Outside the Suspended Island, He Dongsheng had been stationed here for three days.
During this time, even a Nascent Soul True Monarch from the Mang Mountain Branch came to visit, but He Dongsheng dismissed them, citing his teacher's seclusion.
Watching the Suspended Island vanish into the void, He Dongsheng understood that his teacher had opened the Celestial Net Realm, allowing the entire Suspended Island to step outside of the present world and the lines of causality, thus not appearing in the world.
The Celestial Net Realm had been open for three full days, far exceeding his expectations. One must know that opening the Celestial Net Realm was no small burden for Mu Chunqiu.
To sustain it for so long was enough to prove the significance of the secrets of the Longevity Immortal Technique that Lu Yan spoke of, far surpassing previous estimates.
Thinking of this, He Dongsheng couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
"As expected of Brother Lu, still so deeply hidden and unrevealed."
He remembered the first time he met Lu Yan, He Dongsheng was just a conman selling fake goods, whereas Lu Yan appeared to be an unremarkable early-stage Qi Cultivation junior cultivator.
But after a brief conversation, He Dongsheng realized Lu Yan was certainly not an ordinary person and thus wanted to befriend him.
Until later, when he was hunted down by a demonic Foundation Establishment cultivator and barely escaped, and again when he was kidnapped, and Lu Yan came to the rescue, each of Lu Yan's growth spurts astounded He Dongsheng.
Afterward, He Dongsheng had a stroke of luck, becoming a disciple under Mu Chunqiu, elevating his status overnight. He thought he could surpass Lu Yan by leveraging the resources of the main branch's direct lineage, but upon contact, He Dongsheng was surprised to find the gap seemed even larger.
Lu Yan could strike against Golden Core cultivators from the early stage of Foundation Establishment, while He Dongsheng was merely piled into the Foundation Establishment Realm by the main branch's resources, ignorant of the so-called Divine Techniques, unable to best even sect disciples of the same realm, let alone across realms.
Moreover, after being introduced to Mu Chunqiu, a few offhand remarks from Lu Yan made Mu Chunqiu moved, to the extent of setting up the Celestial Net Realm for three days of discourse.
To know his teacher is Mu Chunqiu, the future Divinity Transformation Daoist Monarch, acclaimed as the foremost prodigy of the current cultivation realm.
If it weren't for their student-teacher relationship, Mu Chunqiu might not even spare He Dongsheng a glance given his talent.
"Brother Lu's growth is so swift that even ancient immortals might be no more than this!"
"I'm fortunate that my talents are dull and unable to vie with Brother Lu, thus spared the despair of being crushed by a peerless prodigy.
Whereas the other true inheritance candidates of the main branch are likely facing an unprecedented strong adversary."
He Dongsheng couldn't help but feel a bit of schadenfreude.
Just then, the void before him suddenly twisted, and then, above the sky, a giant Yin Yang Tai Chi Diagram appeared, and the Suspended Island stepping out of cause and effect reappeared before He Dongsheng.
The Yin Yang Tai Chi Diagram then receded, and the Celestial Net Realm quietly concealed itself.
Seeing this scene, He Dongsheng's eyes lit up, and he immediately flew towards the Floating Island. Upon stepping onto the island, he saw Lu Yan and Mu Chunqiu standing opposite each other.
He Dongsheng was about to speak but noticed sharply in the next second that Lu Yan stood with his back to the Spirit Pool as if just stepping down from the Lotus Platform, while Mu Chunqiu, with a gentle smile, stood in the lower position, with a gaze carrying an unprecedented respect.
"Respect? How is that possible!"
He Dongsheng instinctively rubbed his eyes, thinking he was seeing things.
Mu Chunqiu is hailed as the foremost prodigy of the cultivator realm, just a step away from the Divinity Transformation Realm, even existing Divinity Transformation Daoist Monarchs can only address him as an equal.
Such status, actually showing respect for a mere early-stage Foundation Establishment junior?
But just after He Dongsheng rubbed his eyes, that respect disappeared as they walked together towards the boundary outside the Spirit Pool ground.
He Dongsheng noticed their synchronized steps, walking shoulder to shoulder, indicating Mu Chunqiu acknowledging Lu Yan as an equal.
He Dongsheng knew very well how proud his teacher was, not even putting many Nascent Soul elders with thousand-year lifespans in his eyes, let alone a Foundation Establishment.
Previously addressing Lu Yan as a young friend was merely a formality, no one would genuinely believe a mere Foundation Establishment junior could engage as an equal with Mu Chunqiu.
Yet, this perception is now shattered, leaving He Dongsheng temporarily at a loss.
"In just three days, have I automatically lowered a generation?"
He Dongsheng pondered for a long time but couldn't comprehend the reason.
By the Spirit Pool, Mu Chunqiu, with slight regret, said:
"The tallest tree in the forest catches the wind; today's matters must not be leaked, lest knowing outside brings endless troubles, I can only apologize to Young Friend Lu."
Lu Yan waved his hand, sincerely said:
"I bear too many secrets unfit for the light, I should thank True Monarch Mu for helping me conceal this affair."
The three days of lecturing and dialogue already forged an extraordinary tacit understanding between Lu Yan and Mu Chunqiu. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩⁂𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾⁂𝔫𝔢𝔱
Especially the true words left by Lu Yan before the Celestial Net Realm dissipated.
"Today, I realize I am not myself!"
Whenever Mu Chunqiu recollected, it brought a shiver to his spirit, as if at any moment he might transcend this world.
A mysterious perception made Mu Chunqiu aware that if one day he could truly comprehend the true words left by Lu Yan, that would be the moment he truly understood the true essence of becoming immortal.
That Lu Yan could utter this true word signified he had grasped everything long before Mu Chunqiu, naturally invoking Mu Chunqiu's respect.
Such circumstances made it impossible for Mu Chunqiu to treat Lu Yan as a junior anymore.