Eternal Tale

In the Immaculate Immortal Ridge.

Chen Xun and Black Bull traveled far and wide, bidding farewell to everyone. Over thirty thousand members of the Soul-Nourishing Spirit Clan knelt halfway, performing their unique immortal farewell ritual.

Especially Qing Li and Qing Wan, they watched with respect. The Dao Ancestor’s family, their lineage would give their all, never wavering from their original intentions, just as they once wielded their swords to protect Trash Island, fearless of life and death.

Gu Lisheng and Song Heng were mentally prepared, as the factory owner had already informed them upon his return.

However, when the day truly arrived, they couldn’t help but feel emotional, wondering if Ji Yan would withhold their spirit stones.

After all, they would need them to buy ship tickets in the future. Although the teleportation arrays were cheaper, the distances in the grand world were far too vast.

They waved goodbye with smiles, knowing it was a time for stable cultivation, with no urgency in their hearts. After seeing Chen Xun and the others disappear, they started scheming.

For instance, how to increase their spirit stone salaries from that pretty boy, and the hundred ways to manipulate him. If Song Heng could break through to the Void Refinement phase, he even planned to take on some side jobs.

Like helping other old cultivators with feng shui, though he didn’t particularly enjoy building tombs for others, the demands of life required him to be adaptable. Earning spirit stones wasn’t shameful!

So, today he made a decision that went against his ancestral teachings, temporarily changing professions, planning to return to his old trade later. After all, one’s own strength was the foundation for navigating the world of immortals....

On Dongxuan Immortal Island.

The news of Nangong Heling leaving the Dao Academy due to her poor aptitude spread quickly, with many female cultivators secretly mocking her. Once so dazzling, she had now become a joke.

Chi Ye also wore a cold smile, saying nothing, but his eyes held a trace of arrogance and disdain. In the world of immortals, strength was paramount. Without power to protect oneself, decline was inevitable.

After two thousand years in the Dao Academy, she had made quite a splash, but her cultivation hadn’t progressed much. It was truly absurd.

She came with a group, politely exchanging pleasantries before turning to leave. With Nangong Heling in the Dao Academy, things never went smoothly for her.

Two thousand years, late-stage Transformation... Some Dao Academy disciples frowned secretly, wondering how poor her aptitude must be to progress so slowly. She was indeed a so-called ”connected” person.

But they looked down on such people the most. True scions of great powers needed both talent and background. Such individuals were merely second-generation cultivators in the world of immortals, unlikely to go far.

Some acquaintances of Nangong Heling, like Chi Ye, also exchanged pleasantries, though they were all very proper, with no face-to-face ridicule, only speaking behind her back.

In the future, their paths in immortality might diverge.

Many male disciples sighed, feeling that the halo around her had suddenly dimmed.

In the world of immortals, poor aptitude was an original sin. They sighed slightly, wondering if they could leave a divine sense imprint on a communication talisman.

After all, they were peers of the same generation. In the future, there would surely be grand gatherings to discuss the Dao and recent developments, rekindling their bonds...

In the end, only Feng Jinyu accompanied her from the Dao Academy to the outskirts of the Immortal Island. Mo Ye Han had long gone into seclusion, preparing for the grand competition among the Dao Academies, with Yuxuan personally overseeing it.

This Dao Academy competition was extraordinary, with emissaries from the Immortal Palace arriving, along with legendary guests from the Immortal Palace, and even powerful figures from various heavenly domains. It was a true gathering of dragons and tigers.

The Mengmu Sea Region was also witnessing a grand event, with the Flood Dragon clan of the Eight Veins personally welcoming and escorting guests along the Southern Yu Continent coast. They would roar at anyone who dared block the way, and even if no one did, they would still roar!

At this moment, in a flower field on the outskirts of Dongxuan Immortal Island, Nangong Heling and Feng Jinyu walked slowly among the flowers.

Feng Jinyu, dressed in green, had unsurprisingly advanced to the Void Refinement phase. The lifespan of the Transformation phase could no longer hold him back, and his family’s power could only procure longevity-enhancing treasures that extended life by a few hundred years.

Behind them followed five people, including Wild Gold and Wild Wood, tall and strong. They were accustomed to guarding the surroundings, not interfering with Miss Nangong’s affairs.

Dongxuan Immortal Island hadn’t seen snow, and the region was bathed in sunlight, with only a slight chill in the breeze.

Feng Jinyu had matured significantly, becoming more composed. Walking alongside Nangong Heling, he maintained a respectful distance, speaking in a low voice, ”Heling...”

Nangong Heling’s smile was as radiant as a flower, gazing at the surrounding sea of flowers. Every year on the day the Dao Academy set out, she would come here, as if every decade brought new and unique flowers.

She turned her head with a smile, ”Jinyu, what’s the matter?”

”There’s still some distance before you leave Dongxuan Immortal Island... I can only accompany you this far.”

Feng Jinyu frowned deeply, feeling as if time had passed too quickly, leaving him unprepared, ”I can’t leave the Dao Academy yet, and I’ll be participating in the competition tomorrow.”

”Thank you for seeing me off today.” Nangong Heling smiled brightly, then paused, ”I’ll be there tomorrow to cheer for you and Brother Ye Han.”

”Re... really?!” Feng Jinyu’s voice trembled, stammering, ”Heling, after leaving the Dao Academy, will you stay in the Mengmu Sea Region to run the garbage recycling plant?”

”Actually... I have some experience with collecting garbage, if you don’t mind...”

”Hehe...”

Before he could finish, Nangong Heling covered her mouth with a light laugh, even the surrounding flowers swayed with the fragrant breeze, ”Jinyu, no, my eldest brother and I are leaving the Mengmu Sea Region.”

”What?! Eldest brother! No, is your eldest brother taking you away... where to?”

Feng Jinyu’s expression changed, unable to maintain his composure in front of Nangong Heling, ”Heling, when will you return? If you go to Xuanwei Heaven, I’ll find a job there in the future.”

”Jinyu... it’s not that, we might leave Xuanwei Heaven too, and...”

Nangong Heling clasped her hands behind her back, looking at Feng Jinyu with a half-smile, ”Why are you following me? You’re the Feng family’s prodigy, destined to inherit the family, you can’t just run around.”

”I...! I!” Feng Jinyu took a deep breath, unable to meet Nangong Heling’s eyes, ”With me around, at least you’ll have someone to talk to!”

After speaking, his breathing became erratic, but then he shuddered, his pupils contracting, realizing that Heling was leaving Xuanwei Heaven...

Feng Jinyu suddenly felt a void in his heart, this grand world of immortals was so vast that after this meeting, they might never have the chance to see each other again.

He quietly gazed at the sea of flowers, his eyes reflecting a complex mix of emotions, both admiration for the vibrant flowers and the helplessness and regret of parting.

Every flower here was a unique existence, blooming and withering in this sea of flowers, much like the meetings and farewells in life.

Feng Jinyu’s heart gradually calmed, understanding that parting was a part of cultivation. No matter where he was, he would cherish his encounter and bond with Heling, and that was enough.

Nangong Heling’s expression also became serene and gentle, as if she had seen through some of his thoughts, smiling, ”I’ll tell you when I return, and we can catch up then?”

”Alright.” Feng Jinyu nodded heavily, suddenly raising his voice, ”Heling!”

”Hmm?”

”It’s just... today... today...”

”What’s wrong?”

”... the weather is really nice!”

Feng Jinyu’s nose twitched, his heart pounding so loudly it seemed to echo in his ears. Finally, he summoned the greatest courage of his life, ”Why don’t we take a picture together!”

As he spoke, his robes fluttered in the cold wind, the aura of the Void Refinement phase naturally emanating, unable to control his own energy at this moment.

Nangong Heling was slightly taken aback, then gradually smiled, ”Alright.”

”What? Heling, you agreed?!”

”Hehe, it’s just a small thing, quickly prepare the Image Stone.”

”Okay, okay.”

Feng Jinyu’s forehead was covered in cold sweat, too excited to notice. He hurriedly took out a cluster of flowers from his storage ring, ”Heling... I picked these casually, they’re not precious, but I give them to you.”

He kept his head down, never daring to meet Nangong Heling’s eyes, his gaze wandering, only daring to glance briefly at her face.

Nangong Heling’s eyes lit up, quickly accepting them, ”Jinyu, thank you!”

”Heh... hehe...” Feng Jinyu chuckled foolishly, Heling loved flowers the most, his dream finally realized, feeling like he was living in a dream.

At this moment, a light screen slowly appeared on the ground.

Nangong Heling held the flowers, dressed in an elegant white dress, her long hair cascading like black feathers to her waist.

She looked at the Image Stone with a gentle smile, like a spring breeze, warm and serene, akin to the most dazzling flower blooming in the sea of flowers.

Feng Jinyu, with a silly expression, leaned closer to her, feeling as if his life was complete at this moment.

The world seemed to fall silent, countless colorful petals scattered in the sea of flowers, blowing into the image captured by the Image Stone, incredibly vibrant.

After a stick of incense, Feng Jinyu reluctantly put away the Image Stone, his eyes filled with treasuring.

Previously, it was just an Earth-rank Image Stone, but now, even a Heaven-tier Image Stone couldn’t compare. It had become his priceless treasure!

Buzz—

Suddenly, a small, shabby boat flew overhead, with Black Bull shouting down, ”Moo moo~~~”

Little Chi, wrapped in a tattered blanket, poked his lion head out and shouted, ”Sister Crane, we’ve come to pick you up!”

Chen Xun stood above, looking down with a slight frown, wondering why that kid kept showing up. He was appearing a bit too often.