Old Ent's Worries

Old Ent's Worries

"Emperor Rank!" Rook felt cold from head to toe. What kind of place was this? How could such a powerful expert be hiding in this village?

It had to be known that the gap between Level Six and Level Seven was a watershed, as vast as a bottomless chasm, leaving countless gifted individuals gazing across the sea and sighing in despair. The difference between Imperial Rank and Emperor Rank was practically the difference between earth and heaven. Before an Emperor Rank expert, an Imperial Rank expert's strength was simply no match at all.

The newcomers were Chen Yun and Old Ent. Old Ent had hurried over after sensing the energy fluctuations here. He had not expected to find Xili already locked in combat with this man. Moreover, from their exchange just now, he had been surprised that the man could fight Xili to a draw. But after taking a closer look, he discovered that the man had used some unknown secret technique.

All the warriors on the continent cultivated battle aura. One had to admit that humanity's creativity was terrifying; they had managed to invent all sorts of strange secret techniques, allowing their users to challenge opponents of higher ranks for a certain period of time. After countless generations of research, secret techniques had finally matured into a terrifying kind of skill.

Secret techniques were divided into five grades. A first-grade secret technique was not very powerful and could only double the user's attacks. Second- and third-grade secret techniques increased power fivefold and tenfold respectively. Above Battle Sect Rank, however, they were still far from enough to challenge across ranks.

A fourth-grade secret technique was enough to let an Imperial Rank warrior challenge an Emperor Rank expert across ranks. But defeating an Emperor Rank expert was still wishful thinking. Only a fifth-grade secret technique could accomplish that. Fifth-grade secret techniques were also known as sacred skills, and they could allow an Emperor Rank expert to fight a lower-level Saint Rank expert.

As for whether there were even more powerful secret techniques above sacred skills, no one knew. The continent's known secret techniques consisted of only these five grades, and they were exceedingly rare, controlled by only a handful of people or factions. Secret techniques were practically treasures, seldom seen under ordinary circumstances.

At this moment, however, Old Ent judged that the secret technique Rook had used was a second-grade secret technique.

A second-grade secret technique was already considered quite precious. A force that possessed such a technique and had even allowed one of its subordinates to cultivate it was unquestionably formidable and terrifying. There was definitely a frightening organization behind this group of black-clad men.

But what exactly was their purpose in coming here? This village was deep in the mountains, hidden away in a secluded location. Discovering it was no easy matter. How had they found it? Old Ent could not make head or tail of it.

Moreover, from the look of them, it was obvious that they had some mission to carry out. At this thought, Old Ent could not help feeling worried. He had lived in seclusion here for many years, and with his special identity, it would be troublesome if those people discovered him. Besides, this village was no ordinary village. Many secrets were hidden here. If outsiders discovered them, who knew what trouble it might bring.

He had lived here for so many years that he had already come to regard this place as his home. Therefore, he absolutely would not allow any accidents to happen.

At this thought, a trace of killing intent flashed through Old Ent's eyes. But then Rook's shocked words made him inwardly laugh despite himself, while also filling him with a trace of pride. He had not yet reached Emperor Rank, but relying on his peak Level Six physical cultivation, he could rival a Level Seven Battle Emperor. This was the terrifying power of achieving mastery in physical cultivation—enough to challenge across ranks.

But he would probably never reach Emperor Rank in this lifetime. Although his talent was extraordinary, cultivating the body was simply too difficult. Perhaps only those legendary, peerless figures who appeared once in a thousand ages could reach a higher realm. At this thought, Old Ent's heart filled with gloom and sorrow.

But when he glanced at Chen Yun beside him, a faint look of comfort appeared on his face. Perhaps Chen Yun could fulfill the wish he had never managed to achieve. After all, Chen Yun was an heaven-defying Dragon Blood Warrior!

Perhaps a miracle might even be born from his own hands. But before Chen Yun matured, the secret of the dragon bloodline absolutely could not be exposed. Otherwise, the consequences would be utterly disastrous.

At this thought, even heavier killing intent surged in Old Ent's eyes as he stared thoughtfully at the group of black-clad men before him.

Sensing the dense killing intent radiating from Old Ent, Rook could not help shivering. He looked at Old Ent with fear in his eyes, then forced a stiff smile onto his face, clasped his hands, and bowed toward Old Ent.

Rook said humbly and courteously, "Greetings, senior! Please forgive our recklessness just now. We did not know this was your place of seclusion. There were indeed many misunderstandings earlier. Please spare us, senior! We will leave immediately and absolutely will not disturb you!"

After hearing this, Old Ent raised his brows. A place of seclusion? He was especially sensitive to that phrase, particularly when it came from the mouth of an outsider.

Thus, he asked indifferently, "Oh? How did you know I was living here in seclusion?" Rook hurriedly replied, "An expert like you has never been mentioned anywhere on the continent, yet you live in such a remote village. You must surely be a reclusive master!"

After hearing this, a wave of helplessness flashed through Old Ent's heart. It seemed he really had been too sensitive; he had not even thought of such a simple explanation.

But in the next instant, Old Ent seemed to have thought of something. His entire body trembled, and a powerful aura rapidly pressed toward Rook.

Rook's face turned deathly pale with terror. Why had this man suddenly attacked without warning? Yet he did not dare make a single move. His meager strength was utterly insignificant before an Emperor Rank expert. If he did not resist, there might still be a sliver of hope.

Thus, Rook clenched his teeth and forcibly endured Old Ent's pressure. Beads of sweat the size of beans streamed down his face, the veins on his forehead bulged, and his complexion turned pale.

Just as he was about to collapse, the pressure vanished in an instant. A mouthful of blood immediately spurted from Rook's lips, but his heart relaxed greatly, and he secretly congratulated himself on his cleverness.

But at this moment, a faint voice entered his ears, leaving him caught between a rock and a hard place. "Speak. What exactly is your purpose in coming here?"

"Senior, we merely came into the mountains to hunt vicious beasts and obtain their crystal cores. We accidentally trespassed into your esteemed village. We have no purpose of the sort you mentioned." Rook kept his expression unchanged as he spoke. He truly lived up to his status as an Imperial Rank expert—even when facing the Emperor Rank expert he believed Old Ent to be, he spoke without blushing or losing his breath.

After hearing this, Old Ent could not help finding it amusing. He cast Rook a faint glance and said, "Oh? Is that so? You merely came to hunt vicious beasts? Then explain what you meant by that last sentence—'we have no purpose of the sort you mentioned.'"

"Uh? N-no... I didn't mean anything! I-it's just... we really only came to hunt vicious beasts!" Rook's face shifted from green to white as he spoke incoherently.