If Master really came here, how could he not say a word, not reminisce about the past?

Since the time of "Xie Zhen," he began calling Deng Baiyi little master’s wife.

This was a clever trick taught by his mother.

The term "little master’s wife," the more one thinks about it, the more profound it seems... Later, when Master stopped using the name "Xie Zhen," this title still remained relevant.

Moreover, this trick had another layer of subtle use.

Recently, when cultivating in the Sword Palace, needing to use the talisman formation of the Thirty-three Cave Heavens, Duan Zhao went to see Master Miaoyin Jiang, calling her master’s wife; this title, once used, both Deng Baiyi and Jiang Miaoyin were unusually quick to agree to help, this trick always worked.

"Did Xie Xuanyi send you to see me?"

Deng Baiyi was a bit surprised, smiling, "Why do I find it hard to believe? Is there something that requires help?"

She knew Xie Xuanyi well.

He handles affairs cleanly and efficiently, without the slightest delay or fuss.

If this guy really wants to "see" me, it’s probably something related to talismans that needs my help.

"Hey hey hey, Master’s credibility with little master’s wife seems not very good..."

Duan Zhao blinked, looking slightly odd.

"Absolutely true."

He coughed twice, patting his chest assuredly and said, "I can guarantee it as a Sword Cultivator."

"...Alright, it’s rare he has this heart."

Deng Baiyi shook her head, smiled, "Is your Master well after slaying Sun Erosion? I have some healing talismans..."

While speaking.

She was about to control her Qi, selecting some top-grade talismans from the talisman sea.

"No need, no need."

Duan Zhao quickly refused, straightforwardly explaining, "Master is currently in the Demon Country, not needing these talismans. Little master’s wife, I’m here this time to retrieve the soul thought for Master and deliver it to the Longevity Lamp. But please don’t be upset, Master indeed sent me to Tianyuan Mountain, and he truly has you in his thoughts."

Deng Baiyi was dumbfounded.

She smiled again, and said warmly, "Please reply for me, Baiyi sincerely appreciates the thoughts, and Tianyuan Mountain hopes he remains safe."

"..."

Standing outside the talisman sea, Duan Zhao suddenly found the little master’s wife before him somewhat unfamiliar.

Deng Baiyi was still the same Deng Baiyi.

But...

The glory descends, billions of talismans gathered.

This young woman suddenly seemed like a divine spirit, the myriad talismans moving with the heart’s thought, Duan Zhao knew clearly, this was an aura that ordinary cultivators couldn’t possess.

Previously, he only considered the little master’s wife to have a considerable talent in the talismanic way as an Array Pattern Master.

Looking at it now, the little master’s wife was far stronger than he imagined.

In these years.

Deep in the unnoticed secret realm of Tianyuan Mountain, Deng Baiyi seemed to have undergone a great and significant creation.

"Divine Travel?"

Such a word suddenly burst out within Duan Zhao’s heart.

Ordinary people didn’t know what Divine Travel was.

But he was different.

He had heard the profoundness of "Divine Travel" more than once...

At this moment, looking at the talisman well, Duan Zhao had the feeling that the little master’s wife seemed like those Great Divine Ability Users who had walked so long in the River of Destiny, although only a year or two had passed in the real world, she seemed to have experienced decades or even hundreds of years.

It is precisely because of such a long time that her aura has changed.

Because of Divine Travel, she could research the Talisman Path to such an ultimate extent.

No need to deliberately perform divine skills.

Every gesture.

Resonates with the Great Dao.

Every talisman of Tianyuan Mountain senses her presence.

This thousand-year talisman sea has been completely refined by Deng Baiyi, all talismans recognize her as their master.

...

...

Duan Zhao’s visit to the Martial Sect was quite different.

Zhou Ceng gave the soul thought very quickly.

But this Martial Sect Master cursed throughout, while handing over the soul thought, he rolled up his sleeves indicating he wanted to have a hearty fight with Xie Xuanyi!

Back then, when he promoted to Yang God, he clearly agreed with Xie Xuanyi.

Once the latter promotes, they will fight again—

But now.

Xie Xuanyi isn’t just promoted, he’s practically ascended!

Zhou Ceng worked hard at the Northern Border Great Wall, battling life and death, and barely advanced to the Third Layer of Heaven; Xie Xuanyi, upon promotion, slayed Sun Erosion at the Eighth Heaven... This young Martial Sect Master knew full well, there was now an unbridgeable heavenly barrier between them, even if he worked hard his entire life, he might never have a fair duel. On reflection, this matter must have been known to Xie long ago, proposing the duel at the same realm originally was not wanting to fight him!

That Xie is a real villain, truly insidious and malicious... how can this heart barrier be removed?

Facing Zhou Ceng, Xie Xuanyi dares not manifest with the Lotus Token, he knows this martial artist’s temperament too well, as soon as he shows a sliver of himself, he’ll be pinned for a fight.

With Zhou Ceng’s disposition, he wouldn’t care if he’s a soul thought!

If a real fight ensues, it would be troublesome.

This Lotus Token only harbors a small strand of thought, but with Xie Xuanyi’s Harmonization Realm, by harnessing Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, he could deploy the Life and Death Dao Domain...

That Burning Flower event in Baihua Valley was deployed in just this manner.

If he were to lose this fight, it wouldn’t be a problem.

If he wins... wouldn’t Zhou Ceng’s heart barrier deepen, becoming harder to remove?

Anyway.

Xie Xuanyi resolutely refuses to fight Zhou Ceng.

Thus.

Lotus Token remains in deathly silence, poor disciple Duan Zhao can only muster the courage to convey Xie Xuanyi’s instructions.

"Master Zhou, Master says this duel can be slightly postponed..."

Zhou Ceng clenched his teeth: "Postpone? Still postpone?"

Last time, he was tricked by this excuse.

Zhou Ceng introspected, he promoted ahead of Xie Xuanyi, took advantage, not suitable for a duel.

Didn’t expect Xie Xuanyi’s promotion would leave him without a chance to catch up.

Now, the same rhetoric, comes around again.

Postponed further.

Xie would ascend to the heavens!

"How about..."

"Wait... Heavenly Human?"

Duan Zhao scratched his head, cautiously said, "Master says, when he reaches Heavenly Human Realm, he will have a hearty battle with Master Zhou."

Xie Xuanyi’s instruction, in Duan Zhao’s view, seems a bit improper.

Heavenly Human...

This is an immensely distant, highly abstract realm.

In these thousand years, besides the Pure Yang Ancestor, no one has touched the Heavenly Human Realm!

Now, Xie Xuanyi is the most likely cultivator to become Heavenly Human in the world.

This realm seems not to be a problem for Xie Xuanyi.

But for other cultivators, it remains a heavenly barrier!

Dueling Heavenly Human...

Seems somewhat disdainful?

Unexpectedly, Zhou Ceng was not angry.

"Your Master truly said so?"

The white-clad martial artist stared at the Lotus Token, his eyes suddenly turned fervent, his pupils stretching out as if ignited.

"Yes. Absolutely true."

Duan Zhao opened his hand, speaking earnestly: "Martial artists don’t deceive martial artists."

Though Xie Xuanyi really said these words, Duan Zhao remained prudent, although he joined the Sword Palace, coming from Wangyou Island, in Master Zhou’s eyes, he should count as... a martial artist?

"Good... good... good..."

Zhou Ceng grinned, repeatedly saying good.

Hearing the news of Xie Xuanyi’s Harmonization slaying Sun Erosion, he was certainly happy... only that the difference in strength with Xie Xuanyi caused some setback to his Dao Heart.

He imagined many scenarios.

This scene, however, was beyond his expectation.

Turns out once Xie Xuanyi promoted to Yang God, he completely lost the opportunity to duel him.

But this encounter rekindled his fighting spirit.

To step into Yang God Realm, for all living beings, is reaching the peak.

But...

If one doesn’t stop, that’s just the beginning.

His lifelong aspiration was to defeat the "opponent," Xie Xuanyi.

Xie Xuanyi entrusted his disciple to deliver the Duel at Heavenly Human Realm, this statement is affirming that he will have a chance to ascend Heavenly Human in the future.

What could be more pleasing than an opponent’s affirmation?

"Martial artists don’t deceive martial artists."

Zhou Ceng gazed at the Lotus Token, speaking seriously: "Xie Xuanyi, this duel agreement isn’t over, do not let down your guard... I will cultivate to Heavenly Human Realm!"