"The world is in chaos, and countless dangers lurk in the wilderness. Even in the area we are in now, no one can say how many unknowns hide here. Big Brother Yi must stay in Xuanhuang City; he cannot leave easily, regardless of the circumstances. But cultivation lies in experience; closing oneself off in seclusion without trials will only lead to a bottleneck. Sooner or later, the speed of cultivation will slow down. Only by constantly venturing out can one find new opportunities."
Cai Yan had no objections. After embarking on the cultivation path herself, she understood the importance of establishing a base to protect the people. Building one's own influence, however, inevitably became a burden for the one in charge.
Much like ancient emperors who never left the palace, not because they didn't desire it, but because their position and safety were linked to the entire kingdom's fate.
In the current chaotic world, without power, one cannot move forward, and distance becomes a form of invisible restraint.
Now, as Xuanhuang City rises, Yi Tianxing cannot afford to leave easily. His mere presence stabilizes the city and keeps the people calm. This is not unique to him—those who walk the path of destiny are all bound by this. Achieving something in this world always means losing something in return.
But now, with the Astral Journey Talisman, this constraint could be broken to some extent.
The talisman would allow Yi Tianxing to travel across the Eternal Continent, even if randomly. It would still serve as a kind of training and personal growth—an alternative form of practice.
✨ [Astral Journey Talisman – 星空仙游符]Allows a portion of the user's spirit to travel through space, creating a perfect duplicate body with identical strength. The original body remains in a meditative state and cannot handle worldly affairs. Can be recalled instantly.
"You're right. This Astral Journey Talisman is an opportunity in itself. From what I've learned, once activated, part of my consciousness will be extracted and transported to another area, where a duplicate body will form with the same strength. The only downside is that my original body will remain in seclusion, unable to manage affairs."
Yi Tianxing thoughtfully toyed with the talisman in his hand.
This duplicate was only temporary. Unless he could cultivate a second original spirit or master a cloning technique, he couldn't expect anything better.
"And if this clone is damaged or even destroyed, will it cause significant harm to you, husband?" Cai Yan suddenly asked.
"I'm not sure, but it should cause some damage. After all, the consciousness split off is part of my own. If it's destroyed, that portion of my mind would be completely wiped out—extinguished. It's unlikely there would be no harm." Yi Tianxing didn't expect perfection from the world.
"Ten out of ten is impossible," he added with a slight smile. "Besides, this kind of damage shouldn't hurt the core of my being. I can endure it."
"Then, if you're going to take this spiritual journey, it's best to discuss it with Huang Lao and the others. Announce that you're in seclusion for now. Given Xuanhuang City's current strength, it won't be significantly affected in the short term," Cai Yan agreed.
"If something urgent comes up, they can wake me up. The Astral Journey Talisman will bring me back immediately and restore me to full capacity," Yi Tianxing reassured her.
"Alright, let's not dwell on this anymore. This journey could take months, so I'll feed you before I leave."
Yi Tianxing grinned and lifted Cai Yan into his arms, heading toward their room.
Cai Yan blushed but didn't resist.
Soon, sounds of passion echoed through the room, leaving a red-faced and heated atmosphere.
The next day.
In the City Lord's mansion, Yi Tianxing sat in a quiet room. Holding the talisman in his hand, it shimmered with starlight, like an endless starry sky, constantly shifting and mesmerizing. It was incredibly mystical, and Yi Tianxing couldn't help but be drawn into its beauty.
After discussing his plans with Huang Chengyan, Jia Xu, and the others, they didn't try to stop him. After all, if necessary, they could wake Yi Tianxing at any time, and his absence wouldn't delay anything. With their leadership, most matters in the city could be handled quickly.
Moreover, the risk was minimal.
"Let's hope the Astral Journey Talisman brings some good results," Yi Tianxing muttered to himself.
With a deep breath, he infused his true essence into the talisman, and it immediately flew up, glowing with brilliant starlight. The light enveloped Yi Tianxing's body, and he felt his consciousness being pulled away and absorbed by the talisman.
In an instant, he found himself in a strange space.
"Is this the starry sky?" Yi Tianxing wondered as he looked around. His consciousness shifted entirely into the form of his split spirit, and before his eyes stretched an endless expanse of stars.
Suddenly, the stars gathered, enveloping his spirit, and something extraordinary began to occur.
His body, visible to the naked eye, started to form rapidly. His head, torso, bones, flesh, limbs—all of them came together in an instant, perfectly identical to his original body, as if cloned or reborn.
What was most astonishing was that this new body possessed the same strength as the original. It was a perfect copy, down to the last detail.
"This is truly incredible! The Astral Journey Talisman not only recreates my body, but it even copies my cultivation strength perfectly. This is fascinating! I'm starting to look forward to what will happen on this journey." Yi Tianxing thought, amazed.
The talisman was working on its own, and Yi Tianxing didn't interfere.
With a flash, a starry gate appeared in front of him, formed entirely of starlight. A powerful pull emanated from the gate, drawing his newly formed body into it.
In the blink of an eye, his clone disappeared into the starry portal.
Back in the quiet room, Yi Tianxing's original body remained seated on the mat, the Astral Journey Talisman hovering above him. Starlight continued to swirl around him, shrouding his form in an ethereal, mysterious glow. His breathing was steady, and energy from the world flowed into him, though his eyes remained closed, giving no sign of opening.
In the Eternal Continent...
A huge ancient city stood, known as the Dark City. The city was home to many people, yet it exuded a sinister, chaotic aura. The citizens lived in extreme hardship, with the streets littered with the starving and the dead. Despair hung in the air, replacing any hope.
In the slums, a frail little girl, no more than six or seven, was eating a cold, hard bun. She looked around cautiously, desperate for food.
Suddenly, the already dilapidated door to her hut was blown open with a mighty force, crashing against the wall with a loud bang.
"Ah!" The little girl shrank in fear, trembling uncontrollably. Her wide eyes darted toward the figures entering.
"Found her. I've heard the old man Lin kept his granddaughter close, always hoarding food he mined himself. He wouldn't even eat, just to leave it for her. But the old man died a few days ago. No one can protect her now. A child like this is just a waste. It's time to take her for the sacrifice. The Dark Altar needs fresh blood to gain power and protection."
Three large, menacing men walked in, their faces hard and cruel, with no hint of compassion. They moved toward the girl with malice in their eyes.
The girl's face filled with despair, and she knew all too well what sacrifice meant.