She had so many questions she wanted to ask.
But Fairy Bao Hua had barely stepped out with her barefoot when she timidly drew it back again.
She indeed missed him for a long time, but upon careful consideration, they didn’t seem to be very close; she didn’t even know Shen Yi’s true identity until now.
She wasn’t sure if it was an illusion, but she vaguely saw from beneath that incomparably noble Nanyang white robe, an exhausted figure. Although it lacked the imposing attitude that overlooked all beings from before, it somehow seemed more real.
"He seems very tired," she murmured.
Hearing Fairy Bao Hua’s murmur, Su Yushang gave her a blank look, "You always refuse to believe when people say your cultivation is shallow. A Cultivator who can ascend to White Jade Capital has already harmonized their vital energy with heaven and earth, how could they have the fatigue of mortals?"
"Then perhaps I saw it wrong," Fairy Bao Hua pulled at the corner of her mouth, forcing a smile.
However, she didn’t notice that behind them, an old crone holding a cane looked on from a distance, then silently sighed.
To discern things imperceptible to others from an aura bright as the dawn—heaven knows this is not a blessing but a curse, for one could only sink deeper.
The old crone didn’t think she had any right to lecture her disciple on such matters; she just felt something stuck in her heart... why was it always Nanyang Sect?
The next moment, she shook her head, waved her cane gently, conjuring an invisible Spiritual Wind to nudge Fairy Bao Hua out and said with a faint smile:
"Little Zhi Lan, if you want to go, just go. There’s nothing to fear just to meet once."
Even if her stance was not objective, she had to admit that Sect Master Shen’s current performance had already surpassed that of Xuan Qing from the past.
For people like him, if they hesitated now, they might never have another chance in the future.
Of course, the so-called opportunity was probably only able to remain at the extent of meeting once.
In a courtyard not far from the Seven Sons of Hong, amid the mountains and clouds.
The vast canopy of trees rippled slightly like a green sea, and below were several simple chairs and benches. The six figures were not sitting together; they were each spread out, some drinking tea, others sipping alcohol, one elegantly playing the zither, and another squatting on the ground, arranging pebbles.
Their gazes did not intersect, yet the scene was surprisingly harmonious.
As if they had long since become one.
The woman playing the zither suddenly ceased her slender, white fingers and turned her gaze toward the empty chair nearest to the large tree.
The chair looked familiar; it was indeed the one from the steps earlier.
Compared to the earlier grand assembly with overwhelming momentum, this seemingly scattered but tranquil place was more fitting for the name "Seven Sons Grand Assembly."
"I don’t know," said the Heavenly Sword Sect Master, holding a wine jar, and exhaled a long breath of alcohol, "When I submerged into the water some days ago, I saw him through the Water Mirror. Both the techniques he used and his manner were completely different from those of the Qin surname."
"The difference is right," the Unparalleled Sect Master finally arranged the pebbles into a satisfying pattern and looked up, "After going through such an event, if he returned for vengeance, how could he still be the same as before?"
His words seemed to strike a chord with everyone.
It was a kind of expectation, no matter how.
"So shall we... invite him over next time?" the Ling Yue Sect Master mumbled.
Yet all at once, everyone stopped what they were doing and cast a complicated look toward him.
If it truly was Brother Qin, would an invitation be necessary?
If not, what was the point of inviting a young and promising talent to partake in matters of the Unity Realm Stage?
"So, what do you all suggest we do? If we’re really going after revenge, just us few?"
The Ling Yue Sect Master was clearly annoyed, as frustration flared across his square face.
If outsiders heard this, one can only imagine how shocked they would be.
A group who could turn Southern Hong upside down with a flick of their fingers was actually speaking with such lack of confidence.
"Let’s just wait and see," said the Qing Yue Sect Master as her fingertips returned to the zither strings.
And so, everyone’s gaze drifted apart again, and they continued with what they were doing.
People say White Jade Capital is dull and that only by inheriting He Dao Bao Di can one obtain what is called great freedom.
But only those who have truly reached this Boundary understand that White Jade Capital is hardly dull, for at least they can freely do what they wish.
To bear the lives of all beings within the entire treasure land, to become its Dao, that is an unbreakable shackle.
The heavens are heartless, and Cultivators of the Union Dao Realm, even though they may have overcome life’s great calamities like aging, illness, and death, still have emotions.
So they can only clumsily imitate the heaven and earth, forever unable to become the true heaven and earth.