Time slipped by, and a day passed in the blink of an eye.

When the next day arrived, Shen Bai had already packed. He stored all his miscellaneous belongings in the space of his Life and Death Storage Skill, then headed for the door.

A horse-drawn carriage was already waiting outside, its driver perched on the seat.

To Shen Bai’s surprise, Liu Wufeng and a crowd of other members from the Observatory were standing beside it, waiting for him.

Everyone looked at Shen Bai, their gazes tinged with reluctance to see him go.

Shen Bai’s arrival in Fenglin State had been like the rise of a brilliant star, yet he had remained unfailingly humble, earning the deep affection of the Fenglin Observatory.

Every member treated Shen Bai with the utmost friendliness.

Now that Shen Bai was leaving, many had come to see him off. If they weren’t worried about disrupting the Observatory’s daily operations, the entire organization would have likely turned out.

Everyone escorted him all the way to the city gates. There, Shen Bai cupped his fist in farewell.

"Everyone, I will remember my time in Fenglin State. If I have the chance in the future, I will certainly return to see you all and share a drink."

Liu Wufeng nodded. "Be careful on your journey. Though many factions have suffered setbacks, the Wild Taoist Sect and the Wild Buddha Sect won’t give up so easily. And then there’s Xinhua Academy. If you encounter any enemies, just kill them."

Elder Mu said, "Think of that Sword Token as a memento from me. If you ever miss this old man, you can take it out for a look."

Long Yan covered her mouth with a light laugh. "Shen Bai, if you find a girl you fancy over there, don’t wait to make your move. With your reputation, plenty of girls will probably be interested, so be sure to keep your eyes open."

One by one, the crowd shared their parting words.

When it was almost time to depart, Shen Bai returned to the carriage.

With the crack of the driver’s whip, the carriage began its journey, slowly receding into the distance.

Liu Wufeng watched the carriage disappear and sighed. "He leaves now like a great eagle, spreading its wings to soar through the heavens. Shen Bai’s name will surely resound throughout the Great Zhou Country, and perhaps even the entire world."

"It is Fenglin State’s good fortune that he came from here."

Elder Mu chuckled. "That boy is destined to reach the pinnacle. I have high hopes for him. In the future, he will surely soar through the heavens like a dragon."

The two exchanged a look, then turned and headed back toward the Observatory.

Fenglin State was quiet today, but any well-informed Jianghu influence knew that the man was now making his way into the wider world...

...

The official road was silent, the only sound and movement coming from the carriage as it journeyed on.

It was deep into autumn now, and the leaves on the trees lining the road were a withered yellow.

A gust of wind would send a few leaves scattering down, spiraling to the ground.

The carriage traveled at great speed, and the look of excitement on the driver’s face never faded.

In all his years as a driver, he had served countless people and seen all manner of strange individuals. His profession was, in a way, a window into all walks of life.

But today was different.

The distinguished passenger in his carriage was unlike anyone he had ever served.

Shen Bai. A noble of Fenglin State, known as the Eight Extremes Young Master. A brilliant new star of the Jianghu, unmatched among the younger generation. The future hope of the Great Zhou Country, a master of Overcoming Adversity and Attacking Upward.

All these titles belonged to the distinguished man in his carriage, and the driver felt honored just to be in his service.

Even though it was deep autumn and the weather had turned chilly, the driver felt a fervent heat coursing through his veins.

He even imagined that when he was old, if he had any children, he could boast to them about the time he, in his youth, had met Lord Shen.

To his disappointment, however, Lord Shen had barely spoken a word since entering the carriage.

Though a curtain blocked his view, flashes of white light occasionally seeped out, letting the driver know that Lord Shen was practicing a Cultivation Technique inside.

Only when they stopped at post stations would the distinguished Lord Shen emerge from the carriage to exchange a few words with him.

But even those few simple words were enough to make the driver thrill with excitement.

He was also deeply moved by Lord Shen’s diligence.

Everyone knew that talent and hard work were not mutually exclusive; the two were interdependent, complementing one another.

But the driver was the one to witness it firsthand: this Lord Shen was the very picture of diligence.

He was talented—exceptionally so—yet despite his peerless gifts, he remained incomparably diligent.

It made even the driver feel inadequate by comparison.

Any of the younger generation who dreamed of catching up to Shen Bai would probably feel their efforts were an illusion, a futile dream, if they witnessed his diligence.

After all, you can work hard, and so can they. But if they are more talented than you, your hard work is nothing but a fleeting fantasy.

It was a cruel thing to think, but it was the truth.

"Lord Shen, the last post station is just ahead. Shall we rest for a bit?" the driver asked, slowing the carriage slightly.

Inside the carriage, Shen Bai was still grinding the Skill Level of his Chaotic Heart Spell.

Thanks to a few bonuses, this Divine Power already had a Skill Level of 7,000 points, making it the one closest to leveling up.

Shen Bai wasn’t about to ignore the low-hanging fruit.

Throughout the long, arduous journey, he hadn’t stopped for a moment, and the Skill Level of his Chaotic Heart Spell had improved significantly as a result.

It hadn’t reached the next Level yet, but it wasn’t far off.

Hearing the driver’s words, Shen Bai snapped out of his concentration.

"Let’s rest for a while," he said. "This constant travel has gotten a bit tiring."

In any case, he was only a stone’s throw from Nanxing Prefecture, so Shen Bai didn’t mind stopping at the post station for a short break.