Eternal Cultivation Of Alchemy

Shumi talked to the World Tree, saying her goodbye to it. It wouldn’t be long before she would leave this place, so she spent some of that time with the tree.

The tree had been aware of this fact for a long time now, and yet it was still despondent when the time came.

“Must you leave, mother?” the World Tree asked. “Can’t you stay here forever?”

Shumi stroked the tree’s branches. “You know better than anyone else that I can’t,” she said. “There are a lot more that need me than just you. At least you have your father. Most others don’t even have that. I’ve talked to you about your sister, haven’t I? One of them is stuck in a realm that is difficult to get in and out of. And your other sister is nowhere to be found. Don’t you think the others, like your sisters, deserve our aid?”

The tree remained silent for some time before giving a feeling of affirmation.

“Yes,” she said in a meek voice.

The World Tree still didn’t want Shumi to leave, but now she understood that she couldn’t keep her to herself. So, she spent the next few hours with Shumi as well as she could.

After those hours passed, Shumi left the World Tree, arriving back outside.

Alex flew continuously in a certain direction, his body completely invisible to everyone’s spiritual senses. Even Shumi didn’t notice him at all until he grabbed her hand, letting her know he was there.

Shumi brought on her Yin veil as well, and together they vanished from all senses.

“How far along are we?” Shumi asked.

Alex closed his eyes for a few seconds, feeling his connection to Pearl and using it as the guiding force.

“Five to eight hours away at our current pace,” Alex said. “We could reach there in three hours, but I’m not sure I want that.”

Shumi nodded. “Me neither.”

They talked together as this was the final time they were going to get to do so for a long time. They shared not only their hopes and dreams but any small thoughts they had-questions, curiosities, observations. Anything they could say or ask, they did.

And before they even knew it, they arrived at the shore of the sea of lava.

The two changed their direction slightly to make it seem as though they had been flying alongside the lava all this time, instead of coming from the center.

Many other beasts were out there as well at the shore area, and none paid any attention to them as they finally landed outside of the Blackland City.

“You haven’t really gotten the chance to meet Pearl, have you?” Alex asked. “He left far too quickly after all.”

“Sure,” Shumi said. “Then we can find my senior sister. I need you to meet her as well.”

“Sure,” Alex said. “Once we’re where Pearl is, we can call her over there.”

Shumi agreed.

Alex didn’t think it was necessary to make Pearl aware of his arrival, since he would either know it already or be busy with cultivation. However, before he arrived there, Pearl sent a warning first.

“Be careful, brother. There are four Celestials here staying with us.”

Alex frowned slightly and then sighed.

“What’s wrong?” Shumi asked.

“Celestials,” Alex said. “It appears not all of them have left this place as we had hoped. Some of them are still here. Well… I did tell one to find Pearl, so that’s on me.”

Alex knew one of the Celestials, but he didn’t know who the others would be. Upon arriving at the courtyard where Pearl and Bai

Jingshen had been staying, he got his answer.

The four strong senses covered the two of them entirely, and immediately the four arrived at the gate to welcome them.

The White Tiger patriarch stood tall and proud in the middle, a wide smile placed on his face. To his left was a tortoise, half of a Black Tortoise Celestial, and to his right was the pale-blue Dragon Celestial. Far to the left stood the Nightshade Stork with its pitch-black feathers and a soft orange beak.

Together, they greeted Alex and Shumi.

“Seniors, you didn’t leave?” Alex asked with raised eyebrows.

“The others did, but I decided to stay. Since you would be leaving soon anyway, a few years is nothing for me. Brother Laizhin here decided to stay with me as company as well.”

The Black Tortoise gave a slight nod.

“Forgive me if I’m overstepping my boundaries, but I decided to stay as well,” the Winterborn Dragon said with a hint of a smile.

Alex turned toward the Nightshade Stork, whose eyes were gravitating toward Shumi from time to time. He kept the feeling of

reverence within him and turned toward Alex.

“I am of this realm, so I hope my presence isn’t unwelcome,” the Stork

said.

Alex gave a quick nod. “You are welcome to do whatever you wish, seniors. I have no reason to demand anything of you. I was merely surprised to see you all here.”

The Celestials gave a few accepting nods.

“What happened to the senior?” the Winterborn Dragon asked. “Did he remain behind?”

It took Alex a moment to realize the Celestial was talking about Ray.

“Once we planned on leaving, he left as well. I think he sunk everything into the lava and then left. I don’t know where he went,”

Alex said.

If not for her veil, Shumi might’ve revealed the truth from her look at seeing how easily Alex had lied.

“I see,” the White Tiger patriarch said. “Well, that doesn’t matter, I suppose. By the way, I heard you fixed Pearl’s bloodline.”

Alex nodded. “I did, even before I came here.”

“Is that so? Well, the changes are only starting to show now, so it

must’ve taken him a decade to get adjusted to his evolution,” the

Celestial said.

Alex narrowed his eyes. “What changes?”

“Ah! You haven’t seen it yet,” he quickly said. “Come, come. Go and behold the fruits of your labor.”