[Time passed like a fleeting horse’s shadow—six years went by in a blur. The little pet grew taller by the day. His once-chubby, tender face gradually slimmed down, and his features began to take shape, hinting at future handsomeness. The only thing that hadn’t changed was how clingy and affectionate he still was.]
[During those six years, you slowed your cultivation and turned your focus to the many supporting arts of immortality. As the saying goes, “Martial strength thrives on wealth, and cultivation breaks through with fortune.” Cultivation requires a strong foundation of resources—and mastering the auxiliary arts of cultivation is how one earns spirit stones!]
[Over those years, your adopted son and little pet also began to shine. Though still not yet of age, he had already reached the mid-stage of Qi Refining, and was hailed as one of the sect’s top ten rising stars—a promising candidate for Foundation Establishment.]
[With praise and admiration, however, come responsibility and risk. And you saw this as clearly as day.]
“You’re heading down the mountain to train?”
On Qingyang Peak, inside a quiet cave residence.
A stunning woman clad in simple white robes lay on a bed carved from century-old warm jade.
Holding a book in his hand, Su Bai glanced up upon hearing his little pet’s first request in six years to descend the mountain for tempering.
Standing before him was a solemn and respectful youth—humble, yet unyielding.
His long black hair was tied neatly with a wooden hairpin at the back of his head.
His features were clean and defined, his eyes bright as stars, and a plain belt at his waist highlighted his youthful vigor and energy.
In just six short years, the once-chubby ball of fluff had grown into a spirited, handsome young man.
As a self-professed “tuantuan” lover, Su Bai could only sigh with disappointment—the little dumpling he used to adore was no more.
He put down the book and gazed calmly at the boy.
“I see. Just go and come back early.”
“Oh, right.”
He seemed to recall something and called out to Su Xiaohei just as the boy was about to leave, tossing him a storage pouch.
“There are some teleportation talismans inside. If you can’t win, run. Don’t go dying out there.”
“Thank you, Master!!”
Su Xiaohei clutched the pouch tightly, then exited the cave residence.
As he watched his little pet’s retreating back, Su Bai gently rubbed his now-smooth and refined chin, clicking his tongue a few times in amusement.
‘He’s all grown up now. Starting to yearn for the hustle and bustle beyond the mountain. His heart’s gone wild. Wants to go down the mountain, huh? Tsk tsk tsk…’
Su Bai muttered inwardly, then picked up a brush and added a line to his book.
[Simulated Year 40: Little pet requests to descend the mountain for training—permission granted.]
He paused, flipped back a few pages, and scanned the lines he had written earlier.
[Simulated Year 30: In Central State, the Wan Dao Sect—with its four peaks and twenty-eight mountains—vanished overnight without a trace, leaving only a bottomless abyss. The Immortal Alliance was alarmed and dispatched a Nascent Soul cultivator to investigate. No results.]
[Simulated Year 33: In Central State, the Immortal Soul Sect experienced a disaster in one of its subordinate cities—a plague of bone-gnawing night demons. A Golden Core cultivator suppressed it. In the aftermath, a hidden cave dwelling was revealed, yielding a Nascent Soul inheritance.]
[Simulated Year 37: In Central State, the Tianhe Sect saw the great River of Heaven—normally flowing west to east into the Eastern Sea—suddenly reverse its course. The water gathered entirely at the Tianhe Sect’s location. Rumors spoke of a rare treasure appearing, causing heaven and earth to change color.]
[Simulated Year… ]
These entries recorded the intel Su Bai had gathered over the years—emerging opportunities and hidden dangers.
All of it was in preparation for his next simulation.
***
“Fellow Daoist, how much is this Plum Blossom Divination Art?”
“3,000 spirit stones. Non-negotiable.”
“That’s expensive. This divination technique only cultivates up to the Foundation Establishment realm at most.”
“Buy it or leave. Don’t waste my time.”
“Two thousand. I’ll take it. Consider this a favor from Qingyang Daoren.”
“Who wants your favor? Two thousand eight hundred. That’s the lowest I’ll go.”
“Two thousand two hundred. Let’s be friends.”
“Two thousand five hundred. Final offer. If you’re not buying, stop wasting my time.”
“Alright, I’ll take it!”
****
After a round of haggling, Su Bai successfully purchased a divination technique.
At the moment, he wasn’t in the Sanshan Sect—at least, not entirely.
The space around him was hazy and vast, filled with a shimmering, mist-like light of chaos.
There were no mountains, vegetation, or beasts like one would see in the ordinary world.
Instead, countless Daoist figures sat cross-legged or stood behind makeshift stalls, calling out their wares.
The light of chaos wrapped around their faces like a veil, obscuring their features beyond recognition.
This place was known as Dao Tian—the Heaven of Dao.
It served as an internal marketplace and information exchange hub within the Immortal Alliance.
Treasures, secret techniques, and rare resources from all over the Central Continent’s sects—even strange materials from the outer regions—flowed through this realm.
Entering Dao Tian was simple.
All one needed was a special magical artifact produced by the Immortal Alliance.
After charging it with spirit stones or spiritual power, a cultivator could send a fragment of their consciousness into Dao Tian.
Su Bai packed up his newly acquired items, sold off a batch of talismans he had spent three months crafting, and bought a few divine techniques along with a large amount of cultivation resources.
Even after covering the transmission fees, he still had over a thousand spirit stones left.
Just as he was about to log out and leave Dao Tian, someone called out to him.
“Fellow Daoist, please wait.”
A Daoist in green robes blocked his path.
He held a horsetail whisk and radiated an air of mystery.
Like the others, his face was hidden behind the light of chaos.
“What is it, fellow Daoist?” Su Bai asked.
The green-robed Daoist nodded slightly and raised his whisk as he spoke slowly.
“Are you aware of the Outer Region’s Tianxu?”
“Tianxu?” Su Bai echoed.
“You mean the one said to connect the Eastern Sea, Western Desert, Northern Plains, and Southern Frontier? The one that, like Dao Tian, allows for the exchange of goods and cultivation techniques from all four regions?”
“Correct,” the Daoist replied with a small nod.
“I possess a treasure called the Tongyu Spirit Mirror. It allows communication with the Outer Regions’ Tianxu. Whether you seek rare treasures, cultivation knowledge, or wish to explore mysterious lands—this artifact will serve you well. With it, you could trade with cultivators across all four domains and vastly expand your path to immortality. What do you say?”
Su Bai: …
‘So he’s trying to sell me a ladder to climb over the wall!’
“Thank you… Goodbye!”
Without hesitation, Su Bai logged off and exited Dao Tian, afraid he’d be splattered by the blood if this man got caught.
The Immortal Alliance had strict laws—anyone who contacted the Outer Regions without permission was punished with the harshest penalties.
Every few months, Dao Tian would play publicly broadcast executions of Foundation Establishment cultivators caught trading with the Outer Regions.
It served as a grim warning to all.
As a first-cycle player, Su Bai wasn’t afraid of death—but that didn’t mean he was looking to die either.
His goal this round was to gather intelligence and prepare for the next cycle.
In times like these, the “Way of Cautious Cultivation” was king.
After paying the transmission fee, the Dao Tian’s power activated.
***
Moments later, the books and cultivation resources he had just purchased materialized before him.
Su Bai picked up the Plum Blossom Divination Manual and casually flipped through a few pages.
Then he suddenly paused, a glint of thought flashing in his eyes as he recalled a rumor he had heard some time ago.
It was just hearsay, but the tale went like this:
Originally, Tianxu was meant to connect all five regions, and every day it would absorb and release an uncountable amount of spiritual goods—an endless bounty shared by all.
But later, a powerful cultivator within the Immortal Alliance used supreme techniques and tremendous power to construct a massive wall that split the realms.
This wall severed the connection and encircled the Central Continent.
Afterward, the portion of Tianxu that once belonged to the Central Region was renamed Dao Tian.
‘As for the reason behind that cultivator’s actions?’
The rumor was surprisingly plausible.
The Outer Regions were governed by familial bloodlines and clans, while the Central Continent followed the master-disciple sect system.
Their ideologies clashed—making them natural enemies.
To prevent rebellion and internal collapse within the Immortal Alliance, cutting off the Outer Regions was deemed the necessary course of action.