The booming voices of numerous Great Emperor Old Ancestors echoed across the square.
“Lu Xuan! Peak Master Lu! Your reputation precedes you, and yet, seeing you in person is even more... enlightening!”
“The times change, and the new generation surpasses the old! Nowadays, Peak Master Lu Xuan’s fame in the Southern Wilds is greater than us old fogeys! We’ve long admired you, long admired you indeed!”
In an instant, countless eyes locked onto Lu Xuan.
Lu Xuan! He actually showed up!
Everyone watched him with keen interest.
To be acknowledged by a host of Great Emperor Old Ancestors with phrases like, “seeing you in person is even more enlightening,” and “long admired you,” should have been a sign of immense recognition.
But when the target of such praise was the Southern Wilds’ most notorious ‘waste’ Peak Master, the situation became deeply amusing.
This was clearly the Old Ancestors collectively mocking Lu Xuan.
Lu Xuan’s face darkened.
You flatter me to death!
What the hell. He knew he couldn’t escape this.
In the past, whenever a major event occurred in the Southern Wilds, he’d always been on Azure Mystery Peak, yet he still managed to become a target of ridicule!
These little haters... and old haters, they’d made insulting him a habit!
Today, the man himself was present, and they were directly hitting him with an ultimate move!
But times had changed.
Lu Xuan knew that one day, he would stand above these old geezers. Even now, with a One-star Great Emperor experience card and a Five-star Great Emperor experience card in his possession, he possessed the combat power of an Emperor!
He was no longer the waste Peak Master of yesteryear.
With that thought, Lu Xuan offered a faint smile, casually sweeping his sleeve in a gesture of respect toward the Old Ancestors. With the air of a true transcendent master, he replied, “The pleasure is all mine. Fellow Daoists, it’s good to see you.”
Silence descended upon the world.
Everyone was stunned.
Even the Old Ancestors of the Overlord-tier factions exchanged bewildered glances.
What?
That single word—Fellow Daoist—had completely thrown them off.
Who gave you the right to call us Fellow Daoists, Lu Xuan?
It was common knowledge in the cultivation world that there were only three forms of address between cultivators:
Senior!
Fellow Daoist!
Ant!
The rule was simple: If I can’t defeat you, I call you Senior. If we’re roughly equal in strength, I call you Fellow Daoist. If I can crush you? I’m sorry, but you’re an ant! A pathetic ant...
And clearly, in the minds of the Overlord-tier Old Ancestors, Lu Xuan was firmly in the 'Ant' category.
Beside Lu Xuan, the Sect Master let out a few frantic coughs. “Ahem, ahem...”
He was frantically signaling!
The Sect Master sighed internally. I knew I shouldn’t have brought Lu Xuan out here.
Does this brat not understand a hint? They are clearly mocking you! And you have the audacity to call them Fellow Daoists!
The Sect Master, a powerful expert in the Saint King realm, didn't even qualify to call those Emperor-tier magnates "Fellow Daoists"; he could only respectfully address them as Senior.
Yet, Lu Xuan stood there, completely unperturbed, wearing an expression of serene detachment.
Seeing this, the Great Emperor Old Ancestors were thoroughly amused.
They looked toward the Cangxuan Old Ancestor, clapping their hands and roaring with laughter. “Hahahahaha! Fellow Daoist Cangxuan, Lu Xuan is excellent! Truly excellent! What a character!”
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor’s face twitched. He sighed inwardly.
Alas. This Lu Xuan brat has no sense of propriety! In all the Southern Wilds, only Lu Xuan could be this absurd.
Ye Chen, however, smiled. His gaze swept over the Emperor-tier magnates, and he thought to himself: My Master is merely being low-profile! In truth, you should all be respectfully addressing him as Senior!
From the Yao Family’s direction, Yao Baili nodded secretly. He felt that the address "Fellow Daoist" was perfectly fine. It was just that the people of the Southern Wilds didn't yet know the true terror of Peak Master Lu. If he were to reveal his strength, he would likely crush everyone here!
From the Cangmu Academy area, Elder Cang Li sneered. “I’ve said it before. Of the two, Master Lu Xuan is shameless, and his disciple Ye Chen is dishonest. It seems I was right!”
In the Supreme Profound Sect’s area, Pill Saint Yunyang snorted coldly. Deep in his heart, he harbored immense killing intent toward both Lu Xuan and Ye Chen!
The other Overlord-tier factions mostly treated the incident as a joke.
In the Heavenly Blade Gate’s area, many disciples snickered. “Heh. The Southern Wilds jokingly calls Lu Xuan ‘The Strongest Qi Condensation Realm Cultivator in History.’ Did this guy actually take it seriously? I can see it now: Lu Xuan is not only a trash cultivator, but he’s also brainless.”
These young disciples of the Heavenly Blade Gate looked at Lu Xuan and Ye Chen with undisguised killing intent.
The Heavenly Blade Gate was a subordinate force of the Ancient Qin Family. Ye Chen had nearly killed Nangong Baixue, the fiancée of the Ancient Qin Family’s Divine Son, Qin Xiao! This was a deep-seated feud!
Moreover, the Heavenly Blade Gate’s Old Ancestor had already issued an order: any young disciple who killed Ye Chen would immediately be taken as a personal True Disciple!
In fact, all forces under the Ancient Qin Family had issued similar commands, promising terrifying opportunities for Ye Chen’s demise!
At that moment, Ye Chen met their gaze, a cold smile playing on his lips. Dare to show killing intent toward me? You’re courting death!
Just then, the Old Ancestor of the Ancient Qin Family led his people to descend. As a major power, they naturally made a grand entrance.
Suddenly, BOOM!
The void tore open! Space twisted!
A terrifying energy surged from the depths of the void, like an ocean overturning or a mountain range collapsing, as brilliant divine light erupted, resembling a massive sun breaking through the clouds.
SCREECH!
The roars of several primordial behemoths echoed through the void.
The Overlord-tier factions were momentarily startled, looking toward the depths of the void.
In the next moment, over a dozen primordial behemoths, each the size of a small mountain, traversed the void, clearing the path with overwhelming might. They were ferocious and imposing, their massive hooves trampling on dazzling divine light as they pulled an incomparably colossal carriage.
Though a carriage, it was as vast as a palace, inscribed with mysterious and obscure Dao patterns. For a moment, the sky changed color, filled with surging killing intent, shouts, and beast cries, as if a thousand armies were marching forward.
Engraved on the massive carriage were two ancient characters: "Heavenly Net!"
The newcomers were the Heavenly Net Palace, the Southern Wilds’ newly established Overlord-tier faction!
Seeing this, many of the established Overlord-tier factions were angered, letting out cold snorts. “The Heavenly Net Palace... what a display of extravagance!”
Lu Xuan frowned slightly. “The Heavenly Net Palace?”
Isn't that the faction that destroyed the Fuyao Dynasty?
As a newly established Overlord-tier faction, they gave him the distinct impression of being nouveau riche. Their ostentatious display was completely unlike the reserved nature of the other ancient Overlord-tier forces!
Soon, a man in a black hooded robe stepped slowly out of the Heavenly Net Palace’s carriage. He bowed respectfully to the crowd. “My apologies, my apologies, we are late.”
Despite the apology, the black-robed man’s attitude was extremely casual.
The Great Emperor Old Ancestors simply grunted in response.
At this point, the Ancient Qin Family’s Old Ancestor, Qin Wuyang, wearing a simple gray robe, stepped into the air. He bowed slightly to the assembled Overlord-tier Old Ancestors. “Fellow Daoists, I have invited you here today to discuss the joint suppression of the Bronze Ancient Palace.”
The Great Emperor experts nodded.
The Bronze Ancient Palace was connected to the great changes in Heaven and Earth. In the long river of the Southern Wilds’ history, the Bronze Ancient Palace had appeared nine times, including this one, and the Ultimate Path had opened eight times!
If nothing unexpected happened, the Ultimate Path would open this time as well!
This signified the arrival of a Great Era!
After countless years of upheaval, another great era was about to begin!
Above the Great Emperor realm was the Supreme Realm.
As the saying went, “Below the Supreme Realm, all are ants!”
Countless Overlord-tier factions were waiting for the great change in Heaven and Earth, waiting for the Ultimate Path to appear.
Therefore, the appearance of the Bronze Ancient Palace had startled nearly all the Overlord-tier factions in the Southern Wilds! Even some reclusive, hidden Overlord-tier factions were planning to emerge!
Soon, the Cangxuan Old Ancestor, Yuan Qingzi, Qin Wuyang, and the other Great Emperor experts stepped into the depths of the void. They sat cross-legged, beginning their discussion on how to suppress the Bronze Ancient Palace.
The Ancient Supreme Artifact, the Bronze Ancient Palace, was incredibly mysterious. Everyone knew that its current stop was no accident. It had to be related to some profound secret of Heaven and Earth. Even with so many Overlord-tier experts joining forces, they felt immense pressure trying to suppress it. They were also unsure why the Bronze Ancient Palace had chosen to stop here. If it decided to leave by force, they might not be able to stop it!
Meanwhile, in the Ancient Qin Family’s area, the Divine Son, Qin Xiao, stepped out of the crowd. He was dressed in luxurious silk robes, with a handsome face, one hand supporting Nangong Baixue, and the other gently fanning himself. A look of playful mockery was plastered on his face.
The surrounding Qin Family disciples immediately greeted him respectfully. “Divine Son!”
“Divine Son!”
Qin Xiao nodded faintly, then turned his gaze toward the Grand Dao Sect’s area.
Ye Chen immediately met his eyes.
The two faced each other across the distance!
The crowd noticed that Nangong Baixue looked somewhat weak, her face pale. She seemed to struggle even to walk. She clung to Qin Xiao’s arm like a delicate bird, her ample bosom pressed against him, occasionally letting out a faint cough. “Cough, cough, cough...”
Ye Chen and Qin Xiao’s eyes clashed—this was their first meeting!
Seeing this, the disciples of the Grand Dao Sect and the Ancient Qin Family grew tense.
Could Ye Chen and Qin Xiao be about to clash today?
But in the next instant, Qin Xiao simply shook his head, his gaze toward Ye Chen filled with pity, mockery, and disdain.
That look suggested he was high above, completely disregarding Ye Chen, viewing him with the arrogance of a supreme prodigy.
At that moment, the young generation of the Ancient Qin Family slowly gathered behind Qin Xiao, looking at Ye Chen with killing intent!
With a subtle nod from their Old Ancestor, the young generation of the Heavenly Blade Gate also stepped forward, lining up behind Qin Xiao.
The young generation of the Supreme Profound Sect also arrived!
All of them exuded overwhelming killing intent!
Ye Chen let out a cold snort.
Just then, Liu Xuan, Luo Lingkong, Fang Yan, and the other top True Disciples of the Grand Dao Sect slowly gathered behind Ye Chen.
Liu Xuan offered a charming smile and said softly, “Junior Brother Ye Chen, we are here for you.”
Ye Chen nodded faintly.
In an instant, the other Overlord-tier factions shifted their attention to Ye Chen and Qin Xiao.
Was a major battle about to erupt?
Killing intent surged through the arena as the younger generations of the four factions faced off across the distance.
Nangong Baixue’s eyes flashed with a sharp light. She sensed that the Ancient Qin Family, the Supreme Profound Sect, and the Heavenly Blade Gate all harbored immense killing intent toward Ye Chen.
But a fight hadn't broken out yet! They were still missing a catalyst!
She knew that in Qin Xiao’s eyes, Ye Chen was nothing more than an ant. And since Qin Xiao was in the Profound Venerate Stage Four while Ye Chen was only in the Profound Sovereign realm, Qin Xiao’s arrogance would prevent him from personally dealing with Ye Chen.
As for the other young disciples, they seemed to be waiting for Qin Xiao’s instruction.
Furthermore, with so many prodigies and magnates gathered today, the Great Emperor Old Ancestors mainly wanted the younger generation to gain experience. In this setting, they wouldn't be able to kill Ye Chen.
She needed to borrow a knife to kill him!
She would be the one to light the fire!
With that thought, Nangong Baixue suddenly began coughing violently. “Cough, cough, cough... My Lord, my body hurts so much...”
As she spoke, Nangong Baixue bit her tongue, a trace of fresh blood spilling from the corner of her mouth. She slumped weakly into Qin Xiao’s arms.
Qin Xiao leaned down and kissed her hair. “Baixue, what’s wrong?”
Nangong Baixue suddenly struggled to break free from Qin Xiao, nearly collapsing in the void. Her voice was weak as she gasped, “That waste Ye Chen killed fifteen of my Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters from Supreme Profound Peak! They sacrificed their lives for me! They died so horribly, when the one who should have died was me!”
“My Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters could have escaped, but they insisted on blocking the attack for me! I only remember them telling me, just before they died, to avenge them... I, I must avenge them!”