Upon learning that Yang Yitian was in the same realm as him, Qi Zhiheng became somewhat anxious.

Although he could guess that his Daoist partner's soul had not died, he also imagined a bunch of possibilities: Yang Yitian was coerced, exploited, or simply left behind only a small part of his soul in order to survive!

But considering Yang Yitian's talent, it's possible that Yang Yitian actually suppressed his opponent.

He sighed, sat on the bed in the lounge, and began to meditate to calm his mind.

Three days later, the competition began.

Most of the alchemists in this competition are at the third level, and there are many level three alchemists. If Qi Zhiheng does not want to be eliminated, he can only refine level three pills from the beginning.

In order to avoid being discovered by others and thus prevent them from tampering with his work, he initially refined pills of poor quality, yet still managed to secure a spot in the next competition.

They entered the final competition in such a low-key manner that people noticed the Earth Immortal among the alchemists. He was a very conspicuous figure who could not help but attract attention.

He didn't care much; at this point, he no longer needed to hold back. He just needed to win the game and earn the right to stay.

In the final match, Qi Zhiheng was refining pills during the competition when he noticed that Yang Yitian was getting closer and closer to him.

Qi Zhiheng's heart was pounding. What would he do if that person discovered him? Originally, he only wanted to quietly confirm who the other person was. He didn't expect the other person to find him beforehand.

He frowned, struggling to finish refining the pills.

After handing over the elixir, Qi Zhiheng began to observe his surroundings.

He frowned slightly; Yang Yitian was nowhere to be seen.

He sensed that Yang Yitian had indeed gone far away.

He couldn't tell whether he felt regret or relief.

When the results came out, everyone in the audience was completely dumbfounded.

Because the winner of this alchemy competition is actually an Earth Immortal!

Upon hearing this news, everyone gasped.

Qi Zhiheng wore a faint smile, seemingly unconcerned about the scrutiny and probing of the crowd.

Qi Zhiheng's alchemy performance was outstanding, and after the competition, he gained the appreciation of a fourth-level alchemist from the Third Heaven named Mo Jiang.

After discussing alchemy insights with Qi Zhiheng, Mo Jiang, being a close alchemy confidant, inquired about Qi Zhiheng's situation: "What are your plans for the future? Is it possible to settle down in the Third Heaven?"

Qi Zhiheng nodded and said, "I do indeed have this intention."

"You're still just a terrestrial immortal; I'm afraid you'll find it difficult to move an inch in the Third Heaven," Mo Jiang said, somewhat worried for him.

Qi Zhiheng said, "I have a reason to stay. I will go to the steward of the Third Heaven to get my identity token for living here, and I will stay here from now on."

"In that case, I'll accompany you on this journey, so that we can finalize your identity."

Qi Zhiheng naturally agreed: "Then I'll have to trouble you, senior. I'm afraid I really will need you to accompany me this time."

This was the reason he was willing to befriend Mo Jiang in the past. Although his motives were somewhat impure, he had no hostility towards Mo Jiang.

Originally, if Qi Zhiheng had come alone, even with the token that granted him residency as part of the reward, he would have faced considerable difficulties. However, with Mo Jiang's assistance, Qi Zhiheng quickly completed all the formalities.

Qi Zhiheng looked at the new identity token in his hand, then put it away.

Mo Jiang invited Qi Zhiheng to live in his residence, so that they could exchange ideas on alchemy in the future.

However, if Qi Zhiheng wants to settle in the Third Heaven for a long time, he must have his own place to live. Moreover, the Soul-Devouring Insects are about to mutate, which will inevitably attract lightning tribulation.

It's rather unethical to let your spirit pet undergo tribulation on someone else's turf.

Therefore, Qi Zhiheng politely declined, only telling Mo Jiang that he would go to him to discuss alchemy techniques after things had settled down.

Mo Jiang had no choice but to let Qi Zhiheng go.

Qi Zhiheng turned around and found a pill shop to sell a batch of level-three immortal spirit pills, and used these immortal spirit stones to rent a cave dwelling.

This is a cave dwelling managed by a large family, so generally no one will come to cause trouble.

Qi Zhiheng was only a terrestrial immortal, so to avoid being noticed, he had to rent a cave dwelling himself.

Qi Zhiheng's divine soul was temporarily inscribed into the restrictions of the cave, and from then on, only Qi Zhiheng could freely enter and exit this place.

Everything done inside the cave will be hidden; even breaking through the tribulation of lightning will not be seen.

Qi Zhiheng felt that this was the perfect place for those spirit-devouring insects to break through.

Once inside the cave, Qi Zhiheng released all the Spirit-Devouring Insects.

Beneath the cave dwelling lies a celestial vein, where the celestial energy is extremely rich. The spirit-devouring insects scattered and ran away, not forgetting to take Qi Zhiheng's Beast Immortal Pill before they left.

Qi Zhiheng ignored the spirit-devouring insects and returned to his room to sit cross-legged in meditation.

At night, everything suddenly became bright, as if someone had turned on a lamp.

Qi Zhiheng suddenly opened his eyes!

Before me stood a very familiar figure, dressed in a white robe with blue patterns, wearing a jade crown, and exuding an extraordinary aura.

Qi Zhiheng suddenly became a little nervous.

There were many questions I wanted to ask, such as: Who are you? Are you Han Qing Immortal Lord or Yang Yitian?

The final question, however, became: "How did you get in?"

Yang Yitian was suddenly asked this question, and after a pause, he said, "I came in through the main gate."

Qi Zhiheng: "..."

Qi Zhiheng: "Isn't this place protected by a restriction?"

"Have you forgotten that I am quite proficient in talismans and formations? It would be too easy for someone to enter without alerting me. I still have the divine soul you gave me within me." Yang Yitian walked step by step towards Qi Zhiheng.

Perhaps it was a sense of trepidation at the prospect of returning home, but Qi Zhiheng was indeed somewhat nervous at this moment.

After Yang Yitian got closer, Qi Zhiheng could see his appearance and his eyes clearly.

He suddenly stood up from the bed, pulled Yang Yitian into his arms, and held him tightly.

He knew that this was Yang Yitian.

His eyes were no longer as cold as when he ascended. Although his personality seemed to have changed, Qi Zhiheng was certain that this was his Daoist partner. He could even feel the resonance between his own divided soul and the connection within their Daoist partner contract.

The two embraced silently for a long time before Qi Zhiheng finally spoke, "What exactly happened? Why did you suddenly ascend to heaven? Was it Hanqing Immortal Lord who wanted to possess you back then?"

Yang Yitian peeked out from his arms and replied, "Actually, that's not the case."

"What is it then?" Qi Zhiheng asked again.

Yang Yitian recounted the story in detail: "Actually, that so-called Immortal Lord Hanqing is me..."

Qi Zhiheng frowned, then looked at Yang Yitian with a hint of disdain in his eyes: "How could that be!"

Yang Yitian: "...What kind of look is that?"

"Ahem." Qi Zhiheng was somewhat troubled by his slip of the tongue; he shouldn't have been so direct.

Yang Yitian said, "I am Hanqing Immortal Lord. Actually, Hanqing Immortal Lord is not an Immortal Lord. Immortal Lord is just an early title. Before my soul was reincarnated, I was an Immortal Emperor."

Qi Zhiheng listened attentively to his detailed explanation.

Yang Yitian continued, "Whether it's the Immortal Palace or the little black snake, I was the one who placed them there. Because I still have contracts with the Immortal Palace and the little black snake, that's why the little black snake took the initiative to sign a contract with me back then. Wasn't my portrait from my previous life handsome?" As he finished speaking, there was a hint of teasing in Yang Yitian's eyes.

Qi Zhiheng was a little embarrassed. This kind of question was practically a death trap. If he said he was beautiful in his past life, what would he say in his present life? If he said he wasn't beautiful in his past life, the other person could interpret it as "I am the same person in both my past and present lives," which is equivalent to "I am ugly!" Qi Zhiheng thought for a moment and said, "Your current appearance is the most suitable."

Yang Yitian smiled and said, "Actually, those portraits sealed my memories from my past life. When you absorbed the lines of law on the paintings, the seal was naturally broken. Back then, I often had dreams and thought it was the influence of the Immortal Palace, but it wasn't. It was just that I regained some memories."

"Why didn't you mention it to me back then?" Qi Zhiheng asked, somewhat dissatisfied.

Yang Yitian said, "I wasn't clear about it back then, was I? Because my soul was incomplete, I couldn't receive it at all."

"You even looked at me with that kind of gaze when you ascended to immortality!" Qi Zhiheng felt increasingly chilled as he thought about it.

Yang Yitian was a little embarrassed: "Back then, I had just merged with the divine soul, and my power had recovered somewhat. At that time, I felt that Qi Zhiheng was just a very small part of my long life, so..."

Qi Zhiheng probably understood, so the indifference he showed back then was genuine indifference.

Yang Yitian immediately explained, "Later I really thought it through, I swear!"

Qi Zhiheng sighed: "Alright, it's good that you're alright now. Anyway, now that I've found you, we can live well together from now on."

Yang Yitian suddenly fell silent.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Qi Zhiheng asked, "Why aren't you saying anything?"

Then he thought for a moment, his heart skipped a beat, and he questioned, "You didn't already have a lover in the Immortal Realm, did you!" That's right! Immortals in the Immortal Realm live for tens of thousands of years at a time. Yang Yitian must have already had a Daoist partner to have risen to the rank of Immortal Emperor!

Yang Yitian quickly denied it: "I didn't! Don't wrong me. I only formed a Daoist partnership with you, and I've never been with anyone else before."

Qi Zhiheng finally breathed a sigh of relief: "Then why didn't you say anything just now? Or do you now think that I, a mere Earth Immortal, am not worthy of your status as an Immortal Emperor?"

Qi Zhiheng suddenly released the person as he spoke.

Yang Yitian explained, "No, it's just... it's just that I might be leaving soon."

"Where are we going?" Qi Zhiheng frowned.

Yang Yitian pointed to the sky: "Go to the Fourth Heaven."

Qi Zhiheng fell silent. With his cultivation as an Earth Immortal, he had already taken a shortcut to reach the third level of the Heavenly Realm. Reaching the fourth level would probably not be an easy task.

"Do you really want to go up?" After a long silence, Qi Zhiheng spoke again.

"I have a reason why I have to go up there." Yang Yitian said this and then shut up.