As Liang’s gaze fell upon the sign of "The Tranquil Haven," his eyes flickered thoughtfully. It had been quite some time since he had arrived in Emeralia City, yet there was still no trace of Dong Rui.
It wasn’t that he was in a hurry to leave, but he preferred things to happen in an orderly manner. After some contemplation, he decided to re-enter the Inn, opting for the same room as before. The Inn manager had no reason to refuse, especially after Liang had generously provided him with additional rune stones.
"I should exercise more patience," Liang mused. "After the so-called gathering, my next destination should be the Dong Clan. I wonder if I can make it before the Auction commences again. Regardless, it doesn’t pose a significant problem."
Liang’s current strength and abilities far surpassed his past self. In just seven years, he had reached the Runic Mastery Realm, an extraordinary feat for anyone, considering he was neither a pure runic practitioner nor an origin path cultivator.
Of course, this was attributed not only to his astonishing talent but also to several other factors. One of them was his unwavering dedication to studying runes and formations. Before his rebirth, he had primarily been a formation master, though he had managed to utilize the power of formations in various ways, such as fighting, assassination, and summoning devils. Yet, he had still considered himself just a mere formation master.
In the Spiritdrift World, a saying had once circulated: If Liang Yifei claimed to be the second-best formation master, no one would dare to claim the first.
Besides his exceptional talent, Liang had also exerted tremendous effort. While formations and runes were essential, the Runic Cultivation fighting process, physical and soul aspects were often lacking. That is why Liang had focused his efforts on the Spirit System, believing it to be the cornerstone upon which everything else was built and strengthened.
Although many other experts might disagree with this approach, every expert has their own opinions. Ultimately, the strongest will always be the one who proves themselves to be right.
With this in mind, Liang crossed his legs and entered another cultivation session.
**One month later**
A melodic chuckle pierced through the serene silence of the room. "I hope I am not too late."
Liang, who was still engrossed in cultivation, remained unresponsive.
A woman’s figure gradually materialized before Liang’s eyes. Of course, it was none other than Dong Rui.
Without rushing, Dong Rui took a seat across from Liang. "I know I am a month late, but believe me, I made the journey as quickly as I could," she said sheepishly.
"If you had been another week late, I would have already left," Liang replied bluntly.
Hearing this, Dong Rui sighed with relief. "I suppose you have restored your cultivation base to its former strength, right?" she asked.
"It was only a matter of time," Liang said nonchalantly.
"Reaching the ’Runic Mastery Realm’ is just a matter of time?" Dong Rui couldn’t help but curse inwardly at Liang’s dismissive words.
"Yes, I agree," she replied reluctantly, her pride slightly wounded.
"It seems like your journey has been quite fruitful," Liang observed.
"Oh, you noticed?" Dong Rui smiled, a hint of triumph in her eyes. To reach this stage, she had sacrificed and endured countless challenges.
"Of course, I noticed. The aura of a Runic Mastery expert cannot be completely concealed, especially from a newcomer like you," Liang said wryly.
"Newcomer? Hmph, just wait and see. It won’t be long before this young lady becomes a Divine," Dong Rui retorted.
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"I’ll pass on that, it would take a lifetime for that to happen," Liang said dismissively.
"You!" Dong Rui could not help but stamp her foot in frustration.
"Me, what?" Liang replied calmly.
"Nevermind," she said. "By the way, was it difficult?" she asked, changing the subject.
"What are you talking about?"
"I mean the lightning tribulation," Dong Rui explained. Her face had turned serious.
Almost every seventh-order realm expert had faced one or two lightning tribulations during the time of the Kun Peng Ancestor’s reign.
Some managed to endure it, while others perished or chose to ascend. The number of seventh-order experts had dwindled to half of what it had been before the Kun Peng Ancestor emerged.
"Oh, I didn’t face one. Like you, I’m still considered a new ascender," Liang explained.
"Oh, I forgot about that." Dong Rui chuckled.
Liang’s eyes flickered. It seemed like his late ascension had turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
"If that’s everything, then let’s go," Liang said as he stood up.
Soon after, the two of them arrived at the peak of a nearby mountain, which stood tall at a height of approximately one hundred li (fifty kilometers), It’s summit piercing the heavens, The air was thinner here, and the surrounding landscape unfolded below them like a meticulously detailed tapestry, rich with the lush greens of the forests and the sparkling blues of distant rivers, all shrouded in a layer of mist that danced around the peaks and valleys like a living entity.
Dong Rui, with a gravity in her movements, flapped her hand elegantly, and from the thin air, a jade cube materialized. Her gaze, previously soft and contemplative, sharpened as she imbued the cube with her Ethereal Will, activiting it.
The cube suddenly began to rotate, faster and faster in a blur, until it was hard to distinguish its form. Then, as if responding to an invisible signal, a spirit formation emerged from its core, intricate patterns weaving through the air like threads of light. From the depth of this luminous formation, a beam of radiant light shot upward, piercing the sky, its brightness rivaling that of the sun itself.
Liang, watching this unfold, felt a twitch in his eyes. Although he had vicariously experienced this process through the old man’s memories, witnessing it firsthand was an entirely different reality. His lips curled into an involuntary smile.
"Too much! That’s too much just for crossing a bridge!!"
As if guided by an unseen hand - or perhaps it was truly magic - a path of light began to form in the air before them. It was not merely a beam or a simple bridge; it was a luminous, ethereal pathway, unveiling itself step by step.
Liang’s eyes sparkled with amusement as he gazed upon this impressive construct. With a chuckle, he took a step forward. Dong Rui’s eyes mirrored his amusement as she followed suit.