Half a month later.
At the border of Langya Kingdom.
The seraph girl, Lian Yue, along with various officials from the Langya court, had been waiting early. Qin Fenghuo of the Big Column Kingdom and over twenty Morning Glow cultivators from Great Jin had also arrived.
“Why did it take half a month to return when it only took a few days to go?” Lian Yue asked in confusion.
Qin Fenghuo chuckled and said, “The news has already been sent back. Didn’t you see it? Even Your Majesty secretly followed them. A brief separation makes the reunion sweeter. They were busy for almost half a year. Isn’t it fair to let them enjoy the scenery of the Buddhist Kingdom?”
The Black-Robed Prime Minister, Wang Xianjia, rolled his eyes and said, “Millions of miles of desert with no sign of human life, just a few scattered temples. What’s there to see? The weather is harsh; it’s pure suffering.”
Hearing this, the Heavenly Strategy General, Li Guanyan, immediately became displeased. “How dare you question what the Sword Saint wants to do? We just need to do our duty as subordinates!”
“You…” Wang Xianjia was furious.
This guy was truly brainwashed! Not only did he drag him into this, but after the battle in the Buddhist Kingdom, Li Guanyan’s loyalty skyrocketed. Nowadays, he wouldn’t allow anyone to speak ill of Meng Qingzhou.
Especially after arriving in Langya Kingdom, this symptom worsened. Langya, being adjacent to the Buddhist Kingdom, had long been influenced by Zen Buddhism, producing many die-hard Buddhist followers who had many criticisms of the Space-Time Sword Saint. Though they didn’t dare to say it openly, they spread all sorts of slander in private.
Seeing this, Li Guanyan flew into a rage, ordering Langya officials to issue decrees for a massive “anti-Buddhism campaign.” Anyone found worshipping Buddha would be imprisoned at the least, and their families exterminated at the worst. If anyone was caught badmouthing the Sword Saint, their punishment would be even harsher!
Wang Xianjia had also heard that Li Guanyan, having nothing better to do at night, would eavesdrop on young couples. When he inevitably heard them badmouthing the Sword Saint after their intimate moments, he would burst in and drag the naked couple to the county office to await their punishment.
“Idiot!” Wang Xianjia cursed angrily.
Li Guanyan glared, “Who are you calling an idiot?”
“You, what of it?” Wang Xianjia glared back.
Li Guanyan’s anger dissipated, and he nodded calmly, “Oh, then it’s fine.”
“Damn it!”
“You moron! I must have been blind to plot great things with an idiot like you,” Wang Xianjia almost fainted from anger.
Qin Fenghuo laughed heartily, pointing at the two clowns, and then looked at the new Minister of Personnel, Situ Xi.
Situ Xi smiled helplessly.
He had once been a Minister of Personnel, at the peak of the Moon Shine Realm. After the previous Minister of Personnel died in the Ancestral Sect alliance battle, he had managed to break through to the Morning Glow Realm with the nourishment of the Wilderness’s fortune and countless heavenly treasures.
Not just him, but most of the Morning Glow cultivators present had recently broken through.
“Where is the Sunlight Lord? Didn’t it come?” Situ Xi asked.
Qin Fenghuo shook his head and said, “It didn’t come.”
“It was very upset. When it found out that Your Majesty, Su Qingqiu, Wu Die, and the Sword Saint all went to the Buddhist Kingdom, it felt abandoned and is still sulking.”
It was like a family going on a trip abroad and leaving the youngest child at home. Of course, it would be angry.
Even if it was for a battle, it should have been taken along!
A family should stay together!
“Didn’t expect the Sunlight Lord to have such a childish personality,” Situ Xi sighed.
Before he broke through to the Morning Glow Realm, he knew nothing about many things, like the existence of Present Village, the Guardian Beast residing there, or who the Empress’ Husband was…
But once he broke through, he entered the core circle of Great Jin and became privy to these secrets.
“By the way, the Sunlight Lord’s strength has recovered to half-step Sky-Reaching Realm. Why can’t it speak yet?”
“It doesn’t want to. The Lord deliberately kept this restriction, thinking it would be better to remain as the Qin residence’s pet. Speaking would break the peace of an ordinary family and seem out of place.”
“I see, the Lord is quite thoughtful.”
The two chatted idly, relieving the boredom of waiting.
Until noon.
At the edge of the horizon, a black tide appeared, shattering storms and extinguishing flames rising from the yellow sand.
Faintly visible, two figures walked side by side at a steady pace.
“They’re here!” Lian Yue called out.
Everyone immediately perked up. After half a month, they were finally reunited!
…
…
“There’s someone ahead to receive us, about twenty-five Morning Glow cultivators! Great Jin’s foundation is indeed formidable,” Lan Miechan squinted, looking far ahead.
Lan Qiunan glanced at the man and woman in front and said indifferently, “Why be stubborn? No matter how many Morning Glow cultivators Great Jin has, they can’t compare to a single Space-Time Sword Saint. You’ve already conceded in your heart but can’t admit it.”
Hearing this, Lan Miechan pursed his lips, looking at Meng Qingzhou’s back with a trace of fear in his eyes.
The battle at the Sky-Reaching Realm half a month ago was still fresh in his mind.
Even with the Buddha himself present, they had to leave in disgrace. Three pseudo Sky-Reaching cultivators were instantly killed; it was terrifying!
Moreover, throughout the journey, Lan Miechan had been secretly observing. He was shocked to find that every other day, there seemed to be some change in the Space-Time Sword Saint, though he couldn’t pinpoint what it was.
There was only one explanation…
Meng Qingzhou was transforming, and the Sky-Reaching Realm might not be far off.
A Morning Glow cultivator who could instantly kill pseudo Sky-Reaching cultivators and stand against the Buddha—what would it be like when he broke through? It was unimaginable.
“Fortunately, the Saintess slapped you into submission back then. Otherwise, if you had continued provoking the Space-Time Sword Saint, your end would have been tragic,” Lan Qiunan laughed.
Lan Miechan’s face turned black, and he scolded, “If you can’t speak properly, shut up. Don’t act all high and mighty.”
Lan Xinsu said nothing, silently watching Dongfang Liuli and Meng Qingzhou’s backs. Seeing them talking and laughing like a couple, she seemed lost in thought.
…
“When I roamed the rivers and lakes, I only traveled within Great Jin’s borders. I haven’t been to other places. During battles, I was usually too busy to enjoy the scenery. This time, I can make up for that regret,” Dongfang Liuli said with a charming smile.
Meng Qingzhou first checked the progress of integrating the principles of time and space, which was about 90%.
But the last 10% felt like an insurmountable chasm. He had reached 90% three days ago, but despite his efforts, he couldn’t make any progress.
It seemed only time and patience would help.
“Then let’s settle the chaos in the Wilderness first. Before unifying Sky State, we’ll have some time to tour the Wilderness,” Meng Qingzhou said.
“You said it, no backing out!”
“Of course.”
Suddenly, Meng Qingzhou stopped, standing at the border of the Buddhist Kingdom, and turned back, saying:
“After being spied on all this way, don’t you have anything to say?”
The old monk appeared, hands clasped together, and said calmly:
“Benefactor, this old monk wishes to discuss a deal with you.”
….
[Thanks to ‘Xiu Zhiming’ for the grandmaster certification! New volume, please continue reading and send gifts]
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