Lin Xuan Shuang suddenly understood, then glanced coldly at Zong Shou with a sneer: "You little fellow, you're barely past twenty. So small, yet so full of schemes—"

She reached out and plucked something from within Zong Shou’s body—a cluster of blue light, which was none other than the Zhou Ji Ming Shi Shu. She sighed, "A mere Yu Shu, while it caught my interest, it wasn't enough for me to contend for it. But your Zhou Shu, famous alongside the Yu Shu, being right here, was convenient to snatch. A pity. Had this been six thousand years ago, this item would have been rather useful to me."

Zong Shou was speechless. Then he watched as Lin Xuan Shuang casually flipped through the Zhou Shu, showing no fear of its life-draining ability.

Finally, she tossed it back dismissively. "I don't wish for others to know of my return to life yet, nor do I wish to rejoin the Dao of All Life just now. As for the Yu Shu, do you truly think my Dao of All Life exists solely for that book? It is that scoundrel Wei Xu who is about to face the tribulation to reach the Supreme Realm. He has waited far, far too long for a chance when the various sects are entangled and distracted. He will not let it pass—"

Zong Shou started, initially confused by Lin Xuan Shuang’s preceding words.

He didn't understand why Lin Xuan Shuang, having regained her voice, still didn't want to return?

Then, his heart jolted: Wei Xu facing a tribulation?

That’s right! Since the moment he first met this Senior Brother, he knew this senior brother was only half a step away from the door to the Supreme Realm.

Thinking it over carefully, this moment was indeed the perfect opportunity.

If successful, the foundation of the Dao of All Life could be instantly solidified. Even if the Divine Emperor later unified the myriad worlds, he would find it difficult to touch them.

Feeling both joy and worry for Wei Xu, Zong Shou was momentarily distracted, bowing respectfully, "Disciple cannot match Master's insight! Since Master does not wish to return for now, your disciple will naturally obey—"

Lin Xuan Shuang paid him no mind, continuing on her own, "Now that Wei Xu has taken this step, Kun Ming of the Daoist Sect should also be nearing it. Their aptitudes are similar, having cultivated concurrently. Though the latter's talent is slightly superior, the former excels in willpower and fortitude. Both have eight thousand years of accumulation behind them; this step should not be difficult for either of them. After ten thousand years, two more Sages shall emerge in our Cloud Realm. Even before the Spirit Tide appears, it already hints at the grandeur of the Cloud Desolation of millennia past—"

Zong Shou smiled faintly, feeling slightly reassured. Since even Lin Xuan Shuang believed Wei Xu could advance safely, there should be no issue. He collected his thoughts and performed a proper salute, "Master must also be included. Disciple has not yet offered congratulations—Master will enjoy immortality from now on,"

It was both congratulations and a probe.

"Me, the Empress Dowager?"

Lin Xuan Shuang seemed genuinely bewildered for a moment, then let out a dry laugh, "I truly have become immortal. But if Senior Brother Xiu Guan had acted, my physical body would surely be fully restored by now. But now, I still don’t know how long I’ll need to recuperate. How long will this body take to recover? My divine consciousness is at the Supreme Realm, it’s true, but your Master primarily cultivates the Martial Way. Yet now, I might not even withstand a single punch from you, my disciple—"

Hearing this, Zong Shou couldn't help but look Lin Xuan Shuang up and down.

The pure white long dress was something Lin Xuan Shuang conjured from spiritual energy. Though small, her figure was graceful and alluring, with considerable fullness in the chest.

The important part wasn't the figure; Zong Shou was observing Lin Xuan Shuang’s physical form.

Looking closely at the skeletal structure and musculature, it was indeed somewhat weak, inferior even to Zong Shou’s own.

Although she possessed the Nectar of Heaven’s Reversal, it could only restore a body completely below the Divine Realm.

Even the dozens of Elixirs of Celestial Creation had mostly been used by Lin Xuan Shuang to deal with the heavens.

Under Zong Shou’s focused, burning gaze, a faint blush appeared on Lin Xuan Shuang’s face, and she let out a soft huff.

Zong Shou’s mind warned him, and he quickly averted his gaze, feeling a little awkward. He entirely ignored the disdainful look cast by Jing Yin beside him.

"This disciple deserves death! It was this disciple's rashness that prevented Master from fully recovering from her injuries—"

"Spare me! Your disciple is too dishonest and lacks sincerity. These words are better left unsaid! Actually, this isn't bad either. If I had to wait for Xiu Guan to act, who knows how many years it would take. Thousands or tens of thousands of years, possibly. Hiding my soul consciousness here, only able to think but not act, and with no one to visit the Empress Dowager—it was so lonely."

Lin Xuan Shuang first sneered, then stretched languidly, displaying her graceful form fully.

"The Empress Dowager now only wants to wander around and see things. It’s a good opportunity to accompany you on a trip through the Nine Desolation Prison. Senior Brother Xi Zi once sought a naturally born aberrant creature to serve as a guard but failed. I wonder how fortunate Lin Xuan Shuang is. By the way, do you have anything to ride?"

Zong Shou was not at all surprised by these words; he had already anticipated them from Lin Xuan Shuang's previous statements.

Not daring to hesitate, Zong Shou took out the Boat of Passing Calamity’s Radiance and offered it before him.

It swelled instantly upon meeting the wind, growing over ten thousand zhang long.

"A high-grade immortal artifact flying boat? Not bad! But compared to the Demon-Slaying Divine Shuttle of ancient times in our Cloud Realm, it’s more than ten times inferior. It’s barely acceptable—"

Lin Xuan Shuang shook her head slightly but didn't rush to board.

Instead, her gaze swept around, looking at the surroundings.

"These spirit pets of yours are actually Divine Beasts? Their innate origins are not weak, but it’s a pity they seem malnourished under you, with unstable foundations. If this continues, their end will inevitably be bleak. This naturally born aberrant creature, however, is quite good. Hmm?"

These few sentences turned Zong Shou’s face the color of earth. His spirit beasts were all sentient; they understood human speech, only lacking the ability to speak.

At this moment, they all showed expressions of grievance, looking at their master.

Zong Shou sneered in his heart!

Malnourished? Following him, Zong Shou, these little creatures were fed the highest quality spiritual herbs and elixirs. Even the Emerald Fire Mystic Turtle and Han Xi had recently refused bloody meals.

Many times, Zong Shou forced them to hunt themselves so they wouldn't lose their wild nature.

He vaguely realized that Xiao Jin and the Thunder Winged Dragon had indeed been advancing rapidly recently.

Speaking of which, the current Tribulation of Fine Rain and Golden Wind arrived just in time.

The few spirit beasts were only affected by the periphery, but after this tribulation, their soul consciousness and vital energy had noticeably thickened.

Lin Xuan Shuang was now fixedly staring at Howling Sun. Then she chuckled: "Almost missed it. This earth-colored dog is a Fire Qilin, isn't it? A Saint King! To have a Saint King emerge in our Dao of All Life. How will those old scholars of the Confucian Sect feel about this?"

She clicked her tongue in disbelief a few times, then looked at the other two: "These are your attendants? The man is quite good. Why is this woman only this strong? Ah, right, is this your personal maid or concubine to warm your bed? Full of vigor, that's understandable—"

That comment made Jing Yin extremely embarrassed. Lin Xuan Shuang then let out another,

"A gasp," her expression becoming grave as she stared intently.

After a long while, a light laugh of understanding escaped her: "It's you? So that's it. No wonder your Dao cannot achieve eternal life. Zong Shou, you must treat her well; she is also a pitiable soul!"