Chapter 155 - 155
Chapter 155: The Collapse of the Vermilion Bird Clan Territory; Lin Chongtian's Immortal Emperor Tribulation
The atmosphere was taut as a drawn blade. Though the Vermilion Bird Immortal Emperor knew he was no match for Gu Daoshi, he still wanted to fight for the sake of his pride.
Just as they were about to come to blows, the True Dragon Immortal Emperor stepped forward with a broad smile to play peacemaker.
"Alright, alright. Vermilion Bird, cool that temper of yours."
"Fellow Daoist Gu, we were merely curious about what sort of powerful being could discourse on the Dao with you. If you're unwilling to say, we won't press the matter."
The True Dragon Immortal Emperor cupped his fists toward Gu Daoshi, his tone respectful.
After all, if it truly came to a fight, Gu Daoshi could take on two of them at once. And now, he sensed that Gu Daoshi had seemingly grown stronger yet again.
Seeing the True Dragon Immortal Emperor so courteous, Gu Daoshi wasn't inclined to say anything further. He gave a cold snort.
"It's not that I don't want to tell you that senior's identity. It's just that I've only recently become acquainted with the senior myself. All I know is that the senior goes by Xuan Xian. That's all."
Hearing Gu Daoshi's words, the True Dragon Immortal Emperor, the Vermilion Bird Immortal Emperor, and the White Tiger Immortal Emperor all wore contemplative expressions. Only Lin Wangu seemed to recall something. He swallowed involuntarily and asked in a probing tone.
"Fellow Daoist Gu, is that senior perhaps... extremely young?"
As Lin Wangu spoke, before Gu Daoshi could reply, the White Tiger Immortal Emperor looked at him in surprise.
"What, Old Lin--do you know that senior?"
But Lin Wangu didn't answer. He simply looked at Gu Daoshi.
Gu Daoshi, reading Lin Wangu's expression, already guessed the situation and let out a light chuckle.
"It seems your Qilin Race was paid a visit by that senior as well."
Since Gu Daoshi didn't deny it, a bitter smile crept onto Lin Wangu's face.
The other three Peak Immortal Emperors, seeing Lin Wangu's expression, could easily deduce that he had also met this mysterious senior.
Under the scrutiny of the three Peak Immortal Emperors, Lin Wangu couldn't help but sigh before speaking.
"I have indeed met that senior. And what I can tell you is this: that senior is exceedingly powerful--stronger than Fellow Daoist Gu."
Hearing even Lin Wangu say as much, the three Peak Immortal Emperors couldn't help but be shaken.
For Lin Wangu to acknowledge someone as powerful meant that person was truly formidable beyond measure.
Moreover, they were all burning with curiosity. Where had such a powerful being come from? Had he perhaps descended from the Dao Realm?
Still, without having seen Lu Xunxian with their own eyes, it remained nothing more than speculation.
"If there's nothing else, I'll ask you four to leave. This old man is going into Seclusion."
Gu Daoshi showed no courtesy as he sent them off. Seeing no alternative, the four Peak Immortal Emperors departed.
After all, if Gu Daoshi didn't want to talk, no one could force him.
With the four Peak Immortal Emperors gone, Gu Daoshi swept a hand through the air, activating the barrier over Heavenly Dao Mountain. He then entered Seclusion himself.
This round of discourse with Lu Xunxian had yielded enormous benefits. If he could refine and absorb them, he might grow even more powerful.
After leaving Heavenly Dao Mountain, the Vermilion Bird Immortal Emperor was the first to address Lin Wangu.
"Old Lin, you'd better start talking fast, or don't blame me for getting rough."
Hearing the Vermilion Bird Immortal Emperor's tone, Lin Wangu furrowed his brow. His own Peak Immortal Emperor aura flared outward.
"If you want to fight, I'll oblige."
He might not be able to defeat Gu Daoshi, but surely he could handle the Vermilion Bird Immortal Emperor.
"You-- Fine then! Let's throw down and see who comes out on top!"
The Vermilion Bird Immortal Emperor's temper had ignited. He was about to attack on the spot.
Seeing them about to truly come to blows, the True Dragon Immortal Emperor and the White Tiger Immortal Emperor hurriedly stepped between them.
"Enough, everyone calm down."
"Old Lin, honestly, if you know something, just say it."
"And Vermilion Bird, I know what your Vermilion Bird Race is going through right now, but Gu Daoshi already said he couldn't help. Even if that senior knew about it, what difference would it make?"
The Vermilion Bird Race was also one of the Ten Great Races of the Immortal Realm.
Only, the Vermilion Bird Race's clan territory had recently encountered some complications--ones connected to something beyond the Immortal Realm.
All the Vermilion Bird Race could do was stall the collapse of their territory. Even when Gu Daoshi had gone to assist, he had been unable to address the root cause.
The Vermilion Bird Immortal Emperor snorted coldly.
"Easy for you to say when it's not your clan territory at stake. But you all know one thing--if our Vermilion Bird Race's territory collapses, that thing will start encroaching on the entire Immortal Realm. When that happens, no one will be able to stay out of it."
Hearing the Vermilion Bird Immortal Emperor put it so plainly, Lin Wangu couldn't help but sigh.
"Vermilion Bird, it's not that I don't want to tell you. It's that I don't know that senior's origins either. He came to our Qilin Race only to request a Qilin Mount--nothing more. Beyond that, I know nothing."
Lin Wangu glossed over the details and relayed only the gist of what had happened that day. After all, the matter would eventually spread across the Immortal Realm. Better to tell his friends himself.
Listening to Lin Wangu's account, the True Dragon Immortal Emperor let out a long breath and spoke.
"In any case, let's first see if we can get in touch with that senior. Perhaps that senior actually has a solution."
"As for you, Vermilion Bird--I know you're anxious, but don't panic just yet. We won't abandon your clan territory. We'll find a way to deal with this."
Hearing the True Dragon Immortal Emperor's assurance, the Vermilion Bird Immortal Emperor could only suppress her urgency. After all, anxiety wouldn't change anything.
On the other side, Lu Xunxian was unaware that the four Peak Immortal Emperors were searching for him.
By now, he had already arrived outside the Ancient Immortal Secret Realm.
All that remained was to wait for his children to come out.
"Though, they're still waiting out here, are they? Whatever--I'll deal with them all at once later."
Seeing that his son and daughter still needed some time before they could emerge, Lu Xunxian wasn't in any rush. He lifted his gaze toward the Thirtieth Heaven--in the direction of the Immortal Court.
At that very moment inside the Immortal Court, numerous Immortal Venerables had been battling fiercely, all vying for the Space-Time Tower.
Finally, a Peak Immortal Venerable defeated all the other Immortal Venerables and turned toward the Space-Time Tower with a sinister grin.
"This Innate Supreme Treasure is mine!"
With that, he reached out to claim the Space-Time Tower.
But at that very instant, a mass of dark, churning tribulation clouds materialized above the Immortal Court.
"What?!"
Before the Peak Immortal Venerable could react, a bolt of lightning as massive as a mountain peak came crashing down, striking him squarely and sending him hurtling away.
The surrounding Immortal Venerables watched the scene unfold, their expressions grave.
Inside the Space-Time Tower.
"Everyone, I'm heading out first. The rest of you follow shortly."
Lin Chongtian addressed the Immortal Court's members, then turned to Hua Rouyu to give final instructions.
Two years had passed outside, but inside the Space-Time Tower, nearly a thousand years had elapsed.
Under normal circumstances, a mere thousand years would be nothing to speak of. But they had spent those near-thousand years with an inexhaustible supply of resources and Lin Chongtian's personal guidance, and their cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds.
Even the weakest Immortal Court member had now reached the Immortal Monarch Realm. However, since the Space-Time Tower had sealed off the influence of the Heavenly Dao, they still needed to undergo their tribulations.
And the most terrifying of them all was Lin Chongtian, who had already reached the Early Immortal Emperor Realm. A Dao Venerable Inheritance was no laughing matter.
With that, Lin Chongtian took a single step and appeared outside the Space-Time Tower.
The instant he emerged, the heavens above erupted with the rumble of rolling tribulation clouds--a sound so terrifying it seemed as though the world itself was about to end.