“Borrowing the power of the Ascending Immortal, crossing the river of time, concealing the heavens to hide Immortals…”

Gu Xiu reappeared in the quiet room, his heart swelling with involuntary emotion. “Such methods are truly awe-inspiring.”

“However…”

Gu Xiu sank into thought. Although Rain Lotus hadn’t revealed much, those few phrases—hiding Immortals, the ability to trample Immortals, and Providence—gave him the distinct feeling that a tremendous secret lay hidden here. It was a secret accompanied by overwhelming danger, as if some unseen existence was manipulating the very clouds and rain from the shadows.

But a moment later, Gu Xiu shook his head and banished these distracting thoughts.

Whether it was Rain Lotus’s veiled wariness toward certain entities or the limits of his current strength, dwelling on these matters was pointless.

For a cultivator in this life, there was only one path ahead.

Treading snow to ascend to Immortality!

And on this journey, regardless of the conspiracies, schemes, dangers, or tribulations encountered… there was also only one choice.

Slash them apart with a single sword!

Rather than acting like the man of Qi who worried the sky might fall, living in constant fear, it was better to focus on the present, strengthen oneself, and stride forward.

“Where are they?”

Withdrawing his thoughts, Gu Xiu realized that Bian Yifei and the other two Azure Mystic disciples, who had entered the room with him earlier, had vanished without a trace.

He walked to the window and looked out, raising an eyebrow. “Is this Senior Rain Lotus’s arrangement?”

He noticed that the backyard he stood in remained completely unchanged, untouched by the chaos. But beyond this backyard, the entire mansion they had traversed earlier had undergone a world-shaking transformation.

“You have already obtained the formation disk. Through it, you can perceive and observe everything here.”

At that moment, the green-skirted remnant shadow appeared again, speaking softly.

Gu Xiu immediately picked up the white jade wine cup, guiding his mind into it.

Instantly, the entire situation of Falling Rain Valley surfaced in his mind.

He discovered a startling fact. The rain that had never ceased in Falling Rain Valley for five hundred years…

Had stopped!

Furthermore, the layout of the entire valley had shifted, transforming into a grand formation that covered every inch of the land.

The courtyard resembling an Immortal’s residence, which they had entered earlier, had been torn apart by a special force, divided into more than ten separate zones scattered throughout Falling Rain Valley.

Similarly, the disciples of the various sects had been forcibly separated by this power.

This is…

“I have been waiting for him, and I was waiting for you. But at the same time, I also hope to wait for someone who can gain my recognition and obtain my inheritance.”

The green-skirted remnant shadow smiled faintly, producing another jade slip and handing it to Gu Xiu.

“My Dao is not suitable for you, but I prepared a copy of my techniques specifically for you. I hope they will be of some use. Consider it payment for the favor I asked.”

Inheritance.

True inheritance was never merely about techniques; more importantly, it was about passing down one’s Dao. This required strict screening to find a suitable candidate. Although Rain Lotus had set up Falling Rain Valley as a grand formation for her plan, she was also searching for someone capable of receiving her legacy.

Gu Xiu possessed a Dao Heart as free as the wind; he did not need to receive another’s Dao. Receiving techniques, however, was perfect for him.

He didn’t stand on ceremony, accepting the jade slip with both hands. “Thank you, Senior, for bestowing these techniques.”

The remnant shadow merely smiled before dissolving into specks of green light that drifted toward a nearby side room.

Gu Xiu understood. She was guiding him to fulfill their agreement.

He pursed his lips, stored away the jade slip, and followed the green light to the door of the side room.

After a brief hesitation, he gently pushed it open.

Boom!

The moment the door opened, a heart-palpitating pressure washed over him, and a dense layer of clouds churned in the sky above the valley.

Inside the room sat an Ascending Immortal body!

It was none other than Rain Lotus.

Previously, whether as a remnant shadow or on the Ascending Immortal Ladder, Rain Lotus’s face had been somewhat blurred, making it difficult to see her clearly.

This was the first time Gu Xiu truly saw the powerhouse who had once pushed open half of Heaven’s Gate but ultimately gave up on becoming an Immortal.

She still wore that green skirt, her hair held by an extremely simple wooden hairpin. Her features were picturesque, but her eyes were filled with endless longing.

Before her stood a spirit tablet of unknown age.

It was inscribed with six gentle, small characters: Spirit of Husband Bai Shao.

Besides Rain Lotus’s physical body, there were many remnant shadows flickering in the room. Some stood by the window gazing at the White Water Lotus River in the distance, some sat before a mirror drawing their eyebrows alone, and others stood before the spirit tablet whispering of their longing…

These were not shadows left intentionally, but imprints etched into spacetime by the sheer repetition of her actions over thousands of years.

“Fellow Daoist Gu Xiu, thank you for being willing to see me off on this final journey.”

A voice came from the side. Gu Xiu turned his head to see a remnant shadow appear, smiling gently at him.

Gu Xiu nodded. “Senior, what do you need me to do?”

“I have prepared this valley for thousands of years; it has already become a grand formation. Fellow Daoist, you have obtained the formation disk and can activate it.”

“When the time comes, you only need to take charge of the formation and grind me into nothingness…”

The remnant shadow spoke lightly, as if reducing herself to ashes was not a horrific end, but a long-awaited joyous event.

Gu Xiu listened attentively, waiting until she finished before asking one final time, “Senior, are you truly decided?”

“I hope Fellow Daoist Gu Xiu will grant me this fulfillment.”

The remnant shadow bowed slightly.

Her mind was made up. At the cost of grinding her bones to dust and scattering her ashes, she would exchange her existence for a sliver of a chance to bring back the person who left and never returned.

Gu Xiu took a deep breath and finally nodded.

He raised the white jade wine cup.

A trace of resolve flashed in his eyes.

Immortal Extinguishing Array. Activate!

Instantly, the fully deployed Falling Rain Valley Grand Formation was triggered!

A massive phantom of a millstone slowly manifested in the void. This millstone was far more terrifying than the soul millstone Gu Xiu had used before, radiating a power that made the heart tremble.

This was a millstone capable of grinding down an Ascending Immortal powerhouse!

Gu Xiu turned his head and glanced at the green-skirted remnant shadow beside him.

She gave him a slight smile, full of relief and free-spirited liberation.

Gu Xiu hesitated no more.

The millstone phantom began to turn!

In an instant, Rain Lotus’s Ascending Immortal physical body began to turn illusory. Wisps of white light drifted slowly from her form, guided by a special force toward the spirit tablet.

Using the power of extinguishing Immortals to reduce herself to ashes, all for a sliver of a chance to bring that person back!

What followed in the room was a desolate silence.

…

While Gu Xiu controlled the formation to completely grind down Yu He’s Immortal body, elsewhere in the forests of Falling Rain Valley, the situation was chaotic.

Wan Xiaobei and several Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion attendants were moving cautiously through the woods, their faces full of vigilance.

Earlier, when the black wind struck, everyone had been swept up and scattered randomly throughout Falling Rain Valley.

Wan Xiaobei was no exception. She had appeared alone in the woods and immediately encountered the Rain Ghosts that Feng Bugui had warned her about.

Fortunately, thanks to Feng Bugui’s prior warning and her own numerous trump cards, she survived the initial disarray. She eventually secured her safety and reunited with several attendants, heading toward a distant tower emitting rainbow light.

“These Rain Ghosts act like puppets; who knows what they are formed from.”

“They look like creatures birthed from Yin Rain Wood, likely imbued with the powerful force of this place’s master to take form.”

“These Rain Ghosts have strength at least comparable to the late Foundation Establishment stage. They feel no pain and know no fear. Two or three ordinary ones can keep a cultivator running for their life; if there are more, I’m afraid no one could survive.”

“Luckily, Attendant Feng warned us in advance, allowing us to prepare. Otherwise, our losses would likely be severe.”

“We still need to be careful. The most terrifying things here aren’t just these Rain Ghosts, but also people from other sects!”

The group proceeded cautiously while discussing the situation. The great changes in Falling Rain Valley had come too suddenly, catching everyone off guard.

Falling Rain Valley, which had seen rain for over five hundred years, had suddenly dried up.

Most importantly, the black wind that swept through the entire valley had completely scattered the disciples of the various sects who had originally gathered together.

Even…

“Little vixen, fate really brings enemies together!”

A familiar, hateful voice made the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion group startle. Turning to look, their expressions all darkened.

Appearing not far from them was a figure as fat as a pig—Niu Xifang!

The Azure Mystic disciples had previously set up the Myriad Spirit Sacrifice Array but ended up being plotted against by their own “Ding Daoan.” The array changed hands, trapping them within to drain their Providence.

Although the disciples from the other sects hated them to death, they didn’t dare act rashly, planning to wait for the formation to drain the Azure Mystic disciples dry.

But who would have thought the black wind would strike, shattering the formation? The Azure Mystic disciples, benefiting from the chaos, were swept away to safety.

Niu Xifang had escaped death, carried by the black windstorm to this very spot.

Worse still, Niu Xifang was not alone.

Behind her stood a large group of followers, mainly led by the Azure Mystic son-in-law Qi Keping and disciples of the Qi clan. Clearly, this group had been intimidated into submission by Niu Xifang.

Seeing this mob, the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion people immediately shielded Wan Xiaobei behind them. She was the Pavilion Master; she must not be harmed.

“With so few people, you still want to struggle futilely?”

Niu Xifang sneered, then waved her hand dismissively. “Surround them all!”

Instantly, the group of prodigies following Niu Xifang fanned out, encircling Wan Xiaobei and her party.

In terms of numbers, they held an overwhelming advantage!