Chapter Twenty-Nine: Departure

After the middle-aged man vanished alongside the divine dragon, only the crystal great bow remained, silently suspended in the pitch-black void.

Leng Tian gazed at the bow, then sized up Zhuang Zhuang, exclaiming, “That’s it? It’s over already? That was far too simple!”

Zhuang Zhuang retracted his azure club, his bear eyes lingering with longing as he stared at the Divine Execution Bow floating in the void. He forced himself to resist the urge to seize it, waved his paw, and the spatial gate restored itself in a flash of white light, returning everything to its original state. Even the stone surface was re-covered, leaving no trace of disturbance.

“Boy, apart from you and me, don’t let anyone else know about this—not even your brothers. Wait until you reach the Sanctification stage before retrieving it,” Zhuang Zhuang said, flashing onto Leng Tian’s shoulder. The excitement still lingered in his eyes. “What you saw just now was only a fraction of the Divine Execution Bow’s power. If its full might were unleashed, it could slay gods, destroy demons, and obliterate heaven and earth!”

“Who was that middle-aged man? Was that his soul?” Leng Tian wondered aloud, suspecting he might have been the bow’s previous master.

“I don’t know,” Zhuang Zhuang replied bluntly. “But that wasn’t a simple soul—it was a lonely, undying battle spirit of heaven and earth!”

“A battle spirit?”

“A battle spirit is what remains when a peerless powerhouse dies and their immortal will condenses into a form. Usually, they wander the world; only a few reside within divine weapons,” Zhuang Zhuang explained the origin of battle spirits to Leng Tian.

The man and bear quickly exited the underground palace. Outside, they saw Huo Wu and Xiao Ke directing several servants, bustling about with bundles and packages, both of them helping carry things.

“Brother, come help! There’s still a lot outside,” Huo Wu called out as soon as she saw Leng Tian.

Leng Tian walked over with a smile. “What are all these? Where did you get so many packages?”

Xiao Ke giggled mischievously and replied, “These are clothes Huo Wu and I bought.”

“You bought so much! How long will it take to wear them all?” Leng Tian couldn’t help but wonder if the girls had emptied the entire clothing shop.

“No, brother. These are for the villagers. They’ve never worn such fine clothes before, and now that I have the money, I bought these to give them,” Huo Wu explained, seeing Leng Tian had misunderstood. The clothes were meant for the villagers of Kaoshan Village.

So that’s it, Leng Tian thought, feeling a stirring of long-lost emotion. He understood the girls’ feelings and encouraged them with a smile, “Buy even more if you want—don’t just get these. We have plenty of money, so buy whatever you like!”

“Yay!” Xiao Ke jumped for joy. She was a born shopaholic, and most of the clothes were picked out by her. Hearing Leng Tian’s suggestion to buy even more satisfied her to no end.

“Where’s Yan Long and the others?” Leng Tian asked.

“They went to the Martial Alliance to look for bounty missions,” Xiao Ke replied, eager to share the news.

Knowing where the trio had gone, Leng Tian joined the carrying crew. Zhuang Zhuang greeted them and slipped away, leaving behind words that made the two girls blush.

Since he would be leaving tomorrow, Leng Tian decided to accompany the girls in a shopping spree until nightfall. They hired a carriage to haul their purchases home, and Yan Long’s group had already returned to help.

Late at night, the six humans and one bear gathered in the main hall. Leng Tian revealed his plans to travel afar, surprising everyone.

“Brother, what’s so important that you need to go so far? Why not take us along for safety?” Yan Long asked, concerned.

“Don’t worry. None of you need to come. While I’m away, Zhuang Zhuang will help you take missions—he’ll be with you as you roam the continent!” Leng Tian glanced at Zhuang Zhuang, who lay in Xiao Ke’s arms, then continued, “No matter what happens, always heed Zhuang Zhuang’s advice. Don’t act recklessly. Train hard until I return, and then we brothers will roam the world together!”

“Don’t worry, brother. We’ll never let you down, and there’ll be a surprise when you return!” Huo Wu forced herself to smile, hiding her reluctance so Leng Tian wouldn’t worry.

Leng Tian felt uneasy himself, but for their future, he had to leave. They talked late into the night before retiring to their rooms.

Leng Tian didn’t sleep. Instead, he and Zhuang Zhuang went to the rooftop, took out two jugs of wine, and sat drinking while gazing at the night sky.

“Boy, let me tell you something. Do you remember the little princess of the Canglan Empire you rescued in the Lianyun Mountains?” Zhuang Zhuang suddenly asked, making Leng Tian recall the timid yet adorable girl.

“Why bring her up? I’d almost forgotten about her!”

“She’s in the capital—and she’s been kidnapped,” Zhuang Zhuang’s news stunned Leng Tian.

“Who dared to kidnap her? Why is she here anyway?” Leng Tian mused, thinking the girl seemed cursed to encounter danger wherever she went.

“She’s safe for now. I’m keeping an eye on her, and I plan to have some fun in the capital, hehe…” Zhuang Zhuang chuckled.

Leng Tian took a drink and replied seriously, “I do have a connection with her. You’d better rescue her and send her back to Canglan. Huo Wu and the others need to return there, too.”

“I knew you couldn’t let go. I’ve already sent word to her elders. She should be rescued by now, though someone’s about to have a run of bad luck! Hehe…”

Leng Tian ignored Zhuang Zhuang’s jokes, quietly drinking until his jug was empty, then went inside to rest. Zhuang Zhuang, muttering that he couldn’t sleep without a woman’s embrace, snickered as he wandered off in search of a cozy haven.

Before dawn, Leng Tian left the city without saying farewell to Huo Wu and the others, preferring a quiet departure to avoid the sorrow of parting.

Clad in white, he sped along the official road under the rising sun, leaving streaks of white shadows behind. Fortunately, no one was up at that hour to witness his astonishing speed.

He reached out to the dragon Max by mind, and soon he was riding the giant beast, flying toward the Canglan Empire.

At Qian Kun Martial Academy of the Canglan Empire, in a vast and tranquil courtyard, Wang Mang played with a jade token, murmuring to himself, “The Azure Sea and Jade Sky Domain… I’m truly looking forward to it!”

On Greenpeak Mountain, Luan Yudie received a jade token from a middle-aged woman in a grand hall, her exquisite features tinged with excitement.

At Heavenly Profound Sect, in the sect master’s private chamber, Li Tianzheng looked at his jade token with confidence and assured the meditating sect master atop the jade bed, “Rest assured, master. I won’t let you down!”

Scenes like these played out across the continent’s various sects. This opening of the Ancient Realm was unlike any before: each faction sent only their elite disciples, quietly adding immense pressure to Leng Tian.

In the Skylark Palace, Emperor Zhuang Taiji was beside himself with rage, berating several elders, “What did you say? The Jade Qiong decree is missing! Well, get out there and find it! If you don’t recover it, I’ll… I’ll… Get out, all of you!”

Driven mad with fury, the emperor executed several guards to vent his anger, throwing the palace into panic. Everyone feared crossing him and losing their lives.

Princess Night Moon slept soundly in her room, while a brocade-clad elder stroked his gray beard, gazing affectionately at the sleeping girl.

“Have you found out who did it?” he asked toward the door.

“Your subordinate discovered that the kidnapper is the only son of Duke Skylark Saro, Yinxiang Saro,” came a respectful reply from outside.

“Good, I understand. You may go,” the elder said coldly. “Duke Saro… Hmph. Your son’s mistake will be paid for by your whole family!”

With Max’s speed, Leng Tian entered Canglan Empire two days later. He didn’t rush toward the North Sea but first went to the deep pool in the Lianyun Mountains to collect some spirit milk as a precaution.

He didn’t return to the village but followed the mountain range northward. At last, he emerged from the vast mountains, only to find a completely different scene.

Leng Tian looked out over a desolate expanse, then back at the lush, towering peaks behind him. He felt as though he stood at the boundary between two worlds—the contrast was overwhelming.

Before him stretched an endless wasteland, not a blade of grass in sight, the ground cracked and dry. Hills rose in the distance, and scattered across the land were dead, lifeless trees—a landscape of death.

Leng Tian didn’t walk. He summoned Max to soar high above, surveying the ruined earth below, as if the land had been overturned, marred with scars and deep pits, strewn with beast bones. Swamps covered in muddy water occasionally emitted bubbles, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

He didn’t know where he was, but after a glance at the distant horizon, he told Max to accelerate. A golden streak flashed across the sky, and soon only a speck of gold remained.

The deeper he went, the more ruined the landscape became. Giant spirit beasts sometimes appeared, fighting among themselves. Leng Tian spotted a creature resembling a rabbit but many times larger, its fur dark as night.

As it passed through a withered thicket, an unexpected event occurred—a flash of white light, and a crescent-shaped blade sliced across the beast’s waist, vanishing into the distance.

Martial Peak 29—Chapter Twenty-Nine: Departure complete!