The events of today completely overturned everything Xia Feng knew.
He used to believe he possessed extraordinary talent, inexplicably drawn to Kunlun Mountain, which marked the beginning of his cultivation journey.
Previously, Xia Feng, like his parents, was a cultivator. Later, while saving Earth, he nearly perished. At the most critical moment, Kunlun Mountain was absorbed into him.
At the time, he thought it was a coincidence. Now, it seemed everything was prearranged.
No wonder the small world of Kunlun Mountain felt so familiar, no wonder the small world recognized him as its master. So many mysteries.
No wonder he didn't need to undergo tribulation; perhaps he was already acquainted with the Heavenly Dao.
But all of this...
These were matters of his past life. Xia Feng didn't want to be manipulated like this, as if the path of his life had been dictated.
In this life, Xia Feng only wanted to be himself; he didn't want to be controlled.
What of the Saint Realm? What of the Heavenly Dao? Xia Feng's destiny would always be in his own hands.
At this moment, Xia Feng's expression was filled with immense confidence, a radiance that even Li Mo, standing beside him, found infectious.
Suddenly, Xia Feng had a bold guess. If everything was arranged from Earth, then perhaps this path was laid out for him by his past self?
Or perhaps, this Saint Lord was also arranged by himself to be his protector?
This was because Xia Feng learned from Li Mo that the Saint Lord was acting entirely for his benefit.
First, consider the small world. He was the one it recognized as its master, and now it belonged to him.
Then there was the current Li Mo, who was also waiting for him, recognizing him as master. All of this pointed towards relying on him.
While this idea was audacious, it wasn't impossible.
To understand everything, he could only follow Li Mo's words: by regaining his strength, he might recall everything.
He already knew about the small world and Li Mo. What else did he not know?
Therefore, Xia Feng decided not to dwell on these thoughts or seek immediate answers. Before regaining his strength, any verification would be insubstantial.
"You mentioned your Heaven Annihilation Body. How is it useful to me?" Xia Feng recalled Li Mo's earlier words and asked.
"Master, I am not privy to the specifics. However, my Saint Lord informed me that my physique is of great use to Master, as are those with the 'Propitious Fortune,' 'Boundless Spirit,' and 'Great Wisdom in Simplicity' physiques."
Li Mo relayed the four physiques he knew of truthfully.
Upon hearing this, Xia Feng mused on the wondrous nature of fate in this world.
Wasn't Pu Zaiye someone with the Propitious Fortune physique?
Recalling their first meeting, he had repeatedly courted disaster yet survived. Those with Propitious Fortune were indeed connected to him by fate.
Thus, the last time he saw Pu Zaiye, Xia Feng decided to keep him by his side.
When he first met Pu Zaiye, he hadn't yet arrived in the Immortal Realm and hadn't regained his Immortal Emperor strength. Therefore, he couldn't discern Pu Zaiye's physique at their initial encounter, only discovering it later.
He hadn't expected Pu Zaiye to be of such great use to him.
"Do you know the whereabouts of those with the Boundless Spirit and Great Wisdom in Simplicity physiques?" Xia Feng inquired.
"I do not know, Master. You will have to seek them out yourself," Li Mo replied, bowing slightly.
These four physiques were exceptionally rare; without fate, they would be impossible to find.
Pu Zaiye was on Earth – that fortunate encounter needed no further explanation.
As for Li Mo's Heaven Annihilation physique, he was delivered by the Saint Lord. For the other two, Xia Feng would have to wait for opportune moments, unsure when they might appear.
"You may withdraw. I need to think," Xia Feng, his mind filled with these thoughts, gestured for Li Mo to leave.
He wanted some quiet.
Don't ask who quiet is; quiet is whatever you're thinking about...
"Yes, Master." Li Mo bowed and exited the grand hall.
Xia Feng sat on the stone chair, lost in thought. He had told himself not to think, but when true silence descended, it was impossible not to.
With so many questions, so many coincidences that felt like a grand orchestration, it was truly difficult not to ponder.
Xia Feng carefully recalled everything that had transpired since Earth, including the appearance of 嫪恬缑 and 朴卜启.
Their arrival coincided precisely with his impending journey to the Divine Realm, just as he was learning about it.
They didn't appear any earlier or later; their timing was too coincidental.
Xia Feng spent the entire morning in the hall. After organizing his thoughts, he decided to abandon dwelling on his past life. Focusing on living his current life well was the true path.
To hell with the Heavenly Dao.
"Enter." Once Xia Feng's mood had calmed, he called out to the outside.
Li Mo had been waiting outside the hall. Hearing Xia Feng's summons, he hurried in.
"Master, what are your commands?" Li Mo asked, bowing.
"Release all the human women you have captured over the years," Xia Feng said, not forgetting the purpose of his visit.
Since Li Mo had captured the human women to lure him here, and had caused no harm, even providing them with good food, drink, and resources, the matter could be considered settled.
However, he owed Lian Yueting an explanation. Therefore, he would take all the disciples of the Moon Lotus Sect back with him and also take Li Mo to apologize to them.
For many years, the Moon Lotus Sect had lived under Li Mo's shadow. An apology was in order.
"Master, they can be taken away at any time," Li Mo replied.
"Take them all. You come with me, first to the Moon Lotus Sect," Xia Feng said, rising to leave the Demon Race's sacred land.
Even if Xia Feng hadn't said it, Li Mo would have followed him. He had been waiting for Xia Feng's arrival, and after recognizing him as master, he would remain by his side.
After all, he was a useful individual, and his physique would be utilized in the future.
"Yes, Master, I will go now." Li Mo turned to release all the captured human women.
While they were called captives, they weren't truly imprisoned. They were free to move about within the sacred land as long as they didn't leave. Some women who had stayed for a longer period even felt a tinge of reluctance to depart.
After all, people develop attachments. When one becomes accustomed to a place, no one wishes to leave.
However, they had no choice. Xia Feng would take them all.
After being away from the Moon Lotus Sect for half a day, Xia Feng returned.
This time, however, he wasn't alone. A large group of missing Moon Lotus Sect disciples accompanied him, along with the "culprit," Li Mo.
Zhang Sanfeng's eyes widened with surprise at the simultaneous appearance of so many people.
He had heard that Li Mo captured human women to... and then eat them?
Why were they all unharmed?
And this Li Mo seemed quite docile, not at all terrifying as Lian Yueting had described.
Heh... women's words were not to be trusted, not even a single punctuation mark.