Chapter 490: Mu Qingyao, Feng Jinyu

Time flies, the cycle of reincarnation never ends. In the Immortal Prison, time seems to stretch endlessly, like trickling streams of water, silently eroding everything, each breath drawn out long and slow.

In the blink of an eye, five hundred years have passed. The countdown to Chen Xun and Black Bull's release... four hundred years!

Mengmu Sea Region, Dongxuan Dao Academy.

Today, the sky was a clear blue, with two bright suns shining high above. The entire sea region shimmered, and from time to time, enormous sea creatures leaped out of the water.

Though the academy was filled with ancient and elegant pavilions, it was quite tranquil, with only the sound of teachings echoing throughout.

Today, beneath a celestial mountain, a young girl sat alone on a stone platform, flipping through ancient texts. Her eyes were lively, blending harmoniously with the surrounding scenery, as if she were a part of it.

"Nangong Heling..."

Under a towering tree in the distance, a girl in green appeared. Her lips were red, her teeth white, and she wore a slight smile, as if narrating a beautiful story.

She walked slowly towards the stone platform, her long hair flowing like a waterfall, gently brushing against her cheeks like fine silk.

She stood up with a peaceful smile, "Fellow Daoist, who might you be?"

"Mu Qingyao."

The girl clasped her hands with a smile, her entire being seemingly enveloped in a light veil, exuding an elegant and gentle aura, "I've actually noticed you for a while now, just wanted to get acquainted, nothing more."

Nangong Heling smiled and nodded lightly, "Please, have a seat."

Mu Qingyao and Nangong Heling had very different temperaments, the former being exceedingly gentle.

The latter, however, exuded a sense of purity, untouched by family background, filled with a natural, free spirit.

Mu Qingyao observed Nangong Heling closely, her aura inexplicably captivating, making her quite fond of her. From the first meeting, she couldn't help but feel a strong liking for her.

However, Nangong Heling was solitary, rarely attending teachings, and was never seen during outside training. She was so low-key that the academy almost forgot about her existence.

Yet, others said she had a significant background, advising not to provoke her without reason, which deterred many from trying to befriend her.

But Nangong Heling's mysterious and serene demeanor captivated many men, her aura truly noble.

Mu Qingyao sat on the stone chair, her green dress carrying a faint scent of Mengmu, her every move exuding the grace of a well-bred lady, clearly of extraordinary origin.

She glanced at the stone table, slightly surprised, "Nangong Daoist, do you read these ancient texts every day... This doesn't benefit your cultivation."

"But reading more can make one wise. I don't have high talent, so I don't aspire for high realms."

Nangong Heling spoke with a ethereal voice, organizing the ancient texts with a bright smile, "Just call me Heling, no need for formalities, we're all here to study at the academy."

"Alright!" Mu Qingyao's tone became more earnest, "Heling, then you can call me Qingyao."

"Did you come today for something important?"

Nangong Heling's face carried a touch of maturity. Since her eldest and second brothers left, she was no longer lively, never bouncing around again.

Mu Qingyao's eyes curved slightly, "I've actually noticed you for a while, no other important matters, just wanted to get to know you, and I'm a bit curious about you."

After speaking, she took a slight breath. Nangong Heling had no master, nor followed any academy elders for training. She seemed to just read day after day, not competing or fighting.

"I see, but looking at you, Qingyao, you seem like someone from an ancient clan, the Mu family."

"Heling, that's not the case..."

Mu Qingyao's pupils widened slightly, quickly shaking her head, "There are many with the surname Mu, our family has no relation to the ancient Mu family, we just do some spiritual wood business, sending me to the academy has exhausted all we have."

Nangong Heling covered her face with a light laugh, finding Mu Qingyao's contrast intriguing. She seemed gentle, but her words and actions were somewhat carefree.

"Hey, Heling, do you know how the academy disciples talk about you?"

"Huh?"

"They say you might have some connection to the Yao Terrace Immortal Palace, with a background even bigger than Dao Child Mo Ye Han, definitely not from the Mo family."

Mu Qingyao laughed after speaking, "After all, your surname is Nangong, naturally not from the Mo family."

"No, Yao Terrace Immortal Palace is the sect of Venerable Yuxuan, and has nothing to do with me."

Nangong Heling shook her head seriously, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, "Our family just deals in some cultivating waste, no such big background."

Mu Qingyao's pupils widened slightly, so that's how it is, seems like rumors are indeed unreliable.

"Heling, then I'm relieved, otherwise I'd think I was overreaching."

Mu Qingyao suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, even pretending to pat her chest, "Then our backgrounds match, finally no more pressure."

Her words were comforting, without any disdain for cultivators who pick up waste, her words carried a strong sense of sincerity.

Nangong Heling smiled gently, nodding lightly, "Dao Child Mo is only somewhat related to my eldest brother, I came to the academy just to broaden my horizons."

The two chatted by the stone platform, the more Mu Qingyao talked, the more she liked Heling, feeling a spiritual connection, even reluctant to leave her side.

But this wasn't the mortal world, it was the world of cultivating immortality. Mu Qingyao knew she might have some big secrets, but she didn't think much about it, just wanted to make a pure friendship.

An hour later.

A streak of light flashed across the sky, a man with an extraordinary aura approached with a smile he deemed irresistibly charming. From afar, he clasped his hands, "Feng Jinyu greets..."

He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes widening. Why was Mu Qingyao also there on the stone platform below?!!

Feng Jinyu felt his mouth go dry, as if he had seen the most beautiful scenery in the world, momentarily forgetting to speak, his words stuck in his throat.

Among the new disciples of this generation, in terms of talent, appearance, background, and temperament... someone concluded, it had to be Mu Qingyao!

However, among the thousands of academy disciples, there were those more outstanding than Mu Qingyao, but they were hard to reach for their generation, with no reasonable identity to approach.

But many didn't know, there was also a Nangong Heling, but he knew, having noticed her before entering the academy.

However, he didn't have many thoughts, occasionally exchanging a few words was enough, a true gentleman's friendship, after all, the path of immortality was his ultimate goal.

Nangong Heling smiled and looked up, "Feng Jinyu, it's you."

Feng Jinyu felt a shiver run through his body, feeling a bit light-headed. He realized he was a bit out of sorts, his expression becoming serious as he descended, "Didn't expect Mu Daoist to be here too, quite impolite of me."

Mu Qingyao's expression became composed, standing up to greet, "So it's Feng Daoist."

She didn't know him, so he wasn't too outstanding among this generation of disciples.

But never looking down on anyone was their family's immortal path principle, something to understand before stepping onto the path of immortality.

Mu Qingyao had also gone to the mortal world for training before reaching Transformation, understanding the deep meaning of this.

She had seen many mortal geniuses, even if they turned to dust in a hundred years, even knowing there were immortals above, they never bowed to their hundred-year fate.

Feng Jinyu's face was somewhat awkward, not daring to meet the eyes of the two, feeling like he had wasted his cultivation!

He didn't know why, but he chuckled foolishly, "Today, Miss Heling has a guest, I shouldn't disturb, I'll come another day to seek advice on some immortal history questions."

Nangong Heling smiled and nodded, "Alright~"

Feng Jinyu felt as if he had been granted amnesty, coming and going in a rush, no longer with the same spirited demeanor as when he arrived.

Honestly, he didn't believe anyone of his peers could withstand these two standing together... he certainly couldn't, it was more nerve-wracking than a duel.

Mu Qingyao shook her head with a smile, finding him somewhat interesting, then changed the subject, "Heling, haven't you attended the academy elders' teachings over the years?"

"Of course I have, just not often."

"Then shall we go together in the future?"

"Sure."

Nangong Heling appeared indifferent to the world, making Mu Qingyao feel a strong urge to take her home, a strong protective instinct.

Mu Qingyao coughed lightly, her face slightly red, "Heling, have you always been cultivating at this academy, do you plan to go elsewhere?"

"Mm~ every year my family comes to the immortal island to see me."

Nangong Heling's lips curved into a heartfelt smile, "I'm here waiting for my two elder brothers, they'll come to pick me up, counting the days, four hundred years left."

"Ah? Did they go to other heavenly realms?" Mu Qingyao was surprised, Nangong Heling actually had two brothers, she thought there was only one eldest brother.

Nangong Heling beamed, her pure face suddenly mentioning the most terrifying place, "In the Immortal Prison."

As soon as she spoke, the surroundings fell silent, only the rustling of spiritual plants could be heard.

Mu Qingyao's pupils contracted violently, her lips parted slightly, a chilling sensation spreading throughout her body, "..."