Chapter 645: Forgetting Affection and Returning by Raft Through the Void

Buddhist Physician Meng Yaojin's face was solemn: "I am not joking with you, nor am I trying to make fun of you. Xiao Sun, you have taken care of my son for many years, and I am endlessly grateful to you. Your infiltration into the immortal city this time will have its own hidden protection and unexpected help. On the contrary, my side is extremely dangerous! I only regret that our forces are insufficient; the more, the better."

Sun Lingtong frowned: "Will the Old Man of Gray Bones face a life-or-death crisis?"

Buddhist Physician Meng Yaojin nodded slowly, her expression grave.

Sun Lingtong's heart immediately sank, and he thought to himself: "For Auntie to take this so seriously, the enemies in Water Burial Valley might be even more terrifying than those in Forgetfulness River Immortal City! After all, if the Forgetfulness River Lord's century-long conspiracy is truly thwarted this time, the Old Man of Gray Bones' role and contribution will undoubtedly be immense. Auntie received guidance from the Old Man of Gray Bones during her lifetime. The fact that we have two cultivation armies would be absolutely impossible without his strategic planning. If I were the Forgetfulness River Lord, once I knew the truth, I would surely hate the Old Man of Gray Bones to death and eliminate him as quickly as possible! Auntie also separated from me for my own good... But how can I cross the Forgetfulness River and enter the immortal city?"

Sun Lingtong looked at the wide river before him, finding it quite challenging.

Buddhist Physician Meng Yaojin had already led her army and resumed their journey. Before leaving, she reached out, seemingly grasping the air, and drew a wisp of aura from herself. It condensed into a faintly glowing orb.

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

Sun Lingtong took it with both hands, looking up at Buddhist Physician Meng Yaojin, whose chariot was already accelerating.

Sun Lingtong watched the receding chariot and called out, "Auntie, how should I cross the river?"

Buddhist Physician Meng Yaojin transmitted a spiritual message: "Xiao Sun, it's not that I don't want to continue guiding you. It's just that my state is special; I am neither living nor a ghost or deity. My awakening and continuous calculations have already caused fluctuations in destiny. If I guide you too much more, it might be detrimental. Just let nature take its course."

Having given her instructions, she led the army of paper figures thundering into the distance, carrying a solemn battle intent as they rushed to another battlefield.

Sun Lingtong, a young boy, was left behind alone. He looked at the vast, immense river surface, momentarily lost and unsure of what to do. If this were his first time here, he might have tried using some spells or thieving arts, only to suffer the consequences. But he had already met Luo Si before, and that experience had given him a deep understanding and reverence for the Forgetfulness River. Luo Si was at the Nascent Soul stage, appointed as a general, leading an army to attack White Paper Immortal City, so his strength was naturally quite exceptional. Even so, he only dared to sit on the riverbank, fishing by the river, and never dared to easily wade into the water.

"Wait, that's not right, not right!" Sun Lingtong's heart suddenly stirred as he thought of a crucial point: "The Forgetfulness River Immortal City has many residents; not everyone can be a great cultivator, and they can't possibly cross the long Forgetfulness River by themselves. With so many people, there must be a stable passage that allows them to easily enter Forgetfulness River Immortal City. Perhaps it's a teleportation array or something similar."

Thinking of this, Sun Lingtong's spirits immediately lifted. He immediately walked along the river, beginning his investigation. Before long, he passed through the vast river mist and saw a ferry crossing.

"Indeed, indeed! My idea was correct." Sun Lingtong's spirits lifted, secretly excited but also wary as he approached the ferry crossing.

The ferry crossing was quite simple, and a group of cultivators were already waiting there. For caution, Sun Lingtong first observed from a distance. He discovered that among the waiting beings, there were not only soul cultivators but also various types of ghosts. Their cultivation levels varied; the highest was at the Golden Core stage, but there was only one such individual. A small number were Foundation Establishment cultivators, more were Qi Refinement stage, and the vast majority were mortals.

Sun Lingtong's wariness slightly eased. He touched his face. At this moment, he naturally appeared as an underworld ghost cultivator. After confirming that his disguise was still effective, he casually walked into the ferry crossing. His arrival initially drew no attention, but as he idled and looked around the ferry crossing, more and more gazes were cast his way. This ferry crossing was truly very simple, almost completely open, and Sun Lingtong gained little from observing it. His gaze finally fell upon the cultivators themselves. Seeing them form a line on their own and remain silent, he couldn't help but wonder at their orderly behavior.

Sun Lingtong stood near the front of the queue, internally deliberating how to probe for information, when a ghost cultivator closest to him suddenly spoke: "Young man, are you looking to join Forgetfulness River Immortal City?"

"Ah? Yes, I am," Sun Lingtong nodded.

The ghost cultivator who had spoken spread his mouth wide, revealing an enthusiastic smile: "Then you can queue in front of me."

Sun Lingtong was momentarily surprised. No sooner had this ghost cultivator finished speaking than other ghosts and soul cultivators began to speak one after another.

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

"Why should you cut in front of him? I'm ahead of you. Young man, come over here to me."

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

The waiting cultivators were remarkably enthusiastic and extremely deferential. Sun Lingtong, being naturally astute, immediately sensed the strangeness and eeriness hidden beneath such excessive enthusiasm. Seeing his hesitation, the soul cultivators grew even louder, scrambling over each other to offer Sun Lingtong help. Some ghosts even glared with reddened eyes, showing their ferocity, yet forcibly restraining themselves.

Sun Lingtong decisively moved away from these people and walked to the end of the line. After he took his place at the very end of the queue, the ghosts and soul cultivators all fell silent. Some huffed in dissatisfaction, while others turned their heads to glance at Sun Lingtong, their malicious intentions barely concealed.

"Youngster, you're not entirely foolish. Queuing at the very end will benefit you greatly and do you no harm." An old man suddenly spoke. He was directly in front of Sun Lingtong, originally last in line, but now second to last.

Sun Lingtong looked at him, seeing a human soul cultivator, and tentatively asked, "Elder, is there some meaning behind this?"

The old man nodded: "They want to accumulate virtue and do good deeds, seizing every opportunity to amass merit. However, true accumulation of virtue and good deeds is naturally vastly different from what they are doing. Like me, I am genuinely accumulating virtue and doing good deeds with a kind heart!"

The old man spoke openly, not trying to hide his words from others, nor did he use spiritual transmission. Upon hearing these words, many ghosts and soul cultivators erupted, turning around and glaring furiously.

"Old man, don't talk nonsense!"

"What are you, daring to teach your ghost grandfathers how to do good deeds?"

"Are you looking down on us? Hypocrite!"

The old man, having provoked widespread anger, merely chuckled, then turned to Sun Lingtong and smiled, "Just watch, youngster." After saying this, he turned back to face the crowd, glaring and scolding, "What are you yelling about?! You fools, if you dare, come and hit this old man! Don't worry, I'm very weak, and my cultivation is poor, only at the Qi Refinement stage, no different from a mortal. You could kill this old man with one punch. Come on, come on, punch me right in the heart. I guarantee I'll drop dead instantly!"

Upon hearing his words, the previously clamoring crowd immediately fell silent. Sun Lingtong observed their expressions and immediately knew that everyone was thoroughly intimidated. The old man's "weak overcoming strong" act also made Sun Lingtong realize at that moment: even without entering Forgetfulness River Immortal City yet, he was already subject to some of its rules.

"Could it be that Forgetfulness River Immortal City values respecting the elderly, caring for the young, and accumulating virtue through good deeds?" he asked the old man.

The old man nodded: "The rules of Forgetfulness River Immortal City are very strict. All soul cultivators, ghosts, and other beings entering the city must undergo a rigorous examination. The key points of the examination are whether they have sins, how many sins they have, whether they have virtues, and how many virtues they possess. The fewer sins and the more virtues one has, the easier it is, naturally, to enter the immortal city and qualify as a citizen. And here at the Forgetfulness Ferry, one must also abide by the rules. Shouting, cutting in line, and so on, could all anger the Reflection of Yun Xiao, leading to one not being allowed to board the Empty Return Raft."

The more Sun Lingtong listened, the more questions he had, and he couldn't help but ask: "Wait, elder. What is this Reflection of Yun Xiao? And what is the Empty Return Raft? Is it a ferry?"

The old man was surprised to hear him ask this: "Youngster, you want to enter Forgetfulness River Immortal City, yet you don't even know about these two things?"

Sun Lingtong thought to himself that his "newcomer" status had already been exposed, so he decisively shook his head: "No, I don't."

The old man sighed, genuinely remarking, "Then you, young man, are lucky to have met me. Let me tell you. All the ferry crossings and boats on the Forgetfulness River are connected to two venerable predecessors. They were a pair of Dao companions. The female cultivator was named Yue Yi, and the male cultivator was named Yun Xiao. The two were originally a perfect couple, in harmonious accord, cultivating the Great Dao together. Their love was as deep as the sea, and they vowed to seek immortality together.

"Senior Yue Yi was gentle as moonlight, with a pure heart, always performing good deeds. During a sudden catastrophe of a collapsing void realm, to protect the living beings of a region, Senior Yue Yi sacrificed herself to activate a formation, perishing beautifully, her soul falling into the underworld. Senior Yun Xiao was heartbroken, his Dao heart nearly shattered. Without her on the path to immortality, even ten thousand years of life would be nothing but an eternal, lonely shackles. Disregarding the dissuasion of his peers, he abandoned his Dao path, using his solitary strength and courage to forcibly open the Nine Nether Yellow Springs Road, directly breaking into the depths of the underworld, breaching several netherworld administrations.

"This journey was truly fraught with a thousand difficulties and ten thousand dangers, a path of near-certain death. He cut down obstructing evil spirits with his sword, withstood bone-eroding Yin winds, traversed infernal lands like mountains of blades and seas of fire, and disregarded the strict iron laws of the ghost race. What sustained him was only that single, undying obsession in his heart — to find her and bring her back!

"Finally, after enduring countless tribulations, following that faint, familiar aura on his Dao companion's soul, he found this place, perhaps standing where we stand today. Right here, by the banks of the Forgetfulness River, which has spanned through eons. Waves surged heavenward, and a foul wind assailed them. Countless twisted souls and ghosts struggled, sank, and rose in the murky river water, emitting heart-wrenching wails. Then, through the washing and cleansing of the Forgetfulness River, their past memories were erased, intense emotions were shed, allowing them to find liberation and peace, floating to the surface.

"It was here that Senior Yun Xiao finally found Senior Yue Yi. However, his surprise and anxiety could not elicit any reaction from Senior Yue Yi. Senior Yue Yi had been immersed for too long, washing away too many emotions and memories. When she saw Senior Yun Xiao, she frowned slightly, seemingly trying to recall something, but ultimately to no avail. Although Senior Yun Xiao had found his Dao companion, it was unfortunately with such a result. He tried to recover Senior Yue Yi's lost emotions and memories, but these were scattered throughout the boundless waters of the Forgetfulness River. Even Senior Yun Xiao was powerless to retrieve them.

"He stood by the Forgetfulness River with his numb Dao companion's soul, attempting to make efforts for seven days and seven nights. Ultimately, all his sacrifices, all his arduous journeys, and all his persistence gradually turned into a despair colder than the waters of the Forgetfulness River. In his despair, overcome with extreme sorrow, he let out a long howl heavenward. In that howl, disregarding all consequences, he unleashed his full power and abilities. His howl mingled with the sound of the river's waves, and all his cultivation and talents were deeply imprinted upon the banks of the Forgetfulness River, transforming into numerous ferry crossings and boats. Every ferry crossing and boat had the same form; they were the Forgetfulness Ferry and the Empty Return Raft."

Sun Lingtong listened absorbedly, softly murmuring the two names, savoring them. Unlike before, he could now feel the countless emotions embedded within them: grief, despair, sorrow, and more.

The old man continued: "Because Senior Yun Xiao was a venerable sage of the righteous path, anyone who enters this Forgetfulness Ferry must abide by the rules. Poor behavior, such as fighting, arguing, or even being loud, could result in being removed from the Forgetfulness Ferry. The worst part is that once you've been expelled, you can never enter the Forgetfulness Ferry again for the rest of your life. The Empty Return Raft has limited space, and for each crossing, it will only select the top ten individuals who perform best. The 'best performance' here refers to various behaviors within the Forgetfulness Ferry. Only by riding the Empty Return Raft can we reach Forgetfulness River Immortal City."

Only then did Sun Lingtong fully grasp the situation and understand the reason. He stared at the long queue in front of him and thought: "So, when they eagerly offered to let me cut in line earlier, they were trying to frame me while also showing off their own good behavior!"

He slightly opened his mouth, about to ask for more advice, when suddenly, a wisp of cloud appeared, condensing into a cultivator. Dressed in a flowing white robe with wide sleeves, he seemed ethereal, with his back turned to the crowd, his front gazing serenely at the surface of the Forgetfulness River, observing the passage of time.

The Forgetfulness Ferry immediately became deathly silent. The old man was even more so, his eyes wide, staring intently at the figure's back. Sun Lingtong also stared, and recalling the previous introduction, he immediately guessed the truth: "Could this be the Reflection of Yun Xiao?"

The Reflection of Yun Xiao appeared for only a few breaths of time, and then mist rose around it, as if a great fog had emerged from the river surface. From the vast river mist, a ferry boat gradually drifted closer. This ferry boat was also very simple and not at all spacious. Sun Lingtong couldn't help but think: "No wonder that old man just said it only takes the top ten cultivators."

The Reflection of Yun Xiao waved its hand at the Empty Return Raft, and the raft accelerated, docking at the ferry crossing. The Reflection of Yun Xiao waved its sleeve. The next moment, the old man who had helped Sun Lingtong vanished from his spot. When he reappeared, he was already on the ferry boat, the first passenger of the Empty Return Raft!