A Gathering of Heroes

"Hey, you guys are here pretty early."

Several streaks of Flowing Light landed on the high platform. Among them, a composed and dignified middle-aged man smiled and cupped his hands in greeting to Yan Lie and the others, before walking towards Yang Jiuxiao.

"Old Yang, this junior greets you."

"I'm flattered! I'm flattered!"

Looking at the middle-aged man before him who was showing the respect due to a junior, Yang Jiuxiao's gaunt face revealed a gentle smile.

"Palace Master Huangfu is too kind to this old man."

"You're not the naive young man you used to be, so there's no need for you to bow so deeply to this old man."

The person having a friendly conversation with Yang Jiuxiao was none other than Huangfu Shenghua, the Palace Master Bright Royal Palace. The latter had received much care from Yang Jiuxiao, who was his senior, when he was young, so the two had always maintained a good relationship.

"Hey, what are you saying?"

Huangfu Shenghua smiled.

"If it weren't for your help back then, I would probably have ended up in the belly of a ferocious beast long ago. What merit do I have to be here today?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Jiuxiao's thoughts drifted far away. He then snapped back to reality, a look of regret on his face.

"What a pity, you're not suited to inherit my legacy; you're simply not meant to be."

Otherwise, how could that old man have gotten such a good deal?

Just as Yang Jiuxiao shook his head and sighed, a message quietly entered his mind. His pupils shrank immediately as he looked at the source of the message. Huangfu Shenghua nodded almost imperceptibly.

"I understand."

He was immediately filled with emotion.

"The future ultimately belongs to you young people!"

"Old Yang is still going strong for his age."

Huangfu Shenghua smiled and flattered him.

"Those little guys too...?"

Yang Jiuxiao looked at the other figures who seemed unaffected, his eyes clearly expressing his doubts.

"I just happened to run into them; it was on my way."

Huangfu Shenghua remained calm and composed.

"Most of the people have arrived."

As his gaze swept over the empty seats, Yang Jiuxiao's mind drifted to the impressions of the top-tier forces currently absent.

"The Blood Blade Sect is a bunch of perverts, the Flowing Shadow Gate is always gloomy and does nothing but shady things, and then there are those bald monks from the Bodhi Sect who keep talking about how they have a special connection with this or that, and..."

"The Zhengyuan Sect."

The passage of thousands of years has ravaged his body, but also given him a pair of venomous eyes.

I sighed inwardly.

"I'm afraid there will be rivers of blood!"

Before the old man could continue his internal monologue, the various factions he had been talking about arrived at the venue from all directions.

"Speak of the devil and he appears."

The moment the four groups arrived, the atmosphere on the field instantly turned cold, and their attitudes changed drastically from before.

The Blood Blade Sect Master, Yue Yingye, seemed unfazed, carrying his Ghost Head Broadsword as he walked to his seat without uttering a word.

The leader of the Flowing Shadow Gate Sect had somehow vanished into the shadows, shrinking into a black, indescribable mass in his seat.

The old monk of the Bodhi Sect, with his white hair and beard, still wore his ever-present kind smile. His squinty eyes made it impossible to guess his thoughts. He smiled amicably at everyone and sat down in his seat.

In contrast, Zhengyuan Sect Master of Lan Canghai Sect, was quite popular, at least receiving friendly greetings from others, especially from a certain loud and boisterous Sect Master.

"Brother Lan, we're sitting in the same spot! What a coincidence! Hahahaha!"

Yan Lie, beaming with delight, dragged Lan Canghai to the seat beside him. Feeling the immense force on his shoulder, the latter gave a helpless smile.

"Brother Yan, how have you been?"

"Hey, stop talking. I was really annoyed by that Old Yang just now."

"Senior Yang is a senior, and we, as juniors, should respect him."

"Alright, alright, it's always your rules. Let's not talk about that, let's have a drink, brothers."

"Brother Yan..."

"Don't say a word, let's drink this down if our feelings run deep!"

Seeing Lan Canghai's opinion and directly take out two large wine Yan Lie, the others in the room immediately covered their faces, and those who were closer quietly moved their seats in the opposite direction.

"That brainless idiot!"

Yang Jiuxiao criticized inwardly with a sense of disappointment.

The logic behind Sect Master Yan's friendships is completely illogical. He doesn't consider strength, status, or age; he only cares about one thing: drinking capacity!

In terms of drinking capacity alone, it might be difficult to determine who is better. However, everyone present is a leader of a first-rate power, and they usually maintain the airs of senior experts. The only one willing to disregard his image and drink with this heavy drinker is Lan Canghai, the Sect Master Zhengyuan Sect, who is known for his kind and gentle nature.

"Everyone's here."

Looking around the entire venue, Yang Jiuxiao's gaze finally settled on the seat at the head of the table, and he couldn't help but show a look of anticipation.

A crisis can also bring opportunities. Perhaps this unexpected event will make him, who was already getting old, go even further.

At that moment, everyone stopped what they were doing, and sharp, curious, and scrutinizing eyes converged on the most prestigious seat.

A gentle breeze, carrying a hint of chill, swirled slowly in front of the seats, carrying pure white snowflakes. The pair of men in white and old men in gray robes came into view.

"Um?"

"..."

Upon seeing the unfamiliar man in white standing at the front, their gazes instantly turned into deep suspicion.

"Gentlemen, it's our first meeting. Please forgive any shortcomings in our etiquette."

The man in white smiled and greeted everyone.

The latter and the others frowned. As the Hall Master of the Heavenly Azure Hall, Liu Qingyang had naturally dealt with them quite a bit. They were not exactly acquaintances, but they were not strangers either. Clearly, this person was not Liu Qingyang.

Such an important meeting, initiated by the Heavenly Azure Hall itself, is hardly something to be proud of, given that Hall Master Liu Qingyang didn't attend in person.

However, the unfathomable aura of the other party made the leaders of various forces envious of the Heavenly Azure Hall for having such a powerful figure, while also suppressing their slight dissatisfaction.

Even though Yan Lie's personality could be described as reckless, he only gave a hostile look rather than choosing to suddenly attack.

Finally, it was Yang Jiuxiao, the most senior among them, who coughed lightly and looked at the familiar face behind the man in white.

"Elder Yang, may I ask which of the Grand Supreme of the Heavenly Azure Hall this gentleman is?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Tian instinctively glanced in front of him.

This action instantly elevated the others' opinion of this unfamiliar powerhouse.

For Yang Tian, Supreme Elder of the Heavenly Azure Hall, to act in this manner, his strength and status must be extraordinary!

Having received a positive response, Yang Tian didn't mince words and explained directly:

"This senior is not the Grand Supreme of my Heavenly Azure Hall."

"But rather, they are powerful beings from beyond the realm."

"Known as the Ice Saint!"

One stone stirs up a thousand waves.

"A powerful being from beyond this realm!"

Yan Lie exclaimed in surprise, and the others did not react much differently, their faces filled with astonishment and a hint of worry.

The situation on the Heavenly Azure Continent was no secret to them. If the identity was true, the impact of the other party would be earth-shattering.

A shadow flashed across Lan Canghai's eyes, the sect Sect Master of the Zhengyuan Sect, and his body involuntarily tensed.

"Just as I thought."

The mysterious expert whom the entire Zhengyuan Sect had been searching for in vain had indeed sided with the Heavenly Azure Hall.

"Where is Hall Master Liu now?"

Xiao Han, who was observing everyone's reactions from his seat, immediately looked towards the source of the sound, while Yang Tian next to him quickly responded.

"The Hall Master is currently preoccupied with important matters and has entrusted all affairs of this conference to you, senior."

"Does Sect Master Lan have any further questions?"

Lan Canghai still wore that kind smile, but now there was a hint of wariness in it.

No.

Then, his tone suddenly changed.

"Since Hall Master Liu is not here today, I, Lan, will attend this conference another day."

Having said that, Lan Canghai immediately stood up and was about to leave.

Instantly, a strong sense of crisis enveloped Lan Canghai, and a calm, unwavering voice came from behind him.

"Stop!"

(End of this chapter)

.