top of one another.

Jinli was startled.

She hurried over to inspect them. Their breathing was still present; they were all alive. But why had they fainted?

The shimmering water cast a dazzling glow upon the smooth pearls, and the reflected light inadvertently pricked Jinli's eyes.

She blinked instinctively.

At that moment, her eyes snapped open, and she stood up to examine the pearls closely.

A layer of fine dust seemed to coat the smooth surface of the pearls. Because its color matched the pearls so closely, it was nearly imperceptible.

With a cautious probe, she realized someone had sprinkled soul-searing powder over them.

This soul-searing powder was different from mortal variants; it required no flame. The moment any immortal or deity inadvertently inhaled the dust, they would instantly lose consciousness.

Who on earth was this?

Could he also be targeting the Soul Grass?

Jinli waved her long sleeve, first lifting the poison afflicting the immortals here, and then rushed outside.

Sure enough, the moment she stepped out of the Pearl Garden, she heard a maidservant shriek at the top of her lungs, "Thief! Catch the thief!"

Following the sound, Jinli flashed across the space.

Sure enough, she spotted a shadowy figure darting and escaping through the strange stone forest.