Chapter 35: He Hasn’t Changed

Chapter 35: He Hasn't Changed

Shen Lian felt a pang of envy when he heard this.

Back then, he'd been cultivating alone in that place with no other cultivators around. Only after coming here did he realize his current level was nothing more than an ordinary person's.

But Shen Lian quickly accepted this gap.

This time, he was going to take control of his own fate.

Jiang Jingning was in the middle of talking to Shen Lian when Zheng Huifeng walked over. "Shen Lian."

Shen Lian hadn't changed his name. He knew that person had to be here somewhere, but there were so many Shen Lians in this cultivation world that he wasn't conceited enough to think Yan Huaixuan would remember some nobody like him.

Shen Lian gave Zheng Huifeng a warm smile. "Immortal Master Zheng."

The moment their eyes met, Zheng Huifeng felt his cheeks grow warm. "Mm, I just came by to ask if you were feeling any better."

Shen Lian nodded. "Immortal Master Jiang gave me a spirit pill. After I took it, my whole body felt lighter, and I've gotten a lot better."

This was also the first time Shen Lian had seen what the real cultivation world was actually like.

Jiang Jingning let out a quiet laugh and shot Zheng Huifeng a mischievous look. "Alright, I'm heading off now."

Shen Lian said goodbye to her, then turned to Zheng Huifeng. "Immortal Master Zheng, since I've recovered, I won't trouble you all any longer."

Zheng Huifeng was caught off guard. "You're leaving now?"

Shen Lian nodded and said quietly, "Thank you, Immortal Master, for saving my life."

Zheng Huifeng opened his mouth, momentarily lost for words. Then he suddenly said, "But have you gotten your memories back?"

Shen Lian shook his head, looking troubled.

Zheng Huifeng's eyes lit up at once. "If you haven't recovered, where are you planning to go?"

Before Shen Lian could say anything else, Zheng Huifeng gave him a look. "Besides, that medicine only healed your outer wounds. Your internal organs are still recovering—you're nowhere near better."

Hearing this, Shen Lian was taken aback too. "Is that so?"

Zheng Huifeng nodded seriously. "If you go running around now, all your progress will be wasted. Stay a few more days—it won't be too late to leave once your memories come back."

"In the meantime, you can stay on my mountain. Don't worry, only a few disciples live there."

Shen Lian said quietly, "Would that be too much trouble?"

"Not at all. I don't usually stay on the mountain anyway, so you can recover in peace."

As he spoke, Zheng Huifeng couldn't help staring at Shen Lian.

It was strange—there were countless handsome men and beautiful women in the cultivation world, so why was Shen Lian the one who drew him in like this?

Shen Lian called out, "Immortal Master Zheng?"

Zheng Huifeng snapped back to his senses and realized he'd been staring. As if to make up for it, he coughed. "I'll take you to my mountain now."

As he finished speaking, his gaze happened to catch a flower petal that had fallen onto Shen Lian's brow—delicate white, elegant and understated, resting perfectly against the young man's dark hair.

He instinctively reached out to touch Shen Lian's hair. "You've got something on your head."

This gesture caught Shen Lian completely off guard.

Shen Lian's smile dimmed slightly. He immediately stepped back from Zheng Huifeng and took off the unfamiliar flower—one that radiated spiritual energy—himself.

He said politely, "Thank you, Immortal Master Zheng."

Zheng Huifeng could hear the hint of distance in his voice.

He felt a surge of regret. He'd only known this person for a day, and he was already doing things like this—wouldn't that make him seem frivolous and reckless? He had no choice but to put some distance between them.

Shen Lian gave him a warm smile. He did intend to take the opportunity to get into the Tianheng Sect, but that didn't mean he wanted that kind of entanglement with Zheng Huifeng.

After all, Zheng Huifeng meant well, and there was no need to stir up trouble.

Suddenly, Shen Lian noticed Zheng Huifeng's pupils shrink, and excitement spread across his face.

Then cheers erupted from all directions, and more and more people gathered.

Shen Lian followed Zheng Huifeng's gaze up.

And there he saw the man standing on top of the crane.

Shen Lian was stunned.

In that instant, his blood ran cold, and the only sound left in his ears was the howling wind.

Two years. Shen Lian never imagined he'd run into this person again so suddenly.

That man had hardly changed—still cold and otherworldly, with frost that never melted at the corners of his eyes and brows, so aloof he seemed unable to accommodate anything in this world. His white immortal robes accentuated his tall, upright figure.

Shen Lian's hands, hidden in his sleeves, dug deep into his palms.

Yan Huaixuan didn't notice him. Instead, surrounded by the crowd, he made his way slowly into the palace.

At that moment, Zheng Huifeng sighed in admiration too. "That's the peerless genius of the Main Sect—Yan Huaixuan."

Shen Lian clenched his teeth hard, swallowing back the taste of blood in his throat, then put on his usual expression and said with a smile, "Oh?"

A hint of envy flickered in Zheng Huifeng's eyes. "A year ago, he burst onto the scene. At such a young age, he'd already reached Void Insight, and what's more, he practices the most difficult Heartless Dao. Since then, his cultivation speed has advanced by leaps and bounds."

"He happened to run into the Sect Master of the Main Sect, who took him in as his personal disciple."

"No one knows just how far his cultivation has reached by now."

"This time, he's going to pick three disciples from the sect and bring them back to the Main Sect."

Shen Lian said, "Oh? Truly remarkable talent."

"Not only is his talent extraordinary, but he also has a big heart. He regularly leads disciples to purge rampaging demons, evil cultivators, and vicious beasts. He's respected by many, and the entire Tianheng Sect is proud of him."

Shen Lian didn't chime in this time. He only sneered inwardly—sanctimonious.

"Come on, let me take you to my mountain first. You should get some good rest."

Shen Lian nodded. "Thank you."

Zheng Huifeng's abilities were indeed formidable. He had a spiritual mountain all to himself, called Fei Yun.

There weren't many people on Fei Yun Peak, and Shen Lian was assigned to a small cottage.

Even the most ordinary dwelling here was more beautiful than the ones he'd had in the imperial palace.

But Shen Lian clearly couldn't have cared less about that.

What he was more concerned about now was his cultivation progress.

That was when he learned this cultivation world was called the Primordial Realm, and the world he'd originally come from was just one of the small worlds surrounding it.

Most of those were inhabited by ordinary people, so there was a barrier between them and the Primordial Realm, precisely to keep cultivators from accidentally destroying those small worlds.

Occasionally, there were people like Shen Lian and Yan Huaixuan who stumbled into cultivation, and upon reaching the Nascent Soul stage, they could open a passage and ascend.

His Nascent Soul stage was called Qi Introduction here, which had three stages, followed by Essence Condensation, Void Insight, Void Mystery, Spirit Transformation, Tribulation Transcendence, then Void Immortal Realm One, Two, and Three—beyond that, Shen Lian couldn't reach for now.

Zheng Huifeng was at the Void Insight stage.

As for Yan Huaixuan, a year ago, he was already at the Void Mystery stage, and no one knew what stage he was at now.

After seeing Zheng Huifeng off, Shen Lian sat down to meditate and cultivate.

And the moment he started cultivating, Shen Lian couldn't help but marvel.

The spiritual energy here was so abundant that he could feel it condensing into water droplets in the air.

Chen Xue was a bit surprised. "You said droplets?"

Shen Lian nodded. "Mm."

This was his first time cultivating in the cultivation world.

"Is something wrong?"

To his surprise, Chen Xue was very pleased. "Master, if you can sense spiritual energy this easily, it means your talent is exceptional!"