# Chapter 1963: Flying Feather
After leaving the Merit Points Station, Zhang Ruochen headed straight for Wuding Mountain, worried that if he arrived too late, the Azure Dragon would have already attacked the mountain.
Although the Moon-Worshipping Cult was one of the seven great ancient sects of the Kunlun Realm, it had long since lost its former glory. Even with the Kunlun Realm's revival, it had not produced many powerful cultivators. There were extremely few Saint King realm experts, making it impossible to withstand the Azure Dragon.
Of course, the Moon-Worshipping Cult had a long history and might possess some extremely powerful hidden foundations, so it should not be underestimated.
"Wuding Mountain."
Standing on the boundless Bronze Furnace Plain, gazing at the majestic and towering mountain in the distance, Zhang Ruochen could not help but stop in his tracks.
He had thought he was prepared to face Ling Feiyu with composure, but now that he had arrived before Wuding Mountain, he found a trace of nervousness in his heart, afraid to ascend it.
Back then, when Ling Feiyu overheard his conversation with Mu Lingxi, she had resolutely left the Truth Heaven Domain alone, disappearing to an unknown place. Perhaps at that time, Ling Feiyu had been heartbroken, believing he had betrayed her. He had always wanted to find an opportunity to explain everything to her.
"What must be faced must eventually be faced. Continuing to escape will only bring more worries and sorrow. I hope this time I can have a proper talk with her."
Zhang Ruochen took a deep breath and resumed walking forward.
With the revival of the Kunlun Realm, Wuding Mountain had undergone tremendous changes, becoming even more majestic and grand than before. It had awakened into a sacred land, even a divine land, with dense sacred qi permeating the air, making it extremely suitable for cultivation.
"Who goes there? How dare you trespass into our Moon-Worshipping Cult?"
Just as Zhang Ruochen reached the foot of the mountain, someone blocked his path.
Zhang Ruochen did not force his way in. Calmly, he said, "Please report to Palace Master Ling that Zhang Ruochen has come to visit."
The Moon-Worshipping Cult disciple standing in front changed expression, his eyes fixed intently on Zhang Ruochen. After a long moment, he said, "Young Master Zhang, please wait a moment. I will go report to Palace Master Ling immediately."
Zhang Ruochen was in no hurry. He waited quietly at the foot of the mountain.
Seeing that the Moon-Worshipping Cult was peaceful, he felt somewhat relieved. At least he had not arrived too late.
Before long, that Moon-Worshipping Cult disciple returned and said respectfully, "Young Master Zhang, Palace Master Ling is already waiting for you in the Holy Maiden Palace. Please."
As the saying goes, a tree's shadow follows its form, a person's reputation follows their name. Zhang Ruochen had carved out a fearsome reputation for himself. How many people could help but fear and respect him?
Zhang Ruochen nodded slightly and began ascending toward Sacred Water Peak. He did not need anyone to guide him.
He had visited Wuding Mountain more than once. Even though the mountain had undergone some changes, he still clearly knew which peak was Sacred Water Peak and where the Holy Maiden Palace was located.
Sacred Water Peak was very quiet. Unlike the other sacred peaks, which were lush and green like spring, Sacred Water Peak was currently in winter, covered in a vast expanse of white snow. It was a breathtaking sight.
From afar, a graceful and ethereal figure came into Zhang Ruochen's view.
Several years had passed, and Ling Feiyu's aura had become even more transcendent and otherworldly, like a lofty goddess, untouched by mortal dust, leaving others only able to gaze up at her.
Seeing Ling Feiyu, Zhang Ruochen was momentarily stunned. Then, step by step, he walked forward.
At this moment, he could not retreat.
Finally, Zhang Ruochen reached Ling Feiyu, standing less than a meter apart from her.
Their eyes met, gazes intertwining, and time seemed to stand still.
Zhang Ruochen's heart, which had barely calmed down, began to race again, even more nervous than when he was fighting a top-tier opponent.
Today, Ling Feiyu was not wearing her Lightning Mother Purple Robe. Instead, she was dressed in a white garment that almost blended into the surrounding snow, perfectly accentuating her tall figure. Her chest and hips were full and rounded, and her long, jade-like legs were the most eye-catching—fair, smooth, and impossible to look away from.
Combined with her exquisitely beautiful face, she was like a jade maiden from a painting, breathtakingly beautiful.
For a moment, an old scene surfaced in Zhang Ruochen's mind. It was after Ling Feiyu's battle with the Azure Heaven Blood Emperor. Her spirit had been damaged, turning her into a stone beauty, and she had been put up for auction by the Pearl Light Pavilion. He remembered that Ling Feiyu had been dressed just like this, sitting by a lake, looking exceptionally serene.
Thinking of this scene, countless thoughts inevitably arose in Zhang Ruochen's mind. Every detail of his experiences with Ling Feiyu in the Seven Lives Seven Deaths Diagram vividly surfaced in his memory, so profound that not a single detail was forgotten.
"I thought you wouldn't dare to come see me."
Just as Zhang Ruochen's thoughts were swirling, Ling Feiyu spoke first, breaking the silence.
Zhang Ruochen snapped back to reality, gathering his thoughts. He shook his head slightly and said, "I thought you wouldn't want to see me and would keep avoiding me."
"I'm not as fragile as you think. My path does not lie in the Truth Heaven Domain, so I chose to leave," Ling Feiyu said calmly.
Zhang Ruochen smiled faintly. "Yes, I was overthinking. Since the Sword Emperor's time, the most stunning Flying Feather Sword Saint of the Kunlun Realm would hardly be troubled by mundane affairs."
Inwardly, he was quite surprised. Ling Feiyu had left the Truth Heaven Domain only a few years ago, yet her cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds, reaching the Rule Grand Heaven realm. He wondered what opportunities she had encountered over the years.
Of course, for a prodigy like Ling Feiyu, who had broken through to the Saint King realm even before the Kunlun Realm's revival and had cultivated Sword Nine to Great Perfection, no matter how astonishing her performance, it was hardly surprising.
Ling Feiyu turned around and walked slowly forward. "Walk with me."
"Alright." Zhang Ruochen immediately followed.
Soon, Zhang Ruochen caught up to Ling Feiyu and walked side by side with her.
Neither spoke. They simply walked in silence, leaving two clear sets of footprints in the snow behind them.
"It's snowing."
Zhang Ruochen looked up at the crystalline snowflakes falling from the sky.
The snowflakes were beautiful, pure white and flawless, just like Ling Feiyu beside him.
"I heard you just won a great battle in the Northern Domain. How did you get to Wuding Mountain so quickly?" Ling Feiyu asked.
Zhang Ruochen turned to look at Ling Feiyu. "Are you saying you don't want to see me?"
"Whether we meet or not doesn't really matter. After all, I was never the one in your heart," Ling Feiyu said indifferently.
Zhang Ruochen stopped walking, grabbed Ling Feiyu's jade hand, and looked into her eyes. "You have always had a place in my heart. I know saying this is unfair to both you and Lingxi, but I want to tell you that I have never treated the experiences in the Seven Lives Seven Deaths Diagram as a dream. Everything we went through in there, I remember clearly. It is etched into my bones, and it can never be erased."
"What we had was nothing more than a twisted fate, destined to bear no fruit. You should let go early and cherish Lingxi. She has given too much for you. She is the one who can accompany you for life," Ling Feiyu said, gently shaking her head.
As she spoke, Ling Feiyu tried to pull her hand away.
But Zhang Ruochen did not let go. Instead, he held on tighter, as if afraid that if he loosened his grip, he would lose Ling Feiyu again.
"I will cherish Lingxi, but I will not let you go either. I don't believe you don't care at all about what we experienced in the Seven Lives Seven Deaths Diagram. Do you intend to keep running away like this?" Zhang Ruochen said with utmost seriousness.
Ling Feiyu looked into Zhang Ruochen's eyes, a bitter expression appearing on her face. "Then what do you want me to do? What about Lingxi? Zhang Ruochen, let go. There is no future for us."
Zhang Ruochen reached out and pulled Ling Feiyu into his arms, holding her tightly. "How do you know there's no future if you haven't tried? This time, no matter what, I will not let go again."
Held tightly by Zhang Ruochen, Ling Feiyu's body stiffened, and her gaze became incredibly complex.
At that moment, the snow fell heavier, covering the two of them as if trying to bury them.
Zhang Ruochen said nothing more, simply holding Ling Feiyu tightly, refusing to let go.
In the Truth Heaven Domain, he had already missed his chance with Ling Feiyu once. He did not want to miss it again.
If he missed it again, perhaps they would miss each other for the rest of their lives, leaving him with eternal regret.
After a long time, Ling Feiyu finally raised her hands and gently embraced Zhang Ruochen. Her sharp, sword-like eyes gradually softened, becoming tender as water, and a crystalline tear flowed from the corner of her eye.
Feeling Ling Feiyu's arms around him, Zhang Ruochen's heart trembled slightly, and he held her even tighter.
He truly wished time could stop at this moment, turning this instant into eternity.
After a long while, Zhang Ruochen slowly released his hold and separated from Ling Feiyu, but his hand still firmly grasped one of her jade hands.
Ling Feiyu revealed a radiant smile. "Tell me about your experiences over the years."
"Mm. If you want to know, I'll tell you everything," Zhang Ruochen said with a nod.
Hand in hand, the two continued walking through the snow, like a pair of celestial lovers.
As they walked, Zhang Ruochen recounted the various events that had happened to him, starting from the time they had parted, without hiding much.
With a flip of his hand, Zhang Ruochen took out the Merit Sword Marrow he had exchanged from the Merit Points General Station. "I exchanged this specially for you. You should still find it useful."
Ling Feiyu did not stand on ceremony. She naturally reached out and took the twenty bottles of Merit Sword Marrow, then said, "Where is the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree? I would like to pay my respects."
As a cultivator of the Kunlun Realm, wanting to pay respects to the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree was only natural. After all, all living beings in the Kunlun Realm were born from the nurturing of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree. It could be considered the mother of all life in the Kunlun Realm.
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen pondered for a moment. "The Sky-Connecting Divine Tree is currently in the Qiankun Realm and cannot be easily taken out. If you wish to pay your respects, you will have to enter the Qiankun Realm."
"Since it's with you, there's no rush. Let's go back first."
Ling Feiyu said with a smile.
They had walked for a long time, and now the sky was gradually darkening. The wind and snow had long since stopped, and the snow on the ground had become noticeably thicker.
If an ordinary person walked on it, they would probably sink into it entirely.
Zhang Ruochen smiled, took Ling Feiyu's hand, and performed a Space Displacement, instantly appearing with Ling Feiyu in front of the Holy Maiden Palace.
"Bang."
The two sacred doors of the holy hall opened automatically.
Ling Feiyu freed her jade hand from Zhang Ruochen's grip and floated gracefully into the holy hall, landing on the floating island at the very top.
On ordinary days, Ling Feiyu cultivated here in seclusion. The arrangement was simple but elegant.
The most eye-catching feature was a sacred jade bed emitting a cold aura, covered with many fine patterns that seemed naturally formed, with no trace of artificial carving.
Ling Feiyu was now sitting on the Cold Ice Sacred Jade Bed, smiling as she looked at Zhang Ruochen, who was outside the holy hall.
Zhang Ruochen moved, instantly appearing on the floating island.
A faint, subtle fragrance permeated the holy hall, refreshing the heart and calming the mind, making one's spirit extraordinarily peaceful.
Zhang Ruochen sat down beside the Cold Ice Sacred Jade Bed, his gaze fixed on Ling Feiyu, and countless memories involuntarily arose in his mind. "Feiyu, do you still remember the seventh life we experienced in the Seven Lives Seven Deaths Diagram? By that life, I could no longer restrain myself. I completely unleashed the emotions I had suppressed for six lives. We became husband and wife in the scroll world, had children..."
Ling Feiyu quietly watched Zhang Ruochen, listening to him recount that sweet memory.
By the end, even Ling Feiyu's ice-cold jade-like face broke into a smile. "To spend an entire lifetime in an illusion, growing old together—how many cultivators would envy such an experience."
As she spoke, a faint blush appeared on Ling Feiyu's face, revealing a shyness that only a young girl would show.
But Zhang Ruochen's heart stirred. A strange light flickered in his eyes as he stared intently at Ling Feiyu, a doubt arising in his mind: "In the seventh life, during our old age, I clearly woke up and withdrew. Why did she say we spent a lifetime together? Something is wrong. Is she really Feiyu?"
Raising his head, Zhang Ruochen suddenly leaned in close, embracing Ling Feiyu again, pressing her down beneath him. His hands began to caress her curvaceous, exquisite body.
Ling Feiyu tried to resist.
But Zhang Ruochen was quite forceful. His hand pressed against the back of her head, and he directly kissed her crystal-clear red lips, a smooth and delicate sensation following.