After entering the address where he wanted it sent, Ling Xuan left the Virtual Universe.
Zhulong King sent him an email, asking him to come by later.
Ling Xuan returned to Manlong Planet aboard the Crimson Flame. First, he went home to share the good news with his family, then made arrangements to leave.
Ling Xuan and his family had been preparing for his departure, which would last over a hundred years, for a full decade.
Or perhaps Cosmic Humans simply took such farewells in stride. After all, they could meet whenever they wanted in the Virtual Universe, and they lived long lives and loved adventure.
When he returned to the Temple Zhulong kept in the Virtual Universe, it was already packed to the rafters.
All sorts of people surrounded Zhulong King, who stood at the center. A silent battle of wills filled the hall.
"Old Zhulong, listen to me. I'm here on behalf of Gulun Universe Master!" An Immortal Expert in dark-patterned armor stepped forward, his eyes full of arrogance. "As the oldest Universe Country Lord, he rarely takes on disciples. Don't be ungrateful, old man."
"Ancestor Tree Venerable also thinks highly of Ling Xuan," another King-level Immortal with a green face and fangs interrupted with a sneer. "And he's one of us from the Giant Axe Martial Arena, too..."
The instant Ling Xuan stepped into the hall, dozens of gazes, sharp as blades, swept toward him.
These powerful figures, who usually stood above the rest and ruled over their own domains, now burned with fervent desire. The potential to clear the Trial Tower was enough to make these Universe Venerables scramble for a chance.
Zhulong King swept his robe sharply and spoke with obvious impatience. "All right, all right, stop arguing! Ling Xuan already has a teacher. He's one of the supreme beings of my Giant Axe Martial Arena!"
I have a teacher? Ling Xuan was completely baffled. When did I take one? How come I don't know about it?
The powerful figures present erupted in protest. "Zhulong, you're getting bolder with age. How dare you deceive so many Universe Venerables?"
"Don't believe me? The beings you serve will receive an email in a moment." Zhulong King waved his hand, pushed through the crowd, and walked over to Ling Xuan. He took hold of him and started to leave. "All right, stop crowding around me. I'm taking this kid to meet his teacher. We shouldn't keep him waiting."
"Zhulong, could you tell us which great being it is? That way, we can report back to our Venerables." A King-level Immortal pressed on, still unwilling to give up.
"I told you, you'll get an email in a moment. And the beings you serve won't have any objections." Zhulong King had had enough. As soon as he finished speaking, he activated a teleportation, leaving a group of Immortal Experts standing there, staring at one another.
"Everyone, do you think that old Zhulong was telling the truth?" someone finally broke the silence. "Could he be stringing us along to drive up the price?"
"I think so too. Ling Xuan may have won first place in the Genius Tournament, but he relied on a miraculous secret technique that let him fight on par with a King-level Immortal. In terms of talent and Law Comprehension, he's probably only at the level of the first two floors of the Seventh Trial Tower. That's hardly enough to make the beings behind us compete so fiercely."
"Not necessarily. Old Zhulong has been alive for so long that no one can even count the years. It's only natural that he knows some supreme beings. Maybe he even shared a bond with some great Universe Master back when they were young."
"Right. I heard Zhulong King has fallen many times, but each time, he was resurrected immediately. He's even been resurrected faster than some Universe Venerables. That's not the sort of treatment a King-level Immortal should receive."
"Think about it. If you or I had fallen that many times, our race would have forgotten us long ago. Ordinary King-level powerhouses don't get that many free resurrections unless they fall while carrying out a mission for the higher-ups."
"So Zhulong King really does have close ties with some great beings? They'd even spend divine power to resurrect him?"
"Were we a little too loud just now?" someone asked nervously, suddenly worried they might have offended Zhulong King and would be punished by a Universe Master.
"Don't worry, don't worry. In all these years, Old Zhulong has never held a grudge over such discourtesy." Though he said this, he had unconsciously begun addressing Zhulong King with a title of respect.
"Shall we go back and report in, then?" suggested a King-level powerhouse dressed in green armor.
"Old Zhulong said we'd get an email in a moment, didn't he? We might as well wait. Once it arrives, we'll have something to report."
"Quite right." The group of King-level Immortals stayed quietly in Zhulong King's palace to wait.
Meanwhile, Zhulong King took Ling Xuan from the palace complex at the base of Tianzhou Island and flew upward.
"Old Ancestor, when did I get a teacher? How come I don't know about it?" Ling Xuan asked curiously. "Hahaha! Didn't I tell you? If you won first place in the Genius Tournament, I'd swallow my pride and beg that supreme being to take you as his disciple."
Zhulong King laughed as he explained. "Come to think of it, it's been a long time since I paid him a visit."
"Is he reliable?" Ling Xuan was full of doubt. Aside from being old, his own Old Ancestor didn't seem to have anything particularly special about him.
Among Cosmic Humans, friendship was the least reliable thing of all. They hadn't seen each other in ages, and their strengths were worlds apart. Would the other party still remember their old bond?
Still harboring doubts, Ling Xuan followed Zhulong King to the summit of Tianzhou Island.
Palaces built by Universe Masters stood here, each many times larger than the palaces of the King-level Immortals at the foot of the mountain.
"We're here." Zhulong King led Ling Xuan to a palace that was imposing and majestic, its style rough and bold.
"What's this?" Ling Xuan looked at the words "Giant Axe," carved into the palace doors in a bold, rugged style, as though hewn by a giant axe. His heart lurched. "Isn't this Giant Axe Founder's palace?"
His thoughts churned as he silently cursed his Old Ancestor. Your backing is this powerful? Why didn't you say so earlier? I kept a low profile all this time, and Cao Benqi nearly stole the whole show at the Genius Tournament. If I'd known you knew Giant Axe Founder, I'd have outdone him at showing off!
What happened next was even more beyond Ling Xuan's understanding.
Zhulong King led him straight to the doors. The two powerful guards at the entrance merely glanced at Zhulong King, then looked away, making no move to stop them.
Not only that, the palace doors slowly opened on their own to let them in.
Back when Ling Xuan and Manlong Marquis had visited Zhulong King, they'd had to wait a long time at the palace entrance before they were allowed inside.
But now, when Zhulong King came to visit Giant Axe Founder, all he had to do was show his face to get straight in?
Seeing the disbelief on Ling Xuan's face, Zhulong King's lips curled upward. "What's so surprising? If you had the clearance, I could've teleported us straight inside."
The more Ling Xuan heard, the stranger it seemed. He blurted out, "Old Ancestor, don't tell me you're this great being's son?"
"Brat, what are you talking about?" Zhulong King rebuked him, clearly acting as if he'd been done a great insult.
"Hahaha! If you're willing to call me that, Zhulong, I'll gladly accept. Go on, don't be shy."
A hearty laugh suddenly rang out from inside the palace. Then the space-time around them twisted and shifted.
In the next moment, the two of them appeared inside the palace. Seated above them was a Savage Giant with tousled hair and thick fingers. His clothes were similar in style to the Zhulong Clan's, only older and more primitive.
"Get out of here! Don't think you can take advantage of me!" Zhulong King shouted back, refusing to accept it.
Before you continue