Chapter 419 - 172: Source of the Celestial Transformation, Netherworld Venerable Master! Gu Tianyun! Book of Reincarnation

He had a feeling.

This tavern would answer his questions.

The tavern was identical to the Yinfu Store Su Bai had seen before.

The simple, ancient walls, the plain yellow tavern banner, and the horse stable outside.

The only difference was that there were no horses in the stable.

Instead, a flatbed cart covered in weeds was parked by the door.

It was exactly as he had seen before.

An old ox lay on the ground, its tail swaying, while an old horse chewed on fodder, saliva flying from its mouth.

Su Bai paused in his tracks.

Every blade of grass and every tree in this space was vividly lifelike, as if completely real.

But the wooden cart, the ox, and the horse were all incredibly illusory, like a projected image.

It seemed he could pass his hand right through them.

Many thoughts surfaced in his mind, but he didn’t linger. He gave the cart a deep look before slowly stepping forward.

After stepping into the tavern, he found the furnishings were exactly the same as before.

The stooped old Shopkeeper, the slightly world-weary owner’s wife, and the young apprentice bustling about.

’So that’s how it is...’

Seeing this scene, Su Bai sighed softly.

Back in the Yinfu Store, the three Demon Ghosts could never be killed. He had guessed then that the meaning of their existence had been forcibly frozen on a single day.

And just as he’d thought, it was true.

As Su Bai entered the tavern, he heard a calm, drawn-out voice slowly speak up:

"Three catties of horse meat, a portion of horse tendon, two horse ears, and half a catty of strong liquor."

"One moment, sir."

The young apprentice nodded meekly and headed toward the back kitchen.

Su Bai stood at the entrance. Only now did he look toward the source of the voice—the only customer in the tavern.

A tall, elegant man in a gray robe was holding an ancient book. Sitting across from him was an ugly, burly, and unkempt giant.

A child sat on either side of the elegant man.

One had a dark face, the other a fair one.

But just like the ox, horse, and cart outside, all of them emanated a sense of illusion and unreality, as if a gentle breeze could scatter them.

THUD!

The elegant man set down the ancient book and slowly looked up.

His deep, gentle gaze seemed to pierce through the void and land on Su Bai.

"You’ve come."

Su Bai, in turn, carefully studied the elegant man.

The man was tall and slender, with a well-proportioned build. He wore a warm smile, and above his deep-set eyes, his long eyebrows were like swords, giving him a scholarly air.

The moment their eyes met, Su Bai spoke slowly, his Heart Spirit focused.

"Netherworld Venerable Master!"

"To think, it’s really you."

This elegant, gray-robed man before him was the legendary Netherworld Venerable Master!

Gu Tianyun!

He possessed the Purification Tripod, which allowed him to view the cultivation memories of criminals. In five years’ time, there were few things left in the world that could be hidden from him.

The face and deeds of this Netherworld Venerable Master were, naturally, no exception.

He had learned the Netherworld Venerable Master’s face and name from Qin Wuliang’s memories.

"I have waited a long time for you."

Gu Tianyun sighed softly, his voice ancient and tinged with desolation.

He sighed again, looking somewhat emotional, then waved his hand.

"Sit."

Su Bai did as he was told, sitting down calmly next to the fair-faced little boy.

Only then did he realize that apart from Gu Tianyun, the others were even more ethereal, seemingly impossible to interact with.

At that moment, the young apprentice brought over the food and wine.

Gu Tianyun picked up the wine pot and poured a cup for Su Bai.

"To be able to drink with a fellow countryman after death... it is one of life’s true pleasures!"

He spoke frankly of life and death, his tone gentle.

"Please."

Gu Tianyun raised his cup and drained it in one go.

’Fellow countryman?’

Su Bai’s Heart Spirit sharpened.

"Alright."

Then, he too raised his cup and drained it.

He was a human form manifested from Divine Intent, and the wine was not a physical substance. The moment it entered his chest, it instantly transformed into a clear stream that spread out, jolting Su Bai’s spirit.

He couldn’t help but blurt out:

"Good wine!"

"It’s been aging for so many years. Of course it’s good wine."

Gu Tianyun seemed very pleased. He poured two more cups and said softly:

"In this world, there was originally no wine that Netherworld Yin Gods could drink. I went to great lengths back then to brew this."

"Your efforts were not in vain."

Su Bai held his cup and nodded, but did not drink more.

After downing another cup of wine, Gu Tianyun suddenly asked:

"Have the northern invaders been driven out? Have our Central Plains been restored?"

Su Bai was stunned by Gu Tianyun’s sudden question.

Then, realization dawned on him.

This Gu Tianyun before him was, just as he had suspected, also from Blue Star. That was why he’d spoken of meeting a fellow countryman.

The only difference was that Gu Tianyun must be from a century ago, from a different era than his own.

Su Bai then spoke with solemnity.

"It is just as you wished, sir."

"Good!"

Gu Tianyun’s chest heaved for a moment. When he looked at Su Bai again, his gaze had softened considerably.

"Very good..."

He had died in the cannon fire of his early years. It was only through a fortuitous encounter that his soul was able to return to this world.

But his homeland was, after all, a tie that still bound his heart. Hearing Su Bai’s words now, even in death, he felt a profound sense of relief.

With the mention of Blue Star, the atmosphere in the room seemed to undergo a subtle change.

Su Bai seemed to sense something, but he paid it no mind and changed the subject.

"Mr. Gu, how did you know I would come?"