CHAPTER 513

Grandfather Zhang’s funeral was held according to his own wishes—nothing grand or elaborate.

The arrangements were kept simple. In the end, in accordance with his final request, he was buried beside the graves of Xiaoyan’s grandfather and her parents.

During the funeral preparations, Lu Qing and Xiaoyan both kept vigil overnight by the elder’s side.

To have two cultivators of the Golden Core Realm standing vigil—one of whom was the strongest under heaven—Grandfather Zhang was likely the only mortal across countless worlds to ever receive such an honor.

In the days following the funeral, Lu Qing grew noticeably more reserved.

From time to time, he would stare off into the sky, deep in thought, his mind wandering to places unknown.

On this day, he visited the Half-Mountain Courtyard to play chess with his master.

Suddenly, Doctor Chen spoke. “Ah Qing, have you had something on your mind lately?”

Lu Qing was taken aback. Once he regained his focus, he realized his recent state hadn’t escaped his master’s notice.

After a moment of contemplation, he decided to speak frankly. “Master, this disciple has been thinking over something lately.”

“What could trouble you so deeply?”

“I wish to leave this world... and venture into the outside realms.”

“Venture into the outside realms?”

Doctor Chen’s hand paused mid-move. Slowly, he placed the chess piece back into the box and looked up at Lu Qing.

“You mean to say... you want to leave this world?”

Lu Qing had previously mentioned the existence of other worlds to his master, so he was not entirely unprepared for this.

“Yes,” Lu Qing nodded.

“Master, the Golden Core of Spiritual Power I condensed is rather unique. Its power is exceptionally strong. At this point, the spiritual energy of this world is no longer sufficient to support further progress in my cultivation.

To be honest, my cultivation has stagnated for more than ten years.

Unless the Heavenly Dao Sounds resound once again and the spiritual energy undergoes another transformation, there’s no chance for a breakthrough.

But even if the Heavenly Dao Sounds do return...

It won’t be long before my cultivation hits another bottleneck due to the lack of spiritual energy.”

“I see...”

Doctor Chen was inwardly shaken by Lu Qing’s words.

Ever since Lu Qing stepped into the Golden Core Realm, he had been unable to discern the true depth of his disciple’s cultivation.

He hadn’t known that Lu Qing had made no progress for over a decade.

Looking at Lu Qing’s calm expression, Doctor Chen finally understood why his disciple wanted to leave this world and explore the wider realms.

This disciple of his was a peerless genius in cultivation.

From the moment he began cultivating, his speed had been astonishing, shaking the world.

Far beyond any so-called prodigy.

After the Spiritual Revival, his rise was even more meteoric. In a short time, he transcended the Golden Core Tribulation and became the strongest under heaven. ℝ₳NȏʙÊȘ

For such a once-in-a-generation genius to remain stuck for more than a decade...

In truth, the fact that Lu Qing had endured this long showed how firm his Dao heart truly was.

Thinking this, Doctor Chen asked, “But... leaving this world won’t be easy, right? Traveling to another world must be quite the undertaking.”

“Among the possessions left behind by the two Golden Core Realm cultivators from beyond this world whom I once slew...

There were celestial maps recording the starry coordinates of many external worlds—maps that can guide cultivators across the stars.

And I also have a Void Flying Boat, an artifact capable of traversing the starry void. Master need not worry.”

“So Ah Qing, you’ve been planning this for some time,” Doctor Chen said.

“Yes. I hadn’t set off earlier because of Xiaoyan. But now that she has stepped into the Golden Core Realm, there are few in this world who can threaten her. I can leave with peace of mind,” Lu Qing nodded.

“You mean... you’re not taking Xiaoyan with you?” Doctor Chen asked, somewhat surprised.

“Xiaoyan has just passed her tribulation. The coming decades are crucial for her to consolidate her foundation and refine her cultivation. It’s not the right time for her to venture out.

Moreover, the world I intend to go to is filled with hidden dragons and crouching tigers—countless powerful cultivators.

The road ahead is uncertain. Even I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to protect Xiaoyan without fail.

So I’ve decided to go alone first.

If, in the future, I can establish myself in the outer realms, then I’ll consider bringing her over.”

Lu Qing laid out his plan in full.

Crossing the starry void was no simple matter.

There were many unknown dangers.

Though Lu Qing had confidence in himself, he didn’t wish to drag Xiaoyan into unnecessary risk.

After all, she was different from him. Though she too had condensed a Superior Golden Core with great power...

She had yet to reach the limits of this world. Even if she stayed and cultivated in seclusion, her strength could still grow significantly.

“That’s reasonable... But convincing Xiaoyan might not be easy,” Doctor Chen teased.

He knew very well just how attached that girl was to Lu Qing.

If she found out she wouldn’t be able to see him for decades, she might very well throw a tantrum.

“I’ll persuade her. She’s a Golden Core cultivator now—she’ll understand.”

Even as he said this, when he stood before Xiaoyan and saw the anticipation in her eyes...

The unshakable Lu Qing, who could face heavenly tribulations without flinching...

Actually felt a little nervous inside.

“Brother, you said you had something important to tell me. What is it?”

Xiaoyan looked at Lu Qing expectantly.

“Ah, well... Xiaoyan, it’s like this...”

Lu Qing took a moment to steady himself, then slowly explained his plan.

“That’s essentially it. I want to leave this world for a while and seek out a stronger one for cultivation.”

Having said it all, Lu Qing still felt somewhat apprehensive.

“So that’s all? I thought you were going to say something big,”

To his surprise, Xiaoyan wasn’t upset in the least. Instead, she was unusually calm.

“You’re not angry?” Lu Qing blinked.

“Of course not.” Xiaoyan shook her head. “Even if you hadn’t said anything, I had already guessed a little.”

“All these years, you’ve been much stricter with my cultivation. Back then, I had a feeling you were preparing for something.

But since you didn’t say it, I never asked.

Now I know... it’s because you’ve hit a bottleneck in your cultivation. You haven’t improved for over ten years.

And the reason you didn’t leave sooner... was because you were waiting for me to overcome my tribulation, wasn’t it?”

“Xiaoyan...”

Looking at her composed demeanor, Lu Qing was momentarily stunned.

After a while, he reached out and gently ruffled the girl’s hair, his expression complex.

“It seems my precious little sister really has grown up. It’s my fault—I’ve still been treating you like a child.”

Indeed, even though Xiaoyan was now a Golden Core Realm cultivator...

In Lu Qing’s heart, she was still that obedient little sister.

So time and again, he had subconsciously treated her like a child.

Now, he realized... that mindset needed to change.

“Brother, this world you’re going to... is it very far from ours?” Xiaoyan asked.

“Yes. Without special flying artifacts, even a Nascent Soul Cultivator would need to expend several decades—perhaps even over a century—crossing the void by their own power just to reach it.”

“That far...” Xiaoyan was deeply shaken.

She had now reached the Golden Core Realm, and her speed was already extraordinary. Even if she were to traverse all the vast provinces of the world, it would only take her a few days at most.

And those mighty Nascent Soul cultivators, whose strength was even more terrifying—if even such beings needed decades or centuries to cross the stars—then how unimaginably distant must that place be?

“Don’t worry. I have a Void Flying Boat, so crossing the starry void won’t be difficult. It won’t take nearly that long.

If all goes smoothly, I should be able to reach that world within a few years at most.”

“A few years!” Xiaoyan’s eyes lit up. “So if you want to return in the future, it won’t take that long either?”

“Exactly. That’s why I won’t be taking you with me this time. Once I’ve established myself over there and made sure it’s safe, I’ll come back to get you.”

“Alright! I’ll wait at home for you to come back!” the girl nodded repeatedly, visibly relieved.

Truthfully, when she first heard her brother say he was going to another world, she couldn’t help but feel nervous.

The vastness of the starry sky—who knew how long it would be before he returned?

She had merely suppressed that emotion, burying it deep so he wouldn’t notice.

But if the round trip wouldn’t even take ten years, that was another matter entirely.

That amount of time could pass in the blink of an eye if she entered secluded cultivation once or twice.

“Brother, when do you plan to depart?”

“In a few days. I’ll spend a few more days with you before I go.”

Lu Qing’s mood was greatly uplifted.

He hadn’t expected what he thought would be the hardest part—the farewell with Xiaoyan—to pass so easily.

What he didn’t expect even more, was that the person he thought would be the hardest to convince, turned out to be the easiest.

It was with Xiaoli that he ran into trouble.

“No! I’m going with you!”

The moment Xiaoli heard that Lu Qing was planning to leave this world, she spoke without hesitation.

Her tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.

“Xiaoli, the world I’m heading to is filled with powerful cultivators—even Nascent Soul experts are not uncommon...”

“I don’t care. I’m going with you!”

Lu Qing was about to try persuading her, but Xiaoli cut him off without listening to a single word.

No matter how Lu Qing tried to reason with her afterward, Xiaoli only had one thing to say: she was going with him.

In the end, it was Xiaoyan who stepped in to mediate. “Brother, why not just take Xiaoli with you?”

“But…”

“Didn’t you once say that Xiaoli’s parents might not have perished in the previous era of cultivation, but instead left this world alongside the Demon Emperor?

If you bring Xiaoli with you, maybe you’ll come across some clues about her parents.”

Hearing this, Lu Qing hesitated.

Years ago, after Xiaoli attained the Golden Core Realm, he had told her about the suspicions regarding her origin.

Now that Xiaoyan brought it up, it reminded him of that possibility.

Xiaoli’s eyes sparkled with hope as she looked at him.

Faced with her eager gaze, Lu Qing fell silent for a while, then finally nodded.

“Alright. But Xiaoli, about your parents—it’s all still just our guesswork.

We’re not certain they truly left this world back then.

And the previous era of cultivation was tens of thousands of years ago.

Even if they really did leave, it’ll be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

There’s only the slimmest chance we’ll find any trace of them. You have to be mentally prepared for that.”

“I understand. I just want to go with you,” Xiaoli said earnestly, nodding.

“Very well. In a few days, you’ll come with me,” Lu Qing said, a bit helpless.

Still, he thought about how Xiaoli possessed the divine ability of Size Manipulation, allowing her to change her size at will.

So taking her along wouldn’t be a burden.

Originally, he had intended for Xiaoli to stay behind and keep Xiaoyan company—but he hadn’t expected the little one to be so stubborn.

Nearby, Wuxing, seeing that Xiaoli was allowed to go, also started plotting to tag along.

This time, after thinking for a moment, Lu Qing simply agreed.

If he was taking one, taking two made little difference.

Besides, Wuxing was his enslaved spirit beast. He wasn’t even sure if the Soul Imprint would remain effective over such vast distances.

Better to bring it along as well.

That said, he had originally wanted to leave them behind to accompany Xiaoyan—now that both were coming with him, he couldn’t help but feel a little worried about her.

Upon hearing this, Xiaoyan merely smiled.

“Don’t worry, Brother. I’ve still got Grandpa Chen and everyone in the village. And if I get bored, I can always go to Sister Lingshuang and cultivate with her.”

“Seems the little girl has truly grown up.”

Lu Qing looked at his sister, who was now comforting him instead, and just gave her head a final affectionate ruffle, saying no more.

In the days that followed, Lu Qing did nothing else—aside from his daily cultivation routine, he spent all his remaining time with Xiaoyan.

The two of them went fishing, gathered herbs, and cooked a variety of delicious meals together.

They essentially relived all the things they had done together in childhood.

...

Three days later, at the Half-Mountain Courtyard.

Lu Qing was dressed simply, with Xiaoli and Wuxing standing on his shoulders.

His master and Xiaoyan stood behind him.

Aside from his master and Xiaoyan, Lu Qing hadn’t told anyone else about his departure.

“Master, your disciple is ready to depart.”

“Mm. Be careful on the road. When you reach another world, avoid conflict if you can. Prioritize your own safety above all else,” Doctor Chen advised.

“I understand.”

“Brother... come back soon,” Xiaoyan said, her eyes misty.

Though she had acted strong these past few days, now that Lu Qing was truly leaving, she couldn’t hold back her emotions.

“Don’t worry. No more than fifty years—whether or not I manage to gain a foothold in the other world, I’ll return by then,” Lu Qing said as he gently ruffled her hair.

That was the deadline he had set for himself.

Fifty years might seem long, but for Golden Core cultivators like Xiaoyan and his master, it was nothing.

After all, even those who had just entered the Golden Core Realm had lifespans of a thousand years.

“Oh, right, Master—I've left behind a Golden Core-level Puppet Avatar in the Jade Transformation Chamber for secluded cultivation.

If anything happens in the future and you need help, you can summon it.

And here—this jade talisman is the formation token to my cave residence on Sacred Mountain.

If you ever wish to go cultivate there, this will allow you unrestricted access.”

Lu Qing handed a jade talisman to his master.

“Alright, I understand,” Doctor Chen said, taking the talisman.

“Xiaoyan, Brother is leaving now.”

With one last ruffle of her hair, Lu Qing summoned the Void Flying Boat and stepped aboard with Xiaoli and Wuxing.

In Xiaoyan’s reluctant gaze, he transformed into a streak of light and soared high into the heavens.