During that time, his name was Huang Ning. (Chapter 134 Ghost Half-Immortal)

"They talk a lot about benevolence and morality, but their actions are more pleasing than their words."

Chu Jue spat at him, feeling that this man was cold, selfish, and deep. He had said a lot of touching words, but in reality, he hadn't done anything. "Atony? You've done everything. What's there to talk about atonement for?"

He despises people like that the most.

While they were arguing heatedly, Jiang Yu, who was not far away, saw Shen Jiuxu being carried into the air by the west window. He quickly chased after him. The sword in the other party's hand was swaying and almost hurt Shen Jiuxu again. His heart jumped into his throat and then suddenly dropped.

That's absolutely outrageous!

The lightning bolts overhead seemed to have a compass, deliberately avoiding the area where the west window was located, and instead struck Jiang Yu alone. However, the only exception was that Shen Jiuxu was also at the west window, so the lightning bolts avoided him.

Jiang Yu found it strange that if he really ascended, how would he save Lian Quesheng? Xi Chuang was simply a madman who had lost his mind. In fact, after his ascension, his cultivation would be even stronger, and his chances of winning a fight with Xi Chuang would increase. Jiang Yu didn't understand what he was thinking, and he had no idea.

The lightning hovered above his head, gradually drawing closer. Jiang Yu was still filled with lingering fear; the last time he had encountered lightning was three years ago—

Could it be that Xi Chuang was behind that too?

He suddenly remembered that the heavenly lightning had suddenly intensified, multiplying several times without warning. Jiang Yu turned to look at the west window, where the other person tilted his head and smiled at him. "Don't worry, Young Master Jiang, I won't touch your heavenly lightning this time. I said I wish you a speedy ascension to the Jade Palace. Isn't that a good blessing?"

While being held hostage, Shen Jiuxu only gave Jiang Yu a reassuring look, telling him to take care of himself first. Seeing that he was alright, Jiang Yu tried to find a way to continue enduring the heavenly lightning. Fortunately, Shen Jiuxu had given him a new body a few days ago, so even without the Xianchen Sword, he wouldn't have much difficulty relying solely on this body.

Xi Chuang's actions seemed more like he was helping him.

Jiang Yu was like a new disciple forced to practice swordsmanship, or like a child forced to study by his mother. But he wasn't that stupid. Xi Chuang didn't want him to ascend before, but now it's the other way around. It can only be for other reasons.

What will he bring to the west window after his ascension?

What does ascension truly mean? This is a question that every disciple of the immortal sect seems to have pondered, yet no one can truly answer it. Once they begin cultivation, even starting with the simplest horse stance, it seems as if everything is set in stone; every effort they make is for the day they can ascend to the immortal realm.

But what exactly is in the Jade Terrace and Silver Palace, and what's so good about being an immortal? No one has ever said or taught us.

Shen Jiuxu's gaze gave him support and strength. Jiang Yu couldn't see what lay ahead, but now that he had been forced into this situation, he had no choice but to do it.

Others might not know, but Shen Jiuxu knew that Jiang Yu had a hidden fear of heavenly lightning deep in his heart. Under normal circumstances, it would take Jiang Yu several more years to ascend. Shen Jiuxu had plenty of time to help Jiang Yu overcome these fears. He could stay by Jiang Yu's side and personally erase those unbearable memories.

But now, it's like being forced into a situation; Xi Chuang's actions have brought forward everything, even the expected ones, far too soon.

Even knowing he would ascend again, there was nothing he could do. He appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was boiling like hot soup. A bolt of lightning suddenly struck him, with a loud bang, grazing Jiang Yu's hair. He quickly turned to the side, and the smell of burnt hair made Jiang Yu frown.

At this moment, Lian Quesheng's room was very quiet. Xiang Zhanyi stood guard outside the door without going in. He didn't want to see the person on the bed, not because he disliked him, but because he felt guilty.

He feared that if he saw it, his last remaining shred of morality would be amplified infinitely, leading to the failure of the West Window Plan.

So, he sat on the steps by the door and heard the noise. Feeling uncomfortable, he simply took two wads of cotton and plugged his ears, then closed his eyes. Finally, not satisfied with that, he tore off a hairband and blindfolded himself.

This self-deceptive and ostrich-like behavior allowed him to gain a moment of peace and relaxation.

The person on the bed opened their eyes.

The soreness and fatigue throughout his body made it difficult for him to even lift his arm. Lian Quesheng skillfully checked his own pulse and sensed Jiang Yu's spiritual power. Two tear tracks instantly slid down his face.

He is the one who implicated Jiang Yu and Shen Jiuxu.

It was he who brought back the West Window, which led to the events that followed. If it weren't for that, Jiang Yu would have ascended to immortality long ago, and none of those things, like being tarnished in reputation and insulted, would have happened. Shen Jiuxu wouldn't have suffered this ordeal in Yunshui City.

It was all his fault; he shouldn't have saved Xi Chuang. Lian Quesheng wasn't a carefree playboy who only knew how to indulge in pleasure all day. On the contrary, he was extremely well-mannered and meticulous, though he rarely showed it.

The heavenly lightning shouldn't have appeared at this time. He knew what Xi Chuang was thinking. Chu Jue was knowledgeable and had told him that after ascension, a person's body needs time to adapt to the Jade Terrace and Silver Palace, and during that time, some spirits and ghosts would try to seize their bodies.

Whether using forbidden techniques or other methods, even if the success rate is low, such situations have occurred before. During the time Lian Quesheng was unconscious, he was actually conscious; he had already placed a secret spell on himself that no one but Lian Quesheng could undo.

It could remember everything that happened while he was unconscious. Lian Quesheng knew how many times he had been unconscious over the years, and he also knew that those memories that had never appeared in his mind were actually real. He had long known the true face of Xi Chuang, but he didn't know who he really was.

Why does he possess such great supernatural powers?

Lian Quesheng was a man who hated evil and could not tolerate even a speck of dust in his eyes. However, over the years, whether his feelings for Xichuang were sincere or feigned, he had genuinely considered Xichuang's well-being, tried to change him, and tried to save him, but in the end, all his efforts were in vain.

The sword on the cabinet flew through the air, which had exhausted Lian Quesheng's strength. It was more like a final burst of energy before death, yet he had persevered until now through sheer willpower.

He was used to sharp heavy swords and had hardly ever used other weapons. This was a soft sword that Lian Quesheng had prepared long ago. The sword was very short, about the size of a dagger.

Xi Chuang was unaware, nor were Shen Jiuxu and Jiang Yu. He wrapped the sword around his wrist and covered it with several layers of clothing to make it undetectable before stopping.

A metallic taste rose in his throat, and bloodstains appeared on the once clean bedding. Lian Quesheng forced himself to get out of bed despite his discomfort. He didn't really know why his body had suddenly become so weak.

Even though Xi Chuang had given him some strange medicine, the development seemed to be too fast. Lian Quesheng laughed self-deprecatingly, not knowing whether he should hate him or blame himself.

"you--"

With a creak, the door was pushed open, and Lian Quesheng and Xiang Zhanyi looked at each other. Xiang Zhanyi did not expect him to wake up suddenly. According to the pulse diagnosis he made for Lian Quesheng a few days ago, this person would not wake up no matter what.

But now that he's awake, wouldn't everything Xi Chuang did have been for nothing? Xiang Zhanyi was caught in a dilemma, unsure whether to knock him unconscious and let everything proceed as planned, or to let him go out and witness everything.

He hesitated for a second, and just as he raised his hand, Lian Quesheng dodged to the side. The other party was obviously not strong and did not want to fight Xiang Zhanyi. Just as Xiang Zhanyi was about to continue, he heard someone call his name.

"Xiang Zhanyi, I originally thought we were just drinking buddies, with nothing else between us, but I never expected that you and Xichuang were in cahoots."

Lian Quesheng chuckled, his voice laced with sarcasm, causing Xiang Zhanyi to freeze in place. Before he could react, Lian Quesheng had already sealed his spiritual power. "Young Master Xiang, we are not on the same path, so we cannot work together. I still think about the wine from Lotus Town last time, but now I realize I was just being sentimental."

"Young Master Lian, I—"

“I know everything that Xi Chuang has done. Young Master Xiang, I hope you will not stop me. After all, even if I temporarily seal your spiritual power, given my current weakness and your expertise in medicine, our situation should be able to turn around soon.”

“I know my own limitations,” Lian Quesheng said calmly. One bolt of lightning after another struck, and the powerful pressure made him even more uncomfortable. His face was paler than paper, and he bit his lip until it bled. “What Xi Chuang wants to do is not what I want. If he really gives Jiang Yu’s body to me, I will commit suicide.”

"Since you are his friend, you should think about things that are good for him and not stop me from doing anything. Otherwise, in the end, it will only result in both of us losing."

Xiang Zhanyi hesitated, his mind in turmoil. Even though he didn't want to admit it, he had to admit that what Lian Quesheng said was true.

"Who exactly is he, and why did he attract heavenly lightning? Now is definitely not the time for Jiang Yu to ascend. What does he want to do, and what will he do? If you want to save him, you should tell me all these things in detail."

Lian Quesheng observed the man's expression and knew he was wavering. "Young Master Xiang, you should have examined my body and know the situation. You also know my personality—"

"Xichuang is not a human, he is a ghost."

Xiang Zhanyi interrupted him, squatted down, and said helplessly, "To be more precise, he is not a ghost, but a ghost half-immortal. He failed to ascend after death. He never told me the specific reason, but such an identity will not be recorded in the Book of Life and Death of the Nine Netherworlds, nor will the Jade Terrace and Silver Palace recognize his existence. He will forever remain independent outside the Three Realms. He is much older than you."

“But when I saved him, he was clearly a child—” Lian Quesheng was somewhat shocked. He had considered whether Xi Chuang was a ghost, a demon, or just an ordinary person with a quirky personality, but he still couldn’t guess the answer.

"He was already dead by then. His ascension failed and his cultivation level was greatly reduced, so he returned to his former state, and that's when he met you."

Xiang Zhanyi sighed heavily in her heart, feeling very melancholy. "Ghost Half-Immortal is no different from ordinary people, so it's understandable that you can't tell. He said that no one had ever been so kind to him before. Later, you gave him the token and sent him to Bailuzhou, but on the way, his old injury on the west window flared up, and without spiritual power to support him, he was taken home by someone. During that time, he was called Huang Ning."

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Author's note: Huang Ning, do you all still remember him?

She first appeared in Chapter 37, the last survivor of Guren Village, and later went to Bailuzhou. If you don't remember her, you can flip back to the previous chapters. [heart emoji]

I suddenly had an inspiration last night and decided to write a novel with no romantic pairing and a female protagonist: "The High-Class Flower Has Returned to Her Altar." Here's a synopsis; feel free to add it to your favorites!

There are no immortals in this world, but later an immortal became well-known to everyone.

When Yuan Sheng was young, she heard an old storyteller tell her, "Immortals are not only for fulfilling their own needs, but also for saving others. When sentient beings cannot save themselves from suffering, they need immortals."

"People need a faith, a faith that is stronger than themselves, a faith they can rely on, a faith they can curse and complain about. In people's hearts, it is sometimes omnipotent, and sometimes it is utterly wicked."

Yuan Sheng didn't understand the answer at the time, but later she spent twenty years of her life becoming an immortal, and then spent her long life becoming a qualified immortal.

When Yuan Sheng ascended to heaven for the first time, he was a man, and he won a standing ovation.

The second ascension was by a woman; there was no one to congratulate her, and it was a cold and desolate affair.

The third ascension was by a woman, who was then elevated to a divine status.

A cliché story of an ordinary person becoming an unattainable goddess, then being brought down from her pedestal, and repeatedly returning to that pedestal. No romantic pairing. The protagonist is an ordinary person, a truly ordinary person, with personality flaws. This is likely to be a very long and drawn-out story. The protagonist is disguised as a man in the early stages. Please refrain from negative comments if you dislike this.