The Master and His Wealthy Fiancée

Chen Dong made some preparations. He had considered notifying Li Zhixuan, but after a moment's thought, he decided against it. He then headed for the city gates with Liu Ling, who, to his surprise, remembered to bring the little wolf cub.

Chen Dong didn't want to cause a commotion, so he didn't fly. Flying recklessly within Lexian City would get one surrounded by the City Guards. The two of them rushed to the city gate, where the guards were already in the process of closing it. A normal person would have been unable to get out at that point. Fortunately, Chen Dong still had his status as a disciple of the Cyan Sky Sect. The City Guards were fellow sect members, so they made an exception for him.

To get outside the Guardian Array from either Lexian City or Anxian City, one had to use the same exit. The journey between took about a full day. If Murong Qing and her group had traveled at full speed, they had likely been outside the array's boundary for more than two days. As soon as Chen Dong passed through the city gate, he summoned his White Feather Flying Sword and began to travel by Sword Control. This way, he could move faster without revealing his cultivation level. Liu Ling immediately followed, flying on her spiritual energy.

After getting some distance from the city, Chen Dong began to fly at full speed, but Liu Ling couldn't keep up. Left with no choice, Chen Dong had to carry her on his sword.

Standing behind him on the flying sword, Liu Ling wore a shy and satisfied expression, a fact she herself didn't even notice.

As they passed a pack of Earth Rock Wolves, Liu Ling said, "Master, please stop!"

Chen Dong stopped in the valley. Adult Earth Rock Wolves were only at the Qi Cultivation Stage, and they had long since been frightened into hiding by Chen Dong's aura. Because of their low strength and lack of value, sect Cultivators rarely came to kill such creatures. Only Loose Cultivators at the very bottom of society would hunt Earth Rock Wolves.

Liu Ling placed the cub she was holding on the ground, signaling for it to leave.

The cub looked at Liu Ling reluctantly a couple of times before finally sniffing the air for the scent of its own kind and running off.

Chen Dong asked in confusion, "That's just a lowest-tier demonic beast, completely incomparable to the Demon Race. Why would you risk exposing yourself to save it?"

Liu Ling gazed after the cub and said, "Perhaps in your eyes, Master, it is insignificant. But in my eyes, it is still a demon. As for you, Master, if you encountered a mortal child whose life was in danger and you had the ability to help, I don't think you would stand by and do nothing, would you?"

Chen Dong was stunned. 'He knew there was far too much misfortune in the world. Perhaps he would have helped in such a situation, but a person's ability is finite. Even though I've reached the Golden Core Stage, I can't help every single person in the world. Besides, what I pursue now is simply the power to protect those I want to protect and to control my own destiny. I no longer want to think about grand, universal love…'

Just then, Liu Ling's voice rang out, "Master, you need not trouble yourself. My encounter with the cub was a matter of fate. Saving it was simply a matter of following my Dao Heart. Whether demon or human, once we step onto the path of cultivation, we seek only a Dao Heart with a clear conscience, and to follow the natural way of the Dao."

Chen Dong shook off the distracting thoughts. 'I am no longer the Emperor I was in my past life. I don't need to bear the burden of universal love…'

'Fuyuan passed, seasons turned to years; this new life is one I live for myself…'

Chen Dong handed Liu Ling some Top-Grade Spirit Stones and stepped onto his flying sword.

"Get on. I'll carry you. Recover as much as you can!"

Liu Ling jumped onto the flying sword with a joyful expression.

The two flew at extreme speed under the river of stars. Before long, they saw the All Heaven Guarding Array that protected the Human Race. The yellow light of the array shone brilliantly in the starry sky, like an aurora streaking across the heavens.

As Chen Dong and Liu Ling drew closer, the endless light of the array resembled a celestial curtain, separating the Human Race from the Demon Realm.

By the early morning hours, Chen Dong and Liu Ling were finally only two li away from the Guardian Array. From here, the great array looked even more like the sky itself was falling. Even though Chen Dong considered himself to have some strength, he still felt as small as a speck of dust beneath it. At this moment, he found its profound nature even more unfathomable.

Beneath the Guardian Array, there was a small town built around the exit.

Calling it a small town wasn't quite right. All the courtyards were built according to array formations, but there were no city walls—only Battle Arrays that were faintly active at all times. It looked more like a military encampment.

Over ten thousand Cyan Sky Sect disciples defended the exit. This was the very forefront of the Human Race's territory, and even at night, it radiated a grim, murderous aura.

The approach from the human side was open. Two squads of Cultivators guarded the entrance to the array, each led by a Golden Core Stage Cultivator.

One of the leaders saw Chen Dong and asked directly, "Martial Nephew, what brings you here?"

Chen Dong was prepared for this. He took out the Walking Token Zisang Jin had given him and tossed it over. "Reporting to Martial Uncle, I am under orders to leave the array on patrol."

The man in cyan robes, a sharp sword in hand, caught the token. His expression remained unchanged, but inwardly he was shocked. 'A Walker from Cyan Sword Peak?!' The token truly bore Peak Master Zisang's Sword Intent; it couldn't be a fake, nor could it be taken by another. He returned the token, though he was puzzled. This Walker wasn't even one of Peak Master Zisang's Direct Disciples, and his cultivation seemed a bit low. 'Still,' he thought, 'since Peak Master Zisang chose him, he must be extraordinary.' And so, he didn't question why he would dare venture outside the array with just one companion.

His gaze swept toward Liu Ling, who was standing beside Chen Dong.

"And this is, Martial Nephew?"

Chen Dong replied, "This is my maid."

The Golden Core Cultivator frowned slightly upon hearing this. 'A Walker at the Foundation Establishment Stage, and he's bringing a maid? If the Walking Token wasn't from Cyan Sword Peak, I'd think this was a joke. He clearly doesn't value his own life. A team like this dares to go to the Demon Realm?'

He couldn't ask too many questions about Cyan Sword Peak's affairs, so he simply stated the rules: "Martial Nephew, I assume you know the regulations. You must wait here for a group of one hundred people. The Guardian Array is exceedingly profound; a considerable amount of Spiritual Qi must be infused into it every time the entrance and exit are opened. Moreover, you don't have a mission Sword Book from the sect, so I cannot open the exit for you alone."