134: Chapter 134: Is he from the Upper Realm?

Though the others remained silent, their eyes flickered with unspoken thoughts, each lost in their own contemplations.

Seeing Li Hanyi approach, everyone's gaze simultaneously turned towards her, staring so intently that her steps faltered. She simply turned around, went back into her room, and with a sharp 'bang,' closed the door, refusing to come out again.

"It's not necessarily a bad thing."

Having seen much of the world, Li Changsheng was already accustomed to such matters, finding them perfectly logical.

Previously, he had thought Su Rui was too transcendent, as if he didn't belong to this Mortal World; but now, hearing about this, he actually found him more down-to-earth.

"What about you? Are you planning to marry Master too?"

Seeing Li Hanyi had retreated, Sikong Qianluo turned her gaze to Mu Liangyue, her eyes filled with suspicion.

"..."

Mu Liangyue's heart skipped a beat. She stammered for a long moment before finally squeezing out a sentence: "I... I don't mean that..."

The more she reacted this way, the more it fueled Sikong Qianluo's doubts.

She opened her eyes wide, staring at the other girl as if trying to see right through her.

At that very moment, a vast and mighty aura erupted from the training room, soaring straight into the clouds.

"Oh? So fast?"

Li Changsheng, who had been listening to the young girls' chatter with interest, now showed a trace of surprise.

This aura, belonging to the Carefree Heaven Realm, instantly captured everyone's attention.

Outside the martial arts hall, many young Masters looked over, their eyes filled with envy.

Baili Dongjun and Sikong Changfeng sensed it at the same moment.

"That's it? Who do you think it is?" Baili Dongjun asked curiously.

"It's either Li Hanyi or Yin Luoxia.

The others aren't quite ready yet."

Sikong Changfeng replied, then added, "But this is too smooth. When ordinary people attempt a Breakthrough into the Carefree Heaven Realm, it's never achieved in one go."

"You make it sound easy. Haven't you considered who's standing guard nearby?"

Sikong Changfeng rolled his eyes.

With Su Rui personally overseeing it, not only would it succeed once, it would succeed ten times without a hitch.

A moment later, the door to the training room opened, and Su Rui stepped out slowly, gently closing the door behind him.

Countless gazes from outside continuously fell upon him.

"Luoxia is currently in seclusion stabilizing her Realm. All of you, go about your business. Do not make noise or disturb her."

Su Rui's tone was calm, yet carried an unquestionable authority.

After speaking, his gaze shifted to Li Changsheng, his voice lowering a few degrees. "Come with me. I have something to ask you."

Before the words had fully settled, he had already begun walking towards the front hall.

Though puzzled in his heart, Li Changsheng didn't say much, silently following.

After Li Changsheng took his seat, Su Rui didn't beat around the bush, getting straight to the point:

"How much do you know about the Upper Realm?"

This seemingly casual question struck like a massive boulder plunging into a still lake, causing Li Changsheng's expression to change abruptly.

He looked up at Su Rui. The other man appeared composed, leisurely accepting the teacup brought by Yue Qing, his fingertips lightly tracing the rim, as if merely engaging in casual conversation.

Li Changsheng remained silent for a moment, his expression gradually growing solemn. Finally, he stood up, cupped his hands in salute, and spoke in a grave tone:

"Before answering, this Disciple has a matter to inquire about, and I ask for your clarification, Sir."

"Speak." Su Rui replied with a single word, concise and clear.

"Sir... are you from the Upper Realm?"

Li Changsheng looked directly into his eyes, his gaze sharp as a nail.

Su Rui shook his head, crisp and decisive. "No."

Hearing this, the tension in Li Changsheng's shoulders eased slightly, and he let out a soft sigh. "If that's the case, then I can speak freely.

It's just that this matter has far-reaching implications and is of no small importance."

"Sit. Speak slowly."

Su Rui set down his teacup, his gaze softening somewhat, as if he could see the struggle within the man before him.

"Yes." Li Changsheng sat back down, pondered for a long while, and then slowly began to speak.

"In today's Jianghu, rumors about the Upper Realm have long become stories told by the older generation.

Most people who hear them dismiss them as absurd nonsense, laughing them off."

He paused, then turned to look at Su Rui. "Sir, do you know why that is?"

Su Rui frowned slightly, thinking for a moment. "The information was suppressed? Or... deliberately erased?"

"You are precisely right, Sir." Li Changsheng gave a bitter smile. "That is indeed the truth.

However, I myself don't know the details of these matters. Even my first Master didn't understand them thoroughly enough."

"White Robe Su?" Su Rui blurted out.

That name struck like a thunderbolt. Li Changsheng's head jerked up, his pupils contracting as he stared incredulously at the young man before him.

"You actually know that name? No... how old are you exactly?"

His voice trembled, the words almost escaping his lips.

That name had been sealed away for a long time. In all of Northern Li today, probably only he himself still remembered the three characters 'White Robe Su'.

White Robe Su... Su Rui...

The two names collided repeatedly in his mind, stirring up a strange chill in his heart.

"I just turned twenty-one this year." Su Rui smiled, his expression open and honest.

Li Changsheng stared at him, speechless for a long moment. "Are you telling the truth?"

"Why would I lie to you?" Su Rui chuckled lightly. "I've merely heard of this Senior's name. I've never met him, and there's certainly no connection between us."

Seeing that Li Changsheng still harbored some suspicion, he steered the conversation back on track. "Never mind that for now. Continue speaking about the Upper Realm."

Li Changsheng took a deep breath and nodded.

"In truth, what I know is limited, all of it told to me personally by that Master of mine back then.

It is said that several hundred years ago, the Upper Realm once opened a Heavenly Gate, intending to invade this world.

At that time, Masters from all directions joined forces to resist. Countless died, and rivers of blood flowed.

Yet, it was also during that great calamity that a large number of peerless powerhouses emerged.

In the end, one man rose with a sword, using supreme power to sever the Heavenly Gate, finally bringing an end to that disaster."

At this point, he glanced at Su Rui. "As for those from the Upper Realm who were stranded in this world, they changed their names and mingled among mortals. Perhaps to this day, they are still secretly searching for a way back."

Su Rui immediately waved his hand. "Don't look at me like that. I'm not some exiled remnant from the Upper Realm stranded in the Mortal World."

"I know." Li Changsheng shook his head. "But the Lü clan from overseas is undoubtedly of Upper Realm Bloodline.

I witnessed with my own eyes the bloody storm they stirred up in my youth—all for the sake of that 'Book of Immortals'."

Mentioning that book, his expression turned complex, a mix of reminiscence and wariness.

"You should understand that many of the Cultivation Techniques in today's Jianghu, when traced to their origins, come from that book.

Including the Great Chun Skill I Cultivate, which contains secret methods for prolonging life."

Su Rui listened quietly, then suddenly spoke. "Hanyi, go to the third row from the top, the leftmost compartment on my bookshelf. Bring me a page."

Li Hanyi, hiding in her room, heard the order and hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open and coming out.

Under the curious and subtly teasing gazes of her Junior Sisters, she stiffly crossed the courtyard, entered Su Rui's room, and soon returned to the front hall holding a yellowed, torn page.

Li Changsheng watched the page in her hand, a flicker of something strange passing through his eyes.

When Su Rui gently placed that page before him, his breath caught—

He recognized it at a glance.

It was a fragment of the 'Book of Immortals'.

The material and the characters imprinted upon it clearly pointed to this fact.

This was precisely the token that Yue Ji and Underworld Marquis had offered back then, seeking Su Rui's intervention.

Su Rui had never had any interest in it, casually tossing it into a corner of the room where it had gathered dust for years.

Hearing Su Rui explain the origin of this object, Li Changsheng let out a soft sigh.

Times change, years flow by, and things have already reached this state.

The legendary Book of Immortals, it seems, has long since scattered to the winds, no longer complete.

Fortunately, the contents of the book are profound and abstruse, difficult for ordinary people to comprehend, so there's no need to worry about it stirring up massive waves.

After delivering the torn page, Li Hanyi did not leave. She simply walked quietly to stand behind Su Rui, hands at her sides.

"It is said that the Book of Immortals was passed down from the Upper Realm and is the treasured cultivation method of the Lü clan.

It is said their Bloodline contains 'Calamity Blood.' Only by studying this book can they suppress it. Otherwise, once they fall asleep, they transform into murderous Puppets, losing their sanity." Li Changsheng recounted slowly.

"That Lü clan... do they still exist?" Su Rui asked.

Li Changsheng shook his head slightly. "I haven't investigated deeply.

After my Master, White Robe Su, fulfilled his duty of guarding the Heavenly Gate, many of the world's powerful figures vanished from sight, perhaps each undertaking similar missions." His gaze fell on Su Rui. "This matter is not one to be investigated to the root.

If someone truly reconnects with the Upper Realm, I fear this world will fall into calamity."

Su Rui nodded. "That seems right."

Though his words said this, in his heart he was already speculating—Di Shitian was very likely a descendant of the Lü clan, or had already obtained their Legacy.

If he wasn't Xu Fu, then his true identity became even more intriguing.

"So, White Robe Su is still alive to this day?" Su Rui asked again.

"Master's Cultivation is profound, he practices the Book of Immortals, his Lifespan far exceeds that of ordinary people. Naturally, he is still in this world." Li Changsheng nodded.

"Can you arrange an introduction?" Su Rui's tone held a note of curiosity.

"I apologize, but even I do not know where that Heavenly Gate is located." Li Changsheng shook his head, a hint of helplessness in his expression.

Su Rui did not press further.

Beside them, Li Hanyi listened to their conversation, her brow slightly furrowed, understanding only parts of it.

Su Rui turned his attention to Li Changsheng, sensing a difference in the aura within his body.

"You've completely mastered the Evergreen Art, haven't you? How does it feel?"

"It is indeed a new path.

According to the method you taught, I should now have reached the twelfth level of Artifact Refining." Li Changsheng replied. "The Realm is not low, but the threshold for this path is high. Few can walk it successfully."

"That's normal.

Those who truly Master the martial path are already few. Being able to reach the Divine Roaming Profound Realm is as rare as a Phoenix feather.

In terms of combat power, I'd say it's probably not inferior to a Golden Core Cultivator." Su Rui had no precise standard for comparison in his mind, but the mere ability to roam spiritually for thousands of miles was enough to rival those at the Nascent Soul level.

As his words fell, he lightly tapped his fingertip, and a stream of spiritual light entered Li Changsheng's Sea of Consciousness.

It was the Upper Clarity True Qi Formula from the 'Talisman of Nine Surges of the Jiyin Epoch'.

"This is the subsequent cultivation method. Its potential is profound, enough for you to study it with peace of mind."

Li Changsheng closed his eyes to sense it for a moment, unable to conceal his joy. "Thank you, Master!"

"No need for formalities." Su Rui raised a hand to stop him.

He transmitted this Cultivation Technique not simply to guide a junior, but also to test the limits of Cultivation in this world through it.

If the Dao path in this world was narrow, then another way out would have to be sought.

After Li Changsheng left, Su Rui took Li Hanyi and walked into the small courtyard.

With a slight flick of his sleeve, the peach branch he had often used before, placed on the old peach tree, immediately flew into his palm.

Then, hands clasped behind his back, he walked over to where several women were practicing.

The women noticed his approach, their faces instantly flushing red, their practiced Moves becoming slightly disordered.

...

The momentum of the Demonic Sect's eastward advance was like a raging fire, unstoppable.

And within the territory of the Great Tang, it was not all calm either.