Above the cloud layer.

Beneath her feet lay smooth, blue stones, and the sound of flowing water whispered in her ears. Shi Qingjun, clad in a red robe, walked to the edge of the spring and gently untied the sash at her waist.

This was her bathing and resting place; so far, only two people had ever come here.

One was Li Zhibai, and the other... was Zhu Tongjun who had almost caused trouble just now.

Perhaps it's due to the menstrual blood accelerating cultivation, or perhaps because she's leading the way, only willing to support women, in today's world... those nearing the summit are all women.

Shi Qingjun removed her clothes, draped herself in a bathrobe, and stepped into the warm spiritual spring, gazing up at the clear high heavens.

Sometimes she wondered if perhaps Heaven's favor was truly upon women, making their path easier than men's?

Following Xu Chang'an's advice to experience life, she recently found time to read some novels, many of which depicted a world where power holders were men, but high-ranking women were prevalent in unconventional books.

According to the logic of the books, does Heaven itself favor women, allowing them an easier path in cultivation, more readily reaching its presence?

Selection of concubine?

Shi Qingjun looked down at the spring water, gazing at the expressionless woman within.

Remarkably, she too began having such strange thoughts.

Indeed, because of Xu Chang'an, she had changed considerably recently.

Evidently, ever since her girlhood, her emotions hadn't fluctuated much.

After the Qiankun Realm, confusion over the future "path" scattered everything, and an unnameable force seemed to inexorably erode her Divine Soul, causing her emotions to gradually dissipate.

The upside was, with most emotions lost, she became more rational.

Even in the Qiankun Realm, what then... if she were to advance further? Would she lose all emotions, and even lose the semblance of being "human"?

Could she still be considered a human then?

Moreover, not only emotions being worn away, at her realm, she could clearly sense that further cultivation would lead to unnamable terror, fear, as if all paths to immortality were dead.

The three thousand celestial paths were severed.

Where do Exiled Immortals come from?

She once firmly believed there were no Immortals since ancient times.

Thus, for humans, the Qiankun Realm was the end; the path beyond was lifelessly sealed.

She had spoken of this to that girl Tong Jun, back when she first entered the Qiankun Realm while retaining a shred of emotion—

At that time, Zhu Tongjun too seemed cold and emotionless, resembling her greatly; indeed, Shi Qingjun regarded Zhu Tongjun as a successor.

However... after learning this, Zhu Tongjun gradually changed into worldly ways Shi Qingjun could no longer understand.

Hmm, Li Zhibai probably isn't clear either, for upon hearing her words, Tong Jun feared losing emotions as she did, thus nearly venting by plunging into the brothel, a place of emotional chaos.

"..."

Shi Qingjun tilted her head.

Actually, she herself had changed as well, yet such transformation occurred much later compared to Tong Jun.

Nowadays, her cultivation level had decreased by two parts, but her emotions were gradually returning, as she'd grown fond of flower arranging and reading under Xu Chang'an's recommendation.

This near-immortal grade spring water previously purposed for cultivation had now entirely become a bathing place.

She couldn't remember how many days since she last absorbed the spring's Dao Rhyme, simply soaking in it... and furthermore, being by herself most of the time, she wished to have a best friend.

She attempted reaching out to Li Zhibai for conversation, but that child was overly reverential, unable to befriend her.

Thus she aimed her attention at a certain "lawless" Miss Yun.

So.

Xu Chang'an's appearance altered everything for her, revealing her assumptions might very well be wrong, suggesting that it wasn't the lack of paths above but her errant, urgent approach.

Xu Chang'an brought her emotions, proving the cost of advancement wasn't losing emotion.

Moreover, his secret demonstrated that immortals might indeed exist in this world.

For these very reasons alone, his standing in Shi Qingjun's heart surpassed any presence, making simple analogies like whetstone or mirror futile; for her, Xu Chang'an resembled a "landmark."

Like a lighthouse dispelling fog in the darkness.

However... this lighthouse witnessed all her vulnerability, and indirectly caused her to lose one-fifth of her cultivation.

Hmm, even so, Shi Qingjun hadn't the notion to test Xu Chang'an.

For unlike others, she personally saw the relationship between him and the Thunder Tribulation, making testing unnecessary.

"..."

Shi Qingjun gently stirred the spring water, feeling the ripples gently spread over her body.

There was another important matter.

Without much probing, she lost two parts of her cultivation... who knows what would happen if she had tried probing?

Her cultivation remains useful, it cannot be squandered heedlessly.

Qing Province remains stable partly because of her presence, and partly because that Demon Sect Qiankun Realm was terrified by the Celestial Tribulation, capable of sealing all cultivation, and hasn't realized her cultivation is not advancing but regressing.

And under this fragile peace, peak combat power beneath the Qiankun Realm, such as Li Zhibai, Zhu Tongjun, and the various peak masters of the Chaoyun Sect… are very important.

Therefore, upon witnessing Zhu Tongjun daring to test Xu Chang'an with full force, she immediately directed her attention there, fearing Zhu Tongjun might suffer a Heart Tribulation like herself.

Fortunately, maybe due to insufficient cultivation, Tong Jun didn't seem to suffer any consequences.

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