Chapter 108: Return to the Kingdom of Eastern Yue

As the sun began to set, a streak of white light drifted leisurely across the horizon. Had any powerful cultivator been watching, they would have recognized it as a bed of white jade. Lei Xiang stood at the head of the bed, his gaze fixed on the distance, though his eyes appeared profoundly hollow. Lan Xi was gone; she had finally left. Lei Xiang’s heart was filled with melancholy.

He wondered if they would ever meet again, and even if they did, what purpose would it serve? She had rejected his love three times. This sense of being destined to meet but never to be together felt like a dead end.

Yet, remembering the "Jade Maiden Heart Sutra"—a high-level cultivation technique most suitable for women—that he had gifted to her, and recalling how she had gladly accepted it with that charming, radiant smile, a hint of sweetness stirred within him.

Suddenly, a voice interrupted his thoughts. "Who goes there? Identify yourself, or our great Dongyue Kingdom will not be so polite."

"Dongyue Kingdom?"

Lei Xiang widened his eyes in surprise. Had he somehow returned to the Dongyue Kingdom by a twist of fate? He hurriedly pulled out his North Star Pearl to confirm his location. It was indeed the Dongyue Kingdom, not far from the active volcanoes of the Lihuo Kingdom, and consequently, not far from the Hongji Foundation Establishment Academy. Lei Xiang pondered whether to visit Situ Hongji and the others; more than a decade had passed since he left. How was the Dongyue Kingdom faring? Had the leader of the Blood Fiend Alliance returned to stir up trouble?

Before he could finish his thought, a brilliant flash of white light erupted from the forest below, aimed directly at the white jade bed. Lei Xiang was no longer the naive youth he once was; he was a true Golden Core cultivator. He did not even need to maneuver the jade bed to dodge. With a slight motion, he conjured a massive, shimmering hand of light in the void, intercepting the projectile mid-air.

"Boom!" The white light exploded upon contact with the spectral hand, shattering his spell. Lei Xiang felt a jolt of surprise. With a flicker of blue light in his eyes, he peered down into the forest. Hidden behind a phantasm array, he could vaguely make out several figures in yellow robes, scrambling to operate two iron-wood "cannons." The one that had just fired was still venting white smoke, while the other prepared to discharge again.

Lei Xiang flashed a small, toothy grin. He pulled the Nine-Treasure Lotus Rod from his chest; with a flick, it expanded to fifteen feet in length. With the casual grace of a golfer, he struck the incoming white light, sending it veering eastward until it detonated a dozen feet away. "Are you students of the Hongji Foundation Establishment Academy? Tell your headmaster to come and see me."

A commotion broke out in the forest, and several strands of spiritual sense swept toward him. Lei Xiang clearly sensed that the highest cultivation level among them was only at the fourteenth level of Qi Refining. He slowly descended the jade bed and approached the woods. Sensing his overwhelming power, the figures emerged, knowing that someone of his caliber could kill them with a snap of his fingers and that their flimsy illusion array would be useless against him. They decided to face him openly.

A middle-aged man in yellow robes stepped forward and bowed. "Senior, please forgive our rudeness earlier. I hope you will be magnanimous and overlook our offense. May I ask your name, so I may report it to our academy principal?"

Realizing they were indeed students of Hongji, Lei Xiang had no desire to make things difficult for them. He smiled and stated his name. To his surprise, the revelation caused an uproar. The students began shouting in disbelief, until the middle-aged man, clearly more experienced, bowed deeply once more. "Are you truly Senior Lei Xiang? Forgive my lack of judgment, but could you please show your cultivator identification card for us to verify?"

Lei Xiang blinked. He wondered if his name had become so famous that people were trying to impersonate him. Just then, a sharp whistle cut through the air from the distance. "Do not be disrespectful to our honored guest! Stand down at once!" The order was effective; the students immediately retreated back into the forest and disappeared.

Lei Xiang looked toward the source of the voice as a streak of yellow light shot toward him. The light faded to reveal a middle-aged man of medium height, slightly portly. He ran over and bowed respectfully. As Lei Xiang reached out to steady him, he saw a face covered in pockmarks that glistened in the sunlight.

"Niu Jin? Why are you here?"

Niu Jin’s lips trembled, his excitement rendering him speechless for a long moment. "Young Master..."

Lei Xiang had never expected to encounter Niu Jin here. A sweep of his spiritual sense revealed that Niu Jin had reached the early stage of Foundation Establishment. It seemed the brain transplant he had performed all those years ago had been a great success. Lei Xiang waved his hand gently, a soft surge of spiritual energy lifting the man. "Niu Jin, your progress is truly rapid. To have reached Foundation Establishment so quickly—did you study at the Hongji Academy? Is Situ Hongji still there? Has the Blood Fiend Alliance made a comeback?"

Facing the barrage of questions, Niu Jin composed himself and answered one by one. "The remnants of the Blood Fiend Alliance were wiped out long ago. Senior Situ now serves as the Grand Chancellor in the imperial court, and he handed the management of the Hongji Academy to me. I am already forty-six; reaching Foundation Establishment now can hardly be called 'rapid' compared to you, Young Master. If not for you resetting my brain back then, I would never have achieved this today."

"Situ is a Chancellor, and you are the Principal. This is wonderful. I am heartened to see the Dongyue Kingdom thriving."

Niu Jin looked up at Lei Xiang with admiration. "It is all thanks to you, Young Master. By finding the true culprit and exposing the Imperial Uncle Wei Jie, you paved the way for the prosperity the Dongyue Kingdom enjoys today. Those who were rude to you earlier are my students, serving as border guards. Everyone entering the kingdom must present their identification, or they are dealt with strictly."

Lei Xiang nodded slightly. "The defenses are indeed tight, which shows the strength of the nation. I am quite interested in these cannons; tell me more about them."

Niu Jin reached out and brought one of the cannons toward Lei Xiang. "These were invented by Chancellor Situ. In truth, it is thanks to you. Do you remember the Black Bear you defeated in the Lihuo Kingdom? These were modified from the iron-wood siege engines you captured then. If you like it, I can give you one."

Lei Xiang naturally declined the cannon; he possessed the Palm-Sized Immortal-Shooting Spear, which was far more portable. He was only interested in the ammunition, as its explosive power seemed even greater than that of the Heaven Crystal Bombs. "What are the components of these shells? Give me a list of the materials."

Niu Jin did not hesitate to produce a jade slip, presenting it with both hands. He then pulled out a storage bag. "Young Master, the materials are in this bag. Please, take them and study them at your leisure."

Lei Xiang accepted the items and tucked them away without checking them immediately. He smiled at Niu Jin. "It has been over a decade since we parted. Aren't you going to invite me to the academy for a visit?"

Niu Jin slapped his forehead. "Look at me, so scatterbrained! I was so happy to see you that I forgot my manners. Please, come and inspect the academy. We have recently taken in a group of promising young talents, and I would appreciate your guidance."

Niu Jin boarded the white jade bed. As they drifted along, they caught up on old times. "Guidance is too strong a word, but I will trouble you for a couple of days before I go to find my brother, Dugu Yixiao. Has he fully recovered from his injuries?"

At the mention of Dugu Yixiao, a pained expression crossed Niu Jin’s face. "Senior Dugu recovered long ago and even reached the Foundation Establishment stage three years before I did. However... a strange thing happened last month. He left without a word. No one knows where he went, not even Yang Jian, who lived with him."

"What? Dugu left? That’s impossible. He promised me he would wait for my return." Hearing that Dugu Yixiao was gone left Lei Xiang feeling more dejected than ever.

(A new volume, a new beginning~)