"My true self has actually died..."

Daoist Heisen, Sima Yan, gazed at the pitch-black abyss-like Mo Yuan, his brows furrowed tightly.

Long before his true self entered Mo Yuan, he had left a rare Secret Treasure behind - the ’Divine Wood Embryo’, as a last resort.

Not long ago:

His true self died in Mo Yuan, and the Divine Wood Embryo immediately started its incubation, until just now when it finally completed, evolving into a Yin Wood Dharma Body.

Now, this Yin Wood Dharma Body, although still possessing combat power comparable to the true self, lacks a Golden Core and a complete Divine Soul, meaning his hope of ascending the Immortal Dao is severed.

Of course:

No matter how big the price paid, it’s better than completely dying in Mo Yuan.

"But how did I die exactly?"

Sima Yan’s eyes flashed with a hint of doubt.

He knew his own methods well, with astonishing tunneling speed and strong life-saving techniques, unless falling into a pre-set trap or being besieged by several strong opponents of the same realm, generally, it’s hard to perish.

If his true self had suddenly rushed into the deep layers and died there, he could still understand.

But the threat in the first and second zones is limited, even when facing multiple Black Death Beasts, he could handle them with ease. How could he die so cleanly without even escaping?

Although the Yin Wood Dharma Body is formidable, it ultimately cannot transmit thoughts across spaces. His memories remain synchronized to the last moment before his true self entered Mo Yuan, leaving him completely clueless about the situation inside Mo Yuan.

"..."

Sima Yan remained silent, still hesitating and struggling internally.

He wanted to go down once more to explore the cause of his true self’s death, ideally to avenge and reclaim his possessions and Magical Treasures.

But lacking crucial memories, rashly barging into Mo Yuan might lead to an unclear death, which would be a big loss.

"Hmm?"

Just as he hesitated, he suddenly sensed something, his expression startled:

"The escape light of a Golden Core Cultivator... So soon, someone has already come out?"

He immediately restrained his own aura, flashed his escape light, and retreated afar.

The situation in Mo Yuan is obscure to him, and since he doesn’t know if the incoming party is friend or foe, it’s best to observe secretly first.

"Boom!" "Boom!"...

Moments later, numerous escape lights soared skywards, leaving the perimeter of Mo Yuan.

"Phew... Finally out."

Jiuhua Ancestor and others sighed in relief, their expressions much more relaxed.

"Let’s go, first to Li Yuan Sect’s mountain gate."

Zhang Yao spoke up to call, and the group promptly changed direction, heading to the mountain gate of Li Yuan Sect.

After the escape lights departed:

Sima Yan stealthily reappeared, his gaze fixed on the horizon, brows faintly furrowed:

"So it’s them..."

He initially thought perhaps some change occurred deep within Mo Yuan, causing the explorers to come out early.

Unexpectedly, those leaving Mo Yuan early were merely local factions like Nether Abyss Ancestor and Elder Qingxu, with others still absent.

"Hmm... I still need to make contact!"

Sima Yan hesitated slightly but quickly made a decision.

He is currently in the dark, and what he most needs is information. Even if contact results in conflict, it’s still worth it.

More importantly:

Though the Yin Wood Dharma Body no longer holds advancement hope, it harbors many mystical traits, allowing him to confidently initiate contact.

......

Li Yuan Sect.

After studying the Array Map and conducting field surveys, Zhang Yao began tallying the Spiritual Objects and Treasures in the storage bags of Nether Abyss Ancestor and others, drafting a list.

After considering all factors, Zhang Yao spent half an hour formulating a detailed modification plan.

Soon, under Zhang Yao’s direction, Black Abyss Ascendant, Jiuhua Ancestor, Ying Mo Sect Leader, and others personally began work, aiming to complete the mountain gate array modification as fast as possible.

"Rumble..."

Numerous Spirit Pattern Array Veins were reshaped, and at each critical node, many Golden Core Cultivators exercised Magical Power to switch materials and refine the Array Base anew.

The mountain gate array of Li Yuan Sect was originally arranged by a Tier Three Array Master, later fortified by Nether Abyss Ancestor and Black Abyss Ascendant over two generations, making it rather formidable.

But such an array, at most, could only ward off several Golden Core Cultivators.

To fend off more than a dozen Golden Core Cultivators’ siege, it was far from sufficient, needing Zhang Yao to personally handle it.

"No wonder he’s a Golden Core Cultivator from the Celestial Master Lineage, his proficiency in arrays is impressive..."

Nether Abyss Ancestor couldn’t help but exclaim during the Array Base refinement process.

Having traversed the Celestial Continent Nine Mansions for hundreds of years, his insight is extraordinary, naturally able to judge Zhang Yao’s true skill from subtle traces.

And just as everyone was fervently engaged in array modification:

"Hmm?"

Zhang Yao suddenly had a change in expression, turning to look at the horizon.

Immediately afterward, Nether Abyss Ancestor seemed to sense something too, frowning:

"A Golden Core Cultivator’s escape light... No, the aura is peculiar, it seems like a puppet or avatar?"

A hint of vigilance arose in his eyes.

At this critical moment, an unexpected Golden Core Cultivator appearing was truly strange.

"Boom!"

A cyan-green escape light flew over slowly, pausing in the sky above Li Yuan Sect.

At this moment:

Due to the array modification, Li Yuan Sect’s mountain gate array was temporarily closed, allowing everyone to clearly see the figure in mid-air.

"Hmm? Who is this..."

Zhang Yao scanned with Divine Thought, immediately showing a hint of astonishment.

The figure in mid-air was surprisingly a peculiar wooden body, its form constructed from branches and vines, with hair like delicate green leaves, and the robe on its body also shaped by flora.

"This person’s face, how does it resemble the deceased Daoist Heisen, Sima Yan?"

Zhang Yao keenly perceived this point.

Not only that, the aura of this figure was also eighty percent similar to that of Sima Yan, except that its magical power aura was much weaker, hovering between Foundation Establishment Perfection and a Golden Core Cultivator.

"Fellow Daoists."

The figure bowed slightly of its own accord, transmitting through divine thought:

"I, Sima Yan, have specially come to visit, hoping for a favorable reception."

"Hmm?"

Zhang Yao and Nether Abyss Ancestor exchanged a glance, suddenly understanding.

"A centipede dies but never falls stiff!"

Nether Abyss Ancestor transmitted: 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"It seems this must be Sima Yan’s contingency plan; he has resurrected in some form."

"Hmm."

Zhang Yao nodded slightly, his eyes flickering:

"How about we first engage with him to understand his intentions? If the opportunity is favorable, perhaps we should consider recruiting him!"

"In this way, we would immediately gain a strong ally, greatly increasing our chances of victory at the deepest layer!"

Resurrection methods in the Golden Core Realm all have various flaws, some even being radically transformative.

Whether the Sima Yan behind this avatar is truly Sima Yan is uncertain, but this mattered little to Zhang Yao and Nether Abyss Ancestor.

As long as Sima Yan’s power post-resurrection hadn’t declined greatly, then he was a powerful ally worth recruiting.

"Indeed, I was thinking exactly that!"

"This is a heaven-sent opportunity not to be missed!"

Nether Abyss Ancestor nodded repeatedly.

The danger they faced in penetrating the deepest layer was immense; calling it a nine deaths one life situation wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

Celestial Master Tianying would definitely be lying in wait near the Magnetic Barrier, looking to set up an array once his companions attempted to break through the blockade, and this alone was immensely difficult to accomplish.

But with Sima Yan joining them, the alliance of three late-stage Golden Core powerhouses would have the strength to directly confront Celestial Master Tianying!

"It’s Fellow Daoist Sima..."

Nether Abyss Ancestor flew forward with a broad smile, taking charge of receiving Sima Yan.

Very soon:

The group temporarily ceased their array modifications and received the Ghost Shadow Avatar of Daoist Heisen, Sima Yan, in the main hall of Li Yuan Sect.

"... So, am I dead by the hands of Celestial Master Tianying?"

Sima Yan frowned deeply, seemingly skeptical:

"Does he truly have such power to kill my original form and also Yin Flame Ancestor in succession?!"

It wasn’t that he doubted the words of Nether Abyss Ancestor and Zhang Yao, but it was indeed quite bizarre.

His original form was treacherously killed by Celestial Master Tianying, while he could barely accept it, yet Yin Flame Ancestor was somehow ambushed and killed under the public eye?

"Alas, this matter is indeed mysterious, and the story is quite long..."

Nether Abyss Ancestor sighed, recounting all the antecedents and consequences in detail.

Of course, he omitted the parts regarding the underworld and Zhuoxiu Tribe, framing it as suspicion against Celestial Master Tianying for having overly grand ambitions and wanting to preemptively eliminate competition.

"..."

Sima Yan listened to the narration, his expression dark and silent.

While he had finally learned the cause of death of his original form, he still harbored suspicions, as this was only one side’s narrative from Nether Abyss Ancestor.

What if the real truth was the exact opposite?

If Nether Abyss Ancestor and others besieged and killed his original form, yet blamed Celestial Master Tianying? This possibility was not inconceivable.

"Fellow Daoist Qingxu, what do you think..."

Nether Abyss Ancestor observed the situation and immediately used divine thought to transmit to Zhang Yao, discussing countermeasures.

If they intended to recruit Sima Yan as an ally to penetrate the deepest layer and oppose Celestial Master Tianying together, they first needed to earn his trust.

However, in the current circumstances, this was not an easy task.

While the two discussed:

"Fellow Daoist Qingxu."

Sima Yan suddenly spoke, fixing his gaze on Zhang Yao, and slowly said:

"According to Fellow Daoist Mingyuan’s account, my cause of death was due to the conflict over Mitian Sand, and then killed by Celestial Master Tianying’s Ghost Shadow Avatar."

"Isn’t my Storage Bag still in your possession?"

"Correct."

Zhang Yao nodded, promptly taking out Sima Yan’s Storage Bag and handing it to him:

"The Storage Bag of Fellow Daoist is now returned to its rightful owner."

"Everything inside, except for Mitian Sand, has been untouched."

After dividing Mitian Sand, Yin Flame Ancestor’s party immediately had conflicts, nobody cared about the remaining items in the Storage Bag, which Zhang Yao then collected.

Unexpectedly, the rightful owner was able to reclaim it now, possibly becoming a pivotal opportunity to forge an alliance with Sima Yan.

"Excellent! High honor from you, Fellow Daoist! I owe you gratitude!"

Sima Yan’s expression softened immediately.

Upon accepting the Storage Bag, he infused both his divine thought and magical power, regaining control.

"Buzz!"

Sima Yan’s divine thought swept inside, disregarding the Spirit Stones, Spirit Pills, and Magical Treasures, instead focusing on an inconspicuous block of moss-green stone.

The moss-green stone seemed ordinary, akin to a certain Spirit Gold Ore.

As Sima Yan’s divine thought entered it, the stone quivered slightly, emitting faint radiance, suddenly releasing image-like drawings that surged forth like a tide, quickly received by his divine thought.

"So that’s how it is..."