Song Shuhang’s mood worsened.
Why would I want to use a magical treasure like the Cross of Resurrection?
After all, wasn’t this magical treasure one used for resurrecting?
Did I… die again?
(Ah, I went too far again.) Fairy Skylark’s famous words suddenly resurfaced in Song Shuhang’s mind.
After messing things up, Fairy Skylark would calm down and then face the problem. However, Fairy Skylark was different. She had the ‘bone of eternity’, and had no need to worry about dying at all.
Song Shuhang, on the other hand, did not.
He looked up at the sky and remained silent for a long time.
Why do I not feel like I’m dead?
He lowered his head and looked at his body. Although I’ve become smoke, I’m still alive, right?
As such, I should choose the [No] option. After all, I’m still alive.
If he was alive, there was no need to waste the Cross of Resurrection.
Therefore, the logical choice was [No).
However…
Song Shuhang couldn’t bring himself to press the (No] button. What if… he had really died?
The Cross of Resurrection must have sensed that his state was one of death, and thus prompted him with this choice.
If he chose not to use the Cross of Resurrection now, would he lose the opportunity to use it later? Would he really die if that happened?
Song Shuhang felt tired as he thought of this.
Senior Thrice Reckless said that people who sought death wouldn’t have bad luck, so what was going on with him? Why had he died again? What happened to his luck? Was it eaten by Doudou or something?
This matter was related to his life… so should he use the Cross of Resurrection?
“Damn it! I’ve only just bought the Cross of Resurrection. I didn’t even get the chance to take a good look at it yet.” Song Shuhang’s heart ached so much that he couldn’t even breathe.
Moreover, how long had it been since the last time he revived?
The last time that he had died was when he was forging his life-bound magical treasure, the Defiant Whale Warrior’s Glove. At that time, his liquefied body suddenly died and merged with the life-bound magical treasure. This caused him to have a life-bound magical treasure like no other, unique from those of other practitioners.
Senior Turtle asked in puzzlement, “What happened?”
Song Shuhang said, “I’m so tired.”
“?” Senior Turtle.
Song Shuhang asked, “Senior Turtle, do you think that I am alive? Or do you think that I am dead?”
“Why are you asking these philosophical questions?” Senior Turtle asked in reply.
“I just want to know whether I’m alive or dead in my current state.” Song Shuhang smiled bitterly, and said, “Just now, a resurrection magical treasure of mine sent me a message, asking me if I wanted to use it or not.”
“…” Senior Turtle.
Senior Turtle was unsure as to what to think about Song Shuhang. Sometimes, it felt that this lad had peerless luck… but at other times, it felt that he was drowned in misfortune. Not long after it met Song Shuhang, Song Shuhang had already used two resurrection magical treasures. If he were to use another one now, that would be his third one.
This was the first that it had seen a practitioner use resurrection magical treasures at such a pace.
Senior Turtle sighed and looked at Song Shuhang carefully.
Song Shuhang’s smoky state was very strange.
If one argued that he was dead, you could tell them that he seemed to be alive and kicking.
Yet, you still couldn’t list any of the characteristics of a living person…
This was especially so with the bright and colorful light at his waist, which made people feel that it was rather out of sorts.
Senior Turtle couldn’t come to a definite conclusion for a while.
Senior Turtle said, “I don’t have any way of arriving at a definite conclusion on what’s happening to you right now.”
Song Shuhang looked up at the sky.
At this time, the members of the Nine Provinces Number One Group saw that Song Shuhang’s expression didn’t seem to be great, and they all gathered around him.
(Shuhang, how did you end up in this state?] At this time, the gentle voice of the White Dragon sounded in Song Shuhang’s mind.
Song Shuhang replied, “I’m not so sure myself, but perhaps it has something to do with Senior White.”
Senior Yellow Mountain said, “Then, why not ask Fellow Daoist White?”
Song Shuhang said, “Senior White is resting right now, and he won’t be able to reply for some time.”
…When he had asked Senior Turtle about his state, he had first attempted to contact Senior White, but he did not answer him.
Soft Feather suggested, “Senior Song, if you want to determine whether or not you’re alive… Why not go and find Senior Copper Trigram? Have him perform divination about you, divining your life and death.”
Northern River’s Loose Cultivator nodded, and said, “That’s a good idea.”
“But the problem with that is… Do any of you know where that shady fortune teller is at the moment?” Thrice Reckless Mad Saber said. “I heard that he was going to participate in this time’s Immortal Feast, but if he doesn’t show himself, we’ll have a difficult time ascertaining what appearance he had assumed this time.”
Fairy Lychee said, “And there’s a chance that he was kept on that island and made to work on producing a child.”
Su Clan’s Sixteen came to Song Shuhang’s side and gently grabbed his hand. As long as she was careful, she wouldn’t cause Song Shuhang’s hand to dissipate from grabbing too hard.
“Just use it,” Su Clan’s Sixteen said earnestly. “At most, another Song Shuhang Two is going to be born.”
Song Shuhang said, “To be honest, what I’m more worried about is something weird happening to me while I’m in the middle of revival.”
After thinking about it, Su Clan’s Sixteen said via secret sound transmission, “Then… Can you still use the secret appraisal technique? That secret technique should be able to help you, right?” She knew that Song Shuhang had a secret appraisal technique that would cause him to spew out blood as a price every time he used it.
Most of the fellow daoists of the Nine Provinces Number One Group knew of this as well.
However, there weren’t only the members of the Nine Provinces Number One Group in the surroundings right now, so Su Clan’s Sixteen reminded him in secret.
Song Shuhang said, “I can’t believe I forgot about that.”
Su Clan’s Sixteen said, “Can you use it? If so, we’ll protect you while you do so.”
Song Shuhang stretched out his hand and pressed it on his body, urging the secret appraisal technique.
The secret appraisal technique was successfully activated.
In the next moment, a lot of smoke was ejected from Song Shuhang’s body. However, just like when he had been in the liquefied state that Young Master Phoenix Slayer had put him in before, the smoke quickly returned to Song Shuhang’s body after being ejected.
An elemental body was particularly amazing at such times as it completely removed the aftereffect of spewing out blood.
I need to know whether I’m alive or dead!
The rune of the secret appraisal technique returned to Song Shuhang’s eye, and the results of the appraisal appeared in his mind.
[Song Shuhang. Male. Fifth Stage Spiritual Emperor. Sage Name: Tyrannical Song. Demon Name: Tyrannical Scholar. Current state: neither alive nor dead, temporarily in a pseudo-eternal state. Remaining duration: 56 minutes 12 seconds.]
Pseudo-eternal state?
Neither alive nor dead?
Song Shuhang could guess that his current condition, which was neither alive nor dead, was the result of this pseudo-eternal state.
In other words, when the pseudo-eternal state ended, he would return to his original state.
If he used the Cross of Resurrection at this time, would his body change again because of the pseudo-eternal state that he was in?
However, this kind of thing was simply seeking death too much.
It’s decided, let’s deny the resurrection!
Just as Song Shuhang decided to refuse the activation of the Cross of Resurrection, a voice came directly into his mind.
[Hello? Shuhang, are you there? I sensed your aura return to the Inner World.]
It was Senior White Two’s voice.
Song Shuhang immediately replied, (Yeah, I just returned to the Inner World. That fat ball almost beat me to death, and I feel really tired.]
Senior White Two said, [Mm-hm, I did sense yours and the fat ball’s aura. Don’t worry. I am taking revenge for you. I’ve taken away the fat ball’s lair, now it’s fuming mad.)
“…” Song Shuhang.
Suddenly, I feel even more tired.
[By the way, there’s something I need from you. I remember that you have a lot of ‘heavenly tribulation nuclear bombs’ in your Inner World, right?] Senior White Two said.
If something like a heavenly tribulation nuclear bomb were to explode in the Netherworld Realm, its power would rise to a terrifying degree due to the restraining effect it had on the Netherworld.
He was planning on sending some nuclear bombs over to the fat ball as a gift—the more the better, as the power would be stronger the more there were.
Song Shuhang nodded, and replied, (However, these heavenly tribulation nuclear bombs were entrusted to me by the main world’s Senior White, so I don’t actually own them.]
Senior White Two said, (He and I are both your Senior White, so there’s no need to differentiate between us. Just send me a batch of nuclear bombs. When the time comes, I will let that ‘White’ go to my treasury to pick something of equivalent value. The treasures in my treasury were accumulated over millions of years, they definitely wouldn’t disappoint him— Eh?]
While he was speaking, Senior White Two’s voice suddenly paused.
Senior White Two said, [What is with your state? How strange.]
Song Shuhang nodded, and replied, (I’m in a pseudo-eternal state, neither alive nor dead. I ended up like this due to the Senior White from the main world.)
(So that’s the case. No wonder the style of this thing seemed similar to mine. Let me take a closer look.] Senior White Two became interested.
After a while.
Senior White Two said, (So, your resurrection magical treasure is currently asking you whether or not you want to activate it?]
Song Shuhang said, (It might be because of my neither-alive-nor-dead state, but it doesn’t matter, my pseudo-eternal state will end soon.]
Senior White Two asked, [It’s going to end soon? Then, what are you waiting for? Why haven’t you revived yet?]
Song Shuhang replied, [I’m not dead yet, Senior White.]
Senior White Two said, (You’re too naive. Do you think that the pseudo-eternal state your body is in is some kind of joke? That’s something that imitates the attributes of the Wielder of the Will! In this state, the energy that is consumed every minute and every second is beyond your imagination. If I’m right, what it has been consuming is your vitality. The moment this state ends, your life will also end.)
Song Shuhang was taken aback. (It’s that serious?]
Senior White Two seriously said, (Just revive first. I will protect you during this time. If an accident happens midway, I’ll intervene.]
Song Shuhang heard this and nodded.
He solemnly said, “Activate!” The Cross of Resurrection was activated.
In the next moment, a gentle holy light emerged from behind Song Shuhang, and the huge projection of a cross appeared.
The holy light gently shone on Song Shuhang’s body, turning the black smoke that made up his body into a golden color.
At this time, Song Shuhang looked like a saint being reborn, bathed in holy light. Senior White Two suddenly said, (Tsk, the stench of holy light, Eh, wait, I seem to have been mistaken. What the pseudo-eternal state is consuming isn’t actually your energy.]
“…” Song Shuhang. Senior White Two, you’re making me want to break ties with you.
