In this world, there are people like Cuixuan Xianren and others like Qing Cheng Xian Ren. Chongyi and Guangwei, having personally encountered those from beyond the seas, must have undergone intense inner struggles. In the end, like Qing Cheng, they chose to set aside past grievances and focus their efforts on exploring the unknown lands overseas.
Each person makes their own choices, and it’s not as simple as labeling them right or wrong. But for Li Fei, seeing someone in this world make the same choice as her Master—especially when that someone was her beloved and respected second Master—filled her heart with joy.
She approached Chongyi Zhenren and asked, "Master, how is Zhao Min Shijie? And what about Elder Dongyang and Qing Yue Elder?"
Chongyi Zhenren spread his hands. "It’s been a long time since I last returned. Over a century ago, I still exchanged occasional letters with Zhao Min, but recently, my whereabouts have been unpredictable. She couldn’t find me, and it’s been more than a hundred years since we last met. But don’t worry—your shijie is a capable woman. She’s now an elder at Jade Fall Peak. Unlike me, she loves taking in disciples, so Jade Fall Peak must be much livelier than before. If there’s a chance, you should meet her. She often thinks of you. As for Dongyang..."
Dongyang Zhenren had suffered an undeserved calamity, inexplicably wounded by Xuanhua Xianren. In Zhao Min’s last letter a century ago, she mentioned that Qing Yue Elder had sought the elusive Zhong Nan Jun to heal Dongyang’s injuries. Unfortunately, the news they received was that Zhong Nan Jun had already passed away, and Dongyang’s condition was likely dire.
Chongyi Zhenren sighed. "They’ve lived for nearly a thousand years. Though they never achieved the Great Dao, at least they won’t leave behind other regrets. Qing Yue stayed with him till the end—I imagine the two of them were happy. Purple Mist Peak was inherited by that little girl surnamed Yue back then. Qing Yue spent his life strictly adhering to cultivation and discipline. I only hope that in their twilight years, they no longer dwelled on such things."
Li Fei lowered her head, pondering for a while before suddenly gasping in realization. "Ah? Master, are you saying that Elder Dongyang and Qing Yue Elder...?"
Chongyi Zhenren chuckled. "Only now you realize? Sometimes you’re sharp, other times quite slow. Qing Yue practiced the Melodic Immortal Technique, which is even stricter than the Star Rectitude Hall Profound School’s doctrine of severing emotions and desires. For many years, she couldn’t even speak to men. She and Dongyang always restrained their feelings within propriety. After all these years, even we old folks couldn’t help but admire them."
Li Fei recalled many past details—she had never noticed before, but Qing Yue Elder often acted alongside Dongyang Zhenren. It had never once crossed her mind.
"Li Fei," Chongyi Zhenren suddenly smiled at her, "would you be willing to tell us about your four hundred years beyond the seas?"
Opposite them, Guangwei Zhenren also turned to look. Even the black-veiled woman sitting with Hu Jiaping perked up her ears. Li Fei decided to start from the beginning—how the Heavenly Thunder Fire Sea had gravely injured her. By the time she recounted her rebirth from the shell, both Guangwei and Chongyi were utterly stunned. When she spoke of the uncivilized villagers on the Isle of Juying, all skilled in Demon Manipulation, Chongyi Zhenren exclaimed in shock, "So it’s true—everyone beyond the seas excels in Demon Manipulation! Even common folk possess such abilities—how terrifying!"Ri Yan, who had been yawning lazily on Li Fei’s shoulder, suddenly sneered, “These fools are so accustomed to the Central Land’s way of cultivation that they romanticize the overseas regions, imagining everyone there is like the Yaksa. Let me tell you, if you go there thinking treasures are scattered everywhere, you might as well not go at all! Save yourselves the disappointment! In fact, for many from overseas, it’s the Central Land that’s overflowing with treasures—just the abundance of spiritual energy in these mountains and valleys would make them drool with envy!”
Chongyi Zhenren knew Ri Yan was a close friend of Qing Cheng Xian Ren and the Nine-tailed Fox who had hidden within Li Fei for many years. Though a demon, he was far more perceptive than many Celestials. Immediately adopting a humble stance, Chongyi bowed respectfully and said, “Senior Ri Yan, please enlighten us.”
Pleased by their deference, Ri Yan perked up. “Little girl, open your Lesser World and show them!”
The fox was clearly eager to flaunt his so-called “collection” in the Lesser World. Overseas, Lei Xiuyuan would only argue with him, and Li Fei had no interest in those piles of corpses. Now that he finally had an audience to impress, his fluffy tails quivered with excitement.
Li Fei took out the small bronze mirror from her bosom, clasped it between her palms, and within moments, a rift appeared between her hands. The spiritual energy within was vast and pure, incomparable to Cuixuan Xianren’s Lesser World.
The others were stunned. Hu Jiaping gaped. “Wow! You even have a Lesser World now?!”
Li Fei replied calmly, “It’s not difficult. With enough spiritual energy, it can be opened.”
From the moment a cultivator begins their journey to becoming a Celestial, their alchemical furnace expands countless times. Once the spiritual energy it can hold reaches a certain level, a Lesser World can be opened. In the Central Land, few Celestials could achieve this, as the required spiritual energy was too immense. But as the Graftwood Seed, Li Fei had always possessed more spiritual energy than others. Now fully matured, opening a Lesser World was hardly a challenge.
The real difficulty had been finding an object to anchor the spiritual energy. She had tried everything from combs to oil lamps, and Ri Yan had even brought her a smoking pipe from who-knows-where—all unsuccessful. On a whim, she chose a bronze mirror, and to her surprise, it worked instantly. Like Cuixuan Xianren’s, her Lesser World manifested as a mirrored realm—a lake in the sky and another beneath her feet—a truly peculiar sight.
Chongyi Zhenren felt a pang of nostalgia. He recalled how this little disciple had once practiced Immortal Techniques on dummies daily at Jade Fall Peak. Her constitution was unique, her Spirit Root peculiar, and though she hadn’t stood out at first, he had envisioned her cultivation path early on. Once her spiritual energy reached a certain level and her understanding of the Five Elements deepened, she would approach what the Central Land Immortals called the “pinnacle” of cultivation—where mediocrity transformed into unshakable perfection.
Now, he was witnessing that pinnacle firsthand. Yet, in that instant, he also realized this was a realm Central Land cultivators could never attain in their lifetimes. Her Source Spiritual Qi was incomparably richer than the energy they wielded. Such a body, such innate mastery over spiritual energy—it could only be the work of heaven and earth.
“This Lesser World is exceptionally well-opened,” Chongyi praised instinctively. Four hundred years had passed, and Li Fei was no longer that inexperienced disciple. Yet, he still found himself praising her as if she were the student he once guided.Li Fei felt a warmth in her heart and smiled shyly. "Well... alright, Ri Yan, you want to take Master and the others inside..."
Ri Yan couldn't wait for her to finish such trivial talk. His small figure darted through the crack in an instant, his voice echoing from within: "Come in, all of you! Let me show you something extraordinary!"
The two Celestials, Chongyi and Guangwei, eagerly entered first. The remaining Hu Jiaping was still busy questioning Li Fei: "What's in there? You didn't capture a bunch of foreigners and keep them inside, did you? That's terrifying!"
No... Li Fei gave a dry laugh. Actually, it was even more horrifying—most of it was nearly decomposed corpses, and a small portion were... something unknown, mutilated remains of those unfortunate enough to have been killed by Ri Yan.
"Eldest Brother will know once he goes in," Li Fei deliberately avoided explaining.
"Playing coy now, are we?" Hu Jiaping flicked her forehead again. Behind him, the Black-veiled woman, who had been motionless, finally reached out to tug his sleeve and softly called, "Young Master Ping."
She was no longer a ten-year-old girl. Behaviors like patting heads or pinching cheeks should have been restrained long ago. The girl might have a good temper, but didn't he notice Lei Xiuyuan's expression behind him?
Hu Jiaping turned his head and shot Lei Xiuyuan a mischievous glance before suddenly draping an arm over Li Fei's shoulders. She instinctively tried to dodge, but he leaned in close to her ear and whispered, "Rushing overseas now might be troublesome. So many Celestials are searching for you—there's no way around them. It'd be better to stay here for a while until things calm down before leaving. Oh, and look at Lei Xiuyuan's face."
He pinched her chin, turning her toward Lei Xiuyuan, then laughed heartily as he led the Black-veiled woman into the Lesser World. Li Fei looked at Lei Xiuyuan—his expression was calm, showing no signs of anything unusual as he leaned against the window, gazing at the shimmering Eastern Sea in the distance.
What did Hu Jiaping want her to see? Puzzled, Li Fei walked over and called, "Xiu Yuan, what are you thinking about?"
Lei Xiuyuan propped his chin on his hand and glanced back at her. "...You."
"Huh?" Li Fei froze.
Lei Xiuyuan suddenly smiled faintly. "No, actually, I was thinking about myself. I feel a trace of guilt toward that Celestial earlier. When I saw him, I even felt... relieved."
Li Fei leaned against him and murmured, "Because you have feelings for him. You never forget those who treated you well."
Lei Xiuyuan shot her another glance. "So, does that mean you treated me poorly in the past, which is why you were forgotten?"
Li Fei was momentarily speechless. He pressed a hand atop her head and said, "Be nicer to me from now on. It's never too late to mend the fold after the sheep are lost."
With that, he turned and slipped into the Lesser World, leaving Li Fei standing there in stunned silence.
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