Countless golden cicadas surged out from the seawater.

These densely packed golden cicadas surrounded Xie Xuanyi and Jiang Miaoyin...

The pressure from the deep sea gradually dissipated, and the golden light seemed to possess some indescribable power, bringing an inexplicable peace of mind.

In this world, who else possesses the strength to engage in battle with a Yang God Tenth Layer Heaven expert within the River of Destiny, and is also connected to "cicadas"?

Probably... only one person.

At the end of the countless golden lights, a faint silhouette could be seen.

He seemed to have been waiting at the bottom of the North Sea for a long time, enshrouded in golden light, resembling a holy Buddha, inspiring reverence with just one glance.

"...Zen master."

Xie Xuanyi instinctively spoke.

The sound traveled effortlessly, facing no obstruction.

He suddenly realized that the seawater enveloping him had somehow turned into nothingness; he was still "descending," yet the seawater was merely an illusion. Countless golden cicadas had transformed and assembled into an incredibly solid domain of Grotto Heaven, enveloping both him and Jiang Miaoyin.

"It's me..."

The person standing amidst the tide of golden cicadas could not be seen clearly; smiling, he saluted and spoke gently: "It's fortunate to meet again, Mr. Xie."

Xie Xuanyi's expression was complicated.

If he remembered correctly, the last meeting was still in the Li Kingdom.

That single cicada helped him comprehend the "Life Dao Realm"...

He slowly landed at the sea bottom.

The woman in his embrace suddenly fell very quiet.

Xie Xuanyi looked down; at some point, Jiang Miaoyin had fallen asleep, sleeping soundly as if she was dreaming a beautiful dream... In this boundless depth of the sea, embraced by golden cicadas, a rather warm space was created, yet a faint chill still emanated. Perhaps for this reason, a bit of frost formed between Jiang Miaoyin's brows.

"She... is she alright?"

A faint worry arose in Xie Xuanyi's mind.

Currently, Jiang Miaoyin's condition was quite similar to her main body in retreat in the Ice Soul Cave Heaven.

"Rest assured."

The monk amidst the golden cicadas spoke warmly: "Ms. Jiang is perfectly fine... Her divine soul is not protected by you? She will not perish; it's merely that her soul couldn't bear the weight of the 'River of Destiny,' forcing her into slumber."

In this world, not everyone has the chance to step into the River of Destiny.

Similarly, not everyone... has the strength to enter this river.

"River of Destiny... This is the River of Destiny?"

Xie Xuanyi frowned, looking around.

He was already finding it hard to distinguish reality from illusion; he initially thought... diving into the North Sea was real, and this golden cicada illusion realm was false.

Yet the connection between reality and illusion was too smooth, without a single flaw.

"Whenever there is an intersection of cause and effect, it is where destiny lies."

The Zen master said: "A river... need not be a river, nor a sea. It's merely because the imagery of rivers and seas is too similar to the intention of destiny and cause-and-effect that the term originated."

"So..."

Xie Xuanyi gazed at the woman in his arms, pondering briefly, then said: "All this isn't Jiang Miaoyin's illusion dream, but indeed reality."

"Yes."

The Zen master's response was quick and clean: "Mr. Xie is currently in a 'Divine Travel' state, but this isn't the first time."

Xie Xuanyi understood what the Zen master meant.

If a brief consciousness encounter could also be considered Divine Travel, then his last entry into the River of Destiny should be in the Li Kingdom.

"So it was indeed you appearing in Yusang City."

Xie Xuanyi murmured, "Why did you lead me to the North Sea... If you could travel through the River of Destiny, why not use divine skills when meeting in Yusang City?"

"Appearing in Yusang City was already an exception."

The Zen master shook their head, solemnly saying: "Consider this: Even with great divine powers, Mr. Xie might not enter the same river twice? Destiny... is such a thing, once certain causes and effects undergo changes, this river can never return to its former appearance."

"The North Sea matter... cannot alter its cause and effect..."

Golden light surges.

The Zen master sighed, saying: "Someone tried to alter cause and effect, but the final outcome was very dire."

"Who?"

Xie Xuanyi became very alert and faintly had someone in mind.

The North Sea affair was a severe blow to the Sword Palace.

The one who could least accept their own death... was the master!

The one most capable of altering all this... was still the master!

"There is nothing to hide about this, the one who tried to alter cause and effect is the very person in your heart, Mr. Xie."

The Zen master folded their hands in prayer and softly intoned a Buddhist mantra; the face enshrouded in golden light showed a tinge of sorrow: "In truth, meeting Mr. Xie... is also partly by his request. Master Zhao was very worried about your safety, but Mr. Xie's natural talent and comprehension are indeed outstanding, without needing the monk's reminder, you already inferred that this is not an illusory apparition but is indeed within the 'Divine Travel Realm'."

"Wait, it's truly the master..."

Xie Xuanyi felt his Heart Lake tremble.

He had a vague sense of unease.

"Senior, my master can also 'Divine Travel'."

Xie Xuanyi said anxiously: "Since it's a matter of guidance, why doesn't he personally appear?"

"There are matters entwined in major causes and effects, words cannot be added lightly."

The Zen master went silent for a moment, providing a very tenuous explanation: "All in all... it is I who meet with you at this moment. The monk has limited time, this meeting cannot last very long... Mr. Xie, please cooperate a little."

"..."

Xie Xuanyi already had a sense of foreboding.

But at this moment, he calmed himself down.

He could see that the Zen master used divine skills to arrange a meeting at the bottom of the North Sea; this was definitely not for mere mundane chat.

Very soon, Xie Xuanyi calmed his Heart Lake.

"Senior, please speak." He saluted, expression solemn.

"You have already deduced that you are now in the 'Divine Travel Realm'." The Zen master spoke gently: "Then you should know what the greatest trouble of 'Divine Travel' is..."

"Anchor point?"

Xie Xuanyi instinctively said.

"Indeed."

The Zen master showed a gratified look: "Every divine traveler can gain something... but some are lost in the River of Destiny. They cannot find the 'anchor point' to return, thus becoming a wandering soul drifting for years, their flesh body retreating into the void, the soul adrift within the river."

Hearing this, Xie Xuanyi's first thought was of the Taoist sect's Xiao Yaozi.

And now.

His situation was actually the same as "Xiao Yaozi"!

Even... even worse!

Who Xiao Yaozi was, an invincible entity close to the Heavenly Human Realm, losing an anchor point and still being trapped in the River of Destiny.

"I'm grafted into Jiang Miaoyin's soul illusion through Wangyou Island's divine skills."

Xie Xuanyi frowned, saying: "If this state is indeed 'Divine Travel,' then Jiang Miaoyin and I should be traveling divinely together..."

"Correct."

The Zen master seriously said: "That is what I intend to say, and also what Master Zhao entrusted me with... You two, your soul unifies both in prosperity and decline. This Miss Jiang's soul is your 'anchor point' to return; you must care for her no matter what."

"If a flash slip occurs..."

"She becomes a wandering soul."

The Zen master paused, speaking deeply: "Mr. Xie, you may find it very difficult to return."

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