Boom!
Within the dark green bamboo forest, muffled footsteps rang out. Every time the footsteps rang out, the entire land seemed to tremble, as if it was unable to bear the weight of a heavy burden.
However, what surprised everyone was that the person who had such heavy mountain-like footsteps was not a metal tower like body. Instead, it was a slightly skinny middle-aged man in black clothes.
The man came from outside the bamboo forest and walked to the front of the stone tower. He only stopped when he saw the grey-robed old man and said in a calm tone, "Old Gu, why did you call me here?"
The old man raised his head and looked at the middle-aged man before him with a light flickering in his eyes. "Long Xiang, congratulations. Looks like you've already come in contact with the Perfected Earth Sovereign Realm."
The middle-aged man before him had an abyssal bearing, as if he was carrying countless mountains on his back. Every single movement of his would emanate a substantial energy fluctuation that caused space to tremble.
"I only have half a step in, and I can only be considered as a Quasi-Perfected Earth Sovereign." The middle-aged man, Long Xiang, faintly said.
Old Gu smiled and said, "With your talent, as long as you take this half a step, breaking through to the true Great Perfection in the future is just a matter of time."
Long Xiang did not deny it, since he was confident that stepping into the Perfected Earth Sovereign Realm was just a matter of time.
"Old Gu, what's the matter?"
However, he did not dwell on it and asked.
Nodding his head with a smile, Old Gu replied, "I have a mission for you."
"Oh?"
"To capture someone, a Lesser Earth Sovereign."
Old Gu flicked his finger and a beam of light appeared before him. It was a youthful silhouette, Mu Chen.
Long Xiang knitted his brows. "A mere Lesser Earth Sovereign wants me to make a move?"
"Haha, he's not an ordinary Lesser Earth Sovereign. With his cultivation in the Lesser Earth Sovereign Realm, he obtained a quota in the Greater Earth Sovereign Battlefield in the West Heaven Continent's Seed of the Continent. Even the direct disciple of the West Heaven Battle Emperor, a Heavenly Sovereign, was defeated by him. That brat is pretty formidable." Venerable Gu chuckled.
"I'm afraid that there aren't many Greater Earth Sovereigns that can deal with him, so they could only send a Quasi-Perfected Earth Sovereign like you."
Hearing that, Long Xiang couldn't help narrowing his eyes and nodding his head, "He's indeed a formidable figure."
To be able to achieve such a feat as a Lesser Earth Sovereign, even someone like him, who came from the Ancient Buddha Clan, was shocked. After all, even the elites of the Ancient Buddha Clan might not be able to achieve such a feat.
"Who is he?
Why did you capture him? "Long Xiang looked at Old Gu and asked.
Hearing his words, Venerable Gu smiled. "It's an order from the Grand Elder."
Long Xiang's pupils abruptly narrowed as if he had thought of something. He looked at Venerable Gu and slowly said, "It's the person on the Grand Elder's arrest warrant."
"It's indeed the sinful child." Venerable Gu faintly said.
Boom!
Hearing this, Long Xiang's eyes suddenly turned cold, and a terrifying power erupted from his body. The sound of the dragon and elephant rumbled endlessly, and the terrifying power formed an extremely frightening aura, sweeping towards Old Gu in an earth-shattering manner.
Roar!
Facing Long Xiang's frightening aura, Old Gu's gaze sharpened as golden light gathered behind him, forming into a golden lion head. As the lion head roared, the heavens and earth trembled as it shattered the terrifying pressure that was whistling over.
As the two of them clashed, Long Xiang's body trembled and he took half a step back, while Venerable Gu's body also trembled.
This confrontation had caused Venerable Gu to knit his brows. Although Long Xiang was only a Quasi-Perfected Earth Sovereign, he was born with extraordinary strength. In addition to the Dragon-Elephant Prowling God Art that he cultivated, his strength was even more terrifying. If they fought, even if Venerable Gu could win, he would have to pay a price.
"Long Xiang, you want to go against the clan's order?"
Venerable Gu looked at Long Xiang with a pressure gathering on his body. He was akin to a ferocious lion emperor.
A ferocious light flickered in Long Xiang's eyes. But a brief moment later, he slowly retracted his aura and coldly said, "That's Missy's child, not a sinner. Gu Shihuang, you better watch your mouth!"
"Hmph. Although Qing Yanjing used to be your Master, she's now a sinner. She has violated the clan's rules and tainted the noble bloodline of my Ancient Buddha Clan. That's a heinous crime to begin with!" Venerable Gu said.
"If you have any objections, you can go to the Elders' Association. If they change their minds, I will naturally not say those two words."
Long Xiang's face was grim as he sneered, "I can't be bothered to talk with you. I'm not going!"
Venerable Gu squinted his eyelids. "The Spiritual Jade Bamboo on the Spiritual Jade Island is about to mature, and I have to guard this place. If you don't go, then I can only report this news back to the clan. At that time, I have no idea who the Grand Elder will send …"
"Long Xiang, we only want to capture that sinner … brat alive. If you make a move, then you can protect that brat's life on account of your previous Master. Otherwise, if the Grand Elder is enraged and sends an Elder out, then that brat's life will no longer be up to him."
Long Xiang coldly looked at Venerable Gu with his gaze flickering. A brief moment later, he sighed, "Alright, I'll go!"
If he went, at least he wouldn't be ruthless towards the child of the Young Lady. But if the clan sends someone that doesn't have a good relationship with the Young Lady, then it would be hard to say.
Venerable Gu smiled. "It's good that you've thought it through."
As he spoke, he suddenly paused before he smiled. "But Long Xiang, I hope that you won't return empty-handed. If that's the case, then I might hand that lass in the Spiritual Jade Island over to the clan. At that time, I'm afraid that she won't have a good time."
Long Xiang's face changed once more as he stared at Venerable Gu. "Gu Shihuang, I advise you not to go too far. Although the Young Lady is imprisoned, you should know what sort of person she is. Even the Grand Elder can't do anything to her. If you really anger the Young Lady, I believe that no one in the clan can protect you.
"In the eyes of the Young Lady, you're just an old dog that she can crush with a flip of her hand!"
Hearing Long Xiang's words, Venerable Gu's face uncontrollably twitched as he furiously looked at the former and sneered, "Hmph, I don't believe that the clan will allow her to do as she pleases!"
Although he spoke those words, Venerable Gu was no longer as cold as before, since he knew how many means a Heavenly Sovereign could use to deal with him.
Glancing at him in disdain, Long Xiang couldn't be bothered to speak with him and left.
Looking at Long Xiang's departure, Venerable Gu gritted his teeth and said, "I'll let you be complacent. When the Young Master becomes the Patriarch, the entire Ancient Buddha Clan will be under our control. At that time, we will not be as indecisive as the Grand Elder. Furthermore, as long as we capture that sinful child, I don't believe that Qing Yanjing won't listen to us!"
…
Long Xiang left the stone pagoda, but he did not leave. He walked towards the depths of the bamboo forest, where there was a black pagoda. He entered the black pagoda and came to the depths of the pagoda.
This place was completely dark and silent. At the bottom of the pagoda, there was a black prison. The prison was made of black stone, and there was a faint spiritual light flickering on the surface of the stone. Vaguely, it seemed to have formed a huge array that sealed the stone prison within.
When Long Xiang arrived outside the prison, he looked over and saw a lady in a white dress quietly sitting in the prison.
The woman's appearance was cold. Her fine black hair gently draped over her shoulders. Her almond-shaped eyes and willow-shaped eyebrows gave her an intellectual and calm demeanor. There was not the slightest trace of panic in her eyes because of the current situation. Instead, there was only tranquility.
If Mu Chen was here, he would definitely be shocked to see this lady. That's because she was Ling Xi, who had disappeared after Hokuang Reiwon!
"Ling Xi."
Long Xiang looked at the lady in the prison with a smile on his face. That's because he felt that this lady before him was becoming more and more like his master's temperament.
Ling Xi, who was in the cell, raised her head. When she saw Long Xiang, she smiled and said, "Big Brother Long Xiang."
Long Xiang bitterly smiled and helplessly sighed, "I have no idea why you came here back then. You know that this is the property of the Ancient Buddha Clan, and there are Perfected Earth Sovereigns guarding it."
Back then, Ling Xi was the one who barged into the Spiritual Jade Island, and as expected, she was imprisoned by Gu Shihuang for three years.
Upon hearing this, Ling Xi pursed her lips and smiled. Her eyes stared at the glossy, mirror-like black ground, while a strange expression that no one else could detect flashed across her eyes. With a soft smile, she said, "That's because Aunt Jing stayed here for a period of time."
Hearing her reply, even Long Xiang couldn't help rolling his eyes. He was helpless.
"Big Brother Long Xiang, is there something that you need from me?" Ling Xi smiled.
After a brief hesitation, Long Xiang nodded his head. "We've received news of Master's child."
Ling Xi abruptly raised her head. In the next instant, Long Xiang saw an unconcealable joy appearing on the cold and beautiful face of this girl, who had remained calm and collected even after being imprisoned for three years. It was as if an epiphyllum had blossomed.
"Mu Chen … there's finally news of you …"
She lowered her head and gently smiled.
(To be continued.)