Green Luo, Frostreturn.
Mountain winds howled as the three walked along the mountain path. Liu Xiaowen's robes snapped in the wind. Behind him stood Zhang Gaoxia and Wang Qiyun, who had come to welcome him as soon as they received the news, escorting their junior brother back to the sect.
A white sparrow perched on his shoulder-Bai Ling. After Liu Xiaowen gave him a few instructions, the sparrow rode the wind upward to wait at the summit.
"The sect has changed quite a bit over the years."
Liu Xiaowen surveyed Green Peaks, Heavenly Tribulation, and even Green Transformation on the northern bank of the Li River. He weighed his words, his tone wistful.
"The sect has flourished these past years, and none of these commanderies have a Purple Mansion cultivator holding sway. Apart from the small Wushi sect to the north, ours can already be called the foremost sect in Red Cloud, Chonghua, and the Wilderness of Witches."
Wang Qiyun now looked middle-aged. His cultivation stood at the seventh level of Qi Refining, and his bearing was composed. Looking at his junior brother, he had a thousand things he wanted to say, yet in the end, only one sentence reached his lips.
"It's good to have you back."
He felt that his junior brother had changed greatly. He had almost failed to recognize him at first glance, and that profound exhaustion stirred an involuntary worry in his heart.
"Frostreturn Peak has remained empty all these years. No one has lived here."
Zhang Gaoxia stepped forward. She was still trapped at the fifth level and had returned from Longbright upon receiving the news. Looking at Liu Xiaowen now, she felt he had become an entirely different person, with gloom lingering between his brows.
"My grandfather... how is he now?"
Liu Xiaowen