359: Chapter 359 Embarking on the Return Journey!

However, amidst the joy, Qin Yan's mind remained calm.

He knew well that the path of spirit cultivation was long and arduous.

12 Hz was merely crossing the threshold of "Manifestation," granting him basic spiritual perception.

To truly exert the power of spirit in actual combat and transform it into an effective means of defeating enemies, there was still a considerable distance to go.

“According to records, when the total spirit exceeds the 20 Hz mark, it will undergo a second, more significant qualitative change!”

Qin Yan thought to himself.

If 10 Hz was pushing open the door to spirit cultivation, allowing one to glimpse the magnificent and mysterious world behind it...

Then 20 Hz was truly “a fish leaping over the dragon gate,” a genuine step into this grand hall.

Only at this stage can a practitioner be dubbed a “Spiritual Power Cultivator” and begin to construct their own spiritual system.

At that time, spirit will no longer be limited to auxiliary functions like internal introspection or external perception; instead, it can begin to reveal many miraculous and practical active techniques.

For example, spiritual transmission, spiritual barriers, spiritual attacks...

He composed his mind, no longer dwelling on the joy.

Instead, he picked up his long spear to continue training, silently accumulating strength.

Dull yet fulfilling days passed one after another.

Time flowed quietly like a stream through the days of bitter spear cultivation.

In the blink of an eye, the calendar turned to July 2nd.

On this day, Qin Yan finally received the long-awaited news.

Inside the side hall used as a temporary gathering point, the atmosphere was solemn.

Dean Su Zhiming looked around at the few remaining Human Prodigies before him—Qin Yan, Liu Ruyan, Li Mu, and another martial artist named Zhao Feng.

His gaze swept over these young people who had undergone a baptism of life and death, their temperaments now completely different, as he spoke slowly:

“Classmates, get ready. We depart today to return to Blue Star.”

Those simple words were like pebbles thrown into a calm lake, stirring ripples in the hearts of the prodigies.

Finally... they could go back!

Leaving the familiar Blue Star to step into this otherworld filled with both deadly perils and opportunities everywhere.

After three months of life-and-death struggles and various incredible events, that longing for their homeland and the desire for a stable environment had long been buried deep in their hearts.

Hearing that the return date was set, even the cold-natured Liu Ruyan had a flicker of relief in her eyes.

“Alright, there’s no time to lose. We depart immediately.”

Once everyone was ready, Su Zhiming didn't waste time on sentimentality and made the decision decisively.

“Yes, Dean Su!”

The group responded in unison and followed Su Zhiming out of the side hall.

The group did not head directly to the teleportation array. Instead, led by Su Zhiming, they arrived at another even more magnificent hall square within the Ancestral Land.

To the slight surprise of Qin Yan and the others, Princess Anya and her core team had also finished assembling here.

Anya was still dressed in simple yet noble Elven Princess attire, her silver hair flowing with a soft luster in the morning light.

She nodded slightly in greeting as she saw Su Zhiming and the others arrive.

Su Zhiming took the initiative to explain: “Princess Anya is also returning to her palace today. It happens to be the same way for a while, so we can travel together to look out for one another.”

Hearing this, Qin Yan understood.

This was by no means a “coincidence,” but rather the result of careful planning by Dean Su and Princess Anya.

Traveling with them meant they would receive the direct protection of Anya, an Eighth-Rank Grandmaster, and her elite guard!

The safety factor was undoubtedly greatly increased.

The return route was basically the same as the way they came.

First, they would use the Ancestral Land's large-scale teleportation array to return to the royal city area directly under Princess Anya's jurisdiction in the Eternal Song Star Realm.

Then, through the royal city as a transit point, they would use a smaller directional teleportation array to go to Xiguang Forest, one of Anya's territories.

The stable spatial passage connecting the Eternal Song Star Realm and Blue Star was located deep within Xiguang Forest.

With the plan clear, the group delayed no longer.

Arriving before the glowing Ancestral Land teleportation array, as the Elven Mages activated the formation, a blinding light swallowed everyone.

After a brief sensation of weightlessness and spatial distortion, their feet touched solid ground again.

The scene before them changed; they had moved from the Ancestral Land, filled with the aura of ancient life, to the outskirts of Anya's royal city.

Anya nodded to Su Zhiming and the others before leading her guard toward the depths of the royal city, in the direction of her palace.

Su Zhiming then led Qin Yan and the others, under the guidance of the royal city guards, to another dedicated teleportation array leading to Xiguang Forest.

Another flash of light occurred.

When their vision cleared again, the moist, fresh air mixed with the scent of vegetation and faint floral fragrances rushed toward them.

They were now in the midst of a vast and beautiful woodland.

The canopies of towering ancient trees obscured part of the sky, and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches, casting mottled pillars of light.

The ground was covered with thick, soft moss and unknown low-growing bioluminescent plants, appearing quiet and peaceful.

This was Xiguang Forest, the same region where Qin Yan's group had first arrived in the Eternal Song Star Realm.

Beside the teleportation array, an elegant and capable female elf wearing light armor inlaid with starlight gems was already waiting with a squad of well-equipped Elven Warriors.

This person was the lord of this forest—Star Dew of Dawnlight.

Clearly, she had received direct orders from Princess Anya in advance.

“Dean Su, Human Prodigies, by order of Princess Anya, Star Dew is here to escort you to the spatial passage.”

Star Dew of Dawnlight stepped forward and gave a standard elven military salute, her voice clear and crisp.

“Thank you for your trouble, Lord Star Dew.”

Su Zhiming returned the salute in thanks.

Without excessive pleasantries, the team quickly integrated.

With Star Dew of Dawnlight and her Elven Warriors as the outer guard, and Su Zhiming with the Human Prodigies in the center, the team began to advance steadily toward the depths of the forest where the spatial passage was located.

Treading on the soft forest path, the team moved silently and swiftly.

The only sounds around were footsteps, the slight friction of armor, and the rustling of the wind through the treetops.

However, Qin Yan's mind was tensed to the limit amidst this seemingly peaceful and serene scene.

His spirit, which had just broken through to 12 Hz, was released without reservation, like countless invisible tentacles, meticulously scanning and perceiving a range of several meters around him.

The trajectory of the wind in the grass, the arc of falling leaves, the faint crawling of insects beneath the soil, even the flow of air... every tiny movement was included in his monitoring network.

He knew all too well.

This last stretch from the Xiguang Forest teleportation array to the spatial passage, though not far, was the most fragile and dangerous link in the entire return journey!