Heaven Dou Palace, Star Observatory.
Located at the palace's pinnacle, far from the noise below, the night wind billowed their clothing. The starry sky appeared low enough to touch, and below, the immense, light-studded outline of the imperial capital spread endlessly.
Qian Renxue had changed into casual wear, her long golden hair lashed back, a few loose strands blowing in the wind. She watched Chen Yi, standing some distance away by the railings, her expression complicated.
"So… you're leaving."
Chen Yi turned with his usual gentle smile and nodded. "Should have left sooner. If not for the chaos at Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and having to make sure nothing went wrong at Xue Ye Emperor's funeral, I'd have left half a month ago."
Chen Yi had come to Heaven Dou City to resolve both an old grudge with Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and Xue Ye's aftermath. Now that both matters were settled, it was time for him to go.
Qian Renxue took a deep breath of the cool night air, nodded, and gazed off towards Spirit City in the distance. "My tasks here are also almost complete. Just a few last things left, and once I see to the smooth transition of 'Xue Qinghe's' identity, I have to return to Spirit Hall."
"I understand," Chen Yi murmured. Qian Renxue's decade-long, clandestine 'world conquest plan' within the Empire was nearly finished now with Xue Ye dead and his successor installed. Remaining as 'Xue Qinghe' in the Empire would only be a risk and slow her cultivation and Spirit Hall's internal strategies.
There were far more urgent and personal issues for her to handle.
As for the role of 'Xue Qinghe,' Spirit Hall had trained numerous outstanding talents for years; it wasn't hard to find a suitable successor to maintain its public operations after Qian Renxue's departure. Thanks to her careful arrangements recently, real power and core decision-making had already quietly shifted to Spirit Hall's inner management.
Chen Yi knew this well and said calmly, "This place never meant much to you. When you return, a much wider world will await you."
"Then," Qian Renxue stepped forward to stand beside him, shoulder to shoulder, gazing at the distant, countless city lights, "next time, let's have another match."
Her tone was steady, but tiny sparks of anticipation shimmered in her eyes. Chen Yi understood: once Qian Renxue returned to Spirit Hall for full training under Qian Daoliu and guidance on the Angel Trials, her strength would surge exponentially. By then, her weaknesses would be overcome, and her strengths would shine even brighter.
He looked at her in surprise and nodded. "Alright. We'll fight again."
A short silence fell between them, with only the wind howling through the night.
Suddenly, Qian Renxue seemed to recall something and turned to Chen Yi. "By the way, Yu Xiaogang is now physically disabled. Will this… affect the Body Sect disciples studying at Shrek Academy?"
Recently, rumors had spread through Heaven Dou City like wildfire that Yu Xiaogang was harshly punished by Xue Qinghe for insolence in the palace. Soon after, Qian Renxue had issued an order stripping Shrek Academy of its 'royal' designation, reverting it back to an ordinary soul master academy.
Chen Yi hadn't been involved in these details, but thinking of Yu Xiaogang and his disciples' personalities, it wasn't impossible they might bear grudges.
After a moment's thought, he shook his head. "No need to worry. Flender's a shrewd man. He'll protect his own, and while he cares for Yu Xiaogang, he knows perfectly well what Jing Ling means to the Body Sect. He'd never let him be mistreated in the academy—especially considering how even the sect's laziest disciples aren't weak."
For the Body Sect, Heaven Dou City was no ordinary capital—it was closer to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, which the Sect always cherished over even their stronghold at Vast Sea City.
And given Jing Ling's talent, the Body Sect could never allow him to wander unsupervised. From what Chen Yi knew, some of the sect's most powerful elders were already eager to watch over him.
Thus, if Flender was wise, he'd know how to handle the fallout from Yu Xiaogang's incident and never let it harm Jing Ling.
Qian Renxue understood his meaning and nodded lightly.
Perhaps she had overthought it. The Body Sect's internal discipline and protection were far stricter than they seemed on the surface. In hindsight, it made sense. The inner sect had only a handful of members, and losing even a single exceptional talent would break their hearts.
….
Vast Sea City—the largest, busiest coastal port of Heaven Dou Empire, always bustling and lively.
The immense docks teemed with all kinds of ships, from massive ocean freighters to nimble fishing boats. The air was thick with the scent of sea and goods, filled with all manner of languages.
Soon, guided by a pilot, a nondescript vessel slowly docked. Its paint was mottled, its sails visibly aged, and amidst the sparkling merchant ships nearby, it was utterly unremarkable. As the gangway fell, crew and dockworkers busied themselves unloading, most of the cargo plain dried seafood and cheap textiles.
Amidst the hustle, a single figure emerged quietly from the cabins to stand upon the wooden boards. Not tall, seemingly frail, completely cloaked with a shadowy hood concealing her face. Hidden hints within her movements showed she was a woman.
By the bustling quay, she paused as if confirming something.
"So this is the place…?"
A faint whisper drifted from beneath her hood, gentle enough to soothe even the busiest hearts. Most striking of all—when the sea breeze lifted the edge of her hood, a pair of deep, ocean-blue eyes glimmered faintly in the shadow. Occasionally, gusts would flare her cloak to reveal a flash of blue hair, shining like the deep sea.
Without stopping, she stepped boldly off toward Heaven Dou City, her figure soon melting into the shadows at the end of the dock, and in the next moment, vanished completely.
A few porters nearby, busy hefting sacks, thought for a moment they'd glimpsed a shadow flicker past, but upon looking again, saw nothing. Supposing it was just hallucination from overwork, they shrugged and wiped their eyes before busying themselves with their heavy labor.