Perfected Qiu He looked closely at Yun Lie and then at Xu Ziqing. His trembling hand brushed Yun Lie’s brows and eyes before gently patting Xu Ziqing’s shoulder. At last a comforted smile appeared on his face, and he spoke kindly. “Yun’er… Ziqing, I knew you two must still be alive.”
Yun Lie’s expression shifted faintly.
Xu Ziqing could not hold back his tears.
Over these years, ever since Yun Lie had been gravely injured and only his primordial spirit remained, Xu Ziqing had carried a great burden.
Back then he could not return to the sect. He feared that Patriarch Ultimate Bliss’s influence was too great and that he would be unable to protect his senior brother there. Nor could he inform their master, lest the grief over Yun Lie bring powerful enemies down upon him. He had no choice but to flee with his senior brother into a small world, where they spent many years in cultivation.
Fortunately, everything had gone smoothly, and after returning to his body, Senior Brother had succeeded in forming his Nascent Soul.
Yet afterward a cultivator normally had to spend many years consolidating such a breakthrough. Yun Lie had emerged from seclusion early to repay the kindness of the parents of his reincarnated life, and had continued refining his cultivation at Yun Family Manor instead. He could not leave that place lightly, for the slightest mistake might cause his cultivation realm to fall. Xu Ziqing, meanwhile, had advanced considerably but remained only at middle Golden Core, hardly among the strongest experts. Thus neither of them had been able to return to the great world to bring their master news. If they had gone back to report their survival and then accidentally allowed their enemies to discover their whereabouts in the Hengwu Small World, the entire Yun Family Manor could have been annihilated by the power of cultivators!
Furthermore, as long as their enemies believed them dead, those enemies would probably not dare act too brazenly within the sect. Nor would they readily trouble Little Bamboo Peak, for fear of drawing attention.
But if Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie sent word and then disappeared again, an enemy enraged by the discovery might simply take ruthless action. How could their master and their junior sisters and brother on Little Bamboo Peak withstand that?
After weighing all these considerations, the two men had remained hidden until Yun Lie’s realm was consolidated and his mortal obligations fulfilled. Only then had they returned to the sect.
Now Yun Lie’s cultivation was stable. He was a powerful Nascent Soul ancestor, whose status within the sect would undoubtedly rise enormously.
For someone of his age to have reached this realm, the Sect Master would surely value him even more. The status of a promising Golden Core cultivator could hardly be compared with that of someone who had already formed a Nascent Soul!
Yun Lie was now capable of protecting their master.
But neither had imagined that upon returning, they would find their master reduced to such a state…
How could men with their powers of perception fail to understand?
Master had worried over them so terribly and for so long that he had exhausted his essence and vitality, leaving his life force on the brink of extinction. If they had returned three to five years later, he might have grown still more wasted and finally… died.
Master and disciples remained together in silence for a long while.
Perfected Qiu He’s spirits improved somewhat, and even his vitality seemed to stir a little. He wiped the moisture from the corners of his eyes and smiled. “Yun’er, Ziqing, you must have suffered many hardships… Would you tell your master what happened during these years?”
Yun Lie nodded slightly.
Xu Ziqing answered, “They weren’t really hardships, though Senior Brother did encounter grave danger that year…”
He then recounted everything: their mission together, Patriarch Ultimate Bliss’s ambush on their return, Yun Lie’s primordial spirit being forced to reincarnate in a small world, the years of arduous cultivation afterward, the parents of Senior Brother’s reincarnated body, and both their subsequent breakthroughs. He explained everything clearly.
His account lasted more than four hours.
As Perfected Qiu He listened, his expression changed again and again: anger, sorrow, relief, happiness, reassurance. All his feelings were deeply sincere.
When Xu Ziqing finished, Qiu He let out a long breath. “So Yun’er has already formed his Nascent Soul, while Ziqing is now a middle Golden Core Perfected One?” He smiled with relief. “You’ve faced tremendous dangers during these years, but you have also been blessed by good fortune. Compared with cultivators of your age, you’ve achieved far more than most. Perhaps those dangers were themselves opportunities.”
Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie both answered, “Yes, this disciple understands.”
Seeing this, Perfected Qiu He sighed. “It’s a pity that Ziqing formed his Golden Core in a small world and never passed before the Heavenly Dragon Ranking. I wonder whether he could have earned a place on it?”
After speaking, he laughed at himself.
For his eldest disciple to have reached the top five of the Heavenly Dragon Ranking was already extremely rare. His second disciple was gentle in nature and had progressed carefully, step by step. Perhaps he was not necessarily suited to making the ranking.
But the purple auspicious clouds at his Core formation proved his accumulation was profound. Even if he could not make the ranking immediately, it would hardly matter.
Xu Ziqing felt a little embarrassed.
The honored positions of the Heavenly Dragon Ranking formed automatically once the ranking collected a cultivator’s aura.
In truth, Xu Ziqing should also have been ranked upon it.
At the time he formed his Golden Core, Xu Ziqing had already sensed something. Within that mysterious perception, a title descended into his Purple Palace.
He immediately understood that the title was connected to him, recognized by the Heavenly Dao, and should be the honored name allotted to him on the Heavenly Dragon Ranking.
That title was… Lord of Myriad Woods.
But the name was excessively domineering. If he appeared on the Heavenly Dragon Ranking under it, who knew how much attention he would attract? That would certainly be disadvantageous.
Fortunately, he had formed his Golden Core in a small world and had never needed to pass before the ranking. By the time he returned he was already over a hundred years old, so he need not appear quite so arrogant.
Now that Master had raised the matter, he could hardly explain.
Seeing his two disciples still kneeling before him, Perfected Qiu He hurried to help them rise, his gaze warm.
Neither of these disciples had relied much on his personal guidance since entering his school, which was a little embarrassing for him as their master. Yet their filial devotion, and his own feelings for them, had always been utterly genuine. He had long regarded Yun’er as his own son, cherishing him beyond comparison. Ziqing was also beloved: though he had been a disciple for a shorter time, he had removed many of Yun’er’s worries and was himself gentle, obedient, and extraordinarily gifted. Qiu He had cherished him just as much. After emerging from seclusion and hearing that both had died, his mind and spirit had been thrown into turmoil, and no amount of evidence could make him believe it.
Even so, after finally breaking through to middle Golden Core during that seclusion, he fell back a realm when he heard the news. If his foundation had not been fairly solid, he might have dropped all the way to Essence Transformation and his Golden Core might have shattered.
He had barely managed to preserve his realm, but over the years despair gradually consumed him. The pain of losing his disciples grew worse day by day. His third personal disciple remained filial, and his many female nominal disciples trained desperately until they all reached Foundation Establishment, hoping to bring their master honor and comfort. Although he understood their intentions, his vitality still dwindled day by day.
Now he had only a few years before returning to heaven and earth.
Yet Perfected Qiu He had no lingering regrets. With his aptitude, even forming a Golden Core had once seemed impossible, but he had succeeded.
Furthermore, although his own cultivation was modest, his first two disciples were geniuses, and one had even become a Nascent Soul ancestor. Given the age and talent of his second disciple, forming a Nascent Soul someday was surely no more than a matter of time.
His other disciples would be protected by their eldest senior brother. They would never lack cultivation resources, and might fare a hundred times better than under Qiu He’s protection alone. Even if he died immediately, what could he still regret?
Perfected Qiu He had always been generous and kind. Now he was more openhearted than ever and no longer attached to life or death.
Cultivating the Dao of life’s and death’s cycle, Xu Ziqing could see his master’s present state of mind at a glance. It alarmed him.
Cultivators fought against heaven for their destinies; it was Buddhists who did not fear death. If Master no longer wished to pursue immortality, had he not already begun to desire death?
Xu Ziqing caught his breath. Turning his palm upward, he produced an extraordinary medicinal plant, green from tip to root.
It resembled a tiger in shape, overflowed with spiritual energy and vigorous life force, and seemed to hold flowing light within. It was the miraculous Flesh Upon Bones!
Although Xu Ziqing had incorporated this rare herb as a secondary wood, nurturing it into a mature plant was no simple task.
During his Golden Core formation, heavenly laws had descended and stimulated the seeds, giving him three mature plants.
Later, Xu Ziqing had extracted a little of the juice from one to refine medicine for prolonging mortals’ lives. That was the plant he was holding now.
Perfected Qiu He’s life force had not yet been severed. Xu Ziqing still possessed several ancient medicines that might have restored him through gradual treatment, without needing to spend such a rare treasure. Using the herb was extravagant, perhaps needlessly so. But Xu Ziqing believed it worthwhile and did not want to delay. Who could guarantee that prolonging treatment would not allow something else to go wrong? The herb could restore the dying and regrow flesh upon bone, and its life force far surpassed ordinary spirit medicines. The proper course was to resolve the danger quickly, erase the hidden damage, and allow Master to resume his cultivation.
The other two plants he would carefully preserve against future emergencies involving life and death.
Having made up his mind, Xu Ziqing offered the plant in both hands. “Master has worried over us until you’ve reached this state. Please take this medicine, so your disciples can finally be at ease.”
Perfected Qiu He froze. Though his cultivation was unremarkable, he was knowledgeable enough to recognize an unparalleled treasure at a glance. He immediately shook his head. “Your master’s life is almost spent. There’s no need for such waste. The two of you are young and extraordinarily talented. Keep this treasure safe for yourselves; it will surely be useful one day.”
Xu Ziqing’s heart ached. “This disciple still has two more… Master, please don’t refuse.”
Perfected Qiu He continued to shake his head.
With such a rare medicine, there could never be too many. Even thirty plants would hardly be enough, much less three.
He was almost ready to vanish from the world. Why should he consume resources that might save his disciples?
Xu Ziqing grew anxious and tried to persuade him repeatedly, but Qiu He refused every appeal.
At that moment Yun Lie’s figure flickered, and he appeared behind Perfected Qiu He.
Before Qiu He could react, he found himself completely unable to move.
Xu Ziqing stared in surprise.
Yun Lie said, “Give me the medicine.”
Xu Ziqing immediately understood and smiled. “Yes, Senior Brother.” He handed the herb over.
He had been so concerned about never going against Master’s wishes that he had kept pleading. Senior Brother’s approach was much more decisive.
Perfected Qiu He did not know whether to laugh or cry.
For a moment, he could not decide whether to rejoice at his disciples’ filial devotion or sigh over his eldest disciple’s unwavering bluntness.
Yun Lie placed the Flesh Upon Bones directly into Perfected Qiu He’s mouth. It dissolved upon entering, becoming a stream of cool liquid that flowed down his throat.
An enormous surge of vitality rushed straight into Qiu He’s Purple Palace. Countless hidden injuries in his meridians healed, his organs were nourished, true essence stirred within his dantian, and his dimmed Golden Core began shining once more.
He could feel his life force rising without cease, swiftly replenishing everything that worry and grief had consumed!
At the same time, his lifespan returned to normal, leaving him with more than two hundred years to live.
Such a rare herb truly was extraordinary!
When Perfected Qiu He opened his eyes again, he discovered he could move. A brief examination revealed that all signs of his former decline had vanished.
Even his appearance seemed much younger.