Chapter 138: Meeting Again

It is Li Changsheng!

"You..."

The moment Li Changsheng appeared, bloodshot veins rapidly spread across Lin Hao's eyes. That face had appeared in his dreams countless times. That face was something he could never forget for even a moment. That face was a source of hatred so deep that even a thousand cuts would not be enough to appease his heart.

Lin Hao never imagined that the owner of that face would appear at this very moment! As his body trembled uncontrollably, he subconsciously pulled Qingli behind him. His gaze remained fixed on Li Changsheng, his heart filled with extreme vigilance.

"Long time no see. I hope you have been well."

Li Changsheng’s expression was calm, and his voice betrayed no emotion. Gazing at Lin Hao before him, Li Changsheng felt a tinge of wistfulness. Although they had known each other for only a few dozen days, Lin Hao's stubbornness had left a deep impression on him. He had also gained quite a lot from Lin Hao. Upon reflection, this man could be considered his lucky star. To arrive with murderous intent now felt somewhat cruel. Perhaps it would be better to offer some condolences first.

"LI! CHANG! SHENG!"

Lin Hao's eyes were blood-red, his gaze fierce. He spoke through gritted teeth, and the demonic energy around him began to churn! Though he did not know what scheme Li Changsheng was hatching, he knew for certain it could not be anything good! Even if he were to perish, he had to find a way to get Qingli to safety...

*Squelch!*

While Lin Hao was lost in thought, a sound of flesh tearing echoed out. Lin Hao’s entire body shuddered, his pupils suddenly constricting! He looked back. At that moment, Qingli was holding a dagger, having pierced it through his back and out through his chest! This was the very dagger he had obtained in the secret realm and gifted to Qingli.

Qingli’s eyes held a perfectly placed smile, her expression as gentle as ever. It was as if this event were a matter of course for her! Looking at the utterly strange Qingli before him, Lin Hao’s body trembled incessantly, and blood-tears faintly welled up in his eyes!

"Why..."

His voice trembled as he spoke, his eyes filled with infinite sorrow. Why did such deep trust result in such an outcome? Lin Hao felt as though everything before him was turning black. The world seemed to be shaking and collapsing.

"The Master’s majesty is not something an ant like you can fathom. Rest in peace."

The smile in Qingli’s eyes did not waver, her expression remaining entirely gentle. As her crisp voice rang out, a brilliant green light erupted from the dagger in her hand! Lin Hao’s life force began to drain away rapidly!

"Sever."

Li Changsheng’s expression remained calm as he uttered the single word. The River of Forgetfulness manifested behind him, and as the threads of karma appeared, constant cracking sounds echoed. The thread of karma above Lin Hao’s head snapped completely!

His entire being vanished into thin air! He had been erased from existence!

"Ding~ Lin Hao’s state of mind has been damaged. Awarding the host extra Destiny Points."
"Ding~ Lin Hao has fallen. Awarding the host extra Destiny Points."

Ten times the initial Destiny value? Noticing the Destiny Points awarded after Lin Hao’s demise, a smile touched the corners of Li Changsheng’s mouth. Chu Tian’s twenty thousand Destiny points had yielded two hundred thousand. Lin Hao’s ten thousand had yielded one hundred thousand. He wondered how many Destiny points Wang Yu of the Extreme Immortal Lands possessed...

"Qingli pays respects to the Master."

As Li Changsheng pondered, Qingli was already kneeling before him. Her expression was reverent, her voice pious, bordering on fanatical. When the second seal of the River of Forgetfulness was broken, as a servant of the River, she naturally shared the same sensations as Li Changsheng. Knowing her Master had grown more powerful, the servant naturally felt even greater joy.

"The business here is concluded. Come with me."

Li Changsheng’s expression remained calm. After giving the faint command, he flicked his long sleeves. Scooping up Qingli and wrapping an arm around Zhao Wan'er's slender waist, he took a light step. Their figures vanished instantly! When they reappeared, they were already above the Immortal Forest Sect!

"Greetings, Master!"

Immediately after, two figures rushed out of the main hall of the Immortal Forest Sect and bowed respectfully toward Li Changsheng. These two were Liu Ruyan and Xiao Tianding.

*I almost forgot about him...*

Noticing the grievance in Xiao Tianding’s expression, Li Changsheng coughed dryly, feeling a bit guilty.

"Bestowed: Ancient Realm cultivation."

Without delay, as his calm voice resonated, the River of Forgetfulness behind him trembled! A surge of exceptionally pure spiritual energy rushed toward Xiao Tianding! Xiao Tianding’s cultivation climbed rapidly!

Spirit Refining Peak...
Law-Passing...
Void God...
Immortal Realm...
Immortal Realm Peak...
Until, the Ancient Realm!!

*BOOM!!!*

As a thunderous roar erupted from within Xiao Tianding, his entire body was illuminated by a brilliant white light! His cultivation had broken through!

*Whoosh...*

A cold wind whistled by, and an endless expanse of dark clouds began to gather above the area. However, after two seconds, the clouds paused strangely and then simply dissipated...

"This..."

Xiao Tianding, noticing the gathering clouds and the imminent heavenly tribulation, had been nervous. But seeing the tribulation dissipate, he was instantly bewildered. Only Li Changsheng looked at Xiao Tianding with a hint of peculiarity in his eyes. To his knowledge, whenever an immortal broke through, it would inevitably trigger a heavenly tribulation, whether they were a Mortal Path, Earth Path, or Heaven Path Immortal, to refine their immortal veins.

Mortal Path immortals were those who had opened fewer than thirty-three immortal veins. Such cultivators usually had very low luck and average strength. The heavenly tribulation would not be too intense. When they broke through, Heaven would acknowledge the difficulty of cultivation but would still send down two bolts just as a gesture. Someone like Xiao Tianding, who couldn't even trigger a heavenly tribulation, was a first for Li Changsheng.

"How many immortal veins have you opened?"

With this thought, Li Changsheng paused slightly and asked indifferently.

"What... opening immortal veins...?"

Hearing Li Changsheng’s question, Xiao Tianding was confused. Doubt flickered in his eyes, and he stood there blankly, not understanding. An Immortal Realm cultivator who didn't know how to open immortal veins???

Seeing this, the corners of Li Changsheng’s mouth twitched. He cast out his divine sense to probe into Xiao Tianding’s body and finally understood. This man had only opened one immortal vein! One immortal vein... he was likely the only one in the entire Azure Spirit Realm to have done so... With such aptitude, the fact that he reached the Immortal Realm meant that the 2000 Destiny points were truly put to good use...

*I wonder how many veins Wan'er will open when she undergoes her tribulation?*

Thinking of this, Li Changsheng couldn't help but look at Zhao Wan'er in his arms, falling into deep thought. With the Extreme Immortal Lands hidden, Zhao Wan'er would likely have to rely on her own strength to forcibly seize the immortal energy from the tribulation to open her veins. That was a bit risky. Moreover, it was highly likely that Wang Yu was acting on behalf of the will of the Extreme Immortal Lands. This added many variables. He needed to plan carefully for her...

As for charging directly into the Extreme Immortal Lands to seize control, Li Changsheng had considered it. He had even wanted to act on it several times. But ever since he seized over a thousand immortal veins and the Extreme Immortal Lands fled, he had been unable to find them again. Even with the River of Forgetfulness fully controlling the entire Azure Spirit Realm, he could not detect the existence of the Extreme Immortal Lands. This matter would require long-term deliberation.

"Return to the Xiao family and pass down orders to pay close attention to anyone in the Northern Territory with heaven-defying luck."

"Liu Ruyan, continue to develop the Immortal Forest. If any intruders arrive, execute them immediately."

"Should any major changes occur, call my name, and my will shall arrive."

After a brief pause, Li Changsheng spoke with a profound look in his eyes.

"We obey the Master's decree."

The two did not dare to delay, kneeling and bowing respectfully.

"Qingli, stay by Xiao Tianding’s side for now."

Li Changsheng flicked his sleeve, releasing Qingli.

"I obey the Master's command."

Qingli hurriedly knelt and cupped her hands, her voice respectful.

"The business here is done; it is time for me to depart."

Li Changsheng’s gaze swept over the crowd, his voice echoing faintly. He exchanged a glance with Zhao Wan'er, his eyes softening. He took a step, and his figure vanished once more! When he reappeared, he was inside the main hall of the Sword Sect.

"Greetings, Master!!!"

Noticing Li Changsheng’s arrival, the sycophant Zhao Ming hurriedly scrambled to Li Changsheng’s feet, kowtowing repeatedly.

"This servant failed his duties. Master, please show mercy, have mercy..."

Zhao Ming’s eyes were filled with fear, his appearance looking haggard. He acted as if he had lost his mind, kowtowing incessantly.

"Noisy."

Li Changsheng raised an eyebrow and kicked him three yards away.

"Sword Elder, what is going on?"

He turned to look at the silent Sword Elder on the side and spoke calmly.

"Reporting to Young Master... I have already investigated the person who fled earlier."

"She is Tuoba Yun, the long-lost saintess of the Sky Vault Tribe, one of the three great tribes of the Southern Frontier."

"The place she fled to is indeed the Southern Frontier..."

"However..."

The Sword Elder’s voice was respectful, but his eyes remained filled with hesitation.

"However what?"

Li Changsheng’s eyes were profound as he spoke again.

"Reporting to Young Master... As soon as Tuoba Yun entered the Southern Frontier, she committed a slaughter that shocked the region."

"The chieftain of the Sky Vault Tribe found her within days and appointed her as the acting chieftain!"

"This matter is too absurd... Old man does not dare to confirm if the information is true..."

The Sword Elder’s eyes were full of doubt, and his voice trembled. Such an absurd matter was truly beyond comprehension!

"This matter is likely true."

Li Changsheng, however, looked thoughtful and spoke calmly. Luck was indeed an incredibly profound thing. When a series of absurd events happened to one person, it was highly probable that she was someone with heaven-defying luck.

"Which tribes under the Sky Vault Tribe have been oppressed?"

After a pause, Li Changsheng continued to ask.

"Reporting to Young Master, as far as I know, the Sky Vault Tribe relies on the power of its totem and never looks down upon its subordinate tribes."

"The Sky Vault Tribe never interferes in the struggles between its subordinate tribes."

"If we speak of it, I remember a Heaven Crow Tribe that was once a famous warrior tribe in the Southern Frontier."

"Since their submission to the Sky Vault, the Heaven Crow Tribe seems to have only a few dozen people left."

The Sword Elder pondered, his aged voice speaking slowly. The affairs of the Southern Frontier were too complex, and the Sword Elder did not know much. What he had just told him was only what he had discovered in the last few days.

"Zhao Ming, if any further accidents happen at Chu Ling, bring me your head."

Hearing this, Li Changsheng quickly devised a plan. After scaring Zhao Ming, he took the Sword Elder and Zhao Wan'er and headed straight for the Southern Frontier! After a few seconds, the three figures appeared above a dilapidated village.

"This is a tribe?"

Li Changsheng raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth twitching. The area below was in ruins: broken fences, damaged wooden houses, moldy utensils... No matter how one looked at it, it resembled a deserted wasteland. But soon, a profound look appeared in Li Changsheng’s eyes, and a murderous intent stirred in his heart.

Not far below, there was a square. In the center of the square was an altar. On the altar, a naked, graceful woman was floating silently. The woman’s expression was full of terror, her eyes staring helplessly at the sky. Restrictions covered her body, making it impossible for her to move. Only at the corners of her eyes could faint traces of tears be seen.

Beside the woman was a pitch-black, eerie figure! It was constantly fondling the woman’s body... The head of the black mist was shaped like a crow. It was likely the totem of the Heaven Crow Tribe. Below the altar knelt dozens of figures wearing strange clothes. Men, women, the old, and the young were all kneeling, worshipping piously. These people seemed completely indifferent to whether the woman lived or died! Some even looked at her with hatred.

To be so cruel toward one's own kin...

"Sword Elder, why does such a situation occur in the Southern Frontier?"

Li Changsheng’s eyes were profound, and murderous intent stirred in his heart. It was no secret that some evil spirits cultivated using the essence and blood of humans. Some even enjoyed debauchery and ate the living... He never expected to witness such a cruel scene before his very eyes!

"Reporting to Young Master, the Southern Frontier has lacked resources in recent years, and wars have occurred."

"The faith of some tribes is no longer enough to support the cultivation of their totems, which is why totems have begun to consume members of their own tribes to cultivate."

"The Heaven Crow Tribe is just a microcosm of the vast Southern Frontier."

The Sword Elder bowed his head, his voice respectful.

"Oh?"

Li Changsheng raised an eyebrow, his eyes flashing with cold light. As a totem of a tribe, it was one thing not to protect the tribe, but to commit such cruel acts? The saying that evil spirits were of the lowest order was indeed correct.

"Kek..."

At that moment, the black shadow suddenly let out a sinister laugh, and the black mist around its body slowly enveloped the woman’s body. Seeing this, the coldness in the depths of Li Changsheng’s eyes intensified. He flicked his finger, drawing a drop of water from the River of Forgetfulness, and flicked it toward the woman’s brow on the altar! In an instant, it arrived and merged into her!

"This..."

The woman’s delicate body suddenly trembled. As a phantom water droplet mark flickered on her brow, a gentle voice suddenly rang out in her mind.

"Sensing your desire for survival, I save you from fire and water."
"I bestow upon you... the power of rebirth..."

At the same time, as a massive amount of information appeared in her mind, a powerful aura suddenly erupted from the woman’s body!

"AH!!!"

The Heaven Crow totem’s expression changed drastically! As a hoarse, miserable scream escaped its mouth, it looked at the woman with murderous intent and lunged to grab her neck!!

"Urgh..."

Seeing this, the woman was also startled. A delicate shout escaped her lips as she hurriedly raised her hand to block.

*BOOM!!*

In an instant, the woman’s blocking motion blasted the Heaven Crow totem hundreds of yards away!

"This..."

The people below the altar were terrified. They looked at each other in confusion.

"Just now, was that..."
"That deity..."
"The Master of... the River of Forgetfulness..."

The woman looked at her own hands in disbelief, shock in her eyes. It was correct, it had to be the Master of the River of Forgetfulness! *Sensing your desire for survival...* There truly were deities in this world...

"I kneel and thank my Master!"

With this thought, the woman looked pious and hurriedly knelt on the ground, bowing deeply toward the heavens! A deity’s thought could perceive the heavens and the earth. To be favored by a deity’s benevolence despite her broken state was truly a blessing of heavenly proportions! If she did not know how to be grateful, she would be nothing more than a wretched person.