Dongbo Xueying sighed silently in his heart, feeling a pang of sympathy for the two senior apprentices at the World Deity level. In the Material World, not even invading deities could forcibly enter—how much more impossible it would be for mere World Deities.
“We should actually be grateful to our Master,” said the thick-robed youth. “Back then, during that battle, even our Master perished. How perilous was that situation? To prevent his treasures from falling into enemy hands, or perhaps unwilling to let us fall into enemy hands, he hurled Hongshi Mountain into the Material World, allowing us to survive by sheer luck.”
“Hmm,” nodded the youth in the crimson cloak. “Otherwise, we would have been annihilated long ago.”
Even mighty beings perished; as disciples of such great beings, falling into enemy hands would likely mean death.
The Material World…
Though it repels divine beings and even stronger existences, Hongshi Mountain is a cave-heaven treasure, capable of shielding itself from the Material World’s detection. The Material World merely perceives it as an object; as long as one breaks through the layered membranes of the Material World, one won’t face rejection from the entire world’s laws. Of course, breaking through those layered membranes is no easy feat.
“My name is Ge Bai,” the thick-robed youth turned to Dongbo Xueying. “Among the inner disciples under our Master, I rank second.”
“I am He Feiyun, ranking seventh among the inner disciples,” said the youth in the crimson cloak.
Xi Wei, standing beside, looked at Dongbo Xueying, “Little Dongbo, you rank thirty-seventh.”
Dongbo Xueying quickly bowed, “Greetings, Senior Brothers Ge Bai and Feiyun.”
“Little junior brother,” sighed Ge Bai, the thick-robed youth. “Though Master took many disciples, the Divine Realm is ultimately perilous. Over the long ages, many have already perished. Some lived too long, their cultivation of the heart insufficient, leading to self-doubt, their divine hearts eventually crumbling, resulting in death and soul dissolution. Including you, only twelve inner disciples remain alive.”
Dongbo Xueying was well aware of the brutality of the Divine Realm—where even a supreme existence like Master Hongchen had fallen, let alone mere World Gods.
If it weren’t so formidable, why would the Realm God go to such lengths for a mere Realm God-level secret art?
“Senior Brother Ge Bai, you said living too long leads to self-doubt and the collapse of one’s divine heart?” Dongbo Xueying asked in surprise. Could living too long actually lead to death?
“Have you lived for a hundred million years?” Ge Bai, the thick-robed youth, looked at Dongbo Xueying. “How about a billion, ten billion years?”
Dongbo Xueying was momentarily stunned.
“Without profound inner refinement, even an eternal existence may prove unbearable. The longer one lives, the more some grow silent while others descend into madness, unable to retain their true essence. It is common for divine hearts to shatter under self-doubt, and natural to feel weary unto self-annihilation,” the youth clad in heavy robes elucidated. “Certain Realm Deities even choose to temporarily seal their memories, forsake all divine might, and undergo rebirth—starting afresh. Though they may awaken in time, this new existence could nourish their ancient souls, perhaps extending their longevity slightly. Yet to reincarnate with sealed memories and no power is to walk the razor’s edge; one might easily perish in frailty, meeting true oblivion.”
Dongbo Xueying inwardly marveled, realizing that living long also brought many trials—self-collapse, madness, reincarnation risks?
But a billion, ten billion years… truly an immense span, unimaginable how one might change after such time. The Xia Clan’s world records only spanned a few million years.
“Little junior brother,” the crimson-cloaked youth beside added, “being an inner disciple brings many benefits.”
Dongbo Xueying smiled.
He had strived to become an inner disciple precisely for these benefits, to gain an advantage in the Xia Clan’s war. Of course, his greatly enhanced power already increased his side’s chances.
“Do you know one key point?” The crimson-cloaked youth smiled slightly. “Inner disciples may bring one family member into Hongshi Mountain.”
“Bring one family member?” Dongbo Xueying couldn’t help but feel delighted, glancing at Hongshi beside him.
The artifact spirit Hongshi nodded, “Indeed, guardian disciples are common and not permitted to bring anyone. Inner disciples, highly favored by the Master, are allowed to bring one family member and may even cultivate on Hongchen Island. However, they cannot access secret arts such as界神-level techniques unless they personally sacrifice and transmit the chosen technique to their kin. As for direct disciples… hahaha, direct disciples may bring as many as they desire! Though on Hongchen Island, only three may cultivate at the same time, to avoid overcrowding, as the Master often resided there.”
Dongbo Xueying nodded.
Direct disciples indeed differed, allowed to bring many into lower realms, while on Hongchen Island, three at a time could rotate.
“Senior Hongshi, I wish to bring my wife in,” Dongbo Xueying quickly said.
“A small matter. Let her enter the void region outside Hongshi Mountain, within my influence,” artifact spirit Hongshi replied. “I can directly teleport her in.”
“Good,” Dongbo Xueying beamed.
“Now, let me tell you about the benefits of being an inner disciple…” artifact spirit Hongshi continued.
As Dongbo Xueying listened, his heart already burned with excitement; it had been so long since he last saw his wife.
Though seemingly only fifteen years had passed,
counting accelerated time, it had been over two hundred years! Truly too long.
…
Xihuo World.
Now, the Xia Clan’s Transcendents resided in Xia Capital, which had never been busier. Once filled with numerous servants, now few remained; Transcendents, titled knights and mages lived here with their families, and many other talents. Those below Transcendent… hardly qualified for servants, maybe one or two. Only Transcendents could have ten or eight servants.
Xia Capital’s population reached fifty million.
Mostly, however, they resided within contained spaces like the Chiyun Mountain World, fully developed for habitation.
Besides Xia Capital, countless others filled other regions of Xihuo World.
“Hmm?” In a courtyard of the Western Fire Palace, Yu Jingqiu, clad in a pale blue robe, was immersed in her spell studies. Her presence grew ever more otherworldly. Having received numerous precious spirit fruits and elixirs from Dongbo Xueying, coupled with her innate prodigious talent, she had successfully ascended to the Demigod Realm! Yuan Qing, too, had been gifted with spirit fruits and treasures by the Xia Clan, achieving the same divine breakthrough.
In talent, Yu Jingqiu might not match Dongbo Xueying, but she rivaled Yuan Qing and Chi Qiubai. As a mage, she started slower but accelerated later. Masters like He Shan and Orland, the great elder of the Beast Clan, were mages, illustrating mages’ increasing strength in later stages.
“Great, great, I understand,” Yu Jingqiu exclaimed excitedly. “I’ll come right away.”
Swish.
A surge of mighty magic erupted from her, forming another Yu Jingqiu rapidly beside her.
Leaving a magic projection behind, Yu Jingqiu’s true form turned into a streak of light and departed.
…
Tearing a spatial rift, she directly arrived ten thousand miles beneath the earth.
Vines faintly surrounded the area—Bloodvine Flowers! Now, they grew near Hongshi Mountain.
After Yu Jingqiu appeared, she flew directly toward the dark void around Hongshi Mountain.
The dark void seemed small.
As Yu Jingqiu flew closer, her body rapidly shrank! Conversely, the dark void seemed vast.
“Buzz!”
A force emanated from Hongshi Mountain, enveloping Yu Jingqiu.
Then, Yu Jingqiu vanished into thin air.
…
On Hongchen Island.
Beside a low tree, red leaves falling, Dongbo Xueying stood seemingly calm, though his eyes betrayed slight anxiety.
Buzz.
Space ahead slightly twisted, revealing a figure.
A stunning woman in a light-blue robe—Yu Jingqiu, hailed as the Xia Clan’s most beautiful, now exuding even more ethereal aura after reaching Demigod.
“Xueying,” tears glistened in Yu Jingqiu’s eyes as she rushed forward.
“Jingqiu,” Dongbo Xueying opened his arms, embracing his wife tightly.
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