The Modern Martial Immortal

Chapter 126: The Return (I)

”To strike first is to gain the upper hand.” Leng Tianfeng’s psychic thought echoed in Yaoguang’s ear. ”By letting the Xie family return to the Artifact Sect first, you essentially handed over the initiative to them. If the Xie family returns with a much larger force, all the energy you have poured into this place during this time will merely become a windfall for someone else.”

”I only asked you for information regarding Cangwu. Just answer me,” Yaoguang said.

”I have already told you what needs to be said. My emotional fluctuations are completely transparent to you; you can tell which of my words are true and which are false,” Leng Tianfeng responded.

”So you also know I’m aware you only said that because you were worried and intentionally trying to sow discord,” Yaoguang followed up.

Suddenly, Leng Tianfeng fell silent, not daring to speak further. It had been three days since the Star Gate opened and Xie Yushu and his group departed. Yaoguang had since remained in the villa near the Longyou Stream, questioning Leng Tianfeng about Cangwu. That was how this conversation had come about.

”The Artifact-Nurturing World holds significant value, but the Xie family might not dare to act that way. Stronger cultivators naturally have higher pursuits,” Yaoguang said calmly.

”And what about you?” Leng Tianfeng asked. ”Generally speaking, only high-tier cultivators whose potential is exhausted and who have no hope of becoming great cultivators would choose to guard a single world. You are only twenty years old with a limitless future, yet you didn’t choose to go to Cangwu with Xie Yushu, Ji Pingtian, and the others.”

”You just want to know what the situation is like over there yourself, don’t you?” Yaoguang saw right through him.

However, what Leng Tianfeng said was not entirely wrong. As his cultivation progressed to the heavenly being realm, he gradually began to feel what it meant to be in a world where resources were scarce and lay far from any spiritual power nodes.

If he continued to stay in this world, given his current realm, it would not be difficult to reach the ninth realm of the God-Fiend Body Refinement. Even becoming a star lord was not an impossible dream.

But without additional resources, the time he needed to cultivate would inevitably increase exponentially. If he wanted to become a star lord, it would likely take several decades.

For countless cultivators, entering the domain of a great cultivator in just a few decades was a stroke of luck they could only dream of, but Yaoguang did not intend to wait that long.

”I will go to Cangwu, but only after I have figured out what the situation is will I make a decision,” Yaoguang said as he put away the Five-Emperor Soul-Refining Furnace, ignoring Leng Tianfeng.

Just then, his phone rang. As he answered the call, Lei Yun’s somber face appeared on the screen. ”Young Master... Old Master... has passed away.”

”Old Master?” Yaoguang was somewhat taken aback.

He had spoken to Su Chiming not long ago, and he had seemed full of energy. How could he...

Yaoguang soon realized something. The ”Old Master” Lei Yun was referring to was Su Huaifeng. Once he understood, his expression quickly returned to normal.

In theory, Su Huaifeng should have died long ago. However, as the Su family’s influence grew and they gained access to better medical facilities, he managed to survive for nearly an extra year, even though he wasn’t expected to last a month when Yaoguang first entered the capital of Tiannan. One year was already his limit.

Yaoguang did not feel much of an emotional impact. After all, he had not inherited all the memories and emotions of his host. He was not particularly familiar with the man, just like he wasn’t familiar with Zhang Ya or Su Anping.

However, considering the man was the biological father of his host, and given that his current cooperation with the Su family was going quite well, he simply said, ”Proceed with the funeral as is appropriate.”

Lei Yun was slightly stunned but understood his meaning. ”I will inform the family head immediately...”

***

A few days later, at a cemetery in the Su family’s hometown... Dressed in black, Yaoguang watched Su Yaoyu, whose face was filled with grief. She shoveled dirt one scoop after another, seemingly intent on personally burying Su Huaifeng’s coffin.

Behind him, hundreds of dignitaries from various circles stood with solemn expressions, and many had eyes filled with sorrow. Among them were Su Chiming, Su Chixin, Su Huaigu, and Su Huaiyue. From the corner of his eye, Yaoguang even saw Zhang Tianji and Zhang Ya.

Zhang Ya was also covered in tears, appearing as though she were a devoted wife, yet Yaoguang saw deeply hidden satisfaction in her eyes. In addition to these family members, Su Yaoxue, Su Yaoshuang, and Su Yaoqin were also shoveling dirt at Su Yaoyu’s side.

The three had lived with Su Huaifeng since they were children. Although they had many grievances against this irresponsible father, all grudges vanished upon death. When this moment finally arrived, they could not hide their sadness.

Yaoguang, who hadn’t originally intended to help, eventually stepped forward to assist Su Yaoyu and the others and speed up the process.

He remembered that, in many places, custom dictated that relatives should avoid this part of the ceremony. He did not know why the Su family did not follow such a tradition.

However, as Yaoguang personally helped bury Su Huaifeng, it seemed to send a specific signal, as Zhang Ya’s crying grew even louder. She was fully displaying the long-lasting affection a married couple should have, and the fact that a couple should hold no grudges overnight.

Others, such as Su Huaiyue and the more emotional women of the Su family, also could not help but burst into tears. The sorrowful atmosphere seemed to reach a peak at that moment.

Even Su Yaoyu and Su Yaoxue, who never shed a tear no matter how hard her cultivation became, could not stop themselves from sobbing aloud. As Yaoguang listened, he did not feel the oppressive or heavy atmosphere. Instead, he found it somewhat noisy.

The joys and sorrows of people were not always shared. After all, he was not the original Su Yaoguang. However, he could not say much in such a setting. He simply quickened his pace slightly and soon finished burying Su Huaifeng.

After finishing the task, he clapped his hands and walked toward the exit of the cemetery. The hundreds of people nearby parted to create a path for him.

As Yaoguang passed by Zhang Ya, she could not help but call out, ”Little Guang...”

Yaoguang glanced at her but did not stop.

During this period, the Su family had gradually shifted its focus toward the capital of Xiayu and even set its aim on the capital of the Crimson Star Empire; at the same time, it had let go of its interests in Tiannan, transferring them entirely to Zhang Tianji and the Zhang family behind him.

If the Zhang family maintained this momentum, promoting themselves to the status of an aristocratic family would not be an impossible dream. However, if they wished to venture beyond the Tiannan province, the Zhang family’s current foundation was clearly insufficient unless they relied on outside help.

Yet, as Yaoguang walked away without hesitation, everyone came to a realization. Taking control of Tiannan was likely the limit for the Zhang family. The debt of favor ended here.

In the future, unless the Zhang family produced some exceptionally brilliant geniuses that made the Su family wish to lend them a hand again, they would find it difficult to keep up with the Su family and leave Tiannan based solely on their relationship, as their own strength remained lacking.

”Yaoguang...” Watching Yaoguang walk toward the car parked at the cemetery gate, Zhang Ya could not help but call out again.

Zhang Tianji stepped forward to stop her, shaking his head. Zhang Ya could not understand it. Why was it that the Su family, who were not even that close to him, could cling to Yaoguang’s coattails and flourish, while she, his biological mother, was dismissed with just the Tiannan province?

It’s unfair! This is far too unfair! Zhang Ya thought. ”How could he—”

”Enough!” Zhang Tianji barked in a low voice. His serious tone immediately intimidated Zhang Ya.

Stunned, Zhang Ya froze in place. Over the years, Zhang Tianji had come to understand exactly how his sister had treated Yaoguang. With that brand of obsessive control, it was a testament to Yaoguang’s extraordinary mental fortitude that she hadn’t driven him to suicide.

Now that Yaoguang had achieved fame and success, how could he possibly accept her manipulation again? The fact that he even handed Tiannan over to the Zhang family was likely done out of respect for Zhang Tianji.

Otherwise, the two sides would have become strangers the moment Yaoguang became a grandmaster. It would’ve been just like after he had left home after reaching adulthood, rarely taking the initiative to see Zhang Ya again.

”Let it be,” Zhang Tianji said.