“Looking at the sorrow etched on the faces of the immortal partners, Ye Yu could not help but sigh.
In truth, he had never expected this day to come so soon. He had even considered staying longer in the Celestial Realm to spend more time with his immortal companions—waiting until Feng Yingzhi could forge a divine artifact capable of carrying them all together to the Divine Realm. Alas, man proposes but Heaven disposes.
Because Ye Yu had neglected his cultivation and indulged in idleness, he had inadvertently triggered Thousand Dreams Illusion: Idleness Reigns Supreme, propelling him—already in the late Immortal Emperor stage—another significant step forward. He was now fracturing the void and on the verge of ascending to the Divine Realm. Was this not also a twist of Fate?
Ye Yu gently brushed the tears from Li Ruowang’s cheeks and spoke softly, “I promise you: once I find a way for you all to reach the Divine Realm, I will return for you. That day will not be long in coming.”
At the very back, Feng Yingzhi raised his right hand earnestly. “I will continue my efforts!”
Ye Yu managed a faint smile, but before he could say more, the space around them flickered into a void. His figure gradually dissolved, finally coalescing into points of star‐light that streaked upward into the heavens, vanishing entirely from the Celestial Realm.
Within the Wuwei Pagoda, everyone’s hearts grew heavy at his departure. Zhu Diezhen closed her eyes for a moment; when she reopened them, her composure had returned. “Rather than mourn, we should find ways to cultivate faster and follow him to the Divine Realm. Feng Yingzhi, continue your research on divine artifacts—if you need anything, any one of us will help. As for cultivation resources, Husband gave me plenty; I’ll place them in the main hall for anyone to take as needed. Li Ruowang, you have the best chance to be the second to enter the Divine Realm—keep working hard!”
With Ye Yu gone, the sisters set aside rivalry and pledged mutual support. Zhu Diezhen adjusted fastest to her new role. Li Ruowang and the others nodded in agreement, then all looked skyward once more—previously from the Mortal Realm gazing at the Celestial, now from the Celestial gazing at the Divine. Though the journey would be arduous, they would never give up.
Moments later, Ye Yu stood at last in the Divine Realm. The sparse, unfamiliar terrain felt strange, yet the divine power permeating the air struck him as oddly familiar. He had truly stepped into the Divine Realm of reality at last.
He wondered where Gū Jī (Bone Concubine), Shen Fuxin, Yinghuo, and Little White were, and how they fared. “Hmm—let’s start with Gū Jī,” he thought, steadying his mind to survey the surroundings. This place seemed entirely uncharted; he could not discern any direction.
Ye Yu immediately swept the area with his divine sense, only to discover something shocking: he had shattered the void into the Divine Realm only to arrive upon a small island surrounded by seawater. Such a scene bewildered him. Previously, he had never heard of seawater or islands in the Divine Realm—only plains and mountains. Whence all this water?
Puzzled, Ye Yu sped toward the island’s edge. Peering across the boundless sea, his brow furrowed. “Where on earth am I? Is this really the Divine Realm?”
Unbeknownst to him, beneath these waters a youth looked up and watched him depart. “It seems the Great Epoch’s effects are almost over. Recently, more have ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) entered the Divine Realm, and this time it’s faster than before. I hope they prove interesting. And you—keep going!” the youth murmured to the colossal creature beneath his feet. That immense form in the ocean bore the chill of oppression—if Ye Yu had seen it, he would recognize it as the Sea God from the Yāo Realm’s Divine Sea Assembly. He never would have guessed it existed in the Divine Realm, nor that the true Sea God was this unassuming youth.
After flying two hours, Ye Yu finally cleared the eerie waters and deduced from the landscape that he was near the Kūxīn Mountains. Yet in his dream‐memories, the Kūxīn region had been a basin, not an ocean. How did reality differ so wildly?
As Ye Yu pondered, he suddenly realized the sea had vanished behind him as if swallowed by the void. The strangeness sent a chill through him—had he lingered, he might have vanished with the waters. Danger lurked everywhere; in reality, a single fall offered no second chances.
Calming himself, Ye Yu set off toward where Gū Jī should be—surely still in Chuge’s village? No—if she had awakened from the dream, her temper would have made her slay that bastard Chuge at once, then rebuild the village as a new city while awaiting his return. That must be the outcome. He quickened his pace.
After a day and night of flight, Ye Yu reached the spot from his memories. Just as he had expected, Chuge’s village had vanished, replaced by the new city he recalled—identical in every detail, undoubtedly Gū Jī’s handiwork. Elated, he approached, only to find a layer of protective array around the city. Fortunately, the seal’s incantation matched that of his dream, and he slipped inside with ease.
He intended to surprise Gū Jī, but found the city utterly empty—she was nowhere to be seen. Where could she have gone? Out on some errand? Ye Yu frowned, deciding to wait and exhaust his remaining immortal power. Two days passed, yet still no sign of Gū Jī. He began to miss Little White; with that azure ox, things would have been much easier—alas, there are no “ifs.”
Since Gū Jī was absent, he would seek Shen Fuxin or Yinghuo next. Yinghuo should be easiest to find—she would likely be in the City of Balance. Even if not, the Balance God Yu Buxia could still contact her—assuming Yinghuo had indeed entered the Divine Realm, which should pose little difficulty given her strength.
Ye Yu left a “here I was” spirit‐stone behind in the new city and departed. To his surprise, upon leaving the divine city he encountered a familiar figure!
