Fan Wubing felt much enlightened upon hearing this, his eyes full of gratitude, "Thank you, elder, for your valuable advice."
Bixi said leisurely, "You are still young, with endless possibilities, so go forth and explore. Just donât forget to come back and visit this old fellow occasionally."
Fan Wubing joked, "Got it, you lonely old turtle. I should come back to check on you often."
Bixi burst into laughter, enjoying the conversation with this young man.
After spending some time here, Fan Wubing left.
Passing by the Profound Fire Mountain, he paused briefly.
The Fallen Immortal Land at Profound Fire Mountain was already sealed off by an exceptionally heavy and vast Cosmic Power, forming a towering dark wall separating it from the rest of the world to prevent the True Demons inside from escaping.
The dark wall was connected to a Suspended City, a garrison site for the warriors. A large number of cargo Flying Ships flew in from all directions, constantly entering and leaving the Suspended City to deliver supplies. The sky was densely populated, and a special flight path was even opened for this purpose. These Flying Ships, especially commissioned by the Mo Family, were larger and faster, everything geared towards efficiency.
After all, the Fallen Immortal Land behind the wall was ruthless. A slight delay in supplies could lead to the frontline collapsing.
Nowadays, the whole world was concerned about this.
All the Fallen Immortal Lands were like this.
Like tightly stretched strings.
Changsheng Continent was, after all, a well-ranked region with decent foundations. It managed to cope with ease, but those ranked lower, with poorer foundations, fared worse. Especially Taiping Continent, Divine Wood Continent, Yun Province, and other regions had to rely on the aid from other lands to barely hold on.
Taiping Continent almost fell before. The True Demons once pushed the frontline to the dark wall.
Fan Wubing did not stay long and turned towards the Luo Family in the Everlasting Realm, wanting to see how Elder Luo was doing.
...
On Guardian Sword Island of the Luo Family, in Luo Tianyuanâs Sword Institute.
Luo Tianyuan was playing chess around the board with Ming Xuesong.
Fan Wubing concealed his presence, hiding under a nearby Sword Tree. Now, if he focused on restraining his aura, even Tribulation Immortals like Luo Tianyuan and Ming Xuesong wouldnât notice him. He only feared those who delved into matters of fate, as he could not conceal his fate, needing to turn to Jiang Sha for help.
He thought to himself, "This old man still has time to play chess, looks like his days are quite comfortable."
The two old men didnât speak much, their expressions serious and solemn.
On the board, Luo Tianyuanâs white pieces were in a precarious situation, a slight misstep could overturn the game.
After Ming Xuesong placed a piece, Luo Tianyuan fell into a long contemplation, finally, with a frown, tremblingly placing a piece.
Fan Wubing and Ming Xuesong shook their heads at this move simultaneously.
Ming Xuesong said, "Old Luo, your mind is too troubled. Your play is really poor."
Luo Tianyuan instantly flared up, exclaiming with a red face, "Would you be troubled if you were in my situation? Do you know how Iâve lived these past twenty years! First lost a grandson-in-law, then Qingyao went and didnât return, the Fallen Immortal Land erupted, I didnât even have time to grieve, busy inside and out, completely exhausted. Youâre fishing all day, donât care about big matters, donât look at small ones, and yet have the nerve to say my mind is troubled."
Fan Wubing twitched his mouth... lost a grandson-in-law, what a rude thing to say!
Ming Xuesong knew his old friend well; what he said was a cover for the real pain over "losing a grandson-in-law". He still remembered the day Fan Wubingâs death was reported, this old guy drank all the fine wine he had stored, just like when the bad news of Qingyaoâs parents came.
Ming Xuesong placed another piece, the game immediately turned in his favor.
Luo Tianyuan picked up a piece, his mind troubled, hands trembling, nowhere to place, he sighed softly, "Sometimes I really wonder, all this immortality cultivation throughout life, what is it for if I canât even protect my own children."
Ming Xuesong took a sip of tea, "Thatâs why I have no partner, no offspring, alone, with no ties or regrets."
Luo Tianyuan asked, "When I die, wonât you be sad for a while?"
Ming Xuesongâs hand trembled, suddenly finding the tea bland and tasteless.
Luo Tianyuan said, "Who can truly be alone, without any ties? Even those in the White Jade Capital who cultivate Supreme Forgetting Emotions canât do it."
"Then you might as well believe Qingyaoâs words, that Fan Wubing still has a sliver of hope, give yourself some comfort."
Luo Tianyuan smiled bitterly and said, "But thatâs heavenâs killing after all, what is this so-called âsliver of hopeâ? I fear Qingyao only said so because she loved Wubing too much, forming an obsession, losing her parents first and then her lover, how could she let go? Leaving for the world, maybe just to depart from this place of sorrow, not knowing if she will ever return."
"Besides believing, we have nothing left. So why not hold on to âbelieveâ tightly then."
Luo Tianyuan rolled his eyes, "Youâre just indifferent because it doesnât concern you."
Ming Xuesong remained calm, not wanting to dwell on these sad topics, changed the subject, "I heard you sent Ling Xian to develop the Little South Continent?"
"Hm."
"Why the Little South Continent? Doesnât seem like your style."
Luo Tianyuan exhaled, "The Little South Continent has been too chaotic recently, even affecting my relativeâs affairs. I should go support them, and letting Ling Xian go out for some experience is also good, staying at Peixun Lake all day somewhat affects oneâs state of mind."
Beside him, Fan Wubingâs heart skipped a beat, did something happen to the Fan Family?
Ming Xuesong glanced at the board, "The white pieces still have a sliver of hope, are you playing or not?"
Luo Tianyuan was unsure, unable to see any "sliver of hope," just about to concede when suddenly the Sword Tree beside him swayed slightly.
Both instinctively looked over, slightly puzzled, "Moving without wind?"
Unable to discern anything, they returned to the board.
Ming Xuesong suddenly paused, "When did you place the piece? This sliver of hope indeed was grasped."
On the board, a white piece had been placed, perfectly neutralizing the black menace.
Luo Tianyuan was a bit stunned, "Did I place a piece?" He patted his forehead, "Seems like I was distracted by the Sword Tree when placing. Ah, whatever, continue, continue!"
The situation revived, Luo Tianyuanâs mind brightened, he suddenly became excited, his thoughts became lively.