"That's good, it reduces a lot of hatred and conflict."
Lingyan sighed sincerely, perhaps this was what Gu Zhong truly wanted: a more peaceful world.
Then she suddenly remembered someone she had forgotten for a long time.
Where is Cheng Yun?
"She's determined to follow that down-on-his-luck playboy Ye Feng to the ends of the earth, so why should I stop her?"
Gu Zhong frowned and smiled wryly, clearly having no other choice.
"Besides, having you in my life is enough."
Nothing in this world can compare to you.
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Author's Note:
This world is over.
====================
#MyFateIsInMyOwnHands
====================
Chapter 72 Astrologers and Defiant Ones (Part 1)
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The charred, gnarled branches and withered trees twisted and coiled, and the empty forest was not even disturbed by a single startled bird taking flight.
As dusk fell, a cool breeze blew by, stirring up a cloud of dust.
As darkness fell and the wind howled, a chill inexplicably crept into one's limbs and body.
His long, slender fingers, calloused from the cold, gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist with tension. His black boots crunched softly on the fallen leaves and twigs.
The woman, dressed in a blue disciple's robe with white patterns, was on edge as she cautiously made her way alone through the demon-infested forest.
A strong smell of blood wafted towards her. She took two quick steps, then suddenly stopped, cast a silencing spell, and slowly approached to investigate, using the low bushes nearby as cover.
Before she could see clearly, a stellar force brushed past her temple.
"who!?"
With a sharp, cold shout, the bushes he had been using for cover were chopped into pieces.
A white robe with wide sleeves, embroidered with black patterns, and adorned with celestial symbols. The woman before me, with her gentle yet sharp features, is an astrologer from the Star Luo Sect.
"I was unaware that the Immortal Master was here. This disciple has been disrespectful and begs for punishment!"
This is her survival strategy for surviving all these years: as long as she humbles herself enough and asks for punishment first, most important people are too lazy to bother with her anymore.
Looking at the person kneeling on the ground in front of her, not daring to look up easily, Ling Yan recalled the familiar face she had been longing for just now, and couldn't help but feel extremely fortunate that her flick of the finger had deflected the attack slightly.
What followed was a suffocating grief.
The once proud and unyielding god of war eventually became as humble as dust, unable to stand tall.
Even though it's a way to survive, Lingyan couldn't stand such considerations.
This world is the realm of cultivation, the world most similar to their original world.
Penglai has a fairy mountain, which all people go to.
People flock to seek immortality and enlightenment, but very few can actually ascend to the gates of immortality, and even fewer can attain the Great Dao.
Furthermore, for some unknown reason, the spiritual energy in this world is gradually decreasing, and it has already shown signs of the end of Dharma. On the contrary, demons are becoming stronger and rampaging across the world.
More than a hundred years have passed since Lingyan descended to this world, and no one has been heard of ascending to immortality since.
Decades ago, an elder of the Xingluo Sect used divination to predict the meaning of a soul and obtained a hexagram.
The Star Luo Gate divination, when interpreted as the best person, signifies the impending doom of the world, and is related to one's destiny.
The cultivation world was thrown into chaos. Adhering to the principle of "better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free," all infants in the world who were destined for this fate were killed one by one.
Gu Zhong was one of them.
Fortunately, it was also unfortunate, because her birth mother couldn't bear to do it and secretly switched the body parts, she managed to escape with her life.
However, he wandered the world for more than ten years, experiencing hardship and suffering.
By chance, he was adopted by a small immortal sect, but because of his lack of talent, he was treated coldly and suffered ridicule and humiliation.
This has shaped her into this humble person; after all, simply being alive is her greatest desire.
"No need for formalities, how could I be offending you? Which immortal sect do you belong to? Why are you, a Qi Refining stage disciple, left here alone?"
A thousand thoughts flashed through her mind in an instant, but Lingyan couldn't bear to let Gu Zhong kneel for even a second longer, so she immediately used magic to lift her knees up.
"Reporting to the Immortal Master, this disciple Gu Zhong is an outer disciple of the Pure Water Sect. I... I have unfortunately become separated from my sect."
Surprised by Lingyan's easygoing nature, but having seen too many unpredictable people, Gu Zhong still lowered his head timidly and answered softly.
It wasn't that I got separated from my sect; it was just that I was deliberately abandoned by those people who were always bullying the weak and fearing the strong.
However, in order to make things easier for himself in the future, Gu Zhong could not arbitrarily file a complaint, and he could only swallow all the humiliation alone.
"In that case, you should follow me for now. The mountains are dangerous, and there are many demons, which are beyond your current level of cultivation."
However, under such circumstances, Lingyan was able to openly spend time alone with Gu Zhong.
Upon hearing this, Gu Zhong shifted his gaze slightly from the ground in front of him and saw the source of the bloody smell—a ferocious-looking two-winged demon beast, its body faintly radiating the aura of a Golden Core cultivator.
If she were to encounter such a being, she would surely die without resorting to certain methods. The cultivation level of this immortal master before her is such that he can easily kill a Golden Core demon beast; he is probably at least at the Mahayana stage.
Now that she's willing to bring me along, regardless of whether her intentions are good or bad, it certainly provides an extra layer of protection in this place teeming with monsters.
"Thank you, Immortal Master! This disciple is deeply grateful and will certainly follow your example..."
Before she could finish speaking, a pair of pristine white boots embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns appeared in her eyes.
Along with it comes a faint, ethereal fragrance that is intoxicating and irresistible, making one want to follow it.
"Take this with you."
Lingyan walked up to Gu Zhong and gently but irresistibly took her tightly clenched fist, unfolded her slender fingers one by one, and placed a crystal clear jade talisman on it.
"Also, raise your head. When you're with me, Xingxuan-jun, you don't need to be so cautious."
After placing the jade talisman, he casually moved his hand upwards, hooking the chin of the person in front of him. Their almost level height allowed their eyes to meet.
In one person's eyes, there is doubt, astonishment, and unease about the world, yet there is also an unyielding spirit and resilience.
In one person's eyes, there is nothing but tenderness and affection, nothing but that one person.
"Immortal Master, what is this?"
Unable to comprehend this inexplicable and unprecedented act of kindness, Gu Zhong clenched his fist on the jade talisman, unsure of how to respond.
"It's nothing rare, but it can save your life, so keep it safe."
Looking at the frightened and uneasy person in front of her, Lingyan reached out again and closed her hand.
Fearing that being too enthusiastic and concerned might frighten the rabbit, he could only pretend not to care and turn away gracefully.
After walking more than ten meters, he called out from afar.
"What are you standing there for? Follow me."
If someone were nearby, they would witness a scene that would be considered a wonder in the world of cultivation.
Xingxuan Jun, known throughout the cultivation world for his aloofness and indifference, was slaying demonic beasts in front of him. He would occasionally glance at the blue-robed woman following closely behind him, wondering which sect she belonged to and what abilities she possessed to earn her favor.
However, the time alone was quite short. Lingyan didn't even have time to say a few words to Gu Zhong before she encountered other people from other immortal sects, including the Pure Water Sect.
The reason why so many immortal sects entered this desolate mountain was because of the evil beasts that had wreaked havoc on many villages and towns at the foot of the mountain.
Originally, the problem could have been solved simply by managing the immortal sects of this realm. However, this time it was quite strange, as many powerful demons were appearing in this mountain, showing signs of forming a demon tide, which prompted various parties to send out investigations.
Ling Yan was naturally the leader of the Star Luo Sect, while the leader of the Pure Water Sect, where Gu Zhong was located, was her nominal master.
To lose sight of one's own apprentice right under one's nose—whether it was intentional or not, is unknown.
"Gu Zhong! Where have you run off to? We've been looking for you everywhere!"
Seeing Gu Zhong following behind Ling Yan, a tall, thin member of the Pure Water Sect rolled his eyes and began to scold him.
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Author's Note:
A new world begins! The concept took a little longer than expected.
I wasn't in a good state for writing recently, I'm sorry everyone.
Chapter 73 Astrologers and Defiant Ones (Part Two)
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"So noisy, are you from the same sect?"
Lingyan frowned in displeasure, then used a silencing spell to silence the man before turning back to ask Gu Zhong.
"Yes, please forgive me, Immortal Master. My senior brother was just worried about me."
Gu Zhong was secretly delighted, but on the surface he still had to apologize on behalf of others with trepidation and put on a humble posture.
"Who is that venerable one ahead?"
The man who had initially pretended to be deaf and dumb finally spoke. Gu Zhong, this nominal master, was indeed born with a handsome appearance, and had the demeanor of a gentle and refined gentleman.
Looking at this person, a cold glint flashed in Lingyan's eyes.