A Close Call

"Hm? What's wrong?" "Did something happen to Tu Shan?" Lu Kangnian's expression shifted slightly. Ever since he returned, he had not sensed Tu Shan's aura at all. Li Guanqi swallowed hard, forcing an apologetic smile onto his face. "Uh... Senior Tu Shan is fine. She's just... well... in seclusion!" In his heart, Li Guanqi cursed inwardly. *Did Ye Feng forget to undo Tu Shan's seal?!* *How long has it freaking been since we killed Xun Tian?!* Keeping his expression calm, Li Guanqi hastily sent a transmission to Ye Feng through his Guanyun Jade Pendant. The moment Ye Feng received the message, he let out a sharp screech of alarm and vanished like the wind inside the Purple Spirit Grotto-Heaven! Inside a secluded cultivation chamber... Looking at Tu Shan covered head to toe in dust, Ye Feng was on the verge of tears. Steeling himself, he crept forward and jabbed out a finger to release the seal! *Boom!* A torrent of aqua-blue origin power erupted in an instant, blasting the entire cultivation chamber over a hundred zhang into the air! A pillar of light soared skyward from Tianshui Peak, and Tu Shan's furious bellow shook the heavens! "Ye Feng! Li Guanqi! You two bastards!" "I'm going to kill both of you!" Lu Kangnian froze for a moment, then glanced toward Tianshui Peak, muttering to himself, "Hm? She's at Tianshui Peak? Why couldn't I sense her before?" Turning his head, he noticed Li Guanqi pushing back his chair and standing up with an unnatural look on his face. "Where are you going?" Li Guanqi yanked open the door and bolted like a streak of smoke. "Running for my life!" In the end, Li Guanqi and Ye Feng fled together back into the Purple Spirit Grotto-Heaven. Midway, Tu Shan was moving so fast that before she knew it, she slammed headlong into Lu Kangnian's chest. The woman looked up at the figure she had yearned for day and night, and her eyes instantly reddened with tears. Seeing Tu Shan again stirred boundless turmoil in Lu Kangnian's heart. Without any regard for the disciples looking on, he opened his arms and drew her into a tight embrace. Back when he stepped onto the altar and lost consciousness, he had thought his wandering journey would end right there. Never could he have imagined that misfortune would turn to blessing, allowing him to break through to the Mahayana realm and step into the ranks of the realm's pinnacle experts! Yet having lived through it, he understood even more the importance of treasuring those by his side. Tu Shan buried her head in Lu Kangnian's chest and wept uncontrollably. She had truly believed she would never see him again. In the Purple Spirit Grotto-Heaven. Li Guanqi and Ye Feng sat atop a mountain peak drinking wine. Exchanging a glance, they could not help bursting into laughter. "Big Brother, you really know how to screw me over..." "When I saw Senior Tu Shan, she had a thick layer of dust all over her..." "I had to brace myself just to undo the seal. But at least something good came of it—she looks like she's about to break through after this." Li Guanqi's lips curled upward. Looking at Ye Feng, he could not resist remarking, "I was sitting right there with the Sect Master when it happened, and I was already getting ready to bolt..." "When he called out to me, he scared the life out of me, so I just made a run for it." The two sat atop the mountain, throwing their heads back in laughter. Li Guanqi lay back on the grass, resting his head on his hands. Listening to the rustling of the breeze sweeping across the grass and trees, a deep calm settled over him. Ye Feng lay down beside him. "I heard you've accepted Fourth Brother?" "Yeah. He's much more reliable now, so there's no need to hold reservations anymore." After a long silence, Li Guanqi spoke up. "I was thinking... in the future, the six of us brothers will ascend to the Immortal Realm together!" Ye Feng kept his eyes closed as he lay beside him, the corners of his mouth lifting. "Does that even need to be said? Why else do you think Fatty Tang was in such a hurry?" A faint smile appeared on Li Guanqi's face. The thought of all the sworn brothers ascending to the Immortal Realm together left his heart racing for a long time. Yet soon, his thoughts turned somber. "Once we head back this time, we probably won't be coming out again for a very long time." "Yeah." "Next, the Seventh Domain might face invasions from numerous powerhouses of the Immortal Realm. Friction between the two realms is growing fiercer by the day." Ye Feng opened his eyes slowly and sighed. "All we can do is cultivate diligently and grow stronger!" "Many people saw the aftermath of the immortal's descent this time." "Not just us, but the cultivators across the Six Domains must have seen it as well. They'll definitely be forced to consider whether this is really the outcome they want..." "Besides... the Seventh Domain will likely intensify its suppression even further!" Li Guanqi nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly as he gazed up at the vault of heaven. "Indeed." "The power of the Immortal Boundary Wall... has grown stronger." "The mysterious pulling force from the Immortal Realm has weakened significantly now." Li Guanqi rose slowly to his feet. Gazing toward Tang Ru on a distant mountain peak, and then toward Cao Yan, a slight smile touched his lips. "Everyone is striving so hard to push forward." Beside him, Ye Feng sighed in agreement. "Yeah. Though lately I've felt our progress has been slow..." "Still, after participating in the battle against that immortal in the Third Domain, all of us gained our own insights once we returned!" Li Guanqi stretched and laughed. "Walking the line between life and death and battling an immortal who descended from above—how could one not gain insights from that?" He looked up and sent out his senses, vaguely catching the auras of Meng Jiangchu and Li Guilan. Turning to Ye Feng, he said in a low voice, "I'll go meet my father-in-law and mother-in-law. Keep an eye on Tang Ru." *Whoosh!* By the time Li Guanqi arrived in the sky above the Great Xia Sword Sect, Meng Jiangchu had just returned with Li Guilan. The moment Li Guilan spotted Li Guanqi, her face broke into a broad smile, and she flew straight over. "You little brat! How long has it been since you came back to visit me?!" Li Guanqi quickly took two steps forward, taking the woman by the arm as he smiled gently. "I know my mistake, I know my mistake! Look, didn't Father-in-Law go and fetch you so we could all head over there together?" Li Guilan was easygoing and waved a hand dismissively. "Anywhere is fine with me! As long as the whole family is together, lively and bustling." The smile on Meng Jiangchu's face was impossible to hide. Watching the woman's boisterous, straightforward demeanor, his eyes were filled with... adoration? Gu Changsheng appeared furtively not far away, wrapped in an extraordinarily baggy black robe that concealed his entire figure, even hiding his face. When Li Guilan saw him, she immediately pulled Li Guanqi behind her and raised a fist. "Son, stand back! That sneaky fellow in the black robe is up to no good!" That instinctive call of "son" and the way Li Guilan pulled him behind her made Li Guanqi freeze for a long moment. Meng Jiangchu furrowed his brows. "Old Gu, what are you doing?" Li Guanqi suppressed the surge of emotion in his chest, took a deep breath, and held Li Guilan as he smiled. "It's fine. This is a senior we know." "Huh? Then why is he dressed like that...?" "*Cough, cough*... Senior has had some minor physical issues, so it's not convenient for him to show his true face." Hearing Li Guanqi's words, Gu Changsheng nearly wept tears of gratitude. *Hum!* Ye Feng led everyone out of the Purple Spirit Grotto-Heaven. Gu Li emerged sporting two black eyes, grinning at Li Guanqi with one of his front teeth missing... "Big Brother, everyone's here." *Buzz! Swish, swish, swish!* Lu Kangnian, leading all the peak lords and elders of the Great Xia Sword Sect, appeared midair! Meng Jiangchu tossed out a teleportation array formation disc, immediately sending radiant light flooding across the sky. Lu Kangnian, dressed in his sect master robes, wore a solemn expression. His gentle gaze swept over Li Guanqi and the others. Taking a deep breath, he cupped his hands, bowed deeply, and shouted at the top of his lungs: "Farewell to you all!" The moment his voice fell, everyone behind him along with the multitude of disciples flying in the air bowed and echoed in a resounding chorus: "Farewell to the Elders!" The patriarch of the Spirit Fish Clan and the patriarch of the Fire-Eyed Demon Fox Clan were also among them, as was the spirited Xuan Lin, and many more... Li Guanqi's heart surged. Every time they returned, they would leave numerous preparations and trump cards within the territory of the Great Xia Sword Sect just in case. With the current foundation of Great Xia, anyone below the Tribulation Transcendence realm who dared intrude would meet only death! Leading Ye Feng and the others, Li Guanqi stepped forward, cupped his hands, and returned the salute. "Sect Master, take care!" *Hum!* The formation's radiance faded, and their figures slowly vanished. In the crowd, Qing'er stood with reddened eyes, staring at Xiao Chen. Ye Tianying's lips trembled slightly, but as a father, he remained silent. Ye Feng's mother, Su Xi, gazed tearfully at Ye Feng. Ye Feng grinned, flashing a brilliant smile to reassure them not to worry. Tang Ru could finally look proudly at his father. Tang Wei was so moved that old tears streamed down his face. Clutching a jade slip, he wept as he asked, "Madam, our son... are you sure... I was the only one?"