Just So Difficult

For some time afterward, Ye Chuan and Bai Qianshuang did not return to the Tianxuan Continent, instead living ordinary lives for a while.

According to Bai Qianshuang, she felt she needed to further elevate her cultivation realm before pursuing revenge. As for their ability to travel to another world, she suggested Ye Chuan take some time to relax.

"That does make some sense."

Ye Chuan had considered this as well. After all, his abilities were already unrivaled in the real world, so he might as well enjoy the simple life.

And so, months passed like this.

……

"Ah—!" Ye Chuan suddenly sat up, startling Lan Xiaoke, who was sitting nearby on the couch, nearly causing her to tumble onto the floor. "W-what’s wrong?!"

"Why haven’t you broken through yet?" Ye Chuan’s gaze fixed on Lan Xiaoke as he asked.

"You got so worked up just to ask about my cultivation progress?" Lan Xiaoke muttered under her breath.

"Not just that. Mainly, I’ve been feeling a bit bored lately." Ye Chuan rubbed his chin.

His days were spent accompanying Luo Xi to class, his evenings practicing cultivation techniques or playing games with Lan Xiaoke or Bai Qianshuang, late nights checking in on Ke Ning, and weekends treating Lilith to meals or studying with Ye Yue.

Fulfilling, peaceful, happy.

"But I still need to find some excitement," Ye Chuan said.

"Haven’t you tried all kinds of excitement already?" Lan Xiaoke blinked.

"Not that kind." Just then, Ye Chuan seemed to sense something and turned his gaze toward the training room door.

A few seconds later, the door opened, and Bai Qianshuang stepped out, dressed in white robes like a celestial maiden from a painting, her waist-length black hair swaying slightly.

"Ye Chuan, I’ve reached the Half-Step Enlightenment Realm," she announced the moment their eyes met.

"That was fast?!" Lan Xiaoke gasped.

"Well, there’s always a gap between people," Ye Chuan patted Lan Xiaoke’s shoulder. "Even if your talent is lacking, at least your cultivation speed is slow too."

"Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

"What do you think?"

As Ye Chuan and Lan Xiaoke bickered, Bai Qianshuang stepped closer to him. Her long lashes fluttered slightly before she lowered her voice.

"Tonight, let’s continue."

She intended to return to the Tianxuan Continent tonight—clearly, revenge and the remnants of the Jade Void Sect still weighed heavily on her mind.

"Tonight? Sure."

"Mm." Bai Qianshuang nodded lightly, then seemed to remember something and turned to Lan Xiaoke. "Xiaoke, didn’t you say before that you wanted to come along tonight?"

Lan Xiaoke: OvO!

"Umm, isn’t that a bit…" Lan Xiaoke fidgeted, her eyes darting around. "I’d feel kinda awkward."

"It’s fine. Let’s go together."

"T-together?" Lan Xiaoke covered her flushed face. "That’s asking too much of Ye Chuan, isn’t it?"

"He should be able to handle it." Bai Qianshuang looked at Ye Chuan. "Right?"

To Bai Qianshuang, since Ye Chuan could effortlessly bring her to the Tianxuan Continent, adding one more person shouldn’t be too difficult.

Ye Chuan simply crossed his arms and watched silently.

Are you two even talking about the same thing?

It wasn’t until later that Bai Qianshuang realized what Lan Xiaoke had meant.

"Focusing on such… worldly matters, Xiaoke, you should prioritize cultivation more." Bai Qianshuang’s ears were tinged red, but she still maintained her senior sister’s lecturing tone.

"Can’t blame me…" Lan Xiaoke mumbled.

How was I supposed to know what you two were doing?

Night deepened.

Ye Chuan appeared in Bai Qianshuang’s room—Lan Xiaoke didn’t join them, as her current combat prowess would make her nothing more than easy prey on the Tianxuan Continent.

Besides, the Tianxuan Continent was full of ruthless individuals. Someone as naive as Lan Xiaoke probably wouldn’t last long.

"Ye Chuan, I’m ready." This time, Bai Qianshuang had packed extra clothes, knowing that time flowed differently between the two worlds, so she planned to stay longer.

"Mm." Ye Chuan pulled out his phone.

"Ye Chuan, I’ve always wanted to ask…" Just as he opened the adventure interface, Bai Qianshuang spoke up, staring at the glow in his hands. "Where did you obtain this teleportation array?"

"Teleportation array?" Ye Chuan paused—was she referring to his phone?

"Well… I don’t really know where it came from either." Even now, Ye Chuan had no idea how the "Tenant of Ten Thousand Realms" app had appeared. But since it had only brought him benefits—curing his terminal illness, helping him collect rent from tenants across worlds, and boosting his strength—he saw no reason to question it.

Maybe some big shot had gifted it to him (laughs).

After finishing the settings, Ye Chuan took Bai Qianshuang’s soft hand.

"Whatever. Tianxuan Continent—activate!"

……

……

Dongyou City.

Ye Chuan and Bai Qianshuang materialized inside an inn. Outside, it was still night—the very night Bai Qianshuang had been ambushed.

"Incredible… we’ve returned to the exact moment." Bai Qianshuang stood by the window, moonlight casting a silver veil over her delicate features. Her gaze drifted toward the distance, where remnants of her battle with the Qingyun Sect elders still lingered.

The clash of multiple Spirit Transformation cultivators had naturally alarmed every cultivator in Dongyou City, but the terrifying energy fluctuations kept them at bay.

In a place like Dongyou City, most cultivators were only around the Foundation Establishment level, with Crystal Core or even Golden Core cultivators being rare and formidable.

A battle between Spirit Transformation experts? Anyone foolish enough to approach would be obliterated instantly.

"What’s on your mind?" Ye Chuan asked.

"…" Bai Qianshuang’s eyes traced the bustling streets below—vendors lining the roads, children playing and laughing. A faint shimmer passed through her gaze.

"I was thinking… peace is wonderful."

"Peace?"

"If my fight with those Qingyun Sect elders had spilled over even slightly, this entire city would have been wiped out." Her voice was soft, tinged with melancholy. "Mortals are so fragile."

"But in your world, even ordinary people can live safely. Though there are rift monsters, they’re dealt with swiftly." She murmured, "That’s why peace is precious."

"Peace is something you fight for." Ye Chuan smiled. "Qianshuang, if you become the strongest, you could command every cultivator on the Tianxuan Continent to never harm mortals again."

Bai Qianshuang fell into thought.

"Unrealistic?"

"No… just… difficult."