CHAPTER 1909: CHAPTER 1910: KINDRED SPIRITS

The sword light, like a thunderbolt, sliced through the air, landing directly in front of Yang Qianyan in an instant without him sensing it.

Bang.

With a crisp sound, Yang Qianyan’s arm fell straight to the ground.

In the air, the cold figure had its gaze locked onto Yang Chengyin.

"Yang Chengyin, I didn’t expect you to be here."

Yang Chengyin looked at Long Xuan in the air and smiled, "I also didn’t expect you to return here."

Long Xuan squinted and questioned, "So, the figure I was tracking was a decoy you deliberately set up."

Yang Chengyin smiled, "Otherwise? If I didn’t purposely show some flaws, how could I lure you away to another place? But I’m also curious, what exactly makes you rush here. These people can’t all be your friends, right?"

"If I said they were friends, would you believe me?"

Yang Chengyin’s lips curved slightly, clearly not believing Long Xuan’s words in the slightest.

"Geniuses are all lonely. Even someone like Su Zhedian has had few friends in his lifetime. Would you have any? Don’t joke."

Long Xuan blinked and looked ahead calmly, "What about you?"

Yang Chengyin grinned but had no intention of answering Long Xuan’s question.

Fortunately, Long Xuan didn’t care much for the answer. He just intended to irk Yang Chengyin, who had deceived him, with this question. After glancing down at Bei Tang Qian Xiao and the others, Long Xuan spoke calmly, "I wouldn’t say they’re friends. From a certain perspective, some of them are indeed my juniors. An elder I owed a debt to once told me to look after them a little."

Yang Chengyin frowned, still somewhat incredulous, "You came here just for that reason, giving up the chance to pursue me?"

Long Xuan blinked, "That’s something you don’t need to know."

Every word of Long Xuan was sincere. It was true that Qingxu Zi had instructed him to look after other Earth Core Lotus holders, and he had come here largely because of one word from Ye Qingci.

Although he didn’t know much about No. 2, the person clearly knew more about this Southern Xinjiang incident than he did. The fact that the other party voluntarily shared information was something even Long Xuan had to consider seriously.

Therefore, even though there was a chance to pursue Yang Chengyin, Long Xuan decisively chose to give it up, heading over here immediately.

After all, in Long Xuan’s view, even if the other party was Yang Chengyin, he could definitely be found; it was just a matter of time.

And when a person dies, they are truly dead.

"What bold words, worthy of the most outstanding figure of the current young generation. In my day, even I didn’t have your pride."

"You’re no better than Su Zhedian."

Even though he had never seen the two in their prime, Long Xuan spoke candidly.

This statement, for the first time, caused a ripple in the normally composed Yang Chengyin.

But just for a moment, Yang Chengyin suppressed this emotional fluctuation, squinting at Long Xuan.

"Long Xuan, do you truly think I needed to lure you away, believing that you now have the strength to contend with me?"

Not directly answering Yang Chengyin’s question, Long Xuan calmly observed Yang Chengyin who was no longer disguising his true self, and said, "There are three realms of the Earth Immortal: Divine Entry, Seeking Dao, and Ascension. Conventionally, the Ascension Realm doesn’t exist. Theoretically, after becoming an Ascension Realm cultivator, even forcibly suppressing the realm would trigger the Heaven’s Gate. After the Heavenly Tribulation, succeeding leads to feathered ascension, but failing results in falling even to the extent of being obliterated."

"Indeed, currently there’s an Ascension Realm existence thanks to that old bastard completely sealing the Heaven’s Gate. Honestly, even now, I don’t understand how that old guy managed it. At least, he’s dead; otherwise, I fear I’d never escape that prison called the Capital City."

Ignoring Yang Chengyin’s words, Long Xuan continued, "I’m indeed not yet in the Ascension Realm; defeating you won’t be easy, but you won’t be able to defeat me either."

As his words fell, the Three Talents Sword of Mount Longhu was instantly summoned behind him.

Drive Tiger, Swallow Wolf, Killing Star.

These three legendary Secret Treasures of Mount Longhu had undergone a tremendous transformation now that Long Xuan had become an Earth Immortal.

Drive Tiger was enveloped in flames, Swallow Wolf was flickering with thunder.

The one bearing the greatest killing power, standing at the forefront, was Killing Star, fully formed by a mass of Red Lotus Divine Fire so crimson it resembled blood.

The sword’s body had vanished completely; this new Killing Star formed by the Red Lotus Divine Fire posed a threat several times greater than before.

"Is this the... Red Lotus Divine Fire at the Earth Immortal level?"

Since Long Xuan’s appearance, Bei Tang Qian Xiao finally spoke for the first time. Looking at the Red Lotus Divine Fire glowing red in front of Long Xuan, she clearly sensed something different. Many unresolved questions were answered, the bottleneck that had long trapped her in the Nascent Soul Realm was easily unraveled at this moment.

If she didn’t know she had no opportunity to undergo Tribulation at this moment, in the next instant, Bei Tang Qian Xiao would have broken through and smoothly entered the Hollow Vacuum.

"Proceed according to your original plan, go find Yu Shuang and rescue Yu Yanshu."

Xu Nanzhi heard Long Xuan’s stern tone in her mind, after which she frowned, glanced at the battlefield, clearly a bit worried.

Long Xuan’s strength was naturally something she couldn’t question, but at this moment, Long Xuan was facing Yang Chengyin, the man standing at the top of the world, who hadn’t surrendered to anyone even after joining the Demonic Path.

However, understanding that even if she didn’t feel assured about Long Xuan, there was nothing she could do, Xu Nanzhi turned around without a word and headed directly towards where Yu Shuang was.

In the distance, the one-armed Yang Qianxing and Mo Ningchen instantly wanted to chase after, but in the next second, Swallow Wolf surrounded by thunder and Drive Tiger coated in flames suddenly appeared before them.

"Don’t think that with Yang Chengyin here, you can save yourselves. Within my sword domain, one step forward means death."

Long Xuan spoke dominantly, halting the pair’s actions, then quickly turned his head to look around.

At this moment, Long Xuan’s sword domain practically encompassed half of Southern Xinjiang!

"Long Xuan, do you know why I haven’t been in a hurry to make a move?"

Allowing Xu Nanzhi and Bei Tang Qian Xiao to leave, watching Long Xuan deter Yang Qianxing and others, Yang Chengyin finally acted at this moment.

"You want to turn me? Give up, there’s no chance."

Yang Chengyin chuckled lightly, "I’m not foolish; I know that someone like you wouldn’t be swayed by mere words. You only walk the path you’ve chosen. Even if it’s paved by others, you wouldn’t look at it twice, right?"

Long Xuan frowned, sensing something was amiss, "What exactly do you want to say?"

"Nothing, I just find it all too similar. Today, you are exactly like I was back then. As confident as to arrogance, looking up to no one but yourself. Yet... being surpassed by others, falling behind."