I Secretly Cultivate Immortality in the Martial Arts World

Spirit ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Realm, Northern Plains.

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Nine Nether Ice Phoenix had been quite troubled recently.

Ever ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍since that day when heavenly fire descended and True Lord Scarlet Flame was annihilated by a mysterious great expert with a single palm—

It ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had originally thought it could continue cultivating in peace, quietly awaiting the day of ascension.

Who ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍would have thought that in the past few months, some strange marks had appeared on its body.

Those ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍marks were intangible and formless, invisible and untouchable, yet undeniably real.

It was as if something had branded it.

What troubled it even more was that from time to time, a bolt of lightning would descend from the sky, striking it with uncanny precision.

The power of the lightning was not particularly strong; with its Tribulation Crossing Realm cultivation, it would not be injured.

But it was annoying.

Who would want to be standing peacefully and suddenly get struck by lightning?

Moreover, the strikes were completely irregular—sometimes seven or eight times a day, sometimes none for three to five days.

Now it did not even dare to cultivate with full focus, fearing that the moment it closed its eyes, a bolt would strike and shake its mind.

Even worse, the strength it had recovered after awakening had begun to decline again.

Standing atop an icy peak, the Nine Nether Ice Phoenix let out a long sigh toward the sky.

It could not understand what sin it had committed to suffer this.

After much thought, it decided to ask.

Using the bloodline of the ancient Ice Phoenix clan as a guide, it performed a secret technique to contact the ancestor in the Immortal Realm who was the source of its bloodline.

Several days later, a vague connection descended.

The ancestor had sent a dream.

Within the dream, there was a vast expanse of ice and snow.

A massive ice-blue phoenix stood between heaven and earth, looking down upon it.

That aura was vast as the sea—it was indeed the ancestor of the Ice Phoenix clan in the Immortal Realm.

The Nine Nether Ice Phoenix prostrated itself on the ground and respectfully recounted its experiences.

After listening, the ancestor fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

“Have you awakened a divine ability called Iceheart Peering into Heaven?”

The Nine Nether Ice Phoenix froze, then quickly nodded. “Ancestor, your insight is correct. That is indeed the case.”

The ancestor sighed softly. “That explains it.”

“Iceheart Peering into Heaven is a great divine ability that peers into the future and deduces heavenly secrets. By frequently using this ability to observe future changes, you have already attracted the attention of the Heavenly Dao.”

“The intangible marks on your body are called Marks of Heaven-Peering. They are imprints left on you by the Heavenly Dao.”

“With these marks, you will be detested by the Heavenly Dao.”

“From now on, every tribulation lightning you face will be several times stronger than that of ordinary cultivators. If you survive, the next one will be even stronger.”

“Moreover, every time you use that divine ability, you will attract even more attention from the Heavenly Dao. The more you use it, the deeper the marks become, and the heavier the tribulation lightning.”

“This is a rule of the Heavenly Dao. It cannot be avoided or escaped.”

After hearing this, the Nine Nether Ice Phoenix was completely stunned.

It opened its beak, and after a long time, finally said, “Then… what should this disciple do?”

The ancestor shook its head. “There is no solution.”

“Unless you can find a way to conceal heavenly secrets so thoroughly that even the Heavenly Dao cannot perceive your existence. Otherwise, you can only endure it.”

“Or, you may try refraining from using any divine abilities and cultivate quietly. Perhaps that will lessen the Heavenly Dao’s attention somewhat.”

The Nine Nether Ice Phoenix fell silent for a long time, then slowly nodded.

“This disciple… understands.”

The dream dissipated.

The Nine Nether Ice Phoenix opened its eyes, standing atop the icy peak, staring at the gray sky in silence.

After a long while, it suddenly let out a piercing cry toward the heavens, filled with grief and indignation.

If it had known, it would never have awakened that wretched divine ability.

What was the point of peering into the heavens and observing the future?

Now it was targeted by the Heavenly Dao—how was it supposed to continue like this?

With its head drooping, it returned to its cave in dejection.

From now on, it could only stay low-key and avoid using divine abilities whenever possible.

......

Within the Supreme Creation Lesser Luo Grotto Heaven.

Gu Yan naturally knew nothing of the Nine Nether Ice Phoenix’s troubles.

Even if he did, he would only smile faintly.

Marks of Heaven-Peering?

He had once had them too.

Back then, he frequently used the Haotian Mirror to observe the future of the myriad worlds and had also attracted the attention of the Heavenly Dao, leaving similar marks on his body.

But ever since he obtained the red entry *Body Without Self and Form*, that trouble had disappeared completely.

Without self and without form—even the Great Dao and the Heavenly Dao could not perceive his existence.

Such marks naturally vanished without a trace.

It just went to show—entries were truly excellent things.

Returning to the matter at hand, after that battle with Ning Daoxuan in his dream, Gu Yan entered another round of secluded cultivation.

Human Immortal First Layer was still far from Heavenly Immortal.

Slowly, step by step.

......

Time passed quietly, and who knew how long had gone by.

On this day, within a deep cave somewhere on Longevity Peak, a massive figure slowly opened its eyes.

It was a dragon.

An unimaginably enormous dragon.

Its entire body was covered in deep blue scales, each as large as a millstone, emitting a faint blue glow in the darkness.

Its four dragon claws were thick and powerful, and its long tail produced sounds of wind and thunder with the slightest movement.

Most extraordinary were its eyes.

They were as deep as the sea, with faint whirlpools swirling within the pupils.

This dragon was none other than the Deep Sea Azure Dragon, A Lan.

It had slumbered for an unknown number of years and had finally awakened today.

A Lan stretched lazily, its massive body expanding within the cave.

It lowered its head to look at its claws, a hint of satisfaction flashing in its eyes.

Now, its body length reached three thousand zhang.

Its scales were incredibly tough—ordinary magic treasures could not harm them in the slightest.

The lightning contained within its dragon horns was powerful enough to split mountains and shatter peaks.

As for its strength...

A Lan sensed the power within its body and made a comparison—it was comparable to the Void Refinement Realm of human cultivators.

Not bad, not bad.

With a thought, its massive body rose into the air and flew out of the cave.

But moments later, it froze.

Everything before it was completely unfamiliar.

Clouds churned all around, and in the distance stood majestic palaces floating among the clouds.

Those palaces were resplendent, surrounded by immortal energy—clearly no ordinary structures.

Wait, where was its master, Longevity True Lord?

Where were the people of the Taiyi Dao Sect?

How had it ended up in the sky?

What was with all these palaces?

A Lan was full of confusion as it drifted through the clouds.

Subconsciously, it sensed its surroundings and suddenly noticed several familiar auras in a certain direction.

They were from the Taiyi Dao Sect!

A Lan’s spirit lifted. Its massive body twisted as it flew toward that direction.

......

At the edge of the cloud sea lay a range of continuous mountains.

Upon the peaks stood pavilions and buildings arranged in orderly fashion.

This was the residence of the Taiyi Dao Sect within the Little Luo Grotto Heaven.

As A Lan’s massive body appeared above the mountains, it immediately caused a wave of exclamations.

“Look! What is that?!”

“A dragon! It’s a true dragon!”

“My heavens, such a huge dragon!”

Some Taiyi Dao Sect disciples looked up, their eyes filled with shock.

They naturally recognized A Lan.

After all, back when they were in the Taiyi Dao Sect, A Lan had been the spiritual pet of Longevity True Lord, and many had seen it before.

So although they were shocked, they were not panicked.

But the members of the Heaven and Earth Great Love Unity Alliance were far less calm.

They had seen many rare beasts within the Little Luo Grotto Heaven, but a true dragon was something entirely new.

“This… this is a true dragon?”

“A legendary dragon?!”

“Heavens, there’s actually a dragon in this place?!”

As the crowd buzzed with discussion, A Lan glanced at them and ignored them.

Its massive body slowly descended onto a mountain peak.

The mountain trembled, and countless rocks tumbled down.

A Lan shrank its form, transforming into a blue dragon several zhang long, and flew toward the peak.

At the summit, in front of an elegant pavilion—

A young woman in green robes sat on a stone bench, holding a string of spiritual fruits and teasing a little red-haired girl beside her.

The girl looked about seven or eight years old, with fiery red hair like burning flames and bright, blinking eyes, reaching out to grab the fruit.

They were Hu Tao and Honglian.

A Lan landed and let out a soft dragon cry.

Hu Tao looked up and exclaimed in surprise, “A Lan? You’re awake?”

Honglian blinked, staring curiously at the blue dragon.

“Sister Hu Tao, what is this?”

Hu Tao patted her head and smiled. “This is A Lan, your Martial Uncle’s spiritual pet.”

“Martial Uncle? Which Martial Uncle?” Honglian tilted her head.

Hu Tao replied, “Martial Uncle Longevity Daoist—you’ve seen him many times.”

Honglian nodded vaguely, not entirely sure if she understood.

A Lan moved closer and spoke in a deep voice, “Little Taozi, I just woke up from a sleep. Why has everything changed?”

“Where is this place?”

Hu Tao smiled. “Don’t rush, I’ll explain slowly.”

“This is the Supreme Creation Lesser Luo Grotto Heaven—your master’s personal world.”

“The Taiyi Dao Sect has been entirely relocated here. The Sect Master and the others live on those peaks over there.”

A Lan listened in a daze.

His own world?

Relocated?

So that was it.

A Lan nodded, then asked, “Where is Master? I can’t sense his aura.”

Hu Tao replied, “He’s in seclusion at the Longevity Hall. It’s very far from here, so it’s normal that you can’t sense him.”

A Lan fell silent for a moment, then nodded its dragon head. “In that case, I want to fly around and see how big this world is.”

Having slept for so many years, it felt full of energy after waking. If it did not move around, it would feel stifled.

Hearing this, Hu Tao’s eyes lit up. “Alright! We’ll come with you!”

She looked at Honglian and said, “Little girl, do you want to ride a dragon with me?”

Honglian nodded vigorously, her eyes full of excitement. “Yes! Yes!”

Hu Tao picked her up and leapt onto A Lan’s back.

A Lan rose into the sky and flew into the distance.

Above the sea of clouds, A Lan flew steadily.

Hu Tao sat on its back, holding Honglian as she looked down below.

Mountains, rivers, plains, lakes—palaces, spiritual fields—all lay in view.

Occasionally, disciples could be seen cultivating or working in the fields.

Rare beasts moved through forests.

Everything was orderly.

Hu Tao suddenly asked, “A Lan, do you think this world is big?”

A Lan thought for a moment. “Big.”

It had flown for tens of millions of li, yet the scenery ahead still showed no end.

Hu Tao smiled. “The Sect Master and the Supreme Elders once tried to measure how big this world is.”

“Guess what happened?”

A Lan asked, “What happened?”

Hu Tao replied, “They gave up halfway.”

A Lan: “...?”

Hu Tao explained, “It’s too big. It can’t be measured at all.”

“The Sect Master said it’s better to spend that time cultivating and breaking through.”

“The Supreme Elders also said that since this world belongs to Martial Uncle, no matter how big it is, it’s normal—so why bother measuring it?”

A Lan fell silent for a moment, then asked slowly, “So how big is this world, exactly?”

Hu Tao shook her head. “No one knows.”

“Anyway, Martial Uncle once said—this Little Luo Grotto Heaven forms a world of its own, boundless and infinite.”

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