CHAPTER 704: SPIRIT ANCESTOR

Aldrian truly wondered if this was just a coincidence that the Spirit Ancestor happened to visit this place at the same time he did. Whatever the case, it seemed he would meet with the Spirit Ancestor face to face after this.

Zhu Yanling spoke to the man after the shock.

"What happened? Why did the Spirit Ancestor come here without prior notice? Where is she right now?"

"We don’t know the reason, but the Spirit Ancestor has already entered the mountain range and is near the Flame Valley. From our estimation, she will arrive in about fifteen minutes. From what we saw, the Spirit Ancestor only came with her retainer and guardian," the man answered.

Zhu Yanling narrowed her eyes. She felt this was too sudden, since the Spirit Ancestor rarely went outside, and the last time she had visited the Phoenix Territory was thousands of years ago. Usually, Zhu Yanling was the one invited by the Spirit Ancestor to visit their palace, and each visit always brought something, such as words of wisdom, which was why they always went.

However, this time the Spirit Ancestor had come from the Spirit Territory with only a small group. She thought this visit was not a formal one, and perhaps that was the reason no prior notice had been sent. Coincidentally, the Spirit Ancestor’s visit happened at the same time she had invited Aldrian to her palace, which made her wonder if this was truly just coincidence.

She felt in dilemma because she had already invited Aldrian and wanted to talk about many things with him. He was her respected guest, and she did not want to make him wait. But on the other hand, there was the Spirit Ancestor, another respected figure. If the Spirit Ancestor wished to visit, then there was no way she could deny it.

As Zhu Yanling was caught in this dilemma, she suddenly heard Aldrian’s voice from the side.

"Queen Zhu, you don’t have to be in a dilemma. I can wait for now, and you can receive the Spirit Ancestor first. You don’t have to think too much."

Zhu Yanling looked at Aldrian and couldn’t help but sigh, showing a sorry expression.

"My apologies, Your Excellency, but this is also surprising for me, for the Spirit Ancestor to visit right now. Truly, I have made Your Excellency uncomfortable with this," she said in a regretful tone.

"No, it’s okay. Just like I said, you can do your thing. I can wait," Aldrian answered, and the queen responded with a nod. Zhu Yanling then looked at the man beside her and gave an instruction.

"Bring this esteemed guest to his accommodation. Put him in the best room and serve him as best as you can. If he needs something, just fulfill it."

Zhu Yanling then glanced at the Dragon King.

"How about you?"

Shen Longwei only shrugged.

"I just follow His Excellency. You can meet with the Spirit Ancestor. She might have business with you, since she came to your territory at this time," he said.

Zhu Yanling nodded and looked at her retainer again.

"Please."

The man bowed his head. "Yes, Your Majesty."

He was truly curious about this human’s identity. From the way his queen and the Dragon King spoke, they seemed to show the same respect toward the human as they did toward the Spirit Ancestor. From the voice alone, this masked human sounded like a young man.

However, he set that curiosity aside and guided Aldrian to the special room prepared for him, so he could wait while Zhu Yanling handled her business with the Spirit Ancestor.

Zhu Yanling watched the backs of Aldrian and Shen Longwei as they grew distant for a moment, before turning and walking in another direction to prepare for the Spirit Ancestor’s arrival.

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More than fifteen minutes later, Zhu Yanling, who had been waiting in front of the palace, saw a small cruiser slowly approaching from the lower part of the mountain. The vessel rose higher until it reached a special platform not far from her, prepared for cruisers to land.

Once the cruiser landed, a hatch on its side opened, revealing three figures already standing inside. They were three women wearing white black robes, and their features made it clear they were not human. Their skin was grey, and in the midst of their hair grew a kind of horn.

Seeing them, Zhu Yanling smiled, though at the same time she felt reverence, especially toward the one standing in the middle. The figure in the center was an old woman, and in this case, she was truly like an ancient relic, just from her appearance alone.

Her eyes remained closed, as if even opening them made her feel tired. The wrinkles covering her face and her long white hair showed the countless experiences she had passed through in her life. She leaned on a cane in her right hand to support her hunched body, and it seemed that if a strong wind swept by, she would fall. She truly looked like a being who had almost reached her grave.

Even though she exuded no aura, and her expression seemed soothing enough to make anyone who looked at her think she was a gentle grandmother, those who knew her would never underestimate her or mistake her for an ordinary elder.

Despite her appearance, she was still at the peak of the pseudo-immortal stage and counted among the oldest existences not only on the continent but perhaps in the world. Many who were far younger than her had already ascended to the higher heavens, yet she remained, as if she still wished to stay in this world.

Many did not know why she remained at the peak pseudo-immortal stage instead of ascending. Many knew she could have done so long ago, yet she seemed to choose to stay in this world. With her frail old bones now, many doubted whether she could still ascend.

Still, she was regarded as a grandmotherly figure because of her wisdom, age, and character. She was truly revered by the populace of the Beast Continent.

After the hatch fully opened and the path to the ground extended, the three spirits stepped out of the cruiser and approached Zhu Yanling. The old woman walked slowly with her cane, and the two figures beside her followed her tempo.

The queen herself approached them, and once she drew near, she cupped her hands toward the old spirit.

"Welcome to the Phoenix Territory, Elder Sariel. It is truly an honor for me to have you visit this place at this time," she said.

The old woman smiled warmly at her.

"My apologies for this sudden visit, Queen of the Phoenix. I know my arrival must disturb your time, since I did not tell you in advance," the old woman said, her soft voice like that of a kind grandmother.

"There is no disturbance, Elder. I am even glad that Elder Sariel has come, as it has been so long since you last visited this place," Zhu Yanling answered. "Anyway, let us go inside, Elder. It is not good for you to remain standing outside. Let us move to a more comfortable place."

Zhu Yanling was about to guide them, but she froze and stopped in her tracks when the elder spoke.

"Queen Zhu, could you bring me to the ’light’? The one who spreads the light, I wish to see him myself."

Hearing the elder’s words, Zhu Yanling’s heart trembled and she instantly turned to look at Elder Sariel. As expected, her visit here was not a coincidence! Zhu Yanling knew that with Elder Sariel’s ability, there was little that could be hidden from her. If anyone on this continent could uncover secrets, it was Elder Sariel.

She knew that even something like the Divine Blessing Pond must already be known to Elder Sariel.

Zhu Yanling, of course, understood what Elder Sariel meant by the light. The light could only refer to Aldrian. Elder Sariel was the one who had first described Aldrian as the light that appeared, and what she said at that time had proven true. Aldrian truly appeared like a light that shone, illuminating all and giving hope.

From the elder’s aged face and the tone of her voice just now, Zhu Yanling could tell that she truly wished to see Aldrian. Zhu Yanling showed her beautiful smile and nodded.

"Of course, Elder, I will bring you to him."

After that, she guided the three figures into the palace and brought them to the private room where Aldrian was staying. Along the way, they met the queen’s retainer, who was confused to see them heading toward Aldrian’s room. The queen simply explained that the Spirit Ancestor wished to meet the human first.

Not long after, they finally arrived in front of Aldrian’s room, and Zhu Yanling knocked on the door.

"Excuse me, Your Excellency, this is Zhu Yanling. My apologies if I disturb your time," she said.

It did not take long, a second later the door was opened by Aldrian, whose gaze shifted from Zhu Yanling to the old woman. He had already sensed their presence approaching, and he had even been paying attention to this old spirit ever since the moment she stepped out of the cruiser.

For him, this was the first time he had seen a figure as old as this spirit in his life. From the information he had read from the system, he also understood why this spirit was so deeply respected by many.

"Your Excellency, they are—" Zhu Yanling intended to introduce the Spirit Ancestor, but she stopped as the old spirit suddenly stepped forward toward Aldrian. And then—

Thud!

She let her cane fall to the ground and dropped to her knees, saying,

"The light that illuminates all things, I have finally seen you with my own eyes!"