#1265 - Traces of the Old Friends

Lu Xuan faced the sky full of thunder and lightning, arriving at the cave dwelling he once resided in.

"It's still the familiar Myriad Obstacle Profound Crystal Array."

His divine sense swept over, and he instantly recognized the protective array hidden outside the cave dwelling, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise.

"Hmm? No one inside the cave dwelling?"

He entered the cave dwelling familiarly, but the entire cave dwelling was empty, without even a trace of any living creature's aura.

Only some low-priced spiritual plants grew in the spiritual field, none of which he had ever planted.

"The entire cave dwelling is clean and tidy, well-organized, it seems someone regularly cleans and maintains it."

However, this was understandable. The actual owner of the cave dwelling had not returned for many years, and continuing to guard it was simply casting pearls before swine.

A moment later, a sword light shot out rapidly from the endless thunder and lightning.

Hong Qinghai hurriedly jumped off the flying sword. Perhaps his emotions were fluctuating too intensely, as he staggered when he landed.

He was managing business in the shop when he learned that a cultivator had entered the cave dwelling in Thunderfire Star Cave, and a thought couldn't help but emerge in his mind:

Senior Lu is back!!

Arriving outside the cave dwelling, he dusted off his robes, took a deep breath, and his expression became solemn.

Passing through the Myriad Obstacle Profound Crystal Array, he saw at a glance a handsome young man looking at him with a smile.

"Qinghai greets Senior Lu!"

Hong Qinghai knelt on one knee, his voice carrying a hint of trembling.

"Get up."

Lu Xuan nodded with a smile.

"Come to think of it, it's been seventy or eighty years since we last met. How are you now?"

"Thanks to Senior's concern, everything is well."

Hong Qinghai replied respectfully.

"When I left Cloud Void Domain, I gifted this cave dwelling to you. Today, I return, but I don't see any signs of life. What's going on?"

Lu Xuan sat on a white jade stone chair and asked casually.

"Reporting to Senior, the shop is in Heavenly Star Tower, and I need to stay there every day, making it inconvenient to travel back and forth, so I haven't moved into Senior's cave dwelling yet."

"I just thought that Senior might come back to take a look, so I come over to clean it up every once in a while."

Hong Qinghai found a suitable reason, speaking earnestly.

"You're quite thoughtful."

Lu Xuan nodded lightly.

"How is the shop doing these years?"

"With Senior's reputation deterring others, and with the care of Heavenly Star Cave and Sea Tower Merchant Association, the shop's business has been as booming as ever these years, and there have been no conflicts with other forces."

Hong Qinghai said with a solemn expression.

"The shop's business needs to be managed, but your cultivation cannot be neglected either. What is your current cultivation level?"

Lu Xuan asked gently.

"After Senior left, after more than ten years of cultivation, my strength improved slowly, so I took the Yuan Spirit Pill you bestowed, and thus broke through to the late stage and completion realm of Foundation Establishment in one fell swoop."

A deep sense of gratitude appeared on Hong Qinghai's face.

"Wen Qian advanced to Core Formation twenty or thirty years ago."

Lu Xuan said with a calm expression.

"This junior is of dull aptitude, and has disappointed you, Senior."

Hong Qinghai said quickly.

"This is a normal cultivation speed, there's no disappointment to speak of."

"This time I've returned, I probably won't bring you back to Sword Sect, but the previous promise still stands. When you reach the crucial moment of breakthrough, you can use the power of the Merchant Association to come to Sword Sect to find me, and I will help you advance to Core Formation."

"In addition, this Pure Yang Golden Lotus Seed and Spiritual Wonder Nurturing Spirit Tea leaves can help you temper your physical body and soul. Keep them well and find a suitable opportunity to consume them."

Lu Xuan instructed, sending a crimson gold lotus seed and a piece of glazed light cyan tea leaf to Hong Qinghai's face.

"Thank you, Senior!"

Hong Qinghai bowed his head deeply.

Lu Xuan encouraged him a few words, and he hurriedly left.

In less than half an hour, Wood Taoist, who had learned the news, came to the outside of the cave dwelling.

"Fellow Taoist Wood, long time no see."

Lu Xuan took the initiative to greet him.

Seventy or eighty years had passed, and Wood Taoist was obviously much older, with slightly white temples and a face full of vicissitudes.

"Fellow Taoist Lu, I heard that you have already broken through to the middle stage of Nascent Soul realm, congratulations."

"Knowing that you have returned, I wanted to come and see you."

Seeing Lu Xuan, who was already in the middle stage of Nascent Soul realm, personally come out to greet him, Wood Taoist secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hahaha, just seeing me is not enough, we have to have a few good drinks and make up for what we haven't drunk in the past few decades."

Lu Xuan laughed loudly.

"Lu has newly brewed a sixth-grade spiritual wine called Azure Lotus Wine, which is just right for Fellow Taoist Wood to taste together."

"Today, let's not return until we're drunk."

"Not return until we're drunk!"

The two entered a secluded courtyard.

"How has Fellow Taoist Wood been recently?"

When the wine was at its peak, Lu Xuan asked.

"Still the same old story, there's no hope of breaking through to Nascent Soul, my lifespan is getting shorter and shorter, one year is not as good as the last, and I estimate I only have a few decades to live."

Wood Taoist smiled bitterly, looked at Lu Xuan next to him, who was already in the middle stage of Nascent Soul realm, and drank a large mouthful of Azure Lotus Wine.

"Does Fellow Taoist Wood know the news of those acquaintances in Thunderfire Star Cave back then?"

"Guo Bingqiu suffered heavy injuries that time, his foundation was greatly damaged, and he reached the end of his life more than thirty years ago."

"Loose Immortal Yu Lin encountered a sneak attack by evil cultivators while exploring a secret realm and died of his injuries."

"Fellow Taoist Ye Xuanyin offended a Nascent Soul True Lord of Heavenly Star Cave, and moved away from Thunderfire Star Cave many years ago, his life and death are unknown."

"And..."

Wood Taoist said eloquently, taking advantage of his drunkenness.

"Alas..."

Lu Xuan sighed deeply.

"I didn't expect that after so many years of not returning, such a big change has occurred here in Heavenly Star Cave."

At this moment, his heart was filled with thoughts, and vivid figures flashed quickly through his sea of consciousness.

"Sometimes I really envy you, Fellow Taoist Lu, for being able to enter Cave Profound Sword Sect as a spiritual plant master, and even cultivate all the way to the middle stage of Nascent Soul realm, which is beyond our reach, and completely control your own destiny."

A trace of envy flashed in Wood Taoist's eyes.

"Lu has only fortunately obtained some opportunities. The road is long and difficult, and there are still many places that need effort."

Lu Xuan said sincerely.

"By the way, Fellow Taoist Wood, when I was in Sword Sect, I collected a life-extending spiritual medicine called Celestial Origin Fruit, and I also accidentally obtained a seventh-grade Tortoise Crane Yuan Pill, both of which I will give to you, hoping that you can extend your lifespan."

"Otherwise, next time I return to Cloud Void Domain, it will be difficult to find someone to drink with."

Lu Xuan smiled, and a pure white spiritual fruit with bright spiritual light, and a magical spiritual pill with ancient tortoise and crane phantoms lingering around it, appeared in front of him.

"Sixth-grade life-extending spiritual medicine Celestial Origin Fruit?"

"And a seventh-grade Tortoise Crane Yuan Pill?"

"Could it be the legendary spiritual pill that can make people rejuvenate and greatly increase their lifespan?"

Wood Taoist stared intently at the Tortoise Crane Yuan Pill floating in the air, and couldn't help swallowing his saliva.

"It is these two treasures."

Lu Xuan smiled slightly.

"This... is too precious!"

"Especially the Tortoise Crane Yuan Pill, Wood is not worthy to enjoy it. Fellow Taoist Lu can keep it to exchange for other treasures."

"With the rarity of the Tortoise Crane Yuan Pill, maybe it can be exchanged for an eighth-grade spiritual seed for you, Fellow Taoist Lu."

Wood Taoist struggled to shift his gaze away.