Chapter 24

However, after Li Zhangsheng brought those missing people back, the entire Changsheng Gate was filled with cheers and celebration.

The grand elder directly arranged a banquet to celebrate their return.

In an instant, the Changsheng Gate square was filled with food and drink, bustling and lively, extremely joyful.

Many people sighed emotionally, pulling the returnees aside to chat.

「Hey, Ah Qiang, I thought you were dead! 」

「How come I see you looking disappointed? 」

「Really? I've been worried sick about you these days. Having survived a great disaster, there will surely be future blessings. Come, let's have a drink together! 」

「Come, cheers! 」

Such chats took place at every wine table!

……

In the following time, Li Zhangsheng as usual drank wine and enjoyed the scenery in the pavilion behind the mountain.

When bored, he practiced calligraphy, made talismans, and refined pills to supplement household needs; his days were fairly fulfilling.

As for Xiao Jue, Liu Yiming, and Luo Qingxue, they sat each day before the steles of insight left by Li Zhangsheng's seven disciples, contemplating the techniques and martial arts left by those seven rascals!!

These seven steles of insight are the cultivation experiences of Li Zhangsheng's seven disciples; besides techniques and martial arts, they also record insights into the principles after proving the Dao and becoming emperors, as well as how to cultivate to the peak of the tenfold Emperor Realm.

However, the difficulty of comprehending these steles is somewhat high!

Those lacking talent are like elementary school students looking at advanced math problems, completely bewildered!

Xiao Jue and Luo Qingxue are respectively the Ancient Sacred Body and the Lunar Divine Body; their talent and comprehension need not be mentioned, and they find it easy to grasp these steles.

As for Liu Yiming, it is said that his soul power was extraordinary from birth; when observing things, he has his own unique understanding, and sitting before the steles of insight he reads them with great relish!!

No matter what, these seven steles of insight are the supreme treasures left by Li Zhangsheng's seven disciples to the Changsheng Gate.

Even many Emperor Realm powerhouses covet these seven steles of insight endlessly.

However, previously, because Yang Xuanji was holding the fort, and moreover outsiders all knew that the Changsheng Gate had deep foundations, it was conceivable that the seven emperors left many fearsome defensive measures for the Changsheng Gate.

So, although the outside Emperor Realm beings coveted them, they did not dare to openly go to the Changsheng Gate to seize those seven steles of insight!

……

Netherworld Sect!

However, speaking of today, the Netherworld Emperor's mood is not very beautiful!!

「The Changsheng Gate actually took back the Tianshan where the Ice Soul Snow Lotus is cultivated? 」

The Netherworld Emperor was born extremely tall and mighty!

He stood in the palace, hands behind his back, his dark black robe fluttering without wind; hearing the report from below, he couldn't help but give a cold smile,

「Hehe, this Clear Wind Pavilion is too soft, eh? Yang Xuanji's imperial soul has already dissipated, and they came to take back the Tianshan and actually gave it up—what a bunch of worthless trash! 」

「When the Changsheng Gate came to take back the Tianshan, they didn't notify us beforehand, but only informed us afterward—what kind of trick are they up to? 」

The Netherworld Emperor's reason for agreeing to protect the Clear Wind Pavilion and take it as a subordinate force is naturally because he eyed the sixty percent share of Tianshan Ice Soul Snow Lotus that the Clear Wind Pavilion offers as tribute each year!!

Now the Tianshan has been taken by someone else, and yet we're still supposed to protect it—what a load of crap!

Below the Netherworld Emperor stood an old man with white-speckled hair and three long wisps of beard on his face.

This is the grand elder of the Netherworld Sect, a quasi-emperor peak powerhouse: "Sect Master, the Tianshan Ice Soul Snow Lotus is after all a considerable resource, we…"

The Netherworld Sect's grand elder wanted to speak but held back, obviously not wanting to give up that Ice Soul Snow Lotus.

「Hehe, I was just worrying about not having an excuse to make a trip to the Changsheng Gate; this is perfect! 」 The Netherworld Emperor's face broke into a smile, already having a plan in mind,

「After all, the Clear Wind Pavilion is now a subordinate force of my Netherworld Sect; if others bully it, we cannot stand by and do nothing. 」

「This is the perfect opportunity to use the pretext of 'upholding justice for the Clear Wind Pavilion' to go to his Changsheng Gate and borrow those seven steles of insight for a look! 」

「I've heard that these seven steles of insight contain the post-emperor Dao-law insights, and even a cultivation method leading to the immortal Dao—how tempting! 」

「I don't know what the other emperors are thinking; Yang Xuanji has already fallen, yet not a single one has made a move, all afraid to be the first to stick their neck out! 」

「Are they really that afraid of the measures left by those seven? A bunch of cowards! 」

「If they don't act, then fine—let's just watch from the sidelines; I'll go ahead and gladly accept those seven steles of insight, hahaha! 」

In the Netherworld Emperor's view, although the Changsheng Gate's seven emperors left some defensive measures, such measures surely need someone to activate them, right?

Yang Xuanji is gone; now who in the Changsheng Gate can activate the measures left by those seven emperors?

According to his knowledge, the strongest in the Changsheng Gate now is merely the peak of the Saint Realm, not even a quasi-emperor.

Even if someone could activate those seven emperors' measures, their power would surely not be fearsome!

Given that, what is there to fear about the Changsheng Gate now?

Since each emperor is watching and not acting, I'll be the one to stick my neck out; don't blame me for not leaving you even a sip of soup then.

「Mm, good! 」

The more the Netherworld Emperor thought about it, the happier he felt; that piece of fatty meat that is the Changsheng Gate, I'll seize the initiative!

「I'll make a trip to the Changsheng Gate。」

The Netherworld Emperor casually gave an order to the Netherworld Sect's grand elder, then vanished on the spot!

……

When the Netherworld Emperor appeared, he was already standing in the air before the Changsheng Gate's mountain.

His divine sense swept out, taking in everything of the Changsheng Gate at a glance.

On the square, disciples were training; the elders each performed their duties, every face beaming with smiles, appearing not only without the slightest decline, but rather a flourishing and prosperous atmosphere.

The Netherworld Emperor felt something odd; his body flickered, and he arrived above the Changsheng Gate square.

He walked with hands behind his back, treading through empty air, as if strolling leisurely in his own courtyard.

With each step, a resonant 'dong' of aura spread out.

On the square, the Changsheng Gate disciples who were training curiously lifted their heads to look at the Netherworld Emperor.

Huh? Who is this person?

Strolling about in someone else's airspace, how rude!

The Nether Emperor gazed down at the Longevity Sect disciples; seeing no reaction from them, he was slightly surprised, then let out a cold snort, "Hmph, seeing this Emperor and not kneeling—punishable!"

I am the mighty Nether Emperor; don't you know what reaction one should have upon seeing this Emperor?

As he spoke, a terrifying pressure was about to be released…

"Come here!"

Just then, a lazy, leisurely voice sounded in the Nether Emperor's ear.

As the voice faded, the Nether Emperor felt his mind go dizzy.

After he recovered, he discovered he was now in a small pavilion, his body in a kneeling posture!

And the one he was kneeling before was a white-clad youth leisurely drinking!

Huh?

Who am I?

Where am I?

What am I doing?

The Nether Emperor's mind was filled with a string of question marks!

When he realized he was kneeling before a white-clad youth, he instantly felt intense anger and humiliation.

Damn it, I am an Emperor Realm—how could I kneel before anyone?!

Immediately after, he mobilized his full-body mana; vast Emperor-level power erupted like primordial force, and then…

He still could not change his kneeling posture.

"I just don't believe it!"

The Nether Emperor continued to mobilize even stronger law power.

Hmm…

He strained until his face flushed red, yet his body remained unmoving, as if refusing to obey!

Alright…

Now, he began to panic.