Ten years later, four figures gathered around an old, worn table inside the Jade Lotus Inn. The dim light cast long shadows across their faces as they quietly discussed their next move.
Bai Shuan spoke first, his tone steady and confident. "I will capture Zhang Wei's family and demand that he comes to the location we have arranged alone if he wishes to see them again."
Li Yan nodded slightly, her eyes gleaming with approval. "That's a smart move, and once the Monk senses that his disciple is in danger, he will come running."
Mi Ling remained calm as she added her thoughts, her voice measured and precise. "We will watch from the shadows and strike with full force when the time is right."
Li Yan let out a quiet sigh, her expression turning slightly regretful. "It's unfortunate that Xue Ren won't be joining us."
Chang Jin gave a low chuckle, leaning back slightly in his seat. "Everyone has their own Dao Heart. We can't force him to join us."
Bai Shuan nodded in agreement, his expression firm. "Indeed, we'll need to move forward without him."
Li Yan's brows furrowed slightly as unease crept into her voice. "But what if something goes wrong?"
Chang Jin waved his hand dismissively, his tone reassuring. "We can't worry about what we can't control. Let's focus on executing the plan flawlessly. Plus, we aren't alone in this."
The group fell silent for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts. Then Bai Shuan stood up, breaking the stillness. "Alright, let's begin. I'll leave first."
One by one, they rose and left the inn, disappearing into the night without drawing attention. Not long after, an old man stepped out from the shadows near the entrance, his gaze lingering in the direction they had gone.
He retrieved a jade pendant from his sleeve, observing it briefly before slipping it away again. Without another glance, his figure faded into the darkness, vanishing as if he had never been there.
---
After the destruction of the Free Heart Pavilion, Han Zhi led a group of cultivators to search every corner of the city. They left no place unchecked, yet despite their thorough efforts, Liang Yifei remained nowhere to be found.
Forced to return empty-handed, Han Zhi stood before a black-robed man, his expression tense. "Are you absolutely certain?"
The man nodded solemnly, his voice calm and unwavering. "Also, it's been seventy years, but I am as certain as the sun will rise tomorrow. It was revealed by the city lord's wife to her friends while under the influence of alcohol."
Han Zhi clenched his jaw, frustration flickering across his face. "I cannot believe that the City Lord possessed such information and chose not to share it with us."
The black-robed man's gaze darkened slightly as he responded. "Even if he had told us, it wouldn't have made a difference. You arrived too late to witness the earthquake and subsequent explosion that shook the city when the Purple Heaven House collapsed."
He paused briefly before continuing, his tone heavy with meaning. "This pagoda has stood for almost twenty thousand years and has withstood countless wars and calamities. The power required to cause this sort of destruction is beyond what a Spirit Severing cultivator could conjure."
Han Zhi forced a polite smile, suppressing the unease in his heart. "Regardless, thank you for sharing this valuable information with me, Brother Dong. If you ever need any assistance in the future, don't hesitate to contact me."
Brother Dong gave a slight nod before turning and disappearing into the crowd. Watching him leave, Han Zhi felt a lingering sense of unease settle within him.
Their enemy was far more powerful than expected, always staying one step ahead. If he did not act quickly, the situation would only worsen.
As he made his way back to Arcane City, his thoughts drifted toward Liang Yifei. It had been nearly seventy years since it was confirmed that he was alive, yet his whereabouts remained unknown.
"A man who dared to oppose the Heavenly Mist Palace Lord…" Han Zhi muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Given that no news of his death had surfaced, it could only mean one thing—Liang Yifei was still alive.
"But where is he now…"
At the same time, another concern weighed on his mind.
"With the involvement of the Heavenly Mist Palace… this is no longer something I can handle alone."
He recalled the warning given by the Realm Lord, remembering the immense power that stood behind the Palace Lord. Even the jade stone he carried would be of little use against such a force.
"I need to report this immediately."
---
Back within the cave, nearly a decade had passed since Yang Wu's departure. Liang finally opened his eyes, his aura now completely stable.
"I can hardly believe that it only took me ten years to stabilize my cultivation," he murmured, a trace of amazement in his expression. "Indeed, my mortal body from back then is incomparable to my current body."
Without hesitation, his thoughts turned toward the next step.
"The third stage… Space Rifts."
Once mastered, it would allow him to transport objects across worlds, and eventually, even himself.
"That will be enough to travel to the Devil Realm."
Liang sat cross-legged on the cold ground, his breathing steady as he focused inward. The Void Qi within his body began to circulate, drawn from the Golden Lotus above his dantian.
As he guided the energy outward, space itself began to distort.
At first, the change was subtle, barely noticeable. A faint ripple formed in the air, unstable and constantly shifting.
Liang frowned slightly. "Not enough… stabilize it first."
He continued to channel more Void Qi, carefully controlling its flow. Gradually, the distortion grew, the small ripple expanding into a visible rift.
The opening widened, deepening as its structure became clearer. For a moment, it seemed as though he had succeeded.
But then—
The rift collapsed.
Void Qi scattered violently in all directions, and the backlash struck instantly.
Liang gasped, his body trembling as pain surged through him. The sudden collapse disrupted his control completely, forcing the energy to disperse.
"…Failed."
He took a slow breath, steadying himself as the pain subsided.
"I rushed it."
Closing his eyes again, he calmed his thoughts, forcing himself to regain composure.
"I need better control… not more force."
Though time was pressing, he understood the risk of impatience.
"If I force it… the backlash will only get worse."
With that in mind, he settled back into meditation, preparing to start again.