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...After a simple farewell to Bo Saixi, Xuan Ming activated his spatial power and brought everyone away from Sea God Island.
Space shifted, and in the next moment, everyone appeared above Spirit City.
Overlooking the magnificent city below, both familiar and somewhat strange, and feeling the hustle and bustle and vitality so different from Sea God Island, Hu Liena and the others showed complex expressions on their faces.
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After several years away, they were finally back.
After a simple welcome banquet, eager to return home, they couldn't wait to go home and see.
Ning Rongrong was the first to jump up; she had long missed her father, Ning Fengzhi, and her two grandfathers. The Seven Treasures Glazed Sect is now deeply intertwined with the Spirit Empire, and as the Sect Master, Ning Fengzhi holds the esteemed position of Imperial Chancellor, with high authority. Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo are also members of the Elder Palace, enjoying respected status.
Shui Binger and Huo Wu's families, having joined early on when the Spirit Empire was in its Early Stage, are now well-established within the Empire, making their return home naturally convenient.
Dugu Yan's grandfather, Dugu Bo, due to his terrifying poison cultivation having a significant impact on warfare, was "invited" into Spirit City and joined the Elder Palace early in the Spirit Empire's expansion.
Although it was semi-forced, Bibi Dong granted him sufficient courtesy and freedom, and Dugu Bo was content with the quiet, focusing on his poison techniques. Dugu Yan naturally went to find her grandfather.
Watching her companions go to reunite with their families, Hu Liena, Xiao Wu, A Rou, Ah Yin, Ye Lingling, and Zhu Zhuqing, as well as the four Vicious Beasts, remained by Xuan Ming's side.
Xiao Wu and A Rou relied on each other; their "home" was each other and wherever Xuan Ming was. Ye Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia lineage was passed down through a single heir, with few Family members and relatively distant relationships. Ever since her grandmother passed away, she had followed Xuan Ming.
As for Zhu Zhuqing, her situation was the most unique. Her Family was far away in the Star Luo Empire, a place that upheld iron-blooded competition and fratricidal rules. She felt no warmth of kinship there, only cold calculations and survival pressure. For her, that so-called "home" had long been a name without substance.
Wherever Xuan Ming was, that was her home.
As for Ah Yin, there was even less to say; she had even begun to regret resurrecting in this "big girl" appearance, because in this form, she couldn't cling to Xuan Ming and act spoiled all day long as she used to, without any inhibitions.
"Let's go." Xuan Ming said no more, directly leading everyone towards the Supreme Pontiff Palace in the city center.
The group walked along the wide streets of Spirit City. Several years had passed, and Spirit City had changed greatly. The streets were cleaner, with many spirit tool-featured buildings and facilities appearing on both sides, and pedestrians hurried along, but with less of the past fanaticism and more of a sense of order.
However, Xiao Wu keenly noticed that the passersby, upon seeing Xuan Ming, all had extremely strange looks in their eyes.
It was a complex emotion, a mixture of awe, fear, curiosity, and even a hint of... indescribable complexity.
Many people, seeing their group from afar, subconsciously lowered their heads and quickened their pace to avoid them, as if afraid of disturbing something.
Hu Liena's perception was even sharper; she even faintly heard some extremely hushed discussions:
"Look! It's... it's His Majesty!"
"Shh! Be quiet! Don't look around!"
"Her Majesty the Empress and His Majesty the Emperor appeared together today?"
"..."
His Majesty the Emperor?
A trace of surprise and confusion flashed in Hu Liena's charming eyes. It was well-known that her teacher, Bibi Dong, was the Empress of the Spirit Empire. But where did this title "His Majesty the Emperor" come from? Could it refer to... Xuan Ming?
Ah Yin's perception was also extremely keen. Her azure eyes blinked, and she directly pulled Xuan Ming's sleeve, looking up and asking in her naturally innocent and curious tone, "Xuan Ming, Xuan Ming! Why do they call you His Majesty the Emperor? When did you become the Emperor of the Spirit Empire? Where is Sister Dong'er?"
Her question was direct, and though her voice was not loud, everyone present heard it clearly.
Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ye Lingling, and even the four Vicious Beasts perked up their ears, and Hu Liena also cast a scrutinizing gaze.
They had all been on Sea God Island for these years, while Xuan Ming and Gu Yuena had been constantly traveling due to the Godly Trial. They didn't know much about what was happening on the continent.
Xuan Ming's footsteps paused slightly. He glanced at the innocent-faced Ah Yin and said indifferently, "I'm not an emperor."
"Then why do they call you that?" Ah Yin persisted.
Xuan Ming rubbed his temples with a slight headache, explaining, "Ever since the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament, my relationship with her has always been a focal point of outside discussion."
He paused, his tone tinged with helplessness: "Especially a few years ago when I returned to the continent and used my slaughter battle soul to destroy the fortresses on the borders of the Two Great Empires and the imperial capital's defenses, and then Bibi Dong launched a iron-fisted purge within the Spirit Empire, somehow, these messy titles started spreading."
"Some say I am the man behind Bibi Dong, the true controller of the Spirit Empire. Others say that she and I are the two great pillars of the Empire, equal in status, so one is called Empress and the other Emperor. There are even more absurd rumors... In short, it's a mess."
After listening, Ah Yin tilted her head in thought, then blinked her pure, flawless big eyes and said in a tone as if she had discovered the truth, "But... aren't these all true? You and Sister Dong'er already have that kind of relationship!"
Xuan Ming: "..."
He was choked by Ah Yin's "innocent" truth and was momentarily at a loss for how to retort.
But what did this inexplicable title of His Majesty the Emperor have to do with him?
...Ning Rongrong bid farewell to Xuan Ming and her companions, her heart filled with excitement and the trepidation of nearing home. Following the direction Xuan Ming had given, she quickly walked through the wide, clean streets of Spirit City towards the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect's station in the city.
As the capital of the Spirit Empire, Spirit City had grown larger and its layout more orderly after several years of construction.
The Seven Treasures Glazed Sect's station, which also served as the Imperial Chancellor's Residence, was located in a serene and heavily guarded area in the west of the city.
When Ning Rongrong's figure appeared before the Sect gate, the Disciples of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect on duty were first stunned, then erupted in immense joy!
"It's Young Miss! Young Miss is back!"
"Quick! Go report to the Sect Master! Young Miss is back!"
The news spread like wildfire throughout the entire residence.
Ning Rongrong walked into this "home," both familiar and somewhat strange, under the excited, curious, and somewhat reverent gazes of the many Disciples.
Not long after, urgent sounds of rushing wind and spirit power fluctuations came from outside the residence!
Ning Fengzhi, who was inspecting military camps and handling government affairs outside the city, upon receiving the news of his daughter's return, immediately dropped all matters and, accompanied by Bone Douluo Gu Rong, rushed back at the fastest speed!
Almost at the same time, a sharp, unparalleled sword light descended from the sky, landing in the courtyard of the residence. It was Sword Douluo Chen Xin, who had rushed back from his sword practice grounds outside the city after sensing Ning Rongrong's aura!
"Rongrong! Where is my Rongrong?!" Ning Fengzhi's urgent and trembling voice came in before he even arrived.
When he rushed into the main hall and saw the slender, graceful figure standing in the center, his footsteps suddenly halted.
The young girl before him wore a simple and neat combat suit, her skin a healthy wheat color, her posture as straight as a pine, her eyes firm and bright, and powerful, solid spirit power fluctuations emanated from her. Where was any trace of the delicate and fragile little princess who needed constant care from back then?
Is this... is this still his daughter, Ning Rongrong?