"Senior, it's good to see you again." The Sky Limit realm expert with Jin, known as Lane, greeted Elijah with a respectful bow. Though he was so old he couldn't recall his age, only his eyes betrayed the centuries he carried.
Elijah returned the gesture with a warm smile spreading across his face. "Senior Lane, we are of the same status. No need for such formality."
Lane chuckled. His voice was calm, but his presence carried the weight of centuries. "Old habits die hard, Lord Elijah."
Jalen, standing beside Elijah, studied the newcomer. His aura was refined, his qi steady—like a still lake hiding great depth. There was no arrogance in his bearing, only quiet confidence.
"So," Elijah said, "what brings an elder of the mighty Sound Wave Clan to our humble residence?"
Lane's eyes twinkled. "I'm actually here to meet with this young junior by your side." He gestured toward Jalen. "According to my disciple here—" he nodded toward Jin, who stood a few paces behind, "—they've met before. I asked him to introduce us."
Jalen stepped forward and bowed. "Greetings, Senior."
Lane returned the gesture. "If you don't mind me asking," Jalen continued, "why did you wish to meet?"
Lane laughed, a deep, pleasant sound. "Well, it's not every day you get to meet a young genius. I'm also intrigued by your cultivation. Of course, I'm not asking you to reveal your secrets—but if you're willing to share, I certainly won't object."
"Senior flatters me," Jalen replied with a modest smile. "But I don't mind talking cultivation. Who knows? Maybe I can help you achieve a breakthrough."
Lane raised an eyebrow, impressed. "You're not only strong but clever."
The truth was, Lane had been watching Jalen closely during the tournament. Like Jalen, he was a dual-qi user—Sound and Light. But while his Sound Qi was formidable, his Light Qi was limited to healing techniques. What he witnessed today, however, had shaken his understanding. Jalen's use of Light Qi wasn't just refined—it was weaponized. His healing was instantaneous, his movement techniques seamless. It was the kind of mastery Lane had sought, yet never attained.
His cultivation had stagnated at the mid Sky Limit Realm for centuries. But now, seeing Jalen's techniques, he felt a flicker of hope.
"Again, you flatter me, Senior," Jalen said with a modest smile. "But when the time allows, I'll visit, and we can exchange cultivation insights."
"Excellent," Lane replied, his eyes gleaming. "I look forward to it."
Elijah clapped Lane on the back. "Well then, I'll leave you two old friends to get acquainted. Lane, let's catch up while they talk."
With a nod, the two elders walked off, their conversation fading into the distance.
Jalen and Jin were left alone.
"I heard about what you did," Jin said quietly. "You destroyed my royal family. Killed my father and my siblings. You brought down the Emberpearl Empire."
Jalen turned to him. "Are you here for revenge?"
"I should be, shouldn't I?" Jin replied, his voice calm. "But it's been many, many years. Seven centuries, to be exact. I'm over it."
He looked up at the sky, where the stars shimmered like distant memories.
"They killed my mother," he continued. "And they tried to kill me in their pursuit of power. Turns out the royal family possessed forbidden techniques—methods that required princes born as anomalies, of low birth, to serve as fuel for their growth."
His voice darkened.
"My own father tried to sacrifice me—just to strengthen the crown prince. Left me bleeding, broken, and barely alive."
He paused, eyes distant.
"I had to run for my life. Bloody. In shambles. On the brink of death.
I woke up here. Found a new life. Jin Ember pearl died that day. I'm Jin Linley now."
Jalen nodded solemnly. "I always knew, back then, that you were destined for greatness. And standing before you now, I see it."
Jin smiled faintly. "But you still remained like the sun—brilliant, distant, and out of reach."
He paused, then added, "I never said this before, but when I saw you at the Ruona Tournament… I was amazed. I admired you. You were a near-peer, yet you possessed such overwhelming power. It was humbling."
Jalen said nothing, letting the silence speak.
"I know," Jin continued, "that for you, only a couple years have passed. But here, in this realm, centuries have gone by. And yet, I still remember that feeling of admiration."
He looked at Jalen, eyes softening. "How is that young girl—Rana Flare? Have you two…?"
"She's my wife now," Jalen replied with a smile. "And we have three wonderful children. That young dragon that is the splitting image of me—that's my eldest son, Jael."
Jin's eyes widened, then softened with warmth. "I see. That's… beautiful."
He chuckled. "I myself indulged in the pleasures of the flesh in my younger years. Fathered some children. Now I'm an ancestor to many generations. It's strange, isn't it? Hundreds of years old, yet still in my early twenties."
Jalen laughed. "The world of cultivation is strange indeed."
In this realm, time flowed differently. A hundred and fifty years here pass as a single year in the origin world. But a cultivator's age didn't advance unless time passed in the origin world. So despite centuries of experience, their bodies remained youthful.
"Well," Jin said, "it's good to see you again. Hopefully, the next time we meet, I'll be strong enough to have a proper duel with you."
"I'm looking forward to it," Jalen replied.
Jin's expression turned wistful. "So… how is the Rouna Continent?"
Jalen's gaze drifted. "A lot has changed."
"I see," Jin murmured. "Sometimes I miss it. The mountains. The rivers. The people."
There was a pause.
Then Jin reached into his robe and pulled out a small, ornate bottle. "How about we have a drink?"
Jalen grinned. "Let's do so."
They sat beneath a spirit tree, its leaves glowing faintly in the night. Jin uncorked the bottle, and the scent of aged spirit wine filled the air—rich, sharp, and nostalgic.
"To a new beginning," Jin said, pouring them each a cup.
Jalen nodded.
They drank.
The wine burned like fire and soothed like moonlight.
They spoke of cultivation, of techniques mastered and mistakes survived. They laughed—softly, freely—as old tensions gave way to something simpler.
And when their cups were empty and their hearts full, they parted ways beneath the silver leaves, no words needed.