In the morning, on Lingze Mountain, atop Dengxian Terrace.
Lin Zhao, carrying a sliver of sword light and the fan-wielding goddess Liu Liying, appeared on the half-shattered Dengxian Terrace. Not far away, Chi Zhongyu and Yu Wan Ning were already present, smiling and cupping their fists in greeting. However, today’s assembly on Dengxian Terrace far exceeded these individuals; Chu Xiantong, Han Wangshu, Qi Dongshan, Mao Niang, Lu Huaining, and many others—virtually all the top cultivators from every mountain across the land—had come to bid farewell to the banished immortal.
Lin Zhao stood on Dengxian Terrace, feeling somewhat overwhelmed. In the wind, he saw countless youthful faces. Many young disciples from various mountain sects had arrived. Those who could fly were doing so, while most of the others were scattered across nearby peaks, gazing towards Dengxian Terrace from afar, their hands either clasped in greeting or cupped in salutation.
“Thank you!”
Lin Zhao channeled a surge of spiritual energy into his voice, cupping his fists towards the surrounding cultivators. "We are about to depart. This Hundred Flowers Realm will be entrusted to your care. Lin Zhao asks for nothing more than national peace, universal prosperity, and the flourishing of the Great Dao!"
The crowd nodded in unison. "Farewell, immortal!"
"It’s about time."
Lin Zhao waved his hand, and the Imperial Decree Heavenly Book appeared before him. He then took out the Thousand Cavalry Rolling Snow, dipped it in cinnabar, and inscribed the names of Yu Wan Ning, Liu Liying, and Chi Zhongyu onto the Heavenly Book. Instantly, the Great Dao manifested, and strands of golden decree text circled the three individuals. Lin Zhao glanced at the Imperial Decree Heavenly Book; this object contained the rich destiny of the Hundred Flowers Realm. It was best to leave it here. Should he suffer any mishap, the entire Hundred Flowers Realm could be affected.
He smiled slightly, a stroke of inspiration striking him. He called out towards the distant mountains and forests, "Brother Donkey, come!"
Immediately, a wisp of white cloud rose from the ground, carrying a wild donkey frolicking and running, all the way to Lin Zhao's side. The donkey’s large head nudged Lin Zhao’s arm with force. In fact, the wild donkey had been there from the moment Lin Zhao arrived in the Hundred Flowers Realm. When Lin Zhao obtained the Imperial Decree Heavenly Book, he understood implicitly. This was no ordinary wild donkey; it was merely a manifestation of the Great Dao of the Hundred Flowers Realm.
Thus, Lin Zhao placed the Imperial Decree Heavenly Book into a pouch on the donkey's flank, patted its head, and said with a smile, "Go."
The wild donkey turned and galloped away, transforming into a gust of clear wind in the wilderness in an instant.
The manifestation of the Great Dao was beyond the reach of those without karmic affinity. The next time the world saw this wild donkey would likely be when Lin Zhao descended upon the Hundred Flowers Realm once more.
"Let's go."
Lin Zhao drew his Li Quan sword, its blade pointing directly at the heavens. Instantly, a strand of golden decree text enveloped his entire body, giving him the feeling of ascending with his sword. His body slowly rose, entering the Heavenly Gate. Liu Liying, with a flick of her fan, followed Lin Zhao closely. Behind them, Yu Wan Ning and Chi Zhongyu cupped their fists once more towards the cultivators of their homeland and ascended through the Heavenly Gate.
...
At the Mountain Summit Villa, Tianranju.
The Stone of Destiny within the ancient bronze water vat erupted with auspicious light. In an instant, four beams of golden radiance shot out from the vat, showering the area in front of Tianranju—these were Lin Zhao, Liu Liying, Yu Wan Ning, and Chi Zhongyu.
"Brother Lin Zhao!"
Xiao Jiu'er, a Grand Sword Immortal at the peak of the twelfth realm, moved the fastest. With a single stride, she rushed into Lin Zhao's arms, nearly pushing him into the apricot grove behind him. Xiao Jiu'er was too happy and forgot to restrain her strength. Immediately after, Zhang Luobai lunged forward, standing ramrod straight before Lin Zhao. "Master, during your absence, your disciple’s studies have progressed, and all has been well. I have not caused you a single moment of worry!"
"Haha!"
Lin Zhao patted Xiao Jiu'er’s delicate shoulder and transmitted his voice with a smile, "It's improper for us to be so close, you've forgotten again!"
Xiao Jiu'er's pretty face flushed slightly as she darted away from Brother Lin Zhao’s embrace. Lin Zhao then stroked Zhang Luobai's little head before walking towards everyone, cupping his fists in greeting one by one. "Teacher’s teacher, thank you for the rescue! Auntie, and Miss Lin, thank you for your sword strikes! Lingyu, Old Huang, Zhu Zhi, Mu Zha, Chen Ben, Chu Yu, and also Tong Yu, Dong Zang, Wang Yue, Lord Su Shan, and Old Sword Immortal Han are here too. Thank you for your concern. And Lord Tang Guang, thank you!"
The old gentleman smiled and nodded. He was overjoyed to have protected his disciple's disciple. Lin Xingchu also smiled and nodded; seeing Lin Zhao return safely was paramount. Lin Wanhua pursed her lips and smiled, indicating it was merely a small effort. Gu Lingyu, Huang Tingyu, Zhu Zhi, and the others also nodded and smiled. As for Tang Guangjun, he felt a twinge of nervousness. When Lord Shan had called out everyone’s names, he was placed last, truly a subordinate offering of the Mountain Summit Villa. Fortunately, the Villa Master had not forgotten him, Tang Guangjun, and he would likely have a seat at tonight’s celebration banquet.
Lin Zhao looked at the sky, which was nearing evening. He smiled and said, "Since we're back, it's time for dinner... Dong Zang, Tong Yu, prepare dinner. Make it a lavish one. Our Mountain Summit Villa will host everyone grandly tonight."
"Yes, Young Master!" Dong Zang smiled and nodded.
"By the way."
Lin Zhao pointed to Liu Liying, who was following behind him, and said with a smile, "Dong Zang, I've found a little helper for you. This is Liu Liying, the Fan-wielding Goddess from the Hundred Flowers Realm. She's new to the Mountain Summit Villa and unfamiliar with the place, so she'll be your assistant for now. Chopping vegetables, making fires, serving tea and water—you know how to do these things, right, Liying?"
"I do!"
Liu Liying smiled, dimples showing, "As long as Young Master wants Liying to do it, I will learn even if I don't know how."
"This Mural Goddess has an excellent attitude!"
Huang Tingyu raised his thumb and said, "Younger Brother Lin Zhao, if you find Liu Liying troublesome or clumsy to keep around, your old brother Huang can reluctantly take her in. After all, at my age, I don't have a mountain Dao companion yet. Although Liu Liying’s background is a bit humble, she would indeed be a bit of a catch marrying me, Huang Tingyu. But I accept it, who says I'm not a good person!"
"Old Huang,"
Lin Zhao narrowed his eyes and chuckled, "Have you no shame!?"
"Hahahaha~~~~"
Mu Zha, Tang Guangjun, Lord Su Shan, and the others burst into laughter.
Liu Liying followed Dong Zang and Tong Yu to prepare dinner. She tucked her fan into her waist, flicked her hand, and her red dress transformed into a simple peasant girl's outfit. Indeed, one must look the part when working, and her attitude was extremely earnest.
Lin Zhao then invited everyone into the living room of Tianranju one by one, introducing them: "This is Yu Wan Ning, the Valkyrie of the Ancient Shu Kingdom. You should have met her during your investigations in the Human Realm. And this is Chi Zhongyu, the young master of the Lingnan Sword Sect of the Xu Dynasty. You should all know them as well."
"We do."
Zhu Zhi and Chu Yu nodded with smiles.
"Alright then."
Lin Zhao plopped down on a seat. Now that he was home, he wanted to have a cup of tea and rest. "Since everyone knows Miss Yu and Young Master Chi, Zhu Zhi, why don't you introduce everyone?"
"Okay."
Zhu Zhi nodded with a smile. "Miss Yu, Young Master Chi, my name is Zhu Zhi, a Sword Cultivator of the twelfth realm under the command of the Master."
"Twelfth realm!?"
Yu Wan Ning and Chi Zhongyu’s minds nearly exploded. In their understanding, the tenth realm, Star River, was already the absolute peak. There was a twelfth realm above that?!
Zhu Zhi continued, "This is Chu Yu, a general of the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, an eleventh-realm Heavenly Origin realm Martial Artist, plus an eighth-realm Golden Core Sword Cultivator. This is Mu Zha, also a general of the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, an eleventh-realm Heavenly Origin Martial Artist. And this is Chen Ben, also an eleventh-realm Heavenly Origin Martial Artist. This is Old Sword Immortal Han, an eleventh-realm Cloud Master, the legendary God of Wind and Rain."
"..."
Yu Wan Ning and Chi Zhongyu were dumbfounded. When they successfully ascended and arrived at the Mountain Summit Villa, they already felt incredibly insignificant, not even daring to release their auras. But they had never expected that these seemingly approachable individuals would all be at the eleventh realm, beyond their comprehension! Was Lin Zhao's homeland a place that mass-produced monsters?
Zhu Zhi continued with a smile. "This is the Deputy Commander of our Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, Huang Tingyu, a demon, a twelfth-realm Sword Cultivator. This is the Dean of our Snow Domain Heavenly Pool’s Shanghe Feng Academy, Gu Lingyu of the Confucian school, also twelfth realm. And this person, who is closest and most dear to our Master, is Su Qingjiu, the Lord of Changming Mountain, a peak Sword Immortal of the twelfth realm. You can consider her as Master's own sister. Oh, and I almost forgot, this is the gatekeeper of the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, Tang Guangjun of the Military school, a twelfth-realm Sword Cultivator."
"..."
Yu Wan Ning and Chi Zhongyu’s heads buzzed. Eleventh realm cultivators walking around was one thing, but twelfth realm cultivators also walking around?! Was it that easy to become a celestial being in the Upper Realm? Moreover, there were so many twelfth-realm Sword Cultivators among them—Huang Tingyu, Su Qingjiu, Tang Guangjun, plus Zhu Zhi who was speaking. Was the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool a nest for twelfth-realm Sword Cultivators?
Xiao Jiu'er, Gu Lingyu, Huang Tingyu, and the others nodded with smiles and cupped their fists. Yu Wan Ning and Chi Zhongyu also bowed respectfully with cupped fists. Chi Zhongyu, in particular, felt his heart pounding, wondering if his cupped fist salute was too casual. Should he kneel and kowtow first?!
Zhu Zhi smiled and continued the introduction. "This is Lin Xingchu, Master's own aunt!"
She specifically emphasized the word "own." At this, Lin Xingchu beamed. This little girl Zhu Zhi was indeed excellent, truly a capable general under Xiao Zhao, skillful and thoughtful. It was just a pity, Xiao Zhao’s wives were already lining up, and this little girl likely wouldn’t get a turn. But it didn't matter; depending on Xiao Zhao’s mood, what was wrong with a man having multiple wives if he reached the fifteenth realm? No one would dare to speak ill of him if he married a hundred of them.
"Aunt Lin Xingchu is the River God of the foremost Jianxi River in the Human Realm, a thirteenth-realm deity. When stationed at Jianxi River, her strength was comparable to the fourteenth realm."
Zhu Zhi said this nonchalantly, then walked to Lin Wanhua's side and smiled. "This is Sword Immortal Lin Wanhua, the Lord of Fusu Great Wall, a peak thirteenth-realm Sword Cultivator, the foremost Sword Cultivator in the Human Realm. When stationed at Fusu Great Wall, she was comparable to a fourteenth-realm Sword Immortal. Sword Immortal Lin... is considered Young Master’s confidante."
"Ah!?"
Lin Wanhua’s delicate mouth parted slightly, her exquisitely beautiful face instantly flushing crimson.