Affection

"A blind date?!" Qin Ming was startled, struck by the odd illusion that this journey had somehow strayed into the mortal dust. Immediately after, he nodded in understanding. In this foreign war, all sides had suffered considerable losses. Whether the old mountain strongholds perched high above the Nine Heavens or the transcendent great powers entrenched across the earth, all wanted to seize this opportunity to select hidden dragons and immortal seedlings. Choosing sons-in-law and taking disciples were naturally the most effective and solid options. Su Mohua's features were picturesque, her raven hair cascading down to her waist, lustrous enough to mirror light. She giggled, "Master, you've drawn the attention of quite a few great clans. Recently, several famous fairy maidens have tactfully asked me about your situation." Qin Ming beamed with vitality. "I know I'm handsome, but I never expected to be this popular." Su Mohua was at a loss for words. *Master, shouldn't you show a little modesty?* she thought to herself. Behind them, Bai Meng discovered that Brother Ming was actually this conceited. Soon, though, he realized it was just Qin Ming poking fun at himself. "Thick-skinned!" Tang Yushang, walking in the rear, lifted her chin and evaluated him. Qin Ming asked, "Mohua, did anything happen to you in the enclave?" At once, Su Mohua's face paled with lingering fear. During this expedition, a black flame bird of the Celestial Clan had shattered her shoulder with its talons, nearly abducting her; fortunately, a grandmaster had rescued her. While talking, they had already entered the bustling district of Sky City. High in the sky hung a silver disc casting down pristine moonlight—a high-grade moon insect. In the lower sky, vast numbers of fire insects drifted and swayed, shimmering like a canopy of stars. The night in Sky City was magnificent, far from quiet. Carriages and pedestrians still flowed like water; jade towers and silver pavilions were brightly lit, bathed in moonlight—truly a scene of vibrant nightlife and merrymaking. Su Mohua said, "Ah, Master, if you weren't my master..." Bai Meng instantly perked up. "What would happen?" The fire of gossip burned furiously in his heart; indeed, not a single harsh beating had been endured in vain. He was naturally this sort of character. It was only because he had been brutally thrashed by Qin Ming at the Great Thunder Sound Temple back then, leaving a slight psychological shadow, that he had restrained himself for a time. But as their bond grew closer, he had fully recovered and let his true nature fly free. Su Mohua looked a little embarrassed. "Originally, our Su family also wanted to choose a son-in-law..." "I knew it!" Bai Meng nearly slapped his thigh raw with excitement at uncovering such huge gossip. Then his head swelled as Tang Yushang smacked the back of his head three times in rapid succession. Su Mohua continued, "Originally the family wanted my elder sister, but unfortunately, you're my master, so that wouldn't be very appropriate." "Huh?" Bai Meng felt he had chased the wrong gossip, deeply disappointed. By now, they were very close to the Su residence. The Su family wanted to host Qin Ming and have their group stay over. Su Moran was standing not far away, waiting outside to welcome them. Gao Chan, acting practically like a shadow, had received word in advance and followed along. Evidently, Su Moran had overheard the conversation; her expression froze slightly. Gao Chan's ears twitched, and his entire face instantly darkened. In this Sky City where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold, the Su family estate was vast. Beyond pavilions and palaces, it even contained multiple spiritual peaks shrouded in immortal mist. However, the residence incorporated residual methods of a grotto-heaven, so from the outside, its apparent scale was far smaller than it actually was. "Mohua, don't talk nonsense," Gao Chan spoke up. His left sleeve hung empty, fluttering lightly. He had suffered heavy injuries in the enclave and had lost part of his arm. The atmosphere grew awkward, so Qin Ming declined their kind offer and ultimately did not stay at the Su estate. Once they had moved some distance away, Bai Meng asked, "Old Pei, you're far too calm." Pei Shuyan somewhat regretted ascending to the sky. What did a so-called matchmaking assembly have to do with him? He had no desires or cravings, possessing a distinct sense of 'all the world is drunk while I alone remain sober.' In the end, he could not resist commenting, "The people of this world are utterly vulgar." Qin Ming and Bai Meng exchanged glances, speechless. If this continued, Old Pei was on track to achieve sainthood amidst the mortal world. Could a person even say that? The aloof, noble poise of a celestial maiden that Tang Yushang carefully maintained nearly cracked; she couldn't help glancing askance at Old Pei a few times. Shortly after, Qin Ming gasped in shock. "Hiss, Big Tang, are you a wealthy woman? You even have property up in the sky!" "What nonsense are you spouting!" All Tang Yushang showed him was the whites of her eyes, devoid of her spirited dark pupils. "Sister, our Tai Ruins has an estate in the sky?" Bai Meng was also stunned; even he hadn't known. Tang Yushang replied, "It was purchased long ago. It wasn't until recently, when the Old Ancestor ascended, that the warding array was reactivated and this courtyard garden cleaned up." What was true foundation? This was it—owning property even up in the sky. Qin Ming sighed. The descendants of the Lord of Yujing resided in Tai Ruins; their foundational heritage was truly terrifyingly profound. "The Old Ancestor is here too?" Bai Meng grew slightly tense. "Yes," Tang Yushang nodded. In an instant, both Qin Ming and Pei Shuyan stiffened, and then tactfully took their leave. Neither of them wanted to lodge under the watchful eyes of an Earth Immortal. Even Bai Meng "ran away from home," eager to follow Qin Ming and wander the city. Last time, they had trained together in the Wilderness Forest outside the bustling urban district. Though they had entered the city back then, they had never properly strolled around this world-renowned immortal city. Tonight, they walked beneath the moonlight. "This... immortal city in the sky is remarkably earthly." In their past conception, an immortal city suspended beyond the world above the earth should be ethereal, otherworldly, misty, detached from strife, and enveloped in celestial spirit. Yet the reality was that the city was bright as day. In the bustling districts, silver towers stood tall, jade halls lined up like fish scales, and people moved back and forth like shuttles—exceedingly lively. Although they had sensed this last time, tonight's leisurely night stroll deepened their impression even further. Above many areas in the city, painted pleasure boats drifted in midair, radiating dazzling streams of light. Within the towering heavenly palaces on the ground, music and songs bubbled over with excitement. It was truly a sleepless city, steeped in luxury and dissipation. Moved, Bai Meng remarked, "I'd like to... have a home here." He watched as a six-tusked white elephant, bearing a bodhisattva-like woman on its back, strolled across the night sky and entered a magnificent golden palace. Qin Ming glanced at him. "Do you want to become that six-tusked white elephant?" Bai Meng shook his head firmly. "No, I want to become a male bodhisattva!" Pei Shuyan sighed, his eyes tinged with melancholy. Bai Meng quickly said, "Old Pei, on such a festive night, don't put on an air of trying to achieve sainthood in the mortal world." "You misunderstand," Pei Shuyan shook his head. Looking far out from high ground, his heart felt desolate. Without realizing it, another person by his side was gone. He thought of his close friend Zhuo Qingming, who had failed to return alive. During the break from their last joint training, they had entered this city together. How few days had passed, yet the scene remained while the people were gone. He murmured, "Such is the cruelty of the immortal path. We all walk along a rugged and treacherous road, our fates full of misfortune." He silently counted. In just these few years, setting aside ordinary disciples, quite a few well-known immortal seedlings had already fallen. Su Shiyun, An Youxing, Xue Yunzheng, Luo Jingxiao... Zhuo Qingming. Truly not a small number. If things went on like this, their generation would be reaped like chives until nothing remained. Qin Ming patted his shoulder. "Look on the bright side. If you count it that way, even more people died on my New Life path." For a moment, many faces surfaced in his mind. Years had passed, and some of their faces had grown blurred, such as Zhuo Ya, the female mutant he had met early on, fond of chatting and laughing... Qin Ming exhaled a breath of turbid air. "Many are the wandering ghosts along the path of cultivation. Gazing from ancient times to the present, it has always been so." Bai Meng also offered comfort. "Old Pei, no need to dwell on the past. This is reality. Being able to walk a stretch of the road together is fate. Cherish the present." Pei Shuyan nodded. That was true. Many outstanding geniuses initially blazed across the sky like scorching suns, only to dim in the blink of an eye, proven to be merely meteors fleetingly streaking across the night sky. He murmured quietly, "Immortal, truly undying—no one can achieve that. Every one of us is a meteor, or perhaps worse, merely a candle flame." Moments later, the three of them wore solemn expressions. Drawing a close to their earlier heavy mood, they stood inside a grand heavenly palace. They decided to do as the locals did and experience an immortal gambling den. The name here was quite auspicious: Fortune God Workshop. "I regret it! A degenerate gambler deserves no good end!" Bai Meng wanted to slap himself several times. Just to broaden his horizons and have some harmless fun, he had already lost over a thousand daygold coins. This time, Pei Shuyan didn't find the world vulgar; Lord Pei still liked daygold, as it was a resource for his cultivation. Unfortunately, he had lost quite a bit as well. Here, fairy-like maidens accompanied guests, decadent music lingered, and fine wine flowed freely, but this immortal casino... was truly a scam. Qin Ming sighed. Compelled to use his ultimate move, he directly initiated resonance. Dice and gambling paraphernalia might block divine sense, but they couldn't block the human heart. Bai Meng instantly came alive, because he saw Brother Ming begin slaughtering in all directions! He gasped in awe again and again, "Sure enough, someone exceptional in one field can rise just as high on another path and stand head and shoulders above the rest. Brother Ming is a god!" The woman attending by his side had bewitching eyes, an exaggeratedly curved figure, and a voice dripping with gentleness: "Young Master Qin truly possesses the physique of the God of Wealth. Your luck tonight reaches the clouds! Would you care to enter the inner hall to try your hand?" Bai Meng was full of anticipation, eager to see what the legendary inner hall looked like. Rumor had it noble ladies attended guests there, grandmaster-level figures made appearances, and old monsters of even higher tiers frequented the place. Qin Ming shook his head. "Forget it. The word 'gambling' is a great taboo on the path of cultivation. We only came to experience it a bit; it shouldn't be taken seriously, and one shouldn't get sucked in too deep." He had already earned twenty-seven thousand daygold coins. Leaving now was fine, but if he continued to clean them out, trouble might follow. Tonight, their purpose was merely to sample various aspects of Sky City's nightlife, not to become actual gamblers. During the evening, the three of them bumped into acquaintances from time to time, mostly cultivators from the ground touring Sky City's renowned sights and taking in its unique customs. "Next one is on me," Qin Ming waved a hand, leading the two out of Fortune God Workshop. Following directions from locals, they arrived at a relatively quiet, famous tower. It was said to offer all kinds of fine wines, ranking supreme in multiple categories. Even from afar, one could smell the fragrance of wine wafting from this jade tower, refreshing to the heart and spirit, making one feel light and ethereal. The establishment produced the finest liquor; its only flaw was an absurd price tag, which was why business was not so bustling. Qin Ming's trio ascended the tower, taking in the night view of the city. The bright moon, dazzling stars, and pleasure boats drifting in midair intertwined with the jade towers and palaces into an enchanting fantasy. "Brother Cheng?" They spotted an acquaintance here. It was none other than the representative figure of the esoteric sect—Cheng Sheng. He was dead drunk, looking thoroughly despondent, stripped of his former high-spirited vigor. Qin Ming and Pei Shuyan went over immediately to join his table. All three realized this divine seed of the esoteric sect had suffered some ordeal; otherwise, he wouldn't be so dejected. Cheng Sheng nodded to them. "You're here. Don't mind me. Tonight, I just want to get drunk." Qin Ming ordered wine: "Innkeeper, four cups of Ascending on Rosy Clouds." Bai Meng's eyes widened. "Brother Ming, is that... the ultimate liquor at a thousand daygold a cup?" Although he could afford it, he was no drinker and couldn't tell good wine from bad; there was no need for such extravagance. "When life is good, one should enjoy it to the fullest. Tonight is all about experiencing things. Have a taste," Qin Ming said. In any case, he was spending daygold from Fortune God Workshop—windfall gains he didn't care about at all. Bai Meng immediately praised, "Sticking with Brother Ming means eating nine meals a day!" Cheng Sheng sighed. "When life is good... sigh, then what about those who meet with misfortune?" Qin Ming replied, "That's why I want to balance things out for you. Some things are best turned over once you're drunk." Pei Shuyan asked, "What happened to you?" Though he was no longer moved by feminine beauty, he had not lost normal emotional feelings. He still cared deeply about friends and companions; otherwise, he wouldn't have mourned his close friend Zhuo Qingming. Soon, four cups of fine wine enveloped in light rain were served. Resembling piled fragments of gold and stars falling from the night sky, it was condensed within exquisite jade cups. As for side dishes, there was no need to order; purchasing the fine wine came with a complimentary table of delicacies. "Clink!" The four raised their cups. The liquor drew out fine silken strands, and the moment it entered the mouth, they felt as if ascending to immortality. Rosy clouds steamed up, and they felt light and airy, as though riding the light rain into the sky. This fine liquor truly lived up to its name—Ascending on Rosy Clouds. Cheng Sheng set down his cup, laden with sorrow. "Qingcheng... fell in battle! I hate it! I wasn't there at the time and failed to save her!" Pei Shuyan was surprised. "I never heard of the two of you being together." Cheng Sheng looked desolate. "She was perfect. I felt I wasn't strong enough, not good enough, and wanted to express my feelings after becoming a grandmaster. I never thought I would ultimately hear news of her death, losing even the chance to speak it aloud. The greatest regret of my life!" Qin Ming patted his shoulder, not knowing how to comfort him. His thoughts drifted. He remembered how Li Qingyue, before setting out on her far journey when her path forward was uncertain and she didn't know if she would ever return, had once tried to play matchmaker between him and Zhao Qingcheng. Qin Ming quickly shook his head. He mustn't let wine coax out truths that would further provoke Cheng Sheng. He knew Zhao Qingcheng was a good girl. Sadly, as a leading front-rank figure of the esoteric sect with a brilliant future, she had met an early demise. Pei Shuyan said, "Life is fleeting; even an Earth Immortal lives at most fifteen hundred years. Brother Cheng, let it go. Many beautiful things fade in the mottled passage of time." Cheng Sheng looked up and asked, "Old Pei, why do you seem as unruffled as an ancient well? Back then, I heard you had obsessions too. How have you become so calm and placid now?" Pei Shuyan didn't even raise his head. He took a sip of Ascending on Rosy Clouds and said, "Just sever it." "How does one sever it?" Cheng Sheng humbly asked. Pei Shuyan remained silent, not speaking, seemingly reminiscing about the past as well. "I heard that in the beginning, you were fond of a junior sister of yours. But, ahem—" Cheng Sheng coughed, glancing apologetically at Qin Ming. Pei Shuyan replied candidly, "No matter, it's all in the past. Besides, Brother Qin knows my intent and understands my heart; there won't be any misunderstanding." His voice carried no ripple as he said, "Junior Sister Qingyue is a wonderful person, clear as the bright moon, hung high in the sky, untouched by the dust of the mortal world. She gives people a profound sense of distance, unlike a flesh-and-blood mortal. Well, how should I put it? Far too ethereal, so let it go with the wind." He added another sentence: "Of course, her gaze never fell upon me; it was only ever fixed on Brother Qin." Cheng Sheng asked again, "Then what about Fairy Su?" Bai Meng immediately chimed in, "Old Pei, turns out your heart was divided back then. Now... you had it coming!" Pei Shuyan shook his head. "Su Shiyun was perhaps only a notch or two below Jiang Zai in talent and brilliance. Dying on the western front—the Plain of Divine Demise—is truly a pity. However, her figure faded in my heart long ago. It never began; I merely watched from afar, so why speak of sorrow? The impression has grown faint." Cheng Sheng was filled with solemn respect, knowing well that it took tremendous willpower and determination to completely erase someone's shadow. He solemnly asked, "Could there be a secret art involving the mind? Brother Pei, please teach me. I, too, wish to draw the sword of wisdom and sever the past." A moment later, Cheng Sheng spat out a mouthful of fine wine with a spray. "You... you literally severed it?!" *** The foreign war had ended in great victory, a celebration across the world. It was impossible to officially label this a matchmaking assembly; primarily, it was a meeting for major factions to negotiate terms for the future. Because the Dao Roster, Golden Board, and New Board were all going into slumber! "Holy crap, earth-shattering news! Outstanding performers in the future have a great chance of entering Yujing—this is a supreme divine oracle!" A piece of news spread across the heavens. At present, even the so-called holy disciples had never entered that mysterious inverted giant city. Now, some concrete word had finally arrived. Was Yujing about to emerge into the world? "From what I know, the Heavenly City of the Celestial Clan and the Ancestral Abyss of the Abyssal Civilization are the same, cut off from the world, hanging inverted beyond the heavens. Their holy disciples have never entered such forbidden lands either." "Rumor has it that in the end, only a few outstanding figures can enter the inverted supreme sanctuaries." "In that case, the same applies across the Night Mist world. It only shows our level isn't high enough, far from being able to access supreme lands." Everyone pondered: if supreme sanctuaries like Heavenly City, Ancestral Abyss, Great Thunder Sound Temple, and Doushuai Palace truly emerged into the world, wouldn't that deliver a dimensional strike upon the present age? If entities truly walked out of those mysterious places, they would likely be unimaginable. Would the transcendent great powers and peerless geniuses of the present age be eclipsed? Clearly, in this grand gathering, the so-called matchmaking wouldn't be brought up openly; it was merely to create opportunities for families and young people to form good ties. In truth, it was primarily for old monsters to deliberate major affairs. Before the official gathering had even begun, over these two days, the four-man group of Qin Ming, Bai Meng, Pei Shuyan, and Cheng Sheng toured the entire immortal city, leaving their footprints at Fortune God Workshop and the pleasure boats drifting through the night sky. Upon learning that they had boarded large pleasure crafts among the glittering stars, Tang Yushang had also appeared and given Bai Meng a thrashing. Qin Ming and the others had even felt a trace of killing intent. Bai Meng cried grievance: "Sister, you want to beat Brother Ming, don't you? Go hit him!" Then Qin Ming joined in and gave him a thrashing too. The group appeared at the arena and deeply experienced its cruelty. An immortal city hung high above the Nine Heavens surprisingly possessed such a bloody side: every match inevitably decided life and death, accompanied by flying bone fragments and spraying spiritual blood. At this time, all kinds of rumors were circulating in Sky City. Several of the most transcendent direct daughters of the Huang family had arrived, undoubtedly causing a sensation. After all, there was a saying: when taking a wife, one should wed a daughter of the Huang clan. Setting aside everything else, one glimpse revealed their depth: to this day, they might still have living Heavenly Gods slumbering in Yujing. "One Sword, Qian Cheng, Yin Tian, Realm Faction, Wei Shouzhen... should be placed in the first rank." Among the direct daughters of the Huang family, these figures were also being discussed. "Qin Ming has plenty of potential, but at present, his realm is somewhat low after all. It's unknown whether he can catch up. He majors in the New Life path and minors in the Immortal path—is that claim reliable? One fears he might waste decades and still struggle to break through the grandmaster hurdle." There was no wall without cracks; certain conversations and discussions spread within small circles. Even people of Tianzun's Lu family heard of it. Within their ranks, some discussed: "The Huang family has only a few direct daughters meeting the highest specifications, worthy of holy disciples. Currently, do they plan to arrange a quasi-direct daughter for a secondary candidate?" Clearly, the Huang family's direct daughters needed not only outstanding beauty, but also cultivation exceptional enough; otherwise, how could they match the topmost geniuses? Lu Jingli, a direct daughter of the Lu family, had a subtle expression and said, "If the Huang family doesn't use a direct daughter to win him over, yet our family has me approach that Qin Ming, if word spreads, wouldn't it... excessively highlight that we are inferior to them?" After roaming for two days straight, Qin Ming and the others lost their sense of novelty, finally feeling tired and somewhat mentally exhausted. They checked into an inn featuring blessed ground and garden courtyards. "Who's there?!" Qin Ming snapped his head around, thoroughly startled. Just after checking in and stepping into the landscaped courtyard, he felt someone close behind his back. The instant he turned, he saw a silver-haired old man grinning at him. It was none other than the elder who had previously asked him whether he wanted to save five hundred years of struggle. Qin Ming had no idea of his identity, unaware that he was the Earth Immortal Patriarch of Tai Ruins. "Greetings, Senior!" He bowed immediately. The silver-haired elder beamed. "Have you thought it through? Let's settle it today." Immediately after, Qin Ming saw a woman of exquisite beauty descend amidst a light rain of flying immortals. Her beautiful eyes were profoundly deep. Though she appeared charming, spirited, and very young, he could sense that she, too, was an Earth Immortal. Qin Ming's heart shook, unable to calm down. He thought to himself: *She's here! She's really here! The woman five centuries older who lets you save five hundred years of struggle—a fairy elder sister of the Seventh Realm!* He doubted reality itself. What virtue or capability did he possess to be valued so highly?