Chen Chang'an slowly closed the diary in his hands. The golden light on the pages gradually faded, transforming back into an ancient immortal artifact.
He stood up, gaze lowered, his mind swirling with thoughts.
The contents of the diary had resolved most of the doubts in his heart.
For instance, Ji Wuque's identity—currently, it seemed he was the "tribulation bearer" and world protagonist newly cultivated by the Upper Realm. Unfortunately, this person's foundations were insufficient, so he had been thrown to the lower realm to be tempered for tens of thousands of years.
Now that he had suddenly risen to power, he believed he had trapped Chen Chang'an's clone and was aggressively conquering the sects and aristocratic families of Central State, intending to unify the lower realm.
He suddenly recalled years ago, when he first encountered Ji Lingxiu, that crucial achievement choice—"Supporting the Great Zhou."
If he had chosen that path back then, would it have meant he prematurely accepted the identity of "world protagonist," completely exposing himself to the scrutiny of those people in the Upper Realm?
Thinking of this, the corner of his mouth curved upward in a smile of relief.
"Playing it safe and developing steadily" was indeed the truth.
Currently, those people's attention should still be on searching for the reincarnation of his father—this was precisely the opportunity for him to continue developing.
The importance of the Spirit Realm needed no elaboration, and the "achievements" mentioned by his father in the diary should also be completed as soon as possible.
The Northern Frontier and Southern Wasteland needed to be visited soon.
That night, he told Ji Hongli of his plan to journey to the Northern Frontier.
After hearing it, she frowned slightly, seeming hesitant, but finally said softly: "I'll go with you."
Chen Chang'an raised an eyebrow, deliberately teasing her: "So, does this count as returning to your parents' home?"
Ji Hongli glared at him, reaching out to pinch him.
He laughed and dodged. The two frolicked in the room for a while before finally collapsing onto the bed together, their laughter gradually fading.
...
The next morning, the sky was dim.
Two figures silently landed on an ebonite flying shuttle.
Chen Chang'an naturally sent his Lin Wan clone to accompany Ji Hongli.
At this moment, she was still dressed in her usual plain skirt, white clothes surpassing snow, her sleeves untainted by dust. Ji Hongli wore an ink-colored long robe with an ancient jade pendant hanging from her waist, looking more like a handsome young gentleman.
When the flying shuttle activated, it didn't stir the slightest spiritual energy fluctuation. In the blink of an eye, it disappeared into the depths of the clouds.
Two days later, the flying shuttle quietly descended on an unnamed barren valley at the northernmost point of Wei Prefecture.
This was already the end of human territory. Further north, the Hengduan Mountains stood like a wound torn across heaven and earth, towering at the end of the Northern Frontier.
Cliffs of ten thousand zhang pierced straight into the clouds. The pitch-black rock face was covered with glaciers and erosion grooves, reflecting a cold gleam in the twilight.
Eternal snow mist swirled around the mountainside, occasionally torn open by fierce winds to reveal deep blue glacial crevices.
The biting mountain wind howled past, carrying ice crystals. On the distant gray horizon, massive cloud vortices slowly rotated.
Ji Hongli put away the flying shuttle, gazing at the endless mountain contours to the north, a complex look flashing in her eyes: "The last time I set foot here was a hundred thousand years ago."
Speaking of which, Bai Li had been gone for some time. Back then, she had wondered how those old acquaintances would react upon learning of her existence.
Now it seemed there was no reaction at all, which left her with an inexplicable sense of loss, yet also a quiet sigh of relief.
Lin Wan was currently scanning the surrounding frozen earth with his divine sense. Hearing this, his fingertips paused slightly—he rarely saw such an expression on his wife's face.
"Want to go back and take a look?" he seriously proposed.
"No need." Ji Hongli shook her head. "The important matters come first. Should we go directly to the Candle Dragon Secret Realm?"
...
The two flew all the way toward the depths of the Northern Frontier.
Suddenly, both simultaneously saw demonic clouds churning in the air ahead.
Two streams of light suddenly halted mid-air.
At the same time—two soaring demonic auras shot up like blood-colored smoke signals, dyeing the entire sky a dark purple.
"It's a demon clan internal conflict." Ji Hongli frowned slightly, her ink-colored sleeves fluttering in the chaotic air currents.
Her divine sense swept over the battlefield. She saw hundreds of transformed demon kin engaged in brutal slaughter in the valley below.
The sounds of claws tearing through scales, the roar of demon cores self-detonating, and death throes all mixed together. Amidst the blood mist, several massive corpses in their true forms were vaguely visible.
Lin Wan subconsciously looked at his companion beside him.
However, Ji Hongli only gently shook her head, a trace of weariness flashing in her eyes: "Transformed demons are actually no different from humans. They'll kill each other over territory, resources, cultivation techniques... even a verbal disagreement."
Suddenly, a heaven-shaking roar came from the distance. A silver-backed giant ape manifested its hundred-zhang true body, smashing the head of an opposing snake demon with one palm. Before the victor's roar could fade, three poisoned bone spikes shot from the shadows, directly piercing its throat.
Ji Hongli sighed softly: "Let's go. I no longer belong here."
As she turned, a strand of black hair was lifted by the wind, covering half her face. "Demon clan matters... are naturally governed by the Demon Saints."
Chen Chang'an nodded, knowing his wife had always been independent with her own thoughts.
The two transformed into streams of light and departed, the sounds of slaughter gradually fading behind them.
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