136: Jiang Taixu expressed his gratitude, and the Hidden God Sect gained another powerful ally.

Outside Purple Mountain, a deathly silence reigned.

Only the pungent smell of blood still lingered in the air, silently recounting the one-sided slaughter that had just occurred.

"God... God King..."

"Old Ancestor... You... You've returned!"

In the distance, the members of the Jiang Family, who had been hiding behind and dared not approach, finally reacted after witnessing Jiang Taixu suppress all sides with a single sigh.

They were so excited that tears welled up in their eyes, scrambling over and kneeling with a series of thuds in a pool of blood.

The Head of the Jiang Family, leading the group, cried so hard that snot and tears flowed freely as he clung to Jiang Taixu's leg.

"Old Ancestor! You've finally returned!"

"I knew you were blessed by heaven and would be safe!"

"Quick! Come back with us to the Family! Take back control! Lead our Jiang Family to restore the glory of four thousand years ago!"

His demeanor was as obsequious as could be.

As if the person who had hesitated and even harbored ill intentions regarding Jiang Taixu's entrapment was not him at all.

However.

Facing the "enthusiastic welcome" from his clansmen.

Jiang Taixu's face showed not a ripple of emotion.

He simply gazed quietly at these familiar yet unfamiliar faces before him, a flicker of... disappointment flashing in his eyes.

And weariness.

Four thousand years.

He had been trapped in Purple Mountain for four thousand years, with his Family showing no concern.

Now, having broken free and displayed an invincible presence.

What they thought of was not the joy of reunion with a loved one, but... taking back control and restoring glory?

How ironic.

"No need."

Jiang Taixu slowly pushed away the Family head's hand, which was tightly gripping his leg.

His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable sense of detachment.

"From the moment I was trapped in Purple Mountain."

"I, Jiang Taixu, have had no further ties with the Jiang Family."

"What?!"

The Head of the Jiang Family was as if struck by lightning, completely stunned.

"Old Ancestor! What... What do you mean?!"

"You are our Jiang Family's God King! You cannot..."

"God King?"

Jiang Taixu smiled self-deprecatingly.

"This life of mine was given by the Kaoshan Sect."

"If not for Fellow Daoist Ye Fan risking his life to save me, if not for his Revered Master bestowing a divine artifact."

"By now, I would have turned to dust, my Origin devoured by all of you."

He turned away, no longer looking at his pale-faced clansmen.

Instead, he faced Ye Fan and solemnly clasped his hands in a salute.

"Fellow Daoist Ye Fan, from today onward, I, Jiang Taixu, owe my life only to the Kaoshan Sect."

"Might I... ask for an introduction, so that this old man may... personally thank your Revered Master for the grace of rebirth?"

Ye Fan looked at this peerlessly elegant God King in white before him, his heart swelling with pride.

Gaining recognition from such a figure was more rewarding than killing a hundred Saints!

"Senior, you are too kind!"

Ye Fan quickly supported him, "My Revered Master most enjoys befriending heroes and prodigies like you, Senior!"

"Please!"

...Half a day later.

Atop the main peak of the Kaoshan Sect.

Clouds surged and Immortal Qi swirled.

When Jiang Taixu set foot on this divine mountain suspended in the Nine Heavens, even with his mental fortitude, he could not help but... feel awe.

"What grand ambition!"

"Moving mountains and filling seas, reversing the cosmos! Such methods... truly are the power of immortals and gods!"

And before the main hall.

A seemingly ordinary, even somewhat sickly blind old man was sitting quietly on the stone steps, holding an Erhu, as if waiting for something.

When he "saw" Jiang Taixu's figure.

That ancient, expressionless old face finally revealed a trace of... complex smile.

"You've come."

Gai Jiuyou's voice was very calm.

"You're alive."

Jiang Taixu looked at this familiar yet unfamiliar figure before him and also trembled all over.

"It's you... Brother Jiuyou?"

"You actually also..."

Two peerless prodigies who had once competed in the same era, both rivals and friends.

After enduring thousands of years of trials.

At this moment.

Reunited.

There was no earth-shattering clash of Auras.

Nor any excitement of long-lost reunion.

Only a kind of... mutual understanding between heroes.

And a hint of... camaraderie between kindred spirits who have fallen on hard times.

"It seems you have also found your own 'Dao'." Jiang Taixu looked at Gai Jiuyou, whose Aura was harmonious and even surpassed his former self, and sighed sincerely.

"That Fellow Daoist gave me a new life." Gai Jiuyou "gazed" toward the direction of the main hall.

Just then.

"Creak—"

The main hall's door slowly opened.

Li Daoxuan still appeared lazy, holding a half-eaten cucumber as he walked out.

"Oh, everyone's here?"

He glanced at the two "old gentlemen" standing side by side, then at the few excited Disciples nearby.

And nodded with satisfaction.

Good, good.

Now, the Sect's "Senior activity center" finally has enough for a game of mahjong.

One Quasi-Emperor.

One God King.

With this lineup, not to mention in the Central Continent, even if taken to the Upper Realm, they could walk sideways, right?

"Junior Jiang Taixu pays respects to Senior!"

Jiang Taixu did not dare to be negligent and was about to perform a grand salute to Li Daoxuan.

"Hey, hey, don't."

Li Daoxuan quickly stepped forward to support him, "Senior, you're putting me to shame! Let's each address as we please. You're my Disciple's friend, so you're my friend."

"Just call me Daoxuan."

Jiang Taixu looked at this unpretentious, even somewhat overly familiar young man before him and felt a wave of emotion.

A true Revered Master does not show his face.

Who would have thought that such a seemingly harmless youth could be a supreme existence who could suppress the Central Continent with a word and casually "recreate" even a Quasi-Emperor?

"Fellow Daoist Daoxuan."

Jiang Taixu complied gracefully, his eyes filled with gratitude.

"Great kindness need not be spoken. If you ever have need in the future, Taixu will not hesitate even at the cost of ten thousand deaths."

"Easy, easy."

Li Daoxuan waved his hand, "We're all Family from now on, no need to be so formal."

"Come on, everyone, don't just stand there, come in for tea."

"Perfect timing, that jar of wine I brewed with true dragon undying medicine should be opened."

...However.

Just as the Kaoshan Sect's "Senior activity center" was officially established, with an atmosphere of peace and harmony.

The sky of the Central Continent once again... changed.

"Hum—"

A golden edict, like a blazing sun, appeared without warning in the sky above the Central Continent!

The edict carried an extremely ancient, extremely domineering Aura of primal wilderness.

"By the decree of the Myriad Races, we proclaim to the world!"

"Three days hence, at the Yaochi Holy Land, the 'Myriad Races Assembly' shall be convened!"

"To discuss... the division of the world's territories!"

"All Human Race forces in the Central Continent, whether Sects or Families, must send representatives to attend!"

"Those who are late shall be deemed provocative!"

"Those who are absent..."

On the edict, a blood-red character for "kill" exploded with a roar!

"...shall be exterminated!"

Domineering!

Unreasonable!

The entire Central Continent instantly erupted in uproar!

"Myriad Races Assembly?!"

"What are those Primordial Imperial Clans, revived from Divine Sources, up to?!"

"Redividing the world's territories? Are they... planning to corral us, the Human Race, as blood cattle once more?!"

"This is too much! Do they really think our Human Race has no one left?!"

Countless Human Race Cultivators were filled with righteous indignation.

But more than that, there was... fear.

The Ancient Myriad Races were the overlords who once ruled this world in the Mythic Era!

Though they have declined now, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse.

No one knew how much terrifying heritage they still concealed.

And just as the storm was about to break.

Another special "Challenge Letter," or rather... Invitation.

Tore through the Void Realm, heading straight for that mountain suspended in the Nine Heavens... the Kaoshan Sect!

On the Invitation, only one line of extremely arrogant blood-red characters was written:

"Heavenly Emperor Li of the Human Race, dare you... face me in battle?!"