Chapter 629: Current State of the Southern Lands

Under the bombardment of the Five Elemental Thunder, even the third-rank black-maned beast boar could not struggle at all.

Purple lightning arcs emitted by the thunder energy wove into a net that swept through the beast herd, instantly annihilating the low-rank boars.

"Who is this great elder's divine carriage? Such majesty and power!"

"It seems to have come from the sea—could it be a cultivator from another realm visiting here?"

The elderly Huang cultivator stared blankly at the magnificent, otherworldly Lingxiao Bao Nian hovering above, his heart beyond words.

The Qi Refining disciples around him, upon witnessing this, were left utterly blank, drowned in profound shock.

Even the mere breath of the carriage-pulling beast had wiped out the boar demons that had plagued this region for years.

Then what of the one seated inside? That person must be at least a late-stage Golden Core cultivator—or even a legendary Nascent Soul True Person.

In an instant, all cultivators were filled with turbulent thoughts, gazing in awe and fear.

A few breaths later.

The Lingxiao Bao Nian, pulled by the giant crocodile and the Azure Wave Sea Horse, glided through radiant multicolored light and came to a steady stop above them.

The Huang cultivator hurried forward, bowing deeply before the divine carriage, his voice reverent: "Thank you, Elder, for saving us! I am Huang Qi'an of Xiao Ye Mountain. If you have any command, I would gladly die for you!"

He felt the terrifying aura emanating from the Dark Water Giant Crocodile above, and his heart tightened with dread.

Sweat already soaked his back.

Judging by his experience, this carriage-pulling crocodile was at least mid- to late-stage third rank.

The one inside the carriage—no need to even mention.

"Huang family of Xiao Ye Mountain?"

From within the carriage came a surprisingly young voice.

This startled everyone present.

For in their understanding, such profound cultivation could only belong to ancient monsters centuries old.

"Where did you get your Qingming Sword Art? Your cultivation is passable. What's the current state of the Four Southern Lands? Why so many communal beast demons? Has another beast tide erupted?" The young voice inside the carriage continued, calm and detached.

Upon hearing this, the Huang cultivator felt puzzled.

The tone suggested deep familiarity with the affairs of the Southern Lands' cultivation world.

Even his cultivation scripture, the Qingming Sword Art, was known to them.

Could he not be an outsider? A terrifying suspicion flashed through the Huang cultivator's mind.

Could the elder inside the carriage be none other than the legendary cultivator of the Southern Lands, famed throughout the Four Southern Lands? That figure was, without doubt, the most inspiring Golden Core cultivator in the region's history, rising from a lowly spirit farmer to become a dual Grand Master.

He had saved the Four Southern Lands' cultivation world from peril multiple times, revered as a model by countless scattered cultivators.

But decades ago, he vanished as if erased from the mortal world, with no word since; some speculated he had secluded himself on an island to cultivate and break through to a higher realm.

Now, the timing matched perfectly.

Among the Four Southern Lands, there were barely a handful of Golden Core cultivators—fewer than one could count on a hand—and only that one could possess such depth.

The Huang cultivator's thoughts fell into perfect alignment in an instant.

He never imagined he would ever cross paths with such a legendary cultivator in his lifetime.

His face flushed with barely contained excitement as he bowed deeply and replied: "Respected Elder, my Qingming Sword Art was acquired from a descendant of Lingyu Gate."

"You are correct, Elder. Several years ago, a pack of black-maned beast boars emerged in the Beast Roar Mountains. Their reproduction rate is terrifying—they cannot be eradicated."

"Once they reached critical mass, they began driving away nearby beast clans and seizing outer territories, reigniting the beast tide."

"Moreover, their flesh holds little value, tastes abysmal, and offers no benefit to cultivators."

"Within this black-maned boar clan, at least two beast kings have emerged—the one just slain by your spiritual pet was one of them."

"I came here on a bounty task from Canghai Xiancheng to purge these beasts. Had I not encountered you today, we would all have perished in their jaws."

Qin Ming listened, then frowned: "How could just two third-rank pig demons throw the Southern Lands into such chaos?"

"What of Qingxuan Patriarch of Xuanxi Valley? He's late-stage Golden Core. And didn't Nanlan Xi and Wei Wuyi also break into mid-stage Golden Core?"

The Huang cultivator sighed in reply:

"Alas, Elder, you don't know—Qingxuan Patriarch passed away over a decade ago. And Master Gongsun Yang of Xuanxi Valley also exhausted his lifespan and passed away several years ago."

"Now, only Xuan Yu, a beginner Golden Core, struggles to hold Xuanxi Valley together."

"Fortunately, it's said Gongsun Yang's direct disciple, Fang Han, may soon ascend to the rank of third-rank Elixir Master and restore Xuanxi Valley's glory."

Hearing this, Qin Ming, seated inside the carriage, felt a quiet pang.

Time had changed all things—the world had turned, and old friends had passed away.

Once the strongest sect among the Four Southern Lands, Xuanxi Valley had now plummeted to the bottom.

Qingxuan Patriarch was a man of great responsibility, and Gongsun Yang was likewise noble—Qin Ming had once exchanged insights on elixir arts with him.

He was a kind-hearted man.

"What of Wei Wuyi of Lei Yuanzong? And the two Golden Core cultivators from Wu Kingdom's Beasts' Valley?" Qin Ming asked again, softly.

"Rumors say Wei Elder attempted to break into late-stage Golden Core three years ago, failed, and suffered internal injuries—he's been in seclusion healing ever since."

"As for True Person Pei Qing of Beasts' Valley, he vanished without cause. Now, only Lu Xiao remains to hold Wu Kingdom together."

"In our Wei Kingdom and Canghai Xiancheng, the situation is maintained solely by True Person Canghai and True Person Gu Qing."

"Had it not been for them holding the line, the city would have fallen long ago."

Qin Ming fell silent.

He never imagined that after his departure, the Southern Lands' cultivation world had fallen into such a void—now barely held up by two women.

Before he left, he had already quelled the ghost calamity and the beast tides.

With Bai Gu True Person and Qingmian Poisonous Jiao dead, the Six Demon Sects were already in ruins.

He had assumed the Four Southern Lands' situation would gradually improve—but instead, it had spiraled downward.

Qin Ming asked him a few more questions, but as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, the Huang man knew little of the upper echelons of the cultivation world.

'With Wei Wuyi's cautious nature, he wouldn't recklessly attempt a breakthrough—how did he get injured?'

'And why did Pei Qing vanish without reason?'

A flood of questions swirled in Qin Ming's mind.

Thinking of this, Qin Ming stirred his intent.

The Dark Water Crocodile let out a long roar, flicked its tail, and pulled the Lingxiao Bao Nian into a dazzling streak of light, vanishing into the horizon.

All present remained bowed, staring as the magnificent carriage dissolved into multicolored light and vanished. Only after half a stick of incense had burned did they straighten, wiping sweat from their brows.

"Master Huang, why did that great elder know so much about our Southern Lands' cultivation world?"

"Could it be that one of the hidden masters of the Four Kingdoms has returned?"

A Qi Refining disciple asked timidly.

"How dare you speak of such a great one's affairs so casually?"

"Mind your own tongues, or you'll end up like those beasts—don't bring ruin upon yourselves!"

Everyone shrank back, afraid to ask further.

The Huang cultivator, however, sighed inwardly—if it truly was the legendary figure of Wangyue Island returning, then perhaps the Four Southern Lands' cultivation world was truly about to change…

Several days later. At the border of the Four Southern Lands: Canghai Xiancheng.

Inside the grand hall of Canghai Peak, True Person Nanlan Xi and Gu Qing were studying a map, discussing strategy.

"Nanlan sister, you visited Wei Wuyi at Lei Yuanzong recently—how is he faring?" Gu Qing, clad in plain white robes, asked.

Nanlan Xi set down the map and sighed deeply: "Alas, Wei Wuyi was a prodigy of the highest order, and even formed a superior Golden Core—he had the potential for the Dao."

"But he was too eager. He forced his breakthrough into late-stage Golden Core and suffered spiritual backlash. His meridians and foundation are severely damaged. Even if healed, his future will be capped at mid-stage Golden Core."

"Wei Dao You was truly a remarkable talent—what a pity. He pushed himself so hard because of the demon sect threat," Gu Qing said softly.

"Had he cultivated steadily, he might have reached late-stage Golden Core in another century."

As they spoke,

Suddenly—BOOM! A thunderous roar echoed from outside.

The entire Xiancheng shuddered violently three times; countless buildings collapsed, followed by a chorus of terrified screams.

Nanlan Xi and Gu Qing exchanged glances, their forms blurring as they vanished from the hall in an instant.

When the two women emerged outside, they froze—their faces paled at the sight.

Outside the Xiancheng, a colossal two-headed beast, sixty to seventy zhang tall, relentlessly battered the protective array.

It was a massive black-maned beast king, unmistakable—its twin massive heads and protruding fangs marked it as mid-stage third rank.

A mid-stage third-rank beast's power rivaled a human late-stage Golden Core.

For a human Xiancheng, this was an utter catastrophe.

The pale blue magical barrier of Canghai Xiancheng trembled under the assault, on the verge of collapse.

Cracks were already forming.

"That's the two-headed black-maned beast king! Something's wrong—how did it reach mid-stage so quickly?" Nanlan Xi's face showed surprise.

Gu Qing's voice was cold: "Likely the work of the demon sects. The very appearance of these black-maned boars was suspicious."

"True Person Pei Qing went to investigate and has vanished without a trace."

"Even together, we two cannot match a mid-stage third-rank beast king," Nanlan Xi decided swiftly. "I'll draw it away."

Gu Qing immediately rejected the idea: "No. Too dangerous."

"Then what? If we do nothing, the city will fall—and all the cultivators inside…"

As they stood helpless,

BOOM! The space near the Xiancheng began to ripple unnaturally—first like water, then violently trembling.

Even the spiritual energy in the heavens and earth churned like boiling water.

As a result, no one knew what was happening, and they quickly mobilized their magic power to resist the discomfort in their bodies.

At that moment.

Roar! Roar!

A brilliant streak of light suddenly shot from afar, radiating five-colored divine radiance.

The light arrived in an instant, revealing a magnificent and luxurious Lingxiao Baojia, its canopy towering like a palace in the sky.

Before the treasure carriage stood a terrifyingly powerful giant crocodile pulling the vehicle, flanked by eight identical sea-horses stepping upon waves, their aura surging like a storm.

This entourage resembled that of a Nascent Soul cultivator on a grand outing.

The moment this treasure carriage appeared, a massive spiritual pressure descended abruptly.

The entire heavens and earth fell silent in an instant.

Even the two-headed Black Mane Beast King, its blood-red eyes, revealed profound fear.

Just as it abandoned its charge against the city and prepared to flee.

A force of overwhelming might descended from the heavens, crashing down and slamming the entire massive body of the two-headed Black Mane Beast King deep into the earth.

From within the carriage, a lazy, insolent voice called out:

"Brother Two, our master told you to go easy this time—leave the corpse intact. He wants to take it back and study what happened."

"Don't be as careless as last time."

Immediately, the giant crocodile nodded, and several bolts of lightning roared from its mouth, striking the fallen beast—both of its massive pig heads flew off and rolled to the side.

The next instant.

A streak of spiritual light descended from within the Lingxiao Baojia, swept over the ground, and instantly absorbed the corpse, making it vanish.

All the cultivators within Canghai Xiancheng stared in stunned silence, utterly transfixed. Nanlan Xi and Gu Qingzhao were equally shocked, frozen in place.

Even the beast pulling the carriage possessed such terrifying power. Then, Nanlan Xi murmured uncertainly: "That voice just now… why does it sound familiar?"

At that moment.

The Lingxiao Baojia, ignoring the third-tier spiritual array of the immortal city as if it were nothing, passed straight through and came to a steady stop before the two women.

The curtain parted, and a plain-looking young man stepped out.

The young man resembled an ancient evergreen tree—his demeanor calm as water, radiating the aura of time-worn depth.

Perched on his shoulder sat a gray rat demon, arms crossed, grinning broadly at the two women.

"Qin Dao You!!"

Nanlan Xi and Gu Qingzhao both cried out in unison, stunned.

At first, they displayed deep shock and confusion; then, an indescribable joy surged forth, overwhelming them with a flood of complex emotions.

Yet when they sensed the third-stage peak demonic energy emanating from the Shi Tian Shu, their expressions shifted back to stunned disbelief.

"Shi Tian Shu, you—you're…?" Nanlan Xi said, still unable to believe it.

Shi Tian Shu grinned proudly, thumping his chest. "Nanlan Dao You, a rat's talent improves every three days, hehe!"

Qin Ming's own aura was even more inscrutable—despite their cultivation, the two women could not discern his depth at all. "Two Dao friends, long time no see. How have you been?" Qin Ming smiled warmly and greeted them.

Nanlan Xi stepped forward, smiling and bowing respectfully. "Congratulations, Qin Dao You, on your great advancement and triumphant return. Please come to the Main Peak for a visit."

"Congratulations, Qin Dao You," Gu Qingzhao also recovered from her shock. "I never imagined that after only a few decades, your cultivation had reached the pinnacle. Your journey to Da Jin must have granted you extraordinary fortune. Your return may make you the first in thousands of years in the Southern Wastelands' cultivation world."

Afterwards,

Qin Ming retracted the Lingxiao Baojia and followed the two to the Canghai Peak Hall.

"Nanlan Dao You, Gu Dao You, what exactly is going on?"

"How did the four nations of the Southern Wastelands sink to such a state?"

Once seated, Qin Ming immediately asked.

Nanlan Xi ordered servants to serve fine spiritual tea, then sighed. "It all began several years ago. Among the six demonic sects of the Southern Wastelands, a demonic warlord emerged, reversing the crumbling situation and reviving the old power with renewed vigor."

…

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(End of Chapter)