鈥淭his is great! His Holy Eminence is back!鈥?The Flame Monarch rubbed his bloodshot eyes excitedly.
鈥淐ough! Cough! Cough! Uncle Flame Monarch, slow down,鈥?Jingwei called out while coughing.
鈥淲hy slow down? The earlier we get to Phoenix Island and treat your injuries with the Phoenix Divine Water, the earlier we can return. We can see how His Holy Eminence deals with those bandits!鈥?the Flame Monarch said with hatred on his face.
鈥淗ah! There鈥檚 no need to be that fast. There鈥檚 no need. Slow down,鈥?Jingwei said bitterly as she coughed.
The Flame Monarch looked at Jingwei in confusion.
Then, the two flew to a nearby mountain summit.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a man appeared out of nowhere before the two. It was Gu Hai.
鈥淗uh? Gu Hai? Where did you run to earlier?鈥?the Flame Monarch asked with an unsightly expression.
Gu Hai said that he would help, but he never showed himself. If not for His Holy Eminence returning, the princess could have died earlier.
Gu Hai showed a stern expression.
鈥淕u Hai, that was real earlier, right? It was my eminent father?鈥?Jingwei asked with anticipation, showing bloodshot eyes.
鈥淧rincess, what鈥檚 wrong? Wasn鈥檛 that His Holy鈥︹€?The Flame Monarch鈥檚 expression changed midway.
He suddenly recalled Gu Hai could use the Go Dao to manifest cloud beast incarnations. Cloud beast incarnation?
鈥淧rincess, you did very well. You followed my instructions at every step. First, you frightened the officials, then agitated Heaven Access to redirect the trouble, and finally enraged Jiang Gautama and Ji Dihong to trick them into helping you remove the tracking marks. Well done.鈥?Gu Hai smiled.
鈥淭hat was not Eminent Father earlier? You manifested that with a Go Dao ritual array?鈥?Jingwei felt reluctant to believe it.
She wished that it was real.
鈥淒idn鈥檛 I borrow spirit stones from you earlier? I laid a ritual array and manifested Jiang Lianshan鈥檚 likeness, spirit, and aura. That cloud beast incarnation drains spirit stones especially fast. It will scatter soon. We should leave quickly,鈥?Gu Hai said gravely.
鈥淚t was fake? His Holy Eminence was fake? No!鈥?The Flame Monarch was unwilling to accept reality.
The Flame Monarch鈥檚 heart swung from great joy to great grief. He glared at Gu Hai, looking like he wanted to force Gu Hai to say it was true.
鈥淔lame Monarch, you know what happened eight hundred thousand years in the past. This is not the time to get angry. Furthermore, I did that to save Jingwei,鈥?Gu Hai said.
鈥淗ah鈥?鈥?the Flame Monarch sighed in sorrow. He seemed to age significantly in an instant.
Jingwei bit her lips, feeling incredibly upset.
Jiang Lianshan was like the sky to the Yan Nation. Now that the sky had fallen, the Yan Nation would crumble.
鈥淛i Dihong? Jiang Gautama? Hah! Cough! Cough! Cough! Cough! I will not let you have a good time!鈥?Jingwei suddenly snarled ferociously.
鈥淛ingwei, you should come with me now. I鈥檒l think of a way to send you to the nether realm,鈥?Gu Hai said seriously.
鈥淣o. I made a promise to you. Gu Hai, I promised to give you boundless lifespan. Let鈥檚 go. I鈥檒l bring you to retrieve the boundless lifespan,鈥?Jingwei said.
鈥淏oundless lifespan?鈥?Gu Hai narrowed his eyes at Jingwei.
鈥淩est assured. I鈥檓 not tricking you. Eminent Father truly left behind boundless lifespan. Hahahaha! You can have it! Take it all! I want Ji Dihong to die a horrible death!鈥?Jingwei showed a maniacal expression.
This maniacal expression contained overwhelming hatred. Gu Hai鈥檚 face sank when he saw it, as he could make out a trace of hysteria, the drive to take revenge regardless of the consequences.
However, Gu Hai naturally would not reject boundless lifespan.
鈥淎lright, we still have to be careful, as Sect Master Heavenly Access might come to find us. He can find us using the Supreme Ascendant鈥檚 aura from Waner鈥檚 body,鈥?Gu Hai said.
鈥淟et鈥檚 go, then. It is in the Eastern Sea, not too far away. Uncle Flame Monarch, bring us there. We need to be fast. We will be safe there. Even Sect Master Heavenly Access won鈥檛 be able to do anything,鈥?Jingwei said ferociously.
鈥淎lright!鈥?The Flame Monarch nodded.
Whoosh!
After Jingwei pointed out the direction, the three turned into beams of light shooting into the distance.
------
Divine Yan Hall鈥檚 plaza:
Jiang Lianshan spoke coldly as he stepped into the plaza.
All the Yan Nation officials remain kneeling and trembling.
Lifespan Dongfang, the Future Buddha, Di Shitian, the Scarlet Emperor, the White Emperor, and the others showed horror on their faces, not knowing what to do.
This was especially so for the Scarlet Emperor. He wished that he could slap himself now.
Couldn鈥檛 I have waited for a while? Just a while! Just a while more, and I would not be in such an awkward position.
The Scarlet Emperor had chosen to betray Jiang Lianshan earlier, standing on Ji Dihong鈥檚 side. Then, he got his face slapped metaphorically. Jiang Lianshan returned? Why did it happen so quickly? He wanted to cry.
鈥淵our鈥our Holy Eminence, I-I got tempted. The Yellow Emperor tricked me! He tricked me!鈥?The Scarlet Emperor knelt, not daring to resist.
He remembered what happened when the Black Emperor instigated Murong Yan behind Jiang Lianshan鈥檚 back, causing her death. He still remembered how miserably the Black Emperor died.
Murong Yan and his daughter, Jingwei, were the two women that Jiang Lianshan cared about the most. Why am I so unlucky?
鈥淭ricked by Ji Dihong? Hah! Excellent! We shall wait for Ji Dihong to return and settle old and new accounts together,鈥?Jiang Lianshan said coldly.
The Scarlet Emperor trembled, not daring to talk back.
鈥淵our鈥our Holy Eminence!鈥?Lifespan Dongfang wanted to plead for mercy too.
鈥淪hut up and wait!鈥?Jiang Lianshan said coldly.
Lifespan Dongfang remained standing at the side, not daring to say more.
鈥淎mit膩bha!鈥?The Future Buddha held his palms together.
Jiang Lianshan suddenly looked over with a cold gaze. That gaze seemed like it could spew knives, deterring the Future Buddha from saying anything more.
Di Shitian stood behind the Future Buddha, not wanting to stand out.
The White Emperor frowned slightly, not saying anything. Although she had not helped Jingwei, she had remained neutral. Even if there were accounts to be settled, Jiang Lianshan would not blame her much.
Naturally, the others did not dare to cross Jiang Lianshan at this moment.
Just like that, the Divine Yan Hall鈥檚 plaza turned deathly silent as everyone waited for Jiang Lianshan to speak.
However, Jiang Lianshan did not speak again. Instead, he looked in the direction in which Ji Dihong and Jiang Gautama left, waiting for them to return.
They waited for six hours.
No one dared to even breathe deeply for six hours. Everyone felt very confused, but Jiang Lianshan held great prestige, so great that no one dared to say anything despite their confusion.
This continued until those six hours passed.
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Jiang Lianshan鈥檚 body trembled and gave off wisps of energy mist from his body.
As the energy mist wafted around him, his future turned blurry.
鈥淗uh?鈥?Everyone鈥檚 expression changed slightly.
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
Jiang Lianshan鈥檚 body trembled intensely, giving off more mist. Now, everyone started to feel suspicious.
鈥淵our鈥our Holy Eminence?鈥?the Scarlet Emperor asked probingly as he knelt.
Bang!
Jiang Lianshan exploded with a loud report, turning into a clump of energy mist and vanishing.
Everyone: 鈥溾€︹€?
His Holy Eminence turned into a clump of mist and vanished? What鈥檚鈥hat鈥檚 going on?
鈥淥h no! We were tricked!鈥?The Future Buddha鈥檚 expression changed.
鈥淕u Hai? It鈥檚 Gu Hai! He used a Go Dao ritual array to manifest a cloud beast?鈥?the White Emperor exclaimed.
Earlier, Sect Master Heavenly Access had said his purpose was Gu Hai. However, Gu Hai never showed himself. When Jiang Lianshan suddenly appeared, everyone thought Jiang Lianshan had truly returned. No one dared to make speculations.
When Jiang Lianshan vanished in a puff of smoke, everyone suddenly came to their senses.
鈥淲e got fooled?鈥?The Scarlet Emperor suddenly stood up with a ferocious expression.
鈥淎mit膩bha! How excellent of Gu Hai! Hahahaha! How excellent of Gu Hai!鈥?The Future Buddha鈥檚 embarrassment turned to fury.
Everyone had foolishly stood here for six hours, scared out of their wits. However, it turned out to be Gu Hai鈥檚 trick?
鈥淎 cloud beast? Hahahaha! How bold of Gu Hai!鈥?Di Shitian said with a cold look in his eyes.
Although Gu Hai had displayed overwhelming might eight hundred thousand years in the past, that was then. The Go Dao laws were gone now, and he no longer had that strength. Just anyone here could casually crush him.
Yet, the weak Gu Hai managed to fool everyone, toying with them in the palm of his hand.
鈥淗ehehehe! Excellent! Excellent! How excellent! Gu Hai? We shall settle both old and new accounts today!鈥?Lifespan Dongfang said ferociously.
鈥淢en! Search for them!鈥?the Scarlet Emperor roared. He had knelt for a long time; he felt furious from the humiliation.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no need. Just bring me a strand of Jingwei鈥檚 or the Flame Monarch鈥檚 hair! I can find them. Humph!鈥?Lifespan Dongfang said coldly.
Whoosh!
The Future Buddha waved and immediately found a slender strand of hair.
Lifespan Dongfang extended his hand and clenched. Then, a small blue ball enveloped the hair.
鈥淟ifespan of the world, find the source for me! Go!鈥?Lifespan Dongfang shouted.
Whoosh!
The small blue ball soared into the sky and shot off in a direction.
鈥淟et鈥檚 go!鈥?Lifespan Dongfang shouted coldly.
Boom!
The Future Buddha, Di Shitian, the Scarlet Emperor, and their subordinates immediately took to the sky, radiating ferocious auras, in pursuit of Gu Hai鈥檚 group.
The White Emperor wanted to follow when an official behind her suddenly called out, 鈥淚mperial Lord!鈥?
It was Gu Hai鈥檚 traitorous adopted son, Tang Gu.
鈥淗uh?鈥?The White Emperor looked at Tang Gu with confusion.
鈥淚t has been six hours. Gu Hai is sure to have run far away. Furthermore, the waters run deep in this matter. We should not get involved,鈥?Tang Gu advised solemnly.
The White Emperor frowned slightly and eventually nodded; she did not follow.
------
After those six hours:
鈥淪top! This is the place!鈥?Jingwei called out.
The three immediately stopped above a vast sea.
They saw a small, isolated island below, surrounded by water with nothing else in sight.
This extremely unremarkable island awoke in Gu Hai some misgivings.
鈥淏oundless lifespan? Hidden here?鈥?Gu Hai asked doubtfully.
鈥楾hat鈥檚 right. Here. Haha! Gu Hai, I helped you! I helped you obtain the boundless lifespan!鈥?Jingwei said with a ferocious expression.
Based on Jingwei鈥檚 expression, there might be more to this lifespan. However, Gu Hai did not care. As long as he obtained the lifespan, it would be fine. His cultivation was currently stuck; he needed boundless lifespan to make his breakthrough.
The group descended slowly towards the island.
Just then, loud, startled cries came from the forest on the island. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the hall master?!鈥?
鈥淢aster?! Master, how did you find us here?鈥?
鈥淎h?! It鈥檚 Gu Hai! Purple Subtlety, look! It鈥檚 Gu Hai! We are saved now! This is great!鈥?
A few voices rang out, startling Gu Hai somewhat. Then, he accelerated his descent.
He saw Purple Subtlety, Longevity, Ensnaring Performance, Mu Chenfeng, and the Elite Hall鈥檚 Heaven Blasting Battalion disciples on the island.
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