Return to the Great Xia Sword Sect

*Buzz!* Cao Yan snapped his eyes open, an inexplicable pressure pervading the void! *Boom!* Terrifying flame primal energy swept across heaven and earth, instantly vaporizing every drop of water in the frigid pool. Cao Yan rose to his feet, violent surges of primal energy churning around him. Yet even as that majestic aura surged, he forcefully reined it in. Li Guanqi glanced up at the dark clouds slowly gathering across the firmament and uttered a soft rebuke: "Disperse!" Meng Wanshu extended a jade hand and tapped lightly in the air. Instantly, all the primal energy surging around Cao Yan was forced back into his body. Only then did Xiao Chen and Ye Feng truly grasp just how powerful Meng Wanshu was now! That strength... was simply not something either of them could rival! Even Li Guanqi was quite astonished by her might. Once Cao Yan's condition stabilized, the others waited for him to steadily suppress his cultivation realm on his own. At that moment, Li Guanqi turned to Meng Wanshu with curiosity. "Wanshu, back when you faced those two Void Refining Realm cultivators, how long did it actually take you to kill them?" Hearing this, Meng Wanshu gave a shrug. "Not that long. Faster than you guys, at any rate." All three men offered a wry smile at her answer. *Buzz!* Cao Yan slowly opened his eyes, a glint of azure flame flashing in their depths. Looking at the figures before him with reddened eyes, his voice trembled, hoarse and halting. "Eldest Brother... Second Brother..." Li Guanqi and Ye Feng whipped around and darted over. The three pulled each other into a fierce embrace. Li Guanqi turned sideways and punched Cao Yan in the shoulder, roaring, "You bloody bastard! Not a peep out of you for all these years! What, were you afraid the two of us couldn't help you?!" Ye Feng did the same, kicking him squarely in the backside and cursing crossly, "Why're you as stubborn as me? Refused to contact us no matter what, huh?" That only stoked Li Guanqi's temper further. He planted a kick right into Ye Feng's waist, sending him tumbling away, and snapped, "You have the nerve to talk? You ran off to the Purgatory Abyss and pulled the exact same vanishing act as Third Brother!" Ye Feng scratched his head with a cheeky chuckle and scampered right back. "Heh, aren't I totally fine? If something real had happened, I definitely would've yelled for Boss to save me." Watching the three cursing and kicking at one another, a gentle smile graced Meng Wanshu's face. Xiao Chen stood awkwardly to the side, not even knowing where to put his hands. Li Guanqi released Cao Yan, looked at Xiao Chen, and said, "This is Xiao Chen from the Shenbao Domain. He's a good brother of ours now. If he hadn't helped out on this trip to the Xuanmen Domain, it would've cost us a lot more trouble." Hearing that, Cao Yan immediately cupped his fists in a solemn salute. "I, Cao Yan, thank Brother Xiao for your generous help. I will remember this kindness for life." Hearing those words, Xiao Chen felt a warm current surge through his chest. For some reason, his nose stung, and his eyes suddenly grew moist. This sudden burst of emotion caught everyone off guard. In their eyes, Xiao Chen had always been an easygoing, carefree sort. Perhaps only Li Guanqi sensed the truth beneath the surface... Xiao Chen appeared indifferent to everything, but at heart, he was deeply sensitive. Even when they had gone to the Shenbao Domain, he had chosen not to return home, leading Li Guanqi to guess that Xiao Chen likely disliked the atmosphere of his household. Perhaps only by wandering abroad day in and day out could he experience a measure of freedom. Xiao Chen said softly, "In all my years of living... this is the first time I've ever felt what it's like to be recognized... to be needed." As he spoke, the corners of his mouth curved up, and he looked at Li Guanqi and the others with a warm, genuine smile. Straightening his robes, he bowed with clasped fists and said smilingly, "Shenbao Domain, spear cultivator Xiao Chen!" Li Guanqi then pointed to the gentle woman in the ice-blue gown and said softly, "This is my Dao companion, Meng Wanshu." Cao Yan let out an "Ah!" and hurriedly bowed with clasped hands. "Little brother Cao Yan greets Eldest Sister-in-law! Sister-in-law is truly gorgeous, with an extraordinary grace. You two are a perfect match!" Meng Wanshu covered her mouth with a light chuckle. With a soft smile and warm eyes, she returned the greeting slightly. "Aren't you a sweet talker? Far better than your eldest brother. How about I introduce you to a few young ladies from great clans later on?" Cao Yan instantly flushed bright red at those words; at heart, the lad was still thoroughly innocent. He grinned, neither agreeing nor refusing. Looking up at the friends around him, his heart swelled with countless emotions. That night, the group sat around the campfire, talking endlessly and drinking jar after jar of wine. The flickering flames cast dancing shadows across Cao Yan's profile. With bloodshot eyes, he stared unblinkingly at the severed head in his hands. Tears burst forth like a broken dam, accompanied by muffled, intermittent sobs. Xiao Chen sat beside him, gently patting his back. Only now did he learn what Cao Yan had endured all these years. From meeting Li Guanqi and the others in that small town, to being forced apart later on and plunged into a nightmare of endless hunts and persecution, until Cao Zhennan finally tracked him down and dragged him back... Listening to each and every ordeal, Xiao Chen's fists clenched tight. Li Guanqi tipped his head back to gulp down a mouthful of strong liquor, then murmured, "It's all in the past now. From this day forward, you are your own master. The heavens are high, and the world is wide—roam as you please! No more hiding away. Across the Six Domains under heaven, you shall ride your sword into the highest skies to behold the mortal realm and all its mountains and rivers!" Cao Yan nodded heavily. Beside them, even Meng Wanshu looked at Li Guanqi with radiant admiration, her eyes glowing. That night, meat and wine flowed without limit, and hearty laughter rang out continuously. Who could have imagined that among these four young men with their arms around each other's shoulders, any one of them was prominent enough to be hailed as a titan of their generation? Early the next morning, Ye Feng slowly came to. Thumping his pounding head, he groggily blinked open his eyes and looked around. Suddenly, his eyes went wide. "Hey!! Where's Boss?!" Cao Yan shoved Xiao Chen's leg off his neck and sat up, half-squinting. "Second Brother... what is it?" Xiao Chen's hair looked like a bird's nest. He pried one eye open and looked back and forth. "What's that... Old Li is missing?" The three scrambled to their feet, their powerful divine senses sweeping wildly across the area. Yet right then, their divine senses were suddenly frozen and locked in midair by an overwhelming force. Standing by the edge of the frigid pool, all three froze stiff as well. From within a sealed barrier, Li Guanqi coughed dryly twice and stepped out. Their divine senses had just been intercepted by that barrier, flash-frozen before they could even peek inside. Cao Yan and Ye Feng caught on in an instant. "Cough, cough... Well... I'm going to go find somewhere to take a bath." Cao Yan hastily chimed in, "Uh... Second Brother!! Take me with you!! I stink to high heaven!" Dragged away by the other two, Xiao Chen suddenly pouted, mock-weeping tears of grievance. "Boo-hoo, this is so unfair... And it's not like I can beat him in a fight..." Ye Feng consoled him, "I get it, I get it. Just cultivate hard and try to beat him later. When that day comes, land a couple of punches for me too." Meng Wanshu, her pretty face flushed crimson, punched Li Guanqi. In a soft, bashful voice, she scolded him, "I told you we shouldn't! It's all your fault!" Li Guanqi straightened his expression, declaring with utmost righteousness, "I was merely following my heart. What wrong is there in that?" *Boom!* A piercing glint of frost flashed through the air, giving Li Guanqi such a fright that he hurriedly dodged sideways. "Hey! You'd really strike me?!" Meng Wanshu resumed her usual poised demeanor, giving a soft, petulant humph. "Just so you know what I'm capable of! Next time... next time, you're on top!" "Cough, cough... Fine, fine... Well... let's head to the Great Xia Domain." "Boys, let's move out!"