“So during the exchange, it wasn’t for a Supreme Terror, at least not in the beginning. The targets were the three immortals.” Li Qiye said.
“These words hurt the heart, Sir.” The old man said.
“Look into yourself, or rather, him, what was the purpose of obtaining the corpseworm?” Li Qiye continued.
After a long pause, the old man answered: “I was reminded of a famous tale.”
“Which one?” Six-style asked curiously.
“You surely know Xian Chengtian. Can he become an immortal? No, such a hard and long path.” The old man said.
“And then?” She didn’t quite understand what he was trying to imply.
“Why did he betray the immortals who took care of him?” The old man said.
“For an item.” Six-style said.
“Their legacy, the answer is greed again.” Li Qiye said.
“He knew about the legacy of the three immortals. Why were they able to become immortals and not him?” The old man continued.
“Virtually impossible, becoming an immortal through someone else.” Li Qiye shook his head.
“You stand at the top, Sir, so you also know the insurmountable gap. Not the most brilliant cultivator can make it through, hence requiring external help.” The old man said.
“So he wanted their legacy but they refused, hence starting over from the beginning.” Li Qiye said.
“That’s the idea.” The old man nodded.
“Fire Ancestor fell into the darkness because of fear, but to be driven by greed, how pitiful.” Li Qiy said.
“After all, no one can resist the temptation of immortality.” The old man said.
“That wouldn’t have counted as immortality. Just becoming a pseudo was worth throwing everything away, what would you two have done for true immortality?” Li Qiye said.
“I respectfully ask you that question, Sir.” The old man said.
“The dao must be obtained and proven by the self, that is the only way to reach the other shore. Any external help will cause a backlash in due time.” Li Qiye said.
“But what if one can’t live long enough?” The old man said: “You have traversed the Uncrossable Expanse and killed Supreme Terrors, do you think the brave vanguards could have survived?”
“Either way, this was more shameful than Fire Ancestor since at the very least, he never harbored this idea.” Li Qiye shook his head.
“Temptation is a bottomless abyss. There is no climbing back out once fallen, only death will get rid of it.” The old man said.
“Is that why you used this method to say goodbye to the past?” Li Qiye said.
“Well, it wasn’t up to me then, I was just a dao avatar. I also don’t mind the current circumstances.” The old man said.
“If it’s only to feel better, you certainly have more choices than just being a grand ghost here. After all, you’ve walked the furthest out of all the ghosts.” Li Qiye said.
“I love this place and have grown used to it, it is my home so I don’t want to leave.” The old man said.
“Because you are also Gold Emissary.” Fog Emissary appeared in the main hall.
“He’s Gold Emissary?” Six-style stared at the old man. Judging by his expression, Fog Emissary was correct.
“You’re quite a pest, Fog Emissary.” The old man commented.
“Uncle, I’ve been observing you for a long time, you are not only the oldest grand ghost but also an ancient being, a progenitor since the distant ages.” Fog Emissary said.
“Have you figured out who you are yet?” Gold Emissary said.
“Do you know the answer?” Fog Emissary said.
“Hahaha.” Gold Emissary chuckled without responding.
“He’s the one who saved you and planted the ghost sigil.” Li Qiye said.
Six-style and Fog Emissary stared at the old man in disbelief.
“As long as you care enough, Sir, nothing can escape your eyes.” Gold Emissary sighed.
“How did I get here?” Fog Emissary asked.
“You tried to escape by erasing yourself, fusing with the ghost market. He was there and secretly gave you a sigil.” Li Qiye said.
“I knew the laws of the ghost markets when I was alive?” Fog Emissary asked.
“Because you have done it once before.” Gold Emissary didn’t mind telling the truth.
“Then who was I?” Fog Emissary stared at him.
Gold Emissary took out a pendant identical to the one in Li Qiye’s possession. The only difference was a shining miniature galaxy within his.
“This is Baihui’s...” Six-style said.
“Redeem this and you can have all of your memories back.” Gold Emissary said.
Fog Emissary’s eyes lit up while staring at it.
“Unacceptable.” Another ghost appeared in the main hall.
“Water Emissary!” Six-style blurted.
“Why not?” Fog Emissary asked.
The always-smiling Water Emissary had a cold expression this time as he spoke: “Because that belongs to me, not you.”
This perplexed Six-style at first because it belonged to Xian Baihui, meaning Fog Emissary was him.
“Could the two of you be one?” She speculated.
“Yes.” Li Qiye smiled: “One is a dao avatar while the other is the true body’s remnant life, they have been separated for eras now.”
“You’re me?” Fog Emissary stared at Water Emissary.
“Let the past be the past.” Water Emissary didn’t like this development.
“Does this conversation sound familiar to you? I feel like I heard it just a while ago.” Li Qiye playfully tapped Gold Emissary’s shoulder.
“Blame Jiao Heng for this, he noticed it first.” Gold Emissary said.
“Jiao Heng!” Both Water and Fog Emissary had the same reaction upon hearing this name.
Although they didn’t despite Jiao Heng, they wouldn’t mind giving the guy a beating until tears streamed down his cheeks.
“So you two are both Xian Baihui.” Six-style remarked.