Chapter 159

Flying over the rolling hills, some trees and vegetation gradually appeared in front of them.

After everyone flew over a low-lying swamp, a rich life aura rushed toward them. For a moment, every pore on everyone's body automatically opened, greedily absorbing this rich life aura.

"So comfortable. I didn't expect that such an otherworldly paradise would be hidden behind the uninhabited big swamp."

The Ice Empress stretched, her tone somewhat emotional.

Emotions surged in Su Tong's eyes, and she was obviously not calm either. She had been out for training for nearly half a year. In fact, if she hadn't found Shu Yan, she wouldn't have wanted to come back. One was that she didn't want to see her mother's painful appearance and suffer in vain, and the other was that the obsession in her heart to become stronger was too intense.

She longed to meet stronger opponents. For this reason, she had traveled to many big cities and had also defeated many famous geniuses locally.

Extreme attribute soul masters are invincible at the same level. With her cultivation at the Soul King level, even if she encounters a Soul Emperor, she has the power to fight.

Fighting with strong people has great benefits for oneself. When Shu Yan was slightly younger, he also liked to fight with strong people one level higher than himself. Pressure is the best way to promote progress. As long as one can withstand the pressure comparable to the limit, coupled with one's own already powerful talent, the cultivation speed naturally cannot be slow.

Shu Yan had been silent and hadn't spoken. Xu Jiujiu held his hand tightly. It was clearly Shu Yan recognizing his relatives, but her nervousness was no less than Shu Yan's. Years of intimacy had given them a unique connection, and also allowed them to easily perceive each other's emotional changes.

Ling Luochen and Dugu Yan had never spoken. Honestly, they didn't know much about the purpose of this trip before coming, but now it seemed that this was really too far beyond expectations.

The Medical Immortal Douluo's face was calm. The rich life energy here gave her martial soul a huge boost similar to a home field. Coupled with the assistance of the Life Vine and her level 96 cultivation, she could now briefly exert the healing ability belonging to an extreme healing-type soul master.

She understood very well what Shu Yan's purpose was in asking her to take a trip together. No matter what, she would do her best.

The vegetation in the distance was becoming more and more dense. They were already extremely close to the coastline, and the vegetation was different from other forests, with very distinct characteristics.

There was a faint salty taste in the air. Everyone slowly lowered their altitude, slowly descending from above the clouds. Looking into the distance, amidst the drifting clouds and mist, a valley suddenly came into view.

"We're here. That valley is where the family residence is located."

Su Tong said softly, while looking at Shu Yan.

Shu Yan just nodded gently, his expression somewhat dazed, but he still maintained his composure.

The altitude was getting lower and lower, until it reached nearly a hundred meters. Vaguely, several figures flashed from the shadows cast by the trees. Their movements were very fast, and it could almost be said that they came without a shadow and left without a trace, but in front of Shu Yan's spiritual power comparable to a Limit Douluo, it really didn't count as anything.

Su Tong also sensed something. She broke away from the Ice Empress's assistance, and a pair of white wings suddenly opened behind her. This was a level 5 flight soul tool. Against the backdrop of a pile of high-level soul tools on her, it didn't seem very precious, but judging from the quality of this soul tool, it was not something that ordinary soul masters could equip.

"Uncle Ling, Uncle Mu, it's me."

Su Tong looked at the shadows below, then said.

Several figures appeared from the shadows upon hearing this. The leaders were two middle-aged men with similar faces. They were stunned when they saw Su Tong who had left the team alone. After their eyes touched the people behind Su Tong, their eyes were locked on Shu Yan.

"It's good to be back... it's good to be back..."

The middle-aged man whom Su Tong called Uncle Ling murmured, not knowing who he was talking to. After saying this, he took a deep look at Shu Yan, then said:

"Go back early. The patriarch and the others are all waiting for you. We still have to patrol as usual..."

Su Tong nodded, and then continued to fly forward. Shu Yan's gaze swept over the few people below, and then he followed Su Tong's footsteps.

"Two Soul Douluo, the others are all Soul Kings." The Ice Empress said softly.

"Those two middle-aged men should be a pair of twin brothers. Not only are their soul power levels the same, but even their auras are almost the same."

Su Tong explained upon hearing this:

"Exactly. Uncle Ling and Uncle Mu are a pair of twin brothers. Their martial souls are both Ice Demon Tigers, and they only broke through to the Soul Douluo realm in the past two years. However, because they have lived and cultivated together since childhood, they have a very high tacit understanding, and even realized a martial soul fusion skill. Together, they can fight a Titled Douluo."

No one answered, and everyone remained quiet.

Ling Luochen and Dugu Yan didn't know when they had also broken away from the Ice Empress's assistance and reached the end of the team with the help of flight soul tools. Xu Jiujiu was still holding Shu Yan's hand tightly, longing to give Shu Yan a little encouragement and support in this way.

The outlines of the buildings were looming in the gaps between the trees. Birds were singing and flowers were fragrant. Countless pavilions and plank roads were built along the mountain. Several people followed behind Su Tong. Many people on the plank roads along the way noticed the movement and appeared, but after seeing that it was Su Tong, they just bowed slightly, and then watched the few people go away.

When they reached the top of this building complex, an ancient mansion came into view. And in front of the mansion, several figures stood here. The auras on their bodies were close to nothing, but they hadn't reached the state of complete unity of heaven and man. This proved that they were all just Titled Douluo, not Super Douluo.

Standing at the forefront of these people was a middle-aged man. The middle-aged man's face was slightly vicissitudes, but one could still see his former handsomeness. The wrinkles on his forehead were particularly obvious, and there were faint bloodshot eyes in his eyes. His white hair was faintly black, and his temperament was gentle and decadent. Vaguely, everyone seemed to see Shu Yan's shadow on him, but, it was just a shadow.

"Dad..."

Su Tong called out softly. The identity of the middle-aged man was clearly revealed. He was Shu Yan's father! Everyone, including the Ice Empress, stepped back two steps, only Xu Jiujiu stood beside Shu Yan. Shu Yan's gaze fell on the middle-aged man. The eyes of the two touched in mid-air. One was old and decadent, the other was in the prime of life. Clearly, they were reflecting each other's appearance in their eyes, but at this moment, they both seemed to see another self through the other party—a completely different but extremely similar self.

Tears appeared in the middle-aged man's eyes. His emotions were fluctuating violently. His raised hand was also trembling. Su Tong silently gave up the position. She tilted her head slightly, not wanting everyone to see her tears and embarrassed appearance, but her slightly bowed body had already exposed all her emotions.

"Back... back..."

The middle-aged man's tears kept falling. He looked at Shu Yan, who was already taller than himself, and for a moment, various emotions were mixed together, making people at a loss, and not knowing what to say.

"Yes, I'm back..."

Shu Yan was silent for a long time before he said. It was difficult for him to describe his mood at this moment. He couldn't find any words to summarize it. This feeling, he had never had in the past ten years, but now it had truly appeared on him.

The sound of the chest collision was very dull. The father and son who had finally reunited after crossing thousands of mountains and rivers clearly had thousands of words, but in the end, it seemed that none of them were as good as such a hug.

Shu Yan had no resistance or discomfort. They were father and son, connected by blood, and naturally close. He felt the excited emotion in the other party's chest that seemed to be about to rush into the clouds. Shu Yan's reason dissipated like flying ash. He closed his eyes, tears crossed his face, and finally dripped onto the other party's already slightly thin shoulders.

The reunion did not have many excited and warm touching words, nor was there any so-called solemnity. It was like a traveler returning home after completing his studies, filling in the last piece of the puzzle for this family, forgetting all the pain brought by suffering and longing in this instant. Even in silence, it can shake people's hearts.

Behind the middle-aged man, several older-looking old men also showed joy on their faces. They were men and women, but without exception, the eyes looking at Shu Yan were extremely gentle. That was a unique emotion of elders for juniors. They were also looking forward to this reunion, and now, they finally waited for such a perfect result.

Just when everyone had a look of relief and joy on their faces, and in the mansion behind everyone, supported by two maids, a woman with a haggard face and full of illness walked out from around the corner. Her arrival attracted everyone's attention.

The woman's appearance was extremely beautiful. Even now, full of illness and haggardness, one could still see her former style. Her face was excessively pale, as if there was no blood color, giving people a feeling of twilight like a candle in the wind. A breeze blew, blowing the hair scattered on the woman's forehead. The woman coughed violently a few times, but her gaze still stayed outside the door. The two maids were anxious and worried but helpless, until the woman suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. Before others had time to act, Shu Yan stepped out, the surrounding space fluctuated, and the next moment, he had already taken the woman into his arms.

The cold touch and the meager Qi and blood fluctuations made Shu Yan's heart sink. He already knew who this woman was. A woman who could live in the main mansion and make him feel naturally close—the answer was only one. This sick woman with a weak aura, who seemed to be able to be taken away by a gust of wind, was his mother! Two more coughs, and Shu Yan's white robe was also stained with plum blossoms. Shu Yan couldn't care about anything else. Almost subconsciously, he began to forcibly urge the pure life essence in his own body, and then let it carry some pure life energy from the living beings, letting it slowly inject into the woman's body in the gentlest way...

Waking up this morning, the snow had reached my ankles. The wind was too strong last night. Power outages are a daily occurrence at the beginning of every winter. The temperature is stable at below zero. I'm numb. (End of chapter)