Chapter 25: No More Simping

Lin Jiufeng scanned the island with his divine sense.

Nothing.

Under the probing of his divine sense, there were no intelligent beings on the island—only small animals and insects.

This meant that Sword God Emperor Liu had to be hiding somewhere.

The Little Asura King had mentioned that Sword God Emperor Liu had been wounded by the Yasha Patriarch. But Lin Jiufeng had no way of verifying this since there was no such memory in the Yasha Prince's recollection.

Now, however, it seemed to be true.

Lin Jiufeng walked into a small grove on the island. Dozens of trees clustered together, their branches intertwined with vines, casting shifting shadows on the ground covered in fallen leaves. As he stepped forward, the leaves crunched underfoot.

At first glance, the area was completely visible—no one was hiding there.

There was no way that Sword God Emperor Liu could be here.

But the Taiyuan Immortal Abode Key had reacted.

So Lin Jiufeng examined the surroundings more carefully.

Then, he spotted something.

It was a small mound of earth, slightly raised, covered with fallen leaves. At first glance, there was nothing unusual about it.

But Lin Jiufeng's sharp eyes noticed something—the soil looked disturbed.

"There's been digging here… Did he bury himself?" Lin Jiufeng speculated. He stepped forward and used his true qi to unearth the soil.

Before long, he uncovered a corpse.

No, not a corpse—a man in a state of suspended death.

Sword God Emperor Liu's face was deathly pale, his soul withering, his senses sealed, and his body stiff.

Between his eyebrows, a crimson sword scar had yet to heal. It emanated a chilling, destructive sword energy—clearly the handiwork of the Yasha Patriarch.

The patriarch's sword strike had pierced straight through the Sword God's brow. Though it hadn't killed him instantly, it had forced him to flee the Yasha Tribe's territory and hide in Yunmeng Great Swamp, using a suspended death technique to seal himself off completely.

This way, even the keenest divine sense wouldn't detect him.

Beside his left hand lay the Taiyuan Immortal Abode Key, buried along with him.

Lin Jiufeng wasted no time, immediately casting layers of sealing techniques on the key, ensuring it wouldn't leak the slightest aura.

Then, he placed both Sword God Emperor Liu and the key into the White Jade Thumb Ring.

Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief—now, no one would be able to find them.

Inside the White Jade Thumb Ring, the Sacred Beast Qilin was busy absorbing divine essence. But hearing the commotion, he looked over, stunned to see a seemingly lifeless Sword God Emperor Liu lying there with the Taiyuan Immortal Abode Key.

"Why does he look like a corpse?" Qilin asked in surprise.

"He's not dead. He's just in a state of suspended death due to severe injuries," Lin Jiufeng explained.

Qilin sniffed around the body, then said, "He might as well be dead. His body has lost all vitality, and his soul is crumbling. There's only a wisp of his true spirit left, flickering like a candle in the wind—ready to be snuffed out at any moment."

Lin Jiufeng frowned. "You have inherited knowledge—do you know of a way to save him?"

Qilin shook his head regretfully. "His injuries are far too grave. There's nothing in my inherited memory that can heal this. Or maybe… I just haven't awakened that part yet. But even if you bring the best healers in the world, it'll be useless."

"This isn't something the mortal realm can fix."

Lin Jiufeng's frown deepened. "No way to save him at all?"

Qilin thought for a moment, then said, "Not in this world. But maybe… in the Celestial Realm."

Lin Jiufeng's eyes immediately turned to the Taiyuan Immortal Abode Key.

"If they dare call it an 'Immortal Abode,' then it must have extraordinary power." Qilin said. "Sword God Emperor Liu is as good as dead now. If there's any hope of reviving him, it lies within the Taiyuan Immortal Abode."

Lin Jiufeng nodded—this was likely their only chance.

He took both keys and lifted the seals on them, bringing them together.

Hum!

A powerful vibration resonated as the two keys fused into one, radiating white light. Finally, the keys transformed into a map.

Qilin stared at it, feeling a sense of familiarity. "Wait… isn't this Yunmeng Great Swamp?"

Lin Jiufeng nodded. The map clearly depicted Yunmeng Great Swamp.

"The Taiyuan Immortal Abode is hidden here?" Qilin was astonished.

"The Little Asura King schemed so much, all to obtain the second key and locate the Immortal Abode. He died without ever realizing—it was right here all along." Lin Jiufeng remarked.

"Where exactly in Yunmeng Great Swamp?" Qilin studied the map carefully.

It showed an expansive terrain, complete with rivers and mountains. Amidst it, an immortal abode icon was marked in a particular location.

But Lin Jiufeng and Qilin had no idea where that was.

"Beside the Taiyuan Immortal Abode, there's a mountain shaped like a moon-gazing monkey. I'll go find it," Lin Jiufeng decided.

"Alright, I'll guard Sword God Emperor Liu's body and protect his last remaining spirit," Qilin said.

Lin Jiufeng exited the White Jade Thumb Ring, returning to the small island in Yunmeng Great Swamp.

Activating his Phoenix Concealment Technique, he once again transformed into the Yasha Prince, adjusting his aura to the level of a Fourteen Forbidden expert before soaring into the sky.

His mission was clear—find the mountain that resembled a moon-gazing monkey.

But Yunmeng Great Swamp was vast, filled with towering peaks, endless waters, and treacherous marshlands. Finding one specific mountain was like finding a needle in a haystack.

As Lin Jiufeng sped through the skies, scanning the landscape with his divine sense, a voice suddenly called out—

"Yasha Prince, could you do me a favor?"

The voice was cold and indifferent—despite asking for help, it sounded more like an order.

Lin Jiufeng halted and turned his gaze.

The speaker was none other than Moon Fairy of the Dream Butterfly Clan.

Standing atop a mountain peak, bathed in moonlight, she looked ethereal—like a celestial goddess moments away from ascending to the heavens.

At this moment, she was breathtaking.

Had the real Yasha Prince been here, he would have surely fallen head over heels.

But Lin Jiufeng?

His gaze remained calm and unwavering.

"How may I help you, Moon Fairy?" he asked, his tone neither eager nor cold.

"My treasure was recently contaminated by a thousand-year-old demon. It needs purification, but I lack enough divine essence. Could you spare me three hundred thousand jin of divine essence?" Moon Fairy asked, her tone utterly matter-of-fact—as if she were requesting three hundred jin instead of three hundred thousand.

Lin Jiufeng's response was simple.

"I'm sorry, I have nothing to spare."

His rejection was swift and cold.

Without waiting for her response, he took off into the night, leaving behind a slightly frowning Moon Fairy.

Lin Jiufeng had no intention of simping.

Three hundred thousand jin of divine essence?

Even if he had it, he'd use it for himself—or for Qilin to break through.

Giving it to Moon Fairy?

What a joke.

Lin Jiufeng wasn't going to be anybody's simp.