Chapter 726 - 307: Returning to South City

Chapter 726: Chapter 307: Returning to South City

When he woke up, he found himself on a boat.

Guo Wei was sitting by his side.

Li Qiushui sensed the fluctuation in his aura and rushed into the cabin from outside.

"You’re awake," she said.

"Master, where are we? What did Elder Yang do to me?" Chu Lingguang asked.

"We’re on our way back to the Celestial Sea. The boat has already left Lingshan far behind and entered the Great Yuan’s South Sea territory. Ahead is Black Bear Island, which you once guarded," Guo Wei explained.

"What?"

Chu Lingguang was stunned.

He rushed out of the cabin.

On the deck, he gazed around, spreading his Spiritual Sense in all directions.

He didn’t see Black Bear Island, but he did see Xiazigou. This meant that, just as Guo Wei had said, he had returned to the Great Yuan Territory, to the South Sea Region.

"Master, we have to turn around and go back right now," Chu Lingguang urged.

"Calm down. It’s too late," Li Qiushui reminded him.

"Just how long was I unconscious?" Chu Lingguang demanded.

"About a month," Guo Wei said.

"What?"

Chu Lingguang was thunderstruck.

"COUGH! COUGH! COUGH!"

Guo Wei couldn’t control his coughing.

"Master, I heard that there’s something in the Immortal King’s Tomb that can save you," Chu Lingguang said, crouching beside him.

"Life and death are dictated by fate. My time has come. You cannot defy the heavens," Guo Wei cautioned.

He had come to terms with death. As long as he could return to see Guo Fang and Guo Xiaotian, and look upon all his disciples one last time, he could die without regret.

"Chu Lingguang, the treasure in the Immortal King’s Tomb isn’t for just anyone to take. Even if we could get back inside, it wouldn’t fall into our laps. Elder Yang knows you are loyal and would risk everything for Master Guo. She knocked you out and had me escort you and Master Guo back to the Celestial Sea precisely because she was afraid you would do something foolish," Li Qiushui reminded him.

"The Sect Leader and the others... they’ve gone to the Immortal King’s Tomb, haven’t they?" Chu Lingguang pressed.

"All the experts from every sect in the Great Qin Territory have gone. Even cultivators from outside Great Qin, and some from here in the Celestial Sea, have rushed over after hearing the news. It will be an Asura Battlefield. Even if you managed to get inside with Master Guo, you would just be cannon fodder; you’d never get the treasure. Even the Sect Leader and Elder Yang might not be able to obtain it."

Li Qiushui continued, "We need to know our own limits. At the end of the day, we’re just Qi Refining cultivators. Even if we became Foundation Establishment Realm experts, we are no match for those Golden Core cultivators, let alone the Nascent Soul Great Powers, when it comes to snatching a treasure. Elder Yang was not wrong in what she did."

"Lin Guang, Miss Li is right. If something happened to you in the Immortal King’s Tomb because of me, I would not be able to rest in peace," Guo Wei said soothingly.

"Master, I have a feeling the Sect Leader will be able to get the treasure, but he won’t be willing to use it to save you," Chu Lingguang said bluntly.

"The opportunity in the Immortal King’s Tomb is a once-in-a-millennium chance. Even Elder Yang might not get it. If the Sect Leader is fortunate enough to obtain it, of course he couldn’t give it to Master Guo. But the stronger the Sect Leader becomes, the stronger our Profound Celestial Sect becomes, and we’ll be able to acquire more cultivation resources in the Great Qin in the future," Li Qiushui explained.

"We were the ones who discovered the issue with the Immortal King’s Tomb. If he gets the treasure, it’s directly because of us. Even if he can’t share the treasure with us, he should at least give us some kind of reward!" Chu Lingguang said.

"The Sect Leader is wise and powerful. As long as he obtains the treasure, he will surely strengthen the Profound Celestial Sect. We will benefit too, so don’t worry."

Li Qiushui had always been loyal to the Profound Celestial Sect.

"Lin Guang, stop thinking about the Immortal King’s Tomb. Black Bear Island is right ahead. You have friends on the island, do you want to go and see them?" Guo Wei interrupted.

"Master, your injuries..."

Chu Lingguang swept his Spiritual Sense over Guo Wei.

He discovered that while the state of Guo Wei’s internal organs hadn’t deteriorated, the cracks and wounds showed no signs of healing. He was only holding on because of the power of some medicine.

Apparently, Yang Rong had given him many Life-extending Elixirs, allowing Guo Wei to hold on until now.

"I’m fine for now. If you want to stay on the island for a day or two, I can hold on," Guo Wei said.

"There’s no need, Master. Let’s head back to Qiling Prefecture first!"

He decided visiting his friends on the island could wait.

And so, the boat turned toward the waters of Qiling Prefecture.

Qiling Prefecture had a canal running through it, and South City had access to both the canal and the sea.

Their boat could have sailed straight toward Qiling Prefecture. The reason they’d come from the direction of Qingzhou Prefecture was to follow the ocean currents, which saved a great deal of effort.

Now, heading toward Qiling Prefecture, they faced much greater resistance from the currents.

Fortunately, Chu Lingguang had woken up.

With the help of his Spiritual Power, though the boat couldn’t shoot across the sea like an arrow loosed from a bow, its speed was about the same as a horse-drawn carriage on land.

With Guo Wei injured, he was unable to travel by horse, let alone use Sword Flight.

Even if Chu Lingguang and Li Qiushui flew on their swords together, carrying Guo Wei through the air would be very inconvenient—unless Chu Lingguang still had the Celestial Horse and Ox Flying Magical Artifact.

Unfortunately, after returning safely to the Profound Celestial Sect, Chu Lingguang had given the Celestial Horse and Ox Flying Magical Artifact back to Jiang Ruhong. By the time he awoke, he was already on this boat in the Great Yuan’s South Sea region.

Therefore, taking the boat to South City in Qiling Prefecture and then transferring to a carriage back to Baiyang County was the best method.

「Five days later.」

The boat finally docked at the port in South City.

"Master!"

Before arriving in South City, Guo Wei had already sent a message via messenger eagle, telling Yang Shaorong to gather his martial brothers and meet them there.

At this moment, Yang Shaorong, Wu Feihong, Li Murong, Wang Chao, Hei Hu, and Master Yan were all standing on the pier.

After the incident with the Tree Vine Demon, Yang Shaorong’s power had soared, allowing him to successfully enter Yuanchu Mountain. He was now an Inner Sect Disciple there.

As an Inner Sect Disciple, he was free to travel. Upon learning that Guo Wei and Chu Lingguang were returning to South City, he had immediately gathered his junior martial brothers to wait for them.

When Guo Wei appeared on the pier, Yang Shaorong, along with Wu Feihong and the others, immediately dropped to their knees before him.

"Senior Brother," Master Yan called out.

Although he didn’t have much Combat Power, Guo Wei’s sudden return seemed to make him realize something. He studied Guo Wei carefully and noticed he had lost a lot of weight. Beside him, Chu Lingguang’s face held none of the joy of returning home. Master Yan’s heart sank.

"Junior Brother, I trust you’ve been well."

Guo Wei greeted Master Yan first.

"Senior Brother, your health...?"

"It’s nothing."

The two martial brothers embraced.

"Rise, all of you!"

Only then did Guo Wei bid the others to rise.

Although he was gravely injured, he could still use his Spiritual Sense.

He found that Yang Shaorong’s power had already reached the fifth level of Qi Refining—truly an advance by leaps and bounds.

Wu Feihong and Li Murong, on the other hand, had broken through their Qi Sea and successfully entered the True Martial Realm. They were even practicing a Qi Refining art, so perhaps they had a chance of reaching the Qi Refining realm as well.

Wang Chao, who had more ordinary talent, was at Qi Sea Perfection.

He was a single step away from the True Martial Realm.

As for Hei Hu.

The man had put on a great deal of weight and looked for all the world like a rich landlord. He even seemed to struggle a bit when trying to rise from his knees.

His Combat Power was about the same as Wang Chao’s.

He might even be crushed by Wang Chao. Apparently, after becoming the South City Garrison Commander, this guy had lined his pockets, neglected his cultivation, and spent his days carousing. His Martial Arts foundation was all but ruined.

But to each their own.

Guo Wei’s days were numbered.

He only hoped his disciples could live safe and healthy lives. It was not his place as their master to interfere with the kind of life Hei Hu chose to live.

"Master, I’ve been so busy with my official duties that I’ve neglected my cultivation. But don’t worry, I’ll change my ways," Hei Hu said guiltily.

"How is my cousin?" Chu Lingguang asked.

"Linghua runs the household while I handle outside affairs. She’s busy at home with the children and has a lot to deal with, so she couldn’t come to welcome Master and you," Hei Hu explained.

"Young Hu has done very well for himself in South City. After you left, he took three concubines one after another and had three more sons," Master Yan said with a chuckle.

"What?"

Chu Lingguang was shocked and said angrily, "Did Linghua suffer because of this?"

He knew that in the world of the Great Yuan, it was perfectly normal for a successful man to have multiple wives and concubines.

He and Guo Wei had been gone for less than three years.

’And Hei Hu had already taken three concubines. Wasn’t that a bit too fast?’

"Junior Brother, calm down! Linghua is the main wife; she’s at home keeping her three ’little sisters’ in line!" Hei Hu pleaded.