Three days after Gu Qingheng departed—
A new notice was posted outside the Mortal Sect's outer city.
Not a declaration of war.Not a proclamation of defiance.
Just a simple announcement:
"Fundamental Cultivation Public Course — Session Two"
Open Audit Invitations:✔ Officials✔ Civilians✔ Cultivators from Other Realms (Including the Immortal Realm)
The moment Shen Yan read it, he froze.
"…Wait."
"Including the Immortal Realm?!"
Su Wan cracked sunflower seeds without even looking up.
"Of course."
"Aren't they so fond of inspections?"
"Let's give them front-row seats."
Xiao Xuanyin set down the jade slip in his hand.
"They will come."
Su Wan smiled sweetly.
"Of course they will."
"If they don't…"
"…it makes them look nervous."
Public Lecture Day
The outer city was packed.
Not just mortals.
Not just sect members.
The Immortal Realm had sent representatives.
Not Gu Qingheng.
Two Recording Envoys.
Their expressions identical:
We are here to document, not to learn.
First Speaker
Not an elder.
Not a prodigy.
A former tofu vendor.
He cleared his throat awkwardly.
"I used to not even know what a spirit root was."
He scratched his head.
"Now?"
"I can stand an hour longer at work."
The Immortal Envoys:
"…This counts as cultivation?"
Second Speaker
A female government clerk stepped forward.
"After cultivating, I realized something."
"I don't get angry as easily while doing accounts."
"My stress tolerance increased."
The audience burst into laughter.
One Immortal Envoy's brush slipped—
Ink blotting the page.
Third Speaker
A soldier.
"I used to charge into battle relying on luck."
"Now…"
"I make decisions first."
No lightning.No divine breakthroughs.
Just clarity. Stability. Practical strength.
Gu Qingheng wasn't present—
But these words would sting just the same.
Q&A Session
Finally—
One Immortal Envoy couldn't hold back.
"If your goal is immortality…"
"Why not directly pursue ascension?"
Before anyone else could answer—
Su Wan raised her hand.
"I'll take that."
"Because it's impractical."
The crowd fell silent.
She spoke calmly.
"The Immortal Realm may be an outcome."
"But it is not the purpose."
"The Mortal Sect teaches how to turn outcomes…"
"…into part of everyday life."
The Immortal Envoy's brush stopped mid-sentence.
Because this framework—
The Immortal Realm had never taught.
That Night — Immortal Realm
For the first time—
The debate exploded into the open.
"We must restrict the Mortal Sect!"
"If this continues, Three-Realm Law will shift!"
Another faction countered coldly:
"Have you noticed?"
"They have not tried to invade."
"They have not tried to conquer."
"They simply made people stop looking up at us."
Silence.
Because that truth—
Hurt.
Meanwhile — Mortal Sect Rear Hall
Su Wan scrolled through her phone.
"Your Majesty."
"The Immortal Realm has begun arguing internally."
Xiao Xuanyin did not look surprised.
"That means someone among them has finally understood where the real issue lies."
Shen Yan hesitated.
"…Will they attack?"
Xiao Xuanyin stood.
"They will."
"But not yet."
He looked toward the distant horizon.
"They haven't decided what excuse to use."
A Shift in Status
The Mortal Sect was no longer an anomaly.
It was no longer a disturbance.
It had become—
A path.
One that could not be ignored.
Higher Above
In a chamber far beyond mortal perception—
A previously silent Immortal Sovereign finally spoke.
"If ideology cannot suppress them…"
"…then we must create a reason."
His gaze lifted slowly.
"A reason sufficient for internal collapse."
He smiled faintly.
"For example…"
"…questioning the legitimacy of the Mortal Sect's leader."
Back in the Mortal Realm
Xiao Xuanyin suddenly stopped mid-step.
Su Wan looked up.
"Your Majesty?"
His voice lowered.
Calm.
Steady.
"They've decided."
A faint edge entered his tone.
"This time…"
"…they're coming for me."