"What's that idiom about repaying grievances with virtue? Well, this is what I call complaining with virtue!"
"No wonder, even the Proud Children of the Nine Heavens were moved. For the past year, they haven't left the island for a mont, determined to find the Sanqing Saint Heir. They demand to see him alive or his body if he is dead!"
"But alas, there isn't a single clue!"
The news could not be contained and spread far and wide. Countless cultivators rushed over from all corners of the world.
The place was empty. Longhuang Island was long gone, so of course, they saw nothing. All they could see was the legendary desolate island where Yu Xiaolong, Zhao Qingyu, and the other Proud Children of the Nine Heavens were tirelessly using every thod at their disposal to search for any trace of Wang Xiu.
Thus, they knew the legends were mostly true.
"This is all your fault! If it weren't for you, Senior Brother Wang Xiu wouldn't be in trouble! I'll fight you!" a young girl in a green dress shouted, her eyes red and her voice choked with sobs as she charged toward Yu Xiaolong and the others.
She was stopped by a group of young people.
"Junior Sister Liu, don't be rash!" a young man said, halting the girl. He gave Yu Xiaolong's group a deep look, his eyes simring with suppressed fury.
Yu Xiaolong recognized them. The young man was nad Zhang Zhong; he had t Wang Xiu once and they had chatted for a while. Later, on the Heavenly Ladder, they were swept aside by Wu Ming. At the last mont, Wang Xiu had saved them and persuaded them to turn back. In the end, they heeded his advice and left without setting foot on Longhuang Island, thereby avoiding a fatal disaster.
Now, this group of youths was seething with a murderous intent that nearly burst from their chests, but they were held back by a few rational elders and other prodigies, preventing them from acting rashly.
Yu Xiaolong offered no explanation, and neither did ng Ran, Zhao Qingyu, or Han Yi, even though they were sure that Zhang Zhong and his group had misunderstood. In their eyes, however, the reason Wang Xiu was now in such a life-or-death situation was, indeed, because of them.
If not for them... perhaps... none of this would have happened.
「On this day.」
The snow had stopped for several days, and the sunlight reflected with a blinding glare off the glaciers.
Suddenly, a vast sheet of snow began to fall without any warning. The sunlight grew even more dazzling, illuminating the ten-thousand-mile expanse of sea until it was impossibly clear.
Two figures, both won, appeared on the desolate island. One had a full head of white hair and an icy deanor, like an immortal from Guanghan. Her gaze seed capable of freezing the very void. The other stood with her hands behind her back, clad in an azure gown. Her expression was aloof and indifferent, and her figure was exquisite and graceful—a peerless beauty, save for the axe strapped to her waist, which looked rather odd.
All discussion across the sea ceased. Countless gazes fell upon them. The atmosphere grew taut to the breaking point.
"The Earth Immortal Ancestor from the Sanqing Immortal Sect is here... She isn't going to start a fight, is she?"
"Wow, this is going to be quite the spectacle!"
Luo Binglan stood with her hands behind her back, her gaze sweeping over everyone before finally resting on Yu Xiaolong. "Where is he?"
Yu Xiaolong lowered his head, remaining silent for a long mont before finally speaking. "My apologies..."
BOOM!
Before he could finish his sentence, he was sent flying, crashing through a small hill and sending dust everywhere.
Everyone was shocked. Was she really going to fight? An Earth Immortal attacking a young prodigy? Weren't they afraid the powers of the Nine Heavens would co to settle the score?
"Stop! How dare you!" A Saint appeared, the very Saint Realm expert who was tasked with protecting Yu Xiaolong. He hadn't expected Luo Binglan to actually dare to make a move and was both shocked and furious. He took out a Jade Talisman, ready to summon reinforcents from the Nine Heavens.
"Stop!" Yu Xiaolong struggled to his feet from within the rubble, coughing and wiping blood from his mouth as he stopped the old man. He looked up at Luo Binglan's indifferent face and said, "If it helps you feel better, please, hit as much as you like!"
Luo Binglan said coolly, "Do you think I don't dare?"
Yu Xiaolong replied, "I took your disciple from this place, and now I have failed to bring him back. I will accept any punishnt you see fit!"
Luo Binglan snorted coldly and kicked him again.
She gave Yu Xiaolong a thorough beating, completely ignoring the consequences, to the horror of all onlookers. After all, he was a Proud Child of the Nine Heavens with an unimaginably powerful faction backing him. If things were pushed too far, a fierce battle would be unavoidable.
Just then, ng Ran suddenly stepped forward. He cupped his hands and said, "Senior, I am also responsible for what happened to Brother Wang! He is in this situation because he was trying to save us. If you must strike soone, please punish us all together!"
Han Yi also stepped forward. "And !"
Zhao Qingyu said nothing, but she too walked up to Luo Binglan, making her stance clear.
Luo Binglan glanced at them and scoffed, "Trying to intimidate with numbers? You think I don't dare?"
The group said nothing, rely bowing their heads and standing there motionless.
In the end, Luo Binglan did not strike again.
"Tell everything that happened on the island."
Luo Binglan hadn't co just to vent her anger. She had also brought good news. Wang Xiu's Soul Tablet, kept at the Sanqing Immortal Sect, had not shattered. This ant he was still alive, just currently missing.
「Several days later,」
The area grew even more lively. The Sanqing Immortal Sect had deployed nearly all its forces. Saints and Earth Immortals arrived at the desolate island one after another. Following the descriptions from Yu Xiaolong and his group, they began a carpet search across tens of thousands of miles of sea. They also delved deep into the layers of the void, searching for any possible clue.
Their mission was clear: find him alive, or find his body if he was dead. Failing that, they were to at least find a wisp of Wang Xiu's soul.
Shortly thereafter, people from the other Immortal Sects began to arrive. Li Xuanqi from the Mount Shu Immortal Sect ca with two Earth Immortal ancestors and several Saints. Zhang Yuge, the Saint Heir of Longhu, also arrived with his sect's elders. They brought the Longhu Sect's secret Escape Sky Talisman, which allowed them to move freely in the depths of the void. Representatives from the Shan Hai Cave Heaven and Shenyan Cave Heaven also arrived. Soon, nearly every major power from the Southern Domain Immortal Alliance was present, conducting an unprecedented search and rescue operation in the skies above the Northern Sea.
Above the Northern Sea, aboard a gigantic immortal vessel, Ji Zidian, Li Zuoyue, and other young prodigies gazed out with worried expressions. They scanned the vast, endless ocean, murmuring, "Senior Brother (Junior Brother), where on earth are you?"
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