When the Master of the Profound Capital spoke, everyone in the room turned to him. The chief disciple of the Dousan Palace, wearing a beaming smile, addressed Li Xuan: “In the past, you couldn’t see through many things, which limited your achievements. Who would have thought that after several cycles of reincarnation, you would finally make up for that deficiency? Your cultivation in this life must be far superior to what it was then!”

Seeing the confusion on everyone’s faces, Master Xuandu realized his words had been rather abrupt. He chuckled without offering an explanation, merely gesturing to Li Xuan: “Once you consume this elixir, everything will become clear!”

Li Xuan held the golden pill in his hand, his face a mixture of doubt and intense curiosity. “If I eat this pill, will I still be me?”

“Naturally!” Master Xuandu nodded. “Truthfully, if we had found you sooner, things would not have been like this! However, before your last reincarnation, you were already severely injured, barely managing to preserve a sliver of your divine consciousness. After several rebirths, that thread of consciousness is almost worn away. Therefore, even if you consume this golden pill and recover your memories from past lives, you will still be you; you cannot revert to being your former self!”

This situation was not entirely difficult to grasp. Under normal circumstances, the former self, who had cultivated for so long, would clearly be far more formidable than the current Li Xuan. If their personalities clashed, the current Li Xuan would undoubtedly be subsumed without question!

It would be like Artemis and Ekaterina: at best, it would grant Artemis an extra set of experiences and memories, but it would not significantly alter her core personality!

The predicament Li Xuan was currently facing was that the divine consciousness bearing those vast memories and personality traits was on the verge of collapse, while the current Li Xuan was obviously in the best state to absorb them. In this scenario, the current Li Xuan would merely assimilate those memories and experiences, gaining extra knowledge without affecting his disposition. This bore some resemblance to Wuzhen’s reincarnation.

After hearing Xuandu’s explanation, Li Xuan finally relaxed. He raised his hand and, with a decisive flick, swallowed the elixir. He could see that if he refused this medicine today, this Daoist master would not leave! Besides, the pill posed no harm to him; taking it was simply that.

As for what would happen afterward? He didn’t believe taking this pill would change him fundamentally. He would still be himself and act according to his own will.

If one were to discuss the art of pill refinement in the Immortal Realm, perhaps no one could surpass the Grand Pure Lord (Taishang Laojun). As soon as the golden pill entered his stomach, Li Xuan felt a wave of warmth flood his entire body, a comfortable warmth. Simultaneously, scenes began to emerge in his mind, initially fragmented, then gradually coalescing. It felt akin to a grand dream, yet everything within that dream remained vividly etched in his memory.

When he finally snapped back to awareness, he realized the time had passed noon. Ye Wen, Cui Jun, and the Daoist master were all still seated exactly where they had been. Seeing him open his eyes, they all turned towards him.

Li Xuan looked around, then cupped his hands toward the Daoist master. “Daoist Friend Xuandu!”

Upon hearing this address, everyone understood immediately: Li Xuan had regained his past memories, but he remained Li Xuan; he had not transformed into Master Xuandu’s fellow disciple. This was evident because he addressed Xuandu as 'Daoist Friend' rather than 'Senior Brother.'

Master Grand Master Xuandu narrowed his eyes and smiled knowingly. “In that case, one concern has been settled! However, Daoist Friend Li, please recount everything that happened back then!”

By this time, Ye Wen had realized that Li Xuan’s past incarnation was none other than Li Tieguai, the leader of the Eight Immortals of the Upper Cave. Ye Wen knew the name Li Tieguai, but not that Li Tieguai’s original self was Li Xuan!

As for why there were numerous legends about the Eight Immortals on Earth, even with seemingly contradictory historical periods extending into the Song Dynasty—they weren't immortals who ascended later, but rather because the Eight Immortals frequently visited the mortal realm discreetly, leaving behind many tales.

The incident this time was similar!

However, this incident did not occur on Earth; it happened in another world! At that time, a demonic overlord emerged in the Immortal Realm, causing widespread havoc. The Eight Immortals of the Upper Cave were tasked by the Heavenly Court and Laojun himself to eliminate this demon.

The ensuing battle was cataclysmic. The demon employed all manner of wicked stratagems, constantly shifting locations, managing to slay Lan Caihe and Han Xiangzi among the Eight Immortals, and grievously wounding Lü Dongbin and He Xiangu. Had Laojun not rushed over when the situation turned dire, those two would likely have met the same fate!

Li Tieguai was furious. Ignoring Laojun’s attempts to restrain him, he insisted on pursuing the demon. As a result, he fell into the demon’s trap and was severely wounded. In desperation, he activated a life-saving talisman he had acquired from Laojun in earlier years, barely escaping with his life.

Even so, Li Tieguai felt his life was hanging by a thread and resolved to discard his physical form and reincarnate for new cultivation, intending to deal with matters later upon returning to the Immortal Realm.

Coincidentally, Li Tieguai fled to Earth at that time. The spiritual energy on Earth was long past its prime compared to past ages, a fact the immortal could discern. Worried, he knew that cultivating on Earth would make it difficult to reach the Celestial Immortal realm and ascend to the Immortal Realm within a single lifetime.

Especially since the initial stages on Earth were the most challenging, he searched far and wide while gravely injured, seeking a method to ensure his reincarnated self could still cultivate to the Celestial Immortal realm.

To his surprise, this search led him to a rare treasure—the Nine Provinces Tripods!

Li Tieguai was a renowned deity who had cultivated under Laojun, so his discerning eye was naturally sharp. He recognized the Nine Provinces Tripods as an extraordinary treasure immediately and knew of its myriad marvelous functions.

Due to his severe injuries, he didn't consider seizing the treasure immediately, but he recognized its immense utility. This treasure could manifest worlds and gather spiritual energy. Over countless centuries, the tripods had accumulated an unimaginable amount of spiritual energy. While it couldn't instantly elevate him to Celestial Immortal status, it was perfectly suited to serve as a site for initial cultivation.

Thus, Li Tieguai projected his divine consciousness into the tripods, reincarnating as a mortal within that sealed world. He hoped the world within the tripod could help him pass the initial stage. Once he broke through the Earthly Immortal realm, he could return to Earth and seek further methods to continue his cultivation.

Li Tieguai had left a contingency plan. He had placed a safeguard on his divine consciousness: as soon as his reincarnated self reached the Earthly Immortal realm and emerged from the tripod, he would regain his original memories. In that case, Li Tieguai would still be Li Tieguai—possessing experience and insight, just lacking in cultivation level.

But once he recovered, he could then reclaim the Nine Provinces Tripods. Even without other methods, he could slowly grind his cultivation back up using the tripods. In short, Li Tieguai had planned everything for himself!

Furthermore, Li Tieguai had made arrangements for himself within the world of the tripods. The Profound Ice Banishment Fire Divine Art was a marvelous technique specifically prepared by Li Tieguai after assessing the conditions within the tripod world. In other words, Li Tieguai’s reincarnation in the tripod world was none other than the founder of the Tianshan Sect!

Upon hearing this, Ye Wen interjected, perplexed. “So, the founder of the Tianshan Sect was also named Li Xuan?”

Li Xuan gave a wry smile and shook his head. “There was a complication…” He then briefly recounted the rest of the story.

It turned out that Li Tieguai's intended reincarnation was indeed named Li Xuan, and he did receive the Profound Ice Banishment Fire Divine Art, subsequently mastering martial arts and making a name for himself in the Jianghu.

However, before he could venture out, the new Emperor ascended the throne, and by chance, the new Emperor’s name also contained the character 'Xuan.' To avoid the imperial taboo, countless people across the realm were forced to change their names.

The Li Xuan of that time had no choice but to alter his name… This single change—perhaps affecting some karmic threads—caused this Tianshan patriarch to miss out on the myriad fortunes Li Tieguai had arranged for him, leading him to die of frustration within the Nine Provinces Tripods.

“……”

Ye Wen wiped a bead of sweat from his brow, thinking, Truly, life is unpredictable. Such a small, insignificant change nearly caused the leader of the Eight Immortals, Li Tieguai, to vanish without a trace!

At the same time, Ye Wen was curious about what blessings Li Tieguai had arranged for himself. When he inquired, he learned that besides the Profound Ice Banishment Fire Divine Art, the Phoenix Nirvana Rebirth Art was also placed into the Nine Provinces Tripods by Li Tieguai. This was intended to allow his reincarnation to transform his innate talent should it prove insufficient. As for the issue of this being a technique from the Phoenix Clan, he could no longer afford to worry about such details. As long as he could return to the Immortal Realm, even if he had to reincarnate and cultivate again, it wouldn't be a major obstacle. With the protection of his fellow Daoists, matters would become much simpler then.

But in his current predicament, time was of the essence. He had to resort to various measures, even considering training a female cultivator to practice the art alongside him if all else failed. He deliberately left only seven layers, realizing that practicing just seven layers would prevent any irreparable, strange alterations from occurring.

Ye Wen was speechless again upon hearing this. While he admired how thoroughly Li Tieguai had planned—accounting for almost everything—he secretly felt disdain. Damn it, this fellow isn't exactly a good person either; he even conceived of a method like that. He failed to realize that for someone who had reached Li Tieguai's level of attainment, such minor details were mere fleeting clouds…

Furthermore, Tianshan was the pre-selected training ground. Even the Cold Fruit in the Tianshan Fire Spring would have ripened before his hundredth birthday and been discovered by him, helping him break through the final barrier, had his name not been changed!

But because of this name change, he missed a string of subsequent opportunities. Consequently, this Tianshan patriarch died before reaching a hundred years of age, never living to see the Cold Fruit mature. The fruit ultimately became ownerless, fortuitously benefiting Xu Xian, who later possessed that heaven-defying halo!

Ye Wen asked with confusion, “But if that’s the case, why didn’t the later reincarnation find the Cold Fruit?”

Li Xuan chuckled. “By then, my former self was already on the brink of death; he had no capacity to influence events so far into the future! Each time the divine consciousness reincarnated, its imprint weakened by a fraction. As the imprint faded, the connection to those deliberately left behind blessings also grew tenuous. Eventually, it could only barely preserve the memories, losing all influence over anything else…”

Master Xuandu also remarked, “We never realized you were hiding to reincarnate within the tripod world. No wonder Master, upon sensing Daoist Friend’s predicament, searched everywhere only to find no trace—this was the reason!”

The events that followed needed no elaboration. After several cycles of reincarnation, Li Xuan, by a twist of fate, eventually took refuge under the Tianshan Sect and even became its Sect Master. It remains unclear if this development was triggered by an eruption of Li Tieguai’s lingering obsession. However, merely this alone would not have allowed Li Xuan to break free from the shackles of the Nine Provinces Tripods and arrive in the Immortal Realm; it was thanks to Ye Wen’s intervention that this variable occurred.

Thinking of this, Li Xuan clasped his hands toward Ye Wen. “Calculated this way, I, Li, owe Sect Master Ye a great debt of gratitude!”

After relaying the general situation to Master Xuandu, Xuandu learned that Li Xuan’s escape from the Nine Provinces Tripods was entirely due to Ye Wen. He too bowed slightly toward Ye Wen, offering his thanks.

This, however, caused Ye Wen considerable awkwardness. The Nine Provinces Tripods, which he had always considered his greatest reliance, had already been marked by someone else. If he pressed the issue, didn't the ownership rightfully belong to Li Xuan?

Fortunately, Li Xuan was still Li Xuan. He stated frankly, “Having experienced so much, it is clear that the treasure tripods and I are not fated. That treasure seems to have a great affinity with Sect Master Ye!” This statement settled the matter: Li Xuan would not contest Ye Wen’s ownership of the Nine Provinces Tripods.

Having clarified the background, Li Xuan accepted that his predecessor was indeed the leader of the Eight Immortals of the Upper Cave. However, he felt this fact would not impact him. Although he had recovered the memories of his past life, they had not altered his personality. His friendships with the other Eight Immortals felt like an illusion, carrying no emotional weight.

Finally, Master Xuandu spoke, “Lü Dongbin has been recuperating in seclusion since that severe injury. Had it not been for this, he certainly would have come himself. Li Quan and Xiaoyun have mostly recovered, but they are still tending to Lü Dongbin. However, if Daoist Friend Li is inclined, you may visit them!” Then, he paused, “If…”

He didn't finish the sentence. The implication was clear: if Li Xuan wished to reconnect with those old friends, he should choose a suitable day to see them. If not, there was no need. Since the phrasing was rather delicate, it required no further elaboration. As for where to visit them? With the memories of his previous life, Li Xuan naturally knew where, requiring no explanation.

Li Xuan nodded, saying neither yes nor no—he likely hadn't made up his mind yet. Seeing that he avoided the topic, Master Xuandu did not press further. Instead, he began conversing with Li Xuan about other matters, occasionally injecting a phrase that hinted at fellowship between fellow disciples.

At this point, it was evident that Li Xuan was indeed unaffected by those memories. He ignored all the subtle suggestions woven into Master Xuandu's words, clearly having no intention of returning to the Doushuai Palace.

After talking for a while, Li Xuan stated plainly, “Although I have gained those memories now, I, Li, am ultimately not the leader of the Eight Immortals. As far as I am concerned, I would rather bring glory to my Tianshan Sect here in the Immortal Realm!”

Now that Li Xuan was confirmed as the founding patriarch—since the Tianshan Patriarch was his past self—no one could argue with his title now.

With the conversation having reached this point, Master Xuandu knew that although he had found his old comrade and prevented the complete demise of Li Tieguai, the Li Xuan he found now was no longer the Li Xuan of the past. Fortunately, this Li Xuan was upright, magnanimous, and possessed a demeanor that was quite admirable; there was no need to mourn for his former comrade.

Standing up, he offered Li Xuan another respectful bow. “Since that is the case, this humble Daoist will not impose further. However, if Daoist Friend Li is interested, you may visit me at Doushuai Palace at any time!”

Li Xuan rose to return the gesture. “I shall certainly visit Doushuai Palace to offer my thanks another day!” Regardless, he had benefited from the Grand Pure Lord’s grace on this occasion. Though the golden pill showed no immediate miracle, it had served to restore his past memories. Slowly, however, he began to feel its true effects. The medicinal power had not entirely dissipated; it was slowly nourishing his meridians and vital energy within his body. Now, even without practicing cultivation, Li Xuan would not stop progressing. This single elixir was so precious that most immortals in the Immortal Realm would fight to the death for it.

He was not unreasonable. Although they sought their old friend, the ultimate beneficiary was him. Moreover, he had inherited all the experience gained throughout Li Tieguai’s life of cultivation; this immense inheritance alone warranted a personal visit to Doushuai Palace to express his gratitude.

After exchanging farewells, Master Xuandu turned to Ye Wen. “Regarding Sect Master Ye obtaining the Nine Provinces Tripods, I will, at most, inform my Master. No one else will hear a single word from me! However, Sect Master Ye must remember that if any cultivator emerges from the tripods, it is best to direct them to the Heavenly Court. This is a rule of the Heavenly Court, and it is best to comply with it!”

Ye Wen nodded and returned the bow. “Thank you for the reminder, Daoist Friend!”

With that, Master Xuandu lifted his leg and stepped out, instantly appearing outside the wooden house. Colorful auspicious clouds then materialized beneath his feet, lifting him into the air. He stepped onto the clouds and departed. The man was indeed efficient and decisive; once the matter was settled, he left without a second thought or unnecessary word.

Seeing him depart, Ye Wen turned back to look at Li Xuan. He saw Li Xuan still sitting there, seemingly lost in thought. He knew Li Xuan had undergone too many changes in one day. While they were all positive developments, they were not things one could process instantly. Finally, Ye Wen said, “Sect Master Li, please rest now. I shall take my leave as well! If anything arises, you may seek me out at Mount Shu!”

Li Xuan nodded, then bid farewell to Cui Jun before returning to his daze—likely contemplating how he should proceed with his future path.

Meanwhile, Ye Wen and Cui Jun left the wooden hut, summoned Yuwentuo, and headed back toward Mount Shu. Along the way, Cui Jun remarked, “So, the grand formation of your sect uses the Nine Provinces Tripods as its core. No wonder it is so marvelous!” Shaking his head and nodding, he praised, “Rest assured, although my mouth is sometimes unrestrained, I will not utter a single word about things that should remain secret!”

Knowing that Ye Wen did not wish too many people to know about the situation, Cui Jun gave Ye Wen a reassurance. Moreover, this matter involved the secret of the Mount Shu Sect’s grand formation; few would be willing to spread such news to the world.

Ye Wen nodded but said nothing, merely remarking with a sigh, “I never imagined Sect Master Li’s experiences would be so bizarre!” He was naturally referring to Li Tieguai and the chain of reincarnations, not Li Xuan’s current life events.

After a moment of thought, Ye Wen suddenly wondered aloud, “I wonder what happened to that demon who slew Han Xiangzi and Lan Caihe, crippled several of the Eight Immortals, and forced Li Tieguai into reincarnation and retraining?”

Cui Jun was startled, then frowned, pondering for a while before answering, “I seem to recall hearing something about that back then, but I don't know the final outcome. I suppose Laojun must have personally stepped in to deal with him?”

After some thought, this seemed the only plausible conclusion. Otherwise, there was no reason why the Grand Pure Lord would ignore a demon who had beaten his disciple to the point of reincarnation.

Returning to Mount Shu, Ye Wen went to the inner courtyard and recounted the entire incident to the women. Artemis treated it as a mere story, but the two women who knew Li Xuan remarked, “We never realized there was such a complex turn of events!”

After explaining everything, Huayi asked, “Husband, what are your plans next?”

“Naturally, to recuperate, gather my strength, and then go seek trouble with that eight-headed serpent!” However, as soon as Ye Wen finished speaking, Ning Ruxue glared at him. “Don’t go alone again this time, or you might return as two people!”