Chapter 698: Making Things Difficult

That was the future known to Qin Qingyu.

At the same time, this Realman Yuexu, who had only recently ascended to immortality, was also very clear that this was not the answer the current Steward of Chenping Continent, seated in this great hall, wanted to hear.

Or rather, rather than saying that Chen Yan was currently inquiring about the future and prospects of Chenping Continent, it was more like he wanted her to make a statement of position.

"Why must you make things so difficult for a little girl like this?"

Just as Qin Qingyu was pondering how she should answer Chen Yan's question, another voice suddenly rang out.

A young cultivator dressed in plain-colored daoist robes slowly walked out from the shadows behind the white jade throne where Chen Yan sat.

When did he arrive?

Qin Qingyu was slightly startled. Even as an Immortal Ascension Realm cultivator, she had not sensed his presence at all before that young cultivator in plain-colored daoist robes spoke.

"Master."

Qin Qingyu bowed respectfully toward the young cultivator who had emerged from the shadows.

Perhaps the vast majority of cultivators in the Chenping Continent cultivation world did not know exactly who this Dao Union realm cultivator was, the one who sat alongside the various Immortal Ascension Realm great powers at the opening of every Du Cang Mountain Dao Discussion.

But Qin Qingyu knew.

The foremost figure of Chenping Continent's immortal path, whose renown shook the ages, Immortal Venerable Fusheng.

Whether it was the Falling Star Realman Su Hongzhen from eight thousand years ago, or the current Steward of Chenping Continent, Chen Yan, neither could be mentioned in the same breath as him.

After all, Sword Immortal Su had fallen too early, and Steward Chen was too far from the Realms Above Immortality.

"Using such a term to address Realman Qin is far too offensive and abrupt, Master."

Chen Yan's gaze did not fall upon Mr. You, and his tone was quite gentle and calm.

As though he had long known that Mr. You would appear.

"Is that so?"

Facing Chen Yan's question, Mr. You wore an expression of complete indifference.

Then he cast his gaze toward Qin Qingyu, who stood within the great hall, and spoke:

"Realman Qin, did I just offend you?"

"...No."

Qin Qingyu replied.

After receiving the answer, Mr. You turned toward Chen Yan's direction, spreading both hands while shrugging his shoulders, as if using body language to say "See?"

"If we are going to be precise about it, Realman Qin's age might actually be a year older than mine."

Chen Yan said.

"Then you are a brat."

Mr. You said this while casting a meaningful look toward Chen Yan:

"And stop pretending to be young here."

Chen Yan said no more. This kind of pointless bickering should end here.

Mr. You also withdrew the gaze he had just placed on Chen Yan, then took a step forward, walking down the steps and slowly arriving beside Qin Qingyu.

"Congratulations to Realman Qin on achieving the Immortal Ascension Realm."

Mr. You, standing beside Qin Qingyu, said thus.

"Thank you, Master."

Qin Qingyu bowed.

"Since Realman Qin has now ascended to immortality, you should also be able to clearly feel the restrictions that the laws of heaven and earth of Chenping Continent place upon your Immortal Platform, your dao rhyme, and your cause and effect."

Immediately after, Mr. You continued asking.

"Yes."

Qin Qingyu answered.

Forging the Immortal Platform upon the Dao Basis is what constitutes the Immortal Ascension Realm.

The current Qin Qingyu could indeed feel the inexplicable constraint, as well as the subconscious "sense of crisis," when she tried to activate her dao rhyme or heavily utilize the Immortal Qi born from her Immortal Platform.

If she forcefully activated her dao rhyme, or heavily activated her Immortal Qi, her Dao Basis would certainly suffer extremely severe backlash.

If the backlash were severe, the worst-case scenario might be like that of Realman Bai Shang of Wind Ravine Valley back then, suddenly dying on the spot.

It could also be like Realman Caiyun, whose Dao Basis collapsed, the dao resonance erosion accelerating faster and faster, until one day decades later, he fell.

But the greatest probability was still that, like the several Immortal Ascension Realm reincarnated great powers of Chenping Continent who had once participated in the Great Chaos of the Immortals, after eroding part of their Dao Basis and dao rhyme, they would continue barely surviving.

Past Immortal Ascension Realm cultivators, including Mr. You as well, had all believed that the restrictions this domain heavens placed on cultivators at the Immortal Ascension Realm and above were because Heaven's Dao was simply meant to be this way.

It was not until Chen Yan, through the Heavenly Summit Mirror, transmitted that past from countless ages ago to Mr. You and the other Immortal Ascension Realm cultivators of present-day Chenping Continent, that the truth of why Immortal Ascension Realm cultivators were subject to so many restrictions was finally revealed.

"Under the many restrictions this domain heavens places on cultivators at the Immortal Ascension Realm and above, opposing 'that existence' behind the rifts is nearly impossible."

Mr. You said, pausing briefly, then continued:

"But you must know, neither you nor I have any other choice."

As Mr. You said, once the pitch-black rifts in the sky expand to a certain extent, no one will be able to escape the final doomsday of this domain heavens.

Only facing it is the sole option.

Qin Qingyu did not speak, only nodding in tacit agreement.

"True Person Chen."

Mr. You turned around, his gaze looking toward Chen Yan seated upon the white jade throne.

"The future of Chenping Continent is already set, but you, Realman Qin, are not."

Chen Yan evidently understood Mr. You's intent and continued speaking toward Qin Qingyu:

"Realman Qin's talent is no less than Master's or Sword Immortal Su's. As for what height you will ultimately reach, it will still depend on Realman Qin yourself to explore. And in this process, Du Cang Mountain will do everything in its power to provide you assistance."

Hearing these words, Qin Qingyu straightened her body, then bowed respectfully toward Chen Yan:

"Thank you, True Person Chen."

"Now that Realman Qin has stepped into Immortal Ascension, you should rightfully become Star Heaven Sect's third Ascended Steward. Surely your sect's Grand Elders are all waiting in the Southern Region of Chenping Continent to welcome Realman Qin's return to Star Heaven Sect. Realman Qin, please feel free to go."

With these words, Chen Yan concluded the first meeting between the two after Qin Qingyu's ascension to immortality.

"Yes."

Qin Qingyu responded. She said no more and took her leave.

In an instant, within the empty and vast Du Cang Hall, only Chen Yan and Mr. You remained.

"What do you think?"

The silence did not last too long. Mr. You clasped his hands behind his back and spoke toward Chen Yan.

"What is Master referring to?"

Chen Yan asked.

"Now that Qin Qingyu has stepped into the Immortal Ascension Realm, with her natural talent, will the day she steps into the Returning to Void Realm be far off?"

Mr. You said.

When Qin Qingyu steps into the Returning to Void Realm and becomes Chenping Continent's second Returning to Void Realm True Lord after Mr. You, even Chen Yan, who can instantly manifest One Hundred Thousand Immortal Artifacts, would have absolutely no possibility of suppressing her through sheer strength.

And today's meeting was a test directed at Qin Qingyu.

"Realman Qin is a smart person."

Chen Yan said mildly, then his gaze once again turned above his head, as though it passed straight through Du Cang Hall, looking directly at the sky:

"Besides, there are only a hundred years left. As for what will happen within these hundred years, who can say?"