Chapter 1855

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　　The figure on the left was tall and slender, clad in a light cyan robe, his expression calm as he gazed at the Spirit Sword Pavilion’s sprawling mountain ranges and buildings stretching dozens to hundreds of miles.
　　”After so many years apart, the scenery within the Spirit Sword Pavilion still feels the most comforting！” the man said with a faint smile.
　　The man on the right held a cup of tea, took a gentle sip, and smiled, saying, “No matter how good the outside world is, it’s here that feels like home！”
　　”Bai Yi, now that you’re back, you won’t be leaving again anytime soon, will you？”
　　Bu Baiyi！
　　One of the most renowned elders of the Spirit Sword Pavilion.
　　However, in recent years, this elder has kept a low profile, and very few know where he has actually been.
　　Bu Baiyi said nonchalantly, “Hmm, after dealing with the trouble of the Holy Heaven Sect, it won’t be too late to leave again.”
　　Beside him, Xu Ziyin smiled faintly and nodded.
　　”That　Ye　Wushuang…”
　　Bu Baiyi looked at Xu Ziyin and said, “Don”t his features bear some resemblance to Pavilion Master Ling Shengtian？”
　　Xu Ziyin froze for a moment, then shook his head.
　　After a brief silence, Xu Ziyin spoke again, “You still suspect that Ling Shengtian might not be dead？”
　　Bu Baiyi did not answer.
　　The two stood there, silent for a long time.
　　Not　long　after.
　　Xu Ziyin gazed beyond the mountains of the Spirit Sword Pavilion and said cheerfully, “They”re back. I wonder how everyone feels this time！”
　　”Let’s go see together. It’s been a while since I last saw that child, Mingxiu…”
　　”Hmm.”
　　……
　　The expedition to the Burial Saint Cave initially drew the attention of all major forces across the Central Lands.
　　After these past few months, such attention has gradually waned, but with the return of various factions, everyone’s focus has risen once again.
　　And after another earth-shattering explosion occurred within the Burial Saint Cave, everyone knew that the warriors from various factions must have returned.
　　In the blink of an eye, half a month passed.
　　In the Central Land of the Tianyuan Continent, various pieces of news began to spread.
　　First.
　　The Lingqi Mountain Qi Family, one of the top ten supreme forces.
　　None of the over twenty Star-Shattering Realm experts from the Qi Family returned, including the family head Qi Zhenzhong, Second Master Qi Zhantian, and Third Master Qi Zhenshan.
　　The two most powerful members of the Qi Family who returned were Qi Tianlu and Qi Tianxuan.
　　Originally only at the early-stage Star-Shattering Realm, they had now reached the late-stage Star-Shattering Realm. In an instant, they became the decision-makers of the Qi Family！
　　However…
　　The Qi Family was already ranked low among the top ten supreme forces, with only about forty Star-Shattering Realm experts within the family.
　　This time, they lost at least thirty of them. Although some at the peak of the Delusional Realm had greatly improved inside and reached the Star-Shattering Realm, overall…
　　The current Qi Family has fewer than twenty Star-Shattering Realm experts left internally！
　　This is even worse than the Lushan Lin Family！
　　How can this still be considered one of the top ten supreme forces？
　　Among the other top forces, the Star-Picking Transformation experts have suffered losses, but new ones have also emerged.
　　Only the Qi Family has suffered the greatest losses！
　　And besides that, there is…
　　Across the entire Tianyuan Continent, the number of Sage Heaven Realm experts has increased once again！
　　As the saying goes, things will reverse after reaching an extreme. Compared to the surrounding continents, Tianyuan Continent is the only low-tier one, yet in the past, it was once a high-tier continent！
　　Now, the period of decline seems to have passed, ushering in a transition from decline to prosperity.
　　Following Yin Shenghao and Xu Ziyin both reaching the Sage Heaven Realm, and Su Chenyang and the Great Palace Master of the Heavenly Dao Palace, Tian Haoqi, reaching the Half-Step Sage Realm…
　　Now,
　　within the Central Land,
　　Su Chenyang has advanced from the Half-Step Sage Realm to the Sage Heaven Realm.
　　And the Great Mansion Master of the Xuantian Mansion, Xuantian Sheng, has reached the Sage Heaven Realm.
　　The Pavilion Master of the Spirit Sword Pavilion, Xu Mingxiu, has also attained the Sage Heaven Realm.
　　The Clan Leader of the Yun Family in Cloud Mountain, Yun Changbai, has reached the Half-Step Sage Realm.
　　The spread of these news is what truly shakes the hearts of the people.
　　At the same time, within the forces that entered the Burial Sage Cave, although there have been losses among the Deluded Self Realm and Star-Picking Transformation experts, there are also many martial artists whose cultivation has advanced.
　　However, alongside the spread of these reports, another piece of news has also emerged.
　　The former fifth elder of the Lingjian Pavilion, now the third elder Bu Baiyi, has returned.
　　The reappearance of this elder of the Lingjian Pavilion, who had been missing for over a thousand years, at this critical juncture is telling…
　　The Central Land will not remain peaceful in the days to come.
　　On　this　day.
　　The sun set behind the western mountains.
　　Above the evening glow, patches of dark clouds swirled, gradually obscuring the crimson hues, as an undercurrent of tension stirred in the once-tranquil mountain forests.
　　Lingqi Mountain.
　　To be precise, the Lingqi Mountain Range.
　　This mountain range stretches for thousands of miles, with one end spanning a hundred miles in length and width, where vast stretches of flat land have been carved out, adorned with interconnected pavilions and towers, exuding grandeur.
　　This is the headquarters of the Qi Family.
　　Lingqi Mountain is located in the northeastern part of the Central Land, and this entire mountain range serves as the Qi Family’s private garden.
　　Moreover, the surrounding area spanning three hundred thousand miles is entirely under the Qi Family’s control, encompassing a thousand cities and a population of several billion.
　　This alone surpasses the size of an entire province like Qingzhou！
　　The Qi Family’s headquarters, to be precise, resembles a small city, housing at least a hundred thousand people, mostly core members of the Qi Family, their families, and subordinates.
　　The massive entrance of the Qi Family boasts nine gateways.
　　On ordinary days, the three central gates remain closed, with only the left and right ones open.
　　Deep into the night, with howling winds, out of the nine gates, only the leftmost one is open now. Under the gate wall, over a dozen guards stand solemnly with spears in hand.
　　To the left of the gate, inside a few connected bungalows.
　　”Damn it！”
　　A young man clad in armor stumbled into the brightly lit room, cursing： “This godforsaken weather, it’s downright cursed—clear red skies this afternoon, now a raging storm. Looks like the rain won’t let up tonight.”
　　Another companion also grumbled： “What rotten luck, getting stuck on night duty in this mess！”
　　Inside the room, several men sat around a table playing cards. A chubby one grinned and said, “Qi Mang, quit fussing and join us for a round！”
　　”With this cursed weather, the guards at the gate are enough. We’re just mobile patrols—if the higher-ups come inspecting, we”ll say we just got back.”
　　”You brat, always slacking off. Your uncle’s the Third Young Master’s personal guard captain—you dare, but we don’t.”
　　”Exactly！”
　　As　they　chatted.
　　Crack… boom…
　　A bolt of lightning split the night sky, followed by a deafening thunderclap, as if it had struck right outside the bungalows.
　　”Goddammit！”
　　Qi Mang recoiled and cursed, “Not going on patrol anymore, no way, no way.”
　　”Let’s play cards, this damn weather is terrifying！”
　　Boom…
　　Another thunderclap resounded, startling everyone in the room.
　　”Holy shit！ Someone’s there！”
　　Someone shouted, and the people in the room froze before someone else scolded, “Zhang Hun, don’t talk nonsense, damn it！”
　　”There really is someone！”
　　A flash of lightning streaked across the sky, and outside the row of bungalows, a figure appeared silently.
　　It was a young man.
　　Clad in black martial attire that blended into the night, his finely chiseled features and obsidian-black eyes exuded a mix of calmness and sharpness. His jet-black hair was tied up with a jade crown.
　　His figure was slightly slender yet well-proportioned, giving off an air of restrained steadiness at first glance.
　　He held a long sword with both arms, standing outside the door while his gaze fixed on the nine gates of the Qi family.
　　”Y-you… who are you…” Qi Mang mustered his courage, looking at the young man with a trembling voice.