"Descend to the mortal world?"

The Queen Mother of the West was perplexed.

"Yes, descend to the mortal world. You must not act rashly in the Heavenly Court." Song Lin briefly explained his plan.

He would secretly descend into the mortal world, enlightening the Eight Immortals and addressing the shortcomings of the Kunlun Heavenly Court's Acquired Immortals. Ideally, he would appear completely unaligned and maintain the status of an Independent Immortal with no overt connections, though it would be preferable to have a background tied to the Heavenly Court, ensuring the Jade Emperor would perceive them as one of his own.

In summary, during this descent to the mortal world, Song Lin would not reveal his true identity, nor would anyone else.

"Let's not discuss further. I am about to descend to the Lower Realm. Make sure the message is sealed and let no one know of my appearance."

As soon as Song Lin finished speaking, he transformed into a wisp of green smoke and vanished.

To prevent the news from leaking, the Queen Mother of the West proclaimed the closure of the mountain for seclusion.

Song Lin descended to the mortal world, transforming into an elderly man with white hair.

The old man walked along the countryside roads, contemplating his path ahead.

This world involved soul traversal, meaning cultivation levels and spells could not be utilized directly; even if one mastered Divine Skills within the narrative, upon returning to reality they would still have to begin cultivation anew.

However, this did not matter much. Entering the Unity Realm relied on insight; pure mana growth was not overly significant.

If mere mana growth sufficed to reach Unity, then those masters stuck in this realm for thousands of years would never have been delayed. After all, even a pig given thousands of years could cultivate into a formidable being.

Thus, Song Lin needed to explore the path of insight.

By attaining the fourth stage of enlightenment, he could utilize the Dragon Head Master Seal to perceive Unity.

Once he entered Unity, achieving absolute power over the Human Clan independent of external tools, he could initiate actions to restore Wu Country's golden age.

Thinking of this, Song Lin closed his eyes to sense his surroundings, seeking the most familiar aura.

According to the Heavenly Court, Zhengyang and Zhang Guolao had betrayed the Heavenly Court and were killed by the Jade Emperor. The Four Marshals had defected to the Jade Emperor, while Erlang God's Divine Soul was detained, controlled by the Jade Emperor, and turned into his puppet.

Zhengyang and Zhang Guolao had both cultivated revised versions of the Taiyin Refining Technique, so they were unlikely to perish easily.

"There it is!"

Song Lin turned to gaze at a distant location thousands of kilometers away.

...

"Kill!!"

Shouts of battle shook the heavens.

Thousands of soldiers charged at the strangely attired barbarian soldiers. Leading the charge was an extraordinarily burly man with a thick beard.

He fought valiantly, charging into and out of enemy lines seven times.

This general bore the surname Zhongli, with the given name Quan. The Great Han Emperor had commanded him to quell the Northern Barbarians. In battle, he routed an army of ten thousand barbarian soldiers and pursued the vassal King to this location.

Zhongli Quan fought fiercely for a moment, and the barbarian soldiers scattered like a landslide. Just as victory seemed within reach, and he was about to capture the vassal King, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his back—an arrow was lodged in his shoulder.

He turned back in disbelief to see that the shot came from his own deputy.

"Why?"

"Blame it on the fact that you've offended too many people." His deputy sneered coldly.

"Attack!"

The barbarian soldiers and the deputy's forces surged forward.

Facing an encirclement, Zhongli Quan unleashed Divine Power. His spear swept in a circle, exploding the heads of all enemies within ten meters.

After this astonishing move, Zhongli Quan gathered the last ounce of his strength to break free from the siege, fleeing on horseback. The firelight grew increasingly distant, and the sounds of battle gradually faded before he slowed his pace.

The crimson sun had set, and the moon ascended.

In his daze, Zhongli Quan wandered into a tranquil grove.

Rare grasses and flowers adorned the land, their fragrance faintly mixing with the scent of cassia and orchids. A clear spring reflected the twin rows of pine and cypress.

The murmuring stream brought an unparalleled sense of tranquility, as misty white vapors rose, creating an illusion of an immortal abode. Remarkably, within this grove, a small hut stood ahead.

Zhongli Quan approached, but before he could knock on the door, the wooden door opened as if in anticipation. An old man with white hair and a green cane stepped out.

"Might you be Zhongli General of the Great Han?"

Han Zhongli was startled by the elder's apparent foreknowledge. Considering he might have encountered a legendary immortal, he bowed and replied, "I am Zhongli Quan. My campaign against the barbarians has ended in defeat. Forced to flee alone, I am weary and famished. Might you grant me shelter for the night? I will repay your kindness in due time."

The elder chuckled and welcomed Zhongli Quan, presenting him with simple tea and food.

As the elder observed him, he smiled:

"Fame and fortune are but fleeting clouds. Since ancient times, has any dynasty truly endured? Or has wealth ever been eternal? These things vanish like smoke, akin to a dream of yellow millet. My Taoist Realm is slightly profound. Though I cannot transcend into sainthood, I dwell in the freedom of immortal abode. Why, General, must you be bound by the mundane?"

Unsurprisingly, the elder was Song Lin.

Song Lin discerned that this man was Zhengyang's reincarnation yet lacked the memory of his past. Thus, he appeared to enlighten him.

After a brief conversation, Zhongli Quan, a man of strong principles, was immediately inspired and knelt to express gratitude.

"Had it not been for the immortal's guidance, I would have remained ensnared in earthly shackles."

Subsequently, Song Lin imparted talismans, Dharma Seals, Alchemical techniques, Swordsmanship, Thunder Skills, and other Secret Techniques.

As Zhongli Quan prepared to depart, he asked for the elder's name. Song Lin smiled and replied, "I am Emperor Donghua. Rest well after you return, and years from now, I will trouble you to enlighten my reincarnation."

In the blink of an eye, Song Lin vanished.

"Emperor Donghua?"

Zhongli Quan stared at Song Lin's departing figure in speechless awe.

Meanwhile, Song Lin had already traveled a thousand kilometers away.

He had no concern about revealing his title, despite fears that the Heavenly Court might investigate.

In this realm, Emperor Donghua's name was renowned among Acquired Immortals and mortal cultivators.

Every practitioner claimed to have dreamt of Emperor Donghua, receiving guidance from him while invoking his name—or that of the Pure Yang Venerate—to bolster their renown.

Among the countless imposters, one genuine figure blended unnoticed by the Heavenly Court.

Though relationships had privately soured, the Pure Yang Dharma Lineage had fragmented, yet outwardly still held the status of orthodoxy in the eyes of the Heavenly Court.

For three years, Song Lin, in his guise as an old man, wandered the mortal realm.

Those three years enabled him to witness the mortal world's suffering and the filth of human society.

He found a quiet place to enter seclusion, his brow emanating golden light as his Pure Yang Primordial Spirit emerged.

This Primordial Spirit appeared semi-transparent, resembling his physical form, with a golden cloud above its head.

This cloud was the Pure Yang Golden Flower. Incomplete comprehension had prevented its full absorption into his being. The day he fully assimilated this Innate Yang Qi would signal his breakthrough into the Unity Realm.

His Primordial Spirit bypassed all material barriers, traveling above a city. Within the city, a household was celebrating a childbirth.

The Primordial Spirit immediately sealed its consciousness and entered the infant's body.

"Waaaaaah!!"

"Congratulations, sir! It is a boy!"

Indeed, Song Lin had chosen to reincarnate.

Throughout history, no enlightened being had ascended without undergoing reincarnation.

Only by returning to one's origins—when one is weakest—can one truly grasp the essence of the Great Dao.

For reincarnation to hold meaning, memories must be sealed; otherwise, the process devolves into a mere act of possession.

Reincarnation requires that enlightenment arise naturally, either through self-discovery or external pointation.

Regardless of the form, the vital aspect is arriving at rediscovery through genuine realization.

This process, however, is fraught with peril; reincarnation too easily leads one into the mire of the mortal world, consigned to endless cycles until self-awakening occurs.

Should self-realization fail, the consequences are dire—one's Zhenxing would dissipate over countless lifetimes.

The fourth year after the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea.

Song Lin reincarnated, becoming the son of the wealthy Lin family. His first life experienced prosperity in youth but ended in desolation in old age.

The seventieth year after the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea.

His second reincarnation was as an Imperial Family Prince but died at the age of three.

The seventy-third year after the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea.

His third reincarnation was as a General, killed in battle.

...

His fourth reincarnation was as a farmer, leading a life of toil and murky ignorance.

His fifth reincarnation was as a poet, living a life of unrestrained wandering and deep national concern, ultimately murdered by a Powerful Minister.

His sixth reincarnation was as an animal, living in ignorance and consumed as food.

Unknowingly, hundreds of years passed.

Dynasties changed, and it was now the middle to late Tang Dynasty.

Song Lin reincarnated into the Lvu family.

...

(As usual, taking half a day off at the start of the month. Back to regular updates tomorrow. Don't forget to vote for the monthly tickets!)

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