Are They Going to Switch Allegiances Again?
"Look over there!"
Suddenly, someone in the crowd uttered a soft cry.
"What's all this fuss about...? Good heavens! That's... that's..."
At first, only a few people noticed, but with exclamations of surprise, everyone's attention was drawn to it.
Lu Changzhi also looked in that direction.
In the high northern sky, a huge bird of prey, enormous in size, was seen flying across the sky.
Judging from the distance, this bird is several times larger than Xiao Ming is now.
And its aura was actually comparable to that of the Saint Realm.
Of course, if it were just a bird coming alone, it obviously wouldn't attract this much attention.
Most importantly, several figures stood on the back of the bird.
"The form, the aura, and the appearance of this bird... could it be... Winged Bird of the Xiang Clan?!" someone exclaimed in surprise.
"It shouldn't be wrong. The Winged Bird's characteristics are very obvious. Looking across the five continents, only the Xiang Clan can ride Winged Bird." Someone stared intently at the approaching bird and spoke in a deep voice.
"Is this a representation of the Xiang Clan? And also for this Holy Water? What exactly is this Holy Water that would make the Xiang Clan's Winged Bird come in person!" someone exclaimed in utter shock.
Some people looked amused, glanced down at the sea below, and said:
"Now, the Sea Race probably won't be able to hold onto the Holy Water. What the Xiang Clan has their eye on, hmph."
Lu Changzhi overheard everyone's conversation.
"So it's the Xiang Clan?"
Lu Changzhi also somewhat surprised.
If he remembered correctly, the current generation of Five Elements Sacred Physique was from this Xiang Clan.
The Xiang Clan itself, as a major power in the Central Province region, held a transcendent status.
Now that I've come in person, the allure of this Holy Water is truly undeniable.
Just as he was thinking this, a thought suddenly struck Lu Changzhi.
"System, show me the detailed information about the Holy Water below."
Upon receiving a greeting, the system immediately responded:
"Master, please wait a moment."
My attention was so focused on the seabed that I forgot to check the information about the Holy Water.
While waiting, Lu Changzhi looked toward the figure on the pterosaur.
There was no greenery to be seen.
"It seems this wasn't a matter of our ancestors claiming credit."
With a soft voice, Lu Changzhi began to examine the specific information.
[Name]: Xiang Qing
[Realm]: Saint Venerable Fourth Level
[Qualification]: Saint Rank Top Quality
[Physique]: Clear Wind Sacred Physique [Saint Rank Mid Grade]
[Talent]: Heart of Insight, Direct Perception of Karma
[Heart of Insight]: Born with extraordinary insight, one can intuitively see through concealment, disguise, and pretense, discerning truth from falsehood and right from wrong. This allows one to avoid detours during growth and to approach the truth when making judgments...
[Direct Perception of Karma]: When abilities are limited, one may have a subtle intuition about cause and effect, using this to avoid danger and seek ease. When abilities are sufficient, one can deduce cause and effect faster than ordinary people, following the principles of cause and effect to move towards good and avoid bad...
"This newcomer is no ordinary person."
After glancing at Xiang Qing's introduction, Lu Changzhi felt a surge of emotion.
Judging solely from their cultivation levels, Long Miao below is a Saint Venerable Realm expert, and now this Xiang Clan has also gained another Saint Venerable Realm expert.
Even now, he can still recall the shock he felt when he first met Ancestor Liang Si.
However, in such a short time, after just one trip outside, we are now able to see two Saint Venerable Realm gathered together.
There are always people more capable than you, and there's always something beyond your understanding. Lu Changzhi had only one feeling about this.
The sect's strategy is quite reasonable. The Five Symbols Sect's strength is indeed sufficient in the Land of the Four Directions, but in the outside world, perhaps it is not enough?
Pulling his thoughts back, Lu Changzhi turned his attention back to Xiang Qing.
Judging from his talent, his insightful understanding of cause and effect, one can tell at a glance that he is no ordinary person.
"However, this Heart of Insight."
Lu Changzhi thought of something that felt somewhat familiar.
"Back then, Luo Zhen was able to enter the Cloud Heaven Holy Land, and he seemed to be an elder of the Cloud Heaven Holy Land of similar rank. It seems that he is a similar person. In this light, he does seem somewhat familiar."
With a thought, Lu Changzhi found Luo Zhen, a lone figure in the crowd aboard a wrecked flying boat, and murmured softly:
"Is this going to be another power shift?"
As Lu Changzhi was thinking, the Winged Bird had already approached.
Whew.
The wind howled, the sea surged, and everyone standing in the air felt immense pressure. Those piloting the flying boat also felt how difficult it was to control, as if they were a small boat in a giant wave.
The worst off were those who arrived on flying birds. Now, before these Winged Bird, they dared not even raise their heads or flap their wings, let alone raise them. Most of them fell into the water.
On the back of the Winged Bird, Xiang Qing looked down at the sea and landed on the location of the Holy Water.
"Sir, how is the situation here?"
A moment later, someone spoke up from the side.
Xiang Qing withdrew his gaze and said:
"This object is not simple, nor is it purely good; it contains both good and bad aspects. If used properly, it could bring immense benefits."
What he saw before him was unlike anything he had ever seen before or in ordinary times; even with his status and knowledge, he had never heard of it before.
However, based on his intuition, he still came to a conclusion.
The person next to him nodded and asked:
"Shall we proceed with taking it away?"
Xiang Qing shook his head, looking into the seawater, and said:
"The Sea Race won't stand idly by."
As the voice faded, he took a step forward and spoke calmly:
"Xiang Qing has come on behalf of the Xiang Clan. Since you are already nearby, why don't you come out to greet me?"
His self-introduction once again sent a shiver down the spines of countless people present.
The name Xiang Qing is also very famous among the powerful members of the Xiang Clan.
Countless people gazed at the Holy Water in the sea, their faces showing a mixture of curiosity and regret.
The fact that a powerful clan in Central Province would send a Saint Venerable figure to this Holy Water speaks volumes about its extraordinary nature.
Similarly, since the Xiang Clan has come in person, there's probably no chance for ordinary cultivators like them.
After a long and arduous journey, all I got was to become a spectator.
It would be a lie to say I'm not upset.
Brush.
At this moment, an even more powerful aura than Xiang Qing's suddenly burst forth from the water.
Countless people instantly felt their heads spinning, and at the same time, a sense of fear arose from the depths of their hearts.
Fortunately, at this critical moment, Xiang Qing waved his arm, his aura dissipating and blocking the influence of Long Miao's aura, thus preventing most of the people around from exploding and dying.
Brush.
A flash of golden light appeared, and Long Miao appeared before the crowd.
However, it did not appear in its true form, but rather transformed into the image of a robust middle-aged man covered entirely in golden scales, standing in the void, facing Xiang Qing from afar, and speaking with a rumbling voice:
"Human, you have quite the nerve!"
Xiang Qing smiled:
"If I had come alone, there would be no need for this, but I am here in the name of the Xiang Clan, so I should still give them some face."
After speaking, Xiang Qing paused, his gaze shifting slightly downwards to Long Miao's abdomen, and said:
"It seems the Sea Race have developed quite well in recent years; I didn't expect even you, sir, to have gained weight."