The entire Mengyuan Mountain seemed to freeze in an instant. The birds stopped singing, the water stopped flowing, and even the leaves stopped rustling.
“Thump, thump, thump,” Qian Duoduo kowtowed three times, and Mengyuan Mountain seemed to tremble three times along with him.
He straightened his upper body and stared intently at the tombstone.
What? Qian Duoduo was stunned—the tombstone actually read “Tomb of Jin Buhuan”!
“So I died. That white banner was hung for me. Those spirit flowers were offered to me. The Refining Spirit Sect is holding a memorial service for me here on Mengyuan Mountain. The three kowtows I just gave, I kowtowed to myself, so they must have been for nothing.”
“But I’m still alive. Could it be that they’ve seen through me and know I’m Qian Duoduo? It can’t be. Jin Buhuan is still quietly staying in his Golden Toad…”
Qian Duoduo’s face was at one moment as if on fire, and at another as if frozen.
He turned his head and happened to see the face of Palace Lord Tang Honggong. That face was serious with a hint of a smile, yet that smile was firmly controlled.
“Great Uncle—” Qian Duoduo blurted out, thinking to himself, “It’s good that Great Uncle is fine; crying for nothing is fine.”
In the crowd, he saw Yu Yixiang. She had become much thinner, kneeling not far from him, trembling with surprise, a smile on her face, yet also tears.
Qian Duoduo saw Wang Longyu. His hands trembled as he tried to prop himself up from the ground, wanting to rush over, but he didn’t dare, looking at the Sect Leader and the Palace Lord.
Wang Meiruo, Huang Guiren, and those Senior Brothers from the Gold Vault led by Wang Dahei, knelt behind Yu Yixiang and Wang Longyu, so happy they wished they could jump up, waving vigorously at him from where they were.
The one hundred thousand Disciples of the Refining Spirit Sect were in a state of chaos, those in front relaying messages to those behind, who, unaware of what was happening, quietly tugged at those in front, asking what had occurred.
The noise grew louder and louder, and Qian Duoduo’s head also grew larger and larger.
The timing of his return to the Sect was just too precise!
So precise that even he didn’t know how to react. From sadness to joy in an instant, even the Sect Leader and the Palace Lord probably didn’t know how to react either.
“Cough…” The Sect Leader, who was about to call for a moment of silence, cleared his throat. His voice echoed through the clouds, and the bustling Mengyuan Mountain quieted down.
“Jin Buhuan is back! Our hero is back! This is a great joyous occasion. This shows that justice is undefeated, glory endures, and our Sect will greatly prosper!” Niu Jinshui was a little emotional, his eyes sweeping over everyone.
“Our Sect will greatly prosper!” The Palace Lords, Elders, and Disciples shouted in unison.
The sound reverberated among the Immortal Mountains, snow fell from the branches, and countless Spirit Birds flew up from the mountain forests. The momentum made people’s hearts surge.
The prosperity of a Sect, perhaps, was this kind of grandeur.
Niu Jinshui’s eyebrows relaxed, his hands clasped behind his back, and after a long while, he spoke, “Palace Lord Tang, the memorial service has become a celebration. Jin Buhuan is a Disciple of Mengyuan Mountain, you should preside over it.”
Tang Honggong stepped forward half a step, “Sect Leader, what about the title of Purple-Gold Disciple?”
Niu Jinshui’s eyebrows furrowed, “Still him. How can we let someone who risked his life for the Sect feel disheartened?”
“Bu Huan, quickly thank the Sect Leader, and all the Palace Lords,” Tang Honggong called to Qian Duoduo.
Qian Duoduo didn’t understand what a Purple-Gold Disciple was, or what its use was. But since Great Uncle told him to thank them, it must be correct.
Qian Duoduo got up and bowed repeatedly to the Sect Leader and the Palace Lords. During this time, the Disciples who had been kneeling all stood up.
Tang Honggong’s expression was gentle as he said to Qian Duoduo, “Take this opportunity to tell everyone about your mission to the Helou Family this time.”
Qian Duoduo looked at Yu Yixiang and Wang Longyu. They knew the first half of the mission. They didn’t know the second half, which involved splitting up to escape. But the first half, he estimated, only the high-ranking members of the Sect knew, while many Disciples were unaware.
Palace Lord Tang telling him to speak meant that everyone wanted to hear what happened next, and even more, they wanted the Disciples of the Sect to know the entire process of their united resistance against the enemy.
Betrayal and loyalty were the key points he needed to emphasize. The Helou Family’s betrayal would lead to no good end. And Qian Duoduo, Yu Yixiang, and Wang Longyu, loyal to the Sect, ultimately achieved safety and glory.
Even Shen Yezhen should be given the halo of loyalty and bravery.
Thinking of this, Qian Duoduo calmed down and spoke loudly, “Senior Brother Shen Yezhen, Senior Sister Yu Yixiang, and I, after receiving the mission, only thought about how to execute it well, how to find Senior Brother Wang Longyu…”
On Mengyuan Mountain, one hundred thousand people listened as Qian Duoduo recounted how they entered the Chifeng Mountain Range, how they reached the Helou Castle, and how they broke out of the castle.
“Senior Brother Shen Yezhen was a good brother. He was selfless, he dared to sacrifice…” Speaking of this, Qian Duoduo lowered his voice and paused for a moment.
Sect Leader Niu Jinshui nodded and said to a red-robed Palace Lord, “Head Seat Chu, Shen Yezhen is a Disciple from your mountain, remember to erect a monument in his memory as well.”
Head Seat Chu nodded.
“The first group of He Lou Clan members who pursued us numbered as many as seven. Among them, one was Condensing Qi Stage Level Eight, two were Qi Condensation Level Seven, and four were Qi Condensation Level Six. Yet, all three of us were only Qi Condensation Level Six, and Senior Brother Wang was still seriously injured at the time…”
Recalling this bloody experience still made Qian Duoduo shiver, forcing him to stop occasionally and rest before he could continue.
However, not a single person in the entire audience was impatient, including those in red and green robes.
“When we rushed out of the cave, we had no choice,” Qian Duoduo looked at Yu Yixiang and Wang Longyu, “To give me a chance to survive, Senior Brother Wang—he pointed his sword at his own throat.”
Wang Longyu gave a wry smile, nodded, a look of pride on his face. Whoever can be selfless is a good man. At least he, Wang Longyu, was not a selfish coward.
“Senior Sister Yu lied to me, saying that the Helou Sect wouldn’t dare to do anything to them even if they caught them.”
Yu Yixiang’s face showed shyness, and even glowed.
“But how could I escape alone? If we live, we must live together. Although I am also afraid of death, there are things more important than death…” When he spoke of himself rushing into mid-air to draw away the He Lou Clan members, Qian Duoduo saw the expressions of many Sect Disciples change.
Making that choice was difficult for anyone.
“By absorbing the flesh and blood of his clansmen, that young Clan Chief actually advanced to Foundation Establishment. I was almost in despair, but I thought of the Sect, and the promise to return to the Sect together. I did not give up, and I could not give up.”
Yu Yixiang and Wang Longyu also didn’t know this part. They stared at Qian Duoduo, afraid to miss a single word.
“When I detonated the Dan artifact, I was prepared to die together. However, when I woke up, I found myself buried in an unknown rock crevice, and my injuries were actually healed.”
After hearing the story, Sect Leader Niu Jinshui’s smile grew wider, “You Palace Lords, each give the Purple-Gold Disciple a reward. I still have matters to attend to, so I’ll be leaving first.”
With that, he stomped his foot and disappeared into thin air.
As soon as he left, the Palace Lords and Elders from other Immortal Mountains came over to bid farewell. Palace Lord Tang politely saw them all off.
As soon as they left, Yu Yixiang and Wang Longyu jumped over and both embraced Qian Duoduo, repeatedly saying, “It’s good you’re back, it’s really good you’re back.”
As she spoke, Yu Yixiang’s tears fell again. Wang Longyu blinked desperately, but his tears still wouldn’t stop, continuously sliding from the corners of his eyes.
Qian Duoduo felt warm inside, “Why are you crying? We agreed to return to the Sect together and have a big feast.”
It was fine when he didn’t say anything, but as soon as he said this, Yu Yixiang and Wang Longyu’s tears could no longer be controlled, falling in continuous streams.
“Very good. You didn’t disgrace our Mengyuan Mountain.” Tang Honggong stepped forward and placed his large hand on Qian Duoduo’s shoulder.
He scrutinized Qian Duoduo from head to toe, “After you woke up, your injuries were completely healed?”