Xia Lihua flew to the spot where the Ancestors gathered. She descended from the sky. Her appearance caused some relief for Wu Long, Zhang Chao, and the other Northern Continent Ancestors. They had been waiting for her for two days, and although two days were not considered long for them, they couldn’t help but worry.

“Lihua.”

“Guardian Xia.”

Wu Long and the others greeted.

“How did everything go?”

Xia Lihua threw a ring over to Wu Long who spoke. When Ji Xian gave the ring to her, he mentioned a few pills that he made specifically for her so she transferred those pills to her spatial ring. The rest was naturally left for the others. Wu Long was someone she was very familiar with, so she entrusted him with the item distributions.

Wu Long swiftly scanned inside the ring and his face became shocked and excited. He glanced at his companions and nodded at them with a smile.

Xia Lihua turned to Huo Honghui and asked, “Senior Huo, does the previous Guardian, Senior Zhao Ping have any descendants?”

With a brief look of surprise followed by a look of understanding, Huo Honghui nodded.

“Only one, he is cultivating in the Aether Sect, his name is Zhao Yu.” He replied.

“Please lead the way, Senior Huo.”

Huo Honghui nodded and headed off in a direction with Xia Lihua following. The others said nothing, quietly waiting. A while later, the both of them returned.

“Senior Huo, Senior Bai, Senior Li, we have bothered you all long enough. We will return to the Northern Continent. I will visit again soon.” Xia Lihua gave a little bow and left, the others also bid their farewell before following her.

A month later.

Peace returned to the Mortal Haven World but the invasion of the Nether race was still being mentioned among the people. This was by far the fiercest war they had ever seen, not including the Celestial race’s invasion because not many people knew about that event.

The endless years of war with the Upper World have made the Mortal Haven World united, void of any major conflict. The wars had only motivated everyone to cultivate and become stronger.

However, geniuses could not grow in a peaceful environment, therefore the Sects in both Continent promoted intense competition among their disciples for resources.

On a certain day, in the Aether Sect, five whirlpools appeared above five immortal caves.

The commotion didn’t cause any major disturbance to the other disciples in the sect. The Elders, however, paid more attention to it because they knew the ones who were causing this phenomenon.

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Huo Honghui, who's currently having a discussion with Li Zhihao and a couple of other Elders in a large hall, stopped their meeting to look in that particular direction.

“Those five have broken through just in time,” said Li Zhihao, stroking his thin mustache with a smile.

Huo Honghui nodded his head without much surprise. He looked at an Elder sitting towards the back of the room and said, “Elder Jin, please inform the five of them about the Sect competition.”

The Elder with the surname Jin cupped his hand and walked out of the hall.

The moment he left, Ji Xian’s voice entered their ears.

“After the competition, send them to Azure Wind City in the Northern Continent.”

His sudden declaration surprised everyone in the hall. Just when they wanted to ask some questions, Ji Xian’s voice can be heard again.

“Lihua will look after them, you need not do anything. Just drop them somewhere and leave. Let them fend for themselves.”

Ji Xian’s voice faded and the Elders glanced at one another before stopping at the Sect Master with questioning looks.

Huo Honghui sighed and shook his head.

The Young Master has always worked in mysterious ways, like always, he never tells me anything.

“I will talk to the Young Master later,” he said.

A while later, they finished their meeting and everyone left. Huo Honghui disappeared, arriving right before Ji Xian’s house. He looked at the familiar chair and frowned. Ji Xian wasn't there. He glanced at the wooden house and noticed a piece of paper hanging on the door along with a spatial ring. A voice recording rune was inscribed into the paper, but it has broken in half, an indication that the rune has done its job.

The Young Master’s voice from earlier was probably released from this.

He glanced at the paper. As he read it, sweat formed and dripped from his forehead while his heart rate sped up.

Young Master, you can’t just leave like this! What if the Upper World invades again!?

Numerous thoughts flashed in his mind, the more he thought, the more anxious he became. Although Ji Xian assured him everything would be fine, that he would return soon and the Mortal Haven World would be safe for a while, Huo Honghui couldn't help but worry.

------------------------

One week ago.

Ji Xian hung the note and spatial ring on the door then headed off to the Northern Continent. He wanted to talk to Xia Lihua before he left.

He stood in the air, floating above a barren land, and not long after a delicate figure appeared next to him.

Xia Lihua looked at Ji Xian with surprise, her eyes sparkled with delight.

“Why are you here?” she asked in a gleeful tone.

“I’m leaving for a while, to another world.”

Xia Lihua’s face turned serious.

“How? To traverse the stars at the Holy realm is impossible not to mention there are no Worlds even close to this one.”

Ji Xian shook his head at Xia Lihua with a hint of disappointment.

With a tone like a teacher educating a student, he said, “You're too close-minded. I guess it can't be helped since you've never left the Mortal Haven World but you should know, nothing is impossible. The road to cultivation is endless, while the Universe is boundless. We're born in the Lower World, above us is the Upper World, and beyond that? Who knows? You may be considered a genius down here, but will that remain the same up there? Worlds are constantly being destroyed while new ones are constantly being born. Apex heroes roam the stars while pinnacle evil lurks in the dark..."

…

Xia Lihua listened to Ji Xian’s endless chirping and zoned out. She felt his words made sense but something didn’t seem right…

She watched as he put on a haughty expression. His hands moved exaggeratedly as he lectured her. After some time, she no longer remembered what the original topic was anymore as he digressed from one topic to the next.

Not able to take it anymore, she finally found the chance to interrupt him and asked, "How do you know all this?"

Ji Xian's eyebrows pinched, and his expression turned serious.

“I read a lot of books.”

"…"