Chapter 1633: Lansibai's Invitation
Beside them, a gasp rang out: "The ruling world of the Western Universe, Paradise Realm."
"He's actually from Paradise Realm, and I didn't notice it before."
"Didn't you see the two pairs of white wings on his back? Those are Angel Wings, possessed only by the Angel Clan, the number one clan of Paradise Realm."
...
Hearing the exclamations of the crowd and the admiring, reverent gazes of those cultivators, Lansibai felt quite pleased with himself, a hint of a smile curling at the corners of his mouth.
But when Lansibai looked toward the Phoenix Celestial Maiden opposite him, he noticed that her phoenix eyes actually held a strange expression.
Moreover, she was saying something to the human man beside her.
Lansibai's good mood vanished instantly.
As a Four-Winged Angel of Paradise Realm, how noble was his status? Was he really less attractive than a human man at the Half-Saint King realm?
After a moment, Mu Lingxi finally looked back at Lansibai and smiled, "You've misunderstood, sir. I am not a Phoenix Celestial Maiden. Thank you for answering my questions earlier."
Seeing Mu Lingxi's smiling starry eyes, Lansibai felt his heart stir. He quickly regained his elegant demeanor and smiled, "May I ask the young lady's name?"
Mu Lingxi glanced at Zhang Ruochen and said, "That depends on my husband's wishes."
The surrounding crowd was stunned for a moment, then a wave of sighs arose, as if lamenting that a beautiful flower had been planted on a pile of cow dung.
Lansibai naturally didn't believe that a beautiful phoenix at the Saint King realm would fancy a human Half-Saint King. He felt Mu Lingxi was using that human man as a shield, deliberately brushing him off.
"I, Lansibai, am a Divine Son of Paradise Realm, yet she doesn't even look at me. What a proud phoenix indeed."
Since childhood, whatever Lansibai set his sights on, he had always obtained.
Especially when encountering cultivators from weaker realms, if he fancied some treasure on them, he only needed to mention it casually, and the other party would immediately and respectfully offer it to him. Even if it was the other's wife, it could be obtained in the same way.
This was the oppression and plunder that cultivators from strong realms inflicted on those from weak realms.
Finally, Lansibai's gaze fell upon Zhang Ruochen for the first time. He said, "May I have a word?"
Zhang Ruochen appeared very casual. "Of course."
The two went to the stern of the cloud boat.
Lansibai's expression turned rather cold and stern as he released the Saintly Might befitting a Second-Step Saint King. "Which major world are you from?"
If it were any other Half-Saint King, suffering such powerful Saintly Might pressure, they would certainly become trembling and fearful, not daring to defy Lansibai's will.
But Zhang Ruochen remained very calm. "Just a major world ranked very low. You've probably never heard of it, sir, so there's no need to mention it."
Seeing Zhang Ruochen acting so composed, Lansibai felt somewhat displeased. He pressed on, "Do you know of Paradise Realm?"
"Of course. The ruling world of the Western Universe," Zhang Ruochen said with a smile.
Lansibai said rather arrogantly, "I am the third son of Gubo, the Six-Winged Imperial Angel of Paradise Realm. You should know Shang Zihong, the leader of this generation's Merit God Hall? If you count it properly, he still has to call me cousin."
At this, Zhang Ruochen's calm eyes finally showed a flicker of surprise.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen's expression, Lansibai nodded with satisfaction and chuckled inwardly: "It seems I still need to make my identity clear to him, so he knows what kind of existence he's talking to. Now is the time to give him a warning. I believe that since he's managed to cultivate to the Half-Saint King realm, he's not a fool and should know what to do."
Lansibai reached out a hand, draped it over Zhang Ruochen's shoulder, and said in a low voice, "Now tell me, what is the origin of that beautiful Ice Phoenix? Are you her servant?"
Zhang Ruochen looked at the hand on his shoulder, then said, "Hasn't she already said? I am her husband."
"A truly foolish man with no reverence. He refuses a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit." Lansibai thought to himself. His gaze turned somewhat dark, and the hand on Zhang Ruochen's shoulder grew heavier and heavier. Faintly, crackling sounds could be heard from his palm.
Lansibai wanted to use his own formidable strength to force Zhang Ruochen to his knees, giving him a show of power.
But no matter how much strength he used, Zhang Ruochen stood rooted to the spot, smiling at him.
At the same time, Zhang Ruochen's fingers moved swiftly, quickly forming a Time Imprint.
"Swoosh—"
Without leaving a trace, he flicked the Time Imprint out, landing it on Lansibai.
Instantly, Lansibai, who was trying his utmost to suppress Zhang Ruochen, felt an intense wave of weakness. His body trembled slightly, then he withdrew his arm and stumbled back three steps.
Lansibai's legs felt weak, his vision darkened, and he had a dizzy, spinning sensation.
"Could it be that because my cultivation has been advancing too quickly lately, my realm is unstable, leaving some hidden hidden danger?"
Lansibai was thoroughly frightened. He no longer had any mood to trouble Zhang Ruochen. He quickly sat down cross-legged, activated his technique, and began to regulate his breathing.
Given Zhang Ruochen's current Spiritual Power intensity, striking with a Time Imprint was enough to cut away a hundred years of the other's lifespan.
Having lost a hundred years of life, it was no wonder Lansibai felt weak.
Watching Zhang Ruochen stroll back as if taking a leisurely walk, Mu Lingxi asked curiously, "What just happened?"
Zhang Ruochen gave a helpless smile. "What happened? It's trouble you caused. I thought that by changing my appearance and suppressing my cultivation, I could keep a low profile. Who would have thought those things are secondary. As long as there's a beautiful woman by my side, trouble is inevitable."
"So, you regret forming a Dao Companion bond with me?"
Mu Lingxi deliberately put on a very aggrieved look, pitiful and charming.
Although Zhang Ruochen knew her expression was all an act, he still smiled and said, "As long as the beautiful woman by my side is you, I'm not afraid of trouble."
The cloud boat was extremely fast. Before long, they could already see the majestic Truth Temple on the horizon.
After flying for another hour, the cloud boat stopped at a dock.
Lansibai, who had been sitting cross-legged on the ground, stood up, once again full of energy and vigor, his inner weakness gone.
But his eyes held a puzzled expression.
Because even now, he hadn't figured out where that feeling of weakness had come from.
At the dock stood a man wearing a Qilin Azure Cloud Robe. Every cultivator who stepped off the cloud boat showed a hint of surprise upon seeing this man, then clasped their hands in salute to him.
Wearing a Qilin Azure Cloud Robe meant this man was a First-Class Disciple of Truth Temple.
Everyone was also curious: why would a noble First-Class Disciple appear at the cloud boat dock?
Lu Qian, wearing the Qilin Azure Cloud Robe, appeared quite aloof. Seeing the cultivators bowing to him, he simply stood with his hands behind his back, not even lifting his eyelids.
It wasn't until he saw Lansibai step off the cloud boat that a smile finally appeared on Lu Qian's face. He went forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Brother Lansibai, I, Lu, have been waiting here for a long time. I've finally caught you."
So he was waiting for Lansibai.
The surrounding crowd all showed expressions of sudden realization.
That made sense.
Lansibai was a Four-Winged Angel of Paradise Realm, of noble status. Having connections with a First-Class Disciple of Truth Temple was quite normal.
This was a reflection of status and position.
Lansibai also cupped his hands to Lu Qian, and the two began to chat like old friends reuniting.
Lu Qian said, "Brother Lansibai, you've come at a bad time. Truth Temple is currently full and has no vacant cultivation chambers or grotto-heavens. You'll have to wait at least seven days before the next batch opens."
"Wait seven more days?" Lansibai frowned.
Lu Qian smiled, "Brother Lansibai doesn't need to run around. You can stay at my cultivation grounds for seven days."
The cultivators who had just stepped off the cloud boat were all murmuring among themselves.
"Seven days before the next batch opens? Why weren't we notified in advance?"
"It takes me three days just to get here from my training ground by cloud boat. And each trip costs a large amount of Sacred Stones."
"Are we supposed to camp out here in the open for seven days?"
...
Lansibai thought it over carefully, then a delighted expression appeared on his face. His gaze swept through the crowd and quickly found that beautiful Ice Phoenix and the human man at the Half-Saint King realm.
Lansibai immediately walked over.
Lu Qian looked puzzled and followed.
Lansibai still maintained his courteous demeanor. "Miss, you heard just now. Truth Temple won't open again for seven days. And even when it does, only a few cultivators will be able to enter for cultivation in the first batch. Without some connections, you might have to wait a whole month before you can enter Truth Temple."
"Then I'll come back to Truth Temple in a month."
Mu Lingxi took Zhang Ruochen's hand and prepared to leave.
"Wait."
Lansibai smiled slightly. "Miss, why go to all that trouble? You don't have to wait a month. My friend is a First-Class Disciple of Truth Temple and the lead disciple of a God-Transmitted Disciple. If you're willing, we can first stay at my friend's cultivation grounds. In seven days, with my friend's connections, we can definitely be among the first batch to enter Truth Temple for cultivation."
Lu Qian saw Mu Lingxi, who was wearing a veil, and immediately understood Lansibai's intention.
So Lu Qian walked over and smiled, "I am Lu Qian, a First-Class Disciple of Truth Temple. If you don't mind, miss, you can stay at my cultivation grounds for seven days. Don't rush to refuse, miss. Let me finish what I have to say."
"Inviting you to my cultivation grounds isn't just for lodging."
"Disciples of Truth Temple and outstanding talents from various top-tier strong realms often organize gatherings to discuss Dao techniques, exchange needed cultivation resources, and more importantly, to make connections with a group of top young elites. I can guarantee that these seven days will bring you great gains."
"If you don't like gatherings, you can take my token and go to the True Yuan Sacred Pavilion, one of Truth Temple's ten sacred pavilions, to browse various classics. You should know that the scrolls collected by Truth Temple are often unique copies, nowhere to be found in the outside world. This is definitely a rare opportunity."
Lansibai nodded in satisfaction, his smile growing wider. He felt that Lu Qian was truly a friend worth deepening ties with.