"Brother Zhu Ping, they said I... died?"
Xu Taiping stared at the Jade Slip in his hand, utterly bewildered.
Then a voice came from the Jade Slip:
"Yes, word has spread throughout the Land of Chaos. Everyone says you perished together with the Demon Mother Clone, Daoist Taiping."
The person sending this voice transmission was none other than Zhu Ping, the guard of the Bamboo Sea Grotto-Heaven.
Zhu Ping immediately added:
"But it seems those were merely false rumors from outside. In any case, Daoist Taiping, it truly is wonderful that you returned alive."
Having lived in the Bamboo Sea Grotto-Heaven's secret realm for more than twenty years, Zhu Ping had actually learned something of Xu Taiping and the others' plans.
Though still puzzled, Xu Taiping raised the Jade Slip in his hand and replied:
"Thank you for your concern, Brother Zhu Ping. I am quite well."
After some careful thought, Xu Taiping immediately added:
"Brother Zhu Ping, please don't tell anyone else that I am still alive for now."
Zhu Ping promptly assured him from the other end:
"Rest assured, Brother Taiping. I will not tell anyone."
Only after thanking Zhu Ping did Xu Taiping put the Jade Slip away.
Rumble...!!
Just then, amid a violent rumble that shook heaven and earth, a golden barrier slowly rose from the edge of the Taixuan Sect Ruins where Xu Taiping stood.
In the blink of an eye, the golden barrier enveloped the entire Taixuan Sect Ruins like an enormous dome.
At the sight, Xu Taiping let out a long breath and said:
"The Taixuan Sect's first mountain-protecting barrier on Nether Luo Ruin Star has finally been successfully established."
The Taixuan Sect Ruins had already settled on Nether Luo Ruin Star, and the mountain-protecting magic formation and spirit-gathering formation were now being