Chapter 1573
: Fear of being close to home
Chapter 1573: Fear of being close to home
As soon as Su Fan stepped out of the study, he contacted Bai Xinghan and inquired about the situation of "Ruyi Pavilion".
Upon hearing Su Fan's question, Bai Xinghan was completely dumbfounded, as he had never heard of the organization "Ruyi Pavilion".
After all, the "Nine Mysteries Tower" is a behemoth spanning several constellations, and small organizations like the Ruyi Pavilion are simply beneath its notice.
But since it was Su Fan who asked, Bai Xinghan naturally dared not be negligent in the slightest and immediately ordered his men to inquire from various sources.
As luck would have it, after searching around Xuan Su Immortal City, his men actually found traces of the Ruyi Pavilion.
The steward of Ruyi Pavilion stationed in Xuansu Immortal City was named Li Rui. Upon hearing that Jiuxuan Tower had sent someone to find him, he immediately dropped everything he was doing and rushed over to pay his respects.
It should be understood that the Nine Profound Tower is far from being an ordinary underground force; its influence spans almost several constellations, and it is definitely not something that a mere steward of the "Ruyi Pavilion" could afford to provoke.
Li Rui was led to a luxurious courtyard and a private residence. He looked up and saw a Nascent Soul cultivator sitting cross-legged on a jade couch, his aura as deep and solid as a mountain.
He felt a chill run down his spine and quickly stepped forward, bowing respectfully in worship.
"Junior Li Rui pays respects to the Divine Lord..."
Su Fan glanced at him, then pointed to the seat opposite him, gesturing for him to sit down.
Immediately, he took out the jade talisman from Ruyi Pavilion from his storage ring and gently placed it on the table in front of Li Rui.
Previously, Su Fan had intended to use this jade talisman to contact Qin Yu, but the message he sent was like a stone sinking into the sea, receiving no response.
He secretly guessed that it was probably because this place was too far away from the Jiao Chen Realm, and Qin Yu could not receive his messages at all.
“Hundreds of years ago, I was a customer of your Ruyi Pavilion. Today, I am seeking you out to inquire about someone…” Su Fan spoke slowly, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable air of authority.
Upon catching sight of the exclusive jade talisman on the table, Li Rui was immediately dumbfounded and utterly shocked.
He never expected that the unfathomable late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator in front of him was actually a client of his organization.
Li Rui quickly composed himself and bowed, replying, "Senior, please do not hesitate to tell me your instructions, and I will do my best to fulfill them..."
"The person I'm looking for is named Qin Yu. Could you help me find out where he is now?"
"Don't worry, senior, I will begin the investigation immediately..."
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Rui took the communication array plate from his waist, and his fingertips quickly traced the patterns on the array plate, sending out several query messages in succession.
Within moments, several replies were sent back.
After carefully examining the area, Li Rui bowed and reported, "Your Majesty, I have located Qin Yu! He is currently in the 'Zhengxuan Heaven' of the Jiaochen Realm..."
Upon hearing the other party's words, Su Fan's tense mind suddenly relaxed, and a hint of relief flashed in his eyes.
If we can find Qin Yu, everything will make sense, and at least we can find traces of our family.
"Hmm... Thank you for your hard work..." Su Fan nodded slightly.
"Senior must be heading to the Jiaochen Realm next..." Li Rui said quickly.
"This junior will immediately report to the organization and instruct Qin Yu to await your arrival at Zhengxuan Heaven..."
"In that case, thank you very much..."
A year later, Su Fan's Nine Profound Tower flying boat finally crossed the interstellar barrier and entered the Jiao Chen Realm.
Unable to contain his eagerness, he immediately took out the communication array plate from his waist and sent a message to Qin Yu.
"Qin Yu, I'm back..."
The message had barely been sent when Qin Yu's reply arrived instantly, faster than anyone could have imagined.
"Fellow Daoist... is that you...?"
From these few words, Su Fan could clearly sense the disbelief in the other person's heart.
"That's right... I'm back..."
“A year ago, I received a decree from the organization's higher-ups, ordering me to receive a flying ship from the Nine Profound Tower. Fellow Daoist, could you perhaps be aboard that flying ship…”
"Hmm... I'm on the flying boat of the Nine Profound Tower..."
"Fellow Daoist...it's good to see you back..." Qin Yu's message seemed to carry a hint of emotion.
"Qin Yu, do you know the whereabouts of my family..." Su Fan finally couldn't hold back and asked the question that concerned him most.
"Fellow Daoist, rest assured... I personally arranged for your family's affairs, and no one else knows about this. Over the years, I have been guarding their side without ever slacking off..."
Upon seeing Qin Yu's reply, Su Fan took a deep breath, and the anxiety that had gripped him for hundreds of years finally subsided.
It must be said that Qin Yu is indeed a reliable person.
"Thanks..." Su Fan replied succinctly.
"Fellow Daoist, you flatter me. This is simply my duty..."
Qin Yu had heard in his early years that Su Fan had been tricked by several powerful figures of the Celestial Race from the Upper Realm and had disappeared after being drawn into the Star Gate.
For some reason, he always held a sliver of certainty in his heart, firmly believing that Su Fan would return sooner or later.
Who would have thought that this wait would last for hundreds of years, and there was still no news of Su Fan.
Just when Qin Yu's hope was about to fade and he was almost ready to give up, Su Fan actually returned.
"By the way, don't tell anyone I'm back yet..." Su Fan added.
"Rest assured, fellow Daoist, this junior will not reveal a single word..."
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Su Fan put the jade talisman from Ruyi Pavilion back into his storage ring, his expression becoming more at ease.
In the days that followed, the flying boat changed direction and slowly headed towards "Zhengxuan Heaven".
The journey took several months, but for Su Fan, it felt like an eternity.
His heart was filled with longing for his family, and every minute and every second of waiting felt like an agonizing ordeal.
That evening, the sun was setting.
A fiery red sun was half-hidden among the mountains, its orange-red afterglow spreading out and warming half the sky.
Within the territory of Zhengxuan Heaven, dozens of high-level cultivators had gathered at the airport outside the "Demon Sun Immortal City".
They looked solemn, as if they were waiting for the arrival of an important person.
Among the crowd were stewards from the Nine Mysteries Pavilion stationed in the "True Mystery Heaven," as well as all the high-ranking members of the Ruyi Pavilion in the True Mystery Heaven—almost everyone was present.
In fact, the high-ranking officials of both organizations stationed in "Zhengxuantian" had traveled from other places.
At the back of the crowd stood a middle-aged cultivator in the Void Refinement Realm, none other than Qin Yu.
"It's here... The airship is about to land..."
Suddenly, the steward of the Nine Profound Tower received a message, and his expression immediately brightened. He quickly turned around and shouted loudly to the crowd.
A moment later, a magnificent flying ship sped from the distant horizon, slowly approached the sky above Demon Sun Immortal City, and then landed smoothly in the designated area of the airport.
The airship landed steadily, and the crowd that had been waiting immediately stepped forward, stood together outside the cabin door, and bowed in quiet anticipation.
"Boom..."
With a muffled sound, the airship's hatch slowly opened.
Feng Qiu was the first to disembark from the flying boat. She stood to the side and then led Su Fan down slowly.
Seeing this, the crowd stepped forward to greet them again. The leader, a Nascent Soul cultivator, was the first to bow with his hands clasped in greeting, his voice loud and respectful.
"I am Hong Renshou, and I respectfully welcome fellow Daoist to Demon Sun Immortal City..."
Su Fan returned the greeting with a cupped hand and a slight smile.
"I apologize for disturbing you all, please forgive me..."
As soon as he finished speaking, his gaze swept quickly across the crowd, trying to find Qin Yu's figure.
Although the two had been in contact through messages for many years, they had never met in person, and he had no way of distinguishing which one in the crowd was Qin Yu.
Su Fan thought to himself, this matter is not urgent. He should deal with these people first, and then find Qin Yu later.
"Fellow Daoist, you must be tired from your journey. I have prepared a small feast to show my hospitality. I hope you will do me the honor of joining me..." Hong Renshou said respectfully.
After saying that, he stepped aside and led the way, taking Su Fan into the city. The rest of the group followed closely behind, forming a grand procession.
Qin Yu walked at the back of the crowd and did not rush to talk to Su Fan.
However, he was filled with shock at this moment. In just a few hundred years, Su Fan had actually advanced to become a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator!
This cultivation progress is too fast!
It should be noted that over the past few hundred years, Qin Yu has spent a tremendous amount of resources and exerted all his efforts to barely break through to the Void Refinement Realm, for which he was excited for a long time.
But Su Fan had quietly become a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.
A late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator is far beyond the reach of ordinary cultivators.
At least within this Jiaochen Realm, whether it's the major sects or top families, a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator is considered one of the most prestigious high-ranking figures, holding an extremely esteemed position.
After the welcome banquet hosted by Hong Renshou for Su Fan, Su Fan bid farewell to everyone, citing his travel fatigue, and went to the private courtyard arranged for him by Jiuxuan Tower to rest.
He had just settled cross-legged on the jade couch in the small courtyard and hadn't even had time to adjust his breathing when a servant reported from outside the door.
"Reporting to fellow Daoist, people from Ruyi Pavilion have come to request an audience..."
"Let them in..." Su Fan said calmly.
A moment later, more than ten cultivators filed in and entered the hermitage.
The leader was a cultivator at the Integration Realm. He quickly stepped forward and respectfully bowed.
"I am Xue Gui, the steward of Ruyi Pavilion stationed at Zhengxuan Heaven. Greetings, fellow Daoist..."
Su Fan smiled and returned the greeting with a cupped hand, then went straight to the point and asked, "Where is Qin Yu...?"
Upon hearing the name Qin Yu, Qin Yu, who was standing at the back of the crowd, immediately stepped forward and bowed deeply to Su Fan.
"Junior Qin Yu greets the Divine Venerable..."
Su Fan looked up and his gaze fell on Qin Yu. This was the first time he had seen this old friend with whom he had been in contact for many years.
"Gentlemen... I would like to have a private conversation with Qin Yu..." Su Fan said, looking at Xue Gui and the others.
Upon hearing this, Xue Gui and the others dared not hesitate for a moment, bowed in agreement, and then withdrew from the study.
Although they did not know Su Fan's specific background, even the higher-ups of the Nine Profound Tower treated him with great respect, so they naturally dared not be negligent in the slightest.
After everyone left, Su Fan pointed to the seats opposite him and said with a smile, "Please sit down..."
Upon hearing this, Qin Yu didn't stand on ceremony and went straight to the jade couch opposite Su Fan, where he sat down cross-legged.
Su Fan picked up the teapot on the table and poured Qin Yu a cup of clear tea. The tea was clear and fragrant.
"Thank you for all these years..."
Su Fan's voice softened, losing some of its previous imposing force.
Qin Yu quickly stood up, took the teacup with both hands, and respectfully replied, "This is all my duty, senior, you don't need to worry about it so much..."
Su Fan nodded slightly, picked up his teacup and took a small sip. His eyes flickered, as if he had suddenly remembered something.
"By the way... could you gather some intelligence on the Celestial Race for me recently?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Yu was taken aback, a look of confusion flashing across his face.
But he quickly realized that Su Fan had been gone for hundreds of years, and he was naturally unaware of the changes that had taken place in the Jiaochen Realm during that time.
Qin Yu quickly composed himself and replied in a deep voice, "Senior, you may not know this, but the Celestial Race is now almost completely wiped out and no longer exists..."
What the heck...
The Celestial Race no longer exists.
A hint of surprise flashed in Su Fan's eyes, and he paused slightly in the motion of holding the teacup.
Then, Qin Yu slowly recounted the changes that had taken place over the past few hundred years.
The once resource-rich planes of the Celestial Race have long been devoured by cultivators of various races, leading to the disintegration of their populations and the complete collapse of their power.
Su Fan listened quietly, his heart filled with countless emotions.
Who could have imagined that in just a few hundred years, the world would have changed so drastically?
On second thought, it's not necessarily a bad thing.
At least he no longer needs to expend energy searching for the Celestial Race to seek revenge, nor does he need to worry about the remnants of the Celestial Race threatening the safety of his family.
With a sense of relief, Su Fan gave the order in a deep voice.
"Make your preparations first. Tomorrow morning, we will set off for where my family lives..."
Upon hearing this, Qin Yu immediately rose from the jade couch, bowed respectfully, and responded.
"This junior will humbly obey the divine decree..."
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking and the morning light had not yet pierced through the clouds, Su Fan and Qin Yu quietly left the Demon Sun Immortal City.
Once outside the city walls, Su Fan made a hand seal, and a black light flashed, summoning the Ghost Crow.
The two leaped and landed steadily on the broad back of the ghost crow. The ghost crow flapped its wings and let out a sharp cry, carrying the two away in a whoosh, disappearing into the horizon in an instant.
The residence that Qin Yu arranged for Su Fan's family was still within the sphere of influence of the Demon Sun Divine Palace, but it was located in a remote place, far away from the conflicts.
He chose a valley rich in spiritual energy for Su Fan's family, allowing them to live in seclusion and establish a small clan there.
After hundreds of years of careful management, Su Fan's clan has developed two small markets around the valley, managed several spiritual fields, and controlled several mineral veins and other resource points.
The clan members lived in peace and contentment, leading a stable and harmonious life.
To avoid attracting attention and causing unnecessary trouble.
Qin Yu usually doesn't approach easily, only going there every few years to secretly investigate and ensure the safety of his clansmen.
Su Fan rode the Ghost Crow day and night for several days before finally reaching the skies above a range of mountains.
Qin Yu looked ahead for a moment, then pointed into the distance.
“Senior… that market town not far ahead is your family’s property…”
Su Fan looked in the direction Qin Yu was pointing, and sure enough, he could vaguely see a building in a forest dozens of miles ahead.
As the saying goes, one feels apprehensive the closer one gets to home; Su Fan was experiencing just that right now.
(End of this chapter)