Thirteen years could be considered long or short, depending on the perspective. Though many things could change in that period, a lot could also stay the same. Inside an armored vehicle speeding eastward, Wang Sheng was filled with guilt as he looked at his master, whose hair had turned white at the temples. Lowering his voice, he explained, "Master… I really am not an imposter, and I'm not some heart devil made manifest." Qing Yanzi glared at him. Wang Sheng didn't dare act mischievously. He sat properly, allowing his master to examine his pulse. Not far ahead, a new model aircraft was already waiting for them. Having slain the two fiends, Wang Sheng effectively ended the battle in the sandstorm. The cultivators and Special Warfare Unit elites had swiftly wiped out the invaders and were now cleaning up the battlefield and counting casualties. As one of the top ten righteous experts, Qing Yanzi's mental fortitude was greater than most. Saying nothing for now, he checked Wang Sheng's condition. He held his disciple's wrist and examined it for some time. After furrowing and relaxing his brow several times, he deeply muttered, "I can't determine your cultivation realm at all." Smiling foolishly, Wang Sheng took the initiative to release his aura. It was at the peak of the Heavenly Abode Realm—just a step short of the Nascent Soul Realm. Qing Yanzi burst into laughter and pushed Wang Sheng's arm aside. "Hahahaha! You little rascal! I truly have nothing left to teach you now." Mu Wanxuan looked curiously at the sword that Wang Sheng had been holding tightly the entire time, finding it emitting a deep and mysterious Dao Rhythm. Throughout the entire battle earlier, he had not removed it from its white cloth and used it even once. He had slain the two ferocious beasts using only Flying Haze and his Sword-Controlling Art. "Senior Sister, don't touch it," Wang Sheng quickly warned. Mu Wanxuan immediately pulled back her sneaky little hand and pretended as if nothing had happened. Even though her interest had been piqued, she just blinked at Wang Sheng. Wang Sheng smiled. "Yaoyun is currently sleeping inside the sword." Even his master showed some interest now. Hence, Wang Sheng dared not hold anything back. He explained briefly how he had survived and how Yaoyun had resealed the Earth Qi Seal. Qing Yanzi sighed a few times. Meanwhile, Mu Wanxuan gasped softly in amazement. What he had gone through was truly unbelievable. After momentarily thinking it over, Qing Yanzi seriously said, "You shouldn't carry that sword so casually. Find another piece of cloth to wrap it up, then carry it with both hands. You have to show some respect to your seniors, especially to the one who saved your life and protected countless others. She's a princess of the Heavenly Court, you know." Wang Sheng looked a little helpless. Seeing his master busying himself with cloth, he thought it was best not to mention how well he already got along with Yaoyun. Qing Yanzi tore a brand new robe and gave Wang Sheng a strip of silk. Wang Sheng rewrapped Spiritless with care and held it solemnly in both hands. Qing Yanzi suddenly thought back to ten years ago. "Little Xuan, did you already know Little Sheng was still alive?" Mu Wanxuan blinked and nodded with perfect confidence. She then took out her projection phone, typed out a line, and made it float in front of her. I told you all, but nobody believed me. "Well…" Qing Yanzi laughed awkwardly. He looked at Wang Sheng and sighed softly. "It's good to have you back. Nothing else matters." "Master, Senior Sister." Wang Sheng looked down at Spiritless, then raised his head. "Let's keep this sword between us. Yaoyun doesn't like interacting with people, and as a princess of the Heavenly Court, she doesn't want to be touched…" Qing Yanzi nodded. "I understand. Just tell others that this sword cannot be separated from you. Even if word gets out, no one will trouble you over a sword, and no one would dare offend someone as powerful as her." Wang Sheng finally relaxed a little. "Master, when I arrived, I saw primal qi formations covering the entire Hua Republic. What's going on?" "Oh, those are qi meridians. They follow the national borders in a full circuit, with three horizontal lines and three vertical ones inside. They've trapped most of the primal qi that came from the Earth Qi Immortal Spring within the Hua Republic," Qing Yanzi explained casually. So even that is possible, Wang Sheng thought in admiration. Qing Yanzi warmly added, "The Hidden Earth Sect proposed the qi meridians. It's Lady Meng's work. After the qi meridians were established, the primal qi concentration in the Hua Republic rose immensely. Instead of cultivators, the ones who benefited the most from it were ordinary citizens who had started practicing the Universal Cultivation Method. "You've been trapped in the Small Nether Realm for over a decade. You don't know how much has changed out here. Fortunately, I just so happen to…" Wang Sheng immediately straightened his back, preparing to receive a long-awaited lesson from his master. Instead, Qing Yanzi pulled a pen-shaped object from his sleeve. "Here, there's a spare phone inside. Slide this part out, go online, and take a look. There's a documentary film that captures the rise of the Hua Republic over the past decade. It's pretty good." Wang Sheng was speechless. My old full-screen phone is obsolete now, huh? In just thirteen years, technology has advanced beyond what I can follow. He pulled open the thin, paper-like translucent screen. As light gathered in front of him, image after image sprang to life, forming a floating main display. Wang Sheng tapped on the screen, and the icons responded instantly. A gentle swipe brought up the interface. It was still quite familiar to him. All that changed was that the icons were now three-dimensional. Finding it novel, Wang Sheng couldn't help but murmur in admiration. "Penguin and YouChat are still around?" "Of course. They're free to use." "Do people still read ebooks these days?" "Reading promotes growth. It remains the most convenient and widespread way to gain knowledge." "Uh, Master, I meant web novels…" "That happens to be a personal hobby of mine." Curious, Mu Wanxuan leaned closer. Her eyes filled with wonder as she watched Wang Sheng tap icon after icon, each one opening a new virtual world. While the cultivation world of the Hua Republic stirred over Wang Sheng's sudden reappearance, and public discussion about him soared, Qing Yanzi and his two disciples were sitting in an armored car, learning how to use the latest smartphone since thirteen years ago. No one could have imagined such a scene. The trio transferred into an aircraft shaped like a sparrow hawk and flew straight to a Cultivation Research Institute branch located deep within the Hua Republic. Still feeling uneasy, Qing Yanzi wanted Wang Sheng to undergo a full-body examination to cross out any lingering complications. During the journey, his phone vibrated nonstop. Though normally aloof, he was currently in an excellent mood. He responded carefully to every message. To those inquiring about Wang Sheng's condition, he simply replied that everything was fine. He also politely thanked those congratulating him for his beloved disciple's safe return and bright future. During calls from those he was familiar with, such as sect masters or elders of various Daoist lineages, he would smile and chat a little longer. He would even sometimes let Wang Sheng greet them. Some Daoist masters even came out of seclusion specifically to inquire about the matter. Before arriving at the research institute, Mu Wanxuan laid out several images in front of Wang Sheng. In solemn remembrance of the tenth anniversary of Daoist Master Fei Yu's sacrifice. Three lessons the youth of the cultivation world can learn from Daoist Master Fei Yu. Fei Yu's soul endures, and his sword's voice will never fade. A brief comparison between the heroic Little Fei Yu of today and the mythological Little Nezha. Wang Sheng was at a loss for words. Mu Wanxuan laughed so hard she nearly doubled over. Isn't this considered exploiting the memory of a dead sword cultivator? Qing Yanzi smiled. "The government did some promotion. Don't take it to heart, Little Sheng. I'll have your mistress use some of her resources to take those images and articles off the web. They spent a lot of effort over the years to make sure people remembered you. Oh, have you called your parents?" "I did. I gave them a call as soon as I left the Hidden Earth Sect." Wang Sheng's eyes filled with remorse. "I feel pretty guilty for making them worry and sad again. I'll go home in a day or two." Qing Yanzi nodded. In a serious tone, he said, "When the tree wants stillness, the wind does not stop. When a child wants to show filial piety, the parents may no longer be there. Don't worry about anything for now. Just go home and stay with them for a while. The Hua Republic has already crushed most of the corrupt cultivator factions anyway. They still exist, but their activity is extremely limited. You won't be putting your family in danger if you go home." Wang Sheng glanced at his senior sister, finding her eyes gentle and full of emotion. Qing Yanzi studied his second disciple for a moment. He then smiled and turned his attention back to the 3D projection from his phone. Upon arriving at the research institute, Wang Sheng changed into a patient's gown and underwent a comprehensive medical examination. The results showed that not only did he show no abnormalities, but his physique far exceeded what the research institute expected from a Heavenly Abode Realm cultivator. It likely had something to do with heavenly tribulation tempering his body. Wang Sheng didn't feel like explaining for now. After a long round of testing and internal discussion among the seniors of the research institute, they confirmed that Wang Sheng was not suffering from any issues. They also discovered the extraordinary nature of Spiritless in his possession and requested permission to keep the sword temporarily for further study. However, when Wang Sheng immediately refused, the institute did not press the issue. His reasoning was simple: the sword was tied to his life and could not be separated from him. In the current era, a peak Heavenly Abode Realm sword cultivator was already a figure of considerable strength and influence. The research institute had no choice but to fully respect his wishes. Wang Sheng did not leave empty-handed. He requested a sword case from the institute, placed Spiritless inside with great care, and slung the case onto his back, just as he had done before. Next, he would be heading to an office of the Special Investigation Unit. According to Qing Yanzi, many of Wang Sheng's old friends had already gathered there, waiting to see him again. Just before leaving the underground facility and boarding the vehicle, Wang Sheng finally acted on an impulse he had been suppressing for so long. He secretly used voice transmission to speak to his master. "Master, can I… court Senior Sister?" Sitting in the front passenger seat, Qing Yanzi smiled, and his eyes narrowed. He cleared his throat and turned to Mu Wanxuan. "Little Xuan, your junior brother has something to say to you." Wang Sheng turned stiff. When Mu Wanxuan blinked and looked at him with curiosity, he steeled his heart. "Senior Sister, from now on, let's… cultivate together." "Mm!" Mu Wanxuan immediately agreed. She looked at her junior brother with a puzzled expression, as if wondering what he was so tense about. Wang Sheng silently turned his head away and gave himself a light slap across the face. In the front seat, the middle-aged Daoist master chuckled and waved a hand forward. The self-driving vehicle began moving steadily along the road. ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net