The Vow Power Pill solidified completely, and the Bright Soul Fire flew towards it, Yuan Ming's Divine Soul hurriedly left the Stealing Heaven Tripod Space and came outside.

Yuan Ming took out a black gourd and carefully collected the Vow Power Pill into it.

This gourd was a Magic Artifact specially refined for him using Yin Attribute Spiritual Materials, capable of preserving the power of desires, which could be used to store the Vow Power Pills.

Just at that moment, his expression suddenly changed, and he flew towards the center of the island, quickly arriving in front of a black stone house, into which he entered.

Inside the stone house, there was nothing but a black Stone Pillar standing erect at the center, with numerous Array Patterns inscribed around the ground, forming an Array, and atop the stone pillar, a cluster of blood-colored flames burned.

The Array on the ground was the Void Communication Array, which Yuan Ming had set up over the past twenty years, connecting to the central headquarters of the Moon Sect in Dragon King City and the Northern Desert Xiyue Sect.

The blood-colored flames burned fiercely, with the vague outline of a human face appearing within.

Yuan Ming made a hand gesture and pointed, making the face within the blood flames clearer—it was Xu Che.

"Xu Che, what's the matter?" Yuan Ming inquired.

"My lord..." the face within the blood flames called out, but struggled to continue speaking.

Yuan Ming sensed that his mood was somewhat chaotic and realized that something unfavorable must have happened.

"What has happened, tell me the truth." He immediately used his Divine Soul Power to calm Xu Che's mood and continued asking.

"My lord, your parents have passed away." The Soul Wave of Xu Che transmitted this news.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Ming felt as if struck by Thunder Strike, his breathing becoming rapid.

His Divine Soul caused a strong disturbance, and the blood-colored flames on the stone pillar shook violently, almost extinguishing.

"When did this happen?" However, Yuan Ming quickly steadied his Divine Sense and continued to ask.

"Your... Your mother passed away at sunrise this morning, and your father followed her shortly thereafter." Xu Che bowed his head and replied.

Yuan Ming was silent for a long time after that, then, as if steadying emotions on the verge of erupting, he asked again, "What exactly happened, where is the Three-eyed Crow? Wasn't he supposed to watch over my parents? What is he doing? Why didn't he inform me promptly?"

"The incident was truly sudden... Last night, your parents ascended to Muyun Mountain to pray for blessings, this morning they watched the sunrise together at Fenglai Peak. Afterward, your mother passed away suddenly. Your father didn't make it known, he hid it from the Three-eyed Crow, took a Dissolve Skill Pill that dispersed his cultivation, shortly thereafter he followed your mother." Xu Che spoke with difficulty.

After hearing this, Yuan Ming's eyes were moist, and tears involuntarily rolled down.

He did not find the outcome surprising, but it was nonetheless difficult to accept.

"Both of them had smiles on their faces when they passed away. There were words carved on the stone next to them: 'Your mother has your father by her side, my child, do not worry. From hereafter, the sky is vast and the earth is wide, spread your wings and soar,'" Xu Che brought the last message.

Yuan Ming looked up, tears streaming down his face.

Though the world was vast from this moment on, his parents' hall was gone forever.

...

Half a month later, East Sea, Dragon King City.

Thirty li outside the city, in a valley filled with bamboo, there was a sizeable estate.

Outside the estate, a figure descended from the sky and landed at the front gate—it was naturally Yuan Ming.

He had just landed when several figures rushed out to greet him. Among them were Xu Che, Yan Siyun, Yan Sijing, and even Tuya.

"My lord," Xu Che and the Yan sisters took the lead in offering a salutation with clasped fists.

"Benefactor Brother," Tuya also promptly saluted.

Yuan Ming glanced around and immediately saw that behind them stood a lady in a long dress, face covered with a light veil—it was Tuya's master, Wei Die.

Yuan Ming nodded slightly towards her, and she reciprocated with a bow.

"Let's go inside and talk," Yuan Ming said, walking towards the estate.

The others quickly followed.

As soon as he entered the gate, he saw the Three-eyed Crow in the courtyard.

The creature saw him and seemed somewhat guilty, avoiding approach with fear in its eyes and evident evasiveness.

Yuan Ming had no intention of blaming it, and was just about to speak when he noticed it seemed to have sustained serious injuries, with an unstable aura about it.

"What happened?" Yuan Ming furrowed his brows and asked. * (*) hosts the original.

"My lord, your parents passed away within the territory of Da Jin, and originally it was our duty to escort their bodies out. However, the current situation has changed. Chang Chun Temple has been overbearingly operating within Da Jin, forbidding the spread of both the Moon Sect and Xiyue Sect and preventing our sect's cultivators from entering." Xu Che took the initiative to respond.

"We couldn't enter, so we had to ask the Three-eyed Crow to carry the bodies of your parents out. Unexpectedly, on the way out, they were obstructed by roaming cultivators from Chang Chun Temple. Ultimately, the Three-eyed Crow was forced to sustain injuries, but it managed to secure the intact bodies of your parents and escape." Yan Siyun continued where he left off.

Hearing this, Yuan Ming's face turned iron-blue, his gaze chilling as if it could condense into droplets.

"Do they know the identity of the Three-eyed Crow, do they know it was escorting the bodies of my parents?" Yuan Ming asked each word with almost measured precision.

"Your parents had retired to Da Jin, the Da Jin Court surely knew of that, and the identity of the Three-eyed Crow is not a secret. I suspect that Chang Chun Temple is fully aware. They acted this way... probably to test your reaction," Yan Siyun analyzed.

"First, take me to see my parents," Yuan Ming said with a somber face, not continuing the topic.

"Yes," Xu Che responded promptly.

Yuan Ming followed the crowd to the inner courtyard, where he saw the already arranged mourning hall.

He asked everyone else to wait outside and entered alone.

In the mourning hall, surrounded by clusters of fresh flowers, there lay a large crystal coffin in the center, with Yuan Ming's parents lying side by side within.

Both had ingested a large amount of Immortal Pills and Spiritual Medicine in life; their bodies showed no signs of decay, appearing as though they were merely asleep, still wearing the faint smiles of their last moments.

Yuan Ming caressed the coffin, his Divine Thought gently sweeping over their bodies.

"Nothing left…"

Moisture rimmed his eyes; he could no longer feel any trace of Divine Soul Aura from them.

Since embarking on the path of cultivation, Yuan Ming had spent little time with his parents, a fact that had felt unavoidable in life's journey, and to which he had grown accustomed.

Only now, with his parents truly gone, did he realize there was no chance left for amends.

Yuan Ming did not consider himself indecisive and understood that the great Dao was merciless, and such partings were inevitable, but his heart was uncontrollably aching, with memories so forcefully crashing into him that his pain was sharp and clear.

He leaned low over the crystal coffin, sobbing quietly.

After a long time, a delicate jade hand gently rested on his back, patting him as his mother used to when consoling him as a child.

Yuan Ming did not look up, and the owner of the hand did not speak.

They remained that way until the evening came, and candles were lit within the mourning hall. Finally, Yuan Ming spoke up, "Why have you come?"

"The Dark Child left by the Moon Sect in the Central Plains sent a message, and I hurried over immediately," Xi Ying said softly.

Yuan Ming nodded, lapsing back into silence.

Xi Ying sat quietly beside him, not bringing up matters regarding Chang Chun Temple. She knew Yuan Ming did not want his parents to hear such sordid affairs.

So, the two of them leaned on each other, keeping vigil for their departed elders.

Seven days later, a discreet yet grand funeral was held in a valley outside Dragon King City.

It was called discreet because only a mere hundred or so people attended, a stark contrast to the scale of sect ceremonies that often numbered in the thousands.

Yet this sparsely attended group consisted of sect leaders and elders from every major island of the East Sea, as well as many Sects from the Southern Border, each a high-ranking cultivator commanding respect and power.

Yuan Ming had no desire for pomp and fanfare, intending only to mourn his parents for seven days before burying them. However, upon receiving the news, Cultivators from every major island of the East Sea came on their own to pay their respects.

In the end, under the persistent insistence of the crowd, Yuan Ming reluctantly conducted a grand memorial ceremony.

During the entire process, Xi Ying, dressed in simple white garments, stayed by Yuan Ming's side. Even though she did not claim to be family, her actions were indistinguishable from such.

After all had paid their respects, a figure arrived late yet with evident haste.

"My apologies, my apologies, I was delayed due to a chaotic battle in the Central Plains, and messages were cut off. Upon hearing of Fellow Daoist Yuan's parents passing, our temple master immediately sent me here non-stop to pay respects, please forgive this affront," said the newcomer, none other than Ancestor Ming Quan from Chang Chun Temple.

On seeing his arrival, Xu Che and the others felt their grief reignited, a fire of anger nearly bursting forth.

The Three-eyed Crow could hardly restrain itself from lashing out, but Yuan Ming silenced it with a psychic message.

With no expression, Yuan Ming said to Ancestor Ming Quan, "Since you've come to pay respects, light an incense stick."

Ancestor Ming Quan, feeling the chill in Yuan Ming's tone, shrank a little and, steeling himself, stepped forward, lighting three sticks of incense and placing them in the incense burner, bowing three times respectfully.

Yuan Ming and Xi Ying returned the gesture together.

"Fellow Daoist Yuan, some misunderstandings previously occurred…" Ancestor Ming Quan began, only to be interrupted by Yuan Ming.

"Whatever you have to say, let's talk later," Yuan Ming cut in.

Having spoken, Yuan Ming continued with the memorial ritual, leaving Ancestor Ming Quan sidestepped.

Although Ancestor Ming Quan felt displeased, he dared not show it, instead waiting obediently to one side.

After the burial was complete, and Cultivators from the various islands and Sects had departed, Yuan Ming finally called Ancestor Ming Quan over.

"I hear that Fellow Daoist Tian Jizi has successfully broken through to the Returning to Void Stage?" Yuan Ming asked coldly.

"Yes…" Ancestor Ming Quan replied hesitantly, not understanding where this was heading.

"Well, congratulations are due to Chang Chun Temple," Yuan Ming said with a cold laugh.

"That... Fellow Daoist Yuan, I've heard about what happened before. It was the fault of some subordinates, an oversight on Chang Chun Temple's part. We didn't mean to offend your esteemed parents. The elder responsible has been detained by the Law Hall. I beg you to forgive our ignorance," Ancestor Ming Quan quickly explained.

"I heard your Chang Chun Temple issued an edict against the Moon Sect and Xi Yue Sect spreading their teachings in the Central Plains, forbidding our disciples from setting foot in Central Plains territory?" Yuan Ming, uninterested in his explanations, shifted the topic abruptly.