Chapter 1865 : Peach Blossoms Remain

With these words, Eldrin flicked his sleeve and produced a batch of supplies from within, handing them over to Chen Xinghong.

These resources were of immense value, including dozens of Taiyi Rarities, a batch of Primordial Rarities and Primordial Qi. There were even a full 3 Primordial Taiyi Pills.

Gazing upon these treasures, Chen Xinghong couldn't help but reveal a look of delight.

This abundance of rare treasures was more than sufficient for him to establish the foundation of the 3 Primordial Energies, and could even sustain his cultivation all the way to the late-stage Celestial Immortal realm without any shortage of resources.

You must understand, although he was safe in the lower realm, the Violet Realm lacked the resources for him to advance further. At most, he could only cultivate his Twin Taiyi Foundations there before inevitably ascending to the Immortal Domain.

With these resources, he could continuously refine his foundation, and perhaps even gain a sliver of possibility to 1 day step into the forbidden realm.

At this thought, Chen Xinghong prostrated himself and said, "Thank you for your generous gift, Elder. This kindness shall remain etched in my heart for a lifetime."

Upon hearing this, a faint smile surfaced on Eldrin's face.

Now, the Chen Immortal Clan (Organization) is still far from matching those great Primordial Sects.

However, even a Great Luo Ancient Sect might not be willing to expend such a vast quantity of Primordial Treasures and Primordial Qi all at once for a single Half-Step Celestial Immortal.

It was not that the Ancient Great Luo Sect lacked profound foundations, but rather that the number of its Immortals was simply too vast. With Celestial Immortals alone numbering in the tens of thousands at minimum, and the need to cultivate legions of Dao Soldiers, naturally there were few extraordinary treasures left to bestow upon Quasi-Celestial Immortals.

At this thought, Eldrin smiled faintly and waved his hand, speaking calmly, "You may leave now. I shall linger here a while longer."

Eldrin spoke thus, striding across the slopes of Verdant Chariot Mountain.

Today's Verdant Chariot Mountain (Location) has undergone tremendous changes compared to how it was 10 million years ago.

This celestial mountain was vast and majestic, no longer the small spiritual peak of yesteryears, with none of the former scenery remaining.

Eldrin strolled along the mountain path, only to find that not a single blade of grass or tree remained as it once was. Only an ancient, weathered tree stood entrenched atop the peak.

"It's you!"

Eldrin stood before the ancient tree, a long-lost smile finally gracing his lips.

Before them stood an ancient tree—a Celestial Apricot Tree, rooted atop Verdant Chariot Mountain (Location). It emanated an ethereal immortal radiance that shimmered through the void, appearing both sacred and noble.

Nirvana Immortal Apricot Tree.

Gazing at the ancient tree, Eldrin spoke slowly as memories of bygone days surfaced in his mind.

This ancient tree was originally a first-level Longevity Apricot Tree, seized from the Lin Immortal Clan of Verdant Ink Mountain all those years ago through the joint efforts of Eldrin and the former clan leader.

Later, through Eldrin’s (Person Name) continuous nurturing, it was cultivated all the way to the 6 Calamities realm.

Still vivid in memory is how this Celestial Apricot Tree (Divine Tree) contributed immensely to the Chen Immortal Clan (Organization) producing so many outstanding talents in those years, and to the old patriarch and the clan members being able to cultivate to the Soul Formation Realm.

Later, when Eldrin (Person Name) ascended to the immortal realm, he left this Celestial Apricot Tree behind.

Later, the Chen Immortal Clan grew increasingly powerful. On several occasions, immortals descended to the mortal realm, bringing with them numerous rare and precious treasures. Among these was the Primordial Spiritual Water from the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi Vase, which allowed this tree to advance and become the Heaven-Splitting Ancient Tree.

Of course, this alone was not enough for the Phoenix Nirvana Apricot Tree to astonish Eldrin.

What truly astonished him was that he sensed a trace of sentience within the Nirvana Immortal Apricot Tree.

Master.

Seeing Eldrin, the ancient tree slowly swayed, its voice trembling with excitement as it said, "Master, since you have descended to the mortal realm this time, will you take me to ascend to the heavens?"

Eldrin (Person Name) gave a faint smile, then sighed and said, "Although the immortal realm holds boundless opportunities, it is also far more perilous and unpredictable."

"Moreover, with the Great Calamity approaching, it would be better for you to remain within the Violet Realm."

The Nirvana Immortal Apricot Tree’s gaze dimmed slightly upon hearing this, then it inquired, “How have the fellow cultivators like the Immortal Peach Tree and the 8 Trigrams Treasure Tree, who ascended alongside you back then, been faring?”

"All is well."

Eldrin (Person Name) spoke slowly, a faint smile gracing his lips. "Since you have already gained spiritual awareness, the opportunity to take human form will surely come to you in time."

"Given our long-standing rapport, I shall bestow upon you a stroke of fortune."

As the words faded, Eldrin waved his sleeve, conjuring primordial spiritual water and bestowing no small amount of primordial qi into the Nirvana Apricot Tree.

After completing all this, Eldrin cautioned, "I have integrated the Innate Qi and the Primordial Spirit Water into your body. From now on, your foundation will be greatly enhanced."

"When you have fully assimilated these opportunities, you may reach the realm of the top-grade Primordial Ancient Tree. Should I advance further in the future, I may guide you to ascend and attain enlightenment."

The Nirvana Immortal Apricot Tree was overjoyed in its heart, immediately manifesting a miniature human form that respectfully knelt upon the ground and said, "Many thanks for this generous gift, Master."

Departing from Verdant Chariot Mountain (Location), Eldrin (Person Name) revisited several familiar lands, only to discover with regret that within the current Azure Heaven Immortal Domain (Immortal Domain), the only remaining acquaintances were but a few Heaven and Earth Spiritual Roots (Spiritual Root) – the Enlightenment Ancient Tea Tree, the Purple Divinity Fruit Tree, the Fiery Sun Immortal Date Tree, and others.

The mountains and rivers had transformed, old acquaintances were gone, and Eldrin no longer had the heart to revisit the places of his past.

He made his way back to the Eastern Wastelands and arrived at the shores of Spirit Isle Lake (Location), where he unexpectedly came across a peach blossom grove.

Chapter 1 The Spirit Isle Lake and the 10-Mile Peach Blossom Grove remained as they had always been. A youth in blue robes sat cross-legged upon a moss-covered rock, wisps of spiritual energy swirling around him like ethereal serpents. His name was Lin Feng (Person Name), and he had been stuck at the 7th level of Qi Refinement for 3 years. "Still not enough," he murmured, opening his eyes to reveal a flash of crimson light—the sign of his unique cultivation method, the Crimson Pupil Art (Cultivation Method). Suddenly, the jade pendant at his waist—a memento from his mother—glowed with a soft light. A crisp voice echoed in his mind: "Young master, the family head requests your presence at the main hall immediately. The Cloudsoar Sect (Sect Name) has sent envoys." Lin Feng's expression shifted slightly. The Cloudsoar Sect—1 of the 9 great cultivation sects, and his mother's former sect. Why would they come now? He stood up, brushing off his sleeves. After a 100 years of silence, were they finally making their move? --- The main hall of the Lin family was bustling with activity. Lin Feng's father, Lin Zhengyang (Person Name), sat in the master's seat, his face unreadable. Across from him sat 2 cultivators in white robes embroidered with cloud patterns—disciples of the Cloudsoar Sect. "We've come for the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure)," said the elder of the 2 envoys coldly. "Hand it over, and the Lin family will be spared." Lin Zhengyang's knuckles turned white as he gripped the armrest. "The Li Fire Sword is our family's ancestral treasure. I cannot—" Before he could finish, a powerful pressure filled the hall, forcing everyone to their knees. Core Formation Realm! Just as the pressure became unbearable, Lin Feng stepped forward. Though merely at Qi Refinement, he stood straight as a spear, his crimson pupils glowing faintly. "The Li Fire Sword belongs to the Lin family," he said, his voice calm yet firm. "If the Cloudsoar Sect wishes to take it by force, they'll have to step over my dead body first." The elder envoy's eyes narrowed. "You? A mere Qi Refinement ant dares to speak to me like this?" Lin Feng met his gaze steadily. "Even ants can bite." For a moment, the 2 envoys were speechless. They never expected a young man from a declining family to possess such courage. Little did they know, beneath Lin Feng's calm exterior, a storm was brewing. The Crimson Pupil Art within him was stirring, as if awakening from a long slumber. A 100 years of silence was about to be broken.

Eldrin murmured softly as he walked along the shore of Spirit Isle Lake, a wave of profound emotion surging within his heart.

He set foot upon Spirit Isle Lake (Location), only to find the peach blossoms remained as they were, yet the 10-mile stretch of peach trees had weathered the passage of time.

Indeed, even a sixth-order Pure Sun Ancient Tree, if it fails to step into the Realm of Ascension, ultimately cannot withstand the passage of countless years.

The peach blossom grove of today is filled with the descendants of the immortal peach trees of old. Yet, generation after generation has come and gone—these are no longer the same peach trees that once bloomed in those bygone years.

"In the end, we can never return to those bygone days."

Eldrin murmured softly, sweeping his sleeve to gather a sky full of peach blossoms within its folds, then scattered droplets of Primordial Spirit Water to merge with the peach grove.

These innate spiritual waters were worth no more than several tens of millions of Immortal Origin in total. To Eldrin, they were but a trifling kindness, yet they would suffice to benefit these peach blossoms for their entire lives.

But lo, these peach trees underwent continuous metamorphosis, ultimately transforming entirely into Immortal Peach Trees.

Although these immortal peach trees were not spiritual roots, they could already be considered rare celestial treasures rarely seen in the mortal realm.

"Little ones, may this peach blossom remain just as vibrant when we meet again 10 1000 years from now."

Eldrin spoke with an air of detachment, then with a flick of his sleeve, soared through the heavens, arriving at the boundless expanse above the firmament.

Here, Eldrin once again beheld the Heavenly Dao of the Violet Realm. He spoke calmly, "I must depart."

Zi Tiandao fell into a slight silence, offering no words in response.

Eldrin, however, gazed with serene composure before speaking, "In this cosmic tribulation, I shall ascend to the Great Perfected Realm."

"I fear that formidable foes may exploit the Violet Realm as leverage against me at a critical juncture. To spare it from calamity, I shall seal and banish this realm to another cosmos."

"Alas."

Zi Tian Dao let out a faint sigh and finally spoke, "At your current level of cultivation, I can no longer fathom the extent of your power. But since you insist on taking this path, I shall naturally stand by your side."

"Hmm."

Eldrin nodded slightly before speaking. "Be cautious now."

As the words faded, Eldrin flew out of the Purple Realm. In the blink of an eye, he seized it and soared into the endless dimensions, dragging the realm behind him.

With a deafening roar that tore through the endless dimensions, Eldrin banished it into the unfathomable depths of the dimensional void.

Not only that, Eldrin also used the Profound Brilliance Star Abyss as concealment, supplementing it with chaotic mists to completely seal off all aura emanating from the Violet Realm. Only then did he let out a slight sigh of relief.

This time, when banishing the Violet Realm, Eldrin completely altered its cosmic markers and veiled them with his own chaotic mists. Even if a Golden Immortal were to deliberately attempt divination, locating the Violet Realm would be no different from searching for a needle in the vast ocean.

Most crucially, Eldrin (Person Name), known by his daoist title as the Return to Ruins Daoist, hailed from the Violet Realm—a world outsiders called the Realm of Returning Ruins. As the homeland of an 8-Calamity Ancient Immortal, it would not attract the prying eyes of those Primordial Chaos Emperors.

In such a scenario, even if those 8-Calamity Ancient Immortals were to learn of the Return Abyss Realm’s coordinates in the future and descend to scheme against it, their efforts would be in vain.

For Eldrin (Person Name), before his ascension to immortality, he originated from the Violet Realm. 1 could say he was the Chosen 1 of the Violet Realm, the legitimate son nurtured by its very essence.

If he were to bring calamity upon the Violet Realm because of himself, it would inevitably affect his Dao Heart. Now freed from this concern, he could wholeheartedly confront the Tribulation of Quantities.

"It's time to return."

With no more worries weighing on him, Eldrin breathed a slight sigh of relief.

With a flick of his sleeve, he tore through the endless void and returned to the Qingcang Immortal Realm in a single step.

Looking back at the endless dimensions, 1 could only feel the vast, boundless emptiness of the dimensional void, where universes and worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges constantly emerged and vanished. A faint, inexplicable sense of insignificance stirred within the heart.

"The boundless dimensional space is truly infinite and endless."

"Even with my current level of cultivation, facing Him feels like a speck of dust before the cosmos."

Eldrin murmured inwardly, yet a faint frown involuntarily creased his brow.

In that moment, a subtle understanding dawned upon him—the infinite dimensions and the primordial chaos were 1 and the same, merely concealed within the boundless chaos. Behind every wisp of chaotic tides, there might lie a vast galaxy of stars and cosmos.

However, within the 3 1000 Celestial Domains, space was far more stable, allowing these worlds and universes to endure for far longer, growing increasingly prosperous and magnificent.

Conversely, within the Chaos Sea, the endless chaotic tides raged with unparalleled ferocity. Even if universes were ceaselessly being forged within its depths, most would soon be swallowed by the turbulent waves or devoured by primordial chaos beasts.

"My love..."

Just as Eldrin’s thoughts flickered, Lyra strolled over.

Eldrin withdrew his thoughts and cast but a single glance, then remarked with mild surprise, "My lady, you have broken through as well."

After all these years apart, Lyra had finally advanced her cultivation, unknowingly breaking through the 4 heavenly barriers of physical form, primordial spirit, magical power, and divine abilities.

Of course, that alone wouldn't have surprised Eldrin. What truly astonished him was discovering that Lyra had actually cultivated the Indestructible Primordial Spirit.

"Hmm, this breakthrough was made possible thanks to the 5 Elements Great Luo Thunder Marrow you brought."

Lyra smiled and began to speak. It turned out that after 1 million years in seclusion, she had finally refined the 5 Elements Great Luo Thunder Marrow not long ago, mastering the Great 5 Elements Pure Yin Divine Thunder.

Indeed, as the Chaos Divine Thunder was far more challenging to cultivate, Lyra (Person Name) settled for the next best option this time—practicing the Great 5 Elements Pure Yin Divine Thunder instead of the Chaos Divine Thunder.

Yet even a mere Patriarch-level Great 5 Elements Pure Yin Divine Thunder was astonishing beyond measure. Using it as her foundation and supplementing it with the Primordial Earth Soul Book, she had not only cultivated her soul to the Eleventh Limit, but had also taken yet another step forward, bringing her ever closer to a True Spirit Soul.

Understanding this, Eldrin couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion. With a light laugh, he remarked, "Having cultivated the Indestructible Primordial Spirit and mastered sovereign-level divine abilities, your power likely rivals that of a 7-Calamity Ancient Immortal."

"With the support of 1 100 and 8 Taiyi Golden Bamboo Swords, you should be able to provide me with considerable assistance in weathering this Heavenly Tribulation."

Lyra (Person Name) also felt a surge of joy, instinctively taking Eldrin (Person Name)'s hand as she said, "As husband and wife, we are 1 being—sharing life and death alike. How could there be any talk of helping between us?"

A warmth blossomed in Eldrin’s heart as he asked, “How are things? Have they returned?”

Lyra smiled faintly and said, "Everyone is here, we're all waiting for you to speak."

Hearing her words, Eldrin nodded and said, "Then gather everyone together. Let's convene a pre-war assembly first."

3 days later, the Abyssal Sanctuary. Eldrin stood before the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss, his fingers tracing the ancient runes carved along the blade. A faint crimson glow pulsed beneath his touch, resonating with the spiritual energy coursing through his veins. "Master," a voice echoed from the chamber's entrance, "the Heavenly Tribulation approaches. The elders request your presence at the Grand Array." He nodded, his gaze never leaving the sword. "Inform them I shall arrive momentarily." The disciple bowed and retreated, leaving Eldrin alone with his thoughts. 3 days of secluded meditation had refined his cultivation base, stabilizing the nascent power that threatened to overwhelm him. He could feel the atmospheric pressure shifting, the very air thickening with impending calamity. With a final glance at the artifact, he turned and strode toward the chamber's exit. The time had come to face what countless cultivators feared most—the trial that separated mortals from immortals.

The internal meeting of the Chen Immortal Clan (Organization) was finally convened, with all of its Celestial Immortals (Cultivation Realm) in attendance.

Eldrin sat upright within the Violet Abode Palace, gazing upon the assembled immortals below, a faint sense of solace stirring in his heart.

This pre-war assembly saw the Chen Clan muster unprecedented strength, with a total of 40-7 Celestial Immortals in attendance.

Among them were a total of 16 ancient immortal mighty figures, namely Eldrin, Lyra, Lady Qingji, Seraphina Qu, Lady Yanzi, Lila, Chen Ethan, Chen Qiyuan, Kael, Patriarch Qing, Chen Xianzhang, Chen Xianqing, and Chen Xianzhu.

In addition, there were 3 disciples: Ye Qingfeng (Person Name), Lu Wenyuan (Person Name), and Yuansheng (Person Name).

Among these 16 individuals, Eldrin possessed the greatest combat prowess, his strength comparable to that of an 8-Calamity Ancient Immortal.

Lyra's combat prowess was slightly inferior, but she had mastered a Patriarch-level divine ability and refined 1 100 and 80 Taiyi Golden Bamboo Swords, bringing her combat strength close to that of an 8-Calamity Ancient Immortal.

However, Lyra (Person Name) lacked a solid foundation and sufficient mana. Once she unleashed combat power at the Patriarch-level, it could only be sustained for a brief period. Moreover, the majority of her strength relied on external artifacts, preventing her from truly matching an 8-Calamity Ancient Immortal.

Beyond that, Seraphina Qu (Person Name) ranked third in overall strength. Nurtured jointly by the Fairy Shell Clan and Eldrin (Person Name), she had already shattered the 5 Great Heavenly Barriers: the Physical Body, Magical Power, Primordial Spirit, Great Dao, and Divine Abilities.

Thanks to her foundation with the 9-Colored Immortal Clam, she had reached the Tenth Limit in the Physical Body Heavenly Pass and even broken through the Tenth Limit in the Magical Power Heavenly Pass. Her innate divine ability, the 9-Colored Immortal Light, had advanced to the Eleventh Limit, making it 1 of the most supreme sect-level divine abilities.

With such a foundation in hand, Seraphina Qu (Person Name) now possessed strength comparable to a 7-tribulation ancient immortal.

However, due to her limited talent and mastery in formation techniques, coupled with her relatively short cultivation time, she was still unable to refine more than 30-6 swords of the Taiyi Golden Bamboo Sword Formation. Thus, her combat prowess fell slightly short compared to Lyra (Person Name).

Moreover, Qing Ji (Person Name) had shattered the 3 great heavenly barriers of mana, primordial spirit, and physical body. With a set of 30-6 Taiyi Golden Bamboo Swords (Magic Treasure) at her disposal, her strength rivaled that of ancient immortals who had undergone 6 heavenly tribulations.

Chen Ethan, Chen Qiyuan, Chen Xianchang, Chen Xianqing, Chen Xianzhu, Ancestor Qing, Ye Qingfeng, Lu Wenyuan, Yuansheng, and others all possessed extraordinary aptitudes. However, their resources fell somewhat short compared to those of their Dao Companions, thus they only managed to break through the 2 great heavenly barriers of Dharmic Powers and Primordial Spirit.

Only Chen Qiyuan was the exception. While his magical power had not broken through the Heavenly Barrier, thanks to the various refined metal ores provided by the Chen Immortal Clan and the Chaos Divine Materials Eldrin had brought back, his Indestructible Golden Body had advanced by leaps and bounds over the years.

Thus, he had not only shattered the Heavenly Barrier of the physical body, but had also ventured far into the realm of the 10 Limits.

Lila (Person Name), Yan Zi Ji, and the others were on par with them. With the aid of rare treasures such as the 7-Colored Immortal Pearl and Soul-Nourishing Wood, they too had shattered the 2 Heavenly Barriers.

Apart from these ancient Immortals, the over 30 Celestial Immortals of the Chen Immortal Clan (Organization) varied greatly in cultivation. Some had attained the Dao earlier, their cultivation having reached the late Celestial Immortal stage, while others had achieved enlightenment more recently, their power still stagnating at the first level of Celestial Immortal.

Of course, most of them possessed rather low cultivation levels, primarily due to unequal distribution of resources. Those like Chen Qiyuan who maintained close ties with Eldrin (Person Name) and received consistent support along their journey naturally never lacked for resources.

Many of the younger generation in the clan were only distantly related, so Eldrin naturally wouldn't take responsibility for everything. (Chapter End)

Chapter 1 The biting northern wind swept across the mountain ridge like countless icy blades. Lin Chen tightened his worn deerskin coat, his fingertips tracing the faintly glowing jade slip in his bosom. This was the only legacy his father had left behind—a low-grade cultivation technique called the "Basic Qi Refining Method." "3 years," he murmured to himself, his breath forming white mist in the freezing air. "3 years, and I'm still stuck at the second layer of Qi Refinement." Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the wind. "Lin Chen! The sect leader summons you!" Lin Chen's heart sank. Today was the day of the annual cultivation assessment, the day that would determine whether outer sect disciples like him could continue staying in the Azure Mist Sect. The main hall was crowded with disciples, all dressed in pristine white robes embroidered with cloud patterns—the uniform of the Azure Mist Sect. Lin Chen's patched garment stood out conspicuously among them. "Lin Chen, age 16, second layer of Qi Refinement." The assessment elder's voice was devoid of emotion. "Failed to meet the standard of the third layer. According to sect rules..." "Elder, please!" Lin Chen stepped forward, producing the jade slip from his chest. "I only need 1 more month! With this cultivation technique—" Laughter erupted from the crowd. "That piece of junk? It's not even worth 10 spirit stones!" The elder waved his sleeve dismissively. "The rules are the rules. You are hereby expelled from the Azure Mist Sect. Hand over your identity token and leave before sunset." As Lin Chen trudged down the mountain path, snow began to fall, each flake biting into his skin like needles. He had no family to return to, no place to go. The jade slip in his hand seemed to grow colder by the minute. Suddenly, a streak of light shot across the sky, followed by a deafening explosion. A meteorite crashed into the distant forest, sending tremors through the ground. Driven by instinct, Lin Chen rushed toward the impact site. There, amidst the scorched earth and smoldering trees, lay a peculiar black stone covered in mysterious golden patterns. As he reached out to touch it, the stone suddenly melted into his palm. A searing heat shot up his arm, followed by a flood of information in his mind: "Heavenly Domain Divine Art," "9 Revolutions Golden Body," "Way of Creation..." Countless cultivation methods and secret arts surged through his consciousness. When he finally regained his senses, he discovered to his astonishment that his cultivation had broken through to the third layer of Qi Refinement. Moreover, his spiritual awareness had expanded dramatically, allowing him to perceive the flow of spiritual energy in the surrounding 10-mile area. "So this is my chance," Lin Chen whispered, clenching his fist. A faint golden light shimmered around his hand. "The Azure Mist Sect... I will return." Deep in the mountains, Lin Chen found a secluded cave. According to the memories from the meteorite, this was an ideal place for cultivation—a natural convergence point of spiritual energy. He sat cross-legged, circulating the newly acquired "Heavenly Domain Divine Art." Spiritual energy from the surroundings swirled toward him, forming visible vortexes that poured into his body. The process was a 100 times more efficient than the Basic Qi Refining Method. After 7 days and nights, Lin Chen opened his eyes. A golden light flashed in their depths. He had not only stabilized his foundation at the third layer but had advanced to the fourth layer of Qi Refinement. He examined the remaining memories. The meteorite was actually a fragment of the "Heavenly Domain Monument," a celestial treasure that had recorded the supreme cultivation methods of countless realms. Though now damaged, it still contained invaluable knowledge. Among these memories was the formula for "Qi Nourishing Pills"—a basic cultivation aid that could significantly accelerate a cultivator's progress. Lin Chen spent the next 3 days gathering herbs in the mountains. With the remaining 3 spirit stones he possessed, he purchased a basic alchemy cauldron in a nearby town. His first attempt at alchemy failed. The fire control was too imprecise, reducing all the ingredients to ash. His second attempt also failed. The spiritual energy distribution was uneven, causing the cauldron to crack. On the third attempt, Lin Chen closed his eyes, searching through the memories for the perfect method. He recalled the "9 Revolutions Alchemy Technique," a supreme art that emphasized the harmony of fire and energy. This time, when he opened the cauldron, 3 pristine white pills lay within, emitting a rich spiritual aroma. He had succeeded. 3 months later, Lin Chen emerged from the mountains. His cultivation had reached the sixth layer of Qi Refinement. In his possession were 30-2 Qi Nourishing Pills and a newly forged spiritual sword—the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss. He gazed toward the distant Azure Mist Sect, his eyes calm yet determined. "It's time to settle some scores." At the foot of the Azure Mist Mountain, 2 outer sect disciples blocked his path. "Halt! Identify yourself!" Lin Chen smiled faintly. "Tell the sect leader that the disciple he expelled has returned."