Chapter 2928: Ismael Mullins

The middle-aged man was merely an Upper Immortal at the peak of Love Rowan. Facing Wyatt Barnes’ aura at the Immortal King level made him feel like a lone boat on the crest of the waves, with the possibility of capsizing at any moment.

"Operate your cultivation method and break through the bottleneck with the momentum!"

Only when Wyatt Barnes’ voice reached him did the middle-aged man’s previously foggy consciousness clear a bit.

It was precisely by relying on this bit of clarity that the middle-aged man took a deep breath secretly, then instantly emptied his mind and began operating his cultivation method.

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth gathered from all directions, pouring entirely into his body, circulating through each small cycle, while each small cycle gathered into each Great Cycle.

About ten breaths later.

Whoosh!

As if a gust of wind had blown over, Wyatt Barnes, with a single thought, retracted his Divine Sense and glanced faintly at the middle-aged man.

Splash!

At the same time, a vast and majestic aura extended from the middle-aged man’s body, and he also opened his tightly closed eyes, with a flash of brilliance disappearing in his gaze.

In this blink of an eye, the middle-aged man’s demeanor underwent an earth-shattering transformation compared to before.

Now, as he stood there, the aura emanating from his body bore some resemblance to the short middle-aged man who had previously died at Wyatt Barnes’ hand.

As the middle-aged man opened his eyes, a look of ecstatic joy timely appeared on his face.

"Congratulations."

"You must have waited a long time for this day, haven’t you?"

Wyatt Barnes looked calmly at the middle-aged man and asked indifferently.

"Thank you, my lord, for fulfilling this!"

Upon hearing Wyatt Barnes’ words, the middle-aged man knelt down completely, kneeling in the void, bowing toward Wyatt Barnes, "From now on, my life, Ismael Mullins, is yours!"

"As long as my lord wishes to let me follow by your side, I, Ismael Mullins, am willing to be a slave and servant, loyal to my lord, never to rebel for eternity!"

He, Ismael Mullins, had remained stuck at the peak Upper Immortal Love Rowan level for many years, unable to break through.

It wasn’t that his talent was particularly poor, but rather because there was no Monarch Level cultivation method available for him to practice.

Unless one’s talent is extraordinary, it’s extremely difficult to break through and achieve Immortal Lord status using a method below Monarch Level.

Just like the big brother he previously followed, who was the short middle-aged man killed by the purple-clothed youth before him, remained at the peak Upper Immortal Love Rowan level for a millennium before successfully breaking through.

Though his talent greatly surpassed that of the other, it would still take him at least hundreds of years to make such a breakthrough.

He never expected that decades later, he would be so fortunate to receive the help of a powerful figure, allowing him to complete the breakthrough to Immortal Lord status ahead of time!

"Even that kind of aura... not even a Ten Directions Immortal Lord might have had it, right?"

Although Ismael Mullins’ cultivation was not high, during a chance opportunity, he happened to witness a grand scene once.

He still remembered that nearly a century ago, during a Pill Tao conference hosted by various top sects in the Southeast six regions.

At that time, he was only there to join the fun.

But he happened to witness the Elder Ancestor of the Joyful Zen Sect, Ten Directions Immortal Lord Bellamy Lee, take action, and Bellamy Lee’s aura swept across the four corners, affecting him similarly.

However, Bellamy Lee’s aura back then was far inferior to the aura this purple-clothed youth revealed earlier.

"Never to rebel for eternity?"

Upon hearing Ismael Mullins’ words, Wyatt Barnes chuckled, "Aren’t you considered to have betrayed your previous nine companions right now?"

"My lord."

Ismael Mullins said seriously, "Among my nine companions, I’m indebted to the big brother for saving my life, while the others and I are merely in a cooperative, mutually beneficial relationship."

"If it weren’t for my gratitude for the big brother’s life-saving grace back in the day, I would have left earlier... I believe that given your mercifulness, my lord, you wouldn’t have killed someone like me who posed no offense to you nor to this young lady."

Towards the end, Ismael Mullins and Wyatt Barnes locked eyes, with wise glimmers flashing in their gaze.

"Even with the big brother, there was no master-servant or loyalty relationship between us... Today, I, Ismael Mullins, serve my lord as the master, never to rebel for eternity!"

"In the planes above, there are no Thunder Punishment oaths like in the secular planes... But I, Ismael Mullins, am willing to sever an arm to declare my resolve!"

As soon as Ismael Mullins finished speaking, he raised his right hand, and the blade gleamed as he aimed it at the shoulder of his left arm and swung downward.

In the planes above, the resurrection of a severed limb is far more difficult than in the secular planes.

In the secular planes, some rare, so-called ’Immortal Grass’ herbs enable people to regrow severed limbs, thanks to the secular plane’s inhabitants possessing mortal bodies.

Once individuals from the secular planes ascend to the planes above, they undergo the Ascension Pool’s baptism, and their bodies transform from mortal to immortal.

Once the immortal body is damaged, even consuming numerous so-called Immortal Grass from the secular planes has no effect.

Only by finding rare herbs or rare Pill Medicine in the planes above can the damaged body possibly be regenerated.

Buzz!

The blade light was dazzling, and it seemed it was about to sever Ismael Mullins’ left arm.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

...

Just as the blade’s gleam was merely inches from Ismael Mullins’ left arm, a gentle breeze swept by, carrying a surging, magnificent power.

In an instant, Ismael Mullins’ brilliant blade abruptly disintegrated, vanishing into the void as if it had never appeared.

"I believe you."

The one who intervened was Wyatt Barnes.

Having lived two lifetimes, he prided himself on his keen insight, recognizing that Ismael Mullins was a man who repaid kindness and kept his promises.

This Ismael Mullins, unwilling to leave even facing certain death, chose to live and die alongside his eight companions, which earned him Wyatt’s respect.

Coupled with the fact that Ismael Mullins never disrespected Leilany, Wyatt hadn’t intended to kill him.

Instead, upon extending his Divine Sense and discovering that Ismael Mullins’ cultivation was just a step away from becoming an Immortal Lord, Wyatt contemplated recruiting him for his own.

On this long journey to the central lands, with Leilany leading, their speed was slow, and they periodically faced interception by some reckless immortals.

With an Immortal Lord leading the way, it would be much more efficient, not just in the central lands but even at the borders.

"From now on, stay by my side."

Wyatt Barnes said calmly, "My name is Wyatt Barnes... As for the lady beside me, you may call her Miss Leilany, she is my sister."

"Thank you, Sir."

Stopped by Wyatt Barnes, upon hearing Wyatt’s words, Ismael Mullins repeatedly expressed gratitude, simultaneously bowing respectfully to Leilany beside Wyatt, "Ismael Mullins, greetings to Miss Leilany."

However, at this moment, Leilany was too preoccupied to acknowledge Ismael Mullins.

Wyatt Barnes’ words to Ismael Mullins echoed ceaselessly in her ears...

"Sister?"

"So...he’s always just considered me as a sister?"

Although Leilany had long known Wyatt deliberately avoided acknowledging her feelings, and treated her as a dear sister, hearing him say it still felt like a punch to her heart.

"Sir, where are you and Miss Leilany heading?"

Ismael Mullins looked at Wyatt Barnes and asked respectfully.

"We intend to leave the borderlands for the central lands... Since you plan to follow me, you will lead us on the journey ahead."

Wyatt Barnes said.

"Yes, Sir."

Ismael Mullins accepted the order respectfully, assuming Wyatt’s strength so formidable, must choose not to lead the way himself due to necessity for cultivation or comprehension of Immortal Methods and Divine Abilities.

Thus, Wyatt Barnes’ group gained another member.

"Sir, you... must be an Immortal King, right?"

As they set off, seeing Wyatt not immediately engaging in cultivation or comprehension of Immortal Methods, Ismael Mullins couldn’t resist his curiosity and asked.

"I am now."

Wyatt Barnes nodded.

"Now?"

Ismael Mullins was puzzled, not understanding what Wyatt Barnes meant.

"Do you know about consumable Emperor-grade Immortal Artifacts?"

Wyatt Barnes asked.

"Consumable Emperor-grade Immortal Artifacts?"

Upon hearing this, Ismael Mullins was struck, quickly responding, "Sir, I’ve heard of them... It’s said those artifacts are even rarer than typical Emperor-grade Immortal Artifacts!"

"But, once obtained, they can grant immense power when consumed... Furthermore, using that immense power bears no repercussions."

As he spoke, a realization flashed in Ismael Mullins’ mind, leaving him in shock, staring at Wyatt Barnes incredulously, "Sir, you mentioned this suddenly..."

"Could it be, you..."

Ismael Mullins was filled with a look of sheer astonishment.

"Yes."

Wyatt Barnes nodded, candidly saying, "My current strength originates from a consumable Emperor-grade Immortal Artifact... Before aiding you, the power granted by that artifact, although considerably depleted, was still comparable to that of a Five Elements Immortal King."

"However, after assisting you in achieving Immortal Lord status, my strength is now only comparable to a ’Four Symbols Immortal King’.

"Moreover, I refrained from leading the journey with Leilany myself to conserve the power granted by the artifact... Having you lead us is for the same reason."

With that, Wyatt Barnes looked at Ismael Mullins, adding, "My true strength is weaker than Leilany’s, as I am just a small Mystic Realm Love Rowan Upper Immortal... Although close to a breakthrough, even then merely an Earth Realm Love Rowan Upper Immortal."

This was because Wyatt Barnes recently devoted his efforts to comprehending Immortal Methods, Divine Abilities, and the path of Alchemy, else he would have smoothly reached the Earth Realm Love Rowan Upper Immortal level long ago.

"Now, I give you a chance... You may leave, and I’ll pretend I didn’t hear your previous pledge."

Finally, Wyatt Barnes looked at Ismael Mullins with calmness.

Ismael Mullins took a deep breath, recovering from his shock. Immediately, he looked at Wyatt Barnes, his expression serious, saying, "Sir, I am willing to continue following you."