Chapter 57: The Return

The Rosy Cloud Boat traveled at extreme speed, flying over the lush Mushroom Forest Plains for an hour before quickly landing upon a mountain peak adorned with flying pavilions and crimson structures, shrouded in mist and clouds.

Following behind Yuan Tuan, Li Chijing disembarked from the Rosy Cloud Boat, only to see a large group of cultivators in white robes and green garments bowing respectfully, their voices rising in unison

"We welcome the Immortal Sect Envoy!"

"No need for such formalities."

Yuan Tuan gave a gentle smile and descended a few steps along the stone stairs. A middle-aged man dressed in long robes was waiting at the bottom; upon seeing Li Chijing, he spoke respectfully

"Greetings to the disciple of the Upper Sect. I am Yuan Huayuan of the Yuan family of the Mushroom Forest Plains."

"Li Chijing of the Li family of Moon-Watching Lake."

The Yuan and Li families were not in the same commandery. When exchanging names, they typically included their place of origin rather than their mountain name to prevent confusion. After greeting him, he saw Yuan Tuan nod slightly

"This is my clan brother, Yuan Huayuan. I have already given him instructions."

"Thank you, Senior Sister!"

Li Chijing cupped his hands in greeting, stepped onto the Yuan family member's flying shuttle, bid farewell to his Senior Sister, and headed west.

After flying for a while, seeing that the man remained silent, Li Chijing smiled and struck up a conversation.

"Senior, Senior Sister calls you 'clan brother,' but why do you look..."

"I look like I could be his grandfather, don't I?"

Yuan Huayuan laughed heartily and said loudly

"The lifespan of a Qi Refinement cultivator is long, and their appearance ages slowly. My clan sister entered Qi Refinement at eighteen; since then, her beauty has remained timeless, and she looks barely in her early twenties now. I, however, am dull-witted and only entered Qi Refinement the year before last, so naturally, I have the appearance of a middle-aged man."

"I see!"

Li Chijing muttered to himself, then couldn't help but ask

"It seems that for Qi Refinement cultivators, the younger they are, the more they should not be underestimated?"

"Not necessarily. Although Qi Refinement is said to grant a lifespan of two hundred years, it doesn't mean one's appearance remains unchanged for two centuries; it just happens much more slowly. It is quite normal for a forty-year-old cultivator to look twenty. It is the cultivators in their twilight years who are usually not to be trifled with—they are typically old monsters who have cultivated for over a hundred years but dare not break through to Foundation Establishment, merely hanging on at the peak of Qi Refinement."

Seeing Li Chijing looking thoughtful, Yuan Huayuan smiled faintly

"Judging a person by their appearance is a mistake. I suffered a great loss from this in my early years and nearly lost my life."

The cold morning wind whistled against the corners of Li Chijing's clothes. Yuan Huayuan's flying shuttle was much slower than Si Yuanbai's had been back then. The two chatted casually about recent trivial matters in the cultivation world. It took about two hours before the shimmering waters of Moon-Watching Lake came into view.

Li Chijing directed Yuan Huayuan to stop at the Lichuan Mouth by the lakeshore, then smiled and bid him farewell.

"I shall await you here at the Hour of the Tiger on the third day, Fellow Daoist."

With that, Yuan Huayuan steered the shuttle and soared into the sky.

Activating his Wind-Riding Technique, Li Chijing drifted weightlessly toward Lichuan Mouth. From a distance, he saw a child of six or seven squatting at the entrance of the village. An arrow lay by his feet, and his left hand held a pitch-black arrowhead, which he was carefully grinding against a whetstone.

Seeing Li Chijing approaching ethereally, the child stared blankly for a moment before standing up unhurriedly and saying respectfully

"Immortal Master, this area is under the jurisdiction of the Li family of Lijing, governed by Qingchi. A few miles to the east is the Guli Path."

Li Chijing gave a low laugh, studied the boy's features, and smiled

"What is your relationship to Chen Erniu?"

"He is my father!"

The child's eyes instantly lit up. He cupped his hands repeatedly and said respectfully

"My name is Chen Donghe. I will go call my father immediately."

Li Chijing waved his hand, and with a light step, he had already vanished from the stone path.

***

The Chen Residence.

Draped in a large fur coat, Chen Erniu was calmly sipping tea. Beside the table, the scholar Han Wenxu was also sipping tea, looking at Chen Erniu with a smile

"Old Chen, you are a strange one. The five sons of the Chen family were named after rivers and lakes. The Chen family is quite prominent now, yet you live like a common fisherman."

Chen Erniu smiled without speaking. Suddenly, the courtyard gate creaked open, and a dignified young man dressed in white feather robes and green boots slowly entered the courtyard. He first offered a gentle salute to Han Wenxu

"Teacher, it has been a long time."

Then, he cast a low glance at Chen Erniu and said softly

"After several years, Uncle Chen has certainly become more prosperous."

Chen Erniu froze. His gaze lingered on Li Chijing's face for a few breaths before he cried out in shock

"Li Chi... Immortal Master!"

"Jing'er!"

All four of the Li brothers had studied under Han Wenxu, so Han Wenxu naturally addressed him with intimacy. Realizing his slip of the tongue, he immediately lowered his head and fell silent.

Li Chijing waved his hand and smiled

"Take me to see my brothers."

"The Young Clan Leader... should be on Mount Lijing right now. As for the Immortal Master... I heard he was recently at Mount Meichi."

***

Li Xiangping was cultivating in the front courtyard when he heard a flurry of rapid footsteps on the stone stairs. He frowned and said deeply

"Ye Sheng?"

"Hahahaha!"

A familiar laugh rang out, and an intrepid, dignified young man stepped through the door. A three-foot green blade hung at his waist, its pale white tassel swaying gracefully, looking incredibly dashing.

"I returned to the village and didn't expect the family to have moved up the mountain already, so I asked Brother Ye Sheng to lead me through the formation to come up."

After speaking, he shook his head with a smile

"Tsk, the Mist Illusion Formation."

"Jing'er?!"

Li Xiangping blinked and asked in shock

"You... aren't you cultivating within the Sect?!"

"Hahaha, I'm on the verge of breaking through Qi Refinement, so I took leave from my sect to come home and visit."

"I'll go call Father!"

Li Mutian hurried into the front courtyard. After the three sat and chatted for a while, Li Tongya and Li Xuanxuan also rushed back.

"Father Ji!"

Having not seen Li Chijing for several years, Li Xuanxuan was naturally very affectionate, hugging him repeatedly. Li Tongya also looked at his younger brother with a beaming smile.

The reunion was an emotional one. Their mother, Lady Liu, was so happy she wept. The family prepared a feast and introduced Li Chiyang, Liu Rouxuan, and the other new members to Li Chijing. They brought out snake gall wine that had been aged for several years, drinking late into the night.

After seeing off Li Chiyang and the others, the Li family members set up a tea table in the backyard. Their minds were clear; while the snake gall wine contained spiritual energy, it was not particularly intoxicating, and since everyone had matters on their minds, they did not drink much.

Listening to his brothers recount the changes in the family over the past few years, Li Chijing could not help but feel sentimental. He sipped the clear tea before him and said seriously

"I have indeed come back for an important matter; otherwise, I would not have rushed home while on the verge of breaking through Qi Refinement."

Narrowing his eyes at the stone platform in the room, Li Chijing whispered

"Let us speak inside."

The group entered the room. Li Chijing said nothing, standing silently as he gazed at the enticing moonlight filtering through the skylight.

Watching the moonlight slowly condense into a pale white lunar essence upon the Dharma Mirror, flowing around its sides, Li Chijing performed a hand seal and began to discern it carefully.

Feeling the sixth cycle of his embryonic breathing—the Spiritual Primordial Cycle—within his Ascending Yang Mansion stirring, and his entire body of magical power flowing slightly faster, Li Chijing withdrew his hand in a daze. Even though he had verified what he suspected, he spoke slowly, his face still filled with disbelief

"Taiyin Lunar Essence?!"

(End of Chapter)