Chapter 595 - 78: Only Blood Can Repay

As Song Changsheng stepped into the vortex, his vision blurred, and he found himself in a deep, dark body of water. All around him was pitch-black, without a single glimmer of light.

His Divine Sense spread out like a flood, revealing many plump fish and shrimp swimming in the water. From time to time, a Water Demon would also shoot past, its gaping maw wide open.

"Where am I? And where is the Array?" Song Changsheng was puzzled, as he couldn’t see any trace of an Array. This didn’t match what Kongsang Xiruo had told him.

’Never mind. I’ll head to the surface and see what’s going on.’

Song Changsheng’s figure flickered, and he transformed into a streak of light, parting the heavy river water as he rushed toward the surface...

BANG!

The calm river surface suddenly exploded with a splash, and a figure shot out from the water, startling a school of large carp that were leisurely feeding.

Song Changsheng looked up at the azure sky, then at the lush, green mountains and forests surrounding him. He felt as if a lifetime had passed.

"I’m... out? What about the Array?" Song Changsheng was utterly baffled.

He didn’t think Kongsang Xiruo would deceive him; there was simply no reason for her to.

Nor did he believe the scene before him was an illusion. His Eye of Truth could see through all falsehoods, and he was certain he had truly returned to the Daqi Cultivation World.

After a moment of thought, Song Changsheng came to a realization.

This was actually a test for Kongsang Xiruo—a test of her "courage."

From a father’s perspective, even though he worried that Kongsang Xiruo might face disaster upon entering the Human Race Territory, he wasn’t willing to "imprison" her in a cage for her entire life.

The moment Kongsang Xiruo truly wanted to leave and used that Sea Conch to open the wall, the exit would appear right before her.

As long as she didn’t shrink back at the critical moment, she could step into the Human Race Territory and gain her "freedom."

No matter what happened in the future, it would ultimately be her own choice.

He was afraid she would open the door too soon, so he told his daughter that an incredibly profound Array lay behind it, one she would have to cultivate diligently to break.

But he never actually set one up, because he was afraid she wouldn’t be able to break it.

He really had her best interests at heart.

’One thing was true, though: once you step through that door, you can never go back. It seems I’ll have to break my promise.’ Song Changsheng gave a bitter smile. He had promised Kongsang Xiruo he would visit when he had time, but now he couldn’t even find the entrance back.

’Oh, right. The gift from Xiruo.’ Song Changsheng suddenly remembered he hadn’t opened it yet.

He took the Jade Box from his robes and opened it. Song Changsheng was instantly stunned. Inside lay a thumb-sized piece of coral. It was colorless, like a work of art carved from crystal, and it radiated a bone-chilling cold.

Song Changsheng tried to take the coral out, but before his finger even made contact, Ice Crystals formed on his fingertip and spread rapidly up his hand.

Seeing this, he quickly pulled his hand back. But in that brief moment, his entire palm had been encased in translucent Ice Crystal.

A cold that pierced straight to his soul began to invade his body. If not for his powerful physique, his hand would have likely frozen and become necrotic.

"Such powerful cold... Could this be the legendary [Cold Pool Coral] that grows at the bottom of the sea in the Extreme Cold northern continent?"

Song Changsheng swallowed hard, his gaze fixed on the small piece of coral.

Kongsang Xiruo had truly given him a magnificent gift.

[Cold Pool Coral] was a genuine Tier Four Spiritual Object with the power to alter its natural environment. Any body of water where it grew would be enveloped by Extreme Cold Power.

If used properly, this power could not only heal specific injuries but also be used for body tempering.

If it were refined into a Magical Artifact and worn, it could grant immunity to Spiritual Fire. During cultivation, it could also focus the mind and calm the soul, preventing invasion by Heart Demons.

Its value was even greater than that of an ordinary Magical Treasure.

’This debt of gratitude seems to be getting heavier and heavier.’ Song Changsheng smiled wryly. He had assumed her gift would be something ordinary, never imagining it would be this precious.

The debt he owed Kongsang Xiruo was now no less than what he owed Bai Zhengchun.

’If you ever step through that door in the future, I will do everything in my power to keep you safe.’ With a flip of his hand, Song Changsheng put away the [Cold Pool Coral], making a silent vow to himself.

’I’ve been gone for so long. I wonder how the clan is doing. I should go back and take a look.’

Eager to return, Song Changsheng got his bearings, then transformed into a streak of light, shooting straight toward Vast Mist Peak.

He traveled at top speed, taking a full three days to return to the Moon Viewing Mountain Range. Outside Vast Mist Peak, the ravages of a great battle greeted his eyes.

Nearly half of the Moon Mountain Range was in ruins; he couldn’t imagine the manpower and resources it would take to restore it.

But to Song Changsheng’s relief, the great banner of the Song Clan still flew atop Vast Mist Peak.

Taking out his Identity Token to open the Clan Protection Array, he swept the area with his Divine Thought and found Xia Yunxue in the Soul Lamp Hall.

He slowly pushed open the great doors and saw Xia Yunxue kneeling alone before the spirit tablets of the past Clan Leaders, her hands clasped in silent prayer.

At the sight, Song Changsheng felt a sting in his nose. With a THUD, he fell to his knees on the cold floor, touched his head to the ground, and said, "Mother, your unfilial son has returned."

Xia Yunxue’s delicate frame trembled. She turned her head in disbelief. Seeing Song Changsheng standing right before her, alive and well, her tears instantly fell like a bursting dam.

"My son, let your mother get a good look at you."