It was only natural that the Netherworld, the destination for the souls of all living beings after death, should be the place to find Yao Ji's spirit. However, neither Tong Tian nor Hou Tu found it there, which perplexed them both.
Having failed to locate Yao Ji's divine soul in the Netherworld, Tong Tian reluctantly returned to the Shen Nong tribe.
Seeing Tong Tian's return, Shen Nong and Ting Yao looked at him with hopeful eyes.
Tong Tian looked at their expressions and shook his head bitterly. He hadn't expected that he, a dignified Saint, would be unable to save even a mere human.
When Shen Nong and Ting Yao saw that even the Saint Tong Tian had personally intervened but could not save Yao Ji, they looked at Yao Ji's corpse with a sense of resignation.
Shen Nong comforted Ting Yao while making arrangements for Yao Ji's funeral.
Having personally failed to bring Yao Ji back, Tong Tian felt too ashamed to remain in the Shen Nong tribe and returned to Kunlun Mountain in dejection.
Ting Yao had never imagined that even with a Saint's personal intervention, her child would not return. Overwhelmed by the blow, she fainted.
The people of the Shen Nong tribe also lamented the sudden disappearance of the once lively and cheerful young girl.
They also tried to console Shen Nong, urging him to grieve with restraint.
Though Shen Nong was heartbroken, he, with the help of others, carried Yao Ji's body and buried her on Mount Wu, her favorite place.
He remembered how, in the past, Yao Ji would wait for him on Mount Wu when he went into the mountains to gather herbs.
He could hardly believe that after such a short time, his child would forever rest atop Mount Wu.
On Kunlun Mountain, Yuan Shi, seeing Tong Tian return in such low spirits, could not help but worry. He gently asked,
"Third Brother, what is wrong?"
Tong Tian, already feeling melancholic from the emotions of Shen Nong and Ting Yao at the Shen Nong tribe, suddenly felt the concern of Yuan Shi. He unexpectedly threw himself into Yuan Shi's embrace and burst into tears.
Tong Tian's outburst caught Yuan Shi completely off guard.
"Third Brother, what exactly is wrong!"
Tong Tian, still sobbing, asked Yuan Shi,
"Second Brother, am I truly useless? I couldn't even save a single human being!"
Upon hearing this, Yuan Shi realized Tong Tian was referring to Shen Nong's daughter, Yao Ji. He was surprised that Tong Tian's personal intervention had not managed to save her.
Yuan Shi was at a loss for words and looked towards Tai Shang for help.
Seeing Yuan Shi's gaze, Tai Shang immediately stood up, approached Tong Tian from behind, and without a word, delivered two kicks.
"What are you crying about? What does her death have to do with you? Look at you, so pathetic!"
Tong Tian, still lost in his grief, was stunned by Tai Shang's kicks.
Yuan Shi also couldn't understand Tai Shang's actions. Shouldn't he be offering comfort? Why the sudden kicks?
Tai Shang looked at the bewildered Yuan Shi and Tong Tian and then delivered two more kicks to Tong Tian.
"Let's go, you useless brat, we're going to save someone!"
Before Yuan Shi could react, Tong Tian scrambled up from Yuan Shi's embrace, his eyes lighting up with surprise. "Elder Brother, you have a way to save her?"
Then, Tong Tian remembered that Yao Ji's soul was gone. How could she be saved? His joyous expression quickly turned to sadness again.
Tai Shang, seeing Tong Tian's dejected look, prepared to deliver more kicks. However, Tong Tian had learned his lesson and moved away from Tai Shang.
Tai Shang awkwardly lowered his raised foot and stood up to pull Yuan Shi.
"Are you coming, or are you not? If not, my second brother and I will go alone!"
Upon hearing this, Tong Tian could hardly refuse. He was eager to see what method Tai Shang possessed to save someone whose soul had vanished.
After burying Yao Ji, Shen Nong resolved to dedicate himself to the path of medicine.
He had now experienced the pain of losing a loved one. If he could alleviate even a little suffering for others, he would.
Furthermore, if his medical skills had been more profound, perhaps Yao Ji would not have died.
Thus, Shen Nong made a solemn vow to the Heavenly Dao:
"Heavenly Dao, I, Shen Nong of the human race, seeing the suffering of my people, wish to establish a school of medicine, known as 'Yi', to reduce the ailments of my race. I pray Heavenly Dao to witness this!"
Although Shen Nong had not yet attained the position of Earth Emperor, he was protected by the luck of the human race.
The Heavenly Dao did not dare to grant Shen Nong's vow without the approval of the three Sages, the rulers of the Human Dao. Shen Nong was perplexed as to why his vow was not being responded to by the Heavenly Dao.
On Kunlun Mountain, as the three Sages were preparing to depart, Shen Nong's Heavenly Dao vow suddenly echoed in their ears.
"Good!"
"Agreed!"
"Granted!"
Seeing that the Heavenly Dao had been slow to respond, Shen Nong, thinking it might have been asleep, was about to repeat his vow when the Heavenly Dao suddenly responded.
"Now that Shen Nong of the human race has established a sect, he has rendered merit to heaven and earth. Therefore, Heavenly Dao merits shall descend!"
Tai Shang, on Kunlun Mountain, heard the voice, gave a slight smile, and, taking Yuan Shi and Tong Tian with him, appeared on Mount Wu.
Tong Tian looked down at the Shen Nong tribe. He couldn't understand why Tai Shang would come to the mountaintop instead of the tribe if he intended to save someone.
Tai Shang remained silent, but instead reached out and caught a wisp of Heavenly Dao merit that flew towards him. With a surge of power, the wisp of merit transformed into golden light.
"Soul return, spirit return~"
"Yao Ji's soul return, spirit return~"
Tong Tian, listening to Tai Shang's drawn-out, theatrical voice, felt a dark line form on his forehead. He even suspected that Tai Shang had gone mad.
Yuan Shi also looked at Tai Shang with a peculiar gaze.
Tai Shang ignored their strange looks and continued to shout, as if no one else was present.
"Yao Ji's soul return, spirit return~"
"Yao Ji's soul return, spirit return~ Come back quickly!"