Chapter 287: Leaving the Cloud and Water Realm

"If you truly want to get along well with senior brothers and sisters, you must treat others with sincerity," Yuan Yao gazed at him.

"Sincerity..."

The youth whispered softly.

Yuan Yao added, "If someone bullies you, don't be overly kind. Treat others as they treat you. If you wish to proactively befriend a fellow cultivator, you must be more forward and more sincere."

Shiziwen slowly lifted his eyes, "Senior sister's teaching, I have already kept in my heart."

Yuan Yao, seeing his seriousness, couldn't help recalling his entanglement with Lu Xiangxiang and, uneasy, gave him a reminder.

"Don't pick up bad habits."

"Alright," he replied.

Yuan Yao raised an eyebrow, "Then smile a bit more."

When Shiziwen didn't smile, he seemed rather bitter and resentful.

Shiziwen, after hearing that, clearly froze for a moment, then forced a slightly unnatural smile.

Yuan Yao also smiled.

After staying in Cold Moon Cave for over half a day, Yuan Yao lifted the empty food box and said to Shiziwen, "Two more days of endurance, and after two days you can leave Cold Moon Cave. From then on, you must cultivate properly."

Shiziwen gave a slight nod.

"Senior sister, farewell."

Yuan Yao's lips curled lightly, her eyes bright, "Farewell."

Shiziwen watched the girl's departing figure; each of her steps felt as if she were treading on his own heart, sending a hidden throb within him.

He reached out and brushed his eye that wore a blindfold.

…

After leaving Cold Moon Cave, Yuan Yao went to find Yao Linglong.

Yao Linglong had been practicing spells in the back mountain; upon seeing Yuan Yao's figure, she slightly lifted her eyebrows and hurried toward Yuan Yao.

"Yao Yao."

"Senior sister Yao."

"Are you here today to look for me?" Yao Linglong's voice was clear and pleasant.

Yuan Yao nodded, then, like beans pouring from a bamboo tube, recounted everything about Ao Su.

Hearing that, Yao Linglong's smile and ease faded; her voice deepened, as if bearing a thousand‑pound burden: "Ao Su hasn't replied to me in the past two days."

"Should we ask the Sect Master? Perhaps the Sect Master knows news about Senior Brother Ao," Yuan Yao felt a foreboding, like storm clouds before a tempest, weighing heavily on her heart. After all, even when Ao, despite severe injuries, would always find time to send a message to report safety.

Now, however, there is no word at all.

The Sect Master has four disciples: first disciple Wen Renjibai, second disciple Li Weiying, third disciple Yao Linglong, fourth disciple Ao Su.

Yao Linglong and Ao Su are of similar age and are the most familiar with each other.

"It's also time to ask," Yao Linglong frowned.

"I'll go with you."

"Alright."

The two walked side by side to the main hall of Tianwen Peak — Wen Tian Hall.

On their way, Yao Linglong first sent a message to Sect Master Baili Mo.

A moment later, inside Wen Tian Hall.

Seated at the foremost seat was a middle‑aged man in a black robe, with sword‑shaped eyebrows and star‑like eyes, a sharply defined, sturdy face exuding authority, and a terrifying scar on the right side of his face, adding a fierce aura.

In the hall's center, Yuan Yao and Yao Linglong stood side by side.

They clasped their hands and bowed.

"Disciple salutes the Sect Master/Master."

"There's no need for formalities," the Sect Master rose, crossed his arms, his expression stern, "Ao, I fear, has encountered danger, but fortunately his Life Talisman has not fully shattered."

Life Talisman, though not uncommon in the cultivation world, is possessed by almost every elite disciple of each faction; if a disciple's blood drips onto a non‑elemental Life Talisman, it can trace the disciple's final whereabouts and life status.

"Master, can the Life Talisman display where the junior brother last appeared?"

"In the Yunshui Realm."

Yao Linglong, with a solemn expression, raised her hand and bowed, "Master, Linglong requests to go to the Yunshui Realm to rescue the junior brother."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao felt she could not stand by idly.

She was about to speak when a voice from her Sea of Knowledge announced, "Ding! Detected over one hundred thousand target individuals appearing in the Yunshui Realm; host, please proceed to the Yunshui Realm to complete the conquest mission."

Yuan Yao's expression unchanged, she stepped forward, "Sect Master, Yuan Yao also requests to go to the Yunshui Realm."

Sect Master Baili Mo frowned, not answering immediately.

The Yunshui Realm is an extremely unique place in the Ninth Province. It is not under any sect's jurisdiction, yet it houses four major Immortal Academies, the Water Mirror Immortal Academy being one of them.

The Yunshui Realm is a mix of fish and dragons, where cultivators of demonic and evil paths also gather.

"The Yunshui Realm is unlike the Carefree Sect, and even less like the Heaven and Earth Domain; there, fish and dragons mingle, and many ill‑intentional people may be present, if..." Sect Master Baili Mo, knowing Yuan Yao rarely leaves the sect and is innocent, worried she might be deceived or harmed.

"Little Yao, are you sure you want to go?"

"Going," Yuan Yao said resolutely.

Hearing this, Sect Master Baili Mo could only say, "Since you are so determined, you may go."

"Besides you, the Sect Master will also dispatch some disciples to accompany you. Return immediately to prepare; in two hours, meet at the sect gate."

"Yes, Sect Master/Master," Yuan Yao and Yao Linglong respectfully replied.

After Yuan Yao returned to Tianwu Peak, she immediately reported the matter to her own Master.

Qianjue Shan reached out and patted her head.

"Your time staying at the sect seems to be getting shorter and shorter." It was so short that he didn't even have time to look at her more or teach her more.

He felt a tinge of reluctance in his heart.

"Master, are you reluctant to part with me?" Yuan Yao blinked.

"Yes." Qian Jueshan gazed at her, realizing she had grown into an adult, a sudden worry arose in his heart, fearing she would be bullied or deceived by others outside.

Thinking of this, his heart involuntarily surged with a wave of pain.

This is the child he raised with his own hands.

From age five to now, it's been nearly eleven years.

Qian Jueshan's long eyelashes slightly lifted, his cold eyes now tinged with gentleness, he said: "There are still twenty-five days until your birthday. When you turn sixteen, no matter where you are, Master will arrive on time to celebrate your birthday."

"Pinky promise." Yuan Yao reached out, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the silver-haired man before her who was both teacher and father.

Qian Jueshan extended his pinky, intertwining it with hers, then pressed their thumbs together.

The two exchanged a smile.

"On your birthday, Master will give you a few more magical artifacts." Qian Jueshan smiled gently.

"Thank you, Master." Yuan Yao's expression turned joyful, she paused, then shifted her tone: "Master, my cultivation has now reached the Initial Golden Core Realm; I am capable of protecting myself. Therefore, you need not send me many magical artifacts in the future, lest we waste spirit stones."

Qian Jueshan also felt her words made sense, "How about I transfer the spirit stones to you, and you can buy whatever you like."