“Yes, I need to find a place to condense my Immortal Lattice first. After that, we’ll head to the Ascending Immortal Ladder," Mo Wuji replied.

Han Qingru asked with confusion, “Junior Brother, you managed to exchange for a spot in the Yongying Corner Market Joint Auction from the Pioneer Merchant Tower. Aren't you going?”

Mo Wuji shook his head. “I can’t go. The reason I made them give me such a jade token is because I don’t want to go. I’m certain that if I go, no matter how I disguise myself, I won’t be able to escape the Golden Immortal's ambush. I haven't experienced the strength of a Golden Immortal. Even if I condense my Immortal Lattice, I can't say for sure that I can defeat a Golden Immortal. If there are several Golden Immortals, then it will be even more difficult for me to escape.”

Han Qingru's survival experience outside was far inferior to Mo Wuji's. Hearing Mo Wuji's words, she suddenly realized. The reason why that woman from the Pioneer Merchant Tower agreed to Junior Brother's request without hesitation was because she was certain that once Junior Brother went to the auction, he would never be able to leave.

“I’m sorry,” Han Qingru said with some guilt, thinking about the trouble she had caused.

Mo Wuji smiled slightly. “It’s nothing. I also came from a blank slate like you. Back then, I was even worse than you. I was even stabbed in the back by the person I trusted most. I think growth comes at a price.”

“Ah, who was it?” Han Qingru asked in shock. She felt that Mo Wuji acted with great principles and was not the kind of two-faced person. Since it was Mo Wuji's friend, why would they stab him in the back?

Mo Wuji shook his head. “Forget it. I've already forgotten these things. Let's go back to the original place to condense my Immortal Lattice.”

……

Jingyang, one of the seven major cities in China. Even in the entire world, Jingyang is a top-tier metropolis.

Jingshou Mountain is the highest mountain outside Jingyang City, and the Jingyang River winds around the base of Jingshou Mountain, further enhancing its majestic aura.

At this moment, on a riverside slope of Jingshou Mountain, a young woman in white was standing beside a grave, motionless like a statue. If it weren't for the breeze from the river ruffling her dress, one would even think it was a real statue. The evening chill of the Qingming Festival seemed to have no effect on her.

The tombstone in front of the grave was inscribed with two lines: "Tomb of Mo Wuji, erected by Wen Xiaoqi."

The sun gradually set in the west, and the reddish light shone down, adding a touch of poignant beauty to the scene.

It was unknown how long had passed, but the woman in white slowly bowed and murmured in an almost ethereal tone, "It's another Qingming Festival. I don't ask that you forgive me, I only ask that you..."

She seemed unable to continue speaking, and simply clenched her hands tightly.

A woman carrying a bamboo basket and walking with a slightly faltering gait slowly approached. She walked behind the woman in white and remained silent.

The woman in white obviously knew someone was coming. She slowly turned her head and looked at the woman with a face full of vicissitudes. After a long while, she said, "Xiaoqi, thank you for erecting the tomb for Wuji, and thank you for taking care of this place all these years."

The woman with a face full of vicissitudes said calmly, "Xia Ruoyin, everything I do has nothing to do with you."

After saying this, the haggard woman named Xiaoqi slowly walked to the grave, took out the sacrificial offerings from the bamboo basket, and placed them in front of the tombstone. Then, she took out some ghost money and lit it. She did everything meticulously, as if she were doing a routine chore.

Xia Ruoyin looked at the woman, who was two years younger than her but so haggard, for a long time. Then she suddenly turned around. In a short time, she walked far away.

Only then did Wen Xiaoqi turn her head. She looked at Xia Ruoyin's back and suddenly clenched her fists. After a long while, she sighed again and murmured, "I'm sorry, Wuji, I don't have the ability to avenge you, to kill this vicious woman."

"You know everything?" A cold voice suddenly appeared in Wen Xiaoqi's ear. Wen Xiaoqi stared in shock at Xia Ruoyin standing in front of her. She had clearly seen Xia Ruoyin walk away earlier, how could she suddenly appear in front of her?

However, she quickly put this matter aside, and her tone became even calmer, "That's right, I know everything. Wuji was assassinated from behind. He was researching in the laboratory every day. Except for you, no third person could enter his laboratory. Wuji gave you his heart, but you actually assassinated him for a formula. You're not even human, you're worse than a beast."

Xia Ruoyin's face turned pale. She slowly raised her hand, and a violent killing intent surged around her.

Wen Xiaoqi sneered, "I know that after you obtained Wuji's formula, you had a great opportunity, otherwise your appearance would not have remained unchanged until now. But I am not afraid at all, Wen Xiaoqi. Kill me. I cannot avenge Wuji, and it is a satisfaction to die with Wuji."

"You really want to kill me?" Xia Ruoyin heard this and slowly lowered her hand instead.

Wen Xiaoqi glanced at Xia Ruoyin with disdain, "I wish I could swallow your flesh and drink your blood. I won't get married because I want to find a chance to kill you. Unfortunately, I know that I will never have this opportunity."

After speaking, Wen Xiaoqi didn't even bother to look at Xia Ruoyin. She slowly turned around and added the ghost money to the burning fire again.

Xia Ruoyin's expression changed several times. Finally, she turned around again, and her figure flashed. Like a leaf, she floated away and disappeared.

……

In a cave outside Five Lotus Mountain in Yongying Corner, Mo Wuji was surrounded by Immortal Lattice Stones. He picked up an Immortal Lattice Stone and continuously sensed the aura within according to the method Han Qingru mentioned. Then, he condensed the Immortal Lattice by absorbing that aura.

The Immortal Lattice Stone contained a Dao rhythm aura that was difficult for Mo Wuji to capture. However, what made Mo Wuji's expression change drastically was that he could not absorb even a trace of the Dao rhythm aura in the Immortal Lattice Stone.

How could he condense the Immortal Lattice if he couldn't even absorb the Dao rhythm aura within it?

After an entire day, the Immortal Lattice Stone in Mo Wuji's hand was still the same as before.

Mo Wuji's heart sank slightly. He did not ask Han Qingru. He was sure that even Han Qingru would not know what was going on. Perhaps it was related to the cultivation technique he practiced. He had no spiritual roots and pioneered a cultivation method based on meridians. Perhaps in the entire vast universe, he was the only one who had cultivated to the Heavenly Immortal Realm without spiritual roots.

Taking a deep breath, Mo Wuji did not continue to condense the Immortal Lattice. He took out a pile of mid-grade Immortal Stones and began to convert his Immortal Essence.

One hundred and eight meridians simultaneously reversed, forming a large reverse cycle. Mo Wuji only spent half a month completely converting his True Essence into Immortal Essence.

Originally, when Mo Wuji was in the Heavenly Immortal Realm, the Essence within his body was already abundant. Now that it had been converted into Immortal Essence, his strength had increased several times over.

After converting his Essence into Immortal Essence, Mo Wuji took out the Immortal Lattice Stone again. He suspected that the reason he couldn't condense the Immortal Lattice before was because the Essence hadn't been converted.

To Mo Wuji's disappointment, he still couldn't condense the Immortal Lattice even after his Essence was converted into Immortal Essence.

Mo Wuji sighed inwardly. He collected all the Immortal Lattice Stones again, feeling somewhat disappointed.

He had worked so hard to mine so many Immortal Lattice Stones, but none of them could be used. Was this a typical case of working for others?

Now he was worried about whether he could climb the Ascending Immortal Ladder without condensing the Immortal Lattice.

Regardless of whether he could or not, he couldn't stay here any longer. Mo Wuji opened the restriction.

Han Qingru, who was cultivating, immediately stood up when she saw Mo Wuji come out. "Junior Brother, have you condensed your Immortal Lattice?"

Mo Wuji nodded. "Yes, let's go and take a look at the Ascending Immortal Ladder."

(Seeking recommendation tickets!)