Translator: AnubisTL
Throughout the journey, they maintained a heavy silence, the atmosphere growing increasingly awkward.
It was Liu Hanyue who finally broke the silence, her voice soft and melancholic. "This time, I must thank Brother Li for saving me. I dare not imagine what would have happened otherwise."
"Heh, it was nothing," Li Qing said, his gaze fixed straight ahead as he pondered something in his mind.
"I never expected your cultivation to advance so rapidly after we parted ways at the Azure Ridge Domain. In the blink of an eye, you've become a great cultivator at the peak of the Nascent Soul realm," Liu Hanyue said, searching for topics of conversation. She openly appraised Li Qing beside her, her eyes sparkling with interest.
Accustomed to modesty, Li Qing replied, "I've had some other fortunate encounters over the years. Reaching this stage is entirely due to luck, nothing to admire."
"As for you, I see you're only one step away from the Break Core, Condense Soul stage. Your progress is equally impressive."
Liu Hanyue gently brushed a strand of hair from her forehead, a radiant smile blooming on her face. "Brother Li remains as modest as ever. You haven't changed at all."
Her words reminded Li Qing of his days working as a laborer at the Liu Clan. Though it was a brief period on his long dao journey, it was also the very beginning of his entry into the cultivation world, and thus unforgettable.
Time had flown by, and years had passed in the blink of an eye. In the blink of an eye, everything had changed.
The cultivator who once struggled at the bottom of the cultivation world had, without realizing it, now stood at the pinnacle of the Human Realm.
They didn't dwell on their past. Instead, they discussed other matters, such as the Western Heaven Pavilion, and Liu Hanyue shared everything she knew about it.
They also exchanged views on the upcoming ascension ceremony.
Finally, Liu Hanyue gazed at the sky, sighed softly, and said, "Ascension... it truly feels like an unattainable dream."
"I imagine Brother Li will also reach his own ascension one day. I wonder if I'll live to see that day."
Li Qing didn't deny his aspiration for ascension, but he didn't make any bold claims either.
"I haven't even glimpsed the threshold of the Divine Transformation stage yet. Ascension remains a distant prospect."
Hearing this, Liu Hanyue's gaze drifted into a daze as she looked at Li Qing.
She remembered how, not long ago, her cultivation had surpassed his.
Now, Li Qing had left her far behind, making her feel like she was chasing dust that was beyond her reach.
The gap between them would likely grow wider in the future, until one day, Li Qing would ascend to the upper realm.
When that day came, separated by two realms, they would probably never have another chance to meet.
Thinking of this, a strange ache welled up in Liu Hanyue's heart, and her mood grew somber.
If we became dao companions, it might hinder his dao.
He doesn't intend to leave any attachments in the lower realm, so that his heart will be unburdened when he ascends.
As these thoughts swirled in her mind, Liu Hanyue felt even more desolate, her fingers unconsciously tightening until they turned white.
While her emotions ran wild, the trio had already reached their destination.
A towering mountain peak stood before them, like a Heavenly Chasm cleaving the heavens and earth.
Li Qing, having visited the Spirit Treasure Realm once before, expertly produced an incense stick and lit one end.
Wisps of blue smoke rose, the mountain rumbled, and a golden path of light stretched out before them.
Boom!
"This is the Spirit Treasure Realm. Fellow Daoists, let's enter together," Li Qing said.
With that, he stepped onto the golden path first, walking toward the void rift that opened at its end.
True Monarch Yue Xuan looked at her disciple with a gentle smile. "Silly child," she said, "sometimes emotions are like cultivation. If you hesitate too much, you'll end up with nothing."
With that, she took Liu Hanyue's hand and followed Li Qing into the Spirit Treasure Realm.
The realm felt different this time. The ethereal, otherworldly atmosphere was less pronounced, replaced by a livelier, more bustling energy.
The Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild had invited numerous cultivators to witness the ceremony. Floating palaces and pavilions now housed cultivators from all domains of the Human Realm.
As the trio entered, they were quickly greeted by a reception party.
"Hahaha, it's Fellow Daoist Limitless! Come over quickly!" A Nascent Soul cultivator from the guild's core lineage exclaimed with delight and rushed to meet them.
Last time, Li Qing had refined a powerful spirit treasure for Wan Shengtian, a feat that had etched his name into the minds of everyone in the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild.
Now that they saw him arrive, they naturally rushed to welcome him with the utmost enthusiasm.
To be precise, Li Qing still held another identity: the strongest artifact refiner in the Human Realm!
"Fellow Daoist Wan Hong, it's been a while!" Li Qing cupped his fist in greeting and took the initiative to introduce his companions. "Behind me is True Monarch Yue Xuan of Moonchase Palace in the Great Wilderness Domain, and beside her is her disciple, and also a close friend of mine, Liu Hanyue."
Only then did the Nascent Soul cultivator named Wan Hong turn his gaze to the two women, his attitude equally enthusiastic.
"So, you are Immortal Maidens of Moonchase Palace! I've long admired your reputation!"
After exchanging greetings, Wan Hong laughed heartily. "Fellow Daoist Limitless, you may not know this, but our Founding Ancestor has been using you as a benchmark to reprimand us juniors for years!"
"I often wonder—are there even a few cultivators in the Human Realm who can compare to you? Our Founding Ancestor is truly setting the bar too high for us, hahaha!"
Li Qing smiled wryly. "Senior Wan, you flatter me. With my meager cultivation, I dare not accept such praise."
Amidst their laughter and banter, Wan Hong arranged the most superior cave abode for Li Qing and his companions as their temporary residence for cultivation.
The area was adjacent to one of the most miraculous peaks in the Spirit Treasure Realm: Wan Shengtian's spirit peak. This towering, spirit-energy-rich mountain was said to have been constructed using countless Spirit Spring Eyes and spirit stones, making it a true sanctuary for cultivation.
Li Qing's cave abode, due to its proximity, also benefited from this auspicious location.
It's worth noting that only a few of Wan Shengtian's closest old friends were allowed to temporarily reside and cultivate nearby. These included the Azure Flood Dragon King, the Valley Master of Bright King Valley, and True Monarch Chen Yuan, who had already arrived.
News of Li Qing's arrival spread quickly, and numerous fellow cultivators from the Nascent Soul Realm flocked to pay their respects, nearly trampling the threshold of his cave abode.
Among the visitors were fellow daoists he had met at the Heavenly Treasure City auction, as well as other Nascent Soul cultivators from the Spirit Treasure Realm. Many even came from other great domains, drawn by his reputation.
For a time, Li Qing's cave abode was bustling with visitors, with people arriving almost daily.
Just as he finally managed to enjoy a moment of peace, a group of Divine Transformation stage great powers, including Wan Shengtian and the Azure Flood Dragon King, personally invited Li Qing to a small gathering on one of the main peaks of the Spirit Treasure Realm.
This matter caused a stir, filling many Nascent Soul cultivators with intense envy. The fact that Li Qing was invited to a gathering of Divine Transformation stage cultivators meant that these great powers now considered him an equal.
Suddenly, they all felt immensely fortunate to have crossed paths with Li Qing.
True Monarch Yue Xuan and Liu Hanyue were naturally aware of all this.
Especially the latter, who watched Li Qing's threshold nearly collapse under the daily visits of petitioners, and even personal invitations from Divine Transformation stage great powers.
Though she and her master had been granted temporary residence on the same spirit peak due to Li Qing's influence, their days had grown quiet and uneventful, with few visitors.
In the Great Wilderness Domain, Moonchase Palace might be renowned and invincible, but when viewed against the true apex of the Human Realm, the so-called Moonchase Palace amounted to little.
A sense of disparity grew within Liu Hanyue, as if she and Li Qing were drifting further apart. She even began to feel as though they were now people of two different worlds.
(End of the Chapter)
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