Chapter 1648: News from the Lower Realm (Part 1)

“Indeed!” Li Yan admitted that his luck was extraordinary. Had he made a single mistake, he would have been reincarnated by now.

He then briefly explained that after he was saved, he stayed at the Broken Army Sect. For many years, he had tried to find news of the lower realm or a way back, but he was helpless. Then he thought of the Return-Home Trade House. Since it had branches on many continents in the lower realm, he wondered if it existed in the Immortal Spirit Realm as well.

“You are quite cunning, to think of such a method. Was that Abacus Sect also entrusted by you?” Su Hong looked at him. They both avoided the topic of the power behind the Trade House; Li Yan only alluded to his guesses, and Su Hong chose not to clarify.

“Was the news of the Return-Home Trade House searching for someone several decades ago also your doing, Miss Su?” Li Yan asked, a sudden realization hitting him. It seemed she had noticed something unusual long ago.

“My dear Master Li, what are you thinking? I only came up recently to handle some matters. I then learned the local branch was investigating why someone was inquiring about us. That’s just standard intelligence gathering. Soon after, I received your jade slip. Investigating it, I found the Abacus Sect and the Broken Army Sect belong to the same power, so I connected the dots.”

Su Hong’s expression remained unreadable as she denied his suspicion, even giving him a look that asked if he was an idiot. How could she let him know she had started looking for him while she was still in the lower realm? Even if this rogue found out the truth later from Zhao Min and the others, she wouldn’t be face-to-face with him then, sparing her from seeing his smug face.

However, behind her, protectors Lian and Ning’s faces twitched ever so slightly. Li Yan was focused on the conversation and didn’t notice, nor would he dare probe two Void Refining experts.

Li Yan rubbed his nose. It seemed his other guess was correct. The Trade House was just worried about hostile powers and conducted a reverse investigation; it had nothing to do with him.

“The Abacus Sect I mentioned was indeed a friend I entrusted. Though we found one of your shops, it was too far. Fortunately, I later found your branch in Ghost Sound City, otherwise the message truly wouldn’t have gone out!”

After nearly the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, Li Yan finished his story and looked at her with a smile. Su Hong wasn’t a frivolous person; she knew when to stop joking. Without him asking again, she began to recount the events of the lower realm.

However, she didn’t say she had actively looked for him after hearing of his disappearance. Instead, she claimed Zhao Min and the others had sought her help to find him. Like Li Yan, she blurred the chronological order of events—a common tactic for those with quick wits.

Zhao Min and the others had indeed sought Su Hong out, following Wei Zhongran’s instructions to find Li Yan at any cost. But that was after Su Hong had already sent out some feelers. Thus, she wasn’t lying! Only by saying this could she explain why she knew so much about Zhao Min and the others. She claimed she had just gathered some news after being entrusted and then “put it aside.” How could she have been so intentional?

Even Li Yan, for all his intelligence, never imagined Su Hong would play such a small game of wits here.

As Su Hong spoke, Li Yan learned that Gong Chenying had returned to the Desolate Moon Continent with the two beasts to search for him. Zhao Min had gone to the Wind God Continent for the same reason…

Until Gong Chenying returned to the Wind God Continent, the two women, his master Wei Zhongran, his senior brother, and the others had never given up hope. They believed that as long as his soul lamp remained lit and the Twin-Heart Concentric Gu in Zhao Min’s body was fine, he must be trapped somewhere.

Li Yan felt a deep sense of shame. That soul lamp in the sect… was a fake! But he was secretly relieved. If the lamp were real, the inter-realm distance might have caused it to extinguish, causing them endless anxiety.

Then, Su Hong’s tone changed as she spoke of his teacher’s wife, Zhao Zhi. To Li Yan’s shock, Su Hong revealed that she had perished during her Nascent Soul tribulation.

The Return-Home Trade House on the Desolate Moon Continent naturally collected such major news regarding the Wangliang Sect. A Nascent Soul tribulation was no small event. Moreover, Su Hong had been keeping an eye on the Bamboo Peak, so she had seen the report.

“Teacher’s Wife… perishing!” Li Yan was stunned.

For years, his mind had been occupied with contacting the lower realm or returning home. Immortal cultivators, even at the Foundation Establishment stage, had long lifespans. At his current level, he rarely encountered those whose time was up. Thus, he had almost forgotten about the limit of one’s lifespan.

When Su Hong mentioned Zhao Zhi, Li Yan realized his teacher’s wife truly hadn’t had much time left. After Su Hong finished, the hall fell into a heavy silence. Protectors Lian and Ning remained silent as well; only Li Yan’s ragged breathing echoed in the quiet.

Su Hong saw his eyes redden. Though no tears fell, she could feel the grief rising from him—a quiet, spreading sorrow.

‘He really isn’t suited for cultivation. Looking at his journey, he entered the path because of kin, which took him away from his village. In the Lost Continent, he shared life and death with Zhao Min, never abandoning her until they returned to the Desolate Moon Continent. In the Wind God Continent, he risked his life for Gong Chenying. Even here in the Immortal Spirit Realm, everything he does is for the sake of “emotion,” for the sake of reuniting with his family! Are you a man of deep affection… or just someone who uses his emotions too loosely?’

Su Hong thought of many things. She first thought of how his family and friendship often outweighed romance. A true powerhouse should be heartless. Then she thought of how he had two companions and wasn’t exclusive, which annoyed her. Why had she traveled all the way from the lower realm just to confirm if he was alive? What was she doing? Whenever she thought of his two companions, she avoided looking too deeply; it only made her irritable. To her, Li Yan was a rare male confidant who had no lustful designs on her. That was why she told herself it was fine to check on a friend’s safety, though she knew she had used far too much power to do so.

Li Yan’s mind was filled with dusty memories. A gentle woman in white palace robes, who spoke little but always looked at him with deep care. Later, because of Zhao Min, Zhao Zhi’s gaze for both of them was filled with warmth, even reluctance. Back then, Li Yan knew that seeing her husband and both him and Zhao Min reach the Nascent Soul stage made her burden heavier. She wanted to enjoy the immortal path with her family, yet she could only feel the limit of her life approaching day by day. She must have known that the warmth would end one day, yet Li Yan never expected he wouldn’t see her one last time…

Amidst the silence, Su Hong spoke up. “The deceased is gone. We are cultivators and should know of the cycle of the heavenly dao. To think too much is to harbor an obsession.”

She shifted the topic to comfort him. Zhao Zhi had already entered the path of reincarnation and was likely reborn. She only knew Zhao Zhi had perished, but she didn’t know the woman had abandoned all defense to keep Wei Zhongran and Zhao Min away. Thus, it was possible her soul had scattered—a fact even Wei Zhongran couldn’t confirm.

“Please enlighten me, Miss Su,” Li Yan said, looking up. His expression had recovered somewhat. She was right; the dead had entered reincarnation. He could only pay his respects when he returned.

“While you were in the Wind God Continent, Zhao Min gave birth to a daughter for you. Her name is Li Zhaoyan. She should be at the Golden Core stage by now.”

A smile returned to Su Hong’s face. She had stumbled upon this news while reading reports on the Bamboo Peak. Seeing his melancholy, she immediately switched to a happier topic.

“Oh… oh, what… what did you say?” Li Yan was still lost in his thoughts, his mind in disarray. He had heard her clearly, yet his brain couldn’t process the information for a moment. Surprise filled his eyes. He wondered if he had heard wrong.

“I said, your daughter, Li Zhaoyan, is already at the Golden Core stage!” Su Hong watched his rare loss of composure with amusement. Usually, he was so indifferent, but now he was stunned.

Li Yan stared at her blankly. “Li… Zhaoyan? Daughter… already… Golden Core?”