Three escape lights tore through the sky, extremely fast. Xiao Qi and Third Senior Sister, longing for home, followed steady, capable Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng's guidance. Avoiding some regions possibly harboring trouble, they raced toward Qingxu Temple. Along the way, Mu Qingfeng also detailed the intelligence about Shadow Snake Pavilion headquarters' periphery and the righteous alliance's recent movements.
"Shadow Snake Pavilion headquarters lies deep within the 'Ten Thousand Poison Marsh' in the Southwest'sland of miasma and pestilence, specific location fluctuating and uncertain, protected by multiple illusion formations andpoison barrier, extremely hard to locate. The Alliance organized several investigations, all suffering heavy losses, unable to reach the core." Mu Qingfeng's tone was grave: "According to Aunt Su's sparse transmitted information and Alliance piecing together, headquarters roughly divides into outer, middle, inner three zones. The outer area is natural barriers of various venomous insects and beasts, plus some affiliatedforces strongholds; the middle zone is where ordinary Shadow Snake Pavilion disciples and deacons operate, heavily guarded; the inner zone is the core—the 'Ten Thousand Demon Hall' and... the underground area suspected as the demon suppression formation eye."
"The Ten Thousand Demon Hall is personally guarded by the Shadow Snake Pavilion Master. It's said severalNascent Soulold demon of the period in constant seclusion also reside there, plus that demonic entity's partialremnant soul will manifestation—truly a dragon's den and tiger's lair." Mu Qingfeng looked at Xiao Qi: "Wanting to infiltrate beneath to reinforce the seal, difficulty is no less than scaling heaven."
Xiao Qi silently listened, firmlyremember in heart. He knew—no matter how difficult, he must go.
Several days later, in the distant horizon, that familiar, mist-shrouded mountain range silhouette gradually became clear. Qingxu Temple's mountain gate was in sight.
The closer they drew, the more excited Xiao Qi and Third Senior Sister became. When they departed, the sect had just experienced demonic disaster,war-torn, everything to be done. Now returning, they wondered what state it would be in.
Passing through the familiarmountain protection cloudmistgrand formation (clearly repaired and strengthened, spiritual light flowing more smoothly), the scene before their eyes made them pleasantly surprised.
The forests once burned by demonic fire, destroyed by battle, now again donned lush green attire. Though the trees were still tender, they radiated vitality. Most of the collapsed halls and pavilions had been rebuilt on original sites or nearby—flying eaves, buckets and brackets, carved beams and painted rafters. Though not as magnificent as in their prime, they displayed more theessence qi and spirit of recovery and resilience. On mountain paths, visiting disciples noticeably increased. Though many were new faces, cultivation generally not high, each had bright eyes, hurried steps,filled withvitalityanddrive.
The mountain-protecting formation's glow softly and steadily shrouded the mountains. Spiritual energy was also richer and purer than before. The entire Qingxu Temple, like a giant slowly recovering from severe injury, though war traces still visible (such as some deliberately preserved ruins forjunior warning), that upward-spiriting, hopeful atmosphere was very real.
"Seems during our absence, the sect recovered well." Third Senior Sister, seeing all this, had undisguised joy in her eyes.
Mu Qingfeng's face also revealed relieved joy: "Yes. Temple Master's injuries basically healed. He personally presided over reconstruction. Elders from various peaks andstay behind disciples worked together, plus some aid from the Alliance and other friendly sects—reconstruction progressed smoothly. Now, all sect affairs have returned to proper course. They've also started recruiting new disciples,add fresh blood."
He pointed to a newly built, especially magnificent hall in the distance: "That's the newly built 'Transmission Hall,' larger than before. Beneath it flows a decent quality small spiritual vein,available for more disciples simultaneously cultivate and hear teachings. Beside it is the new 'Hundred Arts Hall,' with divisions for pills, artifacts, talismans, formations—encouraging disciples to develop auxiliary paths."
He pointed toward a region behind the main peak shrouded infaint medicinal fragrance: "That's the expanded Spiritual Medicine Garden, personally managed by Wood Elder Uncle. Many rare spiritual plants were introduced, growing well."
Along the way, what they saw was orderlybusy, what they heard was disciples practicing techniques, chanting scriptures—vibrant sounds. The war's gloom seemed to be gradually dispersing. A more united, more dynamic Qingxu Temple was rising from the ruins,radiantemitrebirth.
Soon, the three landed at the main peak plaza. Learning Senior Brother had brought Xiao Qi and Liu Yun back, Temple Master Xuan Zhen True Person and severalstay behind elders quickly appeared in the main hall.
"Disciple Tang Xiao Qi (Liu Yun), bows to Temple Master, bows to all elders!" Xiao Qi and Third Senior Sister stepped forward, respectfully saluting.
Temple Master Xuan Zhen personally stepped forward, helping them rise. His complexion was ruddy, breath long—clearly his injuries were no longer a problem. Gazing at Xiao Qi and Third Senior Sister, especially sensing Xiao Qi's profound aura even he couldn't fully fathom, his eyes overflowed with uncontrollable excitement and relief.
"Good! Good! Good! Safe return is all that matters!" The Temple Master said three "goods," forcefully patting Xiao Qi's shoulder: "Seems your journey not only achieved the goal, yourselves gained unimaginable fortune! Heaven protects my Qingxu Temple! Heaven protects all beings of this realm!"
The other elders also stepped forward, faces full of joy and admiration. They could all sense this young disciple had truly grown into the sect's pillar, even a key figure for the entire cultivation world's opposition to the demonic disaster!
Xiao Qi modestly deflected, then asked with concern: "Temple Master, Second Senior Brother... how is he now?"
Mentioning Luo Feng, the Temple Master and elders' expressions all dimmed a bit. The Temple Master lightly sighed: "Come with me. He's been waiting for your return."
The group came to a secluded, elegant courtyard behind the main peak, filled with spiritual energy. This place had serene surroundings—specifically used forseriously injured disciples' recovery.
Pushing open the door, they saw Second Senior Brother Luo Feng half-leaning in a lounge chair, covered with a thin blanket, complexion still somewhat pale, aura far less spirited than before, only at Foundation Establishment initial stage. One arm hung helplessly—clearlymeridians damaged severely, not yet recovered.
However, in sharp contrast to this frail body was thewisdomandhold light still flickering in his eyes, and the various jade slips, drawings, and strangely shaped parts piled on the small table before him.
Seeing Xiao Qi and Third Senior Sister enter, Luo Feng's eyes erupted with surprised joy. Struggling to sit up: "Xiao Qi! Liu Junior Sister! You're finally back!"
Xiao Qi hastily stepped forward to support him: "Second Senior Brother, don't move, rest well."
Luo Feng waved his hand. Though weak, his tone carried his usual optimism (or rather, passion for research): "It's fine, not dead. Just this cultivation... afraid it's hard to recover. Can't really fight anymore."
He pointed to the things on the table, excitement appearing on his face: "But, blessed misfortune,who would have thoughtDaoisnois blessing! Can't use my hands, so I'll use my brain! This period, I've almost worn out all those old manuscripts about refining, formations, runes in our sect's library! Combined with some of my previous 'whimsical ideas,' heh heh, I've had quite a few new discoveries!"
He picked up a beast-skin drawing covered in complex runes and energy circuit configurations, presenting it to Xiao Qi like treasure: "Look at this! I call it the theoreticalconceive of 'Spiritual Resonance Cannon'! Abandoning traditional artifact-refining ideas, using specific frequency spiritual fluctuation toguideemitheavengroundspiritual energy resonance, producing range attacks far exceeding one's own spiritual output! Though still just an idea, energy loss and stability are major problems, but I think it has potential!"
He picked up another jade slip: "And this is about how toutilizedemonic qiandspiritual energymutual generation and restraint yet not completely opposed characteristics, constructing a preliminarydeduce of a new type energy conversion core... Though Master scolded me for being unrealistic, I think it might work..."
Seeing Second Senior Brother had poured all passion into theoretical research despite hiscultivation greatly declined, even his ideascompare tofronteven morebold imaginationempty,boldly surpassfront, Xiao Qi's heart was bothaching and full of admiration. He knew Second Senior Brother was, in his own way, continuing to contribute strength to the sect, to opposing the demonic entity.
"Second Senior Brother, you're amazing." Xiao Qi sincerely said: "These ideas might, in the future, play unexpectedly important roles."
Luo Feng grinned, a flush appearing on his pale face: "That's right! Your Second Senior Brother is going to become a theoretical master who founds a sect!"
Leaving Second Senior Brother's place, Xiao Qi's heart was filled with myriad emotions. The sect was recovering, Temple Master recovered from injuries, Senior Brother's cultivation advanced, Second Senior Brother found a new path. All this reassured him, strengthening his determination to protect all this.
He raised his head, gazing at the clear sky, but his gaze seemed to penetrate clouds, falling upon that distant southwestern direction.
Qingxu Temple was his root, his home he must protect. Yet now, to protect this home, protect all the people and things he cared about, he must go to that most dangerous place, complete that final mission.
The time had come to inform Temple Master and the Alliance about Four Symbols alignment news and Tianjizi's final guidance.