"Let’s go, staying too long might get discovered by other Dark Sect Immortals; it’s hard to explain."

"Okay."

...

Gao Huating hadn’t expected to sneak back just moments ago.

She had just left, indeed intending to leave everything behind.

But as she kept contemplating, she gradually wavered, finally making a decision contrary to her previous one.

Thus, after settling Gui He, Gao Huating returned alone to this sea area.

She painstakingly searched the sea bottom and successfully found the crevice that Hei Yao mentioned, slipping in like a fish and darting through the labyrinthine underground tunnels.

Soon, following Hei Yao’s route, Gao Huating found an abandoned palace.

Half of the palace had collapsed, submerged in seawater, yet bore no signs of corrosion; only remnants remained here, without treasure or spirit light.

In the corner on the left side of the palace was a dry well, its surface containing a faint blue divine light.

Approaching the well, Gao Huating sensed a trace of the Power of Heaven, feeling slightly relieved.

The presence of the trace of the Power of Heaven here proved two things.

First, the Heavenly Dao was aware of the small world entrance;

This essentially ruled out the idea that someone wanted to use her to enter that small world.

Second, she had found the right place.

Hei Yao’s reminder echoed like a haunting spirit:

"That water well is the portal to enter the small world of the Fusang Wood. With that letter in hand, the Power of Heaven won’t stop you; as long as you deliver the letter to your teacher, you lose the value of being used or targeted."

Gao Huating slightly pouted.

She headed straight here.

If Hei Yao intended to harm her, it wouldn’t be necessary to go to such lengths; likely, this place truly allowed entry to the small world where the Fusang Wood resided.

’Once inside, I’ll just swallow the letter.’

Gao Huating thought fiercely, feeling a little anxious as she moved forward, then held her breath and leapt in.

Thud!

Her vision spun, her immortal sense instantly suppressed back into her body, a desolate, majestic pressure surged from all directions, as if a peerless Great Power was confronting and battling ahead.

Gao Huating widened her eyes to see, but could only glimpse the tumultuous water flow; she seemed to be traversing a long tunnel, pulled by a force into a light curtain.

The pressure abruptly lifted.

The immortal power within Gao Huating spontaneously surged out, forming a protective immortal light to shield her form.

Yet she did not see the Fusang Wood that Senior Bai had specially shown them.

Here was merely a valley, obstructed above by fallen mountain peaks, keeping the place shrouded in darkness.

Gao Huating looked around and found her range of movement wasn’t large, just a narrow hundred-zhang long area, with the sole unusual spot being a dried-up pool ahead.

She felt the Daoist charm of the Time Dao right in the center of the pool.

’The entrance to the small world is sealed by the Time Dao.’

Gao Huating pursed her lips and furrowed brows.

"With no way back visible, there’s no choice but to boldly move forward."

With a light step of her toe, she floated down into the pool, which gently trembled, with clear water bizarrely appearing from all directions, soon covering the entire pool bottom.

The water began to climb up the cliff walls, spontaneously gathering into a water curtain above, within which a clear window appeared, revealing blue sky, white clouds, and giant trees.

"This is it!"

She stomped her foot and soared into the sky, crashing into the water curtain and vanishing.

In an instant, the Universe inverted, reversing up and down.

Gao Huating hurriedly stabilized herself with immortal power, finding herself suspended upside down in the Sky, her skin tingling, her body frozen mid-air,

Furthermore, dozens of cold, evil Qi-emitting Golden Needles were hovering by her forehead, in front of her eyes, neck, chest, and thighs, the closest needle already touching her skin.

"Eh? Huating?"

A familiar call came from nearby.

It’s Mu Dan!

Gao Huating immediately felt excited but dared not move at all.

Even as her skirt dropped naturally due to Gravity...

The Golden Needles retreated.

Gao Huating gasped in surprise, hastily using immortal power to stabilize her skirt, her form turning 180 degrees in the air, looking up to see Mu Dan standing on a white cloud.

"Big Peony!"

She cheered as she rushed forward, wanting to hug Mu Dan immediately; Mu Dan showed a serene smile, allowing Gao Huating’s hands to pass through her projected body.

"Silly, this is just a projection."

"I missed you so much!"

"Did you also wake up in the middle of things?" Mu Dan asked in a hurry.

Gao Huating shook her head.

She glanced towards the Fusang Wood, where a shuttle was speeding towards. On the branches of the Fusang Wood stood many abandoned buildings, and in front of a great hall, the sight of the blue-robed Daoist filled Gao Huating’s heart with both surprise and joy.

Mu Dan’s projection leaned over, eyeing Gao Huating mischievously.

With a blush on her face, Gao Huating quickly said, "I haven’t been awake for long, but I know about the teacher’s matters." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"And that diary?"

"Yes," Gao Huating scratched her head shyly, "I was captured by Hei Yao."

"As expected."

Mu Dan’s projection slowly faded, as her main body had already jumped from the shuttle, dressed in an elegant long gown, drifting on white clouds like a real fairy.

It was only now that Gao Huating realized that Mu Dan’s spiritual body seemed quite powerful—her strength lay in the cultivation realm.

Gao Huating even felt a bit of pressure.

The golden needles earlier seemed to be controlled by Mu Dan as well.

Standing on the clouds, Mu Dan opened her arms, squinting with a smile: "Aren’t we going to hug?"

"Of course!"

Gao Huating leaped forward, embracing her tightly. The two spun several circles on the clouds, laughter and cheers echoing continuously.

A moment later, the shuttle returned to the middle upper layers of the Fusang Giant Tree, approaching that palace.

Inside the palace, some mechanical bodies were busy preparing a lavish feast.

This small world was home to many living beings, and many nascent demons, so food was not scarce.

Gao Huating pulled herself together from her playful manner with Mu Dan and glanced nervously at Wang Jixuan, yet she couldn’t help but be drawn to Wang Jixuan’s grey temples, her Dao Heart feeling a tug.

"Teacher..."

"Yes," Wang Jixuan revealed a gentle smile.

As soon as he spoke, a harmonious, calm, and peaceful Daoist charm emerged naturally, warming Gao Huating’s heart.

"It’s good that you’re here now. I won’t let you go out alone anymore.

"You must’ve read that diary too. There’s no need to feel sorry for your teacher—after all, the joy your teacher finds, you cannot truly understand."

Gao Huating blinked and looked at Mu Dan.

Mu Dan instantly wore a shy expression.

Master Wang glared and scolded, "What are you blushing for! I’m talking about the joy of cultivation! Now come in and eat!"

Mu Dan pouted discontentedly.

Gao Huating affectionately took Mu Dan’s arm and quietly asked, "Did the teacher really get trapped for seven thousand years?"

"Yes, indeed."

Mu Dan sighed:

"If it were just a cage, it wouldn’t have been that bad. But the boss was trapped by Senior Bai Gu’s barrier, didn’t dare to move recklessly those first one or two thousand years, living like a dead person was incredibly uncomfortable.

"But only when that membrane remains can the boss and I return to the present world.

"Otherwise, when the boss would have smoothly begun his third life on Earth, the Time Dao would cut us down here.

"It wasn’t until over a decade ago... when we started traveling from Linglong Fairy’s corpse through time, that the boss was finally freed from the barrier.

"I was afraid the boss would be depressed, but fortunately, he focused on cultivation, dissipating most of the suffering."

Wang Jixuan sighed softly ahead: "If I had another choice, I’d rather gain less from the cultivation and be trapped for a few thousand years less."

"Teacher, you’ve suffered..."

"Thankfully, the results are fruitful."

"Golden Immortal?!"

"Ah... Almost," Wang Jixuan felt a bit awkward, "Life and death aren’t so easily comprehended, and it’s really difficult to accumulate in the Heavenly Immortal Realm... Your cultivation has increased so rapidly, very impressive."

"It’s all because the teacher guided me well."

"Sit down and eat," Wang Jixuan directly asked, "Did Hei Yao ask you to bring anything? A message?"

Having a slight hesitation, Gao Huating took out that letter.

She couldn’t help but ask, "Teacher, have you allied with Hei Yao?"

"Allied?" Wang Jixuan slightly smirked, "He’s not worthy; it’s just working with him to negotiate with the Heavenly Dao. He’s already lost his soul and now depends on the Dark Sect Heavenly Dao; he’s one of its tentacles."

Gao Huating hurriedly said, "He’s researching mechanical bodies!"

"Hmm," Wang Jixuan shrugged, soothingly said, "Since things have come to this, let’s eat first. The situation is much more complex than you understand."

"Okay."

Gao Huating quietly observed her teacher.