Upon hearing Ye Qiu declare that they were heading to Central Continent, the Long-Browed Real Person’s face fell.
“Little brat, can we not go to Central Continent?” the Long-Browed Real Person asked. “This poor Taoist is worried.”
“Worried about what?” Ye Qiu asked.
“I am worried there will be trouble,” the Long-Browed Real Person said. “Beyond knowing that Central Continent has several great dynasties, we understand nothing else about it.”
“Moreover, Cao Mao and Wei Wuji died by your hand. Once the two great dynasties learn you have arrived in Central Continent, they will never let you go.”
“There is also the Second Prince of Great Zhou, Wu Qianfan. He is now your servant. If the Great Zhou imperial family learns of this, they will probably move against you as well.”
“I feel Central Continent is no kindly place. Going there rashly could land us in grave peril.”
“This matter is best considered at length.”
Ye Qiu sighed. “Old fellow, I fully understand everything you have said, but I must go to Central Continent.”
The Long-Browed Real Person’s eyes widened abruptly. “Little brat, could it be you have a sweetheart in Central Continent?”
“Nonsense!” Ye Qiu glared at him. “I have important business to attend to there.”
“What business?” the Long-Browed Real Person asked curiously.
“I will tell you once it is settled.” Ye Qiu turned to Elder Niu. “Dali, how much longer until your strength is restored?”
“Master, my strength is already nearly fully recovered.” Elder Niu stood up as he spoke.
Ye Qiu nodded. “Then let us set off at once.”
Elder Niu scratched his head. “Master, I do not know much about the cultivation world. How far is Central Continent from here? In which direction?”
Ye Qiu replied, “Ask the old fellow. Most of the coordinates in the cultivation world are stored in his head.”
The Long-Browed Real Person said, “Brother Dali, you carry us through the void. I will give you the directions.”
“Very well.” Elder Niu dropped to the ground. Light rippled over his body, and in an instant he transformed into a five-coloured divine ox.
“Master, climb aboard,” Elder Niu said.
Ye Qiu leapt onto his back in one bound and settled himself.
“Brother Dali, the journey to Central Continent is long. It will be hard on you.” The Long-Browed Real Person patted the ox’s head, his lips moving rapidly as he sent a secret voice transmission.
Upon receiving it, Elder Niu’s ox eyes widened in shock. He looked doubtfully at the Long-Browed Real Person.
The Long-Browed Real Person transmitted again. “If you do not wish your master to fall into danger, do exactly as I say.”
Elder Niu nodded.
Ye Qiu called out impatiently. “Old fellow, what are you dawdling for? Hurry up. We are leaving.”
“Coming.”
The Long-Browed Real Person rose with a cheerful laugh and settled lightly beside Ye Qiu.
“Master, Taoist, hold on tight.”
With that, Elder Niu stepped into the high sky. His massive hooves tore fiercely, and a rift in the void appeared at once.
Boom!
Elder Niu charged headlong into the rift.
…
Almost at the same moment.
Yin-Yang Sect headquarters.
Wuji Tianzun sat cross-legged in the great hall, eyes closed as he circulated energy to heal his wounds. Suddenly his eyelids twitched violently, and an inexplicable palpitation gripped his heart.
“What is this?”
“Why do I feel a trace of unease?”
“How strange!”
Just then,
Dong, dong, dong…
A frantic knocking sounded outside, growing louder with each blow, like muffled thunder that set Wuji Tianzun’s temper ablaze.
“Who dares knock like that?”
Wuji Tianzun demanded in a deep voice. “Sect Leader, it is I.” The Second Elder’s voice came from beyond the door. “Open quickly.”
Hmph, that fool again.
Wuji Tianzun seethed inwardly. He returned to his grand chair, flicked his sleeve, and the doors boomed open.
“I warn you, this had better be urgent, or this seat will not forgive you…”
Before he could finish, the Second Elder rushed in, so panicked that he tripped and fell.
Seeing this, Wuji Tianzun’s anger flared higher.
“Second Elder, you are at least a saint-level powerhouse, yet you stumble like a clown. What decorum is this?”
“This seat has told you before: even if the sky falls, I will hold it up. Why do you panic?”
“Hmph!”
Wuji Tianzun gave a heavy snort.
The Second Elder, aware of his leader’s displeasure, remained prostrate and scarcely dared to breathe.
“Why are you silent now?” Wuji Tianzun asked. “What brings you to this seat?”
The Second Elder replied in alarm, “Reporting to the Sect Leader, just moments ago the life lamp of Guangming City’s lord, Lu Fugui, went out.”
Lu Fugui is dead?
Wuji Tianzun laughed instead of raging. “It seems Ye Changsheng did indeed go to Guangming City.”
“Excellent.”
“I have already ordered Su Wuming and the others to hurry there. This time Ye Changsheng will not escape.”
Wuji Tianzun was delighted.
In his view, dispatching one divine son and two elders meant Ye Changsheng had no chance.
Yet before his satisfaction lasted two seconds, the Second Elder continued, “Sect Leader, I have not finished.”
“The Second Divine Son Su Wuming, along with the Fourth and Fifth Elders, their life lamps have also gone out.”
At these words, Wuji Tianzun slammed his palm down on the armrest and shot to his feet.
Puff!
The grand chair disintegrated into dust.
The Second Elder flattened himself further, his face nearly touching the floor, trembling in terror.
He knew the Sect Leader was furious.
“What did you say?” Wuji Tianzun asked in disbelief. “Say it again!”
The Second Elder steeled himself and reported, “Second Divine Son Su Wuming, the Fourth and Fifth Elders, and Guangming City’s lord Lu Fugui, all their life lamps have extinguished.”
“Impossible! Absolutely impossible!” Wuji Tianzun declared. “The Fourth and Fifth Elders are saint-level powerhouses. Dealing with that ox demon of the demon clan would be more than enough.”
“Su Wuming is at the peak of Channeling Spirit. The Great Elder also assigned Lu Fugui two peak Channeling Spirit guards, plus all the defenders in Guangming City. They could not possibly have died.”
“You must have made a mistake.”
The Second Elder replied, “Sect Leader, I have guarded the Soul Hall for many years, diligent and flawless, never once erring.”
“Moreover, when Su Wuming’s and the two elders’ lamps went out, I was right there and saw it with my own eyes.”
At this, he cautiously raised his head, glanced at Wuji Tianzun, then quickly lowered it again.
Wuji Tianzun’s eyes were like blades, his brow filled with icy killing intent. Suddenly the entire hall seemed to turn into an icehouse.
The Second Elder lay on the floor, terrified.
“I never expected that you would cost me yet another divine son and two elders. Ye Changsheng, this seat underestimated you.”
“And that ox demon of the demon clan, your strength has also surprised this seat.”
“However, do not think that by killing Su Wuming and two elders you can leave Guangming City.”
“This seat still has contingencies in place.”
“Even if you possess heaven-defying abilities, you cannot stop the Blood Slave. To contend with this seat, you are still too green…”
Before he could finish,
“Sect Leader, the Blood Slave is dead!”
