Thinking of Your Lover

Central Continent, Tianyan Sect.

Above the towering mountain peaks stood resplendent palaces that seemed to float amidst the clouds. The mountains and palaces stretched endlessly, their grandeur so vast that even from the sect’s entrance, one could scarcely see their limits. From afar, the sight appeared divinely crafted, breathtaking in its magnificence.

Countless cultivators could be seen darting between the peaks like streaks of rainbow light, while majestic winged beasts—top-tier exotic creatures—soared through the skies, pulling cargo through the air. Every peak teemed with such mythical beasts roaming freely.

At the base of a shorter mountain to the right, a black flood dragon coiled around the peak, eyes closed in repose.

Such a scene was beyond even the wildest imaginations of Li Yingling, who had read countless tales of the extraordinary.

This was the very essence of an immortal’s paradise.

Yet, this was merely the surface of Tianyan Sect.

Those who truly understood looked not at the opulent palaces or the slumbering flood dragon, but beneath the mountains.

To the disciples of Tianyan Sect, this was nothing more than an ordinary sight.

Occasionally, bursts of radiant spiritual light would erupt from the mountain’s depths, surging forth like a mighty river—only to collide with a faint golden barrier not far away.

Like a dam holding back a flood, the barrier intercepted the vast majority of the spiritual energy, allowing only a trickle to pass beyond.

Tianyan Sect occupied one of the Central Continent’s eighteen major spiritual veins. Through the combined efforts of the entire sect, they had nearly severed this vein, intercepting its flow.

Only a third of the original spiritual energy continued along the vein’s natural path to other regions.

This was not an act of generosity—allowing others to drink from the dregs while they feasted. Rather, attempting to completely block such an immense flow of energy was nothing short of delusional.

Tianyan Sect had pushed their methods to the limit, ensuring stability while intercepting no more than two-thirds of the energy.

The vast reserves of spiritual energy they captured were contained within intricate arrays and formations.

Some even claimed that the white clouds drifting above the peaks were not mere vapor, but condensed spiritual energy—spirit clouds.

Regarding such rumors, Xie Lingyu had this to say:

"It’s true. The rumors aren’t exaggerated."

The poor could never fathom the extravagance of the rich.

For other sects, spirit stones might be essential for cultivation—especially since most relied on them to power their gathering arrays.

But for a sect that monopolized a major spiritual vein?

Spirit stones were little more than currency, mere rocks for trade. Spiritual energy? It was everywhere, suffusing the entire sect.

Cultivating with spirit stones was as trivial as taking a few fewer breaths.

Different philosophies inevitably shaped the world in different ways.

In a world where the path of cultivation was wide open, the self became the central theme—leading to a reality where the strong only grew stronger.

This was most evident in the fate of the eighteen major spiritual veins.

Originating from the Central Continent, these veins flowed outward to other great continents like rivers merging into the sea.

The world was impartial, treating all equally.

In the beginning, the difference between the Central Continent and other lands was negligible. Spiritual energy levels were nearly balanced, with the Central Continent only slightly richer.

That era was known as the Great Ascension Age—a time when prodigies emerged from every corner of the world, their ideas and methods clashing in brilliant debate.

Bold, imaginative philosophies spread across the land, creating an age of flourishing diversity.

With the distraction of energy scarcity removed, the self became the decisive factor.

Talent alone was enough to rise above the rest.

But everything changed when someone first set their sights on the eighteen major spiritual veins.

The Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect was the first to sever a vein—one that flowed from the Central Continent to the Eastern Victory Divine Continent.

Naturally, the Eastern Victory Divine Continent would not tolerate such an act. This was a major vein, and its loss caused their spiritual energy levels to plummet by nearly a fifth.

It was an attack on their very foundation.

The Eastern Victory Divine Continent united in demanding that the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect restore the vein.

But as the undisputed leading sect of the era, the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect had prepared for this.

Thus began the First Campaign of Retribution.

History is written by the victors—and the name alone reveals who triumphed.

From the moment they severed the vein, the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect had steeled themselves to sacrifice everything if necessary.

To them, this was a sin borne by their generation, but a legacy that would benefit all to come.

The First Campaign of Retribution did not end with the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect merely repelling the Eastern Victory Divine Continent’s assault.

Instead, they mobilized their entire sect and counterattacked, invading the Eastern Victory Divine Continent.

They severed three of its dragon veins and shattered countless lesser spiritual branches.

They slaughtered until half the sects of the Eastern Victory Divine Continent were wiped out.

Corpses piled like mountains; immortal sects became graveyards.

They painted the land red for thousands of miles, shattered rivers and mountains, and redrew the maps again and again.

They slaughtered until the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect earned the epithet "Annihilation Demonic Sect."

They slaughtered until the other continents trembled in fear, readying their forces to intervene—only then did they relent.

The Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect emerged victorious from the First Campaign of Retribution, securing their claim over the major vein.

But the cost was dire.

Of the sect’s fifteen Grand Elders, only three survived by the campaign’s end.

Out of one hundred and thirty-seven elders, only fifty-four survived.

Being the sect leader of the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect was a high-risk position during that era—seven perished in the War of Rebellion.

It was precisely this relentless, ruthless determination that allowed the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect to preserve its main spiritual vein, cementing its reputation as an unyielding force.

Yet, despite such devastating losses, no major sects dared to take advantage of their weakened state.

Perhaps it was because these sects feared the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect’s still-unrevealed trump cards.

History proved that every sacrifice had been worth it.

Time showed that the rewards far outweighed the costs—by a hundredfold.

No matter how the world’s mountains and rivers shifted, no matter how karma twisted and turned,

the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect remained among the elite immortal sects of the Central Continent to this day.

Spiritual energy is the foundation of cultivation, the cornerstone of the Great Dao.

The Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect’s success and its gains did not go unnoticed.

Soon, other sects began emulating their methods, attempting to seize control of major spiritual veins.

Some succeeded, their names shaking the world; others failed, reduced to mere footnotes in history.

As time passed, the eighteen main spiritual veins were eventually divided among the victors.

The historical records describe this era in sparse, chilling lines:

"Spiritual veins severed, the world overturned, mountains and rivers shattered—silence reigned over all."

"The Nine Provinces cast beyond the heavens, the cycle of reincarnation broken within the Central Continent."

Not a word of bloodshed, yet each character dripped with it.

How many conflicts must be resolved with death?

Not all who claimed the eighteen main veins were originally sects of the Central Continent—some were powerful factions from other regions who snatched their share from the jaws of the tiger.

But in time, they too came to be known as sects of the Central Continent.

---

Tianyan Sect, Zhuji Peak.

Xie Lingyu had now reached the late-stage Golden Core realm, nearing perfection.

She stood atop the Ascending Cloud Platform, wisps of spiritual energy drifting around her like mist. With every breath, the energy condensed into tangible form, flowing effortlessly into her body.

"My dear disciple, are you thinking of your beloved?"

A warm, teasing voice sounded behind her.

"Master, what nonsense are you spouting?" Xie Lingyu didn’t turn around, her tone indifferent.

"Nonsense? I could tell something was off the moment you returned!"

"What’s so ‘off’ about me?"

"Even that response is off! If it were the old Lingyu, you’d have said—‘Whether I’m off or not is none of your business.’"

Finally, Xie Lingyu couldn’t help but turn to face her master.

Before her stood a woman in a pale blue robe, her features elegant and refined, exuding an air of gentle wisdom.

But her peach-blossom eyes clashed slightly with her otherwise serene demeanor.

Now, those eyes sparkled with amusement as she studied her prized disciple.