“Wandering Hermit, Master Yu!” In just seven short words, the husky spoke with such heartbreaking sorrow that he nearly cried himself into a faint. It was all thanks to Nangong Xuan holding him up.
The old man took a deep breath, then clasped his fists in the direction where Master Yu had turned into a streak of light and vanished. “This junior, Beidou’s Celestial Pivot Star Yin Tianxi, respectfully sees off Senior Master Yu!”
Nangong Xuan was startled. This fist-and-palm salute was an ancient custom from the Xia Kingdom. Although it’s no longer used today, he had still learned it. He immediately followed suit, clasping his fists. “This junior, Beidou’s Celestial Rotary Star Nangong Xuan, respectfully sees off Senior Master Yu.”
The husky, still crying his heart out, tried to imitate them, putting his two front paws together. “This junior, Husky, respectfully sees off Senior Master Yu!”
The sky gradually returned to normal, and the streak of light that was Master Yu finally faded away completely.
Suddenly, a flash of golden light flew from where Master Yu had disappeared to right in front of Yin Tianxi. Just as he was about to inspect it, a voice spoke from within the golden light: “When the young lady faces trouble someday, this item might come in handy. I’m counting on you, I’m counting on you.”
Yin Tianxi reached out and touched the golden light. It turned out to be three silk pouches, each labeled with the numbers “1,” “2,” and “3,” indicating the order they should be opened.
“The ‘young lady’ the senior mentioned—who is that?” Yin Tianxi looked at the husky in confusion.
The husky sniffled and said grumpily, “The senior already explained it. He said you’ll know when the time comes.”
Yin Tianxi was a bit puzzled. Why would this Senior Master Yu choose him? Strictly speaking, the two of them had never even met face to face, so where would trust even begin?
The husky understood his concerns and said, “Don’t overthink it. The senior has his reasons.”
Yin Tianxi nodded, accepted the pouches, and then asked, “May I ask how to address you, Brother Dog?”
“Didn’t I just say? Husky.”
Nangong Xuan raised an eyebrow. “That’s it? That’s so casual?”
The husky let out a cold snort. “That’s just because you’re uncultured!”
Nangong Xuan: “θu0026#￥＊……”
Yin Tianxi suddenly looked to the side and said in a deep voice, “Friend, since you’re here, hurry up and show yourself. Staying cooped up in your shell all the time is bad for your neck.”
No sooner had he spoken than Satoi flew over.
When he saw Yin Tianxi, his face was full of shock. In his not-so-standard Chinese, he said, “Yin… Yin Tianxi, how are you still alive?”
Yin Tianxi replied grumpily, “Even though I’m older than you, it doesn’t necessarily mean I have to die before you, does it?”
Satoi fell silent, but his mind was already working overtime.
Nangong Xuan and Ye Qingyu—two A-ranks—were already strong enough. Who would have thought an old-timer like Yin Tianxi would pop up now?
This was the man who had once firmly suppressed Fern.
And who was Fern?
The number one on the Heavenly Ranking!
Keep in mind, the only reason Fern was able to become number one was precisely because Yin Tianxi had gone missing. Now that Yin Tianxi was back, the international landscape was probably about to undergo a huge shift.
He then glanced at the husky and sucked in a sharp breath. No way, even the dogs in Xia Kingdom have broken through to A-rank now?
Sure, the husky couldn’t fly, but his cultivation level was a solid A-rank. Perfect for bluffing.
So that meant Xia Kingdom had four A-ranks.
Satoi put on a pained expression. How were they supposed to play this?
Not long after, most of the other A-rank experts who had sensed the disturbance also hurried over. Although they hadn’t witnessed Master Yu single-handedly repairing the sky, the tragic state of the Four Kingdoms Island still made their hearts clench.
This incident was like a stone thrown into water, fishing out all these A-ranks who usually kept their identities hidden.
They had no choice. The commotion was too big, and the temptation was also considerable.
You see, after transcendents reach A-rank, it’s like being reborn; they have a connection with nature. But if they want to go even further, they must comprehend the laws of space.
For people like Yin Tianxi and Fern, their understanding of spatial laws had already achieved some success. For the Western Divine Cult Leader and the Beastmasters’ Alliance Leader, they had only just peeked through the door. As for the others, they hadn’t even found a clue.
You could say that from the moment of breaking through to A-rank onward, the biggest obstacle on the path to advancement was the understanding of space.
No fewer than ten A-ranks had arrived on the scene. Nearly a third of them had died or vanished years ago.
Fern kept his eyes locked on Yin Tianxi, as if no one else was worth his attention.
“Hey, why do you keep staring at me?” Yin Tianxi said grumpily. “Haven’t you ever seen a handsome old guy like me before?”
Fern’s expression stiffened. “You’ve been dead for over ten years. Not only have your abilities increased greatly, but your sharp tongue hasn’t dulled with age, either.”
“Hmph, can’t help it. The food was too good. Naturally, my mouth muscles got a better workout.”
Nangong Xuan, standing nearby, rubbed his forehead, feeling helpless. This really was his master—unmatched in both verbal and physical skill under heaven…
Just then, an impatient roar interrupted their standoff. It was the Beastmasters’ Alliance Leader, the Beast God. “Hey, you two, haven’t seen each other for years, and the first thing you do is start arguing again?”
The Western Divine Cult Leader stroked his little beard and muttered, “Exactly. Might as well get together and have some hotpot.”
“Pah, you little old man with your hotpot,” the Beast God said, giving him a disdainful look, then proposed, “Why don’t you two just fight? Let’s see who’s stronger now?”
The four of them were once recognized as the strongest in the human world, so the others just watched from the sidelines, none daring to interrupt.
In the end, it was Satoi’s words that drew everyone’s attention. “This disaster has arrived somewhat suspiciously. Our country has suffered a heavy blow, with millions dying unnatural deaths. Our top priority should be investigating the cause of the disaster to prevent it from happening again.”
Fern nodded, frowning. “That’s right. Although, for reasons unknown, the disaster was contained within a certain range by an irresistible force, and even strange things like time reversal occurred, the number of people affected worldwide is still nothing to sneeze at. Moreover, the aftermath of the disaster is also a considerable problem. As humanity’s top combatants, since you’ve all shown yourselves, I think it’s better to stretch our legs a bit. After all, staying cooped up too long is bad for your health.”
His gaze swept over everyone present, his tone leaving no room for argument. “What do you all say?”
Yin Tianxi was the first to speak up. “Alright, it’s rare to have a chance to act cool. I’ve got your back this time.”
Fern’s face was dark and stern. “And the rest of you?”
On Xia Kingdom’s side, not counting the husky, only Yin Tianxi and Nangong Xuan were present. With the master having spoken, the disciple naturally had nothing to add.
The island nation was the biggest victim and the highest-risk area. Satoi couldn’t possibly refuse.
The Western Divine Cult had a full three A-ranks on site: the Western Divine Cult Leader, Smith, and a middle-aged man with no real presence. The three of them followed the Cult Leader’s lead and had no objections.
The four others—the Beastmasters’ Alliance, the A-rank experts from the Brahman Kingdom and the Northern Kingdom who were hiding their cultivation levels, and Park Hee from Goryeo—also had no disagreements.
“Good, then please make the arrangements, Cult Leader Satoi. Let’s discuss this in detail.”
…
On a distant helicopter, Long Tianyu nudged Oda Nobun with his elbow, amazed. “This is the first time I’ve seen so many A-ranks all at once. A full eleven… no, twelve!”
Husky counted, of course.
“Me neither…” Oda Nobun’s throat bobbed, and his breathing quickened. “And the actual number is definitely even more terrifying than what we’re seeing.”
Take Ye Qingyu, for example. She wasn’t here.
Just as the two were thoroughly enjoying the spectacle, a sudden gust of wind hit them. The twelve A-rank experts floated in front of them like a wall, bringing immense shock.
“Let’s keep a low profile. Take the plane.”
Thirteen people plus one dog crammed into the tight space of the helicopter. Before long, the aircraft began to wobble, and Yin Tianxi’s teasing voice came from inside. “Big gorilla, you’ve gotten even beefier while I was in seclusion, huh? The plane’s overloaded.”
