The flowers smelled sweet, and a breeze stirred. Heng'er gradually stopped crying, an embarrassed blush rising to her cheeks. Aunt Qin stood and came over, her eyes brimming with excitement.
"Young master, you've finally come back—" She studied Huang Tian closely, smiling from ear to ear. "Ninety years, and you still look just the same. You haven't changed a bit."
"For cultivators, an ageless face is nothing unusual. Even eternal life is commonplace," Huang Tian said with a smile.
Aunt Qin was curious. "Did you become an immortal after ascending?"
Heng'er gave Aunt Qin's sleeve a gentle tug, as though asking her not to press further.
Huang Tian noticed and smiled. "I didn't ascend. I went to another world to cultivate. You'll learn about it soon enough."
Another world?
Aunt Qin and Heng'er looked startled. Then Aunt Qin seemed to remember something and slapped her forehead. "Please sit and rest, young master. I'll have someone prepare food and tea."
"No need. Let's eat and drink in the heavens. I'll invite some old friends as well, and we can feast together for old times' sake."
Huang Tian swept his sleeve. In the next instant, Heng'er and Aunt Qin found themselves standing on a layer of pale cloud. The white clouds drifted gently, yet held together beneath their feet, firm as solid ground.
Dozens of cloud tables stood in rows, laden with immortal wine and fine food. The mere aroma lifted their spirits.
With a thought from Huang Tian, dozens of figures were drawn to him.
Bai Yuanfu, Wan Shenyang, Xia Hong, Nie Kun, Tie Qi, Luo Chan, Wei Shen, Jiang Hou, Instructor Xu, the Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion Master, Great Gan's imperial ancestor Shen Dongming, and Master Longding, the Mountain-Carrying Arhat—
"Where are we?!"
"Am I dreaming?"
"An illusion! I've fallen under