"Ten years."
"Do you have the confidence to break through to the Emperor Realm?"
Ten years?
Currently, Chen Yunxuan, who has the highest cultivation among them, has already reached the fifth level of the Immortal Realm. But breaking through to the Emperor Realm within ten years—that’s no easy feat.
In the Tai Xuan World, the most widely known record for the fastest breakthrough to the Emperor Realm was achieved by someone who reached it at a hundred years old.
Though Chen Chang'an didn’t find this record particularly reliable—he suspected Mu Yunyao had broken through to the Emperor Realm in far less time—it still indirectly proved that reaching the Emperor Realm was no simple task.
Hearing Chen Chang'an's words, Chen Yunxuan didn’t feel much pressure. Even without Chen Chang'an mentioning it, this was already his goal.
"Let’s just try and see."
"Even if I don’t break through to the Emperor Realm, I believe I won’t necessarily be weaker than those people," Chen Yunxuan said with a smile.
"Good!"
"No need to feel any pressure. Your current strength already far surpasses your peers, and you can even rival the older generation of experts."
"You’ve become the pioneers of this era."
"Go on. Ten years will pass in the blink of an eye," Chen Chang'an said lightly.
As people grow, parting is the most natural thing. Though there was some reluctance in their hearts, everyone understood they couldn’t stay together forever.
After bidding farewell to Chen Chang'an, Chen Yunxuan, Ye Zhiqiu, and Li Qiye left first.
Gu Xian'er and Gu Fengyao, being girls, felt the sadness of separation more deeply.
"Young Master, after the Heaven, Earth, and Human Rankings are over… could you not send me away again?"
"By then, I should be strong enough to stay by your side, right?" Gu Xian'er asked nervously.
"Alright. After the Heaven Ranking ends, I won’t send you away," Chen Chang'an replied with a smile.
"Thank you, Young Master!"
Hearing his words, Gu Xian'er was filled with joy, wishing the ten years would pass in an instant.
"Chang'an, after the Heaven Ranking ends, let’s get married."
Gu Fengyao’s words left Chen Chang'an momentarily stunned. Married?
Where did this unrealistic idea come from?
"Hmm… we’ll talk about it then."
"Do you like me?"
"Do you know what marriage means?"
"Do you even understand what it feels like to love someone?"
"No, you don’t."
"You’re still young. You don’t understand these things yet."
"Think about it again when you truly comprehend them."
"Alright, that’s enough. It’s time for you to go."
Gu Fengyao, utterly bewildered, was dragged away by Gu Xian'er. It took her a long time to process what had just happened.
"Xian'er, what did Chang'an mean by that?"
"Isn’t he my fiancé? Isn’t marriage the natural next step?"
"Why did it feel like… I was forcing him?" Gu Fengyao asked, frustrated.
"Perhaps the Young Master isn’t ready to consider it yet. Don’t overthink it. Things will work out in time."
"The future is uncertain for all of us, after all."
"Right?"
Gu Xian'er’s words made Gu Fengyao nod in agreement. Though Gu Fengyao was older in age, Gu Xian'er was far more mature in mindset.
Unlike Gu Fengyao, who had always been a pampered young lady, Gu Xian'er had endured much hardship.
If not for Chen Chang'an, she might still be trapped in a brothel, never awakening her Phoenix Immortal Body.
Even if she had only sold her talents and not her body, people would still have looked at her with disdain.
"Fine, I won’t dwell on it. What happens in ten years can wait until then."
"So, where should we go now?" Gu Fengyao asked.
"Let fate decide," Gu Xian'er replied with a faint smile, saying no more.
With the Earth Ranking concluded and most of the crowd at Tai Hua Peak already gone, Chen Chang'an saw no reason to stay.
Not long after leaving, he sensed someone following him.
Exchanging a glance with the big yellow dog beside him, he casually sat down, waiting for the pursuer to reveal themselves.
"Feng Yunnian of the Sealed Immortal Holy Land greets the senior."
Sealed Immortal Holy Land?
Hearing the name, Chen Chang'an frowned.
Hadn’t the Sealed Immortal Holy Land disbanded long ago? Why was someone claiming to be from it now?
"You’re looking for me?" Chen Chang'an asked.
"By the order of our Holy Master, I invite you to the Sealed Immortal Holy Land."
"In three months, our holy land will reappear in the Tai Xuan World."
"We hope you will honor us with your presence."
The Sealed Immortal Holy Land, returning to the Tai Xuan World?
Was this Holy Master a newcomer… or someone from the past?
Chen Chang'an had nearly forgotten about this matter. Yet now, they were resurfacing on their own?
"Where?" Chen Chang'an asked.
"The original site of the Sealed Immortal Holy Land—the Sealed Immortal Platform."
"Understood. I’ll be there."
"Then this junior shall take his leave."
After Feng Yunnian departed, Chen Chang'an glanced at the big yellow dog and grinned.
"Looks like we’ve got something to do again."
"You know, we don’t have any direct ties to the Sealed Immortal Holy Land, but we do have plenty of history with the factions that split from it."
"What do you think their Holy Master wants with us?"
The dog snorted. "To court death, obviously."
"But speaking of which, does your master know about this?"
"If I remember right, your master and the original Holy Master of the Sealed Immortal Holy Land were both champions of the previous Heaven, Earth, and Human Rankings."
"Wouldn’t that make them old acquaintances?"
Old acquaintances?
If it was the same Holy Master from back then, then yes. But that person had already ascended to the upper realm.
Still, Chen Chang'an remembered Mu Ye’s words at the Ten Thousand Beasts Alliance—the original Holy Master had left them with tasks before departing.
"My master probably knows something."
"But who knows where she is now?"
"Honestly, ever since the Gu family incident, I’ve been—"
Before he could finish, his heart suddenly jolted.
Master?
Mu Yunyao, who had been missing all this time, appeared right before him.
"Master?"
Seeing her, Chen Chang'an’s heart raced, his face breaking into a wide smile.
"Master, you have no idea how much I’ve missed you."
"Without you, I couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, I—"
"Stop."
"Did you forget about the ‘one dragon playing with two phoenixes’ incident?"
"Uh…"
Mu Yunyao’s words left Chen Chang'an speechless.
Damn, Master… were you eavesdropping?
Is that a hobby of yours?
"Why are you sneaking away when you see me?"
Mu Yunyao frowned at the big yellow dog, who was trying to slink off unnoticed.
"No, absolutely not! I was just… ahem, giving you two some space. You talk."
"I... I'm just a dog, so please don't make things difficult for me, alright?"