Chapter 549 547: Return to Dongchen

Within an ancient, sprawling mountain forest.

WHOOSH!

The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi suddenly began to tremble violently.

The next instant, a spatial fissure appeared in midair, rapidly spreading and expanding. A turbulent void current erupted, destroying everything in the vicinity!

Suddenly, from the massive hole torn in space, a dark blue, metallic Void Ship shot out and smashed a huge crater into the ground.

After the dark blue metal ship landed, the spatial rift rapidly healed, eventually closing up and disappearing!

Three figures emerged from the dark blue metal ship, accompanied by a scorched black Crow.

"It's the Dongchen Continent!"

A smile touched Luo Tian's lips.

It would have been quite a hassle if, after all that effort, they had ended up in some other unknown dimension.

Fortunately, everything had gone smoothly.

Luo Tian felt the long-missed, familiar aura and couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and comfort.

He could even tell that he was currently somewhere in the Celestial Extreme Mountain Range.

In the past, Luo Tian had often trained in the Celestial Extreme Mountain Range, so he was very familiar with its aura.

"This is the Human Race's sanctuary?"

The red-faced old man and the middle-aged woman surveyed their surroundings.

The Human Race had more than one sanctuary, and this was their first time visiting one.

Sensing the incredibly thin Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, they frowned slightly and glanced back at Luo Tian.

It was truly hard to imagine.

Luo Tian was a member of the Human Race born in this sanctuary.

By comparison, the conditions enjoyed by the disciples of the Mu Family were countless times better than Luo Tian's, yet none of them could compare to him.

They even began to wonder.

'Is there something special about this sanctuary? Should we send the Mu Family disciples here too?'

"Let's go…"

Luo Tian led the way.

Although he had confirmed they were in the Celestial Extreme Mountain Range.

But the Celestial Extreme Mountain Range was vast, stretching across more than half of the Dongchen Continent, so Luo Tian still needed to pinpoint his exact location.

After a while, Luo Tian came to a conclusion.

'It seems we aren't far from the Azure Cloud Kingdom…'

Having determined their general direction, Luo Tian's group of three set off, heading straight for the Azure Cloud Kingdom!

'Oh, right. The current Azure Cloud Monarch is Yunxiu. I wonder how she's faring as the Monarch…'

A slight smile appeared on Luo Tian's face.

A woman ruling as the Monarch was something that had never happened before in the history of the Azure Cloud Kingdom.

In Luo Tian's opinion, it wasn't a big deal.

He had thoroughly intimidated the Azure Cloud Royal Family back then; he reckoned they wouldn't dare do anything to Li Yunxiu.

Besides, Li Yunxiu was not alone. She had powerful figures supporting her, such as Luo Tian's former master, Lin Dongfeng, who had long since become an Earth Level Martial Artist.

Just as Luo Tian's group left the Celestial Level Mountain Range.

Deep within the mountains!

ROAR!

A sky-shattering roar startled everything within a radius of several thousand meters!

A pitch-black figure that blotted out the sun shot into the sky, stirring up a massive storm that plunged the world into darkness!

RUMBLE!

From all directions, swarms of birds and beasts arrived, prostrating themselves before the sun-blotting Black Shadow in ceaseless worship!

The sky-covering shadow suddenly revealed a pair of blood-red eyes, radiating intense fury!

With a shriek, it led its subordinates and charged out of its territory!

...

「Two days later.」

Luo Tian arrived at the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion.

A nostalgic look appeared on his face. This was a place where he had once struggled and strived.

Luo Tian and his two companions looked down from the clouds, not alerting anyone below.

Nowadays, the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion had changed a lot; it was larger and more prosperous!

But many places had also been preserved just as they were.

"Hm?"

Luo Tian noticed that the student residences had been renovated.

However, one pavilion among them looked exceptionally old and worn.

This was precisely the place where Luo Tian had once lived.

From a distance, Luo Tian saw many disciples of the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion gathered outside his old residence.

"This is the place where the number one Supreme Elder of the Azure Cloud Kingdom lived when he studied at the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion!"

"They say that Supreme Elder Luo Tian was devoted to Martial Arts and was extremely strict with himself. He burned the midnight oil, relentlessly striving for perfection, and would sometimes even enter seclusion for a year without coming out…"

An older student spoke eloquently, educating a few of his junior martial brothers and sisters.

Up in the clouds, Luo Tian didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Only one part of what that student said was true: this was his residence.

The rest was all fabricated or rumors that had grown more and more exaggerated with each telling.

Luo Tian didn't pay it much mind and continued onward.

Soon, he saw the Spirit Fighting Tower.

This was the landmark structure of the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion. Luo Tian had once broken all of the Holy Mansion's historical records by clearing the tenth floor, becoming its "Honorary Mansion Master"!

Next, Luo Tian saw the Chasing Sun Hall.

This was where the Sun Chasing Mansion Master or Vice Manor Master handled their affairs.

Inside the Chasing Sun Hall.

Lin Dongfeng stared at the letter before him, his brow deeply furrowed.

"Sigh!"

Lin Dongfeng let out a sigh.

"Master, what are you sighing about?"

A clear, bright voice suddenly rang out.

Lin Dongfeng shot up from his seat, his expression tense as he stared at the three figures who had appeared at the hall's entrance!

He saw a young man in white robes in the center.

"Luo Tian?"

Lin Dongfeng was both surprised and delighted!

"It's me!"

Luo Tian said with a smile.

The smile on Lin Dongfeng's face grew wider.

He had written letters to Luo Tian but had never received a reply.

Considering the current turbulent situation on the continent, Lin Dongfeng had even thought that Luo Tian might have died in an accident. Otherwise, how could he have been gone for years with no news of him anywhere on the entire Continent?

"And these two are?"

Lin Dongfeng looked at the two Mu Family Elders.

"These two… are bodyguards I hired," Luo Tian said.

Lin Dongfeng said, "Oh," not paying them much mind.

The corners of the red-faced old man and middle-aged woman's mouths twitched slightly.

They were distinguished Celestial Level Martial Artists, yet they were being so blatantly ignored by a mere Earth Element Realm cultivator. But since this man was Luo Tian's master, they really didn't dare do anything to Lin Dongfeng.

"Master… how has the Azure Cloud Kingdom been recently?"

Luo Tian asked.

He originally wanted to ask about the Dongchen Continent, but then he considered how small the Azure Cloud Kingdom was. Located in such a tiny, insignificant place, they probably wouldn't have much information.

"The situation in the Azure Cloud Kingdom is not good…"

Lin Dongfeng's expression darkened as he began to explain.

The Azure Cloud Kingdom was currently facing a grave crisis, mainly stemming from threats from neighboring kingdoms!

"Hm? The neighboring kingdoms are all targeting the Azure Cloud Kingdom?"

Luo Tian was surprised.

"That's right, though I'm not too clear on the specific reasons. I've heard that there are other powerful factions pulling the strings from behind…"

Lin Dongfeng sighed.

Ever since the Monarch was re-established last time, the Azure Cloud Kingdom seemed to be blessed by the heavens. Its fortune flourished, and many powerful experts emerged.

In just a few short years, the overall strength of the Azure Cloud Kingdom had surpassed that of the surrounding smaller kingdoms!

But this time, the neighboring small kingdoms seemed to have reached an alliance. And what was even more alarming were the forces backing them!

'Could it be… the Cyan Armor Race?'

Luo Tian's gaze darkened as he speculated inwardly.

But he quickly dismissed the idea. If the Cyan Armor Race really wanted to deal with the Azure Cloud Kingdom, they could annihilate it with ease and wouldn't need to put in so much effort.

"Luo Tian, now that you're back, you should go see the Yunxiu Monarch. It's not easy for her, being a female Monarch," Lin Dongfeng said.

Lin Dongfeng had seen long ago that Li Yunxiu had feelings for Luo Tian.

And even after Luo Tian had left the Azure Cloud Kingdom, Li Yunxiu seemed to still be holding onto a sliver of hope, waiting for his return.

"Mm,"

Luo Tian nodded.

If Li Yunxiu was in trouble, he would certainly lend her a hand.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with his master, Luo Tian departed with the two Mu Family Elders.

"Come back when you have time…"

Lin Dongfeng had just started to speak when Luo Tian's group of three vanished in a flash, moving so fast that Lin Dongfeng couldn't see a thing.

'This kid… I haven't seen him in a few years. Just what level has his strength reached?'

In less than half a day, Luo Tian arrived at the Royal Capital.

He headed straight for the Imperial Palace, moving as if it were uninhabited, and appeared before Li Yunxiu in the most direct manner possible.

"Brother… Luo?"

Li Yunxiu stared blankly at the man who had suddenly appeared before her, the memorial in her hand falling to the floor.

She rose slowly, her gaze fixed on the person before her, wondering if she was dreaming.

'No one announced him, so how could Luo Tian suddenly appear in front of me? This is too unreal!'

But the person before her was so very real.

"Brother Luo, is it really you?"

Li Yunxiu ran over excitedly, all of her monarchal dignity gone, replaced by the joyful demeanor of a young woman.

She almost threw herself into his arms.

But she quickly noticed the two people behind Luo Tian and stopped herself.

"Yunxiu, have you been well all these years?" Luo Tian asked.

"Being the Monarch is exhausting, but I'm doing okay. Especially today. I'm very happy today."

Li Yunxiu gave a radiant smile.

「That same day.」

The Azure Cloud Monarch issued a decree from within the Imperial Palace: prepare a state banquet to entertain an honored guest!

The news instantly shook the Imperial Palace, and then the entire Royal Capital!

The Imperial Palace bustled with activity, while the whole Royal Capital was in an uproar.

The Monarch was hosting a state banquet. Just who was the honored guest she was entertaining?

「Meanwhile.」

Within a lavish hall somewhere in the Imperial Palace, several figures were gathered.

"National Preceptor, do you know who Li Yunxiu is entertaining?"

"I don't know!"

An old man in a long golden robe shook his head.

"She's being so secretive. Don't tell me she's managed to call for reinforcements?"

"Impossible. We've been watching her closely. None of her actions escape our sight… Recently, she hasn't sent out any letters, nor have people from any other factions entered the Azure Cloud Kingdom."

Several high-ranking, powerful ministers discussed among themselves.

"There's no point in waiting any longer. This state banquet will be an opportunity!"

"It's time for that wretched woman to be kicked off the throne!"

Beside the National Preceptor, a cold-faced, middle-aged man spoke. A violet, ghostly light flickered in his eyes, so unsettling that everyone instinctively looked away, not daring to meet his gaze.

"You are right, my lord!"

"We will follow all of your commands, my lord!"

All the ministers present, including the National Preceptor, lowered their heads.