The words hung in the air.
Zhuge Sheng's face contorted in horror.
Qi Tianhe, who had just arrived from afar and landed behind Ji Xian Yuan, widened his eyes in an instant.
Ji Xian Yuan…
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her the foremost individual in the Great Xia's Longevity Realm.
From her birth,
She had been a legendary figure, as dazzling as the sun in the sky.
Every step she took…
Her past was a saga, her experiences a myth.
On one hand, she possessed a face of peerless beauty, and on the other, unmatched strength in the world.
She was the woman in the Great Xia's Longevity Realm who combined power and appearance, a goddess in the hearts of countless people, a star in the heavens, unreachable.
Let alone the entire Longevity Realm.
Within the Xuanyuan Palace alone, countless individuals yearned to become her disciple, to learn even a single move, which would be enough to traverse the world with impunity and reap endless benefits.
And now…
Ji Xian Yuan, in a proactive move, was taking a disciple, and that disciple was the half-baked Bai Zihe. It was simply incredible, beyond belief.
"I'm not willing."
But the next moment, Bai Zihe's reply stunned Qi Tianhe even further.
This brat…
Actually refused the Palace Master's invitation to take him as a disciple!
Qi Tianhe gritted his teeth internally, filled with indignation and silent curses—
Bai Zihe, oh Bai Zihe.
Did you even know the status of the Xuanyuan Palace Master?
Did you comprehend the power of Palace Master Ji Xian Yuan!
Qi Tianhe almost beat his chest in despair.
"I already have a master."
Bai Zihe offered a simple explanation.
If his master hadn't saved his life four years ago, Bai Zihe would have long perished in the sea, and there would be no Bai Zihe today.
Then,
His master also taught him martial arts, various profound techniques…
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call his master his reborn parent.
How could Bai Zihe possibly pledge allegiance to anyone else?
Even if he knew Ji Xian Yuan's power was immense, it was impossible.
In fact,
Bai Zihe harbored another thought.
His master might not be inferior to this Ji Xian Yuan, perhaps even stronger.
Of course, this was merely a feeling.
Ji Xian Yuan was also slightly taken aback.
This was the first time she had felt the urge to take a disciple, only to be rejected by Bai Zihe.
However,
After centuries of cultivation, her heart was as still as a calm lake, and she naturally would not be angered by such a trivial matter.
"This is a sound transmission jade slip."
Ji Xian Yuan produced a jade slip and handed it to Bai Zihe: "Whenever you have a change of heart, you can contact me anytime."
"If you encounter danger…"
"You can also send me a distress signal immediately."
Bai Zihe knew that the Great Xia had undergone a drastic change, and with the opening of Dragon Island, the entire world might have been reshaped.
With such a powerful expert offering assistance, he naturally wouldn't refuse.
"Thank you."
Bai Zihe accepted the transmission jade slip and asked curiously, "Why?"
"Because… the Xuanyuan Sword."
Bai Zihe's pupils constricted slightly.
The Xuanyuan Sword…
It had been lodged in his mind ever since he obtained it from Dragon Island.
He had only taken it out once, when facing the extreme heat of weaponry, to test if it could cleave space and allow him to escape.
Otherwise, he had never brought it out again.
Even it being known to the Xuanyuan Palace…
It was evident that the Xuanyuan Palace was indeed mysterious and incredibly powerful.
"The Xuanyuan Sword…"
Ji Xian Yuan said solemnly, "is the foundation of our Xuanyuan Palace, and one of the ten ancient divine artifacts of Great Xia. It cannot be lost."
"If it falls into the hands of those with malicious intent, it will inevitably lead to disaster."
Bai Zihe nodded slightly.
The power of divine artifacts was too immense.
Although he couldn't wield any of the four divine artifacts he possessed yet, the partial auxiliary functions of the Haotian Tower alone had greatly benefited him, placing him in an invincible position.
"Therefore…"
Ji Xian Yuan cautioned, "Unless absolutely necessary, the Xuanyuan Sword must never be easily revealed."
"Otherwise, you will face certain death."
"Also, the Haotian Tower you hold, or any other divine artifacts, should not be easily displayed to others."
"Within Great Xia…"
"Perhaps the cultivators, wary of the Xuanyuan Palace's influence, would not dare to snatch the Xuanyuan Sword from your hands."
"But on a global scale…"
"Especially those of the vampire clans, the dark sorcerer clans, or the servants and descendants of the angelic race, they will absolutely see you as a thorn in their side!"
"You… must be extremely careful."
Bai Zihe's heart tensed involuntarily.
Indeed.
On this trip to Dragon Island, he had encountered vampires again, and then people from the dark sorcerer clan had appeared, along with the technologically advanced nation of 'Lighthouse Country'…
All sorts of strange beings had emerged.
Bai Zihe asked gravely, "Palace Master, how is Great Xia doing now?"
"Great Xia…"
Ji Xian Yuan said indifferently, "All the Longevity sects have emerged from seclusion and have begun accepting disciples within their respective territories to prepare for the great changes ahead."
"As for the secular world…"
"The Son of Heaven has not returned, and Great Xia is in chaos, desperately in need of someone to steer the ship."
"And,"
Ji Xian Yuan's gaze fell upon Bai Zihe's face, tinged with a hint of scrutiny: "You killed an elder of the Tianshan Sword Sect, and the Tianshan Sword Sect is offering a hefty reward for information about you."
Bai Zihe was taken aback.
The person he had killed on Dragon Island that day…
Was actually an elder of a sect?
Moreover,
Judging by Ji Xian Yuan's words, he had not only killed the opponent's clone but also their true body?
"Your move was indeed very powerful."
Ji Xian Yuan, sensing his doubt, praised him sincerely: "Even I would find it somewhat difficult to block it."
Of course, it was only 'somewhat difficult'.
Bai Zihe's current strength was still too weak.
If Bai Zihe possessed the cultivation of the Tribulation Transcendence stage, then for her to counter it would not just be 'difficult', it would likely cost her dearly.
Bai Zihe remained silent.
The moves he had comprehended from the creation of Pangu were naturally extraordinary.
"At present…"
Ji Xian Yuan continued, "Great Xia is in utter disarray. You should return to Great Xia as soon as possible, because an even more terrifying 'darkest hour' is approaching."
"Darkest hour?"
Bai Zihe exchanged a glance with Zhuge Sheng, both slightly startled.
What was this now?
"You will know when the time comes."
Ji Xian Yuan did not elaborate, stopping at the essential point. Then, she left the cave, transforming into a stream of light and vanishing into the horizon.
Qi Tianhe also departed.
Since the Palace Master had already given Bai Zihe the jade slip, he naturally had no reason to linger.
"Brother Bai…"
Zhuge Sheng looked at Bai Zihe with a solemn expression, "The situation in Great Xia is dire. I wonder, how long until the waiting ship arrives?"
Bai Zihe narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "There's no need to wait for the ship."
"Once I've made arrangements…"
"We'll return to Great Xia tonight."
Bai Zihe was already quite proficient in sword flight.
He estimated that
Even carrying Zhuge Sheng wouldn't be a significant problem.
"Good!"
Zhuge Sheng's eyes lit up.
Then, Bai Zihe gathered everyone.