In this round of evacuations, all third-generation disciples were supposed to be withdrawn . Li Xun was, of course, among them.

Before heading out, he used the little bit of downtime to fly over to the western battlefront and run a final check on the restrictions he was in charge of.

And then...

“So you’re just leaving like this?”

Yin Wanderer didn’t show herself, and there was a strange undercurrent in his voice

Li Xun hadn’t spoken to her for several days, though he had a good idea what she was thinking.

He smiled slightly and lowered his head, pretending to examine the wards while replying with his divine sense, “I can always come back later. “Leaving doesn’t mean I can’t come back. Yin Wanderer reappeared after sixty years... something this big can’t just fizzle out halfway.”

Yin Wanderer gave a cold snort.

Though she hadn’t manifested in physical form, she was well aware of everything that had happened over the past ten days or so. There were some matters she felt needed to be said. For Li Xun’s reference.

“Yemo Heaven must know you’ve arrived, yet they’re deliberately keeping you waiting. That’s not normal.”

Li Xun frowned, suspicion rising in his mind. The situation in the Southeastern Forest Sea had just been resolved, and yet no one from Yemo Heaven had come to check in. That really was unusual.

Considering the current state of affairs in the polar region, Li Xun couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something here worth thinking about.

“Loose on the outside, tight on the inside… could that be what’s going on?”

“Go take a look, and you’ll know,” Yin Wanderer replied lazily.

“We should still make sure everything’s covered. I’ll leave this to you.” Li Xun had already decided on a way to slip out safely and had plans in mind for Yin Wanderer’s later infiltration of Yemo Heaven as well.

Still, there was something else that struck him as strange.

I don’t know where Shui Die Lan’s gone these days. If she were around to help, I’d feel a lot better about heading over there.

But then again, it really was strange. Back when he ran into the Winged Flying Tiger, he’d been thinking about how the Seven Great Demons were all gathering at the pole. And now Shui Die Lan has actually shown up there. Which means that, except for that so-called “Elder of the Azure Emperor,” said to be a spirit born of plants and trees, six of the Seven Demons of the World are already here.

And if you add the so-called Three Wanderers, then nearly all the strongest rgoue cultivators and demons under heaven have gathered in this place. Truly an unprecedented sight.

Just then, feedback came from Yin Wanderer’s side. Li Xun let out a quiet “hmm,” put down what he was doing, and looked up. A figure was streaking across the sky not far away.

Their eyes met, and both of them paused for a moment.

Mistress Tianzhi?

From the direction Tianzhi was coming, it was clear he’d flown in from over the sea. What on earth was going on now?

Tianzhi clearly hadn’t expected to run into him here either. After a moment, she gave him a slight nod of acknowledgment before continuing on her way without stopping.

“She just fought someone, Yin Wanderer murmured quietly. The killing intent around her hasn’t faded yet. She must’ve killed more than one or two.”

Li Xun let out a short laugh. Don’t tell me some fool went and provoked her… He trailed off mid-sentence, realizing something wasn’t right.

The entire relocation of Nightless City was a major undertaking. As its leader, Master Tianzhi should’ve been overseeing everything personally. For her to be here, fighting of all things... that made no sense.

And she was heading to the other side…

Li Xun’s eyes grew cold. He stood, gazing across the sea toward the horizon, where the sky was still shrouded in gloom. A vast black void hung there, showing no sign of change.

Since when had the Gu family turned into a bunch of turtles, hiding in their shells while others came knocking at their door? Or could it be that…

A long whistle cut through the wind.

This time, though, it wasn’t the alarm for an enemy attack; it was the signal for the second group to gather for evacuation.

And with that, Li Xun’s time in Nightless City had officially come to an end. But it wouldn’t be long before he returned.

....

As the sky deepened from pale to dark, Li Xun and his group had already crossed beyond the polar zone.

By now, the disciples of the various sects were free to part ways and return to their own sects.

In this batch of cultivators, everyone except the five second-generation immortal masters leading the expedition was among the very best third-generation disciples from each sect.

Li Xun glanced around and recognized quite a few familiar faces.

He could still recall meeting many of them when he first came to Nightless City sixty years ago.

Back then, he’d only been a young novice with just a few years of cultivation, the sort who was either looked after or teased with good humor by the seniors. Now, after decades of rapid progress and a string of brilliant achievements, he had become one of the brightest stars among them all.

At the moment, he was talking with Ji Ya of Nightless City and Daoist Tingxue of the Voidmist Sect.

Both were well-known names in the Tongxuan Realm in recent years. Ji Ya, in particular, held the position of chief among Nightless City’s third-generation disciples—a status comparable to Wenhai of the Mingxin Sword Sect—and was widely regarded as the leading candidate to become the next Lord of Nightless City in centuries to come.

At first, the three of them simply discussed cultivation and the mysteries of the Dao, but before long, the conversation shifted to Li Xun and Tingxue offering a few words of comfort to Ji Ya about the hardship of relocating his sect.

From there, the topic naturally turned to the current situation at the pole. As the chief disciple of Nightless City, Ji Ya’s tenacious willpower was exceptional.

He thanked Li Xun and Daoist Tingxue for their kindness, then said in a deep voice, “Moving the sect’s ancestral grounds may have been forced by circumstance, but for Nightless City, it’s still the greatest shame in our tens of thousands of years of history. Our disciples must turn that shame into strength. Hah, I bet even the Rogue Cultivators’ Alliance didn’t expect that after sixty years of being pressed down, our sect would produce so many new talents, advancing far beyond what we once were.”

Daoist Tingxue nodded in praise. “Your sect’s legacy lives on, then. In a way, it’s a blessing in disguise. And this time, by choosing to retreat on your own terms, your strength remains intact, and all your sacred artifacts have been safely relocated. Truly, it’s a fine example of advancing by stepping back. With the chaos stirring in Yemo Heaven, I suspect it won’t be long before the light of Nightless City shines across the world again.”

Standing beside them, Li Xun chimed in with a few polite words of agreement, though his mind was elsewhere. Ji Ya’s words had sparked a thought in his mind.

As the saying goes, jade must be polished to become a gem. After sixty years under the shadow of hardship, the disciples of Nightless City had indeed grown in vision and resolve.

Just then, a gust of wind brushed past his ear, and suddenly someone appeared at his side. He looked up, surprise to see who it was.

“Luo Yuji?”

Right now, Luo Yujie showed no trace of her usual temper; she politely greeted Li Xun and the other two.

Ji Ya and Tingxue clearly knew her already, smiling as they greeted her. Li Xun, a bit curious, played along as if it were their first meeting, keeping his distance and returning the courtesy.

Luo Yuji, however, stepped right up to him, speaking with easy confidence. “So this must be the famous Brother Spirit Bamboo? We’ve hardly had the chance to meet before!”

Li Xun had no idea what she was up to, so he just smiled. “Indeed, we haven’t met often,” he replied. “But I’ve heard much about Senior Sister Luo. Especially how you’ve taken Sect Master Luo’s Sea Rain and Sky Wind Sword Technique and reshaped it into something entirely new. That’s impressive.”

Of all the things he could have said, that bit of praise hit her right where she was most proud. Surprise flickered across her face, and the look she gave him immediately changed.

For all her willful and headstrong ways, Luo Yuji wasn’t without talent. After all, with Luo Qichang’s depth of mind, how could he ever have tolerated a useless daughter?

After suffering humiliation at the hands of Hundred Ghosts years ago, she had thrown herself into cultivation with relentless determination. Under Luo Qichang’s guidance, she fused the grand and majestic Sea Rain and Sky Wind Sword Technique into her own unique style. Through years of bitter cultivation, her skill had grown to stand far above most of her peers.

Knowing her inside out, he gave just the right compliment. And as expected, it worked wonders. The stubborn side of her nature softened even more.

Her eyes sparkled as she smiled. “Still, it can’t compare to the Shadowed Bamboo, Rising Mist Sword Technique created by Immortal Master Zhong Yin. I’ve always admired his artistry… And you, Brother Spirit Bamboo... these past years you’ve kept that Hundred Ghost completely suppressed. I truly respect that!”

Li Xun let out a quiet “oh,” already understanding why this temperamental girl was being so courteous. He pushed aside the ridiculousness he felt, and as his eyes wandered, he caught Ji Ya and Tingxue smiling as they tactfully drifted away, leaving him to handle her alone. He couldn’t help but smirk to himself before answering her in a calm, gentle voice:

“Senior Sister Luo flatters me. That Hundred Ghost is clever and skilled. It’s no easy thing to keep him in check. I may have the will to fight evil, but after all these decades, all I’ve managed is to hold the line without losing or winning.”

“That’s still impressive… not like me…”

Luo Yuji stopped halfway through her sentence, realizing she’d slipped. A faint blush crept across her cheeks.

To Li Xun’s surprise, she only hesitated for a moment before admitting frankly, “Not like me, I’ve crossed paths with that guy plenty of times and lost every single one. Hmm, Brother Spirit Bamboo, I’d like to ask you something…”

Li Xun couldn’t help but chuckle. “You want to ask me how to deal with Hundred Ghost, don’t you?”

Luo Yuji seemed to bit her lip but nodded reluctantly.

That, at least, made Li Xun see her in a new light.

She could scheme without regard for cost, and she could swallow her pride and seek advice. For all her impulsiveness, who could say what she might become after time tempered her?

Precisely because of that, he couldn’t treat her question lightly.

After a brief pause, he smiled. “Hundred Ghost is a meticulous man. His methods shift with every situation; there’s no fixed pattern. Even when I face him, he gives me a headache. If I were to speak in general terms, I’m afraid it wouldn’t be much help.”

Luo Yuji looked a little disappointed, but her eyes soon lit up.

“Well then, let me put it another way. Fellow Daoist, once at Mount Tianzhu, a few of my sectmates and I surrounded you together. We even asked Martial Uncle Dongyang for help and set up all kinds of traps…”

It was impressive how naturally she could bring up that so-called “encirclement.” Li Xun immediately knew which incident she was talking about.

He hadn’t expected that after more than ten years, this girl would still remember everything so clearly. The terrain and slopes of the mountain, the weather that day, even the course of the earth veins in the area. She described it all in such detail that even Li Xun, who had been there himself, was amazed.

But as he listened, Li Xun couldn’t shake a strange feeling.

Beyond the odd feeling of seeing his own past from a shifted identity, hearing his actions described from someone else’s point of view was an oddly fascinating experience.

Thinking about it now, from Luo Yuji’s perspective, and then recalling how he had responded back then...

What a perfect chance for some honest self-reflection!

In that instant, Li Xun completely let go of the idea of holding anything back.

“...How did he do it?” Luo Yuji asked humbly. “How did Hundred Ghosts manage to escape under these circumstances?”

He drew in a quiet breath and put on a thoughtful expression, smiling. “I don’t mean to lecture you, Senior Sister Lu. But if I may speak frankly, there were a few things about your approach back then that could’ve been handled differently. For example, when you tried to block the earth veins…”

Following Luo Yujie’s own account, he casually pointed out several flaws in their plan. Then, in a tone of analytical speculation, reasoned through what Hundred Ghosts must have done at the time. His guesses were almost entirely on the mark.

From there, he went on to explain Hundred Ghosts' line of thinking, and which of Luo Yüji’s blind spots he had taken advantage of. With every word, he watched her expression shift from confusion to surprise, and finally, to deep admiration.

“Fellow Daoist Spirit Bamboo’s methods,” she said with genuine respect, “might even surpass Hundred Ghosts’ himself.”

Luo Yuji was completely convinced at that point.

And when Li Xun explained how Hundred Ghosts should be dealt with, she was so happy she almost wanted to give him a thankful kiss.

She wasn’t foolish; she could clearly see how valuable his insights were.

To her, every word Li Xun said hit the mark, striking right at Hundred Ghosts’ weaknesses again and again. She could easily imagine that if Hundred Ghosts still used his old methods, and she followed Li Xun’s advice, she’d have him completely at her mercy.

Luo Yüji was brimming with excitement, and Li Xun felt his own emotions stirring as well.

It was the first time he had ever examined himself from such an objective standpoint. After that sudden breakthrough in his overall way of thinking some time ago, only now did he truly shatter the old confusion that had trapped him for so long. The benefits this brought to his future cultivation were beyond measure.

Unfortunately, such moments couldn’t last. After he had walked Luo Yuji through two specific examples, it was already time for each sect to go their separate ways.

The Mingxin Sword Sect was in the east, and the Three Sovereigns Sword Sect was down in the south-central region, so the two could naturally talk no longer. Luo Yuji still looked reluctant to part, her face full of that lingering disappointment. Seen by others, that expression might easily lead to the wrong kind of speculation.

Not long after they went their separate ways, Lingzhe came over, grinning, clearly wanting to joke about what had just happened. Li Xun shot him a glance and straightened his face. “Perfect timing, Senior Brother Lingzhe. There’s something I wanted to discuss with you...”