NOVPUBPreviously, when we attacked the Dark Heaven Tiger, it was also an attempt to intimidate and dominate the spirit, making negotiations easier.
But the person before us now isn’t playing by the rules at all.
Yet, I can’t refute it.
Taking on destiny is truly a gamble.
If the Chi Family bets correctly, we can ride this chariot straight to the heavens.
But what if it’s wrong? The risk is too great, we might collapse entirely or even be annihilated.
"It seems you haven’t thought it through before coming to negotiate with me," Xu Zimei laughed.
He turned and left the pavilion, settling atop the Dark Heaven Tiger, and slowly headed into the distance.
"Come find me when you have made up your mind."
"Wait, I’m coming with you," the woman next to him suddenly shouted, looking at Xu Zimei.
"What for?" Xu Zimei turned his head and looked at the woman with interest.
"I said, I want to go with you," the woman replied, locking eyes with Xu Zimei.
"Yiyi, you...?" the elder asked, looking at the woman with some confusion.
"After all, I can’t decide on my own marriage,
I will have to marry someone for the benefit of the family," the woman said indifferently.
"If that’s the case, I’d rather choose to trust him over that."
"I haven’t decided yet!" the elder sighed.
"He has the backing of the True Martial Holy Sect," the woman pointed out.
"You won’t find a better option.
The Buddha Country will eventually find out; the spot in the Ruins of the Gods was exchanged for with the life of our ancestor.
We simply can’t hand it over to the Buddha Country that easily."
The elder remained silent for a moment but eventually nodded.
He replied, "You’re right, the Buddha Country won’t give up the spot."
Looking up at Xu Zimei, he finally said, "Young Master Xu, I agree to the terms you just stated.
I only hope that one day, if you truly have the power, you can help our Chi Family."
"I can take the spot," Xu Zimei said, pointing at the woman behind him.
"But her, I never said I wanted."
"Whether you agree or not," the woman said defiantly, her mouth pursed, "I will follow you."
The elder standing nearby looked at this scene, actually hoping for a turning point.
He wished Xu Zimei would treat their Chi Family well for the sake of the woman.
Hence, he did not refute the woman’s words.
Afterward, he exchanged a few brief words with Xu Zimei, then left on his own.
The Ruins of the Gods won’t open in a short time; he needed to deal with the matters of the Buddha Country.
...
Watching the elder depart, the woman beside him remained silent, her eyes full of Immortal Qi fixed on Xu Zimei.
"If you want to follow, then follow. I don’t mind," Xu Zimei laughed.
He lay back on the Dark Heaven Tiger, closing his eyes for a light rest.
Autumn rain fell, and a gentle breeze wafted through the willow branches on both sides.
The pitter-patter of raindrops, the hurried journey, the overcast sky.
The Dark Heaven Tiger’s massive frame moved steadily along.
The woman in the light blue robe silently followed behind.
The light rain drenched all her long hair.
In the muddy path behind them, a large and a small pair of footprints were very noticeable.
...
The location of the Burial Buddha Temple was in the Eastern Continent.
Xu Zimei still planned to set out from the path through the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
It was much faster, after all.
However, as the Dark Heaven Tiger passed through a valley, it slowly came to a halt.
Xu Zimei sat up and looked back.
The woman was still doggedly following behind.
By this time, she had been walking for who knows how long, her long robe covered in mud, and her face showing great fatigue.
Xu Zimei said nothing more, he glanced into the valley.
At this moment, he was slightly shocked by the scene within the valley.
The valley was filled with people, and all of them were old acquaintances of Xu Zimei.
First, the Imperial Rule Immortal Sect from the Extreme West Region had arrived.
This included the Purgatory Holy Sect, the Divine Sun Holy Sect, and the True Martial Holy Sect.
The leader from the True Martial Holy Sect was the seventh elder, Elder Tianzhen.
Moreover, it wasn’t just the Extreme West Region; even the core factions of the Eastern Continent’s Imperial Rule Immortal Sect had gathered here.
The Blood Nether Holy Sect, the Chi Family, the Dan Family, the Mo Family, the Baili Family, the Taiyuan Heavenly Sect.
Beyond these Imperial Rule Immortal Sects, there were many first-rate and second-rate powers around.
The whole valley was noisy, with people not only at the bottom but also lining the mountainside.
Of course, those leading were still the members of a few Imperial Rule Immortal Sects.
"What’s going on?" Xu Zimei looked at the situation in the valley, patted the Dark Heaven Tiger’s head, and said.
"Let’s go and have a look."
...
The Dark Heaven Tiger leaped down, heading straight for the valley.
At the entrance of the valley, they were stopped by two disciples.
"Which Sect Gate do you belong to?" one of the disciples asked Xu Zimei indifferently.
"Just here to watch the fun," Xu Zimei replied with a smile.
"The valley has been sealed off, Loose Cultivators are not allowed to enter," the disciple guarding the valley replied.
"What if I insist on going in?" Xu Zimei asked.
"Friend, first look at who is inside before you talk about forcing your way in," the disciple said with a light laugh and a disdainful expression.
"What’s the matter?" Just then, a young man in a white robe walked over slowly.
"Senior Brother Zhuo," the two disciples guarding the valley promptly greeted him.
"There’s a Loose Cultivator here who wants to force his way into the valley, and we’ve stopped him."
"Is that so," the young man in white turned to look Xu Zimei up and down.
His gaze lingered on the Dark Heaven Tiger under Xu Zimei’s feet for a while.
Then he noticed the woman behind him and his eyes lit up slightly.
He turned his head with a slight frown, looked at the two disciples guarding the valley, and reprimanded them.
"Idiots, these two are my friends.
Who says they can’t enter the valley?"
After he spoke, he turned back to Xu Zimei with a smiling face and said, "Brother Wang, it’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other."
"A long time indeed, a long time indeed," Xu Zimei nodded with interest.
"Can they enter or not?" the young man in white looked at the two disciples with displeasure.
"Of course, if they are friends of Senior Brother Zhuo, they can enter," the two disciples quickly nodded and stepped aside.
"Brother Wang, please!" The young man in white made a gesture and walked into the valley with Xu Zimei.
Looking at the backs of the departing group, the two disciples guarding the valley shook their heads slightly.
"Sigh, another prey targeted by Senior Brother Zhuo."
...…
The valley was vast, but it wasn’t exactly empty.
Here and there grew some ordinary trees.
"My name is Zhuo Yihang, may I ask how you both are called?" the young man in white asked with a smile.
"Xu Zimei."
"Fan Tianyi."
Xu Zimei cupped his fist with a smile and said, "Brother Zhuo, thanks for helping us out back there."
"It’s nothing, I could tell you’re no bad person, just lending a helping hand," Zhuo Yihang said with a smile.
"However, the situation in the valley is somewhat complicated.
You two would be best not to wander around. Why don’t you come and sit at my place for a while?"
"That might not be appropriate," Xu Zimei said hesitantly.
