Chao Yangzi and the others exchanged stunned glances upon hearing that Ju Yin harbored two consciousnesses within. They had been too careless, attributing their Venerable's occasional shifts in behavior to memory recovery.
After hearing Hua Xun’s explanation, they urged Ju Yin to seek refuge at the Dawn Immortal Venerable’s mansion. This desolate wilderness was hardly a place for matters concerning the soul; caution was paramount.
Less than fifteen minutes after their departure, a group of people arrived. This was the Young Sect Master of the Tianyi Sect. Several of their sect’s soul lamps had suddenly extinguished, immediately signaling that something had gone awry. The Young Sect Master requested permission to investigate. Previously, the sect had received a missive confirming the location, and remnants of tribulation lightning were still visible nearby.
“Young Sect Master, look! It’s Senior Brother!” A disciple of the Tianyi Sect spotted several corpses lying on the ground – they were indeed the disciples dispatched earlier.
“They’ve been poisoned! It appears to be the miasma poison of the Black-White Crimson Immortal. Even Golden Immortals struggle to resist this toxin. The other two spots show only humanoid water marks, surely they were reduced to corporeal water,” exclaimed a Tianyi Sect disciple skilled in identifying poisons.
“Quickly, check if Senior Brother can still be saved!” the Young Sect Master of the Tianyi Sect urged anxiously.
“Young Sect Master, it’s too late. We arrived too late. Senior Brother was not turned into corporeal water. His powerful golden immortal physique resisted it, but the Black-White Crimson Immortal’s poison specifically targets immortals. Without timely antidote, only resurrection arts could save him now. Senior Brother has fallen.”
“Damn it! With Senior Brother’s Golden Immortal combat power, how could he have fallen victim to the Black-White Crimson Immortal?”
“Young Sect Master, Senior Brother and the others inhaled the Black-White Crimson Immortal’s toxic miasma in their sleep.” The poison-identifying disciple, named Si Jing, reached this conclusion after a thorough examination. His expression was filled with grief; he shared the closest bond with Senior Brother. It was evident that the one who could take down Senior Brother so silently must be a master poisoner. He vowed not to let this person go.
“Si Jing, the commotion caused by the Nine-tailed Fox’s tribulation was immense. Many must have witnessed it. We will offer a substantial reward, and we will surely find the culprit.” The Young Sect Master suppressed his grief and calmly issued instructions to his subordinates.
Subsequently, the Tianyi Sect posted golden proclamations throughout the Tianque Immortal City in search of information. They did manage to find some clues, as some individuals could not resist the temptation of immortal spiritual stones and responded to the proclamations. This led to considerable trouble for Ju Yin and her companions later, but that is a story for another time.
Meanwhile, Ju Yin and her group, now inside the Dawn Immortal Mansion, wore solemn expressions. Hua Xun, using some unknown method, had separated Ye Ju’s other consciousness. Ju Yin found it somewhat unsettling to look at Ye Ju, who looked identical to her but possessed a different temperament.
“Two elder sisters?” Xiao Bai was also bewildered.
“Hello, Xiao Bai, I’m your sister too!” Ye Ju’s ethereal shadow stood before them with a smile.
“How is this possible?” Feng Chu and the others could hardly believe it.
“It’s nothing. Their souls have not completely merged, and the heavenly tribulation has split them into two independent consciousnesses,” Hua Xun explained.
“Big Beard, I’ve met you before. You brought me to a valley full of flowers,” Ye Ju said to Hua Xun without much concern.
Ju Yin pressed her forehead. Her other self was truly talkative!
“Yes, that’s right!” Hua Xun smiled indulgently. He rather liked the lively little Ju Yin. She had a human touch!
“Next, I will set up a formation to merge your souls. You will become one person. Do you mind?” Hua Xun inquired.
“It’s not necessary to change. In the future, I can cultivate a clone and separate you,” Ju Yin replied after some thought. She hadn't considered this possibility upon ascending, but she had such plans.
The others held their breaths, especially Chao Yangzi and Chao Xiangzi. They had first encountered Ye Ju. While they had followed their Venerable for a million years, they had also grown fond of Ye Ju.
“Sister, you must consider carefully!” Long Hu Hu was still confused. She didn’t understand how her sister had become two. She looked to the left, then to the right, reluctant to part with either. Selfishly, she wished for her sister to remain one, to avoid such a dilemma.
With a chuckle, Ye Ju laughed. “Why are you all so serious? We were one person. This is merely a period of time that gave rise to Ye Ju. This is just an experience. Of course, it’s best to become one person.” Ye Ju’s tone was light; she had long understood the cause and effect. She and Ju Yin were like two selves from different timelines meeting. They were all one in the future.
“Good, I will assist you!” Hua Xun breathed a sigh of relief. He feared that if one party was unwilling, this hidden danger would persist. If Ju Yin, the Divine Venerable, could not recover her divine power due to this, she would be at a disadvantage against her enemies.
Ju Yin erected a barrier, enveloping the Dawn Immortal Mansion. Currently, her mastery of formations was the highest, with Qing Yin taking the lead in the formation while Feng Chu and others provided protection. Within the barrier, Hua Xun rapidly formed hand seals, creating a rotating Bagua diagram centered on Ju Yin, forming a massive compass. The center of the compass displayed the Taiji fish diagram. Ye Ju stood at the center of the white eye within the black and white dual fish. The Bagua diagram spun rapidly, rewinding time to pull Ye Ju from a certain timeline back here to merge with Ju Yin.
As the formation activated, countless images of Ju Yin appeared before the onlookers: the impoverished Ju Yin, the destitute Ju Yin, the luxurious Ju Yin, the wise Ju Yin, even a general who annihilated enemies, and a Ju Yin tormented by love… Witnessing these myriad reincarnated images, Xiao Bai wept profusely. Sister had suffered so much. In contrast, before meeting her sister, the only hardship Xiao Bai had endured was hunger.
Ju Yin sat cross-legged, fine beads of sweat appearing on her forehead. As time was rewound, a torrent of memories flooded her mind, a test for her divine consciousness.
Hua Xun was not faring any better. Ju Yin had been in reincarnation for too long; her presence was felt in countless worlds. Finding Ye Ju in Huaxia was like searching for a needle in a haystack, requiring meticulous sifting.
Suddenly, the scene of Ye Ju being hit by a car and falling into the sea appeared. A divine light materialized behind Hua Xun, and a massive hand extended from his Dharma appearance, grabbing Ye Ju and throwing her towards the submerged figure of Ye Ju.
Ju Yin seized this opportunity, rapidly forming hand seals, employing the Soul Guiding Art that Hua Xun had taught her: “Soul, return! Dharma appearance, unite!”
The Ye Ju in the vision was guided back to the white eye of the black and white dual fish. The two Taiji fish spun rapidly. Ju Yin within the black eye and Ye Ju gradually converged. A flash of golden light ensued, and the two merged into one. Only Ju Yin remained on the Bagua compass, lying with her eyes closed. The Taiji black and white dual fish diagram vanished.
“Sister, what’s wrong?” Long Hu Hu tried to rush forward.
“Hu Hu, not yet. Your sister is undergoing soul fusion. This must be completed in her sleep. Do not disturb her.” Hua Xun’s hoarse voice stopped her. He too had expended divine power, his divine consciousness greatly depleted.
“What’s wrong with you? Here, this is Sister’s spiritual spring water. Quickly replenish yourself.” Long Hu Hu noticed Hua Xun’s condition.
“Thank you. Hu Hu has grown up.” Hua Xun was very familiar with Long Hu Hu, having watched the young girl grow. Looking at her now, he felt a subtle sense of nascent parenthood.