Chapter 417: Mountains and Rivers Change, But I Do Not

Northern Border of the Wei State, spiritual energy Archipelago.

On Wangyue Lake, the azure waves were vast, the smoke and waves were boundless, and the lake surface was covered with a layer of thin mist, refracting sunlight to emit seven-colored light, dreamlike and illusory.

On Wangyue Island in the center of the lake, it was still shrouded in a layer of impenetrable mist illusion.

After decades of development by the Innate Breath Soil, the entire island's area had expanded by more than double.

Wangyue Island had also become a medium-sized spirit island, and what was even rarer was that the island possessed a Tier 3 supreme-grade spirit vein environment, which could be considered one of the top cultivation treasures in the entire Southern Wasteland Immortal Realm.

Within the spirit island, a streak of blue escape light landed gracefully in the outer spirit field area.

When the escape light faded, it revealed a bright and moving young girl, showing the cultivation of Foundation Establishment Mid-stage; it was Wu Wangyue.

Wu Wangyue originally had high cultivation aptitude and possessed an innate spirit body. With the support of resources in the Lei Yuan Sect, her cultivation progressed quite rapidly.

In just a few decades, she had already reached the Foundation Establishment Mid-stage realm.

She looked excited and said to an old man with white hair in the spirit field: "Father, I heard that the Island Master has returned to the Southern Wasteland?"

"I heard that not long ago, as soon as the Island Master returned, he strongly wiped out the great demons besieging Canghai Immortal City."

"These past two days, the matter of him thoroughly clearing out the six demon sects has also caused a great stir in the major immortal cities."

"Also... can you stop working in the fields? You are already of such an age, just leave these things to the spirit farmers below."

The white-haired old man stopped his work. His face was full of the wrinkles of time, but one could vaguely tell it was Wu Jiang. He revealed a smile: "It's good that he's back. I thought that this old bone of mine would never have the chance to see the Island Master one last time."

"Father, what are you saying!"

While the two were talking, a purple light flew in from outside again, landing in front of them, revealing a young man with sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes, also with Foundation Establishment Mid-stage cultivation; it was Wu Wu Wangfeng.

Wu Wu Wangfeng possessed the cultivation talent of an Earth-grade spirit root, and even in the Lei Yuan Sect, he was hailed as a genius.

The white-haired Wu Jiang nodded with satisfaction as he looked at his son and daughter.

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

First, when he was young, he hugged Qin Ming's thigh correctly and followed the right person.

Second, he produced a pair of geniuses... he gave birth to this pair of children with good cultivation talent, which could be considered carrying all his hopes.

Wu Jiang knew very well that his own spirit root aptitude was mediocre. He had succeeded in Foundation Establishment at the age of seventy, which was already a grace from heaven.

Although his life stopped here, he was content.

Wu Jiang asked his son Wu Wu Wangfeng: "Feng'er, did you find out any news? Is the Island Master really coming back?"

"Should we go to Canghai Immortal City to welcome him?"

"Father, according to the news, after the Island Master finished his business in the Jin State, he left and vanished."

"I suppose he is already on his way back to the spirit island. Perhaps the Island Master has his own considerations." Wu Wu Wangfeng thought for a moment and said.

"Since that's the case, let's tidy up and wait on the island for the Island Master's return." Wu Jiang instructed steadily.

After saying this, he put away his spirit hoe and, together with his two children, began to tidy up and organize the many spirit farmers below.

At the same time.

The news of Qin Ming, the legendary Southern Wasteland cultivator, returning with his spirit pets and wiping out demon remnants, crushing the beast tide, and rescuing True Person Pei Qing of the Beast King Valley, spread through the entire Southern Wasteland Immortal Realm like a towering wave.

Up to this point, the prestige of True Person Wangyue, the legendary cultivator, in the hearts of the Southern Wasteland cultivators had reached its peak.

Seven days later.

"Finally... back again!"

A stream of flowing light Lingxiao Treasure Carriage transformed into five-colored flowing light in the sky, with the Qing Xuan Water Giant Crocodile clearing the way in front and azure-wave seahorses pulling the carriage, the scene was incredibly magnificent.

After the treasure carriage reached the sky above Wangyue Island, the pink mist shrouding the island automatically dispersed.

The Lingxiao Treasure Carriage entered the spirit island in an instant.

At the same time, several escape lights flew out from the island, landed in mid-air, and bowed deeply to Qin Ming's Lingxiao Treasure Carriage:

"Respectfully welcome the Island Master back to the island! Wu Jiang leads the disciples on the island to pay respects to the Island Master!"

Wu Jiang looked at that giant crocodile, which he had often fed when it was small; now its appearance and aura had changed greatly, domineering and exposed, and he couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

Truly, one person attains the Dao, and the chickens and dogs ascend to heaven!

After a long time, a familiar voice came from within the treasure carriage:

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

"Obey!"

Immediately, Qin Ming raised his hand casually and completely lifted the mist illusion outside Wangyue Island.

"From now on, Wangyue Island doesn't need this illusion anymore; perhaps it needs to set up a higher-tier defensive formation."

He remembered that "Magic Craftsmanship" contained the method for refining and creating Tier 4 formations... Immediately.

An island like a paradise on earth appeared before Qin Ming's eyes again, with abundant spiritual energy, and the island's area had expanded by more than double.

Various spirit plants were scattered among the mountain peaks, and the outermost layer was thousands of mu of fertile spirit fields, with lush spirit rice swaying in the wind. The spirit farmers working in the fields stared blankly at the sky, kneeling and kowtowing to the Lingxiao Treasure Carriage... "The changes on Wangyue Island are truly great!" The Heaven-Devouring Rat poked its head out, looking at the pleasant scenery outside, and sighed with emotion.

After Qin Ming returned to the main peak, everything was familiar and intimate.

He released his three spirit pets, the Qing Xuan Water Crocodile, the Heaven-Devouring Rat, and the Silver-Winged Frost Bee, to play outside the island.

Having not returned for decades, these three spirit beasts were also excited and couldn't hold back their homesickness.

Inside the Qingmu Pavilion on the main peak.

The Wu family members stood respectfully in the main hall.

When they saw the face of the returning Qin Ming, they all couldn't help but feel envious.

Because decades had passed again, but the Island Master before them was still like an evergreen tree, just as he was when he left, unchanged in the slightest. It was just that his cultivation had become unfathomable; just standing before him gave one immense pressure.

Wu Wu Wangfeng and Wu Wangyue were the same; they hadn't felt such a powerful aura even from their Supreme Elder.

Similarly, Qin Ming looked at the few people before him, and his heart was also filled with emotion.

Especially Wu Jiang, who was now a white-haired old man in his twilight years. He could see that the emerald vitality in his body was already thin, with at most twenty years of lifespan left.

And Wu Wangyue and Wu Wu Wangfeng, these two children he had watched grow up, had grown from the little brats who used to buy soy sauce into mature and steady sect geniuses.

After looking around, Qin Ming asked Wu Jiang: "Where is your father, Wu Wu Hanyuan?"

"Reporting to the Island Master, Father passed away thirty years ago..."

Qin Ming didn't expect that upon returning this time, many old friends had passed away one after another.

'Truly, time flies like a shuttle, time passes easily, and in the blink of an eye, old friends grow old one after another.'

'The waves wash away the heroes, only I stand tall forever.'

Afterward.

Qin Ming exchanged some information with Wu Jiang and others about the situation over the years and chatted for a while.

After chatting enough, he took out a pill from his storage bag and bestowed it upon Wu Jiang: "This is the Longevity Fruit Pill, which can extend your life by several decades. After that, it will depend on your own fate and heaven's will..."

"When I returned, the layout of the cultivation cave on the main peak, as well as the pavilions and towers, had not changed, and the spirit fields and spirit plants were also well-managed."

"You have looked after the spirit island for me for decades, which is quite thoughtful."

Even at Wu Jiang's age, seeing this scene, his eyes turned red, and he almost couldn't help but burst into tears.

He took the jade bottle tremblingly: "High-tier longevity spirit pill! Island Master, how can this be?"

"Old man is already a person in the twilight of his years, an old bone, it would be better to leave it to someone useful."

"Hmm, you can decide how to handle it yourself," Qin Ming said indifferently.

"Thank you, Island Master, for the pill!"

After meeting everyone on the island, Qin Ming let them retreat.

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

"By the way, I heard that Brother Wei attempted to break through his cultivation and was injured? What exactly happened?"

Wu Wu Wangfeng heard this and hurriedly bowed back, his expression struggling and hesitating for a moment before replying: "Reporting to the Island Master, the Supreme Elder did indeed fail to break through to Core Formation Late-stage, leading to meridian reversal and serious injuries. He has been suppressing his injuries all these years..."

Concerning the sect's major secrets, he didn't dare to speak nonsense, and Supreme Elder Wei had treated him well.

Wei Wei Wuya was the pillar of the Lei Yuan Sect; if something happened to him, the sect would be finished.

But he also knew that the Island Master had a good relationship with his ancestor.

And since Qin Ming had asked, Wu Wu Wangfeng answered honestly, not daring to keep anything back, telling everything he knew.

"Hmm... here is a Liyun Pill, which can reorganize and repair meridian injuries. You can pass it to Brother Wei on my behalf," Qin Ming pondered for a moment and took out an exquisite jade bottle and handed it to Wu Wu Wangfeng.

"Liyun Pill?"

Wu Wu Wangfeng's body trembled. With his knowledge, he hadn't even heard of such a pill... but anything the Island Master could take out would definitely not be ordinary goods.

He didn't dare to refuse, so he took the pill carefully.

"This junior thanks the Island Master on behalf of Supreme Elder Wei!"

"Hmm, you may go."

After dismissing everyone, Qin Ming stood on the pavilion of the main peak, looking at the peach forest and bamboo sea on the island, as well as the lush tea garden.

He took out a pot of Demon Flame Wine and drank alone.

Fengqi Island, headquarters of the Seventy-Two Island Loose Alliance.

An attendant walked quickly into the council hall and presented a jade slip to the person on the throne, bowing and reporting:

"Reporting to the Alliance Master! There is definite news that Island Master Qin of Wangyue Island has returned to the island."

The current Alliance Master of the Loose Alliance was Ren Ren Tianqi, who had succeeded the position under Qin Ming's witness before he left the Southern Wasteland.

When Ren Ren Tianqi took over the position of Alliance Master, he was still quite young, but now he had grown into a middle-aged man, steady and holding weight, possessing the demeanor of a high-ranking official.

Since he took over as Alliance Master, the spiritual energy Archipelago Immortal Realm had undergone several reforms and was more prosperous than before.

Of course, a more important reason was that the archipelago had produced the legendary cultivator True Person Wangyue, attracting many cultivators to take root and develop here.

After Ren Ren Tianqi received the news, he immediately stood up from his seat, his gaze revealing brilliance, and waved his hand:

"Quick! Present a visiting card to Wangyue Island, then prepare generous gifts. This Alliance Master will personally visit Senior Qin."

"Obey!"

Such scenes were constantly staged within the four countries of the Southern Wasteland Immortal Realm.

Many major forces that could be brought to the table were also busily preparing to send people to Wangyue Island to pay respects.

In the following months, Wangyue Island, which had been silent for decades, became bustling again. However, Qin Ming politely declined all these visits.

He had Wu Jiang release the word that he was going to be in closed-door cultivation for a period of time, directly closing the door to guests.

Because next, Qin Ming had more important things to do.

That was to refine the Infant-Nurturing Pill, as well as the Ice Heart Jade Soul Pill to overcome the Heart Demon Tribulation.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 418 =====