Chapter 2457: Chapter 2457: Who Are You, Really?
Zixu Immortal Emperor’s formations, having received true teachings from Fang Bai, are among the most formidable in the Immortal Realm’s array masters.
On the side of Evil Fire Valley, due to the presence of Yin Yang Immortal Fire, few immortals approach, turning it into a remote and desolate place.
Zixu Immortal Emperor chose to set up a concealed formation in this area, likely because of its secrecy.
Fang Bai, upon seeing this formation, realized that it was likely a gathering place for the surviving disciples of the Emperor’s Palace.
However, perhaps not even Zixu Immortal Emperor knew that their gathering spot had already been discovered by the spies of Golden Crow Palace.
The Golden Crow Palace has tens of thousands of disciples, with its affiliated forces numbering in the millions, spread across all major heavenly domains of the Immortal Realm.
Therefore, any slight disturbance in the Immortal Realm can hardly escape the notice of the Golden Crow Palace’s higher-ups.
What relieved Fang Bai was that this time, during the "pursuit" of the Emperor’s Palace disciples, Yanshi Immortal Emperor accompanied him. Otherwise, whether Zixu Immortal Emperor and the Emperor’s Palace disciples could escape unscathed would be hard to say.
Although Zixu Immortal Emperor’s concealment formation was exquisite, it was ultimately created by Fang Bai in his previous life, so with a mere lift of his hand, Fang Bai could break the formation and enter.
What met his eyes was a beautiful scene of green hills and clear waters, akin to a paradise in a primeval forest.
By the side of a babbling brook stood a few bamboo huts. After Fang Bai entered the formation, he saw five immortals sitting cross-legged in the open space in front of the bamboo huts, seemingly discussing something.
Fang Bai did not conceal his aura, so as soon as he entered the formation, the five immortals sensed his presence.
Realizing an outsider immortal had intruded, the five immortals in front of the bamboo huts were greatly astonished.
One of the Immortal Emperor Realm experts furrowed his brow and instantly appeared in front of Fang Bai.
The other four immortals with Immortal King Cultivation Realm also immediately followed.
The five immortals occupied five positions, surrounding Fang Bai tightly, their powerful auras firmly locking onto him.
"Who are you, immortal?"
Seeing this outsider immortal possessing only a sixth-grade Immortal King Cultivation Realm, the Immortal Emperor Realm expert secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but immediately questioned sternly again.
This concealed formation he had set up could only be cracked by himself and his teacher, who perished a thousand years ago. In the Immortal Realm, very few could manage it.
Moreover, this formation created by his teacher was unparalleled in intricacy and brilliance, and was not easily passed on except to the Emperor’s Palace disciples and some of his close confidants.
Thus, for an immortal unrelated to his teacher to crack this formation was extraordinarily challenging.
Yet the sight of this unfamiliar young immortal in white startled him: how could someone seemingly a nobody in the Immortal Realm crack the formation and appear before them?
Though the five immortals could not sense any hostility from Fang Bai’s aura, given that the eight top-tier Immortal Emperors and their affiliated forces were relentlessly hunting Emperor’s Palace disciples throughout the Immortal Realm, they had to exercise extreme caution.
If this suddenly intruding immortal could not clarify his identity or origins, the five immortals would undoubtedly show no mercy in vanquishing him.
"Zixu, you’ve advanced by a minor realm compared to a thousand years ago. Congratulations are in order. However, your array skills seem not to have progressed much!"
Fang Bai gazed at the Zixu Immortal Emperor before him, with a mix of joy and excitement in his eyes, and addressed him in the tone of the Emperor’s Palace Master from a thousand years ago.
The four Immortal King Realm experts who came with Zixu Immortal Emperor were unfamiliar to Fang Bai, but from their auras, Fang Bai sensed they bore resemblance to Zixu Immortal Emperor, presumably his disciples from the past millennium.
Of these four Immortal King Realm experts, three were men and one woman, all with fifth-grade Immortal King Cultivation Realm, though not possessing innate spiritual roots, they had superior aptitude.
Zixu Immortal Emperor, hearing the familiar tone and voice in which Fang Bai spoke, suddenly shuddered. His eyes widened abruptly as he looked at Fang Bai’s unfamiliar face, trembling as he said, "You... you... who, exactly are you?"
Seeing their usually composed teacher show such an uncharacteristic expression, the four Immortal King Realm experts found it strange.
Rather than directly answering Zixu Immortal Emperor, Fang Bai smiled slightly and used the Thread Condensation Sound Transmission Technique to say a few words to him.
Those few words were ones that Fang Bai often used when imparting Immortal Technique Secrets and formation skills to Zixu Immortal Emperor in the past, known only to Zixu Immortal Emperor and Fang Bai.
As Fang Bai finished speaking, he observed Zixu Immortal Emperor’s entire body trembling with excitement, his eyes revealing a wild joy, and knew that he had recognized his identity. Thus, he advised him not to acknowledge him with disciple rituals for the time being.
It wasn’t that Fang Bai distrusted Zixu Immortal Emperor’s four disciples, but his current identity was exceptionally unique. If it were leaked to the eight top-tier Immortal Emperors, it would mean life and death calamity.
Therefore, Fang Bai had to exercise caution.
When the day comes that Fang Bai’s strength returns to its peak, he will no longer fear the pursuit of the eight top-tier Immortal Emperors’ forces, and then it will not be too late for Zixu Immortal Emperor’s disciples to pay their respects.
"Little immortal... little immortal pays respects to the Upper Immortal..."
Having learned Fang Bai’s true identity, Zixu Immortal Emperor’s excitement overflowed, and though Fang Bai did not allow him to use disciple rituals, he still knelt on the ground, paying respects like a younger generation, to show his respect for Fang Bai.
A thousand years later, faced with a "resurrected" master, if not for Zixu Immortal Emperor’s strong control over his emotions, tears would have already streamed down his face.
Seeing the teacher suddenly kneel before Fang Bai, addressing him as "Upper Immortal" and respectfully bowing, Zixu Immortal Emperor’s four disciples were greatly shocked. Though unaware of Fang Bai’s identity, they followed their teacher in kneeling and paying respects.
"You may rise!"
Fang Bai raised his virtual hands slightly, whereupon Zixu Immortal Emperor rose, standing respectfully with hands at his sides.
"The Golden Crow Palace’s spies have recently discovered your traces in Evil Fire Valley. Currently, two mid-tier Immortal Emperor Realm experts are bringing four disciples above the sixth-grade Immortal King Realm here to hunt you down..."
After Zixu Immortal Emperor’s four disciples also stood up, Fang Bai said sternly.
"What?"
Zixu Immortal Emperor and his four disciples were all taken aback.
"My teacher’s array skills are unparalleled in the Immortal Realm, how could the formations he set be discovered by other immortals?"
The female disciple under Zixu Immortal Emperor couldn’t help but speak loudly, with apparent disbelief in her tone.
"Yun Yan, cease speaking!"
Zixu Immortal Emperor, hearing this female disciple claim the array skills as "unparalleled in the Immortal Realm" before his teacher, felt deeply ashamed and immediately reprimanded her.
"But it’s true..."
The female disciple was evidently not too intimidated by her teacher, muttering softly with her lips pouting.
"You... you... Master... Upper Immortal, I’ve been too lenient with this disciple, resulting in her speaking thoughtlessly, making a mockery of you..."
In a terrified and anxious tone, Zixu Immortal Emperor spoke to Fang Bai.
Fang Bai wasn’t just his teacher but also the immortal he admired the most all his life; all that he knew of the array path was personally taught by his teacher. How could he even dare claim anything like "unparalleled in the Immortal Realm"?
