He Tianya

The next morning, following A Liu's directions, we quickly climbed the mountain. Strangely enough, according to him, the path up the mountain was extremely treacherous, and no one had ever reached the summit. Yet, we had been walking for less than an hour when we encountered Fourth Uncle's Daoist temple.

As soon as we stepped to the entrance of the temple, we could feel the solemn majesty of the entire scene before us.

In the center of the main hall, the three supreme deities of Daoism, the Three Pure Ones, were enshrined: Yuqing, Shangqing, and Taiqing. Among them, Yuqing was Yuanshi Tianzun; Shangqing was Lingbao Tianzun; and Taiqing was Daode Tianzun, also known as Taishang Laojun.

The three statues were majestic and elegant, surrounded by curling incense smoke that lent an incredibly ethereal, immortal atmosphere to the scenery.

From the misty incense smoke, a Daoist master stepped out, his demeanor upright, elegant, and transcendent. I scrutinized the person before me from head to toe.

At first glance, he looked to be in his late forties, wearing a Daoist robe dominated by yellow with black borders. Each pattern on the borders was unique, flickering in and out of sight like a giant python transforming into a dragon, crafted with exquisite detail. On the back of the robe, an imposing Nine-Story Pagoda was embroidered. But the most delicate touch of the Daoist robe was the Bagua Array Diagram on the chest; though it was clearly embroidered, if one stared at it for long, the Bagua Array seemed to be actively rotating.

It was indeed far different from the Daoist robes I had commonly seen before.

Fourth Uncle did not let me stare for long before speaking, "Kid, are you done examining me?"

Su Er and Grandfather laughed teasingly, while I could only say with a bit of embarrassment, "Not at all, I just find your Daoist robe very beautiful, Uncle."

Fourth Uncle waved his hand and laughed heartily, "You certainly have an eye for beauty. Come, step inside."

Su Er and I clasped our hands in respect and bowed deeply. Fourth Uncle helped us up and gestured for us to enter the Daoist temple.

Once inside, Fourth Uncle looked me over and evaluated, "To have withstood the poison of the Yin-Yang Corpse for so long, haha, you truly have some capability."

I was puzzled. Originally, only Grandfather, Su Er, and the Old Blind Man knew about my poisoning. We had never spoken of this to anyone, so how did Fourth Uncle know about it so clearly?

Fourth Uncle did not give me any chance to voice my doubts. "Wondering how I know, aren't you?"

I could only nod in heartfelt admiration.

He laughed aloud and continued, "You probably haven't heard of the titles others have given us."

I narrowed my eyes, observing Fourth Uncle. "What titles, Uncle?"

A glint of playfulness appeared in Fourth Uncle's eyes. "Kunlun Peak - Ye Maosong, Bubao Mountain - He Tianya."

I looked at Fourth Uncle as if to confirm his words. "If you are He Tianya, then Ye Maosong is...?"

Fourth Uncle looked at me with wise eyes. "The person named Ye Maosong has always been an enigma. Those who have seen him can be counted on one hand."

Fourth Uncle's words couldn't help but pique my curiosity about the other figure. But out of the corner of my eye, I suddenly thought of the Old Blind Man. He had once told me that if I ever needed help in the future, I should go to Mount Kunlun to find him. Could it be that he was...? Thinking of this, I immediately cut off my train of thought, because the Old Blind Man was just a peculiar old fellow, possessing not a single trace of a Daoist master's bearing.

Grandfather pulled back my shirt to show Fourth Uncle the line of black energy extending from my neck to my waist. Upon seeing it, Fourth Uncle frowned and took a sharp, cold breath. "It's progressing this fast?"

Grandfather nodded.

I didn't know what that black line represented, but I was certain it was an ill omen. Even Su Er gasped in terror when she saw it.

I reached my hand back, wanting to touch my spine, but in the end, I couldn't reach it.

I cast an imploring gaze toward Su Er. "Can you help me describe what it looks like?"

The three of them looked at my back in unison. Su Er replied with a trembling voice, "It's a straight black line, and corpse energy is constantly emanating from it."

I was stunned, only now realizing the gravity of the situation. "Am I... about to turn into a Ghost Soul?"

Although Grandfather shook his head in denial, a look of worry still crossed his face. "The first day of the seventh lunar month is when the Ghost Souls awaken."

Fourth Uncle nodded in agreement. "That being said, there is still half a month left."

Grandfather nodded.

Fourth Uncle looked at me, then at Grandfather, before offering a suggestion, "I have an idea, though I don't know if it will work. But it might be our last ray of hope."

Grandfather asked anxiously, "What is it?"

Fourth Uncle continued, "Your adoptive father knows a method called Defying Heaven to Change Fate. To be precise, it involves going to the Ghost Gate Pass to alter Chu Ling's destiny."

Altering destiny? Hearing this, I couldn't help but ask in doubt, "How can one alter destiny?"

Fourth Uncle paused for a few seconds. "To alter destiny, one must go to the Ghost Gate Pass. There is a place there called the Wood of Destiny, which records the fate of every living soul."

Grandfather and I nodded in unison.

Fourth Uncle frowned and suddenly sighed, his attitude shifting. "But for a living person to enter the Ghost Gate Pass, the price to pay is extremely high."

I was startled and asked, "What price?"

Fourth Uncle shook his head, frowning. "I am not entirely sure. It's just that once someone who wants to alter their fate enters the Ghost Gate Pass, it is very difficult to return. But if you wish to go, I will find a way to help."

Hearing this, I felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck me, and I could barely stand steady.

I looked at Grandfather and Su Er. Deep sorrow was written all over their faces, but I absolutely did not want my loved ones to fall into danger time and time again.

I said to Fourth Uncle, "I will go alone."

Grandfather shouted, "No! If you are going, I am going with you."

Su Er also chimed in, "Me too, Chu Ling. You cannot enter such a dangerous place alone."

Grandfather nodded in agreement with Su Er, but I felt this journey was fraught with peril.

Fourth Uncle raised his hand as if to dispel the tense atmosphere. "It might not be entirely impossible to return. I will support you all from the mortal realm."

Hearing this, my heart felt somewhat comforted.