In the tranquil depths of the Imperial Palace, Emperor Zhou, dressed in casual attire, stood beside a verdigris pillar with dragon patterns, watching a figure not far away.
"No, you should know that."
The man in a white robe turned around, revealing the face of Chen Hua. His gaze was sharp as a sword, looking directly into Emperor Zhou’s steadfast eyes.
"Is she still avoiding me?"
Emperor Zhou’s expression remained unchanged, but if one looked closely, in his eyes, there was a hidden sentiment—uncertain if it was pity or respect—when he saw the man before him.
"Zhou Zhukong, do you hate me?"
Chen Hua turned away, his face showing a hint of sorrow as he lowered his head to touch the white robe he was wearing, his eyes filled with reminiscence. Under the searing sun, Chen Hua’s shadow stretched out very long.
Inside the immense and majestic Imperial Palace, all was silent at this moment.
Zhou Zhukong, standing on the shadow of Chen Hua, quietly observed the man who was meant to be unparalleled in the world, once full of spirit and vigor, but now could only show a look of despondent sadness.
"She’s right there, why don’t you bring her back? You have the strength to do so!" ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novelꞁire.net
Zhou Zhukong suddenly showed a look of displeasure.
Chen Hua regained his composure, and he didn’t wish to elaborate much, simply responding briefly.
"You coward! You should know that she’s also waiting for you!"
Zhou Zhukong’s anger boiled over, and he threw a punch at Chen Hua. The fist was enveloped in a golden dragon shadow, as if a True Dragon had descended to earth.
When Emperor Zhou made his move, a tremendous aura of intimidation instantly swept across the entire Inner Imperial Palace, causing countless hidden experts to lift their heads in shock, wondering what could provoke the Emperor to such fury.
Yet before this fist, which could easily destroy an entire city, even touched Chen Hua, it dissipated like countless blades had shredded it, turning into a gentle breeze.
"Having ascended to the throne, reaching half a step away from Taiching, yet still haven’t learned to restrain your temper," Chen Hua said with a sigh, showing no surprise at the Emperor’s attack.
"Hmph, get out of my sight! You have no right to lecture me!" Zhou Zhukong also knew that he most likely couldn’t harm Chen Hua, and throwing a punch at the bastard was just a way to vent his frustration.
Afterward, Zhou Zhukong flung his sleeves and turned to leave, out of sight, out of mind.
The vast space was left with only Chen Hua alone.
The Complete Heaven Sect’s residence had grown much livelier than before; the disciples of the Complete Heaven Sect had arrived.
"Brother Liu, weren’t you in closed-door cultivation?"
In front of He Zhiqing stood a young man in a purple robe, exuding an extraordinary aura, wearing a sunny smile on his face.
"I just came out of seclusion, feeling inspired to action. Right as I emerged, I ran into our sect preparing to leave, and I thought rather than sit around in the sect, I might as well come along. Always cooped up in the sect, I wanted to come out and get more sun too!"
The young man named Liu scratched the back of his head, quickly noticing Yu Gejing standing behind He Zhiqing.
"Ah? Sister Yu is here too?"
"Mm, got bored staying in the sect, so I decided to come out for a stroll with Brother He."
Yu Gejing smiled warmly and greeted Liu Rusheng; she wasn’t really familiar with any of the True Inheritors other than He Zhiqing.
Behind Liu Rusheng stood roughly a dozen or so disciples of the Complete Heaven Sect, each clad in purple robes, both male and female, with handsome features. What surprised Su Youyi even more was that these disciples were all shimmering with starlight, which, when they stood together, really made it feel like a sky full of stars to Su Youyi.
"Sister, look at that group from the Complete Heaven Sect, they look so beautiful." Su Youyi gently tugged at her senior’s sleeve and whispered in admiration.
"As expected of those who came out of the Complete Heaven Sect, they always bring their special effects with them." Liang Yi quietly pulled Su Youyi a bit further away, afraid of getting dazzled.
"The cultivation techniques of the Complete Heaven Sect cause the disciples to automatically draw in Spiritual Power and starlight when their cultivation is low, creating a halo of stars around them. This allows them to quickly replenish their Mana during combat. Once their cultivation is high, they can internalize the starlight," Liang Yi explained softly.
"Oh, that’s pretty neat," Su Youyi said, entranced.
In her past life, it was precisely because of such a babe-magnet that the Complete Heaven Sect became the number one show-off sect in the game. Later on, even high-level players chose to keep the starlight visible around them, regardless of how useful it was—looking cool is the top priority!
Where have you seen a player in a game not wanting to be decked out with special effects?
While Liang Yi was lost in thought, he suddenly felt a prying gaze and turned his head to give Ying Tianxing a cold look.
Sure enough, Ying Tianxing was watching them with a half-smile.
"Crazy," muttered Liang Yi under his breath, not bothering to engage with him. He had already noted down people who obviously meant no good and had ulterior motives in his mental notebook. Now, they were ranked right after the Devouring Spirit Sect on his list, the type of targets he would eliminate at the first opportunity.
Turning his attention away from behind, Liang Yi looked towards Liu Rusheng.
Liu Rusheng he knew: one of the True Inheritors of the Complete Heaven Sect, incredibly talented, and a level 70 boss in the late stages of his past life, seemingly only a step away from level 71.
The group of disciples behind him, as well as those from the Sword Cleanse Heavenly Pool, the Mystic Bureau’s Shadow Guards, and some members of the Demon Clan from the Ten Thousand Miles Mountain, were the main participants in this internal exchange.
It’s so boring to spar only with one’s own people every day, don’t you see even the "Banished Immortal", the greatest cultivator, has almost sparred with every Great Cultivator of the Seventh Realm in the Mortal World?
Learn from the great Banished Immortal!
"May I know who these people are?" Liu Rusheng had noticed the people like Liang Yi inside the building early on. He only recognized Ke Mengzhan, who shared a love-hate relationship with his brother He Zhiqing. He knew no one else.
"Taoist Sect’s Liang Yi and his junior sister Su Youyi, Ying Tianxing from the Mystic Bureau of the Immortal Dynasty Xuanzhou, emissaries of Ten Thousand Miles Mountain—father and son Feng Ya, and Ke Mengzhan from the Sword Cleanse Heavenly Pool."
He Zhiqing introduced them one by one with a handshake, and Liu Rusheng greeted each in turn.
Upon hearing the name of Liang Yi, the group of disciples from the Complete Heaven Sect collectively turned their attention to him.
That was the first thought that crossed the minds of the disciples from the Complete Heaven Sect, with even the female disciples showing peach blossom-like infatuations.
The male disciples, looking at Liang Yi’s ethereal demeanor and otherworldly handsome features, suddenly felt that in terms of appearance and temperament alone, Liang Yi was truly the "Banished Immortal," right?
Compared to their own vulgar and ostentatious starlight, the difference was like night and day. Without comparison, there would be no harm. Take off your skirt, it’s just so embarrassing!
Originally wanting to witness the great disciple highly praised by the Banished Immortal, they did not expect to be first overwhelmed by the mere appearance of the other party.
Liu Rusheng didn’t pay much attention to Liang Yi. The title of the Banished Immortal’s first disciple was intimidating, but everyone knew he had been cultivating for less than half a year, and catching up to the peak geniuses of the Super Forces would still take time.
His attention was more on Su Youyi by Liang Yi’s side—the Sixteen-year-old Fourth Realm made him feel as if all his years of cultivation had gone to the dogs!
It should be known that prodigies like He Zhiqing and Ke Mengzhan, too, only stepped into the Fourth Realm at the age of over twenty! They were unparalleled geniuses in the history of both the Complete Heaven Sect and the Sword Cleanse Heavenly Pool.
And a sixteen-year-old at the Fourth Realm, is that even human?
Liu Rusheng couldn’t help but want to challenge this Heavenly Immortal-like young girl to see the gap between them.
He was not so arrogant as to think he could defeat Su Youyi; a disciple personally cultivated by the Banished Immortal would be a joke if he could beat her easily. However, he didn’t think he would lose either.
If nothing else, he still had his spirit.