The dawn at Shuxia Peak is a red filled with fiery poison.

Yet, even in this silent and desolate place where mortals cannot survive, a kind of indescribable beauty unfolds.

Song Yan sat at the edge of the cave on Fire Profound Cliff, his legs dangling, quietly watching the sun rise slowly over the valley, witnessing the transformation of a dead gray world into one bathed in light, brimming with vitality.

He happily stretched his arms and yawned.

He cherished these beautiful moments because he knew that such times were not always guaranteed each day.

To see more of it now; in case he were to unfortunately descend into hell and be trapped forever, at least he would have some beautiful memories and no regrets.

The immortal from the "Free Celestial Demon Map" had long become one with him. Mingling among these demon beasts, he and Ling Xiaoxiao merely projected an aura stronger than any demon beast here... and thus were accepted among them.

Demon beasts are strange and varied, and no one knows who can shapeshift; Song Yan and Ling Xiaoxiao were taken as such shapeshifting beasts.

...

Time flew by, and three more years passed.

The once empty cave was now filled with many shadow puppets, some scattered, some bundled up, lying around or hanging in disarray.

To one side, three shadow puppets wearing silver masks stood; they were Song Yan, Long Muyun, Tang Ningxin.

Each shadow puppet retained six or seven tenths of the power of its living counterpart and could even mimic magic.

Pop!

Song Yan put down the carving knife, murmuring, "Shadow puppets, nothing but leather, cause and effect, divine image. Leather sometimes becomes obsolete as the strong are no longer bound by their bodies.

Yet, the "Divine Image Soul Calming Technique" encapsulates everything, leaving only how to paint the divine image and how to collect powerful fragments of cause and effect."

"Enough, being confined leads nowhere. I have ascended as much as possible, only lacking the lifebound realm."

"It's time to have a good chat with Ancestor Handeng and then go out into the world..."

...

Ling Xiaoxiao closed her eyes tightly in arduous cultivation. Suddenly her body trembled as she felt four terrifying shadows cast upon her from behind. She opened her eyes with a start, turned her head slightly, looking at the old demon behind her, pondering if the old demon had come to seek dual cultivation or something else with her again. Yet, thinking as she might, she managed a smile and said, "Senior Brother~~"

Song Yan replied, "I came to bid farewell."

"Ah?" Ling Xiaoxiao was taken aback.

Song Yan said, "You know these three, they are my puppets and will accompany you here in the following time."

Ling Xiaoxiao blinked and suddenly said, "Ah... Senior Brother, wait a moment."

Song Yan was puzzled.

Ling Xiaoxiao had already clenched her fists and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, the slightly nervous and hesitant gaze had turned calm and sharp.

Song Yan realized and laughed, "Are you my wife? I go out once, and Xiaoxiao you want me to especially ask for your permission."

Ling Handeng heard these words, was momentarily stunned, and then laughed, "Your words truly spark endless imagination once you start speaking..."

She gazed at Song Yan's enchanting red lips and said, "You can provoke irritation when you wish, and delight when you choose. Are you really a celestial demon that beguiles hearts?"

Song Yan laughed heartily, "Since you've uncovered the truth, I can't let you remain."

Ling Handeng laughed as well.

Song Yan restrained his smile and said calmly, "Jokes aside, since I am leaving, I naturally want something from you."

Ling Handeng glanced at the three shadow puppets with silver masks and said, "Though not for long, we've shared considerable intimacy, unless your character or power has drastically changed, I am sure I haven't met you before.

The most beautiful in life is the first meeting; as this is our first, there is no past cause and effect, thus everything is blessed fate.

This world may collapse soon, and whether we can escape is uncertain. Before reaching the next world, we are unlikely to become enemies."

After speaking, she tapped her forehead and took out a Jade Scroll, then smiled, "Sorry to make you laugh, my lifebound secret realm has shrunken to the size of a storage bag, holding only a few small items."

Song Yan took the Jade Scroll, glanced inside and found that it contained information about "Sword Village" and the "Sea of Suffering." He raised a finger, placed it into the storage bag to review later, then looked at Ling Handeng and said, "You've offered considerable recompense upfront, showing sincerity."

Ling Handeng said, "Return alive."

Song Yan said, "Breakthrough soon."

The two exchanged smiles, establishing a deeper emotional alliance.

Song Yan turned, took two steps, and suddenly Ling Handeng's voice came from behind: "As far as I know, the Formless Ancestor is an extremely deep schemer."

Song Yan paused his step.

Ling Handeng apologized, "I have no intention of probing your secrets, just believe that in your upcoming journey you may encounter him, be more vigilant.

Formless Ancestor lived in the same era as I did; during that time, he was not only extraordinarily gifted but also extremely cunning and radical.

However, he belatedly reached the Divinity Transformation two thousand years later.

In those two millennia... he disappeared.

Because we were from the same era, although I had no interaction with him, curiosity arose, prompting me to try to explore. However... nobody knew what he did during those two millennia, nor why he took two thousand years more to achieve the Immortal Position."

After a brief pause, Ling Handeng said solemnly, "If you confront him, it won't be easy, be cautious, my friend."

Song Yan's expression shifted slightly, and he said, "Thank you."

...

...

Within the Jade Scroll, streams of information flashed by...

The Sea of Suffering extends only to the other shore of this world, whether you ascend the Divine List and serve the Master of Heaven and Earth, or achieve Immortal Position, in solitude pursue steps to enlightenment.

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