"Long Xiang pays his respects to the Young Master!"
When the middle-aged man knelt down with a single knee, Mu Chen, who had his guard up and was prepared for an intense battle, was stunned. Luo Li, Luo Tianshen and the rest also had shock written on their faces. They were clearly startled by this sudden change.
They never expected that the middle-aged man, who was so ferocious a moment ago, would show such an attitude in the next moment.
Furthermore, judging from the respectful expression on his face, it was truly from the bottom of his heart. There was not the slightest bit of falsehood.
Luo Li and the rest exchanged a look. They could see the doubt in each other's eyes. Evidently, they had no idea what this middle-aged man was doing.
After a brief moment of shock, Mu Chen recovered from his shock. However, he did not let his guard down and looked at Long Xiang. "You're from the Ancient Buddha Clan?"
"Yes!" Long Xiang nodded his head.
"Then, you should know the Ancient Buddha Clan's attitude towards me."
Mu Chen faintly smiled as he looked at Long Xiang with a sharp gaze. "I'm afraid that the Ancient Buddha Clan will not treat me this way."
Facing Mu Chen's doubt, Long Xiang calmly nodded his head. "I'm indeed from the Ancient Buddha Clan, but if it wasn't for Master, I would already be a pile of bones. Master has given me a new lease on life, and in my heart, Master's position is higher than the Ancient Buddha Clan."
"Who's your master?" Mu Chen's gaze flickered.
Long Xiang lightly smiled. "She's your mother, Qing Yanjing."
Mu Chen looked at Long Xiang. He did not see any dodging in the latter's eyes. Furthermore, when he mentioned Qing Yanjing's name, Mu Chen could feel the respect in his heart.
After a brief silence, the doubt in his eyes gradually retracted. With the Ancient Buddha Clan's way of doing things, it's impossible for them to use such a method to deal with him. With their strength, it would be more effective for them to send a Perfected Earth Sovereign or even a Heavenly Sovereign.
Thus, he quickly stepped forward and helped Long Xiang up with a smile, "Big Brother Long Xiang, please get up. If you don't mind, you can call me Mu Chen. I don't deserve to be called Young Master."
Long Xiang shook his head, "Your mother is my master, so you are naturally my young master."
His words were rather stubborn, and it was clear that he would not change his mind.
Mu Chen helplessly scratched his head. He had been working hard all these years. Although his mother was from the Ancient Buddha Clan and was a genuine Spiritual Array Ancestor, he did not obtain the high position and resources that others had imagined. Thus, he, who was used to having an ordinary identity, felt uncomfortable when a Quasi-Perfected Earth Sovereign respectfully addressed him as Young Master.
But when he saw Long Xiang's stubborn gaze, he no longer spoke about it. "Big Brother Long Xiang, please don't take my words to heart."
In the beginning, he thought that Long Xiang was sent by the Ancient Buddha Clan, so he naturally wasn't polite.
With a smile, Long Xiang said in gratification, "Young Master is truly worthy of being Master's child. Your talent is outstanding, and most importantly, even without Master's care, you still managed to come this far. You're truly not simple."
His words came from the bottom of his heart. Mu Chen was young, but his achievements were shocking. Not only was he the Seed of the Continent of the West Heaven Continent, but he had also stepped into the Greater Earth Sovereign Realm. Most terrifyingly, even someone as powerful as Long Xiang didn't feel that he could defeat a Greater Earth Sovereign like him.
"If Young Master grew up in the Ancient Buddha Clan and used the resources of the Ancient Buddha Clan, I'm afraid that you would be the best candidate to become the next Patriarch, and you wouldn't be any weaker than Young Master Xuan Luo." Long Xiang sighed.
Mu Chen smiled in response. He didn't feel any pity, since he was already used to relying on himself. Thus, he wasn't covetous of the resources of the Ancient Buddha Clan.
"Big Brother Long Xiang, how's my mother?"
Mu Chen wasn't interested in the resources of the Ancient Buddha Clan, but he was concerned about his mother's situation. In the past, he didn't have any contact with the Ancient Buddha Clan, and now that a subordinate of his mother appeared, he naturally had to ask about it.
"Master has been imprisoned in the clan, but he's doing fine. Perhaps he misses you and your father too much."
Long Xiang smiled as he proudly said, "Master's strength is unfathomable, and not even the Grand Elder dares to force him. If it wasn't for Master not wanting them to implicate Young Master, I'm afraid that they wouldn't be able to restrict Master's freedom."
Only then did Mu Chen feel relieved. Even a powerful Ancient Clan like the Ancient Buddha Clan would have to pay a huge price to deal with a Spiritual Array Ancestor, and it would be a huge blow to them.
But thinking about how his mother was imprisoned in the Ancient Buddha Clan because of him, he felt heartache and reproached himself.
"Young Master, you don't have to blame yourself. Master will be gratified to see your achievements." Long Xiang comforted, as if he knew the reproach in Mu Chen's heart.
Mu Chen nodded his head. He wasn't a sentimental person, so there's no use blaming himself. What he needed to do right now was to grow stronger, to the point that the Ancient Buddha Clan couldn't use him to threaten his mother.
In the hall, Luo Li and the rest inwardly felt relieved when they saw the two of them dispersing their hostility. No matter what, this troublesome middle-aged man should be a friend and not a foe.
"Young Master has obtained the Seed of the Continent in the West Heaven Continent, and your name has gradually spread out. Even the Ancient Buddha Clan has started to pay attention to you." Long Xiang reminded as he looked at Mu Chen.
Mu Chen wasn't surprised by this, since he knew that the Ancient Buddha Clan was powerful, and it's impossible for him to remain unnoticed. But he was no longer the weak youth from back then. He's a tiger that has gradually revealed his extraordinary potential. Even if he encountered a Perfected Earth Sovereign, he could still fight with them.
Furthermore, even if the Ancient Buddha Clan really wanted to send out a Heavenly Sovereign to deal with him, he could still call for reinforcements to deal with them.
Right now, he already had the strength to protect himself, and he no longer had to worry about the experts of the Ancient Buddha Clan capturing him to threaten his mother.
"I will pay more attention to it."
Mu Chen smiled towards Long Xiang. Although he wasn't afraid of the Ancient Buddha Clan, he still had to be cautious. After all, the Ancient Buddha Clan wasn't simple to become one of the Ancient Clans.
Long Xiang nodded his head and his gaze flickered. He wanted to say something, but he swallowed his words in the end.
But right at this moment, someone suddenly entered the hall and knelt before Luo Li. "Your Majesty, someone has sent a message into the palace. I wonder who it was."
The person raised his hand and held onto a jade slip.
Luo Li was slightly startled. With a wave of her jade-like hand, the jade slip landed in her hand. After sensing it slightly, her lovable face changed as she looked towards Mu Chen.
"What's wrong?" Mu Chen asked.
Luo Li hesitated for a brief moment before pouring her Spiritual Energy into the jade slip. In an instant, spiritual light burst out from the jade slip and formed into a screen of light. Within the screen of light, there was a grey-robed old man.
The old man sat before a black pagoda with his gaze fixed onto Mu Chen and faintly said, "Sinful Child Mu Chen, you might have met Long Xiang. But regardless of whether he has captured her or not, this old man only intends to tell you this.
"If you want to rescue this woman, then come to the Myriad Island Continent's Spiritual Jade Island. Otherwise, this old man will hand her over to the clan. At that time, I'm afraid that there won't be any mercy for the fairer sex."
As his voice faded, a black prison appeared in the light screen. Within the prison, a white-clothed cold lady was quietly seated.
"Big Sister Ling Xi!"
When Mu Chen saw the white-clothed woman, his eyes instantly narrowed with dense killing intent surging from his eyes.
"If you don't want to see her die, then this old man will be waiting for you in the Spiritual Jade Island."
With an indifferent smile, the old man waved his sleeve, causing the Spiritual Energy light screen to dissipate. At the same time, the jade piece had also turned into dust.
The hall was silent with only Mu Chen's expression turning grim.
He never expected that Ling Xi, who had disappeared for years, would be imprisoned in the Spiritual Jade Island.
Turning to look at Long Xiang, Mu Chen asked, "Big Brother Long Xiang, is what that old fellow said true?"
After a brief silence, Long Xiang nodded his head. "Ling Xi is indeed imprisoned in the Spiritual Jade Island. Gu Shihuang had previously used her to threaten me to capture you and bring you back to the Spiritual Jade Island.
"Originally, I planned to go back secretly after seeing you and find a chance to rescue Ling Xi. But I didn't expect that old fellow to send someone after me and pass this news to you."
"Looks like he already knew that I wouldn't capture you back even if I encountered you."
"Young Master, that old fellow is vicious, and he wants you to fall into his trap. The Spiritual Jade Island has been under his management for years, and it's practically impregnable. Even a Perfected Earth Sovereign would be in trouble, not to mention that Gu Shihuang is a powerful Perfected Earth Sovereign!"
Long Xiang advised. Although Mu Chen's strength was pretty good, it was impossible for him to confront a Perfected Earth Sovereign in his view.
Facing his advice, Mu Chen gave a noncommittal smile as he lightly nodded his head and spoke in a calm tone.
"Big Brother Long Xiang, I know that that old fellow wants me to fall into his trap. But perhaps there's something that he has never considered …"
"That his net is a little too small."
"When the net is broken, it won't be a human hunting a hawk, but a hawk devouring a human!"
As he spoke, the corner of Mu Chen's lips rose with a cold killing intent that even Long Xiang felt.
(To be continued.)