Chapter 697

“Little one, didn’t you say before that you wanted to stay here for secluded cultivation? Why do you suddenly wish to leave?”

The mysterious existence sounded puzzled.

When Lu Qing had just returned to the secret realm, he had even asked how long he could stay inside, clearly intending to cultivate here for a long time. Why had he suddenly changed his mind?

“This junior indeed wanted to stay longer. But heaven rarely follows one’s will—I have reasons that leave me no choice but to leave early.”

Lu Qing explained about his sudden premonition.

“So that’s it. You sensed that one of your closest kin might be in danger, and thus you wish to return home as soon as possible?”

The mysterious existence came to a realization.

As for Lu Qing saying he was not a native of the Tianyuan Great World, that point did not bother him in the least. The Wu Clan had once ruled across the starry heavens and countless worlds. Why would he care which world Lu Qing came from?

“If I don’t clarify this matter, my heart will remain restless. In such a state, secluded cultivation would only be half the effort for half the result,” Lu Qing said earnestly.

“That is true. A restless heart ruins seclusion. I’ll bring them back for you.”

The mysterious existence nodded slightly.

The next moment, as his thought stirred, the figures of Xiaoli and the others vanished from the battle within the light screen.

When they reappeared, they had already landed by Lu Qing’s side.

At first they looked dazed, but upon seeing Lu Qing, their eyes lit up with joy.

“Ah Qing, you’ve come out of seclusion?”

With a swish, Xiaoli leapt onto Lu Qing’s shoulder.

“Yes.”

Lu Qing nodded, holding Xiaoli in his arms and gently rubbing its head.

“Ah Qing?” Xiaoli tilted its head, sensing something was a little off in Lu Qing’s mood.

“It’s nothing. I just missed you after so long apart.” Lu Qing smiled.

“Oh.”

Xiaoli didn’t think too much of it and nuzzled his palm.

After calming his emotions, Lu Qing said, “Xiaoli, get ready—we’re going home.”

“Going home?” Xiaoli’s eyes lit up, but soon it was confused. “But didn’t you say we’d stay here for a long time?”

“I did. But this seclusion went more smoothly than expected, so we can return earlier. Besides, we promised Xiaoyan we’d return within fifty years. It’s already been longer than that. Who knows how worried she’s been. It’s time to go back.”

Lu Qing didn’t mention his sudden premonition, lest Xiaoli worry.

“Great! We can finally go home!”

Xiaoli was instantly overjoyed. Though safe, the secret realm could never replace the warmth of their homeland.

“Senior, how do we leave the secret realm? Will you send us out?” Lu Qing asked.

“This space has already sunk deep into the void. Even I cannot send you out. You can only rely on the Secret Realm Jade Tablet. Only that treasure, refined by that great one, can cross endless void to take you back.

“But remember—even the jade tablet can only return you to the exact spot you entered. So be careful not to walk into an ambush.”

The mysterious existence warned him.

“It only sends me back to where I came from?”

Lu Qing was startled. He hadn’t considered that. But recalling that he had activated it deep within the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range, he relaxed a little. That place wasn’t important. After all this time, those Nascent Soul experts surely wouldn’t still be maintaining their formation.

Such a vast array capable of sealing a thousand miles of space was no trivial matter. Just the treasures used to set it up had to be high-grade spiritual artifacts. Surely no one would waste them on a remote mountain range.

“So, you already have a plan?” The mysterious existence smiled faintly at Lu Qing’s expression.

“Those Nascent Soul experts won’t expect me to reappear. As long as I’m careful, it should be fine,” Lu Qing said. “But, Senior, there is one more matter.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“The reason they found us that night was because one of Xiaobai’s clansmen used a bloodline technique to sense its position. That technique was extraordinary—even artifacts could not block it. If I leave as I am, I fear I will be found again. Senior, do you have a way to conceal Xiaobai from the Flood Dragon King’s sensing?”

“That’s all?” The mysterious existence chuckled. “No need to worry. That little trick of bloodline sensing is nothing. Now that Xiaobai has already entered the first transformation of the Nine Transformations of the True Dragon and mastered it fully, this technique can change its form and block bloodline detection.

“Even its closest kin won’t be able to sense it. You need not worry about being tracked again.”

“I see. Many thanks for your guidance, Senior.”

Lu Qing let out a breath of relief. He had not realized the Nine Transformations of the True Dragon had such a use.

As for the White Flood Dragon, upon hearing this, it looked visibly relieved.

It had long felt guilty, knowing that their discovery back then was due to it. Had Lu Qing not been strong enough, they might all have perished. Now, knowing it could hide itself, a great burden lifted from its heart.

“In that case, this junior will take his leave. When I have time, I will return to visit you, Senior.”

Lu Qing bowed deeply.

“No need. You only have two uses left of the Secret Realm Jade Tablet. Don’t waste it on such trifles.”

“I understand. Until we meet again, Senior.”

With that, Lu Qing stored Xiaoli and the others into the Li Huo Cauldron, then brought out the jade tablet and activated it.

At once, mysterious ripples surrounded him.

The jade tablet tore open space, carrying Lu Qing into the endless void currents.

Once his figure vanished completely, the secret realm fell silent again.

After a long while, a sigh echoed softly:

“I wonder what realms these little ones will have reached the next time they return.”

Loneliness colored the voice.

…

“So the void isn’t just empty after all. There are wonders hidden within!”

Wrapped by the jade tablet’s power, Lu Qing observed the endless void beyond.

Last time, he had been fleeing for his life, wholly focused on the Li Huo Cauldron. He hadn’t spared a glance at his surroundings.

Now, calm at last, he looked carefully—and was stunned.

The void was not the pitch-black nothingness he had imagined.

He glimpsed a golden temple drifting within a bubble of space.

A small island carried along by chaotic currents.

A thirty-six-petaled blue lotus floating in the maelstrom.

And even colossal, indistinct beings hidden within the timeless torrent, so vast their forms defied imagination.

But the jade tablet carried him too swiftly. These visions flashed past before he could study them, let alone use his abilities to probe.

Still, every one of them radiated an awe-inspiring, terrifying aura. Without the jade tablet’s protection, he would have been torn apart instantly, despite his current strength.

“The void holds endless secrets. But I am still too weak. Without insight into spatial laws, I cannot hope to explore them.”

He knew clearly that these sights were beyond his reach.

Perhaps when he reached the Five-Tribulation Nascent Soul Realm and grasped spatial power, he could use the Void Flying Boat to explore.

That boat, after all, was a fragment of a Dao Artifact. Though it had recovered to a high-grade spiritual artifact level, its might was still far beyond him. Only when he grew stronger could he wield it freely.

As Lu Qing pondered, the jade tablet carried him across layer after layer of void.

Finally, it tore open a rift at the boundary and slipped out.

Light flooded in. The familiar aura of the Tianyuan Great World greeted him.

He instantly raised his guard. Mana surged within him, and the Li Huo Cauldron quivered, ready to strike.

Moments later, Lu Qing emerged back into the Tianyuan Great World. The jade tablet dimmed, returning to an unremarkable state in his hand.

He spread his Nascent Soul divine sense across a hundred miles.

Traces of his battle with the White Ape King remained, but the great array sealing space had long vanished. Only weak spirit beasts wandered nearby.

Lu Qing exhaled in relief. As expected, those Nascent Soul experts hadn’t lingered here.

Still, to be safe, he immediately activated a Teleportation Talisman, vanishing from the spot.

…

“Ah Qing, how do we leave the Tianyuan Great World?”

In a secluded forest, Xiaoli looked up at him.

“That is the problem.”

Lu Qing frowned.

The Tianyuan Great World was no ordinary place—it ranked among the strongest worlds of the Great Yuan Immortal Domain. Its astral winds were so fierce even Nascent Soul experts struggled within them, and its world membrane was immensely resilient, nearly impervious to artifacts.

Last time, he had snuck in through Nangong Yuanwu’s family teleportation array. But now, burdened with enemies, he couldn’t risk contact.

Even public arrays were unsafe. The Tianyuan arrays had been specially designed to prevent cultivators from hiding spirit beasts inside.

That meant Xiaoli and the others would have to reveal themselves. Even with the Nine Transformations of the True Dragon disguising them, their presence might give him away.

And Lu Qing had thoroughly offended the Holy Assembly. Countless sects and clans wanted him dead. With such enemies, they would rather slaughter innocents than let him slip by.

“Public arrays won’t work. That leaves only one choice.”

He looked skyward, decision firming.

He summoned the Void Flying Boat, bringing Xiaoli and the others aboard.

Then, with a surge of power, the boat soared upward, straight into the heavens.

Yes—he would rely on the Void Flying Boat to brute-force through the astral winds and world membrane of the Tianyuan Great World.

Though the barrier was unimaginably strong, the flying boat was a fragment of a Dao Artifact. He believed it might just succeed.

The vessel shot up and pierced into the astral winds in a single breath.

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