Chapter 657 447: 3 Years

In the sixty-seventh year since the founding of the Qingyuan Sect, the sun shone brightly and a gentle spring breeze blew. It was like a mother's hand caressing the cheeks of all living things, awakening life that had slumbered through the winter.

The air was filled with the scent of freshly turned earth and the fragrance of countless flowers—the uniquely sweet aroma of spring.

Two years had passed since the death of Hao Shi, and the duel between Fang Qingyuan and Chunyu Hua, which had once caused a massive stir, was now rarely mentioned.

Cultivators in the outside world were busy with their training, their battles, and their explorations; everyone had their own affairs to attend to.

The people of the Qingyuan Sect were also busy, though with different matters entirely.

At the Qingyuan Sect's pier, Lou Yuan disembarked from a Tier Three Flying Boat, making his way down with the crowd. After three years away, he had finally returned to the land that had nurtured him.

Lou Yuan's cultivation had now reached the Foundation Establishment Stage. After faking his death to escape the wilderness, he hadn't dared to return to the sect. Instead, he had pursued his Foundation Establishment Opportunity. His journey had taken him on a roundabout path, but he finally succeeded in the Western Sandsea.

Once he had stabilized his cultivation realm, Lou Yuan boarded a Tier Three Flying Boat to return home. He had expected to transfer at the Nine-star Marketplace, but to his surprise, the vessel landed right at the Qingyuan Sect's gates.

After three years away, Lou Yuan's spirits were high. As far as he knew, the entire Qingyuan Sect had only a dozen or so Foundation Establishment Cultivators in total. He was about to become the youngest of them all.

However, as Lou Yuan stepped off the Flying Boat, the scene that greeted him clashed sharply with his memories from three years ago.

Gazing at the seemingly endless stream of Flying Boats of every tier taking off and landing, Lou Yuan was in disbelief. 'Is this really the same cramped Feisu Pier I remember?'

"All cultivators, please gather over here! The Qingyuan Sect has issued an order: all outside cultivators must have their identities verified before entering the territory of the Qingyuan Alliance. Otherwise, you may only dock at this pier and are forbidden from entering without authorization."

He had barely taken two steps before a squad of cultivators in matching Tier One Top-Grade Magic Robes made the loud announcement to Lou Yuan's group of arrivals.

However, cultivators who could afford passage on a Tier Three Flying Boat were generally not of low status. They came from far and wide, and each had their own peculiar temperament. Upon hearing they had to submit to an inspection, one of them immediately took offense.

"I am a True Disciple of the Xiling Sect! How dare you presume to verify my identity?"

The leading Qingyuan Sect disciple was only at the Late-stage Qi Cultivation realm, whereas the cultivator claiming to be a Xiling Sect True Disciple was already at the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment. As such, even when faced with a squad of twelve Qi Cultivation practitioners, he was utterly dismissive.

But the squad leader had seen plenty of troublemakers like this before. Unintimidated, he spoke firmly.

"If you wish to enter the Land Realm of the Qingyuan Alliance, you will follow our rules. What, didn't your elders teach you that basic courtesy?"

"You..."

The Xiling Sect True Disciple had only wanted to leverage his status and cultivation for preferential treatment; he never expected to be so openly rebuked. He was about to fly into a rage when he saw the twelve disciples beside the leader simultaneously reach for their waists. In the next instant, twelve Bear Beasts of various shapes and sizes sprang from their Spirit Beast Bags, baring fangs and brandishing claws.

Among this pack of Bear Beasts, two were at the Foundation Establishment Stage, while the rest were mostly at the Late-stage Qi Cultivation realm. Sensing their masters' intent, the beasts fixed their gazes on the Xiling Sect True Disciple, looking ready to pounce at a moment's notice.

"Forget it, Old Liu. A mighty dragon can't crush a local snake. We're here for the auction, why cause unnecessary trouble?"

Seeing the situation turning sour, a friend of the Xiling Sect True Disciple naturally stepped forward to mediate, giving him an out.

Having been given a way to back down gracefully, the Xiling Sect True Disciple's attitude softened. Seeing this, the Qingyuan Sect leader gestured for his squad to carry on as if nothing had happened.

Since he wasn't wearing the uniform of a Qingyuan Sect disciple, Lou Yuan wasn't recognized. He dutifully got in line, his mind flooded with questions.

'Where did all these Bear Beasts come from? It looks like every disciple has one. What in the world happened to the sect in the three years I was gone?'

When Lou Yuan had first left to find his Foundation Establishment Opportunity, Fang Qingyuan had not yet brought Bear Wind and his clan to submit to the Qingyuan Sect. In other words, Lou Yuan's quest had caused him to miss out on the sect's greatest period of growth in decades.

Only when Lou Yuan reached the front of the line and stood before the leading Qingyuan Sect disciple did he reveal his identity.

"Lou Yuan, Inner Sect Disciple of the Qingyuan Sect, reporting my return."

"Senior Brother Lou?"

"Lou Yuan?"

"Chong Yuanzi?"

A series of different names rang out, reflecting the various ways the Qingyuan Sect disciples who knew Lou Yuan remembered him.

The one who called him "Chong Yuanzi" was none other than the Squad Commander. He gestured for his men to continue verifying the identities of the outsiders wanting to enter the Qingyuan Sect, then led Lou Yuan aside to sit at a simple tea stall.

"Chong Yuanzi, you've been gone three or four years! I can't believe you actually achieved Foundation Establishment!"

Hearing his old nickname brought a nostalgic look to Lou Yuan's face. Back in the day, his family had been poor, and the sect's welfare benefits alone weren't enough to support them all. So, using his unique skills, he had engaged in insect battles with his fellow disciples, winning a fair amount of Spirit Stones.

And because he won so often, the disciples who lost Spirit Stones to him had given him the slightly mocking nickname "Chong Yuanzi" to signify his cunning.

However, as everyone's cultivation level and age increased, they went their separate ways into different sect departments. It had been a long time since Lou Yuan had last heard the nickname "Chong Yuanzi."