She seemed to see the scene the Immortal King had described: a world brimming with life and spiritual energy, filled with strange plants, birds, and beasts. In this world, all things lived together in harmony, following the natural laws of the Dao, free and unrestrained.
Qingyue felt as though her soul had merged with this world. She could sense the breath and heartbeat of every living thing.
She comprehended the true meaning of life and the purpose of cultivation, understanding that an invisible force existed throughout the universe, running through the lives of all things and influencing the growth and evolution of every living being.
In that wondrous moment, Qingyue's heart filled with awe and gratitude.
She held the Immortal King in the highest regard and was grateful to him for revealing the mysteries of this world. She swore to keep pursuing and exploring, to continually improve her strength and wisdom, and to comprehend more truths and mysteries.
When Qingyue came back to herself from that wondrous state, she found herself sitting in an open space, surrounded by swirling clouds and mist.
The Immortal King and the others had vanished, leaving her alone to savor the visions and insights she had just experienced.
Just as Qingyue was about to examine her surroundings more closely, a wave of dizziness swept through her soul. In a daze, she came to.
Qingyue slowly rose to her feet, her heart still immersed in that wondrous state. She felt as though her senses had grown keener and clearer, and she was more aware of everything around her.
She looked around and saw that the other young prodigies were also listening intently to the Immortal King's sermon. Awe and delight showed on every face.
Qingyue knew they, too, had gained revelations and insights from that wondrous sermon, and had reaped much.
The door of the thatched cottage slowly swung open. A breeze drifted through, bringing with it the fresh scent of plants and trees.
Yet at that moment, the scent felt strangely unfamiliar. Qingyue felt as if she had never truly breathed the air here before.
The furnishings inside were as they had always been, simple but neat.
The things she had once known by heart now seemed as novel as if she were seeing them for the first time. Her gaze fell on her cultivation desk, where a half-closed book lay, its pages fluttering gently in the breeze, as if telling secrets unknown to all.
Qingyue slowly walked over and gently picked up the book.
It was her diary, recording the course of her thoughts and the details of her cultivation. She turned to a page that read: "Today I subdued the Azure Moon Flame. I'm overcome with excitement. This will be a great aid on my path of cultivation."
She looked at her hands again, almost able to feel the heat and power she had felt when she subdued the immortal flame all those years ago.
Back then, she had been so full of confidence. Why had she become so lost now?
Qingyue closed her eyes. Suddenly, a cool, familiar voice rang in her mind. "Qingyue, you're back."
It was herself—her own inner voice.
Qingyue's eyes widened. "I... I'm Fairy Azure Moon? And... I subdued an immortal flame?"
Qingyue abruptly opened her eyes, her heart racing.
What was that voice, that presence claiming to be her inner voice? She began to wonder whether she was trapped in a chaotic flow of time, whether this world was real.
She looked around. Every corner of the thatched cottage seemed to tell the story of her past, yet those memories were so hazy and uncertain.
She touched her own body, felt her own existence, and tried to find some proof that it was real.
In the original timeline, she had not yet explored the Emperor Fall Secret Realm, so naturally she had not subdued the Azure Moon Flame.
With that thought, she decided to take things as they came. Casting aside her distractions, she began cultivating as usual.
Little by little, Qingyue became immersed in this mysterious timeline, contemplating its profound mysteries.
She discovered that this was an independent space, seemingly cut off from the outside world. And yet, it was also closely connected to the outside, as though it were part of heaven and earth.
She contemplated the growth of all things and sensed the rhythm of heaven and earth. Her soul was cleansed and elevated, and her cultivation continued to advance.
A hundred years later.
Over the course of those hundred years, Fairy Azure Moon uncovered many secrets.
This timeline was an upgraded version of the Primal Ancient Realm. Apart from Su Li being absent, everything else was exactly the same as in the "Primal Ancient Realm." There was not the slightest difference.
At last, in a certain instant, Fairy Azure Moon returned to reality from that mysterious timeline.
In that mysterious timeline, Fairy Azure Moon had seemed to embark on an endless journey. The ripples of time and space had encircled her soul, and she had drifted between dream and reality.
Then, in that very instant, a beam of light streaked across the sky like the first ray of sunlight at dawn, illuminating her soul.
Qingyue felt a warm power surge from the light, piercing through her body in an instant.
She felt as though an invisible force had gently lifted her up, leaving her floating in that mysterious timeline.
The scenery around her began to blur, as though a painting were slowly unfurling before her eyes.
Then the light gradually faded, and Qingyue slowly descended back into reality.
She discovered that her cultivation had undergone a qualitative leap, and her soul had grown more tranquil and profound.
She first glanced at Su Li, who was staring at her in a daze, then turned toward the gap in the thatched cottage, where faint immortal light still spilled through.
She understood that the mysterious timeline was no illusion but a real place. It had given her many precious insights and experiences, strengthening her resolve to follow the path of cultivation.
Fairy Azure Moon smiled faintly, her eyes shimmering with boundless light. She knew that from this moment on, she had quietly become involved in a game of chess—as a player, or as a piece.
Qingyue no longer dwelled on it. The road ahead was still long, but she had confidence that she could face every challenge and hardship.
The immortal light of the Great Dao spilled through the gaps in the thatched cottage, mottling their figures as though draping them in a mysterious veil.
Fairy Azure Moon let out a soft breath, as if sorting through her thoughts.
She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths, letting herself sink completely into that mysterious timeline.
Her brows knit slightly, as if recalling every detail of that place.
Her face looked a little pale, but her eyes glimmered with an uncanny light. Her slender fingers clasped together gently, as if seeking a sense of security.
Her body trembled faintly, as if she were still immersed in the lingering afterglow of that timeline.
After a long while, Fairy Azure Moon finally opened her eyes and looked at Su Li.
Her gaze held a trace of confusion and uncertainty, but above all, it was resolute and determined.
She knew that the mysterious timeline had given her many precious insights and experiences, strengthening her resolve to follow the path of cultivation.
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