After recovering for several more days at the hidden valley, when Mu Qingfeng's injuries had barely stabilized—no longer life-threatening—and Tang Xiaoqi had transitioned from deep unconsciousness to periods of waking alternating with sleeping in a weak state, the group finally decided to set out and return to Qingxu Temple. The departing team was much larger than when they arrived, and much heavier. Liu Yun supported Mu Qingfeng, who could barely walk but whose face remained pale. Sun Yi and Iron Wall and five other Shadow-Breaking Alliance members who chose to follow Tang Xiaoqi took turns carrying Aunt Su—still unconscious and hanging by a thread—on specially-made stretchers, along with Tang Xiaoqi, who was in a sleeping state most of the time.
The other Shadow-Breaking Alliance members who chose to join Qingxu Temple or retire, after solemnly bidding farewell to Feng Wuji, either accompanied them or set off on their chosen paths. Feng Wuji stood at the valley's entrance, watching until their figures disappeared into the forests and mountains, then turned and silently merged into the vast wilderness like an ordinary traveler, beginning his journey of wandering. The return journey was extraordinarily slow and careful. Liu Yun and Sun Yi maintained the highest alertness, avoiding possible scouts and dangerous areas.
Xiao Qi occasionally woke, his gaze emptilygaze Mu Qingfeng finally rushed to the largest crack at the altar's edgecountless soul bodiesemptiness, or turning toward Aunt Su's stretcher, lips moving but unable to produce clear sounds, soon sinking back into exhausted sleep due to weakness. Mu Qingfeng spent most of his time with closed eyes, his brow furrowed, clearly painstakinglyprotectreplying his damaged origin. The atmosphere was oppressive and silent, with only footsteps and the faint creaking of stretchers echoing through the quiet mountain forests. More than ten days later, when the familiar outline of the mountain gate and the guest-greeting pine—at the gate reportedly several thousand years old with lush branches and leaves—came into view, everyone felt an indescribable sorrow and complex emotions surge in their hearts.
Finally. they had returned. The gate-guarding disciples, seeing this disheveled team carrying stretchers from afar, were initially wary. Upon recognizing Liu Yun and Mu Qingfeng's figures (despite their extremely poor condition), they immediately signaled and rushed over. "Senior Brother! Third Senior Sister!
You." The disciples saw Mu Qingfeng's ashen complexion and Liu Yun's blood-stained clothes, and the two unconscious people on stretchers, plus Sun Yi, Iron Wall, and other unfamiliar faces with fierce auras clearly not Qingxu Temple disciples—they were shocked speechless. "Quickly inform the Temple Master!" Liu Yun gave the order without further explanation, her voice carrying undeniable exhaustion and authority. The news spread like wings, quickly circulating through the entire Qingxu Temple. When Liu Yun and the others carried the stretchers across the familiar blue stone steps—worn smooth by countless years—toward the main peak's plaza, numerous elders and disciples who had heard the news already stood solemnly in the plaza.
Every gaze focused on this battered, wound-covered team, filled with shock, worry, and questions. At that moment, from the direction of the main hall, a gentle yet vast aura approached. A streak of blue light flashed, and the Temple Master's—True Immortal Xuan Xuan's—figure appeared before the plaza. He still had that otherworldly, refined appearance, blue robes and whisk in hand, a gaunt yet dignified face.
But now, those eyes that were usually calm as an ancient well clearly reflected shock, pain and sympathy, and a deep gravitas. His gaze first fell on the supported Mu Qingfeng, narrowing slightly, clearly seeing the serious extent of his origin damage. Then his sight swept across Liu Yun, noting that though she stood straight, her internal breath wasdisorderpower and her injuries were not light. Finally, his gaze fell on the two stretchers.
When he saw Aunt Su's familiar face—pale as paper, life force faint—he flashed a complex, indescribable emotion. And when his gaze touched the other stretcher—the pale, unconscious, almost mortal-like young man—even with True Immortal Xuan Xuan's composure, his body could not help but slightly tremor! That was Tang Xiaoqi! When he left, though his cultivation was not high, he was full of vitality, bore secrets, and was a disciple the sect had high hopes for.
Now. the Temple Master's spiritual sense lightly swept over, and his heart sank. Meridians severed, spiritual power depleted, dantian dead and silent, dao foundation nearly completely destroyed! This. was essentially the sign of cultivation's end, becoming aworthlesspossess! What kind of bitter battle had these his most outstanding disciples experienced to end up in such a state?
"Temple Master!" Liu Yun released her support of Mu Qingfeng, stepped forward, voicecarryingchoking, about to kneel in salute. True Immortal Xuan Xuan swept his whisk, a gentle force supporting her. "No need for formalities." His voice was still calm, carrying the power toappeaseshattering or deflectingswiftly carrying Xiao Qi on her back, "It's good that you've returned." His gaze again swept over Sun Yi, Iron Wall and others, nodding slightly: "Who are these people?" "Junior Sun Yi (Iron Wall.) formerly of the Shadow-Breaking Alliance, now willing to follow Brother Tang, protect his safety, and take orders from Qingxu Temple!"Sun Yi and the others clasped fists, saluting respectfully, voicessonorous. They could sense this Temple Master's fathomless cultivation and heroic spirit.
True Immortal Xuan Xuan's eyes flashed with understanding, nodding: "Righteous ones, you have labored. Qingxu Temple welcomes you all." He did not ask for details, but immediately ordered in a deep voice: "Elder of the Pill Hall, quickly retrieve the finest 'Meridian-Restoring Pills' and 'Soul-Nourishing Pills'! Elder of the Artifact Hall, activate the 'Wood Element Life-Generating Formation'! Send Mu Qingfeng, Tang Xiaoqi, and Fellow Daoist Su immediately into the formation for healing!
Liu Yun, you must also immediately enter closed meditation to recuperate!" Orders were issued one after another, steady and swift. The entire Qingxu Temple immediately operated efficiently. Soon, Mu Qingfeng, Tang Xiaoqi, and Aunt Su were carefully sent into the Wood Element Life-Generating Formation at the back mountain of the main peak—where spiritual energy was most abundant andendlesslimittransmittingopportunity flourished. Liu Yun was also escorted to her quarters by a female elder for closed cultivation.
True Immortal Xuan Xuan personally examined the three's injuries, especially Xiao Qi's near-destructive dao foundation damage and Aunt Su's shattered soul. His brow tightly locked, longlongnotwords. He stood at the formation's edge, brimming with vitality, gazing at the three unconscious figures within, then at Sun Yi and others standing solemnly nearby with worried expressions. Finally, his gaze turned south, toward the direction of the Ten Thousand Poison Marsh.
He knew that his disciples brought back not only heavy casualties, but news that would shake the entire cultivation world, and a. future filled with unknowns and challenges. Qingxu Temple would be pushed to the forefront because of this event. How to cure these heroes, how to deal with the aftermath—these would be the severe challenges this Temple Master must face next. Return was not an ending, but the beginning of an even more complex journey.