After staying in the small courtyard for a few days, Yu Ziqing didn't let Yang and the others come out.
It wasn't until Wu Shuangge's monthly routine collection of filth that Yu Ziqing finally left the courtyard and returned to Jinlan Mountain with them.
This was his public appearance, and the Gatekeeper Hungry Ghost, who hadn't left for 24 hours, stayed there watching the gate to ensure no one had visited recently.
As they approached Jinlan Mountain and saw the vast locust forest, Lou Huai's trembling voice could be heard.
"B-Brother, can I not go?"
Yu Ziqing laughed heartily but didn't force him.
"Alright, then find a place nearby to build a house, settle down first, and take your time with cultivation to lay a solid foundation."
"Alright." Lou Huai cheerfully agreed, immediately jumping out of Yu Ziqing's boot, waving goodbye to Yu Ziqing.
He really didn't want to get closer, and speaking only when he saw the locust forest was already the limit of his tolerance.
That instinctive fear prevented him from approaching Jinlan Mountain.
His body was almost out of his control, turning to flee.
He could only hold on because this trip had broadened his horizons and he had experienced many trials.
Surviving the ferocious pass of the Heavenly Tribulation with its overpowering righteousness was something he could boast about for a lifetime.
Watching Lou Huai's joyful demeanor, Yu Ziqing couldn't help but smile.
He shook his head and didn't interfere, returning alone to Jinlan Mountain.
After all, Lou Huai, even though now reduced to a First-tier, was still at that level in righteousness.
As a Devil, protecting his life in times of trouble was quite easy, and besides, he was already very close to Jinlan Mountain, technically within the Forbidden Land's range of Jinlan Mountain.
Entering the locust forest, a rice-sized thing fell off Yu Ziqing's shoulder, transforming into a Black Mountain Sheep.
Yang walked on the ground, glancing at Yu Ziqing.
"Are you planning to take that little one back?"
"He has already made his choice, whether it was the Heavenly Tribulation or the final light, he used all his strength to form a physical body.
Now that he's transformed into a person, apart from higher spirituality, he's just an ordinary little boy.
I can't just leave him to fend for himself after bringing him out, right?
He's no longer connected to his past."
Yu Ziqing stopped walking, staring intently at Yang, his expression unusually serious.
Yang's gaze was somewhat complicated, knowing Yu Ziqing was right.
At that moment when the final strike of the Heavenly Tribulation was about to fall, he was already at his limit, just wanting to borrow the Evil Dragon's power, and wholly trigger the True Dragon bloodline's power to withstand that last strike.
In normal circumstances, a Ninth Tier strong's Heavenly Tribulation wouldn't be so powerful.
If the Evil Dragon couldn't withstand 99%, even a little more could mean someone might have died.
Ao Qing didn't help much, Lou Huai also didn't help much, but it was just enough to hit the limit, ensuring no one had to die, and no matter how severe the injuries, once they weren't fatal, things would get better.
Since it was the Transformation Thunder Tribulation, it wouldn't just destroy them, nor ruin their foundation so that they couldn't recover.
The Creation Force after the destruction would surely allow them to recover.
In the end, the Azure Dragon Illusion was triggered, it was a real True Dragon, even just a trace of illusion had powers exceeding the Ninth Tier.
The Azure Dragon only annihilated the Evil Dragon's consciousness, proving Ao Qing had no connection to the Evil Dragon anymore, since it didn't trouble those remaining.
Sometimes, Yang would think Yu Ziqing saw things too simply, too easily trusted people, but it was those traits of Yu Ziqing's he liked and followed.
This time, if Yu Ziqing hadn't "interfered" to bring out Ao Qing, hadn't sheltered Lou Huai earlier, and instead directly killed them,
it would probably have been very difficult to succeed this time.
Even Dragon Transformation would have been hard to succeed, let alone refining the Evil Dragon's corpse, and then survive the Transformation Thunder Tribulation.
Those seemingly weak companions, though appearing insignificant, were crucial in balancing success and failure.
Thus, Yang didn't want to say more, finding Yu Ziqing's merciful heart much better than one full of malice; he wasn't soft-handed in times of trouble, which was good, since the world already had enough heartless people, one more or less wouldn't change anything.
Yang didn't speak, so Yu Ziqing kept staring at him, very seriously and intently, determined to convince Yang regardless.
Yang shook his head, reluctantly sighing.
"Take him with you then, it's your decision, that old village chief, along with those simpletons in the village, will surely love the little kid."
Yu Ziqing immediately beamed, patting Yang's back.
"Yang, I'm doing this for you too. Now you're a Dragon, with some Secret Techniques and Divine Skills exclusive to Dragons, someone like you without a proper background surely wouldn't know them, right? You probably don't have any bloodline inheritance either, do you?
Bringing along the little one will be greatly beneficial for you."
"Alright, I didn't say you couldn't take him back, just that you should think about how to introduce his identity to others."
Yang couldn't help but laugh, wondering how the topic shifted back to him.
He indeed lacked bloodline inheritance, nor did he understand the Dragon Clan's unique Secret Techniques and Divine Skills.