"Actually, all of these things come down to fate and the individual. There are no absolute rules."
"For instance, in our clan, there was once a predecessor at the True Immortal realm. His talent was limited, so his cultivation remained at the True Immortal realm for his entire life."
"However, he lived to the incredible age of one hundred thousand years before passing. Although he spent his whole life using various methods to extend his lifespan, living that long is truly rare."
"But there was another ancestor in our clan—a peak Martial Immortal, just a single step away from the Venerable realm. Yet he only lived to six thousand years. He hadn't even reached ten thousand years when his time came, and he died of old age," the elder said.
"I've heard about that as well. That ancestor was a genius of extraordinary martial talent, just one step away from the Venerable realm. It's just that... his lifespan was too short. It's said that after passing ten thousand years of age, he began to deteriorate rapidly."
"Back then, in order to extend his life, our clan employed countless methods to prolong his lifespan, but none of them worked. Sigh... what a tragedy."
"If it had worked, our clan would have another powerhouse in the Venerable realm today," Chu Yue lamented.
"So you see, lifespan is something you should leave to fate. Dwelling on it too much will only lead to greater losses," the elder said.
"If that's the case, then Elder, you must have been blessed with a naturally long lifespan," Chu Yue said with a grin.
"Elder, you really need to take care of yourself these days. You should be using life-extending methods appropriately."
Unlike Chu Yue's playful demeanor, Chu Huai's concern was genuine.
Both of them knew that the elder before them held an extraordinarily high seniority within the Chu Heavenly Clan, because he was... an existence that had lived for over ten thousand years.
In layman's terms, he was an ancient monster who had witnessed countless ages and seen every facet of life.
"Sigh, lifespan is a matter of fate. Forcing its extension goes against the Heavenly Dao. It simply shouldn't be done," the elder said with a carefree smile.
"You really have a great outlook, Elder. I hope that when I reach your age, I'll be just as open-minded," Chu Yue said.
"Hahaha..." The elder broke into hearty laughter.
Though his smile appeared lighthearted, his deep and profound gaze was filled with worry.
"Elder, is this where the Soul Infant Sect's Sect Master was recovering from his wounds?"
"How is he? Has his injury already been healed?"
Suddenly, Chu Yue turned her gaze toward the place where the Soul Infant Sect's Sect Master had been earlier, because... his aura was still there.
"It has been healed," the elder said.
"How was it healed? The demonic weapon Chu Feng used was extremely eerie. Even after its power dissipated, the wound it left behind shouldn't have been easy to cure," Chu Huai said.
"Indeed, that wound didn't look like something that could be easily treated," Chu Yue agreed with a nod.
Both of them had witnessed that battle from the shadows, so they both remembered the power of the Evil God Sword all too well.
After all, they were both True Immortal powerhouses, and their current cultivation actually surpassed that of the Soul Infant Sect's Sect Master.
So if they had been wounded by that kind of power and had no idea how to treat it, then how on earth had the Soul Infant Sect's Sect Master managed to heal himself?
"The Soul Infant Sect has survived in the Hundred Refinements Ordinary Realm for so many years precisely because of that Soul Infant Demonic Art. That art is quite eerie—otherwise, they wouldn't be so difficult to deal with. Even someone as talented as you, Chu Huai, fell to them," the elder said, looking at Chu Huai.
Upon hearing this, Chu Huai fell silent. Although he believed that the current him... could easily destroy the Soul Infant Sect, the younger version of himself had indeed been no match for them.
Because of that past defeat, the Soul Infant Sect had left a deep shadow in his heart.
"But Elder, even if the Soul Infant Sect has special methods, the power of that demonic weapon seems to have exceeded their..." Chu Yue still had more to say.
She had never fought the Soul Infant Sect. By the time she arrived here, her strength already surpassed theirs.
So she looked down on the Soul Infant Sect from the bottom of her heart, and she figured—if even she couldn't find a way to treat that wound from the demonic weapon, what right did the Soul Infant Sect have to?
So when she learned that the Soul Infant Sect's Sect Master had resolved the wound himself, it wasn't that she didn't believe it—she just wasn't willing to accept it.
"Alright, stop dwelling on this matter. Let me give you some good news."
"Actually, I've already submitted a request to the clan to have the two of you transferred back to the Great Thousand Upper Realm. I believe that before long, you'll be able to return to the Great Thousand Upper Realm and won't have to stay here and suffer alongside this old man any longer," the elder said.
"Elder, is that really true?" Upon hearing this, Chu Yue was overjoyed.
"Silly girl, when have I ever lied to you?" the elder said with a faint smile.