A month ago, the great collapse seemed like a mere illusion, as more and more people gradually forgot about it. For them, while the unexpected event still left a mark, it didn't cause any substantial harm — the collapse only resulted in a few people experiencing deviation during their cultivation, and no one died.

Years later, perhaps this event would become the best topic of conversation. When they grow old, they might say to their children, "Back then, the Ten Thousand Immortals Illusion Realm was unreliable. Let me tell you, your ancestor went through such a thing..."

Even the Demon Clan showed no curiosity regarding the rampaging Sea God Type nor any intention to attack.

They didn't realize they were personally experiencing such a monumental moment in history.

Shenzhou was once again approaching a historical turning point.

The time to make a decisive end with the overseas Demon Clan had arrived.

The Human Clan, along with the Dragon Clan and other ancient civilizations that were in deep slumber, were about to establish a new relationship.

The Banished Immortals hidden between civilizations were to be thoroughly expelled, enabling the Immortal Alliance to open more achievements for labor.

More people would tread the Immortal Path.

Perhaps the Immortal Dao level in Shenzhou would make rapid advancements following this turning point, and undergo another transformation. Those who were entrenched in the old cultivation methods before the turning point might find it hard to understand the new technologies after the turning point.

Earth-shaking changes were brewing.

However, none of this had shown its signs yet.

Thus, the last few days of this year passed peacefully, with nothing significant happening.

"Speaking of which, do you plan to visit Youjia's place this year?" Chen Feng clinked glasses with Wang Qi and winked, "I've heard your suspicion of being a Banished Immortal has been cleared. I think there's probably no one opposing your entry into the Wanfa Sect now, right? Visiting Youjia's home or something..."

"It might not be possible this year."

Wang Qi chuckled. It's said that a few months ago, the current chief disciple of the Wanfa Sect broke the Heavenly Barrier, ascended to the Primordial Spirit stage, shed their disciple status, and became a steward of the Wanfa Sect. For outsiders, he already held the stance of the "top of his generation." And the so-called "person at the top" among the disciples of the Wanfa Sect had never set foot in the Mountain Gate of Wanfa Sect, which was rather odd.

—Of course, this was before the publication of the Incompleteness Theorem and the Undecidability Theorem. In the eyes of the knowledgeable Carefree Practitioners, not to mention the low-level cultivators, even average Primordial Spirit and Void Refining cultivators held less value than Wang Qi.

However, this time it wasn't because of Chen Jingyun's ban preventing Wang Qi from approaching the Wanfa Sect.

Feng Luoyi reminded Wang Qi repeatedly, saying that until the matter with the Master of Calculation was resolved, he must not come to Wanfa Sect. This issue could turn fatal if mishandled.

If possible, he even hoped Wang Qi would go out for training more frequently until things settled down, to reduce contact with Wanfa Sect cultivators.

Additionally...

Wang Qi chuckled and said, "Now, as long as I don't return to Wanfa Sect for a day, Chen Jingyun feels disgraced for a day. Honestly, isn't that quite interesting?"

"Hey, hey..." Chen Feng shook his head slightly, "Master Chen is just dutiful, and after all, he's Chen Youjia's father..."

"That's why I didn't do anything to him, right?" Wang Qi shrugged, "Just to irritate him a bit, I'm quite tolerant! Besides, if you talk about Youjia, she doesn't like her dad, so I'm not going against her heart's intent."

Although Chen Youjia had reconciled with her family, she still didn't like her dull father.

Chen Feng shook his head, "The stuff between you guys...well, I won't talk about it. The mindset of the Wanfa Sect is something I'll never understand."

"Exactly." Wang Qi raised his glass, "Continue drinking."

At this moment, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse. Wang Qi and Chen Feng were drinking together in the small courtyard Chen Feng had rented.

The sea breeze was slightly moist, the night sky was as clear as a wash, and the stars were brilliant across the sky.

"After finishing this pot, get lost. I still have things to do tonight." Chen Feng downed the liquid in his cup in one gulp.

Wang Qi teased, "Busy at night... Tsk tsk, life at Tianling Ridge is so fulfilling!"

"Pah! Not that kind of business, okay. You're so dirty-minded." Chen Feng laughed and scolded, "It's the Empirical Department. Things here can't be left undone. The Mystical Thought Bodies that Sister Lan created, some are delicate, requiring either ultra-low temperature freezing or mana nurturing, each needs to be properly arranged. Additionally, items that need to be sealed must be well secured. I'll have to specially set up a Chaotic Soul Formation later..."

Chen Feng and Ai Qinglan grew up together, childhood sweethearts. A few years back, they had a falling out and didn't return home to visit their relatives for years. This year was different from last year when the Heavenly Sword was hanging over their heads with no urgent matters to attend to, so the two planned to go home together — and incidentally discuss their marriage.

The ceremony for cultivators to become a Daoist couple involves many rules and ceremonies, taking several years to plan. They need to set a date now.

Today was December 28th. Tomorrow evening, Chen Feng and Ai Qinglan would be leaving aboard the Spirit Boat. They needed a full day to organize things. Some samples from the Empirical Department needed to be handed over to researchers who were either local or not returning home. For instance, the Mystical Thought Bodies raised in seawater must be cared for by Mao Zimiao.

Such arrangements were very time-consuming.

However, Wang Qi had doubts about this, "Illusion Array... what's it used for?"

"For guarding against you." Chen Feng poured himself another cup: "I know you're interested in the Mystical Thought Body, so it's specially set up for you."

"Hey, hey... this really is..." Wang Qi was furious: "What kind of person do you take me for, you brat?"

"In the Divine Capital, you used to do such things!" Chen Feng shouted back: "I know what you're interested in, how can I not guard against it?"

"Hehe... hehe..." Wang Qi immediately fell silent.

After a while, Wang Qi casually tossed a small bottle to Chen Feng: "Consider it... a New Year's gift. This thing is not much use to me anymore. You might find it useful."

Chen Feng twisted open the bottle and was instantly shocked: "Emperor's Liquid! So much!"

Don't let the small size of the bottle, roughly fingertip-sized, deceive you. It actually contains a large basin of Emperor's Liquid. In the hands of those who understand Demon Cultivation, it might even be capable of spawning a large army.

Emperor's Liquid can help Spiritual Objects undergo Spirit Awakening Demon Transformation. If the quantity is sufficient, it can allow those beings with life but no form to directly skip the Spirit Awakening and Qi Storage stages and start forming Demon Cores.

However, for Wang Qi, an abundance of Core Formation Stage demon clan members are of little use. Even Transformation Stage demon clan members are no more than a single sword's effort for him now. The Emperor's Liquid, which once helped him turn the tide in battle, is now just a collectible.

Nonetheless, the Immortal Alliance's Spirit Awakening Potions are not cheap, and their effects are slightly weaker than Emperor's Liquid. The only advantage they have is "production." This Emperor's Liquid is indeed precious to Chen Feng.

At least, he could use it for many empirical studies. Even if he doesn't use it himself, it would make excellent social capital.

"If you want to thank me, think about what famous local specialties your hometown has." Wang Qi didn't mind giving away this amount of Emperor's Liquid. After all, he obtained a large vat of it back then.

Seeing this, Chen Feng accepted the bottle. His friendship with Wang Qi was solid, and he would naturally remember this. He changed the topic and asked: "Where do you plan to stay for the New Year?"

"Me?" Wang Qi thought for a moment: "I enjoy being carefree, so naturally I'll wander around."

To speak of it, he's spent the entire past year drifting over the sea, exposed to the elements, even delving into the depths of the West Sea in recent months, rescuing Yue Luo Liu Li from the watchful eyes of top-tier demon beasts. In recent times, he has persevered under the pressure of being a Carefree Practitioner, continuously publishing papers on incompleteness and undecidability. Now that New Year has arrived, he indeed needs to relax.

Moderation is the way of scholars in balancing literature and martial arts.

Even those major scientists on Earth don't spend year after year cooped up in laboratories or in front of bookshelves. They also have vacations and the like.

Appropriate relaxation can also prevent one's thinking from wandering into dead ends unknowingly, forming the so-called Knowledge Barrier.

"Going? Where to?"

Wang Qi contemplated: "Hmm... Xiaoxi, and Jiangbei."

Jiangbei is located in the northern part of the Great River's midstream, also a well-known area populated predominantly by mortals.

Chen Feng seemed puzzled: "Jiangbei? Xiaoxi? You've never been to those places, have you? Why did you suddenly think of going there?"

Wang Qi raised the ring in his hand: "To sever worldly ties..."

"Speak clearly."

"When I embarked on the Immortal Path, I promised to give the old man in this ring a physical body. Since I'm planning to wander around anyway, I might as well settle his issue along the way." Wang Qi felt a bit helpless. The Immortal Alliance had already sent word that the migration tracks of the Bloodlines Zhen Chan seeks had been roughly confirmed. Currently, six families are suspected of possessing bloodlines originating from the same source as Zhen Chan. However, since the family genealogies left behind can only be traced back up to three thousand years, the Immortal Alliance couldn't make further distinctions, needing Zhen Chan himself to verify.

Of course, it's all a matter of chance. This depends on whether Zhen Chan is lucky enough to draw his Primordial Essence Bloodline Root. However, the choice is his, and the Immortal Alliance doesn't bear legal responsibility.

To this, Chen Feng jokingly refrained from laughing out loud.

Soon, the pot of wine was consumed. Wang Qi bid farewell to Chen Feng, walking alone on Langde's road.

Suddenly, Zhen Chan sighed: "Kid, you've really changed a lot over the years."

"Have I?"

"Certainly." Zhen Chan, for some reason, spoke with a bit of nostalgia in his tone: "A few years ago, whenever it was festival season, you would be depressed and aggrieved, looking like you were in considerable pain. Now, you're much quieter."

"You too, old man. Now you can even talk to me normally... just like an old man from a relative's family..."

Zhen Chan chuckled slightly: "Shouldn't I then ask you—'Why aren't you married yet'?"

Wang Qi tilted his head, almost tossing the ring aside.

"It is indeed quite thought-provoking. When you dug me out years ago, I didn't expect to regain a physical form so quickly."

"Designing a physical body and nurturing the physique takes time. So, you still have to stay in this ring for two or three more years, old man!"