Yi Jue meant for Feng Jun to settle down for a while, suggesting he stay longer in the Lingmu Sect.

However, Feng Jun felt uncomfortable here. Although Yi Jue treated him well, to the Lingmu Sect, he was ultimately an outsider.

So he planned to return to Kunhao, but this time, Yi Jue had to stay in the Lingmu Sect.

She had spent too much time outside, whether in the lower realm Kunhao or in other plates of Tianqin. As a Nascent Soul Peak cultivator, she could hardly find a suitable environment to solidify her foundation and continue advancing.

As for the Void... it also inflicted some negative damage on her.

But none of this was the most crucial matter. The key was that in her battle with Tiegu, she had used the Thought of Dao twice, which indeed hurt her body. She would need at least two months to restore herself to optimal condition.

This doesn’t even include her promise of twice giving "life force" to the Jade Spore Skyworm.

However, the two times of Thought of Dao owed to the Sky Worm, she planned to hold off for at least ten years. Although her body could be in great condition after two months, she still needed to stabilize it for a period. Frequent usage would easily damage the foundation, let alone needing to save some for unexpected situations.

The Sky Worm completely understood her concerns, saying it’s perfect as I also lost some essence and need some time to replenish. When my body is in great shape, you can use the life force on me for a much better effect.

Yi Jue truly wanted to accompany Feng Jun to Kunhao, but unfortunately, the conditions were not suitable.

Feng Jun also advised against her going to Kunhao, saying you’re recognized as an Out-of-Body candidate with the capital to be capricious, but you mustn’t be too reckless; properly conditioning yourself is paramount. As for me... going alone doesn’t matter, I managed to survive those tough years before I met you.

And besides, there should still be at least three True Immortals keeping an eye on White Pebble Beach, so he really had nothing to worry about.

But with so many True Immortals, how could they possibly let him go to the lower realm alone?

Elder Qing Ji straightforwardly stated, "I’ll go down with you, it’s been many years since I returned to Crimson Pheonix."

Elder Qinghuang gave her a look as if she were a monster, thinking you avoided going to Kunhao since you ascended to avoid suspicion, and now suddenly you’re enlightened?

Generally speaking, True Immortals who have ascended strive to avoid too many contacts with their original plane, firstly to sever ties and secondly to avoid potential downsides.

For instance, Xia Nichang of Crimson Pheonix comes to Tianqin for business and may request to see Qing Ji, which is a favor. Qing Ji would send someone to receive her but rarely approaches herself—this is called maintaining boundaries.

Only when Qing Ji is aging and no longer hopeful for advancement, just eating and waiting for death, she might return to Kunhao a few times or even choose to die there—but usually, such a spiritually impoverished place is not suitable for True Immortals to spend their elder years.

Of course, these are implicit understandings and not explicitly laid out regulations, but anyone with any sense wouldn’t touch these taboos—the primary goal of a cultivator is still to seek personal transcendence.

Qinghuang simply couldn’t understand why Qing Ji had changed so much—Feng Jun is extraordinary, but you are an Elder already, what could you gain by violating the tacit understanding in currying favor with him?

Yet, he quickly realized—was there another gain in the Void journey?

He wasn’t the only one thinking like this. Elder Cang Jing also stated, saying, "I’ve been to many lower realms, but not to Kunhao. Why not take me with you, I could help guard you a bit."

Feng Jun glanced at her and said with a laugh and a cry, "There’s no Xuanshui Sect branch there, the spiritual energy is also impoverished."

"It doesn’t matter, I’m protecting you for Yi Jue," Elder Cang Jing stated very straightforwardly, "In this battle with the Lingmu Sect, I didn’t help much, just followed and shouted a couple of times, felt I did too little."

She spoke so plainly that Feng Jun naturally had no way to refuse and could only take the two of them to Kunhao.

He chose his path to Kunhao not via White Pebble Beach but through the Mingsha Fang Market because he truly couldn’t determine the situation there, and now that he possessed the Speculator, he was likely a target coveted by many.

Fortunately, he had built significant influence at White Pebble Beach after so long, and not only White Pebble Beach, but places like Lantern Town and Mingsha Fang Market had his scouts everywhere.

The scout reports were also timely enough, so upon arrival at Mingsha Fang Market, he directly contacted the Du Family’s agent there.

The Du Family had now formed an interest group centered around Du Wentian, specifically catering to services at White Pebble Beach, and in matters like this, even Du Wentian’s father wouldn’t interfere, strictly under his control.

As for this Mingsha Fang Market, forget the Wu Family in Lantern Town, even figures like Steward Gao couldn’t compete with the Du Family’s deep connections—Gao Tao was simply an executor at the market, while the Du Family had good relations with many disciples across the Four Sects and Wutai.

Soon, Feng Jun discovered that everything was normal at White Pebble Beach, with no enmity from the Lingmu Sect nor from the Wanhuan Sect.

Therefore, Feng Jun together with Qing Ji and Cang Jing, the two True Immortals, took a Flying Boat to reach White Pebble Beach—throughout the entire process, he was guarded against ambushes.

It wouldn’t be right to say his precautions were excessive, but indeed, nobody was foolish enough to provoke White Pebble Beach—the Dantai family had some small notions, but were directly suppressed by the Gongyang family, no outsiders could exert pressure.

Feng Jun returned to White Pebble Beach, narrowly avoiding danger. Now he must consider his own development, but some external threats must also be considered—specifically, the reputation of the Skytouch Mirror, which attracts countless attention.

Isn’t Tie Gu truly detestable? He’s indeed dead, but before his demise, he exposed the fact that Feng Jun possesses the Skytouch Mirror, clearly not wanting him to have peace—typical behavior of harming others without benefiting himself.

However, Feng Jun is indifferent to this. When he agreed initially, it demonstrated that the Skytouch Mirror was in his possession, partly to thwart Tie Gu’s sinister plot, and partly because he planned to withstand the wave of covetousness—whether one is strong or not isn’t determined by oneself, others must demonstrate it.

Feng Jun has always been quite cautious, but when it’s time to strive, he doesn’t lack passion and willingness to take risks!

However, before he could test human nature, he received explosive news: Xia Nichang successfully formed her Nascent Soul!

As the Supreme Elder of the Crimson Phoenix Sect, Xia Nichang’s successful formation of a Nascent Soul wasn’t newsworthy—she reached this cultivation level and is quite young, so why wouldn’t she succeed?

But in reality, everyone knew that Xia Taishang reached the Golden Core Peak more than a hundred years ago, and she didn’t seem eager to form her Nascent Soul—she was continually honing herself.

It’s not that she felt she couldn’t succeed—she could eventually attempt it, but there wasn’t a clear path to form her Nascent Soul, requiring gradual exploration.

Yet she interacted with Feng Jun for a period, requested his deductions, then returned to the Crimson Phoenix. In less than a year, she successfully formed her Nascent Soul.

The news came from Jiufeng True Immortal, who had been observing Xia Nichang’s formation process at the Crimson Phoenix Sect.

Upon hearing this, Feng Jun felt a little dazed—the one originally wanting to observe Xia Nichang’s success was Wan Qing.

He always had a good impression of Wan Qing, a very radiant figure who was very polite to him, always ready to negotiate—even conditions that might be considered excessive were agreed to without hesitation, communicating with him made one feel like basking in the spring breeze.

If not for discussing sexual orientation, Wan Qing was genuinely a good friend.

Nevertheless, he only paused for a moment, Wan Qing was no longer around, life must go on.

Jiufeng True Immortal came with the report, his primary task was deducing a series of reactions before Xia Nichang formed her Nascent Soul—the moments before were crucial, but afterwards, not so much.

If Wan Qing hadn’t encountered misfortune, Jiufeng wouldn’t have been involved, but life doesn’t offer so many ’ifs’.

Feng Jun had a good relationship with Jiufeng as well, after musing for a while, he finally digested the news and asked seriously, "When did Xia Taishang form her Nascent Soul?"

"Fifteen days ago," Jiufeng answered pensively, "She’s currently stabilizing her realm, it might take over a month to conclude."

Elder Qing Ji was equally concerned, "Did she trigger the celestial ascension of a True Immortal?"

Forming a Nascent Soul in the mortal realm often triggers quite a stir—Nascent Soul True Immortals are rare enough on the Tianqin Plane.

Thus, a Nascent Soul here in the mortal realm might be of little value, whereas True Immortals abound in the Higher Realm; but at the moment of forming a Nascent Soul, it might attract True Immortals from above, leading to immediate celestial guidance, with the completion of realm stabilization taking place in the Higher Realm.

"I heard there was some thought from Master Uncle Qian Feng, merely sweeping over it slightly," Jiufeng pondered aloud, "Whether Master Uncle has intentions of waiting for her to conclude before the ascension... I’m not very clear."

Elder Qing Ji furrowed her brows slightly; she hadn’t been quite concerned with the Crimson Phoenix’s new True Immortal before—due to well-known reasons, it wasn’t her responsibility in the mortal realm.

However, now that she arrived, Xia Nichang having formed her Nascent Soul after Feng Jun’s deductions, she ought not to ignore her, logically and emotionally.

After thinking it over, she spoke in a grave tone, "Fine, let me find Brother Qian Shu for ascension guidance then."

Feng Jun listened with curiosity, "You aren’t able to provide guidance yourself, correct?"

"Yes, to avoid suspicions," Elder Qing Ji answered decisively, trusting in Feng Jun’s comprehension, "But Xia Nichang is over five hundred... Master Elder Qian Feng probably looks down on her."

Forming a Nascent Soul before five hundred signifies remarkable talent; beyond that age becomes merely ’decent’, and Xia Nichang has exceeded five hundred fifty years, nearing the ’ordinary’ line of six hundred.

Feng Jun understood; if they await Xia Nichang’s emergence from seclusion and the Golden Crow subsequently dispatches ascension light, she’d be labeled ’unfit for major use’. However, if ascension guidance happens now, it proves someone still values her.

It’s the first Nascent Soul Feng Jun deduced; naturally, he hopes Xia Nichang’s success brings glory, and she indeed aided him considerably—one mustn’t forget their roots!

Thus, he nodded, "Given the circumstances, I’m also willing to support Nichang True Immortal, why don’t I send you to the Blazing Flame Plate now for more convenient communication?"

"You’re indeed considerate," Qing Ji True Immortal glanced at him, smiling while nodding, "Alright then, I’d take longer on my own!"

In that moment, she genuinely felt fortunate for choosing to accompany Feng Jun to Kunhao.