149: Retreat and strive for the Grandmaster realm

The setting sun’s afterglow cast a warm, orange-red hue on the metal rooftops of the Kunlun Base family quarters.

As Su Lei pushed open the door, the aroma of cooking wafted out.

"Daddy’s home!"

Su Qiaoqiao was the first to rush out of the living room, like a joyful fawn, hugging Su Lei’s leg.

Although Su Yun didn't run, her eyes also lit up, and she stood not far away, trying to keep a straight face, but couldn't hide the smile at the corner of her mouth.

"Yes, I'm home."

Su Lei ruffled his daughters' hair, his gaze sweeping across the living room, finally landing on the familiar figure at the kitchen doorway.

Li Xue凝 was wearing an apron, a soup ladle still in her hand. The moment she saw Su Lei, her eyes softened.

"Dinner will be ready soon," she said softly.

At the dining table, the two children chattered excitedly about the new sights and sounds of the Kunlun Mountains.

Su Lei listened quietly, occasionally nodding.

It wasn't until dinner was over that he put down his chopsticks and looked at the two children.

"Do you want to go back?"

"N-No!" Su Yun quickly shook her head, but deflated the moment her eyes met her father's.

"It's just... I miss Teacher Wang a little."

Su Qiaoqiao also lowered her head and whispered, "And Xiaomei, she said she'd teach me to braid new hairstyles..."

Su Lei squatted in front of the two children and ruffled their heads.

"The Imperial Capital is good, but this place is more suitable for you."

"Why?" Su Qiaoqiao looked up.

"Because..." Su Lei paused, "The wind here is fiercer, the mountains are higher, and they can make you stronger."

"Although you've left school, your Martial Dao Cultivation cannot stop."

"Within one month, both of you must Breakthrough to Martial Master."

Su Yun's eyes widened. "But Teacher Wang said it would take at least half a year..."

"Here, I make the rules," Su Lei's gaze swept over them, his tone becoming uncharacteristically stern.

"To the training room, now."

The two children's eyes widened, but seeing their father's unquestionable gaze, they finally nodded obediently: "Yes!"

After they left, Li Xue凝 handed him a cup of hot tea, her eyes filled with worry, and asked softly.

"Isn't it too soon? They've just adapted to the new environment..."

Su Lei took the teacup, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the rim. "There's not much time left."

"What happened?"

Su Lei didn't explain much, just shook his head gently. "After a while, I will arrange a trial for you and the children."

Li Xue凝's fingers trembled slightly.

She suddenly took a step forward and hugged Su Lei tightly, her forehead resting on his shoulder.

"I heard about Lei Mietian's matter..."

Feeling the person in his arms tremble, Su Lei put down the teacup and gently wrapped his arm around her waist. "Don't be afraid."

"You're going to kill him, aren't you?" Li Xue凝 looked up, her eyes red. "A Great Grandmaster is so dangerous, you..."

Su Lei suddenly lowered his head and kissed her lips, cutting off the rest of her words.

The kiss was deep and heavy, with an irresistible force.

When they separated, Li Xue凝's face was flushed.

"Don't worry," Su Lei paused, then said softly, "Next, I will go into secluded Cultivation."

"Secluded Cultivation?" Li Xue凝 looked up, her eyes filled with confusion.

"To Breakthrough to Great Grandmaster."

"G-Great Grandmaster..." Li Xue凝's eyes instantly widened, her red lips slightly parted, unable to speak for a long time.

Shock, surprise, admiration—all kinds of emotions intertwined in her eyes.

But soon, her earlobes quietly turned red, and she lowered her head, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible.

"You... you're going into secluded Cultivation again, we haven't..."

Before she could finish, her feet suddenly left the ground—Su Lei had directly picked her up by the waist!

Li Xue凝 gasped, her cheeks instantly crimson.

Su Lei's usually stern eyebrows softened at this moment, even carrying a rare hint of a smile.

"I'll spend some time with you before secluded Cultivation."

"And give you some special guidance."

The door closed, leaving only a room filled with warm light... Late at night, Su Lei arrived at the secret chamber of Kunlun Base.

He sat cross-legged, fully immersing himself in Cultivation.

Each breath was accompanied by a low rumble of thunder.

Fine lightning patterns faintly appeared on his skin, his bones gleamed with a jade-like luster from the tempering, and his internal organs, nourished by the power of lightning, grew increasingly vibrant.

Each heartbeat was like the beating of a war drum, and as his blood surged, his bone marrow was like mercury, heavy and condensed.

The Protective Aura within his body surged like a river, continuously scouring his Meridians, gradually transforming the remaining golden Protective Aura into a more refined seven-colored hue.

At the same time, within his spiritual world, a phantom of an ancient bronze bell floated above his Sea of Consciousness.

The bell's body was inscribed with ancient Dao patterns. As he meditated, the ancient bell subtly vibrated, emitting a distant chime, and a small world was constantly evolving...

By the fifth day, Su Lei's Soul injuries had fully healed, and more than half of his Protective Aura transformation was complete.

Next, he only needed to go into secluded Cultivation and Breakthrough to the Great Grandmaster realm...

However, just as he was about to sink into a deeper level of Cultivation, his spiritual perception caught a subtle anomaly outside the door.

Lin Qianqian stood outside the door, her fingers slightly raised, but then hesitantly lowered.

Her brows were tightly furrowed, and her breathing was slightly hurried. She clearly had urgent matters to report but was afraid of disturbing his Cultivation.

Su Lei opened his eyes, a flash of lightning passing through them.

With a thought, the door silently opened.

"What's wrong?"

Lin Qianqian was startled by the suddenly opened door, then lowered her head, her voice apologetic.

"Elder Ye and the others are back, and... they're very seriously injured."

Su Lei frowned slightly, said nothing more, and stood up to walk out.

Lin Qianqian quickly followed, and the two walked through the long corridor, soon arriving at the command center.

In the spacious hall, Xiao Yuwei stood in front of a holographic projection.

Several technical personnel stood by with solemn expressions, discussing something in low voices.

Seeing Su Lei enter, Xiao Yuwei nodded slightly, a hint of solemnity flashing in her eyes.

Su Lei looked at the medical pods nearby.

Through the glass, Ye Qingyun and Chen Xuan could be seen lying in the treatment devices, surrounded by a pale green healing light wave.

Ye Qingyun's right arm was almost completely corroded by some corrosive force.

Chen Xuan's chest had a claw mark deep enough to reveal bone, and the wound was emanating an eerie black Qi that even the treatment device couldn't completely remove.

Su Lei frowned slightly and asked in a deep voice, "What did they encounter?"

Xiao Yuwei was silent for a moment.

She waved her hand, and the projection switched, displaying a real-time image of the Death Desert—

Amidst the swirling yellow sand, a massive black stone platform was faintly visible. The platform's surface was covered with bizarre blood-colored runes, emanating an unsettling aura.

"This is a relic of an ancient civilization."

Su Lei stared at the eerie black stone platform in the holographic projection, his brows deeply furrowed.

After solving Lin Xiaotian's problem, Zhao Tianhe took over as Commander-in-Chief of the Western Military Region and had conducted a comprehensive survey of the Death Desert.

Even if he had concealed something, with Su Lei's Shadow Blade authority, no anomaly within the Federation's borders could escape his eyes.

How could such a relic of an ancient civilization appear without any warning?