Chapter 1314: Master, I'm Back!

Chapter 1314: Master, I have returned!

That familiar voice reverberated through the skies above the Human Imperial Capital, like a crack of primordial thunder bursting across the human race!

It caused the countless cultivators of humankind to instantly seize with a world-shaking sense of shock.

Upon the beacon tower, Ning Yan had been gripped by a tense, heavy anxiety, his heart steeped in profound pessimism; as he felt the coloring of this Wanggu catastrophe, he had also grown uneasy at the descent of those foreign cultivators.

Yet at this precise moment, upon hearing the words from high above, he snapped his head upward with a shift in countenance the likes of which he had never experienced in all his days, an unprecedented shock erupting across his face and within his eyes.

Gazing in disbelief, near stupefied, toward the sky before that blurred existence where a silhouette had now materialized, he lost his voice in a startled cry.

"Captain!"

In this instant, the teeming masses of the Human Imperial Capital erupted into a clamor.

Innumerable cultivators froze where they stood, their minds buzzing with a ceaseless drone.

For any who recognized Erniu, their souls felt as though a heavenly thunderbolt had detonated within them at this shard of a second; an unbearable disbelief drowned out all else, and their countenances shifted through a chaotic kaleidoscope of expressions.

Truth be told, when compared to the preceding catastrophe and tension, Erniu’s appearance was far too abrupt.

It was also exceedingly difficult to link him in any way to those twelve Great Emperors.

The two concepts simply failed to correspond!

Seeing this unfold, Erniu’s heart swelled in midair, his smugness transcending the reach of words as he secretly mused that his rushing out ahead of the rest had been precisely for this very moment.

Thus, his face lighting up with triumphant glee, he cleared his throat, tucked his hands behind his back in midair, and prepared to speak further.

Yet just then, Zhou Zhengli assumed a solemn air, manifesting an expression of boundless, profound reverence as he swiftly stepped forward, cupped his fists toward the vault of heaven, and bowed deeply.

He cried out in a resounding shout.

"Zhou Zhengli welcomes the Lord!"

These four words were bellowed with every ounce of his might, paired with the fanatical light gleaming within his eyes, making his entire being resemble the most devout of believers.

The sound rippled through all eight directions.

Li Mengtu likewise stepped forth with haste, bowing just as deeply toward the firmament with a solemn countenance.

"Li Mengtu welcomes the Lord!"

Unwilling to be left behind, Xie Lingzi reined in the malicious aura of his demeanor to make himself look considerably more normal; a blazing fire rose in his eyes, and the cultivation base of his entire body surged outward at full tilt.

Causing the surrounding void to ripple and wave, he cloaked himself in its power as his voice echoed forth.

"Xie Lingzi welcomes the Lord!"

There was also Yuanshan Su; her expression remained serene as she lowered her head in a bow.

And finally, Xing Huanzi.

Though a hint of his inherent pride still lingered deep within him, the myriad events he had shared with Xu Qing along this journey had caused him, despite his defiant exterior, to harbor a profound internal acceptance.

And so... reflecting that this was the other’s homeland, he took a deep breath and bowed toward the heavens.

"Xing Huanzi welcomes... the Lord."

The words of these individuals shook the heavens and split the earth, striking awe into the souls of all living beings.

Nor was it merely them; at this very moment, the likes of Daoist Bloodcloud and other chosen who had ventured out to suppress the Quasi-Immortals of the remaining sacred lands also bowed toward the direction of the human skies from their respective locations.

Their voices carried far and wide across the expanse.

"We welcome the Lord!"

Simultaneously, from two other directions, the immortal sword formed by Qianjun and Biyi was trembling.

From within it echoed the impassioned voices of the two brothers, who seemed to have prepared for this for a very long time.

"The Lord’s brilliance shakes the past and illuminates the present, number one in the cosmos! Verily, an immortal grace and jade bones surpassing the mortal dust, divine Daoist arts that startle the souls of the world!"

"The Lord sweeps across heaven and earth, invincible in this age! Indeed, eyes like stars reflecting the universe, a sword pointing to the sky to settle the winds and clouds!"

To better showcase themselves, the immortal sword the two brothers had transformed into erupted with immortal radiance at this moment, turning into a five-colored auspicious glow that illuminated the four quarters.

Thereby mirroring the celestial curtain.

In an instant, Wanggu was thrown into an absolute frenzy!

The prior manifestation of these twelve Great Emperors had been earth-shattering in its own right, and now, for there to be someone who could make them offer such worship and welcome naturally shocked heaven and earth.

Thus, the myriad races of Wanggu and the cultivators of the sacred lands, minds churning, used every manner of method to direct their divine senses and gazes along the line of adoration offered by those twelve Great Emperors!

In the next breath, they beheld a figure slowly stepping out from behind Erniu upon the celestial curtain!

As this figure approached, it shifted from a blur to clarity!

Until the exact moment it became completely distinct...

The heavens and earth flared into brilliant light, illuminating all.

Not a single cultivator who witnessed it failed to be struck with awe.

And the aura radiating from this person’s body instantly upended everything in existence!

Not a single god who sensed it failed to hear a roaring boom.

Among them, some knew Erniu, while others did not.

But... the figure stepping out from behind Erniu at this moment, receiving the worship and welcome of the twelve Great Emperors, shook the heavens and split the earth!

There was virtually no one who did not recognize him!

It was as if Erniu’s appearance had been solely to attract and gather all gazes, thereby serving as a foil for this person!

Even though the Empress was a god, her mind and soul churned to the absolute limit at this moment, and with an expression of even greater disbelief than before, she stared at the figure stepping out from behind Erniu!

She lost her voice in a startled cry.

"Xu Qing!"

At this moment, the eight directions shook with shock, and the myriad races roared in tumult!

High in the heavens, Seventh Master smiled.

While within the Imperial Capital, upon the beacon tower, Ning Yan had frozen in utter stupefaction, his body trembling uncontrollably; Erniu’s appearance had already set his mind churning, and now, upon seeing that distinct silhouette, his entire brain went completely blank.

"This... this..."

Within the Human Imperial Capital, those former princes and marquises were the same, each of them unable to believe what their eyes were beholding.

As it was in the Imperial Capital, so it was in Fenghai County.

Led by Marquis Yao, the massive mirror surface formed by uniting the strength of Fenghai County clearly displayed each scene unfolding in the Imperial Capital, and as they watched that figure transition from a blur to clarity...

Marquis Yao froze.

His younger sister beside him was equally stupefied.

And those old friends from back then, such as Kong Xianglong, found their breathing turning rapid.

In the crowd, there was also Wu Jianwu; he opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but at this moment, no poetry or verse could suffice to express his heart.

There was also Zhang San, and Ding Xue, and Zhao Zhongheng—all the old friends in Fenghai County now stood there in a daze.

They even felt a strange sense of illusion.

“That’s…”

“That person looks so familiar…”

“This… this…”

Beneath Fenghai County, within the Phoenix Hall, a soft gasp echoed through the silent underground palace.

At the same moment, an iron talisman shot forth violently, transforming into the visage of the Vajra Sect’s ancestral founder. He rubbed his eyes fiercely, exhaling in disbelief again and again.

There was also the Seven Blood Pupils—and Ning Yan…

And… the Ji Yue Great Domain!

The Crown Prince and the others stood dazed, one by one. Ling’er’s eyes shimmered with wonder as she gazed upon the projection conjured by the Crown Prince’s grandfather, murmuring silently in her heart:

“Brother Xu Qing…”

Across the myriad races of Wanggu, excitement surged—gods included.

Solar Deity, Lunar Deity, deities worshipped by every race, even those long hidden—all felt their minds shatter in that instant.

Thus, every divine thought, every gaze, converged from all directions onto the figure striding steadily across the celestial screen—unstopping, unyielding!

Each step he took carried the weight of ten thousand jun, rending the void asunder, thunderbolts trailing in his wake—even the Heavenly Dao bowed before him.

Like a sovereign surveying his realm!

It was the aura of invincibility forged through countless tempests, gazing down upon all living beings.

Wherever he passed, whether spiritual energy or foreign essence, all lowered themselves instinctively, revealing a path cleared solely for him—

Walking with unmatched grace.

As he drew nearer, his raven-black hair flowed like ink-silk, falling freely yet imbued with an ineffable charm. Strands brushed his forehead—not disheveled, but lending him an air of effortless allure.

As though he were the most radiant existence beneath heaven and earth, impossible to ignore once glimpsed.

His eyes resembled fathomless glacial pools—deep, cold, yet holding within them countless stars: dazzling, yet too overwhelming to meet directly.

With every blink, sharp glimmers flashed—light capable of piercing souls. Anyone touched by his gaze would involuntarily bow their head, awestruck, daring not the slightest defiance.

As if the fate of all creation lay within a single thought of his—his to command, his to decree.

Fierce gales swirled around him, whipping his black robe into a roaring symphony, radiating unquestionable authority.

The robe itself bore exquisite craftsmanship, faintly shimmering with hidden luminescence—as if concealing boundless arcane power. Even night itself seemed willing to serve as his backdrop, weaving its depth and mystery into his transcendent presence.

His face matched this aura perfectly—chiseled, flawless, beyond reproach.

Then—at last—amidst the gazes of countless multitudes, after several deliberate steps forward, beneath the vault of heaven, just before Old Man Seven and that ancient immortal whose expression had grown gravely solemn—

His stride halted.

That pause shook the myriad races. It shook all living beings. Mountains and rivers lost their color; time itself seemed to freeze!

Everything fell into profound silence!

As if his return alone marked the only truth of heaven and earth!

Holding absolute dominion over life and death—none could stand against him.

He was none other than Xu Qing!

His gaze did not wander elsewhere—it fixed solely upon Old Man Seven ahead.

He bowed deeply, voice gentle:

“Master… I have returned.”

“When I first took you as my teacher, the oath spoke of your protection over my safety. Today, your disciple returns… to protect you!”

He had come back!

Those words—those few simple syllables—spread instantly throughout heaven and earth, across the myriad races, echoing through all of Wanggu.

They ignited endless fervor. From every great domain and every tribe arose countless voices, surging like a tidal wave:

“It’s Xu Qing!”

“The Twelve Emperors bowed to him!”

“Even Emperors call him ‘Lord’—what level of cultivation is this?!”

“Could it be…”

“Could it truly be…”

“Xia Xian!!!”

Old Man Seven laughed heartily—his heart brimming with pride, reaching the pinnacle of his life!

And Xu Qing’s eyes now turned toward that ancient immortal—the very source of the cataclysm—observing the man’s deeply furrowed brow and storm-darkened countenance.

Xu Qing’s calm voice resonated across the world:

“As for you… I’ve been waiting a long time.”

As he spoke, his eyes snapped open—two beams of starlight blazed forth, brighter than any constellation. Boundless spiritual power erupted from within him like a breached heavenly river, surging outward in an instant.

Forming a colossal Immortal Body!

At its emergence, Emperors lowered their heads, mortals gasped, and the void crumbled into dust!

All of Wanggu trembled violently, cracks spiderwebbing across the land at terrifying speed.

The sky darkened instantly beneath roiling storm clouds—lightning split the heavens, thunder shaking the firmament—as if the cosmos itself quaked in reverence.

New cosmic laws were inscribed—becoming Wanggu’s supreme edicts!

Time, space, myriad arts, spacetime, myriad paths, parallel realms—all converged into unity within the Weave!

—

Missing person returns…

I’ve been hospitalized recently due to extreme dieting for weight loss—basically brought it on myself…

—

Official Statement and Letter to My Readers

Recently, false rumors concerning me have circulated online. I hereby issue the following clarification:

The origin lies in my absence of over ten days around the holiday period due to health issues, which unfortunately triggered a wave of malicious attacks and baseless speculation. I never imagined that taking a brief rest would be twisted into absurd, vicious fabrications. These entirely invented rumors are completely groundless.

Such deliberate defamation has severely damaged my reputation.

I fully understand how swiftly misinformation spreads online—but the harm caused by slander to personal integrity and public trust is irreparable. I reserve the right to pursue legal action against those responsible for spreading these falsehoods. The internet is not a sanctuary for abuse; every anonymous rumor-monger hiding behind a mask will be tracked down without exception.

Lastly, thank you sincerely to all friends who stood by me with understanding and support amid the storm of rumors. Starting today, I will resume updates, focusing wholeheartedly on my work and life, undeterred by such unfounded allegations.

This statement is hereby issued.