Everyone was delighted to hear that the Alliance Leader possessed more than one divine artifact.
"During this trip to the Ghost Immortal Secret Realm, that immortal told me that the Fate Chart doesn't just have these functions. It can also condense the wishes of all living beings, though I'm not sure what use that would be."
At this moment, Bu Liweng clasped his hands and said,
"Alliance Leader, these wishes of all living beings are essentially willpower. I have studied some immortal realm materials, which state that some individuals can condense the wishes of many people to aid their cultivation."
"It's not of much use, and not needed. We can talk about it later."
Wan Lei stroked his chin and muttered,
"Speaking of the Fate Chart, why do I feel like I've forgotten something?"
Fang Xiaoyu glanced at him,
"Where are the Hong Lian brothers?"
"Damn it, I forgot about them."
Wan Lei patted his storage pouch, took out the Fate Chart, and opened it. A beam of light appeared, and the lucky brothers, Hong Lian, emerged from it.
After coming out, Hong Lian and his two brothers looked around in surprise. After a moment, they recognized that they were in the main hall of the Thunder Emperor Hall.
"Damn, we're out? Hall Master, how did you survive the demons?"
"Does that even need asking? The Hall Master's divine might is peerless, and suppressing mere demons is as easy as turning over one's hand."
"Hall Master is divine and mighty, long live the Hall Master, the Hall Master is awesome."
Seeing that the Hong Lian brothers were about to launch into their endless flattery, Wan Lei impatiently waved his hand,
"Alright, you can go. Rest well. In a few days, we will counterattack the enemy. As for the war, you can find out about it from others."
"We take our leave."
Here, surrounded by Tribulation Crossing realm powerhouses, their mere Nascent Soul cultivation made them feel out of place, and the pressure was immense. They hastily fled.
"Alright, if no one else has anything, please go and heal your injuries and restore your cultivation. In a few days, after reorganizing our forces, we will depart to counterattack the enemy."
Wan Lei stood up, his expression somewhat dejected,
"I need to attend to some personal matters. If there's nothing important, don't disturb me."
With that, Wan Lei turned and walked towards the back door of the main hall without looking back. He left the hall and headed straight for the rear palace.
The remaining people looked at each other, all of them able to see that Wan Lei was still deeply immersed in Qi Man Yao's sacrifice and unable to extricate himself.
Xi Ren stood up, sighed, and said,
"There are still many military provisions to arrange for the alliance, so I will take my leave."
Seeing this, the others also stood up and took their leave, heading to the Elder Hall to recuperate.
Old Fang patted Fang Xiaoyu's shoulder and said earnestly,
"Don't disturb him. Let him have some quiet time alone. Men occasionally need their own space."
Fang Xiaoyu nodded, and together with the three daughters of Fire Phoenix, walked towards the rear palace, not seeking out Wan Lei.
Wan Lei, leaving the main hall, walked alone on the small paths of the rear palace, his mind filled with thoughts, all of them about one person.
It was at this moment that Wan Lei truly understood what longing felt like.
When certain people are by your side, they seem to be just a part of your life. You don't pay them much deliberate attention, as if everything is natural and expected.
But when they truly leave, you realize that it's as if a piece of you has been brutally torn away. No matter how much you wrench your heart and soul, that missing piece can never be found again.
Wan Lei strolled aimlessly along the paths, his mind occupied by the image in his head.
Unknowingly, he arrived at the entrance of a small courtyard.
He didn't even know the name of this palace or hall, but he knew who had lived here before.
Wan Lei's rear palace wasn't just inhabited by Fang Xiaoyu; it also housed the three daughters of Fire Phoenix. Since they were all close and women, it wasn't inconvenient. The vast rear palace felt too empty and desolate.
Later, Qi Man Yao arrived. Fang Xiaoyu didn't pay her much attention, simply letting her choose a place to live.
Qi Man Yao didn't understand the meaning of a rear palace. Seeing that the other women had settled down, and considering her closer relationship, she thought it would be fine.
After all, this was Wan Lei's home, and living in a friend's house was nothing unusual.
As for the concept of women in a secular harem belonging solely to the emperor, they didn't have that notion.
Therefore, Qi Man Yao chose such a secluded and elegant small courtyard. The courtyard had some flowers and plants, which she liked even more.
Several times when Wan Lei passed by, Qi Man Yao, who was in the courtyard, would happily wave at him, but each time he would fly away in a hurry.
He didn't know if this girl continued to play carelessly after he left, or if she sulked with her chin in her hands, feeling down.
He didn't know how he had ended up here inexplicably. He hadn't intentionally walked this way. He supposed it was because he was thinking of Qi Man Yao, and as his thoughts drifted, his heart led him to the place he subconsciously wanted to go most.
Wan Lei stopped and looked towards the small courtyard. Inside, there seemed to be a girl dressed in a combination of rose red and white. Upon seeing him, she excitedly stood up and waved at him.
Although every time Qi Man Yao was with Wan Lei, she would pout and look unhappy because Wan Lei always teased her, her first reaction was always happiness and excitement.
How Wan Lei wished he could see her again, even if it were just an illusion.
Unfortunately, he was very clear-headed now. The courtyard was truly empty, without even an illusion.
Wan Lei stepped forward and entered the courtyard.
In the courtyard, there was a stone table. She usually sat on the stone stool beside the table, studying divine abilities and techniques with jade slips.
After standing alone for a while, Wan Lei made a decision.
He got up, went to the garden, and found a white jade stone about as tall as a person.
Returning to the courtyard, he took out a carving knife, a chisel, and his hammer, and began to meticulously carve.
Did Wan Lei know how to carve? No.
But at his level, both his eyesight, his control over his strength, and his ability to replicate the image in his mind, allowed him to achieve perfect accuracy.
He could precisely strike an enemy hundreds of times in one second, let alone carve a small statue.
The people in the rear palace could always hear the clinking and clanking sounds from that courtyard, but no one knew what Wan Lei was doing, and no one dared to ask.
Wan Lei carved the hair of the statue while imagining what kind of image of her he wanted to create.
Would it be her with a cold and stern expression, clad in black?
Would it be her with furrowed brows, filled with worry?
Would it be her with bright eyes, carefree and unfettered?
Would it be her who bravely stood in front of him, facing twenty assassins of the Heavenly Tribulators?
Or, would it be her, dressed in a white dress, who embraced him, only to dissipate into nothingness in the end?
Three days later, a statue was completed in Wan Lei's hands.
In the statue, the girl stood in the courtyard, beaming with joy, waving enthusiastically.