Return to the Ji Clan West Prefecture (Transition Chapter)

"This is Daoist Ji An of the Universe, who just joined me in defeating that demon god."

The blood-robed cultivator stepped aside and introduced himself to the two people beside him.

In the past, some people called Ji An "Daoist Tingyan," but he himself never acknowledged this title.

In addition, over the years he established the Universe Prefecture, the name "Universe Daoren" quietly spread throughout Anchan Commandery and became the recognized title for him.

Upon hearing this, a look of surprise flashed in the eyes of both the silver-haired youth and the old man in black iron armor. They then clasped their hands in unison and said, "We have long admired Brother Universe's name. It is truly an honor to meet you today."

The two had long heard that although this Daoist priest was only at the Primordial Spirit stage, his strength was comparable to that of an immortal.

Such people are naturally someone they are willing to humble themselves to befriend.

Ji An nodded in return, saying, "You two are too kind."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the Blood-Robed Loose Immortal and his companions clasped their hands in farewell, clearly heading to continue their patrol of the Prison Mountain Great Marsh.

It is their duty to guard this place.

The three left, and the atmosphere returned to calm.

Only Ji An, Ji Ning, Mu Zishuo, the Azure Void Snake Qing Qing wrapped around Ji Ning's wrist, and the newly subdued Void Returning God of Ji An remained.

Demon Zhu Yan.

"Brother, thank goodness you arrived in time." Ji Ning looked at Ji An, his voice full of gratitude.

If his elder brother hadn't appeared, he, Mu Zishuo, and Qing Qing would probably have perished in the Great Wilderness Swamp today.

Mu Zishuo also quickly stepped forward to bow and express his gratitude.

Qing Qing timidly hid behind Ji Ning, not daring to look up at Ji An, let alone the terrifying blood-red giant beside him.

The oppressive feeling made her afraid to even breathe.

"Ji Ning, I didn't intend to do anything to you!" Zhu Yan retorted in a muffled voice. "You Human Race are all the same, making a mountain out of a molehill, beating the young and then the old ones come! I never planned to lay a hand on you! I was about to leave as soon as I sensed the power in your jade talisman. Who knew you would summon this scourge!"

Only now did Zhu Yan realize that it was he who had instilled fear in Ji Ning, summoning the ruthless Ji An and causing him to be suppressed for nothing.

Upon hearing this, Ji An, Mu Zishuo, and Qing Du taken aback, their faces showing a look of sudden realization.

Oh, I see. It was a false alarm.

"Alright, Zhu Yan," Ji An interrupted, "I was afraid that after your fifty-year term is up, you wouldn't want to leave."

After saying that, he raised his eyes and gestured for Ji Ning and the others to follow, then strode towards the teleportation array not far away.

"Let's go back to the Red Dragon Mountain Range first."

The dragon-headed warship soared into the sky and sped towards the Red Dragon Mountain Range.

Inside the cabin, Ji An handed over the corpse of the Dragon Whale Demon King, which he had previously retrieved, along with the storage treasures of this Primordial Spirit Demon King, to Ji Ning. He then went straight into the meditation room to shut himself in for seclusion, showing no interest in the spoils of war.

The wealth of a Demon King has just broken through to the Primordial Spirit stage is utterly insignificant to him.

In the days that followed, Ji Ning steered the warship on their journey. Although Zhu Yan did not make a move, the divine and demonic pressure he exuded caused the Demon Race along the way to flee in terror, and thus the group encountered no further attacks.

After waiting for the three-month period to end and the trial in the Prison Mountain Great Marsh to conclude, Ji Ning and his group set off to return to the Yinglong Guard's garrison.

"Arrive."

Dragon-headed warships traverse the high skies.

Ji Ning at the stern of the boat and looked into the distance, where he could see the Yinglong Guard's garrison.

"We're back! We're about to become true Yinglong Guards!" Mu Zishuo couldn't contain his excitement and cheered.

The warship slowly glided down and landed steadily on the flat ground next to the teleportation array atop the mountain where it was stationed.

Ji Ning immediately spotted the two elderly men, one fat and one thin, guarding the formation.

They are the senior members of the Yinglong Guard who have been stationed here for many years, protecting the Yinglong Guards who enter and leave the Prison Mountain Great Marsh year-round.

"Two more little ones have returned. They're lucky to be alive." The fat old man spoke lazily, his gaze casually sweeping over everyone, but when it landed on Ji An, his eyes suddenly widened in disbelief.

"Ji An?! It's you! Hahaha, what a rare guest! It's been so many years, it's rare to see you come back from this road!" the fat old man laughed loudly.

The thin old man beside him also raised his eyelids slightly, his gaze sweeping over Ji An.

He nodded and said, "Your aura is now unfathomable."

He could clearly sense that Ji An's aura was more than a hundred times stronger than when he left.

This oppressive feeling even made him feel a little wary - not to mention the silent, blood-red giant beside Ji An, who exuded an extremely dangerous aura just by standing there.

Ji An held the two elders in high regard and immediately smiled and clasped his hands in greeting, "Greetings, seniors. You have guarded this place for many years, protecting us Yinglong Guards. Thank you for your hard work."

He knew that guarding the teleportation array was no easy task, and the two of them had never slacked off over the years.

"No trouble at all, no trouble at all!" The plump old man waved his hands repeatedly, grinning from ear to ear. "We two old bones, seeing you..."

I'm overjoyed by your achievements, kid! I knew you were destined for greatness back then, but I never imagined you'd reach such heights in just a few years. Wow, impressive!

As he spoke, his gaze fell on Ji Ning and the others behind Ji An, and he asked, "Who are these gentlemen?"

"This is my younger brother Ji Ning, his junior brother Mu Zishuo, and his spirit beast Qing Qing," Ji An introduced them one by one. "They have just completed the trial in the Prison Mountain Great Marsh and have come today to officially join the Yinglong Guard."

"Good! Good! Young hero!" The fat old man's smile widened, and his gaze toward Ji Ning and Mu Zishuo held a touch more appreciation.

"Ji An, you can take them directly back to the Red Dragon Mountain Range. I'll arrange the formalities in advance."

Mu Zishuo eagerly stepped forward to inquire whether the mortals they had previously sent back, who had been abducted by the Demon Race, were safe and sound.

Ji Ning quickly pressed for details, his face showing concern.

The portly old man was quite surprised to learn that it was the work of two people, and informed everyone that all mortals were safe.

Yinglong Guard has moved everyone out of the Prison Mountain Great Marsh and settled them properly elsewhere, so they will no longer be disturbed by the Demon Race.

Ji Ning and Mu Zishuo finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Afterwards, the group stepped into the teleportation array together.

A dazzling light flashed, and their figures vanished instantly, teleported back to the Red Dragon Mountain Range.

In the following days, Ji Ning and Mu Zishuo followed the path that Ji An had taken years before, completing the various procedures for joining the Yinglong Guard. The process was not complicated, but it still took quite a few days.

Finally, the two of them, holding brand-new Yinglong Guard tokens, walked out of the Military Affairs Hall.

But their faces showed no joy; instead, they were solemn, their brows furrowed with worry, and each held a thick scroll of Yinglong Guard mission manuals in their hands.

Mu Zishuo gripped the mission file tightly, his knuckles white, his teeth clenched, and his eyes burning with icy rage.

He frankly stated that the records of missions compiled by the Military Affairs Hall showed him the numerous crimes committed by evildoers in the world.

Ji Ning's eyes flashed with murderous intent, and he echoed in a deep voice.

When the two discussed the villains in the book who slaughtered mortals to practice evil arts and harmed infants to raise ghost babies, they both said that their actions were outrageous.

Their reactions were exactly the same as when Ji An first entered the Military Affairs Hall—except that back then, Ji An had to process these emotions alone and transform them into motivation to move forward.

Mu Zishuo was even more indignant and exclaimed in disbelief that these were just small tasks worth ten merits.

Those who commit heinous crimes and are to be executed in high-ranking missions, burdened with boundless sins, still exist in the world and continue to wreak havoc on humanity.

Ji An, who had remained calm throughout, finally spoke slowly, "These heinous criminals, seemingly living freely..."

In reality, they are already burdened with sins, their hearts clouded by darkness. When they attempt to break through to the Heavenly Immortal realm, they will face countless difficulties. Moreover, the world today ultimately belongs to the righteous, and evil cannot prevail over good. They are nothing more than rats hiding in the gutter, unable to cause any real trouble.

One day, they will pay the price for their actions.

"Let's go back to Anchan City," Ji An said calmly, gesturing for everyone to follow.

The group boarded the dragon-headed warship again, which soared into the sky and sped towards Anchan City.

During the journey, Ji Ning summoned the little snake Qing Qing from his wrist, and she immediately transformed into a girl in green.

Ji Ning bluntly stated that he wanted to take a share of her Ten Thousand Year Ice. Qing Qing immediately bristled, fiercely protecting her treasure that she had accumulated over hundreds of years, protesting repeatedly, her little face filled with grievance and indignation.

Ji Ning interrupted her helplessly, explaining that he would take the ice to Heavenly Treasure Mountain to exchange for Essence Liquid to help her cultivate.

Qing Qing looked at him suspiciously for a while, then made a request: Ji Ning must not cut back on anything, and he must take her with him the whole way.

Only after receiving permission did she reluctantly summon the small Iceberg that exuded a bone-chilling cold.

Mu Zishuo exclaimed in surprise that Qing Qing had secretly kept a treasure, but she ignored him, her eyes fixed on the Iceberg.

Ji Ning channeled his Yuan Power to condense a Yuan Power blade, easily splitting the Iceberg in two.

Qing Qing, quick as a flash, snatched her half and put it away before reluctantly handing the other half to Ji Ning, still reminding him not to damage it.

Ji Ning took the Iceberg and looked at Ji An, who was meditating with his eyes closed, "Brother, will this ten-thousand-year-old ice be of any use to you? If you need it, I'll share some with you."

He and his elder brother cultivated the "Crimsonbright Nine Heavens Diagram" together, and both could draw upon the power of earth fire and cold evil. This ten-thousand-year-old ice was an excellent aid to their cultivation.

Upon hearing this, Qing Qing's face immediately fell.

She stared nervously at Ji An, her eyes full of pleading, but she didn't dare to act spoiled or throw a tantrum like she did with Ji Ning. She just looked at him pitifully, not daring to breathe.

Seeing Qing Qing's Extreme Point distressed expression, Ji An couldn't help but smile and gently shook his head, "No need. You can handle it yourselves. Such trivial things are not even worth my attention."

For Wanxiang Adept and even Primordial Spirit Daoist, this ten-thousand-year-old ice was an extremely precious treasure—but for Ji An, it was just an ordinary object. He wasn't even interested in using it to nurture the Frostfire—it was time-consuming and laborious, with minimal benefits. With his strength approaching the peak of the Heavenly Immortal realm, only the first-class Heavenly Fire was worthy of his attention.

"Phew--" Hearing Ji An say that, Qing Qing's tense nerves instantly relaxed, and her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, settled back into her stomach. A bright smile bloomed on her little face, and she quickly put away her Iceberg, afraid that Ji An might change his mind at the last minute.

"Let's go, to Heavenly Treasure Mountain." Ji Ning put away the ten-thousand-year-old ice and said in a deep voice. The dragon-headed warship immediately changed direction, cut through the sky, and swooped down towards Heavenly Treasure Mountain.

After arriving in Anchan City, Ji An parted ways with Zhu Yan, Ji Ning, and the others. Some time ago, the Northmont Blacktiger had sent a message inviting him to discuss the Dao. Now that the appointed time had arrived, he naturally had to go and keep the appointment.

Time flies, and another three months have passed in the blink of an eye.

During these three months, Ji Ning and Mu Zishuo devoted themselves to the Yinglong Guard mission. The two traveled together, slaying demons and monsters, upholding justice, and avenging the common people throughout the Great Xia territory. Their merits accumulated little by little, and their strength increased rapidly in countless battles.

One day, Ji Ning made a special trip to the Universe Prefecture to find Ji An, who was in meditation.

He stood in the courtyard, gazing at the familiar figure before him, and said softly, "Brother, let's go home."

Several years have passed since Ji Ning left the Ji Clan West Prefecture in Yan Mountain. Even though he has established himself in Anchan City, in Ji Ning's heart, the Ji Clan West Prefecture in Yan Mountain is his true root. There are his beloved parents and clansmen, and it is the warmest home in his heart.

Even though his elder brother had taken the Water Manor back to Anchan City, he still missed every blade of grass and every tree in his hometown.

Ji An slowly opened his eyes, a hint of warmth flashing in them. He nodded gently, his tone mild. "It's time to go back. Cultivation is the same wherever you are; going home is good too."

He naturally understood Ji Ning's longing for his family and homeland. In the original story, even after his parents passed away, Ji Ning remained determined to return home to cultivate—let alone now that his parents were still alive.

As he spoke, he raised his hand and waved, sending a Divine Sense into the distance. Zhu Yan instantly received the summons, transforming into a streak of blood-red light and appearing beside Ji An, bowing respectfully. "Master."

"Let's go," Ji An said calmly.

The group headed straight into the depths of the Red Dragon Mountain Range. The journey back to the Ji Clan West Prefecture in Yan Mountain was long, and the fastest way to reach it was by using the inter-prefecture Teleportation Array deep within the mountains.

The teleportation array flashed, and their figures vanished instantly, traversing endless distances. When they reappeared, they were already above the long-lost Ji Clan West Prefecture.

The group stood in mid-air, looking down at their homeland, a hint of warmth flashing in their eyes.

Compared to when Ji An left, the Ji Clan West Prefecture has expanded considerably, and the aura of the clan's cultivators has become increasingly strong. Waves of Yuan Power rippled outwards, clearly benefiting from the cultivation resources and inheritance left behind by Ji An.

Ji An's gaze swept across the area below, his powerful Divine Consciousness covering the entire Ji Clan West Prefecture, instantly locking onto the locations of his parents, Yuchi Xue and Ji Yichuan. Sensing that their breathing was steady and their bodies were healthy, he felt somewhat relieved.

He did not rush to land and reunite with his family, but slowly raised his hand and gently grasped at the void.

In an instant, an ancient mansion exuding a faint, rustic aura appeared out of thin air and landed steadily in his palm—it was the Water Manor left behind by the Daoist Three Lives.

"Go."

Ji An let out a low shout, and the Water Manor in his palm transformed into a stream of Flowing Light, instantly merging into Heaven and Earth, becoming one with the entire Ji Clan West Prefecture, disappearing without a trace.

From then on, as long as they were within the Ji Clan's territory, he and Ji Ning could enter the Water Manor world with a single thought.

After doing all this, Ji An had a faint smile on his face.

He turned to look at Ji Ning beside him and said softly, "Let's go home."

"Okay, big brother!"

As soon as they finished speaking, their figures transformed into streaks of Flowing Light, swooping down towards the Ji Clan West Prefecture below and landing on that familiar land.