Vast was the little universe; deep and tranquil was the bamboo grove.
A small boat burst out of the void, and a loud cry came from aboard it: "Teacher, I'm back!"
Waves surged through the sea of bamboo. A breeze rose and caught the Wind-Fire Reed Boat, then flowed straight inside it and circled around Chen Luo's body, as if checking whether he was injured. Only then did a gentle voice come from within the bamboo sea: "As long as you're back..."
After putting away the Wind-Fire Reed Boat, Chen Luo descended directly into his teacher's little courtyard. His teacher was sitting in a wheelchair, smiling as he waited for him.
"Hmm? Teacher, where's Third Senior Brother?" Seeing no one else around his teacher, Chen Luo asked in confusion.
"Hmph, that boy. Even though he became an Ancestral Demon, his essence was depleted far too badly. I had him enter seclusion to recuperate." Bamboo Sage paused, then looked Chen Luo over. "What did you do beyond the heavens? Why do you also look as if your vital essence and blood have been drained dry?"
Chen Luo: (;＿)
Teacher, this has nothing to do with me. If anyone's to blame, blame that fellow called Jade Ginseng Heaven!
All my essence and blood went into breaking the formation!
Nothing else happened.
"Is that so? Come, tell your teacher what you gained beyond the heavens..." Bamboo Sage waved a hand, and a small wooden stool appeared before him. Chen Luo hurried over, sat down, and began telling Bamboo Sage about his journey to Mysterious Embryo Nurturing Heaven.
Aside from his speculation about the Investiture of the Gods, Chen Luo reported everything else to Bamboo Sage in full.
As he listened to Chen Luo's account, Bamboo Sage nodded repeatedly. In particular, when he