Above the Great Wilderness, a streak of blue light and a pink glow traveled side by side in the void, none other than Chen Xihua and the Saintess of the Infinite accompanying him.
Chen Xihua still wore a black sword robe, surrounded by a faint aura of Void Sword Qi.
Beside him, the Saintess of the Infinite was dressed in a gown of alternating pink and white, with a hem embroidered with complex flowing cloud patterns, swaying like fireflies under the moon.
She was extremely beautiful, her skin as white as jade, exuding a holy and elegant aura as she moved. In her hands, she held a dazzling golden mirror — the treasure of the Wuji Immortal Mansion, the Tier Four Top Grade Spiritual Treasure "Celestial Observation Mirror".
The Celestial Observation Mirror had a surface about a foot in diameter, its frame was made of Red Gold, inlaid with dozens of small Spirit Beads, emitting a soft yet dignified golden light.
As the Saintess of the Infinite chanted softly, intricate runes slowly appeared on the mirror's surface, moving like living creatures.
The two followed the faint perception of Chen Sheng's Soul Jade all the way from the Wuji Immortal Palace to Meteor Sea, then to Red Flame Volcano, crossing countless mountains and rivers, finally stopping above a desolate desert.
"It's here, the divine soul fluctuation of Fellow Daoist's father stopped at this point!"
The Saintess of the Infinite halted her steps, raising the Celestial Observation Mirror to her chest. The golden light on the mirror surface suddenly surged, reflecting the void's image above the desert.
In the void that should have been empty, a faint trace of the Divine Soul Seal was left, the mark Chen Sheng left during his stop here in the past.
Chen Xihua hastily cupped his hands, his voice full of gratitude:
"Thank you, Saintess, for your assistance. Without such a treasure as the Celestial Observation Mirror, I fear I wouldn't have found my father's traces till now."
The Saintess of the Infinite nodded slightly, her gaze resting on the Celestial Observation Mirror, her voice gentle:
"Fellow Daoist Xuan Zhao, you are too kind."
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With that, she condensed a wisp of mana at her fingertip, lightly tapping the Celestial Observation Mirror while bringing Chen Sheng's Soul Jade near its surface.
As the Soul Jade touched the mirror's surface, golden light flickered again, and the runes on the mirror surface grew denser, beginning to trace back Chen Sheng's movements in the Great Wilderness.
From retreating in Broken Sword Valley, to comprehending the Double Star Wonders, to tempering his body in Meteor Sea... it nearly completed the steps of Chen Sheng's journey over the years.
The two held their breath, eyes fixed on the Celestial Observation Mirror, watching the trajectory extend little by little, finally freezing above this desert.
Countless clues converged here, finally reaching the last place.
Chen Xihua took a deep breath, the Void Sword Qi around him retracted suddenly, and his Divine Sense spread like a tide, covering the entire desert and the surrounding void.
From the Outer Void to the Inner Void, meticulously scanning every corner, but unable to find any trace of Chen Sheng, not even a bit of space fluctuation, as if no one had ever stopped here.
Chen Xihua's brows furrowed tightly: "How could this be?"
The Saintess of the Infinite held the Celestial Observation Mirror, chanting again, the golden light on the mirror surface flickering bright and dim, the frequency of the rune flickers becoming more urgent.
Moments later, she shook her head slowly, her tone carrying a hint of gravity:
"The divine soul fluctuations and space imprints here are fleeting, and the remaining marks carry an obvious void tearing sensation, as if they've experienced a Void Shift."
"Fellow Daoist Micro-Image likely encountered space turbulence here and was forcibly moved to another place."
Chen Xihua's brows tightened at once, he knew well the peril of space turbulence, something even Late-Stage Nascent Soul cultivators feared, once drawn in, life and death are uncertain.
The Saintess of the Infinite spoke to comfort:
"Fellow Daoist Xuan Zhao, do not worry too much, from the state of the Soul Jade, Fellow Daoist Micro-Image is now unharmed, that is already a blessing in misfortune."
"Moreover, though space turbulence is perilous, it may also bring fortune, perhaps Fellow Daoist Micro-Image was directly moved to the Spirit Realm, where Spiritual Qi is abundant, and laws are complete, greatly beneficial to cultivators' cultivation, to him, it might be a great opportunity."
Chen Xihua, hearing this, forced a faint smile, nodding: "Let's hope so."
He knew the Saintess was comforting him, but the notion of the Spirit Realm was ultimately too remote; countless Divinity Transformation cultivators yearn for it but to no avail, how could one so easily be transferred there.
More likely, his father was trapped in some desolate and dangerous place, or even barely surviving in a small folded space.
But with the situation as it is, Chen Xihua has no other recourse, he can only pin his hopes on that slim chance, hoping it is as the Saintess of the Infinite predicts.
The Saintess put away the Celestial Observation Mirror, looking at Chen Xihua's forlorn expression, spoke softly:
"Fellow Daoist, do not lose heart, though the Celestial Observation Mirror cannot track the trails after spatial turbulence, should the Soul Jade sense anything new in the future, I will inform you at the first opportunity."
Chen Xihua cupped his hands once more in thanks, the two exchanged looks, then together transformed into streaks of light, flying toward the distance.
...
On Yunlan Mountain, countless cycles of spring and autumn passed again.
The ancient pines once lush and vibrant were still towering, yet bore marks of age and strength.
The green stone path on the mountain peak, worn smooth by time, carried the footprints of generations of the Chen Clan.
Only Chen Xixing, residing in the main courtyard atop the mountain, no longer possessed the spirit of past times, fully bowed by the weight of the years.
The room within the main courtyard was dimly lit.
Chen Xixing lay on a cushion-covered couch, wearing a plain cotton robe, the robe so loose that it drifted on him, like draping a layer of thin gauze.
Around the bed were gathered the descendants of the Chen Clan.
They stood or sat, with solemn expressions, their gaze locked onto Chen Xixing, the air dense with a pressing silence; occasional low sobs breaking through, yet quickly stifled.
Everyone knew, this old Clan Leader had reached his life's end.
Chen Xixing slowly opened his eyes, his dim gaze sweeping over the faces of his descendants, a flash of relief crossing his eyes, quickly overtaken by deep sorrow.
His gaze shifted to the familiar sky outside Yunlan Mountain's peak, filled with longing and grief.
Since his father's departure from the sect, he had waited for two hundred and fifty-four years, yet at the end of his lifespan, he still had not awaited his father's return, never seeing him one final time!
This regret was now irretrievable!
For long before him, many second-generation siblings of the Chen Clan had already succumbed to death, having shared the same regret.
He murmured in his heart: "Maybe only Ninth Brother can wait for that day."
...
Seeing the thoughts in his father's mind, Chen Xixing's youngest son whispered to him:
"Father, don't worry, a few years ago, Ninth Uncle sent a message saying Grandfather's Soul Jade remains unharmed, he must still be alive, only temporarily trapped somewhere, and will surely return someday."
Upon hearing the words "Soul Jade remains unharmed," Chen Xixing's eyes suddenly brightened a bit, the tension in his brow easing slightly, his lips curling into a very faint smile.
He nodded slowly, his frail fingers lightly patting his son's hand, as if saying "I understand."
Indeed, as long as the Soul Jade exists, his father is still safe, as long as he lives, there's always a chance of reunion — even if he can no longer wait for that chance, knowing his father is safe brings him peace.
Perhaps as a last burst of energy, Chen Xixing's pale complexion returned to a rosier shade, his eyes brightened, as if reminiscing the past.
The afterglow of the setting sun cast warmth over his face, adding further warmth, as he closed his eyes again, his breathing gradually stabilizing, the sorrow on his face fading, leaving only a sense of relief.
Perhaps, in his heart, he has transformed this unfulfilled meeting into a hope for his father's safety,