Setting Out! Destination: Hongmeng Holy Realm!

Inside the stone pavilion, the spiritual mist gradually dissipated.

Seeing that Li Wensong hesitated to accept the three high-grade Saint-level treasures, Lu Qing'an patted him on the shoulder again, his tone carrying a profound meaning. "Once we arrive in the Hongmeng Holy Realm, you represent my reputation when we're out and about. You understand what that means, right?"

His words were calm, yet carried immense weight.

Li Wensong was startled.

Does this represent Brother Lu's face?

He suddenly raised his head and looked at Lu Qing'an's calm face, his mind instantly filled with turmoil.

These words carried such weight that his chest felt hot and his eyes welled up with tears.

A being who can casually create over a hundred Saint-level treasures, a super big shot who even the top forces in the Hongmeng Holy Realm might not be able to match, patted him on the shoulder and said, "You represent my face."

What incredible trust!

Lu Qing'an smiled outwardly, but inwardly he was making other plans.

Hopefully, once we reach the Hongmeng Holy Realm, Wensong will still be able to fool a few more subordinates for me, just like he is here!

After all, the more subordinates you have, the better!

Lu Qing'an was never some aloof and arrogant hermit.

In all his years on the Eternal Night Continent, he had long since tasted the benefits of strength in numbers!

Li Wensong, a seasoned veteran who had been mingling in the Hongmeng Holy Realm for many years, was the first piece in his grand scheme of Hongmeng.

Thinking of this, Lu Qing'an's smile deepened.

Li Wensong, however, was completely unaware of his Brother Lu's "intentions." At this moment, his blood was boiling, and his hands were trembling with excitement.

He took a deep breath, a fire burning within his chest. "Alright! I understand what Brother Lu means! When we reach the Hongmeng Holy Realm, I will absolutely not let you down!!!"

Li Wensong has been struggling in the Hongmeng Holy Realm for many years, offending many people and suffering many losses.

Now, with a powerful figure backing them capable of mass-producing Saint-level treasures, what a blessing this is!

If he continues to be as cowardly and spineless as before, not only will Brother Lu not forgive him, but he himself will not forgive himself either!

"This child is teachable." Lu Qing'an nodded in satisfaction.

Winning people's hearts can sometimes be that simple.

No need for coercion or bribery, no need for contracts; just give the right amount of trust at the right time, and people will naturally be willing to risk their lives for you.

He turned around and looked at the others in the stone pavilion.

Xiao Qingyi stood with his hands behind his back, his blue robe fluttering in the wind, his gaze steady.

Xue Tianfei, dressed in white, stood quietly to the side, her eyes filled with reluctance. Xu Xuanyu, holding the newly acquired Pill Cauldron, was still studying it over and over, muttering incantations to himself.

Lu Miaomiao skipped and hopped over to the front, her big eyes blinking.

Li Cangxuan, Huang Hao, Li Muchen... all those familiar faces were staring at him.

"Alright," Lu Qing'an said loudly, "I'm leaving early tomorrow morning. Let's have a good get-together tonight. We won't see each other again for a year."

His tone was relaxed, as if he were just going on a long trip.

Xiao Qingyi laughed first and said, "Then we'll have to prepare plenty of good wine and food tonight to send you off!"

The courtyard suddenly became lively.

The group divided the work: some hunted animals for meat, some gathered fruits and vegetables, some set up the grill, and some brought out the aged wine.

Soon, the air around the stone pavilion was filled with the aroma of cooking fires. The meat of spirit beasts sizzled over the flames, and the fragrance of spirit fruits mingled with the mellow taste of fine wine, drifting into the night.

Lu Qing'an sat in the main seat of the stone pavilion, looking at the lively scene before him, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart.

Some of these people were raised by him, some followed him later in life, some fought alongside him, and some were saved from danger by him.

Now, gathered together, laughing and chatting, this is the taste of home.

Late at night, the group finally dispersed, still reluctant to leave.

When Lu Qing'an returned to his room, the moonlight was shining through the window and casting a silvery frost on the floor.

Xue Tianfei had already returned and was sitting on the edge of the bed. Her white clothes shimmered faintly in the moonlight, her long hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and her beautiful eyes gazed at him quietly.

Lu Qing'an walked over, sat down beside her, and pulled her into his arms.

Xue Tianfei obediently leaned against his chest, feeling his steady and powerful heartbeat.

"Xue'er," Lu Qing'an looked down at her, "By the time I return, you should have broken through to the Eternal Realm. Then, I'll take you to the Hongmeng Holy Realm for a visit."

Xue Tianfei tilted her head slightly, her clear eyes reflecting the moonlight and his face.

She didn't ask "Really?" or plead, "You have to take me," she simply nodded gently, "Mhm."

She paused, then said earnestly, "Then you must be extremely careful! After all, it's a much more powerful and completely unfamiliar world."

Her voice was soft, yet full of worry.

She knew Lu Qing'an was very strong, so strong that he was unfathomable, but as husband and wife, her concern and worry would not diminish in the slightest because of her husband's strength.

The Hongmeng Holy Realm is not the Nine Directions and Ten Domains; it contains more ancient beings, more unpredictable rules, and more unfathomable dangers.

Even someone as powerful as Lu Qing'an might not be as invincible as he is here.

"Okay! I'll listen to my wife!" Lu Qing'an replied with a smile, his tone teasing yet serious.

Xue Tianfei blushed slightly at his calling her "wife," but instead of scolding her as usual, she smiled and nodded, burying her head deeply in Lu Qing'an's chest.

She closed her eyes, savoring the warmth and heartbeat of this moment, as if trying to etch it all into the depths of her memory.

The moonlight is silent, the night is gentle.

The two embraced silently, neither of them speaking.

A few insects chirped occasionally outside the window, and the embers of the campfire in the distance still flickered faintly.

The night was quiet, and very short.

As the first rays of dawn pierced through the thin mist, there was already movement in the courtyard.

Xiao Qingyi got up early in the morning and stood by the stone pavilion, his robes still damp with the morning dew.

Xue Tianfei appeared silently beside him, her white robes fluttering gently in the morning breeze.

Xu Xuanyu had dark circles under his eyes, clearly having spent the entire night studying the Pill Cauldron without sleep.

Huang Hao yawned, still holding an unopened jar of wine in his hand.

Li Cangxuan and Li Muchen stood side by side, their expressions solemn.

Lu Miaomiao and her children held hands, their eyes still a little sleepy.

Everyone has arrived.

No one specifically notified them, yet everyone was present.

"Alright, that's enough." Lu Qing'an still wore that calm smile. "While I'm gone, you all should cultivate diligently!"

Everyone nodded seriously.

No one said anything sentimental, and no one showed any reluctance to part.

They are all practitioners, and they all understand that gathering and parting are common occurrences.

Moreover, it's only been a year.

For a cultivator's long lifespan, a year is but a fleeting moment.

Lu Miaomiao ran and jumped into Lu Qing'an's arms.

Lu Qing'an bent down and picked her up. The little girl wrapped her arms around his neck and said with a grin, "Daddy, help me see if there's anything good to eat in the Hongmeng Holy Realm. If so, bring it all back!"

Lu Qing'an chuckled and gently tapped the tip of her nose with his finger, "You silly girl, I knew you'd say something like that."

"But don't worry," Lu Qing'an said, his eyes full of doting affection, "Father will keep an eye out for you!"

Lu Miaomiao's face immediately lit up with a smile. She leaned in and gave him a quick, bright kiss on the cheek, her voice clear and cheerful. "Hehe! I knew Daddy was the best!!!"

Everyone laughed when they saw this.

"Alright! We're leaving!" After bidding farewell to everyone, Lu Qing'an handed Lu Miaomiao over to Xue Tianfei, his gaze sweeping over each of them. Finally, he waved to them, turned around, took Li Wensong with him, and stepped out.

The space rippled slightly, and the two transformed into a streak of light, soaring into the sky and instantly leaving the Eternal Night Continent, disappearing into the endless star field.

The cosmos is vast, and the stars are like dust.

Lu Qing'an led Li Wensong across domains at such a speed that the star systems along their route trembled slightly.