Over the past few days, Xi Yue had temporarily set aside her cultivation and enjoyed a rare stretch of leisure.
In the Imperial Capital, whenever most people discussed anything related to cultivation, the conversation inevitably circled back to Shi Yi.
The double-pupiled one's reputation was far too resounding. In ancient times, those with double pupils had left behind illustrious names and were known as born sages.
"The double-pupiled one truly possesses unmatched valor! I heard he forced his way into the Ancient Sacred Academy a little while ago!"
"I heard the Ancient Sacred Academy opens only once every hundred years, and each time, it admits just one person or a handful of people. There are imprints left by sages inside. It's hard to imagine what a spectacle it will be when the double-pupiled one returns. He might truly tower over an entire region!"
"I also heard that this double-pupiled one isn't just a born sage, but a born supreme being as well. He has a Supreme Bone within his body!"
"Shh, keep your voice down. Supposedly, there's something questionable about where that bone came from. It might have something to do with the upheaval at the Martial King Manor a few years ago."
"Heh, whether there's anything questionable about it or not, we'll find out sooner or later. All we need to do is watch."
Listening to these discussions, Xi Yue grew increasingly certain of where she stood in the timeline. Shi Hao should already have joined the Heaven Mending Pavilion by now.
In other words, the Hundred Broken Mountains would soon open.
"Come on, Qing Shuang. We've had enough fun. It's time to head out and gain some experience." Xi Yue seized Qing Shuang's arm and left without even giving her a chance to react.
No protectors had accompanied them on this trip to the Desolate Region.
Before their departure, several Venerable Realm elders of the Heaven Mending Sect had offered to accompany them, but she had turned them all down.
Some things were best known by as few people as possible.
Besides, she had brought plenty of precious artifacts and divine talismans, along with some restricted weapons refined by sect masters. As long as she stayed out of those few forbidden zones, she could protect herself without worry.
The Western Frontier lay hundreds of thousands of li from the Stone Kingdom Imperial Capital.
A rift appeared in the void, and two figures stepped out with unhurried ease.
Dense ancient forests covered the land, teeming with divine insects and ferocious beasts, while people were few and far between. Everywhere they looked, a primitive, untamed wilderness stretched before them.
Only after considerable effort did Xi Yue find a few people hunting nearby. After questioning them, she finally confirmed that this was indeed the Western Frontier.
Come to think of it, this was her first time opening a passage through the void. Remarkably, nothing had gone wrong.
Although she had relied on the power of a precious artifact, it was still a novel experience. Under ordinary circumstances, such a feat would have been impossible even in the Three Thousand Provinces of the Upper Realm, let alone Boundless Heaven.
Only because the laws of the Eight Regions of the Lower Realm were incomplete could she pierce the void so easily.
"Miss, where are we going?" Qing Shuang couldn't help asking.
Ever since they had arrived in the Lower Realm, her young mistress had been acting strangely, muttering to herself from time to time. It was so peculiar that Qing Shuang had begun to wonder whether something was wrong.
"The Great Wilderness," Xi Yue answered casually, then said no more.
Qing Shuang could only nod with a trace of disappointment and refrain from further questions. Since her young mistress didn't wish to elaborate, she surely had her reasons.
At that thought, a smile returned to her face, and the gloom in her heart was swept away.
Within the Great Wilderness, mountain ranges rose in overlapping layers. Primeval beasts prowled among countless peaks and ravines, their occasional roars booming as though they would rend heaven and earth.
The two girls walked through this vast wilderness with unhurried ease, untouched by even a speck of dust. They seemed utterly out of place amid the Great Wilderness, almost as though they belonged to a different world.
To Xi Yue, whether it was a Primordial Remnant or a pure-blooded ferocious beast, a single slap was all it took.
Within the Eight Regions of the Lower Realm, even the most terrifying bloodlines could hardly display their full might. They had their inherent limitations.
After she killed a few chickens to warn the monkeys, the ferocious beasts scattered, fleeing from this "harbinger of disaster." As a result, the already desolate Great Wilderness seemed even more forlorn.
After traveling for who knew how long, they finally saw signs of human habitation ahead, though they remained sparse, with only a few households.
"How strange. We've been searching for most of the day. Why isn't there a single ferocious beast around?" A sturdy man dressed in beast hides scratched his head in puzzlement.
"Exactly. This is far too strange. Isn't this supposed to be where ferocious beasts like to gather most?"
"Ah, let's keep looking. We can't go back empty-handed."
"Look, there are two girls over there! They're so beautiful, just like the fairies in the legends!" a younger boy suddenly shouted.
The others looked up and saw two women in pale clothing. Their bearing was graceful and otherworldly, their steps light as lotus blossoms, their figures untouched by dust.
"Good heavens, am I dreaming? Or have... fairies really descended to the mortal world?"
As she walked through the Great Wilderness, Xi Yue had already removed her disguise, revealing her peerless beauty. Though the fabric of her dress was extraordinary, its design could hardly be called lavish, yet it did nothing to diminish her graceful charm.
"Young lads, do you need some help?" Her rosy lips parted, and her voice rang out with an ethereal clarity, accompanied by a faint smile.
At those words, Xi Yue herself nearly laughed aloud.
After several transformations, her body had indeed developed very well. She looked no different from a girl of seventeen or eighteen.
But strictly speaking, she was only eight or nine years old.
Calling these young men "young lads" gave her an inexplicable feeling of getting away with something.
"A f-fairy smiled at me!" the boy who had spoken earlier exclaimed softly, overwhelmed with excitement.
Then... he received a sharp rap on the head.
"Please forgive him, fairy. We're a hunting party from a nearby village. We came out to find food for the village, but for some reason, all the ferocious beasts nearby have disappeared. We haven't seen even one."
A relatively steady man spoke up, explaining the situation from beginning to end.
"I see." Xi Yue nodded, her expression turning slightly awkward.
Come to think of it, weren't those ferocious beasts hiding because of her?
Her eyes flickered, and an idea took shape in her mind.
"I happen to know a few places where there might be ferocious beasts. I can take you there."
The young men all froze at her words. They hadn't expected this impossibly beautiful fairy to offer her help, and for a moment, they were even at a loss over what to do.
"Wouldn't that be too much trouble?" Only after a long pause did someone ask hesitantly, fidgeting with his fingers.
"Not at all. The two of us came to the Great Wilderness to gain experience anyway." Xi Yue waved a hand, signaling that they needn't worry.
Before long, some ferocious beasts hiding in the mountain forests and vast marshes were flushed out, and their entire habitats were plowed over in the process.
"Hahaha, now we won't have to worry about food for the village! This will last us a long time." They all laughed heartily, in excellent spirits.
Then they looked at the two girls beside them, their faces filled with
gratitude that was almost spilling over.
"Fairies, it's getting late. Why don't you... come back to the village with us, so we can properly thank you?" one of them said, still feeling a little apprehensive.
As though fearing a misunderstanding, someone hastily added, "Please don't misunderstand, fairies. We only want to thank you. We have no other intentions."
After all, a group of men bringing two young girls back to their village could hardly fail to invite speculation.
Xi Yue understood what they meant and didn't make things difficult for them. With a light laugh, she said, "Of course. We can also take the opportunity to experience the local customs of the Great Wilderness."
They were all delighted to hear this. After all, these two girls were truly extraordinary and surely came from remarkable backgrounds. They had thought their invitation would be refused.