Star Martial Soaring Cloud

In fact, under those circumstances, it was not suitable for Wang Xiao and his group to attempt to break through the pass.

But they had no choice.

Sharpening your spear at the last minute will result in nine out of ten times it being sharp.

A sudden change occurs on Demon Island: the teleportation array is destroyed, the Fusang alien race appears, and powerful experts from the Dragon Gate Divine Realm attack, resulting in the instantaneous deaths of hundreds of members of the Dongbin Alliance…

Such extreme tension and pressure would have caused most people to break down long ago. Even if they managed to hold on, they would still be in turmoil.

Climbing to the peak of spiritual practice and breaking through one's own limitations requires adjusting oneself to the best possible state.

Spiritual practice is also about cultivating the mind. Only when the mind is free of distractions can one explore higher and stronger realms.

Wang Xiao is capable of both taking things on and letting them go; once he enters a state of intense focus, he throws himself into it wholeheartedly.

Ling Cheng, needless to say, possessed a calm and composed mindset cultivated by Taoism, which allowed him to remain composed and talkative even when facing powerful enemies—a quality that Wang Xiao himself admitted he couldn't match.

That's why the two of them became the first to successfully break through to the next level.

Yuan Kong had something on his mind, so he failed.

But he's not the only one who has someone on his mind.

Because he had inadvertently discovered clues about the disappearance of Confucian sages, Xiao He was shaken and his temperament changed drastically.

Seeing his junior brother unconscious, he desperately chose to engage in a prolonged and exhausting fight with Wang Xiao.

When he rushed back to the Dongbin Alliance camp, two of his closest junior brothers had already perished, and the Haoqi Pavilion disciples were almost all killed or wounded.

At that time, he was only able to keep his balance thanks to Yuan Kong's support.

He was not suited for the challenge, but he went without hesitation.

This is Xiao He.

When Wang Xiao and Ling Cheng rushed into the stone chamber where he was, Xiao He was already on the verge of collapse.

He sat cross-legged in the center of the stone chamber, his hands pressed tightly against his knees. His whole body was soaked in sweat, his face was ashen, his eyes were closed, his brows were furrowed, and his lips moved slightly, but he could not make a sound.

His breathing was extremely disordered, as if a ferocious beast was rampaging inside him, ready to burst out at any moment.

Wang Xiao and Ling Cheng exchanged a glance and acted simultaneously—one pressed down on his shoulder, and the other pressed against his back, channeling their respective vital energy into his body, forcefully interrupting his breakthrough and pulling him back from the brink of collapse.

Xiao He's body trembled violently, and he spat out a mouthful of blood before collapsing to the ground.

"Senior Brother Xiao..." Zhao Shuheng rushed forward and supported Xiao He, his voice trembling.

Wang Xiao checked Xiao He's pulse and examined his eyelids, finally letting out a sigh of relief: "He's alright, just exhausted and mentally drained. Take him to rest, and everyone else should also recuperate."

Zhao Shuheng nodded vigorously, carefully carried Xiao He on his back, and turned to walk towards the camp.

The series of unexpected events had already exhausted everyone.

The remaining people dispersed to pack their belongings and recuperate, leaving only soft breathing and the gentle clatter of objects in the camp.

"And what about him..." Ling Cheng looked up at the scene and his gaze fell on Yuan Kong.

Yuan Kong remained seated in the same spot, holding Sun Heilei in his arms, motionless.

His posture remained unchanged from beginning to end, as if he had transformed into a cold stone sculpture.

"Sigh." Wang Xiao sighed softly, "Let him have some peace and quiet."

He had never seen Yuan Kong look like this before.

That monk who was always grinning and spouting nonsense, that cunning and pretentious monk, that monk who both angered and amused him—at this moment, he was so unfamiliar that he didn't know how to speak.

Only you can untie the knot in your heart.

There is no such thing as true empathy in this world.

Words of comfort can only let the other person know that someone cares and that they don't feel lonely, but they can never truly take away the pain for them.

Wang Xiao withdrew his gaze and turned to walk deeper into the camp.

The night was as dark as ink.

Yan Zixi, Su Qinhe, and Lin Yueyao lived in the same tent.

The tent was small, with three simple beds laid out side by side, just enough to accommodate three people.

"Sister Yueyao, what's wrong?" Su Qinhe was tidying up the bed when she turned around and saw Lin Yueyao standing there holding a thin quilt, her eyes vacant, as if she had lost her mind.

Lin Yueyao snapped out of her daze, her cheeks flushing slightly. "It's nothing, Sister Su," she said, lowering her head and hurriedly tidying up her bed.

"Really?" Yan Zixi peeked over from the other bed, a mischievous smile on her lips. "I saw Yueyao was really engrossed in something just now. Let me guess—was she thinking about someone? Is that person surnamed Lu?"

"Sister Yan, don't talk nonsense! It's not true!" Lin Yueyao's face instantly turned red to her ears, and even her voice was filled with a bit of panic.

"Really?" Yan Zixi rolled over, propped herself up on the bed with her elbow, and looked at her with a smile, resting her chin on her hand. "I could see that Yueyao's eyes hadn't left him all day. But speaking of which, Lu Yang's behavior today is indeed enough to make one's heart flutter. If you don't want to, then I'll have to."

"Sister Yan..." Lin Yueyao was at a loss, her fingertips clutching the quilt, turning the fine thin quilt into a ball.

"Alright, alright, stop bothering her," Su Qinhe gently advised. "Go get some rest, everyone's tired."

Yan Zixi smiled and lay back down. As soon as she touched the bed, she closed her eyes tightly.

The fighting, fleeing, setting up and defending the formation over the past few days had already exhausted all her energy.

In a short while, her breathing became even and long, and the tent became quiet.

But neither Su Qinhe nor Lin Yueyao could fall asleep.

Lin Yueyao lay on the bed, staring at the top of the tent.

In the darkness, she could see nothing, yet vivid images kept flashing before her eyes—by the Xuan Yu Lake, he stood in front of her; in front of the bamboo house, he rushed over, covered in dust; in the camp, he held up the sky with one arm, steadily supporting the towering rocky mountain…

His figure can be seen in every scene.

She tried desperately to stop thinking about it, but her thoughts were out of control. One "Lu Yang" after another popped up in her mind, churning and disturbing her peace of mind.

On the other bed, Su Qinhe also had her eyes open.

Her mind was also filled with memories of Wang Xiao, but one image stood out even more vividly—she reached out to support the exhausted Wang Xiao, only to see Lin Yueyao step in first. Her hand froze in mid-air, hesitated for a moment, and then silently withdrew.

But Lin Yueyao's other hand gently reached out, grasped her wrist, and pulled her to Wang Xiao's side.

What was she feeling at that moment?

She couldn't explain it.

"Sister Su, are you still awake?" Lin Yueyao's voice came softly from the darkness.

"Mmm," Su Qinhe responded softly.

After one question and one answer, there was no more talk.

Both remained silent, yet both knew that the other, like themselves, was wide awake.

They lay there quietly, listening to each other's soft breathing and the occasional whistling of the wind outside the tent, until drowsiness finally overwhelmed the turmoil in their hearts, and they fell into a deep sleep.

In the early morning, everyone was awakened by a burst of hearty laughter.

The laughter came from outside the camp, open and clear, like a mountain spring hitting rocks, or a long wind blowing through a pine forest, carrying a sense of exhilarating relief.

Wang Xiao suddenly opened his eyes, rolled over, and rushed out of the tent.

Outside the camp, Yuan Kong stood in the faint morning light.

He was still wearing that tattered monk's robe, and he was still holding Sun Heilei in his arms.

But his demeanor was completely different from yesterday's—the dejected, lifeless, and frozen aura of yesterday had melted away like snow meeting spring, leaving no trace.

Instead, there is a clarity and purity that emanates from the very core, like a sky washed clean by a heavy rain, spotless.

A massive amount of primordial energy from heaven and earth surged in from all directions, like rivers flowing into the sea, frantically converging on him.

The primordial energy was so dense that it was visible to the naked eye, transforming into streaks of pale golden light that swirled around him, enveloping him completely.

A myriad of rays of Buddha light slowly emanated from the void.

Amidst the golden light, the faint image of a Buddha could be seen, with a dignified and solemn appearance, his hands clasped together.

The phantom existed for only a moment before vanishing like a bubble, but the light that burst forth in that instant illuminated the entire camp.

Dragon Gate Divine Realm.

Yuan Kong has broken through the realm.

This is not a last-minute cramming exercise or a desperate burst of energy, but a deeper force that takes root and sprouts from the soil of despair.

The pain of loss did not break him; instead, it awakened him from his obsession.

She must have wanted him to live, to live well, and to live well, carrying her share of life with him.

So he stood up, lowered his head, and looked tenderly at Sun Heilei in his arms.

The smile that had lasted so long was still frozen on her face—peaceful, content, and without regret.

He reached out and gently brushed the dust from her face, his movements as tender as if he were touching a fragile treasure.

Then, he slowly began to speak.

The voice was soft, yet each word was clear, like pearls falling onto a jade plate, spreading out in the morning light:

"All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, shadows, dew, and lightning; thus should they be viewed."

Everything in the world is like a dream, a bubble, or a shadow.

Gatherings and separations are fleeting, like dew or lightning, gone in an instant.

Cherish what comes, let go when it's gone.

He lowered his head slightly and placed a gentle kiss on Sun Heilei's forehead.

"I'm going to say goodbye to my past self." He raised his head and looked at the crowd that had gathered around him, his gaze calm and resolute.

After saying that, he hugged Sun Heilei and turned to leave.

The morning light fell on him, stretching his shadow very long.

The group sat around the center of the camp, with simple breakfast and water laid out on the ground.

In fact, once you reach the Dragon Gate Divine Realm, you no longer need to eat, but habit has become more important than cultivation.

Xiao He's face was still pale, but his eyes were much clearer.

He leaned against a rock, holding a bowl of water in his hand, but hesitated to drink it.

My gaze fell on the open ground, where traces of last night's battle still remained—rubble, bloodstains, and scorch marks, all clearly visible.

"I'm sorry," he suddenly said.

Everyone turned to look at him.

"I..." Xiao He opened his mouth, a thousand words stuck in his throat, but he swallowed them back in the end.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and his eyes reddened slightly.

Zhao Shuheng sat beside him, gently holding his hand, offering silent comfort.

Xiao He took a deep breath, raised his hand and drank the water in the bowl in one gulp, as if he wanted to swallow all the guilt, resentment and self-blame.

"It's alright." Wang Xiao walked over and patted him on the shoulder. "It's all over now."

Xiao He nodded, but ultimately said nothing more.

"Everyone, please rest well." Wang Xiao stood up, his gaze sweeping over everyone, his tone solemn. "Once you've fully recovered, prepare to attempt to break through to the Dragon Gate Divine Realm. The opponents ahead will only be stronger than before."

During this period, the only thing everyone needs to do is rest.

Injuries need time to heal, energy needs time to recover, and the mind needs time to calm down.

As he said this, Lin Yueyao and Li Xin both quietly lowered their heads, and no one noticed the fleeting look of confusion in their eyes.

After the meal, Xiao He called out to Wang Xiao.

"Brother Lu Yang, may I speak to you in private?"

Having failed to pass the test, he was filled with doubts and wanted to find Wang Xiao to find out the reason.

"I'll go take a look around," Lin Yueyao said softly, forcing a smile, "to see if I can find any good things like spirit herbs or wild fruits!"

"Don't go too far, be careful!" everyone urged.

At this point, the outer regions of the Demon Island were basically safe, so everyone wasn't too worried.

Lin Yueyao walked alone out of the camp and onto a flat path.

The roadside is lined with low shrubs and sparse wildflowers, which, though affected by yesterday's battle and leaning to one side or the other, still stubbornly bloom.

A gentle breeze swept by, carrying the coolness of the mountains and the freshness of the earth.

It seems capable of taking away everything in the world, yet it cannot take away the trace of sorrow between the girl's brows.

Have I fallen in love with Lu Yang?

I guess so.

When he was around, my eyes would always uncontrollably follow his figure;

When he's not around, I can't help but think of him.

She had thought of him escorting her to Xuanyu Lake, of him crossing most of the Demon Island to come to the bamboo house to find her, of him standing in front of her with one arm raised to the sky... she had repeated these thoughts countless times.

That unprecedented sense of security and the warmth of being cared for spread throughout my body, making me feel soft and tingly.

But what exactly is he worried about?

Is she afraid he won't like her?

Should I muster up the courage to tell him?

But if I say it out loud, will we even be able to lose each other as friends?

A young girl's sorrows mostly stem from unrequited love, and this unrequited love, coupled with repeated self-questioning, becomes a tangled knot that is impossible to untangle.

But these don't seem to be the deepest concerns in my heart.

So what exactly is it?

My grandmother once said that marriage should be between people of similar social standing.

That's the word.

She recalled the way her grandmother looked when she said those words; her tone was gentle yet earnest, as if she were instructing her on something of utmost importance.

She was too young to understand then.

Now she understands.

What does this sentence represent? It represents distance.

A distance has grown between her and Lu Yang.

He went further and further, step by step.

This distance is visible and tangible—he has already stepped into the Dragon Gate Divine Realm, while I am still stuck at the Fish Leap Minor Success.

If it weren't for him, and for the care of Sister Su and Sister Yan, I'm afraid...

It seems she can no longer stand beside him.

As she thought about it, Lin Yueyao's eyes reddened.

She crouched down, buried her face in her knees, and her shoulders trembled uncontrollably.

Some say that the initial taste of love is bitter and salty, and it's actually true.

This is the taste of tears.

"Sister Yueyao."

A hand gently landed on her shoulder.

Lin Yueyao looked up, and through her teary eyes, she saw Su Qinhe's gentle face.

People with similar thoughts are always the first to notice something amiss in each other, and Su Qinhe had been keeping an eye on her from beginning to end.

This is also what's strange about girls—they're thinking about the same person, they both know it, yet they can still talk about anything, even sharing everything about him and every little thing about being with him.

This is what girls are like.

Su Qinhe sat down beside Lin Yueyao, not asking why she was crying, but simply keeping her company quietly.

After a long while, Lin Yueyao's crying gradually subsided.

"Sister Yueyao, why don't you talk to him and clear things up?" Su Qinhe said softly. "What do these differences matter in the face of true love? Lu Yang isn't that kind of person!"

"Of course I know, but I'm still the daughter of the tribe!"

Yes, she is a child of the tribe and must return to the tribe. In the end, she will drift further and further away from Lu Yang.

Moreover, this is by no means a good time to express one's feelings.

Even if you say it out loud, what can you change?

Why not leave this sentiment on the Demon Island forever?

Lin Yueyao wiped away her tears, raised her head, and looked at Su Qinhe.

Her eyes were still red, like cherries soaked in water, but her gaze revealed an unwavering determination.

"Sister Su, you like him too, right?"

Su Qinhe's fingers trembled slightly, but she remained silent.

"I knew it the moment you asked me to teach you cooking." Lin Yueyao's voice was soft, but incredibly earnest. "Could you help me extend my feelings to him as well?"

She mustered the courage to say these words, and in this way, she bid a gentle but strong farewell to her first love.

When you like someone, you can't hide it; you'll unconsciously try to become the kind of person they like.

Su Qinhe opened her mouth, a thousand words stuck in her throat, but in the end she said nothing.

"If I handle the tribe's affairs properly, and Sister Su hasn't taken good care of him yet," Lin Yueyao suddenly smiled, her smile still bearing traces of wet tears, yet as bright as a rainbow after the rain, "then I'll have to take him back."

Looking at the smile on her face, Su Qinhe felt a lump in her throat and her eyes reddened.

"Actually, I'm very happy." Lin Yueyao stood up, looked at the sky in the distance that was dyed with the morning light, and said softly, "How fortunate I am to have met you in this life. Seeing you brings me peace, and being with you brings me warmth."

Su Qinhe also stood up, walked to her side, and looked up at the same sky with her, her voice gentle yet firm:

"Yes! How fortunate I am to have met her, to find peace in her presence, and to have her by my side."