Su Xi was acutely aware that the cliff before them was unusual, and attempting to cross it head-on might lead to failure and their demise.
However, having come this far, with what she desired just ahead, she was unwilling to turn back.
A gamble might lead to riches.
She could choose to give up on her own, but there was a large group of readers behind her who would never agree. Even if the readers agreed, the author wouldn't.
If she didn't take the risk, wouldn't the author's story end here?
"Ancestor Master, what should we do now?" Su Xi couldn't think of a solution and could only turn to Heavenly Gang True Person for help.
She had just helped Heavenly Gang True Person find a place to parasitize; surely the Ancestor Master should lend a hand and help her solve the current predicament.
Hearing Su Xi's words, Heavenly Gang True Person reluctantly emerged from the Silver Soul Wood.
He had finally found a place to reside and needed sufficient time to recover his cultivation. Interrupted cultivation would be detrimental to his recovery.
Could Su Xi give him some time?
"This is the last time I'll help you. I need to go into seclusion for a while," Heavenly Gang True Person said to Su Xi with a hint of helplessness.
His grand-disciple was already an adult, so why couldn't she solve problems on her own?
Had she been corrupted by his good-for-nothing disciple, leading her to seek him out for every problem instead of thinking for herself?
Su Xi saw the disdain in Heavenly Gang True Person's eyes but still asked, "Ancestor Master, the Wood Spirit Pearl is on the opposite side of the cliff, but I have no way to get across."
The anguish of seeing a treasure so close yet unobtainable was more pressing.
Compared to that, Heavenly Gang True Person's disdain seemed less important.
Heavenly Gang True Person looked at Su Xi and couldn't help but shake his head, looking at her as if she were an idiot.
He deeply suspected that his disciple's mind had been addled by cultivation, unable to solve such a simple problem.
Taking a deep breath, he pointed to the bottom of the cliff and said, "This problem is easy to solve. Since you can't cross from the top, you can do it from the bottom."
"Huh?" Su Xi's face showed a moment of confusion after hearing Heavenly Gang True Person's words, but then her eyes instantly lit up.
Others might have thought Heavenly Gang True Person was speaking nonsense, but Su Xi knew he wasn't being perfunctory; he was genuinely offering a solution.
The formation at the cliff was called the Cliff of Return. Legend had it that it was a formation from the Nine Netherworlds.
Everyone, before crossing the Bridge of Forgetfulness and reincarnating, had one last chance for rebirth: to walk back from the Cliff of Return.
Any ghost who could pass the Cliff of Return could repent and return to the mortal world for a new life. But failure meant eternal damnation.
However, since the Cliff of Return was established, most ghosts who wished to return to the mortal world had, without exception, failed.
It wasn't because the formation was too fierce and annihilated all those who attempted to pass. It was because these ghosts, knowing they could be reborn, refused to turn back, their sole focus being the mortal world.
The purpose of the Cliff of Return was to make ghosts recall their lives so they could better appreciate the preciousness of rebirth. If the ghosts didn't reflect, they obviously couldn't achieve rebirth.
From the very beginning, their failure was destined.
Su Xi hadn't thought of this before, but after Heavenly Gang True Person's reminder, she suddenly understood.
"That was close!"
Su Xi silently exclaimed. If not for Heavenly Gang True Person's prior reminder, she might have unhesitatingly tried other methods.
Even if she succeeded, she might have been injured or paid a heavy price.
But with Heavenly Gang True Person's reminder, she didn't need to take such a risk.
"Thank you, Ancestor Master." Su Xi expressed her gratitude and immediately got to work.
Her eagerness stemmed not only from not wanting the Heavenly Scar to rupture but also from the significant benefits of obtaining the Wood Spirit Pearl.
All spiritual beings in heaven and earth had their accompanying treasures. If the Fire Spirit Pearl possessed the True Fire of the Sun, the Wood Spirit Pearl's companion must be extraordinary. Obtaining it would further enhance her strength.
Heavenly Gang True Person gave Su Xi a look and said, "The problem is solved, so I'm going into seclusion. Don't bother me if there's nothing important."
The world was becoming increasingly dangerous, and he didn't want his strength to be affected. Therefore, he intended to recover his cultivation as quickly as possible through the Silver Soul Wood.
Only by rapidly regaining his strength and memories could he proceed with his next tasks.
Otherwise, his current body was a significant hindrance.
Su Xi knew she wouldn't have Heavenly Gang True Person's help going forward, but she wasn't worried. She had the method; could she still fail to obtain the Wood Spirit Pearl?
Su Xi took out a rope from her person and lowered it towards the bottom of the cliff, then began to descend along the rope.
At intervals, Su Xi would throw the rope towards the opposite side.
For the first few attempts, the rope she threw landed on the ground, unable to reach the other side. But after descending a certain distance, the mysterious force disappeared, and she successfully threw the rope to the opposite bank.
"Success!" Su Xi exclaimed with joy and unhesitatingly moved towards the opposite shore along the rope.
Delay could lead to trouble; she understood this principle well.
However, she didn't walk forward; instead, she moved backward towards the opposite bank.
The spirit cat stood on her shoulder, helping her keep her direction.
The spirit cat, being a creature from the underworld, was naturally unaffected.
What was less than a hundred meters away took Su Xi an hour to traverse. Upon reaching the opposite bank, she had the black cat tie the rope and climb up to find a support.
Although the spirit cat was reluctant to do such a task, under Su Xi's coercion, it could only let out a meow and climb the cliff.
As a creature of the underworld, the fierce winds and special magnetic field above did not affect its movements. Instead, the sensation felt strangely familiar.
It was as if it had returned to the world of the Nine Netherworlds.
The spirit cat quickly secured the rope and let out a meow into the air.
Hearing the black cat's call, Su Xi pulled on the rope and ascended the cliff.
Soon, she landed on the ground.
Upon closer inspection, she saw a green pearl placed on a high platform, emitting a dark green light.
Not far from the Wood Spirit Pearl, there was also a giant egg.
This strange egg was covered in black patterns and lay quietly beside the Wood Spirit Pearl. Every time the Wood Spirit Pearl emitted light, it was absorbed by the egg without any leakage.
"What is this thing?" Su Xi blinked in disbelief at the scene.
After all her efforts, she had only obtained an egg, and such a peculiar one at that.
Was this truly a legendary sacred artifact?
For the first time, she felt she had been deceived.
And deceived quite badly.