“Senior!” Jiang Wang’s face contorted in surprise.

He could distinctly sense that within a radius of roughly ten *zhang*, the star power of the Jade Balance had suddenly become immensely concentrated, even temporarily pushing aside the energies of other stars.

“Your progress leaves me in awe,” Guan Yan remarked.

Separated by a distance unknown, yet relying on the connection through star power, he could still perceive Jiang Wang’s cultivation.

Jiang Wang, equally astonished and filled with admiration, replied, “My meager progress, compared to that of a great master, what does it even count for? It is truly like a firefly before the bright moon, where can one discern even a trace of glory?”

Guan Yan seemed to chuckle, and did not hesitate to let this sentiment be perceived by Jiang Wang through the star power: “Your eloquence has grown.”

“You mock me,” Jiang Wang replied, a touch of embarrassment in his voice. He was acutely aware that his flattery might have been too obvious, not smooth enough.

Then, he ‘heard’ Guan Yan continue: “The last time we conversed, you raised some questions that truly left me greatly impressed. To see you again today, having not only doubled your progress from before? Truly, youth is heroic.”

“I merely possess a willingness to labor diligently, that is all.” Before the presence of Great Master Guan Yan, Jiang Wang did not deem himself worthy of arrogance. “It is thanks to your guidance that I have been able to avoid stagnation.”

“In hearing the Dao, there is sequence. I was merely born several hundred years earlier, walked some erroneous paths, and simply helped you avoid them,” Guan Yan replied warmly. “With your talent and comprehension, perhaps one day, I shall also have need to seek your guidance.”

Last time, it was clearly a one-sided instruction, yet he was so considerate of Jiang Wang’s feelings, referring to it as an exchange. He downplayed his own merit, and encouraged Jiang Wang’s talent.

Just as in the Senhai Source Realm, Su Qiyun, deeply moved, proposed preparing an extra set of revival materials to help Guan Yan and the troublesome little granny reunite. Gathering the revival materials for the little fish was already incredibly difficult, so difficult that even a person like Guan Yan felt it to be “very difficult.” To gather two sets of revival materials was nearly impossible.

Yet, at that time, Guan Yan had merely said, “I shall await you in this realm.”

Guan Yan’s gentleness was something Jiang Wang had never before witnessed in any other powerful individual of similar standing. He possessed true compassion and mercy, it was no wonder the troublesome little granny, though her hair was white and she was aged, still thought of him endlessly.

Jiang Wang, with a solemn expression, said, “If that day truly arrives, whatever request you have, I would not dare to refuse.” Even if for no other reason, the careful guidance Guan Yan had provided that night was enough for him to feel grateful to this day.

A person who had once reached the Divine Arrival realm, whose physical body had collapsed, whose divine soul had shattered, and yet, with a fragment of true spirit, had forged a new path, able to communicate with existing entities through the star power of the Jade Balance—what kind of extraordinary individual was this? Such a person’s careful guidance, how precious it was! It could be said to have helped Jiang Wang avoid countless detours.

He had encountered many difficulties on his cultivation path, and had many enemies obstructing his way. But at the same time, there were always many people supporting and helping him. Guan Yan was one of them.

Guan Yan, of course, easily discerned Jiang Wang’s sincerity, and so he chuckled again: “Just as you helped me return the monk’s robe before?” It was not a return, but merely fulfilling a promise.

“Precisely so,” Jiang Wang replied.

Guan Yan then said: “Good.” Without waiting for Jiang Wang to raise another topic, he directly inquired: “You have specifically sought me out this time, are you troubled by some problem?”

Simply too considerate!

Jiang Wang also did not prevaricate, and straightforwardly articulated all his accumulated cultivation problems, prioritizing them according to their importance, and asking them one by one. Guan Yan was very patient, answering each one in turn, until the edge of the sky was subtly illuminated, and only then did this session of guidance conclude.

At the time of parting, Jiang Wang pondered for a moment, and then asked: “Senior, do you know of the Fishing Sea Tower?”

“I still retain some impression,” Guan Yan replied. “It is one of the strongest several sects near the sea. Why do you ask?”

“Then, do you know of the Sea Sacrifice?” Jiang Wang inquired again.

Guan Yan was silent for a while, likely in contemplation. “This matter is not something you should know at your current stage. I have only heard some of my senior uncles and masters speak of it in the past.” Guan Yan’s senior uncles and masters were all high monks of the ‘Zhi’ generation.

Unlike a rootless and foundationless cultivator like Jiang Wang, as the person with the highest comprehension among the disciples of the Hanging Temple in those years, Guan Yan naturally knew some secrets that surpassed his strength. Many times, these might have simply been the casual conversations of elders, yet they contained secrets that others would never know.

Guan Yan continued, saying: “This is a tradition of the archipelago near the sea. The sea sacrifice does not actually sacrifice to the sea, but to the heroic spirits who died in battle upon the sea. And as sacrifice items, generally, they are great villains and evildoers of the human race.”

“My friend is absolutely not a villain or evildoer!” Jiang Wang declared.

Guan Yan paused for a moment, and then said: “So much time has passed, I also do not know if the tradition of the archipelago near the sea is still strictly observed. Therefore, regarding your friend’s character, I cannot make a judgment. Hearing your meaning… you wish to save him?”

“Yes. I must save her,” Jiang Wang affirmed.

“If you seek my suggestion, my suggestion is, do not go,” Guan Yan advised. “The Fishing Sea Tower has always been overbearing and domineering, saying one and not two in the archipelago near the sea. Their decision will not be swayed by your will.”

Jiang Wang merely replied: “The will of the elder council of the Senhai Holy Clan would also not be swayed by you. And Yan Xiao even more so. But Senior, did you stop?”

“I sense your resolve,” Guan Yan stated. Compared to this young man’s belief in his friend, he actually believed more in the tradition of the archipelago near the sea.

He approved of Jiang Wang. But regarding the friend Jiang Wang was about to be sent to the sea sacrifice, he held a doubtful attitude.

But Jiang Wang’s determination was already set. He clearly understood what a passionate heart, once resolved, truly looked like. So, he no longer offered advice.

“As long as you can provide me with some information, I am already endlessly grateful.”

Jiang Wang said: “You said the sea sacrifice of the archipelago near the sea is to commemorate those heroic spirits who died in battle upon the sea. Who were these heroic spirits? And with whom did they battle, and why are they called heroic spirits?”

Guan Yan replied: “Although I have already returned to secular life, and am no longer a person of the Hanging Temple, I must still adhere to the rules and respect the traditions. These matters, you should not yet know.”

At this point in time, the faint light of dawn began to appear at the edge of the sky. Within the gradually dissipating starlight, Guan Yan left his final words for the night—

“I can only tell you this: cultivate diligently, and be more cautious. You must remember, do not venture out to sea until you have reached the Outer Tower.”

The sky brightened. The Star Moon Plain was bathed in light, and between heaven and earth, there was infinite radiance. This brilliant world, which one could not see the end of…

Jiang Wang remained seated cross-legged on the ground, carefully contemplating the information he had received from Guan Yan. “Do not venture out to sea until you have reached the Outer Tower,” what did this mean, and why?

Hadn’t Xu Xiangqian and Li Longchuan already gone out to sea to the archipelago near the sea? They did not possess cultivation at the Outer Tower realm. And Li Fengyao, hadn’t she also gone to the archipelago near the sea not long ago?

Perhaps with the passage of time, some matters had changed. The information Guan Yan provided might not serve as a complete reference. After all, the time Guan Yan was lost in the Senhai Source Realm was already several hundred years ago.

Asking Guan Yan was merely a temporary idea, a desire to gain more understanding. Chong Xuan Sheng’s side would definitely have more detailed intelligence prepared.

Or perhaps the only unchanged point over these past several hundred years was that the Fishing Sea Tower in the archipelago near the sea was still overbearing and domineering, still occupying the ruling position in the near sea. Even a hegemon of the Eastern Domain like the Qi Country gave the Fishing Sea Tower three parts in the archipelago near the sea. Perhaps the Fishing Sea Tower’s power far exceeded his prediction…

But, what did that matter?

The young man still yearned to go to that place, still yearned to behold the horizon. Brilliant morning light sprinkled upon Jiang Wang’s face, making his features more distinct. He grasped his sword, stood up, and stepped forward, step by step ascending. The green clouds beneath his feet scattered piece by piece, welcoming the brilliant glory of the morning sun, as if… he was treading on light and departing!