The Pain of Parting I

Whoosh!

A long sword tore through the air, speeding out from Cloud Mist Mountain toward Ye Clan Immortal City.

Ye Qingxuan stood atop the flying sword, his thoughts in turmoil!

He had originally thought he would spend a long time with the Ye Family, yet he had not expected to leave so soon.

Perhaps this was for the best. Once he became a Blessed Cultivator and had Xuantian Sect at his back, as long as his apparent lifespan was not exhausted, he could steadily develop within Xuantian Sect.

He would no longer have to worry about living the sort of life where he hid here and fled there.

The spiritual energy within the Dihuan Realm was astonishingly dense. Even in places where mortals lived, the concentration of spiritual energy was not low.

Nourished by spiritual energy, even mortals with no cultivation could reach a maximum lifespan of 130 years.

Qi Refining Realm Cultivators could live up to 180 years, while Foundation Establishment Cultivators could reach an astonishing 360 years.

As long as he became a Blessed Cultivator in Xuantian Sect and broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, then, with a Blessed Cultivator's lifespan being ten times that of cultivators in the same realm, his apparent lifespan could reach 3,600 years.

And as long as he developed his Blessed Land and broke through to the Purple Mansion Realm before reaching 3,600 years old—

With the Purple Mansion Realm's maximum lifespan of 800 years, his apparent lifespan would reach a terrifying 8,000 years.

So long as he made a breakthrough before his apparent lifespan ran out, he could continue cultivating in Xuantian Sect for the long term.

Once he successfully put down roots in Xuantian Sect—

Given the nature of a Blessed Cultivator, he would not need to show himself before others. He could slowly lay out his plans and remain firmly behind the scenes.

If all went well, perhaps he would one day become Xuantian Sect's oldest cultivator—and one with an extremely low profile at that!

When the time came, he could find a technique similar to a clone or puppet, use his clone or puppet to travel the Dihuan Realm, while his main body remained hidden in Xuantian Sect.

So long as Xuantian Sect did not fall, he could lie low until heaven grew old and earth turned barren, until he set foot upon this realm's peak.

He refused to believe that over such long years, he could not make up for his deficient spirit roots.

When the time came, with Twelve Element Spirit Root in hand, what bottleneck could possibly block his advancing steps?

Ye Qingxuan did not merely want to become the Longevity Cultivator who lived the longest. He also wanted to become the steadiest Longevity Cultivator, with the Smoothest Cultivation.

Having the Hegemon-level Force Xuantian Sect at his back was his advantage. What he needed to do was make good use of that advantage and grow smoothly.

That was also the true reason he had made up his mind to become a Blessed Cultivator and use this opportunity to enter Xuantian Sect.

"We're here. Let's head down!"

Just as Ye Qingxuan was envisioning the future in his mind, Ye Yonglun had already brought him to Ye Clan Immortal City.

The two descended from the sky and arrived at the entrance to Ye Qingxuan's home.

"I'll come pick you up again in three days!"

"Clan Uncle, why not come in and sit for a while? You can try my mother's cooking."

"No. Cultivators do not eat mortal food. It will only delay my cultivation!"

After bringing Ye Qingxuan to his door and declining his invitation, Ye Yonglun left directly.

Once Ye Yonglun had gone, Ye Qingxuan stared blankly at the familiar gate before him.

After hesitating for a moment, he found that he did not even dare push it open.

Choosing to become a Blessed Cultivator and travel to the distant Xuantian Sect to cultivate might have been the best choice for him.

But he alone had wronged the parents who had given birth to him and raised him in this life!

At that moment, guilt over his selfishness filled him, and he felt too ashamed to face his parents.

Just as Ye Qingxuan was sunk in guilt and did not dare push open the gate, Mother Ye's muttering suddenly came from inside the house:

"I wonder how Xuan'er is doing. Has he been bullied outside? Sigh!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Father Ye's voice followed closely behind:

"Mother, don't worry. Xuan'er has been mature and stable since he was little. He will take care of himself."

"How can I not worry? I heard that Aunt Ye's child from East Street died while away from the family, searching for cultivation resources.

"If I'd known, I never should have let Xuan'er undergo spirit root detection. If anything happens to Xuan'er, I won't go on living, sob, sob, sob!"

As she spoke, Mother Ye began to cry!

Seeing this, Father Ye hurried forward, wrapped Mother Ye in his arms, and consoled her tenderly:

"Don't talk nonsense and frighten yourself. Xuan'er has his own path to walk. This world will ultimately belong to cultivators.

"Though our lives may seem decent, in the end, we can only remain trapped near this city, never daring to go out and see the scenery beyond.

"Our son has spirit roots and the chance to see the True World on our behalf. That is his good fortune. We should support him."

Hearing Father Ye's words, Mother Ye calmed down somewhat, yet her longing for her son only grew stronger. In a low voice, she said, "I wonder when Xuan'er will have time to come home."

Standing outside the gate, Ye Qingxuan heard how every word from his parents was filled with concern for him. Tears immediately welled in his eyes, and he could not help but push open the gate and shout:

"Father, Mother, Xuan'er is back!"

With that, he ran over and threw his arms around Father Ye and Mother Ye before they could even react.

Mother Ye finally reacted. She stretched out trembling hands to stroke Ye Qingxuan's back, and once she confirmed he was real, she cried out in joy and excitement:

"Xuan'er, my Xuan'er is back! Sob, sob, sob! It's enough that you're all right, Xuan'er. Mother was worried to death!"

Father Ye said nothing. He only held his wife and child tightly in both arms!

Held in his parents' embrace, Ye Qingxuan felt more secure than ever before.

He had lived Two Lives, and his mental age far surpassed this life's body.

But parental love had nothing to do with age. No matter how old he was, before his parents, he was only a child.

Twelve Years of parental love remained vivid before his eyes. How could he possibly cast it aside so easily?

After a Long Time, the three finally calmed down.

Mother Ye held Ye Qingxuan's hand, with endless things to say as she asked about his life over the past half year.

Meanwhile, Ye Qingxuan recounted his own experiences from those six months.

That evening, Mother Ye made Ye Qingxuan's favorite braised pork belly.

During dinner, Ye Qingxuan's expression was complicated. Several times, he wanted to speak, but as he ate the braised pork belly his mother had made, he swallowed the words back down.

Happy times always passed quickly. In the Blink of an Eye, two days had gone by.

Two days passed, and it was already the deep night of the second day. In the end, Ye Qingxuan still had not told Father Ye and Mother Ye the purpose of his return.

Unable to sleep, Ye Qingxuan came alone to the courtyard. With his hands behind his back, he stood there blankly staring at the Perfect and Flawless, brilliantly bright moonlight high above!

A thousand emotions surged through his mind!

"Perhaps I should spend a hundred years at my parents' side, accompanying them until they finish walking the road of life."

His lifespan was eternal. A mere hundred-odd years would be insignificant in his future life.

But to his parents, they were long years that would take an entire lifetime to walk through!

"What is it? Can't sleep?"

Just as Ye Qingxuan was lost in thought, Father Ye's voice sounded behind him.

Hearing it, Ye Qingxuan turned around in surprise. Looking at his father, who was likewise walking over with his hands behind his back, he asked:

"Father, why aren't you asleep yet?"

Father Ye did not answer Ye Qingxuan's question. He walked to his side and likewise looked toward the bright moon in the sky, asking instead:

"What is it? Something on your mind?"

Ye Qingxuan exhaled, as though he had let something go. He shook his head and smiled lightly.

"Nothing is on my mind."

After a brief pause, Ye Qingxuan continued:

"Father, this time when I came back, I won't be leaving again!"