Only I am Venerable

Chapter 287: Chapter 285: The Golden Palace Descends

"The Lin Family was a bit hesitant, but thankfully, they didn’t go too far. Still, it’s clear who is close to us and who is distant. I’m sure you see that as well, Ancestor," Qin Hanyue said faintly, picking up where Qin Suo had left off.

Qinling Mountain gave a bitter smile and said, "Of course, I see it all clearly. The Qin Family’s foundation is still weak. For them to have this attitude is already quite commendable. On the other hand, Young Master Shen Le from the Thousand Mechanism Sect has been a true friend, having his men guard us all this time. We must not forget this kindness!"

As they were speaking, a Qin Family disciple came stumbling in from outside, shouting from a distance, "Young Master Li is back! Young Master Li is back!"

That voice... Not only could the Qin Family hear it, but even the people in the surrounding areas could as well.

Shangguan Shiyu shot to her feet and ran outside without a second thought. The others were hardly any better. Even Qinling Mountain stood up with an excited look on his face. Qin Li had only been missing for two days, but everyone in the Qin Family felt as if they had lost their souls, crushed by an immense, invisible pressure that loomed over them.

Although the Qin Family had elixirs, without Qin Li, no matter how much they developed, they would only ever be a mid- to high-level family. They might even become prey for the major powers, who would covet their many elixir formulas.

Hearing that Qin Li had returned, Qin Wenxuan’s face flushed slightly. He clenched his fist and swung it fiercely. He was about to run out but hesitated, overcome by a sense of guilt that still made it impossible for him to face Qin Li completely.

But Qin Hanyue, who was beside him, grabbed his arm and pulled him along, chiding, "Our son is back. Aren’t you happy?"

"I am, of course I am!" Qin Wenxuan said in a low voice.

"Oh, you... Come on. I want to see if my precious son has changed at all..."

"..." Qin Wenxuan looked speechlessly at his wife. ’It’s only been two days,’ he thought. ’What could have changed?’ Still, he was thrilled that Qin Li had managed to return from Black Tortoise Cliff. What kind of place was that? Even Elder Yu of the Thousand Kills Sect, a Venerable Realm master, hadn’t escaped with his life!

By now, Qin Li was surrounded by a crowd of Qin Family disciples outside. Everyone was ecstatic. His disappearance had made them all suddenly realize that, without them even noticing, Qin Li had become the irreplaceable core of the Qin Family’s new generation.

Even though Qin Suo had become the family’s young Patriarch, he could not replace Qin Li!

No one could!

When the young Qin Family disciples saw Shangguan Shiyu, they parted to make a path for her. She didn’t disappoint them, throwing herself directly into Qin Li’s arms and clinging to him tightly, her body trembling slightly.

No one could know what she had been through these past two days. The anxiety, worry, tension, and fear had made it impossible for her to eat or sleep. Yet, she had to maintain a calm facade for everyone, bearing a pressure far greater than anyone else’s.

If something had truly happened to Qin Li, she would never have continued to live in this world alone.

"My darling wife, I’m back now, aren’t I? Everyone is watching," Qin Li said softly, wrapping his arm around Shangguan Shiyu’s slender waist and sensing the emotions of the beauty in his arms.

Shangguan Shiyu had been focused only on releasing her pent-up emotions, but now she suddenly realized the inappropriateness of the situation. Even with her eyes closed, she could feel the stares of the Qin Family disciples.

With a soft cry, Shangguan Shiyu’s body transformed into a streak of white light and vanished from Qin Li’s embrace in an instant.

The surrounding Qin Family disciples were dumbfounded. She was too fast; they had barely seen how she disappeared.

"As expected of Young Master Li’s fiancée. Her power is truly immense!" one of the Qin Family disciples said with a look of admiration.

His words resonated with everyone around him.

"Yeah, yeah, I didn’t even see her move, and she was gone!"

"I didn’t see it either. If I could ever have Miss Shi Yu’s level of power, I’d be satisfied!"

"You? Don’t be ridiculous. You just reached the Celestial Level!"

"Hmph, so what if I’m at the Celestial Level? I’ll learn from Young Master Li!"

Qin Li, meanwhile, greeted his mother and the others one by one, then gave a slight nod to Qin Wenxuan. His life-and-death ordeal on Black Tortoise Peak had given him a lot to think about. ’In life, things don’t go your way eight or nine times out of ten. Many things can’t be controlled by one’s own will. If they could, there would be no tragedy in the world.’

’Besides, as long as you’re human, as long as you’re alive, nothing is ever perfect.’

’Since that’s the case, what is there that I can’t let go of?’

Seeing his son acknowledge him, Qin Wenxuan was so moved he didn’t know what to say. Qin Hanyue, annoyed, secretly pinched her husband a few times from behind. ’What an idiot!’ she thought. ’This is the perfect opportunity. Can’t you say a few comforting words?’

Grimacing, Qin Wenxuan finally managed to say, "Li, you... you’re not hurt, are you?" After he spoke, he let out a sigh of relief.

Qin Li smiled and said, "No. I ran into a little danger, but it’s fine. I made it back alive!"

When Qin Wenxuan heard his son’s reply, he suddenly felt his eyes well up with tears. That unbreakable bond of blood and family was fully ignited in that moment. He truly felt that the heavens had been kind to him.

The news of Qin Li’s safe return spread across the entire Xuanwu Platform in a short time. Almost everyone was fervently discussing his return, astonished and wondering how on earth he had made it back safely.

That Elder from the Thousand Kills Sect was a Martial Artist in the Venerable Realm! And Qin Li was merely a Martial Artist in the Celestial Integration Realm. It made no sense that the Venerable master died while the one in the Celestial Integration Realm survived...

But then, plenty of things in this world make no sense. Reality is often far more incredible than fiction.

Qin Li’s safe return was like a stone cast into a lake, sending ripples in every direction. Some were overjoyed, others distressed. Shen Le immediately brought his men to the Qin Family’s camp, and Lin Heng arrived right after him.

Meanwhile, in the Thousand Kills Sect’s camp, Pang Wen, Elder Jin, and Elder Tie sat in disbelief. Pang Wen gritted his teeth and said, "How can that little bastard have such good luck? Why... Why did Elder Yu fall, while he’s perfectly fine?"

Elder Jin’s eyes were slightly closed. With Elder Yu’s death, his sallow face looked even older. "These past few days, I have carefully studied Qin Li’s development. I’ve found that this vile spawn’s luck is indeed heaven-defying. But... this time, I’m certain he won’t have any chance of escape!"

Elder Tie’s expression was equally ferocious as he snarled, "That’s right! We three brothers—Jin, Yu, and Tie—haven’t been active in the Martial World for years, and we’ve been all but forgotten by the younger generation! Even if it costs me my life, I will slay Qin Li. We absolutely cannot let him return to Fengsha City alive!"

Pang Wen said hatefully, "If I run into him in the Venerable Competition, I’ll take his worthless life even if I have to self-destruct to do it!"

"Absolutely not!" Elder Jin and Elder Tie said in unison.

Elder Jin looked at Pang Wen and said, "Wen’er, we understand your hatred for that Qin Li, but you must be clear about one thing: the rise of the Thousand Kills Sect rests on your shoulders! You are still young, and with your talent, you are not the least bit inferior to the Cui Family’s Venerable, Cui Leng! It’s just a pity we don’t have the Cui Family’s financial resources. But your masters believe that with your mind and strength, the Thousand Kills Sect will one day see its former glory again! So, no matter what, you must endure! Killing Qin Li is a task for me and your Master Tie; that will be enough. You only need to focus on the Venerable Competition, strive to enter the Golden Palace, get a reward, and earn the Golden Palace’s ten years of protection! Ten years will be enough for you to develop!"

Pang Wen choked up. "Master..."

Elder Jin waved his hand. "Say no more. Your Master Tie, your Master Yu, and I have never been separated for so many years! I never thought we would be parted forever by death like this. That vile spawn caused all of this. Even if that little monster has three heads and six arms, your Master Tie and I will cast him into an abyss of eternal damnation!"

Inside the Cui Family’s temporary residence, Cui Leng sat with several of the Cui Family’s Supreme Powerhouses, his expression one of disbelief. He sighed softly. "I can’t believe he actually made it back alive from Black Tortoise Cliff. If we don’t eliminate this person, he will sooner or later become a grave threat to our Cui Family! If I meet him in the Venerable Competition, I will absolutely not let him get away this time!"

A Venerable elder of the Cui Family sneered, "We must eliminate that little bastard! He probably has no idea that you still have an ultimate skill you haven’t used. He actually thinks his strength is enough to rival yours!"

Another Cui Family Venerable smiled faintly. "There’s no need to be so tense. He’s just a genius from some minor family. The Cui Family has crushed countless geniuses like him over the years. This Qin Li is just one more, nothing more!"

Cui Leng nodded forcefully, his eyes filled with icy coldness.

...

The day the Golden Palace was to descend finally arrived. On the Xuanwu Platform, everyone stood with their heads craned, waiting in anticipation.

The Cold Sword Cui Family, the Sword Killing Lin Family, the Anger Sword Xiao Family, the Fire Sword Wang Family, the Sword Concealment Manor, the Thousand Mechanism Sect, and Ice Edge... Not one of the Seven Great Powers was missing. There were also hundreds of people from large and small sects and families, all wearing solemn expressions as they prepared to welcome the descent of the Golden Palace.

This truly was a thrilling moment. Even those who had witnessed the Golden Palace descend from the heavens many times before couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement at the thought of the scene.

"Look, it’s appearing! It’s appearing!" In the sky above, layers of swirling mist slowly parted, and a massive, golden-yellow palace, shimmering under the sun with a dazzling, brilliant golden light, descended from the heavens!

The crowd of over ten thousand on the Xuanwu Platform fell utterly silent, the quiet so absolute it was breathtaking.

Even the Martial Artists who had reached the Venerable Realm held their breath, their faces filled with excitement as they watched this scene unfold.

Beside Qin Li, Shangguan Shiyu gripped his hand tightly, her stunningly beautiful face a canvas of nervousness and excitement. Qin Li thought to himself, ’I wonder what expression you’d make if you knew that this Golden Palace is already your husband’s private territory?’