307: I returned to Qinglan Sect and saw Senior Sister Lin Qingyao again.

After several days of flight, mountains and rivers rapidly receded beneath his feet.

Given Jiang Donghua's current cultivation as a Dou Huang expert, traversing a distance that would have taken considerable time back then only required a few days.

Beneath the clouds, a familiar stretch of continuous mountain ranges came into view.

The Qinglan Sect was still exactly as he remembered it—the mountain gate, the halls, the training grounds, everything seemed unchanged, appearing tranquil, yet somewhat insignificant, nestled within the surrounding mountains.

Jiang Donghua hovered in the air, looking down upon the sect where he had spent a considerable amount of time, a slight feeling of emotion rising in his heart.

When he was inside the sect previously, he only felt its vastness and the need to look up to it.

Only now, looking down from high altitude, did he truly realize how limited his perspective had been back then.

"Things remain, but people change. Perhaps it hasn't reached that point yet, but the perspective is certainly completely different."

He chuckled softly, and his figure slowly descended, not directly intruding into the core of the sect, but landing on the bluestone path not far outside the mountain gate.

Containing the subtle, vast aura surrounding him, he walked leisurely toward the mountain gate.

As soon as he approached, a gate-guarding disciple wearing the standard Qinglan Sect blue robe came forward, his face bearing a perfunctory expression, raising his hand to stop and question him.

"Friend, this place is the Qinglan Sect's mountain gate."

The disciple's words stopped halfway.

He had originally thought this was just a passerby or a young master from a minor family who had wandered in, but upon getting closer, he clearly saw that Jiang Donghua's clothing was made of luxurious fabric, subtly shimmering, definitely not ordinary goods.

More importantly, the calm demeanor that naturally emanated from the way the other party simply stood, along with his tranquil and profound gaze, made the disciple feel an invisible pressure just from a casual glance, similar to facing the high and mighty Elders within the sect.

The reprimand that was on his lips was swallowed back, and the disciple forced a somewhat polite smile onto his face, his tone softening.

"Uh... Young Master, may I ask why you have graced the Qinglan Sect with your presence?"

Jiang Donghua didn't bother beating around the bush and asked directly.

"Brother, do you know someone named Lin Qingyao within the Qinglan Sect?"

"Lin Qingyao?"

The disciple was stunned for a moment, then realized, his tone even gaining a hint of respect.

"Are you referring to Senior Sister Lin? I know her, of course, I know her! Senior Sister Lin is a core disciple of our Qinglan Sect, with outstanding talent—who wouldn't know her? May I ask who you are, Young Master...?"

"An old acquaintance."

Jiang Donghua was concise, then tossed over a small jade bottle.

"Help me lead the way."

The disciple clumsily caught the jade bottle; it felt warm and smooth in his hand. He subconsciously pulled out the stopper, and a pure, vibrant vitality mixed with a faint medicinal scent instantly rushed into his nostrils.

He only cultivated shallow Wood Attribute cultivation methods, yet at this moment, he felt the Dou Qi within his body become noticeably more active!

"This... what is this?!"

The disciple was utterly shocked; this pill was invaluable to him!

Jiang Donghua explained casually.

"It's a small thing. For a Wood Attribute Dou Practitioner like you, it has a certain effect on nourishing the meridians."

More than just a "certain effect"!

The disciple screamed internally. This was probably a precious medicinal pill that even the Elders in the sect couldn't easily produce!

He immediately gripped the jade bottle tightly, as if afraid it would fly away, and the respect on his face turned into almost fawning enthusiasm, his waist bending slightly.

"Understood! Understood! Young Master, you are too kind! It is my honor to be of service to you! Please follow me. Senior Sister Lin is most likely cultivating in the Quiet Cultivation Forest on the back mountain at this time. I will take you there right away!"

Saying this, he quickly led the way, his attitude completely different from before, terrified of slighting this mysterious acquaintance who could casually bestow such a generous gift.

Jiang Donghua nodded slightly and followed behind him, stepping once again through the Qinglan Sect's mountain gate.

Returning to this familiar place, he wondered what state that old acquaintance was in now.

Following the direction the disciple pointed, he saw a graceful figure in cyan practicing swordplay in a quiet bamboo forest clearing.

The sword light flickered, and her posture was agile. Although it couldn't be considered a profound Dou Technique, it possessed considerable charm.

Putting everything else aside, just looking at her back, she truly looked almost exactly as she did in his memory.

Jiang Donghua's Soul Power subtly sensed her, and he immediately detected that Lin Qingyao's current cultivation was roughly at the peak Dou Practitioner level.

In this small Qinglan Sect, reaching this stage at her age was indeed quite good, worthy of her status as a core disciple.

The disciple who had received the pill now acted like the most loyal servant, jogging forward with a beaming smile, shouting from afar.

"Senior Sister Lin! Senior Sister Lin! Someone is looking for you!"

Hearing the voice, Lin Qingyao finished her move with a flourish of her longsword and turned around.

Fine beads of sweat dotted her smooth forehead, and her bright eyes held a mix of annoyance at being disturbed and confusion as she looked at the disciple, then her gaze went past him, landing on Jiang Donghua behind him.

She carefully assessed Jiang Donghua, her brows slightly furrowed.

The young man before her had an extraordinary temperament and luxurious attire, clearly not a disciple of the sect, yet she was certain she had no recollection of him. Feeling wary, she spoke coolly.

"Who are you? We don't seem to know each other."

Jiang Donghua looked at her expression of unfamiliarity and wariness, feeling no surprise, but rather a touch of amusement.

Right, how could she remember?

Back then, she was a true disciple within the sect, while he was merely an unknown nobody struggling at the bottom, possessing only a few stages of Dou Zhi Qi, and nearly bullied to death.

That time, perhaps just a casual word of fairness from her as she passed by was enough to save him, who at the time only had Dou Zhi Qi.

That favor, to her, might have been so insignificant that she forgot it the moment she turned around. But to him, it was extraordinarily meaningful.

Now, time had passed and circumstances had changed.

The ant-like youth of the past was now a Dou Huang expert soaring through the nine heavens.

And this small Qinglan Sect, this Senior Sister he once had to look up to, was now a being from an entirely different world in his eyes.

All these thoughts flashed through his mind, yet Jiang Donghua's face retained its serene smile, and he followed her line of questioning.

"If Senior Sister says we don't know each other, then we don't know each other."

His tone was calm, yet carried an unquestionable authority.

After speaking, he casually glanced at the disciple who had guided him.

The disciple was also quick-witted; upon meeting Jiang Donghua's gaze, he immediately understood.

Although curious about the relationship between this mysterious Young Master and Senior Sister Lin, he understood even better what he should hear and what he shouldn't.

He quickly bowed, smiling obsequiously.

"Young Master, Senior Sister, please chat. This Junior Brother won't disturb you. I'll take my leave now, I'll take my leave now!"

Having said that, he lowered his head and quickly left the bamboo forest, leaving Jiang Donghua and Lin Qingyao alone.

Lin Qingyao looked at the unfamiliar young man before her, who carried a strange sense of oppression, and then at the sight of the disciple retreating almost frantically, her confusion and wariness deepened.

She tightened her grip on her longsword, secretly circulating the Dou Qi within her body, and said in a low voice.

"Who exactly are you? What do you want with me?"

Jiang Donghua did not answer immediately, but slowly took two steps forward, his gaze sweeping over the familiar bamboo forest as if recalling something, before finally returning his sight to Lin Qingyao's wary and pretty face, smiling slightly as he spoke.

"Senior Sister, there's no need to be nervous. I came here with no ill intentions. I merely came to see you."

Jiang Donghua looked at Lin Qingyao's bright eyes, which were filled with confusion and wariness, and continued in a calm tone.

"It is simply to conclude a karma and repay a favor."

His words were clear, neither rushed nor slow.

"A few years ago, right here, a word of justice or a casual protection from Senior Sister—something you may have long forgotten—was perhaps insignificant to you, but it happened to save a youth who at the time only had a few stages of Dou Zhi Qi and whose life hung by a thread."

These words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples in Lin Qingyao's heart.

She tried hard to search her memory. Disputes among disciples in the sect and her occasional intervention—such things seemed to have happened, but she truly had no impression of which specific incident it was or who the indistinct face belonged to.

After all, she was the focus of attention back then, and those who needed her help were mostly unknown individuals.

However, before she could think further, Jiang Donghua flipped his palm.

A faint light flashed, and several scrolls emitting different energy fluctuations, along with a few exquisitely made jade bottles, floated above his palm.

"This is a Water Attribute xuan-rank high-tier cultivation method, named the 'Wave Cloud Art',"

Jiang Donghua pointed to the blue scroll with the most gentle and magnificent aura, and then pointed to the scrolls beside it.

"These are corresponding sets of xuan-rank high-tier, mid-tier, and low-tier Dou Techniques, covering both offense and defense, forming a complete system."

He then gestured toward the jade bottles.

"These pills will be greatly beneficial for your current breakthrough to Great Dou Master, and even for your future cultivation."

"Senior Sister, please accept them. The items here should be enough to repay the favor from back then."

"A xuan-rank high-tier cultivation method?! And matching Xuan-rank Combat Skills?!"

Lin Qingyao gasped completely, her beautiful eyes wide, her face filled with unbelievable shock.

A xuan-rank high-tier cultivation method!

Treasures of this caliber, let alone her, probably couldn't even be produced by the Qinglan Sect's Sect Master!

This mysterious person in front of her was actually offering them to her so casually?

Just to repay a small matter she herself couldn't even remember?

The immense impact left her mind blank, her thoughts in utter chaos.

She felt suffocating ecstasy over this heaven-sent opportunity, yet was deeply uneasy and fearful because of this completely disproportionate repayment.

She racked her brain but couldn't connect any small event from her memory to this generous gift, which was enough to change her fate and even that of the entire Qinglan Sect.

"This is too valuable! I cannot accept it."

She subconsciously tried to refuse, her voice trembling.

But Jiang Donghua merely gave a gentle push, and the scrolls and jade bottles were sent into Lin Qingyao's arms by a soft yet irresistible force.

"The karma is concluded. Senior Sister, take care."

Having said that, Jiang Donghua spoke no more and turned to leave.

His figure appeared somewhat ethereal amidst the dappled light and shadow of the bamboo forest.

Lin Qingyao held the heavy gifts in her arms—gifts that could drive countless experts mad—and watched the vanishing figure, finally unable to stop herself from urgently shouting.

"Wait! Who exactly are you? At least tell me your name!"

Jiang Donghua paused slightly but did not turn back, only leaving a meaningful warning that clearly reached Lin Qingyao's ears on the wind.

"The name is not important. Senior Sister only needs to remember not to mention today's events to anyone. Possessing a treasure makes one guilty; these treasures must be carefully guarded. Quickly put them into your storage ring!"

As his voice faded, his figure slowly dissipated before Lin Qingyao like a wisp of smoke, as if he had never appeared.

She was left alone, standing in the empty bamboo forest, holding priceless cultivation methods and pills, her heart surging, feeling as if she were in a dream.

"I am leaving."

That final, faint farewell was what jolted Lin Qingyao back to her senses, but the space before her was already empty.

Sunlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, leaving only her and an indescribable encounter.

Time flew by, and years passed like shuttles.

In the blink of an eye, several decades had passed.

The structure of the former secluded Thunder Empire and its surroundings also quietly underwent changes.

Within the Thunder Empire, a female expert named Lin Qingyao rose meteorically. Relying on exquisite and powerful Water-type Dou Techniques, her cultivation broke through all the way to the Dou Huang realm, making her famous throughout the region and establishing her as an influential figure in the Thunder Empire.

Outsiders only said she possessed extraordinary talent and exceptional fortune.

However, only in the dead of night would this revered Water Emperor shed all her prestige, revealing a trace of confusion and obsession that didn't match her status.

She often caressed a seemingly ordinary empty jade bottle in her hand, her gaze returning to the bamboo forest of the Qinglan Sect decades ago.

That mysterious man, that existence who casually gifted her the opportunity to change her destiny.

Like a fleeting glimpse, he left the deepest imprint on her life before completely vanishing without a trace.

Over the decades, she used her steadily growing power, mobilizing countless manpower and resources publicly and privately, searching almost every surrounding empire.

She described his temperament and his profile, yet she was unable to utter his name.

But the result was always nothing.

Even though she was now a Dou Huang expert with immense power, she didn't even have a direction to search in, and could only let the emotions stemming from shock, gratitude, and complex inquiry settle into an indelible obsession over the long years.

"Who exactly are you? And where are you..."

A soft sigh dissipated into the silent night, unanswered.