Leaving Rock City, after more than a month of long-distance flight, Zhou Fan and Qin Li arrived at the Zhou Family.
Displaying his Core Formation Early Stage Cultivation and stating that he had no ill intentions, Zhou Fan and Qin Li were led into the reception hall, where they met the five current Clan Elders of the Zhou Family.
Zhou Fan did not conceal his identity, telling the Clan Elders that he was Zhou Fan, who had been sent to the Mortal Small World more than sixty years ago.
One Clan Elder still had an impression of Zhou Fan, a young man who had shown extraordinary talent during his schooling but had no Spiritual Root, not even a waste Spiritual Root, when his Spiritual Root was tested.
After the five Clan Elders communicated with their Divine Sense, they earnestly requested Zhou Fan to return to the Zhou Family and acknowledge his ancestors.
The five promised that as long as Zhou Fan was willing to return, the position of Zhou Family Clan Chief would be his, and he could freely use the resources in the Zhou Family treasury.
But Zhou Fan did not agree; his return this time was only to see how Zhou Chenxi was doing after so many years apart.
The five Clan Elders heard this and said that Zhou Chenxi’s Cultivation had already reached Foundation Establishment Late Stage and she was the current Clan Chief of the Zhou Family.
Zhou Fan was puzzled; since Zhou Chenxi was the Clan Chief, why hadn't she come over after they had been talking for so long?
And wasn't the Zhou Family Old Ancestor Core Formation? Why wasn't the Zhou Family Old Ancestor to be seen?
The five Clan Elders were silent for a moment, then the First Clan Elder spoke, truthfully explaining.
"Old Ancestor, his Lifespan is not much; he was severely injured ten years ago during a battle with the Wu Family Old Ancestor and has been in seclusion recuperating all these years."
"Half a month ago, there were suspected Demonic Core Stage Yao Beasts appearing near Red River Valley. Three days ago, the Clan Chief, along with the Hall Master of the Disciplinary Hall and the Hall Master of the Combat Hall, whose Cultivation also reached Foundation Establishment Late Stage, went to search for the Yao Beast's tracks. If there's an opportunity, they will try to eliminate that Yao Beast."
Red River Valley was under the jurisdiction of the Zhou Family. Because it was close to the Brown Rock Wasteland, Yao Beasts often roamed into Red River Valley to attack Cultivators and steal spiritual plants.
Zhou Fan still remembered the location of Red River Valley. Knowing where Zhou Chenxi was, Zhou Fan took out a valuable sum of Cultivation resources from his Storage Pouch and handed them to the five Clan Elders, considering it as compensation for the Zhou Family raising him for many years and allowing him to attend school for free when he was young.
Then, he left the Zhou Family's station and flew towards Red River Valley with Qin Li.
At the same time, within Red River Valley.
Zhou Chenxi and her group, who were tracking the Yao Beast, were discovered by a Tusked Rock Boar. This Third-Tier Yao Beast fiercely attacked the Human Race Cultivators.
As soon as the two sides met, the Disciplinary Hall Master's protective Medium Grade Magical Artifact was pierced by the Tusked Rock Boar's sharp tusks, which were covered in Third-Tier Demonic Qi. At the same time, one of his arms was severed into two by the Tusked Rock Boar's ferocious strike.
The Disciplinary Hall Master endured the intense pain from his body and quickly cast a Second-Tier Spell—Hundred Worms Devouring Heart.
His Magical Power transformed into extremely thin, highly condensed black silkworms that burrowed into the Tusked Rock Boar's body from various points.
The Tusked Rock Boar cried out in pain, its beast eyes turning crimson, and its attacks became even more violent. At this moment, the Combat Hall Master transformed into a five-meter-tall Bronze Armored Giant, and his fully charged Red Copper Blade struck down, leaving a long, narrow wound on the Tusked Rock Boar's side that was deep enough to expose bone.
Suffering this injury, the Tusked Rock Boar abandoned its attack on the Disciplinary Hall Master and turned to launch a Rock Boar Charge at the Bronze Armored Giant.
The Earth-attributed elemental power in the world was stirred by the Tusked Rock Boar, covering its entire body to form an indestructible earthy-brown rock armor.
After the Combat Hall Master controlled the Bronze Armored Giant to battle the Tusked Rock Boar for half an hour, his Magical Power was largely depleted, and he was about to be unable to maintain the Bronze Armored Giant's existence.
At this moment, he received a Divine Sense message from the Clan Chief. The Combat Hall Master immediately used all his remaining Magical Power to firmly hold the Tusked Rock Boar in the Bronze Armored Giant's embrace.
The Tusked Rock Boar sensed danger and began to struggle violently, but the Bronze Armored Giant's brute strength was on par with its own, and the Tusked Rock Boar could not break free for a while.
Zhou Chenxi finally completed her charge at this time. The aura of a Third-Tier Spell spread throughout the field. Under the dominance of Zhou Chenxi's Magical Power, the Spiritual Qi in the world gathered above the Tusked Rock Boar's head, forming a large white-gold sword.
The ten-meter-high great sword descended from the sky, precisely piercing through the Tusked Rock Boar's head.
The aftershocks of the Third-Tier Spell destroyed the Bronze Armored Giant, whose Magical Power was exhausted. The Combat Hall Master, who was inside it, emerged unharmed from the dust raised by the great sword's landing, relying on his protective Magical Artifact.
The Disciplinary Hall Master picked up his severed arm and quickly used spiritual threads to stitch it back on. This way, after some time of recuperation, he should be able to recover.
After a few words, the three did not relax. Zhou Chenxi had been continuously using her Divine Sense to detect the Tusked Rock Boar's life force fluctuations within the dust.
Suddenly, Zhou Chenxi's expression changed, "Disperse quickly!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, a black shadow shot out from the dust like lightning. The Tusked Rock Boar was bleeding from all seven orifices. Although its head had been pierced, it relied on its powerful Demonic Qi to support its final attack.
The Tusked Rock Boar charged directly at Zhou Chenxi. Zhou Chenxi had cast a Third-Tier Spell beyond her Cultivation level, and her Magical Power was depleted, so she had no time to dodge. Just at this critical moment, a sword light flashed, cutting the Tusked Rock Boar into two sections.
Zhou Fan and Qin Li appeared. Sensing the unmasked Core Formation aura of the newcomers, the Hall Master of the Disciplinary Hall and the Hall Master of the Combat Hall stood still, waiting for these two unfamiliar powerful Cultivators to speak first.
Zhou Chenxi looked at Zhou Fan. After a moment of eye contact, this always calm and strong Zhou Family Clan Chief suddenly threw herself into Zhou Fan's arms.
"I knew it, I knew you would come back..."
Zhou Fan gently patted Zhou Chenxi's back, his eyes tender.
He wanted to speak of the promise he had made with Zhou Chenxi when he left, but when the words reached his lips, Zhou Fan couldn't even recall that promise.
Now, Zhou Fan only remembered that it was Zhou Chenxi who accompanied him out of the darkness; the specific events of their time together had been completely forgotten.
He could only embrace Zhou Chenxi, and after a long while, he asked.
"So many years have passed, have you always been alone?"
Zhou Chenxi heard this, looked up at Zhou Fan, and smiled, "I've been waiting for you."
Zhou Fan didn't know what to say. In such a beautiful scene, he should, by rights, be very happy and content, but his empty memory made Zhou Fan feel very awkward.
He could only maintain the tenderness in his eyes and said, "Let's go back first. I have a lot I want to tell you."
"Mm, let's go home. I also have a lot I only want to tell you."
Qin Li condensed a sword with his Magical Power, dividing the Tusked Rock Boar's massive body into dozens of pieces. The two Hall Masters of the Zhou Family collected them into their Storage Pouches.
Zhou Chenxi held Zhou Fan's arm, watching the scene before her with a happy and serene smile.
Suddenly, she spoke to Zhou Fan, "The one with long hair is the current Hall Master of the Zhou Family's Disciplinary Hall—Zhou Qing. The other one with short hair is the current Hall Master of the Zhou Family's Combat Hall—Zhou Liwei."
Zhou Fan saw Zhou Chenxi's gaze linger on Qin Li, knowing what she meant, so he said, "This Sword Cultivator is my good brother, Qin Li."
"Brother? Is this beautiful sister not a girl?"
Zhou Fan thought for a moment and said, "Indeed."