Chapter 705 |
“There’s still another demon?” Lu Qing asked.
“That’s right,” Doctor Chen nodded. “Not long ago, another demonic cultivator tried to attack Jiuli Village. His strength was similar to those three demon leaders. I wounded him, but he managed to escape and hasn’t been seen since. I have no idea where he’s hiding.”
“That demon was likely the one called Eagle Demon,” Xiao Yan added. “He was part of the same group as those three. He’s also a late-stage Golden Core demonic cultivator. Now that he’s gone to ground, he might become a problem in the future.”
She paused, her brows furrowing slightly. “Brother, these demons seem to be survivors from the previous cultivation era. Their assault on the Sacred Mountain was meant to seize its mountain soul—but for what purpose, I can’t say.”
“Eagle Demon, a Golden Core demonic cultivator, huh?” Lu Qing mused. “Leave this matter to me. If he’s still within this world, he won’t escape.”
At his calm assurance, everyone relaxed.
Lu Qing’s power after returning from the starry skies was clearly far greater than before. No one present could discern his true realm now. If he took action, not even a demon hiding at the ends of the earth could avoid being found.
“I’ll heal you both first,” Lu Qing said, looking at the Second and Third Holy Lords. “The Sacred Mountain’s spiritual veins seem heavily tainted. Only you three can cleanse and restore them.”
The three Holy Lords, linked to the Sacred Mountain’s soul, were indeed the best choice to purge the demonic corruption driven deep into the earth veins by the Blood Fiend Soul Banner.
Earlier, the Second and Third Holy Lords had poured their strength into the First to aid his temporary breakthrough, leaving their own foundations damaged. Now, while Lu Qing helped them recover, they prepared to cleanse the corrupted veins.
Once their injuries healed, the three Holy Lords began restoring the Sacred Mountain’s spirit veins, while elders tended to the wounded disciples. The earlier battle had left many injured from the array’s backlash.
Lu Qing burned away the remaining traces of demonic taint and took the opportunity to completely rebuild and strengthen the mountain’s defensive formation.
When all the corruption was cleansed and the three demons’ remnants destroyed, the new formation was complete.
Lu Qing’s mastery over formations now far surpassed what it had been when he left his home world. He even integrated the formation principles of the Zhou Tian Star Array, increasing its power tenfold.
With this new array, even an Early-Stage Nascent Soul expert would find it nearly impossible to breach the Sacred Mountain’s defenses. And as the world’s spiritual energy continued to recover, the formation’s strength would only grow.
“With this grand array, the Sacred Mountain is truly impregnable!” the three Holy Lords exclaimed, joy evident in their eyes.
“Honored Holy Lords, now that the formation is restored, there’s little to fear even if more demons come,” Lu Qing said. “It’s been many years since I last returned home. I’d like to visit my village again, if you’ll excuse me.”
The First Holy Lord quickly replied, “Little friend, you honor us. It is we who’ve taken too much of your time.”
“It was no trouble.” Lu Qing smiled, bowed respectfully, and said, “If anything happens, just send word. There’s no need to see me off.”
With that, he transformed into a stream of light and flew to the mountain’s summit, where Doctor Chen, Wei Shanhai, Xiao Yan, Xiao Li, and even Han Lingshuang were waiting.
“Palace Mistress Han, are you sure you want to visit our village?” Lu Qing teased lightly. “I must warn you—it’s a humble little place. No scenic views or grand sights. I’d hate for you to be disappointed.”
“How could I be?” Han Lingshuang smiled warmly. “I’ve long been curious about the village where you and Xiao Yan grew up. I’m grateful for the chance to finally see it.”
“Brother, it was I who invited Sister Han,” Xiao Yan said playfully, clinging to Han Lingshuang’s arm. “You’re not saying she’s unwelcome, are you?”
Her sudden affection made Han Lingshuang both amused and touched.
“Of course not. You’re both welcome,” Lu Qing chuckled. “Come on, let’s head home.”
He summoned the silver Void Flying Boat, which hovered before them. Doctor Chen and Han Lingshuang both looked on with curiosity—the only two who had never ridden it before. They’d heard of its power, and now anticipation gleamed in their eyes.
Once everyone boarded, Lu Qing activated the boat. Spatial power surged, and a vortex appeared ahead. The flying boat entered it—and vanished.
“Was that…?”
Though Lu Qing had said not to see him off, the three Holy Lords had still ascended the mountain to do so—and just happened to witness the scene. They were left speechless.
“A treasure capable of traversing the void… it seems Lu Qing’s journey among the stars was far more extraordinary than we imagined,” the First Holy Lord sighed.
The others nodded in agreement, awe in their eyes.
Back in Jiuli Village, a vortex shimmered open in the sky, and the silver Void Flying Boat emerged.
“We’re… already home?” Doctor Chen looked down at the familiar village below, dazed. Though he’d heard of the vessel’s abilities, experiencing it was another matter.
Han Lingshuang was no less shocked. Jiuli Village lay on the edge of the Hundred Thousand Mountains in Cangzhou, far from the Sacred Mountain. Even a Golden Core cultivator would need considerable time to cross that distance.
Yet here they were—after only a few breaths’ time.
“Ah Qing,” Doctor Chen said suddenly, his expression serious. “Before we go down, there’s something you should know.”
“Please, Master,” Lu Qing said, his tone respectful.
“You’ve been away for many years. In that time, many in the village have passed on. You should be prepared for that.”
Lu Qing’s body trembled slightly. Xiao Yan said nothing, simply watching him quietly. Wei Shanhai’s eyes also softened with understanding.
It had been nearly seventy years since Lu Qing left. Many of the villagers he had known best were likely gone.
After a long silence, Lu Qing took a deep breath and nodded. “I understand, Master. Let’s go down.”
They descended into the village and landed by the familiar Half-Mountain Courtyard. As Lu Qing’s group arrived, a puppet avatar walked out from the house, nodded to them, then turned into a streak of light and flew toward the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
“Lord Lu, that puppet…” Han Lingshuang said in surprise when she saw the figure’s identical face.
“That’s a puppet avatar I made long ago,” Lu Qing explained lightly. “Pay it no mind.”
Then he turned to Doctor Chen. “Master, I’ll take Xiao Yan and the others home first. We’ll come visit you again tomorrow.”
“Go,” Doctor Chen said kindly.
Lu Qing departed with Xiao Yan, Xiao Li, Han Lingshuang, and the others, leaving Doctor Chen and Wei Shanhai behind.
“I should return to my manor,” Wei Shanhai said. “Xiao Li snatched me away suddenly earlier. The others must be worried.”
“Go on,” Doctor Chen nodded. “Let them know you’re safe.”
When Wei Shanhai returned home, Wei Xinghe and Wei Zian rushed out to meet him.
“Ancestor, what happened? Your aura vanished from the village all of a sudden!”
Wei Zian, now a steady man in his middle years, had already reached Foundation Establishment perfection, a step away from the Golden Core Realm.
“It was Xiao Li,” Wei Shanhai said with a smile. “She returned, found Xiao Yan and Doctor Chen gone, and dragged me off with her.”
“What? Xiao Li is back?” Wei Zian blinked, then his eyes widened.
Nearby, Wei Xinghe and the now-gray-haired Wei Furen were equally stunned. Wei Furen gasped. “If Xiao Li is back… then that means—”
“Yes,” Wei Shanhai confirmed. “Lu Qing has returned.”
For a long moment, silence fell—then joy burst across every face.
For decades, Lu Qing’s absence had been an unspoken ache. They’d long suspected he’d ventured into the stars, but seventy years had passed without a single message. Many had feared the worst.
Now, suddenly, he was home.
Wei Zian nearly ran out the door. “I have to see him!”
But Wei Shanhai barked, “Stop right there! Lu Qing just returned home. Let him settle down first. We’ll visit properly tomorrow—with gifts and respect.”
“…Yes, Ancestor.” Wei Zian lowered his head, though excitement still burned in his eyes. Then, after a moment, he brightened again. “I’ll go tell Master and Sister Hu! They’ll be thrilled!”
He dashed out, and this time, Wei Shanhai let him go, knowing that Ma Gu and Hu Zezhi were both old friends of Lu Qing’s.
Meanwhile, Wei Zian’s wife—who had only heard tales of Lu Qing—watched her husband and in-laws with wide eyes, bewildered by their emotional reaction. She could hardly imagine what kind of man could stir such devotion.
Back at the Lu household, Lu Qing stood before the familiar gate. The courtyard, the trees, even the air—it was all the same, yet everything carried the quiet weight of years.
Though he had been gone for decades, the house remained clean and orderly. Someone had clearly tended it all this time.
Inside, Xiao Li was proudly showing Han Lingshuang and the white flood dragon around, chattering about old memories. Lu Qing smiled faintly, his heart warm with nostalgia.
He was just about to step out for a walk around the village when he saw an old man entering the courtyard, slightly hunched, holding a wooden basin with a towel slung over his shoulder, his steps slow and trembling…
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