88: "The Art of Borrowing Life to Resurrection"

As night deepened, a series of hopping sounds broke Xu Sanyan's train of thought.

"They're here..."

Xu Sanyan stood up and looked through the window crack into the distance, only to see a group of completely black figures wandering through the village.

These individuals must have been buried underground with the Princess back then. Now that the Princess has awakened, they have also awakened, and with the passage of time, their clothes have long since weathered away.

Xu Sanyan squinted, observing carefully. There were about forty to fifty of them, walking on tiptoes with light, bouncy steps, their figures very agile.

These zombies were covered in a layer of black, oil-like substance, which looked very slippery. Perhaps this substance was the key to their bodies not decaying.

Two zombies hopped into the courtyard. Xu Sanyan observed them closely through the window crack, his eyebrows slowly furrowing.

What were these things doing?

Just wandering around because they had nothing better to do?

In Xu Sanyan's opinion, these zombies were not strong; at most, they were equivalent to Martial Artists at Perfection in Refining Essence, not even reaching the Heavenly Human Realm.

Xu Sanyan pondered for a moment and decided to go out and see. With his Cultivation at Foundation Establishment Completion, he was more than capable of protecting himself.

So, taking advantage of the zombies outside the door leaving, he quickly pushed open the door and rushed out, hiding in the shadows, silently observing.

As time passed, Xu Sanyan slowly noticed something amiss. They didn't seem to be wandering aimlessly; instead, they seemed to be searching for something.

But according to what the old man said, these zombies had awakened two years ago. What could they be looking for that they hadn't found in two years?

Such a long time would be enough to dig the village three feet deep.

The night quickly passed, and as a hint of white light appeared in the sky, these zombies hopped towards the forest.

Xu Sanyan followed closely, wanting to see where they were hiding.

The zombies passed through a dense forest and arrived at a hidden cave entrance, entering one by one and disappearing from sight.

This cave entrance sloped downwards, as if dug from underground. Xu Sanyan guessed that this was likely the tomb where the Princess was buried.

He did not go down rashly, as the Princess's strength was still unknown.

Suddenly, a voice, indistinguishable as male or female, came from within the dark cave,

"Since the guest has arrived, why linger at the door? Please come in and have a chat."

Xu Sanyan was startled. She had actually discovered him?

After a moment's thought, he was still unwilling to put himself in danger rashly, so he spoke, "I am afraid of the dark. How about inviting the Princess out to meet?"

"Hehe..."

A laugh came from within the cave, "Alright..."

As soon as the words fell, a figure floated out from inside the cave. Xu Sanyan cautiously retreated a few steps, secretly observing.

The person who arrived was a young woman, beautiful in appearance and tall in stature, wearing a simple long dress with patches on it, looking as if it had been stolen from some peasant woman.

Even an ordinary dress could not hide her noble temperament.

The woman's face held a smile as she quietly looked at Xu Sanyan.

Xu Sanyan frowned slightly; he didn't hear her breathing...

"Why has this guest come here?" The woman's voice was slightly hoarse.

"Just passing by, and out of curiosity, I came to take a look," Xu Sanyan said.

The woman nodded slightly, noncommittal, "Then I ask the guest to leave as soon as possible."

Xu Sanyan asked curiously, "The Princess is willing to let me go?"

The woman laughed, "Of course. The guest's Dao is profound; I doubt I could keep him even if I wanted to."

The woman was not confident in keeping Xu Sanyan, which was why she appeared to meet him.

Xu Sanyan was surprised in his heart. She could see his Cultivation?

But that Princess died at twenty years old. Even if she had Cultivation, it wouldn't have been that high. Why, after hundreds of years of death, has her Dao become even more profound?

Xu Sanyan thought of what the old man had said: after the Princess was buried, the Imperial Preceptor disappeared. Connecting this with the current situation, he couldn't help but make a guess...

That "Soul Return Through Borrowed Life" might have another hidden meaning.

"Are you perhaps that... Imperial Preceptor from back then?" Xu Sanyan slowly asked.

"Soul Return Through Borrowed Life" could also have another layer of understanding.

That is... borrowing someone else's life to return one's own soul!

The woman sighed, her bare feet stepping on the ground. She lifted her skirt and sat on a nearby stone, "Fellow Daoist is indeed intelligent. That's right, I am that Imperial Preceptor from back then."

The woman did not deny it; instead, she openly admitted it.

Xu Sanyan's expression was calm, but a tumultuous wave had already surged in his heart. Someone could actually live another life?

The woman smiled sideways, "Back then, this humble Daoist's Lifespan was nearing its end, and with no hope of a Breakthrough, I could only think of other methods. Coincidentally, I stumbled upon this method and, with the thought of treating a dead horse as a living one, decided to give it a try. I never expected... it actually succeeded."

Xu Sanyan pursed his lips slightly and said, "You're just telling me this?"

"Hehe... No matter. It's already a stroke of luck that this method succeeded once. Even if I tell you the method, it would be very difficult to replicate."

The woman continued, "First, one's own Cultivation must reach the Soul Refinement Realm, with the soul solidified enough to leave the Physical Body. Second, one needs a person whose fate and birth characters align with their own. Third, one must not be disturbed for nearly a thousand years. Finally, one must find a large amount of rare Spirit Medicine."

Xu Sanyan suddenly looked up, not expecting that she was a Great Cultivator of the Soul Refinement Realm eight hundred years ago!

He just didn't know how much of her strength remained now.

The woman pointed to the village below the mountain, "The most crucial thing is that the array eye must not have any errors. If there are no people in this village, this method will surely be broken."

Xu Sanyan exclaimed, "This Shouguan Village is actually a grand array?"

The woman's eyes were calm as she said, "Where do you think life comes from? I borrowed their lives and the Physical Body of Xiangtan Princess."

Xiangtan Princess was the owner of this Physical Body.

Xu Sanyan understood. No wonder that old man, though only in his forties, looked like he was seventy or eighty. So that was it.

There were many wondrous methods in the world, and Xu Sanyan had certainly broadened his horizons today.

The woman looked at the rising sun in the sky and murmured, "I wonder if any of my old acquaintances are still alive..."

Xu Sanyan said, "Fellow Daoist, by telling me such information, aren't you afraid I might harbor ill intentions?"

The woman laughed heartily, "Hahahahaha... I have just awakened, and I possess nothing. The only Spiritual Artifact I had has turned into a mundane object due to not being nurtured for a long time. What is there for others to covet?"

"Fellow Daoist, are you perhaps seeking revenge for the villagers? Or for Xiangtan Princess?" The woman retorted.

No one would risk their life to rob a poor person of unknown strength.

Xu Sanyan had just said it casually; he naturally wouldn't do such a thankless task.

Xu Sanyan hesitated, "The Imperial Preceptor doesn't seem to have fully revived yet?"

The woman nodded, "Soon..."

But she did not say much more.

Xu Sanyan already knew everything he wanted to know, so he cupped his hands, "Then I won't disturb you further. Farewell."

The woman smiled and returned the gesture, "May we meet again if fate allows."

Xu Sanyan suddenly turned back and asked, "Imperial Preceptor, were you a man or a woman before?"

The woman curved her lips, her eyes alluring, "A man."

Xu Sanyan nodded and walked away.

The woman watched Xu Sanyan's retreating figure, the smile in her eyes gradually fading.

If her strength allowed, she wouldn't bother wasting her breath; she would have killed him long ago.

...

Xu Sanyan knew she was definitely hiding something.

Because the most truthful lie is to tell the truth, using an unimportant truth to conceal an important truth.

Xu Sanyan asked himself, if it were him, he would definitely keep this matter to himself.

But she was willing to disclose even this matter, which meant the hidden things must be even more important than this!

It was only out of consideration for Xu Sanyan's strength that she tried to trick him into leaving.

Xu Sanyan paused. Perhaps... there was profit to be made here!