The night was quiet.
Too quiet.
The shattered land left behind by the destruction of the Void stretched endlessly beneath the silver glow of the moon.
The stars shone brightly overhead.
The cool wind carried the scent of damp earth and distant rivers.
Near the edge of the enormous crater—
Han Qing Li stood silently.
Her pale-blue robes fluttered softly in the wind.
The silver moonlight reflected within her eyes.
For a brief moment—
she looked less like a cultivator.
Less like a princess.
And more like a lonely girl who had lost everything.
Lin Shuan stood beside her.
Neither spoke.
The silence itself felt comfortable.
Peaceful.
Then—
Han Qing Li suddenly turned around.
Her gaze landed upon the nine cultivators still immersed in cultivation.
Lei Yun Hua.
Xue Mei Yun.
Xue Han Yue.
Han Xue Long.
Lei Hao Tian.
Yan Feng Luo.
Han Lei Jun.
Lei Zhan Yu.
Tai Gu Chen.
All of them remained seated cross-legged.
Absorbing medicinal energy.
Recovering the strength they had lost.
Recovering the future they almost never had.
Han Qing Li watched them quietly.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"They survived..."
Her voice was soft.
Almost a whisper.
Lin Shuan nodded.
"Yes."
For a moment—
sadness flashed through her eyes.
"If Father could see this..."
Her voice stopped.
The sentence remained unfinished.
Neither she nor Lin Shuan continued it.
Some wounds could not be healed by words.
Then—
Han Qing Li slowly raised her right hand.
A mysterious blue light emerged from her palm.
Space distorted.
Ripples spread outward.
Like a stone falling into a calm lake.
Lin Shuan blinked.
The next moment—
all nine cultivators vanished.
Gone.
Completely gone.
"..."
"..."
Lin Shuan froze.
His eyes widened.
He looked at the empty ground.
Then at Han Qing Li.
Then back at the empty ground.
Then again at Han Qing Li.
His expression looked almost ridiculous.
"What..."
"Just happened?"
Han Qing Li stared at him for several seconds.
Then finally understood.
A smile appeared on her face.
For the first time in many days—
it was a playful smile.
"Don't worry."
"They are safe."
Lin Shuan pointed toward the empty ground.
"They disappeared."
Han Qing Li nodded.
"Yes."
Lin Shuan blinked.
"Completely disappeared."
"Yes."
"Without warning."
"Yes."
"..."
Han Qing Li finally laughed.
A beautiful laugh.
Light and clear like flowing water.
"I placed them inside my Storage Realm."
Lin Shuan repeated the words slowly.
As if tasting them.
"Storage..."
"Realm?"
Inside the pendant—
Tian Wuchen suddenly spoke.
"Lin Shuan."
"Master?"
The old monster sighed.
"You really know very little."
Lin Shuan immediately became unhappy.
"Then explain it properly."
Tian Wuchen chuckled.
"When a cultivator reaches the Immortal Seed Rank..."
"The Immortal Seed within the dantian undergoes a transformation."
"A special space is born around it."
"A separate realm."
"A Storage Realm."
Lin Shuan listened carefully.
The old monster continued.
"It can store treasures."
"Weapons."
"Medicinal herbs."
"Spirit stones."
"And even living beings."
Lin Shuan's eyes widened.
"Living beings too?"
"Yes."
Tian Wuchen nodded.
"The Storage Rings used by lower cultivators are merely primitive tools."
"But Storage Realms are different."
"They are true dimensions."
"Small worlds attached to the cultivator."
Lin Shuan became stunned.
A world?
Inside a person's body?
Tian Wuchen continued.
"However..."
"It depends on spiritual power."
"The stronger the cultivator's consciousness..."
"The larger the realm becomes."
"A normal Immortal Seed cultivator usually possesses around twenty square meters of space."
Lin Shuan frowned.
"Only twenty?"
Tian Wuchen laughed.
"You think that's small?"
"Try carrying twenty square meters worth of treasures with your hands."
Lin Shuan immediately became silent.
The old monster continued.
"If the cultivator possesses exceptional spiritual power..."
"The Storage Realm grows larger."
"Much larger."
"And some supreme experts can even create worlds inside their Storage Realms."
Lin Shuan stared at Han Qing Li.
Then slowly turned back toward the pendant.
Then looked at Han Qing Li again.
"...Master."
"Hm?"
"Doesn't that mean..."
His voice became strange.
"This princess is an Immortal Seed cultivator?"
Tian Wuchen smiled.
"Exactly."
Lin Shuan's expression instantly became complicated.
He looked at Han Qing Li.
Then looked at himself.
Meridian Tracer Rank.
Then looked at Han Qing Li again.
Immortal Seed Rank.
The difference was enormous.
Han Qing Li seemed to understand what he was thinking.
A faint smile appeared.
"Shuan Hao."
"Hm?"
"Shall we go?"
Lin Shuan blinked.
"Go where?"
Han Qing Li pointed toward the distant moon.
Her eyes sparkled.
"You promised."
The young cultivator froze.
Then remembered.
The mountain.
The place where the moon appeared close enough to touch.
A grin appeared on his face.
"Right."
"Let's go."
CRACK!
White lightning exploded beneath his feet.
The Lightning Immortal Path activated instantly.
His figure transformed into a streak of white light.
And vanished.
Han Qing Li smiled.
Blue spiritual energy appeared beneath her feet.
Her body floated into the sky.
Then she chased after the white lightning.
The two figures disappeared into the night.
One white.
One white-blue.
Moving beneath endless stars.
The journey lasted nearly an hour.
They crossed mountains.
Rivers.
Ancient forests.
Dangerous valleys.
Countless Talismanic Beasts sensed their presence.
Yet none dared approach.
Eventually—
they arrived.
Han Qing Li stopped in midair.
And became speechless.
Before her stood an enormous mountain.
Ancient.
Majestic.
Magnificent.
A gigantic lake rested at its summit.
The water reflected the stars perfectly.
Like a mirror placed beneath heaven itself.
At the edge of the lake—
a colossal waterfall plunged downward.
Its roar echoed throughout the entire forest.
The water eventually became a great river flowing toward Da Cang Empire.
Moonlight illuminated everything.
Nearby—
rare medicinal herbs grew everywhere.
Golden flowers.
Silver grass.
Purple vines.
Ancient spirit fruits.
The entire mountain looked like a sacred paradise.
Han Qing Li stood frozen.
Unable to speak.
Her eyes widened.
Wonder filled her face.
"How..."
"How can there be so many..."
She slowly approached a glowing herb.
Her expression became increasingly shocked.
"These herbs..."
"In Wanling Empire..."
"They are almost impossible to find."
She looked around again.
There were hundreds.
No.
Thousands.
Lin Shuan smiled.
"Da Cang Empire regularly sends cultivators here."
"To search for treasures."
"To collect herbs."
"To gather resources."
Han Qing Li blinked.
"Then why are there still so many left?"
Lin Shuan laughed.
"Because surviving here is difficult."
His gaze swept toward the distant forest.
"Many powerful Talismanic Beasts live here."
"Most people never return."
Han Qing Li became silent.
Then nodded.
That explanation made sense.
Her gaze slowly moved upward.
Toward the summit.
Toward the moon.
The moon appeared unbelievably close here.
As if one could reach out and touch it.
Suddenly—
CRACK!
White lightning flashed.
Lin Shuan appeared atop the highest cliff.
Han Qing Li smiled.
Then flew upward.
Moments later—
she landed beside him.
The wind became stronger.
The waterfall thundered below.
The moon hung directly before them.
Huge.
Beautiful.
Silent.
Han Qing Li stared at it.
Completely captivated.
Neither spoke.
Several minutes passed.
Finally—
she whispered.
"Shuan Hao..."
Lin Shuan turned.
She continued gazing at the moon.
"My empire is gone."
Her voice was calm.
But sadness remained hidden beneath it.
"I am an orphan now."
Lin Shuan froze.
His expression softened.
Because he understood.
More than anyone.
His clan had been destroyed.
His parents had died.
His home no longer existed.
In that regard—
they were the same.
Two survivors standing beneath the same moon.
Yet Lin Shuan remained silent.
He always hid such emotions.
Han Qing Li smiled faintly.
"But..."
She closed her eyes.
The cool wind touched her face.
"I am free now."
Lin Shuan looked at her.
A strange feeling appeared in his heart.
Han Qing Li slowly opened her eyes.
They reflected the moonlight.
And hope.
"I want to see the world beyond that moon."
The words stunned Lin Shuan.
Beyond the moon.
The higher worlds.
The realms Tian Wuchen once described.
Could such places truly exist?
What were they like?
The young cultivator couldn't help wondering.
Inside the pendant—
Tian Wuchen spoke.
"Lin Shuan."
"Hm?"
"The worlds beyond are beautiful."
The old monster's voice carried nostalgia.
"And terrifying."
Lin Shuan blinked.
"Terrifying?"
Tian Wuchen nodded.
"Even powerful experts struggle to survive there."
Lin Shuan immediately asked—
"Then how did you survive?"
"..."
"..."
Tian Wuchen instantly looked away.
Lin Shuan grinned.
The old monster coughed awkwardly.
Han Qing Li laughed softly.
Then looked toward the moon once more.
"I will travel."
Her voice became firm.
Determined.
"I will search for those worlds."
"I will find a place where I can reach greater heights."
Lin Shuan listened quietly.
Then smiled.
"It sounds like a dream."
Han Qing Li glanced toward him.
"But it's a beautiful dream."
Lin Shuan nodded.
"My friends also left on journeys."
A faint loneliness appeared in his eyes.
"Zu Lin."
"Qin Yue."
"They've already begun traveling."
He looked toward the horizon.
"Only I remained behind."
Then—
he looked at Han Qing Li.
A grin appeared.
"But when you leave..."
"Take me with you."
Han Qing Li froze.
Lin Shuan scratched his head.
"I want to see the world too."
Silence.
Then—
a smile slowly appeared on Han Qing Li's face.
Beautiful.
Gentle.
Warm.
She looked at him beneath the moonlight.
And for a brief moment—
Lin Shuan felt as if the moon itself were staring back at him.
Inside the pendant—
Tian Wuchen laughed loudly.
"Traveling the world!"
"What a wonderful idea!"
The old monster's eyes sparkled.
"I'll come too."
Lin Shuan immediately replied—
"Master."
"Hm?"
"We'll go together."
For a moment—
Tian Wuchen became quiet.
Then he smiled.
A genuine smile.
"Yes."
"We'll go together."
Nearby—
Han Qing Li also smiled.
"Shuan Hao."
"Hm?"
"We'll travel together."
The words were simple.
Yet they carried unexpected warmth.
Lin Shuan felt something stir within his heart.
Emotions he rarely allowed himself to feel.
But he quickly suppressed them.
Only a quiet—
"Hm."
—escaped his lips.
The moon shone brightly overhead.
The world felt strangely peaceful.
Then—
Lin Shuan suddenly pointed upward.
"Princess Qing Li."
She turned.
"Yes?"
"Would you like to see it even closer?"
Han Qing Li blinked.
"The moon?"
"Yes."
Her eyes widened.
"It can be seen even closer?"
Lin Shuan nodded confidently.
"In Cang Yue City."
"The capital of Da Cang Empire."
"The view is much better."
Han Qing Li immediately became excited.
Then suddenly remembered something.
Her expression changed.
"Wait."
Lin Shuan tilted his head.
"What's wrong?"
She looked slightly nervous.
"Would Da Cang Empire even allow me inside?"
After all—
she was the princess of a fallen empire.
A foreign cultivator.
An Immortal Seed expert.
Such people attracted attention.
Lin Shuan thought for several moments.
Then grinned.
"I have an idea."
Han Qing Li's eyes immediately brightened.
"Really?"
"Really."
Her smile became even brighter.
Then—
she turned toward the moon again.
The wind moved gently through her hair.
The stars reflected in her eyes.
"Shuan Hao..."
Lin Shuan looked toward her.
For some reason—
her voice sounded unusually soft.
Emotional.
Almost shy.
"You can call me Qing Li."
The young cultivator froze.
"What?"
Han Qing Li smiled.
This time—
the smile carried genuine happiness.
"Because we're friends."
Friends.
The word echoed inside Lin Shuan's mind.
For someone who had spent so much of his life alone—
that word carried unusual weight.
"Friends..."
He repeated softly.
Han Qing Li nodded.
Because she truly wanted that.
Shuan Hao had saved her.
Protected her.
Helped her.
Expected nothing in return.
People like that were rare.
Very rare.
Then—
she suddenly asked—
"Can you tell me your secrets?"
Lin Shuan instantly became nervous.
"My secrets?"
Han Qing Li nodded.
The young cultivator scratched his head awkwardly.
Then laughed.
"I..."
"I'm just an ordinary boy."
Han Qing Li immediately looked unconvinced.
Lin Shuan continued.
"I wander around."
"Sometimes I meet good people."
"Sometimes bad people."
"But I'm usually happy."
The words sounded simple.
Yet Tian Wuchen unexpectedly became emotional.
Because the old monster knew.
The suffering hidden behind those simple words.
The loneliness.
The loss.
The endless struggle.
Han Qing Li stared at Lin Shuan quietly.
Then—
she took a small step closer.
Her voice became gentle.
"You're not alone anymore."
Lin Shuan froze.
Han Qing Li looked directly into his eyes.
A strange determination appeared within her gaze.
"As long as I live..."
"I'll stand beside you."
The words struck deeply.
Unexpectedly—
another memory surfaced.
Protector Yi.
That woman.
That smile.
That promise.
"Lin Shuan..."
"I'll protect you."
"But if you lose..."
"I'll kill you myself."
The memory made him smile helplessly.
One wanted to protect him—
but refused to see him fail.
The other simply wanted to protect him.
No conditions.
No demands.
Just because she wanted to.
Inside the pendant—
Tian Wuchen sighed dramatically.
"Lin Shuan."
"Hm?"
"Why are you always surrounded by girls like this?"
Lin Shuan pretended not to hear him.
Instead—
he simply looked at Han Qing Li.
And discovered—
that she was already looking at him.
The moonlight illuminated her face.
The stars reflected in her eyes.
Neither spoke.
Neither looked away.
The waterfall roared below.
The moon hung above.
And somewhere within the silent night—
two lonely souls slowly began finding something they had both lost long ago.
A place where they no longer felt alone.