Song Yan and Ye Kaishan entered the forest.
The forest was vast, echoing occasionally with the sounds of ferocious beasts and the chirping of unseen insects. The wild wind rustled the trees with eerie persistence. Though it was morning, and the sun's rays carried warmth, the atmosphere within the forest ahead of them remained dark and cold.
"Let's go," Ye Kaishan said calmly.
Song Yan nodded and summoned her flying tool—a small vessel that could carry three to four people.
They both hopped onto it.
With a soft hum, the flying shuttle hovered. At Song Yan's command, it soared over the treetops. She adjusted its course midair, steering it through the dense canopy.
"It's still morning…" she murmured, glancing at the distant sun steadily climbing the sky.
"You should take some rest. I'll meditate for a while," she said calmly, settling into a cross-legged position.
Ye Kaishan looked up at the sun for a moment, then entered Song Yan's Soul Subspace.
Inside the Soul Subspace
Ye Kaishan laid on the soft ground, deep in thought.
Should I check the Space-Time Tree? he wondered.
He closed his eyes, and in an instant, he appeared before the tree. Its size had grown noticeably, nourished by his recent breakthrough in cultivation.
"The tree has progressed," Ye Kaishan observed. "With the major realm breakthrough, its growth took a leap."
The dark blue leaves—representing space laws—had grown far more vigorously than the green ones, which reflected time laws.
Then, his eyes landed on a budding sprout growing from one of the branches. A frown crossed his face.
"Still no progress?"
The golden bud looked unchanged, unaffected.
Sigh… It's growing on a space branch, so it must be related to space laws, Ye Kaishan reasoned inwardly.
Maybe I need to feed it space-related materials? he mused, tilting his head and stroking his chin.
Half a Day Later
Ye Kaishan stepped out of the Soul Subspace. The sun was beginning to set.
Looking below, he saw nothing but forest and distant mountains stretching endlessly. The scenery hadn't changed much.
It's so boring. How do cultivators endure such long travels? he wondered.
His gaze fell on Song Yan, standing quietly at the front of the shuttle, looking at the setting sun.
She stood motionless, lost in thought. Her expression held depth—silent, helpless, even a little sorrowful.
Ye Kaishan studied her silently.
After a moment, he softly called, "Song Yan… Song Yan…"
She snapped out of her trance, blinking in slight surprise.
"What were you thinking about? You seemed far away," Ye Kaishan asked, sitting on the edge of the flying shuttle.
She looked at him, then smiled faintly. "It's nothing," she said, turning again to look at the fading sun. "Just… lost in old memories."
Noticing the subtle sorrow lingering in her earlier expression, Ye Kaishan moved closer. He stepped behind her and, without a word, gently hugged her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder.
The sudden gesture startled Song Yan—but she didn't push him away.
Chuckling softly, Ye Kaishan whispered, "You're not alone in this life. You don't have to face everything on your own. The path you've chosen… will be my path too."
"I don't know what destiny awaits us," he continued, "but in difficult times… I'll be there with you."
He tightened his embrace slightly.
Song Yan didn't respond. Though Ye Kaishan couldn't see her face, the tips of her ears turned red.
She looked down, unable to meet his eyes, and simply nodded.
Ye Kaishan smiled and let go, returning to the edge of the shuttle and looking up at the starry sky with a calm expression.
Song Yan remained still, but this time, her expression had changed. Instead of sorrow or helplessness, her eyes held something new—a gentle smile hidden beneath her blush.
As time passed, the sun was finally overtaken by the cunning advance of night.
Stars filled the sky like scattered gems. Ye Kaishan glanced at Song Yan—she was meditating again, her expression serene.
Bathed in moonlight, her hair danced slightly in the wind, and her white robe fluttered lightly. For a brief moment, Ye Kaishan's heart skipped a beat.
He quickly shook his head, clearing his thoughts, and stepped closer.
"How many days will the disciple selection take?" he asked softly.
"Fifteen to twenty days," Song Yan replied with her eyes still closed. "The town is large, and the participants won't only be from affiliated families. Cultivators from the entire town and surrounding villages will also attend."
"I had some idea… but I didn't expect it to take this long," Ye Kaishan murmured to himself.
"Will it be just us recruiting disciples?" he asked.
"No," Song Yan answered, eyes still closed. "There will be others too."
"But… the town belongs to the Song Clan. How can others recruit disciples here? Won't that take away our talented generation?"
This time, Song Yan opened her eyes and looked at him.
"Not quite right. Mistveil Town is under the Song Clan's protection, but we don't own it. We do manage it, yes—but that doesn't mean we control everything about it."
The town comes under the Yunhua Empire, overseen by Empress Ming.
This town—along with countless others, from small villages to grand cities across the Southern Continent—belongs to the empire. Though Empress Ming's cultivation strength is only at the Great Saint Realm, she manages to unify the entire Southern Continent through sheer intelligence and authority. She delegates control to various sects and clans based on their strength, granting them the responsibility to manage towns and regions under imperial rule.
"That's why, besides us, there will be other sects and clans present," Song Yan explained calmly to Ye Kaishan. "The empire only values results. Whichever sect the disciples choose to join doesn't matter to them. Ultimately, they all serve the Southern Continent."
"Hmm... but shouldn't the clan managing the town get any privileges?" Ye Kaishan asked.
"There are privileges," Song Yan nodded. "At the end of the test, the first right to choose a disciple goes to us."
As the discussion ended, she added, "It's getting late. You should rest inside my subspace. The soul energy is purer at night—I'll cultivate for a while." With that, she closed her eyes and resumed cultivation.
Ye Kaishan looked up at the sky. Three colossal moons loomed above, possibly as large as Blue Star—or even larger. He cast one final glance at Song Yan before entering the subspace to rest.
Two Days Later
Song Yan and Ye Kaishan landed in front of a towering stone gate. At the top, engraved in ancient characters, was the name: Mistveil.
"We finally arrived," Ye Kaishan muttered. "Traveling normally is exhausting."
Song Yan rolled her eyes at his complaints. "Stop whining. Let's go." She moved forward into Mistveil Town, leaving Ye Kaishan behind.
"Wait—I'm coming!" he shouted, quickly catching up.
The town bustled with life. Voices of merchants and shoppers filled the air. They walked along a paved path lined with stalls and shops, some small and cluttered, others vast and refined.
Ye Kaishan glanced around, observing the merchants. Most were women. Men were present too, though far fewer in number.
As they walked deeper into the town, Ye Kaishan noticed a wide variety of goods—pills, beast hides, and weapons forged from spirit beasts. Soon, they reached a quiet corner where beggars lined the road—mostly women, though a few men sat among them.
Song Yan's gaze shifted to the side. "Let's rest here for a moment," she said, pointing toward a tea pavilion beside the beggars. She walked in and ordered two cups of tea.
Sipping her tea, Song Yan continued to scan the beggars as though searching for someone.
Ye Kaishan frowned slightly, puzzled. "Are you looking for someone?"
Sigh... "Yes, but she's not here yet," Song Yan replied.
"Is she your friend or something?" Ye Kaishan asked.
"No. She doesn't even know who I am. But who knows what the future holds?" A soft smile touched her lips.
Ye Kaishan didn't ask further. He quietly sipped his tea.
After a moment, Song Yan stood. "Let's go to the Song Clan Manor."
"Alright," Ye Kaishan responded, and they left the pavilion together.
After walking for a while, they reached a villa with the character for 'Song' engraved at the entrance.
Song Yan stepped onto the courtyard, Ye Kaishan following closely behind. Just as they entered the residence, a harsh voice rang out from behind them.
"Who's there?" an old woman's voice demanded.
They turned around to see a hunched, elderly woman seated in the courtyard, her eyes sharp despite her age.
"This is Song Clan property. Outsiders are not allowed here," she barked, still seated in her chair.
Song Yan studied the woman for a moment, then asked, "Are you the steward, Song Tao?"
"Yes," the old woman replied with a frown.
Song Yan smiled faintly. "We are from the Song Clan. My name is Song Yan, and this is my companion, Ye Kaishan."
The old woman froze, her expression transforming. She stood abruptly, her eyes wide. "M-Milady..."
She shuffled toward them. "Are you... the Matriarch's daughter?" she asked with disbelief.
"I am," Song Yan replied calmly.
"I-I apologize, Milady. I didn't recognize you. These old eyes... I've made a mistake." She gave a crooked, embarrassed smile.
This old woman is cunning, Ye Kaishan thought. She was looking at us like we were beggars a moment ago...
"May we enter now?" Song Yan asked, her voice still serene.
"Y-Yes, of course!"
The two stepped inside the manor. As the door shut behind them, Song Tao exhaled in relief.
"Damn that couple," she muttered as she walked back to her chair. "I was hoping to rent this manor out, and make a little money..."
Slumping into her chair, she whispered, "They must be here to recruit disciples. Sigh... looks like I'll have to manage my expenses more carefully this time."
She leaned back, closed her eyes, and drifted into rest.