Chapter 132: Fusion

Immediately following, the stone gate swayed slowly, emitting a "creak" sound that shook the ground, causing it to tremble with a rustling noise. Bursts of exclamations erupted from the crowd; some people instinctively retreated, while more stared with wide eyes, filled with curiosity and anticipation.

Under everyone's gaze, the Star Gate slowly opened, and a majestic aura surged out, carrying an ancient, weathered, and mysterious quality, instantly sweeping across the entire plaza. A strong wind whistled, blowing everyone's clothes until they snapped and their hair danced wildly. The light grew increasingly intense, stinging people's eyes until they could not open them; a moment later, the light gradually receded, and the Star Gate was completely wide open.

Behind the gate was a strange space filled with mist. Thick fog churned like white silk, making it impossible to see into the depths. Occasionally, a few strange streams of light flickered past, vanishing in an instant, adding to the mystery. A breeze carrying an unfamiliar scent rushed toward them, mixed with the fresh fragrance of grass and trees, the scent of soil, and a trace of indescribable spiritual power fluctuations.

The people of Wanxing City looked at one another, and for a time, no one dared to be the first to step inside. Yan Qingli took a deep breath, took the first step, and said loudly, "Since this is for scouting the path, I shall go first!" Behind her, a group of excellent students from the Academy exchanged glances, their eyes firm, and followed closely. Their steps were steady as they entered the Star Gate, and their figures soon disappeared into the mist.

Half an hour later, there was no reaction from behind the Star Gate, and no one had returned.

The people present slowly realized that one could only enter the Star Gate and not exit; those who had gone through would not return.

Just at this moment, Cheng Fenglan, Cheng Yunjian, and Jiang Weiran walked to Cheng Xi's side to bid her farewell.

Jiang Weiran looked at Cheng Xi, "Cheng Xi, we will wait for you on the other side."

Cheng Xi smiled and said to him, "Once you reach the new place, be low-key and be cautious in everything."

"Alright." Jiang Weiran suddenly felt an indescribable melancholy; he looked at Cheng Xi, wanting to say many things, yet not knowing how to say them.

Cheng Fenglan saw his spineless appearance and pushed him aside, "Don't waste time." As he said this, he looked at Cheng Xi, "We will wait for you on the other side."

Cheng Xi:...

Jiang Weiran:...

Cheng Yunjian was the last to step forward, "Big Sister, I know you are a person with your own ideas; regardless of whether you go there or not, we will all be waiting for you."

Cheng Xi rubbed her forehead, looked at the three of them, and said, "Hurry and go; if you don't leave now, the Star Gate will close."

With a wave of her long sleeves, she sent the three of them into the Star Gate.

Watching their departing backs, Cheng Xi suddenly felt a trace of melancholy in her heart as well.

The Spirit Essence that opened the Star Gate gradually exhausted, and the Star Gate slowly closed.

The people present had varied expressions; Jiang Zhongqiao led everyone down the mountain, an Array rose from the sky, and the Star Gate was concealed within it.

Everyone's gaze turned to Li Zhi'an, and Li Zhi'an said indifferently, "It is merely for safety."

The crowd nodded one after another; if anyone could come to the Star Gate and pass through this door, wouldn't it be chaotic?

No matter where one is, rules always exist.

The rules of imperial power, the rules of the strong.

Cheng Xi returned to Qingtian Peak, and Li Zhi'an walked side-by-side with her, looking at her as he said softly, "Reluctant to part?"

"Not really." Cheng Xi smiled, "I just feel that the emotions between people are very complicated."

To hate someone so much one wishes them dead, to love someone so much one wishes them to live.

Li Zhi'an heard these words and looked at Cheng Xi, "That is also because you are a person of great heart and mind, able to pick things up and let them go; not everyone can achieve this. How many people in this world are trapped in grievances and love-hate entanglements, unable to extricate themselves? If everyone could save themselves as you do, there wouldn't be so many grievances."

Cheng Xi originally only had three parts of melancholy, and hearing this, it dissipated; she looked at Li Zhi'an and said, "What are your plans next?"

Li Zhi'an took Cheng Xi's hand, lowered his head to look at her, "I want to ask, when will you be willing to marry me?"

Cheng Xi was stunned for a moment and said instinctively, "Do you still have time to think about marriage right now?"

There was such a mess outside waiting for him to clean up.

Li Zhi'an said righteously, "Even though I have a heart to save the world, I cannot delay your youth."

Cheng Xi burst into laughter; marriage, she really hadn't thought about getting married so soon. After thinking for a moment, she looked at Li Zhi'an and said, "Wait until you finish the matters down the mountain, and then come to marry me."

As long as Wanxing City could not be built, Li Zhi'an would likely worry about this matter.

It would be better to wait until he had properly settled all the disaster victims in Jindu; only then could he be without worries.

"You said it, no going back on your word." Li Zhi'an's eyes lit up; he hadn't expected Cheng Xi to agree so readily, having originally thought that with her temperament, she would refuse.

"Naturally," Cheng Xi said.

In her previous life, she had been busy her whole life and hadn't attended to her own life-long affairs; in this life, having finally met someone who suited her heart, she also wanted to live a life different from her previous one.

Having received Cheng Xi's promise, Li Zhi'an was overjoyed and immediately set the wedding date with Cheng Xi on Qingtian Peak. Although they had to wait until the affairs down the mountain were finished, the two still discussed many wedding matters in detail, from the style of the wedding robes to the wedding procedures, down to every detail.

During those few days, a unique, sweet atmosphere permeated Qingtian Peak; Cheng Xi occasionally looked at Li Zhi'an's face full of longing, and the warmth in her heart grew even richer.

Once everything was decided, Li Zhi'an took his full energy and devoted himself entirely to the affairs down the mountain. The reconstruction plan for Wanxing City was imminent, and disaster victims from Jindu were pouring in continuously; the resettlement work was complex and multifaceted.

He rushed between various camps every day, supervising the construction of houses and allocating supplies to ensure that the common people could have a place to live and food to eat.

At the same time, Jiang Zhongqiao also led a group of disciples to assist Li Zhi'an. Relying on their abilities as cultivators, they accelerated the construction process, moving giant stones and leveling the land; one spell after another was cast, allowing the prototype of Wanxing City to gradually emerge.

As for the Academy, after Yan Qingli and the others entered the Star Gate, they also readjusted the Academy's curriculum and selected a new batch of excellent students to explore the depths of Wanxing Mountain.

Although Cheng Xi did not directly participate in the reconstruction down the mountain, she was not idle on Qingtian Peak either.

After the Four Great Academies deliberated, the other academies decided to move their schools to Wanxing Mountain; this decision was so sudden that even Cheng Xi was stunned.

Jiang Zhongqiao explained to her, "Wanxing Mountain covers a vast area, and the appearance of the Star Gate suggests that there might be more secrets in the depths of the mountain range that we don't know about. The four academies gathering at Wanxing Mountain is intended to explore deeper; what do you think?"

"With the four houses joining forces, is the Dean worried about Demons like the mountain spirits?" Cheng Xi recalled the matter of the mountain spirit clan controlled by Ye Wujin and said slowly.

Jiang Zhongqiao nodded, "That is only one reason; another point is that we do not wish for the four academies to develop grudges and subsequently split apart."

Cheng Xi hadn't thought of so much, and only after hearing Dean Jiang explain it this way did she realize that the integration of the four academies was not a simple matter; Dean Jiang must have put in a great deal of effort.