By the time Shen Xiu and Lin Fan left the Myriad Spirit Abyss, the sky was already nearing dusk. The setting sun's lingering glow spilled across the gray ravines, tinting that dead-silent land with a faint wash of gold and lending it a tragic, stirring grandeur.
They traveled back far faster than they had come. Although Shen Xiu's cultivation was still at the ninth level of the Saint Venerable Realm, his control over lightning had risen to a new tier, increasing his flying speed by at least thirty percent. Lin Fan continued following behind him at an unhurried pace, his expression calm, as though he were merely taking a leisurely stroll.
In less than an hour, the two saw the outline of Tianyuan City. In the twilight, the towering city resembled a slumbering colossal beast lying quietly upon the earth. The scattered lights along its walls were like scales on that beast's body, flickering with a faint glow.
The guards at the city gate had already changed shifts. The commander guarding the gate recognized Shen Xiu, respectfully saluted him, and stepped aside to clear the way. Shen Xiu entered the city and headed along the main street toward the residence Murong Zhan had arranged for him. The streets bustled with people. Hawkers' cries, children's laughter, and the melodies of strings and pipes drifting from taverns intertwined into a vivid scroll painting of common life. He had spent too long in the deathly silent void of the Myriad Spirit Abyss; now, seeing this lively human world, an indescribable warmth welled up within him.
This was what he wanted to protect. Not some grand mission, not an abstract concept, but one person after another, one living life after another. They knew joy and anger, sorrow and delight; love and hatred, bonds and