Volume 1 Volume 7 Chapter 65

Volume 7 Chapter 65: Reunion

Lingzhou State, the smallest region in the prosperous Middle-earth, occupies only one-tenth of the entire thriving Middle-earth, yet it is the most desolate state.

Originally, this land was fertile, the Spirit Qi was strong, and the climate was suitable, making it ideal for all beings to grow. However, it was also extremely strange and terrifying. Within a few years, a dreadful earthquake or storm would occur. In Lingzhou State, countless lives would suffer terribly in these disasters, and a weird wave of Spirit Qi would spread throughout the state. The cultivators in Lingzhou State would either have their Spirit Qi disrupted, losing decades of effort, or suffer Qi deviation, losing their powers completely, sometimes even exploding and dying instantly.

Strangely, these disasters and strange Spirit Qi waves only spread within Lingzhou State. Once outside its borders, there was no sign of trouble. Over time, even though Lingzhou State was very suitable for all beings to thrive, no living creatures dared to grow there anymore.

Every time the "Azure Crystal Treasure House" opened, its entrance was right in Lingzhou State.

When Xu Qingfan arrived at Lingzhou State with Liu Ziqing and Wang Zegang, he found that the two men and one beast had been waiting there for a long time.

These two men and one beast were the ancestor of the Zhong family, Feng Qingtian, and the nine-tailed demon fox.

When enemies meet, there is extra hostility. Remembering how Xu Qingfan had effortlessly taken Niu Wenxing away in front of him, the killing intent in his eyes flashed. With a cold snort, he relied on the support of the Zhong family ancestor and was about to charge at Xu Qingfan.

In fact, Feng Qingtian did not fully realize that his hatred for Xu Qingfan stemmed mostly from envy over Xu Qingfan’s progress far exceeding his own as a talented individual. This trampled on his pride, which he could not bear. If Jin Qinghan had done the same, despite their countless battles over the years, he would not feel this much hatred because Jin Qinghan was also a genius like him. To Feng Qingtian, Xu Qingfan was merely an ordinary person.

The ancestor of the Zhong family also had a sharp glint in his eyes. Xu Qingfan had killed his Zhong family members, taken his "Purgatory Staff," and later pretended to be a villain to deceive him, so his hatred for Xu Qingfan was even greater than Feng Qingtian’s.

However, when he saw Feng Qingtian and the nine-tailed fox charging at Xu Qingfan, the ancestor of the Zhong family quickly moved to block their path, coldly saying, "In Lingzhou State, when the ‘Azure Crystal Treasure House’ opens, cultivators cannot fight, no matter how great the hatred is. This is a consensus among all. If the Spirit Qi flow is disturbed, it will affect the opening of the ‘Azure Crystal Treasure House,’ and we will all be hunted by the masters of the world. Do not act rashly."

Saying this, the elder of the Zhong family looked at Xu Qingfan coldly with indifferent eyes and slowly said, "After the ‘Azure Crystal Treasure House’ closes, we will settle our debts."

Facing the elder of the Zhong family and Feng Qingtian, along with the nine-tailed fox, Xu Qingfan showed no signs of worry. After the elder spoke, he smiled slightly and said, "Elder Zhong, Junior Brother Feng, nine-tailed, it’s been a long time."

His smile was warm, as if they were close friends unexpectedly reunited after many years apart.

Seeing Xu Qingfan so unconcerned, a flash of dark light passed through the elder’s eyes. He turned to Liu Ziqing and asked slowly, "You… after many years, are you really with Xu Qingfan now?"

Before Xu Qingfan and Liu Ziqing’s bet was over, they were still free, and Liu Ziqing had always been proud and never submitted to anyone. Xu Qingfan thought Liu Ziqing would deny it, yet to his surprise, after hearing Liu Ziqing’s words, he smiled gently, bowed to the elder of the Zhong family, and said, "I apologize for making you laugh, esteemed elder. I am currently working with Taoist Friend Xu as his assistant."

Upon hearing Liu Ziqing’s words, Xu Qingfan and Wang Zegang both looked towards him, but Liu Ziqing appeared calm, seemingly unaware of any mistake in his words.

Saying this to the elder of the Zhong family officially established his camp in front of everyone.

The elder of the Zhong family did not expect that Liu Ziqing truly became Xu Qingfan’s subordinate. A flash of black light crossed his eyes as he tightly stared at Xu Qingfan and Liu Ziqing, saying coldly, "I never thought that you, Liu Ziqing, would actually have a day of submitting to someone."

Liu Ziqing, as if realizing something, suddenly smiled and said, "I made a bet with Taoist Friend Xu. Now it seems I lost, and of course, I became Taoist Friend Xu’s subordinate."

The elder of the Zhong family narrowed his eyes and asked, "I didn’t expect that, without realizing it, there would be such a power in the world, and yet I didn’t know about it. What is at stake?"

Liu Ziqing smiled mysteriously and replied, "You’ll find out in due time."

Just then, the world changed suddenly, and celestial music echoed from the horizon. Several colorful clouds, adorned with a hazy glow, floated toward Xu Qingfan and the others, seeming to move slowly, yet in the blink of an eye, they were right in front of Xu Qingfan and the others.

On top of the colorful clouds stood Zhang Xusheng and his followers.

Zhang Xusheng’s status was different from Xu Qingfan’s. When he saw Zhang Xusheng approaching, even the elder of the Zhong family stepped forward to welcome him. Feng Qingtian, looking at the smiling Zhang Xusheng, felt an uncontrollable tremor in his body and lowered his head, afraid to look up. He feared that if he looked at Zhang Xusheng for too long, he would uncontrollably rush toward him.

The elder of the Zhong family held himself in high regard; he probably thought that only Zhang Xusheng could compare with him. While their conversation remained cold, the elder showed a politeness he had never displayed before.

At the same time, Xu Qingfan also grabbed Liu Ziqing’s sleeve, but Liu Ziqing trembled as well, reacting similarly to Feng Qingtian. After seeing Zhang Xusheng, all of Liu Ziqing’s plans seemed to vanish.

"You should have known that coming here, you would definitely meet Zhang Xusheng. Why do you act so helpless? There is still time; don’t forget my previous promise to you."

Xu Qingfan whispered softly.

Liu Ziqing, after all, understood things better than others. With Xu Qingfan’s words, Liu Ziqing gradually calmed down. When Liu Ziqing looked up again, he had a deep, mysterious smile on his face like before.

Meanwhile, Zhang Xusheng and the elder of the Zhong family finished their polite talk and turned to look at Feng Qingtian. They stared for a long time before suddenly shaking their heads and sighing, "The fruit is growing too slowly. After so many years, it is still not time to pick it."

Saying this, Zhang Xusheng turned to Xu Qingfan and nodded with a smile, "But this fruit seems to be ripe."

Xu Qingfan welcomed Liu Ziqing and Wang Zegang to Zhang Xusheng, and his smile was so similar to Zhang Xusheng’s. He said, "Maybe I still have room for this fruit to grow more. I just hope… that you don’t lose interest in planting and want to cut down the tree instead. Whether it’s ripe fruit or still green fruit, they will all be smashed to pieces."

Saying this, Xu Qingfan glanced at Feng Qingtian and saw that Feng Qingtian’s body was shaking even more.

Zhang Xusheng laughed and said, "If you’re going to cut down the tree, you must pick all the fruit first; otherwise, it would be boring."

"Yes, but you must be careful, senior. When picking fruit, if the fruit is too high and falls to the ground, it would hurt a lot. Or maybe the fruit will fall on your head, and that would hurt too."

Xu Qingfan said with a hint.

"That’s okay. I have a lot of experience in picking fruit, so I shouldn’t fall. Besides, no matter how ripe the fruit is, it is just fruit."

Zhang Xusheng’s smile was as bright as ever.

Xu Qingfan sighed and said, "I don’t know. While the fruit may not hurt the elder, when the elder cuts down the tree, both the tree and the fruit will fall together. Could it crush the tree cutter?"

Zhang Xusheng laughed even more joyfully, his eyes sparkling with an unknown light, and said, "Honestly, I am also looking forward to that scene, very much."

As they spoke, the two shared a smile, each understanding the other without words.

But Xu Qingfan suddenly changed the subject, pointing at the colorful clouds under Zhang Xusheng’s feet and said, "The way the elder comes, it looks like some of those great masters of the right path have arrived."

"The so-called right path is just a name they give themselves. As long as one puts in enough effort, not only can I seem like an evil path, even the devil’s path can become the right path in the eyes of the world."

Zhang Xusheng said leisurely.

"So, if one dresses up enough, can they also become a god in the eyes of the world?"

Xu Qingfan suddenly asked.

"Becoming a god requires a lot of effort; it’s not just a simple costume change."

Zhang Xusheng glanced at Liu Ziqing behind Xu Qingfan, who smiled and nodded at Zhang Xusheng, and then Zhang Xusheng smiled at Xu Qingfan.

Xu Qingfan smiled slightly and said, "Since that’s the case, I will wait and see. To be honest, I am also looking forward to the future."

Immortal Crane, Monk Wan Shi, and the Pine Scholar are all old friends of Xu Qingfan. After nodding at Zhang Xusheng, Xu Qingfan began to chat politely with Immortal Crane and the others.

While Xu Qingfan was warmly chatting with Immortal Crane and the others, a colorful cloud appeared in the distant sky, accompanied by beautiful heavenly music and misty fairy light, gradually flying closer.

This time, the masters who arrived were truly the respected senior experts of the righteous path.

Immortal Zizhen, Mr. Liu, and others looked around at the people in the area, and when they saw the elder of the Zhong family, their eyes sparkled with surprise, but in the end, they fixed their gaze on Xu Qingfan.

The Soul Splitting Stage: In less than fifty years, Xu Qingfan had actually reached the Soul Splitting Stage.

Those who knew Xu Qingfan were all shocked; this kind of progress had not been seen for ages, except for the former Demon Ancestor. The righteous path masters usually pride themselves on staying calm in the face of challenges, but at this moment, they felt as if they were in a dream.

At that moment, Xu Qingfan flew towards Mr. Liu with a big smile on his face.

However, just then, an overwhelming and powerful aura suddenly appeared, and all the masters in the arena turned their heads, seeing dozens of figures flying quickly towards them.

These figures looked strange and fierce, and they were indeed the members of the Shura Clan.