âGrand Elder, thereâs no need for such formality. Iâve long heard of the great name of the Martial Heaven Sacred Ground. When Martial Heaven Emperor was still alive, this was once the most prosperous place in the Four Domains of the north,â Second Prince Chen Luo said with a light smile. âThis prince has always been busy with affairs, and now, having received Xiaoyuanâs invitation, I thought it right to come and pay a visit. If my presence causes any disturbance, I hope youâll forgive me.â
From the moment the Second Prince arrived, he lowered himself greatly. His attitude was more than satisfactory.
âNo wonder he is the Second Prince of the Star River God-Dynasty. Despite such a noble identity, heâs so humble,â some disciples nearby whispered.
âYes, if someone could marry this Second Prince, it would truly be like ascending to heaven in one step.â
âStop dreaming, with your looks heâd be disgusted before you even got near.â
Even Shangguan Lan, standing beside Xu Zimo, had her eyes glowing.
She praised, âThis Second Prince of the Star River God-Dynasty really is remarkable.â
âYouâve got such a handsome man beside you but you ignore him, and instead you envy something you canât even touch,â Xu Zimo sighed softly.
âYou are Senior Sisterâs man. How could IâŠâ Shangguan Lan gave Xu Zimo a glare.
âNo worries, Iâm a rather open-hearted person,â Xu Zimo replied.
âHeâs the Second Prince of the Star River God-Dynasty, with a chance to become the ruler of the whole empire one day. And you? What are you?â Shangguan Lan retorted. âIn this Martial Heaven Sacred Ground, you can only rely on Senior Sisterâs face to get by.â
âHow much do you really know about the Four Domains?â Xu Zimo asked. âOr rather, about the entire Mortal Ascension Heaven.â
âWhat are you planning?â Shangguan Lan asked back.
âHave you ever heard of a force called the True Martial Sacred Ground?â Xu Zimo asked again.
âIs that your home?â Shangguan Lan asked, eyeing him. âDid you remember something?â
âI do have some impression,â Xu Zimo replied.
âNever heard of it. The name sounds decent, but it must be some backwater force,â Shangguan Lan replied.
In the Mortal Ascension Heaven, she knew of all the forces with prestige and renown.
Though she hadnât been to them, their names had spread far and wide.
The True Martial Sacred Ground was definitely not among them.
Which meant, at best, it was a small force like their Martial Heaven Sacred Ground.
Of course, since their Martial Heaven Sacred Ground once had glorious ancestors, perhaps a few might still remember.
âŠ
Other than the Second Prince Chen Luo and Li Xiaoyuan, the Grand Elderâs eyes landed on the veiled woman beside them.
With a smile he asked, âMay I know how this young lady should be addressed?â
The woman only cast him a faint glance, without a word.
The Grand Elder stood there awkwardly.
âPlease donât mind her, Grand Elder. She only came along to take a look, you neednât concern yourself,â Chen Luo quickly explained.
The Grand Elder gratefully seized the excuse and stepped down gracefully.
âPlease, all of you come with me. Our Martial Heaven Sacred Ground has already prepared fine courtyards and a feast of spirit delicacies.â
âYouâve worked hard,â the Second Prince said with a wave of his hand.
Not until the group disappeared from view did the crowd start to disperse.
Shangguan Lan sighed, âWhen will I ever find such a husband?â
âSome people may seem fine on the surface, but you shouldnât be too enchanted,â Xu Zimo replied.
âEven if he deceived me, Iâd still be willing,â Shangguan Lan said stubbornly.
âAfter all, heâs ranked seventy-sixth on the Heroes Ranking. No matter what, heâs far better than you.â
âSometimes you shouldnât be fooled by appearances,â Xu Zimo shook his head and left.
He wanted to first find the True Martial Sacred Ground. If the sect really existed, it could at least serve as a place of belonging.
When he returned to his courtyard, Xia Wanqing wasnât around, where sheâd gone, he didnât know.
But unexpectedly, he ran into someone else.
Li Xiaoyuan.
The man had come here the very first thing upon returning to the sect.
âWhat do you want?â Xu Zimo asked.
âWhereâs Wanqing?â Li Xiaoyuan demanded.
âCalling her that so affectionately, are you really that close?â Xu Zimo retorted.
âI donât want to argue with you,â Li Xiaoyuan said flatly. âI want to speak with her alone.â
âThen speak with him,â Xu Zimo waved his hand. With a dragonâs roar, the massive form of the Seven-Winged Demon Dragon tore open the void, descending above them.
âWhat, what are you doing?â Li Xiaoyuanâs face changed as he looked at Xu Zimo.
He had only just returned to the sect, but the Grand Elder had already briefed him on the situation.
He knew Xu Zimo possessed a Seven-Winged Demon Dragon.
Otherwise, he would never have spoken so calmly to him.
But he hadnât expected the man to summon the dragon without a word.
âI mean no harm, I only came to catch up,â Li Xiaoyuan replied quickly.
His sword was already unsheathed at his waist, his Paragon Meridian aura surging.
Facing the dragon, whose strength was at the Imperial Meridian realm, his expression grew grave.
The immense pressure made it clear to him he had not the slightest chance of victory.
âIt misses you too, wants to catch up,â Xu Zimo said, waving his hand.
The massive body of the Seven-Winged Demon Dragon lunged.
What followed Xu Zimo did not bother to watch, only Li Xiaoyuanâs screams echoed from outside the courtyard.
The dragon hadnât killed him, but humiliation was unavoidable.
Although Xu Zimo had no feelings for Xia Wanqing, nominally they still shared a bond.
To come brazenly knocking on his door like this, such provocation was something he could not accept.
Now, with nothing pressing to do, Xu Zimo found a lounge chair, reclined in the courtyard, utterly at ease.
For now, his main task was to find the True Martial Sacred Ground, then later liberate the Primordial Demon Cave.
But according to Paimon, the Primordial Demon Cave was guarded by the Heavenly Court and the Ten God Bloodlines.
Forcing entry was impossible.
If he found no leads in the Mortal Ascension Heaven, heâd have to search in other domains.
âŠ
By afternoon, Xia Wanqing returned to the courtyard.
Her expression was dark and unpleasant.
Seeing Xu Zimo so leisurely only made her huff angrily.
âWhat now? Someone upset you outside so youâve come here to vent?â Xu Zimo opened his eyes and asked.
âOur marriage has been delayed,â Xia Wanqing replied. âAnd my appointment as Young Sacred Lord.â
âSomeone interfered?â Xu Zimo chuckled. âLet me guess, Li Xiaoyuan? No, he doesnât have the ability. Then it must be the Second Prince of the Star River God-Dynasty.â
âYouâve seen him?â Xia Wanqing asked in surprise.
âWhat was the reason?â Xu Zimo nodded.
âThe Second Prince said that since our Martial Heaven Sacred Ground will receive a share in the Nine Nights Immortal Sovereignâs Mystic Realm, at such a crucial time, we should focus on the Mystic Realm. Not on the Young Sacred Lord ceremony,â Xia Wanqing explained.
âAll that just for a Mystic Realm?â Xu Zimo asked.
âThat is no ordinary Mystic Realm. According to the Second Prince, it contains the inheritance of the Nine Nights Immortal Sovereign,â Xia Wanqing nodded.
âThe inheritance of the Nine Nights Immortal Sovereign? Wouldnât it stay with the Nine Nights Holy Lands, why would it be outside?â Xu Zimo asked in surprise.
Why would these forefathers not leave their inheritances to their own descendants?
It made little sense.
âIn truth, when our own ancestor, the Martial Heaven Emperor, departed, he also left behind no inheritance,â Xia Wanqing explained.