Chapter 57: Return

Song Xianyun's white eyebrows shot up in fury as he roared, "A practitioner of deviant arts! How bold!"

With a grand wave of his hand, he tossed a golden treasure pearl into the air. It emitted a dazzling, brilliant light that seemed to illuminate the entire world for a moment.

*Sizzle!*

Several wisps of green smoke abruptly rose in the air, emitting a nauseating stench.

Feng Wuming was struck with terror. He hurriedly attempted to recall the Gu insects he had released. He had sent out three in total, and all of them had sustained varying degrees of damage, making his heart bleed with pain.

"Audacious Gu cultivator! How dare you run amok in my Lingzhou territory? Do you think Lingzhou is devoid of masters? Surrender at once!" Song Xianyun bellowed, his voice like a resonant bell, with the treasure pearl hovering above his head.

"What kind of thing is this? It actually managed to wound my Life Gu!" Feng Wuming was both shocked and enraged; he had never encountered such a magical tool before.

"Specially prepared for you!" Song Xianyun's voice thundered like spring lightning as he mobilized his vast, surging spiritual power. The radiance of the treasure pearl instantly grew even more intense.

A powerful sense of discomfort surged through Feng Wuming's body, originating from the Life Gu within his own heart. He could feel it in extreme agony, as if it had an impulse to burst out of his body.

"How can this be? What exactly is that thing? Why does my Gu insect act as if it has met its natural nemesis?" Feng Wuming was being suppressed ruthlessly by the treasure pearl, while on the other side, the others were closing in to surround him.

Seeing that he was about to be encircled, he gritted his teeth, a flash of madness appearing in his eyes. He sacrificed his three damaged Life Gu insects all at once

"[Blood Gu Heaven-Cleansing]!"

The three Life Gu insects exploded in an instant, transforming into a cloud of turbid blood mist. The onlookers were greatly alarmed, each activating their protective astral qi to shield themselves, fearing that a Gu insect might slip through the cracks.

A moment later, streaks of golden light pierced through the blood mist, dispersing it completely. When the crowd looked out, they saw only a pool of blood; Feng Wuming had vanished without a trace.

"What a ruthless Gu cultivator, actually self-detonating his Life Gu to escape," Wang Wanzhou said with a grim expression.

"He has already lost more than half his life. Even if he escaped, he won't be able to cause much trouble without his Life Gu," the Guardian of the Li Clan said indifferently.

"That may be true, but we still cannot let our guard down. I suggest we conduct a thorough search of the market, inside and out, to prevent any Gu insects from lurking."

"Agreed."

The group immediately split up to take action. Tonight, the market was destined to be a sleepless night...

"Hiss..." Song Changsheng felt as if he couldn't muster a shred of strength in his entire body. He opened his eyes blearily, only to see an aged face before him.

"Child, you're finally awake." Seeing Song Changsheng wake up, Song Xianyun felt a sudden sense of relief.

"Great Elder." Song Changsheng struggled to sit up, but he had no strength at all.

"Hey, just lie still. You are very weak right now."

"My apologies for the rudeness, Grandson."

"We are family, no need for such formalities. Did something go wrong with your cultivation?" Song Xianyun tucked the corners of the quilt around him, asking with concern.

"I inadvertently encountered a Gu insect. I fought it to the end, and I am somewhat exhausted."

Song Xianyun was greatly alarmed and hurriedly asked, "Where is that Gu insect?"

"I have already refined it to death. I wonder if that Gu cultivator was brought to justice?" This was the question he cared about most.

Song Xianyun sighed and said, "He managed to escape by luck, but he won't be able to stir up trouble for a short while. This was a severe deterrent; he likely won't dare to return."

Song Changsheng frowned, feeling a vague sense of unease. The community of Gu cultivators could not be judged by common logic. Having suffered such a heavy loss, would he truly be able to swallow his pride?

Perhaps sensing Song Changsheng's worry, Song Xianyun said with a chuckle, "Even if he returns, there is no need to worry. The clan possesses a treasure pearl specifically designed to counter insect-kind. As long as he does not break through to the Purple Mansion realm, we do not fear him."

Hearing this, Song Changsheng was filled with profound emotion. A single Gu insect had tormented that Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator for decades, forcing him to risk exposure just to consume that poisonous bait.

Yet, the Song Clan possessed a specialized magical tool to counter Gu insects, capable of resolving such problems with ease.

This was the foundation of a clan!

From the very beginning, this world was unequal. The high and mighty disciples of Sacred Lands looked down upon all, while solitary rogue cultivators struggled even to survive.

Song Changsheng was undoubtedly fortunate to have his clan as his most solid backbone.

"Once you have recovered, follow this old man back to Cangmang Peak. You have kept us on edge during this period; your mother has even requested your transfer back several times. Whether it is Little Green Mountain, Cangmang Peak, or the other spiritual mountains, it will be much better than staying here," Song Xianyun said earnestly.

"Your grandson obeys your command." Song Changsheng did not refuse again. This period of time had truly been too intense, making him deeply realize the inadequacy of his own strength.

Once he returned, he planned to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, and then face a much broader world...

Only after Song Xianyun left did Song Changsheng have the chance to inspect his internal condition. His divine sense swept through his body; there were no major issues, though his dantian had sustained minor damage, requiring him to pause his cultivation for a while.

This was already the best possible outcome.

However, what caused him physical heartache was that his painstakingly accumulated Primordial Qi had dwindled to a single wisp. It would take several years of cultivation to replenish it; his heart bled at the thought.

————

Five days later, Song Changsheng's injuries had mostly healed, and he prepared to set off for Cangmang Peak.

The thought of leaving brought a hint of reluctance to his heart. After all, his life here for the past year had been more exciting than his previous twenty years combined, and he had made many fellow practitioners as friends.

He specifically requested Song Xianyun to stay one more day so he could properly bid farewell to Zhu Yiqun and the others. After all, there was no telling when they would meet again.

Before leaving, Song Changsheng's only regret was that he failed to see Xu Yunhe. According to Zhu Yiqun, Xu Yunhe had left alone shortly after returning from the cave dwelling, and no one knew where he had gone.

But one thing was certain: the next time they met, Xu Yunhe would surely have undergone a complete transformation and become a figure renowned throughout the land!

"Changsheng, it is time to go." Song Xianyun said kindly.

"Coming."

Song Changsheng stepped onto his flying sword, and he and Song Xianyun transformed into a streak of light and departed...

Inside the Treasure Seeking Pavilion, Song Luyuan looked at Song Changqian, who was standing motionless by the window, and said, "They have gone far away; they can no longer be seen."

Song Changqian turned around, revealing a bitter smile. "Father, I want to go elsewhere to gain experience."

"Why the sudden thought?" Song Luyuan looked at his daughter with some surprise.

"Father, you have protected me too well. Compared to my cousin Changsheng, I fall far short in every aspect. If I continue like this, I will inevitably make an irreparable mistake one day. I cannot live under your wings forever; I must face the wind and rain alone to truly grow," Song Changqian said with a firm expression and a solemn tone.

Song Luyuan let out a long sigh and finally nodded with difficulty. He could not shield her for a lifetime. To survive in this cruel world, her footsteps could not be confined within this small Treasure Seeking Pavilion...

(End of Chapter)