Wen Jingshu felt a mixture of uncertainty and certainty. As her surroundings brightened, she realized she was inside an immortal palace.
The layout of the palace was not much different from an imperial palace in the mortal realm, but the materials used and the sheer scale were on a completely different level.
Everywhere she looked in the immortal palace, white jade paved the floors, jade pillars supported the structure, and even the tables, chairs, ornaments, doors, and windows were carved from pure jade. Coupled with the silvery-white curtains and the dense, almost solid white immortal qi swirling beneath her feet, it truly fulfilled every cultivator's fantasy of the Immortal Realm.
Wen Jingshu raised her hand and examined herself, only to find that she had actually turned into a semi-transparent spirit!
Looking up toward the sound of a voice, she once again saw Sui Qi's breathtakingly beautiful face.
Only this time, Sui Qi possessed none of the carefree, wild nature from when they first met. He wore a moon-white, wide-sleeved immortal robe that was entirely free of dust, its edges embroidered with dark silver drifting clouds.
A few stray locks of hair fell along his cheeks, accentuating his cold, sharp jawline.
His eyes were pitch-black like ink, resembling an ancient, frozen pool—devoid of ripples or warmth. When he looked at someone, his gaze never lingered for more than half a breath, as if no person or matter in the mortal world could ever enter his sight.
Though his attire and posture were casual, his aloof, unapproachable aura cast an unattainable, holy glow over him.
He resembled a banished immortal who paid no heed to worldly affairs, standing high above, making one instinctively feel respect and fear to defile him.
The beauty mark at the corner of his right eye added a touch of charm to his appearance.
This image of Sui Qi as a white-robed, untouchable flower on a high peak was a stark contrast to the vibrant, high-spirited youth in fine clothing she had first met.
Caught off guard by this stunning beauty, Wen Jingshu's heart skipped a beat or two.
Very well. This beautiful youth with two faces had successfully caught her attention.
However, her current situation did not allow for any romantic musings. She floated in a circle around Sui Qi, admiring his peerless beauty up close for a moment before reaching out to touch his sleeve, patting his shoulder, and whispering, “Sui Qi? Seventh Brother?”
The black-robed man kneeling in front of Sui Qi also heard a young girl's voice and instinctively wanted to search for it, but he was lightly reprimanded by Sui Qi: “Withdraw.”
The black-robed man knew his young master's temperament well. He did not even dare to raise his head as he responded. Keeping his eyes fixed on the floor, he backed out of the room with a hunched posture.
Once the man was gone, Sui Qi finally breathed a sigh of relief. He patted his chest, instantly falling from his divine altar back into the mortal world.
“Shushu, is that you? Are you trying to scare me to death by suddenly popping up?
“You were the one touching my hand just now, right? I wondered why the back of my hand felt all tingly and itchy. Fortunately, I held it together. My public persona cannot crumble.
“Where are you? How did you suddenly come to the Immortal Realm? Don't tell me you've already ascended? No, that's not right. When I saw you last time, weren't you only at the Foundation Establishment Stage?
“No, no, your current state... hiss, did you activate the Immortal-Summoning Formation?
“You little brat, you really are bold. Is the Immortal-Summoning Formation something you can just use whenever you want?”
The youth looked toward the empty space opposite him with disapproval, completely unaware that Wen Jingshu was actually standing right beside him. Sui Qi was lecturing a whole lot of nothing.
Wen Jingshu watched the youth's lively demeanor, and only then did she feel a sense of familiarity.
She rubbed her nose sheepishly and said, “I didn't know either! I just saw the statues of the four divine beasts next to the formation, so I touched one. Who knew I'd inexplicably end up by your side...”
Sui Qi was speechless.
He recalled their first meeting in the divine ruin, where she had also been completely clueless.
That time she met him, she had successfully begun shedding her immortal bones and immortal roots. This time, she had actually used the Immortal-Summoning Formation to precisely teleport to his side.
He really didn't know whether to say Wen Jingshu's luck was heaven-defying, or if she was just incredibly lucky despite her misfortune.
“The Immortal-Summoning Formation is a heaven-defying formation that connects the lower realm directly to the Immortal Realm. It can transmit the living soul of someone from the cultivation world to the Immortal Realm. Generally speaking, it's used when descendants in the lower realm encounter a major crisis and have no choice but to use the formation to seek help from the Immortal Realm.
“Ten thousand years ago, this formation caused a small stir in the Immortal Realm, but it was ultimately a flawed product. Cultivators couldn't accurately pinpoint the person they wanted to find, so it eventually fell into obscurity.”
It was one thing for a divine ruin connecting the Immortal Realm and the cultivation world to bring them together, but now Wen Jingshu had stumbled upon the Immortal-Summoning Formation. Because of the small round bell he had gifted her, she had actually been precisely teleported to his side...
Suffice it to say, the connection between them was remarkably deep.
Upon hearing that her living soul had traveled to the Immortal Realm, Wen Jingshu panicked. “Then what should I do? How do I get back? Seventh Brother, do you have a way?
“If I can't go back, can I just stay in the Immortal Realm to cultivate?
“Switching to ghost cultivation is fine too! I'll just have to trouble you to help me find my parents, Seventh Brother.”
Seeing her panic, Sui Qi comforted her, “Don't worry. A living soul summoned by the Immortal-Summoning Formation can only stay in the Immortal Realm for one day. Once the time is up, you'll naturally return.
“Forget it, don't think too much about it. Since you can't go back right now anyway, and since you're already here, I'll take you out for a stroll.
“It just so happens that the peaches in my backyard are ripe. When I passed by them the day before yesterday, I thought about how pink and plump they were, just like your little face. They're perfect for a little cub like you.”
Having said this, Sui Qi stood up gracefully. Still facing the empty air, he held out his hand and said, “Come, take my hand. Don't get lost.”
Wen Jingshu silently moved from his side to stand in front of him, taking his large hand.
With a step, Sui Qi shrank the earth to a foot and exited his palace.
He didn't take Wen Jingshu to tour the immortal palace, but instead led her to a wonderland.
Here, peaks rose one after another, forests grew dense, and streams meandered through as immortal qi drifted about. In the sky, many floating islands poured water downward, forming waterfalls.
While Wen Jingshu was still admiring the beautiful scenery, she suddenly heard Sui Qi say, “I'll pick more for you to eat on your way back.”
Wen Jingshu was speechless.
Anyone who didn't know better would think her round trip was going to take forever...
“These fruits can strengthen the soul, fortify the physical body, and accelerate the shedding of your immortal bones. Eating more of them will do you good.
“Also, the fish here are pretty good. I'll catch a couple for you to roast and eat when you get back.
“Sigh, it's mainly because the lower realm is too fragile. If items from the Immortal Realm suddenly appear there, they'll be instantly obliterated by the Heavenly Dao. So, I can only get you some food.
“Once you ascend, I'll get you some truly good stuff.”
Wen Jingshu was speechless as she watched the youth completely let loose in front of her.
It was as if the banished immortal she had seen earlier wasn't him at all.
Perhaps because Wen Jingshu had seen him in his disheveled state when he was trapped, or perhaps because there was no conflict of interest or mutual deception between them—just a simple relationship between Sui Qi and Wen Jingshu—he unconsciously cast aside his disguise when facing her.
As a talisman cultivator, Wen Jingshu could understand Sui Qi.
There were far too many low-level cultivators who would turn on each other over a single third-rank spiritual plant, or work together to retrieve a treasure only to kill one another due to an uneven split.
If she wanted to survive, she had to suspect everyone around her, treat everyone as a villain, and remain one hundred percent vigilant.
Even if someone had once saved her life, she wouldn't dare trust them easily.
Although Sui Qi hadn't said anything, Wen Jingshu could tell he came from a powerful clan.
What genuine affection could there ever be within great families?
Drawing many connections in her mind, Wen Jingshu reached out to pat his shoulder and said, “Seventh Brother, you've had it rough.”
Sui Qi had no idea what Wen Jingshu was imagining. Thinking she was just saying it was hard work for him to pack the spiritual fruits for her, he waved his hand and said, “It's just a small matter!”
Heaven knew that if Wen Jingshu hadn't come, he would have been bored to death!
Ever since he returned after being trapped for a thousand years, those old fogies of the Sui family had practically treated him like the apple of their eye.
Yet, he had adopted a silent and aloof persona, making him too embarrassed to refuse the elders' goodwill.
Putting on airs every single day had put him on the verge of facial paralysis!
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