Times Have Changed

At the crossroads of the Blood-Red Hills.

Beside the tent, Zhong Limeng waited anxiously, her gaze darting in every direction.

Finally, Song Xugu appeared, but there was still no sign of Yi Feng. She hurried forward to inquire.

"Uncle Song, have you seen Young Master Yi?"

Song Xugu shook his head slowly, his expression grave.

"I couldn’t find him. Perhaps..."

He left the sentence unfinished, but both of them understood the unspoken implication. After days of searching with no trace of Yi Feng on the demon-infested Shui Han Star, it was likely he had met his end.

Yet Zhong Limeng remained resolute, cutting off the grim speculation.

"Uncle Song, no matter what, I will wait for Young Master Yi to return."

Seeing her unwavering determination, Song Xugu could only sigh quietly.

He knew Zhong Limeng’s character well—though a woman, she possessed extraordinary righteousness and always upheld the principles of gratitude and retribution. How could someone like her abandon Yi Feng?

After waiting for a long while, the other disciples gradually returned.

Most wore somber expressions, their spirits low.

No matter how many times Zhong Limeng asked, the answers were all the same.

"Reporting to Senior Sister, I searched the western river valley for thousands of miles but found no trace of Young Master Yi."

"I scoured the southern ice plains for days but didn’t see him either."

"Same here."

"Neither did I."

"Senior Sister, we’ve searched everywhere. If Young Master Yi is still alive, he might have gotten lost—perhaps even wandered deep into Shui Han Star."

"Brother Liu is right. After half a month of exhaustive searching, we still can’t find him. If he hasn’t gone missing, then... he’s likely met with misfortune."

The tactful words cast a pall over the group, the atmosphere heavy with sorrow.

Even though their acquaintance with Yi Feng had been brief, his kindness and chivalry had left a deep impression on them. Despite his disappearance, they couldn’t bring themselves to give up the search.

After half a month with no results, an ominous premonition settled over them.

Standing at the center of the group, Zhong Limeng furrowed her delicate brows, still unwilling to concede.

Seeing her like this, Song Xugu, as her elder, felt compelled to remind her.

"Niece, we’ve been here for over half a month. The chaotic demonic energy of Shui Han Star is too potent—lingering any longer will only lead to corruption. We’ve achieved some success in our demon hunt. It’s time to return."

His voice was heavy, and Zhong Limeng bit her lip lightly before finally relenting.

"It seems... we have no choice."

"Let us return to the Heavenly Palace first. We shall remember this debt of gratitude, and when time permits, we will visit Yun Star to seek out Yi Feng’s family and friends, offering our condolences and support..."

The others nodded solemnly, engraving the memory of that humble and unassuming young man in their hearts, their eyes filled with regret.

In the blink of an eye, the tents were packed away, the campfire extinguished.

A flying vessel soared into the sky, leaving a streak of light in its wake as it departed for the stars.

Far in the distance, Wei Zhenfang raced forward, his severed arm bandaged and slung across his chest, his eyes burning with urgency as he muttered under his breath.

"Why can’t I find her...?"

"No matter what, I must locate Zhong Limeng and forge a connection! If I fail in this task, when the senior finds out, the consequences will be unthinkable..."

"Zhong Limeng must not lose—this is the senior’s will, and no one may defy it!"

Pushing his speed to the limit, Wei Zhenfang was frantic with anxiety.

For days, he hadn’t even spared a moment to hunt demons, dedicating all his efforts to finding Zhong Limeng. Yet no matter how hard he searched, he never crossed paths with her group.

After much deliberation, he concluded that they must have split up.

The audacity of Zhong Limeng to divide her forces on Shui Han Star—such courage would put even men to shame.

No wonder the senior had taken an interest in her. She truly was extraordinary.

After witnessing Yi Feng’s terrifying cultivation, Wei Zhenfang found even the most outlandish speculations about Zhong Limeng plausible. He no longer dared to underestimate her in the slightest.

Even after half a month of fruitless searching, his determination to befriend her only grew stronger.

Just as he was about to speed off again, a streak of light shot up from the horizon, vanishing into the endless cosmos!

"Whoosh!"

Wei Zhenfang halted mid-air, staring at the fading light in shock.

After a closer look, frustration and panic flooded his eyes.

"Isn’t that... the flying vessel of the Cang Yun Heavenly Palace?"

"Damn it! Zhong Limeng and her group have already left! What am I supposed to do now?!"

His heart was in turmoil, and he nearly gave chase in desperation.

But the vessel belonged to the Cang Yun Heavenly Palace—no ordinary craft could match its speed. Once it left Shui Han Star, it would traverse the void, making it impossible for him to catch up, no matter how fast he flew.

Clenching his teeth in helplessness, Wei Zhenfang was on the verge of shouting in frustration!

Then, a composed voice transmitted into his mind.

"Everyone, please return to the vessel. It is time to depart for the Cang Yun Heavenly Palace."

Recognizing the voice, Wei Zhenfang had no choice but to grit his teeth and look away.

Fu Haotian’s summons marked the final call for departure. Without the vessel, his severely injured body would never survive the journey.

If he stayed any longer, the demonic energy and spatial turbulence would consume him, leaving his corpse to rot on this cursed planet!

Reluctantly, he turned and sped toward the rendezvous point.

After the time it took to burn an incense stick...

On a frozen coastline tens of thousands of miles away, a group of over twenty stood waiting, engaged in hushed discussions.

Most were elderly, exuding formidable auras, their demeanor and speech refined. Beside them lay piles of demon corpses—enough to stun any onlooker.

At the center of the group stood Fu Haotian, clad in luxurious robes, his hands clasped behind his back. His expression was unreadable as he waited patiently.

Suddenly—

A streak of light descended, and a bald elder landed on the ground.

As Wei Zhenfang appeared, the group turned their attention toward him. When they noticed his severed arm, their eyes flickered with unspoken thoughts, complex emotions swirling among them.

Fu Haotian, however, remained composed, stepping forward with a respectful salute.

"Elder Wei, we’ve been waiting for you."

Not a word about the demon hunt—just a cordial greeting.

Then, feigning surprise, he spoke with concern.

"Elder Wei, how did you sustain such grave injuries? I am ashamed—my petty rivalry has caused you such harm. My conscience is uneasy!"

"Here are two Heaven-grade healing pills. Please, do not refuse them!"

With that, a flash of light came from his opulent storage ring as he presented a small, ornate box with both hands.

His words and actions were impeccably noble, painting the picture of a magnanimous young master.

The surrounding experts watched with admiration.

Their eyes lingered on the box, greed flickering in their gazes.

Before Wei Zhenfang could respond, the others began chiming in.

"Such generosity from Young Master Fu! It is an honor to serve under you!"

"The young master’s virtue makes him the ideal successor to the Heavenly Palace!"

"Young Master, there’s no need for guilt. We agreed to assist you, knowing the risks. Any injuries or deaths are our own responsibility!"

"With these Heaven-grade pills, Brother Wei will surely recover."

"Hmph, Heaven-grade pills are priceless treasures. Brother Wei is fortunate indeed. Though I wonder... just how many demons did Brother Wei manage to slay while fulfilling his duties?"

Amid the praise, veiled mockery seeped through. The experts’ true colors showed—once brothers in arms, now quick to kick a man when he was down, all for the sake of coveted treasures.

Fu Haotian pretended to frown at their remarks but didn’t intervene.

Instead, he turned back to Wei Zhenfang with meaningful concern.

"Elder Wei, there's no need to take it to heart. The seniors here are merely concerned for you, nothing more. The demon hunt is trivial—what truly matters is your safe return!"

Fu Haotian's words rang out, earning him even greater reverence from the crowd. Yet, subtle glances of appraisal flickered in their eyes, their smiles polite but their expressions cold, as if they were looking at a worthless fool.

What a bunch of hypocrites.

Wei Zhenfang had long been accustomed to such an atmosphere—where the strong were revered, and the weak were mocked and belittled.

Only now, when it was directed at him, did he truly feel its sting.

Damn it, what a pack of snakes!

Not only were they insincere, but they also looked down on others with contempt!

In the past, he would have erupted in fury on the spot. But after witnessing the true demeanor of a real master, Wei Zhenfang's mindset had undergone a profound change.

These so-called friends no longer mattered to him. Even Fu Haotian, whom everyone praised, now seemed nothing more than a pretentious hypocrite.

Compared to the master he had met, these people were inferior by a hundred thousand miles in both cultivation and bearing.

Times had changed.

Wei Zhenfang no longer wished to associate with such lowly company—his vision had expanded far beyond theirs.

Only the thought of boarding the flying ship kept him from outright disdain. He forced a smile.

"Heh, this old man suffered grave injuries after venturing deep into the Frozen Forest and encountering a Heaven-rank demon! After a fierce battle, I barely managed to emerge victorious."

"Young Master Fu’s grand mission weighs heavier on my mind than anyone else’s!"

His words sent ripples through the crowd, their expressions shifting unpredictably.

Even Fu Haotian was momentarily stunned, at a loss for how to respond.

Wei Zhenfang… had dared to enter the Frozen Forest?

That was the heart of the Icebound Star! With his cultivation, how could he possibly have survived?

The other experts were equally shocked, and silence fell over the scene.

With a single sentence, Wei Zhenfang had silenced them all. The gap in their perspectives was staggering—to these petty fools, Heaven-rank was the pinnacle of power.

Yet he knew the truth—the master he had met was far beyond Heaven-rank!

Seeing their stunned faces, Wei Zhenfang didn’t even blush.

He straightened his posture and spoke with unshakable confidence.

"Hmph. This old man ventured into the Frozen Forest for Young Master Fu, battling eight Heaven-rank First-Class Avian Demons. Even if I lost, I should at least be worthy of these two pills, no?"

"If you don’t believe me, go and see for yourselves. The bloodstains and craters should still be there."

His declaration sent shockwaves through the crowd.

His words were firm, leaving no room for doubt.

And when they saw Wei Zhenfang’s severed hand, even the skeptics were convinced. Awe flickered in their eyes—they had never imagined that the old man could hold his own against eight Heaven-rank Avian Demons.

Losing a hand and surviving was already a feat worthy of respect!

This man’s cultivation must be at least Heaven-rank First-Class, if not higher!

Fu Haotian immediately presented the pills, his smile now several times warmer.

"Elder Wei, why speak like this? It’s only right for me to offer these pills to you upon your injured return!"

The others quickly echoed his sentiments, their gazes now tinged with reverence.

Amidst their fawning, Wei Zhenfang strode proudly onto the flying ship, responding to their flattery with cold indifference, fully embodying the demeanor of a true expert.

Just hearing about his battle against Heaven-rank demons had flipped their attitudes.

Pathetic. Absolute trash!

If they ever witnessed the master’s true bearing, they’d probably piss themselves and grovel at his feet.

And these nobodies actually thought they could compete with Miss Zhong Limeng, who had the master’s favor?

Heh.

Under the crowd’s mix of fear and envy, Wei Zhenfang took the pills without hesitation, his eyes already gleaming with disdain.

To them, this was only natural.

It was as if they were witnessing a hidden expert revealing his true self.

Even without Wei Zhenfang producing any demon corpses, Fu Haotian remained reverent, treating him as one of the greatest assets of this journey.

Amidst laughter and sycophantic praise, the flying ship vanished into the sea of stars.