The mountain terrain gradually leveled out, the forest becoming sparse. In the distance, the outline of an official road could be faintly seen, marking their complete departure from the mountain range under Qingxu Temple's direct control. Tang Xiaoqi and Liu Yun simultaneously slowed their pace once more, as if this final stretch of road at the sect's edge deserved careful savoring and lingering.
The rabbit spirit seemed to have quieted down too, no longer looking around, just quietly crouching on Xiaoqi's shoulder, its two long ears twitching slightly.
Just then, not far ahead, beneath an ancient pine with twisted branches, a steady figure stood with hands behind his back, as if he had long merged with that mountain stone and pine shadow—it was Eldest Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng.
He hadn't rushed to catch up like Luo Feng. He simply waited here quietly, like a parent seeing a child off on a distant journey, making a final farewell at the last familiar corner.
Morning light through the gaps in pine needles cast dappled shadows on his clean daoist robe, making his already tranquil temperament appear even more transcendent. He had no superfluous expression on his face, his gaze peaceful as he watched the two approaching.
Xiaoqi and Liu Yun quickened their pace, respectfully bowing: "Eldest Senior Brother."
Mu Qingfeng nodded slightly, his gaze first falling on Liu Yun, carrying a hint of inquiry and understanding.
Liu Yun straightened her back, meeting Eldest Senior Brother's gaze without flinching, her eyes determined.
Mu Qingfeng didn't ask more, only saying gently: "Since you've decided, take good care of yourself, and take good care of Xiaoqi."
"Yes, Eldest Senior Brother!" Liu Yun nodded firmly, warmth surging in her heart from his understanding and support.
Only then did Mu Qingfeng turn his gaze to Xiaoqi. That gaze was profound, as if it could penetrate all appearances to reach the soul's depths. He didn't immediately speak, only looking quietly like this, as if to deeply etch this junior brother's appearance into his heart one last time.
Xiaoqi didn't avoid it either, calmly meeting Eldest Senior Brother's scrutiny. From Eldest Senior Brother's eyes he saw worry, saw reluctance, but even more, he saw a heavy trust and expectation.
After a long while, Mu Qingfeng slowly spoke, his voice as steady as ever, yet somehow lower than usual: "What needed to be said was already said yesterday at the mountain gate. Today I waited here to give you two things."
He extended his right hand, in his palm a cyan jade talisman of simple style. The talisman was only the size of a baby's palm, completely translucent, yet within seemed sealed a hair-fine yet condensed-to-the-extreme silver stream of light, slowly swimming, emanating a heart-trembling sharp aura. Even from a distance, Xiaoqi could feel the terrible power contained in that jade talisman—enough to tear through the void.
"This is the 'Taiyi Formless Sword Talisman.'" Mu Qingfeng's voice carried a trace of gravity. "It was refined by our Qingxu Temple's founding patriarch who gathered the clear qi of the nine heavens, merged a strand of his own life-bound sword intent, and spent a hundred years to create. Passed down to this day, only three remain. Once activated, it can manifest a formless sword strike equivalent to the full-power strike of an early Spirit Transformation stage sword cultivator—its power absolute, enough to slay ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators and heavily wound Spirit Transformation ones."
Xiaoqi's heart shook violently at these words. Spirit Transformation stage! That was a realm in today's cultivation world that existed almost only in legend! This sword talisman was practically a nuclear-weapon-level life-saving card! Its value was simply incalculable!
"Eldest Senior Brother, this is too precious! The sect..." Xiaoqi instinctively wanted to refuse. Such a precious treasure should remain in the sect as a final deterrent.
Mu Qingfeng raised his hand to stop his words, his gaze calm as water: "No matter how precious a treasure is, it is still a dead thing. People are the foundation of the sect. You carry heavy responsibilities, and the road ahead is dangerous. Having this object with you might gain a thread of life in desperate circumstances. Take it."
His tone was unquestionable, carrying the decisiveness of a successor to the sect master.
Xiaoqi looked at the unarguable intent in Eldest Senior Brother's eyes. He knew that refusing further would be hypocrisy, and would betray the sect and Eldest Senior Brother's good intentions. He took a deep breath and extended both hands to extremely solemnly accept that cyan jade talisman. The talisman was cool to the touch, but that swimming silver stream of light transmitted a bone-piercing chill and sharpness that made even his soul tremble. He carefully stored this sword talisman that concerned his life in the deepest part of his storage bag, together with that Nine Revolutions Soul-Returning Pill.
Seeing Xiaoqi accept the sword talisman, a trace of relief flashed in Mu Qingfeng's eyes. He raised his hand again, this time a scroll made of unknown beast hide appearing in his palm. The scroll presented a dark yellowish-brown color, its edges somewhat worn, emanating an incredibly ancient, weathered aura.
"This is the 'Map of the Eight Desolations Universe.'" Mu Qingfeng extended the scroll toward Xiaoqi. "It cannot compare to the copies of geographic maps circulating now. This map is said to originate from ancient times, recording a world far vaster than currently known. It not only marks many secret places, ancient ruins, and spatial nodes in known regions like the Central Continent, Four Seas, Northern Plains, Western Desert, and Southern Frontier, but also involves some... suspected coordinates and legends of other realms."
He paused, looking meaningfully at Xiaoqi: "Your path may not be limited to this realm. This map is esoteric and obscure. Many places are recorded in special secret scripts or divine intent imprints, requiring extremely high cultivation and opportunity to interpret. Keep it with you and contemplate it slowly—it may guide you."
Xiaoqi's heart surged again. The Taiyi Formless Sword Talisman was protective power, and this "Map of the Eight Desolations Universe" was guidance for the journey ahead! What Eldest Senior Brother and the sect had considered for him was far more comprehensive and far-reaching than he had imagined!
He once again solemnly accepted this heavy ancient map, able to feel the rough texture left by countless ages on the beast hide scroll, as if touching the pulse of history.
With two precious treasures given, Mu Qingfeng seemed to have completed an extremely important matter. His tightly wound aura relaxed slightly. He looked at Xiaoqi, his gaze softening, like an older brother watching a younger brother about to travel far.
"Xiaoqi." He called, his voice carrying a barely perceptible rasp. "Qingxu Temple will always be your home. Whether you become famous throughout the world or remain unknown; whether you're successful and proud or down and out; this door will always be open to you. When you're tired, when you're worn, when you're hurt—come back."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Xiaoqi and Liu Yun, finally settling on Xiaoqi's face, speaking clearly and slowly, word by word: "In all things, be careful. Live, and return."
No impassioned encouragement, no ceaseless admonitions, only these eight simplest yet heaviest, most sincere words.
Xiaoqi's eyes instantly grew moist. He tightly gripped the ancient map in his hand, feeling the cold touch of that sword talisman in his storage bag, gazing at Eldest Senior Brother's steady face full of trust and care. Thousands of words were blocked in his chest, finally condensing into a deep bow, his voice choking: "Eldest Senior Brother... take care! Xiaoqi will not fail your trust!"
Liu Yun stood to the side as well, eyes reddening, forcefully clenching her fist in salute: "Eldest Senior Brother, rest assured! We will definitely return!"
Mu Qingfeng looked at them, finally revealing an extremely faint yet extremely warm smile. He nodded, said nothing more, only waved his hand, signaling they should be on their way.
Xiaoqi and Liu Yun took one last deep look at Eldest Senior Brother, as if to carve his figure into their hearts, then resolutely turned and strode toward the official road leading to the unknown distance.
Mu Qingfeng stood in place, motionless, watching their figures grow farther and farther, finally becoming two small black dots, disappearing at the end of the official road.
Mountain wind still blew, pine waves sounding.
He stood alone for a long while before softly sighing, his low words dissipating in the wind: "Young eagle spreads its wings, dragon returns to the ocean. Junior Brother, Junior Sister, may you find your way."
With that, he turned and walked steadily back the way he came. His figure remained as reliable as a mountain, bearing the sect's present and future, and also bearing the deepest concern and expectation for the junior brother and sister in the distance.