Turtle Grandmaster

When masters clashed, the outcome was decided in an instant.

"Clear Wind Sword? Hmph, you don't even dare use your Lifeblood Ultimate Technique? A rat that hides its head and shows its tail!" As fist and sword abruptly separated, Chen Xiaosheng was forced back thirty feet. He clasped his fists behind his back, concealing the bleeding sword wound.

His opponent, on the other hand, had retreated a hundred feet yet remained completely unscathed.

"Heh~ If this old man used his Lifeblood Ultimate Technique, would you still have a chance to live?"

"Hahaha, then why not give it a try? Anyone who can block my Heaven Breaking Divine Fist with merely a mid-tier martial art must be among the top twenty on the Grandmaster Ranking! So... which of those twenty are you? And can you withstand the emperor's hundred thousand Golden Saber Guards?" Chen Xiaosheng laughed as he provoked him, while secretly using the delay to regulate his breathing.

Forget his opponent using his Lifeblood Ultimate Technique—even if he simply unleashed another attack of the same strength as before, Chen Xiaosheng might not be able to endure it.

There was no helping it. He had to admit he was old. Now past eighty, his vitality and blood had long begun to decline, and his strength was no longer what it had once been.

At those words, the pair of sinister eyes beneath the other man's mask narrowed slightly as he instinctively surveyed the surroundings.

As one of the top twenty on the Grandmaster Ranking, one of the tiny handful of people with the greatest individual strength in the world, he had never before been threatened.

Instinctively, he considered leaving no survivors.

Of course, that was only wishful thinking. Even the most meticulous plan had its oversight, let alone something conceived on the spur of the moment. Besides, even if he could silence them all, the traces left at the scene would be impossible to conceal.

"Ding ding ding~" At the very instant his thoughts wavered, countless silver needles as fine as hairs shot toward him.

His expression changed sharply. Sword light danced as he sprang backward, not daring to take them head-on.

"Stormy Pear Blossom Needles! Su Jishi—hmph, you hid yourself deeply indeed!" Having barely evaded the needles filling the sky, the masked man's blood and qi were slightly thrown into disorder. He stared at the figure slowly rising from behind an inconspicuous pile of rocks in the distance, his face beneath the mask dark as storm clouds.

"Father-in-law!" The stone in Ning Haichan's heart finally fell to the ground, and he gratefully bowed toward Su Jishi in midair.

Yet Su Jishi did not look at Ning Haichan. He only stared at the masked man and said in a sonorous voice, "This old man understands neither right nor wrong, good nor evil. I came only to fulfill a promise to my beloved daughter. Once this matter is over, we will have nothing more to do with one another.

"Your Excellency may be a leading figure on the Grandmaster Ranking, but presumably you are not confident of defeating the two of us working together. Why not withdraw and pretend none of this ever happened?"

As Su Jishi spoke, Chen Xiaosheng drifted to his side, and the two stood shoulder to shoulder.

"Whoosh~" The masked man was quite decisive. Without dragging his feet or uttering a single unnecessary word, he turned and left.

At the same time, seeing this scene, the other masked men did not dare linger either and followed him in retreat.

"Father-in-law..."

"Greetings, Grandmaster Chen. Greetings, Grandmaster Su..." Inside the military tent, Ning Haichan and the Immortal Seeking Palace reception official both offered their respects.

Su Jishi waved a hand. "Cut the nonsense. Continue on the road. Once we reach the imperial city, we will have nothing more to do with each other."

"Father-in-law! This son-in-law is wholeheartedly devoted to Susu. Why must it be like this?" Ning Haichan's face was full of sincerity.

"Pah!" Su Jishi spat on the ground, not even wanting to say another word to him.

Ning Haichan looked aggrieved. "Father-in-law, I know you resent me for not giving Susu the status of principal wife. That truly is my fault, but..."

"This old man doesn't want to hear your bullshit! Tell me one thing: why didn't you give the Marrow Cleansing Pill to Sujin?" Su Jishi interrupted impatiently.

At that, Ning Haichan became even more helpless. "Father-in-law, they are both my daughters. The palm and the back of the hand are both flesh. It was simply that Yutan's aptitude surpassed hers, and she also possessed an Exquisite Mind... The facts have proven it as well. In this batch of immortal seedlings..."

"Bullshit! If Sujin had taken the Marrow Cleansing Pill, she could have become an immortal seedling too!"

"...Yes, yes, everything Father-in-law says is right." Ning Haichan stopped trying to explain.

"What? You're being so perfunctory—do you think this old man is throwing his weight around just because he's old?" Su Jishi grew even angrier.

"..."

For a moment, the atmosphere became awkward.

Chen Xiaosheng gave a light cough. "Brother Su, what is there to say to these juniors? Later, us two old relics can go have a drink."

Only then did Su Jishi calm down somewhat.

"Yes, yes, Grandmaster Chen is right. Let's first guess who that person might be. And who has the power to invite such a figure to act? Such a person has already come for our side—on Prince Yun's side, the Wang Family's side, the person sent there is probably no weaker than this one, right?" The Immortal Seeking Palace reception official hurriedly changed the subject.

"Hmph! What is there to guess? Who besides members of their imperial family could invite someone ranked in the top twenty of the Grandmaster Ranking, and do so for the purpose of eliminating immortal seedlings?" Su Jishi shot the reception official a disdainful glance.

"Could it be... that person can no longer wait?" The instant the words left his mouth, the reception official hurriedly shut up.

Ning Haichan exchanged a glance with him and silently nodded.

Indeed. What kind of Imperial Grandson remained one for fifty years?

Moreover, it was said that this year, an immortal master descending into the mortal world might bring His Majesty a Longevity Immortal Pill. Perhaps His Majesty truly could outlive the Imperial Grandson.

How could that person not be anxious?

"Do not speak recklessly! Who in this world does not wish for eternal life and ten thousand years of enjoyment? Perhaps some peerless expert seeks to rebel and seize His Majesty's immortal fate, hoping to earn a reward from the immortal master." Ning Haichan said with feigned solemnity.

"Yes, yes, that must be it, that must be it." The reception official quickly echoed him.

"There is no need to discuss this matter further. The Immortal Official need only report it truthfully to His Majesty. The key matter now is whether we have a foolproof plan for the remainder of the journey." Ning Haichan put an end to the dangerous topic, then turned to look at his father-in-law and Chen Xiaosheng, who sat high in their Grand Tutor's Chairs.

Chen Xiaosheng waved his hand. "So long as the other side does not dare reveal their identity, with us two old relics here, there should be nothing to worry about. What do you think, Brother Su?"

"Hmph. As long as you stand in front and take the blows, this old man will dare fire cold needles from behind. If you die, this old man will immediately slap his ass and leave." Su Jishi spoke bluntly, utterly lacking the bearing of an exalted master.

"Hahaha... Your title of Turtle Grandmaster truly wasn't given to you for nothing." Chen Xiaosheng threw back his head and laughed.

With such a promise from his father-in-law, Ning Haichan finally felt greatly at ease.

"Father, have the thieves retreated? Did they really come to kill me?" Just then, the guards led Ning Yutan, Ning Sujin, and Li Ji'an—the three promising youngsters—into the tent.

"Why aren't you paying your respects to your Grandpa Chen and Grandpa Su? If they hadn't saved your life today, things would have gone terribly badly for you." Ning Haichan hurriedly shot Ning Yutan a meaningful look.

Ning Yutan understood at once. She hastily broke into a radiant smile, her eyes seeming to sparkle with stars. "Grandpa Su, I've long heard my mother say that my second mother's father is a peerless master. Tan'er has always admired you beyond measure. Today, my wish has finally come true. Thank you, Grandpa, for saving my life. Tan'er will never forget this kindness for as long as she lives."

Poised and gracious, brimming with warmth, and such an adorable little girl besides—Su Jishi, who had been wearing a sour expression, found it hard to keep his face stern.

Especially when he saw his own granddaughter, Ning Sujin, turn her head away and refuse to look at him, he found himself liking this polite little girl, Ning Yutan, even more.

This silly girl... Back then, wasn't Grandpa only trying to seek an immortal fate for you? Yet in the end, you simply lacked the fortune... With a silent sigh, Su Jishi nodded at Ning Yutan.

After Ning Yutan had finished thanking Chen Xiaosheng, Ning Haichan said to Ning Sujin, "Jin'er, you haven't seen Grandpa for a long time either. Don't you often say you miss him? Go on, let your grandpa have a good look at you."

Ning Sujin frowned slightly and stepped forward somewhat unwillingly...