Chapter 177

This short sentence, he spoke it with extraordinary clarity, even carrying a barely perceptible tremor.

The towering figure seated in meditation within the Void trembled ever so slightly the instant he heard the words "Young Master", his seemingly eternal, cosmos‑core‑steady form shifting minutely.

The surrounding visions of evolving epochs and the birth‑death of worlds froze for an instant.

It was as if those two simple words possessed a power to shake his very soul, greater than the frenzied assault of the Other Shore's great foe.

"He… has appeared in the Boundless Heaven!"

The man in black robes continued his report, his excitement growing ever more evident.

"Moreover, he caused a great stir! With a single move he casually slew several of Ye Xuanji's so‑called War Generals, displaying invincible bearing; his name now spreads throughout the Boundless Heaven, drawing the attention of some ancient entities in the Upper Three Heavens!"

He paused, his voice brimming with sincere praise and pride: "My lord, the Young Master… has truly… grown splendidly! Far exceeding our expectations!"

Within the Dongfu, a strange silence fell.

The towering figure seated in meditation fell silent for a moment, the chaos mist veiling his face seeming to drift slightly; at last, a soft sigh laden with ancient sorrow and a hint of relief echoed through the Dongfu.

Immediately, he slowly opened his eyes.

What a pair of eyes they are!

Though the pupils remained indistinct, one could see an endless depth within, as if the terrifying spectacles of the Zhutian Wanjie, past and future, were turning and fading there.

Therein star seas were born, universes returned to dust, civilizations rose and fell, and reincarnation cycled.

With the opening and closing of his gaze, it seemed he could decide the life and death of the boundless cosmos.

Yet now, deep within those eyes capable of chilling even beings beyond the Immortal, beneath their age‑old calm, a ripple finally surfaced.

It was a trace as deep as the sea yet as fervent as the sun… a mixture of concern and pride!

On his face, the blurred outline traced a clear, faint smile.

That smile dispelled a fraction of the suffocating invincible aura surrounding him, adding a touch of human warmth.

"It came far earlier than I had anticipated…"

He spoke slowly, his voice low and magnetic, each word seeming to resonate with the Tiandao as it echoed in the Dongfu, carrying a wisdom and clarity that perceived all.

"Indeed!" the man in black robes exclaimed, nodding vigorously, his face glowing with shared pride.

"The Young Master is astonishingly talented, peerless among his generation! Even starting from that place, he could rise against heaven, composing his own endless legend! Now, having ascended the Nine Heavens Ten Earths, he is like a dragon returning to the sea, shocking the world in a short span—truly worthy… truly worthy of being your bloodline, my lord!"

His tone was filled with emotion; Ye Wuque's present achievements filled him with immense comfort and pride.

The seated man seemed infected by his subordinate's emotion, his faint smile deepening a fraction, bearing an ineffable complex nuance:

"His path, from the moment of his birth, has been destined… not to be tranquil."

In that tone lay foresight of the endless storms his son must face, a hint of guilt, but above all an absolute confidence that his bloodline would surely soar the Nine Heavens.

Hearing this, the man in black robes grew solemn, nodding in deep agreement:

"My lord's words are quite right. The Young Master is destined to face endless dreadful foes—from the light, from the shadows, from… the Other Shore, from… misfortune…"

"Now he has gone to the Wasteland Heaven, where those heaven‑defying feral beasts gather, a place of perilous unpredictability; given his nature, he will likely stir up another tremendous upheaval."

Having said that, the man in black robes' eyes flashed with sharp resolve; he stepped forward and spoke in a low voice:

"My lord, rest assured! I am preparing to set out now, heading covertly to the Wasteland Heaven! I will guarantee the Young Master's safety, allowing no petty villain any chance to harm him!"

His meaning was plain—he clearly feared that the lord's peerless great enemy, or any forces coveting the lord's bloodline, would seize this chance to send powerful ones against the Young Master!

He intended to go personally to guard the Way!

Yet the towering figure seated in meditation merely waved his hand lightly, his tone remaining calm and unhurried, exuding absolute confidence in his control of the whole situation:

"Hehe, A Fu, there's no need to rush."

His voice was gentle yet carried an undeniable force.

"Over there… I will naturally keep watch myself. Any stir of wind or grass cannot escape my perception."

He paused, his tone gaining a hint of deeper meaning: "Besides, the Wasteland Heaven… haven't you forgotten? Isn't there still him watching over it?"

Upon hearing this, the man in black robes' eyes flashed, a look of realization crossing his face, then he nodded slowly: "I understand, subordinate."

He naturally knew whom the lord's 'he' referred to.

That was another War General serving the lord.

Like him, his strength was equally unfathomable!

For certain reasons, he now holds command over the Wasteland Heaven.

With him present, the Young Master's safety in the Wasteland Heaven is indeed more than doubly assured.

"Your duty," the seated man continued, his voice sinking slightly, "is to monitor any movements of other possible adversaries. Especially… assassinations from the Other Shore… or… misfortune‑directed strikes… and… those who may lurk in the shadows, having long betrayed the Nine Heavens to ally with the Other Shore… traitors!"

When the word 'traitors' was spoken, though his tone remained calm, the man in black robes clearly felt a bone‑chilling, star‑river‑freezing killing intent flash and vanish.

The man in black robes' eyes instantly became piercing, like two peerless wicked swords drawn from their sheaths, as he nodded heavily:

"I understand, subordinate! Those rats hiding in the gutters, I will surely find a way to drag each one out!"

He well knew that the forces wishing harm upon his young master were far too many!

Open spears are easy to dodge, hidden arrows hard to guard against!

Especially those traitors lurking within our own ranks—they pose an even greater danger!

The seated man gave a slight nod, said no more, and closed his eyes again.

The majestic aura that suppresses the Zhutian Huanyu once again enveloped the entire Dongfu.

The man in black robes knew the lord had already decided; he ceased to disturb, performed a respectful salute, then melted into the shadows and slipped silently from the Dongfu to carry out his mission.

Within the Dongfu, silence returned.