"What should we do with this remaining old fellow?"
The huge gap, the quick end of the battle, didn't affect Zi Yan's mood.
She flashed to Chen Guan's side, looking at the dazed Gu You standing nearby and asking.
At this moment, all it took was a nod from Chen Guan, and she would eliminate him without hesitation.
Gu You also heard Zi Yan's question, and his expression suddenly changed. He unconsciously stepped back, but he also knew that facing a Dou Sheng above three stars, especially one descended from the Grand Void Ancient Dragon, he had no chance of escape.
"Of course, kill him! We can't let this tiger go back to the mountain!"
Without giving Gu You a chance to plead, a voice suddenly rang out.
However, it wasn't Chen Guan's words.
Looking over, Xiao Yan was filled with righteous indignation and murderous intent.
In terms of hatred for the Soul Clan and Soul Palace, his hatred was no less than Chen Guan's!
Hearing this, Zi Yan did not move, and Gu You prepared for a final, frantic attack.
But at that moment, Chen Guan looked up.
"For Aunt Ran's sake, I won't kill you today. Go away."
"Brother Guan..."
Xiao Yan was puzzled and was about to step forward to stop him, but was held down by Yao Chen beside him, who shook his head slightly.
Gu You didn't expect that there would be a silver lining after all, but being alive was always a good thing. He looked deeply at Chen Guan and Ran Qingchen, then bowed and left.
Zi Yan didn't stop him and watched him disappear from sight in the blink of an eye.
"Brother Guan, why did you let him go?"
The matter was done, Xiao Yan stepped forward, frowning deeply, feeling aggrieved.
Gu You was the Second Heavenly Venerable of the Soul Palace, a high-level semi-saint. If he could be killed, even the Soul Clan and the Soul Palace, which were powerful and influential, would feel very painful, right?
What made it even harder for Xiao Yan to accept was that he felt Chen Guan's temper had changed. He was no longer as decisive and ruthless as before. He had always strived to be his role model, but now he felt as if his example was about to fall...
Looking at the indignant Xiao Yan, Chen Guan wasn't exactly angry. Different perspectives naturally led to different approaches.
He shook his head slightly and replied, "I've killed several Soul Palace Celestial Sovereigns, but this Bone You has only just made his first appearance today. Do you know why? Sister Qingchen's mother, the Master of the Sound Valley, knew this Bone You and had contacted us before. As the Second Soul Palace Celestial Sovereign, Bone You was willing to give Aunt Ran this favor. How could I let Aunt Ran feel guilty?"
"Besides, it's just one Bone You. It's not like I'm letting a tiger go back to the mountain."
He wasn't lying. If he could kill Bone You once, he could kill him ten times, a hundred times.
When Chen Guan emerged from the strange dimension of the ancient Bodhi tree, he had already disregarded Bone You.
There was one thing Chen Guan hadn't mentioned: he'd left a little trick in Bone Phantom that might allow him to leverage it for greater gains.
Compared to that, one Bone Phantom was truly insignificant.
After hearing Chen Guan's explanation, Xiao Yan was finally speechless, yet a different kind of emotion welled up within him.
That was a high-level Semi-Saint, a figure he'd considered a huge profit to kill, but in Chen Guan's eyes, she was nothing more than insignificant... He
'd thought the gap between them had narrowed since leaving the Heavenly Tomb, reaching the same realm.
Now, he realized there was still a vast chasm between them...
"Young friend Chen Guan, you clearly distinguish between gratitude and resentment, a rare feat. The crisis here has been resolved. You may come with me to the Ancient Realm and retreat in peace. You won't be disturbed. And this senior from the Ancient Dragon Clan is also welcome to visit the Ancient Realm."
Elder Tongxuan approached with a smile, showering praise on him.
Just these words nearly made Chen Guan and the others laugh out loud.
An old man named Senior Zi Yan...
The scene was jarring.
Perhaps Elder Tongxuan thought Zi Yan was a fabulously youthful old man, able to speak so calmly?
It's no wonder, if one didn't understand Zi Yan's upbringing, that he'd be right.
After all, this was a powerful being capable of easily annihilating a Dou Sheng!
How could a young person possibly do that?
Zi Yan opened her mouth to retort the old man, but Chen Guan quickly stopped her.
"Elder Tongxuan, please convey Chen Guan's gratitude to the Ancient Clan Leader. I also ask the Ancient Clan to look after Danta and the Heavenly Alliance for the time being. As for the Ancient Realm, I won't be going there. I have important business to attend to at Dragon Island, and I'll be retreating there."
Chen Guan was confident this retreat would only take a short time.
While the Ancient Realm was a good option, Chen Guan remained wary of the Ancient Clan. Just because they were together didn't mean they were completely trustworthy.
Compared to that, the Old Dragon Emperor was truly foolproof!
Elder Tongxuan sensed that this "senior" of the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan seemed displeased with him, which puzzled him greatly. Although
he was puzzled by the difficulty of getting along with the Ancient Dragons, he maintained a smile.
"Since Young Master Chen Guan has his own plans, I cannot force you. Just relax and retreat. The Soul Clan doesn't follow the rules, and we ancient races won't stick to them either."
"Well, thank you."
Chen Guan bowed slightly and said no more. He nodded to Zi Yan, who understood. With a gentle stroke of her jade hand, a spatial rift appeared, and she led the group through it.
"Xun'er, did anyone achieve Bodhi Heart this time?"
Watching Chen Guan and his group leave, Elder Tongxuan looked at the radiant young woman.
Gu Xun'er shook her head. "Let's go. I'm almost there,"
she replied briefly, and then she left.
This experience at the ancient Bodhi tree had had a profound impact on her.
Elder Tongxuan looked at Gu Qingyang and the others.
"I haven't seen any, but Chen Guan has obtained quite a few Bodhi seeds. He's told anyone interested to contact Danta. Within the clan..."
"Don't worry, you guys are all key targets for cultivation within the clan, and we'll definitely exchange some for you."
"Thank you, Elder Tongxuan!"
...
Elsewhere.
When Chen Guan and his group reappeared, they were already in a safe area thousands of miles away from Manghuang Town.
Landing on a mountaintop, Chen Guan turned to make arrangements.
"I won't be traveling with you from now on. I'll need to find a place to retreat first. Given your strength, the return trip won't be risky. We'll part ways here."
"Master Yao, Xian'er, Qinglin, when you return, tell our teacher I can trade ten bodhi seeds. Let our teacher identify the transaction partner first, and we'll hand over the deal after I return."
The three nodded in agreement.
"Yun'er, Zhongzhou is in chaos right now. You should return to the Flower Sect to take charge of the situation. I'll use the bodhi seeds to refine elixirs after I come out of seclusion, and I'll come find you then."
"Okay,"
Yun Yun nodded gently.
"Sister Qingchen, when you return to Sound Valley, tell Aunt Ran that you can contact Danta if you need anything during this period. I'll also make time to visit Sound Valley myself after I come out of seclusion. Also, give me that bodhi seed first. I'll refine the elixir and bring it to you."
Gu You's appearance gave Chen Guan some ideas, and he decided to make another trip to Sound Valley.
Ran Qingchen took out the bodhi seed. They were family, so there was no need for pretense.
"Then my mother and I will meet you in Sound Valley."
Chen Guan accepted the bodhi seed and nodded in agreement, then looked at Xiao Yan and his disciple.
After a moment's thought, he pulled another bodhi seed from his ring and offered it along with the one in his hand.
"Old Yao is a master of alchemy, so I won't show off my shallow skills. The situation in Zhongzhou is treacherous now, so it's best for Old Yao to recover his strength as soon as possible."
Honestly, his alchemy skills were no less impressive than his opponent's.
He was just lazy.
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Giving them two Bodhi seeds was a great honor.
Yao Chen hesitated for a moment before accepting them.
"Thank you!"
The current situation in Zhongzhou left him no room for refusal. With these Bodhi seeds, he would not only recover his strength faster, but even have the opportunity to advance further!
After explaining everything, Chen Guan left without further delay. He
nodded slightly to Zi Yan and dispersed.
As the two stepped through the spatial rift, the remaining group vaguely heard Zi Yan ask, "Chen Guan, shall we return to Dragon Island?"
Chen Guan seemed to shake his head in denial, but his response remained silent.
...
Northwest Region, Canaan Academy.
After years of development, the entire northwest has seen a rapid rise in strength, as evidenced by the caliber of Canaan Academy's students.
When Chen Guan first entered the Inner Court, Zi Yan was the only outlier on the Heavenly Ranking; besides her, there wasn't a single Dou Wang.
But now, the Inner Court is teeming with talent.
Even during his retreat in the Tianfen Refining Qi Tower alone, Chen Guan sensed three Dou Wangs!
And that wasn't all.
Chen Guan and Zi Yan, hand in hand, sighing with emotion, descended silently underground, alerting no one.
Lava roiled, heat waves invisible.
The underground world remained unchanged for centuries, seemingly unchanged.
Gazing at the swirling magma, Chen Guan suddenly spoke.
"Go see him?"
Zi Yan knew who he was referring to.
Over time, she had slowly come to terms with it; after all, blood is thicker than water.
Furthermore, the old Dragon Emperor had abandoned her out of necessity, and after they met, he had been eager to give her the best.
But now, Zi Yan shook her head.
"Next time. I always lose control of my emotions when I see him. I just consolidated Dragon Island, and I need to discuss with the Great Elder and the others about retrieving as many of the powerful as possible."
Upon hearing this, Chen Guan's heart moved.
The Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan, in both strength and heritage, was indeed comparable to the Eight Ancient Clans.
It was a pity that, because of the old Dragon Emperor, it had fallen apart, leading to its current state.
If those powerful individuals could be retrieved, it would undoubtedly be a formidable force. Used effectively, it would surely bring the Soul Clan to its knees.
The more he thought about it, the more impatient he became. Already, one idea after another, both good and bad, was forming in his mind.
"Perhaps I could help with this. After experiencing hundreds of reincarnations within the ancient Bodhi tree, I've made significant breakthroughs in the use of my spiritual power. After I ascend to Semi-Saint status, I'll find time to visit Dragon Island."
"Okay."
Pausing briefly at the edge, Zi Yan watched Chen Guan sink into the roiling magma, leaving for a long moment.
...
Within the magma world
, with Chen Guan's current strength, neither the temperature of the magma itself nor the flame lizardmen that inhabited it could threaten him.
He remembered that when Chen Guan first encountered the lizardmen, he and Medusa had killed as many as possible to obtain their fire pills for cultivation.
But now, Chen Guan avoided them whenever possible, avoiding killing them whenever possible.
One reason was that these fire pills were no longer useful to him; even the strongest of them had minimal effect.
Furthermore, he didn't want to breach the barrier of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's Cave.
Enveloped in strange fire, he journeyed deeper.
Two hours later, the towering and awe-inspiring Ancient Emperor's Cave once again came into view.
This wasn't Chen Guan's first time here, but each time he saw it, he couldn't help but be moved.
Shaking his head slightly to shake off any extraneous emotions, Chen Guan fixed his gaze on the figure seated cross-legged before the Ancient Emperor's Cave.
This wasn't the old Dragon Emperor's true form, but merely a manifestation of his consciousness.
Yet, it was still terrifying!
Chen Guan had experienced this deeply before his last visit to the Ancient Clan's Heavenly Tomb.
Back then, he had confessed his relationship with Zi Yan and felt the overwhelming care and love of his father-in-law.
Unforgettable!
"Uncle,"
Chen Guan greeted politely, leaping out of the lava.
As if newly aware of him, the old Dragon Emperor opened his eyes calmly, a hint of resentment flickering through them, giving Chen Guan a shudder.
"Huh? Nine-turn Dou Zun? I remember you were only a five- or six-star Dou Zun the last time you came here. Could you have died outside and been reborn by some old monster? Let me take a look."
The Old Dragon Emperor stood up and tried to find excuses to train Chen Guan.
Chen Guan frowned, but he was helpless.
Just as he was about to explain, the Old Dragon Emperor lunged forward.
In front of him, Chen Guan didn't even bother to resist.
The more he resisted, the more ruthless the Old Dragon Emperor would strike!
This was a bloody lesson!
Come, destroy!
Closing his eyes, the Ancient Dragon and Phoenix Armor possessed him...
However, after a while, no pain came. Puzzled, Chen Guan opened his eyes, only to see the Old Dragon Emperor had sat back down again, toying with a flawless, snow-white ring.
Chen Guan glanced at his hand and saw that one ring was missing.
"Boy, who gave you this?" the Old Dragon Emperor asked, examining the ring in his hand.
"The Spirit Tribe, a man named Ling Chong." Chen Guan didn't hold back, recounting everything that had happened that day.
He was curious about the ring.
He'd originally thought that after breaking through to the semi-saint realm, he might be able to break free from its restrictions. He hadn't expected the old Dragon Emperor to notice it first, and he seemed quite interested.
"Uncle, is there something wrong with this ring?"
"No, it's a good distraction. Aren't you preparing for a breakthrough? Go to seclusion and don't bother me."
Chen Guan didn't even need to explain his intentions; the old Dragon Emperor could tell from a glance what he was up to and guessed everything.
Silenced, Chen Guan suppressed his curiosity and found an open space to sit cross-legged, preparing for his breakthrough.
Although he felt confident, the semi-saint breakthrough required no compromise; perfection was essential.
To this end, Chen Guan silently practiced his cultivation technique for half an hour, until his mind was clear and his spirit and energy reached their peak. Only then did he begin to refine his Bodhi mind, devoting himself wholeheartedly to his breakthrough.
Noticing Chen Guan's state, the nearby Old Dragon Emperor looked up.
With a wave of his hand, a barrier enveloped Chen Guan.
Then, a single thought entered the ring in his palm.
"Come out and entertain me."
(End of Chapter)