Chapter 153: The Eastern Heretic: When I Emerged from Seclusion, the World Had Changed

"Father!"

"Master!"

When they saw that familiar yet even more towering and upright blue figure, like a celestial deity descending from heaven, stepping through the air and arriving on the training ground.

Huang Rong, Qu Lingfeng, and others first blinked in surprise, then their faces broke into uncontrollable joy and excitement!

They never imagined their father/master would emerge from seclusion at this moment, and with such earth-shattering grandeur!

The aura emanating from Huang Yaoshi, deep as the ocean and boundless as the heavens, had clearly surpassed the Grandmaster Realm, reaching a brand-new, awe-inspiring realm!

Grandmaster!

Their father/master had truly succeeded in breaking through, becoming a Grandmaster of the highest order!

Huang Yaoshi, the Eastern Heretic, was now radiant and triumphant.

His eyes, already sharp and profound, now blazed with brilliant light, as if able to pierce through the void.

Every gesture and movement carried the air of a Grandmaster who ruled the world, and the supreme confidence of one who commanded all.

He had assumed that this sealed seclusion, to break through into the Grandmaster Realm, would require at least several years, even decades, of arduous cultivation and insight.

Yet he never expected that recently, at the critical moment of his seclusion, he suddenly sensed mysterious, immensely powerful energy fluctuations above Taohuadao.

Those fluctuations seemed to contain some fundamental truth of heaven and earth, and the mystery of life's evolution.

Inspired by sudden enlightenment, under the influence of those fluctuations, he shattered his long-standing bottleneck and found the inspiration and opportunity to ascend to Grandmaster!

Then, with one decisive push, it came naturally, like water flowing downstream—he successfully took that crucial step!

Coinciding with today, his cultivation reached perfection, and he emerged from seclusion smoothly!

Yet he did not know that the mysterious fluctuations he sensed were, in fact, the residual energy waves from days earlier, when Brother Ning Chuan had battled numerous Grandmasters—and even the great "Three-Seven-Zero" Grandmaster Xiao Yuanshan—near Taohuadao's waters, and when Ning Chuan himself transformed into a dragon, stirring celestial phenomena.

He still did not know how many earth-shattering events, capable of reshaping the entire martial world, had occurred on Taohuadao during his seclusion.

At this moment, Huang Yaoshi's gaze, like two sharp swords, landed on the unexpected guest, Wang Chongyang.

He snorted coldly, his tone brimming with unmasked hostility and warning:

"Wang Chongyang! Why are you not staying safely on Mount Zhongnan, but coming to my Taohuadao?!"

"Do you think I'm vulnerable because I'm in seclusion, and dare to come here to cause trouble?!"

Though both were among the Five Greats, he and Wang Chongyang had always been at odds, with mutual rivalry simmering between them.

The Divine Ability, Wang Chongyang, looked at this old rival whose aura had surged, having successfully broken into the Grandmaster Realm.

His eyes first flickered with surprise, then returned to calm.

He bowed respectfully to Huang Yaoshi and spoke in a calm tone:

"Brother Yaoshi, it's been many years. Congratulations on your divine art reaching perfection and successfully entering the Grandmaster Realm."

"I came here with no ill intent, only to retrieve my unworthy younger brother, Zhou Botong."

"I heard he was 'invited' to your Taohuadao as a guest—I've come to take him back to Quanzhen Sect."

He spoke plainly, stating his purpose outright.

Upon hearing this, the Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi sneered, a flash of pride and disdain in his eyes:

"Hmph! That old fool Zhou Botong has been feasting and drinking on my Taohuadao, so happy he's forgotten his home—why do you need to come fetch him?"

"Besides, he lost a bet with me and stayed of his own free will—what's it to you?"

"Wang Chongyang, if you want to take him away, it's simple!"

"First, defeat me, Huang Yaoshi!"

He had just broken into the Grandmaster Realm, was brimming with confidence, and wanted to test his newfound strength.

This legendary Divine Ability before him was the perfect opponent to try it on!

Hearing this, Wang Chongyang could only smile wryly and shake his head.

He knew well—this Huang Laoxie's nature was still as eccentric, reclusive, and unreasonable as ever.

It seemed this battle today was unavoidable.

"If that's how it must be, then this Daoist will have to ask Brother Yaoshi for a few lessons."

Wang Chongyang said helplessly, but his aura instantly sharpened into a blade.

A vast, righteous energy surged from his body, violently clashing with Huang Yaoshi's sinister, dominant aura in midair!

The next instant, both moved at once!