Chapter 33 The Return Journey

• "It's time to go back." Tan Xuan stored the golden direwolf's massive corpse into the storage pouch refined by Feng Lingzi. The pouch now had enough space to hold a small mountain, so containing the direwolf was no issue. Feng Lingzi didn't respond when Tan Xuan mentioned leaving—he was indifferent to wherever Tan Xuan went. Leaping into the air like a roc, Tan Xuan transformed into a blue shadow and shot out of the ancient forest. Having mastered the "Fallen Leaf Sandstorm Realm," he merged with the wind, flying without resistance. At full speed, he emerged from the forest's depths and reappeared in Crackwind Valley within half a day. "Six years—he's out again." His figure was recognized by cultivators who had trained here for long. Most who had greeted him before had left, and only a few approached for brief polite exchanges before parting. After the pleasantries, Tan Xuan didn't linger. With his goals achieved, staying served no purpose. He directly headed back. Half a day later, just 300 li from Jujiao City in the Xuan Dynasty, he saw five figures battling in the void. Four murderous cultivators in identical dao robes were围攻 (besieging) a white-haired elder. The elder was none other than Zhu Mingqiu, one of the first to befriend Tan Xuan during his breakthrough in Crackwind Valley! Zhu Mingqiu faced a life-and-death crisis, his face pale and body staggering on the verge of defeat. "Zhu Mingqiu, a rootless freelance cultivator of low realm, overestimating yourself by meddling in our young master's affairs. You deserve to die," sneered one murderous cultivator. Zhu Mingqiu's face flushed red, eyes bloodshot as he raged: "I'll die stopping that beast! How can he defile an eight-year-old girl?" "Are you even human? Your conscience is gone! You watch an innocent child being violated and aid the culprit—are your eyes blind?" "Kill this old fool!" Stung by Zhu Mingqiu's words, the four attacked more viciously, aiming for his vital points. Understanding the situation, Tan Xuan—normally unwilling to meddle in private grudges—couldn't tolerate this. His eyes flashed coldly, and he turned into a gale, appearing beside Zhu Mingqiu in an instant. With four lightning-fast sword slashes— "Bang! Bang! Bang!" The four attackers were forced back by sharp sword qi. "Daoist Brother Tan Xuan! It's you!" Zhu Mingqiu rejoiced, knowing Tan Xuan had a Heavenly Being Realm elder as backup. "Who are you? Why interfere in our grudge with Zhu Mingqiu?" a cultivator coldly asked. Before Tan Xuan could reply, another stepped forward, pointing threateningly: "Know who we are? We're from the Bu Family! Offend us, and you die! Leave now before we act!" The others cursed inwardly—this fool had ruined their plan. Revealing their identity bluntly only provoked Tan Xuan, especially since some had spotted the Luo Shui Sect emblem on his tattered robes. "Threatening me?" Tan Xuan's gaze chilled. He blurred through the void, leaving afterimages, and stabbed the cultivator before him. "Bold!" The man screamed in shock, too slow to dodge. The sword pierced his shoulder, and Tan Xuan dragged the blade, severing his arm. Blood sprayed, painting the void with vivid flowers. "You've gone too far!" Seeing Tan Xuan's ruthlessness, the remaining three exchanged glances and unleashed a killing move: three five-meter-tall fire qilin appeared, roaring as they trampled forward, shaking the void. But Tan Xuan remained calm. These True Spirit Sixth Stratum cultivators were no match for him. They were perfect test subjects—since mastering the "Fallen Leaf Sandstorm Realm" and breaking through to True Spirit Realm, he'd only fought beasts. Fighting humans would truly gauge his strength. Immersing in the "Fallen Leaf Sandstorm Realm," he became as elusive as wind, dodging between the qilin's hooves. "Slash!" Channeling wind spirit power and Youhai true qi, he formed a tornado and a black river that coiled into a hundreds-meter spiral column, smashing the fire qilin. The column then swept through toward the four. "Not good!" They were sent flying like broken kites, vomiting blood. No mercy. Tan Xuan merged with his sword, slashing past them. Four thin wounds appeared on their necks, and blood trickled out. "You'll regret this! The Bu Family won't forgive you!" Gasping their last, the True Spirit cultivators fell as corpses.