Since ancient times, the Eternal Azure Lotus has been known as an immortal elixir.

When it awoke its own consciousness, it even exterminated many Ancient Great Evils, dominated a region, and became a supreme being worthy of meddling with the Path of Immortality.

And every being suspected of being the reincarnation of the Eternal Azure Lotus made a name for themselves with illustrious battle achievements, commanding great influence in the Martial World.

What’s most terrifying is that every appearance of the reincarnation of the Eternal Azure Lotus indirectly confirmed the existence of reincarnation!

It proved that Heaven Earth Secret Realms like the Gate of Life and Death, Luopo Valley, and the Reverse River could be traversed by the Great Power of an individual cultivator!

"Grandfather, this can’t be possible," Ye Qingcheng said, her voice growing softer as she observed Great Saint Taibai’s earnest expression. "Ye Gufan’s Aperture talent is too poor, and even now, his Aperture has only been improved artificially. Moreover, there were no signs of Heaven and Earth Movement when he was born..."

Great Saint Taibai stroked his beard and shook his head. "It’s just a suspicion. If it weren’t for your father overseeing the Star Observation Platform in the Heavenly Palace, we wouldn’t have noticed such signs."

Suddenly, a smile touched the corners of Taibai’s mouth as he gently caressed Ye Qingcheng’s head.

He said, "Whether Ye Gufan is the one or not, his potential is incredibly profound. He has gathered a great momentum about him and shows promise of challenging for the title of Great Saint. You should use his strength to solidify your Phoenix Position!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Qingcheng’s starry eyes gradually brightened, as if envisioning a beautiful future.

From a young age, she possessed a gift, which could also be called a secret technique. That is, to refine a Heaven Earth Spirit Root as a foundation, transforming it into a cultivator’s Life Spirit Plant. Then, by continuously nurturing this Life Spirit Plant—absorbing the vital essence of flora, the cyclical power of the sun and moon, and the accumulated strength of years—the cultivator’s body would be tempered.

The requirements for this Heaven Earth Spirit Root were extremely strict, demanding at least a fifth-order Spirit Plant and an A-grade elemental vein.

However, Ye Qingcheng, being the granddaughter of a Great Saint and with a father serving at the Star Observation Platform in the Heavenly Palace, naturally had her pick of the best.

The Heaven Earth Spirit Root she chose was the Phoenix Paulownia, a seventh-order Spirit Plant capable of seizing the Heaven and Earth Movement, the fortune of all beings, and her own fortune for her use!

This Spirit Plant was incredibly precious, obtained through an exchange within the Heavenly Palace. Not even a superpower like the Ye Family possessed one.

It was precisely due to the potent effects of the Phoenix Paulownia that Ye Qingcheng had transformed from an ugly duckling into a proud, pristine phoenix.

Now, under Great Saint Taibai’s guidance, she had set her sights on Hong Yuan.

「...」

It was May, the season when spring gives way to summer.

Green mountains rose against clear waters, fragrant flowers perfumed the air, grass grew long, and orioles warbled. Under the deep blue sky, white clouds drifted like tufts of cotton.

In this beautiful season, Hong Yuan held Ye Xiner’s small hand, and they wandered through the mountains and along the waters together.

He was an extremely cautious man.

Ye Xiner, after all, was too young and could not hide her troubles. Her worries were clearly written on her face. Even by simply meeting her gaze, Hong Yuan had noticed that something was amiss. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Last night, after a round of warm wine, a tipsy Ye Xiner had poured out her heart’s troubles to Hong Yuan.

The boundless trust and affection of childhood sweethearts, truly enviable. Recalling their conversation, Hong Yuan couldn’t help but sigh in admiration internally.

Yet, aloud he said, "Xiner, when I was young, I sometimes thought that if we weren’t cultivators, perhaps we could live a simple life, farming and weaving."

Following his gaze, a glimmer of longing flashed in Ye Xiner’s eyes. "Farming and weaving... could we, really..."

Beneath them, on the mountainside, lay a great expanse of terraced fields. Row upon row, tier upon tier, tender green wheat seedlings had been planted. From a distance, they resembled a verdant, undulating sea. In the terraced fields, numerous farmers were busy with their work. Some cleared and directed water through irrigation channels, while others, with trousers rolled up, stood in the fields planting seedlings.

"Absolutely, we could!" Hong Yuan declared definitively.

His gaze lowered, fixating on Ye Xiner’s eyes, which shimmered like autumn waters. As their eyes met, a palpable romantic tension began to fill the air.

When Hong Yuan saw Ye Xiner try to turn her face away, he gently cupped her delicate face with both hands, giving her no chance to evade.

"Xiner, after the Hundred Arts Tournament, let’s get married!"

"Ah!?" Ye Xiner stared at the earnest Hong Yuan, slightly stunned.

She wanted to say more, but Hong Yuan gave her no opportunity, instead gently tugging her along as they continued their walk through the mountains.

Hong Yuan’s face was wreathed in smiles, but his mind was perfectly clear.

If I’m not mistaken, this fifth dream realm requires not only obtaining the sixth-order Spirit Plant, the Blue Primordial Treasure Lotus, but also dispelling Ye Xiner’s troubled thoughts. Currently, the strongest of the Human Race, East to Holy City, had only stopped at the sixth dream realm. So, in the next dream realm, I have to exit regardless of the outcome. The record for the strongest breakthrough must be left to East Supreme Saint!

「...」

At dusk, the lingering glow of the setting sun bathed Greenstone Street, casting long shadows of the passersby. Hong Yuan held Ye Xiner’s soft hand tightly, their fingers entwined, as they strolled together in the twilight.

After a full day of his "strategy," Hong Yuan had managed to dispel Ye Xiner’s chaotic thoughts.

Once I obtain the Blue Primordial Treasure Lotus, this dream realm will certainly shatter. Then, the rewards I receive will be extremely generous.

On the street, voices cried out, hawking candied haws, mingling with the clang of iron being smithed. The vibrant atmosphere of everyday life enveloped Hong Yuan.