Su Li stepped lightly into the thatched cottage, his stride steady and strong, like that of an elegant young nobleman.
Qingyue followed close behind, her sleeves fluttering, a cool, immortal aura about her. They exchanged a smile, closed the door in perfect understanding, and began to drink tea and chat.
The thatched cottage was simple in every way, yet elegant. A faint fragrance of tea filled the room, as if it could wash away the dust of the mortal world.
Su Li gently lifted his teacup and savored its rich sweetness. Qingyue quietly gazed at the scenery outside the window, her eyes revealing a serene detachment from worldly concerns.
"Your spar with the Thunder Emperor was truly spectacular. You suppressed him so effortlessly." Qingyue's voice was like a spring breeze brushing the face, carrying faint praise and a trace of envy that was difficult to detect.
Her gaze rested on Su Li, as if trying to see through the pride and confidence deep within this young man, who always wore a modest smile.
At her words, Su Li merely smiled softly and said nothing more.
His smile held a hint of modesty and satisfaction, as if to say, "It was only what I was supposed to do. There's nothing worth bragging about."
Yet his eyes gleamed sharply, as if to say, "I'm powerful, and this is far from my limit."
Then Su Li changed the subject. "When the grand gathering concludes in half a month, the three Immortal Kings will hold a lecture on the Dao, benefiting all the young geniuses who have come here."
His voice carried a note of anticipation and excitement, as if he could already see the unprecedented spectacle.
At his words, surprise and excitement flashed through Qingyue's eyes.
She had never experienced an Immortal King's lecture before. Knowing that she would witness one in person filled her with awe and excitement.
This time, three Immortal Kings would hold the lecture together. Even in the history of the grand gatherings she knew of, such an occurrence was exceedingly rare.
She couldn't help imagining the unprecedented spectacle: the three Immortal Kings seated upon a high platform, clad in brilliant immortal robes, every movement filled with majesty and solemnity. Their gazes were profound and wise, as if they could pierce every illusion and reach the heart of truth.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the Immortal Kings began to impart the essence of their immortal ways and their cultivation insights.
Their voices rang out, resonant and melodious, like celestial music that stirred the soul. Every word and sentence contained unfathomable wisdom of the Dao, leaving everyone present with much to gain.
Qingyue closed her eyes, as if she were already there amid the grand spectacle.
She felt the Immortal Kings' words echo deep within her soul, as if a mighty force were guiding her toward a higher realm.
Her heart filled with reverence and gratitude, as well as anticipation and hope for the future.
She knew this was a rare opportunity, one that came along once in a thousand years.
She had to treasure it, listen to the Immortal Kings' teachings with all her heart, and strive to absorb their wisdom, laying a solid foundation for her path of cultivation.
"I'll also break through then and become a True Immortal." Su Li said it casually, as if it were nothing out of the ordinary, without a care in the world.
Yet his words crashed into Qingyue's heart like a bolt of thunder.
Qingyue stared at Su Li in shock, disbelief filling her eyes.
An indescribable astonishment welled up in her heart. Su Li was actually going to become a True Immortal?
How could that be!
Even though he was Born Supreme and possessed unparalleled cultivation talent, how could he be on the verge of breaking through to True Immortal after only a little over twenty years of cultivation?
That was the True Immortal realm!
The immortal path and the mortal path were simply incomparable—one was heaven, the other a speck of dust.
Qingyue knew that the True Immortal realm was the dream of every cultivator.
It was an entirely new heaven and earth, an entirely new world.
Only by breaking through to the True Immortal realm could one truly grasp the mysteries of the immortal path, truly roam between heaven and earth without restraint, and attain immortality, sharing in the universe's eternal existence.
But how could breaking through to the True Immortal realm be so easy?
A cultivator needed extraordinary talent and insight, along with vast amounts of time and resources for cultivation and refinement.
Even someone with talent unmatched throughout the ages would need hundreds or even thousands of years to build up their strength before they could qualify to attempt the breakthrough.
And yet Su Li planned to attempt it in a mere half month?
It was simply a miracle!
Qingyue's heart filled with admiration and envy, and her resolve to cultivate diligently grew even stronger.
"What, you don't believe me?" Su Li's soft laugh rang out, as if he could see through people and strike right at Qingyue's heart.
Qingyue paused, then replied softly, "I'm just a little surprised."
She picked up her teacup and took a gentle sip, trying to calm the shock within her.
Seeing Qingyue's reaction, Su Li couldn't help feeling a little smug.
He knew that both his strength and talent were top-notch. Breaking through to the True Immortal realm wasn't some unreachable goal for him.
Besides, he had his own secrets and trump cards, which made him even more confident in his chances of breaking through.
A mysterious glint flashed in Su Li's eyes. He said softly, "Besides, just because I can't reveal some secrets now doesn't mean I can't tell you later."
Qingyue blinked curiously, seeming intrigued by his words.
She couldn't help asking, "Oh? So you have secrets you can't even tell me?"
Su Li smiled faintly and shook his head. "It's not that I can't tell you. The time just isn't right yet. When the moment comes, I'll tell you all my secrets."
Seeing Su Li's enigmatic expression, Qingyue grew even more curious.
"Qingyue, I know you might think I'm a little too confident." Su Li set down his teacup and looked earnestly into Qingyue's eyes. "But I want to tell you that breaking through to the True Immortal realm isn't difficult."
As Qingyue looked at Su Li's earnest face, the shock in her heart gradually subsided.
She knew that Su Li had never been one to give up easily.
If he had said this, he must have his reasons and grounds for it. And she believed in Su Li's strength and talent, too. She believed he would surely break through to the True Immortal realm.
After bidding farewell to Qingyue, Su Li continued along the winding path.
Sunlight streamed through the gaps between the leaves and fell upon him. A gentle breeze brushed his face, bringing a touch of coolness. He drew a deep breath, taking in nature's freshness and tranquility, his heart at peace.
The scenery along the way unfolded before Su Li one sight at a time.
He admired nature's beauty and wonders, and felt the vitality and vigor of life.
He seemed to hear the trees breathing, the birds singing, and the babbling stream in the distance. The sounds intertwined into a beautiful melody, leaving Su Li refreshed and at ease.
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