Parting Clouds and Reuniting Stars

Entering the Dao with a mortal body is no easy feat.

But Zhuang Xun, as always, refused to tread the beaten path. He chose to go against the grain—cultivating his soul to perfection before refining his body.

In the end, he still reached the pinnacle of the Dao.

What’s more, he drew closer to the Great Dao itself, rivaling the effects of a Dao Body.

Though later Daoling explained that this was because his soul originated from another dimension, Zhuang Xun still wanted to try—to see if he could create an entirely new cultivation system.

As an author, innovation was something that truly intrigued him.

‘Inwardly examine the soul’s flaws, awaken the mirror that cleanses the spirit, nurture the body with the soul.’

Zhuang Xun crouched down and carefully studied the beautiful face that could make any man lose his heart.

“Once you’ve passed this stage of hearing the Dao, perhaps your heart and nature will undergo a complete transformation.”

“By then, you’ll have experienced more, seen more…”

“And you’ll no longer place this attachment on me.”

“Farewell, if fate allows.”

Without a trace of reluctance, he rose and summoned his flying sword, soaring tens of thousands of meters above Yuelong County.

“……”

“…..”

After the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

Having heard the Dao at dawn, the clouds and rain scattered.

A rainbow descended from the horizon, ending at the shadow of a single person.

It seemed a light shimmered, calming and dispelling gloom.

“…..”

“Mm…”

“What a wondrous feeling…”

“Immortal Master!”

Jiang Ningwan opened her eyes again. Her mind had become incredibly clear, and many previous doubts were suddenly resolved.

Feeling the sharp, expansive vision in her eyes, she joyfully sought the ethereal figure.

But all she felt was a gentle breeze brushing the hair at her temples. There was no one.

“……”

‘He’s gone…’

Her expression fell as she lowered her head, looking at the scripture that had turned to its last page…

[The Great Dao is simple; all paths lead to the same end.]

[The mental method is already fully memorized—now understand it in your heart and act on it.]

[Use your body and mind to perceive the ultimate truth of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity.]

[Through humanity, achieve sagehood; through sagehood, attain the Dao.]

[Immortality is within reach.]

“But…”

“I am truly fortunate to have met an extraordinary person like the Immortal Master.”

Her eyes welled with deep affection. Her fingertips gently traced the scripture, as if caressing something precious…

Though her heart had calmed, her emotions could not be stilled for long.

In fact, they had sunk even deeper into her heart than before.

‘If I could meet him again, I would surely choose to stay by the Immortal Master’s side forever.’

‘Ever as a mere maidservant…’

…..

Shattered clouds fell upon the green mountains, like smoke lingering in the mortal world.

The rising sun ascended over a sea of clouds, a solitary light shining upon a banished immortal.

Above the sea of clouds.

Zhuang Xun stood on his spiritual sword. His ink-black robe seemed like a single drop of paint, merging naturally into the boundless sea of clouds.

With his hands behind his back, he looked level at the snow-white clouds. “The time is up.”

Whoosh—whoosh—

The empty wind howled in his ears, suddenly stirring up a wave of mist.

“……”

“This time, Master has kept his promise.”

Only Xuanyuan Luoshui appeared this time. As for Ziyin…

Maybe now, she had been beaten into who knows which star domain.

“Have I ever deceived you?”

“The last time…” Xuanyuan Luoshui took a step forward, instantly closing the distance between them…

She arrived before Zhuang Xun. Her icy demeanor melted, and her smile bloomed like a flower.

“Did I?”

She slowly embraced him, her arms wrapping around his waist…

She rested her head on his chest, the attachment hidden deep in her blood-red pupils. “You tricked me into killing you, wanting me to prove my Dao for eternity on that continent.”

Zhuang Xun rolled his eyes and quickly switched to another mode.

“And you succeeded, didn’t you?”

“If not for that, you wouldn’t be able to see me now…”

His hand stroked her hair that spilled like a silver waterfall, his voice gentle and calm…

As if it could soothe all obsessions, anger, and resentment.

It was the mode he called ‘placating women,’ specially used to deal with the final trial of becoming a teacher from the Heavenly Dao.

Because of the special nature of the girl he had taken in during that trial,

He had nearly lost control of his Dao heart, violating the teacher’s ethics and engaging in an improper relationship with her.

Thinking back, he still found it a pity.

But it was precisely because he had passed that final trial.

That now, faced with the many unique and beautiful immortal women, he could remain as calm as still water, unmoved.

Just like now, he could calmly and naturally face this rebellious disciple who had forcefully kissed him at their first meeting.

“Perhaps… you’ve already become the supreme Female Emperor of that continent.”

“That’s right…”

“After that period, I did become an unrivaled, solitary Female Emperor…”

“My combat power once broke the realm limits of that continent…”

“But later I found that being an empress wasn’t as satisfying as conquering a strong man like Master…”

“So I broke through the world barrier and ascended, wanting to see the geniuses of a broader world…”

“And incidentally, to find traces of Master’s reincarnation.”

Xuanyuan Luoshui had completely shed the coldness from their first meeting, like a clinging young girl…

Pouring out her past to the man before her… the one she once regarded as an inseparable part of her life.

“…..”

Zhuang Xun knew that all comfort was useless now.

After all, what he had done back then—letting her kill him to sever her emotions and prove the Dao—was indeed unfair.

But he had no choice.

Time was short, so he could only use this ‘suicide’ method to make her the strongest existence in that world.

Yet he hadn’t expected retribution to come so quickly.

It had taken less than a thousand years for her cultivation to become so high.

Now, as her master, he was temporarily unable to resist her.

Truly, the Heavenly Dao has its cycles; oppression never goes unpunished.

“I can’t beat you right now.”

“It doesn’t matter, as long as Master is still the Master I remember.”

“As for the rest… leave it all to Luoshui.”

Xuanyuan Luoshui released Zhuang Xun.

Instead, she touched the void with her fingertip, sending out a continuous ripple…

“I have never forgotten the Dao techniques you taught me. This skill of shifting stars is the best proof.”

As she spoke, star patterns appeared around Xuanyuan Luoshui, like the constellations of the nine heavens, spreading across a hundred thousand leagues of the surrounding space.

“If I recall… Master often used this move to escape.”

“Now, Luoshui will use it to take Master to my cave for a chat.”

“Just a chat?” he asked.

If that were all, then it would be fine—he’d still have a chance to return.

“Of course.”

Xuanyuan Luoshui’s lips curled up slightly. Her next words shattered Zhuang Xun’s hope.

“But the duration might be a bit long—perhaps a thousand years, ten thousand years, or even forever…”

“Until Master no longer thinks of leaving me.”

Whoosh~

The celestial spheres slowly turned, and the environment around them seemed to shift spatial positions among the stars…

As if replacing heaven and earth.

“…..”

“Where are you taking me?”

“To the ultimate spirit land of the Azure Domain—the Spirit Realm.”

…..

Spirit Realm

Nine Xuan Prefecture, Grand Xuan Dao Sect.

The stars in the sky inexplicably moved against the Yin and Yang, summoning a crimson pillar of light from the heavens.

Its target was a white-mist-shrouded celestial mountain.

Whoosh!

But that pillar of light appeared only for an instant. Except for the spatial Dao rhythm that caught the attention of countless disciples in the sect,

There was no trace of it left.

“Master, this place is bound by special laws of heaven and earth. Please do not entertain thoughts of escape…”