Immortality: Starting with a grave, I'm invincible when burying corpses.

Living in the mortal world, yet detached from it.

Living among people, living among the masses.

These two seemingly similar statements actually represent two completely different states, and also the crossroads between humanity and divinity.

At this crossroads, humanity and divinity diverged.

The Five Elements True Lord of Qing'an Prefecture resides high in the clouds, detached from worldly affairs. He appears to live in the mortal world, but in reality, he lives outside of it, untouched by worldly causes and effects.

People worship gods, revere gods, make offerings to gods, and distance themselves from gods...

When Mu An chose to face the world as the Five Elements True Lord, he was destined to drift further and further away from the mortal realm.

Because people worship God, but do not draw near to Him.

Just as emperors eventually face loneliness, gods travel even further and further down the path of solitude.

As time goes by, humanity fades and divinity flourishes.

Mu Ling'er's meticulously planned game was to pull Mu An back from his lofty position, to transform him from the "Five Elements True Lord" known to the world back into the "Da An" she knew, a "person" living among people.

Or perhaps, the sole purpose of this game is to teach Mu An how to live as a "human being" again, and to gradually awaken his humanity.

When Mu An recalls his past experiences, his joys and sorrows as a "human," and rediscovers the treasures he buried in the Four Symbols World, the meaning of this game will be achieved.

This is not a process that can be accomplished overnight, but rather a gradual change that happens little by little in a slow process.

To meet more people, to form bonds in this mortal world, and to find balance amidst the everyday hustle and bustle.

Scholar Huang, Bai Ling, Jiang Yunzhi, Huoyu Sect...

Anyone can become part of this game. In Mu Ling'er's view, no matter who Mu An encounters, whether they are good or bad, or which faction they belong to, they all have value.

To meet different people, to walk through the world, and to form connections with more people in a relatively ordinary way...

All of these are part of the transformation into a mortal.

Even if Mu An didn't care about these connections during the process and didn't really take them to heart, it didn't matter much.

Subtly and gradually, Mu An has been changed.

The final finishing touches will be handled by Mu Ling'er herself.

This was Mu Ling'er's entire plan. The plan was not perfect and had many loopholes, but it was the limit of what she could do.

Mu Ling'er was genuinely grateful that, besides her efforts, there was someone who had long ago foreseen the current situation and left a treasure for Mu An, providing her with a way of thinking.

As Mu An arrived in Yu City and interacted with more people, the likelihood of the plan succeeding continued to rise.

Everything was proceeding smoothly according to Mu Ling'er's plan.

……

"Shopkeeper, how much is this jade hairpin?"

"Five taels of silver."

"It's too expensive... Honey, maybe we should just forget about it..."

It has been twenty-seven years since Mu Ling'er ran away from home.

Yucheng, Chang'an Trading Company.

A young couple spent a long time browsing in the shop before finally bringing the wooden box containing the jade hairpin to the counter and, like countless other buyers, asking about the price.

Behind the counter, Mu An put down the bamboo slip in his hand and looked up at the two of them.

The husband's hands were calloused, and he had a knife scar on his arm.

The woman who is a wife has slightly yellow skin and calluses on her hands from years of doing housework.

Based on the fact that the two had spent half an hour wandering around the store without making a decision, Mu An made a judgment.

This was a couple who could make ends meet, but they weren't exactly wealthy.

In the unstable city of Yu, such a person is unlikely to be willing to buy the jade hairpin.

Even so, Mu An still answered the woman's question and quoted the price of the jade hairpin.

This was Jiang Yunzhi's advice to him: regardless of whether the customer will buy or not, he should at least say a few more words, and not remain silent.

To make a business deal, you inevitably have to communicate with people.

Mu An thought there was some truth to this, so she adopted the suggestion.

After trying it on the disciples of the Fire Feather Sect, Mu An found that the business in the shop had indeed improved a lot.

As time went by, Mu An gradually got used to this kind of life and no longer ignored it as before. When guests asked him questions, he would reply with a few words.

For example, when the woman's husband tentatively asked if she could get a discount, Mu An didn't ignore the customer as she used to; she simply shook her head in response.

"The cost of the jade hairpin is three taels. Considering the investment in the shop and the operating costs itself, five taels is not expensive."

The honest answer left the young couple completely bewildered.

Both of them stared blankly at Mu An, unsure how to respond.

This is truly the first time they've seen business done this way.

They wanted to ask Mu An whether what she had just said was true or false, but felt that it was inappropriate to ask such a question.

With profits so low, can this business really make money?

"Honey, could this jade hairpin be a fake?"

"Probably not. I've heard from people at the escort agency that the Chang'an Trading Company has quite a background; even the Fire Feather Sect wouldn't dare to act recklessly here..."

After a few whispers, the woman returned to the counter with the jade hairpin in her hands, and hesitantly whispered something.

"Shopkeeper, can't you really make it cheaper? I really like this jade hairpin, but we're not a wealthy family, and five taels is indeed a bit expensive."

Even while negotiating the price, knowing she was unlikely to be able to afford it, the woman held onto the wooden box containing the jade hairpin, looking as if she couldn't bear to part with it.

The husband, seemingly aware that he wasn't good at negotiating prices, voluntarily gave the space for conversation to his wife.

Mu An did not answer immediately, but instead glanced at the account book next to the counter.

The thick ledger was filled with writing, and the column representing profits had reached 2,912.

Mu Ling'er's request this time was for Mu An to earn three thousand taels of silver, and only profits could be included in the calculation.

For Yu Mu'an, this is truly a difficult goal to achieve.

Fortunately, the value of the shop itself was not included in the price; it was a gift from Mu Ling'er to Mu An, so no additional cost was required.

Jiang Yunzhi was responsible for cleaning the shop and providing daily meals, so Mu An didn't need to cover the expenses herself.

Even if the price is slightly lower, it's still not like you're not making a profit.

With the thought that she could earn whatever she could, Mu An raised her hand and knocked on the counter.

"Four ounces."

After another round of whispers, the woman still hesitated. Although she really wanted the jade hairpin, she didn't want it to affect her family's life.

In the end, the man made the decision, scraping together four taels of silver to buy the jade hairpin from Mu An.

After buying the hairpin, the man put it on the head of the woman, who was scolding him but looking quite pleased, right in front of Mu An.

After the two left, Jiang Yunzhi, who was on the second floor of the shop, came down the stairs and bowed to Mu An.

"My lord, Yunzhi is planning to set off for Dongqi."

Mu An, who was putting the silver into the cabinet, paused slightly and looked up at the young man in front of her.

The young man was full of vigor, wearing a dark blue brocade robe, with his white hair hanging down to his shoulders.

His cultivation at the peak of the Innate Realm was on full display, revealing his sharp edge and making no attempt to conceal himself.

After glancing at Jiang Yunzhi, Mu An looked away.

"Going with the Fire Feather Sect?"

Jiang Yunzhi bowed again.

"My lord, the feud with the Lin family is Yun Zhi's own business. Yun Zhi has no intention of implicating the Fire Feather Sect. This time, he will only take his own people to Dongqi."

At the counter, Mu An took out a jade box from his sleeve and casually tossed it to Jiang Yunzhi.

"If you've thought it through, then go ahead. I'll be leaving here soon too. Since you don't want this shop, I'll give you a pill as a parting gift."

Holding the jade box in his arms, Jiang Yunzhi knelt down once again and kowtowed to Mu An nine times in a row.

"Yunzhi thanks you, sir. If there is a future, I will certainly repay your kindness!"

"Yunzhi bids farewell, wishing you a smooth road ahead and the ultimate success!"