Chapter 1303: Heart Demon Gate

In a secluded courtyard of the Taiyi Immortal Sect, Sword Sage Xiaoyao was speaking to Wang Qingshan, whose brows were slightly furrowed.

"Qingshan, what's so good about staying with your family? Relying on the protection of the Four Seasons Patriarch, our sect's influence spans across the Eastern Continent Realm, and our power is immense. If you join our sect, you can still protect your family. I am the Peak Master of the Thousand Swords lineage, and over ninety percent of the sect's sword cultivators obey my commands. If you join our sect, I will support you to become the Peak Master of the Thousand Swords lineage in the future. What do you think?" Sword Sage Xiaoyao's tone was filled with temptation.

"Master, even if you tell me a thousand times, my answer will remain the same. I cultivate the Way of the Sword for my family. If I join the Taiyi Immortal Sect and my family faces trouble, I won't be able to rush back. This is not my original intention for learning the sword. I learned the sword to protect my clan members from harm, not to climb to a high position." Wang Qingshan's expression was calm, as if stating a trivial matter.

Sword Sage Xiaoyao was about to say something more, but Wang Qingshan preempted him. "Enough," he said. "Fake things are naturally fake. No matter how much you resemble my master, it's only a superficial likeness. My master is not someone who craves power, and I have no interest in power either." Wang Qingshan flicked his sleeve, and a large swath of azure sword energy flew out, engulfing Sword Sage Xiaoyao's body.

His vision blurred, and suddenly he stood amidst crumbling ruins. Many clan members lay in pools of blood, and the sounds of shouting and killing reached the sky. The cries of elders and children were incessant, and flames blazed sky-high.

"Rest assured, Uncle, Clan Uncle, I've sworn an oath: I will never let the same thing happen again," Wang Qingshan said in a deep voice, his gaze solemn.

Suddenly, the deceased clan members came back to life, covered in blood, their deathly appearances terrifying. They rushed forward, clutching Wang Qingshan's legs, crying, "You didn't! You said you'd avenge us, but where have you been all these years, living in carefree comfort? Do you still remember the family's blood feud? You've already formed your Nascent Soul, yet you still haven't avenged us."

Wang Qingzhi rushed out from a mostly collapsed courtyard, covered in wounds and torn flesh, appearing to have suffered severe injuries. "Seventh Brother, where have you been all these years? I'm so miserable! How could you only care about yourself and ignore the family's deep-seated blood feud?" he cried. Another voice chimed in, "That's right, he only cares about his own enjoyment and never thought about avenging us." "You're too selfish. Is your Dao heart really to protect the family? What a joke! I see you as nothing but selfish; you're not protecting the family at all, you're just seeking powerful strength." The clan members all accused Wang Qingshan, their words seemingly logical and well-founded.

Wang Qingshan's expression remained calm, as if he hadn't heard a word. "Enough. I know what kind of person I am," he said. "The enemies covered their tracks too well; even the Taiyi Immortal Sect couldn't find any clues. I had no way to investigate, so it's not that I wasn't going to avenge you."

"Hmph, you keep saying you'll avenge us," one said, "but I don't think you ever intended to. Without us, where would you be today?" "That's right, without the family, would you be where you are today?" another added. "If my father hadn't forged flying swords for you, where would you have gotten so many good ones to use? My father didn't even forge magic treasures for my sister, but he made several sets of flying swords for you. Is this how you repay him? You ungrateful wretch!"

Wang Qingshan's expression remained calm. He sighed softly and said solemnly, "I, Wang Qingshan, always keep my word. Those who killed my clan members will repay a hundredfold; this is no empty promise. I know who I am, and I don't need you to tell me what to do." His Dao heart was extremely firm, so he wouldn't easily be swayed by inner demons. He flicked his finger, and a large swath of azure sword energy flew out, piercing through the bodies of Wang Qingzhi and the others. They vanished, turning into specks of spiritual light.

The surrounding environment blurred, and Wang Qingshan suddenly appeared in a valley filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, where strange flowers and exotic herbs grew abundantly on both sides, and a rich, unusual fragrance permeated the air. A waft of fragrant wind passed, and Liu Meier suddenly appeared before Wang Qingshan. Liu Meier wore a floral crown on her head and a blue lotus dress, giving her the appearance of a girl next door. "Brother Qingshan, you're finally here! I've been waiting for you for so long. Let's go in quickly!" she exclaimed. Liu Meier took Wang Qingshan's hand and walked into the valley, and Wang Qingshan didn't resist, following her inside.

In the Coral Sea Region, a colossal Lion-Peng beast rapidly swept across the sky, carrying Wang Changsheng and his companions on its back. Murong Bo gazed at the vast, boundless blue sea below, a look of curiosity on his face. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan maintained their usual expressions, but inwardly, they were burning with anxiety.

Traveling with Murong Bo did indeed shorten their journey time, but their relationship with him wasn't close enough for them to be direct. They didn't know what had happened to their family, but for the past few days, Wang Ruyan's eyelids had been twitching, giving her a nagging feeling that something bad was happening. While some cultivators understood divination arts, other cultivators sometimes experienced omens that proved accurate. Wang Ruyan couldn't be sure that something had happened to her family, and there was nothing unusual about Huanglong Island, but she would rather be overthinking it and rush back to Qinglian Island as quickly as possible.

"Fellow Daoist Murong," Wang Changsheng said warmly, "the Coral Sea Region is merely the fringe of the Southern Sea Cultivation World. If you're looking for scenery, the Five Dragon Sea Region is much better."

"Indeed!" Wang Ruyan nodded in agreement. "The Five Dragon Sea Region boasts bustling commerce, no less than the Kyoto market. Fellow Daoist Murong, you'll see for yourself once you arrive at the Five Dragon Sea Region."

Wang Qingling smiled charmingly and added, "Senior Murong, our family also has its own spirit beast park, though it's far inferior compared to your Murong family's. We hope you won't hesitate to offer us advice when the time comes."

Murong Bo smiled faintly and said meaningfully, "Fellow Daoists Wang, are you in a hurry to return to the Five Dragon Sea Region? If so, just say so directly; there's no need to beat around the bush. As for the reason, I won't inquire. The Lion-Peng beast's speed can be increased further."

"We indeed have some urgent matters to attend to back on Qinglian Island," Wang Changsheng said politely, his tone sincere, "so we would appreciate it if Fellow Daoist Murong could increase the speed."

At their current speed, it would take at least half a year to return to Qinglian Island. If Murong Bo could increase the speed, it would be ideal.

"It's a small matter," Murong Bo replied. "In the future, if you two Daoists have anything, just say it directly. I don't like beating around the bush." Murong Bo lightly patted the Lion-Peng beast's back. The beast let out a loud roar, and its speed more than doubled.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan were pleased, but also a little surprised. Ordinary fourth-tier spirit beasts certainly didn't possess such speed; the Lion-Peng beasts cultivated by the Murong Royal Family for generations truly had unique qualities. Not long after, they vanished into the horizon, as if they had never appeared.