Hun Qianling paused there and said seriously:
"To be honest, your talent would be considered outstanding even among the Nine Supreme Powers; you are by no means comparable to ordinary talents."
"The reason those fleet Cultivators changed their attitudes so quickly was precisely because they understood this—offending an ordinary Cultivator of Way of Laws doesn't matter, but offending a Genius like you could lead to great trouble in the future."
As she spoke, Hun Qianling's tone grew lower, and a hint of worry quietly flickered in her eyes.
She thought to herself that with Han Xuanji's talent being so exceptional, once they arrived at the Eternal Continent and he revealed his mastery of Dao Principles, he would inevitably be targeted by various major powers.
The Nine Supreme Powers might not necessarily take the initiative to extend an olive branch, but those first-rate powers stronger than the Hun Family would likely find ways to recruit him.
When that time came, would he simply cast her aside and join a more powerful force, leaving her behind completely?
Once this thought arose, it spread through her heart like vines, making her feel restless.
Having traveled with Han Xuanji for over thirty years, she knew his potential; if he could be kept in the Hun Family, it would undoubtedly be a massive boon for them.
But she also understood that with the Hun Family's strength, they simply couldn't hold onto such a Genius; after all, the Hun Family was still far behind those top-tier powers.
"Oh."
After listening, Han Xuanji merely gave a faint "oh," his face showing neither pride nor any other expression.
His nonchalant demeanor only made Hun Qianling more confused, and the unease in her heart grew even stronger.
What exactly was Han Xuanji thinking?
After thinking it over, she finally couldn't hold it in any longer. Taking a deep breath, she summoned her courage and asked:
"Brother Han, I have something I want to ask you."
"What do you plan to do once we arrive at the Eternal Continent?"
"I also know that with our Hun Family's strength, we might... might not be able to keep a Genius like you. After all, with your talent, you could get better resources and guidance at any power stronger than the Hun Family."
Her voice carried a hint of subtle awkwardness and disappointment, and by the end, she even sounded somewhat lacking in confidence.
She was terrified that Han Xuanji would say things like "I won't go to the Hun Family" or "I want to join another power," but she had to ask clearly to avoid any future misunderstandings.
While Hun Qianling was talking to herself and feeling anxious, Han Xuanji looked up at her and spoke calmly, without any hesitation:
"I'll go stay at the Hun Family first."
"It's fine if you don't go, you really don't need to care too much..."
Hun Qianling reflexively followed up, but as soon as the words left her mouth, she realized what Han Xuanji had said. She snapped her head up, the disappointment in her eyes instantly replaced by surprise and joy. Her pupils dilated slightly, and her voice was full of disbelief:
"Wait, you're still going to the Hun Family with me?"
She had originally prepared herself for Han Xuanji's refusal and had even been planning how to persuade him to stay for a while. She hadn't expected him to agree so straightforwardly; this sudden surprise left her momentarily speechless.
Seeing her mixture of surprise and joy, Han Xuanji couldn't help but chuckle:
"Otherwise? I'm a newcomer and know nothing about the Eternal Continent. Aside from you, I don't know anyone else. If I don't go to the Hun Family, where else could I go?"
"Are you saying you don't want me?"
He paused and added:
"Besides, we agreed before that you would help me get familiar with the environment once we arrive at the Eternal Continent, and I promised to stay at the Hun Family temporarily."
"I, Han Xuanji, am not one to go back on my word."
Upon hearing this, the joy on Hun Qianling's face intensified, and a faint light even appeared in her eyes. All her previous worries and anxieties vanished in an instant. She quickly said:
"I didn't mean that, I just... I just didn't expect you to agree so readily."
"I thought you would want to go to a more powerful force; after all, the Hun Family really can't offer you many resources."
"As for resources, I don't really care about that."
Han Xuanji shook his head slightly, his tone indifferent:
"The most important thing for me right now is to get familiar with the environment of the Eternal Continent. As for joining some power, I have no plans for that yet."
"Besides, the Hun Family has a Saint in residence and can be considered a force with some foundation. Staying there for now can save me a lot of trouble."
It was a very pragmatic way of putting it, and it was precisely this pragmatism that allowed Hun Qianling to completely relax; this was the Han Xuanji she knew.
A bright smile once again blossomed on Hun Qianling's face, and her tone became much lighter:
"Don't worry, as long as you're willing to stay with the Hun Family, I will do my best to provide you with the best cultivation resources and help you get familiar with everything on the Eternal Continent. I'll never let you be wronged."
Han Xuanji nodded slightly and didn't say anything more.
He had already calculated everything in his heart. Arriving at the Eternal Continent for the first time, it wasn't wise to be too flashy. As a Saint Family under the Holy Court, the Hun Family was undoubtedly the best place to settle down.
Most importantly, the System's upgrade would take some time. Rather than struggling to join those top-tier powers, it was better to stay and develop in a second-rate force like the Hun Family for a while.
He also wanted to see what changes the System would undergo after arriving at the Eternal Continent and if it would still be as useful as before?
After chatting for a bit, the two of them stood up and made use of the cultivation chambers provided by True God Heiyan to seize the time to Cultivate.
After all, after arriving at the Eternal Continent, what awaited him might be more opportunities or perhaps greater challenges. Only by improving his own strength could he handle everything with ease.
...
Time passed quickly, and the years flew by like a weaver's shuttle.
The large eternal warship sailed at full speed through the vast Hongmeng Sea, its speed far exceeding the imagination of Han Xuanji and Hun Qianling.
A journey that should have taken nearly a hundred years now approached the borders of the Eternal Continent in just thirty short years.
During these thirty years, True God Heiyan indeed kept his word and treated Han Xuanji and Hun Qianling with great hospitality.
The resources needed for Cultivation were continuously delivered to their cultivation chambers without interruption. Their daily meals were identical to those of the fleet's high-ranking officials, consisting of spiritual food rich in eternal qi, which could both satisfy hunger and aid in their practice.
Han Xuanji did not waste this rare opportunity to Cultivate, immersing himself in the cultivation chamber all day, polishing and stabilizing his cultivation as an Eternal Dao Lord while concentrating on condensing Eternal Dao Principles.
During this period, he had tried to condense a fourth Eternal Dao Principle—the Samsara Dao Law.
However, this Dao of Reincarnation was profound and unpredictable. Each time he neared success, he lacked that final spark of opportunity. After several failed attempts, Han Xuanji simply set the idea aside, planning to try condensing it again after arriving at the Eternal Continent.
During this time, Hui Feng would often visit Han Xuanji to chat, sometimes sharing interesting stories and sometimes discussing the differences between the Path of the Physical Body and Way of Laws. The two gradually became quite compatible friends.
It was worth mentioning that True God Heiyan did not meet with Han Xuanji again during this period, which allowed Han Xuanji to breathe a sigh of relief.
On this day.
Inside the cultivation chamber where Han Xuanji was, the atmosphere grew increasingly heavy.
In the center of the spacious room, Han Xuanji sat cross-legged. Beneath him, a green lotus with petals shimmering with a faint golden light slowly unfurled—it was the Chaos Green Lotus that had accompanied him for many years. Ever since Han Xuanji entered the Hongmeng Sea, the Chaos Green Lotus had fallen into a deep sleep. Now, drawing upon the rich eternal qi of the warship's cultivation chamber, it had finally awakened and evolved to a higher grade. Surrounded by eternal qi so pure it was almost solid, every petal trembled slightly, continuously channeling pure energy into Han Xuanji's body to assist in his Cultivation.