The sun shone brightly.

Warm light like threads gently brushed the earth.

Hua Erling squatted beside that patch of black soil, hesitated several times, but couldn't resist reaching out to grab a handful.

After examining it for a while.

He saw that this black soil was extremely fine, with distinct grains, resembling flowing sand.

Moreover, upon touching it, it was icy cold, the chill penetrating to the bone, as if it could freeze one's soul.

Not only that, this soil was extremely heavy, even a small handful was heavier than copper or iron.

"This... truly deserves to be called immortal soil."

Hua Erling released his grip, turned back to stare at the ground full of corpses.

He sighed deeply.

Then he stood up, dug a pit, and buried the bodies.

Among them was also the remains of Hou Qi.

Even though Hou Qi often mocked him for warming Qian Yuanzi's bed, death was a great equalizer, and they had all shared the same hardships since childhood, so he didn't hold grudges.

That night.

After finishing everything, Hua Erling casually built a straw hut beside the black soil and settled down.

Days passed by.

The earth gradually warmed, and the vegetation began to revive.

But Hua Erling was constantly on edge.

Because that patch of black soil, every night.

In the first half of the night, countless eerie "jiejie" cries echoed from it, the sound piercing and mournful, like countless infants wailing, ghosts lamenting.

Sometimes, in a daze, he could see yellow paper money drifting down from the sky, gently landing on the black soil.

And in the latter half of the night, the situation changed.

The ghostly cries ceased, replaced by a dense chanting of scriptures, solemn and dignified, filled with grandeur and peace, as if the gods and Buddhas of the heavens were performing a ritual.

"This is just too absurd!"

"Is what Shiwuwu planted really an immortal?"

Hua Erling stood by the straw hut, eyes full of worry.

In the blink of an eye, a month passed.

Tonight.

The stars and moon were hidden, the world unusually dim.

Yet that patch of black soil was exceptionally calm tonight.

"Boom... rumble."

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, its momentum vast, connecting heaven and earth, turning the dark night into broad daylight.

Hua Erling awoke with a start, turned his head to look, and his breath caught, pupils narrowing to pinpoints.

"Shi... Shiwuwu?"

He saw that in the center of the black soil, a crack had somehow appeared.

From it emanated deep red light, filled with a disquieting, ominous aura, and a peculiar vibe as if it could obliterate everything, returning it to dust.

At that moment, Hua Erling saw.

A pitch-black humanoid skeleton was slowly crawling out from within.

Like a demon from the Nine Hells, breaking free of its shackles, descending upon the world.

"Shiwuwu, is that you?"

Hua Erling gazed at the black skeleton, tears glistening at the corners of his eyes, his throat nearly choked.

He never imagined that his last remaining fellow disciple had turned into this ghostly form.

But in the next instant, a miracle occurred.

It was as if an invisible, indescribable force arose from the black soil, intricately wrapping around the black skeleton.

Following this, flesh began to grow on the black bones, intertwining.

The night slowly passed.

No one knew how much time had elapsed.

A young man with black hair like a waterfall, a face serene and gentle, with calm and wild eyes, stood there without a stitch of clothing.

"Erling, stop crying."

"Can we talk about getting some clothes first?"

Li Shiwuwu covered himself with one hand and rubbed his forehead with the other, smiling helplessly.

Moments later.

Li Shiwuwu donned his original Taoist robe.

A simple bonfire was lit on the ground, the sparks occasionally leaping high, then vanishing in an instant.

"Shiwuwu, have you become an immortal?"

Hua Erling's face was flushed red by the firelight, hesitating to speak, but ultimately couldn't resist asking.

"An immortal?"

Li Shiwuwu raised an eyebrow, then shook his head.

"I think, probably not."

"So far, I've only taken the first step, successfully 'planting the immortal'."

"As for whether it's a blessing or a curse in the future, who knows."

As Li Shiwuwu spoke, he raised his palm to examine it.

Beneath the fair skin, he could clearly sense the immense power of flesh and blood, enough to tear apart tigers and leopards with ease.

Beyond that, he knew very little about his current body and needed to explore it slowly.

Hua Erling sighed upon hearing this.

"Unfortunately, the Seed Immortal Temple is gone, and the black soil you used to plant the immortal is also gone."

"Otherwise, we might have discovered some clues."

With these words, the atmosphere around the fire grew tense.

Li Shiwuwu's lighthearted expression vanished, replaced by an indescribable grimness.

"The black soil beneath my feet is gone, when did that happen?"

"Just now, when you regrew your flesh, I saw that patch of black soil disappear with my own eyes."

Hua Erling was puzzled, not understanding the significance of the question.

Li Shiwuwu fell silent, looking down.

Because in his perspective, the eerie black soil used for 'planting the immortal' was still beneath his feet.

Not only that, the Seed Immortal Temple was also present, and he was currently inside the temple.

"Erling, can you really not see the Seed Immortal Temple and the black soil beneath my feet?"

"I can't see them," Hua Erling shook his head.

Li Shiwuwu asked no more, simply stood up and walked towards the temple door.

However, just as he was about to step out, something strange happened again.

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The Seed Immortal Temple seemed to move forward on its own, preventing him from stepping out.

"Heh, I don't believe this."

"A broken temple wants to trap me?"

Li Shiwuwu cursed softly, then exerted his legs, lunging in one direction.

Until he was a hundred meters away, he looked up to find the temple still with him, and he was still inside it.

"Shiwuwu, what are you doing?"

Seeing Li Shiwuwu jumping around like a monkey, Hua Erling was somewhat baffled.

"Nothing."

Li Shiwuwu spat out two words, then tried to lift his foot from the black soil, only to find it impossible.

The black soil clung to him like a leech, binding his feet, impossible to shake off.

"How can this be, how can this be?"

He kept questioning himself, his thoughts in turmoil.

"Planting the immortal, planting the immortal."

"Like a vegetable seedling, unable to leave the soil."

"Could it be that this 'immortal seedling' of mine cannot escape the black soil and Seed Immortal Temple beneath my feet?"

Thinking of this, Li Shiwuwu fell into deep silence.

He felt as if, after escaping the pit that was Qian Yuanzi, he had jumped into an even bigger one.

The night wind blew, causing the firelight to sway, and with it, their emotions, swaying and uncertain.

And so, the night passed.

At dawn.

Li Shiwuwu lowered his gaze, extinguishing the embers of the bonfire with a foot.

And after last night's exploration, he gradually figured out some things.

Neither the Seed Immortal Temple nor the eerie black soil beneath his feet could be seen or touched by others.

As for his own perspective, although both were constantly with him, they were like transparent entities, not affecting his vision or daily actions.

"Lord Guan."

Li Shiwuwu focused his gaze on the bronze toad the size of a millstone, approaching it step by step.

Strangely, this fierce and not very intelligent Lord Guan now showed a rare hint of fear in its small eyes.

"Be good, behave."

Li Shiwuwu reached out to stroke the toad's head, soothing it gently.

In the blink of an eye, the large toad disappeared, leaving only a bronze-colored, intricately crafted toad ornament in his palm.

Thinking for a moment, he mimicked Qian Yuanzi, letting the toad bite onto his left earlobe, letting it dangle there casually.

With this little adjustment, the young, handsome Taoist exuded an indescribable aura of wickedness.

After finishing everything, Li Shiwuwu suddenly shivered, as if remembering something, and quickly turned back.

"Erling, where is Qian Yuanzi's body?"

"He had a sheepskin scroll, which he treasured dearly, it should contain information about the Seed Immortal Temple."

"Otherwise, how could an old man with a pockmarked face know such a great secret of the world?"

Upon hearing this, Hua Erling quickly responded.

"Sheepskin scroll?"

"Shiwuwu, come with me, that thing should still be on the old man."