The hall's sudden brilliance instantly receded, and everyone’s gaze settled solely on Ye Wen. He stood rooted to the spot, locked in an intense, eye-to-eye standoff with Lü Bu, neither man blinking first as if locked in a silent competition. Finally, Ye Wen made the first move—he flipped his right hand, produced a tiny, finger-sized vial, then tilted his head back and dropped two drops into his eyes...

"That's much better!"

"..." The onlookers fell silent, their lips pursed as they watched Ye Wen, utterly bewildered by his strange actions.

Ye Wen, however, seemed completely oblivious. After applying the drops, he blinked hard a couple of times, then offered a slight bow to the still-staring Lü Bu. "My apologies, my cultivation is meager; I couldn't discern anything!"

At this declaration, all those in the know within the hall let out a collective, long sigh. Yet, since the outcome wasn't entirely unexpected, no one found it particularly surprising. After the sighs subsided, those with other matters to attend to dispersed to resume their tasks.

Only a few individuals remained standing, Zhong Dajun among them. He approached Ye Wen and murmured quietly, "Sect Master Ye, not even a sliver of a clue?"

Ye Wen smiled faintly. "This matter is indeed difficult. My eyes, as they are, can barely manage to perceive the present; seeing into the future is already a stretch. As for past and future lives, it's even harder. Moreover, this time I wasn't trying to see Lord Lü's past life, but that of his beloved—the difficulty increases tenfold. It requires far more than just the divine ability of Heavenly Eye Clairvoyance!"

He mentally calculated that to truly discern Diao Chan's whereabouts by observing Lü Bu, he would need to cultivate at least the Six Supernatural Powers of Buddhism. Still, he hadn't truly seen nothing. Though Ye Wen didn't master those specific Buddhist powers, he had comprehended the Six Paths of Reincarnation, which directly governed the cycle of rebirth, and thus...

Turning his back to Lü Bu, Ye Wen gave Zhong Dajun a meaningful look, then began walking away while rambling incoherently, "This situation probably requires the Buddha himself to have any hope... I truly cannot see a thing..."

In just a few steps, Ye Wen and Zhong Dajun had moved some distance away. With a brief glance back, Ye Wen saw Lü Bu slump dejectedly and settle in a far corner of the main hall. Guan Yu, seemingly noticing the 'old acquaintance's' low spirits, walked over to say something to him... Seeing that neither man was paying attention to this area, Ye Wen dropped the pretense and spoke plainly to Zhong Dajun.

"It's not good news!"

Ever since Ye Wen signaled him, Zhong Dajun knew the Sect Master hadn't seen nothing; it was just that the matter was exceptionally difficult, which was why Ye Wen hadn't spoken the truth directly but had sought him out in a secluded corner to confer.

Ye Wen's expression was strange before he finally stated, "That Diao Chan... simply doesn't exist!"

Zhong Dajun had considered several possibilities—that Diao Chan might have ascended as a celestial immortal, or that her soul had been scattered by some accident—but never this one!

Yet, this was precisely the situation. No wonder Ye Wen dared not state it plainly to Lü Bu—the shock would be too great. Who knew how Lü Bu might react? While being consecrated under the Investiture of the Gods List prevented any immediate rampage, it was certainly not a desirable outcome.

Zhong Dajun pondered for a moment, then managed a wry smile. "Then we must lie to him..." He saw no impropriety in this; it was a white lie, after all—a small deception to save Lü Bu's life. In time, even if Lü Bu learned the truth, surely he wouldn't blame him?

After all, there was that saying: a shabby life is better than a noble death! Lü Bu's own demise was supposedly suffocatingly unfair; he likely wouldn't wish for another such end.

"Lie?" Ye Wen’s expression was quizzical. "Is that appropriate?"

"What's inappropriate about it? The Celestial Court needs hands to fight wars. Even though Lü Bu is temperamental, he is indeed a formidable general. Even His Majesty the Jade Emperor would be loath to cast such a great warrior into the cycle of rebirth, right? As for Lü Bu..." Zhong Dajun stroked his chin. "I will say that Diao Chan passed away later, achieved enlightenment in her reincarnation as a celestial, but her whereabouts are unknown. Since you are here in the Immortal Realm, you might have a chance to cross paths with Diao Chan's reincarnation. If her divine body were scattered and she re-entered the cycle, then all hope of reunion would be lost..."

"Where would this reincarnated celestial Diao Chan be..." Ye Wen still felt it was inappropriate; this excuse was too easily disproven.

Zhong Dajun chuckled slyly. "Once Lü Bu settles down in the Celestial Court, or perhaps takes an interest in another lady? The matter of Diao Chan will naturally be shelved! At worst, we can find someone who strongly resembles Diao Chan; that should suffice for a while... After all, saying she's Diao Chan's reincarnation, not Diao Chan herself, makes everything easier to manage!"

Hearing Zhong Dajun's reasoning, Ye Wen finally had to agree that it held some merit! Though he clearly recognized that Manager Zhong was ultimately looking out for himself—he didn't want this relatively simple task to run into trouble. Receiving a reprimand was minor; losing his divine post would be the real headache!

Furthermore, Zhong Dajun worried that if Lü Bu were allowed to leave the Hall of Investiture and caused trouble elsewhere, the situation would become unmanageable, requiring other divine generals to subdue or even slay him.

However, considering Lü Bu would be heading to the front lines—a place teeming with powerful experts—even with his post-consecration strength, he likely wouldn't cause much of an upheaval. Thus, this outcome seemed acceptable.

After confirming there were no further oversights, Zhong Dajun nodded, turned, and walked back with Ye Wen toward Lü Bu. Just then, Lü Bu looked up at the pair and spoke, causing immediate awkwardness for both: "Have you finished discussing? You can tell me now!"

Ye Wen's years of cultivation had forged him a thick skin; he could remain unruffled by any storm. Zhong Dajun, however, showed no reaction either, acting as if he hadn't been doing anything dishonest, which earned him a higher degree of respect from Ye Wen—though considering Zhong Dajun's job involved managing all sorts of people, it wasn't truly surprising.

Seeing their lack of reaction, Lü Bu managed a bitter laugh. "I'm not blind or deaf. Anyone would see something was amiss when you two were whispering over there. Tell me, is it that Chan'er cannot be found?"

Zhong Dajun coughed slightly. "Not exactly!" He subtly gestured to Ye Wen beside him, signaling him not to abandon him at this critical juncture. Cornered, Ye Wen could only smile wryly. "Actually, it’s not that she completely cannot be found. There is a slight thread of a clue!"

"Oh?" Upon hearing there was a clue, Lü Bu instantly transformed. His gaze toward Ye Wen softened from aggressive scrutiny to one filled with yearning, as if Ye Wen were his savior. "Then... then can Chan'er be found?"

Coughing awkwardly, Ye Wen was forced to nod. "It's just that your esteemed wife... after entering reincarnation, she gained some fortune and cultivated into a celestial. After that, it’s impossible to discern what happened next. She is likely somewhere in this Immortal Realm!"

Zhong Dajun nodded, pleased that Ye Wen had covered the lie so thoroughly. Although he refrained from giving a covert thumbs-up or whispering words like, 'I'll treat Sect Master Ye to drinks to show my thanks later,' he did so only to avoid raising Lü Bu's suspicion. He now took over smoothly, smiling. "General Lü, there is no need to rush. Since you have been consecrated as a divine general, as long as the Celestial Court stands, your lifespan is infinite. You have ample time to search slowly! Besides, since your esteemed wife has become an immortal, you will meet eventually!"

He felt that after this speech, Lü Bu should settle down and serve as a divine general in the Celestial Court. However, to his surprise, Lü Bu sprang to his feet. His nearly seven-foot frame projected considerable pressure at such close range. Moreover, now that there was hope of finding Diao Chan, Lü Bu’s entire demeanor had undergone a seismic shift. Standing there, his right fist clenched, he roared, "I will definitely find Chan'er!"

With that, he strode toward the hall exit, only to be stopped by Guan Yu, who reached out and held him back. "Where is Lord Wen going?"

In the Celestial Court, Guan Yu truly had the closest relationship with Lü Bu. Though they had disliked each other and often clashed in life, that was long in the past. Lü Bu might harbor lingering resentment, but his entire focus was on Diao Chan. Seeing Guan Yu as the only familiar face, he treated him with considerable courtesy.

Guan Yu had also been consecrated as a divine general for quite some time; what old grudges would he still hold? Furthermore, he and Lü Bu never shared a life-and-death feud; their conflicts stemmed from differing loyalties back then. Without those external factors influencing them now, they could interact amicably.

Thus, when he stopped Lü Bu, the warrior didn't get angry but turned to reply, "I'm going to search for Chan'er!"

Guan Yu knew Lü Bu's stubborn nature; trying to block him forcefully now would likely lead to conflict. So, he changed his approach. "Do you know how vast the Immortal Realm is? Countless times larger than the lands of the Han dynasty. What good will aimless wandering do?" Seeing Lü Bu pause, Guan Yu continued, "Moreover, Diao Chan has gone through reincarnation and cultivated anew. Even if you found her now, she might not recognize you. How could you recognize the reincarnated Diao Chan?"

Lü Bu desperately wanted to retort, "I would recognize her no matter how many times she reincarnated!" But that was just a boast. He wasn't truly foolish and understood it was impossible; the words lodged in his throat, caught between saying and not saying, leaving him paralyzed.

Noticing Lü Bu’s hesitation, Guan Yu delivered the final persuasive stroke, guessing that this single statement would prevent Lü Bu from acting rashly. "However, Lord Wen need not worry. Since Sect Master Ye is here, he will surely be able to help you find Diao Chan..." He reasoned that if Ye Wen could see through the cycle of past lives, helping Lü Bu find Diao Chan shouldn't be difficult. With this hope held out, surely Lü Bu wouldn't wander off?

Unexpectedly, this statement nearly caused Ye Wen’s eyeballs to pop out.

"Damn it, what does this have to do with me?" He thought the matter was essentially settled—he was only here to offer assistance. Since he had looked and helped Zhong Dajun maintain the lie, the job was done. He was already planning to excuse himself to Zhong Dajun and resume tracking down the Yamata no Orochi. He hadn't expected Brother Guan's remark to pull him right back into the mess.

This was a massive pitfall; once in, he wouldn't be able to climb out. Yet, Guan Yu had spoken too quickly, leaving Ye Wen no time to intervene. As he stared, Lü Bu turned to face him.

"Daoist Master! You must help me find Chan'er!"

"..."

Lü Bu was truly a devoted lover. At this moment, he seemed to disregard everything else. Moments ago, he had been scrutinizing Ye Wen with intense suspicion, but now he was practically ready to kneel before him!

Ye Wen grumbled noncommittally, glancing over at Guan Yu, who was stroking his beard with a smug expression, clearly quite pleased with his own words. Meanwhile, Zhong Dajun was grimacing, urging him to nod in agreement...

Agree with your sister!

Muttering curses under his breath, Ye Wen looked at Lü Bu and felt a pang of pity. That infatuation had been arbitrarily thrust upon him by the Investiture of the Gods List, yet he was completely unaware that the object of his devotion was nothing but an illusion. If there were a most tragic lover in the world, it would be the man before him. Ye Wen’s resolve softened, and he actually nodded.

The instant he nodded, he regretted it. But his head was already moving, and the wide-eyed Lü Bu had seen it clearly. He couldn't possibly retract now by saying, "Actually, I can't help after all, can I?"

Lü Bu was ecstatic that Ye Wen had agreed, almost leaping high enough to shout, "Oh yeah!"

Beaming, he moved aside with Guan Yu to converse. Zhong Dajun seized the opportunity to lean in. "Sect Master Ye, handle future matters as you see fit..."

"Handle them as I see fit...?" Ye Wen turned to look at Zhong Dajun, whose knowing grimaces instantly clarified his meaning: simply spot any woman Lü Bu took a liking to, declare her to be Diao Chan, and that would suffice. After all, few attained immortals cared to investigate their past lives, so no one would deliberately check.

Take Ye Wen, for instance... he had never considered who he was in a past life, nor did he have any desire to look. What if he discovered something he truly didn't want to know? How depressing would that be?

With a long sigh, Ye Wen cupped his hands toward Zhong Dajun. "This matter is concluded. I, Ye, shall take my leave!"

He thought this was finally over? To his surprise, Zhong Dajun waved him to halt. "Wait, there is one more thing I must discuss with Sect Master Ye!"

He then turned and beckoned to Xue Rengui, who had been quietly observing the proceedings from the sidelines. "General Xue, please step over here!"

This action drew everyone's attention once more. Everyone knew that the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden had specially sent a jade slip and equipped Xue Rengui with superb gear and artifacts to handle a mission for her. Zhong Dajun's gesture suggested he was about to assign that task.

Indeed, as the crowd quieted, Zhong Dajun announced, "The Mystic Maiden heard that Sect Master Ye is heading east to slay the Yamata no Orochi, so she wishes for Sect Master Ye to take General Xue along on the journey!"

"What's the meaning of this? Does the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden also dislike the Yamata no Orochi? So she's sending herself an escort? Is there such a good thing in the world?"

He found it strange but waited for Zhong Dajun to elaborate.

As expected, there was no such good fortune. Zhong Dajun continued, "The Mystic Maiden has an attendant, a flower spirit who cultivated into an immortal, named the Pomegranate Fairy..." [Start line update group manual typing] "..." Ye Wen felt that name was utterly dreadful. He glanced around and noticed Lü Bu and Guan Yu were also frowning in distaste.

"Years ago, this Pomegranate Fairy helped the Mystic Maiden carry out a task in the mortal realm but suffered a calamity. The Mystic Maiden has long sought vengeance for the Pomegranate Fairy but never found a suitable candidate. Coincidentally, General Xue was consecrated, establishing some karmic connection between the Mystic Maiden and General Xue. Therefore, the Mystic Maiden wishes for General Xue to avenge that Pomegranate Fairy!"

"Oh?"

Xue Rengui lifted his head. The task didn't sound overly difficult, but upon deeper thought, it seemed fraught with hidden complexity. He suspected the adversary wouldn't be easy to deal with; otherwise, why wouldn't the Mystic Maiden handle it herself?

Zhong Dajun explained, "General Xue need not be surprised. The enemy fled to a location after insulting the Pomegranate Fairy—a place the Mystic Maiden finds inconvenient to enter. Thus, she wishes to entrust this task to General Xue!"

Upon hearing the word 'insult,' everyone understood the nature of the grievance and immediately felt sympathy for the Pomegranate Fairy. Xue Rengui, grasping the situation, also frowned, clearly disgusted by the scoundrel. "Such a villain deserves execution by all! If the Mystic Maiden hadn't asked me to undertake this journey, should I have encountered him, I would certainly not let him off lightly!"

After stating his piece, Xue Rengui finally asked, "Where is that person hiding?"

Zhong Dajun didn't speak, but Ye Wen interjected, "Could it be that he fled to the Eastern Isles? Otherwise, why would General Xue be asked to accompany me?" He even suspected the Mystic Maiden was plotting against him—knowing he was going to the Eastern Isles, she immediately sent Xue Rengui over. Ostensibly, Xue Rengui was sent to avenge her attendant, but if Xue Rengui couldn't handle it, wouldn't Ye Wen be forced to step in and help?

"That Mystic Maiden is deceitful! Why should I do her bidding without receiving any benefit?"

Zhong Dajun, being savvy, naturally perceived that although Ye Wen's expression was calm, he was inwardly displeased. In truth, it wouldn't matter if Ye Wen showed his displeasure openly. While the Mystic Maiden held a lofty position in the Celestial Court and was respected by many cultivators, there was ultimately no superior-subordinate relationship between them. Moreover, Ye Wen's current profound cultivation meant he could engage with the Mystic Maiden as an equal. If he truly angered Ye Wen enough to storm over there, no one could fault him.

However, caught in the middle, Zhong Dajun didn't want the two to fall out. He smoothed things over: "The reason General Xue is accompanying Sect Master Ye is primarily because General Xue is new here and knows nothing. Having Sect Master Ye look after him along the way will prevent any blunders! As for the enemy’s location... it cannot be said to be in the Eastern Isles!"

Only then did Ye Wen realize that the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden only wanted him to do a small favor: teach General Xue some basic knowledge along the journey; she didn't require his direct combat help. This slightly improved his mood—it was just something to do along the way, a minor matter that was inconsequential.

As for Zhong Dajun's final statement, Ye Wen became curious. "What do you mean?"

"The place where the foe is hiding is called the 'Separate Grotto-Heaven' (Bie You Dong Tian). Like the Netherworld, it is another world unto itself, but overall, it remains integrated with our Immortal Realm!"

Ye Wen instantly understood. It was akin to a Minor World on Earth—a distinct space, yet subordinate to the entire Immortal Realm. To use an analogy, it was like a small room within a large house.

"And the entrance to that 'Separate Grotto-Heaven' is located within the territory of the Eastern Isles!"