CHAPTER 996: CHAPTER 986: SEEKING FORGIVENESS

Master Lady Yuji’s cold stare and Junior Sister Shi Qingying’s sarcastic remarks seemed to make Li Huachun uneasy.

He had just sat down in the chair beside the tea table, but with a swish, he stood up again.

Without saying a word, he began to kowtow and acknowledge his mistakes: "Master, for years I have been engrossed in cultivation, and in some aspects, I have not done well enough, leading you to feel disappointed and discontent, which indeed is my fault."

"The title ’Ancestor of the Li Family’ is one bestowed upon me by descendants, but in front of you, Master, I am still the same Chun of years past."

"I remember back then, I had nothing, not to mention cultivation, even getting enough to eat and staying warm was a mere luxury for me."

"I will never forget the day when heavy snow was falling, and I fainted from hunger on the street. Had you, Master, not happened to pass by and take pity on me enough to accept me as a disciple, I would have surely frozen to death there."

"It was you, Master, who gave me a second life and taught me skills, allowing me to grow to where I am today."

"Your immense grace and favor to me, Huachun, I can never forget for all eternity!"

"For hundreds of years, immersed in cultivation, I have neglected to visit Yuxiang Garden, and neglected you and Junior Sister. Whether you choose to scold me or punish me, as long as it eases your anger, I am willing to accept any penalty you decide upon!"

...

Li Huachun spoke with sincerity and earnestness.

As he spoke, his head was pounding against the solid floor of the room.

In just those few sentences, the bloodstains on his forehead became clearly visible.

"Huachun, why do this to yourself?"

"As a cultivator, cultivation is obviously more important. I understand why you immersed yourself in cultivation and didn’t visit Yuxiang Garden to see me and Ying."

"Alright, stand up quickly. You are already a Daluo Golden Immortal; kneeling like this is not befitting!"

Having not seen Li Huachun for years, Lady Yuji initially felt a grudge upon his sudden appearance, which was undeniably true.

However, seeing Li Huachun kneel and perform such an act...

Even though she had been somewhat dissatisfied with him, at this moment, Lady Yuji’s anger had completely dissipated.

Recalling past events, Lady Yuji seemed to envision a ragged, thin boy fainted on the cold streets, his body still twitching uncontrollably.

After accepting him as her First Disciple, many memories about Li Huachun replayed endlessly in her mind.

Her previously expressionless face now showed evident warmth.

Returning from her wistful recollection, and seeing Li Huachun still kneeling, blood running down from his forehead to his cheeks, Lady Yuji felt compassion rise, and she stood up, went over, and helped him up.

"As long as you’re not angry, it’s fine. Seeing the warmth return to your typically cold face, even if I break my head kneeling, I feel it is worth it!"

Not continuing to insist, Li Huachun rose from the ground and resumed his seat in the chair.

Glancing at Junior Sister Shi Qingying beside him, then looking at Lady Yuji before him, he appeared humble and discreetly flattered both.

"Senior Brother, the Li Family you inherited has been developing very well over the years."

"I’ve heard that your family’s influence has even spread beyond Black Water Immortal City to other regions on Golden Dawn Island."

"I thought your family had such a situation because you were always planning behind the scenes."

"Only seeing you today did I realize you have been closing yourself off for cultivation all these years. It seems I misunderstood!"

...

Unlike Lady Yuji who had already been moved by Li Huachun, Shi Qingying felt her Senior Brother’s humble looks seemed somewhat false.

With deep meaning, she scrutinized Li Huachun several times before tentatively inquiring.

On the other side, Li Huachun seemed to see through the doubts in Shi Qingying’s mind.

He calmly smiled, and the next moment, his aura exploded forth.

The intangible aura within the living room seemed to transform into something tangible.

Under the influence of his aura, icicles began to form on the beams at the ceiling, and a wave of endless chill spread from Li Huachun’s position outwards.

Lady Yuji, as a Quasi-Saint, remained calm in the face of this terrifying aura.

Shi Qingying, who was just in the initial stage of the Daluo Golden Immortal Realm, however, retreated six or seven steps.

"Mid Period of Daluo Golden Immortal?" After stabilizing her body, she tentatively confirmed.

"Indeed, after so many years of closed cultivation, I’ve managed a small advance in realm!" Li Huachun said, somewhat smugly, deliberately lifting his chest as he spoke.

Upon receiving confirmation from him, Shi Qingying and Lady Yuji exchanged glances and nodded lightly.

Upon entering the Daluo Golden Immortal Realm, any further enhancement in power demands a tremendous amount of time.

After all, cultivation at the level of Daluo Golden Immortal is hardly effective through mere hard work; only with deeper understanding of one’s path can substantial strength growth be achieved.

In the past, knowing Li Huachun had reached the Mid Period of Daluo Golden Immortal would surely have surprised Lady Yuji with joy.

But now, having witnessed numerous genius disciples with rapid cultivation speed on Black Water Immortal Mountain, she really didn’t know how to describe someone like Li Huachun, who took several thousand years for a minor step within the Daluo Golden Immortal level!

"Successfully stepping into the Mid Period of Daluo Golden Immortal, you are one step closer to becoming a Quasi-Saint."

"After so many years of closed rigorous cultivation, Huachun, you have accomplished something, not wasted time."

"Perhaps, spending a few thousand, to tens of thousands of more years, your strength might catch up to mine!"

Though Li Huachun’s progression didn’t bring her joy anymore, Lady Yuji still offered him some words of encouragement after thinking it over.

"Master, displaying my strength before you and Junior Sister isn’t about flaunting."

"I merely wish to prove that I have indeed been immersed in cultivation all these years."

"That I failed to visit Yuxiang Garden to see you and Junior Sister wasn’t due to neglect, but truly due to circumstances!"

Retracting his aura, Li Huachun sincerely continued: "Upon leaving seclusion, I haven’t even seen my descendants, rushing here first to pay respects to you, Master."

"In my view, Heaven, Earth, Monarch, Parent, Teacher—perhaps the sequence is wrong."

"That ’Teacher’ shouldn’t be at the end but ought to be first!"

...

Li Huachun’s flattery came one after another.

As time passed, the atmosphere gradually became harmonious.

Even Shi Qingying, who previously had some doubts about Li Huachun, had let go of her suspicions and began to converse with him warmly.

"By the way, Master, Junior Sister, during my closed cultivation, I constantly felt as if a vague figure were summoning me!"

"This sudden happening unsettled me greatly, making it hard to focus on cultivation."

"I wonder if either of you faced a similar experience during your cultivation?"

After chatting for a while, Li Huachun suddenly shifted the topic, inquiring about this peculiar issue.