Although she had yet to attain the Haoyang Body, Yan Luo felt that her Pure Yang Physique had been tempered to an unprecedented limit.
It was only separated from the Haoyang Body by a thin, fragile veil.
She needed some kind of catalyst.
Some… powerful catalyst.
The first thing that came to Yan Luo’s mind, the most suitable catalyst, was the searing heat of that young man.
It came from his fire.
“If only Yuyang were here…”
That figure appeared in Yan Luo’s mind involuntarily, and she whispered to herself.
If he were here, he could enter her body with his searing heat and break through this final layer.
Her body would then be able to undergo further metamorphosis, achieve the Haoyang Body, and condense her own origin of the Haoyang Flame.
Unfortunately, he was not here.
Although the Myriad Fire Box contained countless flames, those belonged to the box itself.
She could only barely borrow them and could not use them to help her break through this limit.
“Yuyang,” she whispered the name softly, and a glimmer of longing flashed in the young girl’s eyes. What was he doing now?
Some time ago, Yan Luo had heard from her grandfather about what happened in the Hehuan Sect and the despicable conduct of the Qiankun Sect, which filled her with indignation.
However, fortunately, the matter was resolved, and Yuyang was unharmed.
*
The only regret was that her grandfather had not found an opportunity to invite him over to their home again.
She could only wait.
She would wait for one year, until the other major event in the North Domain—the Heaven’s Pride Ranking.
This competition would gather the young geniuses from all sects and regions in the North Domain to face off in the Jieyu Secret Realm and fight for positions on the Heaven’s Pride Ranking.
By then, Yuyang would certainly come.
With his talent and strength, he would never miss an opportunity to prove himself.
“This time…”
Thinking of him, Yan Luo clenched her fists, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes.
This time, she would absolutely find a way to make him hers!
Although the girl’s cheeks burned hot at the bold thought.
But with Yuyang not by her side, the feeling of constantly worrying that he would be snatched away by other women, or fearing that he might run into some other accident, left her unable to feel at ease.
And this feeling constantly reminded her of one thing.
She had to take the initiative!
If she captured him, then all her worries would no longer be worries, and all her problems would no longer be problems.
Thinking this, Yan Luo took out a scarlet robe and draped it over her shoulders.
Just as she finished tying the sash and before she could even smooth out the hem, she felt a presence descend.
The person who arrived was Yan Dangmo.
“As expected of my granddaughter! To achieve the Nascent Soul stage at such a young age and…”
Yan Dangmo arrived with a heroic and proud smile, but before he could finish his sentence, he sensed the condition of Yan Luo’s body.
His brow furrowed slightly.
“Wait a minute, have you not yet attained the Haoyang Body?”
Yan Luo continued to adjust her collar and gave a soft, “Mm.”
“It still needs a little more.”
“What a pity!” Yan Dangmo clicked his tongue, his face showing a look of regret.
“If it were that boy, you would only be a hair’s breadth away now. Since he possesses the genuine Haoyang Body, his origin flame could easily guide you to take that final step in this regard.”
After thinking for a moment, Yan Dangmo asked, “How about this: I shall go invite him over now and ask him to do you this favor?”
“You can do that!”
Yan Luo’s eyes lit up instantly at these words, her tone even carrying an air of urgency.
But Yan Dangmo immediately shook his head, frowning slightly.
“No, no. It was hard enough to make that kid owe our Yan family a favor; if we go begging him for help now, that favor will be wasted for nothing. It’s not worth it.”
Upon hearing this, the light in Yan Luo’s eyes dimmed rapidly.
“Alright then…”
“Maybe you should just wait a little longer, Radish.”
Yan Dangmo patted the girl’s shoulder to comfort her.
“Besides, even if you achieved the Haoyang Body now, your cultivation speed wouldn’t necessarily increase.”
“Why?”
Yan Luo looked up, her eyes filled with confusion.
The Haoyang Body was clearly more powerful, so her cultivation speed should naturally be faster.
Seeing the girl’s baffled expression, Yan Dangmo explained patiently, “After the Nascent Soul stage, a cultivator must begin to refine themselves, form their own combat techniques, and delve into their own ‘arts’ and ‘methods.’ This is a critical stage for achieving one’s own laws in the future.”
“Your speed from the Foundation Establishment to the Golden Core and then to the Nascent Soul has already far exceeded that of ordinary people. While your foundation is solid, your temperament and your understanding of combat methods need time to settle.”
“Therefore, from this stage on, even if you wanted to cultivate quickly, I wouldn’t allow it. You must calm your heart and walk steadily, one step at a time.”
Yan Luo finally understood.
*
“I thought… I would be able to see him.”
Lowering her head, this fact hit her harder than the inability to break through to the Haoyang Flame.
Yan Dangmo naturally took in the disappointment on his granddaughter’s face, but he had no good solution for this and could only think of ways to create opportunities for them later.
“Alright, don’t keep that long face.”
Seeing the girl still looking dejected, Yan Dangmo changed the subject.
“During this time, Radish, you should cultivate less and focus more on stabilizing your realm and refining your combat techniques.”
Just as Yan Luo was about to nod in agreement, she heard Yan Dangmo continue.
“I am going to Heng City in a while. Since you cannot practice at full intensity for the time being, you might as well come with me and see the world.”
“Go to Heng City?”
Yan Luo looked up, a hint of confusion in her eyes, and asked with some reluctance.
“What would I do there?”
She had never had any interest in family business or social engagements.
“The Xuan family’s ancestral secret realm is about to open. As an ally, the Yan family has been allotted 20 spots, and I will let you go in to gain experience. It will be good for you.”
After a pause, Yan Dangmo added, “Every major family has its own secret realm. Exchanging spots when they open is both a form of resource sharing and a way to understand and probe each other’s strength; it’s a convention. When our Yan family’s secret realm opens, we also let other families send people to participate.”
“I’m not going!”
Yan Luo turned her head away without a second thought.
Training in a secret realm?
And a family secret realm at that; it sounded boring.
“Didn’t you say I need to cultivate my own combat techniques?”
Yan Luo turned her head back and huffed.
“Then I can just go to the Desolate Mountain Range by myself to find Fiend Beasts. Why go to some Xuan family secret realm?”
“Nonsense!”
Yan Dangmo’s face darkened, and his tone became stern.
“You are only 17 years old! You aren’t at the age where I can let you go out and train in the world on your own!”
“Why not?” Yan Luo retorted indignantly.
“Wasn’t that the same age my father was when he went out to roam the world on his own?”
“Are men and women the same?”
Yan Dangmo’s voice rose a notch, growing a bit anxious.
“In short, while your strength may be sufficient, your experience is too shallow, and your temperament is too direct. You are prone to impulse. If you go out into the world alone, you will easily suffer a great loss!”
As he spoke, realizing his tone was too harsh, Yan Dangmo softened his voice, though his stance remained firm.
“You are going to Heng City, to the Xuan family’s secret realm! It will gather many young disciples from other families, offering plenty of opportunities for combat and sparring. As my granddaughter, no one will dare have any designs on you.”
Seeing that Yan Luo still looked reluctant, Yan Dangmo thought for a moment and added, “If you perform well in the secret realm and can form the prototype of your combat style, I will consider allowing you to go out and train on your own once we return.”
Hearing her grandfather’s words, Yan Luo fell silent for a moment before reluctantly lowering her head.
“Alright… I will go.”
Seeing this, Yan Dangmo’s expression softened, and he nodded with a smile.
“That’s more like it. Alright, Radish, don’t just stand there. Come home with me; I have prepared some pills for you to stabilize your realm. Rest well for a few days, and we will depart for Heng City in a few days.”
Yan Luo answered softly and said no more, simply following silently behind Yan Dangmo toward the Yan family residence at the base of the Soul Casting Volcano.
*
After 20 days of nearly non-stop travel, Chen Yuyang and Yun Lian finally arrived at Heng City at noon that day.
The cyan city walls resembled a hibernating giant dragon, stretching for 100 miles across the earth.
Inside the city, countless cultivators came and went, and there was no need for them to take special measures to hide.
Heng City was immense, and one-fifth of its territory belonged to the Xuan family.
After 20 days of continuous travel, both of them were covered in dust, making them look somewhat unkempt.
As they entered the city gates along with the flow of people, the sight inside was even more magnificent.
On both sides of the wide streets were countless buildings packed closely together, and within this city, which was considered mundane, there were numerous shops opened by cultivators.
Here, all order and rules came from the Xuan family.
Watching this bustling scene, it was not much different from when he arrived several thousand years ago.
Chen Yuyang did not have much of a reaction, but he looked toward Yun Lian at his side with some concern.
However, Chen Yuyang saw her walking calmly, with not a ripple of emotion in her eyes.
This surprised Chen Yuyang, as if Ling Xi were there, she might have jumped for joy.
“What, no reaction from you, Shimei?”
Chen Yuyang teased with a smirk.
“This Heng City is much more impressive than the places we have been before.”
Upon hearing this, Yun Lian’s footsteps faltered.
She turned her head, a somewhat bitter smile on her face, and said softly, “Come to think of it, I haven’t told you yet… I am a native of Heng City.”
“Oh?”
Chen Yuyang was surprised, then smiled.
“That’s wonderful! Then why don’t you invite your Shixiong to your home for a visit? It will save us money at the inn.”
The smile on Yun Lian’s face became even more strained.
She lowered her head, avoiding Chen Yuyang’s gaze, her voice growing faint.
“That… I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”
“Why?”
Chen Yuyang asked, puzzled.
“Are you afraid your parents might misunderstand our relationship?”
Yun Lian’s body trembled slightly.
After a long while, she shook her head once more.
“No, that’s not the reason… It’s… my parents, my Yun family… they were all slaughtered 14 years ago.”
The smile on Chen Yuyang’s face froze instantly, then vanished, and the teasing look in his eyes was replaced by gravity.