"Junior Li Haowen of the Kongshan Sect greets Realman Du Cang!"

Upon seeing Chen Yan's true body standing right at the courtyard gate, Li Haowen hurriedly bowed in the direction of the steward of Chenping Continent.

Chen Yan did not acknowledge their courtesies, nor did he bid these cultivators, who could be considered his peers back when he himself had been chief disciple of Kongyuan Mountain, to rise. He simply fixed his gaze upon Bai Jinye.

"You're the Bai Jinye who was attacked three years ago?"

Chen Yan spoke slowly.

"Yes!"

Bai Jinye answered crisply.

"How are your injuries?"

Chen Yan continued.

"No longer a concern, but the sect's Elder Lin told me that if I wish to resume cultivation, I may have to wait a few more years."

Bai Jinye answered thus. This heaven-chosen talent of the Lingxiao Temple, when facing Realman Du Cang directly, even his voice trembled somewhat.

Even while stationed on Du Cang Mountain, these most outstanding Guardians of the Dao from the various sects of Chenping Continent had exceedingly slim chances of ever laying eyes on an Immortal Ascension cultivator.

Or rather, this was the first time Bai Jinye had seen Chen Yan in person since the Du Cang Mountain Dao Discussion had concluded.

Let alone a meeting at this distance.

Even back at the Lingxiao Temple, Bai Jinye had only seen True Person Xuzhou, Lou Ye, twice from afar.

To be in contact with an Immortal Ascension Realm cultivator at such close range truly made this young cultivator, whose cultivation was merely at the late stage of the Spirit Connection Realm, feel extremely nervous.

Chen Yan's gaze landed on Bai Jinye, sweeping over him briefly.

With Chen Yan's current spiritual sense intensity, a single instant was all he needed to comprehend any subtle movement within a radius of ten thousand li.

Therefore, this seemingly casual glance of his could also take in completely the direction and tendency of every single strand of true qi flowing within Bai Jinye's meridians, as well as the direction and tendency of where it would flow in the future.

Naturally, this also included the current state of Bai Jinye's injured Martial Spring.

"Indeed, you will need more time to recuperate."

Chen Yan nodded, then continued:

"I have some matters I wish to discuss with Li Haowen."

Hearing this, Bai Jinye immediately understood Chen Yan's intent, and once again bowed respectfully in Chen Yan's direction, saying:

"Junior takes his leave."

With that, Bai Jinye departed from this secluded courtyard, even though this was his own residence.

"Greetings, True Person."

Li Haowen maintained his respectful bowing posture as he spoke toward Chen Yan.

He still remembered the scene of his first meeting with Chen Yan.

It had been aboard the ferry traveling from the Kongshan Sect to Heavenly Summit Mountain, on the ferry's deck.

At that time, he had been together with Lin Xinyang, standing several zhang away from Chen Yan, gazing at the back view of this youth clad in a pure white daoist robe adorned with gold-threaded cloud cranes.

So he's the one who improved the Kongshan Art?

At the time, Li Haowen's heart had been full of questions and curiosity, and out of respect for a fellow disciple, he and Lin Xinyang had approached Chen Yan to greet him.

Nothing particularly special about him, he just seemed like an ordinary cultivator...

But those former thoughts had long since scattered like smoke.

Especially now, standing alone with this steward of Chenping Continent.

In just thirty short years, from a Martial Spring Realm cultivator to a great power of the Immortal Ascension Realm.

What about that was ordinary?

And now, this was also the first time Li Haowen had been alone with Chen Yan, who had stepped into the Immortal Ascension Realm.

"How much longer are you going to stay bent over bowing like that?"

The voice of Realman Du Cang came from directly in front of Li Haowen.

"..."

Li Haowen maintained his bowing posture, not daring to move a single muscle.

"Rise."

Finally, Chen Yan spoke.

Only then did Li Haowen finally dare to straighten his body.

Chen Yan gazed at the middle-aged man before him, clad in a pure white daoist robe, who no longer bore the spirited and confident appearance of the young man from thirty years ago.

"The Myriad Transformations Realm should be soon, right?"

Chen Yan asked.

"It should be, within recent days."

Li Haowen answered.

"How do you feel?"

Chen Yan continued.

"Everything is going smoothly."

Li Haowen answered again.

"Nothing strange has happened, or anything that has caught your attention?"

Chen Yan then asked.

"...No."

Li Haowen, caught off guard by Chen Yan's questions, looked somewhat puzzled.

Chen Yan simply nodded lightly.

He had been keeping an eye on Li Haowen all along.

Because Chen Yan knew very well that in order to complete the closed loop of history, Li Haowen would sooner or later have to return to sixty thousand years in the past.

But when exactly would it be, and how would he return to sixty thousand years ago?

Li Haowen, as he was now, would break through to the Myriad Transformations Realm before long.

Perhaps the circumstances behind Li Haowen's return to sixty thousand years ago also harbored some extraordinary intelligence.

That was why Chen Yan had taken the initiative to seek out Li Haowen and inquire about some details.

But he hadn't managed to extract anything at all.

"If you encounter any problems in your cultivation, or if anything noteworthy happens, you may come to Du Cang Hall at any time to find me."

Chen Yan said.

"Junior thanks Realman Du Cang."

Li Haowen bowed again, though this time, after the bow, he quickly straightened back up:

"However, given my status, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to enter Du Cang Hall..."

Those who could freely enter Du Cang Hall to visit Chen Yan were only the current six Immortal Ascension Realm stewards of Chenping Continent, plus one Mr. You.

Even those Dao Union Realm cultivators from the Five Great Sects would not dare to set foot past the threshold of Du Cang Hall, not even half a step, without permission.

"This is a privilege I grant you."

Chen Yan said.

"...Junior thanks Realman Du Cang."

Li Haowen was briefly stunned, then bowed once more.

He truly couldn't produce any other reaction, because Li Haowen simply could not understand why Chen Yan would treat him this way.

Past bonds?

But there had never been any bond between Li Haowen and Chen Yan to speak of; at most, they had conversed a few times before.

Moreover, if one were to speak of past bonds, then Chen Yan had plenty of people in the Kongshan Sect with whom he shared deep past bonds.

On the current Du Cang Mountain, people like Chu Xiyao, and Uncle Lin of Kongyuan Mountain, all had closer relationships with Chen Yan than Li Haowen himself did.

Including Cheng Ziying of Mingxiao Peak, who according to rumor, had been on fairly good terms with Chen Yan back when they were in the outer court of the sect.

So then, what exactly could be the reason?

Li Haowen did not understand, but based on his understanding of Chen Yan, this current steward of Chenping Continent did not seem to be the type of person who would be restrained by past bonds.

Those cultivators who reached a certain height of status in the cultivation world would gradually lose their "humanity," becoming colder and more rational.

Or rather, if one were not sufficiently cold and rational, one could never stand at such a height.

With thoughts racing through his mind, Li Haowen completed his bow and slowly straightened up.

But when he raised his head again, the courtyard was already empty.

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