Meanwhile, Yan Zhiyun returned to the courtyard of their residence at Starry Sky University with Ruan Liusu, Wenren Qinghe, and Wenren Qingyue.
After sending Liusu and Qingyue away, Yan Zhiyun asked Qinghe to stay.
"Qinghe, how did today go?"
Qinghe knew what her mother meant and told her everything.
Yan Zhiyun looked slightly taken aback. "You're saying Liusu's boyfriend ranked among the top thousand Second-Order Martial Artists across the three major star regions over the past ten years, according to the instrument's assessment?"
"Yes, Mom!"
"Then he's quite a talent himself. He's just a little older, which puts him at a disadvantage. Otherwise, he might be no worse than Yan Yi."
Yan Zhiyun thought for a moment. "But his martial arts environment limited him. The foundation he built in the Blood-Qi Stage is too weak. He can't break through to the True Essence Realm. Putting everything else aside, he wouldn't even survive the Physique Tribulation, the first of the Three Tribulations within the Five Declines of Heaven and Man and the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations. He has no chance whatsoever of reaching the True Essence Realm."
"Mom, what are the Five Declines of Heaven and Man and the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations?" Qinghe asked.
"The Five Declines of Heaven and Man are..." Yan Zhiyun started to explain, then changed her mind. "Children shouldn't ask about things like that. Once you reach the tenth order of the True Qi Stage, you'll know!"
"Liusu's boyfriend must have something special about him too. Qinghe, remember this: if you get the chance, don't be too hard on Chen Lie. From the looks of it, we won't be able to make him give up.
"But we must make the gap between Liusu and her boyfriend clear. Someone in the True Essence Realm can