Chapter 124: The First Elder

"Grandma Feng Yi, I have a few questions I’d like to ask you, but I’m afraid you might not want to talk about them. I don’t know if I should ask." Yin Su looked at Feng Yi sincerely. She truly wanted to understand Grandma Feng Yi’s past, but at the same time, she feared that Grandma Feng Yi might be resistant to her own history, which was why she hesitated.

Seeing Yin Su suddenly ask this, Feng Yi’s expression shifted slightly. She could tell why Yin Su hadn’t dared to ask directly! She hadn't expected this young girl to be so thoughtful. With a gentle sigh, a trace of sorrow and inner conflict appeared on Feng Yi’s youthful face.

"Yin Su, Grandma knows why you didn't dare to ask. Don't worry, just ask whatever you want. I will try my best not to hide anything. Perhaps it is time for me to move on," Feng Yi sighed, and as she spoke, she seemed to relax completely.

"Grandma Feng Yi, how long ago did you come here? It must have been a very long time, right?" Seeing that Feng Yi had opened up, Yin Su felt relieved.

"I need to think about that. It has indeed been a very long time. Hmm, perhaps one or two hundred years?" Feng Yi closed her eyes to reflect. She had stayed here for so long, and for most of that time, she had been in a state of deep meditation, so naturally, she wasn't entirely clear on the exact duration. She could only make a rough estimate based on her fading memories.

One or two hundred years—that was a truly long time! To stay in this vast forest all alone must have been incredibly lonely! How many people could abandon everything and live in solitude just for the sake of greater power? It wasn't something just anyone could do; most would be unable to persevere. Even if they could endure, it didn't mean they would make it this far.

For some reason, a flicker of pity crossed Yin Su’s heart. She felt herself growing more concerned for this insecure old woman before her, though she didn't know if her sympathy was right or wrong.

"It really has been a long time. So, does your family know about your situation?" Eventually, she had to ask about Feng Yi’s clan. Even though Yin Su felt a bit heartless, she had to ask—this was the crux of the matter.

As expected, this question was unavoidable. Feng Yi lowered her head to hide her emotions. However, she trusted that since Yin Su dared to ask, she must have guessed something. Since she had chosen to face it directly rather than flee, how could she, an elder who had seen so much, continue to dwell in sorrow?

"Yin Su, don't ask any more questions for now. Grandma understands what you want to know, so I won't be a coward. I will tell you everything properly. But you mustn't laugh at me!" Feng Yi’s release was unexpected, but it was the most welcome surprise.

Yin Su smiled and nodded, sitting obediently before Grandma Feng Yi, her eyes fixed on her as a sign of respect.

"My identity was not that of an ordinary person. I was actually the First Elder of the Phoenix Clan, but that is all in the past. Back then, after much effort, several elders and I reached the pinnacle of the Void Emperor Realm. But we knew that crossing from the Void Emperor Realm to the Void Sovereign Realm was no easy feat. It is a watershed moment that every cultivator must face. If you cross it, your future is limitless; if you fail, you face the cruel reality of losing all your cultivation!"

"We all knew the situation. Whether to continue cultivating or stop at the peak of the Void Emperor Realm became the most difficult choice we had to face. We feared losing all our power, yet we longed for that infinite strength. We were conflicted and torn, but no one dared to make a decision easily. There was simply too much at stake."

"This world is cruel. If you successfully enter the Void Sovereign Realm, congratulations! Your status will soar. You will receive the best treatment, and your future will be bright. But if you fail, I’m sorry—everything you possess will vanish. Your past glory will be gone, and you will be nothing more than an ordinary person, unable to break through the Void Emperor Realm no matter how much you cultivate."

"Because of the cruelty of this world, they were hesitant and indecisive. Most chose to stay where they were, enjoying what they had, because they could not bear the pain of losing everything. Of course, a very small number were willing to take the risk. And I, the First Elder of the Phoenix Clan at the time, resolutely stepped onto the path to break through the peak of the Void Emperor Realm."

"I found this forest, rich in spiritual energy, and took up long-term residence here. At the same time, I told my descendants where I was. For the first thirty years, some would occasionally come to visit, but in the following twenty years, because I had still not broken through, the number of descendants visiting me dwindled to almost nothing. I think I disappointed them. After all, I was the strongest person of that era, yet I couldn't make the breakthrough."

"After that, no one came to see me again. In those fifty years, my failure made me unwelcome. I thought that if I worked hard and broke through, my descendants would return to how they were before. My behavior seems a bit ridiculous now. While pursuing power, I hoped to receive the support of my loved ones, forgetting that everyone is selfish. My power was at the peak of the Void Emperor Realm, but naturally, there would be descendants catching up. Because I stopped, all my momentum was lost to them."

"I think I lost. I lost because of my understanding of the human heart; I was far too emotional." After saying this, Feng Yi had already shed tears without realizing it, yet she felt a sense of release. Having said these things, the knot in her heart was finally untied on this day. From now on, she would no longer carry that burden, and she should be able to break through soon! Feng Yi’s strength was formidable—no one could deny that.

"No, no, Grandma Feng Yi, please don't think that way! In my eyes, you are strong! A unique powerhouse. A true powerhouse should possess a heart, not abandon everything and disown their kin for the sake of endless power. In my eyes, those people are nothing—they are just foolish people blindly pursuing strength. Grandma Feng Yi, don't let them influence you and make you forget your original intent!" Yin Su spoke hurriedly, hoping her meager strength could help Grandma Feng Yi.

"Alright, little girl. That your grandma can tell you all of this so calmly shows that I have let go. Perhaps my behavior is seen as foolish by some, but I also know that these emotions don't need to be discarded. I was too obsessed before, which led to that knot in my heart. But now, I have let go, and the knot is gone." Feng Yi wiped away her tears and smiled faintly.

Moved by Feng Yi’s powerful psychological resilience, Yin Su thought that it wasn't that Feng Yi couldn't break through the peak of the Void Emperor Realm, but that the knot in her heart had hindered her progress. Having no one to talk to and no one who shared her thoughts, she had lived in a world of one, forgetting to look at the world clearly.

Yin Su smiled brightly: "Grandma Feng Yi, you are truly amazing. I think we will be able to go find my friends very soon. Hehe, you will surely break through quickly! Believe me!"

Yin Su spoke with a playful smile, instantly turning the previously serious atmosphere into one that was light and cheerful. Ever since she had cleared her own mind, Yin Su had been changing bit by bit. These changes were beautiful, and she was enjoying her new life to the fullest.

"Yes, yes. Why is a little girl like you so eager to find your friends? Could it be that among those friends, there is someone you like?! Hmm?" Feng Yi teased, though it was just a simple joke.

To her surprise, Yin Su showed a bashful expression after hearing this. Had she just stumbled upon the truth by accident?!

Feng Yi shed her former sorrow, replaced by a wide, hearty laugh that made Yin Su lower her head in even greater embarrassment.

Feng Yi did not move from the rock she was sitting on, smiling radiantly at Yin Su: "Yin Su, you said that Grandma Feng Yi has told you everything about herself. Shouldn't you tell Grandma about your affairs? Hmm, and of course, about that person~ Don't lie now—Grandma Feng Yi wants to hear the truth!"

Yin Su covered her face with both hands, feeling the heat rising on her cheeks. Her head hung even lower. How had Grandma Feng Yi managed to guess correctly? Why was she reacting this way? It was a total confession!

Touching her face, Yin Su took a deep breath, telling herself to stay calm and not get too excited. She looked up at Grandma Feng Yi, only to see her looking back with a knowing, meaningful smile. She steeled her heart: "Grandma, I’ll tell you, alright? Please stop looking at me like that, it’s making me nervous!"

"Speak, speak, I'm listening!" Feng Yi waved her hand with a smile, encouraging Yin Su to relax.

"You know I’m from the Desolate Continent... Oh, and yes, there is someone I like among those friends. If there is a chance, I will definitely tell you, satisfied?" Forced by Feng Yi’s gaze, Yin Su had no choice but to bite the bullet and say the final words.

Feng Yi laughed and said she was a good girl. It seemed that every woman in love was exceptionally adorable.

But the next second, Feng Yi’s laughter stopped abruptly. Yin Su, who had been looking down, immediately raised her head. It wasn't a natural pause—the laughter had been forced to stop! It was too strange. Had Feng Yi choked on her own breath?

Grandma Feng Yi’s face still held the expression of a laugh, but her entire face was stiff. Her wide-open mouth was enough to show her astonishment.

"Grandma Feng Yi, what, what’s wrong?! Don't scare me!" Yin Su scrambled toward Feng Yi, calling out anxiously, terrified that Grandma Feng Yi had laughed too hard and accidentally passed away.

Overwhelmed with worry, Yin Su completely ignored the massive spiritual power radiating from Feng Yi. She was quite thick-headed... but that was only because she was so worried about Feng Yi.

"Cough, cough, child, don't worry. Go stay outside the cave for a few days!" Seeing Yin Su reach out to touch her face, Feng Yi finally managed to recover. She coughed and asked Yin Su to temporarily leave the cave.

"Ah? Why?!" Yin Su subconsciously looked up, wanting to ask why.

Looking up, Yin Su finally noticed the spiritual energy swirling around Feng Yi, as well as the spiritual power radiating from her... She suddenly seemed to understand why.

Feng Yi reached out and patted Yin Su’s head affectionately: "Alright, it is just as you thought. Go on out now, treat it as guarding the cave for Grandma!"

Yes, without the knot in her heart, Feng Yi had immediately gained the opportunity for a breakthrough. She was ascending!

Happy for Grandma Feng Yi, Yin Su smiled and quickly ran out of the cave, sitting cross-legged at the entrance to guard her.