Chapter 1259: A Fake

Regarding the Dao of Reincarnation, since it is considered one of the three supreme laws alongside time and space, it is the most fundamental and mysterious rule of this realm.

It can be said that the three thousand great paths and all things in heaven and earth are interdependent and intricately connected with these three supreme laws.

Reincarnation has been an obscure and difficult matter since ancient times, involving theories of reincarnation and soul transmigration.

However, those who cultivate immortality seek the great path of eternal life, naturally hoping to escape reincarnation, while the masses who fail to truly cultivate immortality inevitably fall into reincarnation after death.

As for what one experiences after entering reincarnation, it seems no one can truly explain it clearly.

Regarding this, Han Li speculated that perhaps when he planted the two techniques in Li Yuanjiu's sea of consciousness, he left behind traces of his own soul aura or something else, and now Li Yuanjiu, having detected this, mistakenly believed him to be the reincarnated soul of that Ling Yunzi.

Now that Li Yuanjiu is revered as a Dao Ancestor, even the Heavenly Court treats him with deference, but he still harbors some feelings for his former teacher, hence the talk of karma today.

That he could escape death today could be considered fate in the grand scheme of things.

"Hey hey, uncle, what are you spacing out for? Where should we go next?" Jin Tong tugged at Han Li's arm, shaking it as she asked.

Disturbed by her, Han Li came to his senses and focused on surveying his surroundings, only to see a vast desert.

Then he took out the jade slip left to him by Lan Yan, which contained a map of the Nine Yuan Temple, and pressed it to his forehead to examine it carefully.

"It seems we are no longer in the territory of the Nine Yuan Temple. But to be safe, we'd better leave the Great Jin Yuan Immortal Domain as soon as possible," Han Li said after a moment.

With that, he chose a direction and sped off with Jin Tong.

...

Several months passed in the blink of an eye.

In a strange, grayish space, a beautiful woman in a green dress hovered in midair, flying upstream along a dark red river toward its source.

This woman was none other than Jiao San, who had escaped from the chaos at the Nine Yuan Temple.

This was her first time entering this strange space in the flesh, and she was constantly suppressed by a strange heavenly law, daring only to fly over the dark red river while fully circulating the power of the law of reincarnation.

Flowing alongside this river were five others, each with different colors and scenes, and each with its own unique water properties and momentum. Jiao San did not even dare to glance at them, let alone deviate slightly.

After flying for hundreds of miles, even Jiao San did not know how long it took, until she finally saw in the distance the crystal stone arch bridge standing at the source of the six rivers.

Unlike the last time she had transmitted her soul here, the woman in black who had been on the riverbank under the stone arch bridge was gone, leaving only the Reincarnation Palace Master, wearing a large bamboo hat and a heavy straw raincoat, sitting cross-legged on the stone arch bridge.

Today, he still maintained the same posture as when she had last seen him, hunched over, holding a green bamboo rod with white spots, from which hung a dark red crystal thread, dangling into the water as he fished leisurely.

"Greetings, Palace Master."

Jiao San landed on the stone arch bridge and bowed respectfully to his back.

"To come here in the flesh for the first time and still remain composed, your cultivation and state of mind must have reached a new level. But there is a faint dark mark between your brows, indicating you are injured. Why didn't you wait until you recovered before coming?" the Reincarnation Palace Master said without turning around, still maintaining his fishing posture.

"Reporting to the Palace Master, it's just a minor injury, no longer a problem," Jiao San replied.

"Accumulating earth to form a mountain gives rise to wind and rain—that is the path to success. A thousand-mile dike collapses due to an ant hole—that is the path to defeat. Do not underestimate the methods of the Nine Yuan Temple; this hidden injury is not so simple," the Reincarnation Palace Master said, still without turning.

As he spoke, he lifted his fishing rod, and the dark red crystal thread shot up from the water with a crisp snap.

At the end of the crystal thread hung a dark red crystal fish, which twisted in midair, flicked its tail like a carp leaping, and shot straight toward Jiao San's brow.

Jiao San staggered slightly, as if to dodge, but quickly steadied herself, allowing the crystal fish to flash and fly into her forehead, disappearing without a trace.

Then, a layer of red light glowed from between her brows and rippled outward.

Jiao San's pretty face turned completely red, and within it, faintly visible, strands of glowing red crystal threads moved beneath her skin.

After a dozen breaths, the red light gradually faded, and the strange phenomenon on her face finally disappeared.

"Thank you, Palace Master," Jiao San immediately bowed deeply, her face full of surprise and delight.

At the same time, the dark mark between her brows had completely vanished, all her injuries were gone, and even a dozen or so immortal apertures had been fully opened in those brief dozen breaths.

"Tell me, how did things go?" the Reincarnation Palace Master finally asked.

"I got the item," Jiao San replied succinctly.

She knew the Palace Master only cared about this; he would not be concerned about how many losses were incurred in the operation.

With that, Jiao San turned her wrist, and a burst of colorful light appeared in her palm, revealing the five-colored vial, from which emanated strong spiritual power fluctuations.

Feeling the fluctuations behind him, the Reincarnation Palace Master turned his wrist, put away his fishing rod, and stood up.

Somewhat surprisingly, the Palace Master, who had seemed somewhat stooped, appeared quite tall and imposing when he stood up. However, when he turned around, the wide bamboo hat still obscured his face, making it impossible to see clearly.

He casually beckoned, and the five-colored vial flew from Jiao San's hand into his.

Jiao San stood respectfully to the side, awaiting the Palace Master's instructions.

"Haha..." After examining it carefully for a moment, he burst into loud laughter.

"Palace Master, why are you laughing?" Jiao San asked, puzzled.

"As expected of the founding patriarch of the Nine Yuan Temple, you've been outwitted by Li Yuanjiu," the Reincarnation Palace Master said, casually tossing the five-colored vial back to Jiao San.

"Palace Master, are you saying that what we got..." Jiao San caught the vial, her expression darkening as she hesitated.

"Is merely a substitute fake," the Reincarnation Palace Master said.

"Palace Master, your subordinate deserves death..." Jiao San's expression changed drastically, and she knelt to confess her guilt.

"Get up. This is not your fault. After all, before you went, I couldn't tell you exactly what you were looking for. This five-colored vial is an imitation of the Vial of the Palm of Heaven. Both the materials and the crafting techniques are top-notch, making it comparable to a second-grade immortal artifact. It's understandable that you were deceived," the Reincarnation Palace Master said.

"Please give us another chance, Palace Master. This time, I will definitely bring back the real thing," Jiao San said, still kneeling with her fists clasped.

"This commotion was so great that from now on, not only the Nine Yuan Temple but the entire Jin Yuan Immortal Domain will undergo a thorough purge. You won't have another chance to infiltrate. Moreover, since Li Yuanjiu appeared in person this time and you still returned almost unscathed, that itself represents an attitude on his part. We cannot ignore it," the Reincarnation Palace Master said, turning his back and speaking thoughtfully.

"Palace Master, are you saying that our smooth escape this time was intentional on Li Yuanjiu's part? Given the relationship between the Nine Yuan Temple and the Heavenly Court... why would he do that?" Jiao San asked, slightly stunned.

"I can think of two reasons. One is that he wants us to know that his Nine Yuan Temple does not wish to fight us to the death. The second is that he hopes to use this opportunity to prove his innocence," the Reincarnation Palace Master said.

"This time, the Heavenly Court, acting on Huo Yuan's advice, sent Feng Tian Celestial Envoy to accompany him to the Nine Yuan Temple, originally intending to investigate what Li Yuanjiu had created. As a result, Feng Tian Celestial Envoy was killed by us, and the creation was snatched away in plain sight. Now the Heavenly Court will indeed have no reason to suspect them," Jiao San said, quickly understanding the logic.

"Li Yuanjiu is very good at hiding. Back then, their Vial of the Palm of Heaven was a treasure coveted by countless top-tier powers, but they lost it after obtaining it and have been searching for years. Now, creating this five-colored vial as an imitation seems quite plausible. Unfortunately, the Heavenly Court's master is not so easily fooled," the Reincarnation Palace Master said with a smile.

"Your subordinate presumes to ask, Palace Master, what exactly did the Nine Yuan Temple create that made the Heavenly Court so cautious?" Jiao San hesitated but finally asked.

The Reincarnation Palace Master just smiled and shook his head, saying nothing.

Seeing this, Jiao San said nothing and stood quietly.

"From now on, do not reveal any information about what we seized. Cease all activities in the Jin Yuan Immortal Domain, but in some neighboring immortal domains, you can stir up more commotion," the Reincarnation Palace Master said after a long while.

Jiao San's eyes flickered with confusion.

"Regardless of what the Nine Yuan Temple created, as long as no definite news gets out, the Heavenly Court can only speculate wildly. The more they suspect, the greater the rift between them and the Nine Yuan Temple," the Reincarnation Palace Master continued.

"Your subordinate obeys," Jiao San said, suddenly enlightened, and responded loudly.

"Remember, once the seed of suspicion is planted, it will take root, sprout, and grow stronger. That is a good thing for us. There is not much time left; we have other things to do," the Reincarnation Palace Master said, gazing into the distance at the six rivers flowing away under the bridge.