Chapter 1807.1: Martial Aunt and Uncle

Blood boiled in the immortals and cultivators of the fourth realm when they saw the headlines, but the immortals of Earth could scarcely hold back their eye rolls. Earthling immortals had progressed so rapidly that they could now easily travel throughout the fourth realm. Many of them hailed from certain eras in which such salacious headlines abounded.

Lu Yun’s master, Lu Qingtian, for example.

Given the inherent advantages of being Lu Yun’s master, Lu Qingtian had long become a sequence expert. Added to that his name being written in the Tome of Life and Death, he was a definitive powerhouse in his own right.

Likewise, Xie Tianxun didn’t know what to say when he saw the latest issue of the spirit paper. Though the front page headline didn’t spell out his name, this kind of writing style made it easy for readers to remember him. He left quite an impression based on the content of the articles; the name of Xie Tianxun traveled far and wide after the newest issue.

While spirit papers used the written language of the fourth realm’s immortal dao, each character actively exuded its unique meaning. That made it easy for those unlearned in the immortal dao language to read the papers.

Not only could the immortals of the fourth realm purchase a copy, but so could the cultivators of the chief worlds through various channels. Enigma stones were exceedingly rare in the fourth realm and a set number was mined each year.

Cultivators from the chief worlds, however, didn’t lack enigma stones.

Thus, the arrival of the Golden Dragon King and subsequent occupation of Nihil Homeland made its way back to the chief worlds, resulting in general dissatisfaction toward the dragon race. That included grumbling from the dragons themselves.

All powerhouses from the chief worlds had withdrawn from Mount Astronomia and awaited the arrival of the supremes. They trusted that the supremes could resolve the issue of immortal dao eroding their own dao.

“This spirit paper invention is not bad. There’s a certain flavor to be found in reading the day’s news after a stint of monotonous cultivation.” Chu Xingran perused a copy with great gusto.

Spirit papers relayed current events or cultivation reflections from various heavyweights. Apart from the latest breakthroughs in formula dao, assorted new combat arts and cultivation methods, or the appearance of new treasure, the only other items of note were the gossip columns.

Right now, Chu Xingran was thoroughly engrossed in gossip.

“What should we do now that the supremes have arrived?” Xie Tianxun looked dejectedly at Chu Xingran. He could clearly see that the latter didn’t practice immortal dao; his cultivation was still focused on poison dao. In Xie Tianxun’s eyes, he was now on the same side as the enemy who’d once almost killed him.

By the same side, he meant the outsiders that followed Lu Yun. Since he couldn’t bank on Moran Dongning anymore, he switched targets to Chu Xingran. Who would’ve thought that Moran Dongning would be a spacetime traveler??

“What we? What do?” Chu Xingran lifted his head with indifference. “Do whatever you should. My primary body isn’t here, so this replica can die at any time.”

“I mean, what should I do?” Xie Tianxun ground his teeth. “I offended the golden dragons when I attacked Ao Quan. The rest of the chief worlds know about it too thanks to the damned spirit papers! The dragons have lost face and I’m the one who’ll pay for it!”

“Oh,” Chu Xingran nodded. “So you seek a connection to the azure dragons through me?”

He finally understood what Xie Tianxun wanted. Only the Moran Clan or azure dragons could protect the man after he hit the golden dragon crown prince. Dragons were a race to repay any slight tenfold, so even supremes would answer the call if the golden dragons issued a bounty for Xie Tianxun’s head. Not even nine lives would be sufficient for use then.

“Don’t worry, you beat Ao Quan in single combat. Do you think it’s happenstance that your accomplishment appeared in the spirit paper? This is Lu Yun’s way of protecting you and forcing the golden dragons to stand down. Don’t you worry your silly little head about it!” Chu Xingran threw his head back with laughter. “Lu Yun’s not restricting your freedom of movement anymore. You’re the second greatest immortal beneath immortal dao since you’ve set foot into twenty-eight levels of sequence. Go be a teacher at the Dao Academy on Mount Xuanhuang or be a dean of one of the schools if you’re bored. Why waste your time like this?”

“Second beneath immortal dao?” Xie Tianxun grumbled. “I’m only second when I’ve accessed twenty-eight levels of sequence?”

“Of course, the first is the Demonic Vine. She’s accessed thirty-six levels of sequence. There’s not that many in the chief worlds who’ve accessed thirty-six,” Chu Xingran smiled.

Xie Tianxun plopped to the ground and muttered inaudibly.

“Well, I can help you if you wish to be free of immortal dao sequence and access the sea dao of the dragons, or even receive protection from the azure dragons,” Chu Xingran suddenly changed tack. “But I have a condition.”

“Name it!” Xie Tianxun lit up.

He felt no sense of belonging to the fourth realm and didn’t wish to stay here. He was one of the greatest geniuses of this era and the Land of Reincarnation was an impoverished, remote backwater that couldn’t contain his ambitions. There was no fame or glory to be found in an insignificant corner of existence!

Even though many chief world powerhouses were paying attention to this locale, he’d still rather flock to the banner of a great faction in the outside realm and not be one of Lu Yun’s subordinates.

“My primary body and Ao Qin are about to travel to the Firmament Prison. If you come with us and help us attain our goal, the Azure Dragon King will immediately accept you as his disciple!”

Xie Tianxun trembled with equal parts fear and excitement. The Firmament Prison was one of the most dangerous places in the chief worlds. Countless powerhouses had died there and very few made it out alive.

On the other hand, he would fully release his potential and become a supreme in the shortest amount of time possible if he became a disciple of the Azure Dragon King.

“I’ll go!” Xie Tianxun nodded emphatically after weighing up the pros and cons. “I know what you guys want—the core essence of the prison. You’re doing it for Lu Yun, aren’t you?”

Chu Xingran wordlessly inclined his head. A keen light danced in Xie Tianxun’s eyes, but he refrained from probing further as well.

Chu Xingran was certainly more than met the eye. He’d visited the Firmament Prison before and came out with one of its finest fragments. It was due to that speck of prison that Lu Yun’s hell dao bore traces of the Firmament Prison.

“Who are you?!” Xie Tianxun suddenly demanded. “Even if you saved Ao Qin before, that’s not enough for the Azure Dragon King to take you as a foster son!”

“I am Chu Xingran… I was the Curse King for a while, but I am Chu Xingran now.” The man shook his head. “You’re overthinking it, my identity is not that complicated. Come, let us be on our way.”

He waved his hand and manifested a passageway leading straight to the chief worlds. Azure dragon territory waited on the other side. Chu Xingran’s primary body and Ao Qin were waiting for Xie Tianxun too.