On the Great Qian border, atop the Fortress, there were more patrolling soldiers than before. Their expressions were no longer as blank; a hint of vigilance had replaced it, giving them the look of true patrols.
Seeing the somewhat familiar scene before him, Zhao Li thought of his time as a soldier in the Pocket World and sighed inwardly:
"I wonder how they're doing?"
During his years at the Pill Tower, although he didn't search ostentatiously, he had used the Pill Tower's resources to subtly inquire about the Chaos Spirit Tribe.
But the Dou Qi Continent was simply too vast. A few hundred, or even fewer, people appearing on the Continent were like raindrops falling into the ocean – completely untraceable. Zhao Li had never received any news of them.
Gently touching the black and white ring on his hand, Zhao Li withdrew his thoughts and vanished before the Fortress.
Half a day later, Zhao Li arrived in Danyuan City.
As the Imperial Capital of Great Qian and its foremost city, the City was extremely prosperous. Even Zhao Li, who had seen grand sights, felt the crowds were packed.
After a slight pause for thought, Zhao Li decided to first hand Yin Ming over to his Teacher.
Below Danxia Peak, Zhao Li paused, looking up. On the mountainside, clouds and mist swirled, and an ancient path was faintly visible winding through the mountains.
The number one power in the Great Qian Empire, the Danyuan Sect, was nestled within the clouds!
Although Danxia Peak was where the Danyuan Sect was located, it didn't prohibit outsiders from visiting. However, perhaps out of reverence or fear, unless one was seeking medicine, no one usually came here.
Perhaps Zhao Li's actions were somewhat unusual, attracting the attention of the Danyuan Sect disciples standing on either side of the lush ancient path. Someone walked over and said:
"This is Danxia Peak, where the Danyuan Sect is located. Are you here to seek medicine? If you have nothing else, please leave quickly."
Zhao Li came back to his senses and looked at the young disciple before him, who was about twenty years old and already a Dou Master in Cultivation Level, which was quite good. He gently shook his head:
"I know. I'm not seeking medicine; I just haven't been back in a long time and feel a bit nostalgic."
Saying this, Zhao Li took out the Sect Badge from his Storage Ring, which he hadn't used in a long time.
The disciple was momentarily stunned, but reacted quickly:
"Greetings, Senior Brother! Please make yourself at home."
Zhao Li chuckled softly and didn't say much more. As the Sect Master's Direct Disciple, he was actually a generation higher than most young disciples; only a few Elders' direct disciples were of the same generation as him.
Under the gaze of several Mountain Gate Disciples, he stepped onto the ancient path.
The ancient path wound through the mountains, with bamboo groves lining the way, lush green forests dripping with dew, and ancient relics leaving their fragrance.
Zhao Li didn't choose to fly directly up the mountain; he simply walked step by step.
Looking at the mountains and forests beside the ancient path, the banks of the streams, the mountains, water, flowers, and plants all came into view. Slowly, passing through the clouds and mist, there were even pavilions, towers, and terraces, small bridges over flowing water, and rows of medicinal fields, with figures occasionally moving among them.
Danxia Peak was not particularly high, and the ancient path was not particularly long, but as Zhao Li walked along, looking at the unfolding landscape painting before him, his heart calmed down.
Zhao Li closed his eyes, feeling the joy in his heart, the corners of his mouth turning up, and he whispered to himself:
"I'm back."
He quickened his pace and continued to climb.
On the Sect Plaza, disciples were practicing swordplay, their robes fluttering, their long hair flowing, their sword movements agile. At a glance, they seemed like immortals.
Some disciples were practicing Alchemy, flames rising from their Medicine Cauldrons, medicinal ingredients transforming, and Pills gradually taking shape from nothing; some disciples hurried past, either returning to the mountain to submit missions or having accepted missions and preparing to descend...
Zhao Li liked this feeling. Although there were worries, compared to the outside world, it was truly peaceful.
Immediately, his figure faded.
Danxia Peak, Sect Master's Grand Hall, Lin Lan had a sudden intuition and opened his eyes.
At the same time, Zhao Li entered the Grand Hall and looked at Lin Lan.
Lin Lan's face clearly looked younger than before, but Zhao Li didn't sense any youthful mindset from him.
Zhao Li's eyes were slightly red. It was this white-haired old man who had treated his body and laid a good foundation when he was a child, who had guided him diligently in his cultivation, and who had introduced him to the path of Alchemy, providing countless conveniences for his cultivation journey.
Zhao Li knelt before Lin Lan with a thud:
"Master, your disciple has returned."
When Lin Lan opened his eyes, he had already recognized Zhao Li. He was overjoyed and unconsciously stroked his beard.
Seeing Zhao Li's action, he was very relieved. After a slight pause, he stood up and pulled Zhao Li to his feet, his voice trembling slightly:
"Good, good, it's good that you're back safe and sound!"
When wanderers away from home miss it, they always think of their stubborn appearance when they left, and then look at their own lack of achievements and are unwilling to return with their tails between their legs.
They are afraid that they will be met with strange looks at home, with comments like, 'See? I told you so, but you wouldn't listen. Now you've come back empty-handed just like this.'
In fact, how could the people at home not worry about those who are away? As long as you can return home safely to visit, they are very satisfied. In fact, many times, the unpleasant things they say are meant to keep people home, unwilling for them to suffer outside.
Lin Lan was like this. He looked at the much more mature Zhao Li, feeling both relieved and pained. Pulling Zhao Li up, he examined him carefully and laughed:
"Such a big person, still crying, aren't you ashamed?"
He scolded with a laugh, but the tears welling up in his eyes held no persuasiveness whatsoever.
Zhao Li allowed Lin Lan to pull him up, looking at the old man who was even shorter than himself, his hair much whiter. Zhao Li suddenly gave him a bear hug:
"Master, I missed you."
Having been reborn in another world with his memories, Zhao Li simply didn't know how to get along with 'peers'. He could only immerse himself in the vastness of cultivation. Even his grandfather felt that he was restless and had wild ideas, and did not want him to cultivate too early. It was Lin Lan who patiently thought and answered his questions one by one, laying the foundation for him, which allowed him to proceed smoothly all the way.
Lin Lan keenly sensed that something was off. Zhao Li had always been very independent since he was a child. Normally, even after ten years apart, he wouldn't be like this.
He gently patted Zhao Li's back:
"Your Master is here."
Perhaps this child had experienced many departures and suffered a lot during his years of traveling abroad.
Seeing his Teacher again and truly feeling his presence, the intense emotions in Zhao Li's heart pulled back the indifference that had accumulated over countless years.
Zhao Li felt fortunate. Thankfully, everything was still in time.
After a long while, Zhao Li calmed down and remembered Yin Ming. He said:
"Teacher, I brought you a small gift on the way. Do you want to see it first?"
Without waiting for Lin Lan to speak, he released Yin Ming.
Lin Lan was already filled with shock just by seeing Zhao Li's spatial ability. But he quickly calmed down. Clearly, he remembered the times his alcohol was occasionally startled away by Zhao Li's monstrous talent.
Hearing Zhao Li's words, a warmth rose in his heart, and he became a little curious about what Zhao Li had prepared.
He saw that what Zhao Li released was actually a person. He was slightly stunned for a moment, then frowned:
"Little Li, what's going on?"
"Master, don't you recognize him?"
Zhao Li asked back.
Lin Lan walked forward, recognized Yin Ming, and blurted out:
"Yin Ming?!"
Seeing the person who had almost pushed him to a dead end being brought back by his own disciple, Lin Lan suddenly felt a sense of temporal displacement, as if he had missed a period of time.
Seeing this, Zhao Li knew there was indeed a grudge between the two. He briefly explained the Yun Family matter to Lin Lan.
Lin Lan heard this, was silent for a long time, and said:
"Alas~ I didn't expect that because of my worries, cowardice, and timidity, I ended up being fine, but instead caused the Yun Family to suffer this calamity. Fate is truly playing tricks."
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