The atmosphere in the square froze. Everyone couldn't help but wonder: what exactly were the White Robe Great Emperor's requirements for taking disciples?
Lu Xuan said nonchalantly, "Alright, everyone, disperse. I'm not taking any disciples for now!"
The crowd had no choice but to retreat.
Lu Xuan turned to Ji Fuyao. "Oh, right, Fuyao. Your Heaven-Rending spear was shattered. I'll give you another spear. Its name is Howling Heaven!"
Ji Fuyao paused, a hint of surprise in her eyes.
With a thought, Lu Xuan summoned the Ultimate Emperor Weapon, the Howling Heaven spear, which materialized directly above them in the void.
Boom! Though several layers of seals and Restrictions were placed upon the Emperor Weapon, a sliver of its ultimate aura still leaked out. In an instant, a resplendent aura surged from the spear, as if incinerating the heavens and splitting the sun. Its shaft was engraved with endless Dao patterns, condensing an incomparably terrifying killing Stance, as if capable of severing all things in the world!
Ji Fuyao extended her slender, jade-like hand and grasped the Howling Heaven spear, immediately beginning to refine it.
A dragon's roar reverberated through the void – the weapon spirit inscribed within the Howling Heaven spear!
Ji Fuyao's body trembled slightly as she swept the spear, and a river of spiritual fire instantly appeared in the void.
"What a spear!"
An Ultimate Emperor Weapon stood at the pinnacle of Emperor-tier spiritual artifacts; there were barely any in the entire Southern Wilds! Even the Silent Destruction Old Man had only promised Duan Hunsheng one as a reward if he acquired the Secret of Reincarnation.
At this moment, all the Emperor Realm Experts present were stunned. Ji Fuyao, a mere Quasi-Emperor Realm cultivator, now wielded an Ultimate Emperor Weapon! The White Robe Great Emperor was truly spoiling his disciple rotten, wasn't he?
"Fuyao, I should head back now," Lu Xuan said, looking at Ji Fuyao. "There are still a few branch halls left. Once they're annihilated, you can prepare for the Fuyao Dynasty Founding Ceremony!"
Ji Fuyao inclined her snow-white neck slightly and nodded. "Understood, Master."
Several merchant Great Emperors stepped forward proactively. "White Robe Senior, we will certainly announce this matter across all the states."
"Alright," Lu Xuan replied.
The next instant, Lu Xuan directly activated the Corner of a Supreme Great Emperor Formation Pattern. An incomparably profound aura surged around him. Boom! Lu Xuan vanished from that corner of the world like a wisp of wind.
Watching Lu Xuan's disappearing back, Ji Fuyao smiled faintly, her eyes sparkling with light.
The merchant Great Emperors respectfully said to Ji Fuyao, "With the White Robe Senior's appearance this time, it's unlikely any high-star Great Emperors will dare to take such risks again!"
Ji Fuyao nodded, her fiery red dress billowing. Holding the Howling Heaven spear, she pointed it towards the sky and declared, "Continue the advance!" Boom! Over a dozen Fuyao Dynasty spirit boats tore through the void, shooting forth.
...
Lu Xuan instantly returned to Azure Mystery Peak.
Not long after, Chen Changsheng returned. His Grand Dao Scripture Volume 1 had reached Perfected Mastery, and he was ready to cultivate the Grand Dao Scripture Volume 2.
"Is Ye Chen still cultivating in the Dao Pattern Heavenly Pool?" Lu Xuan asked.
Chen Changsheng nodded. "Yes. Liu Xuan and Luo Lingkong have also left. Now, only Second Senior Brother is cultivating there. Tianyuan Old Ancestor is personally refining Second Senior Brother's body, soul, and Dao Foundation!"
Lu Xuan smiled. "Excellent, excellent!"
Several days later, Ye Chen finally returned to Azure Mystery Peak. He had already stepped into Seven-star Profound Saint, and his modified Desolate Heaven Art had reached the Great Accomplishment Stage! Now, Ye Chen was Invincible below Saint Realm!
Lu Xuan went to the Grand Dao Hall and exchanged for three copies of the Grand Dao Scripture Volume 2, giving one each to Chen Changsheng and Ye Chen.
In the following days, Ye Chen continued his two-point-one-line routine: thatched hut, cave dwelling, thatched hut...
During this period, with Tianyuan Old Ancestor and Lu Xuan's two appearances, for a time, many high-star Great Emperors actually ceased their activities, no longer daring to make a move against Ji Fuyao! Because the White Robe Great Emperor was elusive, no one knew if he would suddenly appear. Everyone was watching and waiting! The Silent Destruction Sect's Bounty Order was terrifying, but high-star Great Emperors no longer dared to gamble.
Some merchant associations relayed this news back to the Silent Destruction Sect, and the Silent Destruction Old Man flew into a rage!
"What a bunch of cowardly trash!"
In the Grand Hall of the Silent Destruction Sect within the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone, the Silent Destruction Old Man sat high upon an ancient stone throne, his face sinister. "It's one thing for ordinary major powers to not dare to act, but how can even Overlord-level Powers like the Supreme Profound Sect, the Yao Family, and Cangmu Academy also be too afraid to make a move? With such timid dispositions, do they still hope to seize the Supreme Fruit Position on the Supreme Path?"
The other elders remained silent. No one had expected that even a Half-step Supreme Opportunity bounty couldn't take down Ji Fuyao! However, with the Heaven and Earth Change not yet fully opened, the White Robe Great Emperor indeed had few rivals.
At this, the Silent Destruction Old Man suddenly sneered. "I'm thinking, we could secretly dispatch one of our sect's Nine-star Great Emperors to capture and kill Ji Fuyao."
All the elders were startled. If the Xuanji Holy Lord were to learn of this, she would surely storm into the Twisted Jungle to demand an explanation from the Silent Destruction Old Man. Many elders showed concern. "Old Ancestor, the Xuanji Holy Lord is a madwoman. Although her cultivation has fallen from Quasi-Dao Supreme to the Emperor Realm, when she goes berserk, even Nine-star Emperor Realm Experts are no match for her!"
The Silent Destruction Old Man said, "We can only gamble on this. If the Xuanji Holy Lord doesn't discover it, all the better. If she does, I will block her."
With that, the Silent Destruction Old Man began to select a suitable candidate.
Suddenly, a black-robed elder entered the hall, his expression somewhat hurried. "Old Ancestor, a major event has occurred in the Southern Wilds!"
The Silent Destruction Old Man frowned slightly. "What is it?"
The black-robed elder reported, "Tianyuan Old Ancestor has announced that the Bronze Ancient Palace will open in less than two months! He has already obtained the key to the Bronze Ancient Palace, the Bronze Token!"
A sharp glint flashed in the Silent Destruction Old Man's eyes. "In two months, it will be the Heaven and Earth Change! As the Heavenly Dao Killing Intent thins, Half-step Supreme and Quasi-Dao Supreme cultivators will gradually be able to step out of the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone! Excellent! Excellent!"
The black-robed elder continued, "After Tianyuan Old Ancestor announced the news of the Bronze Ancient Palace, all the states in the Southern Wilds were shaken! A large number of ancient powers have emerged from seclusion! Even the Stabbing Heaven Palace, the Ghost Shadow Race, and the Demon Hall have appeared!"
A cold light flared in the Silent Destruction Old Man's eyes. "I didn't expect the Stabbing Heaven Palace, the Ghost Shadow Race, and the Demon Hall to all emerge! Contact them immediately and have them make a move against Ji Fuyao!"
The black-robed elder respectfully replied, "As you command!"
A sinister grin spread across the Silent Destruction Old Man's face. With the Stabbing Heaven Palace emerging, they wouldn't fear the White Robe Great Emperor! These were shadow assassins; as long as the reward was sufficient, they could even assassinate Half-step Supremes and Quasi-Dao Supremes! Their motto was: "Burying Heaven, Burying Earth, Burying All Living Beings!"
The Silent Destruction Old Man gave a chilling laugh. "This time, there's no need to send out our sect's Nine-star Great Emperors. Just let the Stabbing Heaven Palace, Ghost Shadow Race, and the others make their move."
Meanwhile, outside the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone, the various states of the Southern Wilds experienced a massive tremor! The Bronze Ancient Palace was confirmed to appear in Fuzhou in less than two months! A single stone had stirred up a thousand waves! More and more ancient powers were alarmed, emerging from their sealed minor dimensions!
Boom, boom, boom! The void vibrated! Space twisted! Within the heavens and earth of the Southern Wilds' states, minor dimensions suddenly appeared. Endless dazzling spirit patterns surged, obscure and complex Dao patterns circulated continuously, and numerous completely different rules of power churned. Terrifying Power of Spatial Array Patterns poured forth like a vast ocean. As these minor dimensions reintegrated into the Southern Wilds, the region itself began to expand.
The Stabbing Heaven Palace! The Ghost Shadow Race! The Demon Hall! ... These ancient Overlord-level Powers were all emerging one after another!