Lu Qing stared blankly at the white-robed girl holding a sword, disbelief written all over her face.
For a mont, his mind went blank.
He seed to see that sa little girl from years ago — the one who had clutched a gray stead bun in her small hands, her eyes shining with joy the mont she saw him when he first woke up in this world.
From the cold, razor-sharp aura now emanating from Xiao Yan, Lu Qing knew that in the years he’d been away, she must have endured much hardship.
A trace of pain flickered in his eyes. He slowly descended toward the Sacred Mountain and ca to stand before the white-robed girl.
Xiao Yan continued to stare at him, as if she still couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
She didn’t even dare blink, afraid that if she did, everything before her would vanish like a dream.
Only after a long mont, when she saw that Lu Qing was still there — still smiling gently at her — did she finally dare to hope that this was real.
Her lips trembled. “Is… is it really you, Brother?”
“It’s .” Lu Qing reached out and rubbed her head. “I’m back, Xiao Yan.”
Feeling the warmth of his palm and hearing the tenderness in his voice, Xiao Yan finally believed that her brother had truly returned.
Her nose stung. The sword she’d always kept by her side slipped from her grasp and fell to the ground as she threw herself into his arms and burst into tears.
“I’m sorry. Your brother ca back late. I didn’t return when I promised I would. I made you worry all these years.”
Lu Qing’s eyes softened as he gently stroked her hair, his voice low and soothing.
But Xiao Yan’s sobs didn’t stop — if anything, they grew louder. Her tears soaked through his robes as if she were pouring out all the grievances and loneliness she had held inside for so long.
Han Lingshuang and the Second and Third Holy Lords stood quietly nearby, watching the reunion without interruption.
They all knew just how much Xiao Yan had missed Lu Qing through the years.
…
In the Void Flying Boat above, Xiao Li’s face was pressed against the edge, peering down.
“Xiao Li, didn’t you say you missed Lady Xiao Yan the most? Why don’t you go down?” the White Flood Dragon whispered.
“I’ll wait a bit. The one she’s missed most is Ah Qing. I’ll go after.”
Xiao Li could also sense the change in Xiao Yan’s aura — colder, sharper than before.
So, unlike when they’d returned to Jiuli Village, he didn’t rush down first, choosing instead to let the siblings reunite in peace.
Atop the Sacred Mountain, Xiao Yan cried for a long ti before finally calming down.
“Feeling better now?” Lu Qing asked softly. “It’s my fault. I said I’d be back within fifty years, but it took far longer.”
“Brother, where have you all been all these years?”
Her face was still buried in his chest. Only now, after venting her emotions, did she suddenly realize that others were watching. Embarrassnt rose in her cheeks, and she lowered her head.
“We’ve traveled to many places,” Lu Qing said with a faint smile. “It’s a long story. Once we’re ho, I’ll tell you everything.”
“Okay.”
She nodded gently, then suddenly asked, “Brother, since you’re back… where are Xiao Li and Wuxing? Why don’t I see them?”
“They’re in the flying boat,” Lu Qing replied with a smile.
At that mont, Xiao Li, hearing her na, leapt out from the Void Flying Boat in a streak of light, landing on the mountaintop in an instant.
“Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan! I’m back!”
She pounced straight into Xiao Yan’s arms.
The speed startled Xiao Yan — even with her current cultivation, she hadn’t sensed Xiao Li’s approach in advance.
She quickly caught the little creature and hugged it tightly. Feeling that familiar warmth, she couldn’t help but laugh through her tears. “Xiao Li, you’ve gotten so strong.”
“Of course! I’m amazing now! Xiao Yan, you won’t believe all the places Ah Qing and I went…”
Xiao Li chirped excitedly, recounting their adventures since they left.
Before long, Wuxing and the White Flood Dragon also descended from the flying boat, and Xiao Li eagerly began introducing her friends.
Seeing the joy return to Xiao Yan’s face, Lu Qing finally let out a sigh of relief.
He put away the Void Flying Boat and turned toward the elderly man watching him with a gentle smile.
Lu Qing straightened his expression and quickly stepped forward to bow. “Master, I’ve returned.”
“Good, good. It’s good that you’ve co back.”
Doctor Chen nodded repeatedly, his face full of relief.
“Master, how is your injury?” Lu Qing asked, sensing his master’s weakened aura.
“It’s nothing serious. A day or two of ditation will do. It’s the First Holy Lord whose injuries are truly troubleso.”
Earlier, Doctor Chen had been struck by the monster’s palm and sent crashing into the mountain. Though the impact had looked devastating, his sword qi had protected him, and the Water and Fire Dao he cultivated granted him remarkable healing power. So despite the heavy blow, his foundation had remained intact. In fact, within this short ti, his wounds had already recovered by half.
“The First Holy Lord?” Lu Qing turned and finally noticed the unconscious figure not far away, surrounded by the Second and Third Holy Lords channeling energy to stabilize him — and Han Lingshuang standing quietly to the side.
“Greetings, Your Excellency,” Han Lingshuang said quickly when Lu Qing’s gaze fell on her.
“Palace Mistress Han?” Lu Qing blinked in surprise.
He hadn’t expected the master of Cold Water Palace to appear on the Sacred Mountain.
“Elder Sister Han has been with all these years,” Xiao Yan explained softly.
“I see. Thank you, Palace Mistress, for taking care of Xiao Yan,” Lu Qing said, inclining his head.
He could sense there was more to the story, but now wasn’t the ti to ask. Instead, he walked toward the three Holy Lords.
“Brother Lu Qing,” said the Second Holy Lord, pale but smiling faintly, “forgive us for not rising to greet you.”
“Please, there’s no need for such courtesy,” Lu Qing replied. “We’re old friends. Let take a look at the First Holy Lord’s condition.”
The Second and Third Holy Lords brightened. They had witnessed Lu Qing’s power when he had subdued the monstrous being earlier — power so vast they couldn’t even comprehend it. If he intervened, their elder brother would surely recover.
Lu Qing examined the unconscious First Holy Lord. The wounds were deep, and his body was saturated with demonic qi — refined and insidious, carrying traces of Nascent Soul-level energy.
No wonder even his master had called it troubleso. At their cultivation levels, such a force was indeed difficult to handle.
But for Lu Qing, it was a trivial matter.
He raised his hand, and an invisible power extended into the First Holy Lord’s body. Instantly, all the demonic qi clumped together like tar. Lu Qing flicked his wrist, and the corruption was drawn out, condensed into a writhing black orb hovering in the air.
A thought from him summoned a wisp of Nanming Bright Fire that wrapped the orb.
A sharp, agonized shriek rang out as the black sphere twisted and burned to ash within monts.
The sight left everyone around shaken — the demonic energy had scread as if it were alive.
No wonder none of their earlier attempts had succeeded.
Once every trace of the demonic qi had been purged, Lu Qing traced a few symbols in the air. Runes of light ford effortlessly beneath his fingers as the surrounding spiritual energy gathered. In a blink, he created a glowing Vitality Talisman infused with abundant life force and guided it into the First Holy Lord’s body.
The talisman’s energy spread instantly, and before their eyes, the wounds on the First Holy Lord’s chest began to heal at visible speed. Within re breaths, the gashes closed entirely, his color returning as vitality surged through him.
“All done,” Lu Qing said with a smile. “He should wake up soon.”
The onlookers were stunned. Just monts ago, the First Holy Lord had been at death’s door — now, he was completely restored.
Doctor Chen’s eyes glead with astonishnt. Both the purification of demonic qi and the effortless creation of the Vitality Talisman demonstrated techniques far beyond ordinary healing arts.
“Ah Qing,” he asked, “that technique you just used — what was it?”
“Master, during my travels, I collected many Golden Core and Nascent Soul-level dical inheritances. Once I organize them, I’ll record a full copy for you,” Lu Qing replied.
“Golden Core and Nascent Soul inheritances?” Doctor Chen’s eyes widened, then softened with a sigh. “It seems you’ve truly been through much these years.”
Even the Second and Third Holy Lords were visibly moved. His words confird that beyond the stars, there existed other cultivation worlds — a revelation that shook them deeply.
“If Master wishes,” Lu Qing added, “I’ll tell you all about those distant worlds when we return ho.”
As they spoke, the First Holy Lord stirred and opened his eyes. At first his gaze was confused, but as mory rushed back, he suddenly sat up.
“Second Brother! You’re all right! What about those three demon fiends? And Fairy Lu—how is she?”
His voice trembled with urgency as his eyes darted around.
Then he froze.
“Doctor Chen? And… Lu Qing?!”
He stared in disbelief.
“It’s , Holy Lord,” Lu Qing said, smiling. “Long ti no see.”
“Big Brother,” the Second Holy Lord explained, “those three demon fiends were slain by Brother Lu Qing. Your wounds were healed by him as well. As for Doctor Chen, he arrived after you were struck down — without him, we wouldn’t have lasted until Lu Qing’s return.”
The First Holy Lord’s eyes were full of confusion, but one thing he understood clearly: the three terrifying demon fiends were dead, and the Sacred Mountain was safe.
He rose and bowed deeply to Lu Qing and Doctor Chen. “My deepest thanks to both of you for saving us.”
“There’s no need for such formality,” Lu Qing said with a faint smile. “Xiao Yan has lived here under your care all these years — this is only what I should do.”
“Care? Hardly.” The First Holy Lord waved his hands hastily. “If anything, it’s Fairy Lu who has protected us. Without her, the Sacred Mountain would’ve fallen long ago.”
“Fairy Lu?” Lu Qing turned to Xiao Yan in surprise.
Her face flushed crimson. “Brother! Don’t listen to them — they’re exaggerating.”
Lu Qing laughed heartily. “So our little Xiao Yan has beco a fairy now, has she?”
“Brother!” she exclaid, cheeks burning. Yet she didn’t move away, allowing him to ruffle her hair once more.
The First Holy Lord chuckled softly, relieved. Only Lu Qing could bring such warmth and softness to Fairy Lu’s deanor.
Still, he thought to himself, “I must find ti to tell Lu Qing about everything that’s happened with her these years.”
As they chatted, Lu Qing gradually learned of the world’s current state.
“So you’re saying that demonic cultivators have risen again, spreading chaos across the land, leaving the common people in misery?” he asked, frowning.
“That’s right,” the First Holy Lord replied gravely. “Since your departure, we’ve done all we could to suppress the Demonic Path. But a few years ago, several powerful demon fiends suddenly appeared deep within the northern icefields. Their ergence turned the tide. They destroyed countless sects, enslaved demonic cultivators, and brought disaster to the world.
“But now, those fiends have been destroyed by you. The remaining demonic cultivators are no longer a threat.”
“No,” Doctor Chen interrupted quietly. “There is still one demon fiend left — hiding in the shadows.”
Next Chapter >
User Comments
0 comments from readers