Chapter 109: The Fulfillment of an Obsession

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From afar, Hong Yun listened to the roaring sounds emanating from the Crescent Moon Sect, knowing in his heart that this noise must have been caused by Elder Yingyue after some unforeseen event. Although this elder’s cultivation level was at most the peak of Nirvana, the fact that he could devour the souls of two cultivators at the early Butterfly Transformation stage was enough to reveal his extraordinary nature.

He did not allow the various demon clans to linger there; after giving some instructions, he intended to send them back to the southern borderlands of the demon tribes.

“Master...” Luan Qingliu felt a trace of reluctance in his heart. When he had previously beaten the Butterfly Transformation cultivators of the Sunset Sect, he was constantly observing his master. Though his cultivation was hard to discern, his demeanor was fiercely domineering and resolute.

A cultivator at the Butterfly Transformation stage was dispatched with just a few strokes, as if slicing through melons and cutting vegetables. Such strength was truly astonishing.

He sensed that if he could continue to follow this master, the Luan Bird Clan would naturally not remain confined to a corner as they were now. Even if they could no longer reclaim their former imperial glory, they would hardly be worse off.

Seeing the expression on Luan Qingliu’s face, Hong Yun understood what he was thinking. He said nothing further, only shaking his head:

“Return now. Leave one of the younger generation by my side. When the task is complete, I will have them take you away.

Also, you must understand that the relationship between your clan and me is purely transactional, based on mutual consent.

You need no longer call me master. In this world, you are already among the top tier. If you truly have the will, then fulfill the task I previously mentioned.”

Hearing these words, Luan Qingliu naturally understood. After some consideration, his heart suddenly trembled: that’s right, even if this master no longer wished to help, they could still abide by their agreement. As long as they put effort into cultivating him, it could still be a fortunate matter.

He quickly nodded in agreement, glanced back at the Luan Nest behind him, raised his hand and summoned a Luan Phoenix.

Under Hong Yun’s gaze, Luan Qingliu took a heartfire blossom from between his brows, placing it onto the phoenix’s forehead, causing it to crawl forward continuously.

“Luan Seventeen, we return today. You will first stay by the master’s side. When I instruct you to return, you must hurry back. Understand?”

As he spoke, he faintly exerted a bit of his cultivation power, like a thousand-pound thunderbolt crashing into the phoenix’s heart, leaving it dazed.

When it regained consciousness and looked around, it instantly understood the gravity of the situation and tucked its neck in fear.

“Little Seventeen remembers. I will stay by the master’s side first. When I’m told to return, I will come back...”

Luan Qingliu nodded with satisfaction, about to say more when Hong Yun cut in:

“Ride on my Death Cloud.”

The phoenix paused briefly, then moved beside Hong Yun. With a beat of his wings, he vanished from sight.

Luan Qingliu stared in the direction it departed for a long time, silent. Suddenly, Luan Qingshan arrived beside him. Seeing his elder brother’s expression, he could guess much of the situation, and his face held a trace of regret.

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“Return now.”

Luan Qingliu let out a long breath, then turned and entered the Luan Nest. He sat beside the phoenix carriage, while Luan Qingshan remained standing, sensing a prying presence from all directions. Unmoving, he raised the feather fan in his hand. A scattering red light burst forth, followed by muffled groans from all sides.

He smiled slightly, cupping his fists toward the unseen watchers. His voice was devoid of anger or joy, carrying the air of a refined scholar:

“Today’s events happened without prior notice. That was our fault, and we sincerely apologize. If there is any dissatisfaction toward our clan, just say the word, and we can settle it anytime.

Even if it means fighting the Human Emperor or Ape Emperor, we are ready.”

After these words, there was no response from anywhere. He chuckled softly and turned back into the Luan Nest, soon enveloped by a cluster of fiery red clouds.

“Return!”

...

Human Territory, Zhu Tang Commandery.

After traveling for two or three hours, Hong Yun finally arrived deep within a canyon.

Surveying the surroundings, he felt a faint tremor from his host’s deeper consciousness, evoking a sense of change and loss.

“Back...” he whispered, stepping forward swiftly. Before his eyes lay a patch of wild grass and a solitary grave built of piled stones and earth.

He discarded Luan Seventeen beside it, then uprooted all the weeds, revealing a blank stone stele standing straight ahead.

This was not because he did not wish to erect one, but because he had no means to.

Back when his host’s master was treacherously slain, leaving no remains, a series of tragic events followed.

Although he had fled from the Crescent Moon Commandery by a long, winding route, the manhunt persisted.

If he had carved the epitaph back then, anyone with ill intent could have found traces, and even the tomb might have been desecrated.

But now, the great vengeance had been avenged.

Hong Yun paused in silence, then inscribed the tomb owner’s name on the stone: Zhao Jingcheng.

Feeling the lingering obsession gradually dissipate, he bowed deeply after a moment of reflection.

At that instant, Hong Yun seemed to hear a whisper in his ear, something vanishing within his mind sea.

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“Zhao Jingcheng, thank you...”

“There is no need to thank me for borrowing your body.”

Hong Yun sensed that his host’s presence had completely vanished from his mind, confirmed by the interface notification within his mind sea. He replied softly.

Originally intending to carve his own name there, he reconsidered, fearing further complications, and instead simply focused to write the character “Yun” (Cloud).

After these few strokes, the surrounding aura gradually shifted. Under swirling mists, the place became lush and verdant again, yet no weeds grew.

The transformation was something no outsider could explain.

At this moment, he felt an inexplicable pull growing stronger, prompting him to retrieve the body he had stored away.

Feeling the energy emanating from it, he was genuinely surprised.

“Little Seventeen, dig a new pit nearby for me.”

He directed the phoenix that had withdrawn into the distance, which immediately flashed over.

Placing the Crescent Moon elder’s body atop a large stone, Hong Yun could sense the aura of calamity from afar without even using his Judgment Eye.

Indeed, it was as expected.

He felt the faint response from the body, stirring a subtle sense of hope.

Yet to simply tear open the body was somewhat undignified, and it was hard to find a mortician nearby to sew it back up.

As he hesitated, his own heartbeat grew louder, and faint sounds of flowing water seemed to emanate from within.

Before his eyes, a faint green, crystal-clear object seeped out of the body, then was drawn back toward Hong Yun’s back.

As it entered his own body, he perceived a different kind of calamity aura and an unprecedented vitality.

Beside him, the Crescent Moon elder’s lifeless eyes twitched slightly.