Luo Chen nodded with a smile, "No rush, it will still take a while. I also need to invite another friend to accompany us."
Lu Shanjun was slightly surprised—aside from Sang Jiugong, another person was needed?
It seed that Qingyang Zi was truly determined to take Purple Spirit Island.
But then she thought, having more people would be beneficial; if they encountered trouble, it would be safer.
After all, this was deep within the Demon Sea, where the Demon Clan resided.
"If that’s the case, I won’t disturb you any further." Lu Shanjun bowed and prepared to leave with Wen Xiu.
But Luo Chen spoke up, "Would you need to act as a diator?"
Lu Shanjun hesitated for a mont before ultimately agreeing.
The Zhang Family of Lotus Picking Island was not a threat—rely a Foundation Establishnt Family.
However, behind them stood the Nascent Soul Force Coral Sea Zhou Family.
As a Middle Stage Golden Core Cultivator, she couldn’t suppress them—even though she didn’t plan to use force.
But Luo Chen was different. He was an honored guest of the Zhou Family and the head of the Zhang Family. With him diating, everyone had to show so respect.
Ultimately, it depended on Wen Xiu’s decision.
"Ah Xiu, have you made up your mind?"
...
Lotus Picking Island.
Luo Chen’s gaze fell upon this Spirit Qi-rich island, and his eyebrows raised slightly.
He rembered clearly—this small island initially had only a Second Order Lower Grade Spirit Vein. But now, using the Spirit Vision Technique, it seed to have reached Second Order dium Grade and was faintly approaching Top Grade levels of Spirit Qi intensity.
Oddly enough, the additional Spirit Qi wasn’t entirely drawn from the Penghu Main Vein.
His gaze shifted to the increasingly sparse lotus leaves and flowers and the Jade Wave Coral scattered across the lakebed. Luo Chen’s thoughts stirred.
"I once heard Tian Xuan say the Zhang Family had flourished since Zhou Shanshan married into it. At the ti, I assud it was rely in terms of wealth and population."
"Now it seems their transformation extends to every aspect."
anwhile, Wen Xiu’s heart grew heavier.
The once vast, endless lotus leaves had now beco a desolate scene of broken stems and withering petals in the chill of autumn.
Truly, things change, and people change too.
For a mont, her growing sorrow inexplicably gave way to a sense of liberation.
Since people had changed and things had too, why should she continue to cling to the past?
Perhaps due to the Zhang Family being inford in advance about Wen Xiu’s return, coupled with Luo Chen and Lu Shanjun’s unmasked glint during their approach, the family had already gathered on the Jade Plaza at Lotus Picking Island’s center by the ti they arrived.
As Luo Chen descended, the Zhang Family cultivators, led by Zhang Jiadi and Zhou Shanshan, bowed together in reverence.
"Greetings, Elder Qingyang!"
Hundreds of cultivators gathered at once, their voices bursting forth like a roaring tidal wave.
Luo Chen, accustod to grand scenes, paid no mind.
He gestured casually, "Today is your family matter. This seat shall only act as a diator. Resolve it peacefully."
With that, he strode directly towards the Zhang Family’s main courtyard, appearing entirely at ease as if he considered himself part of the family.
Behind him.
Zhang Jiadi looked lovingly at Wen Xiu, who steadfastly avoided his gaze.
Zhou Shanshan pursed her lips, glaring at Wen Xiu as if soone were stealing her possessions.
Having gradually co to terms with her emotions, Wen Xiu now felt an unusual tranquility and followed her master, Lu Shanjun, into the courtyard.
Zhang Jiadi dismissed the family cultivators with a wave, taking only Zhou Shanshan along as they entered.
...
During the so-called Zhang Family matter, Luo Chen watched the proceedings as an onlooker with amusent.
The core of the issue was Wen Xiu’s request to divorce Zhang Jiadi and take her rightful share of their wealth.
Zhang Jiadi was unwilling.
And his reluctance wasn’t about the wealth but rather about his feelings.
He even resorted to lantations like "abandoning husband and child" and "how cruel-hearted," playing the role of a tragic figure.
The more Wen Xiu watched his performance, the more repulsed she felt—how could she have ever taken an interest in such a man?
Thus, her resolve to divorce grew stronger.
When Zhang Jiadi’s desperate pleas proved futile, he finally agreed to sign the divorce agreent under the witness of two Golden Core Ascendant Masters.
Zhou Shanshan was dissatisfied—Wen Xiu’s share of the property was considerable. While it wouldn’t heavily impact the Zhang Family’s current prosperity, it was still "her money!"
But with Elder Qingyang present, she dared not make a scene.
Though she often appeared collected and confident when facing other Golden Core cultivators—even Tianxuan Fairy—Elder Qingyang was different. He was greatly admired by her maternal Zhou Family’s ancestor, who had sent him an invitation during his 800th-year birthday feast.
Once the divorce agreent was signed and Wen Xiu’s portion of Spirit Stones was delivered to her.
From that mont forward, she was entirely unrelated to the Zhang Family of Lotus Picking Island!
By this ti, the night had grown deep, and dew was heavy.
Lu Shanjun declined Zhang Jiadi’s invitation to stay and departed for ho with Wen Xiu.
However, as they stepped out of the courtyard, they halted.
Under the moonlight stood a graceful young girl, teary-eyed.
"Mother, are you abandoning now?"
...
"Is this how your Dao cultivators practice cultivation?"
"Not exactly; orthodox Dao cultivators don’t have so many concerns. This humble one’s lineage is sowhat unique."
"Feels a bit overly fixated on formality, doesn’t it?"
"Wen Xiu hasn’t reached the necessary realm yet, so she cannot disregard formalities. Whether deliberate or natural, at least this closes the path for her to turn back."
"Haha, you truly are a thorough master."
"You flatter ."
Under the moonlight, on a cloud, a man and woman stood side by side, casually chatting.
Their gazes fell upon the mother and daughter embracing outside Lotus Picking Island.
Lu Shanjun suddenly said, "Ultimately, all of us walk different paths to the sa goal. Those who aspire to the Great Dao are destined for solitude! Qingyang Zi, in a few hundred or thousand years, how many will still remain by your side?"
Luo Chen’s smile gradually faded.
Qi Refinent cultivators had lifespans of around a hundred years, with the most long-lived reaching 125.
Foundation Establishnt True Cultivators experienced doubly longer lifespans, but even those skilled in life-prolongation techniques couldn’t surpass the 300-year limit.
For Golden Core cultivators like them, sitting at 400–500 years was typical.
To ordinary people, these lifespans seed extraordinarily long.
But for those seeking the Great Dao, ti always felt insufficient.
In the climb toward ultimate heights, companions would inevitably fall behind one by one.
Even if soone kept pace temporarily, over ti, they’d eventually lag, leaving one solitary.
If one remained trapped in mories of the past, clinging to old ties, it would hinder cultivation, and they too would eventually join the ranks of the laggards.
Only by accepting loneliness could one push forward resolutely!
Lu Shanjun was rely helping her disciple Wen Xiu prepare for this reality ahead of ti.
What about himself?
Luo Chen pressed his lips together, his gaze clouded with doubt.
At so point, Lu Shanjun and Wen Xiu had already departed.
Zhang Jingqing, now a grown young woman, stood on the edge of Lotus Picking Island staring into the distance. When the moon reached its zenith, she dove into the lake like a fish swimming into the depths.
...
"Tian Xuan, do you know your exact age?"
In the Pill and Tool Refining Hall, as Luo Chen waited for the spirit pill’s dicinal properties to settle, he posed this question.
Using the Snow Blow Fan to regulate the furnace’s heat, Tian Xuan looked a bit surprised.
She then answered.
"I should be over three hundred years old."
Luo Chen blinked, "So young?"
Tian Xuan smiled faintly, "Not young at all. Although they say demon beasts are innately long-lived, it depends on the species. Among the demon clan, our Fighting Bird species is considered short-lived. As far as I know, Third Order Fighting Birds live no more than 800 to 1,000 years."
"That is still a long ti, comparable to Human Clan Nascent Soul True Masters." Luo Chen shook his head and then asked about her family and friends.
To this, Tian Xuan seed sowhat at a loss.
Fighting Birds are too aggressive by nature, which makes it hard for them to band together or live in groups. Anyone reaching the Second Order would go off on their own to live solitary lives.
For her, family and friends carried little significance.
Finally.
Tian Xuan sighed, "If not for encountering my master, I’d either have died at the claws of other demon beasts or muddled my way to the Fourth Order."
Luo Chen couldn’t help asking, "Have you ever considered the aning of living?"
"The aning of living?"
Tian Xuan paused and then asked in return, "Isn’t the purpose of living simply to live?"
Luo Chen was taken aback.
At that mont, a strange noise ca from the Primordial Chaos Tripod.
Luo Chen channeled his Qi Power, and imdiately a starry glint flowed out like a river of stars.
The modified Fourth Order Detoxification Pill was finally complete!
Holding the elixir, Luo Chen pondered Tian Xuan’s words, and gradually, the corners of his mouth curved upward.
The purpose of living is rely to live.
In other words, isn’t cultivation’s ultimate goal longevity?
Why was he disturbing himself with idle thoughts?
From the very beginning, his aspiration had been just that!
As for the so-called worldly ties or loneliness?
If they didn’t interfere with his cultivation, why dwell on them?
Everything could be left to the passage of ti!
For now, it was better to steadfastly take one step at a ti!
Clutching the Detoxification Pill, Luo Chen asked:
"Where is Duan Li now?"
Tian Xuan stood and answered, "Most likely completing his task and returning to the Demon Hunter Bureau to report."
Hunter Bureau?
Luo Chen nodded, flicked his sleeve, and walked out.
"He owes a favor; let him repay it this ti!"
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