"Sir, please take good care of yourself."
"If I have the time, I will also return to my hometown to visit you."
Chen Shuangbai grasped her grandfather's withered but warm hand, channeling her Law Power into his body to suppress her surging emotions. Tears welled in his grandfather's eyes. "Alright, alright, I understand. When you're out there, focus on your cultivation. Don't worry about home all the time."
Don't always worry about home.
Beside Old Master Chen, according to their closeness to him, stood his second uncle Chen Moyan, his adopted younger brother Chen Mingxuan, his two great-aunts from the Chen Household, and finally, a group of children.
Chen Shuangbai then offered a few more words of advice to Chen Moyan and Chen Mingxuan before saying, "Grandfather, Second Uncle, everyone, take care."
He took a step back, and a clear light suddenly shone brightly around him, rippling outwards like water. An invisible aura permeated the air, causing the surrounding clansmen to involuntarily hold their breath and retreat.
The Cloud Horse carriage had already been parked in the courtyard, and Su Lan and the three others stood respectfully in front of it.
Chen Shuangbai walked to the carriage, turned around, and solemnly bowed deeply to the crowd in front of the mansion gate, especially to her grandfather who was standing at the very front.
After the ceremony, without further hesitation, he turned and stepped into the glittering carriage.
With a clear, melodious neigh, the two Cloud Horse produced clouds from their hooves, pulling the radiant celestial chariot into the air. Then, leaving a long white trail, they disappeared into the clouds.
Below, led by Old Master Chen, all the members of the White Water Chen Clan, regardless of age or their inner thoughts, bowed respectfully in unison, their voices merging into one.
"Respectfully seeing off the esteemed sir!"
After Chen Shuangbai left, Old Master Chen sent someone to bring his two daughters to the ancestral hall.
Amidst the many offerings of incense, the pillar of the Chen Clan slowly turned around, took out a pill from each of them, and handed it to one of them.
"Father... what is this?"
Chen Wanru was somewhat confused.
Chen Wanying seemed to know something, a hint of joy in her eyes, when she heard her father say in a calm tone:
"This is what Bai'er instructed. He said it's Beauty-Preserving Pill, not some kind of magic elixir. Taking it can slightly delay the aging process by seven or eight years. After taking it, everyone should go back. It's his way of showing filial piety as a nephew."
There is a difference between immortals and mortals; years will pass since then.
The carriage sped through the sea of clouds at an incredible speed, turning the mountains, rivers, cities, and villages below into blurry patches of color as they rushed past.
Chen Shuangbai turned her gaze away from outside and slowly said, "Go to Jinghua Prefecture."
The Jing Kingdom comprised one prefecture and nine provinces.
Jinghua Prefecture was the capital of the Jing Kingdom, the location of the royal family, and the central government.
He didn't suddenly decide to go to Jinghua Prefecture; rather, before he went down the mountain, his Shi Yubai asked him to do something in Jinghua Prefecture.
Su Lan didn't ask anything, she just knocked on the door frame so that people outside could hear.
Chen Shuangbai said no more, took out an object, and began to examine it carefully.
Back when he was still in the Qi Refining stage, he found a cave dwelling of a rogue cultivator who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage, and obtained part of the other party's inheritance. The book in his hand is the other party's cultivation record.
The stones from other mountains can be used to polish jade.
Chen Shuangbai found this very reasonable and had often read it over the years. Now that she had some free time, she wanted to take a closer look and learn something useful from it.
The Cloud Horse chariot was extremely fast, capable of traveling thousands of miles a day.
Three days later, around dusk.
On the distant horizon, a vast city nestled among mountains and rivers gradually comes into view.
"Young Master, we're almost at Jinghua Prefecture."
Su Lan reminded her softly.
Chen Shuangbai slowly raised her eyes, her gaze clear and calm, her eyes reflecting a restrained light. She lifted the carriage curtain and looked down at the enormous city below.
The city walls of the imperial city were towering and stretched for hundreds of miles. Under the afterglow of the Setting Sun, they gleamed with a cold, metallic luster. Inside, palaces and pavilions stood in rows, creating a magnificent scene. There were also obscure energy swirling around. In a daze, Chen Shuangbai even saw the array patterns hidden underground.
Clearly, this imperial city is not only the ancestral home of the Jing Kingdom's royal family, but also a major city where several sects in the Jing Kingdom work together to maintain stability.
"Let's go to the other courtyard."
Chen Shuangbai gave the order in a calm tone.
The villa he mentioned was a property of the Jade Spring Sect located in Jinghua Prefecture. It served as a base for handling the sect's secular affairs in the Jing Kingdom and receiving visiting disciples. It was also a powerful force extended by the Jade Spring Sect, responsible for monitoring the Jinghua royal family and collecting intelligence, as well as suppressing other sects.
The clouds beneath the Cloud Horse's feet gradually dissipated, eventually settling in front of a rather elegant courtyard on the west side of Jinghua Prefecture.
This villa occupies a large area, with white walls and green tiles, deep courtyards, and the two characters "Qingyuan" on the lintel are written in strong and elegant strokes, with faint Spiritual Qi flowing through them. It is at least the handwriting of Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator, and has an awe-inspiring and inviolable majesty.
The carriage was so dazzling, and it was obvious at a glance that it came from the Jade Spring Sect and was used by Foundation Establishment cultivators when they went out. Naturally, there were people waiting at the gate early on.
The vermilion gates were already wide open, and a group of outer disciples from the other courtyards hurried forward to greet them. Upon reaching them, they all bowed down in unison.
" Wu Qingfeng, an outer disciple of the Jade Spring Sect and a Clear Source Annex, along with his fellow disciples, respectfully welcomes the arrival of True Disciple Chen!"
His disciples behind him also bowed in unison, showing the utmost respect.
The newcomer was not only a Foundation Establishment cultivator but also True Disciple of the sect, whose future was limitless. Naturally, everyone bowed down with utmost respect.
No need for such formalities.
Chen Shuangbai slightly raised his hand, and a gentle force lifted Wu Qingfeng and the other disciples. Then, surrounded by their respectful welcome, he entered Clear Source Annex.
The interior of the villa was elegantly furnished, with pavilions, terraces, bridges, and flowing water. The Spiritual Qi there was several times denser than outside, indicating that Spirit Gathering Formation had been set up to support the disciples' cultivation.
Upon arriving at the main hall of the villa, Chen Shuangbai took the seat of honor without hesitation.
Wu Qingfeng personally served the spiritual tea, then stood respectfully to the side with his hands at his sides.
All other irrelevant personnel were dismissed.
As soon as Chen Shuangbai entered the Jinghua Prefecture, she felt unwell all over.
This feeling is like stepping into a clear pond overgrown with aquatic plants. The plants entangle you, and although they are not fatal, they make the flow of your Spirit Power sluggish, and your cultivation will be greatly reduced in the future.
The lingering dust of worldly affairs... is indeed a major obstacle to cultivation.
Chen Shuangbai just wanted to get things done quickly and return to her sect. As for this Jinghua Prefecture... she wouldn't bother coming here again unless absolutely necessary.
However, the situation in this separate courtyard is slightly better, presumably because the sect has set up an array here.
Wu Qingfeng had received a True Disciple from the sect long ago, saying that a newly promoted Foundation Establishment disciple had come to handle the events that had occurred in Jinghua Prefecture recently. Naturally, he spoke frankly and explained the whole story.
"To be True Disciple, in the past year or two, the spiritual energy of the earth's veins in Jinghua Prefecture has been unusual, sometimes strong and sometimes weak, with occasional slight tremors. Although it has not caused any disasters, it has attracted the attention of the Imperial Household Department and the cultivators of various sects stationed in the capital."
"But recently, the earthquakes have become more frequent."
"The cultivators from various sects stationed here have many speculations, saying that there might be something wrong with the earth's veins, and the earth dragon might turn over, causing a major earthquake... Therefore, the royal family is quite alarmed and has sent messages to our sects several times, hoping to use the power of our superior sect to save Jinghua Prefecture."