Chen Yi walked through the desolate wilderness, gazing at the arrow in his hand, retracing his steps step by step.
Zhou Yitang watched as he slowly approached, noticing that he dismantled the silver hairpin from the arrow and tucked it into his chest.
"How do you feel?" Zhou Yitang asked.
Her tone was calm—not that of a wife asking her husband, but rather a master questioning her disciple.
Chen Yi’s heart was a tumultuous mix of emotions, his expression complex and unreadable. He pressed the silver hairpin against his chest and said softly:
"It doesn’t feel very pleasant. If anything, I feel a stronger urge to go to the Southern Border to see her."
After saying this, Chen Yi lowered his head to glance at himself.
After a mont, he smiled bitterly and said:
"But with my current abilities, even with Zhu E’s assistance, venturing into the Southern Border recklessly would be nothing short of overestimating myself.
Not to ntion whether the demonic sect would target soone like , who dares dream of becoming the Bright Venerable. Even setting that aside, entering the Southern Border would an stepping into the domain of the Prince of Annan. By then, even if Qin Qingluo doesn’t kill , soone else certainly will."
"The Southern Border is teeming with spirits and gods. Compared to martial arts, it relies more heavily on Taoist skills," Zhou Yitang said.
Chen Yi could not fail to grasp the implications of her statent. He clasped his hands together and replied:
"Of course, I need to learn."
Zhou Yitang turned and began walking.
Chen Yi hurried to follow closely behind.
The two wove through the woods, parting countless branches along the way. A thin layer of snow blanketed the treetops. Zhou Yitang walked ahead of him, her body untouched by any dust.
A faint sound of flowing water erged. When she finally stopped, Chen Yi realized they had arrived by a stream. The stream flowed into a pool. Strange rocks jutted from the banks, and the water was crystal clear. In the pool, small fish swam—despite the saying that water too clean holds no fish, these pristine waters seed an exception.
Trees intertwined in every direction, with wildflowers sprouting at their roots, swaying gently in the breeze. The scene was serene and utterly tranquil.
Zhou Yitang had brought him here, likely to find an undisturbed environnt.
But as for what she intended to do, Chen Yi still had no clue.
In this tranquil setting, she turned to him and spoke suddenly:
"You are a Heavenly Vision."
Chen Yi was taken aback, unsure why she had brought this up. He asked:
"And so?"
The first ti Chen Yi had learned of his identity as a Heavenly Vision was outside the dicine Temple, when Master Zhihui had personally inford him. Back then, Chen Yi neither affird nor denied it, nor was he easily swayed into conversion because of it.
To him, regardless of the past, he had fully imrsed himself in this world now. Obsessing over unnecessary trivialities would an nothing to his present self.
At this mont, Zhou Yitang’s tone was one of certainty—not of doubt or denial. Which ant, in her eyes, he undeniably was a Heavenly Vision.
The one-ard woman continued:
"Can you describe the abilities of a Heavenly Vision?"
Chen Yi scratched his head and replied:
"A silvery interface, a ga called ’Heavenly Realm,’ strategies... Does that count? And also the ability to see others’ emotions, to discern their thoughts."
Chen Yi explained in broad strokes, but Zhou Yitang shook her head.
"What you an is, these are rely manifestations of the Heavenly Vision, not its true ability?"
Seeing her reaction, Chen Yi, who had spent significant ti with Zhou Yitang, imdiately understood her mood.
"That’s correct," Zhou Yitang said.
Receiving her affirmation, Chen Yi felt intrigued but not overly surprised.
The intrigue ca from the realization that his Heavenly Vision abilities were yet to be fully unlocked.
The lack of surprise stemd from the well-known fact that even among those blessed with the six divine powers of Dao and Buddhism, many were unaware of their own abilities. For instance, take Yin Tingxue—though she had heard countless things throughout her life, she had never realized she was a Heavenly Ear Technique practitioner.
It was akin to a person possessing a natural talent for painting but being unaware of their gift, or of how advanced their talent might be.
Much like a fine horse who knows only that it runs fast, but not that it is a prize steed.
And right now, the one-ard woman standing before him was undoubtedly the "talent scout" ant to guide him onto the path of cultivation.
Though this master had always harbored so ambiguous calculations.
Chen Yi lifted his head and smiled at her:
"I have to admit, I really am considering cultivation now."
By this point, all hints had been dropped, all suspense played out. If he claid he had no interest in cultivation now, that would be a lie.
Chen Yi did not aspire for immortality—at least, he did not wish to beco like Yin Weiyin, an oblivious stone existing forever. But if it were possible to gain eternal youth and life, who wouldn’t desire it?
Moreover, the guidance of celestial and Buddhist teachings appeared inexhaustible. If not for Zhou Yitang striking from the shadows today to kill that Taoist, he might not have suffered physical harm but certainly would have been disgusted by the experience.
To avoid cultivating at this point would not an an inability to control his destiny—but it would undoubtedly an being constrained at every turn. And that, Chen Yi disliked. He would much rather roam the vast world freely—or perhaps spend his life warming a bed shared with several wives.
"Confront your Heavenly Vision," she said matter-of-factly, "I’ll teach you. You’ll learn."
Chen Yi asked in reply:
"So you an starting with internal observation of myself, starting with the Heavenly Vision?"
Zhou Yitang nodded faintly.
Chen Yi then sat cross-legged by the pool.
Reciting the incantation for inner observation, he entered a state of self-awareness.
Over ti, Chen Yi had not been completely untrained in Taoist skills. Among them, the thod of breaking attachnts was the one he had employed most. But the Taoist skills he had learned were few and scattered, lacking any systematic instruction.
Strictly speaking, Chen Yi’s situation was no different from that of a lone, itinerant cultivator practicing in the wilderness without formal training.
However, as a Heavenly Vision, his progress in cultivation was exceptionally swift.
Zhou Yitang stepped behind him and placed her only remaining hand on the top of his head.
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