"Junior Master Uncle! It's Junior Master Uncle!"
The Inner Disciples guarding the mountain gate confirmed it several times and hurriedly passed the message upwards.
Soon, a gap appeared in the Protecting Sect Array, allowing Chen Qingyuan to enter.
"Greetings, Junior Master Uncle."
The disciples immediately paid their respects, their eyes filled with reverence.
"Mm, you may dispense with the formalities."
Chen Qingyuan replied with a slight smile.
Then, the news of Chen Qingyuan's return reached the ears of the Elders, who quickly set aside their affairs and hurried over.
"Junior Brother, where have you been all these years?"
"Were you bullied?"
"Brat, you've been gone for so many years and didn't even send a message back to let us know you're safe."
The Elders expressed their concern while also chiding him.
Chen Qingyuan listened to everything, not daring to utter a word of dissent.
After a long while, everyone's emotions settled down.
The Elders were very puzzled about Chen Qingyuan's sudden disappearance years ago; only Lin Changsheng knew the specific reasons. However, since Lin Changsheng was unwilling to disclose it, the others did not press further.
Chen Qingyuan simply said he had been to a very safe place and would tell the truth when the opportunity arose.
Seeing that Chen Qingyuan had his unspeakable secrets, everyone stopped inquiring further.
"Junior Brother, you've actually cultivated to the peak of the Golden Elixir Realm, unbelievable!"
At this moment, an Elder finally took notice of Chen Qingyuan's cultivation aura.
"How many years has it been!"
Everyone used their Mystic Arts to probe, exclaiming in astonishment.
"As expected of Junior Brother, even with a fresh start, your talent remains extraordinary."
Everyone was happy for Chen Qingyuan, showing genuine smiles.
After some casual conversation, Chen Qingyuan asked, "Why haven't I seen Big Senior Brother?"
At this question, everyone's expressions stiffened, and their smiles gradually faded.
"About fifteen years ago, the Demon's Lair beneath the Heavenly Jade Sect was about to stir, and Big Senior Brother ventured alone to suppress it temporarily. Although he returned alive, he was seriously injured and has been in seclusion ever since, with his condition unknown."
An Elder sighed and explained the situation.
With Lin Changsheng injured, the Mystic Azure Sect feared that thieves might take advantage of the situation, so they activated the Protecting Sect Array just in case.
"Big Senior Brother will definitely be fine."
Chen Qingyuan was actually worried, but he still had to smile to ease the atmosphere and not let everyone worry too much.
Afterward, Chen Qingyuan went to a secluded guest hall.
He wondered if Ghost Doctor Sister was still there.
Originally, the Ghost Doctor resided there, but Chen Qingyuan was forcibly taken away by Zhao Yichuan in white clothes before he had the chance to bid farewell to his Sect Elders and the Ghost Doctor.
Creak—
As he pushed open the door, Chen Qingyuan did not see any trace of Ghost Doctor Gongsun Nan.
"She must have left already," Chen Qingyuan murmured.
He closed the door and returned to his own residence.
In the following days, Chen Qingyuan did not seclude himself for cultivation but spent time chatting and reminiscing with his Senior Brothers and Sisters.
Besides that, Chen Qingyuan left most of the resources he had obtained over the years at the mission hall, allowing the Inner Disciples to gain more Spirit Stones and also serving as a form of tempering.
If he simply distributed the resources directly to everyone, it would be meaningless and only foster laziness.
Those disciples with the ability naturally obtained more resources.
Of course, Chen Qingyuan did not forget those with lesser talents, assigning them tasks with lower difficulty that generally did not lead to accidents.
After busying himself with these matters, Chen Qingyuan lay on the bed in his cave dwelling, planning to rest for a while.
Unconsciously, three months had passed since his return home.
Chen Qingyuan could not stay long at the Mystic Azure Sect and needed to return to the Academy as soon as possible.
One day, as Chen Qingyuan was preparing to bid farewell to everyone, a Sound Transmission reached his ears: "Junior Brother, you're back."
The voice was gentle, with a hint of indulgence.
"Big Senior Brother!" Chen Qingyuan was delighted and scanned his surroundings, hoping to find Lin Changsheng.
Unfortunately, after looking around for a long time, he did not find Lin Changsheng.
"I'm still in seclusion and can't meet you in person."
Although Lin Changsheng was in seclusion, he was quite aware of what was happening in the Sect.
Everyone thought Lin Changsheng was in seclusion because of the injuries he sustained in the Demon's Lair, but that was not the case.
The injuries from the Demon's Lair had healed in a few years.
The reason he was still in seclusion was that he needed a lot of time to assimilate the inherited memories.
Now, Lin Changsheng's true strength was enough to crush all the Sects in the Flow Star Domain.
"Senior Brother, are you alright?"
Chen Qingyuan stayed in the cave dwelling, speaking along the thread of the Sound Transmission Law.
"Everything is fine, don't worry."
Lin Changsheng spoke softly.
"That's good."
With no physical issues, Chen Qingyuan felt relieved.
"Has the Academy accepted you?"
This time Lin Changsheng sent out a wisp of divine consciousness to communicate through Sound Transmission, mainly to inquire about the news of the Academy.
"Yes, they have, and I've also become the disciple of Vice Principal Yu."
Chen Qingyuan recounted many events that had happened in the Academy, including the letters left by Master Shangguan Rong in the Academy, agreeing to let Chen Qingyuan take other members of the Academy as his teachers.
Hearing Chen Qingyuan's story, Lin Changsheng was much reassured: "If Vice Principal Yu is willing to take you as his disciple, then you must cultivate diligently and not disgrace Predecessor Yu's name."
"I will do my best, Senior Brother, rest assured."
Chen Qingyuan nodded.
Lin Changsheng had awakened the inherited memories and was well-versed in many matters, including the Academy. He knew that Yu Chenran taking Chen Qingyuan as a disciple was mostly to protect him, and he was grateful.
"Qingyuan…"
Lin Changsheng called out, hesitating to continue.
"Senior Brother, what's wrong?"
Suddenly, Chen Qingyuan felt a sense of unease.
Lin Changsheng usually called him "Junior Brother" or "brat." It was rare for him to address Chen Qingyuan so formally, indicating that something significant must have happened.
"It's nothing." Lin Changsheng pondered for a long time, then let out a laugh.
"Senior Brother, you're definitely hiding something from me. Not just you, but also the Master from the Academy."
Chen Qingyuan wanted to clear up the confusion in his heart.
"When you truly grow up, you will understand."
Telling Chen Qingyuan prematurely would do more harm than good.
If Chen Qingyuan had the ability to awaken the inherited memories, all his doubts would be resolved. If he couldn't access the inheritance, telling him would only add to his worries, better to live a peaceful life.
"Here we go again."
Chen Qingyuan sighed softly.
"Stay well in the Academy, and don't go looking for trouble everywhere."
Lin Changsheng advised.
"Yes, Senior Brother."
Since Lin Changsheng was unwilling to explain, Chen Qingyuan had no way of knowing and could only keep his various doubts to himself.
"Go on."
Knowing that Chen Qingyuan was about to leave, Lin Changsheng's words carried a hint of reluctance.
Thus, Chen Qingyuan bid farewell to the Elders and found an excuse to leave the Mystic Azure Sect.
In a secret chamber, Lin Changsheng, dressed in a dark Dao Robe, sat cross-legged in the Void, surrounded by ancient Dao Marks that occasionally burrowed into his body.
"Junior Brother, this might be your last meeting with your Senior Brother."
Lin Changsheng planned to seclude himself for a few more decades before heading to the demon abyss in the Imperial Province. This was his destiny as the inheritor of the Azure Sect, a responsibility he could not shirk.
Having been baptized with the inherited memories, Lin Changsheng's cultivation level was increasing day by day. He was now close to breaking through the Mahayana Realm and did not need to undergo Tribulation Crossing; everything would come naturally with a solid foundation.
On his way back, Chen Qingyuan encountered someone.
Who was it?
The current Holy Maiden of Eastern Joy Palace, Bai Xixue.
Proofreader & Editor: Lotas