550: Six months have passed

Northern Wasteland is a relatively remote area of the Five Domains.

Since ancient times, Cultivators have not particularly favored this place, due to its scarce resources.

It cannot support the development of too many Sects.

The main reason is that two Immortal Great Sects, Dianxing Academy and Holy Heaven Demon Sect, were established here in ancient times.

With the emergence of these two Sects, all forces that could pose a threat to them were purged.

The remaining small Schools, which posed no threat to them, were allowed to survive.

Even so, the resources available to these small Schools in the Northern Wasteland are extremely limited, and they all have to live under the shadow of Dianxing Academy and Holy Heaven Demon Sect.

If they did not depend on them, they would not survive.

The Great Qi Dynasty, where Shen Tianxing resides, is a human Imperial Dynasty in a remote part of the Northern Wasteland, a true frontier area that Cultivators are generally reluctant to set foot in.

Cultivators who establish Schools here are basically small forces.

Those so-called demons and ghost Cultivators are all insignificant existences.

Therefore, they must pay tribute to either the Holy Heaven Demon Sect or Dianxing Academy every year.

Only then can they get the opportunity for the Geniuses in their School to study in these two Immortal Great Sects.

Looking at the familiar mountains and land pulse before him, Shen Tianxing stood on the flying boat, filled with emotion.

Once upon a time, he could only look up at the figures flying in the sky, at those powerful beings who could destroy a city with a single hand.

Now, things are different!

In this Northern Wasteland, there is no one left who he would consider a threat.

"Are you planning to go to the Holy Heaven Demon Sect first? Or Dianxing Academy, to see your sisters?"

Yan Yuzhu, standing beside him, asked with a smile, her words hinting at something.

Half a year had quietly passed.

Shen Tianxing had promised all the girls that he would return to them half a year later, before the Contest of the Imperial Son began.

Shen Tianxing held a wine gourd in his hand and chuckled, "Haven't you been arranging the itinerary all along? We'll go wherever you say."

This was the art of speaking.

As a woman, how could Yan Yuzhu not like to hear compliments?

Even though she was once an Empress, and now merely a woman by Shen Tianxing's side, she naturally enjoyed hearing words she liked from her man's mouth.

This wasn't because Shen Tianxing feared her, but because he respected her.

Yan Yuzhu was not difficult to get along with, and she had already gotten along very well with Senior Sister Shi Linglong, Liu Xianyun, and the other sisters. After half a year apart, she truly missed them.

After half a year's separation, she had deeply experienced this kind of longing.

"The Holy Heaven Demon Sect should know we'll be coming for them. After all, you swept through the Three Domains, and they're the next target, so it's easy to guess."

"But you've been gone for so long, it's time to go back and see your sisters. Dianxing Academy isn't far from here."

Yan Yuzhu took the wine gourd from Shen Tianxing's hand and took a big gulp.

Shen Tianxing turned his face to her and smiled, "Truly worthy of Your Majesty the Empress, so generous. No one in this world possesses such tolerance as the Empress!"

"Stop your glib talk!"

Yan Yuzhu playfully cursed, but she thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere.

Before, in the Great Qi Dynasty, the various people she faced dared not speak to her like this. In the imperial court, there was only solemnity and silence.

As the Empress, she had to maintain her prestige to keep those below her in check.

This current life was what she liked.

Unrestrained, free, saying what she wanted to say, going wherever she wanted to go.

The flying boat swiftly cut across the sky, heading east.

Dianxing Academy and Holy Heaven Demon Sect, one in the east and one in the west, had been rivals for many years, clearly separated!

...In Dianxing Academy, an ancient courtyard.

This was Senior Sister Shi Linglong's courtyard, occupying a vast area. Outside the courtyard was a large lake, adjacent to the nearby sacred mountain.

The lake and mountain scenery were all visible!

Senior Sister Shi Linglong's status in Dianxing Academy was rare. The Prodigies and Saints of various courtyards would respectfully address her as Junior Senior Sister.

In the courtyard, a group of beautiful women were seated in various places. Some were reading sword manuals, some were chatting, and some were simply lost in thought.

Senior Sister Shi Linglong, the Xu Muqing sisters, and Ye Qingyu had been here for half a year without realizing it!

Even Liu Xianyun, who had come here with them, had been in seclusion for half a year.

"Oh, it's been half a year. When will Big Brother Shen return?"

Xu Muyan slumped her head, her eyes fixed on a stone platform not far away. Her Divine Soul power emanated, making the stone platform wave up and down.

She was truly bored.

Xu Muyan primarily cultivated her Divine Soul. After half a year of guidance from the instructors at Dianxing Academy, she had already broken through her original Realm and entered the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm!

Xu Muqing, beside her, patted her head and said, "You should Cultivate more. When Big Brother Shen returns, he will definitely check your cultivation progress."

How could she not miss Shen Tianxing?

However, in front of her younger sister, she still had to maintain some composure.

"Muqing, don't talk about Muyan anymore. Who was staring blankly at Big Brother Shen's portrait last night? Hahahaha!"

"Linglong, you're too annoying, you peeked at me..."

Xu Muqing's pretty face flushed, and she chased after Senior Sister Shi Linglong.

She loved painting, and she had already drawn a portrait of Shen Tianxing to ease her longing in his absence.

Of course, she was thin-skinned, and usually didn't take it out. Even her sister, Xu Muyan, didn't know.

She didn't expect to be discovered by Senior Sister Shi Linglong, and immediately blushed as she chased after her.

Everyone found it amusing. Ye Qingyu also smiled as she wiped the ancient sword in her hand.

This ancient sword was given to her by Shen Tianxing, a Profound-grade divine weapon, capable of slaying those in the Golden Body Realm!

However, with her current cultivation, she couldn't unleash the full power of this divine weapon, so she certainly couldn't do that yet.

But the sword contained the Sword Intent left by Shen Tianxing, and Ye Qingyu would comprehend the Sword Intent every day, as if she were meeting Shen Tianxing every day.

After playing around for a while, Senior Sister Shi Linglong lay on the table, a look of boredom in her eyes.

Being naturally active, she had also been in seclusion for the past half-year, only occasionally coming out for some fresh air.

Half a year seemed long, but for Cultivators, it passed in the blink of an eye.

She didn't want her cultivation to have made no progress when she saw Shen Tianxing!

Among everyone, besides Liu Xianyun, she was the only one who had cultivated to the Peak of the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm the fastest, just one step away from the Golden Body Realm!

"I wonder when Xing Yao and Sister Xianyun will come out of seclusion. They haven't come out once in the past half-year. I'm so excited."

Xing Yao was in seclusion in Dianxing Academy, and Liu Xianyun's identity was no longer a secret. The few of them knew that she was the sister of the Academy Master of Dianxing Academy, and was cultivating in the Golden Summit Immortal Palace.