For the return of Li Changqing, the Yan family informed Bai Jingfei of the Bai family and Zhao Yichuan of the Zhao family.
Li Changqing's return equates to the Evergreen Commerce Association having a backbone.
During the past year, although there was Xue Qianbai as the honorary president, no one dared to cause trouble for the Evergreen Commerce Association. However, Xue Qianbai could only protect it and did not know how to conduct business, so there was no way to further advance the association.
Now that Li Changqing is back, the families shed tears of joy, believing that the Evergreen Commerce Association would flourish.
The three families gathered to welcome Li Changqing.
In the following days, the small Changting Town became lively.
Countless powerful figures came to visit Li Changqing in Changting Town.
Li Changqing's battle in Celestial Sea City was legendary, killing Monarch Yuehan nine times. Even the treasured black coffin outside the heavens couldn't confine him, and someone sent the plaque "Number One Under Heaven" to give to Li Changqing.
Li Changqing politely declined it.
For those who came to visit, Li Changqing did not avoid meeting them. Even though he appeared as an ordinary person now, without the Treasure Lotus Lamp, he did not have the cultivation of Great Freedom.
However, when facing these powerful visitors, Li Changqing remained composed and confident, retaining the majesty of a formidable figure.
Despite some sensing a change in Li Changqing's aura, no one dared to question his cultivation.
After all, the battle in Celestial Sea City was witnessed by countless people.
Who would dare to doubt?
Wouldn't that be seeking death?
One death would be nothing, but it could likely drag down the entire sect as well.
Not just these people, but even many strong figures from the nineteen families following Realm Master Cang Yuan in Celestial Sea City secretly visited Changting Town to see Li Changqing.
They wanted to make their presence known to Li Changqing.
Li Changqing simply welcomed them with a smile.
It wasn't until half a month later that Xue Qianbai and Li Hengsheng finally returned from Cloud Wasteland to Eastern Wilderness, back to Changting Town.
During their journey, Li Hengsheng heard about his father's miraculous deeds, leaving him utterly astonished.
Single-handedly breaking into Celestial Sea City.
Crushing Yue Zhiming, a land fairy, in one move.
Casually killing Monarch Yuehan's true body nine times.
What kind of power is this?
Li Hengsheng never imagined he had such an extraordinary father.
Previously, at Wanzai Peak, when he heard others say his father was a master of the Postnatal Peak Realm, and his father's good friend was of the Innate Realm, and held some fame in a certain state, it filled Li Hengsheng with admiration and envy.
Now, seeing this, his father... is actually the number one in the world.
All of this feels so unreal.
However, Li Hengsheng also knows that Li Changqing attained such a cultivation due to the Treasure Lotus Lamp.
Midnight by the lake.
Li Hengsheng and Li Changqing, after dinner, strolled by the lake.
They walked slowly.
"We father and son have never walked like this before." Li Changqing said with a smile.
"Hmm."
Li Hengsheng nodded.
"I feel quite relaxed now." Li Changqing looked at Li Hengsheng: "I used to long for your return, to drink and walk with you, to chat about family matters, but I was also afraid, afraid you would see through my identity and discover I am not your father at all."
"Unexpectedly, it turns out we are indeed father and son, just with some differences in circumstances." Li Changqing chuckled wryly; who could have thought things would turn out so dramatically?
"No matter what, you are my father." Li Hengsheng said solemnly.
"What are your plans next?" Li Changqing asked Li Hengsheng: "Will you stay or return to Dao Mountain Ancient Land?"
"I haven't decided yet, what do you think, father?" Li Hengsheng pondered.
"The decision is yours. You are grown now, and whatever you choose, I will support you." Li Changqing smiled.
"Dad, is your cultivation irrecoverable?" Li Hengsheng asked.
"With a flawed soul, having only One Soul, naturally, it's impossible to recover." Li Changqing shook his head: "I acted as I did in Celestial Sea City to fortify my reputation and to deter Monarch Yuehan from targeting you, and to caution the world against harming you. But my Treasure Lotus Lamp can only be used once more, so if you face danger in the future, Father might truly be unable to protect you."
"Once that one last chance is used, fifty years from now, when Monarch Yuehan emerges from Celestial Sea City, it will be doomsday for us unless, within those fifty years, you reach the realm of land fairies, which might allow you to contend with Monarch Yuehan." Li Changqing told Li Hengsheng.
"Fifty years to become a land fairy?"
Li Hengsheng heard this and shook his head with a bitter smile. Historically, the youngest land fairies start at a hundred years. How could he reach that in fifty years?
The current youngest land fairy should be Li Xuanxi, but she used other means, leveraging past life's cultivation, which doesn't count.
"Don't worry, Dad, I'll work hard on my cultivation. Maybe in fifty years, I won't become a land fairy, but surely I will have the ability to protect myself." Li Hengsheng declared confidently.
"Such ambition; it's worth the effort I spent in giving you the Divine Phoenix Bone." Li Changqing patted Li Hengsheng's shoulder.
"By the way, Dad, I accidentally entered the bronze Immortal Mansion earlier and was hunted by the Longevity Sect inside. It was your Golden Silk Linlang Beast that saved me, but I don't know what happened to it afterwards." Li Hengsheng quickly mentioned this matter.