Chapter 317 - 310: Every Sip and Peck Is Preordained

The afternoon sun hung high in the sky over a crooked path. Beside the road, among the green plants, old acquaintances had a reunion.

After hearing the words "Fairy Song," Song Ciwan paused for a moment before smiling. "We haven’t seen each other in years, Blue Escort Master, but your presence is as striking as ever. Tell me, I imagine you’re more than just a Copper Medal Escort Master by now. A Silver Medal Escort Master, or maybe even a Gold Medal Escort Master?"

Indeed, Song Ciwan also noticed Lan Qiuyan’s Qi Blood was surging. She didn’t even need to use her Qimen Taoist Skill’s Measurement System. With her current insight, a single glance was enough to tell that Lan Qiuyan had broken through to the Innate Stage!

Although it was only the Innate First Transformation, compared to her previous Bone Forging Stage, it was a world of difference.

After all, for most low-level Martial Artists in this world, it was nearly impossible to break through to the Innate stage. If they could manage to reach the Organ Refining Stage in their entire lifetime, they were already considered to have outstanding aptitude, superior to ordinary people.

Song Ciwan had frequently encountered Martial Artists at the Innate Second Transformation and above, and even killed them as easily as slicing melons and chopping vegetables. But that didn’t mean that the Innate Second Transformation was as common as cabbage.

Forget the Innate Second Transformation; even the Innate First Transformation was extremely rare among common Martial Artists.

Song Ciwan was very happy for Lan Qiuyan’s accomplishment.

A faint blush appeared on Lan Qiuyan’s face. Then, she bowed solemnly to Song Ciwan and said, "I must also thank you, Fairy Song. Back then, when I traveled with you, because you showed me special consideration, the Chief Leader took me in as his Direct Disciple after we returned to Pinglan City..."

So that was the reason behind it all!

As for "Song Ciwan showing Lan Qiuyan special consideration back then"... well, to be honest, that was purely Lan Qiuyan romanticizing the past.

At that time, Song Ciwan was still maintaining her persona of an ordinary young woman. She was traveling with the Situong Escort Agency and had been arranged by Master Wei to share a carriage with Lan Qiuyan.

So, the reality was that it was impossible for Song Ciwan to have looked after Lan Qiuyan; in fact, it was Lan Qiuyan who had genuinely looked after Song Ciwan.

She had even explained many travel basics to Song Ciwan. In Song Ciwan’s journey of opening her eyes to the world, Lan Qiuyan had certainly played a notable role.

But it was precisely because of this fateful connection that after Song Ciwan revealed her "extraordinary Cultivation," the Chief Leader of the Situong Escort Agency took Lan Qiuyan under his wing and carefully nurtured her.

And her success in reaching the Innate stage now was inextricably linked to that past experience.

One had to admit, the marvels of fate and karma were far more interesting than any storyteller’s tale.

Song Ciwan and Lan Qiuyan reminisced, and after some conversation, the awkward distance between them began to subtly fade away.

Soon, through some indirect questions, Song Ciwan learned that Lan Qiuyan was twenty-nine this year. Indeed, nearly eleven years had passed since they had last parted ways!

In other words, while Song Ciwan was cultivating in the Spirit Realm, reaching Foundation Establishment, and returning to the Mortal World, a decade had passed in the blink of an eye.

No wonder there was such a saying about the Immortal Dao that circulated among mortals: "A single day in the mountains is a thousand years in the world."

This time, although Song Ciwan hadn’t experienced a thousand years in an instant, experiencing ten years in an instant... that was wondrous enough.

Once she had a definite answer, Song Ciwan couldn’t help but feel dazed for a moment.

’I don’t know why, but I’m clearly still very young—whether based on the memories from my past life’s Innate Wisdom or just my current feelings, I should be considered young. Even after going through Foundation Establishment and the passing of a decade, compared to my total Lifespan, I am still incredibly young.’

And yet, in that daze, a sense of world-weariness bloomed in Song Ciwan’s heart.

Then she heard Lan Qiuyan say, "Ten springs and autumns... I suppose I have been weathered by the years, while you, Fairy, look exactly the same. It’s truly awe-inspiring."

’That’s right, I still look like the same young girl.’

’I have over two thousand years of life left. Forget ten years; even after a century or a millennium, my appearance wouldn’t change one bit.’

’What’s more, my Heaven and Earth Scale is still filled with Demon Spirit Malice from the Demon Realm. Once I sell all of it, who knows how much more Lifespan I’ll get.’

It was at this moment that Song Ciwan truly, viscerally understood a clear fact: the path to eternal life was destined to be a lonely one.

Everyone and everything in the world would eventually become a fleeting passerby in her life. And though only a decade had passed in a flash, it felt as if she had experienced the jagged intersection of past and future in a single instant.

Lan Qiuyan then briefly recounted her own experiences: for the past ten years, her life had been both simple and spectacular.

Being taken in by the Chief Leader as a Direct Disciple was only the beginning.

At first, many in the Escort Agency were unconvinced of her merit, but Lan Qiuyan’s response was simple and blunt. She didn’t bother with other tactics; there was only one thing she did: cultivate relentlessly and advance ceaselessly!

She took on the most arduous escort missions, endured the most perilous battles, was bold yet meticulous, and forged ahead without hesitation. And then... while many of the gossips were still lingering in the Organ Refining Stage, Lan Qiuyan broke through to the Innate stage in what felt like the blink of an eye.

Lan Qiuyan added, "Fairy, I have always kept your words from back then in my heart. Thanks to your encouragement, I was able to hold true to myself through one trial after another, and I have not failed your teachings."

Song Ciwan was a little puzzled. ’What did I say back then that made her remember it so clearly?’

Lan Qiuyan said, "When my Cultivation reached the Organ Refining Stage, I had just passed my twentieth birthday. My parents demanded I get married and even looked into many potential matches for me. To be honest, I wavered. After all, a person’s life is so short; you’re supposed to settle down eventually.

But then I remembered what you said, Fairy. That the world is vast, and even if you can’t travel all of it, you should at least try to see a little further, so as not to waste this life. If I had just followed the expected path, married someone, and had a few children, I’m afraid I would have never been able to venture out again in this lifetime.

If I had, wouldn’t I have failed the Chief Leader for taking me as his disciple? And wouldn’t I have betrayed the fate that brought us together, Fairy? Now that I’ve reached the Innate First Transformation, my parents no longer pressure me to marry. When I speak now, my word carries weight.

Getting married or not isn’t the important thing. It turns out there’s no set path in life; it only matters whether we have the courage to step out."

As she said this, Lan Qiuyan laughed cheerfully.

The initial awkwardness and restraint had finally faded. She looked at Song Ciwan, her eyes shining as brightly as the stars in the sky.

Song Ciwan couldn’t help but smile along with her. She said, "You are right, and you did the right thing. In a world of unpredictable fate, to seek constancy amidst the inconstant requires extraordinary determination and unwavering belief. You have achieved it!"

Lan Qiuyan blushed at the praise, her cheeks flushing. Her eyes were like bright pearls sinking into clear autumn waters. She was truly overjoyed, her spirits soaring.

The two continued to chat. Song Ciwan claimed that she had left Cangling County directly back then and went to cultivate in a Blessed Land countless miles away, which was why she needed to ask about the events of the past ten years in the Great Zhou.

It wasn’t exactly a lie, and of course, Lan Qiuyan would never suspect Song Ciwan of lying.

So she casually said, "If you want to talk about the most noteworthy event of the last ten years, it would be the appearance of many Secret Realms within the borders of the Great Zhou that lead to the Spirit Realm."