It is evident that now, even the terrifying existence within Nangong Jianchen values Ye Xiaofanâs potential, deeming it worth drawing him in by other means. The silhouetteâs future may very well impact the direction of certain supreme realms.
Seeing Nangong Jianchen remain silent, the old voice spoke once more.
"Child, why not ask your own heart? If you set aside these profits, would you stand by him when he encounters danger today? In this cruel and cold world where interests reign supreme, genuine feelings are hard to come by. In his heart, you are already brothers through life and death. Whether to fight or to avoid, you decide."
After finishing, the old voice fell into complete silence as if it never existed, utterly soundless.
Clearly, the secrets Nangong Jianchen carries are far more astonishing than what Mo Shiyi and Ye Xiaofan could imagine.
After the voice ceased, Nangong Jianchen stood quietly on the vast battlefield, with his eyes gradually undergoing a subtle change, as if at this moment he remembered moments shared with friendsâdrinking, talking about the world, backing each other in dire times, experiencing life and death together.
At a certain moment, Nangong Jianchen suddenly looked up and broke into a knowing smile, as if talking to himself or responding to the voice within him, and said softly, "Old Ling, today I donât want to engage with him out of profit. Youâre right, in this ruthless world where the strong rule, interests are the reality, but true feelings are hard to come by."
"After âreturning,â I, Nangong Jianchen, might never make friends again in my life, so letâs leave one before I depart."
With those words, Nangong Jianchen raised the corner of his mouth infinitely, for todayâs battle, he would no longer fight for profit nor for the instructions given to that silhouetteâs mother but for brotherhood.
In the years to come, after âreturning,â due to his supreme identity, he, Nangong Jianchen, might never meet such brothers again, nor find those once joyful and carefree days. Now he no longer cares about anything, only wishes to truly fight a battle for a brother.
Thinking of this, Nangong Jianchen no longer hesitated, his whole person suddenly rupturing the sky, his body carrying endless terrifying power like a flood, once again causing boundless sensation.
However, another figure soared into the sky, quickly landing before that silhouette, standing shoulder to shoulder with Mo Shiyi, facing endless world-shocking figures.
At the moment Nangong Jianchen appeared, everyone was shocked once again.
Though the aura of the figure appearing later wasnât as terrifying as that which could compare to a âDivine Mountainâ class existence, the waves of its power exuded a faintly elusive mysterious might.
This hint of mysterious might, though deliberately hidden, was still sensed by a few shocking figures.
Sensing is one thing, but few can associate it with anything; instinct only tells them that the person before them absolutely possesses a background terrifying enough to frighten people to death.
However, not all shocking figures could remain oblivious to the source of this faint mysterious might; for instance, among the twenty newly promoted freaks of the Divine Sword Sect, one figure, upon sensing the deliberate suppression of that mysterious might on Nangong Jianchen, felt as though struck by lightning, filled with horror and shock.
That person was none other than the 18th Prince of the Royal Race of the Nanming Dynasty, hidden among the Divine Sword Sect cultivators, Xuanyuan Lang.
As Xuanyuan Lang sensed that mysterious might, endless waves arose in his eyes, as his face seemed to become extremely unnatural.
"Is it âthemâ?" Xuanyuan Lang was utterly shocked, as if recognizing Nangong Jianchenâs background, his breathing involuntarily hastened, yet he didnât reveal it, although his eyes were visibly filled with thunderous shock.
Evidently, the âtheyâ Xuanyuan Lang referred to, is Nangong Jianchenâs astounding identity background, and this background seems to have countless ties to the Royal Race.
While Xuanyuan Lang was in great shock.
Atop the endless void.
"Nangong, do you want to join the fun too?"
Mo Shiyi looked at Nangong Jianchen with deep meaning, his eyes shining with a hint of wisdom.
Nangong Jianchen responded with a faint smile: "Back in Star Moon City, I made a pact with Brother Ye to form an alliance and look after each other. Now someone wants to kill him; how can Jianchen turn a blind eye?"
After the two finished speaking, they looked at each other and smiled, then slowly turned to look at Li Chiyao and the others.
Ye Xiaofan looked at Mo Shiyi and Nangong Jianchen, who stepped up at this moment, feeling a mix of emotions, for although the three were long since life-and-death friends, it had always been the case that the other two were helping him unreservedly. If the past assistance came from a place of interest, then this moment was where true feelings manifest in adversity.
The current situation for Ye Xiaofan remains a certain death, for those unaware of the terrifying talisman from Qi Yun that he possesses to escape, Ye Xiaofan at this moment is a person doomed to die; those who stand with him now choose to seek life in death, opting to stand opposed to several Divine Sects and super great sects.
Seemingly sensing Ye Xiaofanâs emotional subtle shifts, Nangong Jianchen didnât turn around but raised an eyebrow and said: "Brother Ye, donât be moved, favors need to be repaid. Today, we stand and fall with you, but you owe a great debt, which for a sentiment-heavy cultivator, isnât exactly good news."
Ye Xiaofan shook his head with a smile upon hearing this voice; indeed, this favor isnât easy to repay, yet itâs a debt that fills his heart with joy. In Mo Shiyi and Nangong Jianchen, he sees deep bonds akin to those with his master and Senior Qi Yun. In life, if one can secure a life-and-death friendship, what more is there to discuss about paying back favors?