Chapter 1274: Yang Qing Leaves

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### Wind Rises in Kyushu

"Senior, are you preparing to leave Kyushu?" Lu Ye asked again.

Although Yang Qing hadn't told him, Lu Ye could faintly sense that Yang Qing wouldn't stay in Kyushu for much longer. Kyushu, after all, was just a small pond now; how could it accommodate a true dragon like Yang Qing?

Yang Qing smiled faintly, "Isn't this exactly what you wished for?"

Lu Ye looked ashamed, "Before, we didn't understand you well, Senior, and there were many misunderstandings. Um, if you're willing, you could stay here indefinitely."

Previously, the Star Realm cultivators in Kyushu were unclear about Yang Qing's true attitude towards Kyushu, so they were inevitably anxious and wary of his prolonged stay. After all, he had been sealed in the Spirit Stream battlefield for ten millennia; there was no guarantee he harbored no resentment. If such a powerful individual truly wished to vent his anger, current Kyushu wouldn't be able to withstand it.

However, after spending these days together, Lu Ye discovered that Yang Qing held no ill will towards Kyushu. The disaster brought by Yue Xin earlier was resolved by Yang Qing alone, and afterward, he had taken Lu Ye to the Reincarnation Tree to participate in a grand event like the Grand Primeval Realm, looking after him throughout their journey. Observing his actions, his attitude towards Kyushu had become largely clear.

Furthermore, stepping back, if a powerful being like Yang Qing truly harbored ill will towards Kyushu, who could stop him? From a different perspective, having someone like Yang Qing stationed in Kyushu would be a highly coveted benefit for many realms. There had already been one Yue Xin; who knew if a second or third might appear? If that time came and Yang Qing wasn't in Kyushu, who could resist?

Therefore, once Lu Ye realized Yang Qing was likely leaving soon, his mindset shifted. He now preferred Yang Qing to remain in Kyushu, serving as its greatest protector!

Yang Qing smiled, "For Kyushu, I am merely a passerby. If not for that accident back then, I would have left long ago. Though Kyushu remains, my old friends are all gone. I have no reason or need to stay, and moreover, I have my own matters to attend to." He turned to look at Lu Ye, "Your human race is a very remarkable one; don't be too modest. Since Kyushu is your homeland, it is also your responsibility to protect it. Relying solely on others won't get you far. However, you needn't worry too much. Kyushu's current location is quite remote; unless there are unforeseen circumstances, powerful individuals rarely come here. I estimate that as long as you yourselves are careful enough, don't expose Kyushu's existence, and leave no traces outside, Kyushu should be safe for a millennium. And in that thousand years, with the growth rate of your human race, a group of strong individuals capable of protecting your homeland should emerge."

Lu Ye bowed his head, accepting the lesson. He knew that once someone like Yang Qing made a decision, it was difficult for outsiders to change his mind. Since he had decided to leave, there was no point in further persuasion. Lu Ye bowed respectfully, "Thank you for everything during this time, Senior!"

Yang Qing waved his hand, "We both got what we needed. I hope that one day, we can meet again somewhere in the starry sky. Perhaps then I might even need your help!"

Lu Ye was delighted, "That would be my greatest honor!"

"Very well, that's all for now. Work hard on your cultivation." As Yang Qing finished speaking, he vanished. His elusive vanishing technique was undoubtedly far more sophisticated than Lu Ye's use of Void Spirit Runes for teleportation. Even after witnessing it many times, Lu Ye couldn't grasp its essence. This wasn't merely due to a vast difference in cultivation but more likely an application of some profound power.

However, Lu Ye could feel that Yang Qing hadn't left Kyushu yet, though he didn't know what he was doing.

It wasn't until most of the day had passed that Lu Ye suddenly looked up, vaguely sensing a fleeting trace of a figure just outside Kyushu's space. He called softly, "Xiao Jiu!"

A ball of spiritual light coalesced not far from Lu Ye, gradually transforming into a little white rabbit that hopped over to him.

"Has Senior Yang left?" Lu Ye asked.

Xiao Jiu spoke in human tongue, "He's gone!"

Lu Ye was slightly surprised, "Why do you seem unhappy?"

Xiao Jiu sighed, "It's strange, but when he was here, I always felt insecure. Now that he's gone, I feel even more adrift. Lu Ye, Lu Ye, what if another Sunseeker Realm cultivator like Yue Xin shows up? What will we do?"

"Bad luck charm, don't talk nonsense!" Lu Ye glared at it. "Senior Yang said Kyushu's current location is quite remote. As long as we're careful enough, we should be safe for a millennium."

"But it's better to be safe than sorry! What if it really happens? Yang Qing just said that; he couldn't guarantee anything."

Lu Ye said sternly, "Therefore, we need to strengthen ourselves! I need to cultivate diligently and raise my cultivation. As for you... quickly absorb the Blood Refinery Realm's essence to elevate your own level. Only by relying on ourselves can we truly be strong; depending on others is ultimately unrealistic."

Xiao Jiu said, "I've been absorbing it, but this kind of thing is time-consuming. You can't see results in a short period."

"Then work even harder!" Lu Ye admonished.

Xiao Jiu immediately looked troubled, unsure how to work "even harder."

Suddenly, a message came through his battle imprint. Lu Ye checked it and found it was from Jian Guhong. Previously, Jian Guhong and others had asked him to find Yang Qing to ascertain his attitude towards Kyushu. However, just as Lu Ye went to find him, Yang Qing took him to the Reincarnation Tree. This delay lasted for three months, during which Jian Guhong and the others couldn't contact Lu Ye and had no idea what had happened. Now, they had finally re-established contact.

Lu Ye sent a message back, informing Jian Guhong of his current location. After waiting for less than half a day, several streaks of light rapidly approached from a distance. It was Jian Guhong and his companions.

Currently, there were hundreds of Star Realm cultivators in Kyushu, mainly because Kyushu had just ascended to a large realm, and many cultivators in the ninth layer of the Divine Sea Realm had accumulated enough to break through. Almost every day, someone in Kyushu advanced to the Star Realm, a phenomenon every newly promoted large realm experienced. As time passed, this frequency of advancement would gradually stabilize. Then, the progression from Divine Sea to Star Realm would become a continuous, unending stream, rather than the current series of bursts.

Virtually all Star Realm cultivators were out exploring the starry sky, searching for spirit jade for their cultivation. They hadn't traveled too far, mostly dispersing within a month's journey from Kyushu. This way, if anything happened in Kyushu, they could quickly return to provide support.

Of course, this also related to Kyushu having only recently connected with the starry sky. Cultivators had just begun exploring it and dared not venture too far, lest they accidentally get lost and couldn't find their way back, which would be rather embarrassing. While most Star Realm cultivators were exploring the starry sky, only a handful, including Jian Guhong, remained behind. This was mainly due to Yang Qing; even though their strength was negligible before him, as members of Kyushu's most powerful cultivation group, they had an obligation and responsibility to stay and guard.

Upon meeting, Jian Guhong immediately asked, "What's the situation?"

Lu Ye replied, "Senior Yang has already left."

Jian Guhong was stunned, "Left?"

Lu Ye nodded, "He has left Kyushu and may not return in the future."

Jian Guhong and the others fell silent. None of them had expected that the issue which had caused them so much anxiety for so long would be resolved so easily. However, precisely because Yang Qing left so decisively, they felt a sense of regret, for it confirmed that he truly held no ill will towards Kyushu. With such a powerful figure gone, Kyushu would have no further protection. If another unwelcome guest like Yue Xin were to arrive, Kyushu would have to rely on its own capabilities to resist.

Human nature was complex, after all. When Yang Qing was present, the Star Realm cultivators were constantly on edge, fearing he might harm Kyushu. Now that he had simply left, they couldn't help but feel ashamed, realizing they had judged a noble person with a narrow mind.

After a long pause, Jian Guhong finally spoke, "If he's gone, he's gone. Kyushu is, after all, our human race's Kyushu. From now on, the safety of our realm must be protected by ourselves."

Lu Ye nodded, "Senior, what you said is sensible. Therefore, we all need to cultivate diligently and raise our cultivation as quickly as possible."

Wuchang asked curiously, "You suddenly disappeared for over three months. Where did you go? We couldn't contact you at all."

Lu Ye replied, "Senior Yang took me to a place called the Reincarnation Tree, where I participated in a grand event that gathered thousands of realms!"

At this, everyone became interested. Wuchang's eyes widened, "A grand event gathering thousands of realms?"

The only realms Kyushu cultivators had encountered so far, besides their home realm, were the Blood Refinery Realm and the Peerless Continent. Although everyone now knew there were many realms in the vast starry sky, it was truly hard to imagine what a grand event involving thousands of realms would look like, or what kind of magnificent spectacle it truly was.

Seeing their interest, Lu Ye simply recounted the sequence of events. Learning that the seemingly lifeless small tree before them was actually a clone of a Primal Treasure, even with their steady temperaments, they couldn't help but marvel. And upon hearing Lu Ye describe the scene of thousands of realm powerhouses gathered at the Reincarnation Tree, they all felt a longing in their hearts. Hearing about the wonders and mysteries of various races made their hearts itch with even more anticipation.

Finally, upon hearing that Lu Ye had overpowered the competition in the Grand Primeval Realm and bravely claimed the top spot, they all beamed with pride.

Wuchang clapped Lu Ye on the shoulder, "Good lad! It seems the prodigies from those realms are ultimately not as good as our Kyushu's, hahaha, well done!"

Jian Guhong asked, "Yi Ye, why did Senior Yang not want you to reveal your origin from Kyushu, but instead had you use the name 'Nine Heavens'?"

Lu Ye replied seriously, "Because the previous Kyushu era attracted many powerful enemies. Although ten millennia have passed, for those top-tier realms and powerhouses, hatred is not easily forgotten. Kyushu's decline was also due to being too ostentatious. Therefore, when we travel the starry sky in the future, we should try not to reveal our origin from Kyushu, to avoid drawing unwanted attention."