Chapter 482: One Year

Winter passed, and spring arrived.

Jianzhou City's outer walls, stretching two hundred miles on each of its four sides, made even a large number of soldiers seem sparse when spread out. On the battlements of one section of the wall, Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue sat, gazing out at the vast land, each eating a piece of flatbread. The soldiers below could not see them at all.

“This flatbread is delicious,” Liu Qiyue remarked as she ate. “If I hadn't gone to the western part of the Black Sand Dynasty, I wouldn't have known such a food existed.”

“You can have as much as you want,” Meng Chuan said, also eating. “It only takes a few breaths for me to buy more from thirty thousand miles away.”

Liu Qiyue smiled at her husband.

“I still remember building these outer walls of Jianzhou City with my own hands,” Liu Qiyue said, still eating. “I also single-handedly dug the eight-hundred-mile moat below, which took about half a month.”

“The whole city was stunned back then,” Meng Chuan chuckled.

“It all feels like yesterday, but if I count, almost fifty years have passed,” Liu Qiyue said.

Meng Chuan nodded. “An'er had just entered Yuanchu Mountain back then. Now, An'er has been a King-level Godfiend for many years.”

“Time passes so quickly. For so many years, all I thought about was cultivation and defending the city, and time just slipped away without me noticing.” Liu Qiyue finished her flatbread and looked at Meng Chuan. “A'Chuan, do you have any watermelon?”

“Yes, of course,” Meng Chuan replied.

Meng Chuan flipped his hand, and a watermelon appeared. His true essence effortlessly cut it into six slices, and he handed one to his wife.

In the southern regions, some places had watermelons year-round. Naturally, Meng Chuan kept various fruits, wines, and other items in his Void Bracelet. Void Bracelets were excellent for storing food.

The Godfiend defending Jianzhou City was Meng An.

Meng An came onto the wall and saw the white-haired couple sitting there. Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue had finished their watermelon and were reminiscing about their fond memories in Jianzhou City, where they had spent a very long time.

“An'er is here,” Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue said, descending from the wall.

“Father, Mother,” Meng An said, his heart aching as he looked at his snow-white-haired parents.

After the battle at Fengxue Pass last year, Meng An and Meng You quickly learned of the situation and longed to see their parents. However, their parents had gone off to wander the world freely, impossible to find, and had only promised to meet on the eighth day of the third month in Jianzhou City.

“Let’s go to the manor,” Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue said, smiling at their son.

Meng An was exceptionally talented.

Unlike Liu Qiyue, who relied on her Phoenix bloodline, and unlike Meng Chuan, who created his own unconventional ultimate techniques, Meng An cultivated the Samsara Divine Body and practiced Ancestor Cang Yuan’s spear techniques, following a very orthodox and comprehensive path, and developing rapidly.

Jianzhou City, Meng Manor.

As the number of Meng clan members had grown over the years, only the core family resided within the Meng Manor. The entire inner courtyard was reserved for Meng Chuan, his wife, and their children; other clan members were not permitted entry without permission.

“When you see your maternal grandparents later, be careful not to upset them,” Yang Cheng privately advised his son.

“Yes, Father,” Yang Yuan dutifully replied.

Nearby, Meng You waited, feeling a little anxious.

“Mother’s lifespan was significantly reduced during the battle at Fengxue Pass half a year ago, yet I haven’t been able to see them,” Meng You worried. “I wonder how Father and Mother are doing now?”

“Hmm?”

Meng You and her husband Yang Cheng sensed something and immediately stood up.

“Yuan’er, come with us.” Meng You and Yang Cheng walked ahead, with their son, Yang Yuan, following behind.

The family of three walked outside.

Soon, they saw them.

In the distance, a white-haired man and a white-haired woman walked side by side, speaking with the gray-haired Liu Yebai. Feather Dragon King Meng An followed behind them.

“Father, A'Chuan and I would have visited you; there was no need for you to come all this way,” Liu Qiyue said, her eyes slightly red, as she looked at her father, Liu Yebai.

“I’m just in Jianzhou City, and it’s close by,” Liu Yebai said, still gaunt, looking at his daughter with reluctance. “How long do you plan to stay in Jianzhou City?”

Liu Qiyue smiled. “A'Chuan and I plan to stay in Jianzhou City for a month. Your daughter will keep you good company, Father.”

Liu Yebai’s lifespan had only about fifty years left.

Once his daughter entered her 'Thousand Years in an Instant' slumber, Liu Yebai feared he would have long passed away by the time she reawakened.

Thus, this gathering before her slumber would be their last.

“Father, Mother, Grandfather,” Meng You said, stepping forward to bow. Yang Cheng and Yang Yuan followed suit.

Although her parents’ appearances were still youthful, looking like they were in their thirties or forties, their snow-white hair still pained Meng You’s heart.

“You'er,” Liu Qiyue called, waving her over.

Meng You immediately ran over and hugged her mother’s arm.

“Little Yuan Yuan has grown so big,” Meng You said, smiling as she looked at Yang Yuan. “Last time I saw him, he was only this tall. In a blink of an eye, he’s become an adult.”

“Grandmother, Grandfather,” Yang Yuan said obediently.

“Yang Yuan should be eighteen this year, shouldn’t he?” Meng Chuan asked.

“Yes, Father/Father-in-law,” Meng You and Yang Cheng both confirmed.

Meng Chuan smiled at Yang Yuan.

When Meng An and Meng You were young, they didn't realize their family was special; they simply thought they were ordinary people. Yang Yuan, however, had truly grown up in luxury. Fortunately, strict family upbringing prevented him from going astray.

“When do you plan to take the Yuanchu Mountain entrance examination?” Meng Chuan asked.

“I’ll take it at the end of this year,” Yang Yuan replied respectfully.

“Yuan'er comprehended 'force' last year,” Meng You explained. “His father and I have been cultivating him for over a year now, hoping he can achieve first place in the entrance exam. If not first, then at least top three, to uphold the Meng family’s honor.”

Liu Qiyue smiled. “A'Chuan and I will be in Jianzhou City for a month. During this time, we’ll do our best to teach little Yuan Yuan.”

“Mhm,” Meng Chuan nodded.

“Thank you, Grandmother, thank you, Grandfather,” Yang Yuan said repeatedly.

For the next month, Meng Chuan and his wife resided in Jianzhou City, enjoying the happiness of family reunion. Their son Meng An happened to be stationed here. As for Yang Cheng and Meng You, they were both young Marquis Godfiends, relatively weaker and not capable of defending a major city on their own. Temporarily assigning them to Jianzhou City to assist Meng An was a minor matter.

The month passed by richly. Every day, Liu Qiyue met with her father Liu Yebai, and the family ate together. She and her husband Meng Chuan also diligently guided Yang Yuan.

Meng Chuan had no guidance from Ancestor Cang Yuan’s lineage; he had reached his current cultivation realm through his own exploration, even creating his own ultimate techniques. He possessed a unique understanding of cultivation. In his youth, Meng Chuan had compiled his 'Godfiend Notes'. Through countless transformations, by now, Meng Chuan’s insight was naturally sharp, and every piece of guidance he offered profoundly enlightened Yang Yuan.

“Grandfather is truly amazing! A month of his guidance is more effective than three years from Father and Mother. This time, I might actually be able to take first place in the Yuanchu Mountain entrance examination.” Yang Yuan’s confidence grew stronger.

A month later, Meng Chuan and his wife still left Jianzhou City as planned, continuing their journey to see various places. They traveled all over the world, observing local customs and traditions, and sampling regional delicacies. With Meng Chuan by her side, Liu Qiyue spent every day happily.

After visiting all the major cities, the couple ventured into some rarely traveled places. They ascended the highest mountain peaks, traversed the largest deserts, reached the ends of the oceans, and even used the Bloodblade Disk to journey with his wife to the deepest parts of the earth. To the ends of the sky, to the corners of the sea, Meng Chuan and his wife traveled together to the very ends of the world. Meng Chuan even broke through two layers of world membrane to reach the 'World Gap'. There, he showed his wife various dazzling scenes, the fractured heavens and earth, and the boundless darkness beyond their realm.

Unbeknownst to them, the promised year had passed, and deep autumn had arrived once more.