Can You Still Meet Old Friends in This Place

"Big bro, this turtle... seems to be smiling."

"Yeah, and it's smiling right at the two of us."

"What the hell!"

"Truly a piece of work!"

Chen Chang'an and Da Huang hadn't expected to run into "that guy" so soon.

At first, they found it odd—why would a turtle show up in the middle of nowhere? And why did it look so familiar? Turns out, it was actually someone they knew?

"Both of you here, huh?"

"What a coincidence," the turtle said with a grin as it crawled up to Chen Chang'an.

"You... crawled all the way here?" Chen Chang'an asked curiously.

"Yep. Tired me out."

?????

With strength like yours, why not use it? What are you saving it for?

"Wait, why didn’t you just fly?"

"Or at least run? You were so fast back in the secret realm—why not run now?" Chen Chang'an pressed.

"Well... don’t turtles usually crawl?"

"That’s for normal turtles. Are you a normal turtle? Don’t forget, you’re the Ashen Lord, not a turtle. This is just a form you took," Chen Chang'an said helplessly.

After saying this, he shot a meaningful glance at Da Huang.

"Why are you looking at me?"

"What did I do?"

"I haven’t forgotten my own strength."

Hearing Da Huang’s words, Chen Chang'an smirked. True, he hadn’t forgotten his strength—just often forgot he was a qilin.

"So... even though I look like a turtle now, I don’t have to act exactly like one, right?" the turtle asked thoughtfully.

"Of course not."

"Though... you did make pretty good time."

"The distance from Scarlet Moon Valley to here isn’t short. Did you really just crawl the whole way?" Chen Chang'an asked.

"Pretty much. Crawled day and night without stopping."

Day and night?

For months?

"Since we’ve met by chance, how about grabbing a bite before you go?" Chen Chang'an offered.

"Nah, I’d better keep moving."

"By the way, where are you two headed?" the turtle asked.

"Not sure yet. Probably not the same way as you."

"Alright then, I’ll be off."

After a brief chat, the turtle left. But Chen Chang'an noticed something—its strength didn’t seem weakened at all after leaving the Scarlet Moon Secret Realm. It just wasn’t growing any stronger.

"Big bro, did you notice? That guy’s aura, thought process, and speech have all improved compared to before."

"Yeah, I noticed."

"Master, that turtle... is it your friend?" Qingluan asked, stunned.

"We know each other, but I wouldn’t call us friends."

"But this..."

Mid-sentence, Chen Chang'an suddenly froze, his eyes widening as he stared into the distant sky.

"Why is he here?"

Chen Chang'an never expected to run into an old acquaintance in the Primordial Immortal Realm.

Clearly, the other person had noticed him too—and was just as shocked.

"Chen Chang'an?"

"You actually ascended to the Primordial Immortal Realm too?"

"Hahahaha!"

"Never thought we’d meet again like this."

"Holy crap, why him?" Da Huang was equally surprised. After all, this was someone both he and Chen Chang'an knew.

"Shen Yunfei?"

"When did you ascend?"

Shen Yunfei was a friend Chen Chang'an had made back in the Profound Mystic Realm, but they’d lost contact. Who would’ve guessed he’d already ascended to the Primordial Immortal Realm?

"A long time ago. About six thousand years back."

"What about you? When did you get here?" Shen Yunfei asked with a smile.

"Much later. Only about half a year."

Half a year?

"And you’re already at the peak of Quasi-Immortal Realm?"

"Typical you. No matter where you go, you’re still a freak."

If it were anyone else, Shen Yunfei would’ve been floored. But since it was Chen Chang'an, he found it completely normal.

"So, I take it you didn’t accept the Zhou family’s offer either?" Shen Yunfei asked.

"Nope. You didn’t either?"

"Nah, I’m too used to being free. The Zhous were decent about it, though—didn’t give me trouble."

"About three thousand years ago, I came to the Profound Heaven Domain and have been cultivating here since."

"Now I’ve reached the Golden Immortal Realm, First Layer," Shen Yunfei said proudly.

His talent was exceptional—reaching Golden Immortal in such a short time was beyond most people’s capabilities.

"And these two are...?"

Shen Yunfei recognized Da Huang but not Xiao Yao or Qingluan.

"This one’s my disciple."

"That one’s just a little tagalong."

Xiao Yao wanted to argue but realized—yeah, she really was just a hanger-on, and a persistent one at that.

"Your disciple?"

"Your disciple’s cultivation is higher than yours?"

Shen Yunfei stared at Qingluan in disbelief. She was at the peak of True Immortal Realm—a full major realm above Chen Chang'an—and she was his disciple?

"Greetings, Senior. I am indeed Master’s disciple."

"Everything I’ve achieved is thanks to his guidance," Qingluan replied politely.

Her demeanor matched her constitution—cool, reserved, and not fond of small talk with strangers. But since Shen Yunfei was Chen Chang'an’s friend, she made an exception.

"Brother Chen, your disciple seems... quite young."

"Yeah, she is. Qingluan’s only a little over a hundred years old."

"What?!"

"A hundred years old and already at the peak of True Immortal Realm?"

"You’ve only been in the Primordial Immortal Realm for half a year, how...?"

Shen Yunfei’s mind short-circuited. A hundred-year-old True Immortal peak was terrifying enough, but then it hit him—Chen Chang'an had just arrived.

Wait...

No way. No freaking way!

"Ah, never mind. Don’t want to sound like I’m showing off."

"It’s nothing special, really," Chen Chang'an said with a grin.

"Bullshit!"

"Nothing special?! Chen Chang'an, why are you still not acting human even in the Primordial Immortal Realm?"

"Your disciple’s insane."

"She’s definitely making it onto the Heavenly Pride Ranking!" Shen Yunfei exclaimed excitedly.

Heavenly Pride Ranking?

What’s that?

Seeing Chen Chang'an’s confusion, Shen Yunfei blinked. "You don’t know?"

"First time hearing about it. Still new here."

"Is this another one of those Heavenly Dao rankings?" Chen Chang'an asked.

"Nope!"

"It’s not like the Heaven, Earth, and Man Rankings from the Profound Mystic Realm."

"This is a ranking system unique to the Primordial Immortal Realm—a symbol of prestige."