Ming Qi averted a calamity without incident, but he still felt a bit worried. After treating Dabai's injuries, he didn't stay home but left immediately.
Although he had sent the Lihuo Sect away this time, he knew the Bai Mansion would not give up easily. After all, if such a task as slaying the Blood Demon Qin were accomplished, it would cause a considerable stir even in the Archon's Xiongfeng City. The Bai Mansion's relentless efforts in slaying the demon were naturally intended to use this as leverage to gain a slight advantage in the upcoming battle among the seven prefectures.
Therefore, Ming Qi must seize the opportunity to improve his strength. Only when his strength reaches a level sufficient to threaten the safety of the Bai Mansion can he avoid endless conspiracies and calculations.
Strength is king.
Although he didn't return to Yanzhuang, Ming Qi didn't stray far.
Yanzhuang was his weak spot, and it was becoming increasingly apparent. If he didn't find a solution quickly, his future path to immortality would inevitably be hampered.
Ming Qi stayed on a barren mountain over ten miles from Yanzhuang for three days.
Throughout those three days, he pondered how to resolve this matter.
On the third night, Ming Qi quietly arrived in Xiandu City. At several shops, he sold a considerable amount of low-grade Yuanjing.
The Yuanjing he sold earned him gold and silver, the kind ordinary mortals would need.
Then Ming Qi returned to Yanzhuang and began visiting the villagers one by one.
From the first household at the village entrance to the last, he gave each one enough gold and silver to ensure they could settle down and live comfortably in their new home.
The entire Yanzhuang population was no more than a thousand. After distributing the gold and silver, Ming Qi returned home.
"Forget me, your unfilial son."
Ming Qi, like a child who had made a mistake, knelt respectfully before Miao Dazhu.
He knew that once he embarked on the path of immortal cultivation, there was no turning back. Although he had already made up his mind to give up his worldly ties, he found it impossible.
There was no other way, he could only do this.
With Yan Manor no longer in existence, his worldly ties were completely severed.
Miao Dazhu remained silent, his eyes complex as he looked at Ming Qi, Ming Qiniang, Miao Sen, and Miao Cheng. They all remained silent. They all knew that this time, Ming Qi truly would not return, and would never see them again.
After a long silence, Miao Dazhu finally wiped his face and forced a smile, saying, "Sanlang has grown up, and it's time for him to venture out into the world. Don't worry, I will spend the rest of my life with your mother and the others."
At this point, the middle-aged Miao Dazhu couldn't help but choke up.
A fish should return to the sea, a bird should soar through the mountains and forests, and an immortal cultivator should venture into the world of immortal cultivation.
Although he was an ordinary mortal, simple and honest, he understood this truth.
So, despite his reluctance to let go, he would not stop him. In his heart, he only wished his son freedom and freedom in the world.
"Dad, Mom, Big Brother, Second Brother!"
Ming Qi looked at them one by one, then kowtowed profusely.
Blood is thicker than water; only love can't be severed.
Finally, Ming Qi stood up and flipped his wrist, revealing two exquisite jade pendants. One depicted a soaring dragon, the other a soaring phoenix. Both were exquisitely crafted, imbued with traces of celestial spiritual energy.
He handed the Soaring Dragon jade pendant to his eldest brother Miao Sen, then the Flying Phoenix jade pendant to Miao Cheng.
"If any of my Miao family descendants ever venture into the world of immortal cultivation, please carry this jade pendant with you. Perhaps I'll encounter them in the vast sea of immortals."
Miao Sen and Miao Cheng carefully put the jade pendant away and nodded to Ming Qi.
They would carry out Ming Qi's instructions without the slightest hesitation. It was conceivable that in the years to come, these twin jade pendants, the Soaring Dragon and Flying Phoenix, would become their most precious heirlooms.
The entire Xilan Province was vast and boundless, encompassing a million miles in radius. If the less than a thousand people of Yanzhuang were scattered throughout Xilan Province, even a peerless master, a king or saint, would find it incredibly difficult to locate them. This was the only solution Ming Qi had contemplated today.
Only by seeing Yanzhuang "disappear" from this world would he feel at ease and truly sever his worldly ties.
After arranging everything, Ming Qi wandered around Yanzhuang for another half month, until the entire village was completely deserted, with no one left. Only then did he stand atop the mountain, gaze at the lifeless mountains, and let go of everything.
"Changli, do you think I'm someone who can't let go?"
With the rustling of the wind in his ears and the setting sun in his eyes, Ming Qi asked Mo Changli, somewhat bewilderedly.
He couldn't let go of his family. Although he had lived two lives, his soul seemed to have always been divided: one side, as cold as a thousand-year-old ice, devoid of any warmth, while the other, as fiery as boiling blood.
"No, it's the law of reincarnation. Our bodies come from our parents. Giving thanks to their love is also a way of respecting the laws of nature."
Mo Changli said, blinking.
Dabai, who had recovered considerably, sent a voice message.
"I only know you're a man of deep loyalty. Whether immortal or divine, I see no conflict between the two."
Hearing Dabai's words, Ming Qi was genuinely surprised. He hadn't expected this fellow to utter such profound words. He immediately felt relieved.
"Alright, that's enough of this matter. Next, we'll head to Killing Star City to meet your fellow tribesmen."
Ming Qi wasn't one to dwell on trivial matters. A few words were enough. A man must be able to let go of things.
Canglan River.
A fortnight later, as spring grass grew, two men and a tiger stood on the banks of the turbulent Canglan River, gazing across.
"After crossing the Canglan River, Killing Star City won't be far away."
Ming Qi pointed to the other side. All that was left was a vast expanse. The renowned Killing Star City of Xilan lay upon that vast expanse.
Killing Star City is a gathering place for immortal mercenaries and a haunt for masters of various races.
Speaking of crossing the river, Mo Changli simply activated the Golden Bridge of All Heavens. Enveloped in a golden glow, he, Ming Qi, and Da Bai were carried across.
The Canglan River stretches for nearly a hundred miles, but Mo Changli's Golden Bridge of All Heavens, a magical power bestowed by the gods, though weakened considerably by their punishment, made crossing the hundred-mile-long Canglan River effortless.
In less than a quarter of an hour, the two men and the tiger reached the other side safely.
Ming Qi had never been to Killing Star City, but he had learned its location from other sources. Although they had crossed the Canglan River, their specific direction remained to be determined.
It was noon, the sun high in the sky. Although the early spring weather was chilly, the sunlight still felt warm as it fell on them.
Unable to determine the exact direction of Star Killing City, Ming Qi could only rely on ground tracking combined with incomplete information to determine their direction, so they walked quite slowly.
It took them two full hours to cover just a few dozen miles.
For mortals, covering a few dozen miles in two hours is quite fast, but they were all powerful beings in the Xiantian realm, and their speed was even slower than a snail's.
"How about I take a flight to determine our direction?"
Mo Changli, sensing that this wasn't a good idea, suggested.
Ming Qi knew that the Celestial Clan possessed the ability to fly.
However, when Mo Changli made this suggestion, Ming Qi shook his head.
"We've never been to Star Killing City before, and we're completely unfamiliar with it. Furthermore, the Celestial Clan's status is rather unique, so I think it's best not to reveal our identities so easily."
After rejecting Mo Changli's suggestion, Ming Qi unleashed the Suzaku Divine Wings from the Suzaku Burning Heaven Sutra without hesitation.
Mo Changli possessed the racial innate ability to fly. While Ming Qi didn't, the Suzaku Burning Heaven Sutra had endowed him with a pair of Suzaku Divine Wings.
Flames rose, and the Suzaku Divine Wings unfurled. Blazing flames swirled and danced, carrying Ming Qi swiftly high into the sky.
Ming Qi soared into the air to determine his position, while Mo Changli and Dabai waited.
Once in the air, Ming Qi reached his maximum altitude at top speed, then spread his spiritual awareness in all directions.
The surroundings were utterly desolate. Within a radius of more than ten miles, no cultivators were visible, only various demonic beasts were active.
Ming Qi searched carefully but found nothing to determine his location, so he widened his range and flew in a single direction.
After flying for dozens of miles, Ming Qi finally spotted a massive city nestled in the misty clouds in the distance. Even with his keen eyesight, Ming Qi could only discern its outline, while the people moving about within it were as small as dust.
West of the Canglan River, this enormous city must be Killing Star City.
After determining their location, Ming Qi retraced his steps. Estimating the straight-line distance, without using his flying ability, they could barely reach the city by nightfall.
"We'll arrive before nightfall. We're new here, so we'd better keep a low profile," Ming Qi explained, leading the way.
This area was flat, barren, with no prominent mountains or forests, which was why Ming Qi had such a good time locating Killing Star City.
Their journey was smooth sailing, and by nightfall, the enormous city was already in sight.
As the saying goes, looking at a river before running a horse is a recipe for disaster, especially in this vast plain. Although Killing Star City was within sight, actually reaching the city itself would likely require considerable effort.