At this moment, Li Tiantong also became somewhat curious:
"So how did you successfully transcend? Did you transcend through the passage left by the Dao Ancestor?"
Han Xuanji shook his head and explained:
"I've reached an agreement with the Chaos Will. It's no longer as stubborn as before and now coexists peacefully with the Chaos cultivators."
"Ah?"
Li Tiantong wore an incredulous expression, wondering how Han Xuanji had managed to do it.
What does it mean to have reached an agreement? What does it mean to coexist peacefully?
The ability to negotiate with the Chaos Will means that this junior from the Immortal Realm might have already existed during the time of Chaos.
However, he didn't think much of it, assuming that this junior had some exceptional qualities, and then said in a deep voice:
"By the way, you don't need to call me senior. Although you inherited my skills in the Immortal Realm, your strength and status are now far above mine. Let's just call each other fellow Daoists. Just call me Tiantong."
Han Xuanji nodded, signaling Li Tiantong to continue, as he was also curious about what happened to the two of them later.
"We prepared for a long time and chose what we considered the safest time to successfully transcend the situation."
Li Tiantong's voice lowered.
"I never expected that I would be swept away by the storm in the Primordial Sea so soon after escaping the Chaos."
Li Tiantong smiled wryly:
" The Dao Ancestor and I struggled to survive in the storm. Our spiritual energy was almost completely depleted, and we nearly thought we were going to die there. In the end, we were blown to an unknown direction."
Fortunately, they drifted to a small island.
He paused, then added:
"It was an isolated island floating in the Primordial Sea, and on the island was the cave abode left behind by a fallen cultivator."
We obtained his belongings there: several Jade Slip containing information about the Eternal Continent, as well as some elixirs and resources.
"Thanks to these things, we didn't die in the Primordial Sea."
Han Xuanji nodded silently upon hearing this.
Those Undying a great calamity are destined for good fortune.
Both the Dao Ancestor and the Tongtian Dao Venerable possessed a destiny associated with them.
"We stayed on that island for thousands of years."
When Li Tiantong said this, his tone was as calm as if he were telling someone else's story.
"It's not that I don't want to leave, it's that I can't. My cultivation level isn't high enough to cross the Primordial Sea. I can only cultivate on that island until I break through to the Eternal Dao Master Realm before I can begin exploring the isolated island."
For thousands of years, they were trapped on an isolated island, their cries for help going unanswered.
This kind of loneliness and torment is something only a monk can endure.
Han Xuanji sighed inwardly.
"Fortunately, we encountered a fleet."
A glint flashed in Li Tiantong's eyes, "A small fleet in the Primordial Sea that specializes in hunting sea beasts, with an expert at the level of Eternal True God in charge."
They found me and took us in.
I disguised myself as a wandering Rogue Cultivator, using an alias and fabricating my identity and background, and followed them to the Eternal Continent.
Han Xuanji nodded, approving of their carefulness.
In the Eternal Continent, the identity of Transcendent is very sensitive. Some forces specifically search for Transcendent, refining or enslaving them in order to obtain the original Principle of the Primal Chaos Primal Chaos.
"Life wasn't easy after we arrived on the Eternal Continent."
Li Tiantong sighed.
"I was in an unfamiliar place, with no identity or background, and I had to earn even the most basic Cultivation Resources on my own."
We've been wandering the underworld for many years, doing manual labor, working as guards, and watching over mines. We've also been cheated, robbed, and beaten.
He spoke calmly, but Han Xuanji imagine how much suffering he had endured over the years.
A peerless powerhouse who once dominated the Chaos chaos has to start from the bottom on the Eternal Continent, and doesn't even dare to reveal his true identity. This disparity is enough to crush most people.
Han Xuanji was quite lucky. He encountered the True God Black Rock and had a place to stay as soon as he arrived on the Eternal Continent. With the protection of the Soul Household, he was able to get through the most dangerous stage relatively smoothly.
"And then what happened? How did you get to Thousand Souls City? Why didn't the Dao Ancestor come with you?"
Han Xuanji asked.
Li Tiantong was silent for a moment, then lowered his voice:
"In order to change our fate, we traveled to an unknown secret realm, but his talent was far superior to mine, and his cultivation level was considerably higher."
Han Xuanji was taken aback.
"That secret realm is a relic left by an unknown powerful being. At first, we explored it together and gained a lot."
But then something unexpected happened. We were teleported from the outer edge of the secret realm to its depths, where we encountered a guardian beast whose cultivation far surpassed ours.
To cover my escape, the Dao Ancestor lured away the guardian beast alone, and from then on... he never appeared again.
The cave abode fell silent, save for the occasional leap of the koi in the pond, which splashed up tiny droplets of water.
Looking at Li Tiantong's weathered face, Han Xuanji felt a pang of unease.
He knew what the Dao Ancestor meant to Li Tiantong; he was not only a near-teacher, but also a close friend who fought alongside him and a partner with whom he could entrust his life.
I never imagined that after transcending worldly desires, I would end up like this.
I've been searching for a long time.
Li Tiantong raised his head, his eyes slightly red.
"We've searched around that secret realm for a hundred years, and asked around, but there's been no news at all..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.
Later, I eventually arrived in Thousand Souls City.
Li Tiantong a deep breath and calmed himself down:
"I visited several sects, but they exploited ordinary cultivators too much. I heard that the Five Elements Pavilion was recruiting disciples, so I decided to give it a try. I was lucky enough to pass the test and became an outer disciple. You know what happened after that."
Although similar incidents occurred at the Five Elements Pavilion, it was still much better than other places.
"I see."
Han Xuanji comforted her:
"Fellow Tiantong need not worry too much about the Dao Ancestor's matter. He is a lucky man and should be fine."
This wasn't just him talking nonsense; he had a the Unseen feeling about it.
He cultivates the Dao of Fate, and although he cannot directly deduce cause and effect now, he has great faith in his intuition.
The Dao Ancestor's fortune is undoubtedly stronger than that of the Tongtian Dao Venerable; he has most likely already obtained fortuitous opportunity in the secret realm.
"However, do you still remember the exact location of that secret realm?"
"Of course I remember, it was in the Seven Stars Prefecture of the Sacred Radiance Domain."
Li Tiantong a wry smile, his tone full of helplessness.
"That secret realm was where a Sacred Court Saint Realm and comprehended the Dao after achieving Great Perfection. Although that expert has now disappeared without a trace, the secret realm has been sealed by the Sacred Court, making it virtually impossible for outsiders to enter."
Han Xuanji frowned even more deeply.
Although he had never been to Seven Stars Prefecture, he had heard of it. It was a top-ranked state in the Sacred Radiance Domain, much more prosperous than Nine Mysteries Prefecture, where Thousand Souls City was located.
If the secret realm were in the Nine Mysteries Prefecture, he might be able to find a way through his connections with the Soul Household.
But when it comes to crossing states, the Soul Household's resources are insufficient.
Han Xuanji pondered inwardly, but showed no sign of it on his face.
Perhaps we could ask True God Black Rock.
He's a member of the Eternal Chamber of Commerce, whose influence spans the entire Eternal Continent; he might have a better solution.
Alternatively, once his cultivation level is higher, he could try to obtain the qualification to enter the secret realm on his own.
However, these are all just ideas and are unlikely to be realized in the short term.
"Fellow practitioners of Tiantong need not worry too much."
Han Xuanji pulled himself together, his tone calm yet carrying a hint of certainty.
"I'll figure something out, it just needs some time."
Li Tiantong looked at him, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes, but it quickly faded away.
He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but in the end it turned into a sigh:
"I'm already very grateful for your kind intentions. As for the Dao Ancestor... let fate decide."
So many years have passed, and even if something unforeseen happens, there's nothing that can be done.
Han Xuanji neither responded nor offered an explanation.
Some things are better done than said.
Instead of continuing to offer empty words of comfort, we should first improve our capabilities and then talk things over when we have sufficient resources.