208: Return to the Azure Realm

The main hall of the Wending Sect.

Shi Tian, Xiao Bufan, Su Muhuang, and Yang Hao stood respectfully in the hall. Their auras were several times more profound than when they had left, having all remarkably stepped into the Early Earth Immortal Stage.

Lin Chen's gaze swept over the four of them, and he nodded slightly, his tone carrying a hint of praise: "Mm, it's good that you've returned. Your cultivation has stabilized at the Early Earth Immortal Stage. Not bad, you haven't disappointed this Revered Master."

"In the future, you still need to Cultivate diligently and not slack off."

"Yes, Revered Master!"

The four of them replied in unison.

"Xiao Bai pays respects to the Lord!"

Xiao Bai scurried forward, "The task the Lord assigned, after immense hardship, unremitting effort, and bloody battles... Xiao Bai has finally fulfilled the mission with Perfection!"

It puffed out its chest, its tail wagging rapidly, looking at Lin Chen expectantly.

"Mm, you did well."

Lin Chen smiled, but there was no follow-up.

"Ah? That's it?"

"What else?"

"I... I... I..."

Xiao Bai felt a bit aggrieved for a moment, not knowing what to say.

"I'm just teasing you!"

Lin Chen laughed, "You've achieved a great merit this time. This Sect Master will reward you with another soul nurturing immortal marrow pill. Whether you use it now or later is up to you!"

With that, Lin Chen tossed out a Medicinal Pill.

Xiao Bai was instantly ecstatic.

It caught the Medicinal Pill and tucked it away carefully, thanking Lin Chen repeatedly: "Thank you, Sect Master! Thank you, Sect Master!"

Previously, it had recovered most of its injuries just by eating one of these pills.

Now, eating another one, it estimated its injuries would be mostly healed, returning it to its Peak.

Naturally, it was delighted.

Yan Que, who had followed them in, was now experiencing a storm in his heart.

A Medicinal Pill that could make a Half-step Golden Immortal ecstatic was certainly no ordinary item.

This Sect Master Lin... was simply unfathomable!

He stole a glance, quickly sizing up Lin Chen.

This was the Wending Sect Revered Master?

Taking a deep breath, he hurriedly stepped forward and bowed deeply: "Yan Que pays respects to Sect Master Lin!"

Lin Chen's gaze fell upon him, as if he had already seen through his origins, and he spoke calmly: "Yan Que... the Old Ancestor of the Vermilion Bird clan from the original Cangxuan Realm?"

Yan Que's body trembled, and he became even more respectful: "Reporting to the Sect Master, that is correct."

"Mm, since you wish to return to the Cangxuan Realm with us, it is fate."

Lin Chen nodded slightly and said no more, turning to the others, "Everyone, go and prepare. Tomorrow, follow this Sect back to the Cangxuan Realm."

"Yes!"

Everyone responded in unison and bowed as they exited the hall.

The second day.

The square in front of the Wending Sect's main hall.

Countless Disciples and Elders stood solemnly, a vast dark mass of people whose gathered aura surged straight into the clouds.

On the high platform, Lin Chen stood with his hands behind his back, his robes fluttering. His gaze swept over the excited and reverent faces below, his voice calm yet clearly reaching everyone's ears, carrying a power that made hearts race.

"Fellow Sect members."

The square instantly became silent, so quiet that a falling needle could be heard.

"Our Wending Sect rose from the Cangxuan Realm, trod the Heavenly Path, and entered Lingxuan. Only a few years have passed since then."

"However, relying on everyone's concerted efforts, the Wending Sect has grown stronger day by day, already shaking Qinggu and making Shenhuang submit!"

The breathing of the crowd below quickened, their eyes flashing with fanaticism and pride.

"But... our roots are in Cangxuan, and we must not easily forget them."

"Everyone still has many relatives and friends in the Cangxuan Realm!"

Lin Chen's tone shifted, "Today, This Sect Master will activate the domain teleportation grand array and take you back to the Cangxuan Realm!"

"Whoa—!"

The square instantly erupted with earth-shattering cheers and excitement!

Especially those old Disciples and Elders who had followed from the Cangxuan Realm; their eyes were filled with tears.

Returning to their homeland!

Returning home in glory!

"When we return to Lingxuan Heaven again, it will be the day we sweep across the Twelve Heavenly Domains and crush the various domain lords!"

Lin Chen's voice was brimming with dominance.

"The Sect Master is invincible!"

"The Wending Sect is invincible!"

The mountain-shaking and sea-tsunami-like waves of sound almost overturned the firmament!

Lin Chen said no more and waved his sleeve!

A massive Formation Plate, inscribed with billions of spatial runes, rose thunderously from the center of the square, its brilliant light illuminating heaven and earth!

"Activate the array, return to the Cangxuan Realm!"

Buzz—!

The light swallowed everything.

When the light dissipated, the square was empty... Cangxuan Realm, Eastern Domain.

A vortex appeared, and the people of the Wending Sect were teleported here.

[Ding!]

[To prevent the Lord's Cangxuan Realm from collapsing, the cultivation of all powerhouses exceeding the Great Emperor Realm has been automatically suppressed to the Peak Great Emperor!]

"Mm, not bad, very thoughtful."

Lin Chen nodded.

He had previously fused with the Heavenly Dao of the Cangxuan Realm; it could be said that he was the Heavenly Dao, and the Heavenly Dao was him.

If the Heavenly Dao of the Cangxuan Realm collapsed, it would also cause him some harm.

"The level of the Cangxuan Realm is still too low."

Lin Chen murmured to himself, "However, with my current strength, I can try to advance the Cangxuan Realm!"

Having made up his mind, Lin Chen looked at the crowd.

"Alright, I'll give you one month. In one month, gather at the old site of the Wending Sect in Qingzhou, Eastern Domain... All Sect members can bring their relatives and friends, and This Sect Master will lead them all to ascend to Lingxuan Heaven!"

"Thank you, Sect Master!"

Everyone was overjoyed and hurried to disperse to find their relatives and friends.

While Xiao Bai and the others, having nothing to do, wandered around... Not long after, at the old site of the Wending Sect in Qingzhou.

Space rippled slightly, and Lin Chen's figure quietly emerged, not causing much of a stir.

He looked down at the mountains and rivers below, which were both familiar and somewhat strange.

The former Wending Sect mountain gate was no longer there, but a new, solemn and majestic complex of palaces had been built on the original site, with a layout that was seventy to eighty percent similar to the previous Wending Sect.

On the mountain gate plaque, three large characters were still written in a bold, flowing style—

Wending Sect.

"Eh?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Lin Chen's eyes, "I originally ascended with the entire Sect and the earth veins; this place should have been a ruin. Now this is..."

He took a deep breath. The Spiritual Qi flowing in the air was much thinner than in his memory, but it carried a scent that put his mind at ease.

"Nothing has changed; it's still that familiar feeling."

He restrained his aura, appearing like a Mortal, and walked casually toward the newly built "Wending Sect" mountain gate.

Just as he approached the mountain gate, two mountain-guarding Disciples in standard green robes, with cultivation at the Golden Core Stage, looked over vigilantly. One of them stepped forward and shouted sternly: "Halt! This is the Wending Sect's immortal sanctuary; idle people are not allowed to approach!"

The other person also shouted: "Leave quickly, otherwise don't blame us for being impolite!"

Lin Chen stopped, and far from being annoyed, the corners of his mouth curled slightly into a smile: "The security is quite tight, not bad."

He didn't reveal his identity, nor did he bother to say much to these low-level Disciples. With a flash of his body, he passed between the two Disciples like a gentle breeze, instantly disappearing into the interior of the Sect.

The two Disciples only felt a blur before their eyes, and the person was gone, leaving them aghast.

"The... the person?!"

"So... so fast! I didn't see a thing!"

"Senior Brother, do... do you think that youth's face looked a bit familiar? Like... I've seen it somewhere?"

The slightly younger Disciple suddenly frowned, trying hard to remember.

Reminded by him, the older Disciple was also stunned, and then his pupils shrank suddenly, his voice changing pitch: "I... I remember! The portrait! The portrait in the Ancestral Master Hall! It's... it's the Sect Master! Sect Master Lin Chen!"

"What?! The Sect Master? How is that possible! Hasn't the Sect Master already led the Sect to ascend to the Upper Realm? How could he appear here?"

"It can't be wrong! It's definitely the Sect Master! I was fortunate enough to see the Sect Master once from afar back then! It was that person just now! The Sect Master... the Sect Master has returned! Quick! Go back and report to Tower Master Baili!"

The two Disciples were both shocked and overjoyed, scrambling toward the depths of the Sect, not even caring about their mountain-guarding duties anymore.