"Master, what exactly are your standards for taking disciples?" Ji Fuyao asked, her starry eyes twinkling with curiosity.
Lu Xuan chuckled. "No standards at all, just a single word: 'Destiny/Fate'."
Ji Fuyao simply hummed in response, a thoughtful expression on her face.
Ye Chen turned to Yao Yan. "Elder Yao, do you remember what happened in the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone back then? Was that magnate the Xuanji Holy Lord?"
Yao Yan pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "I don't remember. Besides, I wouldn't dare to pry into the affairs of such an existence."
Following this, Ye Chen and Chen Changsheng continued to discuss the Xuanji Holy Lord. Her refusal to consume Life Force, despite being afflicted by Eerie Power and Ominous Power, filled them with profound reverence. She truly walked her own unique path!
Before long, Lu Xuan finished his meal. He leaned back in his reclining chair, listening to his disciples' discussions, and closed his eyes to rest. His three disciples, meanwhile, were still engrossed in their conversation about the Xuanji Holy Lord.
Just then, the System's voice suddenly chimed in.
"Ding! Disciple Cultivation Quest issued! Within half a month, assist Third Disciple Chen Changsheng in subduing the ancient supreme artifact, the Bronze Ancient Palace!"
The announcement left Lu Xuan momentarily stunned. Subdue the Bronze Ancient Palace?
"System, what's the origin of this Bronze Ancient Palace?" Lu Xuan inquired.
The System replied, "The Bronze Ancient Palace originates from the Outer World, and it's far more complex than a mere Supreme Artifact. It involves many secrets of the Star Sea. Your current realm is too low, Host, you'll understand when the time comes."
Lu Xuan nodded. "Right. I'm just a Five-star Great Emperor right now, not even a Quasi-Dao Supreme." He decided to continue his 'lying flat' routine, letting his disciples gain opportunities and break through their cultivation, which would, in turn, raise his own realm. However, with his Supreme Experience Card, he figured it would certainly come in handy soon!
"When will I take on the fourth disciple?" Lu Xuan asked.
"Soon," the System replied concisely.
Lu Xuan didn't press further. He smiled at his three disciples. "All of you should focus on improving your cultivation during this period. This time, why don't you all enter the Bronze Ancient Palace to seek opportunities?"
"Master, will you be going too?" Chen Changsheng asked.
Lu Xuan nodded. "I will also enter the Bronze Ancient Palace to lend you a hand!"
Ji Fuyao's starry eyes sparkled with excitement. "Master, I want to Attain Emperor!"
Ye Chen chimed in eagerly, "Master, I want to Attain Emperor too!"
Lu Xuan chuckled. "Simple. Ye Chen, before you enter the Bronze Ancient Palace, you should first reach the Saint King Realm."
Ye Chen nodded emphatically. "Understood, Master!"
Lu Xuan then looked at Chen Changsheng. "Lao San, this time, after we enter the Bronze Ancient Palace, I'll give you a surprise."
Chen Changsheng was astonished, his eyes gleaming. A surprise? In this world, there weren't many things left that could truly surprise him. Could it be a Longevity Opportunity?
Lu Xuan simply smiled, saying nothing more.
Immediately, all three disciples grew excited. With less than half a month until the Bronze Ancient Palace opened, they needed to prepare diligently. If their Master was entering, wouldn't that mean they could simply sweep through the entire Bronze Ancient Palace?
Lu Xuan added, "Oh, and Ye Chen, once we're inside the Bronze Ancient Palace, see if you can find any opportunities to condense an Emperor Body for Elder Yao. Elder Yao has absorbed quite a bit of Dao Rhyme on Azure Mystery Peak these days, so condensing an Emperor Body and breaking through to the Emperor Realm shouldn't be an issue."
Ye Chen's eyes blazed with determination. "Understood."
Yao Yan grew visibly excited. Attain Emperor! He could Attain Emperor too!
"Hahahahaha!"
After they emerged from the Bronze Ancient Palace, perhaps he would finally have the chance to return to the Yao Family! Seventeen years! Those seventeen years had been far too long! By then, he could ask the Old Ancestor to release Ye Chen's mother, Yao Liuli, from Sin Valley! All of this made his heart surge with anticipation.
With these thoughts, Yao Yan excitedly declared, "Thank you, Peak Master Lu! During this time, I'll also put some pressure on Chen'er to improve his alchemy skills alongside his cultivation." To return to the Yao Family, Ye Chen's alchemy attainments absolutely had to reach Heaven-tier!
Lu Xuan nodded. "Good."
...
High above the void, the two Nine-star Great Emperors from the Silent Destruction Sect were still Traversing the Void, Mysterious Spirit Runes surging across their bodies, their speed accelerating uncontrollably.
The Brocade-robed Young Man was utterly terrified, his face pale. "What in the hell is going on with this damned formation? Why are we also trapped by Formation Patterns that are impossible to break?"
The Grey-robed Middle-aged Man's face was sinister, and he snarled, "Who exactly is this White Robe Great Emperor? When did we get afflicted by these eerie Formation Patterns?"
They realized they had completely lost control! These Mysterious Spirit Runes were constantly draining their internal power, converting it into the very force that propelled them forward. It was utterly impossible to break free! This formation had directly locked onto their Great Emperor Dao Patterns!
The two tried numerous methods to break free, but to no avail. Eventually, they gave up.
"This is a Targeted Teleportation Array Pattern," the Brocade-robed Young Man stated. "Our destination has already been locked!"
The Grey-robed Middle-aged Man's gaze turned icy, and he gnashed his teeth. "Damn it! We haven't even made our move, and we've already been discovered. And who knows where we're being sent? The Old Ancestor only gave us half a month; time is running out."
Half a day later, the two Silent Destruction Sect elders were still Traversing the Void.
A full day passed, and they were still flying. But suddenly, the Brocade-robed Young Man noticed something amiss and cried out in alarm, "I have a bad feeling about this. The direction we're Traversing the Void seems to be towards the entrance of the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone!"
The Grey-robed Middle-aged Man extended his Divine Sense, and his face instantly contorted. "It truly is the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone! This White Robe Great Emperor intends to send us back!"
Panic instantly seized both of them. If they were to enter the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone in such a manner, it would undoubtedly cause a massive anomaly, and the Xuanji Holy Lord would surely notice. The two waved their sleeves, their spiritual incantations shifting, and terrifying power surged as they desperately tried to alter the direction of their Traversing the Void.
But it was useless!
Another half a day later, the two arrived at the entrance of the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone. One side of the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone bordered the Southern Wilds, forming a Spatial Node. At this moment, the node glowed with divine radiance, shining like brilliant stars. Complex and obscure Formation Patterns continuously evolved, and the heavens and earth themselves manifested strange phenomena. The ancient, desolate aura of the Forbidden Zone washed over them. The Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone was right before their eyes!
The faces of the two Silent Destruction Sect elders grew increasingly grim. At this point, it was too late to stop it. The Grey-robed Middle-aged Man looked down at the layers of Formation Patterns covering his body, his eyes bloodshot, and roared, "That damned White Robe Great Emperor! When did he inscribe Formation Patterns to Break Forbidden Zone Restrictions on us as well?!"
A monstrous wave of shock crashed through their hearts. They actually had two layers of Formation Patterns on them! This meant that even after entering the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone, they would be further teleported! What kind of mastery of array formations was this?!
In an instant!
"Qian, Kun, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Li, Gen, Dui!"
Brilliant Formation Patterns rippled out in circles, surging through the void. The Heavenly Dao rules of the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone sensed them, tearing open a rift like a gaping abyss that directly swallowed the two Silent Destruction Sect elders! And in a flash, that entrance healed, once again severing the connection with the Southern Wilds.
"Whoosh!"
The wild winds of the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone swept forth. The faces of the two Silent Destruction Sect elders were utterly pale.
Damn it! After all that, they hadn't even been out of the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone for half a month, and the White Robe Great Emperor had sent them right back! The two gritted their teeth and cursed, "That damned White Robe Great Emperor!"