Chapter 132: Disciples of the Jade Void

It is easy to cultivate magical power, but difficult to nurture the spirit.

Once one enters the path of cultivation, through endless days and nights of tempering and refinement, one can transform the essence of heaven and earth absorbed into the body into their own magical power. The longer the time, the purer the power becomes, and the potency of the spells cast increases accordingly.

Had it not been for the soul-nourishing techniques imparted by Meng Ziyi and the year he spent in meditation at Luoling Mountain, he would likely still be unable to walk normally, let alone ride the clouds or cast spells.

During that year of soul and spirit cultivation, though most days were spent in meditation—with only Qingqing appearing before him from time to time—Quanyin and Quanyue remained distant; one was always cold, and the other never appeared at all.

Nan Luo knew why Quanyue always wore a cold expression and looked at him with a hint of resentment. It was understandable, for while Nan Luo had no substantive contact with her, she had watched her aunt take his place within the Taiyin Stele. Once kinship is involved, many things simply fade away.

Quanyin had never appeared since entering the Taiyin Stele. If she were to appear, Nan Luo truly did not know what to say. He could empathize with the pain of losing one's freedom; in the face of what had already been set in stone, any words seemed pale. Perhaps Quanyin had considered this, which was why she did not appear, not even uttering a single word.

Following the spiritual veins of the mountains and rivers to connect with heaven and earth—this was the method Nan Luo used to nourish his soul while traveling toward Kunlun Mountain. However, the damage to his spirit was too severe to be restored overnight.

His speed was fast compared to ordinary humans, but far inferior to the escape techniques of true cultivators.

In the ages of the Primordial Era, flowers bloomed, autumn winds sighed, green leaves withered, and snowflakes filled the sky.

"Eh? Is it you? Are you Nan Luo?" a beautiful woman asked, looking at him in surprise.

"Yes, I am Nan Luo." Nan Luo was quite surprised to be recognized, especially by a pure human.

"Aren't you in the Heavenly Court? To be wandering about at a time like this, are you not afraid of the Wu clan seeing you?" the beautiful woman asked quickly.

Nan Luo smiled. "I am afraid, but today you just happened to run into me; you wouldn't see me under normal circumstances." He thought to himself, *Could it be that the conflict between the Wu clan and the Heavenly Court has already reached the point of fire and water?*

"Oh, I see. I saw you many years ago, the time you were besieged by two Great Wu of the Wu clan and later killed many Demon Kings."

Nan Luo naturally knew which incident she meant, and he only smiled in response.

She seemed extremely happy and continued on her own: "I intended to take you as my master back then, but unfortunately, I couldn't catch up with you."

Nan Luo still only smiled. She did not mind his silence and continued, "However, now that I have met you, although I cannot be your disciple, let me reserve you as a master for the child in my womb. You cannot refuse..."

Hearing this, he naturally glanced at her stomach, which was indeed slightly protruding.

Nan Luo paused for a moment before saying, "Very well! But I fear you may not find me then."

The grey monkey Liuli, hearing this, could not help but scratch his head. He found it completely baffling that Nan Luo would so easily agree to be someone else's master, yet refuse to take him as a disciple.

"In that case, what should we do? You have already promised. Can you wait until I give birth to the child before you leave?" The woman frowned, clearly invested in having Nan Luo become her unborn child's master.

Nan Luo shook his head. "I fear I cannot. I have a friend who is trapped, and I am waiting to rescue them."

"Then come back here after you have saved your friend. By then, my child should have been born, and they will be ready to apprentice under you." The woman seemed determined.

"Hehe, if I am able, I shall return here. If not, you may bring your child to Yangping Mountain to find me," Nan Luo said with a smile.

The woman pondered for a moment, and seeing no better option, smiled. "That is a promise then. By the way, my name is Yaoji. The child's father is Yang Tianyou. He went out suddenly just now, and I don't know what for—he has been gone for quite a while."

They were in a valley, not surrounded by high mountains, but appearing quite serene. In the center stood a wooden house, large enough to accommodate three or four people. Nan Luo could tell at a glance that the valley was protected by a formation; although he was not an expert in such arts, his current level of insight made it difficult for most things to escape his notice.

Nan Luo had been traveling along the spiritual veins, and this valley happened to sit upon a minor one, which was why he had passed by. Upon discovering it was inhabited by humans, he had revealed himself, never expecting the woman to recognize him.

"Hehe, I must be going. The place where my friend is trapped is hundreds of thousands of miles away, and I must make haste," Nan Luo said.

Seeing his urgency, she did not try to keep him. Just as he turned to leave, she suddenly added, "My brother once mentioned you..."

Nan Luo stopped and looked back, smiling. "Oh? Your brother? What did he say?"

Yaoji hesitated, looking somewhat embarrassed. "My brother said that you would face a great calamity."

"Hehe, is that so? When did he say that?" Nan Luo asked, as if he took no notice of it at all.

Yaoji frowned, thinking. "It seems... over ten years ago, I don't remember clearly. Anyway, I heard him say it once when many people were present."

"Hehe, more than ten years ago? That is all in the past. The great calamity... it has already passed." Nan Luo spoke to himself, or perhaps to the heavens and earth. His voice was quiet but as firm as an oath.

"Oh, I see. That is good. If you ever meet my brother, please do not tell him I am here," Yaoji added, her tone suddenly earnest.

Nan Luo smiled. "I don't even know your brother, so I wouldn't know if I met him. But why do you wish to keep your location from him?"

"You may not know my brother, but he knows you. I don't know if you will meet, but if you do, and he asks if you have seen me, please do not tell him. He does not approve of my being with Tianyou. We had this child behind his back." She finished with a faint, shy blush.

"Hehe, I will remember. If one day I meet your brother and he asks, I shall say nothing... By the way, what is your brother's name?"

"My brother is called Haotian."

"Haotian... a rather imposing name. Very well, I shall remember. I will not tell him." Nan Luo turned to leave, but suddenly, a voice reached his ears: "Yao-mei, I have found a master for our child—a true immortal from the Yuxu Palace."

Upon hearing the words "Yuxu Palace," Nan Luo’s heart skipped a beat. He halted his departing steps and slowly turned his head to look in the direction from which the voice had come.