Having seen Master off, Qu Chen and I stood at the summit, looking out at the cheering crowd. Their faces radiated the joy of victory, and their eyes gleamed with hope for the future. Qu Chen and I interlaced our fingers and exchanged a smile, leaving everything unsaid between us.
"Youran, we won." A slight tremor laced Qu Chen's voice, though it could not conceal his overwhelming excitement.
"Yes, we won," I repeated softly, a complex mix of emotions swirling in my heart. This victory had not come easily; we had lost so much, yet we had also gained so much.
Standing side by side on the peak, we overlooked the land dyed crimson by the setting sun and felt the gentle breeze graze our cheeks, as if all our hardships had vanished like smoke.
"From this day forward, there are no more Demonic Cultivators in this realm, no more strife, only..." My words trailed off abruptly as my gaze fell not far away, where a flash of golden light amidst a mountain of spoils caught my eye with dazzling brilliance.
It was an ancient tome, pinned beneath a pile of weapons and armor. Had the setting sun not happened to strike that single speck of golden light, we would never have spotted it. I stepped forward and labored to pull the volume out, dusting the grime from its surface.
"What is this?" Linger hurried over curiously, eyeing the book in my hand.
"I don't know. It doesn't seem like an ordinary item." I examined it closely. The book was crafted from an unknown material, ice-cold to the touch with a mirror-smooth cover, upon which intricate patterns were faintly carved, radiating an ancient and mysterious aura.
"Let me see." Qu Chen walked over as well, reaching out to take the book. He opened to the first page and frowned slightly. "These characters... they don't seem to belong to any script we know."
A thought struck me, and I immediately reached into my tunic and pulled out a Jade Pendant. This pendant had been pressed against my skin ever since I crossed over into this world, brought with me from my original home. I brought the pendant close to the book, and something miraculous happened: the obscure, incomprehensible characters seemed to spring to life, emitting a soft golden glow until they transformed into words I could understand!
"This... how is this possible?" Linger covered her mouth in astonishment, and Xuanfeng stared with wide eyes, wearing an expression of utter disbelief.
Suppressing the turbulence in my heart, I began to read carefully. The contents recorded on those pages left us utterly astounded.
As it turned out, this ancient book was a record of Divine Artifacts!
We had always believed that Divine Artifacts were simply weapons of immense power, never realizing that their true purpose went far beyond that.
The book mentioned that Divine Artifacts were keys used to open the path to a higher-dimensional Cultivation World! The world we inhabited was merely a drop in the ocean; in higher dimensions, there were vast realms, greater powers, and... far more challenges!
"Youran..." Qu Chen tightened his grip on my hand. I could feel the warmth and strength in his palm, along with a silent worry.
I took a deep breath, raised my head, and looked resolutely toward the distance—where the sun was setting, and where a journey into the unknown was about to begin...
"Let's go. We must tell Master."
Closing the book, my heart hammered wildly. Divine Artifacts, a higher-dimensional Cultivation World... These terms seemed imbued with magic, churning in my mind and stirring a thousand ripples. I looked at Qu Chen and saw in his eyes the exact same excitement, the same yearning, and the same unease.
"Youran, are we really going?" Linger's voice trembled slightly. Spirited and bold though she was, facing such a sudden upheaval, she could not help feeling a measure of fear.
I took her hand, giving her a firm look. "Linger, do you remember why we embarked on the path of cultivation in the first place? It was to protect everything we cherish, to pursue greater power, wasn't it?"
Linger paused, then nodded vigorously. "That's right! I'm determined to become the greatest female sword cultivator in the world!"
"Count me in!" Xuanfeng thumped his chest with boundless bravado. "Since Brother Chen and Sister Youran are going, of course I'm coming too! Mountains of blades or seas of fire, I won't hesitate!"
Seeing their steadfast expressions, a surge of warmth filled my heart. I knew that no matter how arduous the road ahead, I would no longer fight alone. I had the person I loved and my friends; they would stand shoulder to shoulder with me through thick and thin.
We returned to Master's quarters and shared this startling discovery with him. After listening, Master fell silent for a long time. His gaze was deep and profound, as if piercing through time and space to behold a future we could not see.
"Master, what do you think we should do?" Qu Chen broke the silence.
Master withdrew his gaze and looked at us, his eyes brimming with paternal affection and expectation. "Children, you have grown up and formed your own judgments and choices. As your master, I will not interfere with your decision, but remember: no matter where you go, you must hold fast to your true self and never forget your original aspirations."
"Master, we understand," Qu Chen and I answered in unison.
Master nodded, drew a Jade Slip from his robe, and handed it to Qu Chen. "This Jade Slip records everything I have learned throughout my life. I hope it will be of use to you."
"Master..." A stinging sensation hit the back of my nose, and my heart filled with reluctance to part.
"Child, no feast lasts forever," Master smiled kindly. "I believe you will achieve even greater accomplishments in a higher realm."
I took a deep breath, blinking back the tears, and solemnly accepted the Jade Slip. "Master, we will work hard!"
We bid farewell to Master, packed our belongings, and prepared to embark on our new journey. Before our departure, Master escorted us to the mountain gate. His gaze swept over each of us in turn, finally resting on me. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but it ultimately dissolved into a soft sigh. "Go..."
Looking at Master's aged face, my heart was a whirl of emotions. A thousand things left unsaid finally condensed into a single sentence: "Master, take care..."
With that, I turned around and resolutely stepped onto the path toward the unknown. Behind me, Master's benevolent gaze and his unfinished words echoed gently in the valley...
We left Master's cave abode with heavy yet eager hearts. Master's words still echoed in our ears, guiding the direction of our advance.
"Youran, have you truly made up your mind? That is a higher-dimensional Cultivation World, after all—filled with the unknown and fraught with danger." Qu Chen gripped my hand, his eyes clouded with worry.
I squeezed his hand back, offering a steadfast gaze. "Chen, how many hardships have we walked through together, yet we overcame every single one of them, didn't we? I believe that as long as we stand united, we can conquer any difficulty and explore that unknown realm."
"Mn!" Qu Chen nodded heavily, his eyes flashing with determination. "I believe in you, and I believe in us!"
We returned to our quarters to share the news with Linger and Xuanfeng. Just as we anticipated, Linger jumped up in excitement, eager to set off immediately. Even the usually calm Xuanfeng could barely contain his agitation, declaring his full support for us.
To prepare for this new adventure, we decided to enter seclusion for a time to raise our cultivation levels. Master also imparted everything he knew, pouring his life's learning into teaching us. Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, three months passed.
"Congratulations on successfully breaking through!" Qingyunzi looked at us and nodded with a satisfied smile.
During three months of closed-door cultivation, Qu Chen and I both broke through our bottlenecks and reached a higher realm. With our help, Linger and Xuanfeng's cultivation also advanced in leaps and bounds.
"Master, we are ready. We can set out now." I took a deep breath and spoke with solemn resolve.
A trace of reluctance flashed in Qingyunzi's eyes, but it was overwhelmingly replaced by gratification and encouragement. "Good! Children, go! Chase your dreams and forge your own legend! Remember, no matter when or where, your master will always be your steadfast backing!"
"Master..." My nose stung again, filled with gratitude and sorrow at parting.
"Very well, no need for more words. Go!" Qingyunzi waved his hand, signaling us to depart.
We bowed deeply to Master once more, then turned and resolutely embarked on our new journey.
Behind us, Qingyunzi watched our receding figures and murmured to himself, "A higher-dimensional Cultivation World... I hope you find your own answers..."
We flew on our swords the entire way, weaving through the clouds, our hearts brimming with anticipation for the future. I knew this journey would be fraught with challenges and opportunities, but we were ready to embrace every unknown trial.
"Youran, look!" Qu Chen suddenly pointed ahead and cried out in surprise.
I followed his gaze and saw a towering peak loom before us. Atop the peak, a majestic city rose grandly into the sky, resplendent in gold and exuding an imposing aura.
"What place is that?" I asked in astonishment.
"If I'm not mistaken, that should be..." Qu Chen paused, pronouncing each word clearly, "the legendary... Tianyuan City!" Tianyuan City! My heart gave a violent thump, and an inexplicable wave of familiarity washed over me. I had seen descriptions of it in the ancient texts Master gave me. It was the center of the higher-dimensional Cultivation World and the holy land of every cultivator's dreams.
Before our departure, Master Qingyunzi had held a grand farewell ceremony for us. Representatives from various sects across the Cultivation World hurried to send us off, among them many renowned figures. Linger and Xuanfeng also invited their family and friends, transforming our little courtyard into a bustling scene.
"Youran, Chen'er, the road ahead is long. You must be careful in everything you do." A kind-faced elderly grandmother took my hand, her eyes filled with concern.
"Indeed. If you encounter difficulties, do not be rash. Remember, you still have us watching your back," a middle-aged man added with a smile.
Gazing at those sincere faces and listening to the warm blessings, my heart swelled with emotion. Unawares, Qu Chen and I had forged such profound bonds throughout the Cultivation World.
"Everyone, thank you for your blessings. We will keep them close to our hearts and live up to your expectations!" Qu Chen stepped forward and bowed deeply to the crowd.
I followed suit, silently vowing in my heart: Wait for us—we will surely return!
Bidding farewell to everyone, the four of us soared into the air on our swords, transforming into four streaks of light as we sped toward Tianyuan City.
"Youran, look!" After flying for about half a day, Linger suddenly pointed downward and cried out excitedly, "What is that?"
I looked down and saw a dense forest stretching out below. In the very center of the forest stood an ancient altar, surrounded by shimmering, unusual lights.
"That light..." A flash of insight crossed my mind, and I suddenly recalled what Master had told us. "Could that be... a spatial rift?!"
Qu Chen nodded with a solemn expression. "Precisely. It seems that if we wish to enter the higher-dimensional Cultivation World, we must first find a way to open the spatial rift."
We landed near the altar and carefully observed our surroundings. Bizarre plants grew all around the altar, and the air was thick with an ancient and mysterious aura.
"This place... feels a bit wrong..." I surveyed our surroundings, a sudden sense of unease welling up in my heart.
Right at that moment, a low voice sounded right beside my ear:
"What kind of people... are you?"
I spun around abruptly, only to discover—