Chapter 294: Settling Past Affairs

Zhao Ling'er's beautiful eyes flickered, and she extended a warm invitation to Qin Ming:

"Qin Qianbei, you have traveled far; Elder Wei instructed me to host you properly. Recently, a new establishment called Deyue Tower has opened in Qingyang Market, offering unparalleled delicacies from immortal gardens—why not go and taste them?"

Qin Ming had originally intended to leave immediately after finishing his business, but upon hearing "Qingyang Market," he changed his mind.

"Qingyang Market... wasn't it destroyed during the chaos back then? Could it have been repaired and rebuilt?" Qin Ming asked indifferently.

Seeing his interest piqued, Zhao Ling'er hurriedly explained:

"Indeed. After Lei Yuanzong took over Yunze Dahuang, they reconstructed the market, retaining the name Qingyang Market."

"Elder Wei knew that you once lived here, so he preserved almost everything in its original form."

"Furthermore, the courtyard where you once resided and the spiritual fields near the market are visited daily by numerous cultivators who come specifically to pay their respects."

Hearing this, Qin Ming froze, thinking to himself: This Wei Wuya truly possesses a keen business sense; leveraging my reputation, he has actually turned these places into tourist attractions. After all, Qin Ming's influence and prestige among the cultivators of the Wei State remain exceedingly high.

Qin Ming nodded, appearing contemplative, then said, "In that case, let us go and sit for a while."

"It has been a long time since I last returned; I might as well observe the changes here."

Delighted by his words, Zhao Ling'er immediately said:

"Qin Qianbei, please!"

Subsequently, the two transformed into streaks of flowing light and vanished into the horizon.

Half an hour later.

Qin Ming and his companion arrived near Qingyang Market.

At the market's archway entrance, cultivators coming and going for trade flowed like a tide and wove like a shuttle; the shops inside were bustling with customers, arranged row upon row, while the hawking cries of various vendors rang out incessantly.

Even the shantytown remained, though it had undergone a dramatic transformation.

The scene before his eyes gave Qin Ming the sudden illusion of returning to several decades ago; then, the two leaped down from the sky and walked into the market.

Nearby Qi Refining cultivators, seeing two figures with powerful magic power auras descend, actively made way for them.

The guards at the market entrance, recognizing Zhao Ling'er of Baihua Sect, hurriedly deactivated the access formation.

"Senior Zhao has arrived; quick, let them pass."

Qin Ming and Zhao Ling'er entered the market and walked along the main avenue for a while.

He spent a moment soaking in the extraordinarily lively atmosphere of the market.

Even the 'Qingliang Cottage,' which had been destroyed during the war, had been restored to its former state... at that very moment, a large group of rogue cultivators was aggressively crowding around, listening to an old man explain its history.

"There! This is the place where True Person Wangyue once lived."

"It can be called a treasure land of feng shui! In his early years, True Person Wangyue rose from obscurity precisely because of this courtyard."

"The current annual rent requires only one thousand spirit stones, with a deposit of one and payment of three; those interested may contact this old man."

Qin Ming: "..."

Seeing such a scene, Zhao Ling'er could not help but blush.

Subsequently, the two crossed the street and arrived before a pavilion decorated with rustic elegance.

"Qin Qianbei, this is Deyue Tower."

"It is a property under the Qilian Merchant Association."

"The Qilian Merchant Association?" Qin Ming felt quite surprised, as this association was also a major power, with businesses spanning the Southern Desolate Immortal Realm.

They had even come to offer congratulations during Qin Ming's Jin Dan grand ceremony.

After Zhao Ling'er finished her introduction, the two stepped into the restaurant, where someone immediately came out to arrange a private room for them.

After the two had gone inside.

The cultivators on the street began discussing endlessly.

"Isn't that the Holy Maiden of Baihua? Who is the person beside her?"

"Judging by this aura, he seems to be a senior with profound magic power as well."

"I seem to have some impression of him, but I cannot recall it at the moment."

"Eh? Why do I feel he looks somewhat like the legendary True Person Wangyue!"

"Are you delirious? How could a Jin Dan Elder possibly come to such a place?"

"..."

Inside the private room of Deyue Tower.

A middle-aged Shopkeeper dressed in a black profound robe was bowing low while jotting down dish names, his face beaming with smiles as he spoke respectfully to Qin Ming:

"Qin Qianbei, I will definitely instruct the kitchen to bring out our restaurant's signature wines and dishes to host both seniors."

"Your presence in our humble establishment brings glory to our very walls! Hehe! All expenses are waived; consider it a welcome banquet to wash away the dust of your journey for Qin Qianbei."

One stick of incense later.

A dazzling array of delicacies from immortal gardens was served one after another.

Most of them were unique items found only within Yunze Dahuang.

Watching them, Qin Ming felt his appetite stir and slowly began to drink and savor the food.

During the meal, Zhao Ling also introduced to Qin Ming the various changes that had occurred in Yunze Dahuang over these years.

After three rounds of wine, Qin Ming wished to stroll around alone, so he bid farewell to Zhao Ling'er:

"Fellow Daoist Zhao, I still have matters to attend to, so I will take my leave first."

"Thank you for your hospitality."

Zhao Ling'er hurriedly rose to see him off, saying, "Qin Qianbei speaks too seriously; if you have the chance, please come here often to sit."

A moment later.

Qin Ming flew to the shantytown, but the old people there were gone; the place remained, but the people were no longer the same—all had passed away.

He then wandered around the vicinity of the spiritual fields once more, as scenes from the past floated before his eyes.

Quite a few low-level spirit farmers were still here, diligently tilling the fields; upon seeing high-ranking cultivators flying across the sky, they all revealed expressions of longing and envy.

"The past has already turned to wind; there is nothing left to linger over now."

Qin Ming immediately did not linger, transforming into a streak of green rainbow light and departing.

Back then, the clan had abandoned him, following the Spirit Feather Sect to Yunze Dahuang to perform corvée labor; in a flash, so many years had passed. "No one from the Qin family has ever come looking for me again."

"With such a major event as my Jin Dan formation, the clan should certainly be aware of it."

"They probably dare not acknowledge me anymore..."

Several days later.

Qin Ming returned to Yunze Xiancheng, boarded Lei Yuanzong's Crossing-Abyss Dharma Boat, and went back to the central region of the Wei State.

He did not rush to return to Wangyue Island, but instead disembarked from the Dharma Boat midway and flew toward the west of the Wei State.

Half a day later.

Bianzhou, a border cultivation city, was not large in scale, covering an area of several hundred li.

"Five Immortals City."

Memories of the past surged into Qin Ming's mind.

After Qin Ming had transmigrated here, his original body's parents had long since passed away while seeking resources for his cultivation; as for the Qin clan, their bond had already grown thin, and he felt no attachment to them.

Nevertheless, he still intended to make one final visit to the Qin family to settle this worldly karma.

Within Five Immortals City, there were three small Foundation Establishment families, with the Qin family being one of them; since Qin Ming achieved the status of a Jin Dan True Person, the Qin family's prestige in Five Immortals City had reached its peak, subtly becoming the leader among the three families.

Moreover, various large and small powers had come to the Qin family to curry favor and establish connections, but all had been politely declined by the Qin family head.

The Qin clan leader knew that these people were all coming for the reputation of True Person Wangyue; once the situation went awry and they suffered backlash, this tiny Qin family would not be able to bear it.

On this day.

Inside the Qin family's ancestral hall, an ancestor worship ceremony was underway.

Dozens of Qin clan members, under the direction of an elderly man whose face bore the marks of wind and frost, respectfully paid homage to their ancestors.

Portraits of Qin Ming and his parents were prominently included among them.

After the ancestor worship concluded.

The Qin clan leader, Qin Xiao, sat in the main hall with several senior clan members and began to converse.

"Clan Leader... in my opinion, we should still send someone to Wangyue Island to pay respects to Ninth Great-Uncle?"

"After all, we share the same bloodline."

"Ninth Great-Uncle might still recall some of our past bond."

"Regarding the events of those years, the Spirit Feather Sect forcibly conscripted the family; even if he did not go, some clan member had to go."

"Alas! Who could have expected that with his four-system false spiritual roots, he would actually break through to the Jin Dan realm, and moreover become a third-tier Dandao Sect master and a Spirit Plant master?"

"If we had known it would be like this, why did we act as we did back then!"

"Third Brother, several decades have passed; it is too late for regrets now."

As the only Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Qin family, Qin Xiao had remained at the early stage of Foundation Establishment for several decades.

His path of cultivation had stopped here; in another few years, he would likely be buried in the earth.

Recently, Qin Xiao had also been worrying about the lack of successors within the clan.

At present, the number of cultivators capable of breaking through to Foundation Establishment was exceedingly few.

Resources for Foundation Establishment were even harder to obtain.

"That Ming'er could reach this step must be due to his own fortune; there is a heavenly will operating in the unseen."

"Now that he has achieved the status of a Jin Dan True Person, after all these years he must have long grown cold-hearted; his failure to return to the clan indicates he has already made his decision."

"If we go to acknowledge him now, it will only produce the opposite effect."

"Let everything follow its natural course."

"The fact that the Qin family can now receive protection under the name of True Person Wangyue is already a tremendous blessing; we should not crave anything more."

As soon as Qin Xiao spoke these words, the main hall immediately fell into silence.

"You do have some self-awareness."

Suddenly, a faint voice strangely emanated from the air itself.

The several Qin family members present were instantly greatly alarmed.

But before they could even rise, they saw ripples like water waves spontaneously spreading through the air.

A young male cultivator of ordinary appearance appeared before everyone's eyes.

The Qin family members could not detect the slightest fluctuation of magic power from him; he seemed just like an ordinary mortal.

When Qin Xiao clearly saw the newcomer's features, he was so shocked that his eyes widened and his jaw dropped, staring blankly as he stammered, "Q-Q-Qin... True Person Qin Ming."

"You have returned."

Upon hearing this, the other several people were both startled and overjoyed! "The junior generation of the Qin family pays respects to Ninth Great-Uncle!"

Having spoken, the several people in the main hall, along with clan leader Qin Xiao, were about to bow down.

Qin Xiao was also extremely excited in his heart, never expecting that after achieving the status of a Jin Dan True Person, Qin Ming would still be willing to visit the family.

This indicated there was still room for negotiation.

Qin Ming casually waved his hand and said indifferently, "No need."

"My coming this time is merely to settle this worldly karma."

Qin Xiao and the others felt themselves lifted by some force, unable to bend their bodies no matter how hard they tried.

But when they heard Qin Ming's words, the several Qin family members were all stunned.

So their great-uncle had not come to acknowledge his ancestors and return to the clan, but rather to sever ties with the Qin family; in an instant, Qin Xiao's face turned deathly pale, and he slumped dejectedly onto his chair.

"Ming'er, regarding the events of those years, the clan indeed acted wrongly; now it is too late for us to regret it."

"Whatever decision you make, the clan is willing to accept it."

"Now that you have advanced to the Jin Dan realm, we old bones are merely burdens and truly cannot help you with anything."

"We will only drag you down."

Qin Ming did not speak further with the few elders; instead, he went to the ancestral hall, lit incense, and paid his respects before the spirit tablets of his parents.

Only then did he turn around and speak to Qin Xiao and the others:

"I will continue to pursue the Great Dao, yet I still harbor some sentiment toward the Qin family."

"Although I was sent to the Lingyu Sect to perform corvée labor back then, if not for you showing some conscience and smoothing over certain connections, I fear I would never have even become a spirit farmer."

"I would have been sent to the front-line war camp long ago."

Qin Ming took a jade bottle from his robe, tossed it to Qin Xiao, and said, "Inside are two Foundation Establishment Pills; they are sufficient for you to cultivate another Foundation Establishment disciple and continue the family line."

"More than that would only invite disaster upon you."

"If even two Foundation Establishment Pills cannot produce another Foundation Establishment cultivator, then that is simply the Qin family's fate."

Holding the jade bottle, Qin Xiao's body trembled slightly as he gratefully addressed Qin Ming: "Thank you, True Person, for bestowing these pills!"

Qin Ming glanced at him, noting that Qin Xiao's vital energy was waning and the green vitality within his body was nearly exhausted.

Immediately, he retrieved two Five-Elements Primordial Qi Spirit Peaches and two porcelain bottles from his storage bag, handed them over, and said, "These two spirit peaches can restore some of your life span."

"Very well, matters here are concluded; from now on, the Qin family's affairs no longer concern me."

"You all must look after yourselves."

Before his words had fully faded, Qin Ming's figure had already vanished into thin air before the eyes of the Qin family members.

Gazing at the sky outside, Qin Xiao felt a complex mix of emotions churning within his heart, leaving him speechless for a long while.

Meanwhile.

Qin Ming transformed into a streak of cyan rainbow light and flew northward toward the spiritual energy Archipelago.

"Master, are you truly not planning to return to the Qin family?"

"Those few old men seemed quite heartbroken and regretful."

The voice of the Shi Tian Shu rang out beside Qin Ming's ear.

Hearing this, Qin Ming remarked indifferently, "What's the matter? Do you want to return to the Qin family? Should I assign you to guard the Qin family for a thousand years so you can taste the saltiness of it?"

"No, no, no! Hehehe, that is not what I meant."

"Misunderstanding! Misunderstanding!"

The Shi Tian Shu hurriedly explained, then obediently shut its mouth, daring not to speak further, fearing Qin Ming would actually exile it to guard the Qin family gate.

(End of Chapter)