In the courtyard, the rustling of ancient pines and the murmuring of the spring water intertwine, creating an even more serene atmosphere.
Starlight spilled down, flowing through Gu Tianshu's hair and spreading across Li Qingshan's black robes.
A profound sense of inheritance permeates the silent atmosphere.
After a long silence, Li Qingshan nodded emphatically. "I promise you."
The atmosphere eased slightly.
The two then discussed the essence of the " Feathered Scripture " (Scripture of Feathered Ascension) obtained from the Feathered Ancestral Temple.
Gu Tianshu possessed a vast and profound knowledge, encompassing ancient secrets and various schools of Daoist practices. He was often able to pinpoint the crux of the matter with remarkable insight.
Li Qingshan, possessing Innate Sacred Body Dao Embryo, had unparalleled comprehension in his time. His intuition about the essence of the Great Dao was astonishingly sharp, and he had unique insights into the pursuit of transformation and Feathered to immortality in the " Feathered Scripture."
This discussion was not merely a simple exchange of questions and answers, but a genuine exchange of ideas and a collision of thoughts.
Gradually, strange phenomena began to appear spontaneously in the courtyard.
A faint golden lotus phantom emerged from the ground; though not a physical entity, it exuded Daoist charm. The faint, clear cry of a crane echoed in the air, and mist rose above the spiritual spring, creating a hazy scene of the beginning of heaven and earth and the birth and death of Daoist patterns.
Strands of Dao principles, like tangible ribbons of light, swirled around the two, merging with the starlight and illuminating this serene place as if Dao Realm had manifested.
The discussion only drew to a close when the bright moon rose high in the sky, its clear light bathing the courtyard.
Li Qingshan felt his mind clear and his understanding of many subtle points in cultivation suddenly became clear, making his vision of the path ahead even more distinct.
He rose and bowed respectfully to Gu Tianshu once more. "I have benefited greatly from Uncle Gu's words tonight."
Gu Tianshu nodded slightly, a rare, faint smile appearing on his face, which quickly vanished, replaced by a calm, unwavering expression. "Go. Returning to your hometown is also a way to cultivate your mind. Remember what you promised me."
Li Qingshan said no more and turned to walk out of the courtyard. When he reached the door, he couldn't help but look back.
Under the moonlight, Gu Tianshu had already sat cross-legged on the blue stone again, his eyes closed, his aura completely concealed, his figure perfectly blending into one with the gnarled ancient pine behind him, the rugged rocks beneath him, and the gurgling spiritual spring beside him.
He was there, yet he seemed to have become part of the mountain rocks, a wisp of pine breeze, a tinkling sound of spring water, truly reaching the supreme realm of "body in harmony with heaven and earth, following the natural way," becoming a footnote to the Eternal artistic conception of this world.
Li Qingshan paused for a moment, imprinting this scene deeply into his heart.
Then, he resolutely turned around, stepping on the moonlight like water, and headed towards the depths of the Jade Pool, to another place that was more familiar and warmer.
The cool night breeze brushed against his cheeks, but it couldn't dispel the warmth that was gradually rising in his heart.
He knew that someone was waiting for him there.
A person who keeps this long and cold path of spiritual practice warm and caring.
When we left Gu Tianshu's courtyard, the night sky was already completely stained with thick ink.
The Jade Pool Holy Land did not sink into darkness; instead, the pavilions, corridors, and waterside terraces were illuminated by a soft, spiritual light.
That was the radiance emitted by the spirit pearl, which was made by collecting moonlight and starlight and refining it with array formations. It was as gentle as water, as clear as if washed, and not dazzling at all.
Specks of light are scattered among the jade palaces and pavilions in the night, echoing the vast Milky Way and the countless stars overhead, reflecting each other and enveloping the entire celestial paradise in a tranquil, hazy, and sacred halo, like a star map fallen to earth.
The night breeze was cool, carrying the unique, faint fragrance of Jade Pool, a blend of countless spiritual herbs and immortals.
Li Qingshan did not immediately return to his Qingwei Blessed Land.
His steps almost instinctively led him to the vast and tranquil Lotus Lake deep within the sacred ground.
Without needing to deliberately seek it out, a clear understanding naturally arises in her mind: at this hour, if she is not in seclusion or dealing with sect affairs, she would most likely be there.
That was Lin Qingyao's favorite place, her usual retreat for observing lotuses and seeking enlightenment, and also the place where they had many tacit encounters and silently stood side by side.
Lotus Lake is located in a secluded valley surrounded by several sacred peaks. It covers a vast area and seems to stretch as far as the eye can see.
The lake water is drawn from the purest spiritual spring deep underground, and is warm all year round, exuding a faint milky white spiritual aura. Therefore, the extraordinary spiritual lotus in the lake can bloom all year round, and there are many varieties and colors.
At this moment, a bright moon has risen high in the sky, its clear light pouring down like Yinsha, enveloping the boundless lotus leaves and the Tingting flowers of various colors.
Moonlight danced on glistening dewdrops, flowed across unfurled petals, and spread a shimmering, silvery sheen across the gently rippling lake.
A gentle night breeze stirred, causing the layers of lotus leaves to sway and rustle softly, their gentle sound mingling with the faint murmur of a cool spring from a distant mountain stream. This created an atmosphere of profound tranquility, as if the place were a secret realm existing outside of time itself.
As expected.
On a large, smooth blue stone by the lake, polished by time, a slender white figure stood quietly.
Lin Qingyao stood with her back to the way she came, facing the vast, misty lake with its many lotus shadows. The night breeze stirred her long, cascading hair and her light, white dress, making her appear even more ethereal. It was as if she might transform into a ray of moonlight at any moment, merging into this world, or ride the night wind into the boundless Milky Way.
A Daoist aura flowed naturally around her like water, her aura ethereal and clear, subtly resonating and intertwining with the ever-renewing vitality of the lotus flowers in the lake and the timeless, cool glow of the bright moon in the sky, forming a harmonious whole. Standing there, she was like the most vibrant and harmonious stroke in this moonlit Lotus Lake painting, an indispensable soul of this landscape.
Li Qingshan subconsciously slowed his pace, approaching the lakeside path almost silently.
His cultivation level was so high that he didn't want to reveal his aura, and he could already conceal it as if it were a stubborn rock or an ancient tree.
Just as he was still a dozen steps away from the white figure, Lin Qingyao's soft and melodious voice drifted into his ears on the night breeze. "You're back."
She did not turn around; her gaze seemed to linger on the moon's reflection, rippling on the lake's surface.
The voice was calm and soothing, revealing little emotional fluctuation; there was neither the anxiety of waiting for a long time nor the joy of seeing someone for the first time, as natural as the night breeze rustling through lotus leaves.
Li Qingshan walked to her side and stood beside her, both gazing at the vast expanse of water bathed in moonlight and lotus shadows. "Yes, I'm back. I just came from Uncle Gu's place and talked to him about some things," he replied, his gaze never leaving the soft profile of her face outlined by the moonlight.
Her skin glowed with a jade-like luster under the moonlight, and her long, thick eyelashes cast two faint, captivating shadows beneath her eyelids. Below her straight nose, her lips were a natural pale pink, and the corners of her lips were slightly pursed, carrying her usual composure.
A silence fell between them that wasn't awkward.
The sounds of the wind, the water, the rustling of lotus leaves, and each other's soft, steady breathing formed the only rhythm at that moment.
This tranquility is not desolate; rather, it is filled with a peace and tacit understanding that can be perceived without words.
It's as if the years we've spent together have already instilled a certain understanding and closeness in every silent moment we walk side by side.
Deep in the heart of the lake, a silvery-white spirit fish, perhaps chasing the moon's reflection, suddenly leaped out of the water, drawing a graceful arc in mid-air before disappearing back into the water with a soft "plop," creating ever-expanding silver ripples.
The ripples scattered the perfect moon's reflection in the center of the lake, stirring up a patch of shattered silver. After a long while, they slowly and laboriously reassembled, returning to that slightly trembling, imperfect circle.
You seem troubled.
After a moment, Lin Qingyao spoke softly, breaking the tranquility created by the sounds of nature.
She gazed at the lake, her eyes seemingly following the gradually calming ripples, but Li Qingshan knew that her extremely keen senses and almost instinctive familiarity with his own aura had already captured that subtle ripple in his heart that was different from usual.
That turmoil might have stemmed from his conversation with Gu Tianshu about the future and their parting, or from the increasingly clear longing for his distant hometown, or perhaps from the indescribable reluctance that welled up in his heart when he faced her at that moment.
Li Qingshan paused slightly, turned his head, and looked at her more intently.
Just then, a wisp of cloud briefly moved away, allowing the moonlight to fall without obstruction, illuminating her entire face even more clearly.
Her skin was as smooth and lustrous as the finest white jade, and her eyes, beneath her long lashes, were crystal clear. Now, reflecting the moonlight on the lake, they appeared even more shimmering.
Her expression remained calm and serene, like the lone, bright moon in the sky. Yet, deep within that tranquility, Li Qingshan clearly sensed a subtle, indescribable focus and anticipation.
He sighed softly to himself; indeed, in her presence, many emotions were always difficult to completely conceal.
Or rather, he never intended to deliberately hide anything from her.
"Yes." He didn't deny it, his voice lower than before, carrying a sincere seriousness in the night breeze. " Qingyao, I may need to leave Big Dipper for a while."
Lin Qingyao's body paused almost imperceptibly.
The pause was so brief that Li Qingshan would have barely noticed it had he not been so perceptive.
However, the Daoist aura around her, which was originally harmonious and integrated with heaven and earth, experienced a momentary, extremely subtle, and almost negligible, stagnation and disorder.
Like the calmest lake surface, struck by a tiny, light pebble, creating an almost invisible ripple. Although the lake surface quickly returns to absolute calm, the ripple did indeed exist.
She slowly turned her head, and this time, the moonlight shone directly into the deepest part of her clear eyes.
Li Qingshan's tall figure was clearly reflected there, along with a hint of surprise that, though tried to be restrained, still leaked out. "Leaving Big Dipper?" she repeated, her voice still gentle, but with a hint of need for confirmation, her tone slightly hurried, "Where to? Or just ordinary training? Or—" She paused slightly, not finishing her sentence, but her eyes, which seemed to reflect people's hearts, silently inquired about more possibilities.
"Returning to my homeland." Li Qingshan met her clear gaze and said frankly, each word clear and steady, "Earth, or rather, its name on the ancient star map, the Primordial Ancient Star. This time, deep within the ancestral temple of the Feathered Divine Dynasty, I obtained the precise coordinates of the star region pointing there."
Lin Qingyao fell silent.
She did not respond immediately, but instead turned her gaze back to the vast and boundless Lotus Lake.
The night breeze ruffled the stray hairs on her forehead and stirred the hem of her white dress. Her figure appeared even more slender and serene in the moonlight.
But Li Qingshan could clearly sense a subtle change in her aura.
It was not a violent fluctuation, but a restrained, profound turmoil, like a surging undercurrent beneath the deep sea, calm on the surface but turbulent within.
The weight of words like "farewell," "the distant starry sky," and "a Other Shore with an unknown return date" was clearly pressing heavily on her heart.
"I see," she finally spoke softly after a long silence, her voice as light as a sigh, blending into the rustling of the lotus leaves, carrying a hint of realization and a heavy sense of understanding. "No wonder, these past few days, I've felt that the way you look at the stars since you returned is somewhat different from before."
She paused slightly, as if carefully considering the right words to describe that "difference." "There was a deep longing within it, like the deep roots of an ancient tree, its attachment to the earth." Her gaze became distant, as if she too was lost in some kind of memory, "Somewhat similar to when I was young, first leaving my small village, and being taken to Jade Pool by my master."
She finally turned her face again, her gaze as deep as Lotus Lake in the night, as if trying to see through his eyes to understand all the turbulent emotions in his heart, all his thoughts and longings about his hometown. "Then," she asked the crucial question, her voice steady, yet carrying a hint of barely perceptible tension, "When will you return?"
Li Qingshan slowly shook his head.
As he made this gesture, a pang of bitterness welled up within him. " The Starry Sky Ancient Road is vast and unpredictable, filled with ancient ruins, chaotic star fields, and unknown dangers. Earth and the Big Dipper are separated by endless star fields. Although the coordinates are known, the journey is long, and no one can predict what will happen along the way."
His voice was deep and clear, carrying through the silent night, "At the very least, a decade or so; if the journey goes smoothly and by chance, perhaps a relatively quicker ancient route can be found. At most!!!"
He didn't continue speaking, but the unspoken meaning, like the cold moonlight, clearly permeated the air between the two of them.
The path of cultivation often takes decades or even centuries, and star travel is even more fraught with uncertainty.
A hundred years is a long life for mortals, but for cultivators, especially those at their level, it may only be a few deep seclusions.
But whether it's ten years, fifty years, or even longer, it's still a long period of time that requires facing things alone and being separated from each other.