Turtle Shell City.
In a corner of the city, Chu He stood quietly before a gate, his gaze fixed on a small, secluded courtyard.
This courtyard was the home of Ye Lingyun, the girl Chu He had saved.
Before long, Ye Lingyun walked out of the house.
Her figure looked especially frail in the afterglow of the setting sun. The bloodstains on her clothes were like blooming red plums—glaring and desolate.
Chu He stepped forward and said softly, "The path of a Martial Artist requires a clear and untroubled mind.
Your stepfather and stepbrother have become stumbling blocks on your path forward.
If you cannot let go of these obsessions, you will never get far in Martial Arts, no matter how hard you train."
Chu He's words were like a gentle spring breeze, slightly dispersing the gloom in Ye Lingyun's heart.
She tightened her grip on the kitchen knife in her hand, her eyes flashing with a determined light.
Chu He was right. She needed to let go of the past to embrace a better future.
At that very moment, a spark of insight flashed through Chu He's mind.
He felt as if he had returned to his childhood, to that innocent age full of dreams.
He remembered that his childhood dream wasn't to roam the world with a sword, but something more intuitive and direct.
He wanted to live as he pleased, to fly as freely as a bird in the sky, without any constraints!
The thought was fleeting, but it was as if Chu He had found his long-lost soul.
Just then, the system's notification chimed in Chu He's mind. "DING! Congratulations, Host, for finding your lost self.
Mission complete: You have received one Rejuvenating Pill!"
A round Elixir suddenly appeared in Chu He's hand.
The Elixir was bluish-green and emanated a faint, herbal fragrance, like the natural scent of a forest blended with countless trees and plants.
Without hesitation, he placed the Elixir in his mouth. It instantly dissolved into a gentle medicinal energy that flooded his body.
The energy spread rapidly through Chu He, surging into his limbs, his bones, and every one of his meridians.
He felt as if he were soaking in a hot spring, his entire body filled with a sense of ease and comfort.
Even the hidden injuries he had accumulated over the years were healing at an astonishing rate under the Elixir's effects.
When Chu He opened his eyes again, he felt as if he had returned to his seventeen or eighteen-year-old self, back at his peak physical condition without any injuries.
Back then, he had been full of vigor and ambition, looking down on everyone and considering himself the best in the world.
He could feel the surging power and boundless vitality within him.
The system's chime echoed in Chu He's mind once more, crisp and pleasant like celestial music.
"DING! Find a city you like and live there for a week. Slow down your pace of life and return to the simple hustle and bustle of the mortal world.
Mission Reward: Xuanyuan Sword.
Mission Failure: No penalty."
Immediately after, the system sent another special notification:
"Xuanyuan Sword: A legendary Divine Soldier, also known as the Xuanyuan Xia Yu Sword. It is a Holy Dao Sword.
This sword was forged for the Yellow Emperor by a host of immortals who gathered the Shoushan Copper. It was later passed down to Xia Yu.
One side of the blade is engraved with the sun, moon, and stars, symbolizing the vastness of the cosmos.
The other side is etched with mountains, rivers, plants, and trees, representing the vitality of the earth.
On one side of the hilt are inscribed the arts of farming and animal husbandry—the wisdom of life.
On the other side are engraved the strategies for unifying the four seas—the sound policies of governance.
This sword contains infinite power and is a Divine Soldier for slaying demons and devils."
After hearing this, a fiery glint flashed in Chu He's eyes.
It was as if he could already see the legendary Divine Sword, shimmering brilliantly before him.
If he could really obtain the Xuanyuan Sword,
it would be like giving a tiger wings. Across the entire Blue Star, neither humans nor Evil Spirits would be his match!
'To complete this mission as quickly as possible, I've decided to stay in Turtle Shell City for a while.'
Having made his decision, Chu He's gaze fell upon Ye Lingyun once more.
The girl was standing quietly to the side, her eyes filled with tenacity and resolve.
'Since I'm at a loose end, why not take this chance to train this young lady? The resilience and courage she possesses are exactly the qualities I admire.'
...
Deep within the Demon Cave, far from the clamor of the world, a rippling emerald lake glittered with a mysterious light, like a gemstone set among the mountains.
The surrounding mountains rose and fell in successive ranges, wreathed in clouds and mist, creating a scene like a fairyland.
A gentle breeze swept by, sending ripples across the lake's surface, which seemed to echo the dance of the rustling leaves in the forest.
Zong Yajuan and Yu Kailin walked side by side through this picturesque scenery.
Zong Yajuan, the leader of the Time Girl Group, was nearly thirty yet still maintained a slender figure and a charming face.
She wore form-fitting Soft Armor that perfectly accentuated her graceful curves,
making her seem like a ripe peach exuding a seductive, mature charm.
Meanwhile, Yu Kailin was the youngest member of the group.
She wore her hair in twin ponytails that bounced cheerfully like a pair of little Elves as she walked.
She had a sweet and cute face, and the black-framed glasses she wore added a playful touch.
The Lolita dress she wore, while actually a piece of defensive equipment, had been cleverly designed in a Lolita style to suit her personal taste, making it both practical and fashionable.
Yu Kailin held a cell phone. Although the signal here was terrible and she couldn't get online, she was still enthusiastic about capturing beautiful moments.
She continuously pressed the shutter button, taking pictures of the surrounding scenery, each photo freezing a beautiful moment in time.
"I can understand now why Chu He chose this place."
Yu Kailin gazed into the distance and said, "It must be lonely, but it brings endless benefits and prestige to yourself and your family. If it were me, I probably would have made the same choice."
Hearing this, Zong Yajuan nodded slightly and reminded her, "Still, we should be careful. You don't want to get careless and be caught off guard."
Although she paid lip service to caution, she wasn't particularly concerned.
Ever since arriving in the Demon Cave, they hadn't discovered any danger or seen any sign of Evil Spirits.
The few traces of Evil Spirits they did find seemed old and faint.
All of this led them to believe that Chu He's strength was truly not to be underestimated; otherwise, he couldn't possibly have suppressed the Demon Cave to this extent all by himself.
But it also meant that there probably wasn't any danger left here.
"Big Sis, do you think we'll run into any Evil Spirits?"
Yu Kailin asked curiously, blinking her eyes.
"Evil Spirits..."
Zong Yajuan frowned slightly, recalling the descriptions and photos of Evil Spirits. "Most of them are terrifying in appearance, and they can affect a person's mind. But we're all King-level experts. Naturally, we won't be affected by such crude tricks."
"Hee hee, I think so too."
Yu Kailin gave a sweet smile. "There are only two sealing points left. We can finish our mission today.
The sun is about to set, and I heard Second and Third Sis are planning a barbecue.
Why don't we split up? You take one, I'll take the other, and we can check them quickly and meet back here."
Without waiting for Zong Yajuan's reply, Yu Kailin eagerly ran off in the other direction.
Zong Yajuan wanted to stop her, but Yu Kailin's figure had already disappeared into the dense woods.
She shook her head helplessly and had no choice but to walk off in the opposite direction alone.
Suddenly, a black shadow flashed through the mountain forest.
It was a dense cloud of black mist. It shot over the treetops and vanished deep into the woods.
The eerie sight seemed to foreshadow some unknown event about to unfold...