[Life Span: 142//586]
This year, Lin Changâan was 142 years old. As a Core Formation Master, escorting a merchant ship was not difficult.
After all, their merchant shipâs route was entirely within the jurisdiction of Bihai Palace, making it very safe.
This turmoil in the Five Dragons Island Sea Region was actually a good opportunity for the Profound Sound Pavilion, as they used it to ally with Bihai Palace.
In the vast ocean, occasional fierce winds would strike. At the bow of the Tier Three Spirit Ship, a gracefully elegant man in white stood with a tranquil expression, controlling the shipâs array with hands behind his back.
In the tumultuous sea winds, the Spirit Ship broke through the waves, passing through the layers of clouds.
"Heâs out! Worthy of being a Core Formation Master."
"Elder Lin truly is a Tier Three Array Master. The same array in Elder Linâs hands yields completely different results."
On the Spirit Ship, many disciples of the Profound Sound Pavilion looked at Lin Changâan with envy and admiration.
A Core Formation Master and also a Tier Three Array Master, they were figures to be revered.
Yet Lin Changâan remained indifferent. With the Spirit Ship, it was much better than a Core Formation Cultivator crossing the Sea Abyss alone.
After all, the Spirit Ship could absorb external spiritual energy through its array, and if they encountered a formidable enemy, it could be powered by Spirit Stones to unleash its strongest combat power.
In other words, it would not consume his own mana, and he could maneuver the Spirit Ship through the waves.
If relying solely on himself, he would exhaust his mana and easily become a target.
"A Tier Three Spirit Ship is like a mobile array fortress, no wonder you rarely hear of Spirit Ships being robbed."
At the shipâs bow, Lin Changâan, holding an array disc, was perceived by outsiders as detecting powerful fierce winds and natural disasters.
However, only Lin Changâan knew that while such a magical artifact was quite useful, it was not as effective as his own senses.
Especially after breaking through to Core Formation, he found that his perception had become even stronger.
He could now sense potential fierce wind disasters in advance with much greater accuracy.
This time, the merchant ship was returning to the Yue Kingdom. Taking Bihai Palaceâs controlled route made not only the journey safe but unobstructed and faster.
After soaring over the sea for less than half a year, they finally saw the long-lost land.
"Itâs the mainland! Weâre almost there!"
On the Spirit Ship, many Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Profound Sound Pavilion had tears in their eyes. For Foundation Establishment Cultivators, their lifespan was over two hundred years.
In their hearts, the Yue Kingdom was still their homeland, unlike the newly recruited disciples in the Five Dragons Island Sea Region, who lacked such sentiment for the Yue Kingdom.
"Mainland!"
Even for Lin Changâan, a Golden Core Cultivator, seeing these familiar continental sights struck a chord in him, causing his nose to sting.
"Away for nearly fifty years, finally returning!"
Standing at the Spirit Shipâs bow, Lin Changâanâs eyes were deep as past scenes from his weaker days flashed before him.
In the present, they might seem insignificant, just bumps on his journey, yet many old acquaintances were still unforgettable.
The vast Spirit Ship sliced through the sky, frightening countless low-tier demon beasts below on the land, causing them to flee in panic.
These familiar creatures, seen only on the continent, brought smiles of homecoming to many of the cultivators onboard.
...
A month later, the Spirit Ship finally entered the Yue Kingdomâs territory, and Lin Changâan personally experienced the changes in his homeland.
"Many spirit veins have been contaminated by miasma, becoming unsuitable for ordinary cultivatorsâ cultivation."
The Spirit Ship docked not far from the Profound Sound Pavilionâs sect, and even the main spirit vein of the Profound Sound Pavilion had now been polluted by miasma.
This was one reason why cultivators from the Seven Kingdoms had to wander far from home.
"Elder Lin!"
Stepping off the Spirit Ship, seeing the respectful salutes of the Profound Sound Pavilionâs cultivators, Lin Changâan nodded lightly, keeping a composed expression.
"Gather here in three months, then weâll depart back to the Demon Beast Abyss."
"Yes!"
In the valley where the Spirit Ship docked, Lin Changâan personally set up an array barrier, as now he was an honored guest elder of the Profound Sound Pavilion.
If due to his negligence, he lost a Tier Three Spirit Ship, the loss would be significant.
This time, the returning cultivators of the Profound Sound Pavilion were eager to reunite with their clans and families.
The cargo on the Spirit Ship would also be distributed, while local resources unique to the Yue Kingdom would be gathered and loaded onto the ship.
The trade of the merchant ship relied on the price difference; otherwise, it wouldnât be profitable, and the Profound Sound Pavilion wouldnât trade without gain.
Lin Changâan lightly stroked the Spirit Beast Bag, and as the Cyan-Horned Bull felt the familiar aura, it couldnât help but let out a low moo.
"Alright, now we should go back and take a look."
Riding the Cyan-Horned Bull, Lin Changâan headed directly towards the Qingshui Bay Market.
According to the correspondence, Erniu and Li Yifan initially returned to the Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market, but later, when Li Yifanâs family began taking shape, they settled in the Qingshui Bay Market.
After all, the Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market already had a strong Beast Taming Zhou Family, and the Li Family couldnât compete for resources with the established families.
...
In the Qingshui Bay Market of the Yue Kingdom, they returned just as the autumn breeze began.
Yellowed leaves withered in the wind, and the Qingshui Bay Market had become relatively prosperous.
Since the main spirit veins of the major sects in the Yue Kingdom were eroded by miasma, causing the major sects to relocate, other cultivators gathered in these small markets.
This caused many once desolate markets to begin thriving.
Notably, this time the returning market within the Yue Kingdom now had Profound Sound Pavilionâs stores and cultivators.
The once strongest two major sects of the Yue Kingdom, the Li Huo Palace and Divine Sword Sect, had vanished into historyâs long river.
Beneath the autumn wind, Qingshui Bay housed a Foundation Establishment Li Family, holding a significant spirit land with elegant houses laid out neatly.