Chapter 179: CH. 179 | Zhu Zirong and Zhu Xian
They listened, although neither of them knew who the man in the black robe was. What Zhu Yan did know was the true strength of the mysterious man, and he explained it to Zhu Zirong.
The three of them left the cave inside the volcano and quickly flew away from the island. Lin Tian led the way while Zhu Zirong and Zhu Yan followed behind him.
"I apologize for my rudeness, Senior."
"But could you tell me why you saved us?" Zhu Zirong asked.
Lin Tian continued flying, but he did not ignore Zhu Zirong’s question.
"Your younger sister is safe on Yin Palace Ruins Island. We’re going there."
The man glanced at him briefly, his eyes carefully studying Zirong.
"Tell me... have you been struck by a sealing restriction?"
The two men were stunned. Zhu Zirong had never expected the mysterious man before him to realize that his body had been afflicted by such a complex sealing restriction, causing his cultivation to fall and sealing his Nascent Soul.
If he hadn’t tried to take the Sun Slaying Sword protected by an active sealing restriction, he would probably still be able to fly without relying on sword qi.
But what was done was done. Zhu Zirong knew it had been his own mistake. He had been too careless and too greedy to inspect it properly.
"That’s right..."
"Your Nascent Soul has been sealed. It can neither absorb nor release spiritual energy."
"If the seal isn’t broken, you’ll be trapped at the Core Formation Realm forever."
Zhu Yan glanced at Zhu Zirong and noticed the sadness and uncertainty filling his face.
Still, since they were flying toward Yin Palace Ruins Island, there was still hope.
The two clan members assigned to protect Zhu Xian were array masters from the Zhu Clan. He believed they would surely be able to destroy the sealing restriction inside Zhu Zirong’s body.
From afar, they looked ahead.
The vast territory of Yin Palace Ruins Island came into view, covered beneath roaring black clouds while snow blanketed the entire land.
With his cultivator’s eyesight, Zhu Yan quickly found Zhu Xian’s location. She was in the center of the ruins, protected by a golden array dome formed by four array flags.
Zhu Zirong finally saw his younger sister clearly.
A broad smile spread across his face as he shouted, his voice echoing across the island.
"Xian’er?!"
She paused her cultivation and turned toward the east.
In the sky, she saw three people approaching. A man in a black robe and two members of the Zhu Clan.
What made Zhu Xian happiest was seeing Zhu Zirong.
Although he looked injured, he was still alive.
She was deeply grateful for that.
"Brother Zirong?"
The other two Zhu Clan members also stood up and looked toward them. They were just as happy as Zhu Xian, relieved that Zhu Zirong had survived after being separated from their group for so long.
Lin Tian sent two golden qi orbs forward, allowing them to enter Zhu Zirong’s and Zhu Yan’s bodies.
Golden light flashed briefly before fading away completely.
The two of them successfully entered the golden array dome.
The first thing Zhu Zirong did was tightly embrace Zhu Xian.
It was a touching reunion after such a long separation.
"Thank goodness you’re safe, Xian’er."
"I’m so happy you came back safely too, Brother Zirong," Zhu Xian whispered through tears as she buried her face against his chest.
Zhu Yan greeted the two Zhu Clan members assigned to protect Zhu Xian, expressing his joy at meeting them again.
Lin Tian, however, remained outside the golden array dome.
His eyes quietly watched the brother and sister of the Zhu Clan, the two people Zhu Wei had missed so dearly.
Realizing they were being watched, Zhu Xian released Zhu Zirong from her embrace and walked to the front edge of the golden array dome.
Unexpectedly, she knelt down and kowtowed toward Lin Tian while crying.
Everyone was shocked except Zhu Zirong.
"Thank you for saving all of us, Senior!"
Zhu Zirong did the same. He willingly cast aside his status as the Young Master of the Zhu Clan to offer Lin Tian his highest respect and gratitude.
To both of them, none of them would have survived if Lin Tian had not come to save them.
Zhu Yan and the other Zhu Clan members followed suit.
Lin Tian finally felt relieved. His promise to Zhu Wei had been fulfilled. Now it was time for him to go somewhere else.
There was one place he still needed to visit; An island covered by a vast desert.
There, a cultivator was cultivating alone.
He took out the location token given to him by Ling Weixi and looked at the marked destination.
Even now, the cultivator was still cultivating in the exact same place.
It seems she’s seriously injured, and her cultivation has dropped significantly. That’s why she can’t leave that place.
It’s not far. I can get there quickly.
Lin Tian told Zhu Xian and the others to stand up. They nodded and immediately obeyed.
"I’m going to save one more person."
"I want all of you to stay here and cultivate. I don’t want to return to Zhu Wei without you!"
"Z-Zhu Wei?"
"Wait! You know my father?" Zhu Xian asked.
The man gave no reply. Instead, he accelerated and quickly disappeared into the distance.
Zhu Xian and Zhu Zirong turned their heads, watching the direction Lin Tian had flown.
"How does he know Father, Brother Zirong?" Zhu Xian asked.
"There’s only one possibility. Father asked him to come and save us."
"But he’s a Soul Formation cultivator. As far as I remember, Soul Formation cultivators aren’t allowed to enter this valley," Zhu Xian replied.
Zhu Zirong chuckled softly, placing both hands on his waist as he lightly shook his head.
After hearing Zhu Xian’s words, he finally realized what she meant.
"It seems... he broke through to the Soul Formation Realm after entering this valley."
"What? So you think..."
"Yes," Zhu Zirong said, "He broke through inside the Saintess Spring Valley."