40: We are brothers

Azure Profound Upper Sect, General Affairs Hall.

Li Qingfeng, relying on his Inner Sect Disciple token and his master's handwritten order, successfully claimed the return home order mission issued by the Sect.

He then followed the instructions to the mountain gate's skyport station to collect supplies.

At the mountain gate's skyport, a shuttle-shaped flying vessel about three zhang long, crafted entirely from Azure Spirit Bamboo, floated quietly.

Exquisite cloud patterns were carved onto the hull, and the bow was inlaid with the striking Qingxuan emblem—a green immortal mountain floating above a sea of clouds.

This was the standard flying Magical Artifact issued by the Sect to Disciples executing a return home order—the green bamboo flying shuttle.

Li Qingfeng and the other two boarded the Flying Shuttle; the internal space was small but sufficient for the three of them to sit cross-legged.

As the one in charge, Li Qingfeng sat at the control position in the bow, while Wang Tiezhu and Zhang Shitou sat on either side.

Inside the Flying Shuttle, the supplies provided by the Sect were neatly arranged, with four jade boxes of various sizes placed before them:

Cultivation Technique Jade Box: Inside were two Jade Slips.

"Qingxuan Qi Nurturing Art": A Grade 1 Cultivation Technique: A foundational Qi induction method for the Spirit Enlightenment Realm. It was more balanced and peaceful than the Military Dao Peak's "Golden Halberd Spirit Induction Art," establishing a Foundation for the pulse gate without any specific elemental attribute.

"Qingxuan Righteous Qi Art": A Grade 2 Cultivation Technique: A foundational technique for the Qi Refinement Stage. It could guide and refine the righteous/miscellaneous Qi of heaven and earth. It was steady and enduring with strong compatibility.

Also included were several small jade fragments recording basic offensive and auxiliary minor spells such as Fireball, Clearing Rain, Light Body, and Object Manipulation (Basic).

Spiritual Plant Jade Box:

Ten quail-egg-sized fruits with pale green skin that emitted a faint Spiritual Qi—Azure Origin Fruits (Grade 1).

These fruits could be consumed directly to increase spiritual power and were commonly used in refining low-grade Medicinal Pills.

A small bag weighing about one jin of plump, gold-veined spiritual rice seeds—Cloud Wave Gold Crystal Rice (Grade 1 Spiritual Plant).

Accompanied by a Jade Slip detailing the cultivation method for this spiritual rice, the required environment (a place with faint spiritual energy), and precautions.

This would be the core of the future spiritual field's output.

Identity Jade Box:

A palm-sized square seal made of warm green jade.

The seal was carved with simple cloud patterns, and at its base were four ancient, heavy seal script characters carrying a hint of majesty—under the governance of qingxuan.

This seal contained a special spiritual charm and served as proof of governance recognized by the Sect. With it, one could demarcate spheres of influence, deter petty criminals, and use it as a token to request emergency aid from the Sect.

Detection Jade Box:

A two-foot-long, grayish-white ruler that was neither metal nor jade—the Earth Spirit Ruler (Spirit Measuring Instrument).

When injected with spiritual power, the ruler would glow faintly. It could roughly detect the strength of leyline spiritual energy (used for selecting sites for spiritual fields) and could also be held close to a person to check for the presence of a Spiritual Root (it cannot measure attributes or grades, only presence).

Once the supplies were inventoried and verified, they were put into the low-grade Storage Pouch provided by the Sect.

With a thought, Li Qingfeng injected spiritual power into the core of the Flying Shuttle.

"Buzz!"

The green bamboo flying shuttle glowed with a soft green light and rose steadily into the air, transforming into a streak of emerald light as it sped toward the northern horizon.

The Flying Shuttle pierced through clouds and mist, as the mountains and rivers below receded rapidly.

Just as Li Qingfeng expected, when passing through many large towns and Family territories in the south, the striking Qingxuan emblem on the green bamboo flying shuttle was the best passport.

Occasionally, powerful Divine Senses swept over the Flying Shuttle, but they retracted like they had received an electric shock the moment they touched the emblem. No one dared to come forward to question or block them.

Some towns even proactively opened channels in their protective light shields as a sign of respect.

No one dared to provoke the prestige of the Qingxuan Sect's True Monarch's governance.

With an unobstructed path, they traversed the prosperous and wealthy southern regions within a few days.

After flying for several days, the terrain below gradually became familiar, with the undulating mountains gaining a touch of northern ruggedness.

On this day, a barren hollow appeared beneath the Flying Shuttle, with exposed dark brown rocks, sparse vegetation, and low, dilapidated village houses.

"Black Stone Hollow! It's my home! I'm home!"

Zhang Shitou lunged to the edge of the Flying Shuttle, pointing downward, his voice choked with emotion as tears streamed uncontrollably down his face.

The hardships and grievances of his three years as a handyman Disciple erupted completely the moment he saw his homeland.

"Stone, cheer up! You're returning home in glory now!"

Wang Tiezhu patted his shoulder firmly and pulled him back.

Li Qingfeng also wore a gentle smile:

"That's right, Stone. Put this on."

He took out a set of brand-new deep blue robes from his Storage Pouch and handed them to Zhang Shitou; the fabric was ordinary, but the craftsmanship was fine.

He had commissioned a handyman from Divine Craftsmanship Peak to make this using the standard fabric issued by the Sect. It wasn't a Dharma robe, but it was enough to show his status and bearing.

Zhang Shitou's hands trembled as he changed into them. His entire temperament changed instantly, losing some of his frailty and gaining more spirit.

Li Qingfeng took another small Storage Pouch and pressed it into Zhang Shitou's hand:

"There are a few bottles of Foundation Nurturing Pills inside to nourish your Family's blood, Qi, and Foundation. There are also some mundane gold and silver items to show respect to your father and mother and improve your household's situation."

He paused, feeling uneasy, then unfastened a shimmering short sword from his waist (a standard Flying Sword Magical Artifact from Military Dao Peak, not high in grade but very sharp) and handed it to Zhang Shitou:

"Take this as well for self-defense. Remember, do not show it to others easily, and definitely do not use it to bully your fellow villagers."

Clutching the heavy Storage Pouch and the cold Flying Sword, looking at the familiar village below and hearing the warm words of his brothers, Zhang Shitou cried even harder. Sobbing and unable to speak, he could only nod vigorously.

"Alright, a grown man shouldn't be weeping like this."

Li Qingfeng looked at him with a smile.

"I'm giving you a month's leave. Go home and settle your parents and relatives, and handle your Family's trivial matters. Once everything is settled, come directly to Li Family Village to find us. We'll be waiting for you there."

"Mhm! Brother Feng! Brother Pillar! I will definitely be on time!" Zhang Shitou wiped his tears, his voice still choked.

The green bamboo flying shuttle circled once over Black Stone Hollow before slowly landing in a secluded clearing outside the village.

Under the surprised and awe-filled gazes of the nearby working villagers, Zhang Shitou held his head high and strode toward his familiar dilapidated house.

His back was still thin, but it was now as straight as a pine tree.

The Flying Shuttle took to the air again, heading northeast toward Wang Family Village.

Wang Tiezhu watched Black Stone Hollow recede in the distance. After a moment of silence, he spoke up, his voice carrying a rare low tone:

"Brother Feng, do you think... what if Stone... gets too comfortable at home and doesn't want to come, or if his Family holds him back... what if he regrets it or goes back on his word... what then?"

He turned his head, a flash of the severity and ruthlessness characteristic of a Military Dao Peak Disciple appearing in his eyes.

"Should we... make some preparations in advance? For example..." He made a throat-slitting gesture.

Li Qingfeng's hands controlling the Flying Shuttle didn't pause for a second. He turned his head and looked at Wang Tiezhu with an unusually calm and serious gaze.

"Pillar, do you remember when we first met on the Qingxuan Flying Shuttle?"

Wang Tiezhu was taken aback. "I remember. Why?"

"At that time, everyone on the boat thought I had run into immense luck, and they either envied, resented, or looked down on me."

"Only Stone, that equally unremarkable handyman boy, was the first to proactively approach me. Though he had his own little schemes, he sincerely told me he wanted to be my friend. I've always remembered that friendship."

His tone was steady and firm:

"Stone is a brother."

"Today, I gave him pills, gold, silver, and a Flying Sword because of our brotherhood and because I want him to do well."

"If he truly feels that life in his hometown is stable and doesn't want to follow us into more toil and danger, preferring to serve his parents and live out the rest of his life in peace, I, Li Qingfeng, will gladly accept and wish him well."

"Even if he encounters difficulties in the future, as long as he isn't proactively doing evil or committing crimes, if he comes to me, no matter where I am or what my status is, I will do my best to help him. Because—"

Li Qingfeng's gaze swept over Wang Tiezhu and the vast land below with an unquestionable solemnity:

"We are brothers who walked out of the Desolate Mountain Domain together and struggled and fought together in the immortal Sect."

"This is true for you, Wang Tiezhu, and it is also true for him, Zhang Shitou!"

Wang Tiezhu stared blankly at Li Qingfeng, seeing the pure and profound trust and friendship in his eyes.

The suspicion and ruthlessness that had sprouted in his heart due to the cruel cultivation environment vanished instantly.

He grinned and threw a heavy punch at Li Qingfeng's shoulder (of course, with Li Qingfeng's current physique, the punch didn't budge him):

"Alright! Brother Feng! I get it! I was overthinking it! Brothers! Brothers for life!"