After making arrangements for his family, Wu Yuan summoned Fang Xia. He had already informed Fang Xia of the general situation through the Middle Land Immortal Hall.
“Old Fang, I’m leaving the entirety of the Middle Land in your hands now,” Wu Yuan said, looking at Fang Xia. “The six Golden Core puppets, the Yanqing Hall, the treasury of the Middle Land Guard, and everything else—I’m entrusting it all to you.”
Fang Xia was one of the people Wu Yuan trusted most in the Middle Land, second only to his family.
In terms of strength, Fang Xia was also the only genius in the Middle Land whom Wu Yuan believed had hope of reaching the Amethyst Cradle phase. One had to reach a high Dao comprehension stage to advance to the Amethyst Cradle phase.
Wu Yuan had left some means of protection for his sister just as a precautionary measure. In a real face-off, Wu Yijun would be no match for Fang Xia.
“Young Master, the Bloodforge Devil Hall is fraught with danger, and the path to immortality is harsh. You must take care on this journey,” Fang Xia asserted. “If you become the future ruler of Summerpeak, it will benefit the entire Middle Land. If you were to fall, we alone could not protect the Middle Land. The minor matters in the Middle Land can be left to me. I’ll report regularly to you through the Bloodforge Immortal Voidrealm.”
Wu Yuan gave a slight nod. Fang Xia’s judgment had always been spot on, and this time was no different.
Fang Xia declared solemnly, “I shall continue to implement the existing strategies, making preparations for your future Faith propagation. I will also consult with the empress on all matters.”
“Mm.” Wu Yuan nodded slightly again. He trusted Fang Xia.
“Old Fang, my power isn’t much in the vast Bloodforge Devil Hall. I’ve only managed to join due to my talent, which has drawn some attention. I still have to participate in the Bloodforge Battle, where life and death are uncertain,” Wu Yuan stated slowly. “So, for a short while, I won’t be able to return to Middle Land.”
He continued, “It may take decades, or a century, but once my position in the Bloodforge Devil Hall is high enough, I’ll find a way to help you. I’ll do everything in my power to help you reach the Amethyst Cradle phase.”
“If the Middle Land wants to unify Summerpeak and become truly powerful, depending solely on me won’t be enough,” Wu Yuan added. “Help me tell Arctic and Mountain Devil: I trust you more than the others. Everyone, cultivate hard, protect the Middle Land, and don’t disappoint me.”
“I, too, won’t disappoint you.” Wu Yuan looked at Fang Xia. These were his heartfelt words. It was also a promise, or perhaps a drawing of a cake, to put Fang Xia and the others at ease.
Fang Xia nodded in response.
…
Although he had told Daoist Long and Reverend Jing Shan that he needed six hours, Wu Yuan actually spent far more than that to complete his arrangements.
Once again, Wu Yuan found himself alone, retracing his steps across the regions of the Middle Land – the Jiang Continent, the Chu Continent, the Min Continent, the Zhong Continent… He returned once more to the Huang Relic, the site of the historic battle against the worm devil.
He traversed all thirteen continents.
It’s time to leave. In my previous life, I lived fewer than thirty years in the world of the Blue Planet. Wu Yuan returned to the Cloud Capital, overlooking the bustling scene below, as he mused silently. In this life, I’ve spent more than thirty-five years living in the Middle Land.
When it came to his emotions, Wu Yuan’s attachment to the Middle Land was in no way inferior to his affection for the Blue Planet civilization of his past life. This departure was different from when his qi refiner self had left.
His two true selves were one in mind. When his body refiner self remained in the Middle Land, it felt as though he had never left. Naturally, fewer emotions were evoked. But this time…
The Summerpeak World is a Bloodforge World. Even if my qi refiner self becomes a High Immortal, I would still find it difficult to set foot in the Summerpeak World.
And as for my body refiner self, not long after my departure, I would have to participate in the Bloodforge Battle. This time, it is unknown whether I live or die. Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.
Despite his confidence in his own abilities, he was aware of the brutality of the Bloodforge Battle.
Who could guarantee their survival? Even if he managed to survive and return to Summerpeak, when would that be? Things may have already changed beyond recognition.
Let’s go! I’ve done what I can. In a lifetime, there are only separations and reunions. Each time we part, we never know when we’ll meet again, or if we’ll meet again at all.
So in this life, it’s impossible to have no regrets, I only strive to have no remorse. Wu Yuan knew he had done his best.
Whoosh! Wu Yuan stilled his swirling thoughts and flew toward the Min Continent, his speed not particularly swift. He wanted to get one last good look at the land he had guarded for decades.
“Master, don’t worry, I’ll be with you every step of the way!” Little Black shrank in size, curling up on Wu Yuan’s arm, its tiny eyes wide with anticipation. It was giddy with excitement.
As a snake, Little Black was cold-blooded. It was heavily dependent on Wu Yuan but held no deep attachments to the other residents of the Middle Land. Moreover, it had long yearned to venture out and experience the vast and tumultuous world it knew only from its inheritance memories.
“Yes, I have you by my side,” Wu Yuan said with a grin. “Let’s go on this journey together, my brother, and see for ourselves what this so-called Bloodforge Devil Hall has in store for us. Who could possibly stand in our way?”
In the spring of year 3261 of the Eastern Martial calendar, also known as the 29th year of the Immortal Wu era, Wu Yuan, founder and emperor of the Wu Empire and ruler of Middle Land, left the Middle Land.
That year, the billions of citizens of the Immortal Wu Empire welcomed their second ruler—Empress Wu Yijun. The Middle Land Guard also greeted its second Alliance Leader—Fang Xia.
However, whether it was the Wu Empire or the Middle Land Guard, they both adhered to their existing missions.
Wu Yuan’s prestige did not wane with his departure. Instead, with each passing moment, his reputation grew, until it reached the level of myth!
…
After leaving the Middle Land, Wu Yuan rendezvoused with Daoist Long and Reverend Jing Shan. Together, they headed South across the ocean, crossing a distance of six million li and cutting through the Summerpeak mainland.
Finally, within the ocean, a considerably large floating hall appeared within Wu Yuan and Daoist Long’s view.
“What’s that?” Wu Yuan was slightly taken aback.
“Daoist Wu Yuan, our Summerpeak World has only just recovered. The devil hall has been controlling our world remotely instead of governing it directly. They have delegates stationed in Summerpeak and built a teleportation array here,” Daoist Long explained with a smile. “This teleportation array directly leads to the Redmoon division of the Bloodforge Devil Hall.”
Wu Yuan listened attentively. He had a general gist about the Bloodforge Devil Hall, but many details still eluded him.
Whoosh! Several figures flew out from the distant floating hall, each exuding an extraordinary aura. All of them were Golden Core cultivators.
Leading them was an elderly man in black robes, a ninth-stage Golden Core cultivator. They wore uniform black armor, appearing solemn.
“Reverend Long Guang, Reverend Jing Shan.” The elderly man in black robes bowed slightly, then turned to Wu Yuan with a smile. “This must be Daoist Wu Yuan mentioned by the higher world.”
“Daoist Wu Yuan, this is Superior He Feng, responsible for supervising the entire Summerpeak World and guarding the teleportation array,” Daoist Long introduced.
“Daoist He Feng.” Wu Yuan greeted him with a smile, showing no disrespect. He Feng’s personal strength was hardly worth mentioning, but he had a special status, representing the authority of the Bloodforge Devil Hall in the Summerpeak World.
“Daoist Wu Yuan’s strength is overwhelming, his talent far surpasses us. You have the potential to become a Sageling of the devil hall, and even to attain immortality,” the elderly man in the black robe chuckled. “We only hope that when the time comes, you will look after us a bit.”
As an elite figure who survived a Bloodforge Battle, the elderly man in black robes looked down on ordinary Golden Core cultivators. In his heart, he even belittled Daoist Long and Reverend Jing Shan slightly.
But Wu Yuan? Having heard a thing or two, he didn’t dare to underestimate him.
“Alright, the protectorate is waiting on the other terminus of the teleportation array. Daoist Wu Yuan, let’s not waste any more time,” the elderly man in the black robe said. “Let’s set off as soon as possible.”
“Sure.” Wu Yuan agreed without hesitation.
“Daoist Wu Yuan, we can only accompany you up to this point.” Daoist Long and Reverend Jing Shan spoke in succession.
They were not official disciples of the devil hall and could not use the teleportation array without special reasons. Leaving the Summerpeak World on their own? That was a death sentence!
“I hope you two will take good care of my homeland,” Wu Yuan cupped his hands. “In the future, I will certainly repay your kindness.”
“Rest assured, Fellow Daoist.” Reverend Jing Shan responded.
“The Middle Land will face no harm,” Daoist Long added. “I will further spread your deeds within the Starcom Consortium.”
Shortly after, the teleportation array was activated. A beam of light shot skyward from within the hall, and Wu Yuan’s presence disappeared without a trace.
Hovering above the sea outside the floating hall, Reverend Jing Shan heaved a sigh of relief. “Senior Long, we’ve finally completed our mission.”
“Our mission is indeed completed. But…” Daoist Long sighed softly, worry visible in his eyes, “The wait has only just begun.”