The fight had ruined their appetite for noodles, and neither of them was in the mood to continue their leisurely stroll.

So, they turned around and headed back toward Emei Mountain.

As for what would happen to the Eastern Barbarians, that would depend on the local Patrol Office.

In the past, Zhao Rui would have had to rely on Zheng Huai Peak’s reputation to clear his "suspicion."

But in Sichuan Province, with his status as a Qingcheng Elder, killing a foreign scoundrel or a Demon was something he didn’t have to worry about at all.

Because this was their "job"!

Still, to avoid any trouble, the two didn’t take the same route back. They took a small detour to a more distant town and quietly ate a bowl of noodles.

"Fellow Daoist, have you ever heard of Gui Xu?"

After finishing their noodles, the two began their slow walk back toward Emei Mountain. Zen Master Zhisheng’s gaze was distant as he spoke.

"Gui Xu? I’ve never heard of it."

Zhao Rui shook his head.

"A Fellow Daoist of your great skill has never heard of Gui Xu? Ah, forgive my presumption," Zhi Sheng said, slightly taken aback. "I haven’t even asked where you hail from."

’Logically, someone at Zhao Rui’s Realm should have some knowledge of these matters.’

"I train at Qingcheng Mountain, but I’m not a Qingcheng Daoist. You could call me an Honored Guest Elder. I’ve never heard anyone mention these things."

"Ah, no wonder! I heard from some of our Emei Disciples that Qingcheng suffered a great calamity and has sealed the mountain to recover."

"That is true."

Zhao Rui nodded, then asked, "Monk, could you perhaps enlighten me?"

"Of course. The Land of Return, Gui Xu, has its origins five hundred years ago. At that time, foreign enemies invaded, the land was shattered, and the Central Plains Martial Arts world was in turmoil, with factions fighting endlessly for their own masters..."

"Then one day, an ominous crimson light fell from the sky, and a fire like the Buddha’s wrath erupted from the earth. Life was plunged into misery, and the world itself trembled."

"Suddenly, a colossal, round, crimson object tore through the sky and descended. It was impossibly vast, spanning thousands of miles, and it settled upon the earth like a clam closing on a pearl. From that moment, the Spiritual Qi of the world began to drain away as if from a floodgate, never returning to its former glory.

"The venerable masters of every sect gathered at Songshan. They looked up at the boundless, immeasurable object and could faintly perceive living things moving within it...

"It was a cataclysm ordained by the heavens, but how could the lineage of the Martial Arts world simply sit back and await its doom?

"Countless heroes braved the danger and ventured inside. Months later, a Daoist from Wudang returned, bearing a world-shaking secret:

"The realm within contained neither fiends nor demons, but was a lost remnant of an ancient people! It was a land of fertile soil stretching for thousands of miles, where auspicious herbs grew in abundance. For a Martial Artist, a single day of cultivation there was like a thousand elsewhere...

"After that, the world fell into chaos. The warring nations abandoned their conflicts and, like a swarm of locusts, led their armies to pour into the Exotic Realm.

"Twenty years passed in a flash. Then, a strange phenomenon occurred. In an instant, a white light engulfed the Exotic Realm in its entirety. When the rooster crowed at dawn, all that remained was the pale light of the morning sky.

"The people of the world could never again find a trace of the Exotic Realm."

"And that place... is Gui Xu!"

A look of profound nostalgia filled Zhi Sheng’s eyes, and he couldn’t help but press his palms together and chant the name of the Buddha.

Zhao Rui was captivated by the tale. He asked in astonishment, "With the resurgence of Martial Arts we’re seeing now, does that mean the Exotic Realm is about to return?"

"It does. In truth, I myself came from that Exotic Realm."

Zen Master Zhisheng stated frankly.

Zhao Rui froze. He studied Zhi Sheng with a complicated expression, then hesitated for a moment before speaking. "A Divine Soul possessing a body? This isn’t your original form?"

Zhi Sheng shook his head. "This is my true form. It’s a long story involving the secrets of my Sect, so it’s not something I can explain in detail to a Fellow Daoist."

Zhao Rui nodded and didn’t press the issue, instead asking about various matters within the Returning Ruins Secret Realm.

He asked what the environment was like, if the culture was similar to that of Huaxia, and who the ancient people were.

The two continued to walk and talk, and before they knew it, they had reached the foot of Emei Mountain.

"Fellow Daoist, why don’t you come up the mountain with me? We could have a wonderful discussion about Martial Arts!"

Zen Master Zhisheng’s admiration for Zhao Rui was plain to see. Even though they had reached his home turf, he was still eager to invite Zhao Rui up the mountain.

"I’d better not. The Emei Sword Sect isn’t too fond of me. But if you have the chance, Grand Monk, you can come to Qingcheng Mountain. We can talk at length then."

"Amitabha Buddha."

"Farewell, Grand Monk!"

Zhao Rui smiled. True Qi surged under his feet, and in an instant, his figure flickered and was already over a hundred feet away.

In the blink of an eye, his figure flashed a few more times and then vanished completely.

’Such an incredible person. It’s a shame he isn’t one of our Emei Disciples.’

The monk stood in silence for a moment. Then, with a flicker, he vanished, reappearing a moment later on the first step of the mountain path.

「A few days later.」

Inside an ancient temple of the Emei Sect, Zen Master Zhisheng sat cross-legged with a solemn expression, chanting Buddhist Scripture.

"Uncle Master, a message has arrived from the Land of Return."

Just then, several elderly monks with white hair and beards strode through the entrance of the great hall.

"Oh? Has something unexpected happened?"

Zen Master Zhisheng said, raising his head slightly, his expression unchanged.

"It’s not about Emei Mountain. Rather, Gui Xu Qing City requests that you make a trip to Qingcheng Mountain to see if the current generation of Qingcheng has produced any remarkable individuals."

At these words, Zen Master Zhisheng’s brow furrowed.

"Why should a Qingcheng matter disturb my quiet cultivation? Don’t tell me they were run out of town?"

"Send a message back to the Emei in Gui Xu. Tell them this old monk is in seclusion."

"Yes, Uncle Master!"

"Go on."

A playful smile touched Zen Master Zhisheng’s youthful face. ’No doubt,’ he thought, ’those people from Gui Xu Qing City tried to deal with my young Daoist friend and got more than they bargained for.’

’The great tide is coming,’ he mused. ’Another storm of blood and gore. Amitabha Buddha.’

Zen Master Zhisheng closed his eyes slightly and began chanting from the Zen Scripture, resuming the perfect image of an eminent monk.

The old monks exchanged a glance and quietly withdrew.

「The Gates of Qingcheng Mountain.」

Zhao Rui ascended the stone steps, his figure moving at a leisurely pace up the mountain path.

With each step he took, specks of dust would swirl up, forming a mysterious, tiny current of air. After his foot moved on, the dust would settle back onto the steps, creating patterns like those on a painted scroll.

Any Qingcheng Daoists who passed him on the path saw that it was Zhao Rui returning and quickly stepped to the side, bowing in greeting.