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Chapter 564: Chapter 560: Arrangements
"Starlight City."
Gu Jinlai stood on the steps of the Aries Star Palace, surveying Starlight City, located several miles away.
That was the capital of Star State.
Although it was not his place of origin, it was the political center of Star State.
And as Star State served as a transport hub, Starlight City’s geographical location was also exceptionally favorable.
However...
Having been accustomed to the towering skyscrapers and high towers of Wind and Rain City and Liuhuo City, and having visited the Imperial Capital enveloped by the main array of the Complete Heaven Gathering Star Array, he now looked at Starlight City and no longer felt any particular emotion about the city itself.
What truly stirred his feelings were the people inside it and some memories of the hardships endured in earlier times.
"Palace Master! You... you’ve finally returned?"
Xin Tianqi looked at Gu Jinlai’s figure, his eyes filled with emotion and sighs.
"I have returned,"
Gu Jinlai said.
He had abruptly left due to the inheritance of the Aries Star Palace even before the situation in Qiantian had stabilized; one could guess that over the past year, people like Xin Tianqi, who had taken on responsibilities on his behalf, had endured much pressure.
This was evident from the noticeably increased amount of white hair on their heads.
Nothing could be more mentally taxing than this.
Therefore, after being able to return, he rushed here at full speed without pausing for anyone to arrange a grand ceremony to welcome him.
He hurried to Starlight City’s Lingxiao Palace and appeared before everyone as quickly as possible.
"He has returned... he has returned... The Palace Master has returned, and our Lingxiao Palace has its pillar of support again..."
"Good, good, very good!"
Zhang Lihuo, Lu Zhanxian, Zhou Yi, and others were also overwhelmed with emotions, extremely excited.
Among them, Zhou Yi’s gaze quickly landed on the Aries Star Palace behind Gu Jinlai.
And on the Heavenly Dragon Wood, which spanned kilometers and was claimed to be the ultimate Beast Taming creature of the Heavenly Master Lineage.
Gu Jinlai was personally brought here by the Heavenly Dragon Wood, and this ultimate Beast Taming creature also carried the Aries Star Palace...
"Palace Master, you... you succeeded?"
Zhou Yi’s voice trembled slightly.
Not just him, but Zhang Lihuo and others also looked towards Gu Jinlai eagerly.
Meeting their gazes, Gu Jinlai confidently nodded: "I succeeded. From now on, I am the master of the Aries Star Palace."
He did not plan to discuss much with Zhang Lihuo, Zhou Yi, and others about the dangers faced during the inheritance process of the Aries Star Palace.
It was pointless.
"To receive the Aries Star Lord’s inheritance and become the master of the Aries Star Palace... good! Great! I knew it, I just knew you would succeed, Palace Master!"
Zhang Lihuo said emphatically.
"From today onward, not only do we have the Aries Star Palace, an unbreakable fortress even to a True Immortal, but also the Heavenly Dragon, a creature with battle power comparable to a Great Divine Ability User, making us worry-free in the Tianhe region,"
Gu Jinlai spread his hands wide.
"A creature with battle power comparable to a Great Divine Ability User!"
Zhou Yi’s eyes widened.
He knew that as the ultimate Beast Taming creature, Heavenly Dragons generally possessed strength comparable to Earthly True Immortals.
But a Great Divine Ability User...
That was the praise given to the very top-ranked Earthly True Immortals a thousand years ago.
Such beings could even make a difference on the battlefield where True Immortals fought.
After all, the Great Divine Abilities they released were swift, strong, and enduring.
"An Earthly True Immortal! Our Lingxiao Palace has suddenly become a power that possesses an Earthly True Immortal!?"
Xin Tianqi and others were stunned by this pleasant surprise.
An Earthly True Immortal!
Over the past year, their Lingxiao Palace, having no warriors of the Saint Realm, had been pushed almost into a corner by the Three Pure Ones Hall.
If not for the assistance from Venerable Xuan Tian, the region south of Tianhe might have been dominated by the Three Pure Ones Hall.
But now...
The Palace Master had returned, and not only could they continue producing Cheng Ying Mechas with battle power comparable to Saints, but they also had an Earthly True Immortal with power surpassing that of Saints!?
And from Zhou Yi’s reaction, this Heavenly Dragon was even considered a strong one among Earthly True Immortals!?
Was Master Gu aiming to elevate Lingxiao Palace to the heavens in one move!?
"Alright, it seems that Qiantian has not settled down recently, tell me exactly what has happened,"
Gu Jinlai said.
"Yes."
Xin Tianqi and the others immediately came back to their senses.
They glanced once more at the Heavenly Dragon Wood carrying the Aries Star Palace...
Each felt as if infinite strength had surged through them.
And as Gu Jinlai entered the newly built Lingxiao Palace, news of his return was rapidly spread to every city through the Thousand-mile Light and Shadow Mirror, and it even spread further throughout the entire southern region of Tianhe and into the whole of Qiantian.
Gu Jinlai’s return energized everyone as if they had found their pillar of support, their spirits soaring to the peak.
Some of the Gu family members even could not help but shout in joy, venting the excitement in their hearts.
Especially since Gu Jinlai not only returned, but also received the inheritance of the Aries Star Lord, took control of the Aries Star Palace, and brought with him a Heavenly Dragon with battle power comparable to that of an Earthly True Immortal!
That’s a Heavenly Dragon!
They, in Lingxiao Palace...
Instantly became a force possessing an Earthly True Immortal!
Under the circumstances of Master Wushi, the only Earthly True Immortal, having perished, Lingxiao Palace possessing Earthly True Immortal-level battle power, was truly set to become the greatest force under heaven.
Let alone the Daqian Royal Family and Sanqing Hall, even the True Immortal Palace might not be able to compete with them.
After all, Venerable Xuan Tian, having become a Saint with the power of a Divine Weapon, theoretically possessed battle power not inferior to an Earthly True Immortal. Yet hadn’t he been quiet for several months now?
If he truly possessed Earthly True Immortal-level power, why didn’t he simply conquer Qiantian and unify it, accomplishing what his predecessor, Emperor Tianji, had not?
With the reputation of being the greatest force under heaven, for a time, everyone who considered themselves to have some standing in Lingxiao Palace hastened toward Starlight City.
They hoped to meet the Palace Master firsthand, connect emotionally, or at the very least, familiarize their faces with him.
...
In the main hall, Gu Jinlai was listening to Xin Tianqi talk about the events that had occurred recently.
"Is Sanqing Hall still causing trouble? Did Venerable Xuan Tian defeat Blood Demon Emperor Luo and also break through to the Saint Realm? Has Xuan Yue, the master of the World Sword, become a Deva?"
There was something unusual in his expression, "Did Venerable Xuan Tian also help us at Lingxiao Palace once?"
"Yes,"
Xin Tianqi said, reflecting, "Palace Master, from what I have comprehensively learned about Venerable Xuan Tian’s experiences at the Frost Sword Sect, he fundamentally doesn’t seem evil. It’s only that due to being harmed by Wu Tiandi of the True Immortal Palace, his actions became extremely radical. Although he led the True Immortal Palace in conquering cities and seizing territories, gaining control of several states, the order within the True Immortal Palace has improved significantly, all cultivators practicing cruel and evil techniques were directly executed by him..."
He chuckled, "Rumors from the outside suggest that the losses of experts from humiliating Aries Star Palace and conquering Green State are not as numerous as those executed by Venerable Xuan Tian. The current order in the True Immortal Palace is unprecedentedly strict, giving a real sense of a force of the Righteous Sect."
Gu Jinlai nodded slightly after listening.
He had met the Sky Extreme Sword Master while Venerable Xuan Tian was still in the Divinity Transformation Realm, at that time he was being pursued.
Looking back on Venerable Xuan Tian’s life...
It truly was nothing short of tragic.
However, in times like these, people similar to him were not in small numbers.
Moreover...
Given his current cultivation level and status, although Venerable Xuan Tian could be considered invincible in Qiantian, even with the power of the Sky Extreme Sword, he was at most comparable to a high-level Void Immortal...
At most, he was at the level of a top-level virtual immortal.
This was already considering that the Sky Extreme Sword was more powerful than other Divine Weapons.
Otherwise, he would be at the standard of an ordinary Void Immortal like Ji Lie.
Therefore, when he had the time, he planned to visit the True Immortal Palace and have a good talk with this Sky Extreme Sword Master.
"By the way, I heard on my way here that you were discussing the joint attack on Emperor Tianji by Abyss Lord Lin Yuan and others like Wushi, Xu Wu, and Tai A a hundred years ago?"
Gu Jinlai said, "Is he coming back?"
"Yes."
Xin Tianqi’s expression brightened, and he hurriedly said, "Venerable Xuan Tian reached the status of Deva just over a year after becoming a Saint, growing too quickly. Continuing at this rate, perhaps in ten or eight years, he would be the second Emperor Tianji. Moreover, now he has intentions of sweeping across the world, which is no different from Emperor Tianji’s actions a hundred years ago. To prevent a repeat of the devastation to all life back then, Sanqing Hall sent a message to Abyss Lord Lin Yuan two months ago asking for help. Rumor has it this Abyss Lord will arrive in three to five days."
"Three to five days, huh."
Gu Jinlai nodded.
The talent of this Abyss Lord was beyond doubt; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been recognized by a Divine Weapon.
However, from the moment a Divine Weapon recognized its master, their path of cultivation was already predetermined.
Being called the Strongest Void Immortal-level Great Divine Ability User was already their limit.
"Did you find out where Abyss Lord has been all these years?"
Gu Jinlai asked.
"Sorry, Palace Master, Abyss Lord left Qiantian shortly after the battle with Emperor Tianji and his whereabouts remain unknown..."
Xin Tianqi said.
"If you don’t know, then you don’t know; we can just ask when we meet him."
Gu Jinlai, considering the population of more than one billion in Qiantian...
Although due to their potential for war, they hadn’t been targeted by Demon God-level beings, protecting the safety of these one billion people with a top-level virtual immortal-level Heavenly Dragon Wood might still not be enough. 𝔫𝖔𝖛𝖕𝔲𝔟.𝔠𝖔𝖒
Adding an Abyss Lord would be most appropriate.
Having learned about the recent events...
His expression also showed slight disappointment, "Emperor Qian has passed away? Now the Star King is in charge of the court?"
"Yes."
Xin Tianqi nodded.
"Although Emperor Qian’s cultivation was somewhat lacking, he... truly could be called a capable ruler. However, the internal contradictions in Qiantian are too great."
Gu Jinlai stated.
"Now many people in the court seeing the power of Sanqing Hall have shifted their allegiance to them. Even Emperor Master Tai Yuan, due to the matter with Venerable Xuan Tian, has not been very resolute. The Star King has repeatedly hoped for you, Palace Master, to assist. Since you weren’t in the palace, I have declined with various excuses..."
Xin Tianqi said.
"Sanqing Hall, huh..."
Gu Jinlai nodded, "Let’s resolve this matter when Lin Yuan returns. By that time, perhaps the major forces of Qiantian will have arrived."
"Right, back in the day, it was thanks to Abyss Lord and the other three that the chaos of Emperor Tianji was stopped. He has a favor with the whole world. Now that Abyss Lord is returning, naturally all forces must attend."
Xin Tianqi said.
Gu Jinlai nodded, his gaze shifting to Zhang Lihuo and Zhou Yi, "Next, let’s discuss plans related to Beast Taming and Artifact Refining with the Heavenly Master. Before long, there will be more than six thousand more Heavenly Masters arriving. I need you to prepare for their accommodation and the expansion of the Military Workshop."
