Xu Qingtong gently raised his right hand, and Duoduo rose to her feet despite herself.
"Duoduo, have you been slacking off again while your master was away all these years?"
Duoduo's expression changed instantly at his words. She muttered, "I haven't been slacking off! We've only just met again, and you're already scolding me. What kind of master are you?"
Xu Qingtong smiled faintly. "Insolent! Is that any way to speak to your master?"
Startled, Duoduo stuck out her tongue and hurriedly hid behind Du Siwen.
"What are you doing? You're frightening the child!" Du Siwen said crossly.
Xu Qingtong paid the two no further attention and turned to Chen Ruoling with a smile. "Sister, you must have endured plenty of hardship over the years. You've already reached the Golden Core Late Stage, far better than Duoduo!"
Duoduo pursed her lips at that but dared not speak.
Chen Ruoling said, "I wanted to form my Nascent Soul sooner so I could return to Central Province earlier and lend you a hand!"
Warmth immediately filled Xu Qingtong's heart at Chen Ruoling's words. She truly was his sister! Even in Bingzhou, she had never stopped worrying about his safety. Broken bones were still joined by sinews!
"Don't worry, Sister! The turmoil in Central Province has settled. I came this time to take you all back!"
"Really? A calamity that comes once every ten thousand years was quelled so easily?" Chen Ruoling asked, her face full of doubt.
"Easily? If you knew the state Central Province was in now, you wouldn't say that!"
Du Siwen asked, "Qingtong, how is Central Province now?"
"Seven or eight out of every ten cultivators in Central Province are gone. The Wuji Sect and the Jade Sound Pavilion were wiped out. Tianji Zi of the Heavenly Mystery Palace