She was younger and should have had more talent. At least that's what he thought. But that didn't seem to be the case as she was also in the Saint Realm.
"Welcome back, mother," he welcomed Sima Ziyi.
Unlike Long Ren, who was High in the sky, she was right in front of Long Chen, and she was able to see his eyes clearly. She grew worried after seeing his black eyes.
"What happened to your eyes? Are you sick?" she asked as she ran towards Long Chen.
'I am alright. It's just that my eyes are now a different color because of a skill I cultivated," Long Chen gave an excuse. "It's nothing concerning. Moreover, I think I don't look bad with it either."
"Are you really fine?" Sima Ziyi asked suspiciously, looking deep in his black eyes that were darker than the darkest night. In the middle of his black eyes, his golden pupils were shining like a beautiful sun in the dark space.
"Yep. Why won't I be fine?" Long Chen asked. "Won't my master heal me if something was wrong?"
"As I said, I'm fine." He further added.
"Yeah. Those eyes don't affect his health," the old man also agreed.
He had spent such a long time with him. These eyes hadn't created any trouble for Long Chen ever. They were just... There.
Sima Ziyi nodded, sighing a breath of relief. "You looked better in white."
"Hahaha, I think you'll get used to it with time just like I did," Long Chen replied.
Even he was surprised when he was told that he had black eyes. But he couldn't do anything about it.
He had a feeling that it was the dark energy that changed the color of his sword, but other than the color, he didn't feel any other difference. So he stopped worrying about it.
"Shall we call the next?" The old man asked.
"Go ahead." Long Chen agreed. He wondered how his father had grown. That man was really talented. He was the one who gave Long Tian his talents, after all. There was no way he was going to be in Saint Realm.
"Let's go then." The old man clapped his hand again.
Another portal appeared, and a woman stepped out of the portal.
"Xue?" Long Chen asked.
Xue was at third last. She was also stuck at the Saint Realm. However, she was close to a breakthrough, it seemed.
Next was Mei, who had actually broken through the threshold of the Saint Realm and barely entered the realm needed to find a place in the Immoral world.
After her were the Two Spirit Fairy wives Ming Lan and Ming Rin that were in the same strength as Mei.
After that, the turn of Zhiqing came. She had surpassed Mei by one Major Realm. Apparently she didn't have much strength.
What actually surprised Long Chen was that his father still wasn't out. That meant he had grown more than Zhiqing, which was surprising.
Finally, it came the turn of his father, who was slightly stronger than her.
Next was Ji Shan, who was even stronger than his father. He had enough strength to be in the middle tiers of the Immortal World
Next was Mingyu, who was in the same cultivation realm as him when he was trapped in the Heavenly Realm.
That was the most surprising part. Her cultivation had seen such a massive boost that he couldn't even believe it. She was as strong as he was before he spent a thousand years here! She was as strong as the Royal General of the Immoral World.
"How?" He only said one word in confusion.
"I knew she would surprise you. Even I was surprised. At the start, she was the slowest of them all. Her body just wasn't made for cultivation. But after breaking past the Saint Realm and shredding her mortal bounds, her cultivation increased at the fastest pace, without any resources.
"Apparently, her bloodline was at play, which restricted her cultivation speed in the mortal realm. But after that, the restriction was lifted, and she grew so much. You really have a talented wife," the old man said.
Zhiqing felt slightly jealous. She had thought she was going to be stronger. That's why she gave it her all, but she wasn't even close.
"Then again, all in your family are talented. Without much resources and with ordinary roots, they could grow so much in just a thousand years. It's not an easy task," the old man further said.
"It certainly isn't an easy task," Long Chen nodded, sighing. "They all did good."
"I'm very proud of them all," he further added.
He personally went to all of them and gave them a tight hug while welcoming them back.
He didn't forget his master either. "And lastly, thank you. Without you, nothing would have been possible."
"Hahaha, it's nothing. I should thank you instead. Because of you, I could finish my last wish of leaving my inheritance behind. I can finally get my eternal sleep without having to worry about finding an heir." The old man smiled.
"But before I go, I wanted to give you one last thing," he added.
"What thing?" Long Chen asked.
The old man raised his hand. A small silver box appeared in his hand. He flew closer to Long Chen and gave the palm sized box to the young man.
"This is my last gift to you. But don't open it now. You must only open it when you're in danger and have no chance of Survival," the old man said.
"But what is inside?" Long Chen asked, curious.
"You'll know when the time comes. Now, where do you want to go? Should I send you to the outside world or back where you came from?" The old man asked.
"Send me back. I think I don't need to worry now." Long Chen smiled. "And there are some things I need to finish as well."
"Alright. You'll leave this world in five minutes. This world will disappear. Good bye, my only disciple. Remember my last words. Don't ever lose yourself. Alright? You have the potential to shine brighter than the brightest sun. But you can also burn faster if you ever lose yourself."
Before Long Chen could even ask the meaning of these words, the old man disappeared.
Long Chen was left back, frowning. Just what was happening?
He couldn't understand what the old man was trying to say. However, he didn't have time to ponder either.
He turned to his family and told them to go back to his Inner World again for a little.
He sent his family back before five minutes were up.. The spatial realm disappeared, and Long Chen found himself outside.