Return

Return...

The skies above Chu were adorned with drifting clouds, while the warm sunlight caressed the land and its people.

Descending gracefully from the heavens, a white crane made its way towards Chu. On the crane's back, Qin Wentian and Mo Qingcheng sat side by side, their clothes gently billowing in the breeze.

"We're home," Qin Wentian mused, his gaze fixed on the Royal Capital below. These two months felt like an eternity.

This journey to the Demon Continent had taken them through numerous countries and provided extraordinary experiences. It marked Qin Wentian's first venture into self-improvement and his initial steps onto the grand stage of the Grand Xia Empire.

In the celestial lake's Refinement Grounds, he had truly grasped the meaning of the phrase, 'There is always a sky beyond this sky.' Even Chu's elite geniuses would be considered ordinary when placed on the Grand Xia Empire's grand stage.

Ouyang Kuangsheng or Wang Xiao, any one of them in Chu would be an unrivaled presence below the Yuanfu realm. Moreover, they could likely contend with ordinary Yuanfu experts.

Even Mu Baifei and the two Swallow Swordsmen would effortlessly handle figures like Sikong Mingyue and Orchon.

On top of that, Qin Wentian had uncovered the greatest secret of the Azure Emperor during this journey, which was a reward beyond measure. The trials of the Refinement Grounds would undoubtedly become a significant event in his life.

The white crane descended, hovering above the Emperor Star Academy. Heads turned upward, stunned to see Mo Qingcheng on the crane. Qin Wentian had caused a major stir before vanishing completely. Thus, no one noticed Mo Qingcheng's absence since she rarely frequented the school grounds. Qin Wentian, on the other hand, had garnered significant attention and his sudden disappearance had been a subject of intense scrutiny. If students left Chu for self-improvement, it wouldn't have raised any alarms.

"Wait, what's happened to the academy?" Fury simmered within Qin Wentian as he observed how drastically the Emperor Star Academy had changed.

The white crane landed in Qin Wentian's courtyard, and shortly after, Old Gu, Mustang, Luo Huan, Fan Le, and Qin Yao all gathered.

"You're finally back," Old Gu greeted with a twinkle in his eyes, taking in the sight of Qin Wentian and Mo Qingcheng. These two months had aged him significantly.

"Grandpa," Mo Qingcheng couldn't help but feel a pang of concern as she noticed how frail Old Gu appeared.

"Teacher, what happened to the academy?" Qin Wentian looked at Mustang with a puzzled expression. The Emperor Star Academy had undergone a drastic transformation. Many buildings lay in ruins, leaving empty spaces in their wake.

"Yue Hanshan and his followers from the Azure Emperor Palace did this. After Yue Qingfeng's death, unable to find what they sought, they took their anger out on the academy. Despite the devastation, they still came up empty-handed. Since they couldn't find Yue Qingfeng's killer, they left in frustration," Mustang explained, a glint of cold determination in Qin Wentian's eyes.

Yue Hanshan, a name now etched in Qin Wentian's memory.

Yue Hanshan hadn't considered Qin Wentian a suspect. Since Yue Qingfeng had injured him in the past, his son's superiority had been established in Yue Hanshan's mind. Why would he suspect Qin Wentian now?

As for whether he suspected the Emperor Star Academy, only Yue Hanshan knew. His actions, however, clearly indicated his desire to vent his anger by causing damage to the academy.

"What's the situation in the Royal Capital?" Qin Wentian inquired. Even before he left, things were looking grim.

Upon hearing this, Mustang furrowed his brows and replied somberly, "It's not good. The rebel forces led by the Qin Clan are facing severe suppression by the royal army. The only reason they haven't been defeated is because of the Emperor Star Academy's presence. Eliminating the academy was their top priority. Furthermore, with the support of the Nine Mystical Palace, the academy is in a perilous situation."

"In addition," Old Gu chimed in, "I strongly suspect that, apart from the Nine Mystical Palace, representatives from transcendent powers within the Grand Xia Empire are hiding in Chu."

"Qingcheng, come home with me for now. Your family misses you," Old Gu said to Mo Qingcheng, adding, "As for Wentian, don't trouble yourself with these matters. Focus on your cultivation."

Qin Wentian and Mo Qingcheng nodded in agreement. Mo Qingcheng left with Old Gu. Mustang's gaze turned thoughtful as he looked at Qin Wentian. Astral Light flickered in his eyes, and he patted Qin Wentian's shoulder before departing without saying a word.

Qin Wentian then turned his attention to Luo Huan. She was as beautiful and alluring as ever, yet something was different.

Indeed, there was a change in Luo Huan. Her once lively and carefree demeanor had faded. She used to enjoy teasing others, basking in their laughter and smiles.

However, everything that had transpired—Mountain's death, the academy's precarious situation, and the oppression endured under Yu Hanshan's rule as a student of the Emperor Star Academy—had become nearly unbearable for her. She had no choice but to bury her feelings of unfairness and grievances deep within her heart and present a forced smile to the world.

"Sister Luo Huan," Qin Wentian approached her, sensing the strong aura of melancholy that surrounded her. He couldn't help but remember the day he first met this senior sister of his. In Sky Harmony City, Luo Huan's graceful figure had dashed across the city walls, radiating an atmosphere as warm as the sun itself.

Qin Wentian walked closer and pulled Luo Huan into a warm hug.

After the hug, a familiar teasing smile finally appeared on Luo Huan's face as she looked at Qin Wentian. "You cheeky brat, openly taking advantage of your Senior Sister in broad daylight?"

"Well, who asked my Senior Sister to be so beautiful?" Qin Wentian chuckled.

"Hmph, a smooth talker as always." Luo Huan rolled her eyes, noting how much Qin Wentian had matured. His demeanor and aura were different now.

"Senior Sister~" Fan Le approached Luo Huan, arms outstretched. With a gentle expression in his clear eyes, it was evident that he also wanted to give Luo Huan a hug.

"Damn Fatty, try it if you dare," Luo Huan retorted coldly. She looked at Fan Le, her expression shifting from grief to a smile that wasn't quite a smile. "Senior Sister, you show such obvious favoritism."

"Well, who asked you not to be as handsome as Junior Brother Qin?" Luo Huan giggled. After a few more pleasantries, she departed. For her, knowing that Qin Wentian was safe was enough.

Fan Le let out a bitter smile, then his eyes lit up as he turned to Qin Wentian. "Hehehe, boss, where have you been? And how are things progressing with Miss Mo, the illustrious beauty?"

Seeing the shameless look in Fatty's eyes, Qin Wentian scolded him in a low voice and changed the subject. "Fatty, how's your cultivation progressing?"

"I'm at the peak of the Arterial Circulation realm, just a tiny bit slower than you," Fan Le replied, shrugging. Qin Wentian was surprised, but then he remembered Fan Le's ability to perceive the cultivation levels of others. Fatty must have already known that Qin Wentian had reached the Yuanfu realm.

"In that case, you should continue cultivating with even more determination," Qin Wentian encouraged with a smile.

"Don't worry, boss. This chubby genius will catch up to you in no time," Fan Le boasted, shaking his rolls of fat confidently. With a swagger, he walked away. Qin Wentian then turned his attention to Qin Yao, addressing her as he embraced her. Waves of emotion washed over him.

"Sister," he gently called, holding her close. "I can't help it; you're all grown up now. You can't let your emotions get the best of you so easily. Let me go make something delicious for you to eat," Qin Yao teased, her youthful beauty unchanged.

Suddenly, a white blur dashed toward them and leaped onto Qin Wentian's chest.

"Little Rascal!"

"Your speed keeps improving, little buddy," Qin Wentian said, patting Little Rascal's head. But the little furball seemed unchanged in size. Perhaps it would transform eventually.

Upon returning to the academy, Qin Wentian decided to keep a low profile. He knew that now that he had just entered the Yuanfu realm, the most crucial task was to consolidate his cultivation and adapt to this new level of power.

The majority of the Royal Capital was unaware of Qin Wentian's return. He had been gone for some time, causing his name to fade into the background. Time had a way of diluting even the most glorious achievements. People in the Royal Capital had their own lives to lead, and they would only remember Qin Wentian if he reappeared in their midst.

Another half a month flew by, marked by occasional minor clashes in the Royal Capital. The most frequent conflicts occurred between the Royal Academy and the Emperor Star Academy.

Sake Street, a bustling street in the Royal Capital, was known for its inns and restaurants. The street stretched for thousands of meters and was quite wide. Multistory inns and restaurants lined both sides, with balconies where patrons could drink, socialize, or watch the bustling crowd below. It was a simple form of joy.

Sake Street was located near the Emperor Star Academy, but it was currently monopolized by the Royal Academy. They had set up there to keep a close eye on the Emperor Star Academy's activities.

On the balcony of a particular restaurant, Ye Ran from the Ye Clan and Elder You from the Royal Academy enjoyed their wine. Joining them were several young men, one of whom was dressed in white—Ye Wuque. He exuded elegance and had an extraordinary presence.

"Wuque, congratulations on reaching the second level of Yuanfu," Elder You toasted Ye Wuque, a silent admiration in his eyes. This young man ranked fourth among the Royal Capital's ten prodigies. Even before his breakthrough, he had the strength to defeat the previously ranked fourth, Qiu Mo. Now, after reaching the second level of Yuanfu, he was undoubtedly even more formidable.

"I may have taken my time to reach the next level, so there's nothing extraordinary to celebrate. But the real congratulations should go to Sikong," Ye Wuque remarked with a smile, casting a glance at Sikong Mingyue, who sat beside him.

Sikong Mingyue's face remained devoid of happiness or joy. He maintained his calm demeanor, participating in the toasts with Ye Wuque and the others. However, a sharp gleam flashed in his eyes, barely noticeable to those around him.

To recover from his injuries, Xiao Lan had paid an enormous price. Little did anyone expect that Sikong Mingyue would turn that calamity into a blessing, breaking through to the Yuanfu realm.

Back then, his body had been ravaged by Qin Wentian. The humiliation he endured was unforgettable. Now that Sikong Mingyue had advanced to the Yuanfu realm and successfully condensed a formidable Astral Soul, he burned with the desire for a rematch with Qin Wentian. Even if Qin Wentian had also reached Yuanfu, Sikong Mingyue held the unwavering belief that he would emerge victorious in the end.

How infuriating it was that Qin Wentian had vanished without a trace. The rumor of his return remained unconfirmed, leaving everyone uncertain about its veracity.