章 15: Chapter-14: Some Mysteries And Arrangements!

As Long Chen started falling down, the Forest Divinity transferred all the Wood energy from the barrier to create strong yet soft and flexible Wooden roots to catch Long Chen and placing him in a bed made up of Wooden energy and created a few droplets of a Green liquid which emanated rich life essence which she let fall on Long Chen's mouth as it went down inside his body.

After the Life Essence, Spirit Liquid entered Long Chen's body, a wave of warm energy surged through him, enveloping his wounds and injuries in a radiant glow. It was as if the very essence of life itself had taken residence within him, knitting together flesh and bone with astonishing speed, the healing process so rapid that it was visible to the naked eye. Cracked ribs mended, deep gashes closed, and bruises faded as though the darkness was being erased from existence. It felt like time itself had shifted, granting him a second chance at life.

In mere moments, Long Chen opened his eyes, a flicker of delight illuminating his face as he took in his surroundings. The world seemed brighter, more vivid than he remembered. However, that joy was short-lived as his heart sank. The realization of what had transpired dawned upon him: he had almost been killed! His closest allies, including his parents, friends, Uncle Chu, and even the enigmatic young man and woman, had turned against him in what could only be described as a savage beating. Among them was a childish girl shrouded in veils, her playful voice cutting through the tension as she declared with a mischievous gleam in her eyes, "Let's join the fun!"

The sheer absurdity of the situation caused Long Chen to momentarily forget the pain that had racked his body just moments before. Confusion mingled with disbelief as he surveyed the faces of those he had once considered comrades. Did they truly want to kill him? The very thought sent a chill down his spine. He blinked hard, trying to shake off the feeling that lingered in his mind. But soon, he understood that they weren't here to harm him.

A few moments passed, and just as hope began to slip through his fingers, another droplet of the Life Liquid from the Forest Divinity coursed through his veins. With a rush of energy that felt almost divine, Long Chen felt his body respond to the liquid's power. Each cell sang with newfound life, each breath filled with the scent of rebirth. The world blurred around him as healing energy flooded through every part of him, and, slowly but surely, he was restored to his former glory.

As he surveyed his inner self, he was taken aback by the sight that greeted him. At the center of his revitalized Dantian, the Juliu Rune shimmered with a potent radiance, a symbol of power and potential. This was no ordinary occurrence; the Juliu Rune was a rare and mysterious mark, often associated with legendary cultivators of ancient times. But what truly left Long Chen speechless was the presence of a Spirit Root, not just any Spirit Root, but one of extraordinary nature. This Spirit Root was intertwined with his Dantian through delicate tendrils of energy that exuded a majestic Draconic Aura. It was as if the spirit of a dragon resided within him, lending its formidable power to his cultivation.

Furthermore, where once lay his plucked Spirit Bone, a new image had formed—a bone-like structure that pulsed with latent energy. This was a miraculous regeneration, a testament to his body's newfound resilience and adaptability. Long Chen could feel the raw, unyielding power emanating from this reconstructed bone, hinting at the incredible potential it held for his future battles.

In his heart, a fiery flame burned with an intensity that signified the Spirit Blood of the Phoenix Race. This was no ordinary blood essence; it was imbued with the legendary strength and regenerative abilities of the phoenix. Long Chen hadn't noticed them before but now as he notices them each of them though very weak for time being, seem to be able to grow with him.

After some time as he focuses back to his surrounding he sees everyone starting to congratulate him for not only reaching Blood Condensation Stage but also for awakening a rare Martial Physique and for reaching the level of power he had obtained that far surpassed those within same realm and almost beyond what even geniuses in history couldn't achieve within the realm he was in but Long Chen felt like he lacked the power and profoundness from before to which Elder Xie sighs and coming forward he says, "Young Nine Star Heir, don't worry too much. Your previous power was because of the Ancient Qi that rampaged within you awakening the various runes within your body revealing their true might to certain extent."

Long Chen nodded in understanding after all Elder Xie had previously also stated about the fact but what caused his heart to ache was when he saw Elder Xie's state of being in form of Yuan Qi and not having a living body. Just as Elder Xie said that- having fulfilled his duty and promise, he now planned to leave behind the world entering into the cycle of reincarnation but Long Chen asked some questions which made him, Elder Xie, remember that neither he had someone to love in his live, neither some parental memories from being conscious having been an orphan and couldn't live his life due to that war which was a impending disaster at his time within the Ancient era.

After some forced opinions by Long Chen and some self-thoughts, Elder Xie accepted to live by taking over someone's body but when he wasn't able to decide whose, Long Chen suggested him to wait for some time as he thought of a very person who could be the perfectly treasured whose body could be perfect to take control over as the person has taken something that doesn't belong to him.

After that Long Chen focuses back to others as he gets confused by the presence of the young man, who was previously beside the Emperor and just some moments before along with his family beat him up, who then reveals his identity to which not only Wei Cang and the group of bastards sealed within by the Flame Chains were shocked and so were Long Chen and his friends while Wei Cang's heart tremored in fear. The young man was Long Chen's master Yun Qi who then introduces the lady beside him. She wasn't a nation shaking beauty but in a simple sense just beautiful but when her introduction comes to light Wei Cang almost has a heart attack while Long Chen's heart shook as she was Grandmaster Yun Qi and bastard Wei Cang's junior sister who studied along with the two under the tutelage of their master and was wrongfully killed due to Wei Cang. She was Grandmaster Yun Qi's beloved girl, his fiancé Ni Yi'er.

Grandmaster Yun Qi then explains that before Elder Xie's body disintegrated, he had appeared in front of him and with help of his Red Eyes he showed me the cycle of Karma and current birth of Ni Yi'er, your Martial Mother who was living life a single's life in mid-twenties. He then explains that he was very happy to see her but felt unconvinced to talk to her as he was already a bit too old-looking due to which Elder Xie had sent some droplets of Qi Essence that were from Ancient Qi. With help of Spirit Stones, huge energy was transported to him which helped him undergo profound metamorphosis while gaining new insights on Nirvana Scripture which allowed fast and continuous breakthrough. After that he took the other drop of Ancient Qi and a orb consisting of her memories of previous life and headed to her location. After sometime as he met her, he gave her the orb letting her remember the memories of her past life and then the Ancient Qi to help her cultivate as she was a normal person with no any cultivation. And so, they returned to Phoenix Cry Empire where they lived happily as both of them worked hard in cultivating and pill refining.

Wei Cang, his treacherous disciple Xia Baichi, the conniving Prince Xia Chenfeng of the Xia Empire, and the malevolent disciple from the Blood Gathering Sect, all bound by chains of relentless flame, screamed and begged for their lives. Their cries echoed through the air, a futile plea for mercy that fell on deaf ears. The assembly watched in cold resolve as these malefactors, symbols of corruption and treachery, were executed, their lives extinguished in a swift, merciless act of justice.

In the aftermath, Emperor Chu Tiankuo and Marquis Long Tianxiao took decisive action to restore order and calm the shaken populace of the Capital. They moved swiftly, their presence commanding and reassuring. To compensate the citizens for their ordeal, they distributed a generous amount of Spirit Stones. This act of benevolence not only soothed the frayed nerves of the people but also reaffirmed the Emperor and Marquis' commitment to their well-being.

In the midst of the celebration, Long Chen's mother, with a knowing smile, revealed the identities of the two veiled ladies. The first was Meng Qi, an ethereal beauty with an elegance that seemed otherworldly. The second was Lu Fang'er, whose graceful demeanour complemented Meng Qi's presence perfectly. Both women greeted the gathered crowd, their movements fluid and enchanting, drawing appreciative glances and whispered compliments from those around them.

However, this harmonious moment was short-lived as Chu Yao's eyes narrowed slightly. Despite the festivity, a spark of jealousy ignited within her. Meng Qi's stunning beauty and poise were undeniable, and the fact that she was also a fiancé of Long Chen, just like herself, only added fuel to the fire. Chu Yao's envy simmered, her mind racing with comparisons and insecurities.

Before the tension could escalate, Xiao Hua, with a playful spirit, grabbed Long Chen's arm possessively and declared, "Long Chen is my man!" Her bold proclamation caused both sides to stare at her with envy. Meng Qi, not one to be outdone, calmly took hold of Long Chen's other hand. Chu Yao, with a burst of determined boldness, jumped onto Long Chen's back, wrapping her arms around his neck in a show of playful defiance.

Seeing the four like that all of them laughed and especially Mrs. Long and Mrs. Yun started to tease both the kids who were slowly accompanied by friends of Long Chen and Chu Feng who got jealous of him and also the other follow up members.

Long Chen was asked how he met Xiao Hua to which he replied that during the time he was gathering ingredients for refining the 1000-Poison Recovery Pill, one ingredient was lacking which was the Life Essence Fruit a grade-4 herb which was not available even in the Huayun Pavilion when he consulted with Yao Niqian so he went towards forest using his Spiritual Strength to find some way of replacing the Life Essence Fruit and that was when he found Xiao Hua who was in danger of death and so he defeated it with ease and so saved Xiao Hua making her indebted and fall for him. After which his 3 days of time in her village, the meeting with the Forest Divinity, helping her recover as well as his farewell to return back to Capital City as soon as possible. After that leaving Long Chen and the boys alone, all he ladies move together including the three who were attached to Long Chen.

The next day dawned with farewells hanging in the air. Meng Qi and Lu Fang'er prepared to depart, bidding an emotional goodbye to Chu Yao and Xiao Hua. Despite the brevity of their acquaintance, the four women had formed a bond that transcended mere friendship, solidified by hours of heartfelt conversations and shared experiences. Meng Qi and Lu Fang'er had been away from the Wind Spirit Pavilion for far too long and knew it was time to return. They also bade farewell to Long Chen, his family, and his uncle, Chu Tiankuo.

Just before leaving, they handed Long Chen a small, cute, and fluffy wolf—a Rank-1 Scarlet Flame Wolf. They had anticipated that Long Chen might reject the baby wolf, especially given his immense power and the wolf's limited growth potential, capped at Rank-5. To their surprise, Long Chen accepted the wolf with a warm smile, his eyes lighting up with genuine affection. Instead of merely forming a spirit contract, he made a deep, spiritual link with the creature, naming it Little Snow. This act of tenderness and empathy spoke volumes about Long Chen's character, further endearing him to everyone present.

As Meng Qi turned to leave, Long Chen stopped her, a grave expression on his face. He asked Elder Xie to help monitor Meng Qi. As expected, they discovered a restriction placed on her Spiritual Root, transforming it into something akin to a seed—vulnerable and easily uprooted upon activation of the restriction's runes. Another restriction, the 'Thousand Star Devouring Soul,' compounded the problem. Long Chen's anger surged, mirrored by Lu Fang'er, who was equally devastated by her senior sister's plight. Meng Qi was heartbroken, realizing that the Wind Spirit Pavilion, which she had devoted herself to, had sinister motives. They had not only stifled her potential but also treated her as a tool for their selfish purposes.

Determined to seek justice, Long Chen took Meng Qi and Grandmaster Yun Qi to the Wind Spirit Pavilion. Their goal was clear: to settle debts with the pavilion master, Feng Yaoli, and his son, the young pavilion master, Feng Xiaozi. After a few hours of flight, they barged into the Elder's Hall of the Pavilion. Long Chen's arrival was unceremonious; he did not bow or offer greetings. Instead, he launched directly into his accusations, revealing the dangerous restriction on his fiancée's Spiritual Root. The elders were initially shocked, but soon the truth emerged. It was revealed that eight of the elders, including Feng Yaoli, had known about the restriction and had placed it to prevent Meng Qi from leaving the Pavilion. They wanted her either as Feng Xiaozi's wife or as a prisoner to exploit.

Meng Qi, upon hearing this, burst into tears. She had been left at the Pavilion by her parents, essentially sold for Spirit Stones to benefit her family and brother. The Wind Spirit Pavilion's master had seen her talent and beauty and had decided to keep her as a prized possession. Feng Xiaozi, in a decisive and cruel move, attempted to attack Meng Qi with a highly compressed Soul Arrow. However, his attack was countered by three elders who were unaware of the crimes of their peers.

An elder at the Meridian Forming Realm rushed in with his Rank-4 beast, only to be killed effortlessly by someone who had yet to enter the Initial Stage of Blood Condensation Realm. This display of raw power almost caused Feng Xiaozi to have a heart attack. His father, Feng Yaoli, a cultivator at the Initial Stage of the Xiantian Realm, attacked Long Chen, only to be thwarted by Grandmaster Yun Qi. The grandmaster's mere presence, revealing his cultivation at the Sea Forming Realm, caused suffocation throughout the Elder's Hall.

With the main culprits present, Grandmaster Yun Qi and Long Chen did not hold back. They unleashed a torrent of vengeance, torturing the souls of the guilty with their Spiritual Strength, using the Soul Refining Method. The torturers forced them to reveal their heinous deeds, exposing the depth of their corruption. They uncovered numerous atrocities committed by these elders, including the exploitation of many disciples.

Hours of meticulous work followed as Long Chen and Grandmaster Yun Qi transformed the Wind Spirit Pavilion from within. They eradicated the evil disciples and complicit members, forcing the remaining elders and disciples to swear an oath on their souls. This oath bound them to follow the principles of humanity, eschewing all forms of evil and always standing on the side of righteousness. They were to follow their hearts, not their greedy minds, and to fight against those who followed dark paths.

Meng Qi and Lu Fang'er decided to stay within the sect for a while, taking on leadership roles to guide and rebuild the Pavilion. Long Chen and Grandmaster Yun Qi, their mission accomplished, returned home. This journey, fraught with revelations and justice, left an indelible mark on all involved, showcasing the relentless pursuit of righteousness and the unyielding bonds of friendship and love.

In an unprecedented display of martial prowess and strategic brilliance, the army led by Emperor Chu and Marquis Long surged forth like a tidal wave toward the neighbouring Xia Empire. Within the span of a mere week, the mighty forces of the Imperial Xia family crumbled beneath their relentless advance. The Xia Empire, which once stood tall and proud, was swiftly brought to its knees.

But their ambitions did not end with the fall of Xia. Fuelled by a vision of unifying the lands under a banner of justice and equality, they spent the following weeks traversing the vast expanse of neighbouring empires. Where they found oppression and suffering, they moved with the righteous fury of a storm, subduing the ruling powers and instituting laws that upheld the dignity of every individual. In places where justice and equity prevailed, they extended hands of friendship, forging alliances that would stand the test of time.

The response from the people was overwhelmingly positive. Those who had long yearned for justice and equal treatment rejoiced, their hearts swelling with hope and gratitude. The streets buzzed with a newfound energy, a collective sigh of relief and joy. It was a renaissance of the spirit, a time when dreams of equality were no longer distant stars but tangible realities except for those who had thrived under the old regimes, wielding their noble privileges with impunity, found themselves grappling with a new order that demanded accountability. Yet, their discontent was but a faint whisper against the roar of the populace's approval.

After a few more days, Long Chen finally reunited with his father. They spent precious moments together, during which Long Chen openly acknowledged that he had known the truth about his origins since the day he began cultivating. Despite this revelation, he expressed deep love and respect for his parents, understanding that parenthood isn't solely defined by biological ties but also by the nurturing and care provided.

As weeks passed, Meng Qi and Lu Fang'er returned to the Phoenix Cry Empire, finding their new residence at the grand Long Mansion within the Imperial Grounds of the Chu Family. A magnificent palace had been erected for them, symbolizing their newfound status and importance. The previous Long Mansion was graciously donated for a noble cause, embodying Long Chen's generosity and benevolence.

Amidst joyous reunions and family gatherings, it had been almost three months since Long Chen's Heavenly Tribulation and now Long Chen's faithful companions, including Wilde who had spent most of his time eating and napping, Shi Feng, Yu Yong, Song Ming, Su Heng, Chen Hong, Yan Qi, Chu Feng, Xiao Hua, Chu Yao, Meng Qi, and Lu Fang'er, gathered together. Their destination was the renowned the 108th-Xuantian Monastery outside their Su Prefecture.

The journey to the monastery was not merely a physical voyage but a spiritual odyssey for all involved. Each person carried their own hopes, dreams, and aspirations, united by a shared bond forged through countless

As they embarked on this new chapter, the air around them seemed charged with anticipation and possibility. The Xuantian Monastery awaited, promising secrets to be unravelled, skills to be mastered, and destinies to be fulfilled. Together, they stood ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, their hearts united in friendship, love, and the pursuit of greatness.

To Be Continued....