On the path to immortality, this scene is the best ending.
Tianyan Sect, side hall of Yingke Peak.
Outside the window, the sea of clouds churned, while inside the hall, the fragrance of sandalwood wafted.
Fang Li, dressed in simple, elegant clothes, was playing chess with Xie Chen.
Black and white pieces were scattered on a jade plate. Xie Chen held the white piece, his fingertips gleaming with starlight as he placed the piece with composure. Fang Li rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought, sometimes frowning, sometimes smiling.
Ji Qianqiu lay sprawled on the soft couch beside him, snoring loudly, fast asleep, while the axe leaned casually against the couch.
"Tap." Xie Chen placed a piece, blocking the path of Fang Li's large group of stones, and said with a slight smile, "Li'er, you have to be careful in this game."
Just as Fang Li was about to make a move to counterattack, a respectful announcement came from outside the hall: "Elder Li, Sect Master Chu of the Qingxu Sect has sent an envoy with congratulatory gifts and a letter."
An inner sect steward bowed and entered, presenting with both hands a jade slip shimmering with light and a storage bag embroidered with the cloud patterns of the Qingxu Sect.
Fang Li put down the chess piece, took the jade slip, and probed it with her divine sense. Chu Yunfan's gentle and steady voice came from the jade slip, just as before, but with an added touch of sect leader's majesty.
The letter began with sincere congratulations to the Tianyan Sect on all its successes, expressing respect to Fang Li, Ye Wuyang, and others. It then mentioned the recent situation of the Qingxu Sect, stating that the remnants of the Soul Devouring Cult had been eliminated, and that all major sects were recuperating, resulting in a thriving cultivation world. Between the lines, the letter revealed a gentlemanly demeanor, as well as a touch of subtle concern.
Fang Li's lips unconsciously curved into a smile: "Senior Brother Yun Fan...you're so thoughtful." She thought of the young man in blue robes who always smelled of medicine and was gentle and refined, handing over pills. Now he was the leader of a sect and had found his own path. She felt quite gratified.
Xie Chen chuckled lightly, fanning himself with his fan. His gaze swept over the storage bag, and with a slight probe of his divine sense, he understood: "Sect Master Chu's reputation for benevolence and skill has spread throughout the cultivation world. Under his governance, the Qingxu Sect is well-organized, and he has generously distributed many rare pill formulas to the world, benefiting all living beings. He is truly a benevolent man." His tone was full of praise.
At this moment, Ji Qianqiu was awakened by the voices. He sat up, rubbing his sleepy eyes, and asked in a muffled voice, "Who is it? They're disturbing my sweet dreams... Chu Yunfan? Oh! That pretty boy who used to always bring my junior sister pills? How is he now? Is he still so bookish?"
Fang Li handed the storage bag to Xie Chen, which contained various rare spiritual herb seeds. She instructed the steward, "Report to Sect Master Chu that Tianyan Sect has accepted the sentiments and gifts. May Qingxu Sect prosper and may Senior Brother Yunfan have all his wishes fulfilled." She paused, a sly glint in her eyes, "Also... please pass on a message for me: May my old friend be well, and do not worry."
The deacon bowed and accepted the order: "I will obey the elder's decree." He then quietly withdrew.
Fang Li then looked at Ji Qianqiu: "He's doing very well. He's found his own path. He's practicing medicine to help people and spreading the Dao of alchemy. That's good."
Ji Qianqiu scratched his head, seemingly understanding but not quite: "Oh... as long as there's no fighting, that's good, that's good." He then lay down and wanted to sleep again.
This is the Yixing Peak Pavilion at this time.
Master Qingxuan is now living a life of pure bliss. Every day he either plays chess with Elder Honglie and relentlessly takes back his moves, or teases the increasingly plump little Tuntun, or strolls to Yixing Peak, ostensibly to instruct his grand-disciple, but in reality to freeload and enjoy watching the daily drama of his disciples and nephews vying for his affections. He never tires of this.
On this day, a game of chess was in full swing inside the pavilion.
Master Qingxuan held a black piece, his brow furrowed. He was about to lose again when suddenly his eyes lit up. He secretly tried to use his finger to move a crucial piece back to its original position: "Ahem... I slipped! It doesn't count!"
Across from him, Elder Hong Lie, with his bushy beard and imposing figure, slammed his hand on the stone table, causing the chess pieces to bounce wildly. He grabbed Qingxuan Zhenren's hand and roared, "You old codger! Taking back your move again! You've had this bad habit for ten thousand years and still haven't changed! You were like this when we played chess in the Ancestral Hall back then!"
Master Qingxuan immediately glared and bristled, "Hong Lie! I'm striving for perfection! I'm observing and learning! What do you know?!"
The two were arguing heatedly when Fang Li gracefully approached carrying a plate of freshly baked Hundred Flower Spirit Cakes: "Master, Uncle Hong Lie, please try some of the newly made pastries."
Master Qingxuan's expression changed instantly. He pulled his hand back, picked up a piece of spirit cake, stuffed it into his mouth, and praised it indistinctly: "Oh! My good disciple still cares about his master! Hmm! Sweet and soft, full of spiritual energy! Much better than some guys' disciples, who roast beast meat like charcoal!" As he spoke, he glanced at Hong Lie with a smug look.
Elder Honglie was so angry that his beard stood on end: "You!...Nephew, you be the judge! This old fellow thinks he can take back his move and still have the nerve to complain!"
Fang Li couldn't help but chuckle. She placed the pastries on the stone table and said softly, "Master, please let Uncle Hong Lie have a turn. It's just a game of chess."
Master Qingxuan grumbled and mumbled, but taking advantage of Hong Lie's inattention, he quickly rearranged the chessboard: "Fine, fine! For the sake of my good disciple, I won't hold it against you! Let's start again!"
Elder Honglie looked at the messy chessboard, speechless, and could only angrily pick up a piece of spirit cake and take a big bite.
The spiritual veins of the back mountain.
Little Tun has now grown into a majestic Chaos Devouring Beast! It lies there, surrounded by chaotic energy, exuding an awe-inspiring power.
Several disciples were passing by on a mission when they pointed at the enormous creature in the distance, whispering among themselves, their eyes filled with admiration.
"Look! Tun Tun is sleeping in the core of the spiritual vein again! This aura... feels even stronger than the last time I saw it!"
"More than strong! Last month, a few ignorant remnants of the demonic path tried to sneak in from the back mountain, but before they even got close to the mountain gate, they were blown away by the chaotic ripples from Tun Tun's sneeze, and they're still unconscious!"
"And just a few days ago! Elder Liu was refining the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir when he attracted the Nine-Nine Elixir Tribulation. Just when the last one was about to destroy the alchemy room, Tun Tun just lazily opened its mouth and swallowed the tribulation cloud! After it was done, it even let out a burp! It's simply divine!"
As they were discussing this, Fang Li's figure quietly appeared and landed lightly beside Xiao Tun Tun.
"Lazybones, sleeping again?" Fang Li smiled and gently tapped its scales with her toe.
Little Tun Tun opened its eyelids a crack, its pupils focused, and upon seeing that it was Fang Li, it immediately made an affectionate "woo-woo-woo" sound, gently nuzzling her with its nose. Although it controlled its strength, it still almost knocked Fang Li over.
Fang Li steadied herself and patted its huge nose: "Alright, alright, I know you've done a great job and worked hard to protect the sect. Here, Qianqiu specially grilled some dragon tail beast meat skewers for you, with extra seasoning, all you can eat."
Upon hearing this, Little Tun Tun instantly woke up. Its eyes, as big as copper bells, widened, and saliva gushed down like a waterfall. It let out a deafening, joyful roar: "Awoo—!" With its big mouth open, it accurately caught the meat skewer that Fang Li threw, swallowed it without even chewing, and rolled on the ground with satisfaction. Instantly, the ground shook and rocks tumbled everywhere.
Fang Li sighed, rubbing her forehead, and called out helplessly, "Be gentle! You idiot! You're going to roll the mountain gate down!"
On this day, a ripple occurred within the main hall, and Fang Yan emerged from the interdimensional passage, looking travel-worn. His brows held a touch of authority, but his gaze softened instantly upon seeing Fang Li.
He handed Fang Li a storage ring imbued with chaotic energy: "My parents asked me to deliver this. It contains a newly discovered batch of top-grade chaotic crystals, which will be beneficial for stabilizing your cultivation level. There's also 'Hundred Flower Immortal Dew,' brewed by my mother herself. She instructed you to drink it daily to nourish your soul." His gaze swept over Ye Wuyang, Shen Yunzhou, Ji Qianqiu, and Xie Chen, who had rushed over upon hearing the news. His brows furrowed slightly as usual, and he asked routinely, "Little sister, they... didn't bully you, did they?"
Ji Qianqiu was the first to answer, patting his chest: "Brother-in-law! How could that be! I'm the best to my junior sister! I always give her the best food and fun things!"
Xie Chen chuckled lightly, fanning himself, and said calmly, "Brother Jiang is too kind. Li'er is the apple of our eye. We cherish her so much, how could we dare to neglect her?"
Shen Yunzhou spoke succinctly, his sword aura slightly diminished: "No one can bully her."
Ye Wuyang merely glanced coldly at Jiang Yan without saying a word, but the chilling aura emanating from her subsided somewhat.
Fang Li interrupted the slightly awkward "interrogation" with a smile: "Brother, I'm fine. Do I look like I've been bullied? How are Father and Mother doing in the Upper Realm? Is the situation in Li Yuan still stable?"
Fang Yan's expression softened slightly, and he nodded, saying, "Yes. The situation in Li Yuan and even the Upper Realm has been basically stabilized. Although the remaining forces of the Celestial Court have not been completely eliminated, they are no longer a threat. Your parents just... miss you." He sighed, his tone tinged with helplessness and affection, "We may not say it, but we think about you a lot. When you have time... go back and visit often."
Fang Li felt a warmth in her heart and gripped the ring in her hand tightly: "I understand. Brother, please thank Father and Mother for me."
----------------
At the highest peak of the Tianyan Sect, there is a suspended celestial platform called "Wangshu".
This place is shrouded in mist all year round, as if it were separate from the mortal world. Standing here, one can look down upon a landscape of mountains and rivers as beautiful as a painting, with the sect's pavilions appearing and disappearing in the sea of clouds.
Looking up, one sees an endless sea of stars and the Milky Way cascading down.
This is a forbidden area of the sect, and also a pure land where Fang Li and his four companions often meditate.
Tonight, the moon is full, and its bright light envelops the entire Sendai in a hazy glow.
In the center of Sendai, there was a soft, snow-white jade couch.
Fang Li lay reclining on it, wearing an elegant long dress, her black hair flowing like a waterfall, casually draped over her shoulders.
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze gentle, as she slowly swept over the four people beside her.
A thousand years seem to have left no trace on her face; a smile plays on her lips, serene and content.
Little Liuli transformed into a palm-sized, seven-colored Qilin, quietly curled up on the plush blanket at her feet, purring softly, her fluffy tail occasionally twitching unconsciously.
In a corner of Sendai, Ye Wuyang, dressed in an ice-blue robe, sat quietly before a chessboard carved from millennia-old cold jade.
He held an ice crystal chess piece between his fingers, his gaze calmly fixed on the crisscrossing chessboard.
This chess game was a deduction of the laws of heaven by him alone. Every move he made caused the celestial radiance to subtly shift.
At the edge of the cliff, Shen Yunzhou, dressed in white, stood with his long sword in his arms and his eyes closed.
The night breeze stirred his clothes and hair as he quietly sensed the subtle sword intent flowing between heaven and earth, and the gentle breeze that swept across the mountain peak. The sword in his arms occasionally emitted a soft hum, echoing the sound of the wind.
Not far away, Ji Qianqiu, with his sleeves rolled up, revealing his muscular, bronze-colored forearms, was squatting in front of a small purple clay stove, intently brewing a pot of spiritual tea.
He controlled the heat perfectly, and the aroma of the tea rose gently, bringing a unique warmth to the cool moonlit night.
Xie Chen leaned lazily against a soft couch that shimmered with star runes, holding an ancient book in his hand.
He smiled, occasionally lifting his gaze from the pages of his book to sweep over Ye Wuyang before the chessboard, Shen Yunzhou by the cliff, and Ji Qianqiu brewing tea. In the end, his gaze always landed on the figure on the jade couch in the center, his eyes tender.
Even Little Tun Tun, whose massive body was as large as a small mountain, obediently nestled in the most spacious corner of the Sendai, suppressing its usual terrifying momentum of spewing chaos, and simply lying quietly, breathing long and deep, with each breath, it naturally absorbed strands of pure moonlight.
All was quiet except for the sound of the wind, the soft sound of boiling water, and the turning of pages.
After a long silence, Fang Li finally spoke softly, her voice tinged with a distant感慨: "The path to immortality is long... Thinking back to those days, the brush with death, the wanderings through reincarnation, the turmoil and chaos when I first arrived at the sect... Now, it all seems like a lifetime ago..."
Her gaze swept over the four people beside her again, and the smile in her eyes deepened: "The journey has been full of ups and downs, but fortunately... we have traveled together."
Ye Wuyang's fingers, which were holding a chess piece, paused slightly. He looked up and met her gaze across the distance. His eyes were filled with tenderness.
He didn't say anything, but slowly placed the ice crystal chess piece between his fingers on a seemingly insignificant spot on the chessboard.
At the edge of the cliff, the ancient sword Shen Yunzhou was holding emitted a clear, melodious hum, as if responding to her whisper.
He kept his eyes closed, but the sharp sword intent around him softened under the moonlight, silently lingering around the platform.
Ji Qianqiu had just finished brewing the tea. He carefully poured the first cup of fragrant spiritual tea into a jade cup, and without even looking at anyone else, naturally held it with both hands and handed it to Fang Li. He grinned and revealed an incredibly bright smile that looked especially warm and dazzling in the moonlight: "Junior Sister, the tea is ready. Drink it while it's hot." The simplest words, the most straightforward sentiment.
Xie Chen finally put down the book in his hand, gently waved his jade fan, and looked at Fang Li. He didn't need to say anything; everything was understood in his smiling gaze.
He knew that their bond had long transcended words and worldly promises. A thousand years of companionship and countless life-and-death experiences had deeply imprinted their souls on each other's lives and paths, their hearts in perfect harmony, inseparable.
Fang Li accepted the tea from Ji Qianqiu, its warmth seeping through the cup. She slowly closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and felt the aroma of tea, cool air, ink, and sunshine fill her heart.
No more disputes, no more regrets, no more hesitation.
On the path to immortality, to have such a scene, such a person by your side, is the best ending, the final destination.
—The End—
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