Chapter 729: Chapter 574: I Don’t Want the Ascension Realm That Cost You Your Life

"Xiao Mo... have you truly..."

"...ever liked me?"

Gui Junmeng gazed silently at Xiao Mo, her wavering eyes reflecting nothing but his image.

Hearing Gui Junmeng’s question, Xiao Mo remained silent, offering no reply.

"You’re always like this..."

Gui Junmeng lowered her head. Her long, curled lashes trembled, dotted with tiny, crystalline teardrops that shimmered in the candlelight.

"Whenever you’re faced with a difficult question, you just go silent. You could lie to me, you know. I’d believe you if you did..."

"And when things get hard, you always carry the burden alone, never willing to ask what others think... even though you’re usually so considerate of others’ feelings..."

"Jun Meng..." Xiao Mo murmured her name, his voice laced with apology, but for a moment, he was at a loss for how to explain.

"I... I’m going to refine your Elixir," Gui Junmeng said, her voice strained. "You just lie down and rest. I’ll... I’ll be back later to take care of you..."

Gui Junmeng wiped the tears from her eyes, picked up the medicinal bowl, and stood. Without a backward glance, she ran out of the room.

Her slender figure retreated, growing smaller and smaller until it disappeared into the light and shadows beyond the doorway.

Xiao Mo stared blankly in the direction she had gone, feeling a little dazed.

’Was I just imagining things?’

He had the faint impression that Jun Meng was a little angry with him.

This was probably the first time he had ever seen Jun Meng look angry.

"Since she was a child, I’ve only ever seen Jun Meng cry three times."

Just as Xiao Mo was sitting on the edge of the bed, lost in thought, Daoist Yun Xi’s voice gently drifted into the room.

Xiao Mo turned his head and saw Daoist Yun Xi walk in with a smile on her face.

"The first time that girl cried was when she returned from the Yuzhu Secret Realm. She was badly injured at the time, but she didn’t care at all. She rushed to me and told me you were in danger in the Secret Realm, begging me to hurry and save you. She was so frantic her tears wouldn’t stop, and she was worried sick."

"The second time she cried was when she heard the news of your death. That girl locked herself in her courtyard for a long, long time, refusing to come out no matter what. When I finally saw her, her eyes were completely red. She looked so heartbroken that even my own heart ached to see it."

Daoist Yun Xi brushed off her Daoist Robe and sat on the edge of Xiao Mo’s bed. A light, pleasant fragrance, faint yet distinct, lingered at the tip of his nose.

"And this third time she’s crying... is right now..." She paused slightly, her gaze gentle as she looked at Xiao Mo. "She has cried a total of three times, and all of them were because of you. Tell me, is meeting you a blessing or a curse for Jun Meng?"

Xiao Mo shook his head and gave a bitter laugh. "A terrible curse, I’m afraid."

"Perhaps so," Daoist Yun Xi sighed softly. "But would anyone else treat Jun Meng with such sincerity? Would they risk their life for her sake?"

Daoist Yun Xi stared into Xiao Mo’s eyes, as if she could see right through them, into the very depths of his soul.

"Xiao Mo... there’s something I want to ask you."

"Please ask, Daoist Yun Xi," Xiao Mo said.

"You..." Daoist Yun Xi’s cherry lips parted slightly. "Have you truly forgotten all your memories from your past life?"

Hearing Daoist Yun Xi’s question, Xiao Mo’s expression froze.

He didn’t answer, but his expression said it all.

"Don’t look at me with such surprise."

Daoist Yun Xi’s tone was calm and gentle.

"I’ve actually met your master a few times."

"Back when tragedy struck Sikong Temple, I went to the ruins to see what had happened. In the end, inside Sikong Temple, I encountered a wisp of Divine Sense your master had left behind."

"Your master predicted that I would come. That wisp of Divine Sense contained his final words. He told me that you have memories of your past life, and he entrusted me to persuade you not to do such foolish things in the future."

"But I know full well that I could never talk you out of something you’ve set your mind to. I suspect your master knew that as well."

Daoist Yun Xi slowly took out the *Great Dream of Yellow Millet* from within her robes and held it in her palm.

"Do you know how Master Yuan Kong could tell that you hadn’t forgotten your past life?"

"My master was always so enigmatic. I suspected he had guessed a few things, but I never imagined he knew everything." Xiao Mo smiled and shook his head. "During my time at Sikong Temple, I should have hidden it extremely well. Besides, I don’t have an Ancient Body that grants me knowledge from birth."

"You did hide it very well."

Yun Xi smiled and said slowly.

"However, in this world, it’s not just those with the Ancient Sacred Body who can possess innate knowledge. Some ordinary Cultivators, and even common people, can remember their previous life after reincarnation."

"The difference is this: as long as the Divine Soul of one with an Ancient Sacred Body is not extinguished, they will remember everything that has ever happened to them. Others can only remember their most recent past life. When they die again, it’s possible they will forget everything all over again."

"The Dual Cultivation Technique recorded in the latter part of the *Great Dream of Yellow Millet* is indeed quite remarkable. You wanted to improve upon it, or perhaps create an entirely new Technique. That’s why, during your time at Sikong Temple, you started reading through the Esoteric Sect’s scriptures on dual cultivation and essence plundering from a very young age. You also read many books on the art of Alchemy."

"But when you read through those Esoteric Sect scriptures, it was clear you weren’t doing it to satisfy your own selfish desires. It was precisely because of this that Master Yuan Kong gradually became suspicious."

"He simply never voiced his suspicions."

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