The trio began their journey again.
Traversing mountains and rivers, taking narrow winding paths, passing cities and towns, and walking on white clouds.
Time slipped away quietly like sand from between their fingers.
One day, they stood atop a mountain outside the Great Tang Dynasty's Chang'an, looking out over the city that was hailed as the world's number one city.
The city housed the world's top academy.
The three of them stood on the mountain peak.
"We've been here for three years, a whole three years." Ran Xin sighed, "Time really flies. Days and months pass like a shuttle, time is ruthless!"
"Indeed!" Chen Bei nodded, "But I still haven't advanced to the Eighth Layer!"
