What?
Which Elder did Fan Jian want to cut down with his sword?
Hearing Fan Jian’s outrageous words, Chu Tianxiong, Du Feng, and the others all shot Daoist Xuanqing a strange look.
Daoist Xuanqing felt like his head was about to explode.
’This insolent disciple.’
’Do you have any idea how powerful that Elder is? And you want to cut him down with your sword?’
SLAP!
Daoist Xuanqing smacked Fan Jian on the back of the head and roared, "You insolent disciple! If you dare spout any more nonsense and offend that Elder, I... I’ll expel you from the Sect!"
"Ah..."
Fan Jian was stunned into silence.
Ever since Daoist Xuanqing had recognized his talent and taken him as a disciple, he had always doted on him.
Even if he asked for the stars in the sky, Daoist Xuanqing would find a way to pluck them for him.
As far as he could remember, Daoist Xuanqing had never been this furious with him.
’What’s wrong this time?’
Qian Yi walked over and patted Fan Jian’s shoulder, consoling him. "Brother Fan, just let it go. Don’t argue with your master anymore. Be careful, or he really might expel you."
"I wasn’t trying to talk back to Master on purpose. I just don’t understand why he’s being so biased, choosing to believe an outsider over me, his own disciple," Fan Jian said, disgruntled.
"Perhaps that person really is extraordinary in some way."
Though Qian Yi said this, he was also unconvinced in his heart. He didn’t understand why their elders were boosting someone else’s morale while dampening their own!
What he found even more incomprehensible was that their own elders referred to that person as "Elder."
Not even Chu Tianxiong was an exception.
But as far as he knew, that person was only eighteen this year, even younger than him. He was completely unworthy of the title "Elder."
’He’s only eighteen.’
’Even if he’s a peerless prodigy, a demigod among men, how strong could he possibly be?’
’It’s simply preposterous!’
’Insolent disciple!’
Daoist Xuanqing shot Fan Jian a harsh glare, then turned to the others and said, "Everyone, my apologies. I’ve spoiled my disciple, which is why he spoke so disrespectfully. Please forgive his offense."
"Xuanqing, you really should discipline your disciple properly," Chu Tianxiong said with dissatisfaction. "It’s a good thing that Elder isn’t here. Otherwise, you and your disciple would have already been beheaded, and you might have even implicated the rest of us!"
"Yes, yes, of course."
Daoist Xuanqing hurriedly admitted his fault. "When I return, I will be sure to discipline my disciple properly. I ask that you all help me keep what just happened a secret and not mention it in front of that Elder. I would be eternally grateful."
"Sigh..."
Chu Tianxiong sighed. "Let’s forget it this time. For the sake of our past friendship, we promise not to breathe a word of what just happened. But there will absolutely not be a next time. If your disciple acts so recklessly again, not even the gods will be able to help you."
"Phew..."
Just as Daoist Xuanqing breathed a sigh of relief, the sound of something tearing through the air reached his ears.
Someone else had arrived.
Du Feng looked at the approaching figures in the distance. "It looks like people from the Desolate Empire are here!"
The Desolate Empire?
Chu Tianxiong’s brow furrowed slightly. As if remembering something, he suddenly exclaimed, "Everyone, prepare yourselves! Greet that Elder!"
"What? That Elder is from the Desolate Empire?"
Hearing this, Daoist Xuanqing, Pingyangzi, Du Feng, Roger, and the others immediately grew tense.
However...
When the people from the Desolate Empire drew closer, they all frowned.
There was no sign of Su Mo in the group.
Roger frowned. "Sect Leader Chu, did you even find out for sure? Is that Elder really from the Desolate Empire?"
Chu Tianxiong’s brow was also tightly furrowed.
Although he hadn’t found out Su Mo’s precise origins, he was 80% certain that Su Mo came from the Desolate Empire.
’Where is he!’
’Why isn’t he here?’
He scanned the crowd, searching carefully more than a dozen times, but he couldn’t find any trace of Su Mo.
’Could I have gotten it wrong?’
Chu Tianxiong fell into a state of self-doubt.
Just then, a white-haired old man stepped out from the crowd and approached Chu Tianxiong, saying with displeasure, "Sect Leader Chu, does your Beast Taming Sect have a problem with me? Why the long face upon seeing me?"
"Desolate Old Monster!"
A smile spread across Chu Tianxiong’s face. "I was just waiting for someone. It wasn’t directed at your Desolate Empire. Please forgive any offense!"
"Forgiveness is a strong word. I only hope your Beast Taming Sect doesn’t go out of its way to make trouble for our Desolate Empire," the Desolate Old Monster said nonchalantly.
As the royal ancestor of the Desolate Empire’s Royal Family, the Desolate Old Monster was a master at the Grandmaster Great Perfection Realm, just like Chu Tianxiong. However, in terms of overall strength, the Desolate Empire was significantly weaker than the Beast Taming Sect.
The Beast Taming Sect not only led the Eighteen Kingdoms, making it the superior of the Desolate Empire, but it also controlled hundreds of powerful Demon Beasts within the Sect and even had a Mountain Guardian Beast. If they wanted to destroy the Desolate Empire, it would be as easy as flipping their hand.
Chu Tianxiong asked with a smile, "Am I that kind of petty person?"
"Of course not!"
The Desolate Old Monster shook his head. "For all these years, our Eighteen Kingdoms have coexisted peacefully and even united against external threats. This is all thanks to Sect Leader Chu’s coordination. However, I fear this peace won’t last much longer."
"Desolate Old Monster, you’re worried about the Heaven-Suppressing King, aren’t you?" Du Feng asked.
The Desolate Old Monster nodded. "That scoundrel, the Heaven-Suppressing King, has grown wildly ambitious. Relying on the fact that he’s about to break through to the Martial Monarch Realm, he has been plotting to overthrow our Desolate Empire. I have tried to persuade him several times, but he remains unmoved."
"That scoundrel Heaven-Suppressing King has indeed been getting more and more audacious," Chu Tianxiong said angrily.
The last time he’d asked the Heaven-Suppressing King for information about Su Mo, the King had been dismissive and even called him a senile old fool. It had nearly angered him to death.
’I’ll have to find a chance to teach the Heaven-Suppressing King a good lesson.’
Daoist Xuanqing said gravely, "This is a difficult situation. If the Heaven-Suppressing King really breaks through to the Martial Monarch Realm, I’m afraid that even if all of us join forces, we’ll be no match for him. We might even be severely wounded or killed."
"Unfortunately, our Beast Taming Sect’s Mountain Guardian Beast has turned traitor. Otherwise, no matter how strong the Heaven-Suppressing King became after breaking through to the Martial Monarch Realm, we would still have a fighting chance," Chu Tianxiong said, shaking his head with regret.
"What if we add *that* person to the equation?" Du Feng asked.
Chu Tianxiong’s spirits lifted. "With him, we could absolutely beat the shit out of the Heaven-Suppressing King and make him kneel and sing ’Conquer’!"
Hearing this, Daoist Xuanqing and Pingyang Daoist, who were standing nearby, both nodded in agreement.
’That person’s strength is truly immense.’
’He could probably defeat the Heaven-Suppressing King and destroy the Heaven-Suppressing Royal Mansion even without our help.’
Daoist Xuanqing said solemnly, "Desolate Old Monster, this humble Daoist wishes to ask you about someone. Do you know of an Elder with the surname Su in your Desolate Empire?"
"Elder Su?"
The Desolate Old Monster looked completely bewildered.
"Yes!"
Chu Tianxiong added, "This Elder Su’s strength is unfathomable. He is dozens, even hundreds of times stronger than me."
’That strong?’
The Desolate Old Monster was astonished.
’Dozens of times stronger than Chu Tianxiong? Then this Elder Su’s strength must have already reached the Martial Monarch level.’
Chu Tianxiong continued, "What’s more, this Elder Su is only eighteen years old."