"Can this old man refuse to answer that question, Azure Emperor?" Old Immortal Liu asked in a low voice.
Li Zhōujūn smiled without saying a word.
Seeing this, cold sweat broke out on Old Immortal Liu's forehead.
At the same time, Li Zhōujūn stood with his hands behind his back. With a single thought, a long sword suddenly formed beside him.
The long sword transformed into a bolt of lightning, erupting with a thunderous boom as it slashed toward Old Immortal Liu.
A look of shock flashed through Old Immortal Liu's eyes. The aura of a Half-step Dao Saint suddenly burst from his body, his robes billowing as his palms filled with magical power. He caught Li Zhōujūn's sword.
"As expected of the Azure Emperor!" Old Immortal Liu shouted.
Li Zhōujūn waved his hand, and the long sword dispersed as well.
Seeing this, Old Immortal Liu took a deep breath and cupped his hands toward Li Zhōujūn. "After I emerged from the painted world, I broke through to the Half-step Dao Saint realm. Later, I used an ancient method to conceal my Half-step Dao Saint aura.
"Even after Central Great Emperor broke through to the Dao Saint realm, he couldn't detect that my cultivation had reached the Half-step Dao Saint realm. Yet, as expected, I still couldn't escape the Azure Emperor's discerning eye. I also thank the Azure Emperor for sparing my life. Otherwise, with the Azure Emperor's strength, that sword would have been enough to kill this old man."
Li Zhōujūn nodded, neither denying nor affirming Old Immortal Liu's words.
When he had met Old Immortal Liu earlier, Li Zhōujūn had already become Fifty-Fifty with him and investigated his cultivation.
"Central Great Emperor's daughter, Shi Shuzhu; Northern Star Great Emperor; Phoenix Emperor; and many other Ninth-Rank Dao Emperors have