Chapter 158 - 158
Chapter 158: Overwhelming Annihilation, Return to the Tiansheng Continent
The instant Lu Xiaoyao's words left his mouth, the entire area around the Ancient Immortal Secret Realm seemed to freeze in time--including Zheng Guchuan and the others.
Though frozen in place, they could still perceive their surroundings.
Zheng Guchuan was filled with absolute horror. He had once had the fortune of meeting an Immortal Monarch, but even that Immortal Monarch absolutely could not have achieved something of this magnitude.
Freezing such an enormous area all at once, with this many Immortal Kings present--even an Immortal Monarch couldn't do that.
An Immortal Venerable!
This had to be an Immortal Venerable!
And given that Lu Xiaoyao had just shouted "Dad, save me!" right before this happened, it didn't take Zheng Guchuan long to put it together. Lu Xiaoyao's father was an Immortal Venerable!
Over on Lu Xiaoyao's side, only the five of them could move freely.
At that moment, they, too, fully felt the extent of Lu Xunxian's power--and he hadn't even exerted himself.
Lu Xunxian appeared before the five of them, paying no attention to Zheng Guchuan and the assembled Immortal Kings.
"Dad!"
Seeing Lu Xunxian, Lu Xiaoyao and Lu Qingyun rushed forward, their faces alight with excitement.
Sensing their cultivation, Lu Xunxian nodded with satisfaction.
At this rate, ascending to the Immortal Realm after the Tiansheng Grand Tournament should be no problem at all.
"Master. / Senior Lu."
Luo Qianxue and the other two also stepped forward.
Lu Xunxian gave a slight nod, then turned his gaze to Zheng Guchuan in the distance.
Instantly, the bindings on Zheng Guchuan's body were released.
"Mercy, Senior! Mercy! We had no idea they were your children!"
The moment his restraints were lifted, Zheng Guchuan dropped to his knees without a second thought, desperately begging for his life.
Kneeling before an Immortal Venerable was no disgrace, even with all his Hundred Kings Alliance allies watching.
After all, if he didn't beg, he'd truly be done for.
"How interesting. So because you didn't know, that makes it acceptable to attack them?"
"I once offered to exchange a personal favor for five entry slots, but clearly you didn't accept."
"In that case, off you go."
The moment Lu Xunxian's words fell, Zheng Guchuan couldn't move anymore.
And all around, the Hundred Kings Alliance's Immortal Kings--every single one--burst apart like brilliant fireworks, one after another.
Lu Xunxian simply raised a hand and carried Lu Xiaoyao and the others back to the Tiansheng Continent, leaving only Zheng Guchuan to watch in utter despair as the scene unfolded. Only after the very last Immortal King burst apart did his turn finally come.
Feeling his body rupture, Zheng Guchuan shut his eyes in despair.
If he could do it all over again, he would never have provoked this God of Slaughter. But even given another chance, he likely would have walked the same path to ruin.
Tiansheng Continent. The Ancient Wood Sacred Land.
Lu Xunxian and the others returned without a single soul noticing.
"The Tiansheng Continent still feels more familiar."
Sensing the familiar aura, Gu Feng couldn't help but speak.
After all, he had joined the Ancient Wood Sect not long before being sent down to the Tiansheng Continent to be nurtured. Over forty thousand years had passed since then, and even in the Immortal Realm, he'd spent fewer than forty years.
"Alright, now that you're back on the Tiansheng Continent, off you go."
"Yes, Senior Lu."
Seeing Lu Xunxian dismiss them, Gu Feng and Ye Wushuang didn't dare delay and hurried off.
After all, the Sacred Lands had been left in the elders' care for two years. It was time they dealt with Sacred Land affairs, then prepared to make their push for the Immortal Stage and ascend back to the Immortal Realm.
On the other side, Lu Xunxian turned to Luo Qianxue.
"Do you need to go back to your master and prepare, then participate in the Tiansheng Grand Tournament?"
Luo Qianxue was momentarily stunned, then nodded. But she didn't leave right away. The air around them seemed to ripple with something unspoken.
Nearby, Lu Xiaoyao remained completely oblivious to what was happening. It was Lu Qingyun who caught on first, clearing her throat.
"Brother, you must miss Wu Wang and the others, right?"
"Huh?"
"Ahem, let's go check on how Wu Wang and the others' cultivation is coming along."
Without waiting for Lu Xiaoyao to say a word, Lu Qingyun grabbed him and forcibly dragged him away.
Finding themselves suddenly alone, Lu Xunxian felt his heart skip a beat. But before he could say anything, Luo Qianxue spoke first, her expression utterly serious, the tips of her ears tinged faintly red.
"Lu Xunxian, I like you."
"Ahem, try telling me something I don't know."
Lu Xunxian coughed, trying to brush past the subject.
But Luo Qianxue shook her head and spoke again with absolute sincerity.
"Lu Xunxian, I'm serious. I truly like you."
Lu Xunxian fell silent. After a long moment, he let out a sigh and shook his head.
"Qianxue, I know your feelings are genuine. But I'm not ready to enter another relationship yet. So, could you give me some time?"
"I'll wait for you. No matter how long, I'll wait."
"And one more thing--what I like is you, Lu Xunxian, the person. Not your strength."
Before Lu Xunxian could react, Luo Qianxue stepped forward and pressed her lips to his cheek.
A fleeting touch, and then they parted.
Luo Qianxue's face was already flushed crimson. Without daring to say another word, she turned and hurried away in a fluster.
Not far off, Zhao Xiaoyi watched the scene unfold and spoke with some hesitation.
"Did I come at a bad time?"
But Lu Xunxian shook his head.
"No, your timing was perfect."
He wasn't joking. If Zhao Xiaoyi hadn't arrived, that girl Luo Qianxue might very well have made it a done deal before he could do anything about it.
Hearing that Lu Xunxian didn't blame her, Zhao Xiaoyi breathed a sigh of relief.
"Is there something you need?"
Though he had taken Zhao Xiaoyi in as a servant, when he thought about it, there really wasn't much for her to do.
After all, Uncle Fu was here now, and the two Emperor Realm maidservants under Uncle Fu had already cultivated to the Saint King Realm. Most matters could be left to them.
"Master, I want to participate in the Tiansheng Grand Tournament!"
Zhao Xiaoyi's expression was serious as she made her request.
Lu Xunxian was momentarily taken aback, then realized--Zhao Xiaoyi was indeed still under five hundred years old. She was perfectly eligible for the Tiansheng Grand Tournament.
Before Lu Xunxian could respond, a graceful figure came rushing in from outside.
"Master, I want to participate in the Tiansheng Grand Tournament too!"
It was Xu Rou.
The two were of a similar age, which was precisely how they'd become close friends. So naturally, she also wanted to compete.
Lu Xunxian saw no reason to refuse and nodded his approval.
"Since you've both become my servants, prepare yourselves. After the Tiansheng Grand Tournament, you'll accompany me to the Immortal Realm."
"Yes, Master!"
Zhao Xiaoyi and Xu Rou had very different feelings about this. Zhao Xiaoyi felt a twinge of reluctance, but Xu Rou was bursting with excitement.
That was the Immortal Realm! Normally, you'd have to cultivate all the way to the Immortal Stage just to get there. Going directly would save an enormous amount of effort.
After waving them off to prepare, Lu Xunxian lifted his gaze toward Chengtian Mountain.
After all, the arena for the Tiansheng Grand Tournament was located on Chengtian Mountain.
But Lu Xunxian's attention wasn't on the arena. It was fixed on the Dao Spirit.
Because he could sense it--the Dao Spirit was on the verge of emerging into the world.