Celestial South City, the distant sky above.
The Taoists, Celestial Pill Pavilion, Holy Academy, Sword Emperor Sect, Little Immortal Sect...
These top-tier forces, renowned across the continent, were now conversing and laughing together.
Originally, there wasn’t much connection between these forces, but because of Su Changqing, they’ve all gathered here.
They hadn’t known each other for long, but each of them got along well, without any defenses.
Because they understood well that anyone or any force acknowledged by Su Changqing was certainly not one of great evil.
In the battle of Central State, although they suffered losses, they also achieved a great victory.
Even though these people gathered for Su Changqing, fundamentally, it was to assist the Su family.
Therefore, both emotionally and logically, the Su family should warmly host and hold a grand banquet.
Moreover, today is the first day of Su Changqing returning home, and so many powerful individuals have arrived.
At this moment in Celestial South City, the feast stretches for ten miles, and the aroma of wine fills the air.
"Hey, Celestial South City’s ’Hundred Fiery Wine’ is famous far and wide, looks like we’ll have a good drink today."
Looking at the grand spectacle of Celestial South City from afar, Wu Jiuling laughed loudly, raised his wine gourd, and took a big swig.
Beside him, Xuan Yan, Miao Ba, Pill Saint Ye Jingshan, and others saw the Su family giving such face, and smiled as well.
"Hahaha, today the Su family’s wine is enough, no quitting until we’re drunk!"
Su Nan laughed, looking at Wu Jiuling, "Old Wu, today you’ll be crawling under the table!"
"Nonsense."
Wu Jiuling dismissed, "Old fool that I am, I’ve drunk for nearly a hundred years straight, you think you can outdrink me?"
Before Su Nan could speak, Ye Jingshan on the side teased, "You wish you couldn’t drink."
"If it weren’t for those wines I made, you’d probably have gone to see the Martial Ancestor already."
The crowd burst into laughter upon hearing this, and Su Nan continued to tease:
"You have no idea, when I asked Old Wu to take an apprentice, he was so reluctant."
"If not for me suppressing him with the Great Cyan Spear, he would have fought me to the death."
The laughter grew louder at this, and even Su Changqing couldn’t help but smile.
No one imagined that such a thing happened back then.
"You brute!"
Feeling the teasing eyes, Wu Jiuling glared fiercely at Su Nan,
"Just wait, I’ll drink you under the table later!"
...
Amidst laughter and chatter, they had arrived at the entrance of Celestial South City.
"So this is the Su family..."
Su Changqing looked at the towering city gates, his eyes somewhat dazed.
This was the true Su family.
Yet inexplicably, the simple and broken fences of the Cyan Mountain Village in his memory gave him more peace than these grand gates.
"Welcome home, young master!"
Just as Su Changqing was lost in thought, a large group of people arrived at the entrance of Celestial South City.
These people looked at Su Changqing, all, regardless of gender or age, paid their respects with great ceremony.
Su Changqing looked at the crowd.
Among them, some young people were excited and jubilant with admiration.
Some elders faced the young master nervously for the first time.
Meanwhile, some elders in the clan looked at the younger generation with gratification and pride...
These people had different expressions and gestures, but the one common trait was the undeniable, deep-seated intimacy.
"Blood ties..."
Su Changqing stood still, his eyes sweeping over each person of the Su family before him.
He seemed to want to memorize everyone, etching them into his bloodline.
Su Nan, Wu Jiuling, Xuan Yan, Ye Jingshan, and others did not disturb but quietly watched.
Having been raised in poverty for twenty years and now finally returning home, no one could understand his feelings.
After a long while, Su Changqing gently smiled and returned the salute to the members of the Su family,
"Everyone, please take care of me from now on."
As his words fell, the crowd burst into laughter.
And those fearless young members of the Su family immediately surrounded Su Changqing.
"Brother Chang Qing, can I see your sword? It’s the Sword God’s sword, I’ve dreamed of touching it!"
"Go, go, go, mind your manners, the Sword God’s sword isn’t just for anyone to touch! Brother Chang Qing... well, does the Sword Emperor Sect still take recruits?"
"Brother Chang Qing, tell us, how are you so powerful at such a young age?"
These young people surrounded Su Changqing, all the way towards the Su family.
They looked at him with admiration, thrilled, asking questions non-stop.
Su Changqing didn’t mind at all.
Instead, the self-initiated interaction with these young people instantly broke the slight distance in his heart.
Looking at the young faces before him, his smile grew wider, and the mental tension he held outside seemed to relax.
In the past, those he interacted with were either top-tier experts or world-renowned prodigies.
Now, mingling with these youths, he suddenly realized he himself...
was only in his twenties.
Leaving Cyan Mountain Village, his strength grew day by day, and his circle of friends expanded.
Yet the smile on his face and the free time he had lessened.
The young boy who once laughed and ran freely through the mountains on a lazy afternoon seemed to drift further away.
Now, seeing these former ’selves’ in front of him, Su Changqing’s smile deepened, and he responded to each question.
Even for the seven or eight-year-old boy who wanted to see the Sword God’s sword, Su Changqing cheerfully handed over the Immortal Slaying Sword.
"Wow!"
"Is this the Sword God’s sword? So cool!"
The young boy looked at the Immortal Slaying Sword, which was taller than him, its black and white distinctness made his eyes shine with excitement like the sun.
He lifted the Immortal Slaying Sword, pretending to be a master, and swung it simply, making the other boys around him envious.
"Whoa..."
But then, the boy’s father accidentally saw this scene, and his forehead broke out in cold sweat instantly.
"Damn it, quickly return the sword to your brother Chang Qing..."