Chapter 5: The Unfinished Ninth Life

Ji Juexiu opened a jar of wine but remained silent.

Chi Xian, as expected, began to laugh again: “Let me see how you became a woman? Did you spend all nine lifetimes marrying and giving birth? Did you leave any descendants? Although it’s not your true self, it’s still a part of you, after all, you gave birth to them!”

He was talkative, not caring whether Ji Juexiu responded or not, his eyes quickly scanning the words on the paper, his cheeky and loquacious nature making him comment as he read.

“My goodness! You were so fierce even as a woman? A founding female general… a rebel strategist…”

Chi Xian grew more astonished as he read, until he reached the last line.

He paused for a moment, then asked: “Why is the ninth life different?”

By then, Ji Juexiu had already taken a sip of wine, glancing at the paper.

[The Ninth Life: Lonely Star for sixteen years…]

A simple sentence, with trailing dots, conveyed the unspeakable nature of the previous eight lives, exuding a sense of profound loneliness.

“So, in the ninth life, you only lived for 16 years before you died?” Chi Xian blinked his curious big eyes and asked.

Ji Juexiu replied calmly: “In that life, I cultivated both body and mind, and as a mortal, I stepped onto the Threshold of the Great Path. The Yin-Yang Clash caused my consciousness to awaken prematurely.”

“A mortal body cannot withstand the Divine Yang Soul,” Chi Xian nodded first, then continued to be cheeky, “But considering how fierce you were in the first eight lives, it’s only fair that you died early in the ninth life!”

As they spoke, colorful lights began to shine outside the cave.

A fleeting smile appeared in Ji Juexiu’s eyes as he stood up and walked out of the cave.

Chi Xian followed closely, his eyes filled with anticipation.

The icy landscape outside was melting, revealing a bluish-black color beneath the snow. Upon closer inspection, it was not the rock beneath the snowy mountain, but the color of animal fur.

Only by rapidly zooming out could one see that it was actually a green ox the size of a small mountain!

The giant green ox lay on its side halfway up the snowy mountain, its eyes closed and motionless, as if exhausted.

Chi Xian couldn’t help but comment: “Stubborn ox! You’ll tire yourself to death!”

At that moment.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Several beams of light flew from the sky, varying in size—the smallest no bigger than a fingernail, the largest the size of an eyeball—all dazzlingly colorful.

These were Soul Orbs imbued with the Great Path of Heaven and Earth!

The colorful Soul Orbs shot one after another toward Ji Juexiu’s forehead, disappearing into his body in the blink of an eye.

Chi Xian watched from the side, his face full of envy: “So lucky, I wish I could go through nine lifetimes of reincarnation too. Watching you grow stronger is worse than killing me…”

But halfway through his sentence, he noticed something was off.

Chi Xian widened his eyes and said: “Huh? Wait a minute! Why are there only eight?”

Ji Juexiu looked outside the cave, waiting quietly for a few moments, but the ninth beam of light never appeared.

Chi Xian got excited, jumping up and shouting: “You failed the Yin-Yang Harmonization!”

His voice was so loud that it woke the green ox, which had been in a deep, death-like sleep. It opened one eye and glanced in their direction.

Chi Xian turned his head and shouted at the ox: “None of your business, go back to sleep!”

The ox’s eyelids drooped, as if annoyed by Chi Xian’s noise, and it turned to sleep in another direction.

Ji Juexiu ignored the commotion beside him. He focused on the flow of energy within his body and couldn’t help but frown slightly.

Chi Xian’s crow-like mouth had indeed spoken the truth.

In the ninth life, he had died too early, failing to complete the tribulation. The Yin-Yang Harmonization was missing its final step, meaning his Divine Yang Soul still had a flaw.

Chi Xian quickly realized the truth and burst into laughter: “This is hilarious! How about another round of Nine Lifetimes of Reincarnation? You’ve really worked hard, Ji Juexiu! But don’t be too upset. I’ll come find you to play—steal your candy when you’re three, tear up your books when you’re nine, and kill your husband when you’re eighteen, hahaha!”

Ji Juexiu shot him a glance, speechless, and started walking down the mountain.

Chi Xian immediately chased after him: “Hey, wait for me! Where are you going?”

Ji Juexiu: “To see what’s going on with my ninth lifetime.”

Humans possess Three Souls and Seven Spirits. The Seven Spirits cultivate the body, while the Three Souls cultivate the spirit.

Ji Juexiu’s purpose in undergoing Nine Lifetimes of Reincarnation was to refine his Spirits, harmonizing the overly yang Spirits through the cultivation of the body.

The ninth Soul Orb had yet to appear, likely because the physical body had not perished.

This was strange!

He had already returned to his original form, so why was his physical body still alive?

—

At the thatched cottage on the peak of Ling Mountain.

After finally enjoying a hearty meal, Xiao Ranshu not only devoured the chicken but also cleaned up all the side dishes, leaving not a drop of soup behind.

After eating, she began to fret.

When would this life of uncertainty—feast or famine—come to an end?

Going down the mountain was inevitable, and she would have to interact with the villagers.

For someone with social anxiety, this was worse than death!

In the end, Xiao Ranshu gave up thinking.

She gathered the chicken bones and placed them in the center of the stone table, praying that the pile of bones would turn into a whole chicken by tomorrow.

Though it was unreasonable, she had to try!

By now, the sky was completely dark, but the small courtyard was bathed in a silvery glow. Looking up, she could see the bright moon and sparse stars.

The view from the mountaintop was truly breathtaking!

Yawning, Xiao Ranshu walked into the house. The incense was still burning, seemingly endless.

By the faint light, she groped her way to the wooden bed.

How miserable!

How utterly miserable!

Not even a blanket?

The early spring weather was cold, and sleeping without a blanket would surely lead to a cold.

Had the Original Owner died of hunger and cold, suffering from both?

Suddenly, she thought of the cloth that had wrapped the clay pot. Though not large, it could at least cover her belly.

Chinese people must cover their belly button when sleeping!

So she rushed out again, running to the courtyard to find that piece of cloth.

Unfolded, it wasn’t too small. Shaking it out, it was permeated with the smell of chicken soup.

Xiao Ranshu suddenly felt a deep sense of melancholy, realizing how pitiful her life had become.

Just as she was staring blankly at the cloth…

In the distance, a tree branch swayed slightly. Upon closer inspection, two figures had lightly stepped onto it.

The newcomers were none other than Ji Juexiu and Chi Xian.

Chi Xian, who had somehow produced a folding fan, flicked it open with a flourish, disregarding the cold temperature, and began fanning himself with style.

Striking a pose, he spoke: “Case solved.”

Ji Juexiu didn’t respond, his gaze fixed on the figure in the courtyard, a flicker of emotion passing through his eyes.

How peculiar—his physical body had been taken over by another soul.

“What’s the plan?” Chi Xian glanced over, raising an eyebrow as he asked, “Should we kill her and reclaim your Soul Orb, or let her endure this lifetime’s tribulation?”

A good question indeed.

Before Ji Juexiu could answer…

Suddenly, a loud shout erupted from the courtyard.

“Ah—!!!”

Xiao Ranshu tilted her head back and let out a long, drawn-out sigh, her voice so loud and prolonged that it caused ripples in the water jar in the courtyard, creating wave after wave.

Ji Juexiu: “…”

Chi Xian: “…”

This sudden shout not only made Ji Juexiu swallow the words he was about to say but also nearly caused Chi Xian to tumble off the branch.

The atmosphere was subtle.

Chi Xian first steadied himself, then grabbed his folding fan and started fanning vigorously: “Oh my goodness, who is this?”

If the mighty Chi  were to fall because of a shout, his lifelong reputation would be ruined.

How embarrassing!