After hearing Cheng Lie's words, Chen Changming fell silent and did not speak for a long time.
Su Qingyan had also come from a Rogue Cultivator background. Cold and proud by nature, she had always traveled alone.
He did not know much about Cold Light Province, but a female cultivator with no backing striking out on her own there was likely to have an even harder time than Cheng Lie.
If she was lucky, she might find a place to put down roots; if not, it was entirely possible that she had fallen somewhere out in the wilds.
But that was the fate of Rogue Cultivators. No one could change it for another.
After a period of silence, Chen Changming asked about the other members of the team. Cheng Lie hesitated, but ultimately told him the truth—ten years ago, when Shi Li had attempted to break through to the Void Refinement Realm, he had failed to withstand the heavenly tribulation and been reduced to a handful of charred ash amid the sky-filling lightning.
Upon hearing this, Chen Changming's body stiffened slightly.
Shi Li had been a pure Body Cultivator, honest and loyal, bright and warmhearted. Such a fine teammate had nevertheless fallen beneath the heavenly tribulation of his Void Refinement Realm breakthrough.
"Heaven truly has no eyes..."
Chen Changming sighed, his heart heavy.
The path of body refinement was a relatively obscure cultivation path, whether in the Human Realm or the Spirit Realm.
It was a difficult road, fraught with twists, hardships, and danger. Every minor breakthrough was more difficult than it was for ordinary cultivators.
"For Rogue Cultivators, crossing tribulation is a matter of nine deaths and one life..."
Cheng Lie spoke softly, his voice hoarse with suppressed emotion. "Shi Li... seemed to have sensed it coming. Before crossing