C22 Experts Gather

After dusk, Heben Yu attended the welcome banquet arranged by Miss Soong Hsing as if everything were business as usual. The two parties engaged in lively conversation and cheerfully exchanged toasts, creating an atmosphere of joy and camaraderie. It wasn't until late into the night that the guests and host parted ways, each thoroughly pleased with the evening's events.

Once he had left, Heben Yu employed his Primordial Spirit to keep tabs on Soong Hsing and the rest, ensuring they were all at rest before he, along with two others, stealthily made their exit. They vanished into the darkness with remarkable speed.

Unbeknownst to Soong Hsing, Heben Yu had managed to slip away undetected. She needed to maintain an air of nonchalance to have any chance of uncovering Heben Yu's secrets.

As expected, once they were well beyond the small town, Heben Yu routinely scanned the vicinity with his Primordial Spirit. Upon realizing they weren't being followed, he allowed himself to relax.

The remainder of their journey was carried out with an air of nonchalance, even taking the time to hunt down several troublesome beasts along the way. Upon reaching the lakeside, the trio dived into the water without a second thought, disappearing beneath the surface with barely a splash.

Yuh Hualong and his people failed to notice the arrival of Heben Yu and his companions, but the disturbance they caused in the water did not go unnoticed.

Overjoyed, Yuh Hualong hurried off to report to Soong Lin.

For someone with Yuh Hualong's capabilities, the great fish Dahei in the lake was hardly a concern. Locating Patriarch Lieshan's tomb chamber proved to be an effortless task.

Heben Yu took his time examining the tomb chamber, intent on collecting all sorts of useful information. He meticulously inspected every nook and cranny, leaving no stone unturned.

The more he discovered, the more elated he became. His excitement peaked when he stumbled upon a gray finger bone that still harbored a faint trace of Primordial Spirit energy. This indicated that the tomb's occupant was no ordinary individual; they were at least a practitioner of the Mortal Exuviating Stage or higher, as those below this level had Primordial Spirits too weak to be preserved after death.

Leaving behind the finger bone was not really an oversight on Laojiu's part. When he had first entered the tomb, his clothing was nothing more than tattered rags. Managing to take most of Patriarch Lieshan's remains was an effort in itself, so it was understandable that a small finger bone could have been missed.

Heben Yu, elated by his substantial find, stepped onto the shore only to be met by the beaming Miss Soong Hsing.

"Young Master Yu seems to be in high spirits. Taking an early dip in Blood Lake must mean you've had quite the haul, right?"

"Miss Soong Hsing, what are you implying? I overindulged last night, woke up early feeling the need to clear my head in the lake, and here I am."

Heben Yu certainly wasn't about to confess anything, especially since Soong Hsing hadn't witnessed his discovery. Moreover, they had destroyed the stone chamber beneath the lake before leaving. Even if Soong Hsing sent more people to investigate, it was unlikely they'd find any evidence.

"Ha-ha, Young Master Yu may have overlooked it, but I found something significant onshore. Since you're not inclined to share, let's head back."

Miss Soong Hsing spoke with unruffled composure, showing no sign of urgency.

It turned out that Soong Hsing had learned of Heben Yu's nocturnal venture into the lake and had promptly arrived with her team. As they awaited Heben Yu's return to land, she had her people scour the lakeshore.

They inevitably stumbled upon the burial site of Patriarch Lieshan. Recognizing him as a key figure who served the Xuanyuan Dragon Monarch, Soong Hsing understood the gravity of their find. She promptly extracted the tombstone, reduced it to dust with a flick of her wrist, and left behind nothing but a mound of earth overgrown with weeds.

"Wait a moment, Miss Soong Hsing. What did you discover? Do share. Our two prestigious families have exerted considerable effort to reach this planet; we ought to assist one another."

As Soong Hsing made to leave, Heben Yu quickly followed. His words suggested mutual aid, yet he showed no inclination to share his own findings.

"Helping each other is indeed noble, but I'm afraid I can't emulate Young Master Yu's knack for conjuring something out of nothing. This discovery is too significant; I've already reported it to our superiors. If there's anything to discuss, we can do so once the Soong family elders arrive."

Miss Soong Hsing maintained her composure, much to Heben Yu's chagrin. Unsure whether Miss Soong Hsing was deceiving him, he refrained from revealing too much. Instead, he persistently attempted to extract useful information from her.

"Young Master Yu, there's no need to trouble yourself further. Have you discovered an ancient tomb down there?" Miss Soong Hsing chose to be forthright, suspecting that Heben Yu had already located the tomb's owner.

Upon hearing Miss Soong Hsing's words, Heben Yu couldn't help but smile wryly. He hadn't anticipated her swift action. After all his efforts, it seemed he had inadvertently paved the way for someone else's gain.

"Well, I might as well inform the family elders," he conceded. "We can discuss collaboration when they arrive. For now, I'll return and indulge in a few more drinks."

Heben Yu was aware that the situation was beyond his control; such a significant matter was not something the younger generation of the family could manage. Fortunately, the elders who had come to Yanhuang Star were closely aligned with him, and he was confident he wouldn't be left out of any benefits.

With nothing more to be said, both parties could only retreat and await the arrival of their respective families.

As the host, Miss Soong Hsing had commissioned the construction of numerous buildings to accommodate the anticipated influx of high-ranking family members.

She also discreetly ordered an investigation into Luo Jiu, whose name was inscribed on the tombstone. She was curious to confirm whether this Luo Jiu was the same individual she remembered.

Years ago, Miss Soong Hsing had sent Zhu Yunle, a close friend of Laojiu, to locate him. Zhu Yunle returned with news of Luo Jiu's death, leaving her to wonder if they were indeed the same person.

Laojiu had indeed nearly perished after tumbling into an abyss during a chase. Fortuitously, he not only survived but emerged with enhanced strength and speed, having seized the coveted Fire Lianzi near the Lava River. This very prize had sparked the greed of Yuh Hualong's underling, Wen San, leading to the grim episode of Laojiu committing murder and disposing of the evidence.

Since emerging from the abyss, Laojiu had been concealing himself in the shadows due to the mutation of his body. Only his parents were aware of his survival. As a result, Miss Soong Hsing couldn't be certain whether Luo Jiu was truly deceased.

To resolve these uncertainties, Yuh Hualong, Zhu Yunle, and others were thoroughly interrogated. Through various conjectures, Miss Soong Hsing surmised that Luo Jiu, who was assisting Patriarch Lieshan, was likely Zhu Yunle's childhood companion, Laojiu.

Unaware of his compromised situation, Laojiu was en route to his hometown. Before he could even reach the town, numerous experts were already covertly searching for him.

Led by locals Yuh Hualong and Zhu Yunle, they managed to uncover the secret air-raid shelter belonging to Luo Liguo's parents. Yuh Hualong initially insisted on apprehending Luo Liguo and his wife, but Heben Yu intervened.

Heben Yu was concerned that if Luo Liguo and his wife were taken away, Laojiu might return, notice something was off, and choose to stay hidden. By keeping them there, it would be easier to lie in wait for Laojiu.

Heben Yu and Soong Hsing each left their most trusted associates to stealthily monitor the vicinity of the air-raid shelter, anticipating Laojiu's return. The remaining individuals spread out in a widespread search, eager to locate Laojiu as quickly as possible.

What they failed to realize was that Laojiu had undergone a profound transformation over the past two years. His abilities and wisdom had greatly increased, elevating him to the status of an expert among ordinary Cultivators.

The journey home always feels swift. In roughly a month's time, Laojiu had arrived at a small mountain on the outskirts of the town.

As dusk settled, the town's tall, peculiar buildings stood out prominently, prompting Laojiu to become immediately cautious.

"Mr. Luo, what's the matter?" Patriarch Lieshan inquired, picking up on Laojiu's shift in mood.

"It's nothing specific; it's just that my hometown looks different now. There are many buildings with foreign architectural styles," Laojiu replied.

"You need to be cautious. It's very likely that masters are scouring this small town for you. Avoid using your Primordial Spirit recklessly; in your current state, it would be easy for them to detect you if you do. However, you mustn't speak of the Celestial Dragon Guidance to anyone. You're free to use the Devil Subduing Movement Technique, Stacking Wave Staff, and Mountain Quaking Palm as you please."

Patriarch Lieshan reiterated his warning to Laojiu. Even he hadn't grasped the gravity of the situation, overlooking the seemingly trivial act of Laojiu erecting a tombstone for him.

"Understood. As long as they don't bother me, it doesn't matter what these people are up to. I should head home first, check on my parents, and enjoy a peaceful life."

Laojiu was confident, yet unaware that the number of experts who had arrived in the town far surpassed his expectations. The leading elders from both families were at the Mortal Exuviating Stage. And if they were certain the legacy would appear there, it wouldn't be surprising to see Saint Becoming Level experts arrive.

The environment around the town remained dilapidated, with the newcomers showing no interest in development. Their only concern was ensuring a comfortable life for their own, with little regard for the locals.

Laojiu moved stealthily, making his way to the air-raid shelter where his parents were hiding. As he neared it, a sudden jolt ran through him, signaling imminent danger.

"Damn! There could be an extremely powerful Fierce Creature lurking in the nearby wilderness!"

Heeding Patriarch Lieshan's advice, Laojiu hadn't used his Primordial Spirit to survey his surroundings, relying instead on his primal instincts, which led to a misjudgment.

"Really? How formidable can the creatures on your planet be? Aside from the ocean, it's unlikely any land creature could pose a threat to you."

Patriarch Lieshan was skeptical, suspecting Laojiu was overreacting.

"You might be right; perhaps I did overreact."

After several minutes of cautious observation, Laojiu saw no dangerous beasts, only the occasional stray cat or dog. Even the Twin Water Shadow Beast that had been trailing him had wandered off in search of food.

After ensuring it was safe, Laojiu stealthily approached the concealed entrance and gently tapped on the door. Initially, there was no response, but after the third knock, someone finally stirred inside.

"Who is it?"

The voice of Luo Liguo emanated from within, tinged with a hint of nervousness.

Night had fallen, and he was uncertain who would discover this place. A mix of fear, worry, and anticipation filled his heart.

"Dad, Mom, I'm back!" Laojiu did his best to keep his emotions in check, speaking in a hushed tone, yet unable to fully conceal his excitement.

"It's Jiu'er, Jiu'er has come home!"

Yang Shumei instantly recognized her son's voice and was overwhelmed with joy.

A commotion ensued inside, and then with a creak, the tightly closed door swung open. Luo Liguo and his wife appeared behind the door, their faces pale and weary but beaming with smiles.

"Dad, Mom, I'm back!"

Laojiu repeated, his voice automatic. In that moment, his heart swelled with tenderness. Home truly was a place of warmth.

"Jiu'er, you've been away for nearly two years. Your mother has been longing for your return!" Yang Shumei stepped forward and enveloped her son in an embrace, holding him as if she feared he might slip away again.

"Dad, Mom, I'm sorry for worrying you."

"It's alright, the important thing is you're back. You've grown so much, even taller than me now. In just two more months, you'll be 20 years old. Time really does fly," Luo Liguo said, his voice filled with joy. Yet, amidst his happiness, he couldn't help but worry about his son's prospects of finding a wife in these tumultuous times.

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