CHAPTER 71: A NEW JOURNEY BEGINS

Lu Chen touched the top of his head and noticed that Wind Dragon had long since fallen asleep above him.

He turned to look at the huge tree under which Nantian Xiu sat cross-legged, radiating a golden light.

Circles of spirit qi spread outward from him, forming a vast protective barrier.

The overwhelming pressure forced the surrounding cultivators away, leaving Nantian Xiu undisturbed.

Lu Chen called out to Nantian Wan'er, "Wan'er, I've found Grandpa Xiu. Let's go."

Together, they flew through the air toward Nantian Xiu.

As they landed, Nantian Wan’er shouted at Nantian Xiu beneath the tree, "Grandpa, we finally found you!"

Nantian Xiu heard her voice. "Hm?"

With a sharp shout, the light around him surged, instantly transforming into waves of sword qi.

"Eh? Grandpa Xiu, have you become stronger again?"

Lu Chen approached slowly with Wan'er. He could feel that Nantian Xiu's aura had grown far stronger, and his eyes now carried a sharpness and vitality that hadn't been there previously.

Nantian Xiu circulated his spirit qi, gradually concealing the edge in his aura. "After you left, I also came across a lucky opportunity. I managed to heal all of my old hidden injuries."

He rose to his feet, patted Nantian Wan'er's head, then smiled at Lu Chen. "Young man, you've done well. Once you finish digesting the insights from your two hundred years of trial, your strength will surely rise to a whole new level."

Lu Chen broke into laughter at his words. "Hahaha, thank you, Grandpa Xiu. So it really was voluntary after all."

Nantian Xiu knew that Lu Chen had already guessed his true strength, so he said, "With my cultivation, it couldn't have been otherwise. Still, I didn't expect those spirit beasts to really spare you."

Lu Chen pretended like he was unfamiliar with the chieftains and asked, "Grandpa Xiu, tell us what happened when you fought them."

Nantian Xiu began weaving lies. He had already received instructions from Blindman Lu to conceal the truth from Lu Chen for the sake of the plan.

He said with a chuckle, "When I fought them, I realized those beasts had awakened for one reason—to prepare a trial for you. I don't know why they set the trial up for you alone."

Nantian Xiu acted like he recalled something and added, "Right... When we were still outside the secret realm, you mentioned a senior who told you to seek out these beasts. It seems they were the ones who had prepared this trial to help you officially step into the Qi Regulation Realm."

"Yes, Grandpa Xiu, we were fortunate to meet some acquaintances this time."

Lu Chen secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that Nantian Xiu had emerged safely and that his identity as the new Beast King remained hidden.

"By the way, Grandpa Xiu, how did you capture that leader?"

Thinking of the cultivator leader, Lu Chen pressed on with more questions, "Was he arranged for me? You guys were the only ones who knew about my grudge with him, and you also knew I'd head straight for the center of the secret realm."

Nantian Xiu pretended to remember and explained, "He happened to stumble in, aiming to hunt Flame Demon, but underestimated his target. Flame Demon struck him down and left him gravely injured. At that moment, his identity token fell."

"I saw the identity token and told the chieftains about your enmity. When they learned that the cultivator was your enemy, they deliberately placed him in the center of the secret realm as your reward for success."

"I knew it was you, Grandpa Xiu."

Lu Chen suddenly dropped to his knees and kowtowed three times.

"This first bow is to thank you for saving my life in the secret realm. Without your timely appearance, I might have died there."

Bang!

"This second bow is to thank you for looking after me throughout our journey within the secret realm. Only after leaving did I realize how cheap a cultivator's life truly is. Without you, I'd likely have been slaughtered by those bandits."

Bang!

"This third bow is on behalf of the villagers of Greenheaven Village. If not for you, I don't know when I would've been able to avenge them."

Bang!

The last bow landed especially hard, echoing loudly. "Thank you, Grandpa Xiu. Thank you for showing me kindness from the very first time we met, and for making me believe that some cultivators still hold goodness in their hearts."

Nantian Xiu glanced at the slain cultivators nearby and let out a soft sigh. "Sigh...

"

He helped Lu Chen back to his feet.

From one perspective, the destined path Lu Chen was on would lead him straight to the peak, free of setbacks or failure.

However, after learning the truth, Nantian Xiu couldn't help but see him as drifting duckweed, carried wherever others willed. Even now, Lu Chen still believed outsiders had slaughtered his villagers and that everything he did was to avenge them.

He still carried on his back the pointless goal of rescuing a grandfather who had been taken away, wandering everywhere in search of someone who did not even exist.

Looking at Lu Chen, Nantian Xiu suddenly felt a trace of pity. He couldn't help but feel that Lu Chen should've been allowed to live differently, to have a goal of his own.

Nonetheless, Nantian Xiu patted Lu Chen lightly on the shoulder and said, "Young man, I believe you'll find your grandpa soon.

"But once you do, if you don't want the kind villagers to be hurt again, you must use your strength to rescue the oppressed and resist the powers that suppress you."

He turned his head to glance around the scene. "A golden age is coming. The great reshuffling of the cultivation world will soon begin. If you wish to change this world, you must seize this chance."

Nantian Xiu pointed toward the distant sects. "Do you see these oppressed cultivators? All they lack is a leader, someone to rally them. Grow stronger one step at a time, and stand against these great clans and sects."

For a moment, Nantian Xiu felt that Lu Chen truly had the makings of such a leader. He was pure-hearted, kind, destined for great power, yet born into the lowest ranks of society.

That could become the very goal Lu Chen lacked. Something that would be his exclusively, beyond the task of saving his grandfather.

Lu Chen looked at the battlefield littered with broken limbs and shattered remains. His heart stirred. He had indeed thought before about leading cultivators one day to resist oppression.

"Grandpa Xiu, do you believe I could do it? I am far too weak. Just searching for my grandpa alone is already incredibly difficult."

Nantian Xiu patted his shoulder again. "So what? When the golden age arrives, spirit qi will surge forth from the secret realms of the continent. The effect of the Heavenly Pool Lakes on the cultivators will be reduced significantly. For everyone, that will be a chance."

Lu Chen smiled at him. "Thank you, Grandpa Xiu. I'll work hard. You really sound like Uncle Jun with the way you speak.

"Why don't you come with me to meet him? Just a few days ago, Uncle Jun took me in as his disciple."

"Uncle Jun?"

Lu Chen pointed toward the camp. "That's him, Grandpa Xiu."

Nantian Xiu raised his head and saw a man stepping out of the tent. He was none other than Jun Wudi.

Nantian Xiu was stunned to see him here. "Young man, the master you mentioned... could he be Jun Wudi of the Jun Clan, elder of the Heavenly Rite Manor?"

Lu Chen quickly corrected, "Uncle Jun's name is Jun Wudi, but Grandpa Xiu, you're mistaken. He's an elder of the Heavenly Mandate Hall, not Heavenly Rite Manor."

The moment he saw Jun Wudi, Lu Chen shouted out loud. "Uncle J—"

"Don't call him!"

Nantian Xiu quickly pulled Lu Chen aside and hid behind a large tree while suppressing all traces of their presence.

Jun Wudi lifted his head toward Lu Chen's direction, but saw no one. "Little Lu?"

Just as he was about to lower his head again, he frowned. "No... that energy just now... it felt like someone from the Nantian Sect."

He recalled the trace he had sensed earlier and quickly realized something amiss. He released his divine sense toward Lu Chen's direction.

All he saw was Lu Chen standing under a tree, looking perfectly normal. Relieved, he called out, "Little Lu, come quickly. We're leaving."

Nantian Xiu swiftly imitated Lu Chen's voice and replied, "I know, Uncle Jun. I'll be right there."

Hearing the reply, Jun Wudi eased up, but kept his divine sense locked on Lu Chen, alert for any mishap.

Lu Chen asked curiously, "Grandpa Xiu, what are you doing? Do you know Uncle Jun?"

"Of course. Back when Jun Wudi first stepped on the path of cultivation, I was the one who led him to hunt beasts."

Nantian Xiu glanced toward Jun Wudi, his tone tinged with reminiscence. "His talent far surpassed mine. He's the Jun Clan's greatest prodigy, and by the age of thirty, he could already command crimson divine lightning."

Realizing they were old acquaintances, Lu Chen became even more eager for them to meet. "Then why hide, Grandpa Xiu?"

Nantian Xiu turned his head, gazed at the reddening sky in the south, and paused for a moment.

Then he drew a porcelain bottle of pills from his sleeve and handed it to Lu Chen. "I brought Wan'er out in secret this time. I can't let others know I'm in the Jianghai Region just yet."

He turned to look at Nantian Wan'er. "I'll be entrusting her to you for now. I must return to the Nantian Sect."

Lu Chen looked at the bottle in his hand, confused. "Grandpa Xiu, what do you mean? Are you not taking Wan'er with you?"

"I refined these pills with the Fire Essence. I've also already tempered their nature, so they're gentle now. Have her take three a day. As for Wan'er herself..."

Nantian Xiu glanced at Nantian Wan'er hiding behind Lu Chen and chuckled. "A grown daughter can't be kept. I'd like to take her back, but I doubt she'd follow."

At that, Nantian Wan'er's cheeks flushed red. She gripped the hem of her clothes and whispered, "I... I want to go back with you, Grandpa. I want to go with you."

"If you wanted to, you'd already be here. Seems to me you don't."

Nantian Wan'er leapt from behind Lu Chen like a startled rabbit. "Ah! I'll come now!"

Nantian Xiu smiled faintly. "Enough. I can't take you back yet. There are important matters I must attend to first. Stay with Little Lu at the Heavenly Mandate Hall. When I'm done, I'll come for you."

Hearing this, Nantian Wan'er's worry deepened. "Grandpa, what is it? I heard Big Brother say the sealing stele has loosened. Are the demonic beasts about to break free?"

Nantian Xiu chuckled and stroked her hair. "Silly girl. It's just a small matter. It'd be inconvenient to bring you along. But the world is really about to change."

His domineering spirit qi began to stir as he turned his gaze to Lu Chen.

Lu Chen glanced up and suddenly noticed the sky behind him turning blood-red. "Grandpa Xiu, you're right. The world is changing."