Chapter 300: Departure

In the garden behind the Dongyu Tavern’s mansion, Dongbo Xueying and Yu Jingqiu sat beneath a pavilion, sipping warmed fruit wine.

“Master,” a red-robed young man, Ye Qing, said respectfully.

“Ye Qing,” Dongbo Xueying looked at his disciple, the one he was most satisfied with among all those he had taught over the past century, and couldn’t help but smile. “Your master and I are about to leave Baijiang City. We are entrusting this tavern to you. Whether to sell it or manage it as you see fit is entirely up to you.”

Shahu, the Flame Knight of Baijiang City, now treated Ye Qing with great warmth, and Ye Qing himself had grown very strong. It wouldn’t be long before he crossed into the Named Realm. Managing a tavern was truly a small matter for him.

“Master and Madam are leaving?” Ye Qing asked urgently.

He had never known his father, and his mother, from a poor background, had never cared whether he lived or died. Even now that Ye Qing had grown powerful, his mother, ever greedy, had returned to fawn over her son. Yet, their relationship remained distant.

In his heart, however, Ye Qing held deep affection for his master and madam, treating them as his true parents.

And the Dongyu Tavern… was his home.

“There is something very important we must attend to,” Dongbo Xueying said. “I have nothing else to give you. I believe you will achieve everything on your own. I will give you this gourd of fruit wine. Remember, drink only one or two ounces each day.” As he spoke, he waved his hand, and a reddish copper gourd flew toward Ye Qing.

“I have taught you all I can. In cultivation, everything depends on yourself,” Dongbo Xueying continued. “Follow the guidance of your heart. Do not be confused or swayed by external influences.”

“Yes, Master,” Ye Qing replied, gripping the copper gourd, his eyes slightly reddening.

“Little Ye, cultivate diligently and do not disappoint your master,” Yu Jingqiu added.

The couple had watched Ye Qing grow from a frail child. Though he was already eleven when they first took him in, he had been as thin and small as an average seven or eight-year-old. He had been humble, hardworking, and simple-hearted.

“When will I see you both again?” Ye Qing asked anxiously.

“When you become an Exalted, we shall meet again,” Dongbo Xueying smiled. Yu Jingqiu glanced at her husband. She knew he was heading to Hongshi Mountain, where his life was in danger. “If you have an urgent matter, you may go to the Longshan Pavilion. They will be able to contact us immediately.”

“Yes,” Ye Qing nodded.

He must become an Exalted. He must not disappoint his master.

“Let’s go,” Dongbo Xueying stood, and Yu Jingqiu followed. In an instant, the two soared into the sky. High above, a spatial rift tore open, and they flew into it, vanishing from sight.

Ye Qing looked up at the sky. “Master, Madam, we will meet again.”

…

In the Yishui City of Qinghe County, Anyang Province, stood the Snowstone Castle.

Now the ancestral home of the Dongbo Clan, it housed the true direct bloodline of the family. The defensive formations here had been greatly enhanced compared to the past, and were guarded by multiple Exalted Alchemical Beings and divine warriors from the God Realm. The defenses were astonishingly strong, rivaling places like the Shuiyuan Monastery and the Black and White Divine Mountains.

Of course, the reason for this was that even places like the Shuiyuan Monastery had never invested heavily in defense, as they had been abandoned multiple times in history.

“Great Uncle!”

“Great Grandfather!”

“Ancestor!”

Inside the Snowstone Castle, many younger clan members called out as Dongbo Xueying returned. He always felt a bit awkward during these moments.

These were descendants of his younger brother Qing Shi. After Dongbo Xueying married, his younger brother had married soon after and quickly broke through to the Exalted Realm, having children shortly thereafter. It had been a time of double joy for the entire Snowstone Castle. Qing Shi had three children—two sons and a daughter. However, their cultivation achievements were rather mediocre. Though they had been raised from infancy under the Dongbo Clan’s guidance and had all reached the Starborn Realm, none had managed to ascend to the Named Realm.

Still, they had many children of their own.

Especially Qing Shi’s second son, Dongbo Feng, who was practically a playboy, leaving his mark wherever he went. Over sixty of his children had already been identified, and there were likely more unknown bastards out there. Although the Dongbo Clan had methods to verify bloodlines, they had no way of identifying these illegitimate offspring.

Dongbo Qing Shi was furious.

He had only one wife. His elder brother Dongbo Xueying, whom he deeply admired, was also very loyal in love.

How could he have produced such a playboy?

However, Dongbo Xueying’s father, the absolute Ancestor of the family, Dongbo Lie, was delighted. He believed this grandson was helping the Dongbo Clan expand its branches and was very pleased, protecting Dongbo Feng.

Therefore—

Over the past century, the Dongbo Clan’s direct bloodline had grown numerous. Only the most outstanding were allowed to reside in the ancestral mansion.

“What are you thinking about?” Yu Jingqiu asked Dongbo Xueying.

Dongbo Xueying looked toward a group of Dongbo youths in the distance, smiled, and turned to Yu Jingqiu. “Jingqiu, after I return from Hongshi Mountain and cure the Gui Liu Witch Poison, let’s have a child.”

“Mm,” Yu Jingqiu blushed slightly. “You old scoundrel… saying such things in public.”

“Haha… How am I an old scoundrel? Among the Exalted, I’m still very young,” Dongbo Xueying teased. He felt at ease in the Snowstone Castle, the place where he had grown up. The castle had been preserved as much as possible in its original state, evoking many memories. Of course, with the passage of time, many familiar faces were gone.

The servants he once knew, along with the mage Bai Yuanzhi and Uncle Tong, were no longer around.

But many new children had been born and grown.

“I’ve been back at Snowstone Castle for nearly a month,” Dongbo Xueying said. “Tomorrow, I must depart.”

“Be careful at Hongshi Mountain,” Yu Jingqiu said.

“Don’t worry, I will definitely return alive,” Dongbo Xueying replied.

…

The next day, Dongbo Xueying and Yu Jingqiu departed, bidding farewell to their parents and his younger brother Qing Shi. He did not mention Hongshi Mountain, as it remained a secret. Even the Xia Clan Exalted who had arrived at the underground Hongshi Mountain aboard the Ding Jiu Warship had all been bound to silence, required to keep it secret.

“Xueying, come back often. Don’t stay away for years again,” Mo Yangyu called out. Her aura had grown even more impressive.

“Don’t worry, Mother,” Dongbo Xueying smiled.

Whoosh.

Then, Dongbo Xueying and Yu Jingqiu soared into the sky, vanishing in an instant.

Mo Yangyu, Dongbo Lie, Dongbo Qing Shi, and the others didn’t think much of it, assuming it was just another of Dongbo Xueying’s usual returns home.

…

The couple first traveled to the Xia Capital of the Xinfu World, entering the Xinfu Palace to meet with Palace Master Chen in person.

“Palace Master Chen,” Dongbo Xueying handed over a ring. “These are treasures I obtained after defeating Nonno An and General Kumo, including two divine artifacts. However, they likely bear some lingering techniques left by the Great Demon God… Among their treasures, I’ve kept some ordinary ones that could benefit my clan.”

“These are rightfully your spoils of war,” Palace Master Chen accepted them without refusal.

These divine artifacts were indeed temporarily unusable.

However, once the Xia Clan produced a deity, divine warriors could use divine power to forcibly refine them. Divine warriors from the God Realm had control talismans, but without the talismans, they couldn’t refine them. Divine artifacts, however, had no talismans. They could only be refined slowly through divine power, wearing down the residual techniques within. Once those techniques were removed, the artifacts could be used.

Of course, the time required depended on the strength of those techniques. Some might take a thousand years to refine, while others might never be fully purified even after ten thousand years.

If an artifact remains unrefined for ten thousand years… and if it were a divine weapon forged by a Demon God of the Dark Abyss, it could ascend into the Divine Realm.

But if it was a divine weapon from a god in the God Realm! Once brought into the God Realm, the original owner might sense it and come to kill the user.

Normally, captured divine artifacts would remain in the homeland. Once a deity was born, they would slowly refine it. If one failed, they would wait for the next deity to try again.

“I acquired seven divine warriors from the Blackwind Divine Palace,” declared Dongbo Xueying. “Among them, the Golden Man was seized by the Orc Clan during my ambush, leaving only six remaining. I have decreed that after Jingqiu, Qingshi, and I depart, the two most powerful warriors shall be stationed at Xinfu Palace to eternally protect the Xia Clan, while the weaker ones will guard my family.”

“Thank you,” Palace Master Chen didn’t say much.

He valued the top three of the seven divine warriors the most—each reaching the limit of demi-gods. With the Golden Man captured, only two remained.

According to the Xia Clan’s past customs, they usually practiced equal exchange.

But Dongbo Xueying had given far too much to the Xia Clan, and his contributions were immense. Palace Master Chen could only keep it in his heart, recording Dongbo Xueying’s contributions in the clan archives.

“I originally didn’t plan to bring the Azure Armor Guardian into Hongshi Mountain,” Dongbo Xueying continued. “However… I’ve received another invitation from the Temple of Time and Space, so I’ve decided to bring the Azure Armor Guardian with me.”

“The Temple of Time and Space invited you?” Palace Master Chen was surprised. “Then why didn’t you accept?”

Dongbo Xueying explained the situation.

Palace Master Chen understood.

“Sigh, if you had accepted, wouldn’t the poison have been cured?” Palace Master Chen shook his head.

“But the Witch God and the Great Demon Lord will undoubtedly strike the moment I depart the Xia World to fulfill their mission,” Dongbo Xueying responded. “Enough said. My answer remains no.”

“Almost certain defeat, the annihilation of the entire clan?” Palace Master Chen’s voice trembled with urgency. “The Temple of Time and Space actually uttered such words. What sinister schemes do the Witch God and the Great Demon God harbor that grants them such unshakable confidence?”

Dongbo Xueying nodded solemnly. “I share your urgency. Whether the Azure Armor Guardian arrives or not, it won’t drastically alter the fate of the Xia Clan. Yet without my Aura, this demi-god robe is but a hollow shell. The Guardian’s aid would be invaluable to me. Thus, I’ve resolved to summon it. This time… I shall spare no effort to purge this venom and return—alive!”

Here is the English translation in a Fantasy style:

“Though my body is but a hollow shell, I shall purge this venom from my veins. I solemnly vow to spare no effort in mastering the Aura—to summon every ounce of my will—that I may emerge from this trial alive.”

(Note: The translation preserves the original’s solemn determination while incorporating fantasy elements like “Aura” for 斗气 and “summon” to suggest mystical exertion. The em-dash before “alive” visually heightens the oath’s gravity, as per your stylistic request.)

Detoxification was equally vital. Without an antidote, survival would be meaningless. The Witch God and the Great Demon God could simply bide their time, waiting for the venom to claim Dongbo Xueying before striking.

“Azure Armor Senior, I trouble you to join me on this dangerous journey,” Dongbo Xueying said.

“It is my purpose to contribute to the Xia Clan,” the grayish-blue bracelet on his arm emitted a voice.

…

Then.

Dongbo Xueying and his wife left Xinfu Palace. Soon, they tore open a spatial rift and directly arrived at the underground ten thousand miles. The invisible rules here were so binding that Yu Jingqiu couldn’t even reach this place.

“Dongbo Xueying,” the Blood Blade Tavern team, led by Chen Jiu and his two companions, had already arrived.

“Brother Chen Jiu,” Dongbo Xueying said. Yu Jingqiu’s body was also wrapped in a silvery-white robe, transformed from a divine warrior. She also had a protective divine warrior.

“Now we are only waiting for the Sword Emperor’s team. We’ve already urged them,” Chen Jiu said. “Once they arrive, we will depart. Is this your wife? She’s truly beautiful. You have excellent taste in choosing such a beautiful wife.”

Dongbo Xueying and Yu Jingqiu exchanged glances.

“Jingqiu, look, that’s Hongshi Mountain,” Dongbo Xueying pointed to a seemingly small, one-meter-diameter dark void. “That is the center.”

“How amazing,” Yu Jingqiu also noticed.

The couple had just exchanged a few words when spatial fluctuations arrived, and the last team finally appeared.

“Oh dear, how shameful, making everyone wait for us,” it was the golden-robed young man, the Sword Emperor, accompanied by a tall, muscular man and a seductive woman.

“Everyone is here,” Wu Ma Hai, the golden-armored youth, said with cold eyes, his entire body exuding sharpness. “Then let’s go.”

With that, he led his subordinates, the red-haired man Bobo, and the tall, thin man Ba Han, flying into the dark void first.

“Go,” the Mei Mountain Master’s team.

The golden-armored youth Sword Emperor’s team, and Chen Jiu’s team, all flew into the dark void.

“I’m going,” Dongbo Xueying smiled at Yu Jingqiu beside him, then flew toward the dark void.

Thirteen figures flew into the dark void, their bodies rapidly shrinking, becoming like grains of rice, continuing to approach the mysterious Hongshi Mountain.

“You must come back,” Yu Jingqiu, dressed in silvery white robes, looked at Dongbo Xueying departing, her eyes filled with longing and worry.

She was afraid, afraid that this parting might be the last.

“Don’t worry, Xueying will definitely return,” Chi Qiubai, the magical clone of Palace Master Chen, He Shan Zhu, Sikong Yang, Tai Shu Palace Master, and others stood beside her, gazing into the distance.