"Yan Aohan, do you think those masked people truly belong to this plane?" If they did, did this plane have cultivators other than herself and Yan Aohan?
Yan Aohan shook his head slightly. "I am not entirely sure, but one possibility cannot be ruled out."
"What possibility?" Zhu Yanyi tilted her head, looking at Yan Aohan.
Yan Aohan pondered for a moment. "Some time ago, when the spatial rift appeared, it is possible that some souls were sent here by others. They might have possessed bodies—either one or multiple. If this is the case, since their physical bodies belong to this plane, as long as they do not expose the abnormal fluctuations of their souls, the Heavenly Dao cannot easily catch the true masterminds behind the scenes."
Zhu Yanyi felt speechless. "Didn't you say this plane cannot withstand more cultivators? If these possessors arrive, can we guarantee they won't become cultivators?"
"Perhaps they are not cultivators, but evil demons." Yan Aohan finally shared some details.
"Evil demons only need to erode people's negative emotions. They do not require external spiritual energy or primordial qi. Thus, the Heavenly Dao naturally cannot detect them. The person possessed by an evil demon can be controlled by those dark, negative emotions, leading them to do things they will deeply regret."
Yan Aohan’s speculation was not impossible. Hearing this, Zhu Yanyi sighed deeply. "So, what do you think are the odds of this happening?"
Yan Aohan replied, "The probability is actually quite high. You forgot that several soulless bodies from our place were taken away. If new souls suitable for those bodies appear, they could naturally survive in this world without necessarily possessing others."
Hearing this, Zhu Yanyi patted her forehead and rubbed her temples. "This is really troublesome."
"Do not worry about such troublesome matters for now," Yu Qingyun said from the side, comforting her. "You have not faced the reality yet. It is only speculation. Thinking too much only wastes your mental energy."
Zhu Yanyi was stunned. She turned to look at Yu Qingyun. Yu Qingyun, seeing her gaze, looked a bit dazed. "What is it? Did I say something wrong?"
"It is precisely because you did not say anything wrong that I am looking at you," Zhu Yanyi shook her head.
"I had fallen into a narrow path of thinking. I kept focusing on how to handle this matter, forgetting the four words: let nature take its course. Often, forcing things yields no answers. I have been forcing it all along. If Senior Brother Qingyun had not reminded me, I would not have realized I was going down the wrong path."
Yu Qingyun felt a bit embarrassed by Zhu Yanyi’s words. "I was just speaking casually."
Zhu Yanyi spoke seriously. "Sometimes, casual words can open one’s mind." Her small face was very serious. "Senior Brother Qingyun, let me explain. The Sage Academy is not an ordinary academy. Most formal students there can become cultivators. Do you know what a cultivator is?"
"A cultivator? Someone who practices cultivation?" Yu Qingyun knew a little. "I have heard of it, but it seems there are no cultivators now. However, hearing you all talk about cultivators, I assume you are cultivators."
"Yes, we are cultivators," Zhu Yanyi nodded seriously. "A cultivator is one who practices cultivation, also known as a Daoist practitioner. So-called 'cultivating the Dao' means cultivating one’s true self. By cultivating the true self, one can communicate with heaven and earth, eventually ascending to become an immortal or a god."
"Do immortals and gods really exist in the world?" Yu Qingyun asked curiously. This information seemed to conflict with what he had learned.
Zhu Yanyi smiled and nodded. "Yes, but it is not easy to see them. The reason you cannot become formal students of the Sage Academy is that your constitutions cannot support becoming cultivators. Therefore, you can only study there temporarily for a few months."
Zhu Yanyi looked ahead as she explained. "Furthermore, a third cultivator cannot appear in this plane. This plane does not allow it."
"Why not?" Yu Qingyun asked curiously. "If there cannot be a third, then there must be a first and a second."
"Yes," Zhu Yanyi nodded. She pointed to Yan Aohan, who was watching the road ahead. "He is the first." Then she pointed to herself. "I am the second."
She paused for a moment. "As for why there cannot be a third, it is because this plane lacks spiritual energy."
Explaining spiritual energy could be simple or complex. Simply put, every time they went to the primeval forest to gather herbs, they felt the air was very fresh. That freshness was a form of spiritual energy. Because those primeval forests were created naturally by heaven and earth, they contained some of this heavenly spiritual energy, especially ancient plants.
"So that is why you cherish that old willow tree by the Tianhe River in Hejia Village so much," Yu Qingyun understood.
Zhu Yanyi hummed in agreement. "I have a natural affinity for plants. I carefully protect plants with spiritual intelligence. With their presence, I can move through the primeval forest very easily. Look, have I ever gotten lost in the primeval forest? This is because of the tacit understanding between me and them, or rather, because their guidance prevents me from getting lost."
"That is true," Yu Qingyun thought. Indeed, Zhu Yanyi never seemed to get lost in any forest.
Zhu Yanyi thought for a moment, then added, "Actually, I told you all this today mainly to let you know that everyone in the Sage Academy is a cultivator. For a cultivator, the most important thing is cultivating the true self. My true self is to follow my heart and let nature take its course. Once my state of mind cannot follow my heart or let nature take its course, I cannot break through. Just like today, I went down the wrong path. Fortunately, Senior Brother Qingyun reminded me, helping me wake up. So, Senior Brother, I truly thank you."
"I do not fully understand what you said about cultivators," Yu Qingyun said with a smile. "But there is no need for thanks. We are senior and junior siblings. Supporting each other in daily life is what we should do. Why be so particular about it?"
Hearing this, Zhu Yanyi also smiled, realizing she had indeed overthought things.
Yan Aohan looked ahead. "Turn left ahead, and we will enter the Ruoshui area. Satellites cannot find that area. It belongs to our Yan family. In the past, there were other noble families there, but I have absorbed those two families. The Zheng and Yang families no longer exist, so that land now belongs entirely to our Yan family. I have long wanted to show you this place. Since we are here, we can go take a look."
"I know there is a Ruoshui. One of the raw materials used in our body-piercing machines is Ruoshui. I never expected it to be right here," Zhu Yanyi said, curious.