Luo Shen

Inside the great hall, Mu Chen stared fixedly at Mandala. His slightly trembling hands betrayed the turmoil in his heart.

He would never forget the frail helplessness he had felt back at the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy, when that aged yet imposing figure had taken Luo Li away from his side.

Nor could he forget the heartbreaking tears in the girl's eyes when she turned before leaving, or the sorrow and reluctance of a parting she could not avoid.

Yet faced with all of it, he had possessed no power to stop her. He could only watch helplessly as she left.

Not far away, Futu Yijing watched the emotionally unsettled Mu Chen.

The Heavenly Emperor had already returned to the Human Emperor Seal and was likewise watching Mu Chen. The old man had noticed something was amiss as well.

Mu Chen had always been remarkably composed in the Ancient Heavenly Palace, yet now his emotions had become profoundly unsettled-and all because of a girl.

Mu Chen drew a deep breath, and the churning emotions in his heart gradually settled. His dark eyes, however, grew even brighter and more dazzling.

Watching the sharp aura radiating from Mu Chen, Mandala raised her slender brows, then said with a teasing smile, "It seems that little sweetheart of yours really does mean a great deal to you."

In all the years she had known Mu Chen, this was the first time she had seen a girl stir such turbulence in his emotions.

Mu Chen smiled with a little embarrassment at her words, but his eyes remained fixed on Mandala.

Seeing his gaze, Mandala stopped teasing him. Rubbing her smooth chin with her small hand, she asked, "How much do you know about the Luo God Clan?"

Mu Chen paused, then shook his head. In the past, the Luo God Clan had seemed impossibly lofty and incomparably powerful to him. But his perspective was naturally different now. By his estimation, the current Luo God Clan was probably no stronger than one of the top factions on the Tianluo Continent.

"The Luo God Clan has declined far too much. But at its peak, it was far beyond anything you could imagine," Mandala said unhurriedly.

"During the Ancient Era, when the Luo God Clan was at its height, it produced an unparalleled woman. In strength and fame, even the Heavenly Emperor would probably have fallen short of her."

Shock surfaced on Mu Chen's face. The Luo God Clan had produced someone like that? Someone who surpassed even the Heavenly Emperor?

Mandala smacked her lips and exclaimed in wonder, "In the Ancient Era, that woman was known as Luo Shen. Not only did she rank among the strongest beings in the Great Thousand World, she was also its greatest beauty during that age. Tsk, who knows how many Heavenly Sovereign prodigies fell at her feet back then, captivated by her beauty? Her beautiful name has echoed through the ages."

"This boy's cultivation partner has quite the background," the Heavenly Emperor said.

"Teacher, even as one of the Nine Emperors of antiquity, you couldn't match her?" Futu Yijing asked curiously.

"Luo Shen was indeed an extraordinary woman. During the final great battle, she single-handedly held back two Heavenly Demon Emperors of the Outer Realm Evil Clan. Those two ranked eighth and ninth in the clan's hierarchy. Luo Shen fell in that battle, but of those two ranked Heavenly Demon Emperors, one died and the other was wounded," the Heavenly Emperor said with a sigh.

"After Luo Shen fell, she transformed into an endless river called the Luo River, which the Luo God Clan has guarded ever since. Rumor has it that Luo Shen left an inheritance behind. One part of it is the Luo God Dharma Body, renowned throughout the Great Thousand World," Mandala continued.

"When you're weak yet hold a priceless treasure, others will naturally covet it." Mandala said flatly, "The Lesser Western Heaven Realm has the Four Great God Clans: the Luo God Clan, the Blood God Clan, the Strength God Clan, and the Bone God Clan. Though the Luo God Clan had declined, a starved camel is still larger than a horse, and it could still be considered the foremost of the four."

"But as the other three clans gradually rose, the Luo God Clan's prestige continued to wane. By now, the Blood God Clan has replaced it as the strongest faction in the Lesser Western Heaven Realm."

"The Blood God Clan and the Luo God Clan have a bitter feud. Centuries of conflict have left deep hatred between them. Taking advantage of its growing might, the Blood God Clan has pressed harder and harder over the years, leaving the Luo God Clan gasping for breath and in a miserable state."

"And the Luo God Clan's own people have been utterly disappointing. Even amid such peril, with the clan battered by wind and rain, they each pursued their own interests. The clan was on the verge of destruction."

At this point, Mandala glanced at Mu Chen with a smile. "Still, that little sweetheart of yours does have some ability. In the years since her return, she has managed, through her own strength alone, to stabilize the unrest within the clan and keep it alive under the Blood God Clan's relentless pursuit and attacks. She has prolonged its life somewhat."

"How is she now? You said earlier that her situation was very bad?" Mu Chen drew a deep breath and asked quietly.

Mandala's small face grew more solemn. She nodded gently. "According to the information I've received, Luo Tianshen has recently been planning to hold the Luo Shen Ceremony for her and attempt to unlock the Luo God Inheritance."

"If Luo Li really obtains the Luo God Inheritance and cultivates the Luo God Dharma Body, then with her talent, another Luo Shen may well emerge in the future. That's not something the other three clans in the Lesser Western Heaven Realm want to see, so this Luo Shen Ceremony is bound to face trouble."

"What's more, I've heard that the Luo God Clan has plenty of internal problems too. Not everyone supports your little sweetheart. After all, her direct lineage has already dwindled considerably. If anything happens to Luo Tianshen..."

"This Luo Shen Ceremony probably won't go smoothly."

Whew.

A cold gleam surged in Mu Chen's eyes. He then drew a deep breath, suppressed his emotions, and asked in a low voice, "When does the Luo Shen Ceremony begin?"

"In one month."

Mu Chen turned his gaze toward Futu Yijing.

At that moment, however, Mandala spoke first. "Junior brother, consider this a plea from me. Help Mu Chen."

Clearly, during their earlier conversation, the Heavenly Emperor had mentioned that she and Futu Yijing were senior sister and junior brother.

She did not know that Futu Yijing had already agreed to help Mu Chen, so she spoke up in the hope that he would lend a hand for the Heavenly Emperor's sake.

Still, calling him her junior brother felt somewhat strange.

"You have half a month to break through to Earthly Sovereign. I'll take you to the Lesser Western Heaven Realm then," Futu Yijing said, looking at Mu Chen.

"Thank you, Senior!"

Only then did a smile appear on Mu Chen's face. With a Heavenly Sovereign standing behind him, surely things would not turn out so badly.

Futu Yijing thought of the rather lustful Western Heaven War Emperor. He was also curious to see just how powerful he had become after reaching Heavenly Sovereign.

The Western Heaven War Emperor would make a very good opponent.