A Stone

Rumble!

A summer thunderclap shattered the Academy's afternoon calm.

Among the bamboo groves, beneath a wooden hut, Li Dalu was entertaining Dongfang Nishang, who had come from the Kunlun Mountains.

Dongfang Nishang was still astonished by the Li Dalu before her. He was like a fog—no, more like an ordinary mortal, someone she couldn't see through. She was just about to speak...

When a sudden clap of thunder disrupted her thoughts.

Her brows furrowed. "Why?"

Li Dalu lowered his head and thought for a moment, but didn't answer right away.

Instead, he took out some copper coins and cast a divination. He stared at the resulting hexagram on the table, stunned, then looked up at the sky. The heavens were high and the clouds were light.

He couldn't help but smile faintly. "My junior brother is back!"

"Huh?"

Dongfang Nishang slapped the table. "Is he in the imperial capital? I'm going down the mountain to find him right now. That guy disappeared for years this time!"

"Not so fast, senior. Don't be hasty."

Li Dalu continued, "His Divine Soul just returned from beyond the heavens to the Southern Frontier... At the earliest, he won't be back until next year."

"That guy really went beyond the heavens?"

Dongfang Nishang thought for a moment, then couldn't help laughing. "That's fine, then. Better than hearing nothing at all."

After taking a sip of spiritual tea, Dongfang Nishang sighed again.

She smiled. "Your senior brother is pretty impressive. He's even surpassed Wang Xian's master!"

Li Dalu was taken aback by her words, feeling unworthy of the praise.

He could only smile wryly. "I'm merely standing on the shoulders of the Master. I heard the Dao one day before you, senior. It's nothing..."

Dongfang Nishang laughed. "That's still pretty good. Much better than those bastards