Chapter 84

Chapter 84: Returning Home Often

"City Lord, the senior is truly one of our Linglong City’s guardian deities."

Witnessing the Sword Servant being instantly killed with a single sword strike, Zhao Cheng was ecstatic. With the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion present, Linglong City’s foundation could last for eternity.

The City Lord of Linglong was also extremely excited.

Just moments ago, he hadn’t been fully confident in what he said.

But the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion was indeed the eternal deity!

He would never let him down.

Holding the Sword Servant’s head in both hands, Yang Xuanzhan walked toward the gates of Linglong City under everyone’s watchful eyes.

Deprived of magical power, the Sword Servant’s head had shrunk back to its normal size.

When Yang Xuanzhan reached the city gates, he channeled his magic power. The chain sword plunged through the Sword Servant’s skull, firmly nailing the severed head to the city wall for all to see.

"My lord sincerely conducts his business," he declared. "But for those who dare turn a blind eye to reason, this wretch’s fate shall be their end."

The onlookers shuddered with fear.

This act by the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion was clearly meant to make an example of someone.

By doing so, however, they had likely offended the True Martial God Sect irreparably.

After finishing the task, Yang Xuanzhan returned to the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion to report back to Ye Xu.

"That sword… you left it embedded in the city wall?" Ye Xu asked, his eyes deep and unfathomable, his tone soft yet heavy.

Yang Xuanzhan nodded.

Ye Xu nearly vomited a mouthful of blood right in Yang Xuanzhan’s face.

That was a top-tier divine weapon of the great sage! It could have been redeemed for at least nearly a hundred thousand heavenly secrets points, marginally recouping some of his losses.

Yet Yang Xuanzhan had presumptuously decided to leave the chain sword stuck in the city wall!

Ye Xu’s lungs nearly burst with fury.

Ye Xian’er couldn’t help but stifle a laugh. As everyone knew, the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion was immensely greedy. Abandoning such a divine weapon of the great sage was akin to carving flesh from Ye Xu’s body.

Yang Xuanzhan realized this too. Treading on thin ice, he asked, "My lord, should this lowly one make another trip and retrieve the chain sword for the pavilion?"

Ye Xu sighed heavily. "Wouldn’t that make our Heaven’s Secret Pavilion a laughingstock?"

"Your lord may be greedy, but he still has his pride to maintain."

Yang Xuanzhan shrank his head down, chastened.

"Remember this well next time," Ye Xian’er lectured him seriously, mimicking a scolding tone perfectly. "A single divine weapon of the great sage is sufficient to sustain any sect across the Southern Wilderness. Although our Heaven’s Secret Pavilion lacks nothing, wastefulness is unacceptable."

"Waste is shameful."

Yang Xuanzhan looked at her, stunned speechless. Was this little girl actually daring to lecture him?

Yet, he dared not retaliate.

The relationship between Ye Xian’er and Ye Xu was evidently far closer than his own. His ability to remain in the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion was, in part, due to Ye Xian’er’s favor.

"You’re dismissed. I wish to think in silence," Ye Xu said wearily.

"Elder, I will massage your shoulders and legs for you."

Ye Xian’er laughed slyly as she tried to please Ye Xu.

Yang Xuanzhan retreated alone.

…

"Foreseeing the future, connecting ancient and modern times, analyzing yin and yang, determining the five elements—heavenly secrets are measurable." Nangong Zhandao stared at the couplet beside the doors of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion and laughed loudly. "Such magnificent boldness."

"Let’s go in."

Lin Qianmo walked towards Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

"Nangong Ling!"

A sudden call came from behind.

The three generations of the Da Qian Emperor family appeared behind the five people. The old man stared intently at Nangong Zhandao’s back figure, visibly agitated.

Nangong Zhandao paused in his step.

It had been over a hundred years since he last heard that name.

He hardly felt any ripple in his heart and slowly turned around to look at the old man and Nangong Chengye. With a flicker in his gaze, he said, "Were you waiting for me here?"

The old man, named Nangong Qing, was a cousin of the current Qian Emperor. Over a century ago, he had already reached the saint level.

Based on seniority, Nangong Zhandao should address Nangong Chengye as Eighth Uncle.

As for Nangong Yi, Nangong Zhandao did not recognize her.

Nangong Qing said, "Three days ago, this old man consulted the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. He told me you were a guest at the Red Dust Demon Sect and would come to Linglong City three days later to visit Heaven’s Secret Pavilion."

"So, the three of us have been waiting for you here."

"Yi’er, come greet your Ninth Brother."

Nangong Yi’s large, dark eyes brimmed with curiosity as she curtsied gracefully. "Nangong Yi greets Ninth Brother."

"Ninth Brother, how did you rise to first place on the Hidden Dragon List?"

"How exactly have you lived over this hundred years?"

Like an inquisitive little girl, she fired off a string of questions.

Qi Ruyu and Ye Hongchen remained silent.

A glint of anger flashed in Lan Youruo’s eyes. Having known Nangong Zhandao for many years, she was acutely aware of what he had endured during this century and felt deeply pained.

Everything was all thanks to the Da Qian Emperor family; how dare these people show up now?

The root cause was surely the emergence of the Hidden Dragon List.

"Let me handle this," Nangong Zhandao said softly to Lan Youruo.

Lan Youruo nodded gently.

Nangong Zhandao looked at Nangong Yi and laughed. "I don’t know how I rose to first place on the Hidden Dragon List. Anyway, by the time I learned of its existence, I was already in first place."

Qi Ruyu rolled her eyes.

That statement was truly impossible to refute.

"In this past hundred years, I have made many friends but also many foes. Compared to the days when I stayed confined in that tiny corner of Da Qian Emperor family, I have been far happier."

Nangong Zhandao murmured with a touch of emotion.

"Ninth Brother, will you come back to Da Qian Emperor family with us?" Nangong Yi asked playfully, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Ever since you left, Aunt Mu has missed you terribly. She often talks about you."

Nangong Zhandao’s gaze flickered, a hint of tenderness he hadn’t shown in a long time flashing in his eyes.

"Is…is she well?" he inquired.

Though he practiced the Xuan Du Forgetting Emotions Heaven Book, he hadn’t severed all emotions completely. He truly felt remorse regarding his birth mother.

Yet, the power of the Xuan Du Forgetting Emotions Heaven Book constantly suppressed his human nature.

This was an inevitable path in cultivating the manual.

"Aunt hasn’t been well," Nangong Yi replied. "She often told me she was sorry for you, and asked that I seek you out if I ever could after I grew up." She leaned closer to Nangong Zhandao’s ear, whispering, "I know one of Aunt’s secrets. About you."

Confusion settled over Nangong Zhandao’s face.

"Ever since you left, Aunt has made one plate of osmanthus cake every single day."

Boom!

Nangong Zhandao jolted as if struck.

That was his favorite cake since childhood.

Violent emotions erupted from his heart, threatening to shatter his Dao heart. His Dao heart was disturbed; he could maintain his calm no longer.

Still, Nangong Zhandao tried to restrain himself.

"Every time I visited Changning Palace to play, I’d finish the osmanthus cakes Aunt made. Over time, she started making an extra portion every day."

Nangong Yi licked her lips, perhaps savoring the memory of the taste. "She told me that one was for my Ninth Brother."

"So I made a deal with her: If I could find you and bring you back, she would give me all the osmanthus cakes!"

"Ninth Brother, I found you. I won."

Nangong Qing and Nangong Chengye stood in silence, their expressions sorrowful.

Nangong Zhandao was her only son.

The events of a century earlier had filled Mu Wanjun with pain and sorrow ever since. She had never truly recovered from that day.

"Little Ling, if you are unwilling to return with us, we will not force you," Nangong Qing finally said. "We came today simply to hope you might come home sometimes. Don’t make Wan Jun grieve any more."

Boom!

After the words from Nangong Yi and Nangong Qing, Nangong Zhandao’s qi surged violently, as if experiencing a cultivation deviation, his magic power erupting like a collapsed dam.

Go home to see her sometimes…

Instantly, his mother’s face appeared vividly in his mind.

Past memories, uncontrollable, flooded out fiercely.

His Dao heart was utterly undone.

"Nangong!" Lan Youruo’s expression underwent a great change. She never imagined Nangong Yi’s few words could have pushed Nangong Zhandao into a life-or-death crisis.

She immediately activated her magic, casting a divine ability, intending to use great magic to help Nangong Zhandao pacify his inner demons.

"Do not intervene."

Lin Qianmo pressed her hand on Lan Youruo’s shoulder. "This familial affection is a tribulation within his cultivation. While perilous, it might also be his opportunity."

"With such unparalleled fortune, if he can overcome this tribulation, it will be his moment of achieving Sagehood."

"Little Ling, what’s wrong with him?"

Terrified and bewildered, Nangong Qing and Nangong Chengye wanted to step forward but dared not approach rashly.

Nangong Yi did not understand the gravity of the situation.

"Do not approach him!"

Lan Youruo’s voice was icy. She traced a circle with her forefinger, forming a circular barrier that encased Nangong Zhandao.

Nangong Qing’s face turned pale with shock.

Drawing a circle to form a prison—a divine ability on par with verbal manifestation.

Clearly, Lan Youruo was one of the two quasi-emperors Ye Xu had spoken of.

The commotion outside Heaven’s Secret Pavilion also alerted Ye Xu.

He walked to the door, his gaze first falling on Ye Hongchen, then on Qi Ruyu; something about them seemed vaguely familiar.

The next moment, his eyes landed on Nangong Zhandao.

Wasn’t this the top rank of the Hidden Dragon List?

Looking at Lin Qianmo and the others, Ye Xu revealed a warm smile.

"You have finally come."