206: Chapter 206: Return

Sword Qi Great Wall.

From a distance, one could see the towering city walls standing tall in the twilight, with that ten-thousand-year-old eternal golden Sword Intent flowing ceaselessly throughout the entire Great Wall.

The golden light was like an unquenchable lamp, illuminating the barrier where the Human Race resided.

With a wave of his sleeve, Immortal Master Xuanqing led everyone through the wind, the grayish-white wasteland receding rapidly beneath their feet.

The ground covered in Yao Beast corpses and the lingering smell of blood gradually faded into the distance, replaced by the warm lights and the clamor of voices within the city walls.

As they watched the walls draw closer, a sense of relief from having survived a disaster welled up in their hearts.

They had returned alive.

Li Changsheng and Su Qinghan were also among the crowd.

Li Changsheng's green robe was tattered, and the black poisonous patterns on his left arm had not yet fully faded, but his spirit was decent.

Su Qinghan's white clothes were stained with blood and her face was pale, but her back remained as straight as ever.

Immortal Master Xuanqing landed before the city gate, withdrew his Divine Ability, and turned to look at everyone.

His gaze swept across each tired but resolute face, and he nodded slightly.

“It is good that you are all alive.”

“Go back and heal your wounds. Tomorrow, come to the City Lord's Estate to receive your rewards.”

Everyone responded in unison and dispersed in small groups.

Captain Zhao was supported by several members of the Monster Hunting Team as they headed toward the medical clinic.

His injuries were relatively severe and required immediate treatment.

Old Liu followed behind, his blood-drinking blade tucked into his waist, the dark red spiritual light on the blade having completely extinguished.

In this battle, everyone had exhausted their entire reserves.

Li Changsheng and Su Qinghan also left, though before they did, the three of them shared a brief moment of eye contact.

Su Qinghan actually wanted to go forward and talk to Xiao Ran, but Li Changsheng was by her side.

Thinking that the two were arch-enemies, she didn't want to invite a snub by stepping forward.

Little did she know, the two of them had already been chatting excitedly through their Soul Link.

Li Changsheng asked in a low voice, “Are you okay?”

Xiao Ran shook his head. “I'm fine. What about you?”

Li Changsheng now looked as if nothing had happened.

“I won't die, but it hurts my heart that all those life-saving Magic Treasures are used up.”

In reality, he had used less than a tenth.

Xiao Ran gave a peculiar smile. Li Changsheng using up all his life-saving items?

He didn't believe it.

Xiao Ran didn't call him out on it, simply saying nonchalantly,

“As long as your life is still there, it's fine. If the Magic Treasures are gone, you can always earn more.”

Li Changsheng nodded and glanced at Su Qinghan beside him.

Her gaze was calm, but Li Changsheng clearly saw a flash of complexity in her eyes.

“Senior Sister Su, you're injured. Let's go back and heal first,”

Li Changsheng said.

Su Qinghan nodded and turned to leave.

Xiao Ran watched the direction in which Su Qinghan disappeared, remained silent for a moment, and then headed toward the Guixu Pavilion.

At the entrance of the Guixu Pavilion, Finance Manager Shen Qing and Lin Xue were looking out anxiously.

They had heard long ago that the Monster Hunting Team had returned, so they had been waiting here.

Until she saw Xiao Ran return, Lin Xue's eyes reddened, and she hurriedly stepped forward to meet him.

“Manager, you're finally back! We were worried to death!”

Xiao Ran waved his hand. “I'm fine. How is the shop?”

Finance Manager Shen Qing said, “Everything is normal. It's just that while you were away, some customers asked where you went.”

Xiao Ran nodded. “I'll deal with them tomorrow. I'll rest first today.”

He walked into the Guixu Pavilion, went up to the second floor, and pushed open the door to his room.

Closing the door, he slumped into a chair and let out a long breath.

It must be said that these past few days were truly intense.

Three Void Refinement Stage Yao Kings, a beast tide, the Insectoid Demon Venerable, the weak point of the Domain, the paper crane letter... every single thing was like dancing on the edge of a blade; a slight misstep would mean eternal damnation.

He took out the ten thousand poison bead from his robe and held it in his palm.

The ten thousand poison bead was slightly warm, and a grayish-black vortex slowly swirled within it.

“Good stuff!”

The ten thousand poison bead was the undisputed MVP of his survival over the past few days.

Xiao Ran observed it for a while before tucking the ten thousand poison bead back into his robe.

Then he closed his eyes to regulate his breathing, his spiritual energy slowly circulating within his body.

...

The next morning.

Xiao Ran woke up from his meditation, feeling that his spiritual energy had recovered significantly.

Not only did his Dantian feel a sense of fullness, but it seemed his cultivation had also improved; he could soon push for the Soul Transformation Middle Stage.

However, he still needed to refine it for a couple more days.

Xiao Ran was in no hurry; after all, he had only recently achieved a Breakthrough to Soul Transformation.

He changed into a clean black robe and walked out of the Guixu Pavilion.

At the door, a young servant in white was waiting.

Seeing Xiao Ran come out, he hurriedly bowed.

“May I ask if you are Young Master Xiao?”

Xiao Ran nodded. “I am.”

The servant said, “The City Lord requests your presence. Please follow me, Young Master.”

Xiao Ran's heart stirred.

The City Lord?

The City Lord of the Sword Qi Great Wall, a powerhouse of the Body Integration Stage, actually wanted to see him?

He had thought it was just an empty promise!

“Let's go.”

Since the City Lord had summoned him, Xiao Ran did not dare to be negligent.

He immediately followed the servant toward the center of the city.

At the center of the Sword Qi Great Wall was a massive estate.

The estate spanned a hundred acres, with white walls and black tiles, upturned eaves, and two majestic stone lions standing before the gate.

A plaque hung above the main entrance, with three large characters inscribed upon it.

City Lord's Estate.

Xiao Ran followed the servant into the estate, passed through several corridors, and arrived before a great hall.

The doors to the hall were wide open, and a figure could be faintly seen inside.

“Young Master Xiao, please enter. The City Lord is waiting for you inside.”

The servant withdrew.

Xiao Ran took a deep breath and stepped into the great hall.

The hall was spacious and bright. In the center was a long red sandalwood desk, and behind it sat a man.

He was a middle-aged man with a handsome face, sword-like eyebrows, and starry eyes.

His black hair was tied behind his head, secured with a white jade hairpin.

He wore a cyan robe embroidered with bamboo leaf patterns, looking less like a Body Integration Stage powerhouse and more like a schoolteacher.

But his eyes were very bright, like two stars, with faint glints of sword light swirling within his pupils.

The City Lord of the Sword Qi Great Wall, City Lord Li Qingge.

A descendant of Li Qinglian and a Great Sword Cultivator of the Body Integration Stage.

City Lord Li Qingge looked up, saw Xiao Ran, and greeted him with a smile.

“Xiao Ran, the Seventh Demon Son of the Eternal Night Demon Sect. I have heard much about you.”

Xiao Ran hurriedly cupped his hands.

“You flatter me!”

“Junior Xiao Ran greets the City Lord.”

City Lord Li Qingge waved his hand. “No need for such formalities. Sit.”

Xiao Ran took a seat.

City Lord Li Qingge looked at him with a gentle gaze. “I have seen your paper crane.”

“If it weren't for your timely message, the Monster Hunting Team would likely have been completely wiped out.”

Xiao Ran said, “Junior only did what should be done.”

City Lord Li Qingge laughed. “What should be done?”

“Hahahaha, those are not words one would expect to hear from a Demon Cultivator.”

Xiao Ran laughed awkwardly.

Indeed.

A Demon Cultivator risking his life to save people—what was the difference between that and a homicidal maniac acting as a doctor?