Chapter 1043: Return Journey

Hearing Li Li Jingzhe's words, Li Luo also felt a bit helpless and awkward, shaking his head: "Grandfather, you're overthinking it."

Li Li Jingzhe said: "That's truly a pity. This young lady looks quite good, and this power... is it the Sacred Seed power of Golden Dragon Mountain?"

A trace of surprise surfaced in his eyes as he examined the ice-sealed Lv Qing'er, saying: "At such a young age, she can already mobilize a wisp of the 'Ice Sacred Seed' power. Although it's very shallow, it also proves how perfectly compatible she is with that 'Ice Sacred Seed.'"

"Sacred Seed? What exactly is that?" Li Luo asked in confusion. He seemed to have heard Sister Jin mention it before.

"It is a true world-class treasure, an evolution of the world's origin substance, further refined by a Li Tianwang-level powerhouse at the cost of immeasurable effort."

"The Sacred Seed is the true foundation of a Li Tianwang-level faction. A Li Tianwang-level faction without a Sacred Seed cannot endure." Li Li Jingzhe patiently explained.

Li Luo was secretly shocked. From the sound of it, this so-called Sacred Seed seemed extremely profound—information completely beyond his reach in the past.

And from the implication of Li Li Jingzhe's words, their Li Li Tianwang lineage also seemed to possess this so-called "Sacred Seed"?

However, Li Luo did not press further now, but instead asked: "Then can Grandfather release her from her ice-sealed state?"

The most important thing right now was still to rescue Lv Qing'er.

Li Li Jingzhe smiled and said: "Releasing her from this state, I can indeed do it, but I feel there's no need."

"Why?" Li Luo asked in astonishment.

"Using the Sacred Seed's power to ice-seal oneself is not entirely a bad thing. It will allow this young lady to deepen her compatibility with the Sacred Seed's power in a deep-level state. As long as she can maintain a wisp of clarity in her heart and not let that endless icy cold seal her inner self, she will be able to gain benefits from it." Li Li Jingzhe said.

"Moreover, if I were to act, I could only use brute force to destroy this Sacred Seed power, which is not the best strategy. So the urgent matter right now is still to send this young lady back to Golden Dragon Mountain and let them use the 'Sacred Seed's' power to break this ice seal."

At this point, Li Li Jingzhe looked at the several figures beside Sister Jin and said: "What do you all think?"

These several Marquis-level powerhouses were clearly also dispatched to protect Lv Qing'er. Hearing this, they said respectfully: "What Dragon Fang King said is indeed the best method."

Sister Jin also nodded and said to Li Luo: "Li Luo, you don't need to worry too much. The my lords on our side have discussed and decided to bring the Young Lady back as soon as possible."

Li Luo could only nod upon hearing this, though he felt a bit of regret in his heart—it seemed he couldn't personally bid farewell to Lv Qing'er.

That Golden Dragon Mountain was not in Outer Shenzhou, and when they would meet again was uncertain.

"Then I'll trouble you all. Qing'er encountered some unforeseen events in the Spirit Phase Cave Heaven this time, perhaps you should be aware of it." Li Luo reminded.

An elder from Golden Dragon Mountain nodded, cupped his hands and said: "Many thanks for the reminder, Li Luo Dragon Head. We have already learned from Jin'er. Once we return to Golden Dragon Mountain, we will naturally report to the Family Head and let him decide."

Afterwards, they exchanged a few words with Li Luo, then stopped delaying, boarded a flying vessel from Golden Dragon Mountain with Lv Qing'er, and quickly left the Great Star Plains.

Li Luo gazed at the departing flying vessel, feeling a touch of melancholy, then took a deep breath and composed his emotions.

This Spirit Phase Cave Heaven could be considered completely concluded, and he had indeed reaped substantial benefits within it, so the harvest from this trip could be called overflowing.

"Let's go. We should return to Dragon Fang Mountain Range too." Li Li Jingzhe said.

Li Luo nodded.

A moment later, the Dragon Head Tower Ship of the Li Li Tianwang lineage rose into the air, carrying the five lineages' teams, beginning the return journey. On the Great Star Plains, the teams of various factions also withdrew one after another.

And as they dispersed, everything that had happened inside the Spirit Phase Cave Heaven would spread at an astonishing speed, eventually reaching every corner of Outer Shenzhou.

Among these, the deeds of Li Luo and Li Li Lingjing would surely occupy a very prominent place.

As the Dragon Head Tower Ship streaked across the horizon, swiftly heading toward the Li Li Tianwang lineage's territory, on the top floor of the tower ship, Li Luo met Li Li Jingzhe again.

Li Li Jingzhe looked at Li Luo, and his first words were: "Li Li Lingjing didn't die in the Spirit Phase Cave Heaven, but was taken away by that 'Spirit Eye Underworld King,' right?"

Li Luo's heart trembled slightly, then he forced a dry laugh: "How did Grandfather know?"

He didn't argue or deny it, because if Li Li Jingzhe could ask this question, he must already have the answer in his heart.

Li Li Jingzhe smiled faintly and said: "Earlier there were too many eyes and ears, not easy to speak... Li Li Lingjing, perhaps because of her experiences in recent years, has a very deep and complicated mind. She holds deep wariness against everyone, including me."

"Previously, when I helped her purge the contamination, she appeared to cooperate fully, making the purification effect excellent, but in reality, deep in her heart, she harbored a trace of the 'Eroding Spirit True Demon' aura."

Li Li Jingzhe gestured for Li Luo to sit, then poured him a cup of tea and continued: "So, deep in Li Li Lingjing's heart, she actually had no intention of eradicating the 'Eroding Spirit True Demon.'"

Li Luo was stunned. Such a thing, he truly did not know.

"Cousin Li Lingjing, she..." Li Luo's expression turned complicated.

During his contact with Li Li Lingjing over this period, he naturally could sense that her style of doing things was somewhat unscrupulous, but regardless, Li Li Lingjing held no ill will toward him.

"Grandfather, Cousin Li Lingjing has no intention to harm me." Li Luo said.

Li Li Jingzhe nodded and said: "I know, which is why I let her leave Dragon Fang Mountain alive."

"Between the Dragon Fang Branch and the Return Society, she chose the latter. She is a very ambitious person. If she truly rises from a place like the Return Society, she might have the potential to become an important figure within it in the future."

"Originally speaking, this kind of hidden danger should ideally be eliminated before it grows... but she is truly very clever. She placed her hopes on you, and in doing so, preserved a slim chance of survival."

Listening to the old man's faint words, Li Luo also gave a bitter smile. He understood the meaning—if anyone else had pleaded for Li Li Lingjing, Li Li Jingzhe probably wouldn't have listened. Only Li Luo, this special person, in this special situation, could cause Li Li Jingzhe to change his mind somewhat.

This was why Li Li Jingzhe said Li Li Lingjing was very clever—she keenly chose, among so many people, the one most useful to her.

"Perhaps she used you again." Li Li Jingzhe said slowly.

Li Luo was silent for a moment, then said: "Grandfather, Cousin Li Lingjing may have been influenced by the Eroding Spirit True Demon, and her actions are indeed self-centered and extreme, but I don't blame her. She is merely seeking her own survival. Precisely because she experienced those desperate moments, she wants to use every means to stay alive."

"Moreover, I trust her. She won't harm me." Li Luo's expression turned serious, because he also trusted his own perception and judgment.

No matter what Li Li Lingjing becomes in the future, at the very least, she won't harm him. As for other issues, they could only be dealt with when the time came.

Li Li Jingzhe nodded slightly and said: "I hope your feeling is right."

Then, his tone suddenly shifted.

"Your blade, it shattered?"