Yun Xi knew clearly that Yuányīng Zhēnjūn was not easily deceived. She shifted her words:
"Yun Chen Fózǐ, I still have some doubts about this giant bamboo. Perhaps Han Lian Zhēnjūn's mystical obstruction is related to it. Otherwise, you would not have found her here. She should have called for your help before losing consciousness. May I examine the jade slips? Perhaps there is something to discover."
Yun Chen Fózǐ nodded, then began meditating to restore his spiritual energy. He needed to devote half of his power to maintaining the barrier, while also guarding Han Lian Zhēnjūn and watching for other cultivators in the bamboo forest. Managing all three at once was exhausting.
With Yun Xi present, he only needed to maintain the barrier while focusing on meditation. This way, he could quickly restore his peak strength.
Yun Xi was also multitasking. She instructed Dian Dian and Zhu Sheng to keep watch over Han Lian, Yun Chen, and the giant bamboo. Meanwhile, her consciousness entered a spatial network to seek help from her chat group.
Her luck was not great this time. Ethereal Grace was offline, and the other group members probably could not assist either, but she sent a message anyway.
[Fleeting Cloud]:"Seniors, I run into trouble. Does anyone know what species of bamboo this is?"
[Survival is the Ultimate Truth]:"It looks like a mutated bamboo, but I cannot identify the species."
[Star Trek]:"Little Cloud, haven't you finished your training yet? Bamboo is extinct in our area."
[Tribal Warrior]:"This looks somewhat like the plant at the resting place of our orc souls. You call it bamboo? But nothing grows this tall where we are."
Yun Xi read the three responses and realized none of them knew the origin of the bamboo. She was about to leave the chat and check the Yixian Gate's classics library when Sacred One who had never appeared online replied with three characters:
[Sacred One]:"Soul-Devouring Bamboo."
Yun Xi's eyes brightened. She immediately replied: "Thank you for your guidance, Senior. One of my friends had her soul absorbed by this bamboo. How can I save her?"
"She can only save herself."
Yun Xi was reluctant but asked further:
"Can I help her?"
"You can enter as well and guide her soul back, but it is very dangerous. If she is unimportant, let her be."
Yun Xi found the Sacred One's answer frustrating and asked her last question:
"Senior, how can I destroy Soul-Devouring Bamboo?"
"Completely destroy the bamboo's true body. Remember, completely."
After this, the Sacred One went offline. No matter how Yun Xi questioned further, there was no response.
She withdrew her spiritual sense from the space and opened her eyes, staring at Han Lian Zhēnjūn in a daze. After a moment, Yun Chen Fózǐ also opened his eyes.
"Yun Chen Fózǐ, this is Soul-Devouring Bamboo. Han Lian Zhēnjūn's soul must have been absorbed into it. Destroying the bamboo would let us leave, but Han Lian Zhēnjūn…"
Yun Xi did not finish her sentence, but Yun Chen Fózǐ understood. He paused, then turned to her with a serious expression:
"Are you telling the truth?"
"I swear, everything I said is true. If not, let me be trapped here forever, and my Path to immortality will end."
Yun Xi did not want to waste time and swore directly.
Yun Chen Fózǐ's expression finally changed. He sat heavily, remaining silent for a long moment before asking:
"Can Han Lian's soul be retrieved?"
Yun Xi raised an eyebrow:
"Yes, but you must enter the bamboo in a soul state."
"Me?"
"Yes. If I am correct, Han Lian Zhēnjūn's obsession is with you. She was drawn here due to the Green Bamboo Miasma, and as a Water Spirit Body, it naturally attracted her. That is why she followed the path of the Soul-Devouring Bamboo."
Yun Chen Fózǐ did not answer immediately. He kept twisting his Buddhist beads, seemingly lost in thought. After a while, he looked up:
"Feng Xiaoyou, you seem confident. Are you ready to leave here at any moment?"
Yun Xi replied calmly:
"Senior Yun Chen, I can escape once this bamboo forest is destroyed. Whether Han Lian Daoyou is saved is up to you."
"And if I choose not to save her?"
"As long as the Fózǐ can overcome this trial, that is enough. I have intentions but no power. I can only ensure I do not bring trouble to either of you."
Yun Xi's answer was straightforward and reflected her true feelings.
Han Lian Zhēnjūn was no relation of hers. Even if she were to rescue her, a minor Golden Core cultivator like herself had no authority. The reason for Han Lian's predicament lay with Yun Chen Fózǐ, so the choice rested with him.
"Amitabha!"
Yun Chen recited a Buddhist phrase, sitting cross-legged beside Han Lian. He looked at Yun Xi:
"Feng Xiaoyou, since you understand the origin of Soul-Devouring Bamboo, you can guide my soul into it. Guard my and Han Lian's bodies. I will retrieve her soul as quickly as possible."
Yun Xi nodded. She removed Zhu Sheng from her hair, placed him before Yun Chen Fózǐ, and said:
"This treasure, made from a piece of Soul-Devouring Bamboo, should connect to the bamboo before us and send your soul inside.
Time is limited. If you cannot retrieve Han Lian Zhēnjūn's soul, please return to your body before the treasure's power is depleted."
"Understood!"
Yun Chen agreed readily.
Seeing his readiness, Yun Xi asked curiously:
"Senior Yun Chen, aren't you afraid I will abandon you or act while your soul is separated from your body?"
Yun Chen's youthful face smiled:
"No. If you did, it would damage your merit. Yunmen Temple and Jihan Gate would not spare you. If you are not afraid of death, you may try."
Yun Xi pursed her lips. She indeed earned some merit, but she would not waste it here. Still, she spoke with a touch of mischief:
"Yun Chen Fózǐ, remember, Han Lian Zhēnjūn's obsession is with you. What that is only the two of you know. Sometimes, fulfilling her wish may let her let go."
Yun Chen Fózǐ blurted:
"Why?"
Yun Xi smiled:
"What is unattainable is always restless, those favored act without fear."
Yun Chen Fózǐ repeated these words twice, then closed his eyes:
"Begin."
Yun Xi transmitted to Zhu Sheng:
"Zhu Sheng, this is your last chance to communicate with Grandfather. Using Yun Chen Fózǐ's soul, enter Grandfather's true body. If his consciousness has been devoured by evil, just help Yun Chen Fózǐ locate Han Lian Zhēnjūn's soul and bring them back. I will handle the rest."
"Master, understood!"
Zhu Sheng would not disobey, but he knew this was the limit of what his master could do for him.
Yun Chen Fózǐ's soul, protected by merit-golden light, repelled any evil spirit. This was why Yun Xi encouraged him to enter Grandfather's body as a soul.
The moment Yun Chen Fózǐ's soul separated from his body, its dazzling golden form was almost blinding. Zhu Sheng immediately merged with him, transforming into a stream of light that entered the giant bamboo.
===
I forgot to add the username of 神祇 to my notepad along with the other IDs…
And if I remember correctly, there's one chapter that mentioned 神祇, but I can't quite recall which one it was. So I decided to create a new ID name for it. 神祇 (Shénqí) literally means "Deity" or "Divine Being / God," and I chose to use "Sacred One" as the ID instead