Mortal: Li Feiyu, who came from the realm of a supreme being

Li Feiyu, piloting his flying magical artifact, glanced sideways at Yan Ruyan, who stood quietly beside him.

The young girl stood tall and straight, her palace dress outlining her slightly slender yet already exquisite figure. On her beautiful face, her expression was one of near-perfect calm and obedience.

He recalled the trajectory of this woman in the original work—she did not have the obvious resistance and struggle against the family's arrangements like Chen Qiaoqian, nor did she need to repeatedly weigh the options between dependence and independence like Mu Peiling.

From her first appearance, Yan Ruyan seemed to have readily accepted her dual identity as both a "family treasure" and a "bargaining chip."

He agreed to the blood sacrifice, accepted the marriage with Wang Chan, and even after Wang Chan's death, he never showed intense hatred or relief. There was only a very faint regret of being a "widow" and a subtle respect for "not carrying it out personally".

This complete internalization and submission, in the dog-eat-dog world of cultivation where everyone strives for advancement, reveals a unique kind of cruelty and reality.

She naturally followed the will of her family, her husband, and even Han Li's will as her own, with almost no trace of her "true self."

Li Feiyu felt that compared to those symbolic rebels, Yan Ruyan, a noblewoman who was thoroughly disciplined yet retained a trace of her own emotional logic in the gaps of obedience, was more worthy of intrigue.

"Within a few days, I was first promised to the young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, and then I inexplicably took a liking to her and took her away, separating her from her family and relatives," Li Feiyu said calmly, revealing no emotion. "Don't you have anything to say?"

Yan Ruyan lowered her head slightly, her long eyelashes casting a light shadow beneath her eyes. Her voice was soft and steady, without a trace of tremor: "In response to your question, young master, Ruyan is merely a daughter of a noble family, and all matters are decided by my elders. In the current situation, our coming together and parting are all predestined. Ruyan only wishes... to be of some use to you."

The answer was watertight, completely concealing the author's own intentions and only emphasizing its usefulness.

"You must be useful to have been brought along by me." Li Feiyu followed her words, but his tone suddenly changed. "However, since you are an assistant cultivator of my technique, you should dissipate the Blood Spirit Technique on your own."

Yan Ruyan's eyes, which had always been as calm as a lake, finally showed a very subtle ripple, like a gentle breeze leaving a ripple.

Her fingers, clasped together in front of her abdomen and hidden in her sleeves, tightened silently.

The Blood Spirit Technique is a superior demonic cultivation method, and she has now successfully established her foundation with it. However, it is about to be so easily dispelled, and all her cultivation will be wasted.

But she still didn't question or hesitate, she just lowered her head even further:

"Yes, it's entirely up to you, young master."

With her life in the hands of others and no relatives or friends around her, she had no right to bargain.

She immediately sat cross-legged on the flying artifact, closed her eyes, and began to circulate her magic. Before long, the spiritual energy fluctuations around her that belonged to the Foundation Establishment stage began to rapidly decline and dissipate, her face visibly paled, and her aura weakened, making her no different from an ordinary mortal woman.

Li Feiyu said no more, and led Yan Ruyan, whose cultivation technique had been dispelled, to meet Xin Ruyin, who was waiting at the agreed location, and activated the short-distance teleportation array that had been set up beforehand.

With a flash of light, the three disappeared without a trace.

The teleportation was costly, but for Li Feiyu at this moment, it was worth the expense.

Back at their secret underground hideout, Li Feiyu handed the weakened Yan Ruyan over to his maid, Xiao Mei.

"You don't need to cultivate for now. Just stay here, familiarize yourself with the environment, and do whatever chores you can manage," he instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Yan Ruyan softly agreed and followed Xiaomei away. Passing through the winding passage, the scene before her caused an undisguised look of astonishment to appear in her usually cool eyes for the first time.

In the vast underground space, there was an extremely ingenious spirit-gathering array with a wide coverage area!

The core of the formation was filled with spiritual energy, almost turning into a thin mist. This was clearly maintained at the cost of continuously consuming a large number of mid-grade spirit stones.

Such a feat is something that even the Ghost Spirit Sect might not be able to achieve, let alone the current Yan Family Fortress.

The profound cultural heritage here far exceeded her expectations.

Strangely, despite its precious location, the area was sparsely populated. Apart from Xiao Mei, who was leading the way, she could only vaguely sense one or two other faint auras. It didn't resemble any important base or sect residence at all; rather, it seemed more like a private cultivation dwelling.

What puzzled her even more was Li Feiyu's subsequent actions—he handed over the storage bag he found on Wang Chan's corpse (except for a single Earth-Shaking Talisman that was taken out) along with the few spirit stones and materials inside, intact.

"Keep these."

Yan Ruyan held the storage bag, which still carried a trace of coldness, her fingertips slightly chilled, her heart filled with fear and confusion.

What was this? Compensation? Charity? Or some kind of test? She quickly bowed, her voice trembling with unease: "Ruyan dares not, this item should be disposed of by the young master..."

"Take it if you want." Li Feiyu waved his hand without explaining.

Yan Ruyan could only accept it with trepidation.

What made her feel even more tormented was that, despite being in an environment with spiritual energy far exceeding that of the outside world, she was told that she could not cultivate.

Like a thirsty person guarding a sweet spring but unable to drink from it, this self-restraint itself is a silent taming and reminder—here, everything must be obeyed.

……

After Yan Ruyan returned with everything arranged, Li Feiyu sat alone for a while.

Now that all the conditions are met and the matter in Tiannan is considered settled, it's time to plan our departure.

The original plan was to hitch a ride with Han Li to the Chaotic Star Sea, because the previous plan was more roundabout and required painstakingly compiling a cultivation technique to induce Wang Chan to embark on a path of self-destruction.

However, due to Yan Ruyan's need for "Heavenly Spiritual Root Auxiliary Cultivation", everything was brought forward and simplified significantly.

Now, he can activate the ancient teleportation array on his own without relying on Han Li's opportunity.

Moreover, Han Li might be helpless in repairing that ancient formation, and he might have limited opportunities to seek help from formation experts. However, the most reliable one among them, someone he could contact and entrust with the task at the Foundation Establishment stage, was undoubtedly Xin Ruyin.

Xin Ruyin was on his side.

Li Feiyu convened another family meeting with Han Yunshu and Xin Ruyin, and got straight to the point.

"Ruyin, can you remove special restrictions placed on items? For example... a large number of marked spirit stones?"

Xin Ruyin pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "The principles of restrictions and formations are similar, but their focuses are different. Although I am not an expert in restrictions, I can try to use the power of specific formations to counter or interfere with them, weakening or even temporarily blocking their effects. However, it will require time and the corresponding materials."

"It's alright. You'll be coming with me later; we might need to use this skill." Li Feiyu nodded, then turned to Han Yunshu. "Yunshu, we're going to Xi Kingdom next. You'll be joining the Luoyun Sect, but regarding your spiritual root attribute... don't reveal your wood spiritual root anymore."

Upon hearing this, Han Yunshu's beautiful eyes narrowed: "And what about you?"

"I have other plans. I need to take a long trip, and I may have to leave Bai Nian Guang Jing." Li Feiyu said calmly.

"A hundred years?" Han Yunshu's expression tightened. "Why can't we go with them? No matter how high the risk, it's better than being separated."

"The place we're going to is not only extremely risky, but also very troublesome to settle in at first, so it's not a long-term solution," Li Feiyu patiently explained. "Your most important task right now is cultivation, so you can postpone the Nascent Soul stage. I have already deduced the Core Formation stage cultivation method of the 'Timely Rain and Spring Breeze Technique.' During these hundred years, you should focus on forming your Core at the Luoyun Sect and laying a solid foundation."

He then looked at Xin Ruyin: "Ruyin, due to your Dragon Roar physique, your lifespan has been shortened. Even after reaching Foundation Establishment, you only have about a hundred years left. You..."

"Ruyin wants to go with her husband." Xin Ruyin interrupted him softly before he could finish, her eyes firm. "For Ruyin, a hundred years may be the rest of her life. If she stays in Tiannan, she may never see her husband return."

Li Feiyu sighed inwardly, but softened his tone: "Don't worry. Since you have experienced the mysteries of the inner world, I will leave you enough Heavenly Wisdom Pills and other pills to help open your senses. You need to focus on martial arts. Even if your talent is ordinary, with a hundred years and Yun Shu's guidance, opening your senses should not be difficult."

"At that time, once you push the Mingyu Gong to the sixth level, the Yin and Yang within your body will circulate naturally, and the bottleneck in forming the Golden Core will loosen. Even if there are obstacles, once Yun Shu forms her Golden Core at the Luoyun Sect with her Heavenly Spiritual Root, and with your status as a Grandmaster of Formations, it won't be difficult to ask a Nascent Soul Elder in the sect to help you transfer Qi and harmonize it."

He laid out the plan clearly and meticulously: "Go to Luoyun Sect, and with your talent in array formation, you can secure a position as a guest elder or core disciple, gaining both resources and protection. With the majority of the spirit stones I left behind, all these conditions combined will make your Core Formation a sure thing."

Xin Ruyin stared at him blankly, speechless for a moment.

Only now did she truly understand the meaning of "planning for loved ones" as Li Feiyu and Han Yunshu had said.

They had considered so much for her path, even anticipating the difficulties she might encounter and their solutions.

Han Yunshu sighed softly, her gaze shifting between Li Feiyu and Xin Ruyin, and said quietly, "Brother Li, you're probably doing this on purpose, aren't you? Entrusting Ruyin's core formation to me makes it impossible for me to travel with you as I please."

Li Feiyu smiled nonchalantly, yet his brows held an unwavering determination: "I wish to leave Tiannan, for what I need lies in a more distant place. A thousand years is but a fleeting moment for those who seek the Dao. Even with soaring ambitions, one must first establish a firm foundation. Rest assured, the Luoyun Sect offers a stable environment, perfect for your focused cultivation. We can communicate via the Ten Thousand Mile Talisman."

With the general arrangements finalized, Li Feiyu took out the Thousand-Mile Talisman used to contact Han Li, probed it with his divine sense, and checked the message.

He felt a slight sense of relief.

The plot regarding that key mining area differs significantly between the original work and the anime.

In the original story, Han Li was conscripted to "defend" a mining area already garrisoned by seven factions. There was no mention of a large amount of spirit stones. Han Li also cultivated there for more than a month before being attacked by Lian Feihua of the Demon Flame Sect. The Earth-Shaking Talisman was also Lian Feihua's possession.

In the anime, Han Li is invited to "reclaim" a mining area that has just been occupied by the demonic path. There, he discovers a mountain of spirit stones that are restricted and cannot be moved. Soon after, he is attacked.

The backstory may differ, but they all ultimately point to that hidden ancient teleportation array.

After resolving the Yan Family Fort matter, he used the Thousand-Mile Talisman to inquire about Han Li's whereabouts.

Han Li replied that he was being summoned by his senior brothers from the Hidden Moon Sect and the Spirit Beast Mountain to "reclaim" a mining area.

Since this was the direction things were heading, Li Feiyu no longer hesitated.

After finalizing the details with Han Yunshu and Xin Ruyin, he took Xin Ruyin and quietly returned to the Yue Kingdom through another short-distance teleportation array, changing into the Foundation Establishment disciple's robes that he had kept as a souvenir when he left Huadaowu.

Xin Ruyin changed into Han Yunshu's clothes, which fit her well.

The two piloted their flying magical artifacts and soon found the place where Han Li and the others had gathered.

Li Feiyu concealed his aura at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, revealing appropriate surprise on his face, and descended.

"Junior Brother Han, what are you doing here?"

"Who goes there?" Xuan Le and Lü Tianmeng immediately became alert.

Li Feiyu spoke immediately before Han Li could: "Huadaowu, Mo Juren."

"Huadaowu, Mei Yingxue." Xin Ruyin followed closely behind, her voice clear and cold, perfectly playing the role of a fairy with a cool and aloof temperament.

"So it's Fellow Daoist Mo and Fairy Mei from Huadaowu." Xuan Le smiled slightly, cupped his fists in return, but a subtle scrutiny flashed in his eyes.

Han Li, however, had a strange expression on his face. Why was Li Feiyu being used in Mo Lao's name?