Although Lei Lie didn't want to admit it, he had no choice but to acknowledge that Huode was speaking the truth.
He was acutely aware that the gap between himself and Upper Immortal Qingqing was simply too vast—as vast as the distance between heaven and earth.
This was true whether it concerned their status and background or their cultivation achievements.
While he came from a great family—the Haolei Clan, an ancient lineage with descendants spread throughout the Great Desolate—such an identity might seem lofty and awe-inspiring in the eyes of ordinary immortals. But compared to the Eternal Life Pavilion of the Seventy-Two Blessed Lands, the so-called Haolei Clan paled in comparison; the two were simply not on the same level and could not be mentioned in the same breath.
Moreover, Upper Immortal Qingqing was a disciple of Floating Life Imperial Lord, a heroic figure known to all in the Present-Ancient Era. Such a status was even more unattainable.
Such was the disparity in status and background.
As for cultivation achievements.
A Golden Immortal like Lei Lie, at the Great Perfection of the Nine Luminaries, might barely be considered an expert in remote minor celestial domains like the Dual-Pole Heavenly Domain. But in a major domain like Lingluo, his cultivation level was nothing special. Looking across the myriad heavens and worlds of the Great Desolate, Lei Lie was simply the kind of person you could throw into a crowd of Golden Immortals and never find again.
Among Upper Immortal Qingqing's many suitors, not to mention a Nine Luminaries Great Perfection Golden Immortal like him, even Great Desolate Spirit Immortals were probably a dime a dozen. Immortals like Shangguan Dong, or even Upper Immortals bearing the Immortal Dao's decree like Mo Baiyu, couldn't even make the list.
For someone like Lei Lie, with a background that could at best be considered mid-tier and cultivation strength that was similarly mid-tier, hoping to win Upper Immortal Qingqing's favor was undoubtedly impossible. One could say there wasn't even a sliver of hope.
And.
It was probably just as Huode had said: even if Upper Immortal Qingqing were injured and unconscious, and her suitors took turns forcing themselves upon her, someone like Lei Lie likely wouldn't get a turn.
Dreams are beautiful, but reality is cruel.
Fortunately, Lei Lie had self-awareness and could accept this. The only thing that irked him was hearing these words from Huode's mouth—they sounded grating no matter how he listened.
Lei Lie really wanted to square off and have a proper fight with that old bastard Huode.
But after thinking it over, he decided to let it go.
That old bastard was unfathomably deep; he probably wasn't his match at all.
If he started a fight, not only would he gain no advantage, but he'd also lose face in front of so many people.
What could he do?
Blame his own inferior strength.
He could only endure it.
...
As the saying goes, a fair maiden is what a gentleman seeks.
Moreover, Upper Immortal Qingqing's existence was not merely that of a fair maiden. In the hearts of many, she was like a goddess, inspiring both admiration and devotion.
It was no exaggeration to say.
Most of the men aboard this Xuantian vessel dreamed of winning Upper Immortal Qingqing's favor. They would even willingly give up half their lifespan for it.
If one could win Upper Immortal Qingqing's favor and become her cultivation partner, they would essentially be considered half a disciple of the Eternal Life Pavilion. Coupled with the connection to Floating Life Imperial Lord, it would be hard not to become famous. Not only would their status multiply, but their future would also be infinitely bright.
Who wouldn't want to both win a beauty's heart and gain boundless benefits for themselves?
The answer was obvious.
Everyone wanted it.
No one didn't want it.
For most people, winning Upper Immortal Qingqing's favor was just a fantasy.
Everyone knew they were unworthy of Upper Immortal Qingqing and stood no chance of winning her favor.
Most people, like Lei Lie, still had self-awareness.
However.
There were a handful of people who, despite knowing it was impossible, remained unwilling to accept it.
For example, the heaven-appointed Immortal Shangguan Dong.
At this moment.
The Shangguan family stood on the deck, gazing at the approaching grand fleet ahead. Shangguan Dong stood at the forefront, unable to conceal his agitation, his eyes brimming with excitement.
Like most others, Shangguan Dong also dreamed of winning Upper Immortal Qingqing's favor, thereby climbing the social ladder and making a name for himself in the Great Desolate.
But unlike most people.
Most people had self-awareness, knowing they were unworthy of Upper Immortal Qingqing, holding no hope, and not daring to harbor such extravagant desires.
However.
Shangguan Dong was not like that.
It wasn't that he lacked self-awareness.
Nor was he unaware that he was unworthy of Upper Immortal Qingqing.
But he was simply unwilling to accept it.
He didn't believe he was inferior to anyone.
Although everyone knew that if anyone aboard this vessel could win Upper Immortal Qingqing's favor, it would undoubtedly be Mo Baiyu.
Shangguan Dong did not see it that way.
In his mind, if he had Mo Baiyu's luck and could also bear the Immortal Dao's decree, he would definitely not be inferior to Mo Baiyu. He even had confidence that he could surpass Mo Baiyu.
Unfortunately.
There were no 'ifs' in this world.
Precisely because there were no 'ifs,' Shangguan Dong could only stand here, resentful and blaming heaven and fate.
On the deck.
A group of heaven-appointed Immortals stood in the most prominent position.
Mo Baiyu, clad in pristine white robes, stood with his hands behind his back at the very front.
His handsome face wore a smile as gentle as a spring breeze, his eyes filled with unconcealable agitation and excitement.
Yes.
Agitation and excitement.
Although this was not Mo Baiyu's first time seeing Upper Immortal Qingqing, he couldn't help the excitement stirring deep within.
Because he admired and missed Upper Immortal Qingqing too much.
If not for this, over the years, whenever he learned news of Upper Immortal Qingqing, no matter where he was or what he was doing, he would drop everything and chase after her from thousands of miles away. Even if it was just to catch a glimpse of Upper Immortal Qingqing, even without speaking a word, he felt satisfied.
Of course.
This did not mean his admiration for Upper Immortal Qingqing was pure and simple.
To say his admiration held no selfish motives would be false.
Everyone wanted to leverage Upper Immortal Qingqing's status and background to climb the social ladder, soar to great heights, and become famous throughout the Great Desolate.
Mo Baiyu was no exception.
He clearly understood that in the Great Desolate, Upper Immortals like himself who bore the Immortal Dao's decree were countless and endless. Each Upper Immortal was a peerless genius of unparalleled aptitude. To stand out among so many prodigious talents and ascend further was extremely, extremely difficult.
It wasn't that Mo Baiyu lacked confidence in himself.
On the contrary.
He had always been very confident in himself and firmly believed that one day he would endure and rise to greater heights.
He simply lacked the patience to endure day by day like this. He urgently needed a shortcut to stand out among the countless prodigious Upper Immortals.
And Upper Immortal Qingqing was, for him, the best, fastest, and most ideal shortcut.
Therefore, no matter the method or the cost, he wanted to win Upper Immortal Qingqing's favor.
Although he clearly knew that Upper Immortal Qingqing had many suitors, among whom were Upper Immortals bearing the Immortal Dao's decree like himself, and even Star Lords bearing the Mandate of Heaven were not absent.
One could imagine.
How difficult it was to win Upper Immortal Qingqing's favor—one could even say the hope was slim.
But.
Mo Baiyu would not give up. Even if there was only the faintest glimmer of hope, he would not give up.
He would continue pursuing Upper Immortal Qingqing until he won her favor.