"Fellow Daoists!"
Ning Tianyi stood up, pointed in the direction of Ning Daoran, and laughed heartily: "This Young Friend Ning is the sworn brother of my daughter, Mingyu, and to , Ning Tianyi, he is like half a mber of my own family. Therefore, when he travels within the Jianghu, I ask all fellow Daoists to kindly lend him your support!"
At once, the crowd clasped their fists in agreent, responding, "Certainly, certainly."
Ning Daoran, however, was sowhat surprised. Ning Tianyi’s words carried significant weight. By openly declaring him as half of his family, it implied that anyone who dared to provoke Ning Daoran within the Returning Ruins Immortal Land would be considered an enemy of Ning Tianyi!
For a mont, neighbors such as Jade Marrow Immortal and Jin Yuanzi cast astonished and envious glances his way.
What truly amazed them was Ning Daoran’s grand gesture. To establish ties with Ning Tianyi, he had presented the Golden Feather Sword as a gift. This move surpassed even the lilight of two Nascent Soul Stage Great Cultivators!
Of course, Ning Daoran’s gift of the Golden Feather Sword to Ning Mingyu wasn’t solely for securing relations with Ning Tianyi. A greater reason was that he genuinely found Ning Mingyu to be an admirable younger sister, and she was well-deserving of this sword.
After the celebration, Ning Daoran served as a gracious host, guiding Lin Xuyan and Liu Wushuang through the bustling streets of Guixu City’s workshop district.
Ning Mingyu herself donned a white dress and accompanied them, enthusiastically explaining the origins and histories of various stores and the workshop’s foundation. In truth, Ning Daoran typically either secluded himself in cultivation or ventured out to sea to hunt demons. Strolling the streets was a rarity for him, so his knowledge of the area naturally paled compared to Ning Mingyu.
Several days later, True Monarch Qi Xing, Lin Xuyan, and Liu Wushuang returned to the Liangyi Sect, while Ning Daoran began his period of seclusion.
...
Months later.
Outside Guixu City, the skies were heavy with thick clouds.
"Shush shush shush~~~"
One after another, figures appeared in the sky above—the City Guarding Cultivators of Guixu City. Leading them was Longque Wanderer, followed by a majority of Golden Core Late Stage and Golden Core Middle Stage Practitioners. Their collective strength could not be underestimated.
"How could this have happened?"
Longque Wanderer furrowed his brow and surveyed the area below.
The scene showed a forest outside Guixu City. Previously, this area was serene and sparsely populated, frequented by wild beasts. But now, the forest appeared "sickened," with all the trees stained by a diseased black hue. At the center of the woods, there was a collapsed sinkhole, forming a black vortex.
"It’s the Black Tide..."
A Golden Core Late Stage elder frowned and said, "Senior Long Que, this junior has seen such Black Tide vortexes near Kunpeng Immortal City before. Large quantities of Red Demons are certain to be hidden within these vortexes!"
"Could it be that the Black Tide has finally set its sights upon our Returning Ruins Immortal Land?"
Longque Wanderer frowned and asked, "How many are there?"
"There are five others, apart from this one here."
A Golden Core Middle Stage cultivator bowed respectfully and replied, "From late last night until now, these Black Tides have silently erged. All of them are distributed around Guixu City, forming a siege-like position. Their appearance is certainly no coincidence!"
"Senior Long Que."
Another Golden Core Late Stage elder spoke gravely: "In just half a day, hundreds of cultivators have already perished in the sudden appearance of these Black Tides. Has the City Lord been inford?"
"The City Lord is aware; otherwise, why would this old man be here?"
Longque Wanderer squinted his eyes and stared at the center of the Black Tide vortex. At a certain mont, he suddenly felt as if the center of the vortex resembled an eye, and that eye briefly glared back at him. That eerie glance caused an inexplicable chill to grow within Longque Wanderer.
"Sothing’s amiss..."
He suddenly raised his eyebrows and said, "Movent detected! Everyone, prepare for battle!"
In the next instant, nurous black tentacles stretched out from the vortex, resembling the roots of a towering ancient tree rushing toward the crowd. Surrounding these roots, countless black granular particles began writhing, morphing into hordes of Red Demons, who imdiately engaged in fierce combat against the cultivators.
"Die!"
Longque Wanderer unleashed the Wandering Dragon Sword. With a sweep of sword light, an entire wave of Red Demons’ bodies exploded into fragnts. Though they were impervious to Five Elents Magical Power, Longque Wanderer, being a Nascent Soul Middle Stage Cultivator, possessed overwhelming mana intensity capable of instantly shattering their forms!
"Cackle, cackle~~~"
During the chaotic battle, streaks of blood-red light erged from within the vortex. Their movents were exceptionally nimble, swiftly traversing the black tentacles with alarming agility. Amidst terrifying roars, countless bloodthirsty mouths opened wide, clashing directly with Longque Wanderer and the City Guarding Cultivators he led.
In the blink of an eye, nurous Golden Core Middle Stage Practitioners had already fallen!
"Sothing’s wrong!"
Longque Wanderer’s gaze turned icy: "These are not Red Demons—they’re Blood Demons! Everyone retreat from the fight! Head upwards toward the Spirit Boats!"
"Go!"
The group transford into streaks of tunneling light, darting upward.
By now, the skies were utterly dark, and the base of the clouds revealed the outlines of ship hulls. In an instant, at least ten Spirit Boats descended from above, each surrounded by dense prohibitions. As Longque Wanderer boarded one of the Spirit Boats, its Spirit Light Cannons rotated to face downward.
"Cackle, cackle, cackle~~~"
In the air, flickering blood-red sparks ascended rapidly skyward—all of them Blood Demons.
Monts later, the thunderous roar of cannonfire intermingled with the Blood Demons’ ferocious howls. The blood fiends charged at the prohibitions with reckless abandon, while from the vortex’s distant center, strands of black light began rising. They turned out to be packs of Red Demons, so nurous they resembled misty gray fog ascending into the air.
"This is bad..."
Longque Wanderer felt a chilling dread. If the battle continued in this manner, these dozen-odd Spirit Boats would inevitably be overwheld and topple into the depths of the Black Tide vortex.
"Retreat!"
Longque Wanderer imdiately ordered: "Fall back ten miles! Reconstruct defensive lines—don’t engage them head-on!"
"Understood!"
The dozen Spirit Boats swiftly withdrew, while the Blood Demons and Red Demons snarling around the tentacles didn’t pursue them beyond the vortex’s range.
...
Days later, during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Ning Daoran finally erged from seclusion, summoned Big Stupid Deer, and prepared an exceptionally sumptuous feast. He sent out a Sound Transmission Talisman inviting Jade Marrow Immortal from the neighboring cave mansion to join him in celebrating the festival.
Before long, Jade Marrow Immortal arrived dressed in an elegant deep-blue Immortal Dress. Her immortal charm radiating, she first offered a courteous bow, then smiled cheerfully upon seeing the delectable spread before her.
"Fellow Daoist Ning, you’ve been most thoughtful!"
"No need for such formalities, Jade Marrow."
Ning Daoran sat upright, poured her a cup of Spiritual Wine, and said with a gentle smile: "The Mid-Autumn Festival is a ti for family reunions. Alas, the notion of reunion is far too extravagant for us cultivators. In my years roaming the outside world, I’ve almost forgotten the faces of my family. What’s even sadder... is that after so long in cultivation, my loved ones have all passed away one by one. The concept of family reunion has beco an unattainable dream."
"Fellow Daoist speaks truly..."
Jade Marrow Immortal’s eyes grew red with emotion.
She recalled her own family—her father and mother who had sent her to the mountain to cultivate, her elder brother’s marriage, her younger sister’s wedding. By the ti she reached the Foundation Establishnt Stage, her parents had already passed. She visited her hotown several tis, but as both her brother and sister later departed from this world, even the act of visiting family lost its aning.
She realized she had beco a rootless wanderer, with all the traces of her childhood origins being thoroughly washed away by ti.
"Fellow Daoist..."
Jade Marrow Immortal grew increasingly lancholic and jested: "Why would you say such things and make feel so sorrowful..."
"Ahem..."
Ning Daoran replied: "Don’t be sad, Jade Marrow. This is a reality we cultivators cannot avoid. We ought to remain optimistic. While family reunions may be impossible, the future will always bring opportunities to et people worth cherishing—like the bond between us here. As the saying goes, ’Fear not the journey ahead, for companions you’ll find.’"
"What a poetic sentint, ’Fear not the journey ahead, for companions you’ll find.’"
Jade Marrow Immortal savored the line, appreciating its profound aning. She smiled and said, "I never would have guessed Fellow Daoist possessed such literary talent. It seems I’ve underestimated you—this level of eloquence could certainly lead one to the path of Confucian cultivation and perhaps even to the status of a Confucian Saint."
"..."
Ning Daoran felt sowhat embarrassed, thinking to himself that he had no real talent in literature. He was rely quoting it, and he couldn’t even compose a decent essay for his entrance exams, let alone aspire to beco a Confucian Saint.
After three rounds of drinks.
Jade Marrow Immortal suddenly remarked: "Fellow Daoist Ning has been in seclusion, so I imagine you are unaware of the recent major events outside the city. Did you know sothing significant has happened recently?"
"Oh?"
Ning Daoran appeared curious and said: "I’ve indeed been in seclusion. What has occurred in the outside world?"
"The city is gripped by unease."
Jade Marrow Immortal furrowed her delicate brows and said: "This is due to the appearance of six massive Black Tide vortexes outside the city, encircling Guixu City. Fellow Daoist, as a Nascent Soul Great Cultivator, you must surely have heard about the Black Tides?"
"I’ve heard of them, and I’ve encountered them before in battle."
Ning Daoran frowned and asked: "Jade Marrow, tell , how is the situation now?"
"Not very optimistic."
Jade Marrow Immortal pursed her crimson lips and explained: "A few days ago, City Lord Ning led the City Guarding Cultivators to quell the Black Tide vortexes, only to suffer significant setbacks. Those vortexes weren’t just hiding Red Demons but also countless Blood Demons, resulting in considerable losses among the Guarding Cultivators."
She paused before continuing, "However, nurous guest cultivators in the city have joined the battle. The fighting has been fierce these past couple of days, and perhaps a resolution will co soon."
"Hmm."
Ning Daoran looked deeply concerned and said: "If Guixu City is defeated, we may not even retain the privilege of being guests here."
"Fellow Daoist need not worry so much."
Jade Marrow Immortal smiled and reassured him: "Guixu City has stood resilient against forces from the outer seas for years. It’s not sothing a re few Black Tides can overco. Besides, Guixu City has the Divinity Transformation Stage City Lord Ning overseeing its defenses, so I doubt there will be any major incidents."
"Let’s hope that’s true..."
Ning Daoran nodded solemnly.
...
Late afternoon.
After Jade Marrow Immortal’s departure, Little Bai returned from outside, carrying a bounty list issued by Ning Tianyi. The docunt aid to recruit cultivators from within the city to join the Guarding Army for continuous offensive efforts and to suppress the expansion of the six Black Tide vortexes. Furthermore, it promised substantial rewards to anyone capable of destroying these vortexes!
"It seems the situation is quite dire..."
Ning Daoran slowly stood up, placed the bounty list on the table, and said: "I need to take a look!"
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