Some of these female guards were captured from Yue Country, while others were gained in the Endless Sea. Following Ning Fan, they no longer needed to fight, leading a very leisurely and simple life, their thoughts very close to mundane life, like mortal women.
Mortal women always concern themselves with all kinds of quirky questions.
The reason they asked such bizarre questions was completely because they had been living too leisurely over these decades.
In the Siluo Bamboo Sea, Ning Fan flew side by side with Qing Dai, while his spirit sense spread far and wide, perceiving the customs and culture of the Siluo Bamboo Sea.
The territory stretching four hundred thousand miles was inhabited solely by the Ming Luo race.
Aside from the Ming Luo race, countless mortals actually lived here as well...
These mortals coexisted harmoniously with the Ming Luo cultivators, with nothing seeming amiss.
The Ming Luo race had already declined, their remaining members weathered by honors and disgrace, having seen the warmth and coldness of the cultivation world, and they did not look down on mortals as other cultivation families did.
The mortals also knew that Immortal Masters existed in the world, and to them, the Ming Luo race were the immortals of this Siluo Bamboo Sea.
Beneath the dense bamboo sea, mortal villages could occasionally be seen.
Amongst the bamboo fences and thatched cottages where mortals came and went, low-level Treant Ming Luo could occasionally be seen chatting and brewing tea with mortal elders...
Such harmonious scenes between immortals and mortals were simply inconceivable in the cultivation world!
If other cultivation families saw the Ming Luo race lowering themselves to be with mortals, they would surely sneer.
Yet in Ning Fan’s eyes, the actions of the Ming Luo race were in harmony with the Dao!
Immortals are those who stand on the mountain, but if they descend from that mountain of Dao, they are no different from mortals...
He protected the Ming Luo race on behalf of the Treant Ming Luo, and now he found himself genuinely feeling a bit of admiration for them.
Occasionally, old mortal woodcutters in the Siluo Bamboo Sea would see Ning Fan deliberately slow his escape light and wave a greeting to him.
In the mortal world, this was the most ordinary gesture, as showing goodwill between people needed no reason.
But in the cultivation world, if someone showed unsolicited goodwill, Ning Fan would surely contemplate it repeatedly to discern their intentions...
Ning Fan displayed a dazed expression, yearning for such a life free of scheming, yet he could never return to the past, could never become a mortal...
To descend the mountain of the Dao, to transform from immortal to mortal, at least required cultivation at the pinnacle.
At that time, whether he wished to remain a cultivator or become mortal, no one would dare to provoke him.
In the path of cultivation, once embarked upon, there was no turning back until reaching the peak, only relentless progression!
Even though the Ming Luo race lived in this place, appearing to coexist peacefully with mortals, in reality they were also bullied by other tree tribes...
The cultivation world is ultimately not a paradise, no matter how peaceful it may seem, there’s always a hidden bloody mist behind the facade...
Though the Siluo Bamboo Sea spans merely four hundred thousand miles, even with Ning Fan deliberately slowing down, it didn’t take long to reach the central area of the bamboo sea.
In the heart of the bamboo sea stood a vast jade bamboo city.
Above the city hung a plaque inscribed with three characters: "Siluo City!"
Outside Siluo City, a squad of Golden Core Guards in tree armor stood on guard.
Upon seeing a cultivator’s escape light approaching, and that it appeared with such grandeur, the Golden Core Guards immediately grew tense.
As the Ming Luo race now had no friends, if a high-level cultivator came, they were certainly an agitator...
A few Golden Core Guards exchanged glances, intending to draw their spirit arrows and sound the alarm.
Just then, a soothing yet authoritative voice from Qing Dai reached these guards’ ears, even spreading to every corner of Siluo City.
"It’s me, I am Qing Dai, I’ve returned."
She usually appeared inferior in front of Ning Fan, but in front of these lower-ranked tribesmen, she carried a certain aura of authority.
Qingdai and Ning Fan retracted their escape light and landed outside Siluo City.
The guards, upon recognizing Qingdai, immediately displayed expressions of respect, bowing their heads in deference.
"We, the Min Luo Race, greet the High Priest!"
Six escape lights swept out from Siluo City, transforming into wisps of smoke, landing at the city gate, turning into six old men clad in tree armor at the Divine Transformation Realm.
Among the six elders, only two were at the Mid Divine Transformation Realm, while the others were all at the Early Nascent Soul.
Upon seeing Qingdai, all six immediately bowed their heads in reverence.
"We, the Mingluo Priests, welcome the High Priest’s return!"
"Grandfather Gu Luo, Grandfather Xu Luo, please, you need not perform such formalities, Qingdai cannot bear your bows."
At first, Qingdai maintained a dignified expression, but upon seeing the two mid Divine Transformation Realm old priests, her eyes reddened, as though seeing close family.
After her mother passed away, these two elders treated her as their own, nurturing her step by step into the High Priest of this generation.
This kindness, she would never forget for a lifetime.
With Qingdai’s instruction to dispense with the formalities, all kneeling Min Luo tribesmen rose to their feet.
Priest Gu Luo and Priest Xu Luo looked at Qingdai, their cloudy eyes filled with gratification and joy.
"High Priest, you have been gone from Siluo City for ten years, and those ten years must have been arduous. Stay at home for a longer while this time, before considering venturing out to find the ancestors’ remains again," Priest Gu Luo looked at Qingdai’s travel-worn face, feeling a pang of sympathy.
Over the years, both he and Xu Luo had treated Qingdai as a granddaughter.