“No wonder you’re the Palace Master’s Dao companion; your cultivation is truly astounding.”
“Our Holy Son of Mount Taihua Sacred Land is, of course, remarkable.”
The disciples of Guanghan Palace and Mount Taihua Sacred Land cheered loudly.
The more extraordinary Lu Changsheng’s performance, the more pride lit up the faces of the disciples from Guanghan Palace and Mount Taihua Sacred Land.
“Huff… huff… huff…”
Chu Wuqing drew back, gasping heavily for air. Even when sparring with his peers at the Wushen Palace, it was never this intense. Yet, battling Lu Changsheng was exhilarating, pushing him to his limits.
If he had fought someone like the Wushen Palace Master or one of the Supreme Elders, high-ranking figures of the palace, Chu Wuqing wouldn’t have been able to exert his full strength; he would have been defeated outright.
Only in combat with a tempered body expert of Lu Changsheng’s caliber could he truly fight to his heart’s content.
“Hahaha! I admit defeat. I never thought even after creating a seventh stance, I would still not be your match. Does this mean I have to complete all thirteen stances of my spear technique just to defeat you?”
Chu Wuqing laughed heartily, openly admitting his inferiority.
Lu Changsheng merely smiled faintly, though he too had expended a considerable amount of True Qi.
This man truly lived up to his reputation as the battle fanatic of Wushen Palace. Even though Lu Changsheng had cultivated the “Eternal Indestructible Art” to the Great Perfection Realm, he still sustained injuries after taking a hit from Chu Wuqing.
Chu Wuqing’s ambition was notable—his cultivation technique was not even fully conceived, yet he had already named it the “Reaping Life Thirteen Spears.”
Even the seventh stance alone possessed such terrifying power. If he were to complete all thirteen stances, Chu Wuqing would likely stand at the peak of the Immortal Realm, at the very least becoming a Supreme Elder of Wushen Palace.
Though Chu Wuqing was a battle maniac, his character was straightforward and honorable, admitting defeat openly. This earned Lu Changsheng’s admiration, making him consider Chu Wuqing as someone worth befriending.
“This youth appears to have cultivated the ‘Eternal Indestructible Art’ and has even reached the Great Perfection Realm. His physique is truly extraordinary. Can any of you discern what unique constitution he possesses?”
An elder of Guanghan Palace observed Lu Changsheng’s body-tempering cultivation technique but could not identify his special constitution.
Dozens of Guanghan Palace elders examined Lu Changsheng intently, yet all of them shook their heads in the end.
Under their scrutinizing gazes, Lu Changsheng remained calm. After all, Guanghan Palace was on his side; they wouldn’t harm him.
After deliberating for some time, Lin Xuantong directly asked Li Heng, “May I ask if the elders of Guanghan Palace sensed something unusual, prompting their reemergence?”
Li Heng paused briefly, then replied, “They say that Saint Lord Lin is astute, and truly, you’ve caught on to part of the matter. The elders have reemerged for two reasons: first, to assess Lu Changsheng’s potential; and second, because the elders have sensed that the Candle Dragon’s seal in the Nether Sea is weakening. The Candle Dragon’s progenitor is likely to reemerge in the world, so we must prepare in advance.”
Lin Xuantong’s pupils constricted. The weakening of the Candle Dragon’s seal was an event significant enough to shake the Immortal Realm.
The Candle Dragon was one of the Ancient Dragon Kings, second in stature only to the Old Dragon Emperor.
Its power was beyond question.
“In ancient times, the co-destruction of several Ancient Human Clan Emperors and the Demon God led some Demon Kings to recognize the tides had turned and seek negotiations with the Human Race. The Candle Dragon was one of the Demon Kings staunchly opposed to such negotiations. Upon learning that the peace treaty was on the verge of being signed, the Candle Dragon, in its wrath, attempted to flood the northern part of the Immortal Realm with the waters of the Nether Sea. It was then that the Taiyin Goddess took action, battling the Candle Dragon in the Nether Sea, where it was ultimately defeated. As a penalty, rather than killing the Candle Dragon—so as to avoid destabilizing the peace process at the final hour—the Taiyin Goddess chose to imprison it beneath Zhong Mountain in the Nether Sea.”
“When sealed, the Candle Dragon, filled with unrelenting hatred toward the Taiyin Goddess, fell into a deep slumber.”
“If it escapes its seal, it’s unpredictable whether it will seek vengeance against us in Guanghan Palace.”
Considering the recent amicable relations between Guanghan Palace and Mount Taihua Sacred Land, and the proximity of both Sacred Lands to the Nether Sea, Li Heng laid all the facts bare regarding the Candle Dragon’s potential threat.
“I see. No wonder the elders of Guanghan Palace have emerged. If Mount Taihua Sacred Land’s assistance is required, do not hesitate to ask. After all, our Sacred Lands are, in a sense, family,” Lin Xuantong offered diplomatically.
Lin Xuantong’s disciple, Lu Changsheng, was Dao companions with Li Heng’s disciple, Xia Ningxue. Moreover, the Candle Dragon’s escape posed a threat to Mount Taihua Sacred Land as well, prompting Lin Xuantong to make it clear that his sect was willing to help if needed.
Li Heng continued, “The Human Race and Demon Race have been at peace for years, with the Immortal Realm and Demon Realm remaining largely distinct, not interfering with each other. If the Candle Dragon escapes its seal and chooses to let go of its grudge, so much the better. This way, we can focus our efforts on dealing with the Demon Realm.”
With a grave expression, Lin Xuantong replied, “I fear it won’t be that simple. During the Human-Demon war, the Candle Dragon was among the most aggressive Dragon Kings within the Dragon Clan, even leading other Dragon Kings in hunting down Master and other experts of the Human Race. It was only through Master’s unparalleled survival skills that he escaped, while the rest of the hunted Human experts suffered great losses. The Candle Dragon has long harbored animosity toward the Human Race, compounded by centuries of resentment for being sealed by the Taiyin Goddess. Who knows what it might do once freed? It would be prudent for the two Sacred Lands to prepare for the worst.”
Lin Xuantong relayed this matter to the Elder Ancestors of the Lin and Jiang Clans.
Upon hearing that the Candle Dragon’s seal had weakened, both Elder Ancestors, whose statuses surpassed even Lin Xuantong’s, were deeply alarmed.
The Candle Dragon, capable of traversing the Three Realms and even the Void, was a fearsome Dragon King during the first ancient war—so dangerous that only a handful among the Human Clan’s great experts could counter it.
Even if Lin Clan’s Elder Ancestor, Jiang Clan’s Elder Ancestor, and Lin Xuantong joined forces, they were far from the Candle Dragon’s match.
Even Lin Shiyu might not compare to the Candle Dragon.
“It’s fortunate that Guanghan Palace has noticed the loosening of the Candle Dragon’s seal and plans to deal with it. Otherwise, Mount Taihua Sacred Land alone would certainly stand no chance against it.”
The Lin Clan’s Elder Ancestor wiped cold sweat from his brow.
Guanghan Palace, with its deep reserves, could possibly defeat the Candle Dragon if pushed to the brink, a fact even the Candle Dragon would need to consider carefully.
Guanghan Palace held a grand banquet for various Sacred Lands and prestigious families, and the ceremony lasted a full month before drawing to a close.
During this time, Lu Changsheng took the opportunity to stay with Xia Ningxue, exploring life and philosophy together.
As the ceremony concluded, the various delegations from Sacred Lands and prestigious families gradually began their journeys homeward.
Mount Taihua Sacred Land, Yaochi, and Changliu Mountain—several close allies—remained for a longer duration.
Yan Zhiqiu from the Purple Void Palace and the Banished Sword Immortal from the Primordial Sacred Land spent a few days exchanging Taoist Laws and Swordsmanship with Lu Changsheng, reaping mutual insights.
With Xia Ningxue assuming the mantle of Guanghan Palace Master, and with it widely acknowledged that Lu Changsheng would soon lead Mount Taihua Sacred Land, these exchanges among the Holy Sons served to bolster ties between the Sacred Lands.
A Sacred Land’s core strength lay in its Elder Ancestors, yet its daily operations and interrelations were managed by its Palace Masters, Saint Lords, Holy Sons, Holy Maidens, and Elders.
At the gates of Guanghan Palace, Su Yun was stopped by the disciples guarding the entrance.
“Do you have an invitation to Guanghan Palace? If not, I’m afraid we cannot allow you to enter.”
“Please inform the Holy Son of Mount Taihua Sacred Land, Lu Changsheng, that a woman from the Su family has urgent business with his direct disciple. I am her elder sister.”
“Please wait a moment.”
The guards, who had initially maintained stern expressions, relaxed upon learning of the Su family’s connection to Lu Changsheng and quickly adjusted their attitudes.
Lu Changsheng was considered practically a member of their sect, and thus anyone with ties to him was seen as extended family.
“Elder sister, why are you here?”
Su Xiaoqi, who was staying with her master Lu Changsheng at Guanghan Palace, was shocked to hear that her elder sister, Su Yun, had braved danger to come. She quickly followed the Guanghan Palace disciples to the gates, where she indeed found Su Yun.
Su Yun gave a strained smile. “The Elder Ancestors are in trouble. They can’t hold out much longer. If we don’t get help soon, they might all fall.”
Su Xiaoqi panicked. “Elder sister, what should we do? Our parents are still there…”
“Our only choice is to seek assistance from Mount Taihua Sacred Land and Guanghan Palace. As compensation, we’re willing to offer up everything the Su Clan possesses.”
Su Yun resolved to use the Su Clan’s entire foundation to secure aid from the two Sacred Lands.
If the Elder Ancestors were lost, their treasures would likely fall to others. Rescuing the Elder Ancestors, however, would allow them to rebuild their reserves.