: The Emotionless Crossing and the Empty Return Raft

Buddhist Physician · Meng Yaoxin wore a solemn expression: "I'm not joking with you, nor do I want to make fun of you."

"Little Sun, you've taken care of my son for many years, and I am endlessly grateful to you."

"Your infiltration into the immortal city this time has the protection of unseen forces and unexpected assistance."

"On the contrary, my side is extremely dangerous! I only wish I had more troops—the more, the better."

Sun Lingtong frowned: "Could it be that Elder Grey Bone is facing a crisis of survival?"

Buddhist Physician · Meng Yaoxin slowly nodded with a grave look.

Sun Lingtong's heart sank immediately, thinking to himself: "For Auntie to take it so seriously, the enemies in Water Burial Valley might be even more terrifying than those in the Forgotten River Immortal City!"

"After all, if the Forgotten River Mansion Lord's century-long conspiracy is truly disrupted this time, Elder Grey Bone's role and contribution would be absolutely immense."

"Auntie received guidance from Elder Grey Bone during her lifetime; without his planning, we definitely wouldn't have been able to form two cultivation armies."

"If I were the Forgotten River Mansion Lord and learned the truth, I'd surely despise Elder Grey Bone and would definitely want to eliminate him at all costs!"

"Auntie is doing this for my own good by deliberately separating from me..."

"But how can I cross the Forgotten River and enter the immortal city?"

Sun Lingtong looked at the wide river before him, feeling quite troubled.

Buddhist Physician · Meng Yaoxin had already led her army and set off again. Before leaving, she reached out and pulled a wisp of aura from herself, forming a glowing ball of energy.

"This is my aura; it can conceal you and help you pass through the city gates."

Sun Lingtong received it with both hands, looking up at Buddhist Physician · Meng Yaoxin, who was already accelerating away in her war chariot.

Watching the retreating chariot, Sun Lingtong called out: "Auntie, how do I cross the river?"

Buddhist Physician · Meng Yaoxin transmitted her thoughts: "Little Sun, it's not that I don't want to guide you further."

"But my condition is special—I am no longer among the living, nor am I a ghost or deity. This awakening and continuous divinations have already stirred fluctuations in fate. Giving you too much guidance now would be unwise; just go with the flow."

After this explanation, she led her paper army rumbling into the distance, carrying a solemn battle intent toward another battlefield.

Left alone was the young boy, Sun Lingtong.

He gazed at the vast river, feeling lost and unsure what to do.

If it were his first time here, he might have tried using some spells or stealth techniques, only to suffer for it.

But having met Luo Si before and gained that experience, he now had a deep understanding and respect for the Forgotten River.

Luo Si, at the Nascent Soul level, was appointed as a general to lead troops in attacking the White Paper Immortal City, so his strength was considerable. Even so, he only dared to sit on the riverbank, fishing by the edge, and never ventured into the water.

"Wait, that's not right, not right!"

Sun Lingtong suddenly had a thought, hitting upon a key point: "There are many residents in the Forgotten River Immortal City; they can't all be powerful experts capable of crossing the Forgotten River on their own."

"With so many people, there must be a stable passage allowing easy entry into the Forgotten River Immortal City. Maybe a teleportation array or something."

Thinking of this, Sun Lingtong's spirits lifted.

He immediately began walking along the river, conducting his investigation.

Before long, he passed through the dense river mist and spotted a ferry crossing.

"Indeed, indeed! My idea was right." Sun Lingtong felt excited yet cautious as he approached the ferry.

The ferry was quite simple, and a group of cultivators were already waiting there.

Being cautious, Sun Lingtong observed from a distance first. He noticed that among those waiting were not only soul cultivators but also various types of ghosts. Their cultivation levels varied, with the highest at the Golden Core stage—only one—a few at Foundation Establishment, more at Qi Refining, and the majority being ordinary mortals.

Sun Lingtong relaxed his guard slightly.

He touched his face; currently, he appeared as a ghost cultivator from the underworld. Confirming that his disguise was still effective, he nonchalantly entered the ferry.

His arrival didn't attract attention at first, but as he wandered and looked around, more eyes turned toward him.

The ferry was truly rudimentary; Sun Lingtong could see almost everything at a glance, with little to gain.

His gaze eventually fell on the cultivators, who had formed an orderly line and remained silent, which struck him as peculiar.

Standing near the front of the line, Sun Lingtong was mentally preparing to gather information when the ghost cultivator closest to him suddenly spoke: "Young man, do you wish to enter the Forgotten River Immortal City?"

"Ah? Yes." Sun Lingtong nodded.

The ghost cultivator grinned widely, showing an enthusiastic smile: "Then you can line up in front of me."

Sun Lingtong was taken aback.

No sooner had the ghost cultivator spoken than other ghosts and soul cultivators chimed in.

"Cut in front of me, cut in front of me!"

"Why cut in your line? I'm ahead of you; come here, young man."

"Come on, I'll give you my spot."

The waiting cultivators were quite enthusiastic and accommodating.

Being naturally sharp, Sun Lingtong immediately sensed the strangeness and eeriness beneath their excessive warmth.

Seeing his hesitation, the soul cultivators grew noisier, vying to assist Sun Lingtong. Some ghosts even glared with red eyes, showing ferocity but forcibly restraining themselves.

Sun Lingtong decisively moved away from them and headed to the back of the line.

Once he took his place at the end, the ghosts and soul cultivators fell silent. Some snorted in dissatisfaction, while others glanced at Sun Lingtong with barely concealed ill intentions.

"Kid, you're not too foolish. Staying at the end of the line is all benefit and no harm for you."

An old man suddenly spoke. He had been last in line and was now second to last.

Sun Lingtong looked over and saw an elderly human soul cultivator, so he ventured to ask: "Elder, what's the reasoning behind this?"

The old man nodded: "They want to accumulate virtue and good deeds, seizing every opportunity to build merit."

"But true virtue and good deeds are vastly different from what they're doing."

"Like me—I'm the one truly accumulating virtue, acting with a kind heart and doing good deeds!"

The old man spoke openly, not hiding his words or using thought transmission.

Hearing this, many ghosts and soul cultivators erupted, turning around to glare angrily.

"Old man, stop spouting nonsense!"

"Who do you think you are, daring to teach your ghost grandpa about doing good?"

"You look down on us? Hypocritical righteousness!"

The old man had stirred up public anger but chuckled, turning back to Sun Lingtong with a smile: "Just watch, kid."

With that, he turned to face the crowd, glaring and scolding angrily: "What's all the shouting?! You fools, come and hit me if you dare."

"Don't worry, I'm very weak, with poor cultivation—only at Qi Refining, no different from a mortal."

"One punch from any of you could kill me. Come on, strike my chest. I guarantee I'll drop dead immediately!"

At his words, the previously noisy crowd fell silent.

Observing their expressions, Sun Lingtong realized they were thoroughly intimidated.

The old man's "victory through weakness" made Sun Lingtong understand in that moment: Even before entering the Forgotten River Immortal City, he was already under some of its rules.

"Could it be that the Forgotten River Immortal City advocates respecting the elderly, caring for the young, and accumulating virtue?" he asked the old man.

The old man nodded: "The rules in the Forgotten River Immortal City are very strict, with rigorous inspections for all soul cultivators and ghosts entering the city."

"The key aspects of the inspection are the presence of sins, how many sins, the presence of virtue, and how much virtue."

"Those with fewer sins and more virtue naturally find it easier to enter the city and gain citizenship."

"Here at this Emotionless Crossing, rules must also be followed. Shouting, cutting in line, etc., could anger the Cloud Wanderer's Reflection and prevent boarding the Empty Return Raft."

The more Sun Lingtong heard, the more questions he had, and he couldn't help asking: "Wait, elder. What is the Cloud Wanderer's Reflection? And what is the Empty Return Raft? Is it a ferry?"

Hearing this, the old man was surprised: "Kid, you want to enter the Forgotten River Immortal City but don't even know these two things?"

Sun Lingtong thought that since he'd already been seen as a newcomer, he might as well admit it and shook his head: "No, I don't."

The old man sighed, genuinely感慨: "Then you're lucky to have met me, kid."

"Let me tell you."

"All the ferry crossings and ferries on the Forgotten River are connected to two esteemed predecessors."

"They were a cultivation couple; the female cultivator was named Yue Yi, and the male was called Yun Xiao."

"Originally a perfect pair, they harmonized like zither and lute, cultivated the great path together, deeply in love, vowing to seek eternal life side by side."

"Senior Yue Yi was gentle as moonlight, pure-hearted, often performing good deeds. During a sudden virtual realm collapse disaster, to protect a realm of living beings, Senior Yue Yi sacrificed herself in the formation, her fragrance fading, her soul falling into the underworld."

"Senior Yun Xiao was heartbroken, his Dao heart nearly shattered. On the path to immortality without her, even ten thousand years of life would be an eternal prison of loneliness."

"Disregarding his peers' dissuasion, he abandoned his Dao path, using his own strength and solitary courage to force open the path to the Nine Netherworlds, charging deep into the underworld, breaking through several underworld courts."

"This journey was truly fraught with hardships, a narrow escape from death. He slayed blocking evil ghosts with his sword, endured bone-eroding Yin winds, traversed hellish Yin lands like mountains of knives and seas of fire, ignoring the strict iron laws of the ghost race. What sustained him was only that unextinguishable obsession in his heart—find her, bring her back!"

"Finally, after enduring countless trials, following the familiar aura on his beloved's soul, he found this place, perhaps standing right where we stand today."

"Here on the bank of the timeless Forgotten River."

"Waves surged to the sky,腥 winds blew in his face, countless distorted souls and ghosts struggled, floated, and wailed in the filthy river water, emitting heart-rending cries of sorrow. Then, after being washed and cleansed by the Forgotten River, they shed their past memories and intense emotions, gaining release and relief, floating to the surface."

"Here, Senior Yun Xiao finally found Senior Yue Yi. Yet his joy and urgency elicited no response from her."

"Senior Yue Yi had been immersed too long, washed clean of too many emotions and memories. Seeing Senior Yun Xiao, she frowned slightly, as if trying to recall, but ultimately in vain."

"Though Senior Yun Xiao found his beloved, the outcome was tragic. He tried to recover her lost emotions and memories, but they were scattered in the infinite waters of the Forgotten River. Even Senior Yun Xiao was powerless against this."

"He stood on the riverbank with his numb beloved's soul, striving for seven days and nights. Eventually, all his sacrifices, journeys, and persistence turned into a despair colder than the Forgotten River's waters."

"In despair, overwhelmed with grief, he cried out to the heavens. In his cries, he exerted his full power and ability regardless of consequences."

"His cries mingled with the river's roar; all his cultivation and talent were deeply imprinted on the Forgotten River's banks, transforming into numerous ferry crossings and ferries."

"Each ferry crossing and ferry is identical in form—they are the Emotionless Crossing and the Empty Return Raft."

Sun Lingtong listened captivated, softly repeating the two names. Unlike before, he could now feel the immense grief, despair, and sorrow within them.

The old man continued: "Because Senior Yun Xiao was a righteous predecessor, anyone entering this Emotionless Crossing must follow the rules."

"Poor behavior, such as fighting, arguing, or even loud noise, could lead to expulsion from the Emotionless Crossing. Worst of all, once expelled, one can never enter the Emotionless Crossing again in their lifetime."

"The Empty Return Raft has limited space, and each trip only selects the ten best-behaved individuals."

"'Best-behaved' here refers to one's conduct within the Emotionless Crossing."

"Only by boarding the Empty Return Raft can we reach the Forgotten River Immortal City."

Sun Lingtong finally understood completely. Staring at the long line ahead, he thought: "So their earlier offers to let me cut in were actually setting me up while making themselves look good!"

He opened his mouth slightly, about to ask more, when suddenly, a cloud of mist appeared, coalescing into a cultivator in wide white sleeves, ethereal and immortal, with his back to the crowd, facing the Forgotten River as if contemplating the past.

The Emotionless Crossing fell silent immediately.

The old man especially stared wide-eyed at the figure's back.

Sun Lingtong also stared, connecting it to the earlier explanation, and guessed the truth: "Could this be the Cloud Wanderer's Reflection?"

The Cloud Wanderer's Reflection appeared for only a few moments before mist rose around, as if fog had formed over the river.

Through the vast river mist, a ferry gradually drifted into view.

The ferry was also quite simple and not very spacious.

Sun Lingtong thought to himself: "No wonder the elder said only the top ten cultivators are chosen."

The Cloud Wanderer's Reflection waved at the Empty Return Raft, which sped up and docked at the crossing.

The Cloud Wanderer's Reflection waved his sleeve.

In the next moment, the old man who had helped Sun Lingtong vanished from his spot.

When he reappeared, he was on the ferry—the first passenger aboard the Empty Return Raft!

(End of )