Upon seeing Long Daozhi and Chu Feng appear.
Master Liang Qiu, along with the people of Ancestral Martial Dragon City.
Quickly gathered around, all inquiring about their experiences within the Endless Abyss.
Long Daozhi even shared the news that they had obtained the Dragon Vein Origin Stone with Master Liang Qiu and the people of Ancestral Martial Dragon City.
Upon hearing this news, the people of Ancestral Martial Dragon City were each filled with uncontainable excitement.
Some even shed tears of joy, sobbing uncontrollably with streams of snot running down their faces.
Others fainted from sheer elation.
It was clear how great an honour returning to the Long clan represented for them.
“You lot must be desperate to return to the Long clan, have you gone mad?”
“Why don’t you take a good look at yourselves, with your sorry state, do you really think you could obtain the Dragon Vein Origin Stone?”
Soon, however, mocking voices arose.
These came from people of other factions.
They stood around Long Daozhi and the others, so they had overheard his earlier words.
Yet they did not believe Long Daozhi could have obtained the Dragon Vein Origin Stone, hence their taunts and jeers.
Those from Long Daozhi and Ancestral Martial Dragon City, however, did not argue with the mockers.
After all, Long Daozhi knew full well that Lord Tonghe would soon publicly announce Ancestral Martial Dragon City’s return to the Long clan.
Facts would speak louder than words, and those now mocking them would learn the truth then.
The truth would slap them hard across the face.
“Senior Long, perhaps I am overthinking it.”
“I feel as if something is amiss.”
Chu Feng, however, suddenly spoke to Long Daozhi via covert voice transmission.
“Oh? What seems amiss?”
Long Daozhi asked.
“People of the Long clan are right here.”
“We could simply produce the Dragon Vein Origin Stone in public.”
“With Long clan members present, no one would dare act out or snatch your Dragon Vein Origin Stone.”
“That Lord Tonghe had no need to summon us two specifically to his side for a private meeting.”
Chu Feng said.
“Chu Feng, we did obtain the Dragon Vein Origin Stone after all.”
“Is not such courtesy fitting?”
Long Daozhi said with a smile.
“If it is courtesy, why not invite us aboard the warship or have us accompany him, instead leaving us here to wait?” Chu Feng asked.
“You do not understand, the Long clan is the Long clan after all.”
“That Long clan warship is not something one can board casually.”
“Still, I am about to return to the Long clan, perhaps in future I will have the opportunity.”
“Enough, stop overthinking.”
With those words, Long Daozhi looked up once more at the Long clan warship, his eyes brimming with anticipation.
Seeing Long Daozhi thus, Chu Feng said no more.
In truth, even if something were wrong, Chu Feng had no means to alter it.
Before absolute power, Chu Feng could sense his own insignificance.
If the Long clan truly intended some scheme, they would be powerless to change it and could only accept their fate.
Still, he found it somewhat suspicious.
Suddenly, the surrounding crowd began to stir.
Even those looking up hastened to perform grand salutes.
Then, the people of Ancestral Martial Dragon City, including Long Daozhi, also bowed deeply.
Someone had emerged from the warship.
It was Lord Tonghe.
“You have all truly disappointed this old man.”
“The Dragon Vein Origin Stone, for my Long clan, is one of the most precious auxiliary materials for cultivation among treasures.”
“My Long clan could easily obtain them.”
“Yet granting you this opportunity was to select talents from among you for the Long clan’s use.”
“But you have squandered it utterly.”
“Look at that Endless Abyss now, does it hold even a trace of spiritual energy?”
“It matters not that you missed your chance to return to the Long clan, but the unobtained Dragon Vein Origin Stones, along with other cultivation treasures, have also dissipated.”
“My Long clan, to give you this chance, has wasted such precious cultivation resources in vain.”
“Do you know your crime?”
Lord Tonghe spoke, his countenance exceedingly stern, his words laced with profound dissatisfaction and anger.
At this, Chu Feng and the others understood why the Endless Abyss had suddenly become so mundane.
From Lord Tonghe’s words, the Endless Abyss had a time limit upon opening.
Within the limit, if treasures within could not be fully obtained, they would dissipate.
Once the treasures dissipated, so too would the formation, explaining why the Endless Abyss had abruptly turned ordinary.
Under Lord Tonghe’s stern rebuke, those below, all the ones abandoned by the Long clan, wore faces of deep shame.
They knew full well how difficult it was to even receive this opportunity from the Long clan.
Yet when it came, they failed to seize it properly.
Seeing Lord Tonghe’s furious demeanour, it seemed such a chance might never come again.
This thought pained them all the more.
“But fortunately, some have shown promise.”
“Though three Dragon Vein Origin Stones were wasted, one was found.”
“In the end, this carefully prepared trial has selected talent.”
“In the end, some have not wasted my Long clan’s efforts.”
Lord Tonghe spoke again.
His tone had shifted now, carrying a trace of gratification.
“Someone actually obtained a Dragon Vein Origin Stone?”
“Who is it?”
“Surely a formidable figure.”
“It must be from the Ninefold Dragon Gate, only they have the strength to obtain the Dragon Vein Origin Stone.”
“Not necessarily, but whoever it is, they are no ordinary soul.”
At this moment, the crowd below erupted in waves of discussion.
They all believed the one who obtained the Dragon Vein Origin Stone must be an extraordinary individual.
After all, many could not even enter the Endless Abyss.
Those who did had truly felt how difficult it was to find the Dragon Vein Origin Stone.
Many entered and never emerged alive.
The dangers of the Endless Abyss needed no further words.
In such perilous environs, for someone to obtain the Dragon Vein Origin Stone, they felt envy, jealousy, and admiration.
Hearing the praises from all directions, Long Daozhi swelled with pride.
In his view, this was likely the most glorious moment of his life thus far.
Seeing Long Daozhi’s proud expression.
And hearing Lord Tonghe’s words.
Those who had earlier mocked Long Daozhi now panicked.
They feared that if Long Daozhi truly obtained the Dragon Vein Origin Stone.
Then Ancestral Martial Dragon City would no longer be trash from the Ancestral Martial Star Domain, but true Long clan kin.
Their earlier mocking words would have thoroughly offended Long Daozhi and his lot.
“This old man announces that, from this day, the Ninefold Dragon Gate returns to the Long clan.”
Finally, Lord Tonghe spoke.
Yet upon his words, Long Daozhi and the people of Ancestral Martial Dragon City were dumbfounded.
How could it be the Ninefold Dragon Gate?
That Dragon Vein Origin Stone was handed personally to Lord Tonghe by Long Daozhi.
