Spring gave way to winter, and time flew by. Nearly another year had passed since Song Qingming entered seclusion.
As winter arrived, white snowflakes slowly began drifting down from the skies above Luoxia Abyss, vanishing swiftly the moment they fell into the sea.
Some of the snow settled upon the desolate islands near the Sea Abyss, dyeing the once-blue stones and green grass into a field of white.
Several white seabirds stood atop a massive boulder at the island's edge. Shielded by the heavy snow, they had nearly blended into the surrounding flakes.
Their gazes watched the sea below with utmost caution, waiting for prey that might emerge from the waters at any moment.
At this moment, on the seabed beneath the Sea Abyss, a streak of Golden Spiritual Light suddenly shot into the sky. It flew out from the magma beneath the "undersea volcano" and halted above its crater.
As the spiritual light faded, a Green-robed Figure suddenly appeared in midair. Looking at the boiling seawater all around him, a faint smile slowly appeared on his face.
A moment later, Song Qingming withdrew his gaze and suddenly spoke toward the space behind him.
"Senior! Once we go up, there will be others accompanying us. Please bear with it for now. When we reach the Floating Cloud Mountain Range, I'll find you a suitable place to cultivate."
The moment Song Qingming finished speaking, a voice immediately entered his ears from behind him.
"Mm! It matters not.
"You need not worry too much either. Their cultivation is only at the Golden Core Realm. No matter how strong their divine sense may be, they will not notice anything unusual.
"Only if you encounter a Nascent Soul Late Stage Cultivator in the future might they discover a trace of something amiss. Rest assured."