Cultivating To Immortality

Chapter 755: Resurrection

White banners fluttered outside the Xiao Manor, and Xiao Ming’s memorial tablet stood in the center of the mourning hall.

The King of Chu personally supported the coffin, his face filled with sorrow.

Court officials lined up to pay their respects, many with tears in their eyes.

"This..." Xiao Ming’s voice choked.

In the inner courtyard, Xiao Ming’s eldest son, the one who had advised his father not to resign from office during his lifetime, was now kneeling before the memorial tablet, weeping bitterly.

"Father! Your son was wrong! Your son should not have let you die with regret!"

His daughter-in-law held their two children, tears soaking her clothes: "Father-in-law, your most beloved grandchildren are still waiting for you to teach them calligraphy and martial arts..."

His usually calm and composed nephew was now pounding his chest and stamping his feet: "Uncle! Your nephew should not have been like this! If I had known, your nephew would have risked this official position to let you retire to the fields! To enjoy your later years!"

His good friend from the court was also present, heartbroken, recounting past memories with the old General to Xiao family’s children.

The two of them, one civil and one military, had started families together, then watched their children be born.

How happy Xiao Ming had been back then.

As they spoke, everyone began to cry.

Watching all this, Song Yan remained silent.

He had seen too much hypocrisy in the world, but the grief displayed in the mirror now was so real that he could not doubt it.

It was just... General Xiao’s early life had been glorious and turbulent, but his later years were desolate and lonely, yet after his death, he gained true understanding and respect.

How strange.

Xiao Ming’s body trembled violently. He stretched out his withered hand, seemingly wanting to touch his illusory family, but stopped midway.

"They... they..."

The Old Man in a Straw Raincoat looked calmly at Xiao Ming: "Do you see clearly?"

Xiao Ming nodded blankly: "I see clearly."

"Is there anything you want to say?"

Xiao Ming remained silent, muttering softly: "I want to go back..."

"Perhaps they realized their mistake."

"People are all like this; they only know regret when they lose something. Perhaps they have already repented."

Xiao Ming suddenly turned around and bowed deeply to the Old Man in a Straw Raincoat: "I beg you to return my lifespan to me! Let me go back!"

Song Yan gasped.

Reversing life and death, even Cultivators would find it difficult to achieve, right?

But what shocked him even more was that the Old Man in a Straw Raincoat actually chuckled and readily nodded: "Alright."

"Senior!" Song Yan couldn’t help but exclaim, "This... is this in accordance with the Heavenly Dao?"

The Old Man in a Straw Raincoat turned to Song Yan, his gaze from beneath his bamboo hat almost tangible: "Little one, the Heavenly Dao is unpredictable. Xiao Ming’s life should not end; I am merely correcting a mistake."

He paused: "Moreover, Xiao Ming naturally cannot simply wake up without reason in the eyes of Mortals. You must go to the Xiao Manor with him."

"This..."

Song Yan was slightly startled. After a moment of thought, he didn’t know why this old Senior wanted him to be involved in this matter.

But he dared not refuse and quickly agreed: "Junior obeys."

Having received the Immortal’s consent, Xiao Ming was too excited to speak, only continuously bowing to the Old Man in a Straw Raincoat and Song Yan.

Xiao He curiously asked the Old Man in a Straw Raincoat: "Grandpa, after General Xiao returns, will he remember everything he saw after his death?"

The Old Man in a Straw Raincoat smiled meaningfully: "Whether he remembers or not is entirely up to his single thought."

Song Yan looked at Xiao Ming; the old General’s eyes had rekindled with the light of life.

The Old Man in a Straw Raincoat took out a vibrant green leaf from his embrace, gently placed it in Xiao Ming’s palm, and said: "Hold it under your tongue, walk into the mourning hall, and lie in your body."

"Then you can ’resurrect’."

...Within Ying City.

Dusk settled, and white banners fluttered outside the Xiao Manor.

The funeral of the Great General who Guarded the Nation was to last a month, and now only half of it had passed.

Song Yan, dressed in a white robe, stood on the steps, his sleeves moving without wind.

His face manifested the Xuan E Bai Ling Covering Mask, his bamboo hat hanging low, revealing only his well-defined jawline.

"Who goes there?" The gate guards cautiously gripped their sword hilts.

Song Yan said nothing, merely raising his hand gently.

In an instant, the white lanterns hanging in front of the Xiao Manor all extinguished, then relit with a golden glow from his fingertip, only to turn into festive red light.

The guards retreated in horror, and Song Yan had already stepped inside, his voice echoing throughout the entire Xiao Manor: "This humble Daoist, Tong Chuping, has come to resolve a segment of Karma."

Inside the mourning hall, the Xiao family was immersed in grief.

Suddenly, a white-robed Daoist floated in. The eldest son, Xiao Heng, suppressing his sorrow, stepped forward: "This Daoist Priest, my father has just passed away, it is inconvenient to receive guests..."

Song Yan waved his Daoist robe sleeve, and the candles in the mourning hall suddenly flared brightly, making his figure appear both real and illusory.

"General Xiao’s lifespan is not yet exhausted, his fate should not end. This humble Daoist was guided by heavenly secrets and has come to save him."

"Absurd!" Xiao Heng roared: "Where did this charlatan come from? This is the Residence of the Great General who Guarded the Nation; you are not allowed to deceive people here!"

The rest of the Xiao family also came forward, angrily scolding Song Yan for playing tricks.

The official immediately called for the Xiao family’s personal guards to drive the Daoist out of the Xiao Manor.

Without waiting for them to argue, Song Yan moved his spiritual power, gently pushing everyone aside, and walked to the coffin.

A wisp of spiritual light manifested at his fingertip, and profound runes appeared and disappeared within it. The mourning hall was instantly filled with a strange fragrance, and everyone only felt faint Immortal music echoing in their ears.

"Three souls return to their places, seven corporeal souls reassemble."

Song Yan’s voice suddenly became ethereal and distant.

"Xiao Ming, if not now, when will you awaken?"

A soft sound suddenly came from the coffin.

Everyone present felt as if struck by lightning, and Xiao Heng’s wife collapsed directly to the ground.

The coffin lid slowly moved, and an old but strong hand rested on its edge.

"Fa... Father?" Xiao Heng’s voice trembled.

Xiao Ming sat up, his complexion as rosy as ever.

He looked around, his gaze finally falling on Song Yan, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes: "Daoist Priest."

Song Yan nodded slightly, and with a single hand, a gentle force helped Xiao Ming out of the coffin.

Then he turned to the stunned Xiao family: "General Xiao’s worldly ties are not yet severed; he should enjoy family happiness."

The entire Xiao Manor instantly erupted.

Servants and maids ran around spreading the news and preparing a banquet, even the head steward knelt in the hall, tears streaming down his face, kowtowing to Song Yan.

"Immortal ah..."

Xiao Ming’s youngest granddaughter was the first to rush into her grandfather’s arms, sobbing: "Grandpa, don’t die again. Nannan will play chess with Grandpa every day from now on..."

The eldest son, Xiao Heng, knelt on both knees and kowtowed heavily: "Your son is unfilial!"

His forehead pressed against the blue bricks, his shoulders trembling violently.

Xiao Ming sighed softly, personally helped his son up, and patted his shoulder.

A banquet was quickly set up in the hall. Song Yan was honored as a distinguished guest, sitting beside Xiao Ming.

Xiao Heng raised his cup to toast: "Daoist Priest Tong’s life-saving grace, the Xiao family will never forget! May I ask where your Immortal home is?"

"A wanderer has no Immortal home to speak of."

Strange, why ask this question.

Could it be that if he announced the name of the Cave Abyss Sect, Xiao Heng would understand?

...Soon, the news of General Xiao Ming, the Great General who Guarded the Nation, returning from the dead, reached the Imperial City.

In the Ying City Royal Palace, King You Xiong of Chu smashed a jade cup heavily to the ground.

"Absurd! A dead man resurrected? That Xiao Ming has clearly been dead for half a month!"

"Father, please calm your anger." Young Master Shiying pressed his father’s arm and whispered: "Your son has already ordered a detailed investigation. It is said that on that day, an Upper Immortal named Tong Chuping came to the Xiao family, possessing extraordinary abilities."

The King of Chu looked at a young man dressed as a Cultivator beside Shiying: "Immortal Master Qin, is there really an Immortal art in this world that can bring people back to life?"

His eyes were also filled with a longing for immortality.

Qin Yicao, dressed in a purple robe, had an ethereal demeanor.

He shook his head: "A Mortal returning from the dead, this goes against heavenly principles and is absolutely impossible."

"Could it be a play put on by the Xiao family?" The King of Chu narrowed his eyes, "Is that old fellow feigning death to deceive the King?"

"This..." Young Master Shiying dared not assert.

Qin Yicao continued: "The coffin was kept for three days; there was no possibility of life."

"Immortal Master Qin, then what exactly is going on?"

This Profound Origin Sect’s Ying City Enshrinement appeared to have an Immortal-like demeanor, but in reality, there was a hint of gloom in his eyes and brows.

Upon hearing of Xiao Ming’s resurrection, he was also extremely surprised.

Since his death, he had visited the Xiao family several times, and Xiao Ming was undoubtedly dead.

That sword had not yet been found, so how did the person come back to life? How did he come back to life?

He really couldn’t figure it out either.

Perhaps it was the art of corpse puppets... Qin Yicao pondered for a moment, then bowed: "Your Majesty, please calm down. Allow this humble Daoist to go and investigate. If it truly is a demonic person at work, he will not be lightly spared."

He lowered his eyelids, concealing the greed in his eyes.

Others couldn’t tell, but Qin Yicao was perfectly clear.

Xiao Ming’s personal sword, he didn’t know where it came from, but it was not an ordinary Mortal weapon at all.

Its power far exceeded ordinary Spiritual Artifacts, perhaps... it was a Spiritual Artifact!

One must know that in a place like Chu, even ordinary Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators might not possess a Spiritual Artifact.

Such a treasure was actually in the hands of a Mortal.

What a waste! What a terrible waste!

But as a Cultivator, if he were to act against a Mortal, and the matter were exposed, even the Profound Origin Sect might not be able to protect him.

Fortunately... King of Chu was extremely suspicious, always worried that the Great General who Guarded the Nation’s achievements overshadowed his own, and that he might one day instigate his subordinates to rebel.

Qin Yicao also fanned the flames, using Young Master Shiying to pressure the Xiao family.

However, after Xiao Ming’s death, he still hadn’t found that sword in the Xiao family.

Pressing Xiao Heng also yielded no results.

He was now halfway into the Foundation Establishment Realm. If he could obtain this treasure before his Breakthrough, his future Dao path would undoubtedly be much smoother.

Therefore, he was determined to get that sword!

Qin Yicao’s biggest concern now was that the so-called "Immortal Master Tong" was also coveting this sword, making all his previous efforts benefit him in vain.

Young Master Shiying stood up and said: "Your son is willing to go with the Imperial Preceptor."

...The Xiao Manor was brightly lit, with cups clinking.

As the banquet was in full swing, the steward rushed in to report: "Master, Young Master Shiying and Imperial Preceptor Qin, the Upper Immortal, have arrived!"

The hall instantly fell silent.

Everyone’s expressions sharpened. Xiao Ming frowned slightly, but quickly returned to normal.

Xiao Ming’s hand, holding the cup, paused, and he looked at Song Yan.

The corner of his mouth beneath the mask curved slightly, and Song Yan whispered: "No matter, this humble Daoist was just wanting to meet this Imperial Preceptor."

Nowadays, in small border countries, the Immortal Dynasty had long since collapsed.

Strictly speaking, the term "Imperial Preceptor" no longer existed, but perhaps it had been passed down from generation to generation, and no one would correct it.

The so-called "Imperial Preceptor" now was merely an Enshrinement of Chu Capital, Ying City.

The Enshrinement of Ying City should be a Cultivator from the Profound Origin Sect.

Song Yan naturally had no good feelings towards the Profound Origin Sect.

One’s position dictates one’s perspective. From their point of view, perhaps there was nothing in the Cultivation world of Chu that wasn’t theirs.

Just as the Chu royal family believed.

Before long, Qin Yicao and Prince Shiying entered the Xiao Manor, and their gaze was quickly drawn to this "Immortal Master Tong."

Song Yan was quite surprised.

This Qin Yicao, Qin Enshrinement, seemed to be the Fellow Daoist he had occasionally met at Descending Immortal Pass, who organized the exchange meeting.

From this, one could indeed feel the immense power of the Profound Origin Sect.

A Cultivator at the Perfection of Qi Refining Realm was merely an external affairs Enshrinement.

Although it was the imperial capital, the identity of an Enshrinement was genuine.

Young Master Shiying saluted with a calm expression: "General Xiao’s resurrection is truly a blessing for Chu. The King specifically sent us to offer congratulations."

Xiao Ming returned the greeting indifferently: "Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern."

Distinguished guests naturally took the seats of honor.

During the banquet, Qin Yicao looked at Song Yan: "Is this the Daoist Priest Tong who performed the Immortal art of resurrection? May I ask which sect or school you belong to?"

Song Yan gently shook his head: "No sect, no school, a free and unattached person, merely a Loose Cultivator."

Qin Yicao felt a sense of relief, and his expression inevitably showed a hint of disdain.

Although he couldn’t discern Song Yan’s cultivation level, a Loose Cultivator who was so young could certainly not be a Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator.

Perhaps he had cultivated some method to conceal his Realm.

Playing tricks.

However, this resurrected General Xiao had a natural demeanor, his vitality normal, and he didn’t resemble a corpse puppet.

Could it be some secret art that caused a temporary resurgence of vitality?

With ill intentions in his heart, but on the surface, Qin Yicao quite familiarly patted Song Yan’s shoulder: "Fellow Daoist’s spell is wondrous; I must have a good discussion with you when there’s an opportunity."

Song Yan nodded indifferently, seemingly completely oblivious to the strange dust the other party left on him.

This also added to Qin Yicao’s disdain.

After three rounds of drinks, Young Master Shiying smiled at Xiao Heng: "You all don’t know, Father wept with joy upon hearing of Duke Xiao’s resurrection."

"It’s just that, if this talk of ’resurrection’ spreads, I fear that imitators among the common folk will dig up all their ancestral graves to invite this Immortal Master to come out, hahahahaha..."

Young Master Shiying’s words carried a hidden meaning, and the Xiao family members were silent as cicadas.

Song Yan smiled faintly: "The General’s lifespan was not yet exhausted to begin with. This humble Daoist merely acted in accordance with heaven, correcting a ’mistake’."

As soon as these words came out, Young Master Shiying and Qin Yicao both changed color.

Both harbored their own thoughts, fearing that their actions would be exposed by this so-called Immortal Master.

But unexpectedly, Song Yan changed the subject: "Now that this humble one’s Karma with General Xiao is resolved, I do not wish to disturb further, so I bid farewell."

After speaking, he left the table.

Xiao Ming wanted to get up to see him off, but heard Song Yan’s voice drifting: "General Xiao, please stay."

"Resurrection is not easy; please rest well."

Xiao Ming hesitated, but ultimately did not stop him, bowing from afar.

Qin Yicao stared at Song Yan’s retreating figure, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.

After he left the Xiao Manor, Young Master Shiying and Qin Yicao also offered their apologies and left the table.

"Imperial Preceptor."

Outside the Xiao Manor, Young Master Shiying’s tone was respectful as he asked: "This person..."

Qin Yicao waved his hand: "He is merely a Qi Refining Cultivator, but I don’t know what Demonic Path secret art he used to revive Xiao Ming."

He walked straight out of Ying City: "I will go and meet him."

In reality, Qin Yicao was far from as calm as he appeared on the surface. He was extremely anxious in his heart, and his movements became faster and faster.

Two wind-traveling Talismans were cast, chasing in the direction Song Yan had left.

He cursed in his heart.

"That Spiritual Sword has disappeared without a trace; it must have fallen into this person’s hands!"