These two choices had essentially encompassed all the paths available to Nie Xiaoqian. After all, her options were limited. If she didn't wish to remain a ghost, then reincarnation was the only path left—reborn into the mortal realm. Naturally, this meant her memories would be wiped clean by the cycle of reincarnation. Whether she'd still be herself afterward was a question no one could answer. The Mystery of the Womb wasn't something that could be unraveled easily.
Moreover, the longer time passed, even if past memories resurfaced, they'd be layered over a new life's experiences. Mist and flowers are no longer the same; I am no longer myself. Many souls, after death, often chose not to reincarnate. If they had the chance to become ghost cultivators, they'd naturally pursue that path. After all, ghost cultivation wasn't without its foundations—the ghost race was one of the most powerful races under the heavens.
Their strength was immense.
No matter the race, if one cultivated to the extreme, they could still reshape the heavens and earth, wielding overwhelming power.
Nie Xiaoqian's eyes sparkled as she listened, silently pondering. After a long pause, she finally said,"I choose the second option. Since I'm already a ghost, I might as well take the gamble. Who's to say I can't become a powerful being and live a dazzling life? If a ghost cultivator becomes powerful enough, they too can possess a physical body."
In the end, she chose not to reincarnate.
After all, no one knew what awaited them once they entered the cycle of rebirth.
There were far too many uncertainties within reincarnation.
It was far better to take control of her own destiny.
Moreover, without the threat of her "grandmother" and with her soul lamp retrieved, the shackles were gone. From this point forward, she could walk her own path on the road of ghost cultivation—toward becoming a true powerhouse.
"Very well. Since you've made your decision, you may choose a cultivation technique."Yi Tianxing smiled as he spoke.
He nodded inwardly as well. Nie Xiaoqian was far more perfect as a ghost. If she were to become human again, it would have introduced a kind of flaw—something subtly amiss.
"I choose the 'Night Parade of One Hundred Ghosts Diagram' (百鬼夜行图)," Nie Xiaoqian replied after a brief moment of thought.
Back when she had been beside her "grandmother," she'd heard her mention that the Night Parade of One Hundred Ghosts Diagram was a tremendously powerful ghost cultivation technique. Once mastered, it allowed for the summoning of a hundred ghosts to march, even crafting a life-bound treasure called the same: Night Parade of One Hundred Ghosts Diagram. Upon success, her combat strength would soar, enabling her to command ghosts and turn an entire region into a ghost domain.
🔹 Night Parade of One Hundred Ghosts Diagram (百鬼夜行图) – A powerful ghost cultivation method capable of summoning ghosts, refining a life-bound treasure, and transforming surroundings into ghost-infested terrain. Possesses the potential to become a top-tier ghost dao treasure, with the possibility of cultivating to Ghost Immortal level.
She had remembered that story ever since. Now, given the chance to choose, she did so without hesitation.
"A good choice. I hope you grow strong in the future,"Yi Tianxing nodded approvingly. With a wave of his hand, he transmitted the technique directly into her mind, etching it into her soul and making it part of her memory.
"You are King Yi, the ruler of the Great Yi Dynasty."
At that moment, a voice rang out.
Looking toward the source, they saw Yan Chixia approaching. His gaze at Yi Tianxing was filled with surprise. Although he had already heard some of the Great Yi's legends upon arriving, seeing Yi Tianxing in person made it clear—he was even more powerful and younger than the rumors claimed. He looked no different from an ordinary youth.
And that strength… truly overwhelming. A fearsome demon subdued with a flip of the hand. According to legend, Yi Tianxing's power lay in his divine abilities, but clearly, he was not only a body cultivator but also a Qi cultivator, mastering both physical strength and magical force. A terrifying demon slain with ease.
To think he had once been a mere mortal cultivator, and in just a few short years had grown this powerful—it made Yan Chixia, who had once taken pride in being a sect cultivator, suddenly feel humbled.
Sect cultivators in the Great Yi were definitely not beings who could look down upon others or roam freely above the law.
"Indeed,"Yi Tianxing nodded slightly.
Only now did he turn his attention to Yan Chixia.
He had never considered this man to be just a wandering cultivator. This world had long since changed, and no anomaly surprised him anymore. Anyone still trying to apply old storylines to this new world would undoubtedly perish without knowing why.
"I am Yan Chixia, Sword Elder of the Xuanxin Orthodox Sect. I've long heard of King Yi's reputation, but never did I imagine your strength to be so great. Even a millennium-old tree demon could be slain so easily. I feel utterly ashamed."
Yan Chixia drew a deep breath and spoke.
"Xuanxin Orthodox Sect… So you're from a sect. Is your sect's seal already weakening? The heavenly seals placed on your mountain are dissolving?"Yi Tianxing gazed at him thoughtfully.
Xuanxin Orthodox Sect—clearly a sect sealed away in earlier times. Such sects had once been hidden from the world, likely as targets of heavenly suppression. Now, they were emerging. And this particular sect must be near the Great Yi's territory—perhaps even within it, hidden in some remote wilderness.
"Correct. The seal imposed by Heaven has been weakening. With its loosening, our Xuanxin Orthodox Sect has returned to the mortal world. However, this has also led to a flood of demons and monsters appearing. Many of them are not only powerful but also bloodthirsty and violent. Their emergence will certainly throw the world into greater chaos and disaster."
"Our sect has always upheld justice and protected the people. Upon learning of this crisis, we immediately dispatched disciples to various locations, hoping to help the common folk in any way we can."
Yan Chixia quickly explained both his and the sect's intentions.
Naturally, he also hoped to leave a good impression on Yi Tianxing.
This was a sacred land for humanity. For the Xuanxin Orthodox Sect to grow, the best path was to recruit within the Great Yi. And that required Yi Tianxing's approval.
"What is the highest cultivation level currently active within your sect?"Yi Tianxing asked after a moment of thought.
"Law Manifestation Realm (法相境). Only cultivators at the Law Manifestation level can currently break free of the seal. Our sect's emergence is not due to overwhelming power, but rather because our cultivators are among the weakest of the sealed ones. The truly powerful ones—whether human or monster—are still trapped in the seal. But as the seal weakens further, especially once someone reaches a breakthrough on the Eternal World, then stronger beings across all races will begin to break free."
Yan Chixia spoke honestly, with no intention of hiding the truth.
"As I suspected." Yi Tianxing nodded inwardly. This aligned with his earlier speculations, and now that they were confirmed, he wasn't surprised.
"May I ask how King Yi views the presence of sects?"
Yan Chixia hesitated slightly, then asked directly.
"As long as the sect belongs to the human race and does not commit evil or threaten the people of Great Yi, then we welcome them. But all must abide by our laws and regulations. Regardless of status, any violation of the law will result in arrest and punishment."
Yi Tianxing stated this clearly and firmly.
If sects benefited humanity, there was no problem. But if they acted as if they were above others, they were not welcome in the Great Yi. No sect would enjoy special privileges under his rule.
Even sect cultivators had to follow the rules.
"Our Xuanxin Orthodox Sect was founded on the principle of upholding justice. Naturally, we would never harm the citizens of Great Yi. We emerged specifically to eliminate demons and evil spirits."Yan Chixia secretly sighed in relief.
With ordinary kingdoms, such worries were unnecessary—but this was the Great Yi.
Everywhere he looked, ordinary people were cultivating. Everyone was a cultivator—even if most practiced only basic methods, they still had cultivation, and that couldn't be faked. In such a kingdom, none could be easily oppressed.
In fact, any single immortal city seemed comparable to the full strength of the Xuanxin Orthodox Sect.
And there were far too many such cities in the Great Yi.
In the face of such a powerful kingdom, even major sects would feel like they were standing before a towering mountain.
"The Great Yi welcomes any human cultivators. If the opportunity arises, feel free to visit Xuanhuang City and explore our Scripture Pavilion. You might find something useful there."Yi Tianxing said calmly.
He was already calculating in his mind.
Xuanxin Orthodox Sect would not be the only one to emerge. More sects were bound to appear. How to handle the influx of sects into the Great Yi would be a serious challenge. If mismanaged, it could lead to hidden dangers. It was also clear that monsters, demons, and powerhouses from all races would begin to surface.
This is truly a time of turmoil.
"It's getting late. My dear wives, let's return to the palace. About that wager from earlier—shouldn't it be time to redeem it?"
Yi Tianxing looked at Cai Yan and the other two women with a teasing smile.
Indeed, night had fallen.
"Hmph, I knew you had ulterior motives."
Lian Xing let out a soft huff, but her face turned a rosy red.