Chapter 880: Hualuo Has Been a Bit Annoyed Lately

Unexpectedly, Lan Ling Wang sneered, "What, trying to anger me? You think you're impressive? I can't kill you? Someone like you doesn't even have the right to provoke me! Let alone make me act? Are you worthy?"

Ye Qingran raised an eyebrow.

Not playing by the usual rules?

Very well.

Lan Ling Wang shifted his gaze to Fu Hanxiu, tossed him an invitation, "This is an invitation to the Tongtian Grand Gathering a month from now. If I don't see you there, the Summit of the Hunt will have no reason to exist."

He pointed at Ye Qingran, "Of course, and her as well."

After speaking, Lan Ling Wang returned to his flying carriage, the maidens began scattering petals, and they headed back the same way.

Only after the figures of Lan Ling Wang's party vanished did everyone come to their senses.

Lan Ling Wang invited the Emperor Sovereign to the Tongtian Grand Gathering, even threatening that if the Emperor Sovereign did not attend, he would destroy the Summit of the Hunt.

"Tsk, a Hongmen Banquet!"

Anyone could see that Lan Ling Wang harbored ill intent; his motive for inviting Fu Hanxiu to the so‑called Tongtian Grand Gathering was impure.

Tongtian Road.

The Lan family.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the Lan family was very tense.

Everyone in the Lan family, from top to bottom, waited at the gate, as if a great figure were about to arrive.

Impatience flashed in Lan Ling Wang's eyes.

They had been waiting at the gate for a long time; that person still hadn't come, truly lacking any sense of time, and he really didn't want to wait any longer.

"Father, who exactly are we waiting for?"

"When he arrives, you'll know."

Lan Chuzhuang's expression was rather solemn; even when facing his most prized son, there was no usual indulgence.

Passersby outside, seeing this scene, all showed startled expressions.

One must know that the Lan family is the dominant force on Tongtian Road; what person could make the head of the Lan family personally receive them?

Lady Lan, however, smiled lightly and whispered to Lan Ling Wang, "Ling, today's guest is highly honored—a messenger from Xuyu's Shen Domain, sent by the Divine Emperor to seek the whereabouts of the Ruinous King's Sword."

"Ruinous King's Sword?"

A strange gleam flashed in Lan Ling Wang's eyes.

As the young master of the Lan family, he naturally knew about the Ruinous King's Sword.

That sword once belonged to Kong Sang Da Di; after Kong Sang Da Di's fall, its whereabouts have remained a mystery.

Unexpectedly, the Divine Emperor of the Xuyu Temple is also searching for the Ruinous King's Sword.

Lan Chuzhuang's gaze narrowed slightly.

In fact, they had previously received a mission from Xuyu, asking the Lan family to help locate the Ruinous Sword on Xuanmiao Continent, but there had been no progress.

The temple's people had lost patience, so they sent someone down to Xuanmiao, attempting to find the Ruinous Sword's whereabouts as quickly as possible.

Soon, a figure descended from the sky.

Clad in white, surrounded by a radiant glow, it compelled reverence.

"Xuanmiao Tongtian Road Lan Chuzhuang, respectfully welcome the Divine Envoy!"

The envoy from the temple was a young man, with clear eyebrows and bright eyes; not exceptionally handsome, but his appearance was pleasant.

"I have come by the Divine Emperor's command to seek the Ruinous King's Sword. If possible, let us begin now."

Whether by the Lan family's design or not, the news that a distinguished guest had arrived spread quickly across Tongtian Road, instantly drawing the attention of countless families.

A brief inquiry among those families revealed that this guest had a significant background!

He is the Divine Envoy of the Xuyu Temple!

Thus, the major families felt both envy and jealousy toward the Lan family.

Summit of the Hunt.

Ye Qingran also heard about this.

"Could this envoy from Xuyu be the Lan family's trump card?"

Ye Qingran whispered.

"Miss, I don't think so. I heard that after the envoy arrived at the Lan family, they immediately dispatched several groups outward, as if searching for something."

Ye Qingran lifted her brow, "Go find out what they're looking for!"

One month later.

Tongtian Road.

The Tongtian Grand Gathering began.

The so‑called Tongtian Grand Gathering is actually the process by which the major families of Tongtian Road select, through various means, the list of candidates who will go to Xuyu in a year.

Xuyu is the Upper Realm, while Xuanmiao Continent is the Lower Realm.

A gulf‑like disparity exists between the two worlds.

Everyone wishes to cultivate in Xuyu's Upper Realm, because its spiritual source concentration, cultivation atmosphere, and even power ceiling far surpass anything on Xuanmiao.

However, the Upper Realm of Xuyu connects to three thousand lower realms; while everyone wants to go there, an excess of people would inevitably degrade Xuyu's cultivation environment, reducing per‑capita cultivation resources.

Thus, controlling the number of people heading to Xuyu has become a very important task.

That is precisely why Tongtian Road exists,

Tongtian Road is not truly a road, but a region; it differs little from other places.

However, because there is a teleportation array linking to Xuyu, the cultivation environment is somewhat influenced by Xuyu, making per‑capita strength higher than anywhere else on Xuanmiao Continent.

Here, a hundred families have long dominated, with the Lan family at the forefront.

Each year, only three hundred people from Xuanmiao Continent may go to Xuyu; the first hundred families each have one slot per person, while other families have virtually no chance.

The higher‑ranking families have more slots.

The Lan family's quota for sending members to Xuyu a year ago reached as many as twenty, something other families could not match.

Thus, the Lan family dispatches a group each year to Xuyu for training; over time their strength grows, making them an unrivaled presence among the families.

That is why Lady Lan is confident enough to promise Chi Wu that she can return to Xuyu. However, the teleportation array opens only once a year. If Chi Wu wants to go back, he must wait for the next activation.

The Tongtian Assembly is held inside the Tongtian Building.

The Tongtian Building, built beside Tongtian Tai, is a nine‑story tower of red‑wood.

Only the families ranked in the top four on Tongtian Road may sit on the ninth floor; the other floors seat twelve families each, according to their rankings.

As for Tongtian Tai, it is used to announce the list of families selected to go to Xuyu next year.

Those selected will step onto Tongtian Tai and, three days later, complete the teleportation to Xuyu.

People heading to Xuyu may choose to return at any time, but if they wish to go again after returning, they still need a slot.

Hualuo has been a bit annoyed lately.

He has been in Xuanmiao for a month, yet still has made no progress at all.

The legendary Ruinous King's Sword, after its brief appearance, seemed to have vanished without a trace.

During this month he has scoured Xuanmiao, but found no hint of the Ruinous King's Sword.

"What should I do? I only have half a month left; if I can't find the Ruinous King's Sword, I'll have to go home and help my mother farm."

Hualuo let out a heavy sigh.

Who would know that this temple envoy, respected by the Lan family, harbors such worries?

Hualuo scratched his head, withdrew his hand, and saw that more hair had fallen out.

His thick, jet‑black hair was thinning again!

Hualuo wanted to cry, but he couldn't, because he was about to attend the Tongtian Grand Event and couldn't embarrass the temple.

"Young master."

A gentle voice sounded behind Hualuo, like a mountain spring tinkling and a yellow warbler singing, momentarily beautiful.