39: Returning Home Order

Li Qingfeng took the "Cloud-Cleaver" bow embryo with both hands. It felt heavy and cold to the touch, and a sharp sensation of Bloodline connection instantly transmitted to him. The Metal Spiritual Qi within his body spontaneously resonated with it.

Suppressing the excitement in his heart, he bowed deeply once more in gratitude.

“Thank you for the treasure, Revered Master! Your Disciple will not fail this bow!”

“Mm.”

Iron Yama withdrew the slight warmth from his face, returning to his usual cold and hard expression.

“Coming here today, besides seeing you out of seclusion, there is one more matter: an order from the Sect.”

His gaze swept over Li Qingfeng and Wang Tiezhu, his voice solemn.

“In recent years, the Elders of Heavenly Deduction Peak have observed that the recovery of the Heaven And Earth Spiritual Essence in the Desolate Mountain Domain has intensified. Spirit Medicines are sprouting, and demons are gradually rising. Mortal villages and towns are the first to bear the brunt, with casualties increasing daily. The Sect has decided that any Inner Sect or Outer Sect Disciple from the Desolate Mountain Domain who has broken through to the Qi Refinement Stage or reached Spirit Enlightenment Perfection may apply to return to their hometown to execute the ‘Order of Homecoming’.”

“Order of Homecoming?”

Li Qingfeng's heart skipped a beat, and a strong wave of homesickness instantly welled up.

“Correct.”

Iron Yama explained:

“The Sect will provide you with basic Cultivation Techniques and resources. You are to return to your families, integrate the villages, merge the towns, and select lands with faint Spiritual Essence. You will then direct the Mortals to clear spirit fields and plant the basic spirit plants required by the Sect (such as Spirit-Gathering Grain, Iron-Wire Grass, and so on).”

“You need only hand over a fixed quota every year. Any remaining output can be kept to develop your Family. This is a path to branch out, stabilize the rear, and also for you to accumulate resources for your own cultivation.”

He paused and looked at Li Qingfeng.

“During the Early Stage of construction, there may be a shortage of manpower. The Sect specially permits you to choose one or two Spirit Enlightenment Stage Utility Disciples to accompany you and be at your disposal.”

Li Qingfeng understood instantly. This was the Sect positioning its pieces, using the Disciples' families as feelers to more deeply control and develop the recovering resources of the Desolate Mountain Domain.

Just as he was about to speak, Iron Yama looked toward Wang Tiezhu.

“Regarding this matter, I have already asked Iron Pillar.”

Iron Yama said indifferently, “He said he is used to the freedom here and has no intention of returning home to be a Family head.”

Wang Tiezhu scratched his head and gave a silly grin.

“Revered Master is wise. I'm just a crude man; managing people and affairs is too much trouble. It's more satisfying to follow Revered Master and Brother Feng in cultivation.”

Iron Yama turned his gaze back to Li Qingfeng.

“I also asked him, if you were to return home and needed help, what would he do?”

Wang Tiezhu immediately straightened his back, his voice loud and resolute.

“That goes without saying! Brother Feng's business is my business! Whether it's a mountain of blades or a sea of fire, I'd take a knife for him! I, Wang Tiezhu, will definitely help to the end!”

His words were simple, yet they carried a rock-solid determination.

A flash of appreciative approval crossed Iron Yama's eyes as he spoke to Wang Tiezhu.

“It is good that you have such a heart. You have just entered the Spirit Enlightenment Sixth Layer (Initial Spirit Vessel Gate). Although your Realm has reached it, your spiritual power still lacks tempering. Do not rush to charge into Qi Refinement; settle for another two years to hammer your spiritual power until it is smooth and unobstructed, then your Foundation will be solid. When the time comes for a Breakthrough, you may return to the Sect to find me.”

Wang Tiezhu was overjoyed upon hearing this and knelt with a thud.

“Thank you for your guidance, Revered Master! This Disciple will definitely temper himself well!”

His eyes rolled as he added thick-facedly:

“Revered Master, that... we have another fellow villager and friend at Divine Craftsmanship Peak named Zhang Shitou; he's a utility worker. See... can I go ask him? If he's willing, he could also be a helper for Brother Feng?”

Iron Yama remained expressionless and casually tossed out a dark, heavy token. “You may. Take this token to the Divine Craftsmanship Peak Utility Courtyard and conscript him directly.”

“Thank you, Revered Master!”

Wang Tiezhu caught the token, grinning so wide he couldn't close his mouth.

---

Divine Craftsmanship Peak, Utility Courtyard.

Low, damp stone huts were crowded together, the air thick with the smell of low-grade Ore, sweat, stench, and a faint, lingering scent of mildew.

Unlike the cold, killing intent of Military Dao Peak, this place was filled with the clanging of hammering and the crude shouting of overseers.

In a corner stone hut, Zhang Shitou was laboriously carrying a basket of sharp-edged "Fire-Vein Ore."

He was even darker and thinner than he had been three years ago, his eyes sunken, wearing a patched utility uniform covered in black soot.

With every movement, his breath was shallow and his spiritual power fluctuations were weak, barely staying at the Qi Ling Third Layer [Wheel Spring] Vessel Gate, and extremely unstable at that.

Utility Disciples lacked resources and found cultivation difficult; coupled with frequent bullying, being able to maintain this Realm was already no easy feat.

“Stone! Move faster! What are you dawdling for!”

A burly utility foreman shouted impatiently.

“Yes... yes, Boss Liu.”

Zhang Shitou quickly responded, gritting his teeth to quicken his pace, the veins on his forehead bulging.

Just then, a familiar yet strange voice sounded at the door, carrying a hint of hesitation and excitement.

“Stone? Zhang Shitou?”

Zhang Shitou stiffened all over, thinking he was hallucinating.

He slowly turned around and saw a burly figure standing against the light at the door, wearing the attire of an Outer Sect Disciple of Military Dao Peak.

“Pillar... Brother Pillar?”

Zhang Shitou's eyes widened, and the basket of Ore in his hands fell to the ground with a crash, Ores rolling everywhere.

“It's me! Stone!”

Wang Tiezhu strode in. Seeing Zhang Shitou's haggard appearance and the dilapidated environment, his nose felt a bit sour.

“Brother Pillar! It really is you!”

Zhang Shitou suddenly lunged forward and hugged Wang Tiezhu tightly. His thin body trembled violently as the grievances, bitterness, loneliness, and despair accumulated over several years instantly erupted into loud wailing.

“Brother Pillar! I thought... I thought I'd never see you guys again in this life! Wuwuwu... it's too hard... it's too hard here...”

Wang Tiezhu patted Zhang Shitou's back firmly, his own voice choking up slightly.

“Alright, alright, Stone, don't cry! Big brother is here! Big brother will take you away! I'll take you away from this hellhole!”

Once Zhang Shitou had cried his fill and his emotions had calmed slightly, Wang Tiezhu pulled him aside, away from others. He lowered his voice and told him everything: the Order of Homecoming, Li Qingfeng's Breakthrough to Qi Refinement and becoming an Inner Sect Disciple, the need for helpers to return home and build the Family, and how Iron Yama had bestowed a token to conscript him directly.

“Go... go home? Follow Big Brother Qingfeng? Inner Sect Disciple? Conscription order?”

Zhang Shitou listened dumbfoundedly, the massive pleasant surprise hitting him so hard his mind went blank.

He tightly gripped the heavy token Wang Tiezhu handed over, as if grasping a life-saving straw, and also a turning point to change his fate!

“I'm willing! I'm willing, Brother Pillar!”

Tears welled up in Zhang Shitou's eyes again, but they were tears of wild joy.

“I'll give my all! For the rest of my life, I, Zhang Shitou, am willing to give my all for Big Brother Qingfeng! Finally... I can finally leave this place!”

He was so excited his words were incoherent.

Outside the Weapon Casting Platform.

Hearing Wang Tiezhu briefly recount the process of finding Zhang Shitou and Stone's reaction, Li Qingfeng's heart was also filled with a myriad of emotions.

He looked at Iron Yama, his gaze firm and full of gratitude.

“Revered Master's great kindness, this Disciple will never forget!”

Li Qingfeng bowed deeply once more.

“This Disciple is willing to accept the ‘Order of Homecoming’ and return to Li Family Village! I will certainly not fail the Sect's trust, nor will I fail Revered Master's cultivation!”

Home! After being away for four years, he was finally going back!

Bringing with him his Qi Refinement cultivation, bringing the Sect's mission, and bringing his fellow villagers!

Li Qingfeng's heart surged with heroic sentiment, his heart already flying back home.