https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-512-Sword-Dao-Mystic-Art-the-End-is-Near/13464508/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-514-Spanning-the-Starry-Skies-Spatial-Turbulence-the-Dagyuan-Immortal-Realm-/13464513/
Chapter 513: Final Departure
Chapter 513: Final Departure
Old Man Zhang's funeral was a simple affair, as per his wishes. After a brief ceremony, he was laid to rest beside the graves of Xiao Yan's grandfather and parents.
During the funeral preparations, Lu Qing and Xiao Yan both kept vigil for a night, honoring the old man.
For the two Core Formation Realm cultivators, one of whom was the world's strongest, to guard the spirit of a mortal was a rare honor. Old Man Zhang might be the only ordinary person in countless worlds to receive such a tribute.
In the days following the funeral, Lu Qing became unusually quiet and introspective, often gazing into the sky, lost in thought.
One day, he visited his master's small courtyard on the hillside to play chess.
Suddenly, the Old Doctor said, "Ah Qing, have you been troubled by something lately?"
Lu Qing was taken aback but quickly realized his master had noticed his recent state of mind. After some thought, he decided to be honest. "Master, I've been considering something."
"What's been troubling you so much?"
"I want to leave this world and explore the outside."
"Explore the outside?"
The Old Doctor's hand paused, and he slowly placed the chess piece back in the box, his gaze fixing on Lu Qing.
"You want to leave this world?"
Lu Qing had mentioned other worlds to the Old Doctor before, so he was familiar with the concept.
"Yes", Lu Qing nodded. "Master, the Golden Core I've cultivated is rather special, with considerable power. The spiritual energy in this world is no longer sufficient to advance my cultivation. To be honest, my cultivation hasn't improved in over a decade. Unless the Heavenly Dao Resonance sounds again, and the spiritual energy undergoes further transformation, it's unlikely I will make any breakthroughs. Even if the Heavenly Dao Resonance does sound again, I estimate that my cultivation will soon stagnate due to the spiritual energy."
"Is that so..."
The Old Doctor was deeply moved by Lu Qing's words. Since Lu Qing reached the Core Formation Realm, he had never fully grasped the true extent of his disciple's cultivation. He had no idea that his disciple's progress had stagnated for over a decade.
Looking at Lu Qing's calm face, the Old Doctor finally understood why his disciple wanted to leave this world and venture out.
His disciple possessed an extraordinary talent for cultivation. From the day he officially began his path, his progress was swift and astonishing, far surpassing any other prodigy.
After the Recovery of Spiritual Energy, he made rapid strides, successfully overcoming the Golden Core Tribulation and becoming the world's strongest in a short time.
For such a prodigious talent to have made no progress for over a decade was indeed a significant matter. The Old Doctor already considered his disciple's resolve and determination to be remarkable.
Thinking about this, the Old Doctor asked, "But leaving this world won't be easy, and the journey to other worlds will be no small feat."
"In the remains of the two Core Formation Realm Otherworldly Visitors I once defeated, there is a Starmap that records the coordinates of numerous worlds, guiding cultivators through the starry sky. There is also a Skyboat that can traverse the cosmos. Master, you need not worry."
"Ah Qing, it seems you've had this planned for a while", the Old Doctor said.
"Yes. I haven't set out yet because of Xiao Yan. Now that she has reached the Core Formation Realm, there are few in this world who can threaten her. I can leave with peace of mind", Lu Qing nodded.
"You mean you won't be taking Xiao Yan with you?" the Old Doctor was somewhat surprised.
"Xiao Yan has just overcome her tribulation. The next few decades are crucial for her to consolidate her realm and advance her cultivation. It's not a good time for her to venture out. Moreover, the world I plan to visit is full of formidable cultivators. The journey is unpredictable, and even I cannot guarantee her safety. So, I plan to explore alone first. If I can establish a foothold in the outside world, I will consider bringing Xiao Yan over later."
Lu Qing explained his plans. Crossing the cosmos was no simple task, fraught with unknown dangers. Despite his confidence, he didn't want to put Xiao Yan at risk. After all, she was different from him. Although she had cultivated a powerful Golden Core, she was far from reaching the limits of this world. She could still improve her cultivation by staying and training here.
"That makes sense. However, I doubt Xiao Yan will take it well."
The Old Doctor teased, knowing how attached Xiao Yan was to Lu Qing. The thought of not seeing him for decades would likely upset her.
"I will persuade Xiao Yan. She is now a Core Formation Realm cultivator and will understand."
Despite his words, when he faced Xiao Yan and saw the hope in her eyes, even Lu Qing, whose resolve could remain unshaken in the face of heavenly tribulations, felt a moment of hesitation.
A touch of nervousness crept into his heart.
"Brother, you said you had something very important to tell me. What is it?"
Xiao Yan looked at Lu Qing expectantly.
"Um, it's like this, Xiao Yan..."
Lu Qing calmed his nerves and slowly began to explain his plan.
"Mainly, I want to leave this world for a while to find a more powerful realm for cultivation."
After finishing, Lu Qing still felt a bit uneasy.
"It's about that. I thought it was something really big."
To his surprise, Xiao Yan didn’t throw a tantrum after hearing it; instead, she remained unusually calm.
"Xiao Yan, are you not angry?" Lu Qing was taken aback.
"Why would I be?" Xiao Yan shook her head. "Actually, even if you didn’t say anything, I had a feeling."
"Brother, you’ve been much stricter with my cultivation in recent years. I sensed that you were preparing for something.
But since you didn’t say anything, I didn’t ask.
It wasn’t until today that I realized you’ve been struggling with your cultivation for over a decade, making no progress.
Brother, you’ve been waiting for me to pass the heavenly tribulation, haven’t you?"
"Xiao Yan..."
Seeing Xiao Yan’s calm demeanor, Lu Qing was momentarily speechless.
After a while, he reached out and gently ruffled her hair, his expression complex.
"It seems my precious little sister has really grown up. It’s my fault for still treating you like a child."
Indeed, although Xiao Yan was already a Core Formation Realm cultivator, in Lu Qing’s heart, she was still that obedient little sister.
So, from time to time, he would unconsciously treat her like a child.
Now, it was clear that he needed to change his mindset.
"Brother, the world you want to go to, is it very far away?" Xiao Yan asked.
"Yes, without a special skyboat, even a Soul Master would need several decades or even a century to cross the starry sky."
"It’s that far away?" Xiao Yan was amazed.
She was now a Core Formation Realm cultivator, and her speed was already extraordinary. Crossing the entire world and its many continents would take only a few days.
And a Soul Master, who was even more powerful, would be even faster.
For such a powerful being to need decades or a century to cross the starry sky, the distance must be unimaginably vast.
"Don’t worry. I have a Void Skyboat, so crossing the starry sky won’t be difficult, and it won’t take that long.
If everything goes smoothly, I should be able to reach that world in a few years."
"A few years!" Xiao Yan’s eyes lit up. "So, when you want to come back, it won’t take too long either?"
"That’s right, so I can’t take you with me this time. Once I establish myself and ensure it’s safe, I’ll come back for you."
"Okay, I’ll wait for you at home!" Xiao Yan nodded.
She felt much more at ease.
To be honest, when she first heard about Brother’s plan to go to another world, she couldn’t help but feel nervous.
The starry sky was so vast; who knew when he would return.
She had been suppressing these feelings, not wanting Brother to see them.
But if it only took a few years to make the round trip, that was different.
That amount of time might pass in just one or two of her secluded cultivation periods.
"When do you plan to leave, Brother?"
"In a few days. I’ll spend a bit more time with you."
Lu Qing’s mood greatly improved.
He hadn’t expected that what he thought would be the most difficult part would pass so smoothly.
What he hadn’t anticipated was that Xiao Yan, whom he thought would be the hardest to convince, would agree so easily.
However, when it came to Xiao Li, Lu Qing faced a different challenge.
"No, I want to go with you!"
Xiao Li immediately said when she heard Lu Qing’s plan to leave this world.
Her tone was firm and decisive, with no room for hesitation.
"Xiao Li, the world I’m going to is full of powerful cultivators, even Soul Masters..."
"I don’t care. I want to go with you!"
Lu Qing was about to try to persuade her, but Xiao Li cut him off before he could even start.
No matter how much Lu Qing tried to reason with her, Xiao Li’s answer was always the same: she wanted to go with him.
In the end, it was Xiao Yan who stepped in to mediate: "Brother, why don’t you take Xiao Li with you?"
"But..."
"Didn’t you say, Brother, that Xiao Li’s parents, in the previous cultivation era, likely didn’t perish but left this world with that Demon Emperor?"
"If you take Xiao Li out, there might be a chance to find some information about her parents."
Hearing this, Lu Qing hesitated.
Over the years, since Xiao Li achieved the Golden Core, he had hinted to her about her origins. Now that Xiao Yan brought it up, he remembered.
Xiao Li’s eyes brightened even more as she looked at Lu Qing.
Facing the little one’s gaze, Lu Qing pondered for a moment before finally nodding.
"Alright, but Xiao Li, everything about your parents is just a guess. We’re not sure if they truly left this world. And the previous cultivation era ended thousands of years ago. Even if they did leave, finding them will be like searching for a needle in the sea. The chances are extremely slim. You need to be prepared for that."
"I understand. I just want to go with you, Ah Qing." Xiao Li nodded earnestly.
"Alright then, in a few days, you can leave with me." Lu Qing said, somewhat helplessly.
But he realized that Xiao Li possessed the Size Manipulation Art, which allowed her to change her size at will. So, traveling with her wouldn’t be inconvenient.
He had initially wanted Xiao Li to stay and keep Xiao Yan company, but he hadn’t expected her to be so determined.
Wu Xing, standing nearby, saw that Xiao Li would be leaving with Lu Qing and immediately wanted to go as well.
This time, after some thought, Lu Qing simply agreed.
He was going to take one, so taking two was no different. Besides, Wu Xing was his bound spirit beast, and he wasn’t sure if the binding mark would still be effective if they were too far apart. So, he decided to take Wu Xing along as well.
However, he had originally planned to leave Xiao Li and Wu Xing behind to keep Xiao Yan company. Now that he was taking them, he was worried about Xiao Yan.
Hearing his concern, Xiao Yan smiled.
"Don’t worry, Brother. Grandpa Chen and everyone in the village will be here. And if I get bored, I can go to Ling Shuang’s place and practice with her."
"It seems the little one has really grown up."
Seeing his sister comforting him, Lu Qing just ruffled her hair and said nothing more.
In the following days, Lu Qing did nothing but practice his cultivation and spend time with Xiao Yan.
They went fishing, gathered herbs, and cooked a lot of delicious food. They relived all the things they had done when they were young.
Three days later, in the small courtyard on the hillside, Lu Qing was dressed lightly, with Xiao Li and Wu Xing perched on his shoulders.
His master and Xiao Yan stood behind him.
This time, Lu Qing only told Xiao Yan and his master about his departure, not anyone else.
"Master, I’m ready to leave."
"Be careful on your journey. In the other world, don’t easily engage in conflicts. Your priority is to preserve yourself." The old doctor instructed.
"I understand, Master."
"Brother, come back soon." Xiao Yan’s eyes were misty.
Though she had been very strong over the past few days, she couldn’t help but feel emotional when Lu Qing was about to leave.
"Don’t worry. I’ll be back in at most fifty years, whether I’ve established myself in the other world or not." Lu Qing ruffled her hair.
That was the deadline he had set for himself.
Fifty years might seem long, but for someone at the Core Formation Realm, like Xiao Yan and his master, it was nothing. After all, even a newly entered Core Formation Realm cultivator had a lifespan of a thousand years.
"Right, Master, I’ve left a puppet body in the Jade Transformation Chamber. If you need any help in the future, you can call it out. And here’s a jade token. It’s an array jade token for my cave on the Sacred Mountain. If you want to go there for cultivation in the future, you can use this token to enter freely."
Lu Qing handed a jade token to his master.
"Alright, I understand." The old doctor took the jade token.
"Xiao Yan, I’m leaving now."
Finally, Lu Qing ruffled Xiao Yan’s hair one last time, then summoned the Void Skyboat. He boarded it with Xiao Li and Wu Xing.
Under Xiao Yan’s reluctant gaze, he transformed into a streak of light and soared into the sky.
(End of Chapter)
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