Chapter 245 - 176: Qiankun

Chapter 245: Chapter 176: Qiankun

Lu Changfeng didn’t refuse this time. "Then I thank Your Majesty."

The Dragon Emperor nodded slightly and suddenly spoke, "White Tiger Guardian, do you and the Saint Demon Sect view me—this Emperor who is content with his own little fiefdom—as some insignificant buffoon?"

"Don’t be so quick to deny it," the Dragon Emperor said seriously. "To be honest, I established the Dragon Country just for fun. I never expected it to last for generations."

Lu Changfeng was slightly surprised. He didn’t speak, merely listening.

The Dragon Emperor continued, "I’ve had my fill of playing emperor. As soon as I find a suitable opportunity, I will find a powerful and reliable faction and pledge my entire nation to them."

The Dragon Emperor’s words were a clear hint: the Dragon Country intended to pledge its allegiance to the Saint Demon Sect.

Lu Changfeng mulled this over for a moment, then clasped his hands respectfully. "Your Majesty, may I ask why you have such an idea?"

The Dragon Emperor chuckled. "Though my Dragon Country calls itself a nation, it’s nothing more than six cities in the vast, sparsely populated Desert North. The only reason I could establish it was due to my Long Family’s deep-rooted influence here. If a true war were to break out, the Dragon Country wouldn’t last more than a few battles."

The Dragon Emperor indeed had a profound understanding of himself and Desert North.

Compared to regions in the Central Plains like Jiangnan Prefecture, Yunyang Prefecture, and Cyan Mountain Prefecture, Desert North, despite its geographical advantages, stood no chance against the Central Plains Warlords.

"White Tiger Guardian," the Dragon Emperor said, "I owe the Saint Demon Sect a great favor for this. I’d like to take this opportunity to have you deliver a message to the Saint Demon Sect Master."

Lu Changfeng listened intently. "Please speak, Your Majesty."

"If the day comes that the Saint Demon Sect’s army reaches Desert North, the Dragon Country is willing to surrender unconditionally. There will be no need for needless slaughter. Consider it my repayment for this favor," the Dragon Emperor said with a serious expression.

After a moment of silence, Lu Changfeng nodded. "I will relay this message to the Saint Master on your behalf, Your Majesty."

’To reach Desert North Prefecture, we’d first have to break through Cyan Mountain Prefecture. By the time that happens, the Dragon Emperor wouldn’t be able to stop the might of the Saint Demon Sect’s army anyway.’

’This Dragon Emperor is a cunning one. Is this his way of surrendering in advance?’

’Still, this is for the best. If things go as the Dragon Emperor says, it will save us a lot of trouble and prevent needless losses.’

And with that, the formal discussion between Lu Changfeng, in his guise as the clone Yang Jingtian, and the Dragon Emperor concluded.

What followed was the banquet and the presentation of the Spirit Saber, the Tiger Soul Saber.

The Tiger Soul Saber was truly extraordinary. Blade and hilt combined, it measured two meters long. The Spiritual Light enveloping it would occasionally coalesce into a tiger’s head, letting out a majestic, low roar.

Among Spiritual Artifacts, this great saber was considered top-tier.

Lu Changfeng, in the guise of his clone Yang Jingtian, spent more than half a month traveling around Desert North. During this period, a cry for help from Fanyun Demon Monarch appeared in the Saint Demon Sect’s chat group.

Demon General Fanyun: Everyone, Your Majesty the Saint Master, I need help! My creditor has come to collect.

Holy Sect’s Grand Steward, Lin Erfeng: Demon General Fanyun, what’s going on? The Saint Master is in seclusion right now. Whatever it is, we can discuss it in the group and figure it out.

Gluttony Demon Sect: HEHEHE, Fanyun, what kind of debt do you owe? It’s not a romantic one, is it?

Yui Ya of the Gluttony Demon Sect rarely entered seclusion and was one of the most active members of the group.

If there were a "streak" icon for being active, Yui Ya would definitely have one next to her name.

Demon General Fanyun: This is no time for jokes, everyone. You all know I don’t have a Demon Fiend Bloodline. The only reason I managed to break through to the Rebirth Realm was because of a ’Rebirth Pill’ this creditor gave me. I thought he’d have forgotten about it after all these years, but today he sent a letter to me here in the Holy City.

Fanyun’s long message finally captured the attention of the other Demon Sect leaders and Demon Generals in the chat.

Numerous Demon Generals and Demon Sect leaders chimed in, saying that since Fanyun was one of them now, anyone who dared to show up at the Holy City to cause trouble would be taught a harsh lesson.

Only Lin Erfeng suggested they should first try to negotiate peacefully, believing that would be the best outcome.

If they could obtain the formula for this ’Rebirth Pill’, it would be a huge boon for the Saint Demon Sect.

In the end, it was Lu Changfeng, posting as the White Tiger Guardian, who settled the matter.

White Tiger Guardian: By order of the Saint Master, wait for my return to the Holy City. I will handle this matter.

Since the order came from the Saint Master, all other discussion in the chat group ceased.

It was a good thing the White Tiger Guardian was stepping in. His power was undeniable.

While his main body was in seclusion fusing with the Chaos Bloodline, the clone, Yang Jingtian, set out immediately.

He traveled via Airstride at full speed, stopping to find a place to rest only when his Spiritual Power was half-depleted.

Traveling in this manner, it took only seven days.

The clone Yang Jingtian, with the Tiger Soul Saber on his back, traveled from Desert North Prefecture and arrived at the Holy City in Yunyang Prefecture.

In the Holy City, Lu Changfeng, as the White Tiger, met Fanyun Demon Monarch in a side hall of the Holy Palace. Fanyun had been the first Rebirth Realm expert Lu Changfeng had subdued by force.

"Lord White Tiger, you’re finally here!" Seeing the fierce white tiger mask on the clone Yang Jingtian’s face, Fanyun felt not fear, but a strange sense of reassurance.

"Tell me about this person," Lu Changfeng said, cutting straight to the chase.

Fanyun Demon Monarch took a deep breath and began his story.

Fanyun had only been able to advance to the Rebirth Realm thanks to a single Spirit Pill: a ’Rebirth Pill’.

Years ago, after advancing to the Bone Refining Fifth Layer, Fanyun had made a small name for himself within the Demon Dao circles of Yunyang Prefecture.

But he didn’t dare to be too arrogant back then, as Fanyun understood that the Bone Refining Realm was far from the peak. Many Sects and families had old monsters of the Rebirth Realm hidden within them.

After he plundered a Martial Arts Family and was subsequently taught a harsh lesson by a passing Rebirth Realm Martial Artist, Fanyun went into hiding for a while.

During that time, Fanyun lived under a new identity, constantly searching for a way to break through to the Rebirth Realm.

In truth, Fanyun Demon Monarch’s Root Bone and Talent weren’t bad at all.

Name: Ye Fanyun (Fanyun Demon Monarch)

Root Bone: Upper A

Talent: High-Grade Talent [Saber Demon], High-Grade Talent [Immortal Palm]

With his Root Bone and Talent, he would have been considered a top-tier prodigy in any Sect.

Unfortunately, his humble origins meant his path in Martial Arts was fraught with hardship. By a twist of fate, he ended up on the Demon Dao, and his incredible aptitude was never properly nurtured.

While living under his new identity, Fanyun Demon Monarch encountered his ’creditor’ in a city within Yunyang Prefecture.

He was a wandering Daoist.

The Daoist recognized Fanyun’s innate Root Bone and Talent. Seeing that he was stuck at the Bone Refining Fifth Layer, the Daoist sighed at the waste and took the initiative to approach him.

At first, Fanyun looked down on the Daoist, but that changed when the man faintly released the terrifying aura of a Rebirth Realm master.

The Daoist then gave Fanyun a pill, telling him it was a ’Rebirth Pill’ and that consuming it would allow him to break through to the Rebirth Realm.

The Daoist told Fanyun that he would one day collect on the ’debt’ of this Rebirth Pill, with interest, in a form of his own choosing. The time of collection would also be up to him.

A few days ago, just after finishing a round of secluded cultivation, Fanyun was relaxing with some tea when he received a letter.

The letter was signed by the Qiankun Daoist. Its contents were simple: "This humble Daoist has come to collect his due. Please come to the temple thirty li east of the city within ten days to discuss the matter."

"Let’s go," Lu Changfeng said, getting to his feet.

"What do you mean, ’let’s go’?! Lord White Tiger, that Daoist is no joke! He was already a powerhouse in the Rebirth Realm decades ago! Are you sure we shouldn’t inform the Saint Master?" Fanyun asked, his face a mask of cowardice.

Lu Changfeng gave Fanyun a long, hard look. He suddenly drew the Tiger Soul Saber and placed it against Fanyun’s neck, his Fengtian Saber Intent flaring. In an instant, he could have decapitated him.

A drop of cold sweat trickled down Fanyun’s forehead. "I’m sorry. The Qiankun Daoist only asked me to arrange a meeting between him and the Saint Master. In exchange, our debt would be canceled."

Fanyun confessed everything. "This doesn’t count as betraying the Sect, does it, Lord White Tiger? If the Saint Master had been the one to come, I would have explained it all to him before we left."

"But I haven’t been able to contact the Saint Master through his messaging slips lately."

Lu Changfeng stared at Fanyun for a long moment before slowly withdrawing the Tiger Soul Saber. "Whether or not this is treason is for the Saint Master to decide later."

"This Qiankun Daoist... What is his cultivation Realm? What are his origins?" Lu Changfeng asked, his clone Yang Jingtian’s voice low and deep.

Fanyun took a deep breath. "It’s like he appeared out of nowhere. I’ve never seen him fight, and I’d never even heard of him before we met."

"And this meeting at the temple thirty li east of the city—is that true?"

"It is!"

"Then let’s go and meet him ourselves. If he wants to see the Saint Master, he’ll have to get through me first." Lu Changfeng’s clone, Yang Jingtian, shot into the air with Airstride. Gritting his teeth, Fanyun floated up and followed.