When the vengeful spirit heard Qin Ruqing’s voice, it slowly turned its head and, as if rusty, stared fixedly at her without moving.

Qin Ruqing’s tearful smile froze.

Wait a minute, could this spirit be mindless, like the other vengeful spirits in the Soul Cave?

If that’s the case, who will she use her rhetorical skills on?!

Not even on a fool could such advanced skills be used!

Fortunately, the spirit finally spoke: “A story?”

Ah, it can speak.

It must not be mindless.

Senior, I knew you were different!

Qin Ruqing nodded with a sob.

Perhaps because it had been so long since anyone spoke to it, the spirit, while still conscious, seemed to have muddled memories, as if it had just been jolted awake and didn’t know what time it was.

It seemed to be searching for memories, its body flickering between ethereal and solid.

Its face alternated between ghostly flames and normal human appearance, creating an eerie feeling.

Luckily, the spirit must have had considerable power when alive; despite being dead for so long, it still retained its complete consciousness.

After searching its memories, it looked at Qin Ruqing, who was in tears, and slowly said:

“Why are you crying?”

Wow, does this initiator really not know? Isn’t it because of your resentment?

Qin Ruqing was indignant but spoke sweetly, “It’s because the senior was so powerful in life, and perhaps some sad past events have left unresolved feelings. Thus, anyone within a hundred meters of the senior is affected by this emotion.”

The spirit fell silent for a moment, glancing at the crying people nearby, its pale face not speaking for a while.

Qin Ruqing quietly waited, wiping her tears with a handkerchief.

It’s normal for someone who has died to be slow to react.

As expected, the spirit said wistfully, “In life… So, I’m dead.”

Yes, buddy, you’re just realizing that now?

Qin Ruqing sat up straight and asked, “Is there someone the senior is looking for? The younger one feels that the senior seems to be searching for someone.”

Qin Ruqing was ready to start her rhetorical skills.

The task of unlocking the hidden troubles of a big boss has begun!

“Looking for someone?” The spirit repeated the question absentmindedly, then suddenly became emotional, “Yes, I am looking for someone. I want to find her and ask a few questions!”

The spirit’s agitation made Qin Ruqing’s tears flow even more, and Fang Zhiming beside her cried even louder.

Qin Ruqing could only think, “A few questions… I hope it’s not about whether you loved me or not.”

Qin Ruqing continued, “I don’t know who the senior is looking for. Where is she, and what are her characteristics? If the senior doesn’t mind, I can help you find her.”

Since this person is already dead, she probably is too.

The spirit’s attire is very old-fashioned.

If she’s dead, she might also appear in spirit form.

Maybe she’s in this Soul Cave too.

If I help look, I might find two high-level spirits and get the crystals, one for me and one for Qirong…

Qin Ruqing was thinking happily when the spirit said:

“The person I’m looking for is called Fuyou Xianzun. She should be in the Ruins.”

“Immortal Master!”

Qin Ruqing’s heart skipped a beat.

This was indeed a significant figure.

Those who were given the title of “Immortal Master” were usually associated with something divine.

Moreover, if this person was in the Void Realm, shouting here wouldn’t be of much use!

As expected, the vengeful spirit seemed to realize something and asked, “Where is this place?”

Fearing he might lose control, Qin Ruqing replied quietly, “Senior, this is the Heart and Soul Cave, one of the preliminary testing sites for this year’s Hundred Clans Conference.”

The Hundred Clans Conference—a term too youthful for the spirit, who fell silent immediately.

This was a stage for the young and talented, a place for their bright beginnings.

He had once shone on this stage and attracted attention…

“So, this is not the Void Realm? I have been moved…”

Hmm?

That’s interesting!

If he was moved, it means he wasn’t originally here.

Considering that the Immortal Master he was looking for is in the Void Realm, could it be that he was also originally in the Void Realm?

“Are you one of the young talents participating in this year’s Hundred Clans Conference?” the vengeful spirit asked.

Qin Ruqing nodded.

The spirit then looked at the other crying figures around them, waved his sleeve, and everyone fell unconscious, leaving only Qin Ruqing awake.

She glanced at Qirong, who was lying with Xiao Fenhua, and shivered.

Did this big shot want to talk to her alone?

While it was nice not having competitors, if something went wrong, no one would be there to help her…

This vengeful spirit had been in the Void Realm!

That place was an ancient battlefield! He could easily end her with a flick of his sleeve.

So, Qin Ruqing made her expression as innocent and harmless as possible.

“Senior, do you have any instructions?”

Qin Ruqing tried to convey that she was willing to be of service, hoping to protect herself.

The vengeful spirit nodded.

“Since you are one of the young talents in this year’s conference, you likely have a chance to enter the Void Realm. I want you to help me find the Immortal Master Fuyao and ask a few questions.”

Oh, so she actually got a side quest?

Qin Ruqing swallowed and asked with self-awareness, “Senior, why did you choose me? To be honest, the people lying here are all top ten talents of this conference and are eligible to enter the Void Realm.”

The spirit calmly replied, “They can enter the Void Realm, but they might not be able to reach the Immortal Tomb. But you can.”

Immortal Tomb?

Another new term.

It must be something within the Void Realm.

“And… you are the first to offer to be my listener.”

Wow!

It turned out she really chose the right approach at the start!

Next, she might get to hear the big shot’s story and use her persuasion skills.

Qin Ruqing was excited.

Meanwhile, the vengeful spirit mumbled to himself, “I should give you a token…”

He searched his body but found nothing since he was dead.

Then he touched his head and found a crystal with his spiritual energy.

The spirit, with no expression, swiftly pulled out a white crystal with a shocking sensation, like opening a wound.

Scared!

Qin Ruqing was genuinely startled.

Using her rhetorical skills to soothe the big boss’s resentment and obtain the crystal stones was not what Qin Ruqing had expected.

The spirit, in fact, took out the crystal stone itself!

So, should she continue her rhetorical skills?

The spirit calmly took out the crystal stone.

It seemed that the spirit had infused a bit of its own soul into the stone before tossing it to Qin Ruqing.

“This is a Soul Source Stone. It’s not a crystallization of the soul but something placed here by the creator of this cave to keep the soul intact.”

“This high-quality Soul Source Stone is the size of a fist and should help elevate your soul’s level at this stage.

However, it contains a trace of my soul’s energy.

If you attempt to refine it immediately, you will suffer backlash from my resentment.

The vast difference in strength will cause you to fall into madness, even if you use protective water.”

“You need to help me enter the Immortal Tomb, find Fuyou Xianzun, and ask a few questions.

Once I get the answers, my soul’s energy will dissipate, and you can truly obtain this precious Soul Source Stone.”

It turned out that the script she received wasn’t about using her rhetorical skills to unlock the big boss’s heart and gain hidden benefits, such as gaining a mentor or resources.

Instead, it was about completing a task to help the big boss in exchange for the task item as a reward.

Even though things weren’t exactly as she had hoped, the process was not important; the result was what mattered!

Qin Ruqing shook the Soul Source Stone in her hand. (So this is called a Soul Source Stone.)

Wow, compared to the tiny Soul Source Stones she had seen before, this one was like comparing an elephant to an ant!

Given the size of this Soul Source Stone, she definitely wanted to take on this task!

Even if this person didn’t ask her to go to the Ruins, she would go there anyway!

It would just take a bit more time to find someone, and it was practically on the way!

Before agreeing, Qin Ruqing still asked cautiously, “May I ask what is the relationship between this person and the senior? And what questions should I ask?”

If there was a deep-seated grudge between them, what if Fuyou Xianzun, upon hearing who sent her, became enraged and harmed her?

Qin Ruqing felt that such details needed to be clarified.

Details determine success or failure.

The spirit sighed wistfully and said slowly, “Fuyou Xianzun… When she was still a young fairy, she was my wife.”

“Once,” “Wife,” “Former wife” “Was”

Indeed, the story was unfolding.

The spirit began to recount.

It turned out that before becoming a spirit, he was a talented individual nurtured by a prestigious family, with the potential to reach the Immortality in the future.

Reaching the Immortal grade would be extraordinary.

The prestigious family hoped to find an opportunity for him to become a top figure in the cultivation world.

This spirit was not only from a notable family but also exceptionally outstanding, clearly a prodigy among prodigies.

Moreover, he had not only family and career but also love.

The spirit had a childhood sweetheart from a matching background, and they had long promised each other a future together.

The story was supposed to be beautiful, but a dramatic twist occurred when his beloved was killed in battle in the Ruins.

The sweetheart was completely gone.

The ancient Ruins was not just a testing ground but also a place of intersection with the Beast Realm…

In the ancient battlefield, dying in battle was quite normal.

The spirit was heartbroken.

But death was irreversible; it wasn’t a xianxia drama where one could be revived multiple times.

So, he lived with tears and longing for his beloved.

As time passed, the spirit seemed to slowly forget his former love.

By then, he had become a prominent figure in the cultivation world, honored with the title of “Respected One.”

He was invited to host the Grand Assembly of the Hundred Clans.

At the assembly, he encountered a female cultivator who resembled his former beloved.

This female cultivator happened to have a secret admiration for him and had long admired the Respected One’s grace.

Qin Ruqing’s eyes twitched at this point. Seriously, is it really this clichéd replacement plot?

And it was indeed.

When the spirit saw the female cultivator who looked so much like his former beloved, he was immediately stirred.

What made it even more exciting was that this Female cultivator was even more beautiful than his former beloved, being a prominent figure on the top ten female cultivator list!

She began to ardently pursue him as soon as she learned he was to be the examiner!

The innocent and lively young maiden, who resembled his former beloved by seven points, captured the lonely spirit’s heart, and he agreed to her pursuit.

The prestigious family held a grand wedding to welcome the young fairy.

At this point, the story seemed typical; after all, it was just a replacement plot.

If he had truly settled down with her, life could still have been harmonious.

However, the female cultivator’s tragedy began here.