119: Chapter 118 My worldly ties are severed; I break through to the Tribulation Transcending Stage

Before long, Ye Lin's consciousness slowly awakened.

He opened his eyes, his mind groggy, his memory still stuck at the moment of his death.

Looking around, chilly winds blew from all directions. The world was a hazy grey, gloomy and desolate.

Ye Lin's heart chilled, and he panicked completely.

"I'm really dead... Is this the Netherworld?"

He turned his head to look at the two solemn figures in black and white standing beside him. Awestruck, he instantly knew without thinking that these were the legendary Black and White Impermanence.

When ordinary people arrive in the Netherworld, they are usually scared out of their wits, but Ye Lin couldn't care less about fear.

He had been honest, kind, and simple all his life. His only concern in this lifetime was the child he had personally picked up and raised back then.

He grew anxious in an instant, his heart flustered and panicked: "I'm dead... What about my Little Yezi? That child is only a few years old. Without anyone to take care of him, how is he going to survive!"

He hurriedly looked around, his gaze falling upon two figures in front of him.

Standing in front was a handsome young man dressed in a moon-white Daoist robe. Tall and upright, his aura was clean and composed, radiating a golden glow of Karma that he had not yet pulled back, making him look exceptionally extraordinary.

Ye Lin narrowed his eyes, staring intently at that face; the more he looked, the more familiar it seemed.

The contours of the brows and eyes, the features—they largely overlapped with the child in his memory, bearing a sixty percent resemblance. It was similar, far too similar!

Yet the aura of the person before him was entirely that of an unworldly Master, worlds apart from the skinny, pitiful little toddler who used to follow him up the mountain to pick herbs every day.

Shocked and doubtful, Ye Lin didn't dare to be certain. He stared blankly, his eyes slowly turning red as he watched.

Hesitating for a long moment, his voice raspy and trembling, he asked cautiously:

"You... you look so much like... Are you my Little Yezi?"

As soon as those words left his mouth, Ye Qingxuan stepped forward quickly, softening his tone completely and speaking with utmost gentleness, "Grandpa, it's me."

Upon receiving confirmation, Ye Lin was completely stunned.

He stared blankly at the grown-up young man of extraordinary aura in front of him, his mind going blank.

He was just an ordinary old herb gatherer who had spent his entire life in the mountains.

He couldn't comprehend how the little baby who couldn't eat his fill or dress warmly back then, whom he had worked so hard picking herbs to raise, had turned into such a powerful figure.

Seeing his bewildered look, Ye Qingxuan slowly began to explain.

"Grandpa, after you passed away, I met my Master and embarked on the path of cultivation."

"It was the two Underworld Commanders who personally stepped in to retrieve your remnant soul from Guixu."

"Just now, I helped restore your soul body. You won't dissipate anymore."

One Kun hour later...

After listening to Ye Qingxuan's explanation, Ye Lin understood a bit of it. As an ordinary person, there were many things Ye Qingxuan could only explain simply.

Beside them, Black and White Impermanence maintained calm expressions.

White Impermanence spoke, his tone peaceful:

"Ye Lin, you need not worry. Having been nourished by Heavenly Dao Karma, your soul body is stable, unlike ordinary deceased souls."

Ye Lin half-understood, leaving only emotion and relief in his heart.

Just then, he noticed an exceptionally good-looking girl standing beside his grandson.

The young woman was gorgeously beautiful with an ethereal aura, yet at this moment, she lacked any hint of aloofness.

Her small face was bright red, her ears burning hot, and her head lowered slightly. Her two small hands tightly clutched Ye Qingxuan's sleeve, completely constrained and apprehensive, not even daring to raise her head out of extreme nervousness.

Ye Qingxuan lightly tugged Qingling and introduced her softly:

"Grandpa, this is my fiancée, Li Ningshuang."

Biting her lip, Qingling showed not a trace of the 'Shangqing Witch' demeanor. Summoning a sliver of courage, she bowed and greeted him softly:

"Ningshuang pays respects to Grandpa."

Seeing the shy, well-behaved, sensible, and polite young girl before him, Ye Lin's heart instantly warmed, and he nodded repeatedly with kindness.

"Good child, thank you for sticking by my Little Yezi."

Once the grandfather and grandson calmed down, Black Impermanence spoke in a deep voice, his words direct and transparent, according full respect.

"Ye Lin, you possess great fortune. Currently, there are three paths before you; you may choose freely."

"First, enter the Six Paths of Reincarnation to be reborn. Carrying Fellow Daoist Ye's Karma, your next life will be peaceful, free from disaster and hardship."

"Second, remain in the Netherworld to hold an official post, becoming a leisurely Nether Official or a local Mountain God or Earth Deity, exempt from the suffering of Reincarnation."

"Third, stay in the Netherworld to cultivate your mind and nature; over time, you can also cultivate into a Nether Spirit."

Ye Lin lowered his head and fell silent for a long time. He was just an ordinary herb gatherer, living a plain and simple life without ambition, wealth, or desire for Divine Abilities.

The only obsession and concern in his entire life was the child he had raised.

Before, he couldn't let go because he feared the child was too young, unattended, and unable to survive.

But seeing it with his own eyes now, his Little Yezi had grown up, succeeded, and gained ability—even the Black and White Impermanence of the Netherworld treated him with utmost courtesy, and he had such a sweet girl by his side.

All his worries vanished into thin air in an instant.

Ye Lin raised his head, his eyes candid and relieved, his tone utterly simple:

"Thank you, two Underworld Commanders, for your trouble. I am just an ordinary old man with no grand ambitions."

"My biggest wish in this life was to see my child live well. Now that I see him doing so well and succeeding, my heart is completely at peace."

"I choose Reincarnation. To be an ordinary person, grounded and living a peaceful life, is enough for me."

Black and White Impermanence nodded slightly, approval in their eyes.

Ye Qingxuan looked at his grandfather, who was completely at peace. Though reluctant to part in his heart, he ultimately respected his choice.

"Grandpa, since you have decided, I won't stop you. With my Karma protecting you on the road of Reincarnation, you won't suffer in your next life."

Ye Lin smiled gently, his Primordial Spirit phantom lifting his hand slightly, still appearing as the honest old herb gatherer from back then.

"Don't feel bad. Being able to see with my own eyes that you've grown up like this, with a caring girl at your side, I have no regrets in this life."

Qingling comforted him softly beside them, her tone gentle: "Grandpa, rest assured, I will stay with him forever in the future."

White Impermanence stepped forward half a pace, his voice steady: "Ye Lin, since you have chosen Reincarnation, the two of us will now take you to be reborn. Given your current condition, it is enough for you to enter the Realm of Devas."

Ye Lin took one last look at Ye Qingxuan, his eyes filled with tender affection. Devoid of any remaining attachments, he slowly turned around with Black and White Impermanence, walking step by step toward the Naihe Bridge.

Ye Qingxuan stood where he was, quietly watching him off, while Qingling beside him softly held his cold hand, accompanying him in silence.

"The path of Rebirth under the Naihe Bridge—once you go, there is no turning back, and meeting again means meeting strangers." Ye Qingxuan felt no sorrow, only a sense of relief.

"Qingxuan, after Grandpa reincarnates, you will meet again in the future," Qingling said.

Ye Qingxuan shook his head and said:

"A person's death is like a lamp going out. Once he crosses the Naihe Bridge and drinks Meng Po's Soup, Grandpa will be a different person. In the same world, there will only ever appear a similar flower."

Before the Naihe Bridge, Ye Lin couldn't help but turn around to look at Ye Qingxuan and Qingling.

"My Little Yezi, live well, and live happily with Ningshuang. You don't need to worry about me anymore."

Saying that, Ye Lin turned without looking back and walked onto the Naihe Bridge. Upon reaching the bridge, the figure of Lady Meng materialized. He accepted Meng Po's Soup and drank it all down.

"Ye Qingxuan respectfully bids farewell to Grandpa!" Ye Qingxuan bowed deeply.

"Li Ningshuang respectfully bids farewell to Grandpa!" Qingling bowed along with him.

"Grandpa had no attachments left in his heart and chose Reincarnation of his own accord. This is the best outcome for him, so you don't need to be overly sad."

Ye Qingxuan gazed at Ye Lin's receding figure on the Naihe Bridge, remaining silent for a long time before slowly nodding.

"I know. When I was young, Grandpa picked me up and raised me. Before I could properly repay him, we were separated by life and death. Now with my Karma protecting him, he can live a safe and smooth next life. Heh, this isn't bad either."

Qingling walked to his side, leaning gently on his shoulder.

"There is still a long road ahead. We will cultivate well and live peacefully—that is also what Grandpa most wants to see."

Ye Qingxuan turned his head to look at the gentle young woman beside him, raising his hand to pat the back of her hand lightly.

Watching Ye Lin enter Reincarnation, a weight lifted from Ye Qingxuan's heart; his mortal ties were now completely severed.

The shackles of the Mortal World vanished entirely, and his Xiaoyao Great Dao began to continuously ascend.

His cultivation at the Late Stage of Body Integration began to soar, surging straight toward the Early Stage of Tribulation Transcending, but Ye Qingxuan suppressed it. At the Middle Stage of Tribulation Transcending, one could already sense when the Heavenly Tribulation would arrive.

When the Heavenly Tribulation arrived, one would automatically make a Breakthrough to the Late Stage of Tribulation Transcending. Passing the Heavenly Tribulation leads to the Mahayana realm, jokingly referred to in the cultivation world as the 'debt-repayment period'. Once all Karma with Heaven and Earth is repaid, one will undergo Ascension.