Amid the Mortal Dust of the Immortal Road: Who Knows How Far It Leads? If Only Life Were Always Like Our First Meeting (Conclusion)

Somewhere beyond the heavens, its whereabouts unknown, the Silver River lay tranquil and vast. Constellations shifted, starlight shimmered, and the radiance of the boundless universe gathered into an ocean of light, pouring forth a silver river that stretched silently across the heavens. Twinkling stars became ripples on its surface; raging stellar storms surged into its waves. All the light that filled the universe shone here. This was the brightest essence of the primordial cosmos.

Aboard the translucent crystal boat, they drifted slowly over a river of stars that seemed to be formed of countless billions of fireflies. Cool breaths of wind blew from the depths of the universe, brushing their skin and hair, bringing its most mysterious stirrings and sighs, spreading little by little through their hearts. As they traveled upstream through the broad, dazzling beauty of the Silver River, even the liveliest little girl grew gentle and serene. Nestled in her brother's arms, she curled up her feet and quietly watched the waves beside the boat, glittering like silver sprites.

The Crystal Divine Ship they had brought from the mortal realm traveled upstream along the Silver River, gradually approaching the Source of the Silver River. There lay the radiant ocean from which the river of stars arose. On the starry sands beside that ocean stood the emerald Firmament Mulberry, more than eight hundred zhang tall, solitary and forlorn. Its blue-green reflection fell across the surging celestial ocean, sacred and immense. As they slowly approached the Firmament Mulberry they had dreamed of finding, the crystal boat bearing these mortal visitors came to rest upon the glittering sand.

"Is this the Firmament Mulberry?"

Having seen the Cloud Pass of Emerald Trees amid the misty waves of the South Sea, Xing Yan had thought himself well traveled. Yet when he finally beheld