Dongfang Su froze on the spot.
Then he dropped into his dragon throne.
His face was filled with shock.
There was actually a reclusive master like this within his own lands?
Someone who could make a true dragon submit?
What kind of existence was this?
Dongfang Su had a profound cultivation, and he even kept a flood dragon in the imperial palace.
Yet even so, Dongfang Su had to treat that little flood dragon with the utmost deference, not daring to show it the slightest disrespect.
And now Guyue was telling Dongfang Su that someone could make a true dragon submit?
Naturally, Dongfang Su was utterly shocked.
He even found it hard to believe.
"Guyue, could you have fallen under an illusion?"
Dongfang Su looked at Guyue suspiciously.
Guyue did not know whether to laugh or cry.
"Your Majesty, the man is right there on Floating Cloud Mountain. If you don't believe me, you can go see for yourself in a few days."
"Why wait a few days?"
Dongfang Su frowned.
Guyue said, "Think about it, Your Majesty. Otherworldly masters have always preferred peace and quiet in their places of seclusion. This subordinate has only just visited and already disturbed this master. If Your Majesty goes again so soon, I fear it might displease him."
Dongfang Su nodded.
"You have a point. Otherworldly masters dislike being disturbed."
He pondered for a moment.
"Then let's do this. I'll visit Floating Cloud Mountain in person in half a month."
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Half a month later.
Heaven-Severing Mountain.
This was the highest peak within the Heavenly Martial Dynasty.
It was also where the three great sects held the Three-Sect Martial Meet.
Today, the Three-Sect Martial Meet officially began.
The Mystic Sword Sect, the Nine Spirits Gate, and the Supreme Hao Gate had all gathered here.
At that moment, three figures were exchanging blows continuously high in the sky.
Below, the disciples of the three great sects watched nervously.
The three people fighting were none other than the leaders of the three great sects.
By then, the three had been fighting fiercely for nearly the time it took an incense stick to burn.
The outcome was still undecided.
Just as everyone thought the clash would continue.
Suddenly.
All three figures landed on the ground together.
One of them was Xu Changfeng.
"Sect Master Xu, your cultivation is profound. I can only concede my inferiority."
An old man in purple robes cupped his fists toward Xu Changfeng, a hint of helplessness on his face.
The other old man, dressed in white, also cupped his fists toward Xu Changfeng.
"I, Gongsun Yue, thought I could overpower both of you in this contest, but I never expected Sect Master Xu to still have the edge."
The two old men speaking were Gongsun Yue, leader of the Nine Spirits Gate, and Chen Gongwang, leader of the Supreme Hao Gate.
Both possessed profound cultivation and were renowned throughout the Heavenly Martial Dynasty.
Yet in today's battle, both had lost to Xu Changfeng.
Xu Changfeng was all smiles, with a barely perceptible trace of delight on his face.
"You both were gracious enough to yield."
Xu Changfeng also cupped his fists toward them.
Chen Gongwang looked at Xu Changfeng. "Might you tell us how you managed to break through in such a short time, Sect Master Xu?"
Gongsun Yue was also staring at Xu Changfeng, eager to know.
The two old fellows had both made breakthroughs not long ago.
That was why they had been so impatient to hold the Three-Sect Martial Meet.
They had wanted to take advantage of the time before Xu Changfeng's cultivation caught up to thoroughly suppress the Mystic Sword Sect and bully Xu Changfeng a little.
But the result was unexpected.
Not only had Xu Changfeng caught up in cultivation, but his strength even surpassed theirs.
This left the two old fellows thoroughly frustrated.
That was why they were so curious about how Xu Changfeng had done it.
Xu Changfeng smiled faintly.
"A sect secret. I have nothing to disclose."
Want to know how I broke through?
Not a chance!
Gongsun Yue and Chen Gongwang exchanged a glance and could only smile at each other.
The Three-Sect Martial Meet thus came to an end.
The Mystic Sword Sect overpowered the other two great sects and became the number one sect in the Heavenly Martial Dynasty.
Of course, this ranking was only temporary.
When the next Three-Sect Martial Meet was held, the rankings might change.
But at least for now, the Mystic Sword Sect was the top-ranked sect in the Heavenly Martial Dynasty.
Once the meet ended, Xu Changfeng immediately summoned Li Chenyuan and the other two.
"Quick, take me to Floating Cloud Mountain. I want to pay my respects to that master in person."
Xu Changfeng spoke with great excitement.
In his view, his chance to shine so brilliantly this time and defeat those two old fellows was entirely thanks to that otherworldly master.
Without the heavenly treasures that master had bestowed on him, there was no way he could have broken through in such a short time.
Whether out of sentiment or reason, he ought to pay his respects in person.
If he could befriend this otherworldly master, it would bring boundless benefits to the Mystic Sword Sect in the future.
Li Chenyuan and the other two naturally dared not delay. They immediately set off with Xu Changfeng, heading straight for Floating Cloud Mountain.
At the foot of Floating Cloud Mountain, over a hundred armored guards escorted three women to the mountain.
Two of them were Princess Tianyao, Chu Yanyu, and her maid, Xiaoqing.
The other woman wore a white top and skirt. Her features were delicate and gentle, her beautiful eyes captivating, and she was as untouched by dust as an orchid.
This woman's name was Bai Suyi.
She was a disciple of the Nine Spirits Sect and also a close friend of Chu Yanyu's.
Bai Suyi had heard from Chu Yanyu about a master on Floating Cloud Mountain and was very curious.
As it happened, Chu Yanyu was going to visit the mountain again, so Bai Suyi had come along.
"Susu, I'm telling you, that master has an eccentric temperament. Don't speak carelessly when we get there, or even I won't be able to save you."
Along the way, Chu Yanyu earnestly cautioned Bai Suyi.
Bai Suyi smiled faintly. "If he truly is a master, I will naturally show him respect. But if he doesn't live up to his reputation, I won't stand on ceremony with him."
Chu Yanyu felt somewhat helpless.
This friend of hers was good in every way, except that she thought too highly of herself and considered everyone else nothing special.
The group was making its way up the mountain when suddenly a whistling sound swept across the sky.
"Hm?"
Several figures landed together.
They were Xu Changfeng, Li Chenyuan, and the other two.
Chu Yanyu and Bai Suyi were also taken aback when they saw Xu Changfeng and his companions.
Bai Suyi reacted quickly, hurriedly dismounting to pay her respects.
"Junior Bai Suyi greets Sect Master Xu!"
As a disciple of the Nine Spirits Sect, Bai Suyi naturally had to bow respectfully upon meeting Xu Changfeng, the sect master of the Mystic Sword Sect.
"What brings you here?"
Xu Changfeng asked in puzzlement.
Bai Suyi looked toward Chu Yanyu.
"I came with Princess Tianyao to pay my respects to an otherworldly master."
Xu Changfeng paused.
"You came to pay your respects to that master too?"
At those words, Chu Yanyu and Bai Suyi were also taken aback.
"You too, Sect Master Xu?"
Chu Yanyu asked blankly.
Xu Changfeng nodded.
Bai Suyi's face filled with shock.
Even someone like Xu Changfeng had come in person to pay his respects.
Could the person on this mountain truly be a reclusive, otherworldly master, just as Chu Yanyu had said?
Just then, a dragon carriage came through the air.
Its overwhelming presence made even a powerhouse like Xu Changfeng's expression change.
"The Martial Emperor has arrived!"
A long cry rang out.
The dragon carriage arrived before Xu Changfeng and the others.