Playing with the Moon

This was a space fragrant with birdsong and blooming flowers. From afar, it resembled a dreamscape, utterly ethereal and enchanting.

“Oh? Yan’er, what brings you here so suddenly?”

Not long after Luo Yan arrived in this world, a graceful purple figure swiftly flew over from the distance and landed before her.

She was a woman dressed in purple robes, her bearing both dignified and subtly alluring. Although she was undeniably beautiful, her purple eyes and purple hair made it clear that she was not human—such features were beyond those possessed by ordinary people.

“Greetings, Grand-Ancestor Nong Yue. Grand-Ancestor, Yiren has informed me that she wishes for her disciple to cultivate in the Void Heaven Realm, so your disciple has come to request your help,” Luo Yan explained her purpose.

Who was this Nong Yue?

She was, in fact, the enormous purple Profound Cherry Tree of the Luoshen Sect—her true form.

“To the Void Heaven Realm? I see. It seems you’ve recruited some very talented disciples, haven’t you?” Nong Yue said.

At first she was puzzled, but she quickly guessed that the Luoshen Sect must have obtained an exceptionally gifted disciple. Otherwise, they would not be willing to use a precious opportunity to enter the Void Heaven Realm so easily.

“Whether their talent is extraordinary or not, I cannot say for certain,” Luo Yan replied with a faint smile.
“But they are both very mysterious—and there are two of them. Perhaps, Grand-Ancestor, you might be able to see something special about them.”

She could only speculate that Bai Lan and Xue Linglong were extraordinary, but she did not know exactly what their physiques were.

“Mysterious? Now that piques my interest.”

Nong Yue’s curiosity was instantly stirred.

“Very well, I agree. When do they plan to leave? If it is soon, bring the child to me so that I may see them first. I would like to know what kind of genius you have recruited.”

After receiving Nong Yue’s approval, Luo Yan immediately went to inform Bai Yiren.

When Bai Yiren heard that Luo Yan had arranged everything so quickly, she let out a small sigh of relief.

However, she asked Luo Yan to wait a few more days. She still needed time to properly instruct Bai Lan before departure, and Bai Lan herself also needed time to prepare.

Even so, Bai Yiren went to notify Bai Lan that very day, telling her to mentally prepare.

“What? The Void Heaven Realm?” Bai Lan exclaimed in surprise when Bai Yiren told her she would cultivate there.

She naturally knew about that place.

She had visited it once before—or rather, Xue Yue had visited it once. The Snow Clan also possessed a passage to the Void Heaven Realm, which was indeed an excellent place for cultivation.

More importantly, cultivating there meant one did not need to fear death. The only consequence of dying was losing a cultivation realm.

What Bai Lan did not expect was that a small sect like the Luoshen Sect would also possess a passage to the Void Heaven Realm.

This meant the Luoshen Sect must have cultivators beyond the Soul Transformation Realm, because even if a passage existed, it could not be used without a cultivator at that level.

Entering the Void Heaven Realm required a token, and activating this token demanded the power of a cultivator at the Soul Transformation Realm or higher.

“Hmm? You know about the Void Heaven Realm?” Bai Yiren asked, noticing Bai Lan’s surprised expression.

“Ah? How would I know?” Bai Lan replied with an awkward smile.

Seeing Bai Lan’s expression, Bai Yiren knew she clearly understood something, but she did not press further.

Instead, she continued explaining.

“That place is extremely special. Your master has been there once, and your Senior Martial Brother has also visited it.

However, our talents were limited. We died easily in that world, and each death caused us to lose one cultivation realm.

So think carefully. Once you enter, you cannot return for three years—unless you die.”

Bai Lan thought about it for a moment.

Remaining in the somewhat dull cultivation environment of the Luoshen Sect was far less appealing than going to the Void Heaven Realm.

“I have no objections. If that place is better for cultivation, then I’m willing to go,” Bai Lan said.

After all, it was an excellent opportunity. Only a fool would refuse.

“Heh, very well. I’ll give you three days to prepare. Come find me again after three days,” Bai Yiren said.

Bai Lan nodded.

Once Bai Yiren finished speaking, she left.

After Bai Yiren departed, Bai Lan immediately went to Tianyin Pavilion.

Since she would be leaving for three years, she naturally needed to say goodbye to Xue Linglong.

The flow of time in the Void Heaven Realm was different from the outside world.

One full day outside—twenty-four hours—was equivalent to three days inside the Void Heaven Realm.

In other words, for every day that passed outside, one could spend three days cultivating inside.

It was a world specifically designed to temper cultivators.

This was also why disciples of major sects grew stronger so quickly. They could frequently enter the Void Heaven Realm, and as long as they did not die, their cultivation speed would increase dramatically.

Of course, each divine lineage sect only had three entry slots.

This meant only three people could enter the Void Heaven Realm at one time.

Furthermore, the tokens had limited uses.

Each token allowed ten deaths. Once those ten chances were used up, the token would disappear.

The Luoshen Sect’s three tokens currently had only twelve chances remaining.

This meant that previous generations of Luoshen Sect disciples had already used up eighteen chances.

However, it was also possible to obtain additional chances inside the Void Heaven Realm by completing trials.

Not long afterward, Bai Lan arrived at Tianyin Pavilion, outside Xue Linglong’s residence.

After greeting the disciples guarding the entrance, Bai Lan went to find her.

Xue Linglong’s residence was a quiet and elegant courtyard.

Cultivators who practiced the Way of Musical Arts required an environment of complete tranquility.

At that moment, beautiful zither music drifted out from within the courtyard.

When Bai Lan heard the melody, she instantly felt her body relax.

She walked to the entrance and contacted Xue Linglong through her identity jade token.

Inside the courtyard, Xue Linglong was playing her ancient zither.

Suddenly, the jade token at her waist vibrated.

She stopped playing, took out the token, and a gentle smile appeared on her face.

Soon after, she walked out of the courtyard.

Xue Linglong seemed to grow more graceful every year. Her demeanor became increasingly calm and gentle, and her beauty only deepened.

“Sister, what brings you here so suddenly?” Xue Linglong asked as she opened the protective formation around the courtyard and let Bai Lan in.

“Oh, it’s like this,” Bai Lan explained.

“My master plans to send me somewhere for cultivation. I may not be able to see you for three years, so I came to tell you.”

Xue Linglong paused.

Then she wrapped her arm around Bai Lan’s arm and asked softly,

“You’re going to the Void Heaven Realm, aren’t you?”

Her words startled Bai Lan.

“Eh? How did you know?” Bai Lan asked in surprise.

Xue Linglong smiled slightly.

“My master told me as well. She said that when my cultivation improves further, she will also send me to cultivate in the Void Heaven Realm.

She explained the situation there to me.

But I feel that now is not the right time yet, so I plan to wait a little longer.”

Bai Lan did not find this strange.

Qiu Hanyun naturally knew about the Void Heaven Realm, and Xue Linglong’s talent was no worse than her own.

However, Bai Lan knew Xue Linglong’s personality well.

She disliked fighting and bloodshed.

Yet the Void Heaven Realm was precisely a place where geniuses from across the Eastern Continent clashed with one another.

Thinking about this, Bai Lan suddenly realized something.

If she went to the Void Heaven Realm…

she might encounter members of the Snow Clan.

At that thought, a trace of murderous intent quietly surfaced in her heart.

Xue Linglong noticed Bai Lan’s sudden distraction and the fleeting killing intent in her eyes.

She guessed Bai Lan must have remembered something unpleasant.

“Eh? Sister, what’s wrong?” Xue Linglong asked.

“You’re not unhappy because I don’t want to go to the Void Heaven Realm with you, are you?”

“If you really want me to go with you, I can talk to my master.”

She quickly changed the topic, interrupting Bai Lan’s dark thoughts.