Feng Yuxiang shuddered just from recalling her unfortunate encounter with Bai Xutao.
"You should know that I don't value my companions for their usefulness," Yuan continued. "But if you want to keep walking this dangerous path with me—one still full of unknowns—you'll need the strength to do so. Of course, I won't abandon you for being too weak or having trouble catching up, but if it comes down to your safety… I will leave you behind in a secure place until everything is over."
"After all, as your master, your companion, and your friend, it's my responsibility to ensure your safety. There's a reason I'm not traveling with Meixiu and the others right now, no matter how much I want to and how much I miss them. I can't put their lives at risk just to satisfy my own selfish desires."
"You don't have to say any more, Yuan. We'll do our best not to disappoint you," said Lan Yingying. "Unfortunately, I don't know where to start."
"I cultivate mostly through devouring other beasts, but I have never been to the Ninth Heaven…"
Yuan smiled and said, "Don't worry, I never intended to let you do this alone."
He turned to face Xiao Hua and said, "Xiao Hua, I would like you to take care of Yingying just as you had taken care of me when I first came to the Nine Heavens. Since her cultivation is the weakest, I'll feel more at ease with you by her side."
Xiao Hua calmly nodded, "I'll do my best."
"What about me?" Feng Yuxiang asked, pointing at herself. "Honestly, I don't mind traveling alone. I'm used to it, after all."
"That may be the case, but I think it'd be better to have someone with you," Yuan said to her before turning to look at Yingzi.
"What do you think, Yingzi? Can you go with her for some time? It'll be much more entertaining than being here."
While Yingzi wasn't any stronger than Feng Yuxiang, it was still better than traveling alone.
"I don't mind, but I won't be able to protect her if anything she cannot handle happens," she calmly replied. "If we were in the Primal Expanse, it would be a different story, but in this world, my options are limited."
"I am aware, but you're not much weaker than her."
Some time later, Lingyue spoke up.
"Um… what about me, Brother Yuan?"
"You…" Yuan paused for a moment before answering. "Honestly, I'm not sure."
"You're only my servant because of Xiao Hua. I never intended to pull you into my problems. So tell me—what do you want? Whatever it is, I'll try my best to grant it, even if you want to walk your own path."
Lingyue shook her head and said, "As I already said, I won't know what to do if I am not by your side, so I will continue to follow you. No matter where you go or how dangerous it may be, I still wish to follow you… at least until I have my own purpose."
Yuan silently rubbed his eyes for a brief moment before sighing, "If that's what you want."
"It is!" she confirmed.
Yuan nodded before continuing, "With that being said, I am not going to treat you differently because of your circumstances. If you want to follow me, you're also going to need sufficient strength."
"I understand."
"Now the question is, which group should you follow…" Yuan pondered out loud.
"She can follow us," Xiao Hua suddenly spoke out loud. "If the dumb pigeon gets into any trouble, she won't be able to handle more than herself, so she'll be safer with us—with me."
"What?! How dare you look down on me!" Feng Yuxiang clenched her hands into fists and angrily stared at Xiao Hua.
Xiao Hua shrugged. "I'm only stating the truth."
"At your current level, you can handle ordinary third-level God Ascension cultivators at best—maybe fourth-level if we factor in your Supreme Seal. The Ninth Heaven is no playground. Countless powerhouses roam this realm, some even capable of matching my father. In this era, even I, a ninth-level God Ascension cultivator, cannot move freely without restraint."
Unable to rebuke, Feng Yuxiang could only grit her teeth in frustration.
"Then it's decided. Lingyue and Yingying will go with Xiao Hua, and the two of you will be together."
Some time later, Xiao Hua and the others prepared to leave the Stairway to Heaven.
"I promise I'll at least enter God Ascension by the time you finish your trial, Young Master!" Feng Yuxiang declared with teary eyes, looking like she was about to be separated from her lover.
"I'll aim to reach the Immortal Realm!" Lan Yingying spoke with determination.
"And I'll become a Cultivation God," Xiao Hua confidently declared.
Yuan responded with a smile, "You're making it sound like we won't see each other for decades. It'll only be a few years."
After saying their goodbyes, Xiao Hua and the others left the Stairway to Heaven and entered the Ninth Heaven.
Meanwhile, Yuan returned to the platform and prepared for the final trial.
"I am ready to begin the final trial," he declared with a resolute face.
<You have begun the final trial>
In the very next moment, Yuan felt his consciousness rapidly slipping away into the void.
When he opened his eyes again, Yuan found himself in a familiar scene, and standing before him was a familiar face.
"Tian Yang, the cultivation world isn't all fun and games. It's a vicious path that could easily lead to your death even when you're not at fault, and it's a world that we'll be stepping into soon," said the young girl.
'Meng Lili…?'
Yuan immediately recognized her.
Not only did he recognize her, but he also recognized the words she'd just spoken, as it was part of Tian Yang's memories that he'd already recovered.
'This trial must be related to Tian Yang… but…'
Yuan quickly realized that he couldn't move his body or speak out loud, almost as if he were only a spectator, watching everything from Tian Yang's body, just like when he first regained this piece of memory.