Chapter 2346 Nothing Compares to a Night of Drunken Bliss

The world lay in ruins, withered and lifeless. Mountains crumbled and rivers collapsed.

Lin Xun put away the Dao Endless Pagoda and exhaled softly.

Ling Xuanzi’s childhood experiences had reminded him of himself. When he was born, his Origin Aeth Artery had been stolen by enemies and he had to grow up in the darkness of the mine prison...

To this day, he still didn't know whether his parents were alive or dead.

The difference between them was that Lin Xun had Mister Lu by his side, while Ling Xuanzi had been entirely alone, forced to fend for himself.

Lin Xun then thought of Yun Qingbai. He was born with an innate sword bone, but his family was destroyed and his fate was never his own. Even thinking of him was enough to evoke endless sighs.

After a long silence, Lin Xun turned his gaze into the distance.

Of the countless cultivators who had watched the battle, only a handful remained. Most had already fled in terror.

Aside from a few Emperors, what surprised Lin Xun was that Meng Lianqing was still there, but she looked disheveled.

After a thought, he walked toward her direction.

“Fairy Meng, he...he...is coming this way.”

Yan Juan stammered, his eyes filled with fear and unease.

Before entering Return Dominion, he still dared to address Lin Xun as brother, but now...how could he possibly dare?

At that moment, Meng Lianqing looked up as if waking from a dream. Indeed, she saw Lin Xun approaching, and for a moment, she was stunned, her heart tightening involuntarily.

What does he want?

Even more anxious than her and Yan Juan were the few remaining Emperors. Before Ling Xuanzi showed up, they had all harbored intentions of dealing with Lin Xun.

Now, as Lin Xun approached, it was already too late to flee. Their hearts pounded and they held their breaths in apprehension.

Lin Xun paid them no attention. He walked straight to Meng Lianqing and spoke, “I’ve already said before that the past no longer weighs on my mind.”

Then, his gaze shifted to Yan Juan, and he said with a smile, “Fellow Daoist, fate brought us together. Accept this dao scripture and cultivate diligently.”

With a snap of his fingers, an inheritance mark transformed into radiant white light and surged into Yan Juan’s mind.

A deep hum resonated in Yan Juan’s mind as an immense wave of inheritance power flooded his mind-sea. Endless profound secrets of the great dao emerged and receded like the tide.

A long while later, when Yan Juan finally regained his senses, he instinctively shrank back and asked in a trembling voice, “Where did Senior go?”

“He’s gone,” Meng Lianqing replied softly, her eyes carrying an unreadable depth of emotion.

At this moment, the lingering obsession and shadow in her heart had finally been dispelled. She felt an overwhelming sense of relief, and she had come to a realization that she and that person...no longer belonged to the same world.

Once you let go of something, a sense of relief follows.

“Gone?” Yan Juan’s emotions were in turmoil.

“Are you Yan Juan from the Leaf Spirit Clan?” Meng Lianqing turned to him, her gaze assessing.

“Yes.” Yan Juan nodded quickly, barely daring to meet her eyes.

“Let’s go.” Meng Lianqing said, turning away.

“Huh? Us?” Yan Juan was stunned for a moment before a surge of joy hit him. He hurried after her, unable to believe that Fairy Meng had taken the initiative to invite him along. It felt like a dream.

“In the future, if you have time, you can visit the Golden Luan Clan and discuss the dao with me,” Meng Lianqing said softly as they walked.

Yan Juan trembled with excitement, nodding fervently.

Deep down, he had a feeling that the reason Meng Lianqing treated him differently was probably connected to Lin Xun.

“Senior, rest assured. I, Yan Juan, will not let you down!” Yan Juan silently vowed in his heart.

......

As Lin Xun strolled through the Deva Secret Domain, he retraced the path where he battled back then. His injuries weren’t severe and would heal in a few days.

During this time, he planned to remain in the Deva Secret Domain.

Once fully recovered, he would cross the Spirit Burial Sea and return to the Ziyao Empire for a visit.

“Are you not worried that you won’t be able to suppress Ling Xuanzi in the future?” Dao Ruleless Bell, hanging from his hair, suddenly asked.

“He has already lost in the battle of the great dao. As long as I am alive, escaping the Dao Endless Pagoda will be near impossible for him,” Lin Xun said casually.

Even though his fourth senior brother was a once-in-a-lifetime genius talent, Lin Xun had unwavering confidence that he could suppress him on the path of the great dao indefinitely.

This was an invincible-like confidence.

“Huh?”

Suddenly, Dao Ruleless Bell perked up as if it sensed something. “In a canyon far away, your name is being mentioned.”

Lin Xun was taken aback.

......

In the canyon.

“He won, Big Brother won!” Toady cheered, beaming as if he was the one who defeated Venerable Dao Lord.

A’lu grinned ear to ear.

“It’s a shame that we didn’t get to see Master’s invincible grace...” Little Silver sighed.

The Sky Splitting Demon Butterfly fluttered excitedly on his shoulder. “As long as he won, the process doesn’t matter.”

“What did I say? That guy never fights a battle he’s not sure of, I don’t understand why you were all so nervous.” The big black bird squinted, speaking leisurely.

𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Amidst the joyful atmosphere, A’hu suddenly interjected in a cold voice, “Have you ever thought about how we’re going to reunite with Young Master Lin when we’re still trapped in this canyon?”

Her words made Toady and the others stiffen, their hearts sinking.

The restriction power sealing the canyon was bizarre and formidable, like a massive inverted bowl covering the entire area. No matter how they tried, they couldn’t break free.

Worse, it even blocked their thoughts and voices, making it impossible to call for Lin Xun’s help.

A’hu speculated that unless one of them ascended to the Emperor Stage, they would remain trapped here forever.

“What do we do now...” Toady rubbed his hands anxiously.

The others exchanged uneasy glances, their earlier excitement fading. Had they rejoiced too soon?

“Damn it, unless the heavens open their eyes, we’re doomed!” The big black bird cursed.

At this moment—

Boom!

A deafening explosion rocked the canyon. The restriction force covering the sky above fractured, forming countless spider web-like cracks.

Then, with another loud explosion and burst of radiant light, the entire restriction barrier that had trapped them for years shattered into nothingness.

“The...the heavens actually answered and opened their eyes?” The big black bird mumbled in disbelief.

The others stood frozen, struggling to believe that they were truly free.

Then, a familiar voice rang out, “Miss A’hu, Toady, A’lu, Little Silver, the big black bird...it really is you all!”

They turned their heads and saw a tall figure approaching from a distance. Who else could it be but Lin Xun?

“Big Brother!” Toady bolted forward, throwing himself at Lin Xun with a shriek.

Bang!

A’lu followed, stretching out his thick rock-like arms and scooping Lin Xun and Toady into a big hug. “Big Brother, I missed you so much!”

Swoosh! Swoosh!

Little Silver and the Sky Splitting Demonic Butterfly wriggled their way into the embrace, perching themselves onto Lin Xun’s shoulders, their faces filled with joy.

From a distance, A’hu’s heart pounded. Her beautiful eyes shimmered as she stood still, reserved, yet unable to suppress the excitement of being reunited swelling in her chest.

Only the big black bird remained indifferent, holding his head high and walking over with a big black pot strapped to its back. “What is this nonsense? A bunch of grown men clinging to each other? Disgusting!”

Thud!

Suddenly, the big black pot behind him flew up and slammed down on his head. The impact sent sparks flying in front of his eyes, making him sway unsteadily.

Lin Xun chuckled, “Thieving Bird, you haven’t changed at all, your mouth is still as stinky as ever!”

The big black bird wisely chose to shut up, suddenly realizing that Lin Xun was no longer the same person he once was.

After much effort, Lin Xun finally got out of the embrace of Toady and A’lu. Seeing the snot and tears on his clothes, he sighed, “Was this really necessary?”

A flash of dao light surrounded him, and in the next moment, his clothes were pristine again.

Toady blew his nose and exclaimed, “Big Brother, it’s been years since we last saw each other! We’ve missed you so much. What’s wrong with borrowing your clothes to wipe our tears and snot?”

Little Silver and the Sky Splitting Demonic Butterfly immediately retorted in unison, “Disgusting!”

A’lu simply scratched his head and grinned.

Lin Xun turned his gaze toward A’hu who was approaching from a distance. Seeing the familiar faces around him, a wave of emotions surged in his heart.

It had been decades since they parted ways in Kunlun Dominion. How could he not be overjoyed, moved and surprised?

After their excitement gradually settled, Lin Xun asked, “Why were you all trapped here?”

A’hu explained the situation. In short, they had come via the space-time passageway at the source of the Flying Immortal River, but after entering the Deva Secret Domain, they accidentally became trapped in this canyon.

It was a completely unexpected misfortune.

After years of exploration, they discovered that this canyon had once been the secluded cultivation ground of a cultivator named Blazing Jun. There were no hidden fortunes or treasures to be found here, but it was enveloped by terrifying restriction forces. Anyone who stepped into the canyon would be unable to leave unless their strength reached an unimaginable level.

Lin Xun’s eyes flickered with understanding.

Blazing Jun!

That was the dao name of the fifth successor of Fangchun Mountain—his fifth senior brother.

Thinking about it, this made perfect sense. The Deva Secret Domain was originally known as the Fangchun Secret Realm, the heart of the Fangchun Mountain Sect. It was natural for its successors to have cultivated here.

If not for the catastrophic attack by enemies back then, which led to the collapse of Fangchun Mountain’s grounds, the Deva Secret Domain wouldn’t have been reduced to its current state!

“Come, let’s drink! Over the years, I’ve traveled across the starry sky and gathered an array of divine brews as well as delicacies you’ve never tasted before.”

Reunited with old friends, Lin Xun was in high spirits. Without hesitation, he brought out bottles of treasured fine wine, rare aeth fruits, and an assortment of exotic dishes, inviting Toady and the others to feast with him.

Everyone cheered excitedly and joined in to help prepare the banquet.

When Lin Xun took out the meat of various sacred birds and beasts he had stored, Toady and the others were left wide-eyed and awestruck...

Of course, by the end, they were all drooling.

“Yezi, Wuque, Little Five..” Lin Xun called out, summoning Little Five, the array spirit, Wuque, the spirit of the No-Nonsense Bow, and Yezi, the sword spirit, to join them.

As they drank and chatted, they shared stories of their experiences over the years. Some moments were filled with laughter, others with nostalgia. Suddenly, the quiet canyon was alive with joy and celebration.

When old friends reunited, there was nothing better than raising a glass and sharing a hearty laugh.

Furthermore, Toady and the others were more than old acquaintances, they were brothers Lin Xun had fought alongside since he was young. Now, they were finally reunited after years apart. The joy in Lin Xun’s heart was beyond what words could express.