Chapter 926: Recalling the Past, Perfecting the Dao Heart

Qinglian Mountain, Wei State.

A team of Hundred Spirits Sect disciples was stationed at the foot of Qinglian Mountain, led by Su Yuren.

Su Yuren is Wang Changxue’s youngest son. After Su Cheng and Wang Changxue passed away, Guangdong Ren took Su Yuren as a disciple and focused on training him. Su Yuren has already reached the fifth level of Foundation Establishment.

Qinglian Mountain was his mother’s birthplace. However, decades ago, a powerful enemy destroyed Qinglian Mountain. Guangdong Ren sent Su Yuren to lead a team to guard Qinglian Mountain, preventing outsiders from encroaching upon it.

One morning, Su Yuren was about to lead his team on patrol.

A blue streak of light flew from the distant horizon. Not long after, it landed at the foot of Qinglian Mountain, revealing the figures of Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan.

“This is Qinglian Mountain, idlers…”

Su Yuren was about to order them to leave when he saw Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan, and was dumbfounded.

“Uncle… Uncle, Aunt!”

Su Yuren had seen portraits of Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan, however, had little impression of Su Yuren, as he was still young when they left the Eastern Desolate.

“You are Yuren?”

Wang Changsheng’s gaze was somewhat uncertain, a mix of surprise and doubt. He knew of Su Yuren’s existence but had never met him.

“It’s me! Uncle, your nephew greets you and Aunt. I am here on my master’s orders, guarding Qinglian Mountain to prevent outsiders from encroaching. We are only stationed at the foot of the mountain and have not ascended it.”

Su Yuren said, a little excited. His older sister was a Core Formation cultivator, but although the siblings had met a few times, this was his first time meeting Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan.

“It’s been many years; you’ve grown so much. Take these as a meeting gift!”

Wang Changsheng flipped his palm, and a green storage bead appeared in his hand. With a flick of his finger, the green storage bead flew towards Su Yuren, landing in his hand.

Su Yuren repeatedly expressed his thanks, while the others’ faces simultaneously showed expressions of envy.

“You may continue with your duties. We’ve only returned to take a look. By the way, please do not spread word of our visit.”

After saying this, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan started walking up the mountain.

When Qinglian Villa was attacked back then, the enemy set it ablaze. The Wang clan members never returned, and the villa fell into disrepair. The Hundred Spirits Sect also didn’t send anyone to repair it, leaving it as it was. Decades passed, and the estate became overgrown with weeds.

Wang Changsheng gazed at the dilapidated villa, a look of reminiscence on his face.

“Spiritual mulberry trees used to grow here. When I was little, my second sister and I would play here.”

“This was Fourth Brother’s residence. He was quite plump as a child and loved to sneak spiritual peaches.”

“This was Third Uncle-Grandfather’s place. The old man loved to ramble. Everyone was afraid of him.”

Wang Changsheng walked slowly forward, looking at the dilapidated walls and ruins, clearly naming the former landmarks. He recalled many things.

This was where he was born and grew up; it held too many memories.

Recalling the past, Wang Changsheng felt a mix of emotions.

After a while, they arrived at a spiritual field overgrown with weeds.

“This was the spiritual herb garden. Qingzhi loved to come here the most, and Qingyang liked to run behind Qingzhi. If only we had kept Qingzhi by our side, perhaps he wouldn’t have died.”

Wang Ruyan sighed softly, a reminiscent expression on her face, tears glistening in her eyes.

“My dear, it’s not your fault. Life is unpredictable; who could have imagined such a thing would happen?”

Wang Changsheng put his arm around Wang Ruyan’s shoulder, comforting her softly.

Wang Ruyan leaned into Wang Changsheng’s embrace and sobbed loudly, releasing the grief and indignation in her heart.

Truth be told, Wang Changsheng was also in great pain and felt deeply remorseful. However, as the head of the family, he had to remain strong.

That night, they set up an altar to pay respects to their deceased clansmen. They swore an oath to Heaven that they would personally slay their enemies and avenge their fallen family members.

The starry sky was brilliant, and the bright moonlight cast upon the dilapidated walls and ruins. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan sat close together, gazing at the starry sky.

“Husband, do you think reincarnation exists? If it does, could Qingzhi be our child again?”

Wang Ruyan asked casually.

“Reincarnation? It’s hard to say. If it exists, then perhaps! If he were our child again, I would accompany him in planting spiritual herbs and reading books.”

Wang Changsheng’s face showed reminiscence as he recalled the past. Truth be told, he hadn't given Wang Qingqing and Wang Qingzhi enough care and hadn't fully fulfilled his duties as a father.

He had been busy with his own cultivation and managing the family. When Wang Qingqing and Wang Qingzhi were young, there were constant conflicts, and many immortal cultivation families were destroyed. Wang Changsheng dared not be careless; he had to cultivate, look after the family, and also balance his artifact refining skills. Fortunately, Wang Ruyan helped him look after their two children, allowing him to travel with peace of mind.

Before Wang Qingqing and Wang Qingzhi reached adulthood, Wang Changsheng was mostly out traveling, representing the family in battles, escorting Wang Mingren to the Taiyi Immortal Sect, and resolving the lingering issues left by Wang Mingjiang. He simply didn’t have much time to spend with his children. Wang Ruyan, for her part, delayed her own cultivation to look after their children. Fortunately, she was a sound cultivator, who focused more on cultivating her mind and character.

If not for Wang Ruyan looking after their home, Wang Changsheng would not have been able to travel outside with peace of mind. The couple supported each other, enduring much to reach this point. They had watched their parents pass away and their two sons die one after another, yet they were powerless to stop it. Recalling the past, both felt a whirlwind of emotions.

“You’re talking about it! Qingzhi spoke very little. Not just you, even I couldn't do anything with him; he could hold a book and read it all day. Qingqing has a lively personality, but unfortunately, she had bad luck. Zhao Zheng and Ziyu were successively killed, leaving her quite lonely. And Qingyang, he had a four-spirit root, destined to die of old age at the Foundation Establishment stage. Ping’an must blame me for not keeping him by my side. How I wished I could have kept him with me, but he had no spiritual roots and couldn't cultivate immortality. He aged day by day, and I dared not visit him. I was afraid I would soften and bring him back, only to watch him die of old age before my eyes, which would be even more painful for me.”

Wang Ruyan choked back a sob, and by the end, her face was streaming with tears.

Wang Changsheng gently patted her back, comforting her, “If anyone is to blame, blame me! I was an incompetent father. My dear, it’s not your fault. Immortals and mortals are different, but immortals come from mortals. If I could do it all over again, I would definitely keep him by my side, watch him marry and have children, instead of waiting until his old age to send him off for the last time.”

As they spoke of the past, they were deeply moved. By the end, Wang Changsheng also found it difficult to control his emotions, and he and Wang Ruyan embraced, weeping bitterly together. They had experienced love, hate, and enmity. Through these recollections, their states of mind were further refined, and their Dao hearts became more complete.

Several days later, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan left Qinglian Mountain. They revisited places that held profound memories from their past, reflecting on their experiences to further temper their minds.

Of course, the Ghost Abyss was sealed, so they did not visit it.

They also visited Wangjia Fortress to pay respects to Wang Ruyan’s parents.