"Is the Jade Ancestor also trying to reshape the Path to Immortality?"

Jiang Sha shook her head, "No. The Jade Ancestor wrote articles directly scolding the Heavenly Dao and got punished for it."

Such a plain and unadorned reason left Fan Wubing at a loss for whether he should criticize or not.

"Alright, back to the main topic. It seems staying by your side is quite life-shortening."

Jiang Sha did not shy away and said directly, "Qingqing is a thousand years younger than me, but you’ve seen how she looks."

"Do you feel that curse every day?" Fan Wubing asked.

"Yes."

Fan Wubing couldn’t help but admire, feeling it every day and yet not going mad—it seems the Slaughter Demon Lord has a strong will. He said sullenly,

"How about I get you a fully automatic wheelchair, so no one needs to push it for you?"

Jiang Sha was stunned, then burst out laughing, "You think what I lack is someone to push my wheelchair? What I lack is service." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"What does service entail?"

"Taking care of my daily life. Helping me handle miscellaneous matters."

"With your cultivation reaching the sky, do you still need others to take care of you?" Fan Wubing questioned.

Jiang Sha smiled, "How about you come to bear the Heavenly Dao’s curse for me?"

"Then forget it."

"If you agree to be my servant, I can help you with another favor."

"What favor?"

Jiang Sha turned her head to look at the dusky sky outside, "I can conceal your fate, preventing others from prying into you."

Fan Wubing frowned, "What do you mean?"

Jiang Sha spoke softly, "The death of Fan Wubing, even after twenty years, remains a popular topic for conversation over tea in the world. Everyone was amazed that you could provoke such a wrath of heaven, yet at the same time, they were relieved you died."

"Why?"

"Because they cannot accept someone who survived a heavenly strike; it defies the Heavenly Dao. If they knew you were still alive, everything about you would be dug up clean. Your relatives, your companions, your friends, every place you’ve been, everything you’ve encountered, would all be scrutinized." Jiang Sha’s tone was calm as water, yet dark undercurrents surged within, "Especially those at the peak of the mountains. They are too eager to know what kind of person you really are."

Fan Wubing thought carefully and realized she was right.

It’s no wonder she’s an old monster, seeing things so sharply.

Even though it’s a fact, Fan Wubing felt really uncomfortable inside. It was the first time he realized the unknown dangers he would face standing under the spotlight. Previously, while he was somewhat famous, he was nothing compared to the whole world.

After all, in the Nineteen Continents of the World, there are countless talented people, and more eye-catching events are happening all the time.

But after the journey to the Sea of Eternal Life, everything changed.

That heavenly strike truly affected the entire world, visible to everyone. Everyone believed he would die without even ashes remaining, and the reality seemed to match what they saw. His soul, body, and path all completely disintegrated, leaving not a trace.

At this moment, if they found out Fan Wubing was still alive, what would happen?

He would not be seen as a hero fighting against heaven but as an anomaly, breaking the norm and unable to be restrained by "rules."

Jiang Sha seemed really able to see through what someone is thinking.

Her voice remained gentle, "You are very strong. Even if those on the mountaintops target you, you can live easily. But you can only make life easier for yourself. Only if you are ’dead’ can it be considered protection for the people and things you cherish."

Fan Wubing frowned.

"It’s quite uncomfortable, isn’t it?" Jiang Sha said, "If the rules of this world were written by you, if whether the Heavenly Dao is good or bad is decided by you, then what would they say?"

Fan Wubing hesitated slightly, "Let me think it over."

This was a choice.

Was it better to stay beside a dangerous demon cultivator of unknown depth and intention, or to be secretly watched by a group of people at the peak?

He pondered, "This Demon Cultivator once tried to reshape the Path to Immortality, also clashed with the Heavenly Dao, and was cursed by it. Seems like we’re in the same boat... Wait! I’m no longer a Heavenly Crippled Body..."

As soon as he woke, he discovered this.

In the constitution section, only the "Nine Nether Divine Phoenix Body" remained.

Could it be that the Heavenly Dao truly thought I was dead?

Is the Heavenly Dao so foolish that it could not detect my resurrection?

Fan Wubing felt that during his twenty-year slumber, other things might have happened. Many questions still hovered in his mind.

The true body of Xianchan is Ying Huo, yet it bears blood patterns like a True Demon. Since Ying Huo comes from the Heavenly Dao, does it mean True Demons are actually related to the Heavenly Dao?

Where did Senior Sister find Xianchan?

And where did Senior Sister ultimately go?

Who helped me modify my destiny, leaving me a sliver of life? The Heavenly Dao... what kind of existence is it really?

Fan Wubing couldn’t help but sigh. Going to the Sea of Eternal Life was to find Senior Sister, but he ended up not finding her and losing Xianchan.

"Have you thought it through?" Jiang Sha asked.

"Why do you want me to be your servant?" Fan Wubing asked.

Jiang Sha smiled, "Besides you, no one else could probably bear the cost of being by my side, right?"

Indeed, he has a long blood bar and a tough life. Staying by Jiang Sha’s side, the maximum life points lost per second aren’t more than what he automatically regenerates while cultivating.

Seems he could only agree with her.

Fan Wubing didn’t like this passive feeling; he preferred to be proactive.

Suddenly, he thought of something, his eyes lit up, just about to speak.

Jiang Sha preemptively stopped him, "No clones allowed. You must stay by my side in person."

What the...!

Did she foresee this too? I was planning to use Dragon Thousand Bodies to leave a clone by her side to serve her!

Can this woman read minds?

Fan Wubing grew nervous.

No, it shouldn’t be. I have the "Heart’s Furnace," a Cultivation Technique even the Heavenly Dao couldn’t make me forget. She can’t break through my soul’s defenses to read my heart.

Could it just be that she made a prediction?

Fan Wubing took a deep breath, "Alright. But I can’t be your servant for life. You look after me for twenty years, and I’ll serve you for twenty years! No more than that. Also, you can’t interfere with my freedom. I’m just working for you, not really committing myself. If I find you’re plotting against me, I’ll leave at any time."

Jiang Sha smiled slightly, "Okay."

This easy to talk to?

Fan Wubing added, "I’ll only stay by your side for four hours a day, and the rest of the time, you can’t control me. Also, I need at least eight days off per month."

"Okay."

Really this easy to talk to?

Fan Wubing reiterated, "No, I’ll only stay by your side for three hours a day, with at least fifteen days off per month!"

"No problem."

"Then one hour!"

Jiang Sha laughed, "You don’t have to do that. You only need to come to me once a month."

Fan Wubing was stunned, "You... weren’t you asking me to take care of your daily life?"

"Yes. But from now on, I will only wake up one day a month. You just need to come to me on that day."

Fan Wubing immediately broke into a smile, "You should have said so earlier. If you’d told me sooner, I would’ve agreed sooner. I thought it was that kind of close personal service."

Jiang Sha smiled gently, "You were just too anxious. Come to me."

Her words had an inviting tone, making Fan Wubing involuntarily walk over.

Only when he was in front of her did Fan Wubing snap back to his senses, alarmed... How did I come to her without any guard?

"Bend down, bow your head," Jiang Sha said.

Fan Wubing bent down, matching her level.

Jiang Sha lifted her left hand, pointing a finger on his forehead.

A cold sensation swept through his entire body from his forehead.

Then, a prompt appeared before Fan Wubing—

[You have gained the talent, "Body Without Destiny"]

["Body Without Destiny": Your true existence cannot be perceived by others]

Fan Wubing felt his entire body became lighter, as if a burden was lifted from his shoulders, or rather, someone helped lift the burden from his shoulders.

"Done," Jiang Sha said.

Fan Wubing exhaled, speaking lightly, "Since that’s the case, let’s sign the contract."

"What contract?"

"The contract for serving you, of course."

Jiang Sha laughed softly, "There’s no contract between me and Qingqing."

"Aren’t you afraid I might leave and not come back?"

Jiang Sha looked into his eyes, softly asking, "Would you?"

"Don’t take me for a virtuous gentleman!" Fan Wubing said, feeling wronged.

"Someone who cultivates demonic arts couldn’t possibly be a virtuous gentleman."