Chapter 395: 395,【Soul Returning】
Inside the boundary monument, Lu Xun slowly opened his eyes.

“How did I fall asleep?” he chuckled awkwardly, feeling somewhat embarrassed despite his thick skin.

He was supposed to be the storyteller, but ended up dozing off. How ridiculous, he thought to himself!

Am I, Lu Xun, really that much of a lightweight?

Regardless, waking up from his nap, he was fully refreshed. His previous fatigue was completely gone.

He was now full of energy, specifically eager to create some unrest, causing a bit more discomfort for the foreigners.

“Lu Xun, are you awake?” Dida’s voice echoed.

Lu Xun replied with a grin: “Sorry, I’ve been a bit tired recently. Did I finish the story I was telling?”

“You almost finished it!” Dida responded.

Lu Xun stood up, flexed his neck and waist, and mimicked some vintage middle school calisthenics movements from [Eagle Takes Off], before asking,

“How long was I asleep?”

“emm… I’m not sure, but just a short while!” Dida replied.

Lu Xun laughed at himself. Of course, he realized Dida was a literal rock, whose concept of time was probably different from his own.

Keep in mind, Dida was millions of days old and weighed several tons.

Thankfully, it wasn’t some sensitive lady, as its age and weight… he dared not to think further.

Dida paused for a moment before asking, “Lu Xun, are you leaving?”

Lu Xun nodded without denying.

He had too many things to take care of and couldn’t stay here much longer.

Although Dida was reluctant to see him go, it did not express it.

Even though it wasn’t sure about the situation outside, it knew something remarkably serious must have occurred.

“So, are you leaving the West State now?” it asked again.

Lu Xun shook his head, replying, “I have a few matters to address in the West State. I will visit you to say goodbye before leaving.”

Dida immediately cheered up upon hearing this.

In this world, Lu Xun was the only one who could communicate with it. But Dida was easily pleased. A single piece of candy could fill its heart with sweetness.

Knowing Lu Xun would visit before his departure was more than enough for Dida.

Hence, in a high-pitched tone, Dida exclaimed cheerfully: “Okie dokie.”

After leaving the boundary monument, Lu Xun finally became aware of how long he was asleep: “It’s been seven days.”

…

…

Inside the main hall of the Demon Sect peak.

Only Shen Yan was there, while the rest of the peak masters had already left to provide assistance in the Eastern Region.

Since the Demon Sect had the presence of a master, they were more flexible, not needing to stay at home for protection.

Being who they were, the Demon Sect members wouldn’t just focus on their problems, viewing the matter as not being solely about giving assistance. In their eyes, completely wiping out those bastards would feel refreshingly satisfactory!

Mutual bonding despite geographical barriers; the unity in diversity.

This was a catastrophe bound to engulf the entire continent eventually, and nobody could escape.

Unbeknownst to all, it was already the seventh day.

At this moment, on Shen Yan’s table, lay several flying swords.

He was sending the flying sword messages, informing several sects nearby the Eastern Region that the Demon Sect disciples would be leaving to provide support against any potential foreign offenses in the next few days.

However, Shen Yan was quite frugal. He was famous for being stingy. Seeing his substantial investment in giving Ji Li a small piece of Flame Essence made him uneasy.

Especially since these sects were not asking for resources this time, but manpower.

The people were the essence of the Demon Sect.

That’s why, while sending flying sword messages, Shen Yan always added:

“The Demon Sect only lends its disciples, we expect them back.”

He hoped this would exert sufficient pressure on the sects not to make rash decisions, leading to unnecessary casualties.

Although such an outcome was unlikely, he still hoped every Demon Sect disciple could return home safe.

…

…

At the back of the Demon Sect Mountain, within the small bamboo forest.

While trying hard to suppress their urge to throw up, everyone sat in the forest, politely consuming the meal made by Zhuge Lai Fu.

After this meal, Zhuge Lai Fu will leave the mountain.

The man affectionately called [Talisman Emperor Demon] by players wore an honest smile, looking at everyone heartily enjoying the food he made.

His eyes squinted from his smile.

Mao Nanbei couldn’t take it any longer, having hit her limit. Slapping down her chopsticks, crossing her arms, and pouting, she snapped:

“Master, why can’t I go down the mountain with the third apprentice brother?”

Out of all the people on the mountain, and possibly the entire continent, only this loli, typical and straightforward in nature, dared to confront the Master this way.

The master, who had been eating with the utmost elegance, pinky pointed upwards, just smiled at Mao Nanbei’s question and replied,

“You still haven’t regained your full strength. I will allow you to leave the mountain when you have recovered to the sixth stage,”

“You mustn’t lie to me Mao Nanbei anymore! A promise is a promise!” Mao Nanbei propped up his little hands on the table and raised his head to speak to the master.

“Cough cough… a promise is a promise,” the master almost coughed out the food in his mouth.

At this moment, Ji Li and Lin Chan sat on the side and exchanged glances.

They weren’t as brave as Mao Nanbei, so they hesitated a bit.

The master turned his head, saw their pair of wide-open eyes and slowly put down the bowl and chopsticks in his hands.

He unlocked his sealed sense of taste, but the leftover taste of food in his mouth gave him a grim expression. He quickly sealed his taste back and smiled gently at Ji Li and Lin Chan, pretending nothing had happened.

He raised his little finger, picked up the teacup, took a sip of hot tea to rinse the leftover taste in his mouth, and asked, “Do you two also want to go down the mountain?”

Ji Li and Lin Chan nodded in unison.

The master put down the teacup and said: “The two of you are still too inexperienced to go down the mountain.”

Then he continued: “Starting from today, I will personally guide you. Ji Li, starting from tomorrow, you don’t have to come to the bamboo forest for meditation in the early morning.”

“Ah?” Ji Li was startled, looked at the skinny Taoist nun sitting on the stone, and then obediently said: “Yes, master.”

The master smiled and raised his head to the skinny Taoist nun on the stone, Gu Xiaoman, “Xiaoman, you are on the verge of a breakthrough, and when you do, you will lead them down the mountain.”

The skinny Taoist nun nodded and replied in a clear, cold voice: “Yes, master.”

With his head bowed, the master was lost in thought, murmuring: “The seventh day is upon us.”

…

…

At One Sword Mountain and Ten Thousand Sword Mountain in the West State.

Ping Shanhai’s boat floated in mid-air, with Qian Zhenyi standing next to him; both had a panoramic view of West State from above.

As the two most unique individuals in the entirety of the West State, they gazed down at the land in the darkness of the night, feeling poignant.

Ping Shanhai looked and then said: “Today is the seventh day, right?”

Qian Zhengyi nodded and replied, “Yes, it is the seventh day.”

The days they were talking about marked the time since the foreign invasion began; today precisely marked the seventh day.

Seven days ago, many sword cultivators died on this land, and many cultivators died on this continent called Heavenly Dust.

“Mortals regard us as immortals, but in Heavenly Dust, we are nothing more than a speck of dust under the sky,” Ping Shanhai said lightly.

Usually cheerful Qian Zhengyi had no trace of a smile on his face.

In the Heavenly Dust Continent, there is something similar to the “First Seven Days” ritual, but it is both similar to and different from the concept of the “First Seven Days” on Earth.

Legend says, on the seventh day after a person dies, they come back to look around.

They stay in their homes for one night.

The last night.

In Heavenly Dust, this day is known as “Soul Returning”.

Ping Shanhai drew his sword, and the “Divine Sword” let out a resonant sword cry that echoed throughout the land!

“Whoosh!”

“Whoosh!”

Countless swords were drawn simultaneously, and the sound of sword cries started to echo throughout West State.

Every sword sect in West State has a Sword Tomb.

At this moment, every “Masterless Sword” also emitted a wave of sword cries!

Some of these swords had masters just seven days ago.

The echos of sword cries across the state were astoundingly moving!

If the dead could be resurrected, let them hear – the spirit of the West State sword cultivators still remains!

If they could truly see, let them know that at least at this moment…

…the mountains and rivers are unharmed, and all is peaceful in the world!

…

…

Not just in West State, but all around the Heavenly Dust Continent, the same thing was happening.

The calamity has arrived, and it can’t be concealed; by now, even the mortals have gradually found out about it.

In their eyes, this catastrophe was as if the sky was falling.

But fortunately, those atop the mountains were bearing the brunt first.

Today is the day of “Soul Returning”. Many villagers voluntarily lit a lamp at their front doors, letting it hang there.

It is said that after death, it’s hard to see the way as it is very dark.

The light was to help show them the way.

One by one, the lit lamps shone across the Heavenly Dust Continent, radiating a warm, orange light.

If one were to look down from above, they would find that the Heavenly Dust Continent was brightly lit tonight and seemed extraordinarily beautiful.

…

Welcome home, with a myriad of lights shining brightly.