Ye Wen stared fixedly at Dongfang Kui one more time, noticing that the person before him showed no sign of yielding, meeting his gaze directly. In the end, it was Ye Wen who couldn't sustain the stare and looked away first.

"What's the point?"

He murmured the words casually, unsure what exactly he meant to convey, though he did share a sentiment similar to that of the Vermillion Bird Divine Lord: "It truly seems unnecessary to go to such lengths..."

Dongfang Kui remained silent, observing him. She raised a hand and gently stroked the trunk of the nearby Wutong tree. The vibrant life force contained within it, almost echoing the true energy inside her own body, gave her a profound sense of ease. "This Wutong tree," she declared, "I have no intention of moving it!"

Ye Wen was generally aware of the legend of the Phoenix and the Wutong. Moreover, this particular tree had been nurtured by the flourishing life force that erupted from Dongfang Kui herself when she achieved complete mastery. In a sense, this Wutong tree represented Dongfang Kui’s home.

Her statement that she wouldn't move it naturally meant she intended to settle on Mount Shu.

Ye Wen certainly had no intention of driving her away. Hearing her words, he responded, "Then this small floating island shall be your residence. I will summon some disciples to help you construct a dwelling!"

Although Dongfang Kui had successfully cultivated the Phoenix Divine Body, she was ultimately still one person; living in a tree was out of the question. A proper house still needed to be built. In any case, this task was not overly difficult for the disciples of the Mount Shu Sect, and the mountain possessed ample timber and stone.

Concurrently, Ye Wen felt that continuing to reside in the small courtyard was no longer entirely appropriate. Given his esteemed position within the Mount Shu Sect, his own residence ought to be somewhat more distinguished.

He glanced at the floating island where he had just been standing. "I also plan to move my living quarters to this island!"

Living on the island day-to-day—whether cultivating or sharing lighthearted moments with his wife—would mean no fear of disturbance from outsiders! Furthermore, the new house could be built larger, preventing the women from feeling stifled if several were to reside there.

He turned to look at Dongfang Kui, unsure how exactly he should treat her. Ye Wen was no fool and could certainly perceive the situation, but he genuinely did not know how to navigate it.

He stood there, exchanging glances, and questioned himself internally: "Who did I think I was? In the end, I'm just an ordinary mortal?" He let out a self-mocking laugh before finally addressing Dongfang Kui, "Stay on the mountain. Do whatever you wish. As for the Phoenix Clan, hmph, I do not fear those feathered beasts!"

He only remembered his insult after uttering it—Dongfang Kui herself seemed to have become one of those "feathered creatures." However, the woman before him lacked that "self-awareness." Instead of taking offense, she smiled slightly and nodded at Ye Wen.

"Right, after achieving complete mastery of your Phoenix Nirvana Art, have you felt anything unusual?"

It was only then that he recalled the Phoenix Nirvana Art was ultimately not meant for human cultivation. He wondered if Dongfang Kui was experiencing any discomfort after mastering it. Although she appeared fine externally, who knew what was happening within her meridians? After all, the Phoenix Art was still an internal cultivation technique.

Dongfang Kui closed her eyes and focused inward. After a long moment, she opened them and shook her head. "No unusual symptoms, just that the meridians within my body seem to have changed; they are quite different from before!"

"Hm?"

Ye Wen didn't overthink it upon hearing this. He immediately reached out and took hold of Dongfang Kui's wrist, channeling a trickle of his internal true energy into her to examine the situation closely. He failed to notice that this action had painted a layer of rouge across Dongfang Kui's face, making it rosy and delicate. She made no attempt to pull away, allowing him to hold her wrist, and the message conveyed by her eyes seemed to plead with him to hold on longer.

After his examination, Ye Wen noted that while Dongfang Kui’s meridians were somewhat peculiar compared to a normal human's, she was fundamentally still human, and the route of her true energy flow was not significantly impacted. It shouldn't cause her any harm.

Once assured she was fine, he noticed he was still grasping her wrist and a wave of awkwardness washed over his own face. He mumbled an apology, "Pardon my abruptness!"

"It's nothing," Dongfang Kui replied, withdrawing her wrist. She then looked at Ye Wen. "Sect Master Ye... are you not planning to leave this time?"

Ye Wen, still embarrassed, didn't know what to say. Seeing Dongfang Kui initiate conversation, he followed her lead. "I've been running around outside for years and rarely stayed at the sect for more than a few days. Now that everything is mostly settled, I certainly won't be wandering off again!"

By this time, both were sitting on the ground. The lush, tender green blades of grass formed a natural carpet, feeling quite soft beneath them. He wondered if it was an illusion or if the soil beneath had changed too.

Ye Wen leaned down, pressing his hand against the ground, then leaned back against the thick trunk of the Wutong tree, gazing up at the deep azure sky, occasionally glancing at the clouds drifting nearby.

The peak of Mount Shu was situated just above the clouds, especially these few floating islands, which seemed to drift and bob in the sea of mist.

Normally, such an environment was unsuitable for ordinary people, but the Mount Shu Sect was protected by the Grand Array of the Nine Provinces, shielding the disciples from the elements. Later, as they achieved success in their cultivation, they naturally ceased to fear such conditions.

To the average person, Mount Shu was a sight of unparalleled immortal beauty—a blessed grotto-heaven. A peak floating in mid-air, soaring into the clouds, its summit occasionally visible through the mist; even the most unobservant would know this mountain was no ordinary place.

In any other location, countless people would likely try every means possible to ascend Mount Shu and beg for guidance on the path to immortality. It was fortunate that Ye Wen had placed Mount Shu in this secluded valley, surrounded by sheer cliffs, thus minimizing worldly disturbances.

Ye Wen had initially thought that by choosing such a remote location, he could live easily—cuddling his wife, teaching his disciples, and finding quiet spots for tea and contemplation. He never imagined that such a simple wish would only now have a chance to be realized.

He casually tried to retrieve a drink, only to realize that the beverages and spirits stored in his ring had long been depleted through years of consumption. He scratched his head awkwardly, then tried to act natural, pointing at a white cloud overhead. "Look! That cloud looks like the Hero!"

Far away, on another floating island, the White Hero, who had been sound asleep, suddenly sneezed. He sleepily raised his head, glanced left and right, then settled back down.

Dongfang Kui followed Ye Wen’s gaze to the sky. She saw the cloud looking simple and goofy, like a chubby, round little bear that had eaten too much and couldn't move its belly.

She had lived on Mount Shu for quite some time, and though most of it was spent practicing, she had certainly encountered the White Hero. Thinking of that white bear made her find the scene amusing as well.

"Right, I think I was in seclusion for a very long time this time. I wonder how things are on the mountain?"

If it had been the old Dongfang Kui, she certainly wouldn't have asked such things; she never cared about them. Even if everyone on Mount Shu died out, as long as Ye Wen remained, she wouldn't have cared.

However, after emerging from seclusion, her disposition had changed considerably compared to the past. Especially after learning how much Ye Wen valued this sect he had built, she wanted to cater to his preferences and first inquire about the mountain's status.

Furthermore, she wanted to know how those people she was somewhat familiar with were faring now. After all, even if she didn't care much for certain things, closing her eyes and realizing the entire world had completely transformed wouldn't be a comfortable feeling.

One spoke, the other listened. Viewed from a distance, the pair—one in orange-red and one in purple-white—leaned against the tree trunk amid the lush greenery, resembling a classical painting. A gentle breeze swept past, shaking the tree and causing a few leaves to fall, adding another layer of atmosphere!

After chatting with Dongfang Kui for half a day, Ye Wen took her to dinner in the evening.

It was a rule on Mount Shu that dinner should always be eaten together. Moreover, since Dongfang Kui had emerged from seclusion, it was cause for celebration that warranted notifying everyone. Though, this hardly needed special announcement; the sheer spectacle of Dongfang Kui's emergence was visible to everyone on Mount Shu.

A phoenix suddenly appearing above one's head—even without sight, the change in temperature alone would attract attention.

So, when everyone saw Dongfang Kui, they all came forward to congratulate her. The protagonist of the moment seemed to become Dongfang Kui, and Ye Wen was quickly pushed to the periphery.

Looking inward from the outside, Hua Yi, Ning Ruxue, and Huang Rongrong were all clustered around Dongfang Kui, murmuring softly. Whether intentionally concealing things from him, Ye Wen couldn't catch a single word.

Just then, Xu Xian, who had apparently been hiding somewhere, suddenly appeared and slapped Ye Wen's shoulder. "Senior Brother, you're in for it now!"

"What do you mean?"

Turning, Ye Wen saw Xu Xian secretly pointing with his finger. He followed the direction Xu Xian indicated and saw Artemis squinting, a strange smile curving the corner of her mouth as she looked at him.

A bead of cold sweat instantly trickled down his forehead. Ye Wen finally understood what Xu Xian meant. This formidable woman was not easily placated. He had never mentioned the vague, complex entanglement between himself and Dongfang Kui to Artemis, and her sudden emergence and his bringing her back were bound to cause dissatisfaction in the Moon Goddess.

Judging by her expression, he anticipated quite an interrogation later.

Turning again, he noticed Ning Ruxue and Hua Yi also looking at him with similarly strange expressions. Ye Wen sighed inwardly. "Great, I'll be dealing with this tonight too!"

He couldn't tell if these women were doing it on purpose, but during dinner, none of them sat near him; instead, they migrated to Dongfang Kui's side. After eating a few bites, Ye Wen happened to be next to Xu Xian and asked about his cultivation progress.

"Pretty good, I guess!"

Was that an answer?

Ye Wen glared at his junior brother, then asked about Huang Rongrong. "What about Rongrong?"

"Her? She's a bit slower than I expected!" Xu Xian always seemed unconcerned with such matters, and his reply was somewhat absent-minded, yet the information was clear and complete: "Rongrong is stuck at that specific bottleneck. If she breaks through, she becomes a Celestial Immortal; if not, she'll stay right where she is. I can't help much with this now; it depends on whether she can succeed in breaking through herself!"

Ye Wen nodded, indicating he understood. Huang Rongrong's current situation was that she had advanced too quickly; she couldn't keep up with the speed of her cultivation!

The solution for this was not to rush the breakthrough but to calm down and consolidate what she had learned, meaning she needed to thoroughly temper her surging power. As long as she could truly command her immense power, achieving the status of Celestial Immortal would be a natural progression.

He then observed Ning Ruxue and Hua Yi. Their situations differed from Huang Rongrong's. They diligently practiced and had mastered their power exceptionally well; what they lacked was insufficient cultivation base.

However, this was something he could help with. After all, once he had achieved mastery, his entire being had become a living, breathing furnace!

Of course, the specifics of the process were not for outsiders to know. Furthermore, he had 'lured' the Moon Goddess back for quite some time now but hadn't found the chance to commit any 'beastly acts.' This always left Ye Wen feeling less than human. Unfortunately, these things couldn't be rushed, and he still had many pending matters to attend to.

Upon his return from this latest excursion, all the disciples on Mount Shu had just completed their respective cultivation cycles.

This didn't mean everyone had achieved mastery, but rather that they had finished a stage. During dinner, Ye Wen inquired about several disciples again and found that the current Mount Shu Sect was vastly different from when they first arrived in the Immortal Realm. Compared to some established immortal sects, they were not much inferior.

Zhou Zhiruo had consolidated her Earth Immortal realm and was even striving toward the goal of Celestial Immortal.

Although Ye Wen knew it might take another hundred years for this disciple to become a Celestial Immortal, her steady improvement was an excellent sign. Perhaps in three to five centuries, Mount Shu would gain another Celestial Immortal.

As for Li Xiaoyao, his progress remained remarkably fast. It was possible that before long, he would be the next to ascend to Celestial Immortal status in the sect.

However, the biggest event for Li Xiaoyao recently wasn't cultivation. His wedding date with Claire had been set, and the disciples of Mount Shu had been busy with preparations for the past few days. It was a joyous occasion, and though they couldn't invite peers from other sects, the disciples of their own sect would certainly ensure a celebration lasting several days.

But with Ye Wen's sharp eyes, he had already noticed that Claire’s belly was significantly different from before. A single person emitted the aura of two beings—he wasn't an idiot and understood what that implied. Ning Ruxue grumbled, "Her stomach is already sticking out; do you still need to judge by aura? Has Senior Brother's cultivation made him foolish?"

He shot a glare at that brat Li Xiaoyao, but this junior brother, who had returned a few months before him, had already managed to bring an extra life into the world... "Good! Worthy of being my disciple, Ye Wen!"

"..."

Although spoken quietly, everyone at the dining table had a high cultivation level; if they truly wanted to listen, none would fail to hear. However, these were all close acquaintances, and no one would deliberately embarrass their Master (or Senior Uncle). Even with dark expressions, no one spoke up.

Furthermore, while some Mount Shu disciples abroad might not return, there was one person who absolutely could not be absent: Li Xiaoyao's future brother-in-law, Chris. The wedding date was set for some time later primarily to wait for Chris to return, and also to complete necessary arrangements.

Zheng Ying and Yuwentuo might not make it back, but Li Xiaoyao mentioned that after the wedding, he planned to visit Yuwentuo—a honeymoon of sorts. Unfortunately, he was thoroughly berated by the group of women on Mount Shu: Who takes a pregnant woman traveling everywhere? Claire, hearing Li Xiaoyao get put in his place, laughed with pure joy.

Moreover, Guo Jing might not be the best teacher of disciples, but his own cultivation had never lagged. Especially after reaching the Immortal Realm, while other martial brothers occasionally encountered setbacks, Guo Jing never faced such issues. His progress was slow, but steady, one step at a time. Consequently, he was now firmly established as an Earth Immortal. At this rate, though he had no hope of becoming a Celestial Immortal anytime soon, his chances of reaching that level were among the highest in the sect.

In contrast, Wei Hong's situation wasn't as promising. His progress was limited after achieving Earth Immortal status; it seemed his achievements might stop there? Yet, Ye Wen noticed this disciple didn't seem bothered by this. He lived a carefree life, reading and writing daily, occasionally climbing high to gaze at the distance. His mindset was far more open than many other disciples.

What surprised Ye Wen even more was that Lu Bu, whom he had almost forgotten in a corner, seemed to have become unexpectedly close with Wei Hong. They were always together, whispering about things Ye Wen couldn't discern. Seeing their demeanor, Ye Wen suspected Lu Bu might bow down in the next second and declare, "My Lord!"

"Truly, someone who has been an Emperor before."

Ye Wen admired this disciple's charisma, but he needed to carefully consider Wei Hong's future cultivation path. Wei Hong seemed to have wrung every possible utilization out of the Purple Cloud Divine Art, and his Primordial Body was complete, yet his Adamantine Body remained stagnant. Ye Wen needed to ponder the reason for this.

As for the others, disciples like Zheng Ying, Chris, Tommy, and Zhang Ling did not require his deep worry. Guan Luyan, whose hair had returned to black, occasionally visited his ancestor to gain experience through warfare, seemingly seeking further advancement through the killing intent of the battle formations.

Guan Shuying, however, had not followed her father on his travels recently but remained on the mountain for secluded cultivation, and her progress appeared quite good.

There was no need to elaborate on the younger generation. With just these individuals, Mount Shu was already secure in the Immortal Realm. If given another century or so, once these disciples' cultivation stabilized and the younger generation matured, even if Ye Wen became a complete absentee ruler, it would have little effect on the sect.

Feeling pleased, Ye Wen drank a few cups of the Immortal Brew he had acquired from Cui Jun during this meal—this was certainly not ordinary mortal alcohol. Despite Ye Wen's immense cultivation, drinking copious amounts of immortal wine left him slightly tipsy.

After the meal concluded, he returned to his private courtyard and, fueled by the wine, directly pushed open Artemis's door. To his surprise, Ning Ruxue and Hua Yi were sitting inside, staring at him with wide eyes.

"Oops? Wrong door!"