“So I was Sir’s disciple all along… even though Sir never formally accepted any disciples in the Ancient Epoch.”
Two clear streams of tears traced paths down Ah Li’s face. These weren’t all her fragmented memories, but they were enough to grasp the truth of that ancient era.
Ah Li’s voice choked, her heart aching. “So it was Lu Xuan all along. Sir reincarnated as Lu Xuan.”
“He has been silently protecting us all this time. The Bronze Ancient Palace isn’t even in our Holy Land; it went to the Tai Chu Realm with Xiao Yin long ago.”
“Ancient Ancestor Tamamo-no-Mae lied to us, and to everyone in the entire Star Sea!”
“And to pull off this grand scheme, the Tai Chu Realm Heavenly Dao must have helped a great deal!”
A soft gasp escaped her. “Even after his passing, Sir had meticulously arranged everything for us!”
With these revelations, Ah Li redoubled her efforts, desperately refining the Ancient Ancestor Inheritance.
Just then, she sensed the seals and restrictions of the Inheritance Ground shattering. But at this critical moment, she couldn’t extricate herself.
Boom! Crack!
The endless seals and restrictions crumbled into fragments, falling like dying fireworks. One powerful figure after another surged across the shattered seals, charging towards Ah Li with lethal intent.
Roars filled with murderous intent echoed through the air.
“Ah Li, hand over the Bronze Ancient Palace!”
“Still dreaming of refining the Ancient Ancestor Inheritance here? Die!”
Ah Li was about to halt her refinement when, in that very instant, Qingqiu’s voice resonated in her mind.
“Ah Li, refine in peace.”
Ah Li paused, slightly stunned. “Qingqiu, you know everything too?”
Qingqiu replied, “I know. Lu Xuan is Sir reincarnated.”
Ah Li nodded, closing her eyes once more to continue refining the power of the Ancient Ancestor Inheritance.
Whoosh!
Outside the Inheritance Ground, the void suddenly tore open, space twisting violently. A single sword qi cleaved through the very fabric of that space!
Qingqiu, clad in a simple white dress, her jade-like feet stepping gracefully, emerged from the spatial rift. Her long skirt billowed gently, and a sword aura, both green and white, swirled around her, making her appear as serene and formidable as a cold mountain.
“It’s Qingqiu!” Someone gasped in alarm.
Qingqiu remained silent. With a mere thought, a surge of green sword qi erupted from her body.
Shing!
The sword qi, like a mighty river, swept away all other Dao rhythms. All the Myriad Phase Realm cultivators who had been besieging Ah Li were instantly stunned. The chilling premonition of death coiled in their hearts, a sensation that made their hair stand on end!
Qingqiu was known as the foremost expert below the Ancient Ancestor Realm! Who could possibly withstand a single strike from her sword?
Realizing this, everyone began to beg for mercy.
“Lady Qingqiu, spare us!”
“We’ll withdraw from this place! The Bronze Ancient Palace is yours!”
But Qingqiu was unmoved. She stood alone, leaning on her sword, silently observing the unfolding chaos. Sword qi crisscrossed, like a vast green river, surging through the void. Terrified, the Myriad Phase Realm cultivators hastily unleashed their defensive spirit artifacts, causing divine radiance to surge across the void, like a churning sea of stars.
But it was useless! Qingqiu’s Sword Dao was an invincible Sword Dao. It was born from Sir’s teachings! Unrivaled within the same realm! Therefore, below the Ancient Ancestor Realm, she could slaughter them at will! This was the power of fundamental laws, utterly beyond reason.
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
Across the battlefield, countless heads flew into the air, blood splattering everywhere! Instant kill! A single sword strike instantly annihilated all the Myriad Phase Realm cultivators present!
Ah Li paused, a flicker of awe in her heart. “What formidable Sword Dao.” It was a pity that during the Great Star Sea War back then, Qingqiu was still but a child, unable to participate!
Just then.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Fox Fortune Holy Land began to shake violently, the entire world trembling and rumbling. Qingqiu whirled around, her divine sense extending, her expression subtly changing. “The Fox Fortune Holy Land has been forcibly breached by Ancient Ancestors.”
The next instant.
Five Ancient Ancestor auras, vast as abysses and deep as seas, surged directly through the entrance of the Fox Fortune Holy Land. Murderous intent soared to the heavens!
Ah Li’s expression grew solemn. “Five Ancient Ancestors, Qingqiu. You’ll need my help.” At this moment, her cultivation had already reached the Four-star Myriad Phase Realm! If she were to withdraw from the inheritance refinement now, she could leverage the power of this world and possess the combat strength of a Nine-star Myriad Phase Realm expert!
Boom!
Without hesitation, Ah Li soared into the sky, standing shoulder to shoulder with Qingqiu.
In the distance, the five Ancient Ancestors, disregarding the vast distance, instantly teleported to stand not far from Qingqiu and Ah Li. A Grey-robed Ancient Ancestor coldly eyed Qingqiu and Ah Li, his hand forming spirit seals as he continuously sensed the Dao rhythm of the Bronze Ancient Palace. He then sneered, “Hand over the Bronze Ancient Palace! Qingqiu, you cannot protect it!”
Qingqiu said nothing. A spirit sword shot directly from her body.
Whoosh!
The spirit sword transformed into a bolt of lightning, its sword qi evolving into a long river that surged directly towards the Grey-robed Ancient Ancestor. The Grey-robed Ancient Ancestor scoffed, “Qingqiu, normally in the First Star Ring, you rely on Tianzhao’s protection, and we wouldn’t dare touch you. But now Tianzhao has broken with the Star River Alliance and betrayed the First Star Ring. Today, if you dare to question or obstruct us, it will be your death day!”
As his voice fell!
The remaining four Ancient Ancestors simultaneously formed spirit seals. Their terrifying Ancient Ancestor power transformed into surging rivers, crashing forward as the Ancient Ancestor’s rule-power enveloped the void. All five unleashed a palm strike almost simultaneously.
Boom!
World-shaking palm prints manifested as suns, moons, mountains, and rivers, crushing Qingqiu’s sword qi. This was a clash of Great Daos! Though Qingqiu’s sword qi was formidable, she was ultimately not an Ancient Ancestor! She was simply no match!
Beside her, Ah Li gently extended a delicate hand, mysterious power surging. Her soft lips parted, and she softly uttered a single word: “Illusion!” Instantly, the surrounding Dao rhythms flowed like murmuring water. Her power merged with Qingqiu’s, combining to resist the five great Ancient Ancestors!
Boom!
Moments later, Qingqiu and Ah Li were directly blasted back a million zhang! The Grey-robed Ancient Ancestor sneered, “Qingqiu, since you insist, don’t blame us for being impolite! We’ll seize the Bronze Ancient Palace and abduct these two!” Both Qingqiu and Ah Li were peerless beauties. It would be a waste to simply kill them! Such a waste! Besides, outside, Tamamo-no-Mae and Tianzhao have become hunted dogs, currently being pursued! Seeing this, both Qingqiu and Ah Li’s expressions changed.
It was at this precise moment.
Boom! Crack!
The void tore open! Space twisted! From within the spatial rift, Lu Xuan, clad in his white robes, slowly stepped out. A faint divine radiance shimmered around him, as if a divine king had descended. With sharp brows, starry eyes, and an unparalleled bearing, he was truly magnificent.
Behind Lu Xuan were Chen Changsheng, Xiao Yin, and Xiao Mo. Xiao Yin immediately cried out, “Sister! Sister!” Xiao Mo, for her part, exclaimed, “Saintess!”
Everyone present froze in astonishment. Qingqiu’s eyes suddenly reddened, then she broke into a radiant smile, bright as blooming flowers. Ah Li directly called out, “Sir… Master!”
Lu Xuan was taken aback. “Huh?” He hadn’t even said he’d accept her as a disciple yet, so why had Ah Li already acknowledged him?
Chen Changsheng offered a subtle, knowing smile.
At this moment, the five Ancient Ancestors also grew tense. Pointing at Lu Xuan, one stammered, “You… you… are you the White Robe Star Venerate, or Sir?”