"No need to kneel. Everyone, rise!"
A gentle voice rang out, and a rather thin man in a loose gray Daoist robe emerged from the void.
There was no pressure about him, nor any imposing presence.
At a glance, he looked utterly unremarkable.
Just like a mortal!
Had you encountered him in ordinary circumstances, you would have found it hard to imagine that such a man was actually an expert in the Dao Origin Realm.
"Your sword intent is quite good!" The man looked at He Pingsheng and nodded in approval.
He Pingsheng hurriedly cupped his hands. "This junior, He Pingsheng, thanks Senior Azure Lotus for looking after my wife all these years!"
"Hehehe..." The man chuckled softly. "Think nothing of it, think nothing of it... By rights, I am her martial uncle. Whether in terms of sentiment or reason, it was only right for me to protect her for a stretch of her cultivation journey!"
As he spoke, his gaze shifted toward Wuchen.
Wuchen hurriedly lowered his head respectfully.
"Wuchen!" Dao Lord Azure Lotus said mildly. "Had I not intervened just now, you would already have died beneath He Pingsheng's sword light!"
"Do you realize that?"
At these words, everyone nearby paled in shock.
He Pingsheng and Wuchen had fought fiercely, trading blow for blow. Everyone could see that He Pingsheng had the upper hand, and that last streak of sword light had looked exceptionally dazzling to them, but they had not believed it could kill Wuchen.
Only Wuchen himself knew.
Now that the Grand Ancestor had revealed the truth, how could they not be shocked?
"Yes!" Wuchen dared not lie. "Thank you for saving this disciple's life, Master!"
"As long as you understand!" Dao Lord Azure Lotus continued. "Concerning your disciple Thousand Hooks, you were deceived!"
"You should