Zhao Changkong and Liang Siji disappeared through the doorway, their footsteps fading down the corridor.
The room fell quiet again.
The evening bustle of Azure Cloud City drifted in through the window.
Lin Changqing stood by the window and glanced outside once more.
The sun was slipping behind the distant mountains. Orange and red clouds spread across the horizon, bathing every rooftop in Azure Cloud City in a warm glow.
A night breeze poured through the window.
It carried the charred aroma of spirit-beast meat roasting at an upscale restaurant, along with the cries of street vendors selling Spirit Fruit. The city felt alive.
He took a deep breath and looked away.
"Pretty lively."
Lin Changqing muttered to himself, then looked down at his waist.
The Realm Origin Pearl hung quietly from his belt, its surface warm and smooth as jade, with a faint light flowing across it.
He sent his divine sense inside.
Within the Realm Origin Pearl, on Lakeheart Island,
Su Wanqing still sat cross-legged beside the Spirit Spring. Immortal energy surged around her, and a pale golden halo hovered above her head.
The Top-grade Immortal Crystals floating around her were visibly fading, strand by strand, as pure immortal energy flowed through her meridians and into her body.
Her brows were slightly furrowed, and fine sweat beaded on her forehead. She was clearly at a critical point in her cultivation.
"She's improved a little more since yesterday."
Sensing her steadily rising aura, Lin Changqing looked pleased.
"At this rate, she should reach the threshold of Earth Immortal in a little over a month at most."
He withdrew his divine sense from the Realm Origin Pearl, turned, and sat down at the table.
The tea had gone completely cold, and he did not make more.
Leaning back with his