Chapter 417: Mountains and Rivers Change, Yet I Remain Unchanged

The northern border of the State of Wei, the spiritual energy Archipelago.

Upon Wangyue Lake, ten thousand hectares of azure waves stretched vast and misty; a thin veil of fog draped the surface, scattering seven-colored halos under the sun's refraction, dreamlike and illusory.

At the lake's center, Wangyue Island remained shrouded in an impenetrable misty illusion realm.

After several decades of development via the Innate Spirit Soil, the island's area had expanded by more than double its former size.

Wangyue Island had become a medium-sized spirit island; even more remarkably, it housed a third-grade top-tier spirit vein environment, ranking among the finest cultivation treasures in the entire Southern Desolate Immortal Realm.

Within the spirit island, a blue streak of escaping light drifted gracefully down to the outer spirit field region.

As the escaping light dissipated, it revealed a stunningly beautiful young maiden radiating Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivation—this was Wu Wangyue.

Wu Wangyue had always possessed high cultivation aptitude and an Innate Spirit Body; coupled with resource support from the Lei Yuanzong, her cultivation had advanced rapidly all along.

In merely a few short decades, she had already reached the Foundation Establishment mid-stage realm.

Her face brimming with excitement, she spoke to an elderly man with white hair working in the spirit fields: "Father, I heard that the Island Lord has returned to the Southern Desolate?"

"I heard that shortly after his return, the Island Lord forcefully annihilated the great demons besieging Canghai Xiancheng."

"Moreover, the news of his complete eradication of the Modaoliu Sect over the past two days has caused an uproar across all the immortal cities."

"Also... could you please stop working the soil? You are already advanced in years; leave such matters to the spirit farmers below."

The white-haired elder halted his work; his face, lined with the wrinkles of time, still faintly revealed Wu Jiang's features as he offered a slight smile: "It is good that he has returned; I thought my old bones would never have the chance to see the Island Lord one last time."

"Father, how can you say such things!"

As they spoke, another streak of purple light flew in from outside, landing before them to reveal a handsome young man with sword-like brows and star-bright eyes, also at the Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivation—this was Wu Wangfeng.

Wu Wangfeng possessed an Earth-grade spirit root cultivation talent; even within the Lei Yuanzong, he was hailed as a genius.

The white-haired Wu Jiang looked at his son and daughter, nodding with satisfaction.

In his life, he had two things of which he was most proud.

First, in his youth, he had latched onto Qin Ming's powerful leg and followed the right person.

Second, with a single shot, he had produced two outstanding children; this pair with their excellent cultivation talents bore all his hopes and aspirations.

Wu Jiang knew very well that his own spirit root aptitude was mediocre; succeeding in establishing his foundation in his seventies had already been a heaven-sent blessing.

Although his life had stopped there, he was content.

Wu Jiang asked his son, Wu Wangfeng: "Feng'er, have you gathered any news? Is the Island Lord truly returning?"

"Should we go to Canghai Xiancheng to wait and welcome him?"

"Father, according to the news received, after handling affairs in the State of Jin, the Island Lord departed and vanished."

"He must already be on his way back to the spirit island; perhaps the Island Lord has his own considerations," Wu Wangfeng said after a brief moment of thought.

"In that case, let us make proper preparations and tidy up; we shall wait on the island for the Island Lord's return," Wu Jiang instructed steadily.

With that, he put away his spirit hoe and, together with his two children, organized the many spirit farmers below to begin arranging and cleaning.

At the same time.

The news that Qin Ming, leading his spirit pets, had swept away the remnants of the demonic path and the beast tide with thunderous speed, rescuing Pei Qing, the True Person of Beast King Valley, spread like a towering wave throughout the entire Southern Desolate Immortal Realm.

Henceforth, the prestige of the legendary cultivator True Person Wangyue in the hearts of the Southern Desolate cultivators had reached its peak.

Seven days later.

"Finally... I have returned!"

A colorful Lingxiao imperial carriage transformed into a five-hued streak of light in the sky; ahead, the Profound Water Giant Crocodile cleared the path, while the Blue Wave Sea Horses pulled the carriage, creating an extraordinarily grand spectacle.

Upon reaching the skies above Wangyue Island, the pink mist shrouding the spirit island parted automatically, as if encountering its master.

The Lingxiao imperial carriage instantly entered the spirit island.

Simultaneously, several streaks of escaping light flew out from within the island, landing in mid-air to bow deeply before Qin Ming's Lingxiao imperial carriage:

"We respectfully welcome the Island Lord back to the island! Wu Jiang, accompanied by the island's disciples, pays respects to the Island Lord!"

Wu Jiang gazed at that Profound Water Crocodile; he had often fed it when it was small, yet now its appearance and aura had changed drastically, exuding dominance, causing him to sigh with emotion.

Truly, when one attains the Dao, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven!

After a long while, an extremely familiar voice emanated from within the imperial carriage:

"Mm, come to the Qingmu Pavilion on the main peak to see me."

"Yes, sir!"

Immediately, Qin Ming casually raised his hand and waved, completely dispelling the illusion realm shrouding the outside of Wangyue Island.

"From now on, Wangyue Island no longer needs this illusion realm; perhaps it is time to arrange a higher-grade protective great formation."

He recalled that the "Demonic Craft of Creation" contained methods for refining and constructing fourth-grade great formations... immediately.

An island resembling a paradise hidden from the world once again appeared before Qin Ming's eyes; rich in spiritual energy, its area had expanded by more than double.

Various spirit plants covered the mountains; at the outermost edge lay over a thousand mu of fertile spirit fields, where lush spirit rice swayed in the wind, while the spirit farmers working in the fields stared blankly upward, continuously kneeling and worshipping the Lingxiao imperial carriage... "The changes on Wangyue Island are truly immense!" The Shi Tian Shu poked out its head, gazing at the pleasant scenery outside, sighing endlessly.

After returning to the main peak, everything felt intimately familiar to Qin Ming.

He released the Profound Water Crocodile, the Shi Tian Shu, and the Yin Yi Shuangfeng to play outside the island.

Having not returned for several decades, these three spirit beasts were so excited they could barely contain their homesickness.

Inside the Qingmu Pavilion on the main peak.

The Wu family members stood respectfully within the main hall.

Upon clearly seeing the face of the returning Qin Ming, they could not help but all feel immense envy.

Because several more decades had passed, yet the Island Lord before them remained like an evergreen tree, exactly as he was when he departed, unchanged in the slightest; only his cultivation had become unfathomably profound, and merely standing before him exerted tremendous pressure.

Wu Wangfeng and Wu Wangyue felt the same; such a powerful aura they had never even sensed on their own Grand Elders.

Similarly, gazing at the few people before him, Qin Ming also felt deeply emotional.

Especially Wu Jiang, who was now a white-haired elder in his twilight years; observing the emerald vitality within his body, it had already grown thin, leaving him with at most twenty years of lifespan.

There were also Wu Wangyue and Wu Wangfeng; these two children were ones he had watched grow up since they were small, and in the blink of an eye, many years had passed, transforming them from the soy-sauce-fetching brats of the past into mature and steady sect prodigies.

After glancing around briefly, Qin Ming asked Wu Jiang, "Where is your father, Wu Hanyuan?"

"Reporting to the Island Lord, my father passed away thirty years ago."

Qin Ming had not expected that upon this return, many old acquaintances would have passed away one after another.

'Truly, time flies like a shuttle and moments pass easily; amidst the changing seas and mulberry fields, old friends grow old crop after crop.'

'The waves wash everything away; only I remain standing unshaken.'

Next.

Qin Ming then discussed various situations from these past years with Wu Jiang and the others, exchanging words briefly.

Once the chat was sufficient, he took a pill from his storage bag and bestowed it upon Wu Jiang: "This is a Longevity Fruit Pill; it can extend your life by several more decades. Beyond that, it will depend on the fortune and heavenly will within your fate."

"When I returned, the arrangements of the cultivation caves on the main peak, as well as the pavilions and terraces, had not changed, and the spirit fields and spirit plants were tended to in perfect order."

"You have watched over the Lingdao for me for decades; you have indeed been thoughtful."

Even at Wu Jiang's age, seeing this scene made his eyes turn red, and he nearly could not hold back tears of old age from flowing freely.

Trembling, he accepted the jade vial: "A high-grade longevity spirit elixir! Island Lord, how can I accept this?"

"This old one is already a person of twilight and dusk, nothing but a bundle of old bones; it would be better to leave it for someone useful."

"Mm, you may judge and dispose of it as you see fit," Qin Ming said lightly.

"Many thanks to the Island Lord for bestowing the pill!"

After receiving everyone on the island, Qin Ming dismissed them.

Suddenly, he remembered something and called out to stop Wu Wangfeng.

"By the way, I heard that Elder Wei was injured while attempting to break through a realm? What exactly happened?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Wangfeng hurriedly turned and bowed; after struggling and hesitating for a moment in his expression, he replied, "Reporting to my lord Island Lord, the Grand Elder indeed failed in his attempt to break through to the late stage of Jin Dan, causing his meridians to reverse; the injury is quite severe, and he has been suppressing the wound all these years."

Since this concerned major sect secrets, he dared not speak recklessly; moreover, Grand Elder Wei had always treated him well.

Wei Wuya was the stabilizing pillar of Lei Yuanzong; if anything happened to him, the sect would be finished.

But he also knew that my lord Island Lord had a good relationship with his own Yunxi Laozu.

Furthermore, since Qin Ming had asked, Wu Wangfeng answered honestly, daring not to hold back even a shred, and spoke everything he knew.

"Mm, here is a Liyun Pill; it can reorganize and repair meridian injuries. Please deliver this to Elder Wei on my behalf." After pondering slightly, Qin Ming took out an exquisite jade vial and handed it to Wu Wangfeng.

"A Liyun Pill?"

Wu Wangfeng's body trembled; with his knowledge, such a pill was something he had never even heard of, yet anything the Island Lord produced would certainly not be ordinary goods.

He dared not refuse on his own authority, so he carefully accepted the pill.

"This junior, on behalf of Grand Elder Wei, thanks my lord Island Lord!"

"Mm, you may all withdraw."

After dismissing the crowd, Qin Ming stood atop the pavilion on the main peak, gazing at the island's peach groves and bamboo seas, as well as the lush, dripping-green tea gardens.

He took out a pot of Demon Flame Wine and began drinking alone in solitude.

……

Fengqi Island, headquarters of the Seventy-Two Islands San Alliance.

A servant hurried into the deliberation hall, presented a jade slip to the person on the throne at the head, and bowed to report:

"Reporting to Wei Mengzhu! Definite news has arrived; True Person Qin, the Island Lord of Wangyue Island, has returned to the island."

The current leader of the San Alliance is Ren Tianqi, a person who assumed the position under Qin Ming's witness before Qin Ming left the Southern Desolate.

When Ren Tianqi took over the position of Wei Mengzhu, he was still quite young; now he has grown into a middle-aged appearance, steady and dignified, possessing the bearing of a great regional official.

Since he assumed the role of Wei Mengzhu, the Immortal Realm of the Lingxi Archipelago has undergone several reforms and has become more prosperous than before.

Of course, the more important reason is that the archipelago gave birth to True Person Wangyue, this legendary cultivator, attracting numerous cultivators to come here to take root and develop.

After receiving the news, Ren Tianqi immediately rose from his seat, a sharp light appearing in his eyes, and waved his large hand, saying:

"Quick! Present a visiting card to Wangyue Island, then prepare generous gifts; this Wei Mengzhu will personally go to pay respects to Senior Qin."

"Yes, sir!"

Scenes like this played out continuously within the four kingdoms of the Southern Desolate Immortal Realm.

Many major powers capable of making an appearance were also busily making arrangements, sending people to Wangyue Island to pay their respects.

In the following months, Wangyue Island, which had been quiet for decades, once again became bustling with visitors; however, Qin Ming politely declined all these visits one by one.

He had Wu Jiang spread the word that he intended to enter closed-door cultivation for a period, directly closing his gates to guests.

Because next, Qin Ming had more important matters to attend to.

That was to refine the Infant-Congealing Pill, as well as the Ice-Heart Jade-Soul Pill for traversing the Heart Demon Tribulation.

……

(End of Chapter)