Zhang Jingmo stayed in the mortal world for about two years.

Under another identity, he helped Gu Chenjiang obtain what he wanted and supported him to the most powerful position in the Zhao State.

For a Golden Core stage cultivator, changing the fate of the mortal world is a simple matter, but changing the destiny of a nation requires paying a price.

Fortunately, Gu Chenjiang himself carried some dragon energy, otherwise Zhang Jingmo might have had to pay an even more painful price to help him seize the throne.

In cultivation, the kind of cause one plants will bear the corresponding fruit.

Zhang Jingmo's cultivation path has always been about having a clear conscience, so even if he has to pay some price, he must do what needs to be done.

Two years is just a snap of the fingers for cultivators, but it's enough for the entire mortal world to change beyond recognition.

The day before Gu Chenjiang ascended the throne, he suddenly asked Zhang Jingmo: "Tell me, if I always think of a person in my heart, does it mean I love him?"

Zhang Jingmo, who had transformed into a military officer in his sixties, naturally wouldn't think Gu Chenjiang was talking about him. He assumed Gu Chenjiang was referring to some noble lady he had met, so he said: "Once you sit on that position, Chenjiang, what in the world can't you obtain?"

Gu Chenjiang seemed to find these words reasonable, so he said: "Go find a person for me."

Zhang Jingmo slightly nodded, waiting for Gu Chenjiang to say the person's name.

Gu Chenjiang said: "Chen Baicang."

Hearing this unexpected answer, Zhang Jingmo's expression distorted slightly, but quickly returned to normal. He asked: "Which state is this person from? Where does he live? Who else is in his family?"

Gu Chenjiang thought for a moment, then actually shook his head and said: "I don't know."

Zhang Jingmo was speechless.

Gu Chenjiang said: "I only know that I seem to be unable to forget this person..."

Zhang Jingmo had no response, but constrained by his current identity, he could only clasp his hands and agree to the matter.

So during the time he helped Gu Chenjiang consolidate his position, Zhang Jingmo also had to pretend to help Gu Chenjiang search for "Chen Baicang" - this person who never existed in the first place.

Naturally, the search yielded no results. Before Zhang Jingmo left Gu Chenjiang's side, Gu Chenjiang was still unable to see this old acquaintance again.

Gu Chenjiang ascended to the position he most desired, while Gu Chenshan also found the person she wanted.

Gu Chenshan's husband was a noble's son who fell in love with her at first sight. They later became engaged and smoothly married.

After marriage, Gu Chenshan's husband doted on her very much and made a vow of "one life, one world, one couple" to her - you should know how shocking this promise was at the time.

Fortunately, Gu Chenshan and her husband's feelings were not affected by others. Before Zhang Jingmo left, Gu Chenshan had already given birth to a son. In short, everything was developing in a good direction.

After the dust settled, Zhang Jingmo left. Before leaving, he left behind a avatar that looked exactly like him and even had a mind of its own. It could replace Zhang Jingmo in protecting the Gu siblings until they exhausted their lifespans, then it would return to Zhang Jingmo.

After concluding this matter, Zhang Jingmo flew straight back to Lingxu Sect.

At this time, it had been a full five years since Zhang Jingmo left.

After returning to his cave abode, Zhang Jingmo first placed the blood-red heart he obtained into the secret room specifically for storing treasures.

This heart looked fierce and strange, but to Zhang Jingmo it was an extremely important item. It had no other functions except being able to save a person's life three times.

Whether it was a mighty cultivator or an ordinary person, no matter how severe the injury or even if already dead, as long as they had this heart, after a short while, they would regain a complete and healthy body.

The effect of this heart was equivalent to giving the owner three extra lives. For Zhang Jingmo, it meant he no longer had to enter reincarnation again.

Moreover, with this heart, it would greatly aid Lu Guijiu's future cultivation path. If any mishap occurred, Zhang Jingmo could also save Lu Guijiu and not have to start over from the beginning...

Just thinking about possibly having to redo everything made Zhang Jingmo feel a bit of a headache.

After putting away the item, Zhang Jingmo bathed and changed clothes, then flew to the cave abode where Bai Lingxiao was, wanting to see this disciple he hadn't met for five years.

Who knew that as soon as he arrived at Bai Lingxiao's residence, he was shocked by the state of Bai Lingxiao's cave abode.

Originally, the place Bai Lingxiao lived was surrounded by lush greenery, not only abundant in spiritual energy but also occasionally visited by small spirit beasts like rabbits. But now...

Zhang Jingmo looked out and only saw patches of barren rocks. These rocks were crisscrossed with sword marks of all sizes, and attached to the sword marks was a chilling sword intent. After investigating for a while, Zhang Jingmo discovered that only some of the sword marks here were left by his senior brother Bai Lingxiao, while another portion was left by some unknown sword cultivator.

As soon as Zhang Jingmo arrived on the island, Bai Lingxiao knew. Seeing Zhang Jingmo observing the scenery underfoot, he stepped forward and said: "You finally came back!"

Zhang Jingmo asked in puzzlement: "Senior Brother, after not seeing you for five years, your cave abode has changed quite a lot..." Five years ago it was lush with grass, now it was more barren than the Gobi Desert.

Hearing this, Bai Lingxiao didn't know whether to be angry or laugh. He said: "Zhang Jingmo, how dare you ask me, this stretch of desolation, isn't it all your disciple's doing!"

Zhang Jingmo's eyes shifted as he said: "Senior Brother, that's not right. I went to great lengths to find Zhu Yan for you. My disciple merely ruined a few of your flowers and plants, you don't need to be so angry."

Seeing Zhang Jingmo with an expression of "I definitely won't compensate you, what can you do to me", Bai Lingxiao was so furious he laughed: "Fine, fine, fine, if you found Zhu Yan, then Bai Lingxiao owes you one. If you didn't find it, then you don't need to take your disciple back, just let him be my Bai Lingxiao's disciple."

Zhang Jingmo also pretended to be angry: "You Bai Lingxiao, after saying so much it turns out you were scheming against me here, wanting to steal my disciple, not a chance! Hurry and call him over, I want to reminisce with him!" He said, taking out Zhu Yan, who had transformed into a bird, from the Sumeru Ring. Zhu Yan had been locked up for so long and was finally free again. It unhappily pecked at Zhang Jingmo a couple of times, then looked around before spreading its wings and flying away.

Zhang Jingmo knew it wouldn't fly far, so he didn't bother managing it.

However, when Bai Lingxiao saw this bird, he finally showed a shocked expression. He said, "Qingyuan, you really found Zhu Yan?"

Zhang Jingmo smiled and said, "Otherwise, wouldn't these five years have been in vain?"

Bai Lingxiao withdrew his teasing expression and said, "Great favors need not be verbally thanked. Whether or not you successfully refined the Molten Fire Pill, I, Bai Lingxiao, owe you a favor." Although Zhu Yan had been found, luck was still needed to successfully refine the Molten Fire Pill. After all, Zhang Jingmo was only at the Golden Core stage, so it was still a bit of a stretch for him to refine a pill of the Nascent Soul stage.

Just as the two were talking, Zhang Jingmo suddenly heard a clear, childish voice - "Master!" He looked in the direction of the voice and saw a cute boy running towards him.

Five years was a long time for a growing child. Lu Guijiu was no longer the cute, round, chubby little meatball he was at six years old. At eleven, he had already grown to Zhang Jingmo's waist, but still had some baby fat on his face.

Seeing Zhang Jingmo, Lu Guijiu showed ecstatic joy on his face. He ran to Zhang Jingmo and before Zhang Jingmo could say anything, he hugged Zhang Jingmo's waist and said, "Master, you're finally back. Master, I missed you so much."

Seeing this, Zhang Jingmo patted Lu Guijiu's head and said, "You're not a little kid anymore, yet you still like to act spoiled."

Lu Guijiu didn't say anything, only tightly hugging Zhang Jingmo as if afraid that if he let go, Zhang Jingmo would leave again.

After comforting Lu Guijiu for a while, Zhang Jingmo said, "What did you learn during the five years your master was away?"

Lu Guijiu raised his head, a proud expression on his little face. He said, "I'm so awesome now. See those sword marks on the ground? I made all of them!"

Bai Lingxiao: "..." For some reason, he felt a little distressed about his cave abode.

Lu Guijiu was still stabbing at Bai Lingxiao's chest. He said, "But don't worry Master, when we go back home, I won't randomly practice my sword anymore."