The curtain of night slowly faded. A faint glimmer of light rose on the distant horizon, casting itself upon every leaf and blade of grass, as if the mountains were coated in a thin layer of luster.
A gentle breeze rustled through the treetops, leaves swaying gracefully in the dawn light. The grasslands rose and fell like green waves, and the fresh, crisp air lifted the spirits.
As time passed, more and more cultivators gathered around the ruins. Almost all of the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Golden Dragon Market had arrived, and there were even some Golden Core True Persons mingling within the crowd.
Deng He was one such Golden Core True Person.
He stood among the crowd, tall and slender, his hair bound and a crown upon his head, looking suave and refined.
“True Person Deng, with Blazing Heaven Sect constantly guarding the ruins, how are we supposed to explore them?”
Someone beside him asked respectfully.
Upon hearing this question, everyone around turned their gazes toward Deng He.
Deng He shook his head helplessly. “We have no choice but to wait. Zhang Yongchang of Blazing Heaven Sect is here, after all.”
This answer left those around him frustrated.
Truth be told, none of them wanted to keep waiting. Even though Blazing Heaven Sect had stated the rules for opening the ruins, no matter how they looked at it, they felt they were being deceived. They couldn’t shake the feeling that if this continued, they would completely miss their chance at these ruins.
If only someone else would take the lead against Blazing Heaven Sect right now.
“With your strength, True Person Deng, you clearly wouldn’t fear True Person Zhang.”
“Yes, yes! True Person Deng, you are also a Late Golden Core expert.”
“True Person Deng, you…”
Deng He frowned. “Enough. Not another word.”
He cut off the chatter around him directly. He didn’t need to guess to know what they were thinking.
With a cold snort, Deng He said displeased, “Do you think I don’t know your intentions? But isn’t it a bit much to ask a Rogue Cultivator like me to oppose Zhang Yongchang, who has the entire Blazing Heaven Sect behind him? Blazing Heaven Sect has a Nascent Soul True Monarch, you know!”
Seeing that Deng He seemed angered, the surrounding cultivators immediately dared not speak further.
But just at that moment, Deng He’s gaze sharpened as he looked in one direction. “He actually came?”
Hearing Deng He’s words, the others looked over as well.
In that direction, a Flying Boat had just arrived. Several people disembarked, led by an old man with a white beard and hair. Dressed in white robes, he had the air of an immortal sage.
It was this old man Deng He was watching.
“Could… could that be True Person Luo, Luo Wenlie?”
“It seems to be him? I can’t believe he came. Perhaps he heard True Person Zhang is here?”
“I feel like a good show is about to start.”
“It seems Cloud Net Sect intends to get involved. Not surprising, really, considering they aren’t that far away.”
The surrounding people buzzed with discussion, everyone suddenly feeling energized.
Deng He narrowed his eyes as well.
Luo Wenlie was also at the Late Golden Core stage, just like him. But the reason Deng He paid him special attention was due to certain past events.
In the past, Luo Wenlie and Zhang Yongchang had come into conflict, and for a period, their feud was infamous. Not long after that, Zhang Yongchang encountered an accident that halted his cultivation progress indefinitely.
Rumors had always circulated in the market that the accident Zhang Yongchang suffered was closely related to Luo Wenlie and even Cloud Net Sect.
Deng He wasn’t certain if it was true. He only knew that the relationship between Blazing Heaven Sect and Cloud Net Sect had always been poor, so the rumor was very likely true.
Under these circumstances, Luo Wenlie’s appearance was, in Deng He’s eyes, a very interesting signal.
Others might fear Zhang Yongchang and dread Blazing Heaven Sect, but Luo Wenlie certainly didn’t.
Many who were aware of the inside story, like Deng He, understood upon seeing Luo Wenlie arrive that there was entertainment to be had.
…
Just as everyone else had noticed Luo Wenlie, Zhang Yongchang had naturally noticed him too.
When he saw this fated nemesis arrive, Zhang Yongchang’s gaze couldn’t help but ripple with intense emotion. Many past experiences surfaced in his mind. Even though much time had passed, every scene was still horrifyingly vivid.
He looked at Luo Wenlie, and Luo Wenlie’s gaze crossed the many figures between them to meet his.
Then, Luo Wenlie walked through the void, approaching.
A deep silence filled the space outside the ruins. Though many people were present, few made a sound. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on this direction, watching the two Late Golden Core True Persons draw near with strange expressions.
Once they were close, it was Luo Wenlie who spoke first. “It’s been a long time, Zhang Yongchang. You seem to be in good spirits. Energetic enough to interfere with these ruins, which are supposedly only useful for those below the Golden Core stage.”
Zhang Yongchang’s expression returned to normal. He said flatly, “My condition is none of your concern. As for these ruins, they were discovered by the Qixi Festival Sect. Our Blazing Heaven Sect established friendly relations with them early on and was the second to know. The fact that this news spread was intentionally done by us. All of this was to open the ruins. Everyone present should know the rules for opening them by now. Even if you’ve just arrived, you should have heard them. I am here to uphold these rules.”
Luo Wenlie smiled faintly. “I have indeed heard about the situation here. But who can judge whether this information is true or false? After all, everything we know came from your Blazing Heaven Sect.”
Zhang Yongchang’s expression remained unchanged. “Whether you believe it or not is your own affair.”
Luo Wenlie narrowed his eyes. “Then I don’t believe it.”
Zhang Yongchang said nothing.
Luo Wenlie turned around to face the multitude of cultivators in all directions and said, “Do you all truly believe Blazing Heaven Sect’s claims? Zhang Yongchang says they and that Qixi Festival Sect were the first to discover this place. Who can prove that? He says they intentionally spread the news to bring people from the Golden Dragon Market here. Who can prove that? Everything, absolutely everything, is just their one-sided story, isn’t it?”
Hearing Luo Wenlie speak this way, many in the crowd had flickering gazes.
The members of Blazing Heaven Sect and Qixi Festival Sect glared at Luo Wenlie with fury. They had never imagined that spreading the news and bringing people to share in the ruins’ discovery would result in such questioning. It filled their hearts with considerable indignation.
Luo Wenlie continued, “The current situation is quite clear. The people of Blazing Heaven Sect occupy the ruins and demand that everyone follow the rules they’ve established. But why should we let them have their way? Among those present, there is no shortage of Golden Core cultivators. Who is willing to join me in action and drive all these people of Blazing Heaven Sect away?”
As Luo Wenlie’s words fell, the crowd stirred once more.
“Senior Brother Luo, let us act together.”
“Count me in.”
Two people immediately came to Luo Wenlie’s side. They were Cloud Net Sect members who had arrived with him, both Golden Core True Persons at the Mid Golden Core stage.
