Chapter 978: Returning to the Meng Family, Meeting Li Guilan

Li Guanqi and Meng Wanshu did not linger. Taking Nine Heavens and Peng Luo with them, they sped toward the Divine Treasure Territory. On top of that, they carried no shortage of teleportation scrolls, letting them travel at remarkable speed.

Fortunately, the journey from the Divine Treasure Territory to the Falling Sunset Territory was not particularly far, and the Meng family’s own domain even housed a transport array leading directly there. Spending a few days with the Meng family before setting off would make the trip even more convenient.

Buzz!

Peng Luo had almost completely recovered by now, and his aura had become noticeably stronger than before.

Nine Heavens remained coiled around Li Guanqi’s wrist, showing no sign of waking. It seemed that watching the Qilin race wield the power of lightning spirit comprehension had benefited him greatly.

According to Meng Wanshu, if Nine Heavens fully entered the Spirit Comprehension Stage, the power he could unleash would surpass even that Qilin hologram.

During the journey, Li Guanqi and Meng Wanshu sparred several times. Despite the fire mark suppressing his strength, he fought her to a standstill, even holding a slight advantage. His level of spirit comprehension was higher, and the destructive force he could unleash was considerably greater. Through their exchanges, Meng Wanshu’s grasp of the true nature of spirit comprehension deepened as well.

Buzz!

A massive rift suddenly split open across the skies above the Meng family’s domain.

Li Changqing frowned slightly. He sensed two overwhelmingly powerful auras rapidly approaching from within the crack. His expression grew solemn, and he quickly organized the Meng family guards into formation.

Under everyone’s tense gaze, two figures emerged side by side from the void.

Li Changqing immediately recognized them, and his eyes gleamed. He lowered his head and bowed respectfully. “Welcome home, Mistress. Welcome, Young Master.”

Clang! Clang!

The Meng family guards dropped to one knee in midair, their armor clanging in unison.

“Welcome home, Mistress!”

“Welcome, Sword Sovereign!”

Li Guanqi smiled and casually produced a three-thousand-year-old Heavenly Profound Purple Iris Flower—a seventh-tier supreme spirit herb—and handed it to the old man.

Li Changqing’s eyes immediately lit up. Spirit herbs like that were almost impossible to find in the outside world. Refined into a pill, the flower could easily save him centuries of cultivation.

The wrinkles on the old man’s face deepened as he smiled and accepted the herb, thanking Li Guanqi without standing on ceremony. His lack of formality might have seemed rude, but in reality, it showed that he truly regarded Li Guanqi as family.

Li Changqing had paid little attention to Li Guanqi when they first met. He had never imagined that the young man would one day surpass him in both strength and cultivation.

“Mistress, Young Master, since you’ve returned, I’ll go inform Meng Jiangchu. If you need anything else, simply call for me,” Li Changqing said.

Meng Wanshu smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Grandpa Li. Please go ahead. Don’t worry about us.”

Li Changqing smiled before departing together with the Meng family guards.

By now, nearly everyone in the Meng family knew Li Guanqi. They also knew that his position as the Meng family’s future son-in-law was all but certain, not to mention his own illustrious reputation. Furthermore, he was the Guanyun Pavilion’s pavilion master. Who wouldn’t want to build a relationship with him?

Quite a few Meng family elders considered approaching to exchange a few words. But after seeing Meng Wanshu’s icy expression, they wisely decided not to disturb the couple.

Li Guanqi chuckled. “Come on. Let’s go visit my mother-in-law.”

Meng Wanshu rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath, “You’re all talk.”

Li Guanqi rubbed his nose awkwardly. He genuinely wanted to give Meng Wanshu the status she deserved, but he had not yet earned even the right to enter the Seventh Territory. More than anything, he still wanted his grandfather to officiate at their wedding.

Ye Feng’s situation still weighed on him as well. The Immortal World had been making more and more moves recently, leaving him constantly uneasy. Still, he never let Meng Wanshu see how he felt.

Flying ahead of him, Meng Wanshu seemed to sense his thoughts. She turned back with a radiant smile. “Don’t feel pressured. I was just teasing you. I’ve never cared much about all those formalities.”

Li Guanqi smiled softly. He accelerated until he reached her side, then gently took her hand. “Thank you.”

Whoosh!

The entire mountain range behind the Meng family estate belonged to Li Guilan. Now a cultivator herself, she stood outside a small, modest courtyard in simple linen clothes. With her sleeves rolled up, she hefted an enormous stone nearly half a man’s height and dropped it into a large vat. The freshly cleaned stone settled onto the pickled vegetables, weighing them down and forcing the excess water to the surface.

Li Guilan grinned from ear to ear. Wiping her hands on the apron tied around her waist, she muttered happily to herself, “Heh, I’ve got more strength than most grown men now. Cultivation really does have its uses.”

Li Guanqi and Meng Wanshu exchanged amused glances before quietly smiling. It appeared that not all the events from the Trial of the True Self would come to pass. At the very least, Li Guilan no longer resisted cultivation the way she once had.

The two quietly walked to the front gate. Li Guanqi smiled and knocked.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Li Guilan’s eyes lit up. She craned her neck toward the entrance and called out in her loud, cheerful voice, “Who’s there? The door isn’t locked. Come on in!”

Creak...

Li Guanqi and Meng Wanshu pushed the gate open.

Seeing his mother-in-law beaming in the courtyard, Li Guanqi couldn’t help but smile. “Mother-in-law, Wanshu has brought me back for a meal.”

Li Guilan’s eyes reddened. She quickly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with her apron, then burst into laughter. “You little rascal! Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back? Wait here. I’ll have someone catch a couple of hens right away.”

Li Guanqi smiled. With a wave of his hand, he instantly filled the courtyard with chickens, ducks, geese, and sheep.

Li Guilan’s eyes sparkled as she watched the flock of clucking chickens and quacking ducks. She looked as delighted as a child with a brand-new toy. “Oh my, where did you catch all these? There are so many! Hahaha! Those two hens are nice and plump. We’ll eat those two tonight.”

Meng Wanshu’s eyes softened as she watched her mother happily chase after the chickens. Her heart brimmed with warmth. She tilted her head slightly toward Li Guanqi and whispered through voice transmission, “You’ve done well. I’ll reward you properly tonight.”

Li Guanqi raised an eyebrow. His heartbeat quickened ever so slightly. Looking down at her, he asked softly, “What kind of reward will I be getting?”

Meng Wanshu’s cheeks flushed. With a playful glare, she coyly said, “You’ll find out tonight.”

Li Guanqi burst into laughter. “Mother-in-law, I’ll block this side. We’ll herd them into the corner. It’ll be easier to catch them!”

Li Guilan replied, “That’s right! Hurry, they’re coming your way! Wanshu, don’t just stand there. Go inside. Start the fire and get some water boiling.”

Night soon fell. Li Guilan sat smiling at the table, watching the young couple before her. Her smile never wavered. “Guanqi, when do you and Wanshu plan to get married? I’m free all day, you know. I can’t just spend my time raising chickens and ducks. I’m still healthy enough to help with the children.”

Li Guanqi nearly choked on his food.

Meanwhile, Meng Wanshu answered, “Oh, Mother, I’m not in a hurry. Let’s wait another couple of years.”