Thatched Cottage, Fairy Qingyue

"This Humble One is Su Li. I happened to pass by this place and gained some insights from the Dao rhymes here. Might this fellow Daoist grant me an audience?"

It was rare for Su Li to show such a polite inquiry.

The divine rhyme of the Great Dao just now was far too extraordinary, which filled him with wonder.

"Come inside."

A cold and ethereal voice drifted from the room; it was a woman.

Su Li stepped into the thatched cottage, and a faint, refreshing fragrance greeted him.

The interior was furnished simply yet exuded an elegant atmosphere. Bamboo chairs, a wooden table, blue tiles, and white walls—everything appeared so natural and harmonious.

The owner of the cottage was a woman dressed in plain white robes, like a blooming white lotus, elegant and noble. Her eyes were deep and bright, as if they could perceive the essence of all things.

"Jiang Yue?"

Su Li looked at the ancient book held in the woman's hands; the outermost layer of animal hide was inscribed with the characters "Jiang Yue."

At this moment, she was sitting quietly on a jade bed inside the room, holding a yellowed ancient book and reading it with great interest.

Jiang Yue?

Su Li murmured, seemingly realizing who stood before him.

Jiang Yue—this name might be known to few, but once one mentioned "Fairy Qingyue," it was a different story. The name of the fairy was renowned throughout the Ancient Realm.

She was not only a regular on the list of young prodigies but also a role model and a sought-after cultivation partner in the hearts of countless cultivators in the Ancient Realm.

Jiang Yue possessed peerless beauty, like a newly opened peach blossom, elegant and graceful. Her eyes were as deep as the sea, seemingly capable of absorbing all light, making it impossible for anyone to look away.

Her figure was like willow catkins dancing in the breeze, lithe and elegant, as if she were a spirit of heaven and earth.

Yet she was not merely beautiful; Jiang Yue possessed extraordinary talent and strength, ranking among the few peerless prodigies in the Ancient Realm.

Her sword technique was like a bolt of lightning, as fast as a gale, and invincible.

"Who might you be, fellow Daoist?" Fairy Qingyue asked indifferently, her voice as clear as a mountain spring.

Su Li's heart trembled; he had not expected Fairy Qingyue's temperament to be so transcendent. "This Humble One is Su Li. I arrived here by chance and apologize for the intrusion."

Su Li?

The son of Immortal King Six Paths Reincarnation?

Fairy Qingyue nodded slightly, indicating she understood.

Su Li noticed the book in her hands, its pages yellowed, with "Moon-Clear Dao" written upon it.

His heart stirred, and he asked, "What book is the Fairy holding?"

"This is the Moon-Clear Dao, my insights on cultivation," Fairy Qingyue replied calmly.

"Oh? This Humble One has a keen interest in the path of cultivation. Might the Fairy offer some guidance?" Su Li asked.

Fairy Qingyue remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly: "The path of cultivation requires a focused mind and a tranquil spirit. Only by casting aside worldly thoughts can one perceive the true essence of the Great Dao.

The Great Dao is the origin and law of all things in heaven and earth. Cultivation is the exploration of the Great Dao, the understanding of the essence of all things, and ultimately, becoming one with the Dao."

"Becoming one with the Dao?"

Su Li fell silent for a long time after hearing this, his admiration for Fairy Qingyue growing even deeper. To reach the pinnacle of the human path at such an age was remarkable.

Su Li knew well that the path of cultivation was fraught with difficulties and obstacles, requiring constant realization and breakthroughs.

Yet this Fairy Qingyue had already seen through the vanity of the world, reaching a realm that ordinary people could hardly attain.

"Fellow Daoist, please take a seat."

Fairy Qingyue invited Su Li.

Su Li was straightforward; since the Fairy had invited him to sit, he did not dally, sitting cross-legged directly opposite Fairy Qingyue to discuss the Dao with her.

Time seemed to stand still at this moment. Su Li and Fairy Qingyue sat facing each other, exchanging their insights on cultivation.

The thatched cottage was filled with a faint, moonlight-like glow, as if it were an immortal realm isolated from the world.

Inside the cottage, Su Li and Fairy Qingyue sat opposite one another, their breathing appearing perfectly in sync.

"Fairy Qingyue."

"Hm?"

Su Li looked at the fairy in white before him, her temperament elegant and secluded, her beauty peerless.

She possessed a face that could make the heavens and earth lose their luster.

Dressed in robes as white as snow, she looked like an ethereal fairy who had descended into the mortal world, truly breathtaking.

Her brows and eyes were like a painting, crystal clear, like the rippling autumn waters—vivid and mysterious.

Her high-bridged nose and rosy lips only served to display her beauty to the fullest.

But at this moment, she wore a vacant expression, her eyes losing their luster as if her soul had left her body, which was somewhat eerie.

Fairy Qingyue suddenly felt something. Her holy, delicate body stiffened, and her eyes turned hollow, as if her spirit had been sealed.

She felt a mysterious force pulling at her soul, dragging her into an unknown space-time.

When she opened her eyes once more, she found herself amidst a wondrous scene.

The South Sea shimmered with sparkling waves, bamboo forests swayed in the breeze, the manor was elegant and refined, and the grand gathering was bustling with activity.

There were also the fences and the thatched cottage; everything felt so familiar, yet so strange.

She slowly regained her senses, only to find that she was still sitting inside the thatched cottage.

But at this moment, the figure of Su Li had already vanished.

She could not help but feel a sense of confusion; where had Su Li gone? She attempted to search for him, only to discover that there was no trace of his existence here.

After a few breaths, having confirmed that Su Li was nowhere to be found, Fairy Qingyue did not mind; it was merely a departure without a farewell, and he was only the son of an Immortal King, after all.

Qingyue pondered for a moment within the thatched cottage and decided to head out for a stroll to attend the manor's grand gathering; perhaps at the event, she could obtain more information.

The grand gathering was clamorous with voices.

The various prodigies were all the cream of the younger generation, standing tall with extraordinary bearing.

Some held long swords, some flicked their whisks lightly, and others were draped in dharma robes, all looking spirited and vibrant.

Qingyue wove through the crowd, her gaze sharp and her temperament unique, drawing the attention of many.

She greeted the others with a smile, exchanging insights and experiences regarding cultivation.

When she asked the group about the existence of "Su Li," their expressions all turned blank.

A youth holding a long sword shook his head and said, "I have never heard of this name." Another woman draped in a dharma robe also stated, "In my cultivation, I have never encountered such a person; Immortal King Six Paths Reincarnation has no offspring."

Qingyue's heart trembled slightly; had Su Li truly vanished? Or was it possible that this person had merely been a manifestation conjured during her own enlightenment?

Afterward, Qingyue followed the crowd as they moved toward the Immortal King Dao Altar.

The Immortal King's lecture hall was set upon an expansive clearing, surrounded by swirling clouds and mist, as if one were situated within a fairyland. Qingyue sensed a powerful aura—this was the majesty and strength emanating from the Immortal King.

As she stepped into the grounds, she saw the Immortal King sitting upright upon a high platform, his countenance benevolent yet majestic, as a profound sound of the Dao permeated the air.

Qingyue listened, utterly enchanted, as if drawn in by the Immortal King's words, entering a magical world.

Her soul felt a touch unlike anything she had ever experienced before, as if an invisible force were guiding her, unlocking the gates of wisdom deep within her heart.

The surrounding scenery gradually blurred, leaving only the sound of the Immortal King's lecture echoing through the void.

This sound was like music from the heavens, bringing Qingyue a sense of incomparable comfort and peace.